DATE=8/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA UNREST - L
NUMBER=2-265728
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At least three people are dead after Indonesian
police opened fire on a group of protesters during a
clash in the eastern province of West Papua, also
known as Irian Jaya. The province -- rich in natural
resources -- is one of a handful pushing to break free
of Indonesian rule. VOA's Patricia Nunan has more.
TEXT: Indonesian police say they were called to the
demonstration by a priest after a group of about 500
separatists raised the "Morning Star" flag inside a
church in the city of Sorong, roughly 3 thousand
kilometers east of Jakarta. A witness says that
authorities tried to pull the flag down, prompting the
crowd to attack. Police opened fire -- with what they
say were rubber bullets.
It's the latest incident in the long-running conflict
between Indonesian authorities and West Papua's
independence supporters.
West Papua - rich in massive gold and copper reserves
- is one a handful of outlying Indonesian provinces
where many people say they have been neglected and
financially exploited by authorities in Jakarta.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid vowed not to
tolerate separatism last week at the annual meeting of
the People's Consultative Assembly --
Indonesia's highest legislative body. But in an effort
to calm some of the more restive provinces, the
president also said that he would provide West Papua
and the northern province of Aceh with special
autonomy plans which would allow the regions more
power over their own affairs.
Local leaders condemned the president's comments on
separatism -- and threatened to declare war against
the central government if their demands for
independence are ignored.
/// OPT /// West Papua has been part of Indonesia
since 1969, after a United Nations supervised vote.
Independence leaders say that vote was unfair,
alleging that only pro-Indonesia groups were allowed
to participate. /// END OPT ///
Organizers of a pro-independence congress that took
place in May in the capital Jayapura issued a
resolution declaring West Papua independent since
1961. That's when local leaders declared the area
independent from Indonesia's former Dutch colonizers.
(signed)
NEB/HK/PN/JO
22-Aug-2000 06:01 AM LOC (22-Aug-2000 1001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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