SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY
Jayapura, 4 July 1998
The Military Commander, Area VIII/Trikora, TNI Major General Amir Sembiring stated with regard to recent developments, that the security situation in Irian Jaya, at Sorong, Biak and Jayapura, as of today, Saturday (4/7), is well under control.
There are no crowds on the streets, shops are open again and road traffic is flowing normally. It is to be hoped that these conditions can be maintained from now on, so that the public are able to feel safe and remain calm, he added.
Commander Sembiring made this announcement in response to journalist’s questions following officer handover formalities at Military Area VIII/Trikora Command Headquarters, Polimak, Gunung Jayapura on Saturday 4/7. The officers present were Military Chief of Staff, Area VIII/Trikora, TNI Brig. Gen. A R Gaffar handing over to his replacement, TNI Brig. Gen. M. Idris Gassing, Intelligence Assistant, Infantry Col. Anuri handing over to his replacement, Infantry Col. M R Saragi, Area Military Finance Chief, Finance Corps Colonel H Awaluddin G,SIP [?] handing over to his replacement, Finance Corps Lt. Col. Richard E Pangaribuan and Infantry Col. Rachmad Saptaji Technical Staff Officer of the Office for Coordination and Monitoring of National Stability (Bakorstanasda) for the Maluku-Irian Jaya Region who is being transferred to Military Central Command TNI-AD.
The former Military Chief of Staff moves to the National Defence Institute (Lemhannas). The new Chief of Staff was previously Deputy Commander-General of Indonesia’s Special Forces Command (Kopassus). The former Intelligence Assistant takes up a lecturing position at the Army Staff College (Seskoad). The new Intelligence Assistant served previously with the Security and Encryption Service at Army Central Intelligence. The former Area Military Finance Chief becomes Director of Budgeting and Financing Services with the Army Finance Directorate and the new Area Military Finance Chief was previously Deputy Chief, Military Finance Area V, Brawijaya.
The Commander reported that since yesterday security forces in Sorong had taken repressive measures and succeeded in dispersing the crowd [of demonstrators], meaning that requests to disperse had been effective. “Today the 171 Area Commander reports that the situation is under control, shops have begun to re-open,” he said.
Time limit
Regarding the situation in Biak, stated the Commander, it was true that the flag which they had raised two days ago on the water tower at Biak Numfor harbour was still in place. Below it there were still about one hundred and fifty people guarding the tower. On the other hand, the community had formed an opposing force of their own.
According to the Commander, the Sub-Area Commander had been instructed to prevent conflict between one force of people and the opposing one. After all, these two forces are both our own people. Accordingly, the opposing force was told to be patient, to leave it to the security forces to deal with this small group and resolve the situation.
Questioned by reporters as to how long the situation would be tolerated, the Commander said that they had been given until today (day time, Saturday 4/7). “They would responsibly lower the flag themselves or the security forces would lower it,” stated the Commander.
Apology
The Commander said that he was concerned at the shooting of two people in an incident at Cenderawasih University (Uncen) campus on Friday (3/7), and apologised to the families. He called for prayers in the present tense situation that God would reveal the best path for all, especially the people of Irian Jaya.
He undertook to conduct enquiries, to investigate the course of events which led to the casualties. This would include an investigation into the consequences of the free speech forum, after which they came out (kemudian mereka keluar – sic).
Translation source document 17-27
Outside the fence there was a person in civilian clothes who attracted their attention. It is possible that the victim was known to some of them as a member of the Armed Forces (ABRI). Because of this they chased and beat this member of the security forces, and reporters knew about it and witnessed him being dragged along the ground for fifty metres and beaten again until he lost consciousness, bleeding from the ears and nose. Eventually he was rescued by other members of the security forces and brought to the hospital where it is reported today that he is still in a coma and has not regained consciousness.
There has also been committed an offence, namely the theft of a weapon by certain persons who stole the pistol of the victim. “I shall be conducting a search for that weapon and I will spare no effort to get hold of that pistol and return it to its owner. The person who has that weapon is urged to return it to Area Military Command,” he said.
Concerning the civilian casualties of the shooting at the Uncen campus, the Commander reiterated that he would be conducting a full investigation into the incident. This was already being undertaken by Area VIII/Trikora Military Police.
The Commander appealed to the whole community to preserve unity and integrity. I am willing to engage in dialogue with every level of the community. However such dialogue must be in the context of the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila. So there are guidelines. Otherwise we have sedition, and for my part I cannot take part in dialogue of that sort. Especially when there is opposition to lawful authority as in the case of the raising of flags and suchlike. “The security forces will deal with that,” he warned.
Death
Meanwhile from enquiries made by Pembaruan it has been established that a sixth semester student of the Law Faculty at Uncen, Steven Suripati, who had previously been reported as dead (Pembaruan 3/7) was, as of 11.00am local time on Saturday (4/7) still in a critical condition. The casualty underwent a head operation on Friday evening. And according to the Director of Jayapura Regional Public Hospital, Dr. Yoseph Oyong the condition of the other casualty, Carolinna (Corry) is improving.
The condition of ABRI Sergeant Cl. 2 Dahlan who was beaten at the campus has become even more serious. He is being nursed at the Marthen Indey Military Hospital, Trikora Military Area Command, still unconscious and in a critical condition.
National Commission for Human Rights
Maj. General retired. Samsuddin, a member of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) expressed his concern at the conflict which occurred at the Irian Jaya Cenderawash University. “If the local offices of the Regional Government had been more accommodating it is my opinion that there was no need for this to happen. The National Commission will be seeking information from the Regional Government and security forces on the spot” he said to reporters in Jakarta on Friday (3/7) after receiving a delegation from the Irian Jaya Families Association in Jakarta.
A leader of the Irian Jaya Families Association, Yoris Raweyai urged the Komnas HAM to thoroughly investigate the troubling events in Irian Jaya. A similar appeal was made by the former activist in the struggle of the people of Irian Jaya, Marani. (069/139/A-14)
Translation source document 19-27
