INDONESIA: Military role in Papua challenged
Updated
Indonesia is under pressure for posting a colonel indicted for crimes against humanity in East Timor, to the province of Papua. The move comes as the Indonesian military and Indonesian-backed militia are reportedly stepping up their activities in Papua -- which is home to simmering separatist movement. Human rights groups have appealed to Indonesia's president, and called for international intervention.
Presenter: Steve Holland
Speakers: Rev Socratez Yoman, President of the Communion of Baptist Churches in Papua Province; Matthew Jamieson, from the Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
HOLLAND: In an open letter to the Indonesian president more than 30 humanitarian groups jointly called for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to urgently review his country's military presence in Papua.
LETTER; Dear President Yudhoyono, We are writing to express our grave concern about the tenure of Col. Burhanuddin Siagian as commander of the Jayapura sub-regional military command in Papua. Col. Siagian has been indicted twice for crimes against humanity in East Timor. Indonesia has not complied with its obligations under international law and Indonesian domestic law to prosecute Col. Siagian for his alleged crimes, and it has furthermore failed to extradite him to East Timor for trial. Instead he has been promoted and appointed to command a large military unit within a highly sensitive area.
HOLLAND: According to indictments issued by the Special Panel for Serious Crimes of Dili District Court, Col. Siagian made public speeches threatening to kill East Timor's pro-independence supports. It's believed those statements, made in 1999, directly led to the deaths of a number of Timorese civilians. Siagian has since been charged with crimes against humanity. These include: torture; murder; persecution; and the forcible transfer of a civilian population. According to a recently released report in the Cenderawasih Post, Col Siagian is using tactics similar to those he is accused of employing in East Timor. The Cenderawasih Post quotes him as saying: "If I meet anyone who has enjoyed the facilities that belong to the state, but who still betrays the nation, I honestly will destroy him." The statement was reportedly made in response to demands by students and youths for a review of Papua's history.
