Courier-Mail (Queensland)
November 27, 2004
Thousands of Papuans Flee Troops
By Greg Poulgrain
THOUSANDS of people were starving after they were driven from
their villages by Indonesian forces and militia groups, a
Papuan leader claimed yesterday.
Tom Beanal said the number of Papuan refugees now exceeded
15,000 people from 147 villages. Some were forced to hide in
caves in the mountains in the central Puncak Jaya district.
"These people do not have food. People are starving to death.
They need food now," he said.
The death of 15 peoples, mainly children, was reported on
Thursday.
There are tent encampments for 2800 troops in several locations
around Tingginambut, 25km from Mulia in Puncak Jaya.
These are blocking off access to Papuans who fled into the forest
in October seeking refuge from machine-gunners in helicopters.
Mr Beanal and other Papuan groups claim that the mid-October
incident which prompted military action was a fabrication.
The feared Kopassus special forces reported that six non-Papuans
were killed in a bullet-ridden burnt-out car but no bodies were
seen.
Indonesia has fought a low-level battle against separatist OPM
guerillas since the 1960s. In the past year, the military has
faced allegations that it is using East Timor-style militia
groups to stir up regional hostilities.
Mr Beanal said the axing to death last week of two government
officialsand a policeman was the work of militia. When he briefed newly
electedVice-President Jusuf Kalla in Sulawesi this week, he explained
that onemilitia comprised 2000 Papuans, mainly from the Dani tribe.
He accused the military of "wanting to turn Papua into another
Aceh",a reference to the western Indonesian province where troops are
fightinga determined independence movement.
In his talks with Mr Kalla, Mr Beanal said the army had undermined
autonomy and was urging President Susilo Bambang Yudhuyono to
establish a new army command of 3000 troops in Puncak Jaya. Mr
Beanal is the acting executive director of the political mass
organisation Papua Presidium Council and has emerged as a
leading spokesman since the assassination three years ago of
independence figure Theys Eluay.***
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