A day after a historic peace deal was signed with rebels in Aceh province, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shifted his focus yesterday to the country's other simmering independence battle in resource-rich Papua.
In his first major address to parliament since becoming president last October, Yudhoyono ruled out independence for Papua -- instead offering increased autonomy -- and warned against any "foreign interference" in settling the matter.
"The government wishes to solve the issue in Papua in a peaceful, just and dignified manner by emphasizing dialogue and a persuasive approach," he said. "The policy for the settlement of the issue in Papua is ... special autonomy, as a just, comprehensive and dignified solution."
Indonesia took over Papua from Dutch colonial rule in 1963. Its sovereignty over the region was formalized in 1969 through a stage-managed vote by about 1,000 community leaders that critics dismissed as a sham.
A small, poorly armed separatist movement has battled Jakarta's rule ever since. About 100,000 Papuans -- one-sixth of the population -- have died in military operations.
Some hope for resolving the Papua dispute rests with a 2001 Indonesian law meant to give the province "special autonomy" in running its government and managing its abundant oil, gold, copper and timber resources.
A few hundred protesters demonstrated yesterday against Papuan independence outside the US consulate in Surabay. Meanwhile in Papua, Yudhoyono's comments were criticized by pro-independence supporters as "disappointing" but were welcomed by more moderate leaders.
"We appreciate the president's offer to solve the issue in Papua in a peaceful and dignified manner by emphasizing dialogue and a persuasive approach," said Leo Imbiri, general secretary of the Papua Tribal Council. "We hope this isn't an old song that is always repeated by the government without any real implementation."
The issue of Papua's future has taken on increased importance following Monday's signing of a peace agreement between the government and separatist rebels in Aceh. The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a peace accord in Helsinki on Monday after six months of negotiations, paving the way for an end to almost three decades of bloodshed.
Both sides agreed to end hostilities immediately in the province of 4.1 million people at the northern end of Sumatra island. The agreement contains provisions for an amnesty for separatist rebels, the creation of political parties allowing ex-guerrillas to run for office in the province and a withdrawal of non-local security forces by the end of the year.
The agreement also provides amnesty for GAM members and gives the province limited self-government and control over 70 percent of the revenue from its mineral wealth, including oil and natural gas.
An amnesty is due to be granted to GAM members and political prisoners within two weeks, and a human rights court and a truth and reconciliation commission will be established. GAM agreed to decommission its arms and demobilize its 3,000 fighters under the accord, which will be monitored by 200 unarmed foreigners.
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