PAPUA -- IN LEAD UP TO IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002102

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/ANP, DRL, DRL/AWH
NSC FOR E.PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINS ID
SUBJECT: PAPUA -- IN LEAD UP TO IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY,
TENSIONS SIMMER

REF: JAKARTA 2084 AND PREVIOUS

JAKARTA 00002102 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Tensions continue to simmer in the Papuan
region of eastern Indonesia. Popular anger is fed by slow
implementation of the region's Special Autonomy Law and
continued poverty and underdevelopment. In response to
Papuan anger, the GOI continues to act with general
restraint. In the lead up to December 1, the day that
Papuans celebrate the 1961 raising of their (illegal)
regional flag, there are concerns that rallies and street
action will test GOI patience some more. Mission continues
to be in touch with contacts urging that they work peacefully
and in a cooperative way with the government for change. END
SUMMARY.

SIMMERING TENSIONS


2. (C) A spate of recent demonstrations in eastern
Indonesia's Papua and West Papua provinces has highlighted
simmering tensions in the region. In the past few days, many
Papuan cities have witnessed demonstrations to mark the
anniversary of the November 11, 2001, murder of Papuan
separatist leader Theys Eluay (reftel). (Note: In 2003, a
court convicted seven members of the Indonesian military for
their role in the murder. Despite the convictions, many
Papuans remain irate over what they consider lenient
sentences meted out to the killers.)


3. (C) Papuans have also expressed anger that the
authorities have still not charged anyone in the fatal August
9 shooting of Opinus Tabuni. Tabuni was shot during a
peaceful rally to mark United Nations Indigenous Peoples' Day
in the central highland town of Wamena. Many Papuans suspect
the security forces were responsible for the killing.


4. (C) While the situation has remained largely peaceful,
contacts have told us that they fear things could get even
more tense following another recent incident. In this
November 12 incident, police in Sorong, West Papua, killed
one person following a clash with a crowd that had assembled
after a motorcycle struck and seriously injured a child.
According to law enforcement contacts, after the accident, a
large crowd gathered near the scene and began burning
motorcycles and roadside food stalls. Many of the crowd
carried spears, knives and other traditional weapons. The
crowd reportedly clashed with police, who fired on them with
rubber bullets. One civilian who was shot at close range
died after the clash.


5. (C) In an effort to keep a lid on the situation, the
Papua Police Chief General F.X. Bagus Ekodanto visited the
scene on November 13 and met with local leaders. The family
of the victim has demanded that those responsible for the
shooting be prosecuted and the police have promised to
investigate the matter. Contacts in Sorong say that the
situation remains tense.

UNDERLYING CAUSES


6. (C) While there have been recent incidents that have
jacked up tensions, several underlying and long-standing
political and economic causes contribute to the tensions in
the region. Many Papuans are frustrated with the slow
implementation of the provinces' Special Autonomy Law.
(Note: Under the law, the provincial government assumes
responsibility for all areas of governance except foreign
affairs, defense and security, fiscal and monetary policy,
religious affairs and justice.) Numerous Papuan contacts
have told POLOFF that they have seen few concrete results
from the law, despite its being on the books for seven years.
These Papuans allege that Jakarta officials are conspiring

JAKARTA 00002102 002.2 OF 002


to retain control of the province and its enormous
natural-resource wealth in the interests of the central
government.


7. (C) Papuans also chafe at restrictions on freedom of
expression. A number of Papuans have faced treason charges
for their involvement in peaceful protests where activists
raised the "Morning Star" flag. (Note: The GOI considers
the flag a separatist symbol and has banned its use.)
Additionally, the GOI has banned two different books by
Papuan authors in the past year. The government has said
that the books--which purport to describe GOI "crimes"
Papua--threaten public order in the region. All of this
leads to a situation where many Papuans believe that their
voices are not being heard, according to contacts.


8. (C) Finally, Papua and West Papua continue to lag behind
other regions of Indonesia in almost every economic and
development indicator. The region has the country's highest
rates of HIV/AIDS, the lowest educational attainment and the
least developed infrastructure.

HEADING TOWARD DECEMBER 1


9. (C) The GOI has another story to tell. According to
Jakarta, the reasons for the lagging implementation of the
autonomy law are many. The Papua provincial government lacks
the administrative and institutional capacity to manage the
responsibilities delegated to it under the law. The
government of West Papua lags even further behind in this
respect. Additionally, policy differences between Papua
Governor Barnabas Suebu and district heads in the province
have stalled much of the provincial government's agenda,
particularly on the economic development front. GOI
officials say they are working hard with provincial
authorities to improve governance in the region.


10. (C) In the near-term, there are concerns about the
situation in the lead up to December 1, the day that Papuans
celebrate the raising of their (illegal) regional flag.
(Note: On December 1, 1961, the Dutch colonial
administration first allowed Papuans to use the "Morning
Star" Flag and other symbols of sovereignty.) There are
concerns that rallies and street actions commemorating this
occasion will test GOI patience some more. Mission continues
to be in touch with contacts urging that they work peacefully
and in a cooperative way with the government for change.


HUME