PAPUA--SEPARATIST'S FUNERAL PASSES PEACEFULLY BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 002093

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, EAP/ANP,
DS/IP/EAP, DS/ITA/EAP
NSC FOR D.WALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PNAT ASEC ID
SUBJECT: PAPUA--SEPARATIST'S FUNERAL PASSES PEACEFULLY BUT
REGION STILL TENSE

REF: JAKARTA 2070 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Timika region of south-central Papua
remains tense following the funeral of well-known separatist
leader Kelly Kwalik who died in a shootout with police. Some
local leaders have condemned the police action and maintained
that Kwalik was not involved in violent separatist
activities. Pro-independence activists have called for
further protests and there have been a few minor incidents of
conflict with the police. The police appear, so far, to have
the situation under control. However, the possibility of
further incidents or attacks remains real in the Timika area,
which is home to the mining operations of Freeport-McMoRan
Copper and Gold. Given the decentralized and fragmented
nature of Papuan separatist groups, Kwalik's death will
likely have little impact beyond that immediate area. END
SUMMARY.

MINOR INCIDENTS, SO FAR


2. (C) There have been a few minor incidents following the
death of Free Papua Movement (OPM) leader in a December 16
shootout with police (see reftel). On December 19 several
traditional leaders and regional legislators addressed a
crowd of 300-400 that had gathered outside the regional
legislature (DPRD) building, where Kwalik's coffin was on
display for the public to pay their respects. The speakers
condemned the police shooting and maintained that Kwalik was
not involved in the series of shooting attacks on the mining
operations of U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.
(Note: Some members of the local assembly are highly
critical of Jakarta's policy toward Papua and have called for
a referendum on the region's independence.) Following the
speeches, the crowd pelted nearby police with rocks. The
police fired into the air and dispersed the crowd. There
were no reports of serious injuries either among the police
or the protesters.


3. (C) Kwalik's body remained at the DPRD building for
several days pending resolution of a dispute within his clan
over the burial location. Local traditional leaders draped
Kwalik's coffin with the Morning Star flag, which Indonesian
authorities have banned as a separatist symbol. In most
cases, the authorities have arrested and prosecuted Papuans
for flying the flag. However, our contacts speculated that
police permitted use of the flag in this case so as not to
further inflame an already volatile situation.

FURTHER INCIDENTS, ATTACKS REMAIN POSSIBLE


4. (C) Timika's Catholic Bishop John Saklil led a funeral
mass on December 21, which passed without incident. Kwalik's
burial, which occurred late on December 22, also passed
peacefully. Some pro-independence activists have called for
Papuans in the Timika area to blockade Freeport's operations
in an effort to shut the mine down. However, the police are
maintaining a highly visible but restrained security posture
and appear to have the situation under control. The
authorities released five people, including a 10-year old
boy, who were detained during the raid in which Kwalik was
killed.


5. (C) Further shootings aimed at Freeport's operations also
remain possible. A particular danger, according to our
contacts in the Papua provincial government, is that other
aspiring OPM commanders will stage attacks in order to
bolster their claim to be Kwalik's successor.

LITTLE CHANGE LIKELY OUTSIDE TIMIKA


6. (C) Kwalik's death will likely have little impact on the
OPM outside of the Timika area. The group remains highly
fractured along ethnic and tribal lines. Kwalik, an ethnic
Amungme, had little authority beyond his fellow kinsmen
around Timika. Despite his limited geographical writ, Kwalik
rose to particular prominence because the Amungme have
mounted the most persistent claims to traditional ownership
of the land that contains Freeport's mining operations. As a
result, Kwalik's attacks have usually targeted the
high-profile international company.


OSIUS