PRE-ELECTION TENSIONS IN PAPUA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000634

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINS KDEM ID
SUBJECT: PRE-ELECTION TENSIONS IN PAPUA

REF: JAKARTA 59 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Tensions have ratcheted up in Indonesia's
eastern province of Papua just days before the national
legislative elections on April 9. In central Papua,
civilians and police sustained injuries on April 5 during a
protest by a group that called for a boycott of the
elections. The situation remains restive in Jayapura, the
provincial capital, following a police raid on a local Papuan
council. Officials have told us they are trying to tamp down
on the tensions and are exercising restraint. Emboff,
currently in Jayapura to observe the upcoming elections,
reports that the situation is tense but calm. END SUMMARY.

CLASH IN CENTRAL PAPUA


2. (C) Ahead of national legislative elections on April 9,
tensions have increased in the Papuan region of eastern
Indonesia. Police and protesters clashed during an April 5
rally in the central Papua town of Nabire. A coalition of
pro-independence groups called the National Committee for
West Papua (KNPB) had organized the rally to call for a
boycott of the upcoming elections. KNPB officials issued a
statement that urged Papuans to reject the vote and called
instead for a referendum on Papua's status within Indonesia.
The rally also hailed the recent establishment of an
organization called the "International Lawyers for West
Papua," a pro-Papua group based in the United States.


3. (C) There are differing accounts re why the rally turned
violent. KNPB activists claimed that the police fired into
the crowd unprovoked. Police sources told us that the
demonstrators had initiated the melee by throwing rocks and
firing arrows at the security forces. Seven civilians and
five police sustained injuries. Police have detained several
people in connection with the incident and have stepped-up
patrols in the area. Several other large demonstrations
occurred in the central Papuan highland region but these
remained peaceful.

TENSIONS IN PROVINCIAL CAPITAL


4. (C) Tensions are also high in Jayapura, the provincial
capital, following an April 3 police search of the offices of
the Papuan Customary Council (DAP). Police searched the
office following reports that elements connected with the DAP
planned to disrupt the election. (Note: Since late 2008 the
police have been investigating the DAP in connection with the
group's alleged role in organizing illegal demonstrations.
The demonstrations in question involved raising the "Morning
Star" flag, which the GOI has banned as a separatist symbol.
See reftel.)


5. (C) During the search, police officials confiscated
several computers, boxes of documents, over 100 small Morning
Star flags and other items. They also confiscated two
homemade firearms,. although DAP officials denied these
belonged to the organization. They claimed that the police
had planted the guns in the office.


6. (C) The search also triggered a brief altercation between
police and students who had come to the DAP office to protest
the police action. Officers detained some 15 students after
they had begun throwing rocks at the police. The authorities
released all but one of the students shortly after the
incident. There are no reports that any of the students were
mistreated.

PRESSING FOR RESTRAINT


7. (C) Local officials have told us that they are trying to
avoid any further escalation of tensions in advance of the
elections and are exercising restraint. Emboff, currently in
Jayapura to observe the upcoming elections, reports that the
situation in the provincial capital is tense but calm. So
far, police in Jayapura seem to have acted with restraint.
The situation in Nabire is less clear, given conflicting
reports of what provoked the clash between police and
protesters. However, the incidents underscore the level of
tension in Papua and highlight the possibility of further
unrest.


8. (C) President Yudhoyono planned to discuss the situation
in Papua and other election-related issues in a Cabinet
meeting on April 7. Vice President Kalla was particularly
concerned about the Papua situation, according to

JAKARTA 00000634 002 OF 002


Djohermansyah Djohan, an advisor to the VP. Djohan said the
Cabinet meeting would likely issue renewed instructions to
the security forces to prevent any further election-related
clashes in Papua.

HUME