Indonesians Fire On W. Irian Tribesmen

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 11

Indonesians Fire On W. Irian Tribesmen

ly.i.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) DJAKARTA, March 16. Indonesian troops have been forced to open fire on rebellious tribesmen in West Irian, the Foreign Minister, Dr. Adam Malik, said today

Interviewed by the official armed forces newspaper, he denied reports that 1000 I r i ane s e had been killed in a Government offensive to put down an uprising in the “Birds’ Head’’ region in the northern part of West Irian.

“When our troops were attacked they had to fire ” Mr Malik said. Questioned about 1000 tribesmen being killed, he, said: “It is not as many asi that. We should realise any exaggeration of the situation in West Irian will only benefit the Necolim (Neo-colonial-) ism and imperialism). Mr Malik admitted that there was unrest in West Irian, Indonesia’s farthest eastern territory, bordering Australian administered Pa-pua-New Guinea, but he said; it was being settled. “Situation Critical” On March 9. a West Irian representative, Mr F. Karubuy, told the People’s Consul-) tative Congress, Indonesia’s! highest legislative body, that the situation in his area was critical.

He warned that the tribesmen were taking up arms against the central Government because of a lack of food and clothing. There were no political motives for the revolt, he said. On March 11. another West

Irian congressman, Mr Silas Papare, appealed to the Government to halt air force machine-gunning and rocket attacks on tribal villages.

He claimed that as many as 1000 villagers had been killed and said that a rebellion was raging near Manokwari. in the far north, led by two fierce Arfak chiefs, Aum and Lodewyk. In today’s interview, Mr Malik said the Government was striving to develop West Irian, but it would take time. He gave an assurance that a plebiscite would be held in West Irian in 1969 to deter-

mine whether the people there were content with their membership of the Indonesian Republic. Mr Malik’s assurance comes after bitter complaints by West Irian representatives that their area is being ignored by the central Government.