Indonesian eyes on Papua New Guinea

Press, 29 August 1979, Page 20

Indonesian eyes on Papua New Guinea

There is growing anxiety in Port Moresby and Canberra that Indonesia may be contemplating the annexation of Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.). Even the former Governor-General of P.N.G., Sir John Guise, has spoken of Jakarta’s “expansionist designs.”

These anxieties have been intensified by the recent exposure of a secret Indonesian Department of Defence and Security document outlining a plan for the subversion of P.N.G. Jakarta has been increasingly irritated by its inability to suppress a nine-year guerrilla war in its far-flung province of West Papua (West Irian) which shares a common border with P.N.G. Its efforts to crush the rebels are hampered by the establishment of guerrilla base camps across the border in P.N.G., where there is considerable feeling against Indonesia. The Indonesian document draws parallels between West Papua and East Timor, the former Portuguese colony taken over by Jakarta in 1975. It stresses that “positive measures” are

necessary “to protect the security of the State from each threat that may arise.” It says experience shows that instability in areas adjoining Indonesia can not only threaten the security and stability of Indonesia, but can also invite foreign intervention.

The document reveals that a plan called Operation Bird of Paradise was drawn up in late 1975, and accepted and implemented a year later. The first phase, from 1975-79, was aimed at generating popular support in P.N.G. for integration with Indonesia.

Jakarta’s intelligence agents were to be placed in eight strategically located groups within P.N.G. Their task would be to make pro-Indonesian propaganda directed principally at “the village people, high school and university students, and local political party members.”

The second phase of the operation, from 1979-83, is the integration of Papua New Guinea into Indonesia “via peaceful and constitutional means.” To achieve this, “by 1984, the entire territory will have a P.N.G.

People’s Movement which wishes to integrate into the Republic of Indonesia." Increasingly, observers are anxiously interpreting recent events as evidence of the document’s authenticity. They cite examples of leading public figures in P.N.G. who are increasingly favourable to Indonesian interests. Under the present P.N.G. Government, there has been a rapid expansion of political, economic, and cultural ties with Indonesia. At the signing of a Joint Technical Co-operation Treaty in June, the Indonesian Minister of Political and Social Affairs, Mr Maraden Panggabean, called for “closer ties” and “greater co-operation" between the two countries. > During a recent meeting with President Suharto, the P.N.G. Opposition Leader, Mr lambakey Okuk, urged Indonesia to invest in the development of P.N.G.’s vast oil and copper reserves. Last month a prominent P.N.G. opposition politician, Ms Josephine Abaijah, demanded that P.N.G. join Indonesia to form “one united country” in a “Federation of Greater Indonesia.”

ing of Holomba villagers suspected of aiding the geurrillas and the looting and destruction of their houses and food gardens in May, 1978. A couple of months later, Indonesian soldiers razed a hunters’ camp at Sawan and burned the stocks of sago held there. The new border agreement between Jakarta and Port Moresby formalises Indonesia’s hot pursuit raids into P.N:G. It makes it obligatory

Indonesian troops have been crossing the border in hot pursuit of guerrillas from West Irian on a regular and increasing basis. Extending up to 20 miles inside P.N.G., these raids have, included the killing and wound-

for both parties to take “joint action,” involving “tough new measures” against “antiGovernment activity” in the border area. Beginning in June last year, there have been several such joint military operations against the guerrillas. By collaborating with the Indonesians in the “suppres - - sion of fellow Melanesians,” critics accuse P.N.G.’s Prime Minister, Mr Michael Somare, of appeasement.

■ Furthermore, they claim that the P.N.G. Government has for years been secretly and forcibly returning thousands of West Papuan refugees to the Indonesian side of the border.

In May, 1977, 1000 refugees were repatriated. They had tied from reprisals after mass protests against the Indonesian-imposed elections. Lately, these deportations have been taking place openly, but still without the S.omare Government having secured any guarantee of the returnees’ immunity from reprisals. An airline employee entrusted with the task of fly. ing refugees back across the border, believes that many of them are shot on their return.

He alleges that on more than one occasion his plane was met at the airport by armed Indonesian soldiers who marched the returnees into fields behind the aircraft hangars. Shortly afterwards, he heard repeated automatic-weapon fire, and the troops returned alone. There are reports that 200 refugees who returned from P.N.G. in early 1978 were executed in Merauke Prison. These reports have provoked Mr Robert Sampaikuman of the United Nations High Commission for Re* fugees to state that the lives of many refugees would be in danger if they were sent back. 0.F.N.5., Copyright.

PETER TATCHELL, in Papua New Guinea, describes growing Indonesian interest in an independent member of the Commonwealth. A second article tomorrow will discuss the independence movement against Indonesia being fought in the western half of New Guinea island.