By Matthew Gilmore
Sources in West Papua report a massive build-up of Indonesian firepower and personnel in the past weeks. A report from Biak indicates that the Indonesian military has tortured and killed a youth, Rumpaidus (20), from the village of Mokmer, 10 km from Biak town, about March 10.
The number of military personnel in West Papua has risen substantially, with one source reporting 24,000 Indonesian troops currently stationed there.
The West Papua Revolutionary Youth Movement indicated that there are a total of 50,000 troops together with 12,000 support personnel currently stationed in West Papua. The group states that there is one squadron of 24 British-supplied Skyhawk aircraft stationed in Biak, Jayapura and Timika.
Reports from Timika indicate that 3000-4000 troops have been moved in since March 30. "Every day from morning to night, Air Force Hercules have been arriving and taking off again, bringing in soldiers and military police. Troops have also arrived by sea, and a warship of the Indonesian Navy has been stationed at Port Site, Amamapare."
Twelve helicopters are moving these troops into the mountains, apparently in anticipation of action against the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) under the command of Kelly Kwalik.
On April 12, one day before its meeting with Freeport boss Jim Moffett, the office of the Amungme Tribal Council, LEMASA, was raided by armed security forces. Soldiers disrupted the council meeting that was in progress and searched all the rooms.
At the Freeport meeting, apparently Moffett handed over an envelope with the company's response. The contents of the envelope were not read out or discussed.
Freeport later issued a statement that an agreement had been reached. Freeport said that it would double the number of local people in its work force within five years, and double that number again in the following five years. There are currently between 900 and 1500 local workers, and more than 15,000 Indonesians working for Freeport.
Freeport said it would dedicate 1% of its revenue over the next 10 years to fund these efforts and a community development plan. This would be about US$15 million per year.
Freeport also stated that it has spent in excess of $100 million on similar community projects over the past seven years, so it looks like the real increase in commitment is only about $1 million per year.
[For more information about West Papua, contact Australia West Papua Association, PO box 65, Millers Point NSW 2000, ph: (02) 387 5475, fax (02) 386 1497, or email wpra@peg.apc.org.]