Indonesia claims no security escalation in Papua

A senior Indonesian official said that government does not intend to intensify security precautions in Papua following the recent fatal incidents allegedly linked to separatist movements in the region, local media reported here on Monday . Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said the government would stick to its socioeconomic approach, emphasizing the importance of improving the welfare of citizens of the region in efforts to ease conflicts. He said that the recent charge of treason against six Papuans following a local congress that declared Papuan independence did not indicate an emerging state in the region. "Law enforcement measures against those charged with treason does not mean that the government is beginning to address Papuan problems in more militaristic ways. We believe that intensifying security approaches will not solve [the problems]," Julian was quoted by the Jakarta Post. The National Police broke up the third Papuan Peoples' Congress in Abepura, Papua, on Wednesday after participants reportedly raised the prohibited Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, and issued a declaration of independence. About 300 of the 5,000 who attended the congress were arrested. At least three bodies were found near the area where the congress was held. During the same time, three people were shot dead and another three were wounded in Timika. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would not tolerate any form of treason, leading to the treason charges against the six suspects who had allegedly orchestrated the congress. Police and the Indonesian Army have been hunting the group allegedly responsible for the Timika shooting. The government has denied security forces were involved in the killings. Julian blamed local administrations for failing to manage the annual special autonomy funds disbursed from Jakarta to the regions. "The central government has disbursed trillions of special autonomy funds to the Papua and West Papua provinces," Julian said. He pointed out that it is the local administrations that determine how to spend the budget in development programs. He was amazed that despite the funding allocated for the province, Papuans are still far from public facilities.