Indonesia must start dialogue

With Papuan rebels:

INDONESIA: The killing of Papuan rebel commander Kelly Kwalik may only fuel anti-Indonesian sentiment in the restive territory, underlining the need for talks with separatist leaders, analysts said.

Indonesia has succeeded in resolving separatist violence in Aceh and the Malukus since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship, but the resource-rich region of Papua remains an embarrassing thorn in Jakarta's side. Analysts said Kwalik's shooting by police last Wednesday would not prove fatal to the poorly armed Free Papua Movement (OPM) guerrillas, and could even strengthen separatist sentiment among Papua's ethnic Melanesian majority.

"Kwalik's death will intensify the Papuan people's struggle for independence," said Indonesian analyst Muridan Widjojo, who has been involved in efforts to foster trust and dialogue between the two sides.

"There will be growing distrust among Papuans towards the central government. This is a strong reason why a peaceful dialogue becomes an urgent need."

He said that although Kwalik was one of the most active OPM commanders and was the backbone of the insurgency around the strategic town of Timika, which serves a massive US-owned gold mine, other militants could take his place. Another six OPM leaders are still at large across Indonesia's easternmost region who could increase attacks on security forces and other symbols of Indonesian rule as revenge for Kwalik's death, he warned. "In this case, there's no other way but to hold peaceful dialogue in order to prevent a possible backlash," Widjojo said, adding that Kwalik's death was a blow to tentative, informal talks that had already taken place.

Analysts said Kwalik had been promoting dialogue through the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, an umbrella organisation of independence groups which has been seeking talks with Jakarta.

Jakarta,Tuesday, AFP