PRESIDENT ASKED NOT TO RESPOND TO US CONGRESS OVER OPM ISSUE

By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, Aug. 10 (ANTARA) - Legislators and activists have called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to respond to a U.S. Congress letter asking him to release two sympathizers of the outlawed Free Papua Organization (OPM), Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage.

         "The president must firmly reject the request," Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid said here on Sunday.

         The MPR chairman made the statement in response to a report that 40 US Congressmen had written to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of the two sympathizers of the outlawed separatist OPM.

         Karma and Pakage were sentenced to 15 years and 10 years imprisonment respectively in May 2005 for hoisting a separatist "Bintang Kejora" (Morning Star) flag in Abepura, Papua, on December 1, 2004.

         "This is a form of intervention into the nation's sovereignty," Nurwahid said expressing his regret.

         Abdillah Toha, chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives (DPR), concurred with Nuwahid, saying there was no need for the president to respond to the US congressmen's request.

         "The US Congress is free to write letters to anyone for the sake of its constituents. So, if the president responds to it, he should only explain Indonesia's present legal system," he said.

          Former chairman of the Executive Board of Islamic Students Organization (HMI), Anas Urbaningrum said Papua is a province within Indonesia's territory and sovereignty. Thus, it is a matter of Indonesia's domestic affairs.

          "That is why it is not proper for the parliaments of other countries to meddle into others' internal affairs," Urbaningrum who is now an executive chairman of the Democrat Party said.

          He said that a member of parliament of a big country like the United States should understand the principles of mutual respect towards the domestic affairs of other countries.

          "Yet, what happens with the US Congress. They show arrogance and attitude as if they could serve as police for other countries," he said.

         Therefore, he said that the US Congress letter need not be replied. "If we should reply it, we should only explain the principles of good relations and mutual respect," Urbaningrum said.

         Hajriyanto Yasseir Thohari of the Commission I of the DPR which deals with foreign affairs, said the letter indicated that the US Congress was ignorant about the unitary state condition of Indonesia.

         "With the letter it is clear that they are ignorant about Indonesia's democracy and law. Indonesia is no less democratic than the United States, and it is neither inferior to the United States in terms of law enforcement, because Indonesia upholds legal supremacy," Thohari said.

          Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR Yusron Ihza Mahendra said if the United States alleged that injustice had taken place in Papua, they were actually triggered by the United States itself.

          "Local people have been focusing a spot light on the presence of Freeport in Timika and other foreign investors, including the British Petroleum in Bintuni, as a source of injustice," he said.    
     Yusron said that as a result of injustice with regard to abundant natural resources they could not enjoy, certain local people who did not understand the problem were than trapped in establishing a movement against the government of Indonesia.

         Andreas H Pareira, another member of the House's Commission I  said that the maneuver being played by the US Congressmen was a litmus test for President Yudhoyono.

         "It will indicate whether or not Yudhoyono would show his sovereign authority or merely act as a puppet serving the interest of another country," Pareira said.

         Meanwhile, thousands of activists of the Indonesian Islamic Organization Hizbut Tahir Indonesia (HTI) staged a rally outside the  U.S. Consulate General in East Java on Sunday protesting the US Congress.

         This was the second rally held by the HTI in two days. On Saturday, tens of them staged a rally in front of the US embassy in Jakarta warning Washington not to meddle in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

        The demonstrators unfurled banners reading "HTI Rejects US Intervention in Papua" and "Prevent the Nation's Disintegration".

        "The US said that freedom of thought and expression should be respected while in fact the two OPM members had committed a rebellious act and hoisted the morning star flag," Rally coordinator Fikri A Zudian said.

         Therefore, the HTI would call on the President to turn down the US Congressmen's request, and see that the two OPM sympathizers stay in jail.

        "The government must reject any kind of intervention. Don't pay attention to the US Congress' letter," Sodik Ramadhan, another  rally coordinator, said.

         Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said on Saturday he will soon answer the US Congress' letter.

        "We will answer the letter as soon as possible. In essence, we will ask the US government to respect the legal decisions made in our country," he said.

         Yet, Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said that until Sunday morning he had not received the US Congress letter.

         "Up to know, we still have not yet received the letter," the minister said.

         In the meantime, the United States government issued a statement on Sunday through its embassy in Jakarta that it supported Indonesia's full sovereignty and integrity and did not support any separatist movements in Indonesia, including in Papua.

          It supported the Indonesian government in applying Law No. 21 / 2002 on Regional Autonomy in Papua and West Papua. (T.A014/A/HNG/B003)  10-08-2008 22:32:07