By Lindsay Murdoch
Sydney Morning Herald
December 1, 2000

Indonesian security forces have been ordered to be ready to shoot any armed separatists at pro-independence rallies scheduled across West Papua today. But the leaders of some radical groups in the provincial capital, Jayapura, warned they would attack Indonesian settlers if the security forces opened fire at the rallies, being organized to mark a failed 1961 declaration of independence from The Netherlands. "If there is an incident, thousands of our people will come out of the jungle to fight," a rebel leader said yesterday. Jayapura's police chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Daud Sihombing, earlier told hundreds of heavily armed police and soldiers that if any problem arises at the rallies "we must not hesitate to take action". "We have to do what we have to do in accordance with procedures," he said. "If you have to use your weapon, just do it. We must show the people we are ready to protect them from anybody who wants to make trouble."

But Colonel Sihombing also urged security personnel not to use force against unarmed protesters. "If you are hit or somebody throws something, use your shield to cover yourself," he told the police and soldiers. "But if any of them bring out any kind of sharp weapons and there is no other way to protect the people and ourselves, then you must use your weapon." Fears of a bloodbath in the province, also known as Irian Jaya, have escalated since police and troops began a crackdown on pro-independence leaders on Wednesday. Police and soldiers on trucks and in two armored personnel carriers yesterday paraded around Jayapura's streets in a show of force aimed at discouraging any public challenge to Indonesia's rule.