"Despite several incidents, the local people are still carrying out their normal activities," Djoko said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chief security minister Djoko Suyanto said the situation in Papua remained relatively conducive despite several separatist flag raising incidents and attacks on police officers.

"Despite several incidents, the local people are still carrying out their normal activities," he said at a press conference in the company of National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo and the chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Marciano Norman, here on Thursday.

Djoko said situation in Papua was relatively secure and under control unlike before the commemoration of the separatist Free Papua Movement`s (OPM) anniversary when shops were closed, community members threatened to be caught in a sweep, the military and police reported to conduct tight operations to make people unable to conduct their daily activities.

"That did not happen now. People remained conducting their activities well. This means people have had good resilience against various rumours aimed at disturbing the situation in Papua," he said.

Djoko said the government had ordered security personnel from both the military (TNI) and the police to take persuasive approach in dealing with incidents linked to the OPM anniversary.

"Our order to the security personnel in Papua is to take persuasive approach as much as possible and avoid violence. That is what we have always emphasized. The order is clear," he said.

Djoko said the OPM and other groups were expected to also not conduct violence on apparatus. "It must be fair," he said.

He hoped in the future all parties would not resort to anarchy and attack security apparatus. "They would certainly not take actions if noone violates the law or conduct anarchy. Security personnel would even help guard any community activity so long as it is not carried out against the law," he said.

Moreover, he said, some OPM anniversary activities also included prayer services for the best of Papua`s future.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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