President Chairs Limited Cabinet Meeting on Papua

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at his office here on Tuesday chaired a limited cabinet meeting on the latest security situation in Papua province. The meeting was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto; Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono; Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa; the Law and Human Rights Minister, Amir Syamsuddin; Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi; Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam; the Chief of the Armed Forces, Admiral Agus Suhartono; the Chief of the National Police, General Timur Pradopo; and several other ministers. Over the last several months, Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua has seen random shootings by unidentified people in various locations. The latest shooting incident occurred at the University of Cendrawasih's campus on Sunday evening (June 10). During a hearing with the Parliament on Monday, Marciano Norman - the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Indonesia's intelligence agency - said that a separatist group called the Free Papua Movement (OPM) was behind the recent shootings in Papua. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, has condemned the recent shootings of civilians, foreigners, and military and police personnel in Papua. "The acts were against the efforts aimed at creating peace in Papua and accelerating development programs in the region," he remarked at a press conference. (*)