TNI NOT TO TAKE HARSH ACTION AGAINST OPM

Jakarta, May 28 (ANTARA) - National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said the military would not take "short-shrift" action against the separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM) including the OPM gunmen who have been occupying Kaisiepo airport since May 19, 2009.

"We don't want to take short-shrift action against the OPM because among the gunmen there are also civilians," the TNI chief said here on Thursday.

He said TNI had coordinated with Papua police to use a persuasive approach to the OPM gunmen who were continuing to occupy the Kaisiepo air strip.

"We have agreed to make a persuasive approach. We don't want to take firm action because if we do, we may come under the international spotlight," Santoso said.

Commenting on the deadline given to the OPM gunmen to leave the airport, the TNI chief said it would entirely depend on the Papua police.

"The deadline for the OPM depends on the police," Djoko Santoso said.

Meanwhile, Papua Police chief Inspector General FX Bagus Ekodanto said he had sent a police force from Freeport to Membramo following a report from Membramo district head on the OPM's gunmen's occupation of Kaisiepo airport.

Bagus said that besides sending the police force, the Papua Police had coordinated with the local church and community figures to negotiate with the gunmen.

"If the negotiation fails, the Papua Police will manage to retrieve the airport and normalize the situation in Membramo Raya," Bagus said, adding that besides occupying the airport the OPM gunmen had also raised the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag.