Irian activist's life threatened

Independence activists are calling for an independent inquiry into Eluay's death

By Amy Chew

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- A leading pro-independence activist in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya says he has received a death threat, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the territory's failed bid for sovereignty from Dutch colonial rule.

Thoha Al-Hamid of the separatist Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) said the threat said he would suffer the same fate as Theys Eluay, the PDP's chairman, who was killed on November 10.

"On the night of November 28, I received an SMS (short message service) on my mobile saying: "Brother Thoha, be prepared to follow Father Theys," Thoha told CNN from the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.

Eluay was found dead in his car at the bottom of a ravine on the outskirts of Jayapura after having dinner with a local military commander.

Police has classified his death as "murder" -- the military has rejected allegations from Eluay's family and associates that it was involved in his death.

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"I was shocked. We are not safe. We need a guarantee for our right to live," said Thoha who is the PDP's secretary-general and a right-hand man of Eluay.

Asked whether he regarded the threat as serious, Thoha said: "How can I not regard this as serious because just a few weeks ago, Theys Eluay was killed."

"It is not impossible that those in power are using violent ways to finish off their political enemies and I am considered an enemy for fighting for independence," Thoha added.

The PDP has been waging a campaign for independence through peaceful negotiations, and shunning the hardline stance of the armed Free Papua movement, which has waged a low level insurgency for decades.

Failed bid

The Indonesian military will head an inquiry into Eluay's death

On Saturday, the PDP will celebrate the 40th anniversary of a declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule by tribal chiefs in 1961.

At the time Indonesia's founding father, President Sukarno, rejected the declaration, arguing that since Irian Jaya, also known as West Papua, had been part of the Dutch colonial empire that gained independence as Indonesia, it should remain part of the new nation.

The Netherlands transferred sovereignty to Indonesia in 1963. This was formalized with a U.N. sanctioned vote for integration by about 1,000 tribal leaders, which included Theys Eluay, in 1969.

Indonesian police have reinforced their presence around the province for Saturday's anniversary.

"We have mobilized 400 extra personnel. The situation in Papua is normal today and my police chief expects the situation to be orderly tomorrow as well," police spokesman, Janner Pasaribu, told CNN.

Last year's anniversary was marred by clashes between independence supporters and security forces, resulting in the death of some 10 people.

But this year, the PDP said the celebrations would be peaceful, saying it will hold prayers and tribal procession to mark the anniversary.

"We will hold prayers in churches...and tribal processions. We are avoiding activities which are political in nature as it could be manipulated or give rise to repressive measures to be taken. The people have suffered enough," said the PDP's Thoha.

Resource-rich Irian Jaya is home to the world's largest copper and gold mine, operated by PT Freeport Indonesia, a unit of New Orleans-based Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc.

Independence supporters see Jakarta as plundering its vast resources without heeding its basic rights and welfare.

In response, the Indonesian government has granted special autonomy status to the province in an attempt to ease separatist tensions.