Strasbourg, 18/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament adopted a resolution at an emergency debate on Papua New Guinea (Irian Jaya) and Celebes. It has therefore condemned the murder on 10 November of Papuan leader, Theys Eluay, and calls for the Indonesian government to carry out a thorough and objective inquiry into the matter. It has also asked for the disbanding of the Kopassus units, who are perceived as posing a daily threat to the Papuan population, and replacing them with a specifically Papuan police force. Parliament called on the Indonesian government to put an end to the commercial activities of the army in Papua, and reasserted its commitment to see the Papuan people's culture respected and protected.
As for the island of Celebes, Parliament has requested that the Indonesian government puts a stop to the violence and re-establishes the means for ensuring peaceful cohabitation between Muslims and Christians. The Indonesian authorities have also been asked to dismantle the Laskar Jihad terrorist organisation, responsible for much of the atrocities carried out in the Moluccas in recent years, and bring the culprits to justice. Parliament has requested that the EU examine ways in which could help to bring about and support a reconciliation process and study measures that could be used in implementing and improving economic development in the area.