20,000 people raised a rebel flag in Indonesia's eastern province of Irian Jaya on Wednesday, as President Abdurrahman Wahid went ahead with a trip to China despite mounting separatist tension at home. But Wahid said he did not rule out repression to solve unrest which threatens to tear his country apart, citing Irian Jaya, troubled Aceh and the violence-racked spice island of Ambon. It was also raised in other parts of Irian Jaya, the western side of New Guinea, where a low-key rebellion has operated against Jakarta's rule for years. Pro-independence leader Theys Eluay said autonomy within Indonesia, which Wahid's government has offered, was not enough. We reject the offer for autonomy.
Independence is the only choice.
We demand the withdrawal of the military from Irian Jaya before May 1, 2000,'' Eluay told reporters. In a statement issued in Jakarta, Wahid said he did not rule out repression. The military have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in both Irian Jaya and Aceh, in northern Sumatra. It has been pressing Wahid to declare martial law in Aceh, something Wahid has said he will not do. A military chief in Aceh said the rebel Free Aceh Movement was already in effective control of the region.