Papua rebel leader flies flag in jail<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post\/Jayapura<\/p>\n
Although he spends his days and nights in a cramed prison cell,
\nthe spirit to fight for Papua's independence still burns brightly
\nin the heart of convicted rebel, Filep Karma.<\/p>\n
Disregarding the severe consequences, Filep proudly hoisted
\nthe Morning Star flag on the prison's roof in Jayapura on
\nThursday as hundreds of Papua independence supporters held street
\nrallies to commemorate the independence of Papua on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
The supporters themselves were prevented from displaying the
\noutlawed flag at Trikora field in town, as their attempts were
\nsuccessfully scuttled by the Indonesian Police.<\/p>\n
\"I am being kept in jail, but it does not dampen my spirit to
\nfight for Papua's independence,\" Filep told The Jakarta Post.
\nFilep, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison earlier this year
\nfor committing state treason, said he was willing to bear any
\nconsequences for his act.<\/p>\n
He refused, however, to reveal who secreted the flag to him.<\/p>\n
Filep climbed a building in the prison compound on Thursday
\nafternoon and waved the Morning Star from the roof while shouting
\n\"Papua Freedom!\"<\/p>\n
Chief of security at Abepura prison, Korneles Rumbairusi, said
\nhe had no idea how Filep was able to climb the prison building
\nand wave the flag, the symbol of Papuan independence. He had no
\nidea either as to how the flag was smuggled into the prison.<\/p>\n
Responding to the incident, chief of Jayapura police Adj. Sr.
\nComr. Paulus Waterpauw said police were still investigating six
\nsecurity guards and a woman convict who saw Filep waving the
\nflag. \"This stunt could very well get him a fat sentence
\nextension,\" Waterpauw asserted.<\/p>\n
Filep was arrested last year for leading a ceremony
\ncommemorating Papua independence on Dec. 1. He led a flag-
\nhoisting ceremony in Trikora field in Jayapura town, which ended
\nwith a clash between Papuan independence supporters and
\nIndonesian Police. Besides being jailed, Filep was also
\ndischarged from his position as a civil servant with the Papua
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Dec. 1 was declared Papuan independence day by separatists who
\nproclaimed the state of West Papua on Dec. 1, 1962.<\/p>",
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