PDP to celebrate Papua's 41st anniversary on Dec. 1<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
The proindependence Papuan Council Presidium (PDP) plans to
\ncelebrate the 41st anniversary of Papua independence on Dec. 1 at
\nthe residence of the late Dortheys "Hiyo" Eluway, according to a
\npresidium executive.<\/p>\n
PDP secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid said here on Tuesday the
\npresidium and its supporters would simultaneously raise the
\nMorning Star Papuan flag and the Indonesian flag during a simple
\nceremony at Theys' residence in Sentani, some 40 kilometers north
\nof Jayapura.<\/p>\n
"Before the independence celebration, we will visit the graves
\nof Papuan leaders, especially Theys, to honor their struggle for
\nPapuan independence," he said.<\/p>\n
Theys was allegedly killed by several members of the Army's
\nSpecial Forces (Kopassus) after attending a National Heroes Day
\ncelebration at the Kopassus compound in Jayapura on Nov. 10,
\n2001. His body was found in a Kijang minivan in Koya Tengah
\nvillage, near the Papua New Guinea border, on Nov. 11.<\/p>\n
Nine Kopassus members, including two middle-ranking officers,
\nhave been charged with involvement in the murder.<\/p>\n
Theys' driver Aristoteles Soka, who presumedly witnessed
\nTheys' abduction and murder, is still missing.<\/p>\n
Asked about raising the Indonesian flag during the planned
\nindependence celebration, Thaha said it was the result of an
\nagreement between the PDP and the authorities in the province.<\/p>\n
"The Papuan people will use peace rather than violence to
\nfight for the province's independence, because the use of
\nviolence could result in acts of brutality on the part of
\nsecurity authorities, as we experienced in the past," he said.<\/p>\n
Fred Yewi, chairman of the independence anniversary's
\norganizing committee, said the PDP also would perform a rare
\ntraditional ritual to mark the start of the construction of a
\nmemorial park near Theys' grave.<\/p>\n
Separately, Papuan affairs observer Frans Maniagassi called on
\nthe government to accept the PDP's struggle for equality.<\/p>\n
"The Papuan people are still fighting for freedom from human
\nrights abuses, backwardness and poverty. They are consolidating
\nto fight for equality, economic prosperity and emancipation.<\/p>\n
"We are awaiting the political will on the part of the
\ngovernment to implement MPR Decree No. 4\/1999 and Law No. 21\/2001
\non the province's special autonomy, to allow the Papuan people to
\nhandle their own domestic affairs," he said, adding that most
\npeople in Papua no longer backed separation from Indonesia.<\/p>",
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