Police tighten security across Papua<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Police in Papua are beefing up security across the province as
\nindependence activists prepare to celebrate a self-proclaimed
\nindependence day on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said on
\nSaturday additional officers had been deployed across the
\nprovince to prevent any celebrations of what activists call an
\nindependence anniversary.<\/p>\n
\"We will take stern action against those who commemorate (the
\nso-called anniversary). The move is against the law, therefore,
\nit is proper if we take stern measures,\" he told The Jakarta Post
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sihombing failed to say how many officers had been deployed
\nacross the province, where a low-level secessionist movement has
\nbeen fighting for independence for Indonesia's easternmost
\nprovince since the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Police arrested 42 people in Manokwari on Thursday for flying
\nMorning Star independence flags. Police said seven of those
\narrested would be charged with treason, while the remaining 35
\nwere released but are required to report to police regularly.<\/p>\n
Papua Governor J.P. Salossa has banned the flying of
\nseparatist flags and has urged Papuans not to celebrate on Dec.
\n1.<\/p>\n
Sihombing said security officers had approached local public
\nfigures and religious leaders and asked them to inform residents
\nof the ban on celebrations.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the people not to be provoked by certain groups
\nthat expect to commemorate the day. If they insist (on
\ncelebrating), they will be charged,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
A group of Papuans in Sentani, Jayapura regency, have formed a
\ncommittee to organize activities on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
The committee, led by a man identified as John Suebe,
\nsubmitted to the Jayapura Police a request to hold independence
\nday celebrations on Dec. 1. The police rejected the request.<\/p>\n
\"They asked permission to commemorate Dec. 1 by hoisting the
\nMorning Star flag. We of course rejected the request because it
\nis against the Unitary Republic of Indonesia,\" Jayapura Police
\nchief Comr. Robert Joensoe said.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), Tom
\nBeanal, said Papuans were confused about whether or not to
\ncelebrate Dec. 1 because of conflicting statements by the central
\ngovernment and the provincial administration.<\/p>\n
Rev. Herman Awon, a PDP representative, said the council would
\nprobably not do anything to commemorate Dec. 1, including raising
\nthe Morning Star flag.<\/p>\n
He said the PDP believed flying the flag would only cause
\nsuffering for Papuans.<\/p>\n
\"If people insist on commemorating the day and hoist the flag,
\nit will only open door for the government to impose either a
\nmilitary or civil emergency in Papua.<\/p>\n
\"If that happens, it will create more suffering for Papuans.
\nTherefore, the PDP asks Papuans not to do anything to oppose the
\ngovernment,\" Awom told the Post.<\/p>\n
Last year, the PDP promised not to fly the Morning Star flag,
\nbut hundreds of Papuans still commemorated Dec. 1 by raising the
\nflag outside the residence of former PDP chairman Theys Hiyo
\nEluay.<\/p>\n
Independence activists say Papua declared its independence on
\nDec. 1, 1961, from its Dutch rulers, eight years before Indonesia
\ngained control over the western part of Papua New Guinea island
\nthrough a United Nations-sponsored referendum in 1969.<\/p>\n
The central government's failure to implement a special
\nautonomy law introduced for Papua in January 2002 has only
\nincreased the calls for independence coming from the province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-tighten-security-across-papua-1447893297",
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