Seven arrested in Papua flag-raising ceremony<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
Defying President Megawati's instructions, some 500 Papuans
\ngathered outside the residence of former Papuan Presidium Council
\n(PDP) chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay on Sunday to commemorate what
\nthey called the independence day of the country's easternmost
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
And, despite a ban by local police authorities, they hoisted
\nthe Morning Star independence flag alongside the national
\nred-and-white flag.<\/p>\n
During the commemoration, police detained seven people
\nsuspected of attempting to incite violence and to attack
\ngovernment offices.<\/p>\n
The flag-hoisting ceremony was followed by prayers and a
\npolitical address by PDP deputy chairman Thom Beanal.<\/p>\n
The situation became tense during the flag-hoisting ceremony
\nwhen people refused to salute the Indonesian flag and instead
\ntried to lower it but were prevented from doing so by security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
After listening to the political address, many people returned
\nhome, but others joined in a tribal celebration.<\/p>\n
A pig was slaughtered and its body cut into 41 pieces,
\ndepicting the 41st anniversary of Papua.<\/p>\n
In general, the celebration proceeded peacefully as most
\npeople gathered outside Theys' residence in Sentani, some 45
\nkilometers from the provincial capital of Jayapura. Others
\ngathered around his grave located nearby.<\/p>\n
Beanal, in a speech read out by DPP moderator Rev. Herman
\nAwom, said that the main agenda of the Papuan people next year
\nwould be to focus on reconciliation, consolidation and peace
\ndiplomacy.<\/p>\n
An earlier consensus between PDP and local authorities reached
\non Nov. 9 allowed PDP to organize a flag-raising ceremony but it
\nwas later revised.<\/p>\n
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo said on Sunday that
\nthe existence of the Morning Star flag would be regulated further
\nby a bylaw to be introduced by the local government.<\/p>\n
Budi also revealed that PDP secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid
\nhad apologized for a flag-hoisting ceremony on Nov. 29.<\/p>\n
He said that Thaha had admitted that raising the flag was in
\nviolation of an earlier consensus agreed upon that a ceremony
\nmust not take place outside the compound of Theys' home.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Thaha has been questioned and he apologized. He said he
\nwas unaware of any such activity,\" Budi told the press.<\/p>\n
Budi emphasized that the government had not banned the
\ncelebration of Papua's 41st anniversary but flag-raising
\nceremonies and rallies.<\/p>\n
\"If you celebrate your birthday, it is not banned. That's only
\na celebration,\" he added.<\/p>\n
President Megawati, however, appealed to Papuans not to
\ncelebrate what in the past few years has been called the
\nindependence day of Papua.<\/p>\n
Papua independence leaders have claimed that the territory
\ndeclared independence on Dec. 1, 1961 from its Dutch colonizer,
\nand therefore demand that the Indonesian government recognize it.<\/p>\n
The government, which officially gained control of the then
\nwestern part of Papua New Guinea island in 1969 through a United
\nNations-sponsored vote, does not recognize the independence
\nclaim.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, security personnel arrested seven people for
\ncarrying knives and documents detailing a plan to create
\ndisorder.<\/p>\n
Papua Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said that
\nthe confiscated documents revealed a plan to stage huge rallies,
\nto attack government offices and to occupy vital assets such as
\nthe Freeport compound, the LNG Tangguh field in Bintuni and Santa
\nFe in Sorong.<\/p>\n
The seven suspects could be charged under Law No. 12\/1951 on
\nknives and explosives.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the Papua Police had deployed three
\ncompanies of security forces taken from Jayapura, Sentani and the
\nPolice Mobile Brigade.<\/p>",
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