West Papuans hoist Morning Star flag<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The Morning Star flag of West
\nPapua, the locally preferred name for Irian Jaya, was hoisted in
\na ceremony attended by thousands of people who renewed their
\nmessage to Jakarta of their demand for independence.<\/p>\n
The flag was also hoisted at many homes in Jayapura and other
\ntowns in the province, whose name Irian Jaya was coined by
\nIndonesia's first president Sukarno after the territory became an
\nIndonesian province in 1963.<\/p>\n
Fears that the hoisting of the Morning Star, coinciding with
\nthe anniversary of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) or Free
\nPapua Organization, would cause riots proved unfounded.<\/p>\n
Police and soldiers, who in the past have shot West Papuans
\nfor raising the flag which symbolizes the separatist cause,
\nshowed greater restraint. They watched the ceremony at Imbi Park,
\nnear the Arts Council building in downtown area, without even
\nattempting to disperse the crowd, who came in their thousands.<\/p>\n
Similar flag hoisting ceremonies were held in other regency
\ntowns, including Manokwari, Yapen Waropen, Nabire, Sorong,
\nMerauke, Fakfak, Biak, Jayawijaya and Sentani. Earlier reports
\nsuggest that they also passed peacefully.<\/p>\n
The Morning Star flag near the Arts Council building was
\nvoluntarily lowered by the organizers after 6 p.m.<\/p>\n
The organizers, wary of what the authorities might do, settled
\nfor a compromise. The West Papuan flag was raised next to the red
\nand white Indonesian flag. The crowd sang the national anthem
\nIndonesia Raya (Great Indonesia) before West Papua's anthem 'Hai
\nTanahku Papua (Oh Papua My Land).<\/p>\n
The drizzle failed to dampen their spirits and many of them
\nburst into tears seeing the Morning Star flying. A troupe of
\ndancers from the famous Baliem Valley kept the crowd entertained.<\/p>\n
Theys Hiyo Elluay, the self-declared leader of West Papua who
\norganized the event, read the demands, which include the call for
\na dialog at provincial, national and international levels for the
\n"return" of West Papuan independence, which, he said, was
\nsnatched by Indonesia in 1963.<\/p>\n
Theys, who also chairs the Papuan Customary Council Assembly,
\ncalled for the unconditional release of all Papuan political
\nprisoners.<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian Military should be withdrawn from West Papua,
\nand all human rights abuses should be thoroughly investigated and
\nthe perpetrators prosecuted," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the name Irian Jaya must be changed into West Papua,
\nthe name for the territory he used throughout his speech.<\/p>\n
Police later praised that everyone had exercised restraint to
\nensure that the day passed peacefully.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said, " The
\nIrianese are good people. They have proven that on the field
\ntoday."<\/p>\n
He said he ordered his men to leave their guns behind when
\nkeeping security around the ceremony site.<\/p>\n
Wenas said police wanted to question Theys, who has already
\naccepted responsibility for the ceremony. Theys reportedly had
\nalso agreed to answer the summons after the ceremony.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, about 50 young West Papuans marched
\nto the Simpang Lima square downtown to press their demands for an
\nindependent state in their homeland.<\/p>\n
In their orations, they condemned the way the central
\ngovernment in Jakarta had exploited the territory.<\/p>\n
"Discrimination and torture of our people have been going on
\nfor a long time. Our natural resources have been plundered by
\noutsiders. We are left alone in a poor condition, mentally and
\neconomically," they said in a statement.<\/p>\n
They demanded the government rehabilitate the province's
\ncondition. "We want justice and human rights to prevail. If
\nJakarta fails to meet our demands, then it should let the
\nprovince go," the statement said.<\/p>\n
It also endorsed the name of "West Papua" and the "Morning
\nStar" flag if their homeland ever became independent.<\/p>\n
The protesters dispersed peacefully later in the day.
\n(har\/eba\/edt\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-papuans-hoist-morning-star-flag-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}