Govt bans separatist flag in Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Thursday a ban on the "Morning Star" separatist flag in Irian Jaya and a crackdown on the proindependence Papua Task Force.

"The government has decided to ban the hoisting of the Morning Star flag because it has been misused as a symbol of separatist cause," Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak told a news conference on Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social Affairs and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government had in the past allowed Irianese to raise the flag because "it sees it as a flag that does not reflect political sovereignty".

Marsilam said the government will also draft guidelines to determine whether hoisting flags other than the national flag constitutes "cultural purposes" or separatism.

The statement came on the heels of last Friday's violence between supporters of the proindependence Papuan Council and security troops in the remote town of Wamena in Irian Jaya.

The clashes erupted after police and soldiers pulled down five separatist flags.

Angry mobs later ran amok and attacked migrant civilians in Wamena, leaving at least 30 people, mostly migrants, killed in the incident. Thousands of terrified settlers have since sought refuge at military and police facilities.

Marsilam said the Papuan Council and Papua Task Force had never been considered by the government as true representatives of the Irianese.

"It's been our long-standing policy not to consider the Papuan Council as a body fully mandated by the Papuans to promote independence but only to promote reconciliation," Marsilam said.

Marsilam also said that the Papua Task Force "must be straightened out so that they are no longer troops that can be mobilized to serve the interest of separatist actions".

Order

In Jayapura, Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said that in accordance with the ban against the separatist flag, the local authorities asked chairman of the Prisidium of Papuan Council, Theys Hiyo Eluay to ask his followers to obey the order.

"We will use persuasive measures in this case. By Monday we hope there will be no more separatist flags in all Irian Jaya," Wenas told The Jakarta Post by phone from Jayapura.

He said police would resort to repressive measures if the order was defied.

A total of 35 suspects in the two-day riots of last week have been detained for questioning, he said. Most of them are Papua Task Force members from Jayawijaya who were apprehended during the riots. Some were also suspected provocateurs.

"Those men are being charged with various criminal violations, among others, murder, assault, battery and theft as many attackers also looted the migrants' houses," Wenas said.

He said further that all forms of the unofficial proindependence task force such as Satgas Papua have to disperse themselves by Oct. 18.

"There is no compromise. We are now approaching the Satgas Papua members to stay at their base in Wamena and to disband or stern action will be taken. They have agreed to do so.

"We also closely monitor Satgas Papua base camps in several towns here, including in front of the Irian Jaya's Art Council building in Jayapura."

Wamena began to return to normal on Thursday, with groups of refugees starting to leave their shelters in police and military stations for their villages.

"From around 11,000 refugees who sought shelter in Wamena, some 3,000 have returned home as the security condition is under control," the officer said.

Wenas said that Theys' previous case of attempted coup would probably go to trial at the end of this month in Jayapura.

"We are now awaiting a trial schedule from the attorney and the court. (Law professor) Loebby Loqman will be our expert witness," the officer said.

Wenas stressed that violence would never resolve Irian's problems.

"We hope the central government can implement regional autonomy soon and with concrete results of development, they realize that people like Theys only spreads false dreams and promises of independence," he said. (byg/edt)