Govt bans separatist flag in Irian Jaya

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)