Independence celebration turns into clash, several injured

The Jakarta Post, Agencies

Police personnel clashed on Wednesday with pro-independence Papuans in Trikora field, Jayapura, after the independence supporters hoisted in the area the Bintang Kejora flag, the symbol of the Papua independence movement.

Several people were injured after the clash, but no fatalities were reported in the incident.

The flag flew for one hour in the field in Abepura area, Jayapura, but it was lowered by a nationalist group, after police reinforcements arrived in the area.

The clash began when some 200 pro-independence Papuans descended onto the large Trikora field and began to hoist the flag on a wooden pole, to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Papua independence movement. Several police personnel were trying to persuade the Papuans to lower the flag, but they refused to heed the call. The police personnel then forcefully seized the flag pole, but the pole was quickly seized back by the pro- independence supporters.

Police fired warning shots and beat the Papuans with batons, but the Papuans fought back. Outnumbered, the police personnel retreated resulting in a one-hour stand-off, while the rebel flag continued to fly.

Hundreds of local residents watched the incident from the roadside.

However, dozens of police reinforcements arrived in the area some time later forcing the separatist supporters to retreat, and allowing a nationalist group to tear the flag down, Antara news agency reported.

The group of Papuans later performed prayers in the field, located in the compound of Cenderawasih University, Jayapura and then dispersed peacefully. Police personnel detained several people believed to have led the flag-hoisting ceremony, including Philep Karma and Yusaac Pakage.

There were conflicting reports over the number of people injured in the scuffle. The Detikcom news portal reported that three people were injured by rubber bullets, while SCTV private television station reported seven injured.

After the incident, police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel tightly secured downtown Jayapura and conducted random checks on passersby in search of sharp weapons and arms. The situation was largely under control in the city following the incident.

Pro-independence Papuans, who are campaigning for Papua's separation from Indonesia, have traditionally celebrated the anniversary of Papua independence on Dec. 1. The flag hoisting ceremony was once allowed under Abdurrahman Wahid administration, but it was banned after Megawati Soekarnoputri, a nationalist, took office in 2001.

Dec. 1 was marked as the independence day of Papua after separatists proclaimed the state of West Papua on Dec. 1, 1962.

Indonesia took effective control of Papua territory a year later, after which the separatist movement continued to wage a low-level guerrilla revolt in the province.