Independence celebration turns into clash, several injured
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.