Irianese reach modus vivendi on flag

Irianese reach modus vivendi on flag

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The provincial authorities and
proindependence leaders agreed late on Tuesday to delay the
pulling down of Morning Star separatist flags here pending a
meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid.

"This decision is a compromise to avoid possible clashes
between proindependence activists and the security forces,"
Governor Musiran Darmosuwito said after the session, which ended
at 8:30 p.m. local time.

"It has also been decided that Morning Star flags which have
been lowered in other cities such as Biak, Fak Fak, Wamena,
Sorong and Manokwari must not be hoisted again," Musiran added.

The remaining separatist flags are flying at the Papuan
Presidium Council (PDP) base in the Irian Jaya Arts Council
building on Jl. Irian and at the house of the PDP's chairman
Theys Hiyo Eluay in the Sentani district.

The central government slapped a ban last week on the flying
of the Morning Star separatist flag following the bloody incident
in Jayawijaya's main town of Wamena, in which at least 30 people,
mostly migrant settlers, were killed and 45 others injured on
Oct. 6.

Tension remained high here on Tuesday, with panic buying seen
at markets selling food supplies, following rumors of conflict
between the security forces and proindependence Papuan civilian
guards.

"The situation is very tense and thousands of residents from
neighboring villages in Sentani have thronged nearby security
posts for protection," a local journalist said.

PDP secretary general Thaha Al Hamid further said that the
group insisted on a meeting with President Abdurrahman, saying
that the head of state was the first to allow the hoisting of the
Morning Star flag here.

"We want to hear answers from the President," Thaha said.

Also attending the meeting were the Irian Jaya Police chief
Brig. Gen. Silvanus Yulian Wenas and the Trikora Military Command
chief of staff Brig. Gen. Karel Ralaharu.

Prior to the meeting, some 200 PDP and local community leaders
held a closed-door meeting at the Pengharapan Church which ended
up with a refusal to lower the separatist flags.

"I am ready to die along with thousands of Papuans. If the
security forces want to arrest us, they must take us all," Theys
said.

Earlier in the day, Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas held talks with non-
Papua residents and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on
the latest situation in the provincial capital.

Wenas said he suspected certain foreign parties had provoked
the separatist movement in the province.

He therefore called on local nongovernmental organizations to
decline offers and promises from foreign counterparts.

"The security forces will no longer tolerate the hoisting of
the flag and call on all sides to help restore peace and order by
voluntarily lowering it," Wenas told the meeting.

In Semarang, the capital of Central Java, some 75 Irianese
youths grouped in the Kejora Youth and Student Committee staged a
protest in front of the provincial police headquarters on Jl.
Pahlawan to protest the military and police presence in their
homeland.

"The police and military in Papua have triggered further
conflict and fear," Kotel Mause, the group's leader, said during
a meeting with Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Kadaryanto.

Kadaryanto, however, said that the police would be evenhanded
in their approach towards all citizens.

"We will not protect officers who are found guilty of human
rights violations," he said. The protesters dispersed peacefully
later in the day. (34/har/edt)