Irianese remember entry into RI

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Local residents will commemorate the 37th anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty over Irian Jaya from the Netherlands to the Republic of Indonesia through the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (Untea) on May 1.

The Papuan Presidium Council announced on Tuesday that a mass prayer to celebrate the historic moment was scheduled to take place here.

In a statement signed by its leaders, Theys Hiyo Eluay and Tom Beanal, the council said that May 1 would be remembered as a rights violation committed by the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands and the United Nations.

To anticipate possible violence during the commemoration, the council called on the Irianese in all parts of the province not to hoist the separatist Morning Star flag.

In a related development, chairman of the West Papuan Youth Committee Izak Yapsenang, dismissed the appeal.

"We are disappointed that the congress scheduled for May 1 was arbitrarily postponed by the council. We will encourage people to hoist the Morning Star flag instead and demand leading figures to announce a transitional government," Izak told The Jakarta Post. (eba)