Papua residents told not to celebrate 'independence day'
Papua residents told not to celebrate 'independence day'
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post/Jayapura
Papua Governor JP Solossa on Wednesday told residents not to
celebrate the self-declared independence anniversary of Papua on
Dec. 1.
"All residents should go about their day as usual. Do not be
provoked by groups that are planning to commemorate Papua's
'independence'," Solossa said.
He was speaking after the West Papua Liberation Front
announced plans to mark the 43rd anniversary of Papua's self-
declared independence with a prayer service.
Pro-independence Papuans traditionally celebrate Papua's
"independence" from Indonesia on Dec. 1. Former president
Abdurrahman Wahid allowed Papuans to mark the day with flag-
raising ceremonies, but the practice was banned when the
nationalistic Megawati Soekarnoputri took office in 2001.
Separatists proclaimed the independent state of West Papua on
Dec. 1, 1962. Indonesia took effective control of Papua a year
later, and separatists have continued to wage a low-level
independence campaign in the province ever since.
Governor Solossa urged all Papuans to maintain security and
peace, while working together to develop the province.
"We are all tired of this situation. If we want change, let us
work together. Differences are common, but do not allow them to
disrupt development plans that aim to improve people's welfare,"
he said.
Last Dec. 1 there were clashes between pro-independence
Papuans and police after the independence supporters raised the
Bintang Kejora flag, the symbol of the Papua independence
movement. Several people were injured in the clash but there were
no deaths.
Papuans, both those who want independence and those who do
not, have long complained that the central government has failed
to return to the province of fair share of the revenue from its
rich natural resources. Past human rights abuses by the military
have also fueled separatist sentiment.
In 2001, the central government granted the province special
autonomy and a greater share of its mineral wealth. But recent
plans to partition Papua into three provinces have sparked
discontent and violence.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Dody Sumantyawan warned
residents any independence celebrations on Dec. 1 would be
considered illegal activities.
"There is only one independence day in the country and that is
Aug. 17; there is no other," he said, adding that police would
break up any illegal gatherings on Thursday.
He said that if prayers were planned for Thursday, they should
have nothing to do with politics.
West Papua Liberation Front secretary-general Selfius Bobi
said the group's anniversary celebration would focus on prayers,
and that there would be no raising of the Bintang Kejora flag.
Prayer gatherings are planned for two locations: at the home
of murdered pro-independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay in Sentani,
near Jayapura, and at a church in Polimak, Jayapura.