PDP to celebrate Papua's 41st anniversary on Dec. 1

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The proindependence Papuan Council Presidium (PDP) plans to celebrate the 41st anniversary of Papua independence on Dec. 1 at the residence of the late Dortheys "Hiyo" Eluway, according to a presidium executive.

PDP secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid said here on Tuesday the presidium and its supporters would simultaneously raise the Morning Star Papuan flag and the Indonesian flag during a simple ceremony at Theys' residence in Sentani, some 40 kilometers north of Jayapura.

"Before the independence celebration, we will visit the graves of Papuan leaders, especially Theys, to honor their struggle for Papuan independence," he said.

Theys was allegedly killed by several members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) after attending a National Heroes Day celebration at the Kopassus compound in Jayapura on Nov. 10, 2001. His body was found in a Kijang minivan in Koya Tengah village, near the Papua New Guinea border, on Nov. 11.

Nine Kopassus members, including two middle-ranking officers, have been charged with involvement in the murder.

Theys' driver Aristoteles Soka, who presumedly witnessed Theys' abduction and murder, is still missing.

Asked about raising the Indonesian flag during the planned independence celebration, Thaha said it was the result of an agreement between the PDP and the authorities in the province.

"The Papuan people will use peace rather than violence to fight for the province's independence, because the use of violence could result in acts of brutality on the part of security authorities, as we experienced in the past," he said.

Fred Yewi, chairman of the independence anniversary's organizing committee, said the PDP also would perform a rare traditional ritual to mark the start of the construction of a memorial park near Theys' grave.

Separately, Papuan affairs observer Frans Maniagassi called on the government to accept the PDP's struggle for equality.

"The Papuan people are still fighting for freedom from human rights abuses, backwardness and poverty. They are consolidating to fight for equality, economic prosperity and emancipation.

"We are awaiting the political will on the part of the government to implement MPR Decree No. 4/1999 and Law No. 21/2001 on the province's special autonomy, to allow the Papuan people to handle their own domestic affairs," he said, adding that most people in Papua no longer backed separation from Indonesia.