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

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.