Police tighten security across Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Police in Papua are beefing up security across the province as independence activists prepare to celebrate a self-proclaimed independence day on Dec. 1.

Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said on Saturday additional officers had been deployed across the province to prevent any celebrations of what activists call an independence anniversary.

"We will take stern action against those who commemorate (the so-called anniversary). The move is against the law, therefore, it is proper if we take stern measures," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Sihombing failed to say how many officers had been deployed across the province, where a low-level secessionist movement has been fighting for independence for Indonesia's easternmost province since the 1960s.

Police arrested 42 people in Manokwari on Thursday for flying Morning Star independence flags. Police said seven of those arrested would be charged with treason, while the remaining 35 were released but are required to report to police regularly.

Papua Governor J.P. Salossa has banned the flying of separatist flags and has urged Papuans not to celebrate on Dec. 1.

Sihombing said security officers had approached local public figures and religious leaders and asked them to inform residents of the ban on celebrations.

"We call on the people not to be provoked by certain groups that expect to commemorate the day. If they insist (on celebrating), they will be charged," he warned.

A group of Papuans in Sentani, Jayapura regency, have formed a committee to organize activities on Dec. 1.

The committee, led by a man identified as John Suebe, submitted to the Jayapura Police a request to hold independence day celebrations on Dec. 1. The police rejected the request.

"They asked permission to commemorate Dec. 1 by hoisting the Morning Star flag. We of course rejected the request because it is against the Unitary Republic of Indonesia," Jayapura Police chief Comr. Robert Joensoe said.

The deputy chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), Tom Beanal, said Papuans were confused about whether or not to celebrate Dec. 1 because of conflicting statements by the central government and the provincial administration.

Rev. Herman Awon, a PDP representative, said the council would probably not do anything to commemorate Dec. 1, including raising the Morning Star flag.

He said the PDP believed flying the flag would only cause suffering for Papuans.

"If people insist on commemorating the day and hoist the flag, it will only open door for the government to impose either a military or civil emergency in Papua.

"If that happens, it will create more suffering for Papuans. Therefore, the PDP asks Papuans not to do anything to oppose the government," Awom told the Post.

Last year, the PDP promised not to fly the Morning Star flag, but hundreds of Papuans still commemorated Dec. 1 by raising the flag outside the residence of former PDP chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay.

Independence activists say Papua declared its independence on Dec. 1, 1961, from its Dutch rulers, eight years before Indonesia gained control over the western part of Papua New Guinea island through a United Nations-sponsored referendum in 1969.

The central government's failure to implement a special autonomy law introduced for Papua in January 2002 has only increased the calls for independence coming from the province.