Police tighten security across Papua

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.