Sadness mars Papua celebration

Sadness mars Papua celebration

R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Unlike last year, the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP)
celebrated Papua's 40th anniversary of independence in a modest
but solemn ceremony in memory of its leader Dortheys Hiyo Eluway,
pledging that it would continue to fight for the Papuan people's
political aspirations.

The ceremony held at the residence of the late Dortheys Hiyo
Eluway in Sentani, 42 kilometers north of the city, was
highlighted by a religious service and the laying of a
commemorative stone at Theys' grave.

Some 1,000 Papuan people joined the ceremony which went
peacefully without any intervention either from the local police
or military. Several policemen were stationed in the area in case
of any disturbance.

Last year, PDP celebrated the anniversary of the declaration
of Papuan independence (as proclaimed by PDP) with a grand
congress which was attended by thousands of Papuan people from
remote areas across the province. The event was heavily guarded
by local security authorities.

The congress that gained political and financial backing from
the central government under former president Abdurrahman Wahid,
recommended a thorough investigation into human rights abuses
during the past military operations and national and
international dialog to correct the historical account of the
province's integration with Indonesia in 1963. The congress
turned violent resulting in the prosecution of Theys and other
PDP executives.

Tom Beanal, deputy chairman of PDP, said in his address that
the ceremony was held to commemorate their leader who was found
dead on Nov. 11, 2001 as well as Papua's 40th anniversary of
independence.

Police are still investigating Theys' murder.

Tom pledged that PDP would continue to fight for Papua's
independence even at the cost of their own lives.