Separatist flags in Irian Jaya to be lowered after Dec. 1
JAKARTA (JP): From Dec. 2 onward no separatist flags will fly in Irian Jaya, independence supporters and the local authorities agreed on Thursday.
"After Dec. 1, the Morning Star flag will no longer fly in public places. All separatist flags must be lowered on the evening of December 1," provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Silvanus Y. Wenas told The Jakarta Post by phone from Jayapura on Thursday.
He added during the meeting with Governor Musiran Darmosuwito earlier in the day that proindependence Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) chief Theys Hiyo Eluay also agreed that the council's civilian guards, called Satgas Papua, must abandon the Art Center building on Jl. Irian in downtown Jayapura. They said the civilian guards would move to his residence in the Sentani district, 45 kilometers west of here.
"The civilian guards have commandeered the Art Center for too long and the authorities want to return its function as a cultural venue. They also have to move the Morning Star flag to Theys' house," Wenas said.
The Dec. 1 deadline coincides with the planned declaration of Papuan independence initiated by the PDP and its supporters, which will now be held as "a mass prayer ceremony", said PDP secretary general Agus Alua.
The prayer ceremony is slated to take place at the Imbi field, followed by the lowering of the Morning Star flag at the Art Center.
December 1 is the anniversary of the declaration of independence by Papuans in 1961.
"Up until the deadline, only five Morning Star flags may be hoisted at the house of tribal leaders in five districts, namely in Jayapura, Serui, Merauke, Manokwari and Puncak Jaya," Wenas added.
"People in areas other than these five districts are not allowed to hoist the flag. The authorities are being patient and persuasive in this matter but there will be no tolerance if they violate the agreement," Wenas remarked.
Security forces, however, will remain on alert and troop deployments are on the way.
"A battalion of Police Mobile Brigade officers is set to arrive in a couple of weeks.
"We will also work with the existing military forces since we have heard of a plan by proindependence supporters to occupy government institutions and strategic posts on Dec. 1," the officer said.
The authorities, however, stressed that the deadline was set to provide sufficient time for civilian guards to move to Theys' house.
To smoothen the removal of the Papuan taskforce's base, he said, the police have decided to delay the arrest of Alex Baransano, the deputy chief of the group.
Baransano has been charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code which could see him sentenced to a maximum of nine years in jail. He had reportedly demanded money from traders and shop owners in Jayapura in exchange for security services. Police arrested him on Tuesday.
Tension remained in Jayapura as residents expressed fears of a possible clash between security forces and independence supporters after the PDP insisted on fighting for Papuan freedom.
"We will continue to negotiate with the government and at the same time channel people's aspirations for freedom," a PDP executive Agus Alua told Antara. (edt)