Seven arrested in Papua flag-raising ceremony
Seven arrested in Papua flag-raising ceremony
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Defying President Megawati's instructions, some 500 Papuans
gathered outside the residence of former Papuan Presidium Council
(PDP) chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay on Sunday to commemorate what
they called the independence day of the country's easternmost
province.
And, despite a ban by local police authorities, they hoisted
the Morning Star independence flag alongside the national
red-and-white flag.
During the commemoration, police detained seven people
suspected of attempting to incite violence and to attack
government offices.
The flag-hoisting ceremony was followed by prayers and a
political address by PDP deputy chairman Thom Beanal.
The situation became tense during the flag-hoisting ceremony
when people refused to salute the Indonesian flag and instead
tried to lower it but were prevented from doing so by security
personnel.
After listening to the political address, many people returned
home, but others joined in a tribal celebration.
A pig was slaughtered and its body cut into 41 pieces,
depicting the 41st anniversary of Papua.
In general, the celebration proceeded peacefully as most
people gathered outside Theys' residence in Sentani, some 45
kilometers from the provincial capital of Jayapura. Others
gathered around his grave located nearby.
Beanal, in a speech read out by DPP moderator Rev. Herman
Awom, said that the main agenda of the Papuan people next year
would be to focus on reconciliation, consolidation and peace
diplomacy.
An earlier consensus between PDP and local authorities reached
on Nov. 9 allowed PDP to organize a flag-raising ceremony but it
was later revised.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo said on Sunday that
the existence of the Morning Star flag would be regulated further
by a bylaw to be introduced by the local government.
Budi also revealed that PDP secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid
had apologized for a flag-hoisting ceremony on Nov. 29.
He said that Thaha had admitted that raising the flag was in
violation of an earlier consensus agreed upon that a ceremony
must not take place outside the compound of Theys' home.
"Pak Thaha has been questioned and he apologized. He said he
was unaware of any such activity," Budi told the press.
Budi emphasized that the government had not banned the
celebration of Papua's 41st anniversary but flag-raising
ceremonies and rallies.
"If you celebrate your birthday, it is not banned. That's only
a celebration," he added.
President Megawati, however, appealed to Papuans not to
celebrate what in the past few years has been called the
independence day of Papua.
Papua independence leaders have claimed that the territory
declared independence on Dec. 1, 1961 from its Dutch colonizer,
and therefore demand that the Indonesian government recognize it.
The government, which officially gained control of the then
western part of Papua New Guinea island in 1969 through a United
Nations-sponsored vote, does not recognize the independence
claim.
Meanwhile, security personnel arrested seven people for
carrying knives and documents detailing a plan to create
disorder.
Papua Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing said that
the confiscated documents revealed a plan to stage huge rallies,
to attack government offices and to occupy vital assets such as
the Freeport compound, the LNG Tangguh field in Bintuni and Santa
Fe in Sorong.
The seven suspects could be charged under Law No. 12/1951 on
knives and explosives.
He confirmed that the Papua Police had deployed three
companies of security forces taken from Jayapura, Sentani and the
Police Mobile Brigade.