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.