Thousands hoist separatist flags

BIAK, Irian Jaya (JP): Thousands of Irian Jaya people raised for the first time the Morning Star separatist flag without fear of punishment or harsh measures from security authorities on Friday.

"Today is a historical day for the Papuans because for the first time we can officially hoist the flags with the government's consent," Thaha Mohammad Alhamid, secretary of the Papuan Presidium Congress said on Friday.

Other towns seeing the flag wave in the sky included Merauke, Sorong, Jayapura, Wamena and Manokwari.

Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak announced on June 7 that the government would allow the people of Irian Jaya to raise the flag "as long as its size is not bigger than the national flag, and it is raised lower than the national flag." (eba/edt)