West Papua flag forbidden

JAPAYPURA, Irian Jaya: Irian Jaya Police Chief Brig. Gen. S.J. Wenas and Trikora Military Commander Brig. Gen. Albert Ingkiriwang on Saturday prohibited any attempts to fly the seperatist West Papua flag in the run-up to the rebel group's anniversary on Wednesday.

Speaking during a dialog with community leaders, Wenas and Ingkiriwang both stressed that anyone caught flying the separatist flag would be arrested and cases would be processed according to the law.

However, during the dialog which was also attended by Theys Eluay, a self-proclaimed leader of the separatist movement, many demanded that they be allowed to hold a ceremony in the city center and fly their flag on Wednesday.

"The raising of the flag would not mean that Irian Jaya immediately becomes independent and separates from Indonesia, but it would be merely a commemoration of when the flag was first raised in Jayapura on Dec. 1, 1961," Theys said, as quoted by Antara.