West Papua flag forbidden

Mon, 29 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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.

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