West Papuans hoist Morning Star flag
West Papuans hoist Morning Star flag
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The Morning Star flag of West
Papua, the locally preferred name for Irian Jaya, was hoisted in
a ceremony attended by thousands of people who renewed their
message to Jakarta of their demand for independence.
The flag was also hoisted at many homes in Jayapura and other
towns in the province, whose name Irian Jaya was coined by
Indonesia's first president Sukarno after the territory became an
Indonesian province in 1963.
Fears that the hoisting of the Morning Star, coinciding with
the anniversary of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) or Free
Papua Organization, would cause riots proved unfounded.
Police and soldiers, who in the past have shot West Papuans
for raising the flag which symbolizes the separatist cause,
showed greater restraint. They watched the ceremony at Imbi Park,
near the Arts Council building in downtown area, without even
attempting to disperse the crowd, who came in their thousands.
Similar flag hoisting ceremonies were held in other regency
towns, including Manokwari, Yapen Waropen, Nabire, Sorong,
Merauke, Fakfak, Biak, Jayawijaya and Sentani. Earlier reports
suggest that they also passed peacefully.
The Morning Star flag near the Arts Council building was
voluntarily lowered by the organizers after 6 p.m.
The organizers, wary of what the authorities might do, settled
for a compromise. The West Papuan flag was raised next to the red
and white Indonesian flag. The crowd sang the national anthem
Indonesia Raya (Great Indonesia) before West Papua's anthem 'Hai
Tanahku Papua (Oh Papua My Land).
The drizzle failed to dampen their spirits and many of them
burst into tears seeing the Morning Star flying. A troupe of
dancers from the famous Baliem Valley kept the crowd entertained.
Theys Hiyo Elluay, the self-declared leader of West Papua who
organized the event, read the demands, which include the call for
a dialog at provincial, national and international levels for the
"return" of West Papuan independence, which, he said, was
snatched by Indonesia in 1963.
Theys, who also chairs the Papuan Customary Council Assembly,
called for the unconditional release of all Papuan political
prisoners.
"The Indonesian Military should be withdrawn from West Papua,
and all human rights abuses should be thoroughly investigated and
the perpetrators prosecuted," he said.
He said the name Irian Jaya must be changed into West Papua,
the name for the territory he used throughout his speech.
Police later praised that everyone had exercised restraint to
ensure that the day passed peacefully.
Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said, " The
Irianese are good people. They have proven that on the field
today."
He said he ordered his men to leave their guns behind when
keeping security around the ceremony site.
Wenas said police wanted to question Theys, who has already
accepted responsibility for the ceremony. Theys reportedly had
also agreed to answer the summons after the ceremony.
In Semarang, Central Java, about 50 young West Papuans marched
to the Simpang Lima square downtown to press their demands for an
independent state in their homeland.
In their orations, they condemned the way the central
government in Jakarta had exploited the territory.
"Discrimination and torture of our people have been going on
for a long time. Our natural resources have been plundered by
outsiders. We are left alone in a poor condition, mentally and
economically," they said in a statement.
They demanded the government rehabilitate the province's
condition. "We want justice and human rights to prevail. If
Jakarta fails to meet our demands, then it should let the
province go," the statement said.
It also endorsed the name of "West Papua" and the "Morning
Star" flag if their homeland ever became independent.
The protesters dispersed peacefully later in the day.
(har/eba/edt/sur)