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"The Indonesian Military should be withdrawn from West Papua, and all human rights abuses should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted," he said.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)