Juli 28, 2002 16:43:37

Papuans Celebrate Independence Struggle

December 2, 2001 01:15 AM, 

Laksamana.Net - West Papuan separatists held a deliberately low-key celebration Saturday (1/12/01) to mark the 40th anniversary of their independence struggle, determined to avoid any action that could lead to clashes with police and the military. 

The gathering of about 1,000 people was centered in Sentani town at the house of the late Papua Presidium Council (PDP) leader, Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was murdered last month. 

Participants listened to prayers and speeches by PDP leaders as the Morning Star independence flag was hoisted at half-mast outside Theys' house. 

There was no sign of the Indonesian flag, despite a government order that the rebel flag can only be flown next to the red-and-white national flag. 

Police were careful to avoid any antagonism and kept about a kilometer away from the house. Security was taken care of by the PDP Task Force. 

December 1 commemorates the 1961 unofficial declaration of independence from the Dutch colonial rulers in West Papua, which was formally integrated into Indonesia in 1969 and renamed Irian Jaya. 

Separatists have waged a sporadic guerrilla war against the Indonesian military since the early 1960s. Human rights groups say thousands have been killed. 

President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s government has firmly ruled out offering a referendum on independence, but recently passed legislation giving the province sweeping autonomy, a greater share of the royalties from its vast natural resources, and the right to call itself Papua. 

Megawati is scheduled to visit the province later this month to officially present the autonomy package, even though it has been strongly rejected by PDP and the Free Papua Movement (OPM). 

PDP was founded in 2000 with financial assistance from the administration of former president Abdurrahman Wahid. The council aims to further the struggle for independence by non-violence means. 

There have been fears that violence could erupt in West Papua following the November killing of Theys. The military denies responsibility, but separatists and some human rights organizations believe the killers were members of the Army’s elite Special Forces (Kopassus). 

The Jakarta Post reported that Saturday’s celebration was opened with a prayer led by Father Tony Ifandi, followed by the singing of the West Papuan anthem Hai Tanahku Papua (Oh Papua My Land). 

PDP chairman Tom Beanal, who replaced Theys, promised the council would continue with the struggle for independence, even if that means sacrificing lives, the Post reported. 

He called on the United Nations to help investigating cases of human rights violations perpetrated by the military in West Papua. He said the UN should also help locals to lead better lives free from repression. 

A congratulatory message from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting for an independent Islamic state at the opposite end of the Indonesian archipelago, was read at the ceremony. 

Many Indonesian socio-political analysts and officials say the government should not worry about the demands for an independent Papuan state because “only a handful” of locals want to secede from Indonesia. 

The government had made similar statements concerning East Timor, which ended up voting overwhelmingly for independence in a 1999 referendum. 
http://www.laksamana.net/vnews.cfm?ncat=32&news_id=1578