Indonesia swoops on leaders of independence push

November 29, 2000
Web posted at: 6:52 PM HKT (1052 GMT)

By Nick Easen
CNN Interactive Writer

JAYAPURA (CNN) -- Police have arrested separatist leaders in Indonesia's Irian Jaya Province, dampening pro-independence celebrations planned for Friday.

Mass rallies were to accompany flag-raising designed to increase awareness of the pro-independence movement.

But the arrest of nationalist leaders has left the provincial capital of Jayapura tense.

Leaders Thaha Alhamid, the secretary-general of the Papua Presidium, and Theys Eluay, its chairman, are being held. Spokesman Willy Mandowen, secretary for the Forum for Reconciliation, says: “They [ the Indonesians] say they want dialogue but this shows they do not.”

A mass celebration to mark a historic nationalist milestone is still possible for Friday. But it may now turn into a protest against Indonesia over the arrest of these key Papuan nationalists.

Many want the celebrations to be a non-violent display. But some elements are likely to encourage a violent reaction by flying the flag of West Papua, considered to be treason punishable by death.

Mr John Otto Ondowame of the OPM (Organisesi Papua Merdeka) added: "If the Indonesian army do not pull down the Morning Star flags, there will be no bloodshed."

About 650 of the elite army strategic reserve command (Kostrad) are now in Jayapura with a similar number in another town, Merauke.

The freedom movement of Irian Jaya, also known as West Papua, is committed to raising the flag -- known as the Morning Star -- at towns across the country, according to a spokesman.

The raising of the Morning Star flag has previously been a trigger for violence in many areas of the country, including the nationalist central area of the Baliem Valley.

Calls for international intervention to prevent bloodshed of the kind that occurred as the province of East Timor fought for and won independence from Indonesia last year have so far gone unheeded.

Friday's flag-waving celebrations will reflect a similar declaration made by West Papua itself 39 years ago in defiance of Dutch colonial rule.

One of Indonesia's largest mines, Freeport, has been targeted by some Papuans who consider it central to issues of compensation, land rights and the environment.

However, a mine spokesman said: "We would rather not be involved with the political issues between the Indonesian government and the Papuans".

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