The Indonesian govt crushes Papua’s “secession” in blood
by Mathias Hariyadi
Two dead, dozens of wounded and injured, and scores of arrests are the result of an operation by Indonesian security forces against the Third Papuan People’s Congress. The province’s independence was proclaimed during the assembly, which picked a president and a prime minister. Yudhoyono opts for the iron fist against the separatists.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Two people are dead and dozens are wounded, scores of others are arrested (some sources say hundreds) and beaten by Indonesian security forces during a raid against the third Papuan People’s Congress.
Soldiers moved in last night after Papuans issued a declaration of independence during their three-day meeting, which Jakarta had authorised. Participants also picked a president and a prime minister, chose their national flag and currency and agreed on national languages.
However, the Indonesian government called the move by Papuan representatives in Indonesia’s foremost eastern province an “unacceptable” act of secession by a secessionist movement that must be stopped by any means.
On Tuesday, delegates to the Third Papuan People’s Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. They met at the Sakeus Padang Bulan Abepura soccer field in the provincial capital of Jayapura. The declaration calls for Papuan self-determination and independence from Jakarta.
Before security forces moved in, the assembly elected Forkorus Yaboisembut as the president of Free Papua and Edison Waromi as the prime minister of the “new” Papuan government.
The independence movement also raised the country’s national flag, the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star), chose the national currency (the old Dutch Gulden) and the national languages, Virjin (a local Papuan dialect) and Malay.
Security forces now patrol the streets of the capital, but tensions remain high in Papua, a remote province that is often ignored by the central government’s development policies.
Last night’s action by thousands of police officers and paramilitary forces cut short the congress, which was on its second day, crushing the local population’s autonomy aspirations.
Also yesterday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated that security in Papua and Aceh provinces remained of fundamental importance. For him, “no compromise” is possible “in the two restive provinces” with regards “to security.”
Police and the military have enforced Jakarta’s orders to the letter. The final toll is two dead, dozens of wounded and injured as well as hundreds of arrests.
When soldiers moved in, they fired in the air, causing panic among the already nervous delegates. Five local political leaders, including the “new” president and prime minister, were among the people arrested.
During the Dutch colonial regime, Papua was never under direct Dutch rule. Taking advantage of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, Indonesia seized the territory. Since then, Jakarta has changed its name on a number of occasions, the latest in 2002 by former President Abdurrahman Wahid who named the province Papua.
Soldiers moved in last night after Papuans issued a declaration of independence during their three-day meeting, which Jakarta had authorised. Participants also picked a president and a prime minister, chose their national flag and currency and agreed on national languages.
However, the Indonesian government called the move by Papuan representatives in Indonesia’s foremost eastern province an “unacceptable” act of secession by a secessionist movement that must be stopped by any means.
On Tuesday, delegates to the Third Papuan People’s Congress issued the Declaration of Independence. They met at the Sakeus Padang Bulan Abepura soccer field in the provincial capital of Jayapura. The declaration calls for Papuan self-determination and independence from Jakarta.
Before security forces moved in, the assembly elected Forkorus Yaboisembut as the president of Free Papua and Edison Waromi as the prime minister of the “new” Papuan government.
The independence movement also raised the country’s national flag, the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star), chose the national currency (the old Dutch Gulden) and the national languages, Virjin (a local Papuan dialect) and Malay.
Security forces now patrol the streets of the capital, but tensions remain high in Papua, a remote province that is often ignored by the central government’s development policies.
Last night’s action by thousands of police officers and paramilitary forces cut short the congress, which was on its second day, crushing the local population’s autonomy aspirations.
Also yesterday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated that security in Papua and Aceh provinces remained of fundamental importance. For him, “no compromise” is possible “in the two restive provinces” with regards “to security.”
Police and the military have enforced Jakarta’s orders to the letter. The final toll is two dead, dozens of wounded and injured as well as hundreds of arrests.
When soldiers moved in, they fired in the air, causing panic among the already nervous delegates. Five local political leaders, including the “new” president and prime minister, were among the people arrested.
During the Dutch colonial regime, Papua was never under direct Dutch rule. Taking advantage of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, Indonesia seized the territory. Since then, Jakarta has changed its name on a number of occasions, the latest in 2002 by former President Abdurrahman Wahid who named the province Papua.
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See also
G20: Jakarta disperses peaceful human rights protests in Papua
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Indonesia airlifting aid to hunger-affected Papua
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