A pro-independence Papuan protester daubed with the banned Morning Star flag colours in a separate demonstration. Photo: Cuny.edu

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By a special correspondent in Jayapura

Five people accused of being involved in a Morning Star flag-raising protest in Timika, West Papua, last Thursday are due to go on trial, while the police say they are interrogating another five people to be called as witnesses.

The five were named as: Larius Dolame, Norbertus Timang, Marel Magai,  Eli Maiseni and Marinus Pigai. They are being interrogated by the  police in Timika, and the following items of evidence have been seized:  one wooden pole,  two Morning Star flags and a knife.

On Thursday, December 1, at around 11am, hundreds of people gathered on Timika Field to celebrate the 50th anniversary of  “Papuan Independence” in the Indonesian-ruled territory.

Papuan demonstrators erupt in a short-lived celebration as they raise the banned Morning Star flag on a bamboo pole in Timika, eastern Indonesia. This marked the 50th anniversary of the region's claim to independence, on December 1, 2011. Shortly afterwards, Indonesian police and troops opened fire to break up the protest.

According to the police, they did not have a permit to do so, or to hold prayers in celebration of the the anniversary.

As the crowd assembled, they unfurled one flag on the pole, and used another two flags  in a dance  and to run around the field.

The police say there were no casualties during the security operations there.

However, the police identified three persons as suspects for “torturing”  a member of the police force in the district of Nimbokrang, Jayaputa.

The police chief told journalists on Friday that 15 people had been taken into custody, of whom three have been declared suspects and will go on trial before a court.

Facing charges
They will face charges under Article 214, para 2 of the Criminal Code for resisting state officials while on duty, facing a possible five-year sentence.

The three were identified by their initials, TT, YT and JKT, and are currently in police custody.

The director of the Bhayangkari Hospital  told journalists that police officer Napitupulu was in a stable condition.

“His condition has improved. Yesterday an arrow that had pierced  his thigh was removed and injuries on his face had been cleaned.”

The police chief said that the security situation in Papua after December 1 was “conducive”, especially as the month of December is when the Christian community will  be celebrating Christmas.

According to Markus Haluk, chairman of the Association of Highland Students , AMPTI, six people were injured by gunshots and were being treated at Timika Caritas Hospital.

However, this was denied by the public affairs spokesman of the police of Papua.

“No one was shot,” he said. “On the contrary, five of our members were wounded,” he claimed.

Source: Bintang Papua / Translated from Bahasa Indonesia by Tapol

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