ID :
20781
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 17:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20781
The shortlink copeid
SEPARATIST PAPUAN FLAG RAISED AGAIN IN TIMIKA
Timika, Indonesia, Sept 23 (ANTARA) - A group of people hoisted the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag of the separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM) here at 3:15 am local time on Tuesday.
An ANTARA reporter saw the flag being raised by three locals before dozens of others at Cemara street in Timika's Kwamki Baru sub district, at a spot only about 100 meters from a police precinct.
The flag fluttered for about 15 minutes before it was lowered and confiscated by police who also nabbed 18 people along with a number of self-made sharp weapons.
Seven of the 18 arrested people were identified as Arnold Toto, Ike Lamordean, Agustinung Timang, Agus Aim, Albertus Alomang, Benny Yanem, Alpinus Kalaneyane, and Apiator Onawame.
Public order and security in Timika follwing the flag incident, however, remained under control and people went about their daily activities as usual.
Tuesday morning's incident was the second to have happened in Timika this month. On Wednesday (Sept 17), a group of unidentified locals also raised the separatist OPM flag at Timika's Kwamki Lama square but it was taken down again before police arrived.
According to Wikipedia free encyclopedia, the morning star flag represented the territory of West New Guinea from December 1,1961 until October 1,1962 when the territory came under administration of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA).
The flag is commonly used by the West Papuan population including OPM supporters to rally self-determination, human rights support and is usually raised on December 1 each year in defiance of Indonesian domestic laws.
The flag consists of a red vertical band along the hoist side, with a white five-pointed star in the center. The flag was for the first time raised on December 1, 1961 and used until the United Nations became the territory's administrator on October 1,1962.
An ANTARA reporter saw the flag being raised by three locals before dozens of others at Cemara street in Timika's Kwamki Baru sub district, at a spot only about 100 meters from a police precinct.
The flag fluttered for about 15 minutes before it was lowered and confiscated by police who also nabbed 18 people along with a number of self-made sharp weapons.
Seven of the 18 arrested people were identified as Arnold Toto, Ike Lamordean, Agustinung Timang, Agus Aim, Albertus Alomang, Benny Yanem, Alpinus Kalaneyane, and Apiator Onawame.
Public order and security in Timika follwing the flag incident, however, remained under control and people went about their daily activities as usual.
Tuesday morning's incident was the second to have happened in Timika this month. On Wednesday (Sept 17), a group of unidentified locals also raised the separatist OPM flag at Timika's Kwamki Lama square but it was taken down again before police arrived.
According to Wikipedia free encyclopedia, the morning star flag represented the territory of West New Guinea from December 1,1961 until October 1,1962 when the territory came under administration of the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA).
The flag is commonly used by the West Papuan population including OPM supporters to rally self-determination, human rights support and is usually raised on December 1 each year in defiance of Indonesian domestic laws.
The flag consists of a red vertical band along the hoist side, with a white five-pointed star in the center. The flag was for the first time raised on December 1, 1961 and used until the United Nations became the territory's administrator on October 1,1962.
