James Balowski – Despite a massive presence by Indonesian troops and stern warnings from Jakarta and local police, thousands of West Papuan's on December 1 peacefully celebrated the 39th anniversary of their self-declared independence from Dutch rule with prayers, peaceful ceremonies and a speech from the police chief. However, nine West Papuans were reported to have been killed on December 2 by Indonesian forces.
The December 2 South China Morning Post reported that 10,000 West Papuans gathered in the provincial capital of Jayapura under the gaze of hundreds of police and riot troops, who had been told to use force to protect the nation's "integrity" if necessary.
According to West Papuan leaders, an extra 21,000 Indonesian troops, police and special branch officers were in the province for the celebrations.
In a statement released on November 30, Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid said that any action to secede will "certainly be halted". Police and soldiers in Jayapura had been given orders to shoot any separatist who produced a sharp weapon.
The South China Morning Post said pro-independence supporters began gathering at sunrise on Jayapura's the main street, where a cultural centre had been taken over by members of the pro-independence Sagas Papua (Papua Taskforce). Many heckled the more moderate leaders when they refused to read out the 1961 unilateral claim of independence from Holland.
In a provocative move by Jakarta in the days before the protests, independence leader Theys Eluay, who heads the Papua Presidum Council, and four other council members were detained by police. They are expected to be held until December 20, as provided by the Indonesian constitution.
Earlier on December 1, at least four flag-raisers were arrested by police for "insulting" the Indonesian flag by raising a Morning Star flag that was larger and flying higher than the Indonesia flag next to it.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that there was a "surreal stand-off" in Jayapura as Indonesian police with riot shields, padded uniforms and automatic weapons stared grimly at independence supporters, who yelled, "Merdeka, merdeka [independence]". Heavily armed police and soldiers stopped and searched travellers. Thousands of Indonesian settlers have fled the province, fearing attack.
The Agence France Presse (AFP) agency reported that more than 2000 independence supporters, hemmed in on three sides by scores of armed anti-riot police, shouted "Hallelujah", sang hymns and danced beneath the flag, which independence leaders had agreed would be lowered at sunset.
After an hour of tense negotiations, Jayapura police chief Lieutenant Colonel Daud Sihombing said he would not force the flag down at the agreed time.
Earlier he had warned of "consequences" if it stayed aloft but pro-independence supporters refused, declaring they were ready to die in defence of the flag.
Chief negotiator Tony Infandi pleaded with the crowd to accept the police orders, but was drowned out. AFP reported that when Infandi returned to continue negotiations, he told Sihombing that he had exhausted all efforts to persuade the independence supporters to comply. "I've tried everything, but all of them, even women and mothers are telling me they are ready to be slaughtered."
Jubilant independence supporters shone a spotlight on the Morning Star, fluttering next to a frayed red and white Indonesian national flag.
Shortly before 11pm, police finally lowered the flag. AFP reported that when the flag came down, many of those left in the park started to flee, even though the armed Indonesian riot police, who had circled the park all day, had gone.
While the December 1 celebrations passed generally peacefully due to the large size of the mobilisations, Indonesian troops killed two men in the western town of Fak Fak.
On December 2, Indonesian forces opened fire in Merauke, killing six pro-independence supporters and a taxi driver. The Morning Star flag was pulled down at sunset on December 1 by the town's pro-independence leaders, as had been agreed with the authorities. However, an angry crowd, reportedly unhappy with the flag's removal had gathered the next day. The BBC on December 2 reported that "many people" in Jayapura were also unhappy with agreement to pull down the independence flag at sunset across West Papua.
Sagas issued a statement on December 2 reporting that 23 independence advocates had been seized at 3am by Indonesian troops.
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, police fired teargas to disperse some 300 West Papuan students who staged a pro-independence rally outside the US embassy. AFP reported that at least three students were injured as the police beat them for waving the Morning Star flag. When the students refused to move, the police fired a volley of tear gas and arrested at least seven.