Adpara, Jayapura – An association of former Papuan fighters urged greater government efforts to publicize a regulation that prohibits regions from using secessionist flags.

The Former Papua Liberalization Fighters Big Family (KKBPPIB) said most Papuans were unaware of the existence of Government Regulation No. 77/2007, which bans the use of secessionist flags, including the Crescent Star flag of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM).

"The regulation should be made known to the public at large and the provincial government should get its own flag which is completely different from the OPM flag," KKBPPIB secretary Mesak Womsiwor said here Friday after a meeting between Papuan community figures and the chief of the Cenderawasih Military Command, Maj. Gen. Haryanto Soetanto.

He criticized local administrations for allowing the flying of the secessionist flag during cultural festivals and other events. "The OPM flag is not a cultural symbol of the province but a symbol of the struggle for Papua's separation from Indonesia," he said.

Haryanto said it was the job of the central and local governments to introduce the regulation to people, adding the military would provide whatever support it could.