Nethy Dharma Somba and Markus Makur, Jayapura, Timika – Members of the Papua Customary Council (DAP) on Wednesday demanded the Papua provincial police immediately solve the shooting of Opinus Tabuni.

Opinus was shot dead during celebrations to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on August 9 in Sinapuk Square in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency.

The demands were made during a rally staged outside the provincial legislative council building in the provincial capital of Jayapura.

"Why do they kill Papuans?", shouted the crowd of about 700 demonstrators at the end of their 35-kilometer march from the DAP office in Waena, just outside Jayapura. Demonstrator Markus Haluk insisted the police investigate and solve the case.

"At that time, there were only two state institutions carrying firearms: the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI). So it should be easy for the police to solve the case," Markus said. "It was either the police or the TNI (who shot Opinus). Why is it so difficult to solve?"

Fellow demonstrator Fadel Al Hamid said Opinus was one of thousands of Papuans who had been shot and killed but whose cases were left unresolved.

"We are in deep sorrow over Opinus' death," he said. "Today, it is Opinus. Tomorrow, the next victims could be you or me, all Papuans. That's why the DAP demands the case be solved transparently. We also hoped Opinus' case is the last case."

Fadel also read out the council's statement condemning Opinus' shooting as a crime against humanity.

The council stated there were some 20,000 Papuans attending the International Day of the World's Indigenous People commemorations when four flags were hoisted: the Indonesian national flag, the UN flag, the SOS flag and the separatist Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag.

The DAP also demanded police cease all investigations into the raising of the separatist flag in Wamena, which incited the August 9 shooting.

The DAP played down the hoisting of Bintang Kejora star as merely a spontaneous expression of dissatisfaction among native Papuans toward the Indonesian government's unfulfilled promise to bring prosperity to Papuans.

The council also blamed the UN for the incident because the International Day was established by the world body and declared during a UN General Assembly in 1994.

The demonstrators were met by Papua Legislative Council Speaker John Ibo, who promised to take their demands to the relevant institutions.

In Timika, police are searching for unknown people who hoisted a separatist flag in Kwamki Lama village in Mimika regency. The flag was hoisted at about 5:15 a.m. local time (3:15 a.m. Jakarta time). No arrests have been made because the perpetrators left the scene before police arrived.

"This is sedition, organized by a separatist group working in Mimika regency. We have blocked access to Kwamki Lama village," said Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Godhelp Mansnembra. "We have questioned five people as witnesses."

The Bintang Kejora flag was banned by the government in 2007.