Timika, Papua – A joint investigation conducted by the Papua police and the Mimika police named five Papuans from Timika on Monday as suspects for raising the Morning Star flag during the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization earlier this month.

Deputy chief of Papua Police, Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said the five suspects will be charged for mobilizing a crowd and treason.

"This is a law-abiding nation," Paulus said. "They fully realized what they did by distributing letters asking people to attend a meeting which they claimed would only involve praying."

Three of the five suspects who raised the flag in Timika Indah field were identified by their initials as IO, DO, and SO. Paulus said police were still asking for accounts from witnesses. "We will summon five more witnesses," he said.

The Free Papua Organization celebration in Timika Indah field ended with a clash between police and local people. The Morning Star flag was raised for five minutes on a 10-meter high tree. Two young people were also running around the tree, waving smaller flags.

Police claimed they had to forcefully take the flag down and fired warning shots when negotiations failed.