Jerry Omona, Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement allegedly raised the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag to commemorate the independence of Papua, which is believed to fall on July 1. The flags were found in several places in Papua, yet OPM's military wing, the Papua Liberation Army Front (TPN), refused that they were involved in the case.

TPN leader Lambertus Pekikir said that they were not responsible for the flags in Puncak Jaya, or the Carstensz Pyramid, the highest summit of Mount Carstensz in Papua. "We don't know which group did it, the authority can look for them, we are not responsible," he said.

Lambert said that he had warned all TPN members to remain calm during the Papuan independence day, and not to do any activity related to the commemoration. "So any activity related to it is not OPM'S responsibility," he added.

Numbers of Papuans commemorate the independence of Papua on July 1. The independence was proclaimed by Zeth Rumkorem and Jacob Pray, who raised the first Bintang Kejora flag on July 1 1971.