Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A group of civilians raised the banned Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag in Kampung Wandenggobak, Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Monday, while officers from the Puncak Jaya Police precinct were celebrating the National Police's 67th anniversary, which fell on July 1.

Intermittent gunfire was also heard in the lead-up to the Morning Star flag being raised.

"The flag-raising occurred at 8:55 a.m. local time when members of the Puncak Jaya Police precinct were preparing to celebrate Bhayangkara Day," Agus, a local resident of Mulia, told The Jakarta Post.

It is unknown where the gunfire came from as the weather at the time was foggy. As the fog faded, the flag was seen flying at Kampung Wandenggobak, which is 3 kilometers from the location where the celebrations for Bhayangkara Day took place.

"Information currently circulating in Mulia indicates that the raising of the Morning Star flag was carried out by a group led by Enggaranggo Wenda and Purom Wenda," Agus said.

Police officers from the Papua Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit deployed in Mulia lowered the flag. Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said both the raising of the flag and the sounding of gunfire were merely aimed at provoking the police.

"It was just provocation, hoping that police would enter the Puncak Jaya area so they could shoot our personnel. But we have experienced such tricks before so we were not fooled," said Tito. (fan/ebf)