Free West Papua protest ends in clash over flag
A clash against the police broke out during the Free West Papua protest in Yogyakarta on Sunday night as a protester tried to raise the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag.
News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, December 2, 2024
Police officers form a barricade on Dec. 1, 2024, during the Free West Papua rally in Yogyakarta. Rally participants clashed with the police, who prevented one of the protestors from flying the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag. (Kompas.com/Wisang)
A clash occurred during the Free West Papua rally on Jl. Kusumanegara in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta city on Sunday evening, after protesters attempted to raise the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag. The protest, which called attention to the situation in Papua provinces, initially took place peacefully, starting in the afternoon. The demonstrators had begun to disperse and walk eastward towards the Kusumanegara intersection shortly after the azan (call to prayer) for Magrib (dusk) prayer. However, a clash suddenly broke out between the protesters and the police, startling the locals nearby. Yogyakarta City Police chief Sr. Comr. Aditya Surya Dharma said the commotion began when one of the protesters was caught attempting to raise the Bintang Kejora flag.
"Someone tried to raise the Bintang Kejora flag. That’s what we tried to secure, but they immediately attacked us," Aditya said, as reported by tribunnews.com.
The police also urged the public to remain calm and not be provoked by rumors circulating on social media. As a result of the clash, residents near Jl. Kusumanegara immediately closed off access points to their neighborhoods. They also stood guard at the alleyways, warning drivers heading towards Jl. Kusumanegara to turn around. Some of the streetlights were also turned off by the police.
Since the 1970s, the Bintang Kejora flag has been the main symbol of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). The use of the banned Bintang Kejora flag by OPM has triggered controversy and stigma in Indonesia. OPM was established on Dec. 1, 1961. However, Andi Muttaqien, deputy director of advocacy at human rights advocacy institution ELSAM, stated that raising the Bintang Kejora flag could not yet be considered as an act of treason, as he believed the flag is part of the Papuan people's culture. "The Bintang Kejora flag is a symbol that has become part of the culture for the Papuan people. A protest using the Bintang Kejora flag is a cultural expression, so it cannot be considered an act of treason," Andi said in a written statement on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com. The clash between the protesters and the police did not last long, as they gradually eased. The protesters then entered the dormitory, and the police attempted to negotiate with them to maintain order. The police had eased security measures at the scene of the clash to allow residents to go about their activities comfortably. Aditya also emphasized the importance of maintaining a calm atmosphere so that the public can move about safely.
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