Independence rally in West Papua

Independence rally in West Papua

An estimated 5000 protesters, many holding bibles, marched through the town of Mimika singing hymns as they marched to the office of the Mimika regent to demand independence for West Papua.

The protesters shouted, "Long live the Papua nation" and "Papua is a Melanesian nation", and carried banners saying "Colonialisation must be abolished from the land of Papua".

"The younger generation of Papua wants to be free from intimidation, human rights violations. They want to enjoy their natural resources", said protest leader Damaris Onawime.

Calls for independence have increased in West Papua since the rule of former Indonesian dictator Suharto ended in May 1998. The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has been fighting for an independent state since the former Dutch colony of West New Guinea became the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya in 1963.

The protesters were received by Mimika regent Titus Potereyaw and the local chief of police. In their petition, the marchers demanded that Indonesia let go of Irian Jaya by 2000. They threatened to continue to demonstrate until their demands were fulfilled.

From Kabar Irian (Irian News) at <http://www.irja.org/>.

From GLW issue 371