Police crackdown in West Papua
Indonesian police in West Papua have been ordered to continue a crackdown against West Papuans who raise the "Morning Star" independence flag in the province. According to the state news agency Antara, a police statement said that West Papuans are no longer allowed to have T-shirts, caps, bags or any other belongings featuring independence slogans.
The Indonesian Observer said that the statement followed some 100 independence supporters who protested after police pulled down Morning Star flags on September 5. At least one woman was wounded when police fired to disperse the protesters.
Acehnese activist found dead
A human rights activist has been identified from among five mutilated bodies found in woods in North Sumatra last week. Jafar Siddiq Hamzah, who headed the New York-based International Forum for Aceh, disappeared on May 5 during a visit to the provincial capital Medan.
Fellow human rights activists told the South China Morning Post that the killing was part of a pattern of increasing intimidation of human rights workers in Aceh. It is believed that the five were tortured before being murdered.
Amnesty International said there has been increased threats towards human rights workers in recent weeks. It cited the recent arrest of a volunteer, anonymous telephone death threats and a police assault on three members of an international humanitarian agency.
Protesters burn parliament buildings
On September 6, protesters in Sampang, Madura, an island off the east coast of Java, burned down the local parliament complex. The protesters also attacked military and police facilities in the parliamentary grounds.
According to the Detik news service, tensions had been mounting during the week as protests to oppose the swearing in of a new regent grew larger and more militant. Protesters allege that Fadhilah Budiono from the armed forces parliamentary fraction won the election by vote-buying.
On September 4, hundreds of demonstrators had brought Sampang to a standstill, closing down almost all government offices, and state and Islamic courts. They also blocked the city's western entrance and exit.
[For more information about political developments in Indonesia, East Timor and West Papua, visit the web site of Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor at <http://www.asiet.org.au>.]