The Papuan people plan to raise the Morning Star flag, an independence symbol, on the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization on Thursday.
“I heard from people there that there will be Morning Star flags everywhere [in Papua],” said Daniel Randongkir from the Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (Elsham) on Monday at a press conference.
While the police and military have hunted down separatist groups in Papua, Daniel said it seemed that ordinary Papuan people, who are not part of the OPM, were demanding independence.
“It seems that Papuan people at the end want it [independence] to happen,” he said. “The condition in Papua is getting tougher, Papuan people’s trust in the Indonesian government has declined drastically.”
There have been several problems in Papua recently. Police were forced to release 12 innocent men last week just 24 hours after announcing they had made a major breakthrough in the war against OPM.
Daniel suggested the government keep peaceful dialogue with Papuan people open.
“The government should be consistent in trying to solve the conflict in Papua.”