Police in Merauke, Papua dismissed rumors that the outlawed “Morning Star” flag was raised in the region in a celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) on Dec. 1.
“There was no flag-raising ceremonies. We checked during our patrols,” Merauke Police chief Sr. Comr. Djoko Pribadi said Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.
Regarding the false alarm, Djoko said there had been many such misleading and disturbing rumors circulating in the lead up to the OPM anniversary.
One of the reports his team had received was of a shooting in Jagebon district, which he said also needed to be investigated.
“I have ordered our team to check it,” he said.