Green MP's raise Morning Star flag in NZ
Posted 20th October 2000

Green Members of Parliament raised West Papua's "Morning Star" flag on the steps of New Zealand Parliament yesterday, to welcome OPM representative and West Papuan exile, Mr John Ondawame. Mr Ondawame was also welcomed by MPs from the New Zealand Government's Labour and Alliance parties. Ondawame has met with New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs officials and the Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee over the last two days. In a speech to the House of Representatives yesterday Green MP Keith Locke urged the New Zealand Government to call for both the immediate withdrawal of the Indonesian military and police from West Papua, and a dialogue between the Indonesian government and the Papuan Presidium Council for a peaceful process of self-determination. He also urged the Government to join Vanuatu and Nauru, in supporting observer status for West Papua at the Pacific Islands Forum being held later this month.

Fears of Indonesian crackdown in Irian Jaya

Church leaders and human rights activists in Indonesia's eastern province of Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, have reported a build-up of troops, which they fear will be used to crackdown on separatist supporters. The warning comes as police back away from an order to have all separatist flags pulled down by today. Police say their action was made in an attempt to avoid bloodshed. Independence leaders had promised to mobilise tens of thousands of supporters to prevent Morning Star flags from being lowered from town squares and prominent buildings. The Morning Star flag is a potent symbol of Papuan identity and struggle for self-rule. Almost two-weeks ago, police attempts to lower one of the flags resulted in a rampage by villagers and the killing of 40 people, mainly Indonesian settlers. In an effort to re-open dialogue, police have promised Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid would meet independence leaders face-to-face and hear their demands for a greater share of Papua's rich resources and an end to human rights abuses.