[size=Morning Star in front of the Royal Netherlands Embassy: ][/size]

[size=F-PEPERA-PB urged the Netherlands to recognize the independence of West Papua][/size]



by Yermias Ignatius Degei

April 5, 2007, 19:37:28 WIB (West Indonesia Standard Time)

http://kabarindonesia.com/berita.php?pil=1&dn=20070405182302





KabarIndonesia- Papuan students in Java and Bali who are members of Front Persatuan Perjuangan Rakyat Papua Barat (F-PEPERA-PB) or The United struggle front of West Papuan People held protest in front of the Netherlands embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday (5/4). The protesters wore head-bands printed with "Morning Star"and held some black flags written with "M" letter symbolizing Merdeka. They yelled out Papua Merdeka and songs of Papuan struggle for freedom.

According to the coordinator of the protest, Tinus Uaga, the action coincided with 5 April 1961, an important date for West Papuan people. "On 5 April 1961, at the inauguration speech of West Papua Council - Niew Guinea Raad, the Netherlands government recognized the independence of West Papua based on article 73 of UN Charter, i.e. "All people have the right to self determination, regardless of their state of development." Then the legislative council called Niew Guinea Raad had determined and decided the symbols of West Papua state.



Through its press release F-PEPERA-PB wrote the symbols of West Papua state which had been ditermined or decided by the New Guinea Raad which are the flag of West Papua is "Morning Star," the national anthem of West Papua is "Hai Tanahku Papua," the shield of the state is "Crown Pigeon bird," the currency of West Papua is "Gulden," the name of the state is "West Papua," and the legislative body is "Niew Guinea Raad." These symbols were ditermined by the the legislative body of West Papua, which was Niew Guinea Raad. Furthermore, as de facto the West Papua nation had declared their independence on 1 December 1961. Even in her official speech, Queen Yuliana II mentioned about the independence of West Papua.



"Now we demand that the Netherlands Government have to be responsible for their speech on the inauguration of the legislative body - Nieuw Guinea Raad on 5 April 1961 recognizing the independence of West Papua. We also urge the United States, Indonesia and the UN to be responsible and to apologize for the historical mistakes and the Act of No Choice in 1969, and to carry out re-referendum for the people and the nation of West Papua," said the general coordinator of the action, Victor Kogoya.



The action was started at 10.00 WIB, at around 12.00 WIB the general coordinator and the coordinator of the action were received by the public relation staff of the Netherlands embassy. The F-PEPERA-PB through their spokesperson had delivered their demandS which are the demands of the West Papuan people. At around 12.15 WIB the protesters were still full of spirit singing and performing Jospan dance in front of the embassy despite the heavy rain. Translated by David Chan.



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