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Thousands Rally for Independence in Papua
November 14, 2011

Policemen walking in front of pro-independence demonstrators during a rally outside the local parliament in Abepura, Jayapura, Papua, in August. Thousands of protesters in the restive, resources-rich region on Monday demanded a referendum for self-determination. (Reuters Photo) Policemen walking in front of pro-independence demonstrators during a rally outside the local parliament in Abepura, Jayapura, Papua, in August. Thousands of protesters in the restive, resources-rich region on Monday demanded a referendum for self-determination. (Reuters Photo)
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Kesiangan
1:08pm Nov 16, 2011

@Putrimawar. Timor-Leste was colonized by Indonesia for about 25 years.

For the country's economy visit:

http://www.imf.org/External/AM/2011/imfc/statement/eng/ita.pdf

muffinman
12:51pm Nov 16, 2011

Putrimawar, where do you get your facts from ? The cafeteria or Twitter ? I suggest you Google 'Timor Leste' and educate yourself with any of the links on the first page. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975. The infrastructure that you wrongly refer to as being mostly built by Indonesians was largely razed in the 'Scorched Earth' policy launched by Habbibies government. Don't take my word for it. Do some research. As for 'provoking people to fight for Independance' what would you rather suggest ?

Kesiangan
11:48am Nov 16, 2011

@Putrimawar. Timor-Leste was colonized by Indonesia for about 25 years.

For the country's economic development, visit

http://www.imf.org/External/AM/2011/imfc/statement/eng/ita.pdf

Putrimawar
9:29am Nov 16, 2011

I pitty the Papuan, they're being tricked by few leaders to demand independence. They need to see what happens to East Timor after independence. Timor Leste is the poorest country in Asia now, while its wealth is being sucked daily by Australian & other western countries. Australia tricked the Timor Leste Govt on Timor Gap oil agreement. For most in East Timor, lives under independent Timor Leste today is much worse than under Indonesia's rule. Most of the facilities in Timor Leste were built by Indonesia (schools, churces, roads, bridges, hospitals, power generators, communication sytems, etc). The Australian who provoked people to fight for independence has not provided anything other than assigning their Army and Police to watch the area.

Australia, as usual, plays their role to provoke Papuan to fight for independence. Australia can see clearly how much wealth they can suck from Papua after independence. Papuan should fight for a higher share of income instead of independence.

didikarjadi
8:37pm Nov 15, 2011

Maybe it is time for the World to examine the legitimacy of Java's claim to the whole of what is called Indonesia.

What improvement is there for the majority since independence from the Dutch?

Jayapura. Thousands of protesters staged a pro-independence rally in Indonesia’s restive and resource-rich Papua region Monday demanding a referendum for self-determination.

More than 3,000 native Papuans, some in traditional grass skirts, walked 13 kilometers from Abepura city to the provincial capital Jayapura to meet local lawmakers.

“The Papuan people have asked for an immediate referendum for self-determination. We reject any dialogue with Jakarta,” protest coordinator Mako Tabuni said.

“The referendum is non-negotiable.”

Dozens of armed police attempted to block the protesters but failed to stop them from reaching the local house of representatives in Jayapura, where another 100 police waited on guard.

“We hope the protest doesn’t turn anarchic,” a local police chief, Ari Sirait, said.

In late October, armed security forces stormed a pro-independence assembly when a group of Papuan leaders declared the region’s independence and raised the Papuan Morning Star separatist flag.

At least three were killed in the clash, and videos recently broadcast on Australian television showed police beating unarmed protestors, including children.

For decades, ethnic Papuans have rejected the region’s special autonomy status within Indonesia and poorly armed separatist groups have fought a low-level insurgency.

A self-determination referendum in 1969 that officially handed Jakarta power over Papua was widely seen as rigged.

Indonesia has strict treason laws and courts have handed down stiff penalties -- from 20 years in jail to life -- for people caught with separatist symbols such as the Papuan Morning Star.

Agence France-Presse