8 Youth Prosecuted for Raising the Morning Star Flag in Papua

TheIndonesia.id - Eight youths raising the Morning Star flag at Cenderawasih Sports Center, Jaya Pura City, Papua, on December 1, 2021, have been named suspects. The Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Grand Commissioner Ahmad Mustofa Kamal, said the decision to prosecute them was based on the results of the examination.

"Eight suspects have the initials MSY, YM, MY, MK, BM, FK, MP, and MW," he said, quoted by Kabarpapua.co, a network of TheIndonesia.id, Thursday, December 2, 2021.

Based on the examination, MY alias M acted as the leader of the action of raising the Morning Star flag at Cenderawasih Sports Center. M also made the Morning Star flag and banners as well as meeting leaders on November 30, 2021, around the Maro Dormitory.

Meanwhile, seven other suspects took part in the raising of the flag. "Seven suspects also participated in the preparations for the action and unfurled banners and sang songs and shouted Papua Merdeka," he said.

The incident can be categorized as a criminal act as referred to in Article 106 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 110 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 87 of the Criminal Code concerning conspiracy to commit crimes against the state.

"The suspects have been detained at the Papua Regional Police Headquarters RTP as of December 2, 2021, for further legal proceedings," he said.

On the same day, December 1, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Andika Perkasa visited Jayapura. He gave remarks about his will to supervise cases involving grave human rights violations in Papua province.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a working visit in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, Perkasa who spent several years in the United States studying at several universities, said 14 cases of human rights abuses have been reported in Papua, including Paniai.

"I will oversee those cases of human rights (violations)," Perkasa said, adding that several cases are being handled, including the Intan Jaya case, which reportedly led to two civilians going missing," said Perkasa quoted by Antara news agency on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

Papua issues will pose a challenge during Perkasa's leadership as armed conflicts are still occurring in Papua and West Papua though the central and regional governments are making the utmost efforts to improve the welfare of local communities by intensifying regional development, observers have said.