Papuan shot dead at Flag Day ceremony

Transcript

A West Papua independence activist says scores of people have been arrested and one person shot dead by Indonesian police in Papua yesterday for commemorating its independence day.

Thousands of people across the world took part in demonstrations to mark the anniversary of the region's declaration of independence in 1961, when the Morning Star flag was first raised.

When Indonesia took control of the region two years later, it banned the flag.

Benny Wenda says he's had reports many people were arrested, beaten and intimidated across West Papua for marking the day.

BENNY WENDA: In West Papua, in Serui, a person was shot dead by Indonesian police and two critical. And some of the members also beat them up. So this is a reports coming. In Nabire a few days before, about 32 people were arrested, just preparing for celebrations for 1st of December. I got reports a number of intimidation's, harassment by Indonesian military and police. And also in Jayapura, KNPB (Komite Nasional Papua Barat or National Committee for West Papua) community national compound in Abepura and Jayapura it is surrounded by military, heavily militarised, not police, ordinary police, but military. And just middle of the city, it's like a war is going on in West Papua. And this year alone heavily militarised and every corner, every street. I just received phone calls everywhere. This year really almost every corner in West Papua the military was building up.

MARY BAINES: So many people were arrested across Papua yesterday just for joining in on the demonstrations or raising the Morning Star flag?

BW: That's right, that's right. Also I heard there are a few journalists, Al Jazeera and some of the journalists have been arrested. And beat them up. This journalist just covering the situation in West Papua and some places and they beat him up, by police. So that's what I got information from my people back home. But I don't know very detail and also they deleted the picture and video from their camera.

MB: Ok. So what will happen to all of these people who have been arrested? I understand in the past people have been sentenced to 15 years for raising the flag.

BW: Yes. Including Filep Karma. And Filep Karma's release was by force not by genuine release. Because that is what Indonesia is doing at the moment. Because they are trying to make the good guys on what they're doing in West Papua. In terms of the freedom of expression, from our West Papuan point of view, West Papua is a militarised zone, you cannot form the political party or form the freedom of assembly. It is very difficult, very tight.