12/11/2001

"THE LAST BLOOD" IN WEST PAPUA

After yesterday's violence and confusion on the
streets of Sentani, a day of peace, mourning and
independence demands in Jayapura. At midday today the
body of Theys Eluay, the leader of West Papua, killed
by the Kopasus (Indonesian Special Forces) two days
ago, was taken in a coffin draped with the Papuan
Morning Star flag accompanied by a crowd of hundreds
to the office of the DPR (People‚s Representative
Council) where demands were made that „Theys is the
last blood". Thousands marched from Sentani and
Abepura to join the gathering shouting "Merdeka!"
("Freedom!").

The morning started off tense with the main roads
empty of traffic, Indonesian taxi drivers fearing
attacks from Papuans. The brave and the curious filled
the centre of Sentani inspecting the wreckage of the
shops and banks that were burnt yesterday. Brimob (the
mobile police brigade) filled the streets but were
more restrained than the day before when they had
opened fire on Papuans.

Theys' body was taken from the hospital at midday and
a funeral procession, led by two Papuan Morning Star
flags, marched to the office of the DPR (People‚s
Representative Council). His coffin was taken to the
door of the office where Presidium Representative
Herman Saud met John Ibor the head of the DPR (see
photo). With Theys' body held in front of the office
Herman Saud made the following demands: "The DPR must
make a special statement to the Indonesian government
stating what has happened here on behalf of the Papuan
people". "The government must sign a statement
guaranteeing the safety of the rest of the Presidium
Council". John Ibor replied through tears stating what
a great leader Theys had been. The crowd shouted that
"this must happen NOW", "we must have our freedom".
Theys' coffin was then taken into the DPR office. The
crowd prayed and sung, emotions were high, people were
crying and wailing in traditional Papuan fashion.

At 11.00 a march left Sentani on the six hour walk to
Jayapura. Passing through Abepura and other towns on
the way it grew in size to about 5000 people by the
time it reached the DPR office in Jayapura. All the
way, both Indonesian and Papuan houses were providing
food and water and occasionally hosing down the hot
walkers. Many Indonesians joined the march. People
carried Morning Star flags and sung. Only a few Brimob
officers looked on. At one point a young man walked up
to a Brimob officer, grabbed the end of his gun and
stuck it into his stomach shouting "Kill me
colonialist!". The frightened Brimob officer withdrew
his gun.

After dark the huge march arrived at the DPR office.
There they listened to Lina Jikwa, speaking on behalf
of the Chair of the West Papuan Student Alliance
(AMP). There she made the following four points:
"Theys will be buried outside the DPR office on 1st
December" (1st December is considered the Papuan
independence day)
"We need a dialogue with the army and the police to
ensure that Theys is the last blood, we must have our
freedom"
"President Megawati and ex-President Gus Dur (Wahid)
must come to see Theys' body"
"The people of Papua give their trust to the students
to take their case and this news to the international
community".

At one point armed Brimob officers tried to enter the
office. The crowd asked them what business they had
there, they did not answer but onlookers said they
were trying to provoke the people. The crowd let them
enter peacefully.

In an interview with Kilungga, vice chair of AMP
Jayapura he said: "I am from AMP. We thank Indonesia
for what happened because they have also killed
themselves. They have shown themselves to the rest of
the world. Theys did not die by accident, he was
killed by Kopasus (Indonesian Special Forces). Theys
was the legal president of West Papua, so they had not
right to kill him. But they did and now our way to
freedom is clear."

In the afternoon Hotel Ratna in Sentani was burned.

The talks in front of the office are continuing into
the night. Tomorrow people from all over West Papua
will come to Jayapura where there will be singing and
dancing. But over the next few days as the demands of
the Papuans are likely not met a stronger reaction is
expected. The situation is still extremely volatile -
things here have only just begun.