ABC AUSTRALIA, Thursday, November 27, 2003. 8:25pm (AEDT)
Indonesia arrests 50 Papuan separatists
Indonesian police have arrested 50 people in the eastern-most province of Papua after
they took part in a ceremony to raise a separatist flag.
Police say the men were arrested when they raised the flag of the West Melanesia
state at two separate locations.
Today marks the sixth anniversary of the declaration of the state of West Melanesia
by separatist leader, Michael Kareth.
Police in the Indonesian province are on alert for further separatist commemorations.
The Free Papua Movement, which has staged a sporadic and low-level revolt for
decades, proclaimed the state of West Papua on December 1, 1962.
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
