Tangled in Papua’s political tickets - The Jakarta Post

 Fifty years ago in May, Indonesia took over administration of what is now known as West Papua. Two years later the Free Papua Movement (OPM) started.

Following the fall of president Soeharto in 1998, some thought the time was right to seek independence.

But how to do it? In the remote province few knew more than the meaning of merdeka (ironically gained from studying Indonesian history), the urge to demonstrate and a symbol.

On Biak Island off the north coast there was political will, but no flag. Activist Filep Karma had seen the Morning Star flag but couldn’t remember details.

Employing a seamstress would have attracted the police, so Karma sprayed blue and red spray paint on a piece of white cloth. This was raised over a water tank at the harbor. A prayer meeting was held. It was a makeshift, amateurish, largely spontaneous and certainly naive protest.

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