the Guard of the MAMTA Village that with the Co-ordinator the Field (Korlap) was assigned to pacify the mass and to clear the Indonesian Intelligence infiltration from the group.

Indonesian colonial activities such as markets, traffic, office work, education, and the like were visibly inactive because most of the Javanese immigrants had chosen to stay at home.

The twenty thousand people marched nearly 16 Km while TNI helicopters induced considerable fear.

Jefry Pagawak, Korlap Aksi

Yet, filled with a spirit for Papuan independence the group marched from the Trikora Abepura field to the DPR-Papua office in Jayapura City.

Initially, the People's Mass Papua gathered in two points. Those from Genyem, Sentani, Waena, Abepura, Kotaraja, Koya and Arso gathered at the Trikora Abepura field. And those from Entrop to Sand Two gathered in the Imbi Garden in Jayapura. Those gathered at the Trikora Abepura field began their long march at 9 A.M. and join those at the Imbi Garden around 1 P.M. to present their declaration at the Office of the DPR-Papua.

The coffin of the Autonomy "corpse"

During the long march, the mass of people carried a Coffin inscribed with "Autonomy" as a sign that the Autonomy Package has died in the land of Papua, and that the people of Papua were returning its corpse to Jakarta. Although singing poems about the return of Autonomy and the military recalcitrance, they also shouted "Papua Merdeka" (Free Papua) while lifting their billboard and banner.

Police Panser Vehicles were on Alert

Although the long march was conducted in an orderly manner thanks to Korlap and the Guard of the MAMTA Village, the TNI flew a combat Helicopter at the convoy of people, to be precise the TNI used the helicopter to snarl at the people at Skyland (the Youtefa Gulf). The Police that attempted to dissuade the crowds also surrounded the office of DPR-Papua with hundreds of officers as well as two Panser vehicles.

Political speech and Reading of the Communique

The Crowd at the DPR-Papua office

Arriving at the office of the DPR-Papua, the speakers said that the Package of Special Autonomy has been returned to the government of Indonesia. They also delivered the coffin as a symbol of the return of the Package of Autonomy rule. The traditional Council (DAP) then read out a Communique of the traditional Community listing 4 Point failures of the package, and listing 7 points which the traditional Papuan community of the Republic of Indonesia Government.

"Karena itu, Masyarakat Adat Papua dengan ini mendesak DPRP Provinsi Papua dan Pemerintah Provinsi Papua untuk mengembalikan Undang-Undang Nomor 21 tahun 2001 tentang Otonomi Khusus Bagi Provinsi Papua kepada yang terhormat Pemerintah Republik Indonesia di Jakarta", the package was return with the governments own style of wording.

The Indonesian governments Response

John Ibo being accompanied by Leo Imbiri

Dr. John Ibo on meeting a crowd in the foyer of the DPR-Papua Office acknowledged that the Province government had not yet provided Melanesian Autonomy in accordance with the peoples wishes. Mr Ibo also said the DPR-Papua did not have the authority to return the Special Autonomy.

'As the Agency belonging to the people, we continued to receive what is sent by the Papua traditional Council, but DPR-Papua does not have the authority to return Autonomy according to the regulations.' [ Paraphrasing Indon. to Eng.] It was the authority of the central government, he explained to the crowd.

Concerning the Autonomy Fund disappearing to officials and non-Papuan population, John Ibo said that he did not know because Autonomy Fund is fully orchestrated from the City Regency. Despite John Ibo, the DAP were able to calm the crowd.

In the meantime, the Papuan Governor JP Salossa separately responded emotionally to the return of Autonomy Action. Salossa was angry because the Communique of the traditional Papuan Community demanded the Indonesian President give permission to inspect his handling of the Autonomy fund.

Governor Salossa said the rumours of Autonomy funds being used by only certain people were improper unless proven, not by circumstancial talk. The reason for State law is so careless accusations are not made on local talk, but only to damage a person's name he stressed with an angry tone.

Demonstration's end, and the People's Response

Dancer who ignited the peoples spirits

People who heard John Ibo's explaination told SPM News they thought it was very funny if the DPR-Papua did not know how the Autonomy fund was handled. Further they are concerned for their demands, not the money.

One excited demonstrator said 'the Autonomy fund that was more used by the officials and Javanese immigrants was not our affair, because our demand was always for sovereignty as a nation and the unconditional right to determine our own fate, to be independent and sovereign as other nations on the earth'.

The mass of people was disappointed when the DAP ended the protest at 3:30 PM, though the people had wanted to wait for an answer from the rulers, especially from President SBY.

'We were disappointed because of walking half dead, some with the penis sheath and dancing, in fact DAP dispersed the mass in any way. Our hope, DAP may not need us like this again, because we have suffered enough under Indonesian supervison, the traditional people should not follow the tracks of colonisers who did not know the Tradition', explained a farmer who was in the Long March.

It is clear, Autonomy was the last resort of colonisers everywhere in order to maintain their colonial territories and a manipulation strategy to conceal the reality of colonisation. If Autonomy for Papua was returned, then Indonesia will be seen as the cruel colonisers and this will force the International community to support the Self-determination Refendum for the people of Papua.

© Copyright 2003-2005 by watchPAPUA

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