Raising the Morning Star - Six months in the developing independence movement in West Papua

This paper outlines events in the developing independence movement in West Papua (Indonesian Irian Jaya) during a brief and remarkable period of Jakar t-led reform. The raising of the people's Morning Star flag - previously an act of treason--was conditionally permitted by the Indonesian security for ces on 1 December 1999. For Papuans, it marked the 38th anniversary of the initial steps towards self-determination while under Dutch rule, and expres sed their right to social justice and the ideal of freedom from Indonesian control. Punitive action followed the flag-raisings in Timika and Nabire. W hile a nascent 'people's task force' (Satgas Papua) began to play a securit y role, the independence movement took shape with a large formal gathering (MUBES) in February 2000, which for the first itme brought together Papuan leaders from all over the province, and in exile, to formulate a political strategy. The momentum of the MUBES continued in May-June 2000 with the Pap uan People's Congress, which resolved to pursue the right to self-determina tion 'peacefully and democratically', while acknowledging the absence of vi able international support.