[Kabar-indonesia] Papua on alert over rebel leader's funeral

[Joyo at aol.com]

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The Jakarta Post
November 3, 2006

Papua on alert over rebel leader's funeral

JAKARTA: Police in Papua are on high alert over the planned
funeral of separatist leader Willem Songgonao who died in
Australia last week.

His body has been laid in state in Jayapura and his
relatives have yet to decide if his remains will be buried
in Jayapura or in his hometown in Enarotali, Antara
reported.

Jayapura City Police chief Adj. Comr. Roberth Joensoe said
Thursday he had readied about 200 officers in anticipation
of violence.

Songgonao, a Papua New Guinea citizen, had lived in self-
imposed exile abroad for 37 years, seeking diplomatic
support for Papua independence. He died of a heart attack in
Sydney on Oct. 2. In his death wish he asked to be buried in
his homeland.

Joensoe said he had told the deceased's supporters not to
raise the Free Papua Movement (OPM) flag, or the security
authorities would take action against them.

"If his coffin is draped in the OPM flag, his relatives will
have to bear the consequences," he said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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