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round 5,000 people on Monday swarmed Zhakeus Field in Padangbulan, Jayapura, Papua, to attend the opening of the 3rd Papuan People’s Congress, which runs through Oct. 19.

They came from seven customary areas in Papua as well as West Papua.

The congress, themed “Upholding Papuans’ basic rights now and in the future”, began with a thanksgiving prayer led by Rev. Max Ebe.

“Papuans have long been oppressed and have suffered destruction, so they must liberate themselves,” Ebe said.

Organizing chairman Selpius Bobii said Papuans had lived as if they were in heaven despite the conflicts. He said social harmony was assured by the traditions of Papuan society.

“Papua has become a hell during the Dutch administration and the Indonesian neocolonial era,” Bobii said in the opening address.

The congress is expected to serve as a means to unite Papuans to fight against injustice, he added.

“We greatly need support and solidarity from every party that upholds the values of democracy,
basic human rights, honesty and justice for the sake of protecting the people of Papua from genocide,”
Bobii said.

At the opening of the event, it was reported that the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) separatist flag was hoisted during a dance performance. Bobii said the flag was hoisted in honor of the Papuans who had suffered, and those who wished to protect their basic human and political rights.

The Merah Putih group in Papua objected to the 3rd Papuan People’s Congress because it was aimed at undermining the unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and wanted Papua to separate from the NKRI.

“We, the sons and daughters of the West Irian freedom fighters are against activities that intend to separate us from the NKRI. We are ready to divide and defend Papua within the NKRI,” Izaak Samuel Karubaba, head of the Children of Papua and West Irian Freedom Fighters Communications Forum, told the media in Jayapura.

He said that the history of Papua was final and that the implementation of the Papua special autonomy must be overseen so as to improve the welfare of Papuans.

“Let’s fill the special autonomy era with efforts to improve the people’s well-being in the field of education, healthcare and economy so that Papuans’ quality of life will also rise,” he said.