'€œThe ceremony, which was attended by locals, representatives from the local consultative board (Muspida) and schoolchildren, ran safely without any disruptions,'€ Jayawijaya Regional Military Command (Kodam) chief Lt. Col. Yusuf Sampetoding said.

Information had circulated earlier in the day, alleging that shots had been fired between security officers and armed civilians during the Lanny Jaya ceremony.

'€œThere was no shooting. Members of armed civilian groups fired shots into the air but they did not disrupt the ceremony,'€ Yusuf said.

Lanny Jaya was part of Jayawijaya regency before it was expanded and, together with three other regions, namely Central Memberamo, Nduga and Yalimo, became a new regency in 2007.

Lanny Jaya regency has been in the spotlight since an armed group, led by Enden Wanimbo and Puron Wenda, shot dead two police officers on July 27. Security in the regency remains fragile as the group deemed responsible for the shooting is still at large.

'€œThe group is waging guerrilla warfare, but security officers are continuing their security operations to protect the area from its threats,'€ Yusuf said.

Hesty, a Tiom resident, told The Jakarta Post that the Independence Day celebrations had been both peaceful and lively. She said shots were heard when the ceremony was under way. '€œ[The shots] apparently came from other districts, not in Tiom. The ceremony ran smoothly,'€ Hesty said.

Tiom locals enthusiastically entered into the spirit of Sunday's celebrations by decorating their homes with colorful banners and raising Red-and-White flags in their front yards.

Similarly, Independence Day celebrations in the provincial capital Jayapura also passed off safely and smoothly, with a ceremony led by Papua Governor Lukas Enembe.

Although Independence Day fell this year on a Sunday, when most Papuans - who are Christian - go to church, local participation was high.

'€œI went to church on 6 a.m. this morning so that I could attend the flag-raising ceremony,'€ said Elisabeth, a teacher in Jayapura.

Several officials from neighboring Papua New Guinea (PNG), including Tourism Minister Hon Boka Kondra, Sandaun Governor Hon Paul Nengai, Vanimo Mayor Jerry Kina and Sandaun'€™s head of protocol, Simon M.Ledu, also attended the ceremony in Jayapura.

Military personnel and senior high school students from Jayapura also gave special performances to liven up the celebrations in the city. (ebf)

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