Dikhy Sasra, Jakarta – Around 100 people from the group Solidarity for Aceh and Papua protested rejecting militarism at the offices of the United Nations, the Ministry for the Coordination of Politics and Security and the Presidential Palace.

The action, which was joined by activists from the People’s Democratic Party, POPOR [People’s United Opposition Party] and the Popular Youth Movement, gathered at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta on Saturday September 27.

Following this, the demonstrators held a long-march towards the offices of United Nations, the Ministry for the Coordination of Politics and Security and the Presidential Palace. As a consequence, there were traffic jams in parts of Jalan M.H. Thamrin and the flow of traffic was diverted to the fast lane.

In the action, the Papuans wore penis gourds while the Acehnese wore traditional Acehnese clothing. Moreover, two morning star flags [of the Papuan independence movement] were able to be hoisted although after negotiations with security forces the flags were eventually taken down.

“We ask that Mega-Hamzah [President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Vice-president Hamzah Haz] immediately revoke the military emergency in Aceh. We also reject the division of Papua [into three new provinces]”, said an activist during their speech.

A number of banners and posters were displayed with the writing “Resist the Military Invasion”, “Reject the Military Emergency in Aceh and Papua” and “End Military Domination in Aceh”.

As well as this, the demonstrators also took up calls rejecting the US occupation in Iraq, condemning Israel’s invasion of Palestine along with supporting Palestinian independence. (aan)

[Translated by James Balowski.]