By HAIVETA KIVIA in Post Courier

An arm of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka says what happened at Papua New Guinea-Indonesian border was a symbol of representing their dislike and discomfort of been under Indonesian rule. Benny Wenda of the West Papua revolutionary army, which is also linked to the OPM, stated that this is not a war or fight against the Indonesian people or  PNG people and its armed forces.

Mr Wanda said the fight is against the authoritative regime of the Republic of Indonesian that is oppressing the Melanesian West Papuans. He alleged that Indonesian security forces shot at unarmed civilians who had gathered at the border to protest severe human rights abuses, massacres,   rape and torture against the innocent West Papuans.

But that was strongly opposed by a PNG intelligence officer on the ground at the border. The officer said the OPM militants who were armed and returning fire for fire with the Indonesian security forces and they only withdrew when it became dark. Mr Wenda said the underlying factor relating to the Saturday incident is that West Papuans are boycotting the Legislature Elections now underway in the Republic of Indonesia.

“Why should the West Papuans vote for Indonesia’s parliamentarians when the people they vote into parliament turn against them and cannot speak up for the majority of West Papuans who only wish for self-determination and independence,” he said. He said it was true that the West Papuan lowered the Indonesian flag and hoisted the Morning Star of West Papua and the United Nations flag.

He said the hoisting of the UN flag was for UN to recognise West Papuans rights for self determination and independence. Mr Wenda also denied claims that there was a buildup of OPM militants at the border but that was also refuted by our source, who said the militants amassed in the area around Friday and on Saturday engaged in the eight hour gun battle with Indonesian forces. He also confirmed that the OPM militants did lower the Indonesian flags and hoisted the Morning Star and the UN flags.

Our source also confirmed that there is a buildup of Indonesian forces at the Border after the incident. Mr Wenda alleged that the Indonesians have brought six tankers and six military helicopters to be stationed at the border.  He said berets worn by their members were not UN Force berets but were part of their uniforms bought in shops in Jaya Pura. He also corrected that the PNG border administration building was not burnt down and which was in fact a typing error.