Added: Jul 13, 2010

From: WestPapuaMediaAlerts

Duration: 0:28

International news agencies have reported on the mass rally in Jayapura, capital of Indonesia's Papua province. Thousands of people joined a long march, walking 17 km from the MRP (Majelis Rakyat Papua -- Papua People's Assembly) to the DPRP (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Papua -- Papuan Provincial Legislature), rejecting the Special Autonomy granted by Indonesia in 2001 and demanding a referendum on West Papuan independence and an internationally-mediated dialogue with Jakarta. As protesters joined the rally from several points in the city, the crowd -- claimed by media to number just a few thousand -- swelled to nearly 20,000. They occupied the grounds of the provincial legislature under the watchful eye of police and army units. Latest developments: Confirmed from sources inside West Papua. Fordem leaders have just finished meeting with all DPRP members. They all decided by consensus to mediate a full and formal meeting of academics, Otsus (Special Autonomy) legal advisers, economic, social, political experts, and executive and legislative civil servants from all over West Papua to sit down together in a formal forum to discuss the failure of Otsus. Then a special formal session of parliament will take the decision to the Indonesian president. This will take place within 3 weeks. Both DPRP and Papuan Leaders have decided unanimously that a special session of DPRP will be held on August 3.

Channel: News

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