The West Papuan Morning Star flag has been a point of contention across Indonesia for decades.
For many West Papuans, it represents freedoms that have been taken away.
Every year on December 1 — the date the flag was first raised in 1961 — activists fly the Morning Star as a symbol of independence and resistance to incorporation into Indonesia.
They have supporters in many parts of the world: This year events were held in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Fiji, to name a few places.
But despite the many supporters, there are also many Indonesians who say the Morning Star flag actually represents a betrayal of the national motto "unity in diversity" and that their voices on the issue are not being heard.
"The reporting of West Papua is one-sided in Australia, that's why we feel we need to make a political statement," a member of the Sydney-based Indonesian community group Projo told the ABC on the condition of anonymity.
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-19/many-indonesians-insulted-by-pro-papuan-activists-in-australia/11788420
