Resistance
movement "The parties to a conflict must always distiguish between civilians and combatants. Starvation of civilians and attacks on the natural environment are specifically prohibited." (Protocol 1, Geneva Convention, 1990)" Resistance  to  occupation began almost immediately after Indonesia took effective control of the territory in May, 1963. The main reasons being: (1) The denial of freedom and rights: Presidential Decree No. 8 of 1963 banned democratic organisations, jailed the elected leaders and prohibited freedom of speech, freedom of movement and the right of assembly. This was seen by Papuans as a direct violation of Article 22 of the New York Agreement of August 15, 1962, signed by Indonesia and the Netherlands; (2) No rule of law: the military behaved like an occupying force,: stealing, raping and brutalising the people, but the government sided with the military against the Papuan people. The situation was aggravated further by Presidential Decree No. 11 of 1963, widely known as the AntiSubversion Act, which gives unlimited powers to the military to crush any opposition to the government's authority; and (3) The government denying the West Papuans the right of self-determination: in 1969, in the so-called 'Act of Free Choice'.
The first serious challenge to Indonesian authority in West Papua occurred in July, 1965, in an uprising of public servants and soldiers ~led by Permenas Awom, supported by 4,000 members of the Arfak tribe. Since then there has been a growth in resistance, supported across the province.One of the most common ways of showing peaceful defiance is flagraising ceremonies.
West Papuan women have played an important role in the struggle throughout, despite the fact that job' and educational opportunities have always favoured men. West Papuan women were involved in district, regional and national councils from 1957. In reprisals after flag-raising ceremonies and uprisings, and during ABRI searches for OPM members, women have been beaten, raped, imprisoned and murdered.
In December 1988, approximately 60 people were arrested after about 600 people gathered at the Mandala sports stadium in the capital, Jayapura.The ceremony began with a prayer reading, followed by the raising of the "West Melanesia" flag and the singing of the national anthem "Tanahku Melanesia" (My Country Melanesia).Before the ceremony could conclude, military vehicles arrived and soldiers detained all those present. Over the next month, thirty-seven of those detained, including priests, university lecturers and civil servants were found guilty of subversion and sentenced to terms-of between 2 and 20 years in prison.  Outspoken  West  Papuan leader, Dr Thomas Wainggai, was sentenced to 20 years and his Japanese wife 8 years. Dr. Wainggai died in custody in Jakarta, in 1996, believed to have been poisoned.The OPM The OPM  (Organisasi  Papua Merdeka), or Free Papua Movement, is an organisation advocating independence for West Papua and has led the  West  Papuan  resistance  to Indonesian occupation in many parts of the country.