They could have their political freedom, albeit within the unitary state of Indonesia. All that has vanished as Mr Wahid's rivals and military hardliners have turned up the heat on him and he struggles for political survival. Three of West Papua's pro-independence leaders were jailed this week for exercising free speech. It reminded people here of the repressive Soeharto decades. Heavily armed police and soldiers occupy the streets of Jayapura, stopping and searching all travellers.
Shops are closed.
Thousands of settlers from other parts of Indonesia have fled the province, fearing attack. By first telling people the Morning Star flag could fly, then banning it, Mr Wahid has got the people into such a state of high anxiety that lives may be lost. The mood on Jayapura's streets is ugly. Papua must not raise the Morning Star again outside a government building in Jayapura that they have been using as their headquarters. But independence hardliners vow to keep raising the flag each day, as they have done for months.