RNZ PacificOne of eight West Papuan activists who raised the banned Morning Star flag of independence in a protest last December has died. Dogopia said that on 12 December 2021 his relative began experiencing symptoms of illness, feeling fatigued and sleepy. Hilapok and seven friends, all aged between 18 and 29, were arrested by police on December 1, 2021, when they marched in front of the Papua police headquarters carrying Morning Star flags and banners. The flag is considered a symbol of the West Papua struggle for independence and has been strictly banned by the Indonesian authorities with jail sentences of up to 15 years for offenders. Hilapok’s death comes after a West Papuan leader, Buchtar Tabuni, was arrested by Indonesian police.