Dozens of Papuans arrested

Dozens of Papuans arrested for taking part in demonstration

Bintang Papua, 22 March 2010 [Two lengthy reports were published on the same day about the demonstrations and the arrests]

According to Bintang Papua, at least 28 Papuans were arrested for taking part in a demonstration in Jayapura in 22 March. It also reported that demonstrations were also held in several other cities, Sorong, Manokwari, Wamena and Serui.

It was an action co-ordinated by the KNPB, the National Committee of West Papua. The chairman of the KNPB, Buchtar Tabuni who is serving a three-and-a-half year sentence in Abepura Prison was reported as saying that these were peaceful demonstration which had taken place according to the organisation's intentions. 'They are taking place according to my directives. If the police need any clarifications, they should ask me,' he said.

In a press release issued from his prison cell, he called for the release of all those who had been arrested, saying that the crude methods used by the police are a disgrace for a democratic country. He said he had called ot the chief of police in Jakarta to to instruct the police chief in Papua not to adopt repressive measures. He also called on the provincial government, the provincial legislative assembly (DPRP) and the MRP to provide the necessary safeguards for freedom of expression for the Papuan people, as stipulated in the Special Autonomy Law of 2001.

In its second report of the day, Bintang Papua said that 28 people had been arrested in two locations in Jayapura (the names of seventeen of those arrested were given) and were taken to police headquarters for interrogation. A number of police units, including Brimob, were out patrolling the streets and had called on the demonstrations to disperse. They had also fired their guns a number of times as a warning for those who refused to disperse. Items of evidence seized by the police included banners, pamphlets, flags, head bands and some items bearing pro-independence slogans. Some mobile phones had also been also seized as well as 'sharp implements', although what they were was not mentioned.

The demonstrators refused to disperse and continued to make speeches. According to BP, the day's demonstrations were a continuation of actions held on the previous day. Those under arrest were undergoing 'intensive questioning'.

The arrests reported in BP are only about Jayapura so it is not clear whether arrests also took place during the demonstrations held in other cities.

Among the demands made at the demonstrations in Jayapura was a call to the DPRP to help Papuans to meet US President Barack Obama during his state visit to Indonesia. It was apparently after the demonstrators ignored calls to disperse that the arrests took place.

According to a Jakarta Post report on the same day, a police permit for the demonstration had been issued but since the demonstrators started calling for a referendum and not only about wanting to meet Obama, 'the protest was no longer relevant'. One police officer is quoted as saying that this was 'a totally different agenda. ' He went on: 'Although they have a permit, their protest disrupts public order so we have to break it up.'

The demonstrators had intended to enter the DPRP forecourt but this was not possible because the area was blocked by the security forces.

The demonstrators are reported to have caused traffic disruption by placing barricades outside the university, UNCEN.

A police official told the press that they ha taken a number of people into custody and would decide what measures were taken against them.

Some of the demonstrators were able to approach the DPRP building but the security forces had blocked the way for them to enter the forecourt.

Although they were unable to meet any members of the DPRP, they met the secretary of Commission A, Yulius Moniaga, and someone from Commission B. Moniaga said that he had urged the police not to use violence towards those who they have arrested. He was quoted as saying that when people are arrested and put onto trucks, what usually happened was that they were immediately beaten, even without having taken down any statements.

A demonstrator named Mako Tabuni was quoted as saying that similar demonstrations had been held in other parts of the territory since 18 March where the demonstrators had been calling for proper legal procedures to be used in accordance with the principle of democracy. 'These are not anarchistic actions but people calling for the principle of democracy to be respected.' One of the demands was for Memorandum of Understanding to be reached regarding the way people can struggle for their aspirations.

ENDS

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