Report of Show of Support by Papuan people for Referendum

Report of Show of Support by Papuan people for Referendum

Port Numbay, Papua.
From National Organisation for Student Solidarity of Papua.
Peace and Freedom !

We are reporting on the Demonstration of the People of Papua demanding a Referendum about Self-determination on May 2, 2011 ; for the people of Papua to have the right to determine their own fate. The demonstration took place at the Post Office in Abepura, Jayapura, as shown below :

The Show of Support by the people of Papua was coordinated by the National Committee of West Papua, made up by the following organisations : Organisation of Students and Youth, DAP, Women, Religions, Intellectuals of Papua, and the whole people of Papua from this area. They marched from Sentani, through Waena and Abepura, towards Jayapura (Imbi Park), starting at 8 am.

Slide show: http://westpapuamedia.info/2011/05/03/sonampma-photo-report-of-show-of-support-by-papuan-people-for-referendum/

While waiting for the people to arrive from Sentani, there were political speeches from the coordinating body, and from several support organisations , all carrying street banners, leaflets and pamphlets, attracting the close attention of the security forces, there to « keep the peace », also tried to obscure some of the pictures. Some of the banners were saying : Some of the leaflets said « Papua, Yes ; Indonesia No. », with each of their flags illustrated. Others said « Referendum » and Papua Merdeka.«

- At another coordination point (the campus of USTP) that morning a group began to gather in front of the campus gateway fronting onto Jalan Raya, Sentani, while others came from the campus of UnCen-Abepura. They had banners saying REFERENDUM. There were speeches and the people began to move towards the main square of the campus.

- A large group of people assembled at Imbi Park in the early morning, not to avoid observation, because there were thousands of people already assembled there.
- About 5 or 6 detachments of Police from Jayapura were there and 3 units of Brimob (mobile police), observing the demonstration with some bodyguards, using 7 or 8 trucks and other vehicles, some of them equipped with weapo
- Speeches went ahead until about noon, with 600 people who had arrived from Sentani began to assemble at Expo Waena. The whole procession gathered there were about 1000 people, preparing for the Long March to the Post Office at Abepura.
- The Long March began at 1 pm, and proceeded towards Abepura. At the TNI post at SIPUR, the demonstrators were surprised by an escort of Mobile Ambulance, together with a group of TNI (Army), fully armed, who accompanied the demonstration.
- Mass action continued its long march to the Central (shopping) centre , Post Office-Abepura escorted by security parties mentioned above.
- There were speeches, which were answered by cries of « Referendum » and « Papua Merdeka ». They stopped at the traffic lights at the Post Office at Abepura and began to sit on the road. All other activities in the town were halted and the town closed down early.
- The total number of people eventually numbered about 2000 to 2,500. At about 2.15, the procession from Jayapura began to arrived and gathered together with the others at the Post Office. The numbers swelled even more. The demonstrators stayed at this place, and listened to speeches from some of the leaders of the different groups representing the protestors.
- This demonstration was carried out peacefully until 6 pm, helped by vehicles which helped to keep the peace, dispersing the people peacefully, after which they resumed normal economic activities on the streets.
- The demonstration today, after marching well with vehicles and on foot, went off well and peacefully without any violence.
This report that we have made is completed by the Organising Committee for the Demonstration, 2nd May 2011, with great care, and we thank you for reading it.

http://westpapuamedia.info/2011/05/03/sonampma-photo-report-of-show-of-support-by-papuan-people-for-referendum/

SONAMAPA

ENDS

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