Berbagai Aksi Peringatan Hari Kemerdekaan Bangsa Papua

Mass arrests in Indonesia during West Papua protests

Indonesian colonial police arrested 221 people on 1 December in three different cities, with 203 people arrested in Jakarta, four in Sentani, West Papua, and 14 people in the central Java city of Yogyakarta.

In Jakarta, a peaceful demonstration commemorating the anniversary of the birth of the nation of West Papua, which was led by the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP), ended with brutal arrests by the Metro Jaya regional police. Before being arrested, the protesters from the AMP and FRI-West Papua said they were ruffed up and protest materials were seized.

“We hadn’t even reached the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle [in central Jakarta] when we were blocked by security personnel. They (the security personnel) tore the Morning Star headbands off our heads, our command line was cut. Then we were sprayed with water from a water cannon. After this, we were taken in four trucks to the Metro Jaya police headquarters”, one of the protesters, Roberta Muyapa, told Suara Papua in Jakarta.

He said that after being taken to the Metro Jaya police headquarters, the protesters were left to dry out in an open area for around four hours. All 203 of them, he said, were arrested by fully-equipped Indonesian colonial police along with hundreds of officers from the Metro Jaya regional police and Mobile Brigade paramilitary police.

Those arrested included FRI-West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta, AMP general chairperson Jefry Wenda, AMP Bandung activist Markus Medlama, Social Movement for Democracy (Gema Demokrasi) activist Yohanes Damian alias Galesh, Anka Thomas, Jefri Wanda, Frans Nawipa, Iriantibus Murib, Frans Douw, Pyan Pagawak and Minus Gibian.

Three of the 10 people arrested – Surya Anta, Jefry Wenda and Markus Medlama – were abused and assaulted by Indonesian colonial police. All of those arrested in Jakarta have now been released.

In Yogyakarta, protesters from the AMP and FRI-West Papua who were holding a peaceful demonstration were reported to have been forcibly disbursed by Indonesian colonial police and members of intolerant mass organisations.

According to information received by Suara Papua, at 1pm Indonesian police together with scores of members of mass organisations lined up to block protesters from FRI-WP and then seized protest materials. A short time later police were ordered to arrest the protesters.

Fourteen people were forced into a truck and removed from the location. According to information from police, they were taken to the Legal Aid Foundation. But according to the latest information received at 2pm, the 14 were taken to the Yogyakarta metropolitan district police (Polrestabes).

“We invite our comrades from pro-democracy groups to go to the Yogyakarta Polrestabes offices this afternoon to provide solidarity to our activist comrades that were arrested so that they will be released immediately”, they said.

The 14 people arrested were Reza (Socialist Study Circle), Kukuh (Working People’s Association-Organisational Saviours Committee), Gevan (Student Struggle Center for National Liberation, Pembebasan), Opan (Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership, PMB), Randi (Pembebasan), Edo (LBH Yogyakarta), Adli (Pembebasan), Danial (Indonesian People’s United Resistance), Opik (PMD), Asrul (Pembebasan), Andi, Aruk, Katek and Edi (Pembebasan). The 14 remain under arrest.

In the Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura meanwhile, West Papua National Committee (KNPB) general secretary Ones Suhuniap, when asked for confirmation by Suara Papua, confirmed that four activists were arrested and taken to the Doyo municipal police.

Ones said that the four KNPB Sentani Ryang activists who had planned to attend a religious ceremony were stopped and arrested and that the KNPB Sentani secretariat was vandalised by officers from the Sentani municipal police.

“Four people were arrested in Sentani. But I don’t have their names yet. What is clear is that the information on the arrests is correct. We have asked that the state release them and all of those who were arrested in Yogyakarta”, he said.

More

Full coverage

West Papuans Protest Against Indonesian Rule Voice of America - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ West Papuan protesters faced off with police in the Indonesian capital on Thursday in a demonstration calling for the remote region's independence. Organizers had promised protests in other cities and said police had denied them permission to march in ... Indonesian police violently suppress West Papua independence protest AMN Al-Masdar News (registration) - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ West Papuan protesters clashed with police in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday as they made calls for the regions independence. Organizers claimed that police denied them permissions to protest. Papua Students Alliance made up the majority ... Participants of West Papua rally arrested Jakarta Post - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Participants of West Papua rally arrested Participants of a rally held to demand a referendum for West Papua gather on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday. Some of their colleagues were arrested during the event. (JP/Safrin La Batu) ... Demos and arrests expose core West Papua grievance Radio New Zealand - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ More mass arrests at West Papuan demonstrations are clouding Indonesian government claims that it is trusted by indigenous people of Papua region. Yesterday was the 55th anniversary of the first official raising of the Papuan nationalist Morning Star ... Indigenous West Papua Sends Solidarity to Standing Rock teleSUR English - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ While protesters at Standing Rock and West Papua may seem worlds apart, they share a common bond from an indigenous struggle against a larger oppressor, explained West Papua's independence leader Benny Wenda in a letter of solidarity and ... Jakarta West Papua demo results in 200 arrests Radio New Zealand - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ Indonesian police arrested 200 people in Jakarta yesterday for participating in a rally to mark the West Papuan nationalist day. It was the 55th anniversary of the 1 December first official raising of the Papuan Morning Star flag, when the indigenous ... West Papua rally participants arrested for carrying OPM paraphernalia: Police Jakarta Post - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ West Papua rally participants arrested for carrying OPM paraphernalia: Police West Papua rally participants aboard a police truck on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta on Thursday. Police arrested 10 protestors for possession of Free Papua Movement symbols. West Papua: Police Denies Protesters the Right to March in Central Jakarta UNPO - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ On 1 December 2016, protesters rallied in the Indonesian capital to demand independence for West Papua. However, dozens of demonstrators were barred from marching in central Jakarta, as several hundred police fired water cannons and dragged several ... West Papua supporters gather at PMC for Morning Star flag event Asia Pacific Report - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Kevin McBride of Pax Christi Aotearoa and the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Coalition (APHRC) spoke of the important human rights concerns for West Papua and how “we're all part of the oppression” with New Zealand's “complicity” with Indonesian policies. The ignored plight of West Papua Echonetdaily - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ December 1, 2016 should be a celebration for West Papuan independence. Instead, the day will mark 55 years of what should have been a sovereign nation; 19 days after the Dutch left their colony, Indonesia invaded and have occupied ever since. It's a ... Lend West Papua your voice Fiji Times - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Update: 12:40PM AS futile as it may seem, your voices can make a difference in the Free West Papua movement, a group of young Pacific Island activists told students today. Speaking at the "Raise The Morning Star" gathering at the Unviersity of the ... West Papuans protest against Indonesian rule in Jakarta SBS - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ West Papuan protesters have faced off with police in the Indonesian capital while calling for the remote region's independence. Organisers had promised protests in other cities and said on Thursday police had denied them permission to march in central ... West Papua Flag Day Celebration long Pacific Radio Australia - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Ol West Papua independence sapota long ol Papua province blong Indonesia yet, long sampela Pacific ailan kantri wantaim tu long hia long Australia na long wold i makim nabawan taim we ol pipol blong West Papua i apim Morning Star independence flag ... [ December 1, 2016 ] Airileke and Benny cry freedom over West Papuan rule CULTURE National Indigenous Times - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ A freedom song co-written by exiled West Papuan Independence leader Benny Wenda and Melbourne music producer Airileke Ingram has been released to coincide with West Papua'sIndependence Day. Ingram, who is of Melanesian descent, said the song ... Police accused of beating pro-referendum activists Jakarta Post - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ The police detained at least four of the protesters, who were rallying against Indonesian rule over the eastern province of Papua.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama). Lawyers for protesters attending a West Papua liberation rally in Jakarta on Thursday have ... Flag day in Papua takes form of prayer events, petition Radio New Zealand - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ He said Indonesians "are starting to acknowledge that crimes have been committed by the government and military of Indonesia in Papua". In Jakarta police arrested over two hundred people for participating in a demonstration in support of West Papuans' ... 14 'arrested' before Papua rally in Yogyakarta Jakarta Post - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ 14 'arrested' before Papua rally in Yogyakarta Participants in a West Papua rally travel in a police truck along Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, on Thursday. Police arrested 10 people for possessing Free Papua Movement materials. (JP/Safrin La Batu) ... Song highlights Papuan unity NT News - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Musician and activist Airileke Ingram recently collaborated with the West Papua independence leader Benny Wenda and Twin Tribe on the track Sorong Samarai, released today, to show solidarity between PNG and West Papua during their struggle for ... Home Human Rights The $100bn gold mine and the West Papuans who are counting the... Asia Pacific Report - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Today, these remote, sharp-edged mountains are part of West Papua, Indonesia, and home to the Grasberg mine, one of the biggest gold mines – and third largest copper mine – in the world. Majority-owned by the American mining firm Freeport McMoRan, ... Warning of arrests over demos for Papuan nationalist day Radio New Zealand - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ Surya Anta said that the right to self-determination for all people had been denied in the case of West Papua. FRI West Papua has called for a self-determination referendum for West Papuans, in order to end what it calls the practice of colonisation ... West Papuan Protesters Clash with Police in Jakarta over Indonesian Rule Latin American Herald Tribune - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ JAKARTA – Dozens of West Papuan activists faced off with police in Jakarta on Thursday morning as they protested for the remote region's independence. Around 100 protesters joined the rally, organized to voice demands for West Papua's independence ... Indonesian police seize public buses for 328 arrested at 'free Papua'… Asia Pacific Report - ‎Dec 2, 2016‎ Hundreds of Papuan demonstrators from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) demanding independence for West Papua have been arrested and taken to the Metro Jaya regional police headquarters in Jakarta. The transport of the activists had to be done in ... Indonesian push for education about Papua history Radio New Zealand - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ A Jakarta-based group says Indonesians need to learn more about the way West Papua was incorporated into the republic. The newly-established Indonesian People's Front for West Papua, or FRI West Papua, this week declared its support for West Papuan ... Indonesian rule hasn't fit for Papuans, says Jakarta group Radio New Zealand - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ A Jakarta-based group says Indonesian rule has so far not worked for West Papuans and that the country must address this as a core problem. The newly-established Indonesian People's Front for West Papua this week declared its support for West Papuans ... NZ MPs among those sending message of hope for Papuans Radio New Zealand - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ In Wellington, on the steps of the New Zealand parliament, the Greens MP Catherine Delahunty conveyed a message of hope to Papuans. "People of West Papua who are not allowed to raise their own flag, all over the world today we say to them do not give ... Enough Of The Fuckery: Blue King Brown And Airileke Implore Us To Fight For West Papuans Tone Deaf - ‎Nov 30, 2016‎ If the fact that a music video crew had to sneak into the country undercover to capture the spectacular West Papuan culture isn't enough to rattle your bones, then surely half-a-million civilian deaths, countless rapes and accounts of torture will ... Indonesian police fire water cannon at pro-Papua protest gulfnews.com - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ Many West Papuans see December 1 as the anniversary of what should have been their independence. The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after Second World War. It became part ... Indonesia: Prayers, Arrests Mark Papuan 'Independence' Day benarnews - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ Papuan students and activists held small-scale demonstrations in several Indonesian cities Thursday to mark the 55th anniversary of what they consider their aborted independence day. Hundreds of people gathered in Jayapura, the capital of Papua ... More mass arrests at Papua rallies in Indonesia Radio New Zealand - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ An Indonesian lawyer says the police continue to make mass arrests on spurious grounds at West Papuan rallies. Indonesian police turn water canons on protestors who were mostly university students from Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student ... Papuan Leaders Tell Pro-Independence Activists to Trust Jokowi Administration Jakarta Globe - ‎Dec 1, 2016‎ Hours after Thursday's demonstration, senior Papuan leaders in Jakarta called on the protesters to calm down, saying President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has been doing its best to find a solution for Papua. "The government is trying to ...

Mass arrests in Indonesia during West Papua protests

Red Flag - ‎17 hours ago‎

Indonesian colonial police arrested 221 people on 1 December in three different cities, with 203 people arrested in Jakarta, four in Sentani, West Papua, and 14 people in the central Java city of Yogyakarta. In Jakarta, a peaceful demonstration ...

Indonesia Citizens' Support Heartens Pacific NGOs Workers

Scoop.co.nz (press release) - ‎5 hours ago‎

Suva - Visible support by Indonesian citizens for the halting of violence and oppression of West Papuansdemonstrates the increasing public will against the Indonesian government's continuing rule in the territory. The sentiments were echoed at a joint ...