Princess Papua
MANOKWARI, West Papua (Step Magazine/majalahselangkah.com/Pacific Media Watch): Indonesia's local police forces are reported to have arrested more than 160 people in a crackdown on activists - just two days after major global demonstrations for an #OpenPapua policy by Jakarta.
Police Resort (Police) Manokwari and Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Manokwari, West Papua, have reportedly arrested 12 young student activists on Thursday and a further 150 people today.
The executive director LP3BH Manokwari, Yan Christian Warinussy, said the activists who were arrested had been tortured in the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters Detachment, Rendani, at Manokwari, West Papua province.
"This is a slap in the face against President Joko Widodo who is preparing measures for granting pardon, or an amnesty for political activists in Papua in the near future," said Warinussy.
"This has occurred at a time when the President is seeking to build constructive communications with the various components of society in Papua for a socio-political solution to the conflict that has lasted more than 50 years in Papua."
President Jokowi had been looking into the "destructive acts" against the law and "even human rights violations" as well carried out under the leadership of a police chief in Manokwari.
"It certainly would be a very bad precedent for the image of Indonesia as a country that is categorised as a violator of human rights of its own citizens, especially in Papua," said Warinussy.
Global protests
Protesters in more than 20 countries around the world this week urged opening access for foreign journalists, aid workers and international human rights organisations to enter West Papua, which is considered as a closed region for more than 50 years, starting on May 1, 1963, when the Melanesian region was integrated into Indonesia.
"Twelve activists were arrested on Thursday at Manokwari as reported by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Region Manokwari. Manokwari police officers said they were arrested while handing out leaflets calling a peaceful demonstration to commemorate May 1 as the Day of the annexation of Papua West, " said Warinussy.
While 150 other activists, many of them students from various colleges in Manokwari, were arrested in front of the campus of the University of Papua (Unipa) in Amban, Manokwari, others were seized in front of Mapolsek Amban, Manokwari.
According to sources LP3BH, the 150 people had gathered for a peaceful protest when suddenly a convoy of about 20 motorcycles driven by armed Brimob members and two trucks and armored vehicles (barakua) arrived.
The activists were rounded up and taken to Mako Brimob, Manokwari.
LP3BH Manokwari requested legal assistance from the Head of Regional KNPB Manokwari and WPNA to provide assistance for the arrested activists.
[Translation from Bahasa Indonesian at http://majalahselangkah.com].
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Pacific Media Watch
