Protests in Irian Jaya: 16 Detained, 20 Hospitalised

SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY

Protests in Irian Jaya: 16 Detained, 20 Hospitalised

Jayapura, 8 July

A total of 16 people suspected of being activists directly involved in an incident in which a “Free Papua/OPM” flag was raised on a pole on the Biak PDAM drinking water tower on Thursday (2/7) are still in detention and being questioned by the Biak Numfor Area Police. Meanwhile, in Jayawijaya, 50 people involved in an “OPM” flag-raising incident in the courtyard of the Jayawijaya DPRD building on Tuesday morning (7/7) are being questioned by Jayawijaya Area Police.

Those being detained in Biak form part of a total of 180 people who were held temporarily by security forces when the mass action was dispersed on the morning of Sunday (6/7). After questioning, the bulk of the group was dismissed and the 16 were kept in detention for legal processing. But these numbers do not include 20 people who are receiving nursing care in hospital, one of whom is the child of an instigator of the flag-raising action.

This information was supplied by Commander, Military Sub-Area 173/Praya Vira Braja Inf. Col. F X Agus Edyono, SIP when contacted by Pembaruan by telephone on Wednesday (8/7).

According to the Area Commander, the instigator of this flag-raising action was Philip J Karma, an education and training officer in the Irian Jaya Regional Government Service at Kotaraja Jayapura. He is highly educated, having recently returned from completing a Masters degree in the Philippines. He says that he came to Biak to visit his parents who are ill. He is the son of a former three-term District Head (Bupati) and one-term Assistant Bupati. At present the man concerned is still being detained by the Biak Numfor Area Police.

Physical evidence which was seized by the security forces included two flags, one of which was raised, 15 molotov bombs, six hand grenades, five parang knives, two axes, a number of spears made of hard plastic piping, a spear made of steel piping and a quantity of signs and banners bearing slogans about struggle for the independence of West Papua.

Inf. Col. F X Agus Edyono said that before the “attack” was mounted on the site of the water tower where the flag had been raised, seven of the clergy most honoured and respected by the Biak community had come to meet with the leaders of the flag-raising to talk with them, but without success. Instead, the clergy were met with abusive language that was vulgar and hurtful. “I felt sad and shed tears that this could happen. Even more so as I felt partly to blame, for having concurred with the wish of the clergy to go in.” he said.

According to the Area Commander who is from the Special Forces Command (Kopassus),it finally became clear that an “attack” would have to be made. This was also on the basis of an agreement reached in a meeting between the security forces, religious leaders, representative of the community and traditional leaders in the office of the Bupati.

Separatists

The Governor of Irian Jaya, Freddy Numberi made a statement that the government had made it clear from the start that they would at no time enter into dialogue and negotiation with any form of separatist movement anywhere with the intention of creating or giving independence to what they called the “State of West Papua”. It was something which could not possibly happen, to create a state within a state.

This statement was issued to make clear the attitude and position of the Regional Government of Irian Jaya concerning the latest developments in Irian Jaya, in particular the emergence of separatist activities bordering on rebellion (makar).

Freddy Numberi made the statement in a meeting with the Irian Jaya Branch of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) attended by journalists of both print and electronic media in the office of the Governor at Dock II, Jayapura on Tuesday (7/7).

According to Numberi, the situation had to be made perfectly clear. If these people approached dialogue within the framework of reform, then of course they would be well received by the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Government. But if they came …. [incomplete sentence – Transl.]

Translated 7/6/13