Troops seeking arrest of Bpk Terrianus Israel Yoku, WPNA

Breaking News: Troops seeking arrest of Bpk Terrianus Israel Yoku, WPNA

July 11, 2011 - Information has just been received from credible sources in Serui, West Papua, that Indonesian Army (TNI) soldiers are occupying the village of Mantembu in preparation for the arrest of Reverend Terrianus Israel Yoku, the Chairman of the National Congress of West Papua National Authority.

According to witnesses in Mantembu, 30 armed soldiers from KODIM Serui entered Mantembu at around 9.30am asking the whereabouts of the President of Papua - meaning Chairman of National Congress WPNA, Terry Yoku. The witnesses described via SMS that the soldiers are wearing full combat equipment complete with rifles, and ammunition. People in the village are very scared.

The West Papua National Authority is a key sector within the West Papuan resistance movement, and is styled as a Transitional Government. It has played a leading role in the mass non-violent resistance movement across Papua. Together with KNPB, this week it boycotted the Indonesian-sponsored dialogue process of Neles Tebay and LIPI.

Currently, the Indonesian Army is also attempting to capture the head of the TPN-PB armed resistance in Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya.

Mantembu is the area from which the late ex-political prisoner Yawan Wayeni was from. Wayeni's death was captured on a Youtube video in 2009 after having been bayoneted and disemboweled by Brimob troops in a case that provoked international outrage, although no-one has been held to account for his treatment or death.

Please stay tuned for more information.

ENDS

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