Indonesian security break up peaceful rallies in West Papua
Indonesian security forces break up peaceful rallies in West Papua.
A heavy security presence disrupted peaceful rallies across West Papua which had been called to commemorate the anniversary of the 3rd Papuan peoples congress.
Joe Collins of AWPA said “yet again
peaceful demonstrators have been arrested for simply taking
part in rallies which is their democratic right, a right
enshrined in article 20 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights that "Everyone has the right to freedom of
peaceful assembly and association". Our Foreign Minister
Julie Bishop should be raising these human rights abuses,
the arrest of peaceful demonstrators with the Indonesian
Government.
In Fak-Fak 22 people were
arrested while going to commemorate the anniversary of
the 3rd Papuan peoples congress. A heavy security presence
in Sentani at the grave of chief Theys Eluay blocked the
commemoration. Local media (Tabloid Jubi) reported that the
security forces consisted of Police patrol cars and
motorcycles, water canon, trucks from Brimob including two
Brimob logistics
trucks.
ENDS