More KNPB activists arrested in West Papua
Local media (suarapapua.com ) has reported the arrests of up to 31 KNPB activists in Jayapura on Friday the 10 June. Those arrested were simply
handing out leaflets informing the public about an upcoming rally to be held on the 15 June.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “ in the past month the security forces have cracked down on a number of peaceful rallies in
West Papua. On the 2 May over 1800 people were arrested and approximately 500 people were arrested in the days leading
up to and on the 31 May “. These arrests go against the principles laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights which states,
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
(Article 19)
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (Article 20)
Joe Collins said AWPA said, “Hopefully the security forces will allow any rallies that take place on the 15 June to go
ahead peacefully without more mass arrests as in the past.”
Ends