Cops disperse Papua protesters
FREEDOM: 150 people take part in demo denouncing central govt rule
POLICE yesterday fired water cannons in a bid to disperse a demonstration against the capital’s rule over the insurgencyhit eastern region of Papua, and rounded up scores of protesters.
About 150 protesters rallied here to mark the anniversary of Papua’s 1961 declaration of independence, two years before Indonesia took control of the region from former colonial ruler The Netherlands.
Insurgents have been fighting against rule from the capital ever since, while the central government has sought to keep a tight grip on the resource-rich region with a heavy military and police presence.
The protesters, mostly university students from the Free Papua Organisation and Papua Student Alliance, yelled “Free Papua”, facing off against hundreds of police in riot gear.
“It’s enough. Our people have been killed and detained, it’s enough,” said protester Cheko, who only gave one name.
Four demonstrators were detained after police accused them of displaying the pro-independence “Morning Star” flag, which is banned, and most of the others were taken away in police vans, going voluntarily without any violence breaking out.
Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation lawyer Veronica Koman said the group had a team of lawyers ready to defend the protesters.
Six years after taking control of Papua, Indonesia held a referendum that it said validated its claim to the region.
But, the vote was widely seen as a sham, with Jakarta hand-picking 1,026 people to vote on behalf of all Papuans.
There are regular clashes between insurgents and security forces in Papua, with activists accusing police and the army of committing human rights abuses.