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UPDATE: INDON POLICE ARREST MORE WEST PAPUANS IN JAYAPURA FOR REBELLIONSubmitted by fwp office melbourne on Wed, 19/03/2008 - 17:21.
Latest information received from West Papua has confirmed fears that Indonesian security forces are rounding up West Papuans involved in peaceful actions held since the beginning of March. The following people have just been arrested and imprisoned at the Police Headquarters (POLRES) in Jayapura, having being charged with rebellion and disturbing security. URGENT ACTION AND MEDIA ALERT - WEST PAPUA UPDATE: INDON POLICE ARREST MORE WEST PAPUANS IN JAYAPURA FOR REBELLION FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST - WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 2008 1730 AEST WEST PAPUA, Wednesday March 19 2008: URGENT/ IMMEDIATE ACTION: Latest information received from West Papua has confirmed fears that Indonesian security forces are rounding up West Papuans involved in peaceful actions held since the beginning of March. The following people have just been arrested and imprisoned at the Police Headquarters (POLRES) in Jayapura, having being charged with rebellion and disturbing security. • Zakarias Horota, These latest arrests come amidst a crackdown on all West Papuan people involved in political expression, and after 16 West Papuans have been imprisoned on the Suharto era charges of Rebellion and Subversion. Two other key figures are under threat from military action. After significant threats to their life, Marten Manggaprow & Markus Yenu have fled Jayapura and are currently in hiding and on the move. Information has also been received urgently from close relatives of Jack Wanggai that the head of Police in Manokwari (Ketua PolRes) Yakobus Marjuki, and intelligence, have been harassing them, and threatening to kidnap family members. After a long meeting full of threats and intimidation late on Tuesday night, the Kepala Polresta Yakobus Marjuki (+62 81344771448) made it clear that people were breaking the Indonesian laws on Rebellion by peacefully expressing their aspirations, and that young people in the DPR (Papuan People’s Council) are not a channel for the aspirations of the people. He sent a text to the Wanggai family “If you have big ideas for Papuan freedom, you must be prepared to carry the risk to be charged with rebellion, to go to prison, or run to the jungle. If you go to the forest that definitely means you are scared, but if you go to the city to enter prison or gaol, then, if you still want to resist to end oppression, because is a legal country that respects the rule of law.” Serious and grave concerns are held for the potential for torture or ill-treatment whilst in the hands of the Police and intelligence, as all activists have caused a deal of international humiliation to the Indonesian security forces through creative and peaceful expression of their legitimate aspirations over the past few weeks. Please monitor this situation closely by calling the numbers in Manokwari and Jayapura below to ask why West Papuan people have been arrested and threatened with violence under Suharto era charges. It is important to put pressure on these Military and police figures. Ongoing information, please contact: For contacts in MANOKWARI, please contact Nick Chesterfield on +61 (0) 409 268 978 MEDIA CONSIDERATIONS. The situation is being monitored closely, and updates will be available from people on the ground. Photographs will be provided as soon as we have them. Please visit www.manukoreri.net to access photographs and all background documents. This Alert and Media co-ordination has been prepared by Nick Chesterfield, Independent Human Security and Media Consultant to West Papua Movement. www.manukoreri.net +61(0)409 268 978 manukoreri@riseup.net GPG Key available on request. ( categories: Urgent )
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