Earlier
today a peaceful demonstration in Jayapura to commemorate the four
people who were killed at the 1st May rally was attacked by police and
four members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), including its
chairman Victor Yeimo were arrested.
The build up up to the demonstrations have been tense. Four people
were killed by the Indonesian security forces at the 1st May
demonstrations and this action drew condemnation by the
UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay and
Amnesty International.
The police banned today’s commemoration demonstration but the KNPB
insisted their right to freedom of speech would not be squashed and they
would continue with the demonstration as planned. Victor Yeimon
released a statement saying “we are protesting our sisters, our mothers
our brothers and our fathers who have been killed by Indonesian Military
Police and Military. Are we an animal who don’t have a heart and
feeling in this planet. Our people died and we are protesting, is that
illegal?”.
Victor Yeimo in prison today. Despite being beaten he is still smiling. The Papuan people’s desire for freedom will never die.
Today’s demonstration drew over 1000 participants but was heavily
attacked by the police with baton charges outside the gates of
Cenderawasih University in Abepura. During the attacks the following
four members of KNPB were arrested: Victor F Yeimo (Chairman of KNPB),
Marten Manggaprouw (media worker) and students Yongky Ulimpa and Ely
Kobak. The four KNPB members have since been reported to have been
tortured and beaten.
http://freewestpapua.org/
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