TNI commander orders removal of election boycott graffiti in Jayapura

KNPB News - April 23, 2014

Jayapura – The call by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) chairperson to boycott the July 9 presidential election in Papua has become a threat for Indonesia and West Papua. The call was not just spread widely through the online and print media but also by the mass base through SMS messages and graffiti drawn on walls, buildings, on roads and public places in several parts of Jayapura city.

The message, "Boycott the 2014 presidential election and the solution is a referendum" that was widely seen by many people, was viewed as a threat by the colonialists in general and the Papua Regional Military Command (Kodam) and the Papua regional police (Polda), who felt particularly disturbed.

Apparently, the Cenderawasih regional military commander has already ordered its members to remove the graffiti and today, Wednesday April 23 between 8.30-10am, soldiers could be seen painting over walls with graffiti in various parts of Jayapura.

One of the locations that draw their attention today was on Jl. Kamwolker, where the KNPB headquarters is located, directly in front of the Cendrawasih University Unit 6 dormitory.

As the soldiers were cleaning off the graffiti on the walls beside the road, three senior KNPB members passed by. One of the TNI members who was cleaning the graffiti said, "We're painting over and removing this graffiti on the orders of the regional military commander because there are visitors who will pass by".

Hearing this, KNPB general secretary Ones Suhuniap told the TNI member, "If the regional military commander ordered that the graffiti on the walls be cleaned it means that we, the KNPB will order our members to draw it again in every city in the Land of Papua, from Sorong to Merauke".

At the same location, KNPB national spokesperson Bazoka Logo told the TNI members, "You go ahead and repaint and wipe off the graffiti because we'll draw it again, that's the project, so please keep working".

What was odd was that the ones removing the graffiti were indigenous Papuans with black curly hair who were members of the TNI, while fully-armed TNI and Polri personnel with strait hair who were their bosses, stood guard on the side of the street.

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]

Source: http://knpbnews.com/?p=3896.

Two arrested at action calling for release of Papuan political prisoners

Selangkah Magazine - April 2, 2014

Yermias Degei, Jayapura – Jayapura municipal police arrested two West Papuan students, Alfares Kapisa (25) and Yali Wenda (20) at a peaceful demonstration by the Papua Student Solidarity with Political Prisoners (SMPTN-Papua) in front of PT Gapura Angkasa at the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Waena, Jayapura, on Wednesday April 2.

The demonstration was organised by students from a number of tertiary education institutions in Jayapura to call for the release of the 76 West Papuan political prisoners incarcerated in jails in the Land of Papua.

Kapisa, a Uncen medical student and his colleague Wenda were arrested at around 10.30am when fully armed police broke up a demonstration in front of PT Gapura Angkasa. The two students were then taken to the Jayapura municipal police station for questioning.

"We're currently at the municipal police. The two (Alfares Kapisa and Yali Wenda – Ed) are being interrogated. Alfares has been intimidated and suffered injuries to his left cheek. Likewise Yali Wenda suffered injuries to the head", said Papuan human rights activist Elias Petege when speaking with Selangkah Magazine by phone.

Denied access

The coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Papua, Olga Helena Hamadi and Reverend Dora Balubun went to the municipal police station at around 6.30pm at the request of the two student's colleagues. Their visit was in vain however as they have not been given permission to meet with the two.

In an SMS messages sent to Selangkah Magazine Hamadi said, "The unit head said they weren’t there. Then I phoned the municipal police, but they said they were being questioned so they can't be seen yet. I was surprised, because the two are not in a jail, there's a possibility the two students have been assaulted".

"We were not given permission to meet with them, so we went home. Yet we came here at the request of their colleagues and the two student's parents", said Hamadi.

In related to the arrests and denial of access, Selangkah Magazine attempted to contact Papua regional police public relations officer Senior Commissioner Sulistyo Pudjo but his phone was not active. Selangkah also sent a text message seeking confirmation but there has been no response. As of going to print, Kapisa and Wenda are still being held by the Jayapura municipal police. (Yermias Degei/MS)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://majalahselangkah.com/content/-demonstrasi-tuntut-bebaskan-76-tapol-papua-polisi-tangkap-2-mahasiswa.

Protest calling for release of Papuan political prisoners broken up by police

Selangkah Magazine - April 2, 2014

Admin MS, Jayapura – Today on Wednesday April 2, Papua Student Solidarity with Political Prisoners (SMPTN-Papua), which is made up of students from various universities in the West Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura, held a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners in jails throughout Indonesia.

The group demonstrated at several different locations in the upper and lower parts of the Cendrawasih University (Uncen) campus.

At 11.30am, a fully armed joint police team made up of several different units arrived and attempted to break up the demonstration. A protracted argument broke out between police and a student holding a megaphone.

Police then proceeded to forcibly break up the action by students who were exercising their freedom of expression and right to demonstrate peacefully. Police fired several shots and moved in to silence the students calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners. Fully armed police also occupied the entrance to the university and remained on guard for some time.

The police also used abusive language against the students. "Damned stupid students", shouted one officer as they fired shots. Several students were provoked into anger and pelted the police with stones.

According to Selangkah Magazine's observations, the students became disorientated and panicked. Local people in the vicinity of the State Housing Company also panicked, especially after hearing the shooting.

As of going to print, the situation had still not returned to normal. Students who were forced back into the campus by police with loaded weapons fled. Several were reportedly arrested but this has not been confirmed. The situation remains tense. (HY/BT/MS)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]

Source: http://majalahselangkah.com/content/-polisi-bersenjata-lengkap-kembali-bubarkan-demo-damai-smptn-papua.