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Peaceful 1st July demonstration blocked by police

West Papua National People's Coalition for Independence News Release - July 4, 2005

Three arrested Papuans told "If you take action against Indonesia, Indonesia will kill you."

Introduction

I, Jonah Wenda Penggu, together with other University students in Jayapura and many people around West Papua organized an event for 1st July to mark the 34th anniversary of the declaration of West Papuan independence following the fraudulent 1969 Act of NO Choice.

Our aim is simple: We want to tell the world that West Papuans want independence from Indonesia. My people have the right to self-determination.

The event also took place in various places across West Papua: Paniai, Puncak Jaya, Timika and near the PNG border.

Indonesian Police block the protest

During the night of 30 June, armed Indonesian Police closed off all access to the Trikora football field, Abepura (the same place where Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage were arrested for raising the flag last December) in order to stop the 1st July event.

Papuans from around Jayapura, Sentani and Arso arrived at the field around 0.800 am West Papua time (WPT) and began praying, singing and dancing.

I, Jonah, the organizer of the event, arrived at the field at 8.30am with my colleagues. Indonesian Police officers immediately surrounded me. They questioned me and tried to intimidate me: "You are forbidden from going down to the field. You must stay here or we will arrest you!" said a police officer.

After arguing for one and half hours, I was arrested with three students and they took us to the police station in Jayapura. The Papuans who were already at the field were forced to leave by the Police.

Indonesia does not allow us to express our views freely. However, even if we were forbidden from expressing our views, we are still more than happy because our people's presence there shows to the world that the West Papuan people are seeking justice to be done to correct the mistake in past [the 1969 Act of NO Choice].

In Police custody

My colleagues and I were asked many questions by the Police until late into the night. They did not allow us to contact a lawyer or our family and friends. The Police tried to intimidate us with strong words of warning: "You know your action is against the State and the State won't allow any action against the State. If you try, the State will kill you" one of Police said.

However, because West Papua's friends around the world put pressure on the Indonesian Government, we were released on Saturday night [2 July] at 07.00pm (WPT). However, we were put under House Arrest and we are still under House Arrest at this moment. Our lives are still in danger right now and we hope that West Papua's friends around the world will put more pressure on the Indonesian Government to respect its Human Rights obligations in West Papua.

The next plans

1. August 15th 2005 [43rd anniversary of the signing of the New York Agreement], the Papuan Tribal [Adat] leaders will lead a protest in Jayapura, the capital of West Papua.Our demands will be the same as in the 1st July Manifesto for Freedom.

2. December 1st 2005 [44th anniversary of West Papua's original Independence Day], the West Papuan people are preparing to raise the Morning Star flag. Our demands will be the same as in the 1st July Manifesto for Freedom.

God Bless West Papua! Papua Merdeka!

Jonah Wenda Penggu West Papua National People's Coalition for Independence

Sentani, West Papua, 4 July 2005
 

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