Koteka group decries leader's arrest<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds of members of the Koteka organization held a peaceful
\ndemonstration at the local council in Jayapura on Monday
\ndemanding an explanation of the arrest of their leader, Benny
\nWanda, for the alleged possession of explosions believed to
\nbelong to the military-wing of the rebel Free Papua Movement
\n(OPM).<\/p>\n
Waving banners and distributing hundreds of pamphlets, the
\nKoteka (penis gourd) members, from several regencies in Irian
\nJaya, rode on five trucks demanding that councillors seek
\nclarification from the police on the detention, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Paskalis Kossay, a councillor sitting on Commission A on
\nAdministration Affairs, asked the demonstrators to remain calm
\nuntil they obtained an explanation from Irian Jaya Police chief
\nInsp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika.<\/p>\n
\"He promised to meet us here to explain all the reasons behind
\nthe story. So, please be patient,\" Paskalis told the supporters
\nin front of the local council building.<\/p>\n
Benny was arrested by police on Saturday at his residence in
\nAngkasapura, in the capital city of Jayapura, after police
\nsupposedly found explosives and confidential documents belonging
\nto the National Liberation Army (TPN), the OPM's military wing.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Benny's supporters asked the police to abide by
\nthe presumption of innocence principle before punishing Benny.<\/p>\n
The security situation in the troubled province of Irian Jaya
\nhas recently been shaken by arson at the grave of Theys Hiyo
\nEluay, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), last
\nFriday by an unidentified group.<\/p>\n
It remains unclear whether the arson was committed by people
\nplanning to trigger riots in the region, or to express
\ndisappointment over the government's reluctance to investigating
\nthe killing of Theys, who was found dead last year after being
\nabducted by people suspected of belonging to the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI).<\/p>\n
Papuan local figures and religious leaders have earlier
\ndemanded the government withdraw its non-Papuan troops from the
\nregion in an effort to turn it into a \"peaceful-zone\".<\/p>\n
The Army, nevertheless, has rejected the suggestion, saying:
\n\"A separatist movement does exist in Papua. They are also an
\narmed group and against our legitimate government.\"<\/p>",
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