Police arrest Papua task force chief<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tension gripped Jayapura, Irian Jaya on
\nWednesday following the overnight arrest of 29-year-old Alex
\nBaransano, chief of Jayapura's proindependence Papua taskforce
\nafter he was declared a suspect in an extortion case.<\/p>\n
\"Alex Baransano is being detained at Jayapura Police Precinct
\nafter we found sufficient evidence of him extorting money from
\nlocals and vendors near the Art Center building on Jl. Irian,\"
\nprovincial Police Operational and Control Unit chief Sr. Supt. M.
\nKusnadi told The Jakarta Post by telephone from Jayapura.<\/p>\n
\"We received reports and complaints that civilian guards have
\nthreatened and extorted money since they themselves had no money
\nto support their activities,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
Alex Baransano often forcibly collected Rp 10,000 per vendor
\nor from locals living near the art building, he claimed.<\/p>\n
Baransano is being charged under Article 368 for extortion,
\nwhich carries a maximum sentence of nine years.<\/p>\n
The Art Center has been commandeered by the taskforce who have
\nhoisted the Morning Star separatist flag there.<\/p>\n
Provincial authorities want the old building to function again
\nas a government-owned cultural art center.<\/p>\n
But proindependence leaders, however, claim that the cultural
\ncenter belongs to the people as it was at this venue that the
\nsupposed declaration of independence was made in 1961.<\/p>\n
Following the arrest the situation in Jayapura reportedly
\nremained tense as market and business activities temporarily
\nhalted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of taskforce members protested the arrest in front of
\nthe Jayapura Police Precinct on Tuesday night, demanding
\nBaransano's release.<\/p>\n
The protest intensified until midday Wednesday and almost
\nbroke into a clash before the chairman of the Papuan Council
\nPresidium (PDP) Theys Hiyo Eluay showed up at the precinct asking
\nabout Baransano's status.<\/p>\n
Theys reportedly asked the civilian guards to go back to their
\nbase at the Art Center building, which is only about 200 meters
\nfrom the precinct.<\/p>\n
The military and the police have intensified security ahead of
\nDec. 1, the date the Presidium have claimed that they would
\nofficially declare Papua independence. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-arrest-papua-task-force-chief-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}