Five arrested for organizing parade
Five arrested for organizing parade
JAKARTA (JP): Jayapura Police officers detained five people
for allegedly organizing a parade on Thursday to commemorate the
12th anniversary of West Melanesia Independence.
Sr. Supt. Kusnadi, chief of operations and control for the
Irian Jaya police, said that around 30 activists of the West
Melanesian separatist movement paraded along Jayapura streets
earlier in the day.
"Five of them were detained, but later in the day we let them
go," he told The Jakarta Post by phone.
The five coordinators were identified as West Melanesia Board
chairman Albert Kailele, the marching committee chief Yordan Iek,
activist Harry Wanggae, former political prisoners Eddy Waromi
and Sonny Mosso.
Kusnadi said seeds of separatism would always grow In Irian
Jaya, "But, compared to the activities of Theys' (Theys Hiyo
Eluay) separatist movement group on Dec. 1, the West Melanesian
movement was not so threatening.
"Therefore, as long as their actions are within tolerable
limits, we'll maintain our nonaggressive approach," he said.
The police also confiscated separatist flags, called the West
Melanesia flag, Indonesian flags, several banners and posters,
the Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily reported.
The daily reported that Jayapura Police precinct chief Supt.
Daud Sihombing said the police had previously refused to issue a
permit for the parade.
He said the committee's request could not be granted as it was
outside procedures. But he did not elaborate.
"However, they insisted on reading out a declaration of the so
called West Melanesian state and I dispersed the marchers and
arrested the coordinators," Daud said.
He said the police had deployed additional security officers
at several strategic locations to anticipate problems prior to
the activities marking the anniversary.
Some 50 people commemorated the anniversary by marching from
Argapura area to downtown Imbi field in Jayapura. The marchers
carried banners, national flags and separatist flags.
On their way to the Provincial Legislative Council building,
the protesters were blocked by officers from the police Mobile
Brigade. Both groups were later involved in a negotiation.
Shortly after the negotiation, the police escorted the
protesters to the heavily guarded legislative compound.
The West Melanesian state was declared in 1988 during a
ceremony at the Jayapura Mandala football stadium. The ceremony
was led by Thomas Wapay Wainggai.
Wainggai received a masters degree from the Okayama University
school of law in Japan in 1969 and a doctorate in public
administration from Florida State University in 1985. He died in
the Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta in March 1996.
Manokwari incident
In Manokwari, some 700 kilometers to the west of Jayapura, an
Irianese man died in police custody on Wednesday
Speaking about the incident, Kusnadi said the Irianese, who
ran a sand business, became embroiled in a dispute with a migrant
buyer.
"Without warning the Irianese ran amok and attacked the buyer.
The buyer later reported the incident to the police.
"The police then took the Irianese to police headquarters
where he later died," he said.
"The death of the man almost triggered an altercation between
locals and the police. But, the autopsy results showed that the
man died of respiratory problems.
"There was no signs of torture. He might have had acute
respiratory problems," he added.
Kusnadi said the crowd dispersed without incident later on
Wednesday afternoon. (edt/lup/imn)