Koteka group decries leader's arrest

Koteka group decries leader's arrest

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hundreds of members of the Koteka organization held a peaceful
demonstration at the local council in Jayapura on Monday
demanding an explanation of the arrest of their leader, Benny
Wanda, for the alleged possession of explosions believed to
belong to the military-wing of the rebel Free Papua Movement
(OPM).

Waving banners and distributing hundreds of pamphlets, the
Koteka (penis gourd) members, from several regencies in Irian
Jaya, rode on five trucks demanding that councillors seek
clarification from the police on the detention, Antara reported.

Paskalis Kossay, a councillor sitting on Commission A on
Administration Affairs, asked the demonstrators to remain calm
until they obtained an explanation from Irian Jaya Police chief
Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika.

"He promised to meet us here to explain all the reasons behind
the story. So, please be patient," Paskalis told the supporters
in front of the local council building.

Benny was arrested by police on Saturday at his residence in
Angkasapura, in the capital city of Jayapura, after police
supposedly found explosives and confidential documents belonging
to the National Liberation Army (TPN), the OPM's military wing.

Nevertheless, Benny's supporters asked the police to abide by
the presumption of innocence principle before punishing Benny.

The security situation in the troubled province of Irian Jaya
has recently been shaken by arson at the grave of Theys Hiyo
Eluay, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP), last
Friday by an unidentified group.

It remains unclear whether the arson was committed by people
planning to trigger riots in the region, or to express
disappointment over the government's reluctance to investigating
the killing of Theys, who was found dead last year after being
abducted by people suspected of belonging to the Indonesian
Military (TNI).

Papuan local figures and religious leaders have earlier
demanded the government withdraw its non-Papuan troops from the
region in an effort to turn it into a "peaceful-zone".

The Army, nevertheless, has rejected the suggestion, saying:
"A separatist movement does exist in Papua. They are also an
armed group and against our legitimate government."