Police arrest student leader over separatist protest

Police arrest student leader over separatist protest

SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): Police arrested on Wednesday a woman
suspected of organizing a separatist protest earlier this week.

The head of the Irian Jaya Students Association, Yacomina
Isir, was arrested on Wednesday morning while visiting the grave
of a relative here, Antara news agency reported.

"During questioning, Yacomina attempted to evade us, but
finally she was unable to deny her involvement in the separatist
flag-raising protest," Sorong Police chief Lt. Col. C.V. Sitorus
said.

Sitorus said Yacomina organized a meeting called to prepare
for Monday's protest. He also said 17 people, including three
women, had been named suspects for their participation in the
protest, which ended in violence after protesters attempted to
prevent the police from removing a separatist flag they had
raised.

One man, a transmigrant, was beaten to death by the crowd and
a protester was shot after police opened fire on the mob.

The Papua Merdeka Movement has been fighting for an
independent state since the former Dutch West New Guinea became
Indonesian territory in 1963. The United Nations officially
recognized Indonesian sovereignty of the area in 1969.

Meanwhile, tension in Sorong abated as residents returned to
their normal activities on Wednesday.

Police are currently investigating 11 people suspected of
involvement in the murder of one person, the torture of two
others and the torching of a motorcycle and taxi on Monday.

The police have not determined whether the eleven suspects
were involved in the separatist protest on Monday. (34)