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)