Police arrest three over separatist street parade
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua
Police here dispersed a separatist street parade at the Cendrawasih University compound, arrested three people and confiscated two flags representing the so-called state of Western Melanesia.
The detained separatists have been identified as Edison Waromi, 39, Yordan Ick, 46, and Herman Wanggai, 27, who presided over the parade attended by some 50 other separatists.
The three were rounded up while flying two separatist flags during a speech advocating a free Western Melanesia state at the event, which was meant to mark the 14th anniversary of the state on Saturday.
Abepura Police chief First Insp. Basman Saleh, who led the police operation, said the three detainees were undergoing a thorough interrogation.
The three are being interrogated on suspicion of trying to undermine the state by advocating separatism.
He said the police arrived at the site when Herman and Edison were making speeches and Yordan was about to hoist a Western Melanesia state flag.
Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Totok Kasmiarto said the celebration was preceded by a meeting on Wednesday at Edison's house, which was attended by around 100 people. The meeting, he said, discussed plans for Saturday's pro-independence street parade.
"Such a celebration is unconstitutional and the police will not allow it to continue," Totok told journalists.
He elaborated that the suspects would be charged with violating Articles 106 and 108 of the Criminal Code, which carry a punishment of up to 20 years in jail or a life sentence.
The Melanesian separatist movement started in 1988 when its leader Thom Wapay Wainggai declared the independence of the province on Dec. 14.
Thom, along with Edison and Yordan, were jailed soon after the declaration at Manggala Stadium in Jayapura, Papua, but Thom died in 1996 while serving out his sentence in Jakarta. When his body was taken to Abepura for burial, the funeral procession sparked a riot around the city and a number of rioters were arrested for interrogation.
Although separatist rebels claim that Papua attained independence in 1961 when the Dutch withdrew, Indonesia won sovereignty over Papua, then known as West Irian, in 1969 after the United Nations allowed an integration referendum.
The government has offered special autonomy to Papua to appease the separatists, giving the troubled province a much greater share of oil and gas revenues along with other concessions.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has stated that she would not tolerate any independence celebration other than the Aug. 17 National Independence Day, and has ordered stern measures against all rebels and separatists.
Police in Papua have also arrested at least 21 people this month for raising the "Morning Star" flag in Manokwari in northwestern Papua.