Separatists protest in Manokwari
Separatists protest in Manokwari
JAKARTA (JP): Security personnel fired warning shots to
disperse 500 separatists as they tried on Saturday to enter the
pier area of the port of Manokwari, on the northwest tip of the
mineral-rich province of Irian Jaya, Antara reported on Saturday.
There were no reports of casualties, but the news agency said
security officers were wounded on Friday during a rally in front
of Manokwari's legislative assembly where separatist flags were
raised.
Irian Jaya's military chief has said those behind the flag-
hoisting would be hunted down and arrested.
Indonesia revoked Irian Jaya's status as a military operations
area last week after a cease-fire agreement with guerrillas of
the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Also on Saturday, Antara reported that local human rights
organizations have set up a 32-person team of lawyers to defend
five people detained by police for allegedly organizing a
separatist demonstration on Oct. 1 a spokesman for the
organization said here on Friday.
Abdul Rahman Upara, director of the Jayapura branch of the
Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (LBH), told reporters the 32
lawyers were affiliated to the local chapters of the Foundation
of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), the Institute for
Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), the Indonesian Defense
Attorneys Association (IKADI), the Commission for Missing Persons
and Victims of Violence (Kontras), LBH itself and a number of
individual lawyers.
Upara said the families of the five detainees had asked the
team to defend their arrested relatives throughout the process of
their cases, starting from the phase in which they undergo police
interrogation to their trial in court.
On Sept. 30 Jayapura security forces arrested five people
suspected of being the brains behind demonstrations demanding
independence for Irian Jaya.
Upara said he had already met the five in police custody and
learned from them that they were arrested without due respect for
the relevant legal procedure.