Three alleged Irian separatist leaders arrested

Three alleged Irian separatist leaders arrested

JAKARTA (JP): Three Jakarta residents of Irianese origin have been arrested by local military officials for alleged involvement in the eastern province's separatist movement, a legal aid official said yesterday.

Chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) Bambang Widjojanto said in a press release that activist Yusak Samuel Wonatorey and Reverend Michael Woriyosi were taken without warrants from Michael's house in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, last Tuesday.

Meanwhile Hengky Joku, another Irianese, was taken from his house on Monday night.

According to Bambang, Michael was taken to and questioned at the West Jakarta District Military Command. He was released on the same day, while Yusak's current whereabouts are not clear.

Bambang said Michael was interrogated by four military officials at the State Secretariat earlier this month about the recent demonstration in Timika by Irianese youths against PT Freeport, a giant American mining company.

"They also asked him about his relationship with several separatist movement leaders, including Kelly Kwalik, Thomas Wapay Wainggai who died recently, Daniel Kogoya and Moses Weror," he said.

Hengky's wife told The Jakarta Post that her husband was taken to the Jakarta office of the Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability (Bakorstanasda).

"A middle-ranked official took my husband just as he got home from work. The official showed me the warrant," she said.

She, however, could not tell whether her husband is still detained at the agency. The Post tried to contact the Chief of the Jakarta Military Command, Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, for comments but failed to reach him.

Bambang said that the arrest was against the Criminal Code Procedures, which stipulate that only police officials have the authority to arrest a person. (imn)