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)