At least 23 are held for staging a rally against extending special autonomy status in Papua
Papuan students are seen here prior to their arrest during a protest in Jayapura on July 14. (Photo supplied)
By Konradus Epa
Indonesian police have arrested at least 23 students staging a peaceful protest in Papua province, church and rights group said.
Some of those arrested were subjected to brutal assaults by police, they alleged on July 15.
The arrests took place on July 14 in the provincial capital Jayapura during a protest against the government extending special autonomy status in the restive province.
It wasn’t clear how many people attended the protest.
Special autonomy status, first implemented in 2001, guaranteed Papuans the right to manage their own region politically, economically and culturally, but it was due to expire this year.
However, the move to extend it has met with opposition from Papuans who would prefer to have a referendum on independence.
The Papuan police chief ordered local police to break up the rally, who in turn used violence in doing so
At least 23 church and rights groups, including Jayapura Diocese’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, the Indonesian Christian Church in Tanah Papua and the Papua Legal Aid Institute, issued a statement on July 15 accusing police of using unnecessary force to break up the protest.
“The Papuan police chief ordered local police to break up the rally, who in turn used violence in doing so,” they said.
Accusing police of rights abuses, the groups alleged that at least five people were beaten by officers.
“These officers need to be held to account and prosecuted,” they said as they called for the immediate release of those arrested.
Christ calls, Asians respond is a new series of features that explore the life of individuals who discovered Christ in the face of misunderstandings and even opposition from those around them. Responding to Christ’s call these men and women have become beacons of inspiration for those around them. Read more about them here.
Such features come to you for FREE, but it cost us to produce them.
Share your comments
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wuzhou is a diocese located in the city of Wuzhou in
SPECIAL EBOOKS
