Update on Detained West Papuan Flag Raisers

Submitted by Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights (not verified) on 22 July 2008 - 3:48pm
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  • Pacific Struggles
  • International

Reports from Fakfak state that 6 West Papuans involved in a flag raising ceremony, with the banned Morning Star flag, on early Saturday morning, will be charged under the Indonesian Criminal code for crime of 'subversion'.

These reports follow earlier information that 35 local West Papuan, including ex-political prisoners, were involved in a flag raising ceremony outside the "Act of Free Choice" building (Fakfak Archives office) on 4.30 am Saturday morning 19 July 2008.

Local Human Rights workers reported that Indonesian Police in Fakfak arrested 46 local West Papuan people, which included some people not involved in the ceremony. (Also see attached IPAHR Human Rights Alert 19 July 2008. Also Jakarta Post Sunday 20 July 2008 reported 41 arrests of ex political prisoners in the incident.)

Human Rights workers report that the Indonesian Police appear to have had prior knowledge of the ceremony and attacked the demonstrators beating them, kicking them with boots and torturing the demonstrators. The men in the group were then stripped to their underwear before being taken to the Police compound. Two women were included in those arrested. [More]

Links: July 20 Feature on Detained Flag Raisers | Free West Papua | Profile of a West Papuan Political Prisoner