1) 11 arrested as stones fly in Manokwari protest
2) Five Policemen Injured in Manokwari Clash
3) Fresh clashes in Indonesia's Papua region
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1) 11 arrested as stones fly in Manokwari protest
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Wed, October 24 2012, 10:35 AM
Police clashed with protestors after a rally held by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Manokwari, West Papua, turned violent.
Papua Police Spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta said tension surfaced when protestors started to attack police officers, who were safeguarding the rally, by hurling stones.
The clash between both sides became unavoidable as officers fired into the air to disperse protestors.
“We forcibly dispersed the rally and arrested 11 people for allegedly provoking the clash and stone-throwing,” said Sumerta on Tuesday.
Around 100 protestors initially intended to participate in a long march from Jl. Gunung Salju Amban to Borarsi Field at Manokwari, but they did not make it to the field as the police blockaded their way. They later ended up delivering some speeches in front of the Papua State University of Manokwari.
During the clash, two police officers were injured after angry protesters pelted them with stones. The injured officers were later taken to Manokwari Police clinic.
Sumerta said that he had yet to receive some reports on the victims from the KNPB side.
According to information gathered by The Jakarta Post, eight protestors reportedly suffered minor injuries. Four of them were shot, while the remaining protesters suffered minor injuries from the stone throwing.
“The injured residents were treated at Manokwari Hospital and sent home,” said Anis, a local
resident.
It was reported that the KNPB staged the rally as an expression of their support ahead of a meeting held in London, the UK.
However, Sumerta advised that there was no such meeting scheduled.
“We have checked with the Indonesia Embassy in London and a staff member confirmed that there was no meeting being held to discuss Papua,” Sumerta said.
Meanwhile, KNPB supporters in Jayapura aimed to stage a similar rally, but they failed to do so as the Jayapura Police blockaded their path, preventing protestors from reaching the city’s main streets.
Papua Police took extra precautions by deploying officers onto streets across the city.
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2) Five Policemen Injured in Manokwari Clash
Wednesday, 24 October, 2012 | 12:15 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Jayapura:Five police officers were injured in a clash with protesters from the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB), Manokwari, on Oct. 23.
Police Gr. Comm. Adjutant Agustinus Supriyanto, Manokwari, West Papua Police Chief, said five policemen were being treated in hospital. "They’re being treated for having stones thrown at them by demonstrators. I’m not sure if anyone from KNPB was wounded or not," he said.
He denied allegations of police shooting the protesters. The masses became enraged at the fully armed police blocking their action. In the incident, Oktovianus Pogau, a reporter from the Voice of Papua, was injured by the officers. "No shooting. If anyone says someone was shot, that’s not true," he said.
The incident was triggered by a protester throwing stones at a number of people taking pictures from behind the police. In reaction, the police shot into the air to disperse the crowd and chased the protesters dressed in traditional clothing. "No one was arrested, and the situation has returned to normal," said Supriyanto.
The rally by the hundreds of KNPB supporters began at around 10:30 am local time. Dozens of them were later arrested. "The KNPB crowd continued to block the roads in the Amban area, near Manokwari State University, demanding their colleagues be released," said Duma, a Manokwari resident.
Viktor Yeimo, Chairman of the National Committee, condemned the officers’ action in detaining his members. "This is unacceptable, we were just expressing our aspirations. I heard two of our people were shot," he said.
He asked the police to be wise in handling mass actions. "I think the regional police chief should be held responsible. We know Tito Karnavian’s background. This is a scenario to weaken KNPB’s struggle," he said.
The rallies on Oct. 23 to support the International Lawyers for West Papua in London, England, also took place in Jayapura, Biak, and the Fakfak regency. In Jayapura, police dispersed demonstrators who requested a referendum in front of the Perumnas III Abepura and Expo buildings. In Fakfak, police seized a number of sharp weapons from protesters.
JERRY OMONA
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3) Fresh clashes in Indonesia's Papua region
Updated 24 October 2012, 15:29 AEST
There's been renewed unrest in Indonesia's troubled Papua region.
Hundreds of police and student demonstrators clashed in the town of Manokwari.
Reports from the town say eight people were injured in protests, including four police.
A number of people are said to have received gunshot wounds.
Pro-independence demonstrations were also staged in a number of other centres.
It was the first major unrest since Indonesian police shot dead leading pro-independence figure Mako Tabuni in June, sparking a wave of violent protests.
Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch, Indonesia.
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