Media release West Papua Letter to Indonesian President calling for the release of those arrested on the 13 May.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

Media release West Papua 14 May

AWPA has written to the Indonesian President calling for the release  of those arrested on the 13 May.

Letter below. Copies also sent to Senator Carr and Australian Embassy Jakarta

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Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia

14 May 2013

Dear President Yudhoyono,

I am writing to you concerning the arrest of four West Papuans on the 13 May at a peaceful rally in Jayapura.

The rally had been called to protest the killing of three people on the 1 May and the arrest of up to 20 people at a demonstration to protest the handover, 50 years ago of West Papua by UNTEA to Indonesian administration. 

During the rally on the 13 May, the security forces cracked down on the peaceful protesters arresting four.  Yongky Ulimpa,   Ely Kobak,  Marten Manggaprouw, and Victor Yeimo , Chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) .

During the arrest reports indicate that they were beaten and one of the protesters had his arm broken. The police also damaged vehicles belonging to students and caused fear in the local people as they conducted operations against the protestors.

We point out that under The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 20, it states that everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. We are concerned for the safety of those arrested at the rally yesterday and also for those arrested on the 1 May. 

We urge you to contact the security forces in West Papua asking that they immediately release all those arrested unconditionally, as a sign of good faith to the Papuan people.

Yours sincerely

Joe Collins