Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088
Media release, 15 September 2013
Rallies will go ahead although banned by police.
Although the rallies called by the KNPB for the 16 September have been banned by the police, the rallies will go ahead as planned.
Joe Collins of AWPA said "there is always concern for peaceful protestors taking part in rallies in West Papua as can be seen by the crackdown on recent rallies such as the one on the 1 May in which 3 people were killed and a large number arrested. Peaceful rallies are a way the West Papuan people can bring attention to the human rights situation in West Papua and to the injustice they suffer under Indonesian rule.
Joe Collins said, there is a danger that those attending the rallies could be charged with (makar) under Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code as was used against the four in Sorong who had simply gathered in a show of solidarity with the planned visit of the “Freedom Flotilla”. It should be pointed out that the organisers said the rallies would be peaceful, urging that no sharp objects or alcohol to be brought tom the rallies.
Background
Google translations of article from the KNPB web page and the local media.
Be-aware google translations can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa is above each article
Crackdown on recent rallies
1 May rally called to protest the handover 50
years ago of West Papua by UNTEA to Indonesian administration. photo from KNPB web site. Three people
were killed and up to 20 arrested.
Rally in Fak Fak. dozens of people including women and children arrested on
the 14 August as they arrive to attend the cultural
parade.
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