media release-14 students arrested in Abepura, Papua by the police.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

Media release 22 June 2015

14 students arrested in Abepura, Papua by the police.

14 members of the Independent Student Forum (FIM) were arrested in Abepura, Papua by the police.

The students were fund raising to support the ad hoc team of the National Commission on Human Rights which was formed to look into the tragedy of the killing of civilians in Paniai on the 8 December.

According to a report in Step Magazine, the Abepura police dispersed the students early in the morning but the students gathered again in cab perumnas III Waena and continued their fundraising activity. Shortly after the police again broke up the fund raising activities arresting 14. The police said they dispersed the students because they did not have a permit.

Member of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP), Laurenzus Kadepa visited 14 activists of Independent Students Forum (FIM),  which was in the interrogation in Jayapura Police; Papua, this afternoon. Photo: Oktovianus Pogau. Step Magazine.

The names of those arrested are  Melianus Duwitau, Termianus Kogoya, Fernando Ogetai, Aleks Mujijau, Sakarias Yogi, Yuliten Kobepa, Allo Yeimo, Nauren Ikinia, Esau Yarinap, Agus Kadepa, Arnol Yarinap, Benjamin Yatipai, Felix Tenouye and Alexsander Sedik. The last report said they were still held by the police. 

Update. Extract of a google translate of article in Step Magazine 23 June.

Security Apparatus of the Jayapura Police threatened 14 member Independent Student Forum (FIM) were arrested while fundraising to help finance the Ad Hoc Team on cases of Dengue Paniai December 8, 2014 in Jayapura Police in order not looking for money on behalf of the students eat in the street ,

Teko Kogoya, coordinator of the FIM through mobile phones, Tuesday (23/06/2015) confirmed the existence of this threat.

"You do not FIM above named student and looking for your daily meal money on the streets," so Teko Kogoya explains, mimicking the words of the police.

"There (Police Jayapura) we questioned about the activities of fundraising action. Yes, we explain what it is, but they (security forces) even say we are looking for a daily meal allowance to meet our needs," said Teko upset.

He continued, “We also asked whether there was a letter of approval from the Commission to raise funds to help finance the Ad Hoc Team on cases of Dengue Paniai December 8, 2014."

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Department official Operations Section Jayapura City Police, Inspector (Pol) John says, dozens of student activists were freed because there was insufficient evidence against the law.

A google translate of article in Bintangpapua.com

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 05:31

Police freed 14 Papuan Students

Jayapura - resort Jayapura City police officer acquitted 14 Papuan students who are members of the Independent Student Forum (FIM), on Tuesday (06/23/2015). They were released after examination for 1x24 hours.

"From the investigation proved they were not breaking the law, so they are repatriated. Until now, no parties objected to the action of fundraising they're doing, "said Public Relations Affairs Officer Operations Section Jayapura City Police, Inspector (Pol) John, on Tuesday (23/06/2015).

According to him, they secured for fundraising without police permission or license the crowd, which supposedly should be licensed. "So, there is no article is right for the students alleged that, so they should be sent home and the goods - their goods and money from the fund-raising activities," he said.

Earlier, on Monday (6/22/2015) to 14 students were arrested in Jayapura City Police members during a fundraiser to help the formation of an ad hoc team of the National Commission on Human Rights in round Housing III Waena, Heram-City district of Jayapura.

They take action to raise funds as a form of their attention to the team adhock due to funding difficulties to conduct investigations in Paniai, after shooting four civilians on December 8, 2014 last. (Loy / don / l03)

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The Jakarta post also reported (22 June) that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on President Joko Widodo to issue a “ presidential decree to officially set up an ad hoc commission assigned to seek comprehensive resolutions to unresolved past cases of human rights violations”. 

Unresolved cases of human rights abuses include 

the 1989 massacre in Talangsari, Lampung, 

the forced disappearance of anti-Soeharto activists in 1997 and 1998, 

the 1998 Trisakti University shootings, 

the Semanggi I and Semanggi II student shootings in 1998 and 1999, 

the mysterious killings of alleged criminals in the 1980s, 

the communist purges of 1965 

and various abuses that took place in Wasior and Wamena in Papua in 2001 and 2003. 

Ends.