2) 54 arrested at special autonomy hearing released due to lack of evidence
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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national police (Polri) together with the National Armed Forces (TNI) will conduct massive joint patrols ahead of the commemoration day of the establishment of Free Papua Movement (OPM) on December 1.
The Polri also made an announcement for locals to not participate in the annual anniversary of what the Indonesian government had deemed as a separatist group and an ‘unconstitutional group’ that constantly attempts to separate Papua from Indonesia.
“[The patrol] is to prevent unwanted things from happening,” said the national police spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono at the South Jakarta police headquarters on Monday, November 23.
Apart from the patrols, the national police has also done a persuasive approach with local figures and Papuan locals to convince them to not partake in the OPM anniversary.
Also Read: Papua's Human Rights Group Condemns Armed Attack on Students
ANDITA RAHMA
2) 54 arrested at special autonomy hearing released due to lack of evidence
CNN Indonesia – November 20, 2020
Jakarta – Police have released 54 participants of a Papuan People's Council (MRP) public hearing into Special Autonomy in Papua who were arrested for allegedly committing makar (treason, subversion, rebellion). The arrests took place on Tuesday November 17 while the public hearing was being held in Merauke regency, Papua.
"The participants have been able to return home since 11 am local time because there is still a lack of evidence", said Papua regional police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Ahmad Musthofa Kamal when sought for confirmation on Thursday November 19.
Kamal explained that although the participants had been sent home, police will still be asking them to write a letter declaring that they would not commit makar.
"The measures by police who arrested and handcuffed several people including Papuan People's Council member Amatus Ndapitis at a hotel was simply to maintain security and to anticipate something undesirable happening", said Kamal.
Earlier, the Merauke district police said that more than 50 of those arrested at the MRP public hearing had been declared suspects on charges of makar. Kamal however has yet to confirm the suspects' status.
Merauke district police chief Assistant Superintendant Untung Suriatna said earlier that the police initially took action because the public hearing failed to pay attention to Covid-19 health protocols.
When police moved in however, several MRP members were found trying to discard documents from the meeting which turned out to contain a complete organisational structure [arising out of] a planned referendum.
"They wanted to shout slogans supporting their referendum. After we investigated, the evidence was the existence of their current president, there were also ministers", said Suriatna when contacted by CNN Indonesia on Thursday.
Suriatna believes that these actions can be categorised as makar and disturbing state security and because of this they will be indicted under Article 104 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
He said that the gathering was dangerous because it was planning to disrupt the existing administrative structure in Indonesia.
"Record what I'm saying, this was makar because we have a president, there are regents, there are governors, there are Kapolda [district police chiefs], and there are Pangdam [regional military commanders]. Why were they creating a president and all that, that's makar", he said. (mjjo/arh)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Kurang Bukti Kasus Makar, Polri Lepas 54 Peserta Rapat MRP".]
His directive follows a telegram letter from the National Police Chief, General Idham Azis, number STR / 800 / XI / HUK.7.1 / 2020, dated November 20, 2020.
“The National Police Chief, General Idham Azis, issued a secret telegram addressed to all police personnel. The telegram contained an order to maintain neutrality during the simultaneous 2020 Regional Head Elections," Waterpauw said in a statement received here on Monday.
In the telegram, the National Police Chief has prohibited personnel from posting photos or selfies on social media showing a thumbs-up sign or with two fingers forming the letter ‘V’, as that could potentially be used by certain parties to accuse the police of taking sides, he added.
Personnel have also been directed not to take photos with prospective regional head candidates, the masses, and sympathizers, he continued.
"The telegram letter reaffirms the standard rules [on kinds of conduct] that should not be practiced by all members of the National Police. The Police Chief's instruction applies to everyone, in all positions or ranks," he added.
He further said the letter is a follow-up of the chief of police's order to police chiefs of regions that will hold simultaneous elections on December 9, 2020.
The Division of Profession and Internal Security (Propam) will conduct strict tiered surveillance of the conduct of members of the police, Waterpauw informed.
The police chief’s telegram is also a means of preventing politicization by both members of the National Police and election participants, he observed.
"With the telegram, the Police Propam Division will enforce the law on all members who are trying to strum the order during the elections. So that whenever there is a violation, the Propam Division will be objective," he explained.
The Papua police chief added that so far, preparations for the simultaneous regional elections in 11 districts of Papua province have run safely and smoothly.
He said he hopes the masses and the campaign teams of candidate pairs in each region will abide by the rules. Should there be any dissatisfaction over the results at any stage of the elections, parties should resort to legal channels rather than gathering in large crowds, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
Eleven districts are scheduled to hold polls in Papua in December — Yahukimo, Merauke, Keerom, Mamberamo Raya, Bintang Peg. , Boven Digoel, Supiori, Nabire, Yalimo, Asmat, and Waropen. (INE)
Related news: Regional campaigns in Papua running smoothly, safely: police
Related news: Only 16.3% regions holding Pilkada in COVID-19 red zone: survey
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