Demonstrations against the division of Papua and Special Autonomy for Papua mobilized by the Papuan People's Petition in Jayapura City on Friday (3/6/2022). - Jubi/Hengky Yeimo
Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura City Police has stopped the Papuan People’s Petition (PRP) from doing a long march in the city on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The police said the long march would disturb the security and order in Jayapura City.
“We have received a letter from the PRP but we will not allow if there is a long march. It is okay if the action is carried out by appointing several representatives to meet with lawmakers in the Papua Legislative Council (DPRP),” said the head of the Jayapura City Police, Sr. Comr. Victor D. Mackbon on Tuesday.
“Law No. 9 of 1998 on Freedom of Expressing Opinions in Public stipulates that all citizen must respect public order in expressing their opinions. We have asked if there is a better way that conforms the law because with the Long March, it will disturb the comfort of other citizen. So of course we do not allow it,” Mackbon said.
He said his party would facilitate the people’s aspiration by providing a number of vehicles to take the protesters to the DPRP building.
“If the protesters agree with the conditions that we provide, we will oversee [the protest] from start to finish and even escort the masses to return to their respective locations,” he said.
Mackbon said his party would deploy 2,000 joint personnel in order to provide a sense of security and comfort during the protest.
“But even if they insist to do the long march, we will continue to provide protection for both the protestes and the community by deploying joint personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Papua Police Mobile Brigade, BKO Brimob Nusantara, and Jayapura Police,” he said.
By Rusiate Baleilevuka in Suva
A Fiji women’s advocacy group has condemned their government for remaining silent over the human rights violations in West Papua amid the Pacific Islands Forum being hosted by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainmarama this week.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) coordinator Shamima Ali with other staff members and activists made the criticisms at a ceremony raising the independence flag Morning Star, banned in Indonesia.
The women raised the flag of West Papua on Wednesday to show their solidarity.
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Ali said this ceremony was done every Wednesday to remember the people of West Papua, particularly women and girls who were “suffering twofold” due to the increased militarisation of the two provinces of Papua and West Papuan by the “cruel Indonesian government”.
She said this was a perfect time since all the Pacific leaders were in Fiji for the forum but the Fiji government stayed silent on the issue.
Ali added that with Fiji as the chair of the forum, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama should have negotiated for West Papua to be on the agenda
Wenda appeals to Pacific Islands Forum
Meanwhile, United Liberation Movement of West Papua interim president Benny Wenda has appealed to Pacific leaders to show “timely and effective leadership” on the great issues facing the Pacific — “the human rights crisis in West Papua and the existential threat of climate change”.
“West Papua is a green land in a blue ocean. Our blue Pacific has always united our peoples, rather than dividing them,” he said in a statement.
“In this spirit of Pacific solidarity, we are grateful for the support our Pacific family showed for our struggle in 2019 by calling for Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to visit West Papua.”
However, Indonesia continued to undermine the forum by refusing to allow a UN visit to take place.
“For decades, we have been crying that Indonesia is bombing our villages and killing our people, but we have been ignored,” Wenda said.
“Now, the world is taking notice of our struggle. The United Nations has shown that up to 100,000West Papuan civilians have been internally displaced by Indonesian military operations in the past three years alone.
“They have fled into the bush, where they lack access to shelter, food, water, and proper medical facilities. This is a rapidly worsening human rights disaster, requiring immediate attention and intervention by the United Nations.
“Indonesia hears the increasing calls for a UN visit, but is employing delaying tactics to avoid exposing their crimes against my people to the world.”
Rusiate Baleilevuka is a Fijivillage reporter.
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