T

he Jayapura Police, backed by the Indonesian Military (TNI), dispersed the third Papua People’s Congress by shooting into the air and arresting dozens of participants.

No fatalities were reported in the dispersal, which took place on Wednesday at about 4 p.m. local time (2 p.m. Jakarta time) when the congress, being held at the Zhakeus Field in Abepura, Jayapura — which was secured tightly by Papua Land Guardian (Petapa) members — agreed on the proclamation of a West Papua state.

Jayapura City Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Imam Setiawan said that based on the permit issued by police, the congress organizers previously said they would only discuss the basic rights of Papuans for the sake of improving their welfare.

“It turned out they hoisted the Bintang Kejora [Morning Star] flag and proclaimed the state of West Papua,” said Imam.

Papua Police chief Sr. Comr. Wachyono said these two activities were not included in the permit request put forward by the congress’ organizers.

Police officers and TNI personnel began to fire into the air when they found out about the flag raising and proclamation. Police arrested the head of the Papuan Traditional Council (DAP), Forkorus Yoboisembut, who declared the state of West Papua and himself as president of the new state, as well as the organizing chairman of the congress, Selpius Bobii and dozens of Free Papua activists.

“It is the police’s job to safeguard the congress but, apparently, they [the particpants] violated the regulation. Therefore, we had to arrest some of them for further questioning,” Wachyono said.

The situation became increasingly tense during the forceful breaking up of the congress, prompting numerous participants to flee to the hills.

Security personnel blocked the main Abepura highway on Wednesday morning, forcing Abepura residents traveling to Waena and Sentani to make a detour via Skyland, and vice versa.

School children in Abepura were allowed to go home earlier than usual. As the situation in Abepura returned to normality, the police reopened the road at 5:30 p.m.

Calls for independence have long been heard in Papua, as the indigenous population feel they have been oppressed and marginalized for decades in the eastern-most province, which has always been heavily controlled by the military.