Repressive measures taken in the recent arrests of Papuan students in Yogyakarta on allegations of promoting separatism has sparked debate on the fine line the government must walk with regard to freedom of expression.

Rights campaigners have slammed the excessive force used in the arrests of seven Papuan students who wanted to stage a rally to show support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s (ULMWP) bid for membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on Friday. Police also deployed a water cannon in front of the Papuan students’ dormitory in Yogyakarta as a “preemptive measure”.

Under the law, Indonesia as an independent country recognizes any act promoting separatism as illegal, but the country, as a member of the international community having ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), must protect the right of its citizens to the freedom of expression.

The activists said tough enforcement would not only paint negative images of Papuan students in the public sphere but would also worsen Papuans’ sentiment toward the central government, which is trying to provide greater economic, educational, health and infrastructure access to people in the country’s underdeveloped province, warned the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).

YLBHI chairman Alvon Kurnia called on the government to avoid repressive acts toward Papuans who wanted to stage rallies to voice their aspirations to separate from Indonesia, so as to not worsen existing tensions with Jakarta, which has been accused of neglecting Papuans’ prosperity for decades.

“In general, what the police did in Yogyakarta was excessive. The measures could be categorized as [violating freedom of expression]. Yes, in terms of the law, what they wanted to voice is not allowed but in terms of human rights, they [Papuans] have such a right [to express their opinions],” Alvon told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

For decades, the government employed military approaches to halt separatist moves in Papua, a decision that has resulted in scores of gross human rights cases that have claimed the lives of activists and civilians in Papua.

The central government has disbursed Rp 67 trillion in special autonomy funds since 2002 as part of the solution to end poverty in the resource-rich land and to maintain it as part of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia .

But 14 years on Papuans are still struggling to fulfill their basic needs on account of poor public facilities. Quality education and health services are limited.

Under his own initiative to calm tensions in Papua, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has made several visits to the province to show that Jakarta is not leaving it behind.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has said the government also promises to solve human rights abuse cases in the region and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The retired Army general, however, denied freedom of speech had been violated during the Yogyakarta crackdown and defended measures taken by the police. “Whoever violates regulations will be processed. If you want to make noise in your neighborhood then you will be reminded [by authorities],” Luhut said. (fac)

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