N

ational Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) member Natalius Pigai has claimed that police committed violations of human rights against Papuan students looking to hold a peaceful rally in Yogyakarta last week.

“Based on preliminary assumptions, there are indications of alleged human rights violations. An official statement will be issued in Jakarta after further collection of data,” said Pigai in front of dozens of Papuan students and democracy activists at the Papua Dormitory in Kamasan, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday evening.

Pigai has been in Yogyakarta since July 19 to investigate the police action against Papuan students who wished to hold a peaceful rally on July 14 and 15 in support of the efforts by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The police did not give permission for the Papuan students and activists, affiliated with the People’s Union for the Liberation of West Papua, to stage the rally at Titik Nol, in Yogyakarta city.

Police, then assisted by mass organization members, surrounded the dormitory on Jl. Kusumanegara on July 15 and arrested 17 students.