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Papuan self-determination fighters deny vandalism allegation
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National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) activists and supporters stage a rally in Lingkaran Abepura, Jayapura, Papua, on Monday. The rally was organized to mark the signing of the New York Agreement on Aug. 15, 1962, which decided that Papua would join the Republic of Indonesia. The KNPB has campaigned for self-determination and says the New York Agreement was not made by Papuans. (The Jakarta Post/Nethy Dharma Somba)
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ational Committee of West Papua (KNPB), an organization campaigning for the right to self-determination for the people of Papua and West Papua provinces, denied allegations by Papua Police that supporters rallying on Monday had committed vandalism.
KNPB head Victor Yeimo told The Jakarta Post Monday evening that the KNPB believed in fighting without violence.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said Monday they arrested two people during the KNPB rally in Jayapura.
“Both were arrested because they committed [violence], blocking the streets with wood, burning tires in the middle of the streets and damaging street vendors’ goods,” said Waterpauw.
The police reported KNPB staged a rally, marching 15 kilometers from Perumnas Tiga to the Papuan Council. Security apparatuses blocked them and Waterpauw said when the police blocked them, rally participants started throwing rocks at the police, burned tires and blocked the streets.
“They have staged rallies that disturbed public order several times,” Waterpauw said.
KNPB supporters staged a rally to mark the New York Agreement signed on Aug. 15, 1962, which decided that Papua would join the Republic of Indonesia. They said the agreement was made not by Papuans themselves.
Veronica Koman, a Jakarta lawyer from Papua Itu Kita, a solidarity movement for Papuans, said the KNPB had denied that the two people arrested were among their supporters. She said she had received reports from her Papuan contacts that about 100 KNPB supporters were rounded up in a police truck in Jayapura. They were subjected to police violence on the truck and later released.
Victor accused the police of violence. “They shot at us in Waena [Jayapura],” he said. Victor said five people were injured by rubber bullets.
Waterpauw said the police had to fire warning shots into the air during the rallies.
