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Dozens arrested for protesting racism against Papuans, allegedly interrogated without lawyers
According to the Legal Aid Institute, eight people were apprehended or arrested in Timika, 35 in Jayapura, 16 in Deiyai, 18 in Manokwari, 14 in Sorong and six in Jakarta. In addition, six people were called as witnesses in Fakfak.
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Protesters take to the street to face off against Indonesian police in Manokwari, West Papua on Aug. 19. (AFP/Str)
D
ozens of people who had been named suspects for staging protests against racism in Papua and West Papua are allegedly being interrogated without lawyers.
Emanuel Gobay, director of the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), said the institution took note that from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6 there were numerous apprehensions and arrests of anti-racism protesters. According to the LBH, eight people were apprehended or arrested in Timika in Mimika, 35 in Jayapura, 16 in Deiyai, 18 in Manokwari, 14 in Sorong and six in Jakarta. In addition, six people were called as witnesses in Fakfak.
Papua and West Papua have been rocked by protests and rioting since Aug. 19 over perceived racist abuse committed by security officers and members of mass organizations.
Emanuel said most of the arrested people were not investigated in accordance with legal protocols.
“Some [investigations] are done in accordance with protocol, some are not,” Emanuel told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He said the LBH has no knowledge of lawyers helping the apprehended people in Deiyai.
“We have not gotten any information regarding that, but if they already have an investigation record, who was the lawyer then?” Gobay said.
