Four students were taken to Abepura Police station while attending Mass at Gembala Baik Catholic Church, Abepura on Sunday (1/12/2019)

Jayapura, Jubi – Four students were taken to Abepura Police station while attending Mass at Gembala Baik Catholic Church, Abepura on Sunday (1/12/2019). Wearing the traditional clothes of Papuan highlands, two of them decorated their faces with the pattern of Morning Star.

The four students are Marvin Yobe, Desepianus Dumupa, Paul Halapok and Devion Tekege. “They brought three Morning Star flags,” said Mario, an Abepura resident who was at the worship.

A police officer who not wear uniform at that time stood to arrest the students when they were about to receive the Host, but hold by the congregation asking him to respect the Holly Communion. Then, the police officer took the students out of the Church after seizing their flags.

Among the four, Desepianus Dumupa (26 years old) said their aim bringing the Morning Flags to the Church was to ask God for freedom. “Our purpose coming to the worship with the flags is to ask for help from God. We ask God to give freedom for Papuans,” said Dumupa.

At the meantime, the Director of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Papua, Emanuel Gobay, said the police took the students to Abepura police station for questioning. During the investigation, Jayapura Police Chief Gustaf Urbunas came and met with the Coalition Team of Papua Legal and Human Rights Advocates who accompanied the four students.

Urbinas stated the four students would be taken to Perumnas III Waena to inspect their accommodation after the examination for searching other evidence. After that, they would go to Jayapura Police Headquarter for further investigation.

“When asked about the legal status of the four students, the police chief said the police still ask their clarification before taking a decision,” said Gobay, the Coordinator of the Coalition team.

However, Gobay continued, after their inspection to Perumnas III, the police did not found any evidence. Then, the police took the four students to Jayapura Headquarters, took their pictures and fingerprints before continuing the interrogation.

The examination continued until 00.59; Monday, 2 December 2019 before the four students were finally released.

Meanwhile, as quoted by Antara News Agency, Papua Police Chief General Paulus Waterpauw confirmed the interrogation against the four students. “I ordered Jayapura Municipal Police Chief to explore the case, to find out what do their plans,” said Waterpauw.

He stated in general the security situation in Papua is conducive during the commemoration West Papuan Independence Day which held every 1 December. Moreover, he said there were no public activities considered disturbing the security and public order.

“Generally safe, conducive and controlled. We are grateful to all stakeholders. Therefore, the commemoration of 1 December, which is an annual event, can run in a conducive, safe and controlled,” said Paulus Waterpauw on Sunday (1/12/2019). (*)

Reporter: Victor Mambor

Editor: Pipit Maizier

Illustration of Kostrad troops. – kostrad.mil.id.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Indonesian National Military (TNI) Headquarters stated to operate a military training in Papua in anticipating the commemoration day of 1 December. The training consists of the combat troops from four Kostrad (Strategic Army Combat) battalions

“The training will conduct in three cities of Papua, namely Jayapura, Wamena and Timika. The four battalions are Yonif Raider 323 Buaya Putih (trained) in Jayapura, Yonif Para Raider 305 Tengkorak (trained) in Wamena, and Yonif Para Raider 330 Tri Dharma and Yonif Para Raider Julu Siri (trained) in Timika,” said the Public Relations Chief of Cenderawasih District Military Command, Colonel Eko Daryanto, on Thursday (28/11/2019).

He further explained one of the training materials is military parachuting. TNI Commander in Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police Chief General Idham Aziz are scheduled to observe the training in Timika on Friday.

“Concerning security, the situation ahead to 1 December is still conducive. Hopefully, it continues this way, so that public activities can assume normal as usual,” he said in responding a question concerning the military preparedness ahead of and during the commemoration day of 1 December. (*).

Source: ANTARA

Editor: Pipit Maizier

Papuans dance a traditional dance ‘waita’ after raising the ‘Morning Star’ flag on 1 December 2017. – Jubi/Doc–

Jayapura, Jubi – In responding to a discourse and issue surround the West Papuan commemoration day of 1 December 1961 which celebrated on Sunday (1/12/2019), the Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Advocacy (Elsaham), the Rev. Matheus Adadikam, said Papuan people will conduct a peaceful activity through worships and long march.

Concerning those activities, he said the State guarantees the freedom of expression, assembly, association and religion, which stipulated in Article 28E Verse 2 and 3 of the Indonesian 1945 Constitution, National Law No. 9 of 1998 about Freedom of Expression in public, as well as the ICCPR Convention that ratified by Indonesia in 2006. Further, Article 28E Verse 1 also guarantee the citizens to do worships according to their religion. Therefore, he asks the Indonesian Military and Police to respect it.

“We ask the security forces to not be overreactive against people who express their gratitude on that day. They must respect laws and constitution on handling the groups of mass,” he said in his official written statement received by Jubi on Saturday (30/11/2019).

In the meantime, one Lapago customary leader Agus Rawa Kogoya said in a statement received by Jubi that he appeals Papuans for not doing orations on the streets.

“If (they) want to celebrate 1 December, please go and do in the headquarters (of OPM),” he said on Thursday (28/11/2019).

Also, he asked all parties to not declaring any statement that potentially escalates the conflict. People should give something that soothes the public.

“Once we have said that Papua is the land of peace. Moreover, 1 December is the day when we the Christians start our preparation for Christmas,” he said.

Therefore, he suggests the people do worships in their houses, instead of gathering on the streets.

“Do not create something that can ruin the security, which possibly causes casualties. As one Lapago traditional leader, I appeal the public as well as indigenous territories to maintain the stability, in particular on 1 December,” he said.

Kogoya further admitted that he has coordination with both military and police concerning their tasks to provide security to the public.

“But, maintaining the security is not only the tasks of the security forces but also mutual responsibilities of the community leaders, youths and communities to keep Papua secured and peaceful,” he said.

“Therefore, to our brothers, the TPN/OPM, please halt your fire on 1 December. Let us do our worships together at our respective territories. Once again, I emphasise that please do not provoke situations that cause casualties. What has happened in the past is enough,” he firmly said. (*)

Reporter: Timoteus Marten

Editor: Pipit Maizier