14 student activists were arrested while doing fundraising for the establishment of an ad hoc team from the National Commission on Human Rights – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee urged police in Papua and West Papua provinces to release eight of its activists.
Three of the activists are being detained in Biak, three in Manokwari and one in Yahukimo and another in Jayapura.
“We ask the police to release the eight activist in both Papua and West Papua. The reasons behind their arrest were unreasonable. So we ask the police to release them immediately,” Bazoka Logo told Jubi on Monday (22/6/2015) in Jayapura.
He explained the arrest over three activists in Biak was occurred because the police cheated on them. They were called to the police office as coordinator of protest, but then being detained and questioned before named as suspect.
The police arrested KNPB activist Arnes Silak at Sentani Airport at 8:00 Papua time before he departed to Yahukimo. He was accused stealing an officer’s cellular phone. Meanwhile an activist who detained in Yahukimo for unclear reason but the police insisted to keep him in jail. Then, three KNPB activists in Manokwari were named suspects for incitement.
“The Police detained KNBP activists in Papua and West Papua for unreasonable accuses. Such accuses over KNPB activists are wrong and manipulated as if they want to criminalize KNPB. The Criminal Code charged to KNPB activists are manipulated. Therefore we ask the police to release them all,” he said.
Earlier, Majalah Selangkah reported the Papua Police Spokesperson Senior Police Commissionaire Patrige Renwarin revealed the arrest was happened when ET wanted to check in at the Sentani Airport and tried to run away. “When he wanted to check in, Yahukimo Police officer First Brigadier Bernadus caught him at Sentani Airport. He tried to run away to the car park. But the police and airport security guards were able to catch him.
Then he was brought to the Sentani Airport Police Headquarter for further question. “When being detained, ET brought Nokia mobile phone, flask disk, eucalyptus oil, gilet and medicines,” he said.
Those who arrested in Manokwari are Alexander Nekenem, Oten Gombo, Yoram Magai (Secretary General KNPB Manokwari), Narko Murib, Maikel Asso and Yunus Jikwa. Few times ago it was reported Narko Murib has escaped from Manokwari Police’s Custody.
Meanwhile in Biak, Apolos Sroyer (Chairman of Biak Regional People’s Parliament), Dortheus Bonsapia (FNRPB) and Yudas Kosay (Secretary KNPB Biak) have named as suspects and charged in accordance to the article 160 of Criminal Code about incitement. They would be sentenced for 5 years in prison.
In Yahukimo, Susan Bahabol has been released for found not guilty, while Aton Bahabol is still in jail. Meanwhile, Arnes Silak who was arrested at Sentani Airport when want to depart to Yahukimo is still also under the Papua Police’s Custody. (Arnold Belau)
