TNI, police seize Free West Papua HQ

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/01/02/tni-police-seize-free-west-papua-hq.html

TNI, police seize Free West Papua HQ

News Desk The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Wed, January 2, 2019 / 03:24 pm

The Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police have taken over the West Papua National Committee headquarters in Timika, Mimika Baru district, Papua to use it as a joint military-police post.

"The headquarters is not allowed to operate anymore and was taken over as a TNI and police post from now on,” Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agung Marlianto said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said 80 TNI personnel and police officers went to monitor an anniversary and new year celebration at the headquarters on Monday morning.

Agung said the officers ordered the Free West Papua activists in the headquarters to remove all of the movement’s insignia and to not to shout any freedom slogans.

"They refused at first, but finally we could remove all the insignia," he said, adding that officers had painted a wall red and white and knocked down another wall that bore the committee’s symbol.

Beginning on Monday, he said, Papuans were not allowed to use any Free West Papua insignia or anything with the morning star symbol.

The committee spokesperson Ones Suhuniap said the takeover was immoral and unethical.

He said the committee had informed the police they were holding an event on Dec. 31.

“Unless the land and buildings belonged to them and they retook it from us," Suhuniap said in a statement on Tuesday, explaining why the seizure of the property was improper. "It was built by the Papuans on their own land. They had given this to us.” (ggq)

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/121659/armed-rebels-remain-serious-threat-in-2019-papua-police-chief
Armed rebels remain serious threat in 2019: Papua police chief
Reporter: Antara 1 hour ago

Jayapura, Papua, (ANTARA News) – Armed Papuan rebels would likely remain a serious security threat in certain areas of the central mountain range of the Indonesian province of Papua, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Martuani Sormin stated.

The police have attempted to approach the armed groups to end the circle of violence but the effort has yet to yield success, he remarked while responding to local journalists` questions on this year`s security situation in Papua Province.

However, owing to the presence of army and police personnel in the areas of the central mountain range that might potentially be threatened by what the police call "armed criminal groups," or "KKB," the frequency of security disturbances can be reduced.

Sormin said those responsible for administering the areas are the governor and heads of districts, and the armed forces and police personnel could not conduct their duties without their support.

Hence, in dealing with these security threats, he proposed that the "Regional Leadership Communication Forum," or "Forkopimda," be activated, so that necessary solutions can be sought together to all problems occurring in the regions.

For those posing security threats and disturbances, the police will enforce the law against them, he noted, adding that the perpetrators would eventually be caught.

On December 2, 2018, a group of armed Papuan rebels had brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya, who were engaged in construction and building the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-District, Nduga District, Papua Province.

Among the victims were Jepry Simaremare and Alpianus M, both employees of PT Istaka Karya, as well as Agustinus T, Carly Zatrino, Muh. Agus, Fais Syahputra, Yousafat, Aris Usi, and Yusran, all workers of PT Istaka Karya.

The armed rebels, who launched the brutal killings, also killed a soldier named Handoko and injured two other security personnel, Sugeng and Wahyu.

Reporting by Evarukdijati
Editing by Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Suharto