Protest in Jakarta calls on rights commission to declare position on violence in Papua
Protest in Jakarta calls on rights commission to declare position on
violence in Papua
Kompas.com – March 3, 2023
Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta — The Papua Student Front (FMP) held a protest
action in front of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM)
offices in Jakarta on Friday March 3.
The action began at 1.17 pm with protesters demanding that the Komnas
HAM commissioner come outside and directly declare their position on the
incidents of violence occurring in Papua.
Despite the pouring rain, the protesters continued to stand in front of
the Komnas HAM offices.
"We here will perhaps get a bit of a cold, but this is nothing compared
with the suffering of our sisters and brothers in Papua", said one of
the speakers.
FMP Coordinator Rudi Kogoya said that they are firmly asking that the
Komnas HAM commissioner to come out of her office, as was done by the
previous Komnas HAM commissioner who met with them outside the building.
"We want the commissioner to come out and convey their position in front
of everyone, not just a representative. Also in front of the media",
said Kogoya.
A Komnas HAM official then came out, but not the commissioner. The
official asked if there was a representative of the protesters who could
come in and convey their wishes inside.
The FMP however refused because they felt exhausted after making a
report and seeing that there was no result of their report in Papua.
The official then said that the commissioner would receive them had
special needs so they could not attend while it was raining.
At 2.07 pm the Papua students gave in and went into the complaints area
and were met by Komnas HAM commissioner for complaints, Hari Kurniawan.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was
"Front Mahasiswa Papua Bertahan Diguyur Hujan, Minta Komnas HAM Nyatakan
Sikap atas Kekerasan di Papua".]
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West Papua Action Network 