Today [13 Oct 2014] mass rallies were held all over West Papua in support of the release of French journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat be released by the Indonesian authorities.
The Indonesian government still bans all foreign journalists from entering West Papua and Thomas and Valentine were arrested in West Papua on August 6th simply for reporting on the situation. They now face a potential 5 year jail sentence just for doing their duty as journalists.
The nation wide day of protests, organised by the West Papua National Committee [KNPB] was held in 8 regions in West Papua and brought thousands of Papuans onto the street. In Port Numbay/Jayapura the KNPB boldly demonstrated to call for the release of the journalists. Over 17 activists were arrested by heavily armed Indonesian police.
The nation wide day of protests, organised by the West Papua National Committee [KNPB] was held in 8 regions in West Papua and brought thousands of Papuans onto the street. In Port Numbay/Jayapura the KNPB boldly demonstrated to call for the release of the journalists. Over 17 activists were arrested by heavily armed Indonesian police.
The names of those arrested are:
1 Mr. ELIASER ANGGAINGGOM (VICE CHAIRMAN, West Papua National Parlament, HANIM.HA Region)
2. AGUS KOSAY (CHAIRMAN I KNPB CENTER)
3. UCAK LOGO (KNPB spokesman NATIONAL CENTER)
4. REGINA Wenda (KNPB secretary Numbay)
5. YIMI BROWAY (CHAIRMAN I KNPB Numbay)
6. MARTEN SUHUNIAP (MEMBERS KNPB)
7. Rebekah KOMBA (KNPB TREASURER Numbay)
8. Marice Mambrasar (KNPB MEMBER Numbay)
9. LAZKAR SAME (International Spokesman)
10. ISAK SALAK (MEMBER)
11. PETER PETEGE (MEMBER)
12. MANU Mohi (MEMBER)
13. DAVID WALILO (MEMBER)
14. Palina PAGAGE (MEMBER)
15. Teren SORABUT (MEMBER)
16. Wilem WANDIK (MEMBER)
17. Tinus HELUKA (MEMBER)In Timika, hundreds to thousands of West Papuans came out onto the streets to show their support for the release of the journalists and media freedom in West Papua.
Protests were also held in Java, Manokwari, FakFak, Kaimana, Nabire and Merauke.
In Meruake, at 06:20 Papuans gathered outside the immigration centre but were forcibly dispersed by Indonesian soldiers, police and intelligence officers. 29 West Papuans were arrested.
2. AGUS KOSAY (CHAIRMAN I KNPB CENTER)
3. UCAK LOGO (KNPB spokesman NATIONAL CENTER)
4. REGINA Wenda (KNPB secretary Numbay)
5. YIMI BROWAY (CHAIRMAN I KNPB Numbay)
6. MARTEN SUHUNIAP (MEMBERS KNPB)
7. Rebekah KOMBA (KNPB TREASURER Numbay)
8. Marice Mambrasar (KNPB MEMBER Numbay)
9. LAZKAR SAME (International Spokesman)
10. ISAK SALAK (MEMBER)
11. PETER PETEGE (MEMBER)
12. MANU Mohi (MEMBER)
13. DAVID WALILO (MEMBER)
14. Palina PAGAGE (MEMBER)
15. Teren SORABUT (MEMBER)
16. Wilem WANDIK (MEMBER)
17. Tinus HELUKA (MEMBER)In Timika, hundreds to thousands of West Papuans came out onto the streets to show their support for the release of the journalists and media freedom in West Papua.
Protests were also held in Java, Manokwari, FakFak, Kaimana, Nabire and Merauke.
In Meruake, at 06:20 Papuans gathered outside the immigration centre but were forcibly dispersed by Indonesian soldiers, police and intelligence officers. 29 West Papuans were arrested.
Not all of the names of these protesters arrested are yet known but the ones that are in Merauke are as follows:
1. GENTO EMERIKUS DOOP (KNPB Leader in Merauke)
2. YOSEP NOVARIS WOGAN (KNPB Secretary in Merauke)
3. EMELIANUS NEMOP
4. CHARLES SRAUN
5. YOHANES KAYOP
6. PETRUS WOGANG
7. KRISTIANUS MAHUZE
8. EMANUEL METEMKO
9. YOSEP IMBANOP
10. YOSEP MUYAN
11. PETRUS KATEM (People’s Regional Parliament Secretary in Merauke)
12. AP MOSES
13. K PASIM
14. YERMIAS KEPZE
15. YUSTINUS AIRIT
16. EMERIKUS KAKUPU
17. YOSEP P
18 MUYAN
19 YOSEP C. H. IMBANOP
20. STEVANUS KAIZE
21. MELKIOR KEBZE
22. KORNELIS YOLEMPlease help to pressurise for their release by contacting the Indonesian authorities responsible for their continuing detention: Chief of Jayapura Municipality police
Jl. Ahmad Yani Ni. 1, Jayapura
Tel: +62 967 531027
2. YOSEP NOVARIS WOGAN (KNPB Secretary in Merauke)
3. EMELIANUS NEMOP
4. CHARLES SRAUN
5. YOHANES KAYOP
6. PETRUS WOGANG
7. KRISTIANUS MAHUZE
8. EMANUEL METEMKO
9. YOSEP IMBANOP
10. YOSEP MUYAN
11. PETRUS KATEM (People’s Regional Parliament Secretary in Merauke)
12. AP MOSES
13. K PASIM
14. YERMIAS KEPZE
15. YUSTINUS AIRIT
16. EMERIKUS KAKUPU
17. YOSEP P
18 MUYAN
19 YOSEP C. H. IMBANOP
20. STEVANUS KAIZE
21. MELKIOR KEBZE
22. KORNELIS YOLEMPlease help to pressurise for their release by contacting the Indonesian authorities responsible for their continuing detention: Chief of Jayapura Municipality police
Jl. Ahmad Yani Ni. 1, Jayapura
Tel: +62 967 531027
Chief of Merauke district police
Jl. Raya Mandala Merauke
Tel: +62 971 321666
Thank you very much