{"id":1735,"date":"2016-06-10T23:00:35","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=1735"},"modified":"2016-06-10T23:03:38","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T23:03:38","slug":"more-mass-demos-in-west-papua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/?p=1735","title":{"rendered":"More mass demos in West Papua"},"content":{"rendered":"

There have been more demonstrations in Indonesia’s Papua region today, in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.<\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. <\/span>Photo: Tabloid Jubi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Over a thousand demonstrators gathered in the Papua provincial capital Jayapura to express their support for the Liberation Movement and its bid for full membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the past month and a half there’s been a series of large, peaceful demonstrations in most Papuan urban centres in support of the Liberation Movement.<\/p>\n

The largest and most widespread demonstrations occurred on May 2nd when police arrested around two thousand people in Jayapura alone.<\/a><\/p>\n

The demos have mainly been organised by the West Papua National Committee which is part of the Liberation Movement.<\/p>\n

Today’s demonstrations also included large gatherings in Manokwari, Fakfak and Wamena, one of Papua’s major Highlands towns.<\/p>\n

Initial reports from Wamena indicate a large police and military forces presence, with police shooting two demonstrators.<\/p>\n

Local people have reported that they had no access to Wamena hospital as the security forces have blocked it off.<\/p>\n

Police reported that a Papuan who has been on their wanted list, Kelenak Telenggen, was one of the people shot.<\/p>\n

Back in Jayapura, police stopped the demonstration moving from Waena to Abepura while in nearby Sentani they detained 33 members of the West Papua National Committee.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Indonesian<\/p>\n

Indonesian police talk to members of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, in Jayapura during their demonstration, 31 May 2016. <\/span>Photo: Tabloid Jubi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Earlier, BBC Indonesia reported that a hundred West Papuans had been arrested in Jayapura and Wamena in the past few days for handing out flyers calling for people to join today’s demonstrations.<\/p>\n

As well as showing support for the Liberation Movement’s MSG membership, the demonstrations have been another clear expression of independence aspirations among West Papuans.<\/p>\n

However, a police spokesman indicated that security forces would not tolerate freedom of expression in public where it involved promoting the idea of independence for Papua.<\/p>\n

University turmoil<\/h3>\n

Staff at Papua’s Cenderawasih University are reportedly striking over a continued blockade of the campus at Abepura.<\/p>\n

The Jakarta Post quotes the university director, Onesimus Sahuleka, as saying the strike is a protest against the students who have been frequently blocking the campus.<\/p>\n

The students are demanding that the campus extend the enrolment period and ensure that 80 percent of the places available are assigned to Papuans.<\/p>\n

He praised the students’ aspirations but urged them to not disturb teaching and learning activities at the campus.<\/p>\n

Onesimus said the enrolment period oculd not be extended because registration happens online and across Indonesia.<\/p>\n

\n

\"West<\/p>\n

West Papuans in Manokwari march in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. <\/span>Photo: Tabloid Jubi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There have been more demonstrations in Indonesia’s Papua region today, in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Source A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Tabloid Jubi Over a thousand demonstrators gathered in the Papua provincial capital Jayapura to express their support […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1735"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1737,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1735\/revisions\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infopapua.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}