Reza Gunadha and Yosea Arga Pramudita – Civil Society Coalition for Democracy spokesperson Suarbudaya Rahadian has revealed that Paulus Surya Anta Ginting or Surya Anta has been placed in an isolation cell.
Anta, the spokesperson for the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) is being held at the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, on charges of treason for his involvement in the raising of the Morning Star flag during an anti-racism action.
Not only that, the cell where Anta is being held is constantly being bombarded by nationalist songs from a loud speaker including the songs Garuda Pancasila and Independence Day.
“Surya is being held in an isolation cell which does not have any windows. Nationalist songs such as Independence Day and Garuda Pancasila are being played all day long in the cell”, said Rahadian in a press release on Thursday September 5.
Earlier, Metro Jaya regional police public relations head Senior Commissioner Argo Yuwono denied that Anta had been placed in an isolation cell saying that police have no such cells.
“It’s not true that the suspect Surya Anta has been placed in an isolation room because Polri [the Indonesian police] do not have any isolation cells”, said Yuwono.
Yuwono said that they have not treated him any differently than the other six suspects that are being detained, adding that Anta has been given permission to pray while he’s been in detention at the Brimob headquarters.
As has been reported, as many as six people have been declared suspects in relation to the flying of the Morning Star flag in front of the State Palace on Wednesday August 28.
The six people being detained at the Brimob headquarters are Dano Tabuni, Charles Cossay, Ambrosius Mulait, Isay Wenda, Surya Anta Ginting and Wenebita Wasiangge.
All of the suspects have been charged under Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on treason.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Lagu Garuda Pancasila Terus Diputar di Sel Surya Anta Fri West Papua”.]
