Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has condemned the forced disbursing and arrest of protesters from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) by Metro Jaya police in Jakarta on December 1.
The AMP protest action was held in the context of expressing the identity of the Papuan people that is celebrated every year on December 1.
The protesters came from AMP groups throughout Java and Bali. The solidarity action descended into chaos when police, without reason, forcibly broke up the protest action.
Police also arrested 128 protesters in a violent manner. In this case there were no arrest warrants so in legal terms the arrests were unlawful.
LBH Jakarta director Alghiffari Aqsa said this is not the first incident of its kid and the right to the freedom of expression in public has been repeatedly violated by law enforcement officers.
“Yet the right to the freedom of expression in public by the Papuan people is also guaranteed by the Constitution”, said Alghiffari in a press release received by journalists on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Alghif M. Isnur, the head of LBH Jakarta’s case management division said that the forced disbursal and arrest of the demonstrators was accompanied by repressive actions by police including hitting and kicking demonstrators.
The police’s actions were a violation of the right to the freedom of expression in public. “It is very regrettable, the police should have respect for, protect and fulfill human rights without discrimination, including for Papuan people”, said Isnur.
The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation is demanding that the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the National Police chief and the Metro Jaya police chief release the arrested AMP members.
“Respect, protect and fulfill the right to freedom of expression in public”, Isnur added.
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was LBH Jakarta Kecam Pembubaran Paksa Unjuk Rasa Warga Papua oleh Polisi.]
