Surya Anta, a leading member of People’s Liberation Party (formerly KPRM-PRD), was arrested by the Metro Jaya regional police in Jakarta at 12noon on August 1.

He was arrested when given solidarity speech at a protest action by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) this afternoon in front of Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta. This protest action was in support of the International Conference organised by the International Lawyers for West Papua, which will be held on August 2 in London. Similar actions were also held in several cities other in Papua today.

After at least 7 hours interrogation Surya Anta was released at 9:41pm Jakarta time. He was interrogated and also beaten as police found no basis for him to be detained. So he was declared as a witness and police warned him not to support any Papuan issues and actions anymore. Police forced him to sign a letter that he would not make any provocations at Papua protest actions in the future.

Surya himself has for more than 7 years been involved in the solidarity movement for democracy in Papua since he was still member of People’s Democratic Party until now through the People’s Liberation Party (PLP). Together with other comrades in the PLP, he participated in initiating several conferences and studies for Papua liberation and established solidarity groups such as Solidarity for Aceh and Papua (2005) and Solidarity for Papua (2010).

We are pleased that he has been released and know that this would not have happened without all supports from comrades (national and international), especially the comrades from The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) who assisted him during the detention.

The struggle continues for Papua people’s liberation.

Thank you very much for you immediate response.

Zely Ariane
International Relation Coordinator
People’s Liberation Party

[Edited slightly for readability – James Balowski.]