{"id":441501,"date":"2021-12-21T00:52:42","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T00:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=67929"},"modified":"2021-12-21T00:52:42","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T00:52:42","slug":"wenda-slams-jakarta-over-papuan-student-arrests-seeks-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/12\/21\/wenda-slams-jakarta-over-papuan-student-arrests-seeks-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Wenda slams Jakarta over Papuan student arrests, seeks support"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Kizzy Kalsakau and Jason Abel in Port Vila<\/em><\/p>\n The interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) provisional government, Benny Wenda, has condemned Indonesia<\/a> for the arrest and torture of eight students, and appeals to Melanesian countries to support their plea.<\/p>\n The eight West Papuan students were arrested by Indonesian police<\/a> for peacefully demonstrating with banners and hand-painted Morning Star<\/em> flags in Jayapura, capital of the Indonesian-ruled province of Papua, on 1 December 2021.<\/p>\n They have been charged with treason, and may face 25 years in prison.<\/p>\n In an interview with 96.3 Buzz FM, Wenda said that this happened when West Papua celebrated its 60th year anniversary, which is significant for all West Papuans.<\/p>\n \u201cThe event is celebrated globally. Official celebrations took place in Netherlands, in United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu,” he said.<\/p>\n “The university students peacefully raised their flags, marched and chanted withdrawal of the military and demanded self-determination.<\/p>\n \u201cJust last month, I asked the Indonesian government to allow my people to express themselves because we always respect their independence on August 17 annually,\u201d Wenda said.<\/p>\n ‘Call for respect and release’<\/strong> \u201cWe are also asking the international community to monitor the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Amnesty Indonesia has already called for the immediate release of the students. These students have been fed up with the military operations, internal displacements, murders and bombings.<\/p>\n Wenda also said that recently an elderly woman, Paulina Imbumar, who leads prayers, was arrested, and a request had been sent to the police station to release her.<\/p>\n The chair of the Vanuatu West Papua Association, Job Dalesa, said it was very sad to hear such actions taken.<\/p>\n He added that it was an independent human rights flag and the students were portraying their stand.<\/p>\n Dalesa called on the people of Vanuatu to unite in prayer for the people of West Papua.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will appeal to Indonesia to stop such actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Vanuatu Daily Post<\/em> contacted the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) headquarters in Port Vila for comments on the situation. However, there was no immediate response.<\/p>\n\n
\n\u201cWe have called for respect and are not happy with this arrest.<\/p>\n