Freedom Of Expression Stifled In Jayapura

Jayapura, Papua, Nov 12 (Antara) - A Papuan Coalition of Civil Society Upholding Law and Human Rights accused the authorities of stifling freedom to express opinion in Jayapura. "Demonstration as an expression of opinion in Papua has been muzzled. People assembling in a place are even arrested let alone staging a demonstration. That is what happened in the past several months in Sorong, West Papua, and now in Jayapura," Ferry Marisan, a member of the coalition told reporters here on Tuesday. Ferry referred to the arrest last week of a number of students demonstrating to reject a draft law on special autonomy at the complex of the Papuan People Assembly (Majelis Rakyat Papua) and at the campus of the University of Cenderawasih. Ferry, a director of a non governmental organization Elsham Papua, noted that escalation of arrests of local people including students and youths grouped in Papuan People, Students and Youths Movement (Gempar) has suddenly increased. The like of old dictatorial New Order regime policy has been adopted in Papua and West Papua, he said. "The people are no longer free to express their opinions to demand justice as security officer are swift to keep them silent," he said, adding even the campus is no longer a safe place to express opinions. He said the demonstration last week broke no regulation and it was not against the government. He blamed the arrest of the student on the leaders of the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) signing a cooperation agreement with the police on campus security. He said the demonstration was natural and Gempar has the right to reject the draft law on new special autonomy as the students think autonomy would bring about no change. He said the students have seen that the autonomy given in 2001 for Papua had failed in its implementation. At that time Uncen was also involved in drafting the regulation. Olga Helena Hamadi from the Papua Kontras, a non governmental organization concerned mainly on disappearance of activists, said lately police in Papua had become more repressive instead of being persuasive. "Police, which are expected to keep order, have been quick to arrest people. Police should not let themselves serve as a tool for those in power," Olga said. She said Kontras is ready to provide legal defense for the students. Last week police arrested tens of student demonstrating against the special autonomy law to be implemented in Papua. "There are five students still in police detention. One, Yason Ngelia, is allegedly involved in a criminal case and the other four, Alfares Kapisa, Abraham Pasik Demetau, Beny Hisage and Daniel Kosamah, are charged with causing inconvenience. Three of them have asked us to provide legal aid ," she said. Papua police spokesman Adj. Sr Comr. Pudjo said Yason Ngelia was not involved in demonstration but he was arrested on charge of mistreating a man identified as Stenly Salamahu . Meanwhile, chairman of the Papua Churches Oikumenis Working Forum (FKOGP) Priest DR. Benny Giay asked police to immediately release the students . The priest said the student had done nothing wrong but exercise their human rights, the right to publicly express their opinions. He said Uncen leaders and the Papua People Assembly are responsible for the security and safety of the students. "We also urge the University , the governor , the regional legislative assembly and the Papua People Assembly to stop arbitrarily forcing implementation of the special autonomy law in Papua," he said. Uncen, the governor and the regional legislative assembly should follow up on the result of public consultation held recently by the Papua People Assembly on special autonomy with discussions with the central government to have a comprehensive, just and honorable settlement of problems in Papua, he said. He said FKOGP threw its support for those rejecting the special autonomy draft law to be implemented in Papua and urge the central government to address that matter immediately. He accused Uncen of abandoning and departing from its main function to create and turn out graduates with high quality expertise. Uncen leaders have been more concerned with personal gain, he said.