Jayapura – Police in Papua have issued an arrest warrant for Jefri Pagawak, a local activist wanted for allegedly masterminding violent demonstrations throughout the province.

The order came after Jefri eluded police who tried to arrest him in Timika on Tuesday night.

Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Tommy Jacobus said Jefri was wanted for organizing protests in the provincial capital Jayapura and Timika demanding the closure of mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia.

The most violent protest happened in Abepura, on the outskirts of Jayapura, on March 16, 2006, when four police officers and a soldier were killed.

Mimika police precinct chief Snr. Cmsr. Jimmy Tuilan said while Jefri managed to escape, the police arrested two of the suspect's accomplices.