SM Said, Jayapura – The Nemangkawi Cyber Ops Task Force have arrested the owner of a Facebook account in the name of Manuel Metemko for allegedly spreading fake information or hoaxes and inciting hatred or ethnic, religious, racial and inter-group (SARA) hostility between individuals or social groups.
Metemko is the chairperson of Merauke district branch of the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) which is a wing of and is affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM).
"On Wednesday June 9, 2021 at 22.35 West Indonesia time the Nemangkawi Cyber Ops Task Force arrested the owner of a Facebook account in the name of Manuel Metemko belonging to EKM (38) when it was suspected that the suspect was at their home on Jalan Perikanan Darat, Kelapa V sub-district, Merauke district, Merauke regency, Papua", said Nemangkawi Task Force public relations head Senior Commissioner M Iqbal Al-Qudusy in Jakarta on Thursday June 10.
Al-Qudusy said that the Cyber Ops Task Force has already taken the suspect to the Merauke district police for a forensic digital examination of the evidence which was seized.
"Don't make hoaxes or untrue news, provoke the public with reports [which incite] hatred and result in animosity in the land of Papua, the public wants to live in peace", said Al-Qudusy.
Meanwhile there were several postings which are alleged to have broken the law, including among others, sharing a photo which is not in accordance with the original incident with the caption, "Photo: Ilaga Airport, Puncak regency, Papua, was successfully burnt down by the TPNPB, Thursday (03/06/2021)".
Then, "Otsus [special autonomy] has failed totally, the people oppose it and demand a referendum, thousands of troops have been sent, there are casualties everywhere, Catholic religious figures have been terrorised by OTK [unidentified individuals], rumors of terrorists are thriving in the land of Papua. The question is, who is the breeder of the humanitarian crimes and terrorism in Indonesia and Papua?".
According to Al-Qudusy there are still many other postings which are deemed to create social unrest and because the person concerned is the KNPB Merauke chairperson police are taking legal action against the owner of the Facebook account.
The perpetrator is alleged to have violated Article 45A Paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 28 Paragraph (2) of Law Number 19/2016 on Revisions to Law Number 11/2008. (sms)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Manuel Metemko Ketua Sayap Politik OPM-KNPB Merauke Ditangkap Satgas Nemangkawi".]