Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura Police has reportedly inspected a discussion and book launch of the book "Demanding Dignity, Papuans Punished" by Theo van den Broek on Friday, June 11, 2021.

The Papua Church Council, which held the discussion, deemed the police presence at the event was excessive. "A form of excessive state action against church activities in Papua," Papua Church Council chairman Benny Giai said.

Giai suspected the police wanted to relate the church activities with the Free Papua Movement, which the government had labeled a terrorist.

"Church activities [seem to] be associated with 'terrorism'. But we know our place as a church dealing with all [Papuan] problems to help Papua be better in the future," he said.

Adj. Comr. S. Osleky of the Jayapura Police, who led the security forces to the book launch said that his party arrived because there was information about the activity, so they came to make sure.

"We are on patrol. We didn't know [about the activity] so we came," Osleky said when answering a question from the Papua Church Council's lawyer, Gustav Kawer, who was also present at the book launch.

Jubi tried to ask the Papua Police chief and Jayapura Police chief for comments on Saturday night but no response until this news was published.

Source: https://en.jubi.co.id/jayapura-police-reportedly-monitors-discussion-at-church