In response to the brutal torture of a West Papuan man, Defianus Kogoya by Indonesian troops in West Papua in early February, a number of rallies and discussions groups were held by civil society groups in West Papua over the past 2 days.
In Jayapura, a rally was held by civil society groups including by the Papuan Student and People's Front Against Militarism or FMRPAM. The demonstration was held at Perumnas 3 Waena and the Jayapura University of Science and Technology on Tuesday the 2 April.
Jubi reported (2 April) that the police cracked down on the rally assaulting demonstrators and firing tear gas.
The demonstrators were demanding that an independent investigation team be formed into the case of torture of Puncak Regency residents by TNI soldiers and asked that the perpetrators be tried at the III-19 Jayapura Military Court.
Although the demonstrators tried to negotiate with the police, it did not go well and an agreement between the demonstrators and the police could not be reached. The police then dispersed the crowd by hitting the demonstrators and firing tear gas.
From Jubi report
"Disperse, disperse, this is a public street," shouted the Commander of Battalion A Pioneer of the Papua Mobile Brigade in Kotaraja Jayapura, Police Commissioner Clief Duwit to the demonstrators. The police then dispersed the crowd by beating and firing tear gas. Demonstrators ran wildly for their lives towards the Jayapura University of Science and Technology campus. Until 12.46 WP, some of the masses were still demonstrating at the gate of Cendrawasih University, Abepura.
Sources
- https://jubi.id/mamta/2024/62-orang-diangkut-dan-ditahan-ke-kantor-polisi-doyo-sentani-saat-aksi-damai-fmrpam/
- https://jubi.id/polhukam/2024/polisi-bubarkan-demo-kasus-warga-papua-disiksa-prajurit-tni/
Source: https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2024/04/awpa-statement-another-day-in-west.htm