Indonesian Police in Jayapura West Papua are meting out arbitrary vengeance after violent : Melbourne Indymedia

Indonesian Police in Jayapura West Papua are meting out arbitrary vengeance after violent clashes with student demonstrators yesterday

18.00 EST Australia 17 March 2006

Indonesian BRIMOB Police are acting with impunity today in Jayapura, shooting into dormitories and pulling Papuan people from their cars. Police actions in Jayapura appear to be arbitrary vengeance.

Students from Cenderawaih University today report that since this morning until late today BRIMOB Police has been shooting at dormitories around the University. Though not directly targeted individuals, the gunshots appear to be a show of force to terrify the students inside. The informants state that students are in the dormitories hiding and are terrified to leave.

A military helicopter is reported to be constantly flying low over the campus today.
BRIMOB are reported to be patrolling the campus area and Abepura.

The same sources state that the BRIMOB have been stopping cars travelling from Abepura to Jayapura outside the BRIMOB offices in Kota Rajah. The BRIMOB are reported to be taking Papuans from their cars & searching the cars. After interrogation of the Papuans the BRIMOB separate Coastal people and Highlanders. Some of the Papuan people are being beaten during the interrogations.

At Skyline – Jalan Baru and adjacent to the Autonomy Offices the BRIMOB have blocked the road and stopping cars and taking Papuans from their vehicles and beating them.

A church source stated that BRIMOB had taken two of the dead officers to Sorong and Polopo Makassar. On route with the bodies the BRIMOB officers are reported to be yelling threats and shooting indiscriminately.

Matthew Jamieson
Sunforest

matthew@hr.minihub.org