Saturday, June 08, 2002 08:26:43 PM

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

THE CHAIR OF KOTEKA TRIBAL ASSEMBLY (DeMMAK), Benny Wenda IS ARRESTED

Peoples' Reaction will soon trigger violence and the International Community Should be Wise NOT to Close Their Eyes on the Ongoing Humanitarian Crises in West Papua

AMP Numbay Reporting, 8 June 2002, 01:00 PM
------------------------------------
After rumour on the burning of Theys Eluay's cemetry yesterday, and finally made clear that it was a rumour spread by the Indonesian agents, today, another rumour is spreading and causing panic among the Koteka people: The Chair of Dewan Musyawarah Masyarakat Koteka (Demmak - The Koteka Tribal Assembly) was reported arrested

After a meeting with all DeMMAK members, they were on the way to their homes. Suddenly a young man came and reported, "Benny Wenda is now arrested by the Indonesian Police and driven to Jayapura. 

The people here are reacting angrily. Please let the world know that we are in a big trouble right now. Tell students in Java, tell Amnesty International and other NGOs that understand and support our cause.

We will report more detail reports after further investigation into this rumour.

AMP Numbay,
Translation and distribution by AMP International Desk

=====================

Additional Information

Yesterday (7 June 2002), there was a rumour that they cemetry of Theys Hiyo Eluay was burned down by a student. The people reacted angrily but the did so wisely. They first saught confirmation from Sentani and found out that it was just a rumour spread by the Indonesian agents to cause violence in West Papua.

Today (8 June 2002), another rumour is spreading across the Province that Benny Wenda, Secretary General and or Chair of the Koteka Tribal Assembly is arrested by the Indonesian police and now under arrest at the Numbay Police Station.

On May 8, 2002, there was also a rumour that a lecturer at Cenderawasih University from Social and Political Sciences, Fransk Kapisa was under house-arrest, his house was surrounded by the Indonesian police. (http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/05/080502-kapisa.htm)

On 01 June 2002, one unit "ready-for-war" was sent to West Papua with an order to clam down what they call "separatist" movement in West Papua. A symbol of "war flag" was handed to the Commander of the unit. (Read the News HERE: http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/06/010602-tni1.htm )

Wasior was suspected to be the first target of the unit. (http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/06/010602-wasior.htm)

On 11 November 2001, Indonesian Special Forces (Kopasssus) assassinated the Papuan Tribal Elder and Political Leader, the Late Ondofolo Dortheys Hiyo Eluay, and until today, the Indonesian government, state institutions and the army have been unable to reveal the indentities of the assassinators nor the motifs and reasons of the killing. The Indonesian government has manipulated the opinion of the public and stated that the act of state-terrorism was just a normal human rights violation, a pure criminal act and has no political motif. Papuans, on the other hands refused the outcome of the National Investigation Commission (KPN) and this week, (07 June 2002). The Local TDs/MPs of Papua Province urged the Indonesian government to withdraw troops from West Papua (http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/06/070602-theys1.htm)

At the same time, the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) asked the National Human Rights Commission to establish a special body to reveal the killers of Theys. (http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/06/060602-kppham.htm)

Last month, The EU Parliament passed a Motion Urging the Indonesian Government to resolve various human rights problems in Acheh, Moluccas and West Papua and passed the resolution to the UN to follow up the motion. ( http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/05/240502-eurotheys.htm ) 
 
And now the are starting to check and re-check the strongholds and the strengths of the independence movement. They killed Theys Eluay, but there was no war. They tried to arrest Papuan leaders, but still Papuans want non-violent movement. Then they started spreading rumours. And these are still ineffective.

We want peace, security and stability in West Papua as the door to other Pacific Islands states and nations. We want Indonesia to stop its state-terrorism. And we urge the International Community to stop killing its own citizens.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Phone the Indonesian Police and Army in West Papua. To get the contact details, click here: http://www.westpapua.net/news/02/05/090502-phones.htm 

2. Tell them that State-Terrorism in West Papua will not solve the problems, but conversely it creates more problems.

3. Write to Your Parliament Members and Commissions, your government and other International NGOs to put more pressures on the Indonesian Government to STOP STATE TERRORISM in West Papua.

4. Urge the EU Parliament to follow up its motion on Acheh, Moluccas and West Papua last month.