26 Mar 2015

Youth in West Papua 'frightened' after shooting

8:45 am on 26 March 2015

Youth in West Papua say they are frightened in the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Yahukimo regency.

A fundraiser last week lapsed into chaos when Indonesian police forces started forcibly breaking up the crowd.

A policeman's weapon was stolen in the melee that followed, and police fired at the crowd, killing one Papuan and wounding three others.

The Papua Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Patrige Renwarin, told Tabloid Jubi five people were arrested and all but one have been released.

He says the stolen firearm has been found at the secretariat office of the KNPB, or West Papua National Committee.

The Papuan Police Chief, Inspector General Yotje Mende, says the KNPB should be banned because it's an underground organisation.

But the Australian West Papua Association says that would be an attack on democracy, as the KNPB is a peaceful organisation bringing to the world's attention the suffering of the West Papua people.