13 Apr 2016

Mass demos in support of Papua Liberation Movement

8:44 pm on 13 April 2016
A demonstration in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesia's Papua province, in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

A demonstration in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesia's Papua province, in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

Demonstrations in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua have been taking place in cities across Indonesia's Papua region today.

Ground reports said large peaceful demonstrations have been held in the seven main cities of Papua and West papua provinces: Jayapura, Yakuhimo, Manokwari, Fak-Fak, Merauke, Timika and Sorong.

The demonstrations have been voicing support for the Liberation Movement to become full members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The Movement was last year granted observer status in the MSG, whose full members are

Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and the Kanaks of New Caledonia.

Indonesia was last year granted associate member status at the MSG and has been opposed to the Liberation Movement's participation in political representation of West Papuans.

Early reports from the Papua cities today indicated large numbers of security forces were being deployed to the demonstrations.

West Papua Media reported that by mid afternoon in the Jayapura rally, eleven demonstrators had been arrested and subsequently released

Indonesian police deployed to control the Jayapura demonstration in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Indonesian police deployed to control the Jayapura demonstration in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Tabloid Jubi