2 Jun 2016

Hundreds said to be arrested at latest Papua protests

4:06 pm on 2 June 2016
A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

As many as 600 West Papuans are reported to have been arrested for participating in demonstrations on Tuesday in Indonesia's Papua region.

The demonstrations, in several Papuan cities or towns, were showing support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and its bid to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The Liberation Movement said there were unconfirmed reports that 469 people were arrested in the Jayapura area, 112 people arrested in Wamena, plus a few dozen arrests in other towns, related to Tuesday's demonstrations.

In the past month and a half there has been a series of large, peaceful demonstrations in most Papuan urban centres in support of the Liberation Movement.

The largest and most widespread demonstrations occurred on May 2nd when police arrested about 2,000 people in Jayapura alone.