Rallies Will Go Ahead Although Banned By Police

Rallies Will Go Ahead Although Banned By Police

Although the rallies called by the KNPB for the 16 September have been banned by the police, the rallies will go ahead as planned. Joe Collins of AWPA said "there is always concern for peaceful protestors taking part in rallies in West Papua as can be seen by the crackdown on recent rallies such as the one on the 1 May in which 3 people were killed and a large number arrested. Peaceful rallies are a way the West Papuan people can bring attention to the human rights situation in West Papua and to the injustice they suffer under Indonesian rule.

The rallies have being called to celebrate International Day of Democracy (15 September). In the Mimika region the rallies are also to show support for the MSG and for the policies of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu , Mr . Moana Carcases Kalosil to bring the issue of Papua to the UN.

Joe Collins said, there is a danger that those attending the rallies could be charged with (makar) under Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code as was used against the four in Sorong who had simply gathered in a show of solidarity with the planned visit of the “Freedom Flotilla”. It should be pointed out that the organisers said the rallies that would be peaceful, urging that no sharp objects or alcohol to be brought tom the rallies.

ENDS

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