Police officers arrested twelve indigenous Papuans in the town of Kaimana, Kaimana Regency, on 27 November 2022. Dozens of indigenous Papuans had come together to commemorate the anniversary of the proclamation of the independent state of West Papua New Guinea on 27 November 1997. The crowd raised Morning Star Flags as well as flags of the European Union, the United States of America and New Zealand. The arrested four elderly and eight young Papuans were detained Station for interrogation at the Kaimana District Police.
The head of the Kaimana criminal department, Officer Seno Hartono Hadinoto, declared the peaceful assembly illegal. Police officers seized all flags and 100 leaflets with the Morning Star symbol. It is not known whether the police have pressed charges against protesters.
A similar commemoration took place at the Wosi Terminal (see photo on top, source: video screenshot) in the city of Manokwari, Papua Barat Province, on 27 November 2022. Protesters raised Morning Star flags and flags of other countries, including the Netherlands, the United States of America and New Zealand. Around 12.30 pm, joint security forces dispersed the peaceful protest and seized the flags. According to the Manokwari Police Chief, Commissioner Parisian Herman Gultom, fifteen protesters were arrested and taken into custody. He elaborated that the police would press treason charges under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) against those who organized the commemoration.
Case info: https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/kaimana-wp-police-carry-out-mass-arrests-in-response-to-peaceful-flag-raising-ceremony/, https://humanrightsmonitor.org/general/manokwari-wp-police-carry-out-mass-arrests-in-response-to-peaceful-flag-raising-ceremony/
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