Indonesian security forces yesterday fired on a mass meeting of West Papuans and arrested leaders and activists after participants at the Papuan People’s Congress declared independence for the restive region.
There were reports at least one person was killed as thousands of terrified delegates stampeded from the oval where the congress was being held under the close watch of up to 5000 security personnel.
”It started about 30 minutes after the congress was completed,” said Oktovianus Pogau, an activist. ”People were running in all directions … [the military] and police are everywhere on the streets, armed.”
Earlier, representatives of more than 200 indigenous West Papuan tribes had elected Forkorus Yoboisembut as their president and Edison Waromi as prime minister. Mr Yoboisembut then declared independence from Jakarta’s rule, prompting police to detain him.
According to another witness account, the leader’s bodyguards attempted to stop the arrest and then police responded by shooting their weapons. Mr Yoboisembut and Mr Waromi were both reportedly detained, along with other activists and organisers.
West Papua’s military commander, Major-General Erfi Triassunu, confirmed the shooting, but insisted it was only a warning. He told the Jakarta Globe there were no casualties but said the shots were fired in response to the announcement of independence.
Jayapura Police Chief Imam Setiawan said hundreds of people had been arrested for subversion, Kompas online reported.
The Papuan People’s Congress is a hugely significant event for indigenous West Papuans, just the third held in the past 50 years. Several thousand people attended from all over Papua, representatives of the region’s 200-plus tribes.
