Papous : affrontements à Timika – 1 décembre 2011

Clashes as West Papuans mark independence call

abc.net.au/news

By George Roberts

December 02, 2011

Indonesian security forces and West Papuan activists have clashed during protests to mark the 50th anniversary of the province declaring independence.

Local television stations showed footage of police driving through crowds of protesters who were waving Papuan independence flags and cheering.

The footage showed police firing shots into the air, violently wrestling protesters to the ground, and confiscating the province’s banned independence flag.

There are also reports protesters were shot but this cannot be confirmed as the ABC is not allowed into the region.

TV reports also showed images of an Indonesian policeman who it is claimed was shot with an arrow during the clashes.

The disturbances happened on Thursday at rallies marking the 50th anniversary of West Papua’s declaration of independence.

That declaration is not recognised by Indonesia and the Australian Government says it respects Indonesia’s sovereignty over West Papua.

Police said they fired warning shots but Indonesian security minister Djoko Suyanto denied that protesters had been shot.

He said protesters attacked a policeman and a number of Papuans were arrested for waving their independence banner. read more…