Fresh demonstrations by West Papuans have again been stopped by armed Indonesian police who arrested dozens of people.
Indonesian police move in on a demonstration by West Papuan university student against the government s plans for the administration of their region, Jayapura, 14 July 2021.
Photo: Supplied
The demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests by West Papuan students, churches and customary representatives opposed to the Indonesian government s plans to extend Special Autonomy provisions in the two Papuan provinces.
Many West Papuans claim they have not been involved in consultations about the plans for the future administration of their region, while police have repeatedly prevented public discussions about the issue in some parts of Papua region.
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Jayapura, Papua.
Photo: Supplied
The communications disruptions add to pressures on basic freedoms of expression at a time Papuans are trying to voice opinions about Jakarta s plans for the region s special autonomy provisions. And a Papua-based academic warns they could stifle the flow of news about fighting, troop movements, and could allow human rights violations to continue.
The internet to much of Papua was cut a month ago after a reported cable problem. At the time, a spokesperson for PT Telkom Indonesia apologised for the disruption, and said the company was working to restore services.
However, through intermittent phone contact with the remote region, RNZ Pacific has learnt the problems have not been rectified, and those communications still standing are being monitored closely.
Jayapura, Papua.
Photo: Supplied
The communications disruptions add to pressures on basic freedoms of expression at a time Papuans are trying to voice opinions about Jakarta s plans for the region s special autonomy provisions. And a Papua-based academic warns they could stifle the flow of news about fighting, troop movements, and could allow human rights violations to continue.
The internet to much of Papua was cut a month ago after a reported cable problem. At the time, a spokesperson for PT Telkom Indonesia apologised for the disruption, and said the company was working to restore services.
However, through intermittent phone contact with the remote region, RNZ Pacific has learnt the problems have not been rectified, and those communications still standing are being monitored closely.