On 14 April 2015, five members of the Independent Papua Committee (Komisi Independen Papua, KIP) were arrested following a meeting days earlier with the Indonesian Minister of Defense, General Ryamizard Ryacudu.
On 10 April, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta between General Ryacudu and a four-person delegation from KIP. The KIP states that it acts as a facilitator for the pro-independence movement Federal Republic State of West Papua (Negara Federal Republik Papua Barat, NFRPB). The meeting between the minister and Dr Don Flassy, Dr Lawrence Mehue, Mas Jhon Ebied Suebu and Onesimus Banundi was facilitated by Heni Tan Fere, a staff member with the Department of National Unity and Politics (Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik, Kesbangpol) in Papua. The travel costs for the four men to attend the meeting were reportedly paid for by the Defense Ministry. The meeting was reported to have been brief but friendly, with the KIP members handing over several letters explaining the mandate and purpose of the KIP and NFRPB.
On 14 April, the four KIP members returned to Jayapura. A press conference about the meeting with Ryacudu was arranged by Fere to take place the same day. However, before the press conference could commence, the four KIP members and Fere were arrested by police and taken to Jayapura Regional police station. They were told by police that they had been arrested because of information received alleging that they were connected to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Later the same day, they were transferred to the Papuan Police Headquarters where they were interrogated for four hours. Another man, Elias Ayakeding, was also arrested the same day, due to his involvement with KIP.
While Flassy, Mehue and Fere were allowed to return home and instructed to report to the police headquarters the next morning, Suebu, Banundi and Ayakeding remained in detention.
The next day, on 15 April, Flassy and Mehue were charged with treason under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. Suebu and Banundi were charged with treason and rebellion under Articles 106 and 108. Ayakeding was charged with treason and incitement under Articles 106 and 160. While Heni Tan Fere was not charged, police stated that she was still under investigation.
On 5 May, KontraS Papua lawyers reported that the five men had been released on bail but remain under city arrest and are obliged to report to the police once a week. While they remain at risk of re-arrest and prosecution, Papuans Behind Bars has removed them from our list of political prisoners. Information received from human rights lawyers from KontraS Papua reported that Jayapura police investigating the case of the five ex-detainees were not able to secure evidence needed to prosecute them under charges of treason. It is unclear if the police will continue to pursue this case, however reports from their lawyers indicate that it seems unlikely that the five ex-detainees will be taken to trial. We will continue to report on this case should any new developments come to light.
Sources
Information from KontraS Papua lawyers, April – October 2015
Updated: 25 January 2016 Pada tanggal 14 April 2015, lima anggota Komisi Independen Papua (KIP), ditangkap beberapa hari seteleah bertemu dengan Mentri Pertahanan Indonesia, Jendral Ryamizard Ryacudu.
Pada tanggal 10 April, sebuah pertemuan diselenggarakan di Kementrian Pertahanan di Jakarta antara Jendral Ryacudu dan empat delegasi dari KIP. KIP menyatakan bahwa mereka bertindak seperti fasilitator untuk gerakan pro-independen Negara Federal Republik Papua Barat (NFRPB). Pertemuan antara mentri dan Dr Don Flassy, Dr Lawrence Mehue, Mas Jhon Ebied Suebu and Onesimus Banundi difasilitasi oleh Heni Tan Fere, anggota staf Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik (Kesbangpol) di Papua. Dilaporkan bahwa biaya perjalanan untuk keempat orang yang menghadiri pertemuan tersebut ditanggung oleh Kementrian Pertahanan. Pertemuan tersebut dilaporkan singkat tapi bersahabat, dengan anggota KIP menyerahkan beberapa surat yang menjelaskan mandat dan tujuan KIP dan NFRPB.
Pada tanggal 14 April, empat anggota KIP kembali ke Jayapura. Sebuah konferensi pers tentang pertemuan dengan Ryacudu diselenggarakan oleh Fere pada hari yang sama. Namun, sebelum konferensi pers sempat bermula, empat anggota KIP dan Fere ditangkap dan dibawa polisi ke Polres Jayapura. Mereka diberitahu polisi bahwa mereka ditangkap karena informasi yang diterima menyebutkan mereka memiliki hubungan dengan MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group – Kelompok Tombak Melanesia). Di hari yang sama, mereka dipindahkan ke Polda Papua di mana mereka diinterogasi selama empat jam. Seorang lainnya, Elias Ayakeding, juga ditangkap pada hari itu karena keterlibatannya dengan KIP.
Sementara Flassy, Mehue dan Fere diizinkan untuk kembali ke rumah dan diperintahkan untuk lapor diri pagi berikutnya, Suebu, Banundi dan Ayakeding masih ditahan.
Hari berikutnya, pada tanggal 15 April, Flassy dan Mehue didakwa makar berdasarkan Pasal 106 KUHP. Suebu dan Banundi didakwa makar dan pemberontakan berdasarkan Pasal 106 dan 108. Ayakeding didakwa dengan makar dan penghasutan berdasarkan Pasal 106 dan 160. Sementara Heni Tan Fere tidak didakwa. Polisi menyatakan bahwa dia masih dalam proses investigasi.
Pada tanggal 5 Mei, pengacara KontraS Papua melaporkan bahwa kelima mereka telah ditangguhkan tapi masih menjadi tahanan kota dan diwajibkan untuk melapor pada polisi sekali seminggu. Mereka masih beresiko ditangkap kembali dan diadili.
Sumber:
Informasi dari Pengacara KontraS Papua, April – Mei 2015
Diperbarui: 26 Juni 2015