Jayapura, Jubi – Papua police have arrested seven people accused of treason for wanting to set up an independent Papuan state.
They were arrested at Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency on Tuesday (14/4/2015) at around 06:55 Papua time.
Papua Police Spokesperson Patrige Renwarin identified the suspects by their initials LM, OB, MS, MD, DF, AE, and TF and said they are members of the Papua Independent Committee (KIP).
He said AE claimed to be the police chief of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB).
“This group just arrived from Jakarta on Batik Air and were directly be arrested after getting off the plane with assumption they wanted to build a state. It’s the act of treason and against the State,” Patrige said on Tueday afternoon (14/4/2015).
According to him, they are currently at the Papua Police Office for further question. But until now they have not yet named as suspect. “It’s a follow up of the Papua Police Chief’s instruction said the police must be strict dealing with the organization who threaten the sovereignty of the country,” he said.
The Jayapura Police Chief Senior Commissionaire Sondang Siagian confirmed about the arrest of seven persons in his jurisdiction. He said now they have handed over to the Papua Police for further process. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
