Lukas Enembe Urges Police to Refrain from Arresting Papuans

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe demanded the National Police (Polri) or the National Armed Forces (TNI) to adopt persuasive approach in dealing with protesters.

“Security enforcers, be it TNI or Polri, should avert violence as much as possible and not arrest Papuans holding a protest,” said Lukas through a written statement, Sunday, September 1.

He also appealed to the police to immediately clear up the racism case against Papuan students in their dormitory in Surabaya. Lukas believed the racist acts sparked a string of protest in several regions.

In addition, Lukas called on Papuan people to maintain public order during rallies. “Do not destroy public facilities, governmental offices, and people’s buildings,” the governor asserted. “Every unordinary, harmful form can be legally prosecuted.”

The Democrat politician said that people willing to stage a demonstration should coordinate with the police first. He feared there would be parties infiltrating the peaceful acts.

He further demanded that people outside of Papua to welcome the presence of Papuans in their provinces, because Papuans would certainly welcome them warmly, explained Lukas.

“The indigenous of Papua warmly welcome and treat immigrants with respect and equality,” Lukas Enembe said. “Let us together, with a basis of fondness that settles differences, create changes in Papua for the glory of Papuan in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).”

SYAILENDRA PERSADA