Papuan Students Clash With PGN Ormas In Denpasar

DENPASAR - The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) Bali and the People's Front for West Papua clashed with the Patriot Garuda Nusantara (PGN) organization in Denpasar, Bali.

The clash occurred when AMP Bali and From the People of Indonesia for West Papua held a demonstration. On the way to the action point at the United States Consul General, there were clashes and stone-throwing with PGN organizations.

The clash occurred on Jalan Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar, Bali at around 09.00 WITA.

AMP Bali Action Coordinator, Yesaya, said the action was a peaceful one. But while on the way, the PGN organization came across

"So they blocked this mass organization from the police, they did not secure it, they were allowed to clash with students who were in action," said Isaiah, when contacted, Wednesday, December 1.

"We told the police to secure it because we were still on our way to the point of action. We wanted to proceed peacefully, but the mass organizations continued to block us, but we are upset with the police for letting the mass organizations stop us," he added.

As a result of the clashes a number of people were injured by throwing stones. Some were beaten with wood.

"In the case of AMP, there are 25 people. In the future, our hope is that when it comes to action, we will definitely continue to act, demanding to express our aspirations, but the police must be fair to mediate and provide security for us, which we feel so far is the police side with the mass organizations," he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted separately, the PGN Commander of the Bali Regional Command, Gus Yadi said, their arrival was to prevent a demonstration declaring Papuan independence.

"Because it's not true to say that Papua is independent. But they prepared stones, wood, and the people who gave the speech were not Papuans, they were Javanese from LBH (Legal Aid Institute). So where is the police action now? Papuans were shouting to read petitions and anarchists were carrying stones, throwing stones and beating us all with wood, and there were arrows too," he said.

According to him, PGN members were also injured in the clashes. PGN plans to report to the Bali Police.

Meanwhile, Denpasar Police Chief of Ops Kompol I Made Uder said 80 personnel were deployed.

"They threw stones at each other and we immediately dispersed it, we immediately ordered them to disperse," said Kompol Uder.

The trigger for the clash was mutual ridicule. No one has been arrested as a result of this incident.

"I kept my guard in the middle, I got hit by a rock three times," he said.