Jayapura Police Chief: The West Papua National Committee Riding on Demonstration to Disrupt 2024 Regional Elections

PAPUA - Jayapura City Police Chief Senior Commissioner Victor Mackbon stated that the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) was riding on the demonstration and aimed to disrupt the smooth running of the 2024 Pilkada.

The demonstration led by KNPB took place in the lower Abe circle or precisely at the Abepura traffic light on Friday, November 15, and was disbanded because it disturbed public order.

"Since Thursday (November 14), KNPB has been advised not to carry out a long march, but they still did it and because the action had disturbed public order and blocked the road, it was disbanded," said Victor in Jayapura, Friday, November 15, quoted by Antara.

Victor explained that Jayapura City Police personnel had also given a policy for them to convey their aspirations on the spot, but there was no response so the police took steps to disperse the crowd according to procedure.

The crowd carrying the KNPB flag had resisted until one of the Polri members became a victim and is now being treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital, so they asked the coordinator to take responsibility.

"It is true that one of the members became a victim and suffered injuries to the mouth and eyes," he said.

He said the injuries suffered by the members were still being investigated whether they were caused by stone throwing or mob violence, because the disbandment carried out by the members was in accordance with the procedure.

The Jayapura City Police Chief admitted that the demonstrations that were carried out did raise the issue of transmigration but all of them were carried by the KNPB which wanted to separate from the Republic of Indonesia.

"The demonstration was aimed at disrupting the smooth implementation of the regional elections in Jayapura City," he said.

A total of 500 personnel were deployed to secure the demonstration.