Mimika Police Denies Kidnapping Free Papuan Activists After Provoking Posts On Facebook

Illustrations (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Kasat Reskrim Mimika Police AKP Hermanto denied the rumors of social media in Timika that the police had kidnapped Edo alias ED.

"There is information outside that he was kidnapped, it is not true. We came to his house, at that time there were several people in the house. When asked where ED was, his colleagues answered that they were not there. It turned out that ED was hiding in a neighbor's house," said AKP Hermanto. reported by Antara, Friday, February 19.

Edo is an activist of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Timika. On Thursday, February 18, he was detained by the authorities for provoking Papuan youths through posts on Facebook.

Its contents are an invitation not to participate in the registration of the National Police Noken candidate. Edo said he joined the KNPB social media group, an organization that has been known to support the Papua region breaking away from the Republic of Indonesia.

Apparently Edo was not an ordinary person in the KNPB organization. He has held several important positions, among others, Spokesperson for KNPB Timika and Coordinator of KNPB Pioneer Sector and its surroundings.

This is not the only time ED has dealt with the police in Mimika. Previously, he was caught in a treason case and had served a prison sentence in Timika Prison with his colleagues.

For provocation cases on Facebook, the police immediately released the person concerned. Because if it comes to the realm of law, someone must report Edo.

"After being asked for information, we immediately returned to the person concerned. During the examination, he admitted that he made a post on his Facebook page inviting the younger generation of Papua not to register to participate in the selection of Noken Polri candidates," said AKP Hermanto.