STOP PRESS

URGENT ACTION AND MEDIA ALERT - WEST PAPUA

INDON POLICE ARREST KEY WEST PAPUAN LEADER JACK WANGGAI FOR SUBVERSION FOR ATTEMPTED FLAGRAISING IN MANOKWARI

FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

MARCH 14, 2009 1830 AEST

WEST PAPUA, Thursday March 14 2008: URGENT/ IMMEDIATE ACTION: Information has just been received that Jack Wanggai, West Papua National Authority Co-ordinator Manokwari, and several other West Papuan activists have just been arrested for an attempted raising of the banned Morning Star flag, and are likely to be charged with Subversion.

Large amounts of Police and Armed Military are stationed in riot gear to arrest all participants and the situation is described as tense

This is occurring amidst a climate of intimidation and repression of West Papuan people peacefully expressing their aspirations for political and human rights, which are guaranteed under Indonesian law. A specific example of this is the arrest and imprisonment of 6 peaceful demonstrators who raised the Morning Star flag on 1^st of December 2007 in Timika, who charged with Rebellion and Subversion, which is a charge that remains from the first New Order regime.

Please monitor situation closely by calling the numbers in Manokwari below to ask why West Papuan leaders are being threatened with violence with Suharto era charges. It is important to put pressure on these Military and police figures.

· Police Papua province hp:967 531 014

· Indonesian Criminal Intelligence Unit Manokwari: + (62 986) 211363

· Indonesian TNI Commander of Manokwari regency/DANDIM phone Number: +62 (986) 211703

· Head of Police Manokwari Regency (KAPOLRES) phone No. +62 (986) 211359

· Deputy Police Manokwari Regency level (WAKAPOLRES) phone NO. +62 (986) 211826

· rmh dins kapolres tlp.0986 211355;

· Waka (Deputi Commander) Polres.tlp.0986 211826.

Ongoing information, please contact:

Dr Jacob Rumbiak

Australia, Mobile +61 (0)4313 88 976 or +61 (0)3 9510 2193 Co-ordinator, Foreign Affairs, West Papua National Authority

For contacts in MANOKWARI, please contact Nick Chesterfield on +61 (0) 409 268 978