Pacific

29 separatists arrested in Papua

14:41 pm on 13 October 2014

There are reports in the West Papuan media that 29 members of the separatist West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, have been arrested by Indonesian government officials.

The group was arrested as Indonesia banned a peaceful protest calling for the release of two French journalist , Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat.

The local reports say the KNPB members are being detained at the Merauke police station.

The French journalists, who were arrested in August, are expected to be told this week whether they will be charged after being initially held for allegedly misusing their tourist visas.