More mass arrests in Indonesia at West Papua demos

16:01 pm on 5 December 2016

There have been more mass arrests in Indonesia of those participating in rallies for West Papuan self-determination.

Over two hundred people were arrested in Jakarta last week at a rally to mark the anniversary of the first raising of the banned Papuan nationalist symbol, the Morning Star flag.

A public interest lawyer who was present, Veronica Koman, says police subsequently released those arrested, without charge, a few hours later.

But she told Johnny Blades that police didn't cite any particular alleged breach of the law in making the arrests.

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Indonesian police turn water canons on protestors who were mostly university students from Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on December 1, 2016. Photo: Supplied