JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com — Victor Yeimo, An International Spokesperson of The West Papuan National Committee [KNPB] requested that the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) should not criminalize the KNPB.
Yeimo said, the Polda Papua immediately stop the criminalization towards KNPB because KNPB has confirmed and clarified that Ivan Sambom who was arrested in Iwaka, Mimika, Thursday (9/4), is not a member, advisor or militant of the KNPB in the Mimika Region as alleged by the Polda Papua.
“We urge to immediately bring to justice TNI perpetrators who killed three members of the Police Officers in Mamberamo Raya and two civilians who were shot dead in Kuala Kencana, Mimika because the way of diverting public opinion was prevalent games that did not bring justice to the victims. We conveyed to the public, and families of crime victims of TNI and Polri to continue to demand justice and not just accept “apologies” from theTNI – Polri which are law enforcement officers,” Yeimo firmly to suarapapua.com on Sunday (4/19/2020).
As reported by seputrapapua.com, Papuan Police Chief General Inspector Paulus Waterpauw said Ivan was allegedly involved in providing information and directing the KKB when carrying out attacks at the Freeport Kuala Kencana office.
“This is what I call the directional needle, which includes, directing this group to commit violence in Kuala Kencana,” he said in a press conference in Timika, Thursday (4/16/2020).
However, the KNPB previously had clarified that Ivan Sambon was not a member of the KNPB.
The statement of the Polres Mimika (Local Police) as reported by several members of online media published on April 10, 2020, regarding the arrest of Ivan Sambon who was accused by being a militant member of KNPB.
Edo Dogopia, the spokesperson for the KNPB Timika, expressed a protest in a press release dated April 11, 2020. Written in a press release, “in the media report, The Chief of Polres Mimika AKBP I Gusti Gde Era Adhinata, SIK said that Ivan (IS) was a security employee of PT. Freeport Timika Indonesia and a militant member of KNPB Timika is erroneous and incorrect. Ivan Sambon is not our member!”. The online media reports published by Timika and Jakarta, said Edo, quoted The Kapolres Timika statement that Ivan Sambon was arrested on April 9, 2020, because he was accused of making his house used as a hiding place and shelter for TPNPB-OPM or by ordinary police calling The Armed Criminal Group (KKB).
We have read the statement since April 10, 2020, on which date the media posted the accusation. But we clarify now on April 11, 2020, after making sure that statement told by the Mimika Police Chief. “In the list of our militant members there is no such name as Ivan Sambon,” he explained.
He further explained that “The KNPB militant leader in the Timika region reported that this was not true. The police only invented data without evidence and facts. Regarding the words of the Police Chief, the fact was wrong. From where is the data or source until the Police Chief can claim that he is a KNPB militant member? Because we know who our members are”.
Edo said, a young man with the initial IS who had been arrested by the police was not a member or KNPB sympathizer. “He is purely a civilian,” he asserted.
“We believe that the Mimika Police Chief’s statement published by online media is merely a public deception. This is the state’s effort throughout Mimika Kapolres in developing the propaganda. So, once again we were KNPB deeply regretted that false statement. Because Ivan Sambon is not our member, moreover it is said to be a KNPB militant member. Of course, that is not true. We emphasize police and their staff to stop criminalizing the KNPB organization. We know that this is another indication that is being attempted to trap the Timika KNPB so that the Police Chief can accuse IS of being a KNPB militant member”.
Edo continued, cornering the organization KNPB Timka, it not a new thing. The goal is just to trap us to weaken our civil city movement,” he wrote. He affirmed again, “KNPB is a civilian organization that is not at all possible to intervene in the military work area of TPNPB-OPM. These two differences are expected to not be equated”.
“But if it is related to the TPNPB which the Kapolres calls KKB, then what is clear is military affairs, no longer civil (KNPB)”.
“The Kapolres must show to the public the character of the leader which is trustworthy.
. Don’t make cheap propaganda to scapegoat us the KNPB in the Timika region, “he stressed. The KNPB even suspects that the attempt to criminalize the KNPB as a military organization intends to bring in non-organic military forces to the Land Of Papua, especially Mimika, in excessive numbers. This is also because Tembagapura has been used as a war zone by TPNPB, and by 2020-2021 PT. Freeport’s work contract will be extended.
Announcer: Arnold Belau
Translator: Imelda Kopeuw
