Police Investigate Case of Student Graduation Convoy Using Morning Star Attributes in Central Papua

Police did not detain students in Nabire and Dogiyai who celebrated graduation with Morning Star attributes.

HUMAS POLRES DOGIYAI

Graduation convoy of students wearing Morning Star attributes in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, Wednesday (6/5/2024).

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS – Police responded to a convoy of graduating high school students in several areas in Central Papua, (6/5/2024). Until now the police are still investigating this incident, but have made sure not to detain the students involved.

In Nabire, dozens of students were arrested after traveling in a convoy with motorized vehicles and wearing Morning Star attributes. Meanwhile, dozens of students with morning star attributes from one of the high schools in Dogiyai convoyed to parade the school principal in the busy center of the city.

"There was no detention, only observation. In the incident at Nabire, the students were only questioned and released on Monday night," said the Head of Public Relations at the Papua Regional Police, Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, when contacted in Jayapura, Papua on Wednesday (8/5/2024).

Also read: Eight OPM flag raisers in Jayapura charged with treason

Meanwhile, in a press statement, Tuesday (7/5/2024), Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid revealed that there was an excessive response from the authorities to students in Papua who were celebrating graduation with the Morning Star flag a>.

Usman also said that based on credible information received by Amnesty International Indonesia, the police arrested and beat and even shot students.

HUMAS POLRES DOGIYAI

The police are monitoring the graduation convoy of students wearing the bintang kejora attribute in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, on Wednesday (6/5/2024).

“The authorities arrested four men and two women, accompanied by alleged beatings. "Until now, the identities of the six students have not been identified," he said.

Usman also regrets the repressive action taken solely because of the star symbol. However, the symbol is only part of cultural expression and should not be a reason for authorities to suppress and detain without a fair legal process.

Also read: Bearer of 1,500 Morning Star Flags Silence

Chronology in Nabire

The Chief of Nabire Police, Adjunct Commissioner Wahyudi Satriyo Bintoro, denied that his team committed any acts of violence and detention. He recounted that the chronology of the disbandment started from citizens' reports concerning the convoy's motor vehicles obstructing community activities.

"There are reports that these students disturb traffic order. They also use the star and crescent symbol when convoys in the city center of Nabire. When the police urged them, the students did not comply and even resisted, prompting the police to give a warning by firing blank bullets," he said.

The symbol (morning star) is just a part of cultural expression and should not be a reason for authorities to suppress and detain without fair legal due process.

The students who continue to resist and flee to residential areas. Eventually, according to Wahyudi, a total of 15 students were apprehended by residents who were disturbed by the actions of the students.

ISTIMEWA

Graduation convoy of students wearing Morning Star attributes in Nabire Regency, Central Papua, Wednesday (6/5/2024).

"It was actually to prevent unilateral action from the residents that the police then secured the students and conducted inspections at the Nabire Police Office," added Wahyudi.

The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Nabire Police, Commissioner Bertu Haridyka, also stated that the students were only questioned. However, his team will investigate those who influenced the students to wear attributes associated with the separatist movement.

Also read: Morning Star Attributes Produced by the Suspect Himself

Principal's clarification

Meanwhile, the Dogiayai Police Department conveyed that the school principal who participated in a parade with students in Dogiyai has clarified to the police on Tuesday (7/5/2024). The principal apologized and stated that the action was initiated by the students.

HUMAS POLRES DOGIYAI

The school principal issued a clarification to the Dogiyai Police after participating in a convoy with students wearing kejora star attributes in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, on Wednesday (6/5/2024).

In a photo uploaded on social media, it can be seen that students are wearing uniforms with a motif of a morning star symbol. In addition, they also paraded the school principal, carried on a wooden chair while walking around in the midst of crowds in Dogiyai.

The Head of the Public Relations Section of the Dogiayai District Police, Inspector Two Baba Halmin, stated that during the procession, they only monitored the situation on Monday afternoon.

"We chose to only observe their actions and opted not to disperse them to avoid clashes. So, we only monitored," said Baba.