Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura city District Police (Polresta) have stated that four of its personnel were injured when a demonstration by students at Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura, Papua, ended in chaos on Thursday May 22.
The students, who were demonstrating at the Uncen Waena campus gates in Heram district, Jayapura city, demanded that the campus reduce single tuition fees or UKT for students from 2023 to 2025.
Jayapura city District Police Chief Senior Commissioner Fredrickus Maclarimboen said that in addition to four police personnel being injured due to stones thrown by the demonstrators, one crowd control (Dalmas) vehicle was torched by demonstrators.
The injured police officers who had to treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Jayapura city were the tactical police unit head Deputy Commissioner Rischard L. Rumboy, Second Deputy Inspector Nursalam, First Police Brigadier Aan Krisanto and First Police Brigadier Dicky.
"One material unit a Dalmas was torched by the masses. In the car, there was one victim and they're being treated by a doctor. The one who was evacuated was still conscious", said Maclarimboen on Thursday.
According to the Jayapura police chief, at that time the demonstrators had been received by the rectorate, represented by the 3rd vice rector. The demonstrators however forcibly closed down campus activities and tried to close the campus gates.
"That's what became a problem the tug-of-war between officers and campus officials and the demonstrators. Finally, things were thrown by the protesters at police officers who were at that time carrying out security", he said.
He said that during the demonstration the police only provided security at the campus gate. Not inside the campus grounds.
However the police chief said that no protesters had been arrested in connection with the demonstration that ended in chaos but that the police will investigate and identify the demonstrators involved in the chaos.
"There was no letter [of notification] that came in to us about this (protest action). However, there has been communication with the campus, and the rector also said that we were needed to help with security. However, the students or demonstrators didn't want that (the security forces to provide security)", he said.
Meanwhile, Uncen student activist Kamus Bayage said the situation at the demonstration began to heat up when security forces knocked over the demonstrators' motorbikes in front of the Uncen student community (Kabesma) building.
He said that a clash between demonstrators and security forces were unavoidable when security forces tried to disperse the crowd. Both parties were involved in pushing and shoving each other and the chaotic fight in front of the Uncen campus gate.
"The TNI/Polri [Indonesian Military/Indonesian Police] then fired teargas at the students and entered the campus grounds. This action triggered resistance from the students, considering that the campus grounds are an academic space, which should be sterile from armed intervention. Due to the chaos, many students were injured by rubber bullets", said Bayage.
According to Bayage, there were dozens or perhaps hundreds of students who were injured, but it has not been recorded yet. Security forces are also suspected of damaging two-wheeled vehicles belonging to students in the yard of the Uncen Student Executive Council (BEM) Secretariat.
"The demonstrators set fire to the car because they did not accept the very anarchic actions by the police, beating them and even (firing) teargas and rubber bullets. The police also vandalised motorbikes belonging to students in the campus and on the road", he said.
Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Director Festus Ngoranmele said that the freedom to demonstrate is guaranteed under Article 28E of the Indonesian Constitution or UUD 1945.
In addition to this, Article 1 paragraph (1) of Law Number 9/1998 asserts that every citizen has the right to express thoughts orally and in writing freely and responsibly in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws and regulations.
"On that basis, the Cenderawasih University students have the right to express their opinions to the campus regarding high tuition fees", said Ngoranmele.
He also strongly condemned the repressive actions by security forces and urged the police to respect the students' constitutional rights to express their aspirations.
"The police's actions actually worsened the situation and hampered efforts at dialogue to find a solution regarding the demand for a reduction in tuition fees. They (the students) only wanted to convey their aspirations peacefully. However, the police's repressive actions show the government's insensitivity to the economic difficulties faced by students", he said.
He said that this incident also a reminder of the importance of constructive dialogue and communication between students and the authorities in resolving problems on campus.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Empat Personel Polresta Jayapura Terluka Saat Demonstrasi Mahasiswa Uncen Berakhir Ricuh".]
