It is reported that the Ni Pioneer Morning News reported on the 2nd that four Australian citizens were deported by Indonesia because they participated in protests to support the independence of papua and west Papua, the country's easternmost province.
Tom Baxter, 37, Cheryl Melinda Davidson, 36, Daniel Joy Helier, 31, and Ruth Irene Kobold, 25, participated in protests in West Papua province on Aug. 27 after they were detained by Indonesian security forces. The four also received a 6-month travel ban, during which they will not be able to return to Indonesia.
On August 17, 40 Ethnic Papua students in Surabaya, East Java Province, Indonesia, were arrested on suspicion of insulting the Indonesian flag on Indonesian Independence Day and subsequently released. Since then, there have been weeks of protests in Papua and West Papua provinces.
Indonesian security forces called the arrested students "monkeys" and "dogs." Soon after, live video began circulating, sparking protests that led to the arson of the parliament and other buildings in Manovari, the capital of West Papua province.
Accompanied by Indonesian intelligence, police and immigration officials, the four Australians boarded a flight from Papua to Makassar. From there they will travel to Denpasar, the capital of Bali.
Kun Sudiharto, head of intelligence and enforcement at sorong's local immigration office, said: "We have deported four Australians this morning because they took part in the August 27 protest. ”
"They were holding small 'Morning Star' flags (which were widely used in the Papua independence movement) and riding bicycles with protesters," Said Kun Sudiharto. Kun said one of the Australians spoke Indonesian and officials believed the Australians were well aware they were taking part in the protests.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called on the public to remain calm. Wiranto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, said late Monday that the security situation on the ground was better brought under control as more police arrived in Papua and West Papua.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed they had provided consular assistance to four Australians. Because of the privacy involved, the agency was reluctant to provide more details.
(Editor: WDQ)