The protest in Jayapura by the Union of Catholic University Students of Indonesia and Catholic Youth organisations was in response to police treatment of Fr John Djonga.

Last month, Fr Djonga led a prayer service at the opening of an office of the Papuan Indigenous Council, from which a banner of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was displayed.

Four days later, Fr Djonga was subjected to an intense grilling by police.

According to police, Fr Djonga was considered a witness to a violation of Indonesia's criminal code pertaining to treason.

Protesters from the Catholic Youth and the Union of Catholic University Students of Indonesia organisations marched several kilometres to the police headquarters to hold their protest.

They called on police to stop harassing Fr Djonga.

The priest said he was told police may call him in for further questioning, but insisted he was unfazed by police scrutiny.

This is not the first time Fr Djonga has faced scrutiny by Indonesia's authorities.

In 2012, he was charged with colluding and supporting pro-independence leaders in hiding in the forests and abroad.

His phone, which contained phone numbers of pro-independence leaders, became evidence.

In his defence, Fr Djonga asked authorities also to reveal a phone list of his containing the numbers of Indonesian police and military officials, and announce the names of all Jakarta officials, including ministers, who had contacted him and communicated with him.

He told investigators at that time that, as a pastor, it was his duty to bridge communication and dialogue with all parties, without resorting to the use of violence.

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has been urged by West Papua Action Auckland to express concern to Indonesian authorities about the intimidation of peaceful human rights activists.

Sources

• Radio New Zealand
• Scoop
• UCA News
• Image: UCA News

Father John Djonga appeared at the police station in Wamena on Feb. 26 after consulting with the bishop. Accompanied by a lawyer, he answered 55 questions from two police officers during the four-hour meeting.

The police summoned Father Djonga on Feb. 19, four days after he led a prayer service to inaugurate the office building of the Papuan Customary Council, where a banner of the separatist United Liberation Movement for West Papua was displayed. However, he refused to appear at that time, telling police to contact his superiors at the diocese instead.

"He had nothing to do with political matters," Bishop Ladjar told ucanews.com Feb. 27.

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The flotilla is sailing from Australia to draw attention to human rights abuses under Indonesian rule and plans to land in the coming weeks in the West Papua town of Merauke.

The four were told by police that they would be charged with treason but were released on condition that they report to Sorong police station twice a week.

The charge carries a long jail term in Indonesia.

One of the arrested, Yohanes Goram, said the group had been treated well during their 24-hour detention.

"I think they treated us kindly because of international attention," he said.

The head of police at Sorong, Harry Goldenhard, confirmed the charges to Guardian Australia and said the four had been arrested after the banned Morning Star flag was raised following the church service.

"We asked that this activity be stopped and requested that those responsible go to the police headquarters, where they would be asked to give an explanation," he said on the phone from Sorong.

"After a 24-hour investigation we determined that the suspects … are subject to articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code on treason."

Source

• theguardian
• Image: Facebook