Five police injured in Indonesia's West Papua clash

Five police officers were injured in a clash with the protesters supporting the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) in the town of Manokwari, West Papua, local media reported here on Tuesday. "They (the five police officers) were injured and admitted to a hospital due to rock throwing from the demonstrators," Manokwari police chief Agustinus Supriyanto was quoted by tempo. co as saying. He dismissed the allegation the police fired at the protesters first. The KNPB protester raged after the security forces blocked the protest. "There was no shooting and rumors saying there was a shooting is not true," he said. A reporter from the local media Suara Papua, Oktovianus Pogau, was also injured in the incident. He was punched by the police officer. The incident came as one protester threw a rock towards some people taking pictures from behind the security forces. Unable to tolerate the throwing, the police fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators. The KNPB chairman, Viktor Yeimo, condemned the harsh act of the security forces that arrested the KNPB members. "We cannot tolerate this as we merely lodge our aspiration. I heard two people from our side were shot," he said. "The (local) police chief must be responsible. This is a scenario to weaken our struggle." The National Committee for West Papua is a group of Papuan people campaigning for independence of the West Papua region, one of the Indonesian provinces.