Four arrested at protest outside Dutch embassy

Four members of a group campaigning for independence for West Papua were arrested during a protest at the Dutch Embassy in Dublin…

Four members of a group campaigning for independence for West Papua were arrested during a protest at the Dutch Embassy in Dublin this afternoon.

They were taken to Donnybrook and Irishtown Garda Stations. All have been released without charge although summonses may be issued later.

The protest was to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the New York Agreement which ceded Dutch control of the former colony to Indonesia.

West Papuans' right to self-determination was stipulated in this accord and a referendum on independence was promised by 1969.

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This never happened and today's protest was against the Dutch Government's refusal to raise this issue with Indonesia, said Mr Mark Doris, spokesman for West Papua Action's Irish branch.

Mr Doris, who was one of those who was arrested, said 100,000 people have died in the region as a result of their struggle for independence.

He said "a small number of people" had attended today's peaceful protest at the Dutch embassy on Merrion Road.

Also arrested were Ms Treena Lenthall; Ms Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington and Mr Ciaron O'Rielly.