Prime Minister Marape: MSG Must Speak Boldly for West Papuan Cultural and Customary Rights

PNG Breaking News 

MEDIA RELEASE- 24TH JUNE 2025

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s support for open and respectful dialogue on West Papua, calling on Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries to continue advocating for cultural rights and human dignity of Melanesians within Indonesia without compromising national sovereignties.  

Speaking at the 23rd MSG Leaders’ Summit in Suva, Prime Minister Marape said MSG has a responsibility to protect kinship, identity, and customary rights of all Melanesians, including those living within sovereign states such as Indonesia.   

    “Sovereignty is a construct and we respect it. But our people’s land rights, cultural identity, and Melanesian heritage do not vanish across borders,” PM Marape said. “MSG must continue to advocate for the people of West Papua in a way that upholds dignity, while maintaining diplomatic respect for Indonesia.”

Prime Minister Marape welcomed the continued presence of Indonesia at the MSG dialogue table, noting that engagement itself is a sign of goodwill and maturity on all sides. He reaffirmed that PNG’s position is not about interfering in domestic matters, but about encouraging solutions that honour traditional land ownership and human rights within sovereign structures.

    “These are not confrontational discussions. They are cultural and humanitarian discussions, grounded in our shared Melanesian identity,” he said.

MSG Leaders have agreed to send a joint letter to the Government of Indonesia, expressing their collective position on West Papuan identity, customary land rights, and cultural autonomy.

Prime Minister Marape also pointed to the growing bilateral cooperation between PNG and Indonesia, including improved border access for trade, travel, and communication, and encouraged MSG countries to utilise PNG as a bridge for constructive engagement with Jakarta.

    “We have opened up the northern and southern border corridors with Indonesia. Our MSG brothers and sisters are welcome to use PNG as a channel for respectful engagement with Indonesia.”

He commended MSG Chair, Fijian Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, for enabling these difficult yet vital conversations.

    “This is the kind of mature and measured leadership that keeps MSG relevant, respectful, and rooted in our Melanesian values.”

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@highlight

Renewed calls for UN visit to West Papua after torture video surfaces online

A West Papua freedom movement leader is renewing calls for a UN human rights visit to Papua after new videos of Indonesian soldiers torturing a West Papuan man emerged online.

In the video viewed by RNZ Pacific, a group of men wearing Indonesian military uniforms take turns kicking, punching and slicing an indigenous Papuan man.

He was in an open 44-gallon drum filled with water with his hands tied behind his back.

The president of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, said he is truly horrified by the video that he says has emerged from the Yahukimo regency in Highland Papua.

He said the men can be heard saying in Indonesian "my turn, my turn" and comparing their captive's flesh to that of an animal.

RNZ Pacific has contacted the Indonesian government for comment.

In 2018, Indonesia's then president Joko Widodo extended an invitation to the UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit Papua but it has so far not eventuated.

Wenda is calling on the international community to pressure Indonesia into facilitating the visit.

In Dialogue with Indonesia, Experts of the Human Rights Committee Commend Measures Promoting Women’s Political Participation, Raise Questions on Air and Water Pollution, and on Excessive Use of Force against Indigenous Papuans

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In Dialogue with Indonesia, Experts of the Human Rights Committee Commend Measures Promoting Women’s Political Participation, Raise Questions on Air and Water Pollution, and on Excessive Use of Force against Indigenous Papuans

12 March 2024

High Commissioner’s global update of human rights concerns

PRESS RELEASES

SUBCOMMISSION ON PROMOTION AND

PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONTINUES REVIEW OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSES AROUND THE WORLD

PRESS RELEASES

WORKING GROUP ON ENFORCED OR INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES

CONCLUDES SIXTY-NINTH SESSION

The Human Rights Committee today concluded its consideration of the second periodic report of Indonesia on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with Committee Experts commending measures promoting women’s political participation, and raising questions on air and water pollution, and on extrajudicial killings of and excessive use of force against indigenous Papuans.

A Committee Expert noted that the State party had continued to adopt measures for women. The recent elections showed progress in efforts to promote the representation of women in political life. What temporary special measures had been implemented to strengthen women’s participation in political, economic, social and cultural life?

Another Expert said Indonesia was one of the world’s top 10 polluters. There were high levels of air pollution in Indonesia. What initiatives were being taken to reduce air pollution and its consequences? The Committee was also concerned about mining activities leading to water pollution. Reportedly, more than half of Indonesia’s rivers were polluted. How was the State party addressing this?

Several Experts expressed concern about numerous reports of extrajudicial killings of and excessive use of force against indigenous Papuans. Why had the State party not conducted public investigations into the killings, or released the findings of internal investigations?

Tri Tharyat, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Indonesia and head of the delegation, said Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, had recently conducted a free and fair general election. There had been a sharp increase in elected women parliamentarians, from 8.8 per cent in 1999 to 37.07 per cent in 2024. The delegation added that there had been an increase in Indonesia’s gender empowerment index over the reporting period. Until 2024, the Government had implemented the gender development plan, promoting women’s increased participation in private companies.

Indonesia prioritised sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, the delegation said. The State party had published a long-term strategy for climate resilience and was implementing policies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. The Government was promoting the right to safe drinking water, investing in the development of drinking water facilities and water quality monitoring mechanisms across the State. There were also policies in place to improve air quality in the greater Jakarta area, including planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide and imposing administrative sanctions on polluters.

The delegation said the Government worked to hold all officials accountable for human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings. The Government’s accountability mechanism had recently investigated an incident involving deaths in Papua in 2022. All six soldiers involved in this incident had been convicted of premeditated murder and charged in civilian courts. All ministries were obliged to convey information publicly, except for dossiers on cases of gross human rights violations.

In concluding remarks, Dhahana Putra, Deputy Minister for Human Rights, Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia, said engagement with the Committee was pivotal for identifying areas of improvement and means of addressing challenges. The State party would consider the Committee’s recommendations in formulating its next national action plan on human rights. Indonesia was committed to enhancing the protection of human rights domestically.

Tania María Abdo Rocholl, Committee Chairperson, in concluding remarks, expressed appreciation for the professionalism and dedication of the Indonesian delegation. Concerns had been raised regarding the independence of the judiciary; abortion rights; the death penalty; the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees; prohibition of torture; freedom of religious belief; the right to peaceful assembly; and the rights of children and indigenous peoples, among others. The Committee was determined to ensure the highest possible level of implementation of the Covenant in Indonesia

The delegation of Indonesia was made up of representatives of the Office of the Vice President; Executive Office of the President; National Police of Indonesia; Ministry of Communication and Informatics; Ministry of Law and Human Rights; Cabinet Secretariat; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and fortieth session is being held from 4 to 28 March 2024. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to begin its consideration of the eighth periodic report of the United Kingdom (CCPR/C/GBR/8).

Read full Story here

Para Aktivis Meminta Pemerintah Selandia Baru untuk Berbuat Lebih Banyak untuk Papua Barat

Pada tanggal 2 Desember 2023

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503741/activists-call-on-nz-govt-to-do-more-for-west-papua

Pemerintah Selandia Baru harus menghadapi Indonesia atas dugaan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua Barat, kata aktivis hak asasi manusia dan aktivis kemerdekaan Papua Barat di Aotearoa.

Dewan Hak Asasi Manusia PBB melaporkan situasi hak asasi manusia di Papua Barat memburuk, mengutip laporan penyiksaan dan pengungsian massal.

“Kami tahu kekerasan yang dialami rakyat West Papua semakin memburuk,” kata juru bicara Partai Hijau Golriz Ghahraman pada upacara pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora di Auckland pada hari Jumat.

“Sudah jelas bahwa pemerintah Selandia Baru telah memprioritaskan hubungannya dengan negara yang lebih besar, Indonesia, di atas hak dan keselamatan warga West Papua… ini memalukan.

“Saya ingin melihat pemerintah kita mengatakan… akan melakukan divestasi dari pembelian barang dan kayu jika barang tersebut berasal dari Papua Barat, dan menggunakan semua forum internasional, baik di PBB atau dalam pembicaraan perdagangan langsung dengan Indonesia untuk mengangkat isu ini. hak-hak rakyat West Papua dan mendorong dekolonisasi."

Tanggal 1 Desember menandai hari bendera Bintang Kejora – bendera kemerdekaan Papua Barat – pertama kali dikibarkan pada tahun 1961 oleh para pemimpin asli Papua Barat. Upacara pengibaran bendera diadakan oleh aktivis di seluruh dunia untuk menandai acara tersebut.

Wilayah ini merupakan wilayah jajahan Indonesia sebelum jatuh ke tangan pemerintahan Indonesia pada tahun 1963. Sejak saat itu, gerakan kemerdekaan mengalami penindasan yang hebat dengan banyaknya laporan mengenai pembunuhan, intimidasi, dan penyiksaan.

“Selandia Baru tidak pernah mengambil sikap tegas terhadap penentuan nasib sendiri rakyat West Papua sejak Indonesia mengambil alih kekuasaan,” kata aktivis pro-kemerdekaan terkemuka Maire Leadbeater pada acara pengibaran bendera.

“Kami tidak akan pernah membiarkan pemerintah kami lupa bahwa mereka telah mengambil jalan yang salah sehubungan dengan Papua Barat.”

Di Indonesia, pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora dilarang kecuali jika dikibarkan berdampingan dengan Bendera Indonesia dan pada ketinggian yang lebih rendah. Pada bulan September tahun lalu , tujuh orang ditangkap dan dipenjarakan di Papua Barat karena mengibarkan bendera.

“Rakyat Papua Barat yang mengekspresikan segala bentuk kemerdekaan atau penentuan nasib sendiri merupakan tindakan kriminal,” kata Ghahraman.

“Acara seperti ini penting untuk meningkatkan kesadaran akan situasi di Papua Barat… yang kami sampaikan adalah kami melihat Anda dan kami tahu hak-hak Anda dilanggar dengan kekerasan.

“Kami terus berbicara tentang Tiongkok, kami terus berbicara tentang Amerika Serikat dan bagaimana kami dapat mendukung sekutu negara adidaya kami, padahal sebenarnya hal tersebut adalah tentang meningkatkan suara masyarakat Pasifik seperti orang Papua Barat.”

Konflik bersenjata antara separatis Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPNPB) dan militer Indonesia baru-baru ini meningkat setelah penculikan pilot Selandia Baru Phillip Mehrtens pada bulan Februari tahun ini . Laporan dan rekaman pertempuran dirilis oleh kedua belah pihak.

____

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503741/activists-call-on-nz-govt-to-do-more-for-west-papua

Prime Minister, James Marape has taken the opportunity to clarify recent reports

Prime Minister, James Marape has taken the opportunity to clarify recent reports concerning his meeting with Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in Jakarta regarding the West Papua issue.

 In an effort to rectify any misinformation and alleviate concerns raised within Melanesian Solidarity Group (MSG) countries, West Papua, Indonesia, and the international community, Prime Minister Marape issued a statement addressing the inaccuracies.

"An earlier statement released without consent wrongfully said that at the recently-concluded MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu, I informed leaders of PNG’s abstaining from supporting the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) bid for full membership, plus a notation that human rights issues in West Papua are of no concern to PNG. I wish to clarify these misconstrued assertions.”

Prime Minister Marape corrects that , "Papua New Guinea never abstained from West Papua matters at the MSG meeting, but rather, offered solutions that affirmed Indonesian sovereignty over her territories and at the same time supported the collective MSG position to back the Pacific Islands Forum Resolution of 2019 on United Nations to assess if there are human right abuses in West Papua and Papua provinces of Indonesia.”

Regarding his meeting with President Widodo, Prime Minister Marape highlighted: "In the meeting with President Widodo, we stressed our respect for Indonesian sovereignty and their territorial rights, but on matters of human rights, I pointed out the collective Melanesian and Pacific resolutions for the United Nations to be allowed to ascertain these allegations. I also relayed the message that four leaders of Melanesian countries resolved to visit him at his convenience to discuss this matter on Human rights”. 

He further revealed, "President Widodo responded that the MSG leaders are welcome to meet him and invited them to an October meeting subject on  the availability of all leaders. He assured me that all is okay in the two Papuan provinces and invited other PNG  leaders to visit these provinces.”

 Prime Minister Marape indicated that at a senior leadership level,  led by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso, “PNG leaders can visit West Papua and look into these matters and see firsthand what is happening so we ascertain facts on matters in respect to human rights”.

“When matters concerning ULMWP’s application for membership was raised, I indicated that the presence of Indonesia on MSG as an Associate Member and ULMWP as observer is sufficient for the moment. MSG has placed a moratorium on new membership until the criteria for membership is reviewed,” Prime Minister Marape said.

“This clarification aims to clear misconceptions and apprehensions that may have been caused by an earlier misquoted press release that is doing the rounds.”

Indonesia - Democracy Back On Slippery Slope

Read.Here:https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2023/05/22/25-years-of-reforms-indonesias-democracy-back-on-slippery-slope.html

Twenty-five years since the start of the Reform era, which had carried the hopes for democracy and stronger civil rights, the nation finds itself in a familiar position, with renewed efforts to bring back what observers fear to be the hallmarks of the autocratic New Order regime.

The potential return of the military in civilian life and no commitment to resolve past abuses, paint a grim picture of democratic backsliding.

Read. Here:https://asianews.network/after-25-years-of-reform-indonesias-democracy-back-on-slippery-slope/

The US led the free world to rally behind Indonesia in 1960s.  After the fall of Soeharto in 1999, there was much optimism.

The success of Jokowi as the first non - military candidate who put away military icon Prawobo convincingly in the presidential race to become two - term president of Indonesia did not translate the options on the table to build democracy.

 Away, from Oligarchy.

Indonesia.

It is heading back into the past. Stormy. The West, free world, had expectations, now unfinished assignment.

Oligarchy. Military.The uncertainty of tomorrow.

Archipelagic state of Republic of Indonesia? Or, 'balkanization' of the Indonesian archipelago. The time capsule. A worse - case scenario is likely based on data available. Perhaps.There are rumblings of discontent.

Read. Here:https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/indonesia/stories/balkan060498.htm

Vanuatu’s submission on the Impact of miliratism on Indigenous land of West Papua to the EMRIP and Periodic Review on Indonesia

Vanuatu’s submission on the Impact of miliratism on Indigenous land of West Papua to the EMRIP and Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report)

MILITARISATION OF INDIGENOUS LAND OF WEST PAPUA.

Vanuatu Free West Papua Association is forwarding this Petition to the UN Experts Mechanisms on the Right of Indigenous Peoples and the Universal Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report)

We have received reports from Indonesia Amnesty International and Transparency International that the human rights situation caused by the presence of Indonesian Military in West Papua is becoming worst. The situation currently is that:

• The Indonesian Government has banned internet access for Indigenous West Papuans.

• from the ground it is difficult to gather information due to reporting restrictions, placed on International journalists in the region 

• The increased Indonesian military deployment in West Papua since 2018 has resulted in around 2,000 casualties, displacement of around 50,000 civilians and 5,000 fled to seek asylum in PNG.

Indonesian Military to West Papua has also contribute as a resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and what has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.

The Indigenous Melanesian People of the West Papua Province of Indonesia are regarded as minority ethnic group that needs to be free from genocides and inhuman treatments.

We reaffirm the Principles of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS that recognizes ‘the inherent dignity of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world’.

The Indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua are also part of that foundation of freedom, justice and peace of the Melanesian Archipelago. They are the Melanesian Indigenous minority under Indonesia regime, who have a right to freedom and self-determination as declared by the UN Resolution 15, 14 on decolonization.

We strongly affirmed that any development in the indigenous land of West Papua should apply the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent of indigenous West Papuan as enshrines the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SOLITARITY WE THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENTIRE INDIGENOUS MELANSIAN PEOPLE:

We appeal to the International Community to:

1 Facilitate an urgent UN Human Rights fact findings mission to West Papua.

2 Send International journalist to West Papua to report on the current issues affecting the indigenous population.  

3 Mediate a peaceful transition for a free West Papua and

4 Up hold the principle of UN resolution 15,14 of 2000 to yearning West Papua to its freedom, and,

5 FINALLY, WE CALL UPON Indonesia to withdraw its administrative and military power from West Papua.

Dated 26th January 2022 in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Subject: West Papua: EMRIP and UPR Reports

Dear Leaders, 

Trust this year has begun well for all of us, wherever we are, while our thoughts and prayer goes out to families qnd loved ones affected by the pandemic the region, military operations in the central highlands of Papua and volcanic eruption in the Kingdom of Tonga.

This is a short notice but an important one, on submission of human rights reports on West Papua to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and the Universal Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report).

The EMRIP contribution reports are on the theme "The militarization of indigenous land: a human rights focus." The Expert Mechanism hereby requests contributions from Indigenous Peoples, States, National Human Rights Institutions, academics and other stakeholders for this report. 

Submissions should be sent by e-mail to ohchr-expertmechanism@un.org no later than 31 January 2022. A draft report will be introduced by the Expert Mechanism at its annual session to take place from 11 to 15 July 2022, after which it will be finalised and presented to the Human Rights Council at its 51st session in September 2022. Submissions are until 31 January 2022, and no longer than 5 pages. 

Meanwhile, the shadow reports for the Indonesia UPR is to be submitted on March 31.

With this, I would like to ask if any of our solidarity partners would collaborate with, or independently make submission to cover issues on impact of militarism on the internal displacement, the environment, on health, and women and children, and other sectors, while restating the recommendation for an OHCHR visit to West Papua, or an independent HR investigation in West Papua. 

Let me know if you are interested and what you think on how we could go about this. 

Warm regards,

K.r

The genocide in West Papua…..

The genocide in West Papua…..much is now known, if not earlier. The question now is if human suffering could be alleviated through a greater effort by the international community. Papua New Guinea, being close cousin to West Papua alone could have prevented such horrors, and probably does not make a convincing case that even a modest effort would have had significant impact. Prime Minister, Peter Oneill, after 60 years of genocide in West Papua did it.

We are all Papuans, and tribal Melanesians. The Pacific Region remains mute, led by Australia, which has blood on its hands. Based on declassified information, private papers, and interviews, other citizenship media coverage everyday on the Papua Conflict, a lack of political will cannot be an excuse, and failure to intervene is like shaking the hands of the devil..and welcoming a problem from hell itself. West Papua is not a problem from hell...Indonesia is. Indonesia, somehow must be stopped. These two tribal Melanesians shown in the photo, depict what it means to means to be Melanesian, during a recent independence rally in Abepura, West Papua.

They will need a helping hand...from fellow 'as tangets' in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Region, and humanity. Free West Papua. Now.

The human rights abuses occuring in West Papua come complete with reports pouring in today on the situation. We see the drama which offers an uncompromising and disturbing examination of 21st century acts of genocide, but to date the international community , probably led by the U.S, has failed to cause the needed responses to them. Read on: http://westpapuamedia.info/.../commonwealth-attorney.../

In the course of human history, we can revisit the Turkish genocide directed at Armenians in 1915-1916, the Holocaust, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge, Iraqi attacks on Kurdish populations, Rwanda, and Bosnian "ethnic cleansing," and in doing so, argue that U.S. intervention has been shamefully inadequate. West Papua has reached that point, and burns in the vortex of an armed conflict. Read the latest reports on the drama in Jayapura, Manokwari, and elsewhere.Jayapura:http://westpapuamedia.info/.../Manokwari...//t.co/uXaTcCMC. Other reports:http://t.co/di9mdHz6

What is the unwritten rule that nonaction is better than action with any backlash for countries friendly to West Papua and its tribal Melanesians; We are talking about the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s and the Pacific Island Forums’s unwillingness to see a moral imperative. I see a moral imperative, and it is time now to act for West Papua. Melanesia and the Pacific Region are challenged, now more than before, to reevaluate the principles being applied to foreign policy choices. In the face of firsthand accounts of genocide, we cannot repeatedly just look on and refuse to accept the reality of genocidal campaigns carried out by Indonesia in West Papua. Australia, especially, knows full well the story of genocide occurring on its doorstep. Read on:http://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=johnrumbiak.... And, the idea that Indonesia can continue to keep West Papua in the dark, with able assistance and support from Australia is a joke. It only drives the lush of freedom for West Papua to greater heights, but with the costs defined clearly in human lives decimated up till today. On this account, Australia has blood on its hands Read on:http://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=johnrumbiak... 

The emotional force of all discourses on the human rights crisis in West Papua, and the arguments for Indonesia to come clean before the international community, is carried by citizenship media or undercover jounalists with moving, sometimes almost unbearable stories of the victims and survivors of such brutality. It could be argued that West Papua and its people deserve a West Papua Declaration in order to fight against genocide in Melanesia, and the Pacific Region. There has been progress, with Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu already mounting strategies diplomatically to address the Papua Conflict. We need more effort. This will be in keeping with the prominent work by, among those who made a difference, Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew who invented the word genocide and who lobbied the U.N. to make genocide the subject of an international treaty, and Senator William Proxmire, who for 19 years spoke every day on the floor of the U.S. Senate to urge the U.S. to ratify the U.N. treaty inspired by Lemkin's work. Indonesia, somehow must be stopped. Something can be done to help the situation, led by the U.S.Read on:http://www.google.co.id/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=octovianusmote... 

Another innocent priest murdered by Indonesian forces and occupiers

BREAKING NEWS from Timika, West Papua. Another priest shot dead by colonial Indonesian military. There are 1000's of fully armed Indonesian soldiers in West Papua trying to force West Papuan people to accept Indonesian rule. JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com - It was reported that Rupinus Tigau, a Catholic priest of Jalae station, Sugapa Parish, Timika Diocese, Papua was shot dead by TNI today, Monday, October 26, 2020 in Jalae village, Sugapa district, Intan Jaya, Papua. It was also reported that a young man from Jalae village was shot and was evacuated to Sugapa Hospital. Two people were shot by TNI members while carrying out a sweep in Jalae village. The sweeping was carried out in the morning. In addition, in carrying out sweeping and attacking TPNPB members, an information source reported that civilians fled to the forest. It was also reported that a house was burned by a member of the TNI.

Reporter: Arnold Belau https://suarapapua.com/2020/10/26/breaking-news-dilaporkan-seorang-katekis-katolik-ditembak-mati-tni-di-jalae/ People of West Papua refuse Indonesian colonialism and demand peaceful REFERENDUM on independence. We need international intervention in West Papua. Indonesia killing us for 58 years.

WPCC: Together Fighting for the 'Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua

 WEST PAPUAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WPCC)

(Together Fighting for the 'Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua’)

OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police: "Papuan people are not enemies of the Republic of Indonesia, Stop the REMILITERIZATION of the Land of Papua and follow up on the President's promise to meet with Papuan Pro-Referendum groups"

His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step (Job 34:21)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews:4:13)

[caption id="attachment_3723" align="alignleft" width="660"] OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police[/caption]

Shalom!

This open letter is addressed to the President in response to:
(a) Papuan Mourning which has gone viral on YouTube since the end of September 2020
(b) The Papuan People's Petition rejecting the Special Autonomy extension launched on 4 July 2020
(c) The violent and repressive response to peaceful protests against Special Autonomy. On Monday, September 28, 2020, students were shot at on the UNCEN Jayapura campus by the Army and Police. This sent a message that "Papua, by rejecting the extension of Special Autonomy is the enemy of the Republic of Indonesia".
(d) Remilitarization of Papua Land as a strategy of the Indonesian government in order to: 1. continue Special Autonomy unilaterally; 2. Return the Land of Papua to the status of a Military Operations Area (DOM) through the construction of new Military District
Commands (KODIM) & Military Area Commands (KOREM) since 2019 and sending additional troops to West Papua which began in August 29, 2019 and still continues; 3. In order to take control the natural resources of the Land of Papua at a large scale.
In our opinion, this letter does not come out of empty space or does not fall from the sky, but it comes out from the centre of Papuan dynamics. Therefore, through this letter, we ask the President as the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police, and the President of the member countries of the UN Human Rights Council, that he:
(a) terminate the status of Military Operations Area or 'Remilitarization' of the Land of Papua. Because this will continue to demonstrate the strength of the State's military without giving space for democracy and freedom of expression and assembly to Papuans.
(b) Through this letter, we also remind the President to follow up on your promise on September 30, 2019 to meet the “Papua Pro-Referendum group”.
This letter is conveyed by us from our position as Churches and Papuan Society that have been part of the modern Indonesian society since 1 May 1963.

1. Position and Identity of the Church & Papuan Society in modern Indonesian society since 1963

A Church document entitled: ‘Joint Statement’ which was signed by the leadership of the Protestant & Catholic Church of West Irian on March 9, 1964, states that the government established the position of the people of West Irian (Papua) and the Church as 'the other party', 'the other' to the government and the people of Indonesia. The government had the right and obligation to secure, manage and or control the people of West Irian according to their taste.

In the 'Joint Statement’ document, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia (9 March, 1964) positioned the people of West Irian as the 'target' of the Indonesian development model in West Irian (West Papua) which was aimed to equalize the people of West Irian so that they can be equal to other tribes in Indonesia, while the Indonesian government appointed itself as the 'representative of God' by quoting the Holy Scriptures, Romans 13: 1-3. The parties who invited our Church to sign the "Joint Statement" were: DGI (current PGI), the Indonesian Church Trustees Council (KWI now), in collaboration with the Secretariat for West Irian Affairs at that time.

Did the leaders of the West Irian Church at that time compile the "Joint Statement" or was it prepared by the inviting party? This is not clear. But the Joint Statement established the position of Papua in 'modern Indonesian society' ever since.

In the framework of 'equalizing' the people of West Irian (Tanah Papua), on May 2nd and 3rd, 1963, after UNTEA handed over government administration to the Government of Indonesia, the government collected books and magazines, pamphlets about history, ethnography, law, and other printed materials about Papua. They then burned them, while giving speeches and singing Indonesian national songs. There was a concern that the thoughts in these prints would hinder the Indonesian elite from imposing the “new imagined identity” of the Indonesian regime into the minds of the people of West Irian at that time.

The action of burning the books was continued by visiting and taking furniture and other items belonging to the people of West Irian at that time, in front of their families, and then also robbing goods from homes and shops that were left by Dutch citizens and the Dutch Government Office which had been vacated. They then loaded it all on trucks and brought them to the port to be sent their home villages outside Irian/Papua.

The above shows how the Indonesian nation positions the Papuan people as a nation without identity, without history and culture, a stupid, primitive, monkey nation, separatist, GPK, GPL, KKB, KKSB, spectator nation, while the Indonesian elite transported all the proceeds of wealth to outside Papua in the name of development.

This also serves as a framework for labelling all the Churches, NGOs, and civil society organizations that disagree with the regime as supporters of Armed Groups and who should be suspected. In fact, our people have been dying in our rich land due to malnutrition, poor health, poverty and very low education through kindergarten, elementary and high school (see the root of the Papuan conflict according to LIPI, including: Racial Discrimination) therefore the government has failed to develop the welfare of the Papuan people.

After positioning us in this way, the Indonesian government turned a blind eye to the four sources of the Papuan conflict mentioned by LIPI (see LIPI research, 2003) which consisted of: 1). Racial discrimination and marginalization 2) which caused Indonesia to fail to develop Papua in terms of: economy, education and health for the Papuan people; 3) differences in views between Papuans and Indonesians regarding Indonesia's steps to occupy Papua, and 4) Impunity of the Army and Police which allows human rights violations to continue to occur in Papua.

In conclusion, since May 1, 1963, we Papuans have experienced an 'apartheid ideology’ by the majority of Indonesia, in contrast to the majority blacks of South Africa who were under apartheid from the white minority'. So therefore, this Open Letter and the previous statement from the Papuan Pastors, takes the same tone as Desmond Tutu's voice in the apartheid era in South Africa which was described as Crying in the Wilderness1. With our position like this, it is only natural that Special Autonomy would fail; because with this apartheid system, the government and modern Indonesian society have turned a blind eye to the 4 sources of the Papuan conflict raised by LIPI.

2. The Land of Papua Remilitarization Program during the Special Autonomy Period

From the position described above, today we are following the developments leading to the program to return the Land of Papua to the status of a 'Military Operation Area' (DOM), including:
(a) All peaceful actions to protest racism in the Land of Papua (since 16 August 2019 at the Surabaya Dormitory) have been subject to treason charges.
(b) The peaceful actions against Special Autonomy have recently been faced with repression, for example, the action in Timika (23 September 2020), the Nabire action (24 September 2020), and the UNCEN student action (28 September 2020).
(c) The government has unilaterally provoked the people by announcing that Special Autonomy will be extended. Consider Mahfud MD's statement as Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs: Papua's Special Autonomy remains in effect - Extended Fund (CNN Indonesia 11 September 2020), Komarudin Watubun, 'Not the ending of Otsus, the Special Autonomy Fund' (Cenderawasih Pos, Saturday, 8 February 2020).
(d) The government is aggressively building KODAM, KOREM, KODIM, Battalions, Yonif Units and Combat Assistance throughout Papua. Specifically, regarding KODIM, before Special Autonomy there were 9 KODIMs and during Special Autonomy it had increased by 8 to become 17 current KODIMs (see Appendix I). In addition, there are also additional units of the Indonesian Navy and Air Force (see Appendix I). Additions also occurred in the Police Institutions by building local, regional and area Police Stations (POLDA, POLRES and POLSEK) as well as the addition of the Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB) in West Papua.
(e) The dropping of Army and Police troops from outside West Papua has been carried out continuously from August 2019 until today.
(f) As a result of the intensification of military operations by the Army and Police in West Papua: hundreds of residents of Nduga, in the PT Freeport area have fled to the city of Timika since December 2019; Military forces that have been dropped since December 2018 have killed 243 civilian victims; In Intan Jaya since December 2019, it is not known how many tens or hundreds of residents have fled; the army shot dead Pastor Yeremias Zanambani on Saturday, September 19, 2020. Many residents have left their villages and places of worship to save their lives. A number of church buildings are now being used as security posts. Military operations in these villages also forced and pressured the community to accept the government program to extend Special Autonomy for the next 20 years until 2041.
(g) Recent security operations in various areas in West Papua have not been carried out independently, but we suspect that they are in order to support the hidden agenda of seizing land and customary forests (natural resources) belonging to the Papuan people by investors. This situation can be seen from the cries of the indigenous
Papuan people in Merauke (Malind, Muyu-Mandobo, Yakai), in Nduga, Timika, who have experienced repeated violence by the authorities after demanding their customary rights to land and forests that were confiscated for planting oil palm and other industrial plantations. Since 2018 the Papuan Indigenous Peoples in Tambrauw Regency have made demands against oil palm companies and the establishment of new military units in Tambrauw; Indigenous Papuans in Intan Jaya have just stated that they refuse enter to a subsidiary of PT ANTAM which intends to control a gold mining block in the region amidst the ongoing military operations which have resulted in the death and displacement of Intan Jaya residents (about 8 congregations have vacated their hometowns).
(h) Although the Indonesian government has become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it does not recognize the human rights and freedoms of the Papuan people. At the same time, the Government of Indonesia (1) Supported a referendum for Palestine (in a speech at the General Assembly yesterday), (2) supported the Freedom of the Rohingya from Myanmar. (3) Promoted peaceful dialogue between the Islamic hardliners of Afghanistan and the Afghan government.

The institutions that cover the 'remilitarization agenda' for the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia are the top officials of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian National Police), who were mentioned in a discussion in Jakarta at the end of 2019. It was said that during the Soeharto era, the President prioritised the role of the Army in government. During Jokowi's time, he has prioritized the Indonesian National Police, so Jokowi entrusted important positions in the civilian government to the Police elite. The implications for Papua are: The Trio of the Republic of Indonesia who manage the remilitarisation process on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia, since racism protests 29 August 2019. Who are they?
(a) Budy Gunawan as the Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN)
(b) Tito Karnavian, Ex Head of National Police who is now the Minister of the Interior.
(c) Paulus Waterpauw as the Field Guard in Papua

What unites this Trio of Police: The spirit of maintaining the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Their work was very visible when in 2017, when the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe was about to run as a candidate for a second term as Governor, the three Police officials contacted Enembe at midnight, asking Enembe to accept Paulus Waterpauw (at that time Head of Police in North Sumatra), to serve as candidate for Deputy Governor. They said due to the fact that Enembe's ‘Indonesian DNA’ was very low, he needed a companion with high Indonesian DNA. But Enembe refused. But the suspicion regarding the Indonesian DNA of Enembe was still visible when the racism protests broke out on 29 August 2019 in Jakarta: ULMWP was accused of being the actor behind the racism riots on 29 August. In Papua, there are Tabi elites who are members of the MRP (Papua Customary Council), Chairman of the City Council and the Regent of Jayapura Regency:
participated in accusing certain ethnic groups of being the provocateurs of the racism riots 29 August 2019; while promoting “the Tabi people as peace lovers” (Morning News RRI Nusantara 5 Jayapura, 30 August 2019).

The trio also arranged for 61 Papuan figures led by the chairman of the Jayapura City Council and a former church official to meet with President Jokowi to ask for the expansion of Tabi Province, which has a capital in Keerom Regency. After the racism riots, Paulus Waterpauw was re-appointed as Head of Police; the old Head of Police who had only been on duty for a few months was removed. Tito Karnavian, the Minister of Home Affairs, proposed to split Papua Province into 5 provinces on the recommendation of the Head of BIN Budi Gunawan. Waterpauw as Head of Police was assigned to secure this program for the sake of Indonesia. This trio is overseeing the program of injecting ' the love of the Republic of Indonesia' into the minds of Papuans by returning Papua to the status of a Military Operation Area (DOM) or a remilitarization of Papua; There is one goal, the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, to the death.

3. Church Proposal: "The Politics of God" Facing the End of Special Autonomy

Faced with this reality, we ask for the attention of the President as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI), as well as the President of member countries of the UN Human Rights Council to resolve the issue of Papua peacefully through negotiations which in theology is called, 'The Politics of God' which states that God is very present in this world to bring peace. Negotiations are in the framework of safeguarding human rights and dignity. God asks the parties to protect and enforce the Right to Life. Therefore, facing the conditions of the West Papua in these days, we, the Church, propose the following:
(a) A Peaceful Approach to the Papuan Conflict which has been ongoing for more than 60 years. This was recently voiced by Pdt. Andrikus Mofu, Chair of the GKI Synod in Papua Land on September 19, 2020 (Suara Papua(dot)com, September 27, 2020).
(b) In the same spirit, the Papuan Church Council has recommended the way for the Peace Negotiations, through the Pastoral Letter of August 26 2019, which urges the Indonesian Government to show justice to the Papuan people with the solution: Negotiate with the ULMWP in the same way as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took and Jusuf Kalla negotiated when facing the Bloody Conflict with Aceh which ended with the Helsinki Agreement on 15 August 2005.
(c) These calls remind us of the promise of the President on 30 September 2019: That the President is willing to meet with the Papuan 'pro-referendum group'.
(d) We also reject the Joint Fact-Finding Team for the shooting case of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, which was formed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, who has been promoting remilitarization in the
West Papua, because the team is not independent (consisting of security apparatus, government and intelligence units) so it will not be able to investigate incident properly, fairly and transparently. Based on the facts held by the Papuan Church Council, the shooting was carried out by an Army unit.
(e) The proposal is based on the results of LIPI Research which called for the Indonesian Government to use a peaceful dialogue approach against Papua (m.hukum online.com, 27 August, 2016; www.gatra com, 25 September 2019). Therefore, our proposal is not new.
(f) It is in this spirit that the Papuan Church Council reminds President Joko Widodo to keep his promise to the Chairperson of the High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council in February 2018 in Jakarta to visit Papua. This has also been stated:
1) In the Address of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Mr. Bob Loughman on 26 September 2020 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York;
2) Communique of the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in August 2019 in Tuvalu;
3) ACP leaders' communique (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) in December 2019 in Kenya.
(g) With this proposal, we urge the President as Commander of the Armed Forces not to allow the REMILITERIZATION program imbued with racism against Papua to continue.

As we end this letter, the Papuan Church Council would like to thank the family and congregation of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, who have stood firm, bravely taking responsibility to speak out about the shooting that killed Pastor Zanambani. We pray that God will give them strength.

The Papuan Church Council would also like to thank the current Prime Minister of Vanuatu and the previous Prime Ministers, the leaders of other Pacific countries along with the people and the church who have not forgotten the suffering of the Papuan people; by consistently standing in front of the UN and in various forums, voicing violence and human rights violations against the Papuan people committed by Indonesia.

The Papuan Church Council appreciates and is grateful for the people's faith action through raising funds within one month amounting to IDR 773,000,000 to return Veronika Koman's study fees.

The Papuan Church Council thanks and at the same time prays for the people of Papua and all citizens of Indonesia and the international community who are in solidarity with Papua in facing the challenges of humanity, racism and injustice faced by the Papuan people.

The Papuan Council of Churches would also like to thank: Students, Academics, Journalists and Activists, Humanitarian Workers in Indonesia, the Pacific, Asia, Europe, Africa, America and anywhere who have noble hearts and have stood with us for a long time.
And to Mr. President Jokowi, I hope that the Pancasila and Human Rights Instruments can provide you with a stepping-stone to realize your promise of September 30, 2019 to "meet with the Papua Pro-Referendum group". We believe even this proposal is nothing new, it reminds us all of the footsteps of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in resolving the Bloody Conflict with Aceh.

May God give the President Strength. Amen.

1 Desmond Tutu, Crying in the Wilderness, gathered by oleh John Webster (1986), Mowbrays Popular Christian Perspectives: London & Oxford.

2 In America this discourse is encouraged by public theologians: John Howard Yoder through his reflections raised in the book Politics of Jesus and through reflection & Jim Wallis, Gods Politics.

Commemoration of ‘Papuan Independence Day’- 104 reportedly arrested, at least 20 with treason

Published Monday 2nd December 2019, 22:47

Reports by human rights defenders and media articles mention a total of 104 arrests in multiple locations across West Papua. The arrests occurred in relation to commemorations of 1st December, which many indigenous Papuans regard as the ‘Papuan Independence Day’. This year marks the 58th anniversary of the first official Morning Star flag raising under the Dutch colonial government. In Jayapura, the police summoned two leaders of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Markus Haluk and Edison Waromi. At least twenty arrestees were charged with treason.

Eight Papuans arrested in Manokwari

On 27 November 2019, the local police arrested eight indigenous Papuans on their way the Borasi Field in the city of Manokwari, where they wanted to participate in a peaceful political demonstration. They were taken into custody and are currently under investigation at the Manokwari District Police Station (Polres Manokwari). According to local media outlet Jubi, the police seized 29 Morningstar flags, posters, leaflets and two cars. The detainees stated that they had received leaflets calling for a peaceful demonstration at the Borasi field.

Four KNPB supporters arrested in Merauke

Police officers arrested four supporters of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on 2 December 2019 in the Papuan town of Merauke. Police suspects that the four men sprayed Morningstar symbols on public buildings in various locations in Merauke. All four arrestees were allowed to leave the police station after officers had questioned them and seized several of their pro-independence attributes.

Police summons ULMWP leaders

The police summoned ULMWP Executive Director, Markus Haluk, and ULMWP Executive Chairman, Edison Waromi, in relation to a leaflet calling for a worship ceremony in commemoration of 1st December. Mr. Haluk and Mr. Waromi, together with a team of lawyers, came to Jayapura Municipality (Polresta Jayapura) police station on 30 November where they were questioned for several hours. The leaflet showed the names and electronic signatures of both ULMWP leaders. However, Markus Haluk and Edison Waromi claim that they neither made the leaflets, nor authorised them with their signatures. The police requested Markus Haluk to return to the police station on 1 December 2019 for further questioning. So far, the police has not pressed charges against the ULMWP leaders.

Police arrests four students in Jayapura after bringing morning star flag to Church

Police officers arrested the four Papuan students Marvin Yobe, Desepianus Dumupa, Paul Halapok and Devion Tekege on 1 December 2019 at the Gembala Baik Congregational Church in Abepura, Jayapura Town. The students brought Morningstar flags to the Sunday worship. They wore traditional clothes with morning star face paint. Plain cloth police officers arrested the four students during the worship ceremony and subsequently brought them to the Abepura sectoral police station and later to the Jayapura municipality police station, where the students were questioned (see intro image). They were released without charges on 2 December 2019 at 1.00 am. The police also summoned the pastor of Gembala Baik Congregation as a witness.

34 Papuans arrested in Sentani – 20 charged with treason

On 30 November 2019, police officers arrested 34 indigenous Papuans in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, on their way to the Trikora field, where they allegedly intended to raise the Morning Star flag. Fourteen of them were released because the police could not find sufficient evidence to press legal charges. The remaining 20 suspects were taken into custody. They have been charged with article 106 jo 87 and/or 110 jo 88 of Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on treason. Six of them were additionally charged with Article 2 (1) of Emergency Law12/1951 regarding illegal possession of slashing or stabbing weapons (see table below). The police claims that the 20 suspects carried member cards of the West Papua National Liberation Army.

54 Papuans arrested in Fakfak

We are a black nation in Melanesia West Papua and we are being colonized by Indonesia, now 58 years of colonial Indonesia have usurped our independence from 01 December 1961 and until 1 December 2019. This is evidence of torture that is always used by Indonesia. This photo was taken on December 1, 2019 in Fak-Fak West Papua when demanding independence

Arrests Pikpik Fakfak editOn 1 December 2019, members of the Police Mobile Brigade Special Unit (Brimob) and 1803 Fakfak District Military Command arrested 54 indigenous Papuans in the districts Kayauni and Kramonmongga of Fakfak Regency. According to information received, the joint security forces applied force against 23 villagers in Warpa Village. The Head of the Fakfak District Police claimed in a public interview that the villagers allegedly resisted the arrest using traditional weapons like spears, bows and arrows. He further accused the suspects of planning to raise the Morning Star flag at the Regency office. It is currently not known what injuries the arrestees sustained during the arrest. The villagers had raised the Morning Star flag in their village around 3.00 pm. Subsequently, the joint security forces arrested one person in Kramongga Village and further suspects in the villages of Pikpik (see image on the right) and Mambuni-buni. The police seized morning star flags, 12 million rupiahs (about € 850) and machetes and other traditional weapons. All 54 Papuans were detained and are currently investigated by the police.

Article-http://www.humanrightspapua.org/…/517-commemoration-of-papu…

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via IFTTT December 07, 2019 at 08:11AM

Australia urged to ‘step up substantially’ to halt violence in neighbouring West Papua

Exclusive: West Papua continues to be rocked by bloody violence as Indonesian security forces and pro-independence protesters clash. And Australia has been urged to do more to end the bloodshed.

BY VIRGINIA LANGEBERG

Australia has been urged to “step up substantially on the issue of West Papua”, with  Vanuatu’s leaders taking to the stage of the UN General Assembly to “emphatically condemn” alleged human rights violations in the region. 

Following reports of a mass exodus from the town of Wamena, in the Indonesian province of Papua, and increased violence on Monday, Vanuatu urged global leaders to assist West Papuans. 

“We condemn, emphatically, violations of human rights of the indigenous people of West Papua,” Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas told the UN. 

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas at the UN. FR170574 AP

The island nation’s foreign minister declared “history will judge us”, urging Australia to step up. 

“We’re very worried because it’s happening right now there is a crisis going on,” Ralph Regenvanu said.

“Some international law experts have called it genocide; I mean it fits the criteria of a genocide. History will judge us and we have to be on the right side of history. 

“Australia’s got to step up substantially on the issue of West Papua, particularly because it’s on the Human Rights Council, it is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum.” 

A report in The Guardian cites the death toll in Wamena as high as 41 after Indonesian troops opened fire on an anti-racism rally made up of high school students.

Activists said Papuans responded by setting fire to several buildings. 

On Saturday, the Indonesian Embassy stated the official death toll was 33 – saying most died in the fires and some 3,500 locals were displaced following the chaos. 

Smoke rise from a burning building during a violent rally in Wamena, Papua Province, Indonesia. AP

But a report in The Guardian has suggested the actual death toll was at least 41, with one witness saying he saw up to 20 people shot dead by police, while Papuans tried to fight back with rocks and arrows. 

“Papuans are also terrified. They are thinking, ‘if the government is so quick to help settlers leave, what is being planned after that’,” one Wamena local told The Guardian. 

Exiled West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda was among a group of Pacific leaders who met with the UN Secretary-General earlier this week to stress the importance of a UN visit to the region. 

“I continue to lobby that in here in the United Nations to send the UN High Commissioners to West Papua but Indonesia (will) not allow,” he told SBS News. 

“So I hope that Indonesian government and President Jokowi will allow the UN High Commissioner to visit West Papua because this is a human rights crisis happening right now in West Papua.” 

West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda. Supplied

In recent weeks, Indonesia has deployed more than 6,000 troops into West Papua to quell the growing push for independence and Amnesty International has called Monday’s violence, one of the bloodiest days for Papua in 20 years. 

But Australian has urged restraint on both sides, with Foreign Minister Marise Payne urging “absolute restraint” to deescalate the situation. 

“We are obviously very concerned about the reports of violence in Papua [and] West Papua,” she told SBS News this week.

“They are matters which our post in Jakarta is following up with authorities there.” 

Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong condemned the violence, but also stayed neutral. 

“We have raised concerns about human rights violations in West Papua and we will continue to work to uphold the universal right of all people to peacefully express their political views including in West Papua,” she said in a statement. 

“Labor fully respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia; respect for each other’s territorial integrity is enshrined in the Lombok Treaty, which remains the bedrock of security cooperation between our two countries.”

Source: SBS AU

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via IFTTT September 30, 2019 at 08:05AM

Indonesia: Investigate Deaths of Papuan Protesters

REPORT from Human Rights WatchPublished on 07 Sep 2019 —View Original

Allow Access to UN, Foreign Journalists, Rights Monitors

(Sydney) – Indonesian authorities should impartially investigate the deaths of at least 10 Papuans during recent unrest in the easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, Human Rights Watch said today. Restrictions on access to Papua for foreign journalists and rights monitors and a partial internet shutdown have hindered reporting on the situation.

The Indonesian government should immediately allow unfettered access to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to travel to Papua to investigate the situation.

After video circulated of Indonesian militias racially abusing indigenous Papuan students outside their dormitory in Surabaya on August 17, 2019, Papuans demonstrated in at least 30 cities across Indonesia, including Jakarta. Rioting Papuans burned down the local parliament building in Manokwari and prisons in Sorong, West Papua province, and in Jayapura, Papua province.

“Indonesian police have a duty to avoid the use of force in response to Papuans who take their grievances to the streets,” said Elaine Pearson. “Any wrongful use of force needs to be investigated and those responsible held to account.”

The media have reported that Indonesian authorities have detained at least seven people in connection with raising the pro-Papuan independence Morning Star flag in Jakarta and Manokwari. Another 60 have been reportedly detained for allegedly damaging property during unrest in Papua. Those held for the peaceful expression of their political views should be released and any charges dropped, Human Rights Watch said. The rest of those detained should be promptly brought before a judge, charged with a recognizable offense, and have access to lawyers and family members.

Human Rights Watch urged prompt and impartial investigations into the following alleged incidents:

• In Deiyai on August 28, video footage shows uniformed police shooting live ammunition into a crowd of Papuan protesters inside the Deiyai Regency office. The Secretariat of Peace and Justice, a Catholic human rights organization located in Paniai, Papua, reported that eight Papuans and one Indonesian soldier were killed and 39 Papuans were injured. The Deiyai regent, Ateng Edowai, said that “people in civilian clothes” were responsible for the shooting. No independent or foreign journalists have access to Deiyai to investigate the incident.
• In Jayapura on September 1, video footage shows a mob of Indonesians, police, and soldiers armed with machetes surrounding a Papuan student dorm in the Abepura neighborhood. Indonesian militias began to attack the dormitory at about 2 a.m. Suara Papua, a local news website, reported that one Papuan student was stabbed to death and more than 20 were injured, of whom 13 were hospitalized.
• A video taken in Fakfak, West Papua on August 20, shows a Papuan man who had been disemboweled and others were reportedly wounded.

On August 22, the Indonesian government shut down the internet in Papua and West Papua. On September 4, internet services were partially restored. Several places including Deiyai are still partially blocked, meaning it is not possible to share videos or photographs.

Local media reported that Indonesian militias in Jayapura attacked Papuans who had occupied the Papuan governor’s office and replaced the Indonesian flag with the Morning Star. The militia Paguyuban Nusantara(“Archipelago Community”) is a new alliance formed from several Indonesian ethnic groups, mostly from Java Island, who had settled in Papua and West Papua since the late 1970s under the government-sponsored transmigration program.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has condemned racist statements against Papuans and authorities have suspended four army officers for their racist remarks in Surabaya pending investigations. Authorities have charged one militia leader in Surabaya for spreading hate speech.

Since the demonstrations began, the government has granted limited access to several foreign journalists to visit specific Papuan cities, but they have been monitored and unable to travel beyond the cities where they were given entry permits. The Indonesian government has restricted access to foreign journalists since the 1960s because of suspicion of the motives of foreign nationals in a region racked by corruption, environmental degradation, public dissatisfaction with Jakarta, and a small pro-independence insurgency.

On August 31, police arrested six activists, including five Papuan students in Jakarta and Surya Anta Ginting, the coordinator of the Front Rakyat Indonesia on West Papua, a solidarity group among Indonesian activists. They were charged with treason for flying the Morning Star flag outside the State Palace.

On September 3, police arrested an activist, Sayang Mandabayan, at the Manokwari airport for traveling with 1,500 small Morning Star flags. She has been detained at the Manokwari police station.

On September 4, Surabaya police issued an arrest warrant for Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights lawyer with “spreading fake news and provoking unrest.” Koman has shared videos on her Twitter account of the recent unrest.

On September 4, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed concern about the violence in Papua and urged the Indonesian government “to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns.” Despite President Jokowi’s invitation to the UN human rights chief to visit Papua in February 2018, government officials have continued to delay the visit.

Concerned governments should call on the Indonesian government to:

• Promptly and impartially investigate unrest-related deaths and injuries and appropriately prosecute those responsible for wrongdoing.
• Immediately restore full access to the internet, which is vital for emergency communications and basic information in times of crisis.
• Lift restrictions on access for foreign journalists and rights monitors in line with previous statements by the Indonesian president.
• Allow the UN human rights office immediate unfettered access to Papua.
• Drop charges and release all those detained for peaceful acts of free expression including Sayang Mandabayan. Drop the case against Veronica Koman.

Police should cease using unnecessary or excessive force against the protesters, Human Rights Watch said. While some protester action may warrant police use of force, the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provide that all security forces shall, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means before resorting to force. Whenever the lawful use of force is unavoidable, the authorities must use restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense. Law enforcement officials should not use firearms against people except in self-defense or defense of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury.

“Governments concerned about the unrest and violence in Papua should press the Indonesian government to take prompt action to end the bloodshed, protect the rights of all, and allow full and open reporting of the situation,” Pearson said.Human Rights Watch:© Copyright, Human Rights Watch – 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA

SOurce HERE

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via IFTTT September 09, 2019 at 03:29PM

Australians rally in support of Papua protesters as Human Rights Watch decries Indonesian violence

Human Rights Watch calls for Indonesia to investigate Papua killings

UN rights chief unable to secure West Papua visit

The UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet says her office has so far been unable to secure a trip to Indonesia’s West Papua.

In January, Indonesia agreed in principle to allow a visit by the rights chief, but this has not yet eventuated, despite international backing for it.

Amid violent unrest which has rocked Papua since mid-August, Ms Bachelet last week urged Jakarta to enter a dialogue with Papuans.

Her statement on Wednesday didn’t directly address a visit by her office to the region.

But in previously unreported comments made after a public talk in Geneva, Ms Bachelet said it hadn’t moved forward.

“We have been working with the authorities, but we haven’t been able to progress it. But we will continue to talk to them because they promised to my predecessor the visit to West Papua but afterward we try to make it work and it hasn’t worked yet but I hope it will work.”

“The [Indonesian government] have told me that they’re looking forward to it,” she added.

West Papuans involved in deadly clash named

Meanwhile, Indonesian police have reportedly named more than a dozen West Papuans as suspects in a deadly clash in the central highlands.

Authorities said at least five people and a soldier were killed when security forces were attacked during a riot in Deiyai regency on 28 August.

But rights groups, activists and witnesses said eight civilians were shot dead by soldiers during a peaceful demonstration.

A police spokesperson, Ahmad Mustofa Kamal, said 14 people have been named suspects in connection with the riot in Deiyai.

He told local media the people are suspected of unlawfully possessing firearms, opposing authorities and incitement.

News outlet Suara Papua reported the Papuan suspects are still undergoing treatment at a local hospital after they were injured in the clash.

Source: RNZ

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via IFTTT September 09, 2019 at 10:54AM

Shocking murders uncovered by Human Rights Watch as protests in Papua intensify

Fiji NGOs stand with Papua

THE Fijian civil society movement stood in silence opposite the Indonesian Embassy in Suva today to protest against killings and human rights abuse in Papua.

Police arrived several minutes later to speak with Shamima Ali, head of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and chair of the NGO Coalition on Human Rights.

Representatives of at least seven local and regional NGOs gathered during the lunch hour to stand in solidarity with the people of Papua and support an end to violence and human rights abuse.

Police units patrolled the area but the event was peaceful.

A vigil service to support the people of Papua will be held at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral on Friday from 12pm-2pm.

Source: https://pacificconferenceofchurches.org/

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via IFTTT September 04, 2019 at 04:49PM