Atiek Nur Hidayati, Jakarta – A coalition of non-government organisations (NGOs) has agreed to take cases of human rights violations in Aceh and West Papua to the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva which will be held between March 14 and April 22.

This was announced by Indonesia Human Rights NGO Advocacy Team members Rafendy Jamin, Epi Narti and Jhonson Pandjaitan at the Hotel Said on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman in Jakarta on Wednesday March 9.

The focus of the NGO coalition will be on four issues: protection for human rights defenders based on the case of Munir, human rights violations in Aceh, West Papua and East Timor.

Jamin said that in taking the Aceh issue to the UN Human Rights Commission session the focus will not just be the issue of humanitarian assistance which continues to arrive in Aceh but that in order to resolve the Aceh question attention must be given to human rights issues and that the peace process must involve Acehnese civil society.

Apinarti from the Aceh NGO Coalition meanwhile said the hopes of the Acehnese people are not just for continued humanitarian assistance following the tsunami but for a contribution from the international community to end human rights violations in Aceh.

Padjaitan from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association said that the Abepura incident(1) will be a test case for upholding human rights in Papuan society and the international community. Abepura must result in justice being upheld because it will influence judgements in other human rights cases. (jon)

Notes:

1. Abepura - On December 7 2000, some 30 residents attacked and set fire to the local police station in Abepura, about 20 kilometers south of the West Papua capital Jayapura. A police officer was killed and three others wounded in the incident. About an hour later police assisted by the notorious Mobile Brigade began a search for the perpetrators scouring nearby residential areas and hostels, including a student residence. During the search, police allegedly arrested, assaulted and tortured at least 99 people resulting in three deaths.

[Translated by James Balowski.]