Index: ASA 21/031/2012
Amnesty International calls for an independent and impartial investigation into reports that police used unnecessary and excessive force to disperse a peaceful demonstration in Papua province commemorating International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August 2012.
Jakarta – Selphius Bobii may have spent four months in Abepura Penitentiary in Papua on charges of treason after joining the third Papuan People's Congress last October, but he remains convinced that he was not guilty of any crime.
On the International Day of the Indigenous Peoples, Papuan people took to the streets to celebrate their continued survival as indigenous people, and called for an end to the Indonesian government's occupation of their land. Demonstrations took place in Manokwari, Serui, Baliem, Jayapura and various other locations around West Papua.
Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has requested that the security forces not be arrogant in continuing to chase, arrest and interrogate people who do not know anything, without following procedures that are applicable in Indonesia
Residents of the Asmat district in Papua have organized a blockade of the local airstrip there, calling for compensation owed for land used in an expansion of the facility, an air transportation official said on Wednesday.
Alex Tinsley – The case of Benny Wenda, leader of the West Papuan independence movement, is a perfect illustration of the need to reform Interpol and its abused red notice system.
Danny Shaw – A tribal leader from an Indonesian province who was granted asylum in Britain has won his battle to be removed from an Interpol wanted list.
Benny Wenda, who lives in Oxford, had been issued with a red notice and was at risk of arrest and extradition. The Indonesian authorities said they wanted him to stand trial for murder and arson, offences he denied.
A list is currently circulating on the internet which purports to list international supporters of the OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdek) in West Papua. (See for example, http://politik.kompasiana.com/2012/07/08/daftar-organisasi-pendukung-gerakan-papua-merdeka-di-luar-negeri/.) This list includes our organizations among others.
West Papua National Coalition for Liberation
Secretariat, c/o: WPPRO, P.O. Box 1571, Port Vila
Republic of Vanuatu,
Phone: + 678 7740808 or +61414149001
E-mail: ayamiseba@yahoo.com.au
awulkeweng53@yahoo.com; rrumakiek@gmail.com
26 June 2012
Police arrested 165 tribesmen from the village of Kwamki Lama in Mimika, Papua, on Wednesday, after yet another outbreak of violence between residents of three neighborhoods in the village.
Tito Summa Siahaan – Freeport Indonesia has agreed to raise its royalty payment to the government, according to a statement from a top economic minister on Monday.
Tatyana Shumsky, New York – Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s (FCX) Indonesia operations are approaching "normal" levels after a first quarter marked by labor disruptions, chief executive Richard Adkerson said on the company's second- quarter earnings conference call.
Selwyn Moran – West Papua, the easternmost island under Indonesia's control, is a land beset by troubles. Rarely a week goes by without news of some new tragedy in a relentless conflict that has endured and evolved over fifty years.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The trial of Buchtar Tabuni, 32, human rights activist and leader of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), began at the Jayapura District Court. He is accused of violence and vandalism at Abepura Penitentiary on Wednesday.
The police in Papua forcibly dispersed a humanitarian action taking place when Papuans were out collecting money to help political prisoners.
They were from an organisation called Solidarity for Human Rights Victims, SKPHP. The police said that they had dispersed the people because the SKPHP has not registered with the provincial administration.
Jayapura – The Papuan Street Parliament (Parjal) insists that it is the responsibility of the Indonesian government to safeguard the right to life of Papuans who are still behind bars.
Farouk Arnaz & Banjir Ambarita – A police officer succumbed to his wounds after being found beaten and stabbed in Keerom, Papua, on Tuesday.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr will meet today with his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, after vowing over the weekend that his country was cognizant of human rights issues in Papua.
Questions are being asked about the role that the partly Australian funded and trained elite Indonesian police squad, Densus (Detachment) 88, has played during the recent violence in West Papua. Set up in the wake of the Bali terrorist bombings, Densus 88's mandate was to tackle the rise of domestic terrorism in Indonesia.
To:
Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President, Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Andi Matalatta
Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Hendarman Supandji
Attorney General
Republic of Indonesia
Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri
Chief of National Police
Republic of Indonesia
Dear Friend of West Papua,
Jakarta – Unless the government shows goodwill in dealing with Papua and issues policies that touch the hearts of Papuans, conflict in the resource-rich province will never be resolved.
Subang, west java – The government's long-discussed plan to launch a massive food estate in Merauke, Papua in a bid to boost the nation's food production is facing uncertainty amid land acquisition problems, a top ministry official says.
Magelang, Central Java – Separatism of any kind in Indonesia must be stopped because it poses a serious threat to national integrity, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday.
In recent months, West Papua has come under an international spotlight over Indonesian military and police impunity for brutal assaults on civilians and non-violent activists.
Elections in Puncak Jaya district in Papua must be repeated in six villages in Mewoluk subdistrict after allegations of vote-rigging were upheld by the Constitutional Court on Friday.
Fresh votes in the villages of Glible, Gumbru, Kililumo, Lumo, Mewoluk and Mewud will be held to elect a district head and deputy.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Three more people – one soldier and two civilians – were killed on Saturday in the latest bloody incident in Papua at a time when the authorities have been unable to identify the perpetrators behind the killings of three other men earlier this month.
Bung Wir, Bandung – Representatives of the Papuan people from the group National Papuan Solidarity (NAPAS) held a protest action at the Merdeka Building on Jl. Asia-Afrika in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Wednesday July 5.
A civilian was killed and another wounded on Wednesday by an unidentified group of people in Siepkosi village, Walelagama district, Jayawijaya regency.
Ahmad Zaini, a 35-year-old ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver, was fatally stabbed at about 10 a.m., while another ojek driver, Salahudin, 38, was injured in the indiscriminate attack.
Arientha Primanita – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has told Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that Papua is an integral part of Indonesia as his administration continues to receive heavy criticism for its inability to resolve the violence plaguing its easternmost province.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A leader of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) admitted to having fired gunshots at a military motorcade but denied any role in the latest civilian death.
Banjir Ambarita, Made Arya Kencana & Farouk Arnaz – Armed resistance group the Free Papua Organization on Monday claimed responsibility for Sunday's ambush of soldiers who were trying to seize the banned Morning Star flag from protestors.
Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has announced its readiness to call a cease fire and end the violent conflict in the province if the Indonesian government holds an international meeting with the involvement of the United Nations.
Oktovianus Pogau, Jakarta – Scores of youths and students from the group Papuan National Solidarity (NAPAS) held a peaceful action in front of the Indonesian national police headquarters and the State Palace in Jakarta on the afternoon of Monday July 2 in protest against the spate of recent shootings in West Papua.
Jayapura – A village chief was shot dead in Indonesia's restive Papua province on Sunday, Indonesian military said, blaming separatists who are celebrating the founding of an independence movement.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papuan leaders have applauded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's open-handed stance for dialogue over Papuan issues and urged him to put the statement into action.
Angela Dewan – A spate of shootings in Papua over the past month is fueling charges that trigger-happy Indonesian soldiers are only exacerbating unrest and pro-independence sentiment in the resource-rich region.
Arya Dipa, Bandung – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reiterated that he will not pursue dialogue with any party intending to push for a referendum or plebiscite in Papua.
Banjir Ambarita, Papua – The Papua Council Presidium (PDP) threw its support behind a plan to bring Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono X to the restive province to mediate talks between Jakarta and an assembly of Papuan tribal, religious and independence leaders.
Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Tribal leaders in Papua urged residents not to fly the Morning Star flag in commemoration of the Free Papua Movement's July 1 anniversary, warning that the flag – which is banned in Indonesia – will only provoke further violence in the restive province.
The spread of HIV infections in Papua is alarming, with those in remote regions being deprived of transportation facilities reported to have contracted the disease.
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-113-2012
Dear friends,
Jakarta – The cycle of violence in Papua has deep roots back in the earliest days of Indonesia's history as a nation. The victims and witnesses of human rights abuses still feel the grief today.
Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – A person claiming to speak for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says members of the pro-independence group will soon surrender themselves to Indonesian authorities as proof of their innocence in relation to the series of shootings that have rocked Jayapura in recent weeks.
Bandung – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asserts there are will not space be open up for dialogue with any party who intends to push the referendum or poll in Papua.
Jakarta – In anticipation of the upcoming Free Papua Movement (OPM) anniversary, the National Police aim to increase security measures in the easternmost province.
National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said the police had received information about a plan by OPM members to hold a flag-raising ceremony during the commemoration, which is scheduled for July 1.
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-110-2012
Dear friends,
The OPM's general coordinator, Lambert Pekikir has announced that three regions in Papua are ready to fly the Morning Star flag on 1 July, the anniversary of the OPM's military wing, the TPN.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Three regions in Papua and one in West Papua are looking to become new provinces in the hope of reversing sluggish development under former and current administrations.
The petitioners have urged the Papuan Consultative Assembly (MRP) to issue a recommendation approving their formation.
Local police, military and government officials are developing a culturally-sensitive approach to addressing violence and unrest in Papua, the National Police said on Tuesday.
Philip Jacobson – A group of Papuans was in Jakarta on Tuesday to give their own account of the recent escalation of violence in their home region, which they say has been distorted by imbalanced media coverage and statements by authorities who assert that separatists are behind it.