Thursday, September 15, 2011

http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAU-041-2011


INDONESIA: Manokwari court sentences two Papuan activists in flawed trial
September 15, 2011

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-041-2011



15 September 2011

[RE: AHRC-UAC-117-2011: Police ill-treats peaceful protesters and forces rebellion charges in a flawed process]
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INDONESIA: Manokwari court sentences two Papuan activists in flawed trial

ISSUES: Freedom of expression; right to fair trial
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Dear friends,

The Manokwari district court in West Papua has sentenced two peaceful activists to seven and a half months and two years imprisonment respectively. The trial was characterised by a series of violations of the Indonesian criminal procedure and appeared to be politicised and biased. The victims had participated in a peaceful protest in December 2010. The Manokwari Court ignored several basic rights of the accused and the verdict was given despite the lack of sufficient evidence. Five more victims are still undergoing their trial process.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

On 14 December 2010, seven persons were charged with rebellion after they conducted a peaceful protest following a flag raising event. At the correctional facility, they were ill-treated and denied medical care for weeks resulting in serious health conditions. The AHRC issued this urgent appeal regarding their case.

The AHRC has now received information from LP3BH, a local legal aid group in Manokwari that the judges panel led by Cita Savitri, issued the verdict that two of the peaceful protesters, Melki Bleskadit (also known as Melkianus Bleskadit) and Daniel Yenu, were guilty of acts of rebellion, while the other accused are still undergoing the trial process. (photos:Daniel Yenu (left) and Melki Bleskadit (right) in court, source:LP3BH)

On 18 August 2011, the verdict against Mr. Bleskadit was declared and he was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The AHRC also learned that the verdicts were declared based on flawed testimonies. At the trial of both victims, no witnesses to the alleged crime were presented and the judges declared a testimony from a person who had not seen, heard or experienced the incident as sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction. According to article 1.26 and 1.27 of the Indonesian criminal procedure law (Law 8/1981) such a person is not permitted to be a witness in a trial. Responding to the two year sentence, the public prosecutor, Mudeng Sumaila submitted an appeal, demanding a higher sentence of five years. (photo: public prosecutor at Yenu's trial source:LP3BH)

On 23 August 2011, Mr. Yenu was convicted to seven months and 16 days imprisonment. At Mr. Yenu's trial, the judge also convicted the suspect in a trial based on flawed procedure. For example, according to the victim's lawyer the prosecutor successfully present fabricated evidence such as a megaphone that was not actually used by Mr. Yenu. On 16 August 2011, the judge forced Mr. Yenu to appear before the court trial session without access to his lawyer.

On 19 August 2011, the judges refused the request of Mr. Yenu's legal counsel to submit the plea to the court, although the Indonesia's criminal code in article 182.1b entitles the suspect to submit such a plea.

The AHRC is very concerned that local authorities in West Papua frequently apply rebellion charges to peaceful Papuan activists and sentence them in flawed processes that lack proper evidence. The Police, prosecution and judges have thus shown serious disregard for the basic criminal procedure standards and fundamental principles of rule of law. The verdict in this case appears to be quite blatantly fabricated. The AHRC deplores the dysfunction and apparent politicisation of courts in West Papua as this leaves people without access to the law-based and impartial justice mechanisms, they are entitled to. (photo: judges at Yenu's trial, source:LP3BH)

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please join us in writing to the authorities listed below, asking them to thoroughly review and examine the trial process against Mr. Bleskadit and. Mr. Yenu and to review the criminal code application against the peaceful expression of opinion.

Please be informed that the AHRC is sending letters on this case to the and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers calling for their interventions.

To support this appeal, please click here:


SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________,

INDONESIA: Manokwari court sentences two Papuan activists in flawed trial

Name of victim: Melki Bleskadit, Daniel Yenu
Names of alleged perpetrators: The examining judges, Cita Savitri, I Gusti Ngurah Taruna W and Helmin Somalay
Date of incident: August 2011
Place of incident: Manokwari District Court

I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the verdict against two Papuan activists, who were sentenced to imprisonment for conducting a peaceful protest in December 2010.

I know that on 14 December 2010, seven persons were charged with rebellion after they conducted a peaceful protest following a flag raising event. At the correctional facility, they were ill-treated and denied medical care for weeks resulting in serious health conditions.

I have receive information that the judges panel led by Cita Savitri, declared the verdict that two of the peaceful protesters, Melki Bleskadit and Daniel Yenu, were guilty for acts of rebellion, while the other five victims are still undergoing their trial process.

On 18 August 2011, the verdict against Mr. Bleskadit was declared and he was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The AHRC also learned that the verdicts were declared based on flawed testimonies. At the trial of both victims, no witnesses of the alleged crime were presented and the judges declared a testimony from a person who had not seen, heard or experienced the incident as sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction. According to article 1.26 and 1.27 of the Indonesian criminal procedure law (Law 8/1981) such a person is not permitted as a witness in trials. Responding to the two year sentence, the public prosecutor, Mudeng Sumaila submitted an appeal, demanding a higher sentence of five years.

On 23 August 2011, Mr. Yenu was convicted to seven months and 16 days imprisonment. At Mr. Yenu's trial, the judge also convicted the suspect in a trial based on flawed procedure. For example, according to the victim's lawyer the prosecutor successfully present fabricated evidence such as a megaphone that was not actually used by Mr. Yenu. On 16 August 2011, the judge forced Mr. Yenu to appear before the court trial session without access to his lawyer.

I learned that on 19 August 2011, the judges refused the request of Mr. Yenu's legal counsel to submit the plea to the court, although the Indonesia's criminal code in article 182.1b entitles the suspect to submit a plea to the court.

I am very disturbed to hear that local authorities in West Papua frequently apply rebellion charges to peaceful Papuan activists and sentence them in flawed processes that lack proper evidence. The police, prosecution and judges have thus shown serious disregard for the basic criminal procedure standards and fundamental principles of rule of law in this case. The verdict appears to be fabricated and I am very concerned about the impartiality of the local courts and their disregard for Indonesian criminal procedure.

Therefore, I urge you to review and examine the trial process of both victims. The authorities concerned should look into the victim's allegations of procedural failures in the local institutions and the ongoing lack of intervention – as far as I am aware - following the victims earlier complaints. The principle of fair trial as required by international and national law must be applied in the appeal's process in the case of Mr. Bleskadit, Mr. Yenu and the ongoing trials of the other five accused.


Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
The President of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Phone : +62 21 3863777, 3503088.
Fax : +62 21 3442223

2. Head of National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia
Jalan Latuharhary No.4-B,
Jakarta 10310
Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
Email : info@komnas.go.id

3. Office of The Anti Judicial Mafia Task Force (Satgas)
PO Box 9949
Jakarta 10 000
INDONESIA
Contact on website: http://www.satgas-pmh.go.id/?q=node/157

4. Chief Justice of the Republic of Indonesia
Mahkamah Agung
Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara No.9-13, Jakarta 10110
INDONESIA
Phone: +62 21 3843557 -3453348
Fax: +62 21 383541

5. Chairman of Judicial Commission
Komisi Yudisial Republik Indonesia
Jl. Kramat Raya No. 57, Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Phone: +62 21 3905455;
Fax: +62 21 3905455;
Email: kyri@komisiyudisial.go.id

6. Head of Manokwari District Court
Jl. Merdeka No. 69
Nabire, Jayapura 98815
INDONESIA
Phone: +62 984 21007
Fax: +62 984 24087

7. Head of Jayapura High Court
Jl. Tanjung Ria No. 98. Base “G”
Jayapura 99117
INDONESIA
Phone: +62 967 541045, 541443, 541248
Fax: +62 967 541045


Yours sincerely,


Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)






Document Type :Urgent Appeal Update
Document ID :AHRC-UAU-041-2011
Countries : Indonesia
Issues : Freedom of expression, Right to fair trial
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

NM- Residents Flee As Troops Mobilise


NM -WEST PAPUA 9 Sep 2011
Residents Flee As Troops Mobilise

By Setyo Budi




Thousands of people have deserted their homes in the Central Highlands of West Papua as Indonesian troops step up their search for a rebel leader. Setyo Budi reports

Thousands of people have deserted their homes and are living in fear in jungle in the Central Highlands of West Papua as Indonesian soldiers search for those responsible for an attack on the police and army headquarters on Indonesian Independence Day (17 August).

A church official in the Paniai district told New Matilda they don’t know when the population will return. They are afraid of the heavily armed troops who are present in the town, and don’t want to become casualties.

The police have also been intimidating the local population. A local source told New Matilda that one of the police commanders in Paniai had sent an SMS to the district administrator calling for two residents to be "captured, tortured and killed or buried alive" for allegedly being members of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM).

Hundreds of Indonesian army and police officers have reportedly been deployed by air and land in the Paniai district since August 16, when John Magay Yogi, a 23-year-old field Commander of the National Liberation Army of Free Papua Organisation (TPN/OPM) Region IV, and his group ambushed police headquarters in Komopa, sub-district of Agadide, and seized two rifles. This incident was followed by a shootout, which started on August 17 at 1.55am around two villages close to the Paniai capital of Madi.

Yogi’s rebel group later attacked the police and army headquarters. The attack was motivated by revenge against the Indonesian security apparatus that has badly treated him and his family.

"I was imprisoned on April 9 in Nabire although the police could not produce any evidence," Yogi told New Matilda in a phone interview. "They accused me of defying the legitimacy of Indonesian authority in West Papua. I escaped. On another occasion the police confiscated my weapons and money when I attended a religious annual congress in Madi this year."

Yogi comes from a family that has a history of opposition to the Indonesian Government. His father, Tadius Yogi, was in charge of Territorial War Commands (KODAP) IV in Nabire and Paniai before being replaced by his sons.

Human rights violations in West Papua have bred resistance fighters. Like Yogi, 30-year-old Amatus Douw, the coordinator of International Forum for West Papua and one of the 43 West Papuan refugees who sought political asylum in Australia in 2006, told New Matilda about similar mistreatment he and his family have received from Indonesian army officers in the past.

"My father was a head of OPM in my town and became a target of the Indonesian military and police. In 1998, he was captured and tortured. He died two years later. In 1995 they kidnapped and tortured my mother when she did not reveal my father’s whereabouts, she died a year later," said Douw. His family’s ordeal is the primary drive for his political activism that started when he was in high school. It continued at Papua University in Manokwari. He was later targeted by the Indonesian military and police.

Human rights violations have significantly increased in West Papua, particularly in Puncak district, a rebel stronghold area where attacks are often launched against the Indonesian army. It is also known as the poorest region in Indonesia. According to Indonesia’s Human Rights Commission, since 2004 the military operations in the area have intensified. Cases of stigmatisation, torture and murder are common.

According to KontraS, a Jakarta-based human rights organisation, in 2010 alone there were eleven cases of torture, and three of these cases are now internationally known, after mobile phone footage of the torture was posted on YouTube.

One of these incidents involved Anggenpugu Kiwo and Telanggar Gire, civilians who were caught in a road on the way to Mulia, a district capital in Puncak Jaya, by Indonesian soldiers. They were suspected to be members of the OPM.

The Indonesian soldiers of battalion 7/Arvita PAM Rawan Puncak Jaya interrogated them. In the process they asked Kiwo to take off his clothes, tied his feet and hands and laid him on the ground. The soldiers put their feet on his mouth and chest, twice burned his genitals with charcoal and threatened to suffocate him with a plastic bag and behead him if he did not tell them where the OPM weapons were.

Such abuses happen often to West Papuans who do not cooperate with Indonesian soldiers. They generate a deep distrust towards the Indonesian army and government, and strengthen the desire for independence.

The population has also rejected a military public relations exercise as a way to win their hearts and minds.

In May this year the provincial command, Kodam XVII/Cendrawasih, began a four month program of community services that included activities such as building roads and bridges, repairing landslide-affected areas, rehabilitating housing, renovating schools and churches, providing health services, initiating reforestation, and developing farming and fishing activities in the area. The population strongly rejected the program and military presence in the area.

Since his arrival in Australia, Amatus Douw has campaigned for justice in West Papua. Earlier this year he wrote a letter to the Australian Government, calling on them to support West Papuans through international diplomacy. In the latest correspondence in April 2011, the Gillard government, via her Indonesia Political and Strategic Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, acknowledged that human rights violations have occurred in West Papua. However, the letter stated, "the Indonesian Government takes firm actions against separatist activity", and the Australian Government "respects Indonesian territorial integrity including in West Papua".

Douw does not accept the Australian Government’s argument, as the integration of West Papua into Indonesia in 1963 was not legitimate. He expresses his fears about the region’s future: "Learning from East Timor, I am scared that a massacre will occur as the International community mount more pressure to the Indonesian government and military".

more pif coverage

Published: September 8, 2011
by Catherine Delahunty
Yesterday I was proud to be part of a vigil outside the South Pacific Forum organised to highlight the West Papua issue. Genocide is not a word to be used lightly but for the last forty years West Papua has been the dirty secret of the Melanesian Pacific. These people are Melanesian who through the machinations of colonial history have been separated from their neighbours Papua New Guinea and occupied by the Indonesians............................
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/09/08/calls-to-free-west-papua-at-the-pacific-forum/
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Published: September 13, 2011
by Catherine Delahunty
It is the “International Year of Forest” and today I dedicated a forum at Parliament to Kelly Kwalik a forest defender who was murdered in West Papua in December 2009 and to Jose Ribeiro da Silva and Maria de Espirito Santa da Silva forest environmental activists murdered in Brazil May 2011..................................
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/09/13/“the-year-of-the-forests”-forum/
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Pacific cannot be truly free until West Papua is free, say activists
West Papuan protesters demonstrate at Auckland University when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made a speech. Photo: Henry Yamo / PMC
Asia-Pacific Journalism, Pacific Media Centre
14 September, 2011 Henry Yamo
“Free West Papua” ... the Pacific isn’t free until West Papua is free. That is the four-decades-old West Papuan slogan that reverberated for a week as the Pacific islands countries gathered for the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum in New Zealand...............
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nzherald.co.nz
Pacific Islands Forum opens with a protest
10:22 AM Wednesday Sep 7, 2011
The Pacific Islands Forum formally opened this morning - the only signs of controversy a protest in support of West Papua outside.............................
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10749993
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nzherald.co.nz

Maire Leadbeater: Pacific Island Forum ignores deadliest issue in its patch

West Papuans have asked our leaders for help. Maire Leadbeater wonders if they will listen.......................
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10748245
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RNZI

Non-government organisations which have been campaigning on behalf of self determination for the people of Papua in Indonesia say they're encouraged by the statement from the...
00:49 on 09 September, 2011 UTC
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A New Zealand Greens party MP has called in the government not to strengthen bi-lateral defence ties with Indonesia while human rights abuses continue in Papua....
08:31 on 08 September, 2011 UTC
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A group of Papuan independence activists in Auckland are hoping Pacific leaders have heard their calls for self-determination and the inclusion of West Papua in the...
00:20 on 07 September, 2011 UTC
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A Papuan, who's part of the Indonesian government delegation in Auckland to observe this week's Pacific Islands Forum summit, says Jakarta is about to change its...
05:08 on 06 September, 2011 UTC
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A Papuan, who's part of the Indonesian government delegation in Auckland to observe this week's Pacific Islands Forum summit, says Jakarta is about to change its...
The Pacific Islands Forum is being told it must speak out about the ongoing instability in the Indonesian region of Papua. Groups representing the indigenous Melanesian...
07:21 on 31 August, 2011 UTC
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Native Affairs Maori TV 5 September 2011 –
Excellent interview with Paula and other comments including from Oscar Temaru

NM-West Papua Faces Security Crackdown

http://newmatilda.com/2011/09/05/west-papua-faces-security-crackdown


NM WRAP

5 Sep 2011

West Papua Faces Security Crackdown

As security in West Papua deteriorates, local groups have stepped up their calls for dialogue with Jakarta. Joe Collins from the Australia West Papua Association reviews the latest developments

Forty-eight years after Indonesia took over administration of West Papua from the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority, West Papuans continue to struggle for self-determination. Although West Papua is not often on our front pages, recent events there show that the fight for justice is not about to go away any time soon — even as Indonesian security forces employ increasingly heavy-handed tactics to quell unrest.


Thousands of West Papuans took to the streets in peaceful rallies across the province at the beginning of August calling for a referendum. Also last month, International Lawyers for West Papua held their ‘West Papua — The Road to Freedom’ conference in Oxford, UK. The conference brought together legal experts, parliamentarians and others to present "the strongest case to date that the people of West Papua have the right to self-determination under international law".


On 1 August unidentified assailants sprayed a small bus with bullets as it passed through Nafri village, Jayapura. Four people, including a member of the Indonesian Military, were killed. In response, up to 300 members of the security forces (military and police) were involved in the operation in the hills around Nafri village, searching for the perpetrators of the attack.


Because a Morning Star flag was found near the site of the incident the Jayapura Police were quick to blame the Free Papua Movement (OPM) for the attack. However, Forkorus Yoboisembut, chairman of the Papua Traditional Council (DAP), claimed that there was more to the incident than met the eye. "This could be the work of people who do not want to see stability in Papua," he told the Jakarta Globe. The local rebel commander, Lambert Pekikir, denied involvement in an ambush, saying the OPM would not randomly kill their own people. Members of the counter-terrorism squad were also brought in to hunt for the unidentified attackers.


Another shootout took place in the Tanah Hitam mountain on Tuesday 16 August after the banned Morning Star flag was raised a day before Indonesian Independence Day. According to witnesses, shots were fired after a joint team of police and military officers arrived to take the flag down. Papua police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said the joint forces were sweeping the mountain to find the perpetrators and prevent more incidents from taking place. During the military sweeps of the area police claim they found documents that allegedly belonged to the OPM — including flags, ammunition of various types, bows and arrows, mobile phones and a list of up to 19 OPM members.


On 1 September, 13 people were arrested in Kotaraja by a combined police and military force. Kotaraja is not far from Abepura and Nafri, where the military operation had recently taken place. A shot was reported to have been heard in the area during the round up. The 13 are alleged to have been involved in shootings in Nafri and to have caused unrest during an Idul Fitri ceremony that was being held on the premises of Brimob, and are now in police custody in Jayapura. Sofyan Yoman Socratez from the Baptist church said they would investigate the incident and would release a formal report to the public next week.

Also last month, a series of articles by Tom Allard in the Sydney Morning Herald exposed leaked Kopassus documents that showed lists of West Papuans who are supposed to be supporting "separatism". In reality they are members of civil society organisations concerned about the human rights situation in West Papua.


The leaked documents highlight that the level of spying by the Indonesian military on West Papuans is oppressive, with agents infiltrating every level of West Papuan society. There is an obvious systematic campaign to intimidate both human rights defenders and the West Papuan people as a whole.


The Australia West Papua Association has written to the Australian Government numerous times about our concern over Australia’s ties with the Indonesian military. AWPA’s latest press release concerning this can be read here.

Amnesty International released a number of urgent actions concerning West Papua this month — one about Papuan political prisoner Kimanus Wenda who is in urgent need of medical treatment. He has a tumour in his stomach, and needs to be transferred to a hospital to undergo an operation. Prison authorities have refused to pay for his transport and medical costs. Another was concerning Papuan activist Melkianus Bleskadit who has been imprisoned for his involvement in a peaceful protest and for raising an independence flag, and another regarding fears for the safety of human rights defender Yones Douw. An earlier urgent action about Douw was issued on 17 June.

The Asian Human Right Commission also released an urgent action concerning medical workers who were criminally charged for protests over wages.

The 42nd Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) starts in Auckland on 6 September. AWPAwrote to the PIF leaders in June asking that they grant observer status to genuine representatives of the West Papuan people who are struggling for their right to self-determination. An article about the forum by Maire Leadbeater from the Indonesia Human Rights Committee can be read here.

The West Papua Project at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney released a report called "Anatomy of an Occupation: The Indonesian Military in West Papua" by Jim Elmslie and Camellia Webb-Gannon with Peter King.

As pressure mounts between local human rights activists and securty forces, the International Crisis Group has also released a new briefing paper called "Indonesia: Hope and Hard Reality in Papua", which can be found here.

The West Papuan people are now calling for peaceful dialogue with Jakarta, and although not unanimous, the will is there. The international community should place pressure on Jakarta to resolve West Papuans’ issues of concern. If we don’t, we will see increasing conflict in West Papua in turn affecting the rest of the Asia Pacific region.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Pacific Islands Forum Auckland

Below are imagies from the various rallies/meetings around the Pacific Islands Forum in New Zealand. They are on various web sites, Pacific Media centre, Scoop.nz , Peace Movement Aotearoa (facebook) The local groups in New Zealand did a terrific job raising awareness about the West Papuan issue throughout the PIF. Media students from PMC covered the PIF and some of the stories below.
Joe
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Pacific Islands Forum 2011 in images – from suits to protesters
10:39 September 12, 2011

Pacific Scoop:
Portfolio – By Karen Abplanalp

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/pacific-islands-forum-2011-in-images-–-from-suits-to-protesters/I knew to expect a lot of men in suits at the Pacific Islands Forum last week yet it was still shocking to see so many – mainly because it shows the lack of women in leadership roles in all of the countries represented.


http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/pacific-islands-forum-2011-in-images-–-from-suits-to-protesters/?ScoopSrc=scoop_pacific
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Greeting Pacific Island Forum leaders, Auckland, 7 September 2011
By Peace Movement Aotearoa (Albums) · Updated last Tuesday
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Greeting the UN Secretary-General, Auckland, 6 September 2011
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West Papuans still mourning with their Morning Star after 42 years
Before the beating of Pacific drums and the festive yelps of the Rarotongan dancers, passionate cries of “Free West Papua” were the first sounds to break the new day of the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland.

At Queen’s Wharf, a posse of West Papuans and their supporters held placards and shouted slogans. Paula Makabory, a visiting human rights activist with the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, was among the group, which also included a gagged West Papuan man inside a bamboo cage.

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/west-papuans-still-waiting-with-the-morning-star/

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Does he support United Nation's Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's statement regarding human rights in West Papua that "we will do all to ensure that people in West Papua, their human rights will be respected"?

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Pacific Media Centre

Café Pacific: How the Pacific Islands Forum shunned West Papuan issue

Café Pacific, David Robie

10 September, 2011

The most astonishing unreported story in this week’s Pacific Island Forum in Auckland was a remarkable shift by the United Nations chief over West Papua. And the local media barely noticed. For all the hoo-ha about “converting potential into opportunity” at the predictable annual political talkfest, this was the most dramatic moment.

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/café-pacific-how-pacific-islands-forum-shunned-west-papuan-issue

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REGION: Harawira condemns lack of Māori profile at Forum - welcomes West Papua 'progress'

Monday, September 12, 2011

Item: 7614AUCKLAND (Pacific Scoop/Pacific Media Watch): Outspoken MP and long time Pacific issues advocate Hone Harawira has condemned the lack of Māori representation at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum – but is encouraged by the words of Ban Ki-moon on West Papua.

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/region-harawira-condemns-lack-māori-profile-forum-welcomes-west-papua-progress-7

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FIJI/WEST PAPUA: McCully plays down security issues in media

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Item: 7613

AUCKLAND (The Nation/Pacific Media Watch): New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says Fiji is not such a pressing issue and the region is taking a "careful approach" to West Papua.

"The Forum probably is taking a fairly careful approach to a very complex issue," he said on The Nation current affairs programme on TV3 today.

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West Papua ignored, Fiji poll condemned as Forum leaders emerge

Forum video made by AUT video journalists Christopher Chang and Alexander Winkler. Source: PMC YouTube

Alex Perrottet, Pacific Scoop

8 September, 2011

West Papua’s self-determination failed to rate a mention at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting today in spite of a high profile protest for human rights yesterday and a public plea for a United Nations special representative.

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NZ, Australian human rights groups call for UN probe on West Papua

Fifteen human rights and social justice movements based in Australia and New Zealand today called on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to immediately appoint a special United Nations representative to investigate the alleged human rights violations in West Papua and its political status.

Representatives of the groups, meeting at the at Nga Wai o Horotiu marae at AUT University for the past two days, have called for Ban to follow up on his statements yesterday at a joint press conference with NZ Prime Minister John Key.

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‘We Papuans have been hunted like animals but our resolve for independence has never diminished’

Dear All,

I have lived in Australia for the past five years and have visited the United States several times. Currently I am in America working to promote democracy and human rights in West Papua; a right that my people have been desperately struggling to win for almost 50 years.


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web pages
Pacific Media Centre


Pacific Scoop

Peace Movement Aotearoa (facebook)

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

AWPA update. August 2011

A large amount of media coverage on West Papua in the past month. Below is just a snapshot of some of the events that occurred.


Thousands of West Papuans took to the streets in peaceful rallies at the beginning of August calling for a referendum and in support of the International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) conference in Oxford. Forty eight years after Indonesia took over administration of West Papua from the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority in 1963 and the West Papuan people still continue their struggle for justice and self-determination. The issue of West Papua is not going to disappear and the large rallies aptly show this.

A military operation took place in early August in response to a shooting incident that occurred in the village of Nafri early on the 1st August. In the incident four people, including a member of the TNI were killed. Up to 300 members of the security forces ( military and police) were involved in the operation in the hills around Nafri village searching for the perpetrators of the attack. Because a Morning Star flag was found near the incident the Jayapura Police were quick to blame the Free Papua Movement (OPM) for the attack in which unidentified assailants sprayed a small bus with bullets as it passed through Nafri village. However, Forkorus Yoboisembut, chairman of the Papua Traditional Council (DAP), claimed that there was more to the incident than met the eye. “This could be the work of people who do not want to see stability in Papua,” he told the Jakarta Globe. The local rebel commander, Lambert Pekikir denied involvement in an ambush saying the OPM fighting for independence would not randomly kill their own people. Members of Detachment 88 were also brought in to hunt for the unidentified attackers. http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/74433/anti-terror-police-mobilized-to-hunt-opm-separatists

Another shoot out also took place in the Tanah Hitam mountain on Tuesday 16 August after the banned Morning Star flag was raised a day before Indonesia Independence Day According to witnesses a shootout ensued after a joint team of police and military officers arrived to take it down. Papua police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said the joint forces were currently sweeping the mountain to find the perpetrators and prevent more incidents from taking place. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/banned-morning-star-flag-raised-in-papua-shootout-ensues/459625 During the military sweeps of the area police claim they found documents that allegedly belong to the OPM including flags, ammunition of various types , bows and arrows, mobile phones and a list of up to 19 OPM members.
On the 1st September 13 people were arrested in Kotaraja , a by a combined police and military force . Kotaraja is not far from Abepura and Nafri where the military operation had recently taken place They are in police custody in Jayapura. A shot was reported to have been heard in the area during the round up. They are alleged to have been involved in shootings in Nafri and alleged to have caused unrest during an Idul Fitri ceremony that was being held on the premises of Brimob. Sofyan Yoman Socratez from the Baptistist church said they would investigate the incident and would release a formal report to the public next week


A series of articles in the SMH by Tom Allard exposed leaked Kopassus documents
which show lists of West Papuans who are supposed to be supporting separatism when in reality they are members of civil society organisations concerned about the human rights situation in West Papua. The leaked Kopassus documents highlight that the level of spying by the Indonesian military on West Papuans is oppressive, with agents spying at every level of West Papuan society. There is an obvious systematic campaign to intimidate both human rights defenders and the West Papuan peoples a whole. The Australia West Papua Association has written to the Australian Government numerous times about our concern re out ties with the Indonesian military. AWPA's latest press release concerning this at http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2011/08/media-release-time-to-rethink-ties-with.html


A report from the West Papua Project at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS), The University of Sydney, titled "Anatomy of an Occupation: The Indonesian Military in West Papua" by Jim Elmslie and Camellia Webb-Gannon with Peter King analysis's the document and can be found at http://sydney.edu.au/arts/peace_conflict/research/west_papua_project.shtml



Amnesty International released a number of urgent actions concerning West Papua this month. One concerning Papuan political prisoner Kimanus Wenda who is in urgent need of medical treatment. He has a tumour in his stomach, and needs to be transferred to a hospital to undergo an operation. Prison authorities have refused to pay for his transport and medical costs. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA21/025/2011/en
For Papuan activist Melkianus Bleskadit who has been imprisoned for his involvement in a peaceful protest and for raising an independence flag.
and for the fears for safety of Human rights defender Yones Douw. (5 August 2011) http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA21/023/2011/en/95040490-098a-445d-81e2-20f94150781e/asa210232011en.html An original Urgent Action concerning Yones was Issued on the 17 June 2011.

The Asian Human Right Commission also released an U/A concerning Medical workers who were criminally charged for protests over their income


The 42nd Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is being held in Auckland , starting 6 September. AWPA wrote to the PIF leaders in June asking that they grant observer status to genuine representatives of the West Papuan people who are struggling for their right to self determination. AWPA's recent press release re PIF at http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2011/08/media-release-pif-should-grant-observer.html
An article by Maire Leadbeater from the Indonesia Human Rights Committee re PIF at

The ICG released a new briefing paper on West Papua, "Indonesia: Hope and Hard Reality in Papua" found at http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-east-asia/indonesia/B126%20Papua%20-%20Hope%20and%20Hard%20Reality.pdf


News in Brief
Reports of shooting in Paniai
JUBI, 17 August 2011
On 17 August, at 1.55 am, there was the sound of gunfire in Pagepota and Uwibutu, two kampungs that are not far from Madi, the capital of the district of Paniai. There were no reports of any casualties, however. From another source in Paniai, it was reported that at 5am, armed civilian groups believed to be part of the TPN/OPM were using two locations in the vicinity of Madi as their base from which to attack the Indonesian army and police based in Madi. This is near the building in which the DPRD Paniai has its office. As a result of the fact that the areas are now under the control of armed civilian groups, people living in Madi are unable to travel anywhere because it is through these areas that people travel back and forth from Madi to Enaro and Bibida.The gunfire stopped for a while but was heard again between 5am and 7am, then at 9.30am and then later in Enarotali. Two days earlier, spokesmen for the Synod of the KINGMI Church and the Catholic Church in Paniai said that they were very worried about the security situation in Paniai during the past few days. They said that reports of armed conflict between the TPN/OPM and the security forces have worried the population and some people have even decided to leave their homes in search of somewhere safer. (From Tapol) .
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Arrival of troops spread panic, say church personnel

Jubi, 23 August 2011

The dispatch of troops by air and land via Nabire has caused panic in Paniai, said a nun working for the Catholic Church in Paniai who did not want her name to be made public. The people from Paniai had just returned home following a firefight between TPN/OPM fighters and the security forces but left their homes again when they saw heavily armed Brimob troops arriving in the town, she said. A church official said that some of those who had fled after the shooting had not returned home and their present whereabouts were not known. 'We think that some of them have fled to far-away kampungs. and dont want to return to the town which is full of heavily armed troops whose presence is very frightening,' the official said. They would only come back when the town had been cleared of the troops. The church official said they were refusing to come back because they knew that the fighting had been a put-up job and they didn't want to become casualties. 'They have very good reason to be afraid,' the official said, 'because they know that the security forces have arrested a number of school children from the SMP and SMA [lower and upper middle schools] as well as some other young people. These youngsters were interrogated then ordered to do push-ups. They were only released, after we went to the police station and asked for them to be released.' (From Tapol) .
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Papua MIFEE Project Faces Criticism
5 August, 2011 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:
The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) Program has been accused of disenfranchising local farmers in Papua. Berry N. Furqon, director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said that more than 100,000 ha of forest had been cut down for the project, including the sago forest on which the locals depend upon. Abet Nego Tarigan, executive director of Sawit Watch, called on the United Nations to cancel the project. Abet said the MIFEE could endanger Indonesia as it allows companies rather than farmers to control the food supply. The MIFEE project was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Suswono on August 11 last year. The program sees plantations in Merauke managed by companies that also manage the local farmers. One million ha, divided in five clusters, has been allocated for the program. As many as 32 companies have obtained principle licenses and will operate in a range of plantation sectors, namely palm oil, sugar cane and corn among others. Companies that have invested in the program include Wilmar, Sinarmas, Bakrie Sumatera Plantation, Medco, Bangun Cipta Sarana and Artha Graha. NUR ROCHMI


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Ecosystem in Merauke must be preserved, says agricultural expert
JUBI, 11 August 2011

The District of Merauke has a very rich ecosystem which needs to be preserved and protected. The problem is that when forests are cleared, this damages much of the ecosystem and virtually destroys it. Drs Sudirman, an agricultural expert at the provincial administration of Merauke district, speaking during a technical guidance event in Wasur, said that as the population increases, land will be cleared everywhere which will have a very damaging impact on the ecosystem in forested regions. 'One example: When forests were cleared to make way for the MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate) project, recently, a significant part of the ecosystem was lost and much of is it already dead. It is the responsibility of everyone concerned to think about the best way to deal with this problem so as to ensure that the ecosystem is not damaged.' he said. He said that the TH Wasur region in particular has a large number of species which means that it is the responsibility of everyone, including the original inhabitants of the district, to play their part in preserving the ecosystem. These people shouldn't e arrested or shot.


Forests in Papua are valued at $78 billion
The Jakarta Post, Jayapura 08/24/2011 7
Jayapura: Forests in Papua, which cover 42 million hectares, are estimated to be worth US$78 billion, or about Rp 700 trillion, according to Papuan caretaker governor Syamsul Arief Rivai. Speaking at a meeting with regents and mayors from throughout Papua, in Jayapura on Monday, Syamsul said: “If the forests are managed properly and sustainably, they can produce over 500 million cubic meters of logs per annum. Monday’s meeting was held as part of the framework of signing changes in the mapping of Papuan forests linked to the province’s spatial planning revision. Changes in spatial planning are expected to become the best reference in the exploitation of forests aimed at supporting development activities in the area. “We have to increase our efforts to safeguard the forests from any damaging actions for the sake of future generations,” Syamsul said. The governor further said that at least 400 villages have been identified as lying in preservation forest areas; over 1,300 villages are situated within producing and conservation forests on the lowlands; and over 600 villages are based in forests about 1,000 meters above sea level.
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Buchtar Tabuni released from prison
Bintang Papua, 17 August 2011
[Abridged in translation by TAPOL]
Sentani: Buchtar Tabuni, the chairman of KNPB, the West Papua National Committee was one of 656 prisoners in Papua to receive remission of his sentence, granted to prisoners on the occasion of the anniversary of Indonesia's independence on 17 August 1945. While other prisoners were eagerly awaiting news of something they have been waiting for for a very long time, Buchtar said he regarded his remission as an 'insult' for the people of West Papua. The remission of three months meant that his incarceration has come to an end. Speaking to his many supporters who were there to welcome him at the prison gate, Buchtar said that hr does not recognised this independence day because 'our ancestors never fought for an Indonesian government but fought for the Melanesian people. 'He said that the remission was merely an attempt by the Indonesian government to improve its reputation on the international stage. 'They think that with my release on this day, it means that I will show my love and affection for Indonesia, but that is not so. I will continue my struggle for this nation even more radically than before,' he said, to the cheers of his supporters. He used the occasion to congratulate the Indonesian government on the anniversary, and went on to ask the government to give its support to the Papuan people who are yearning for their independence. Following his release, Buchtar was accompanied on his way home by scores of his supporters. The convoy of vehicles accompanying him on his way home in Sentani caused serious traffic congestion but the situation remained calm.

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Timorese students support West Papua. Three arrested in Dili.
From ETAN. A friend in Dili tells ETAN that police recently broke up a demonstration in support of West Papua. As we get more information, we will post updates on ETAN's blog here. The morning of August 17, more than 30 Timorese students called for the right of West Papuan to self-determination and condemned human right violation by the Indonesian military and police against Papuans. The demonstration took place in front of Indonesia Embassy in Farol, Dili, on the 66th anniversary of Indonesia's independence proclamation. Timor-Leste Police (PNTL) arrested three of the protesters -- Juventina Correia Ximenes, Domingos de Andrade and Letornino da Silva. All are currently studying at Timor-Lorosae National University, UNTL. One of demonstrator, Nolasco Mendes, said that the PNTL treated the activists brutally. Police reportedly arrested the activist after the Indonesia Embassy asked the PNTL to stop the demonstration. According to a T imornewsline report the pro-Papua protesters were members of the Students Solidarity Council (Dewan Solidaritas Mahasiswa Timor-Leste) which previously fought for Timor-Leste's independence. Timor-Leste has a strict law on demonstrations which among other things requires four days notice and bans them within 100 yards of a government or diplomatic building.
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Pacific Forum leaders told they can't ignore conflict in Papua
RNZI 31 August, 2011
The Pacific Islands Forum is being told it must speak out about the ongoing instability in the Indonesian region of Papua. Groups representing the indigenous Melanesian people of Papua are calling for them to be given observer status at next week’s Forum summit in Auckland. Pacific leaders once spoke out about the violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Indonesia military in Papua, but have ignored the issues for the past four years. The spokesperson for the Australian West Papua Association, Joe Collins, says the Forum has to realise these abuses have been going on for many years and it’s a matter that won’t go away. He says the Forum is a key regional agency and can’t forget about Papua. “How can you talk about security in the region if you do not actually take on one of the last conflict areas in the Pacific and this is actually West Papua. I mean they [the Forum] are a key regional organisation and by ignoring West Papua, they are showing that they are basically afraid of the issue of West Papua.”
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