Polisi Kejar Pelaku Pengibaran Bintang Kejora

SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY

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[JAYAPURA] Kepolisian Daerah (Polda) Papua melakukan pengejaran terhadap pelaku pengibaran Bendera Bintang Kejora di Kantor Lurah Yabansai, Distrik Heram, Kota Jayapura, Papua, Kamis (1/5) pagi.

Akibat pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora yang merupakan simbol gerekan separatis Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) polisi telah memeriksa 5 orang untuk dimintai keterangan sebagai saksi.

Kapolresta Jayapura AKBP Roberth Djoenso SH saat dihubungi SP, Sabtu (3/5) pagi mengatakan pihaknya terus mengembangkan penyelidikan terhadap kasus ini.

 

Pasal Makar

Tidak tertutup kemungkinan akan memanggil Lurah Yabansai, Distrik Heram, Kota Jayapura untuk dimintai keterangan terkait aksi tersebut.

“Siapapun yang terbukti melakukan pengibaran bendera yang merupakan simbol separatis OPM di Papua akan dijerat dengan pasal-pasal makar sebagaimana yang diatur dalam Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana. Untuk makar ini, hukuman pidananya cukup tinggi, yakni ancaman hukuman pidana seumur hidup atau penjara 20 tahun,” ujarnya.

Dikatakan dari 5 orang saksi yang telah dimintai keterangan, rata-rata saksi ini belum mengetahui siapa pelaku pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora tersebut.

“Yang jelas, pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora di tiang bendera Kantor Lurah Yabansai ini, bukan dinaikkan Kamis pukul 01.00 WIT sebagaimana yang diberitakan beberapa media, tapi yang jelas ditemukan pukul 06.00 WIT,” ujarnya. [154]

 

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Last modified: 3/5/08

Pesan Moral dari Cerita Rakyat Papua

SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY

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Pentas “Nug Nug Wan” 

Pesan Moral dari Cerita Rakyat Papua

SP/Ruht Semiono

Penyanyi Edo Kondologit (kiri) tampil dalam Pentas Sastra Lisan “Nug Nug Wan” di Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, Jumat (2/5). “Nug Nug Wan” merupakan cerita rakyat dari Tobati Enggros, Jayapura, Papua yang diekspresikan dalam bentuk seni pertunjukan.

erkumpul bersama merupakan adat kebiasaan masyarakat Papua. Saat itu, mereka bisa saling bertukar cerita atau anekdot. Banyak cerita-cerita itu yang diceritakan secara turun-temurun hingga sering dikira legenda rakyat. Melalui kisah tersebut, banyak pesan moral yang bisa dipetik, seperti yang diceritakan dalam Nug Nug Wan.

Cerita milik masyarakat Enggros Tobati, Jayapura Papua ini dikemas secara apik ke dalam bentuk seni pertunjukan teater oleh Yayasan Papua Art’s Centre Entertainment (PACE). Pertunjukan yang digelar di teater Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta pada Jumat (2/5) tersebut menggabungkan seni tari dan musik dengan sastra lisan.

Menurut sutradara pertunjukan, Jefri Zeth Nendissa, sastra lisan merupakan budaya masyarakat Papua yang diwariskan turun-temurun. Tidak ada buku yang menuliskan kisah-kisah tersebut. Semua cerita diwariskan dari mulut ke mulut.

Kisah yang diangkat malam itu pun sebenarnya sangat sederhana. Diangkat dari “Mop” atau cerita komedi ringan yang dibumbui dengan nilai-nilai kebijaksanaan. Alkisah sepasang suami istri yang tamak, satu-satunya pemilik kolam ikan di dunia yang tidak diketahui oleh masyarakat. Namun akhirnya, rahasia mereka terbongkar juga sehingga kolam tersebut dihancurkan oleh tuan tanah sehingga ikan-ikan di dalamnya dapat dimiliki oleh masyarakat. Kolam yang terbongkar tersebut kemudian dipercaya sebagai teluk Yotefa.

Nendissa mengatakan tujuan awal ia mengangkat cerita rakyat milik desa Tobati dan Enggros adalah untuk memperkenalkan kepada masyarakat luas sebuah kisah anekdot mengenai asal usul teluk indah yang terletak di sebelah utara pulau Irian tersebut.

Seni pertunjukan ini menggabungkan nyanyian khas Papua dan tari-tarian rakyat sehingga menarik ditonton. Belum lagi para penonton juga dimanjakan suara merdu Edo Kondologit dan Michael “Idol” Jakarimilena. Edo berperan sebagai pencerita yang membimbing penonton memahami isi dari kisah yang disampaikan. Namun, tidak hanya sebagai narator, Edo juga mengambil bagian sebagai penyanyi dan penari dalam pertunjukan tersebut.

Pemeran suami atau ayi dalam pertunjukan tersebut adalah Michael Jakarimilena. Ia juga merupakan finalis Indonesia idol 2004. selain berakting dalam pertunjukan ini, ia juga menunjukkan kebolehannya bernyanyi. Pemeran istri atau anyi adalah Putri Nere, reporter sebuah stasiun swasta yang juga pernah ikut dalam ajang Miss Indonesia 2006.

Pertunjukan juga bergulir secara ringkas, ringan dan dibumbui banyak komedi sehingga terasa ringan. Para penari bergerak secara luwes dan dinamis mengikuti irama lagu pop Papua seperti “Pangkur Sagu” yang dikolaborasikan dengan tarian pergaulan Papua, Yosim Pancar.

 

Sulit Dicerna

Setting panggung yang sederhana juga tidak terlihat kaku. Sayangnya, pertunjukan teater tersebut berdialog dalam bahasa Indonesia dengan dialek Papua yang fasih sehingga sulit dicerna bagi orang awam yang jarang mendengar.

Tata panggung juga disusun dengan apik dengan setting lampu yang pas. Namun sayangnya, pada beberapa adegan, tata suara agak kacau dan saling tumpang tindih sehingga mengganggu pertunjukan. Namun, gangguan tersebut tidak membuat penonton kecewa. Berkali-kali terdengar tawa penonton melihat akting para pemain teater yang berdialog secara natural dan atraktif dengan penonton.

Tidak heran. Walau membawa budaya khas Papua dan pemain-pemain serta penari yang semuanya merupakan produk Papua, jalan cerita Nug Nug Wan kental dengan unsur pop yang ringan. Jefri Zeth Nendissa, arsitek dibalik pertunjukan ini sudah mengemban ilmunya selama bertahun-tahun di Institut Kesenian Jakarta (IKJ). Ia mengatakan sudah saatnya cerita rakyat milik tanah Papua diceritakan kepada masyarakat luas dengan cara yang ringan, seperti halnya cerita-cerita ini dikisahkan turun-temurun dengan cara yang ringan.

Judul Nug Nug Wan yang ia pilih berarti cerita dari kampung. Jefri mengatakan anekdot teluk Yotefa tersebut dipilih sebagai jalan cerita karena ia memiliki rasa kedekatan dengan lokasi teluk tersebut. Lahir dan besar di Jayapura, Jefri mengatakan ia tumbuh dan besar dengan cerita tersebut. Riset yang untuk pertunjukan ini juga hanya sekitar 2 minggu. Itu pun untuk memperdalam detail cerita dengan menggandeng masyarakat asli Tobati Enggros untuk ikut serta dalam pertunjukan Nug Nug Wan.

Hadir pula malam itu, Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan, Freddy Numberi, yang juga merupakan tokoh adat masyarakat Papua. Ia mengungkapkan perlunya pertunjukan-pertunjukan kebudayaan seperti Nug Nug Wan untuk mengangkat budaya Timur agar dapat dikenal luas hingga ke negri seberang. Tokoh-tokoh lain yang hadir adalah seperti beberapa pemangku masyarakat adat Papua serta pasangan artis Nia Zulkarnaen dan Ari Sihasale yang mengaku menikmati pertunjukan tersebut. [CAT/U-5]

West Papuan activists mark 45 years of occupation by Jakarta

Radio New Zealand International

West Papuan activists mark 45 years of occupation by Jakarta

Posted at 07:57 on 01 May, 2008 UTC

The West Papua National Coalition of Liberation says Indonesia can point to little in the way of progress in the Papua region since its occupation in 1963.

West Papuan activists around the world are using May 1st, the 45th anniversary of Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua, to renew their call for international dialogue on Papuan self-determination.

The Coalition, which represents a wide range of Papuan political and civil society groups, has ruled out pushing for independence in the foreseeable future.

But the Coalition’s spokeswoman Paula Makabori says they’ll keep lobbying for dialogue because under Indonesian rule, Papuans’ fundamental rights have never been respected.

“The only thing showing on the ground is the human rights abuses increasing since back to the year when they take over West Papua. Today the West Papuans are trying to manage themselves and say, look, here we are and we’re ready to take you to the international arena to solve the problems in fair and respectful, peaceful dialogue.”

Paula Makabori

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

 

West Papua National Coalition For Liberation

Tuesday, 29 April 2008, 1:01 pm Press Release: West Papua National Coalition for Liberation

 

 

West Papua National Coalition For Liberation

Port Moresby, 29 April 2008 — The leaders representing 29 West Papuan political and civil society organisations have formalized the establishment of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation [WPNCL]. This coalition represents the 1.5 million West Papuan people from over 600 tribal communities on the western half of the island of New Guinea. (The landmass of West Papua is an area of 430,000 square kilometers, which is about the same size as France.)

At a meeting held in Port Vila, Vanuatu during April 2008, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation elected Richard Yoweni of the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPN PB) as Chairman, Dr. John Otto Ondawame as Vice Chairman and Mr. Rex Rumakiek as the Secretary General.

The Secretariat for the WPNCL will be established at the West Papuan Peoples Representative Office in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“The establishment of this WPNCL shows the determination of the people of West Papua to take control of the agenda and progress their struggle for self determination and independence in the international arena. This organisation seeks to reclaim and protect the resources, culture and lives of the West Papuan people in the face of Indonesian colonization of our land”, said Clemens Runawery spokesperson for the WPNCL.

“Indonesian Government control over West Papua for the past 45 years and the implementation of its so-called ‘Special Autonomy’ package in the past 5 years has grossly failed the West Papuan people.”

Mr Runawery went on to say, “Under Special Autonomy there has been very poor administration leading to the rapid deterioration of health and education of Papuan people, an ever increasing wave of the HIV/AIDS disease and huge profiteering from the exploitation of West Papuan natural resources and rainforests.”

“There is now a disastrous situation where West Papua people are on the brink of becoming a minority in their own land.”

“International support for Special Autonomy has been a success for international investors, lincluding BP at the Tangguh gas project & RTZ at the Freeport copper mine. These investments have effectively underwritten the occupation of West Papua by the Indonesian security forces.”

“Indonesian is in a phase of business expansion in West Papua and that means the abuse of human rights of indigenous West Papuans, the restriction of political freedom and tightening military control. The expansion of Indonesian Government backed businesses and economic interests is at the expense of the people of West Papua.”

“WPNCL is now seeking Observer Status with the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Islands Forum as a platform for the people of West Papua within the United Nations and other international forums.”

“The WPNCL will seek to reverse the so-called Act of Free Choice of 1969 and re-inscribe West Papua on UN Decolonization Committee in so that the people of West Papua are given the due process of ‘self-determination’.”

“The WPNCL will continue to seek internationally mediated negotiation with the Republic of Indonesia as the best way of resolving the ongoing armed conflict promoted by the Indonesian security forces and reversing the disastrous human rights and spiraling health situation of the West Papuan people.”

The Chairman of the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, Richard Yoweni, said today, “On behalf of people of West Papua, the WPNCL Secretariat would like to convey publicly our heartfelt thanks to the Government, Political Parties, Chiefs, Churches, NGOs and the people of Vanuatu for their continued support for our struggle for self determination.”

ENDS

FREE WEST PAPUA (UK) message to the BP TIAP Meeting, London, 22 April 2008

FREE WEST PAPUA (UK) message to the BP TIAP Meeting, London, 22 April 2008

BP WEST PAPUA (Tangguh) FREE WEST PAPUA (UK) message to the BP TIAP Meeting, London, 22 April 2008 Richard Samuelson, Co-Director, Free West Papua (UK) gave this message to the members of the Tangguh Independent Advisory Board (TIAP*) and to senior representatives of BP Indonesia at the annual BP-TIAP meeting at the South Bank Centre in London today.“THANK YOU for this vital opportunity to bring a message from inside West Papua to this important meeting in London today. Thank you also to BP for helping to make it possible for us to hold a peaceful protest on private land outside this meeting. Thank God we are FREE here in England to speak out and protest. We could not be doing this in Indonesian-occupied West Papua. Thank God I can say this and wear my Morning Star badge and walk away as a free man. If I did this in West Papua, Indonesian intelligence agents and police would be waiting at the door to arrest me. I am here with a mixture of deep sadness and anger. Deep sadness because we are here today surrounded by bones – the bones of the thousands of our Papuan Brothers and Sisters who have been killed during 45 years of the Indonesian occupation, the grim anniversary of which falls soon on 1 May. I always think that any meeting like this should begin with silence to remember all those who have died and the countless others who have been tortured and raped by Indonesian soldiers and police. And I feel anger, because, just as in the Rio Tinto meeting we were at last week, there’s an “elephant in the room” which no-one is talking about – the Indonesian military occupation of West Papua. Why to Papuans raise the Morning Star flag, why do they go on the streets demanding a referendum? Because the overwhelming majority of West Papuans DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF INDONESIA! And the only way the Indonesian sate can stop the democratic will of the people of West Papua becoming a reality, is to use violence, threats and intimidation. You wouldn’t know any of this from reading the latest TIAP report and BP’s response. TIAP and BP claim that human rights abuses in West Papua occurred “in the past”, or “in other parts of Papua” (such as the Central Highlands). Well I have brought with me today a photograph (holds up poster-size photo) of one of our Brothers who was smashed in the face with rifle butts by Indonesian intelligence and police last month. For those of you who are here today from the Indonesian Embassy – it was YOUR soldiers who did this to our Brother! He is not involved in violence. He just wants to campaign peacefully for his people’s freedom. And for that, this is what Indonesia did to him! I wish so much that he could be with us today to tell you this himself, but he’s now in hiding. But we’ll tell him that he was in a way able to get his message to us here now in London. BP – this is where you’re operating. In a country where this happens every day! Oppression like this is happening every day NOW in Indonesian-occupied West Papua (not just “in the past”) and it’s not just in the Central Highlands. You must know about the arrests last month for raising the Morning Star flag in Manokwari. They may get 10, 15 or 20 years in prison, just for saying they want to be Free! BP, you simply cannot say that’s nothing to do with the part of West Papua you’re operating in. And we had reports that when Prince Andrew visited the BP project itself in March, Indonesian soldiers threatened to “shoot on the spot” any Papuan who put up a protest banner such as “Welcome Prince Andrew to the Land of Papua – the Land of Genocide”. I will finish by raising the Morning Star flag, the Bintang Kejora, (holds up Morning Star flag) in solidarity with all our West Papuan brothers and sisters who are now in prison for doing exactly this in Abepura, Timika and Manokwari. Here in London we can raise this flag without fear. We can tell the world that West Papua wants to be Free! * The members of the Tangguh Independent Advisory Board (TIAP) are: Senator George Mitchell (USA), Ambassador Sabam Siagian (Indonesia), Revd Herman Saud (West Papua) & Lord Hannay (UK) ========================================

[ Back

Photo News West Papua:The Real Oxford Union address

Photo News West Papua:The Real Oxford Union address

Benny Wenda Message to The Real Oxford Union address member in Oxford. Today is my first time i give talk The Real Oxford Union address today in the world end of the slavery but in West Papua Indonesia Military slave my people.

West Papua: Seven Students are released by Police in Jayapura

Tuesday, April 22 2008 @ 10:49 PM PDT Contributed by: Admin Views: 103 The seven students who were detained by the Police in Jayapura have been released this morning. The group are now with their lawyer, Mr Alo Renwarin and are said to be very happy about now being released. 23 April 2008 West Papua Alert: Seven Students are released by Police in Jayapura The seven students who were detained by the Police in Jayapura have been released this morning. The group are now with their lawyer, Mr Alo Renwarin and are said to be very happy about now being released. They thanked the people who had contacted the Police Headquarters in Jayapura and said this action had ensured their release. The Head of Police had told Mr Renwarin that there will be no further action against the group on this case. The group of West Papuan students was Yosias Yeimo, Benyamin Sabu, Nebon Pahabol, Marthen Goo, Santon Tekege, Emilianus Keiya and Gunawan Inggeruhi. They were detained by Police while unfurling banners about democracy and self determination at the beginning of a demonstration in Abepura, in the city of Jayapura yesterday.

Time to right the great Melanesian wrong

Time to right the great Melanesian wrong

Monday, 14 April 2008

FINALLY, hope for the forgotten Melanesians. And a chance for Prime Minister Derek Sikua and this country to try to help right one of the great wrongs of Melanesia. It comes with Vanuatu’s move to push the cause of the Indonesian-ruled West Papuans at next month’s Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting. This is being held in the Vanuatu capital, Port Vila. Vanuatu Foreign Minister George Wells promised support after the West Papua National Coalition of Liberation met in Port Vila the other day. Vanuatu wants the West Papuans to be given observer status within the Melanesian Spearhead Group. It would link them with Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Kanaks of New Caledonia. Dr Sikua should support this Vanuatu move despite all the behind-the-scenes pressures he will now come under not to. For the Indonesians have no more right to occupy West Papua than they did East Timor. Indonesia’s mistreatment of the Papuans and exploitation of West Papua’s rich resources are well documented. Just the other day, for instance, TV viewers in Honiara saw a graphic Australia Network documentary telling of the spreading of HIV/AIDS amongst the Papuan population. There were suggestions this is part of a strategy to weaken the Papuans and strengthen the position of Asian Indonesians being moved into Papua. So let’s never forget the following despite all the huff and puff from Jakarta. Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua has no credibility. It was only allowed to happen because it suited American Government interests during the Cold War. More recently Australian and Papua New Guinean governments have largely kept West Papua off the Pacific Islands Forum agenda. They have thwarted efforts to get the Forum to address the issue of West Papuan self determination. Canberra does this because it worries about maintaining Australia’s own relationships with its massive and sensitive neighbour to its north. To appease Jakarta, Canberra pragmatically turns a blind eye to the rights of the West Papuans. This has been especially important to Canberra since the fallout with Jakarta over East Timor. In Port Moresby, there is personal sympathy for their fellow Melanesians across the border in the west. But Papua New Guinea governments also fear provoking any confrontation with the Indonesians. They are especially wary of the powerful Indonesian military who hold such sway in West Papua and benefit so much from the occupation there. There are also some in Papua New Guinea who see benefits, perhaps personal, in snuggling up to the Indonesians. Vanuatu alone has long supported the West Papuan cause. It has been prepared to stand up to all the pressure over this. Not just from the Indonesians but also from Canberra and Port Moresby. The West Papua National Coalition of Liberation is said to bring together 28 pro-independence groups. Its vice chairman, Dr John Ondawame, told Radio Australia after they met in Port Vila that there are now signs of support from Fiji and Solomon Islands too. Let’s hope this finally translates into a true Melanesian effort to right one of the great wrongs of this part of the world. And Solomon Islands joins Vanuatu in leading this effort. Granting the West Papuans observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group is an important first step.

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Soal Cabut, Kembalikan ke Masyarakat Adat

12 April 2008 05:17:48

Soal Cabut, Kembalikan ke Masyarakat Adat

Atas 3 Papan Nama Kantor PPS yang Ditancapkan di Merauke

MERAUKE- Kendati Sekretaris Daerah Merauke Umar Ary Karim, telah memerintahkan Asisten III Setda Merauke untuk mencabut atau menutup tulisan 3 papan nama yakni Kantor Gubernur Provinsi Papua Selatan, Kantor DPR dan KPU Provinsi Papua Selatan yang ditancapkan pada 3 tempat berbeda pada Sabtu (5/4) lalu, namun hingga Jumat kemarin, ketiga papan nama tersebut belum dicabut atau ditutup.

Asisten III Setda Merauke Agustina Basik-Basik, S.Sos, MM, yang ditemui terkait dengan pencabutan atau penutupan 3 papan nama tersebut mengaku tidak berani untuk mencabut 3 papan nama tersebut karena yang melakukan penancapan adalah masyarakat adat.

‘’Yang bisa mencabut adalah masyarakat adat. Karena menancapan itu dilakukan oleh masyarakat adat yang tidak asal ditancap tapi dilakukan secara adat. Karena di 3 papan nama itu saya lihat dipasangi janur kuning (kelapa mudah) yang biasa digunakan sebagai simbol-simbol adat di sini dan itu memiliki makna mendalam,’’ kata Mantan Kepala Dinas Kebudayaan Kabupaten Merauke ini.

Lagi pula, jika sudah dilakukan secara adat, lanjutnya, pencabutan 3 papan nama yang telah ditancap tersebut tidak dapat dilakukan secara sembarang sebelum maksud dari penancapan itu tercapai. ‘’Itulah adat yang harus dihormati pula, karena memiliki makna mendalam,’’ jelasnya.

Namun demikian, sambungnya, guna mencapai win-win solution, pihaknya akan meminta agar 3 papan nama tersebut bisa ditutup sampai tulisan yang ada di papan nama itu tidak terlihat atau terbaca lagi. ‘’Agar dari adatnya tidak salah dan dari sisi aturan tidak melanggar maka itu kita minta untuk ditutup. Dan nanti kita minta dari unsure pemuda untuk menutupnya,’’ jelasnya.

Agustina mengungkapkan lebih jauh, di era demokrasi perbedaan pendapat yang muncul harus dihormati dan aspirasi yang datang dari rakyat harus di dengar. Karena menurutnya, suara rakyat merupakan suara Tuhan. ‘’Itulah sebabnya ada lembaga DPRD dan DPRP sebagai wakil rakyat yang diberi amanat untuk memperjuangkan apa yang menjadi kehendak rakyat,’’ terangnya.

Agustina Basik-Basik menambahkan, adanya suara-suara dari luar jika apa yang tengah diperjuangkan saat ini hanya kepentingan segelintir elit politik di Selatan Papua merupakan bahasa klise yang selalu dilontarkan sejak dahulu. ‘’Dari rambut saya hitam hingga sekarang mulai memutih, bahasa klise itu selalu menjadi tameng. Padahal, mereka tidak pernah turun ke lapangan melihat kita bagaimana sebenarnya,’’ tambahnya. (ulo)

Amnesty Int’l UK Passes West Papua Resolution

Wednesday, 9 April 2008, 9:31 am Press Release: Free West Papua Campaign

 

 

Amnesty International UK Annual General Meeting passes West Papua Resolution

On Saturday 5 April 2008, the Amnesty International UK AGM passed overwhelmingly (with only one vote against) a Resolution on West Papua, calling on AI’s International Secretariat to:

“explore increasing the campaigning resources available for work on [West Papua]“

& take “a more vigorous campaigning approach towards the Indonesian government”

Amnesty International UK Indonesian Country Co-ordinator, Mark Robbins, who proposed the Resolution, delivered a powerful speech on the latest Human Rights situation in West Papua to five hundred Amnesty International UK delegates attending the AGM at Nottingham University (speech copied below).

In his speech, Mr Robbins gave a grim warning that “a bad situation [in Papua] is turning progressively worse” and “We are now looking at a possible human rights catastrophe”.

Richard Samuelson
Free West Papua Campaign
Oxford, UK.
www.freewestpapua.org

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WEST PAPUA Resolution passed by Amnesty International UK AGM, 5th April 2008

Bearing in mind the repressive treatment to which the people of Papua Province are subjected by the state actors of Indonesia.

Noting that AI supports the values enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, in particular that, ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression’ and the freedom to ‘impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers’ (Article 19) and that, ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association’ (Article 20).

Noting that these freedoms are routinely denied to the people of Papua Province in the peaceful expression of their political views, or their concerns about human rights abuses.

Noting that access of journalists and human rights workers to Papua Province is severely restricted by the Indonesian authorities, and that human rights workers and journalists are routinely harassed and subjected to death threats.

This AGM calls upon the AIUK Board to raise the issue of Papua Province with the International Secretariat to explore increasing the campaigning resources available for work on this state, and to request that the International Secretariat takes a more vigorous campaigning approach towards the Indonesian government as part of the movement’s continuing work on Indonesia.

***

PROPOSER’S BACKGROUND NOTES:

‘Freedom of opinion and expression’:
In February 2007 Human Rights Watch issued a report “Protest and Punishment – Political Prisoners in Papua” http://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/papua0207/ detailing 18 recent cases of political prisoners jailed for peaceful expression of their views.

Amnesty International has recognised two West Papuan independence campaigners Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, as prisoners of conscience. Arrested on 1 Dec 2004 after peacefully raising the West Papuan independence flag in Abepura, West Papua, they were later sentenced to 15 and 10 years in prison for ‘rebellion against the state’. http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=204

ABC Radio Australia – 02/12/2007, 09:28:58:

‘More than 20 people were reportedly arrested in Indonesia’s Papua as they raised the outlawed “Morning Star” separatist flag.’

Cendrawasih Post, of the 7 July 2007:

Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian who is commander of the Jayapura sub-regional military command, Korem 172, is reported stating ‘that it is the duty of the TNI [the Indonesian military] to crush any struggle or activity undertaken by any group in the community which tends towards separatism” and ”What is absolutely certain is that anyone who tends towards separatism will be crushed by TNI.’ http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/node/51325

(In 2003 Colonel Siagian was indicted by UN investigators for murder and torture when he was based in East Timor in the run-up to the 1999 independence referendum. Jakarta refused to extradite him – instead he was promoted and sent to Papua.)

‘Harassment of journalists and human rights workers’:

Human Rights Watch News Release (Jakarta, July 5, 2007): Indonesia: Police Abuse Endemic in Closed Area of Papua states:

‘The Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua are closed to outside human rights observers. Journalists have extremely limited access.’ http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2007/07/05/indone16272.htm

Extract from Amnesty International’s 2007 Report into the state of the world’s human rights, referring to West Papua:

‘There were reports of extrajudicial executions, torture and ill-treatment, excessive use of force during demonstrations and harassment of human rights defenders.’ http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Asia-Pacific/Indonesia

In June 2007, a special representative to the United Nations Secretary General, Hina Jilani, visited West Papua and issued a strongly worded report about abuses committed against human rights defenders, including the following reference:

….’The Special Representative is deeply concerned by the testimonies that she has heard indicating the continuing activities of the police, the military and other security and intelligence agencies that are aimed at harassment and intimidation of defenders or to restrict their access to victims and to sites of human rights violations.’ http://www.un.or.id/press.asp?Act=1&FileID=20070612-1&lang=en

PROPOSER: Mark Robbins, (Amnesty International UK Indonesian Country Co-ordinator)
SECONDER: Reading University Amnesty International Group

Passed overwhelmingly by the Amnesty International UK AGM, Saturday 5th April 2008 (just one vote against)

***

 

Conference Speech by Mark Robbins, Amnesty International UK Indonesian Country Co-ordinator,
to propose the West Papua Resolution

My name is Mark Robbins, the Amnesty International UK (AIUK) Indonesian Country Co-ordinator. Both I and many of the local groups working on the Indonesian territory of West Papua feel very strongly that the human rights situation there is reaching a critical point. As the locals there have practically no defence against the escalating abuse they are suffering, it is up to us in the international human rights community to come to their aid – and we must do so now and we must do so vigorously before the whole situation runs completely out of control. This Resolution therefore calls upon the AIUK Board to raise the issue of West Papua with the International Secretariat to explore increasing the campaigning resources available for work on this state, and to request that the International Secretariat takes a more vigorous campaigning approach towards the Indonesian government as part of the movement’s continuing work on Indonesia.

1. History

Since West Papua was taken over by Indonesia in 1962, the area has suffered a history of massive abuse. An ex-Governor of the province has estimated that in order to consolidate its rule, the Indonesian army bombed and napalmed 30,000 people to death in the first six years of its operations. Repressive operations continued throughout the ’70s, including the notorious Operation Clean Sweep where up to a further 13,000 were killed.

2. Current Situation

The popular view is that since the fall of Soeharto in 1998, reform has made things better for the people of Papua. This is just not so. There were initial concessions, yes, but then the military re-grouped at the beginning of the decade and returned to a position of influence in government.

Since then the concessions have been withdrawn or remain unfulfilled and the military and local militias have grown at an alarming rate. The army has been turning the country into a no-go area for outsiders and even for the Indonesian government itself, as it uses the province to capture further power within the Indonesian state.

With such a blockade, it’s hard to estimate how the human rights situation has changed, but the limited evidence gathered by the UN, Franciscans International, Human Rights Watch and ourselves all point conclusively in one direction – a bad situation is turning progressively worse, with abuses of all kinds escalating. And recent reports suggest that the situation is deteriorating ever more rapidly.

3. The Possible Outcome

We are now looking at a possible human rights catastrophe. The Papuans are becoming more desperate and the military are escalating their activities in defence of what they consider their vital interests. In stand-offs like this in the past, such as when the military took power in the ’60s or when they were forced out of East Timor, they initiated a vast campaign of destruction and violence. This is the danger we are now facing.

4. The Vulnerability of the Papuans –

In this awful scenario, the Papuans can’t look to their own country for defence. As we have seen, the Indonesian government, even when moved by the best of motives, can’t or won’t intervene in the province. The legal reforms initiated in the last few years have barely touched on military impunity, so the law is also closed as an avenue of defence. In this situation, it is only we, the international human rights community that can come to the aid of the people of Papua.

5. What We Propose

To bring about a change to this situation, we principally need a restitution of the freedom of expression – only then can the people of Papua and the human rights defenders within the country bring to light what is going on. We also need, as a matter of extreme urgency, for outside independent observers to be allowed back into the country and for them also to be able to report freely what they find. The dialogue made possible by freedom of expression can also make possible a reduction in the fearsome tensions being generated in the province. We need to apply pressure for these changes with all due vigour, as in matters of the military and West Papua, the Indonesian government is all too ready to fudge and stall.

All this would not only benefit the Papuans. Indonesia is struggling towards reform and it is entrenched abuse and the powers behind it that presents the greatest stumbling block to them getting there. Therefore, for the sake of the people of Papua and for the fate of human rights throughout Indonesia, I ask the conference to pass this resolution to allow the Board to push for more resources and more vigour in our campaigning on this vital issue.

ENDS