Ironic Morning Star Moon Landing (Artwork: AK Rockefeller)
Tabloid JUBI
28 November, 2012
The police chief of the district of Mimika, Jeremias Runtini has called on the people to ‘remain calm’ as1 December approaches. He said that people should act together to safeguard security and public order and should avoid getting involved in activities that tend towards subversion such as flying the Morning Star flag.
He said that to mark its anniversary, the OPM, Organisasi Papua Merdeka, the Papuan Freedom Movement, usually flies the Morning Star flag and other people join in this as well.
‘There is nothing special about 1 December,’ he said, adding that the police and the military will be patrolling the area, after mustering their men on Timika Indah Square,’ he told journalists, as 1 December approached.
He said that in anticipation of people flying the Morning Star flag, his men will be mounting patrols throughout the region of Mimika. ‘I very much hope that people will not get involved in activities that are in violation of the laws in force in the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, ‘especially bearing in mind that flying the Morning Star flag is regarded as an act of subversion and is therefore against the law.’
Repeating his call for people to ‘remain calm’ and avoid doing anything that is against the law, he called on people to support all the development activities that are being undertaken. ‘Let us join together and get involved in these development activities; I am ready to be a partner in these joint endeavours.’
He told journalists that during the three days approaching 1 December, the police will be at the top level of readiness during these three days.
‘All of us must think positively and refrain from doing anything that is in violation of the law, so as not to disrupt peace and tranquillity.’
[Translated by TAPOL]
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November 29, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication, Urgent Action | Tags: civil resistance, flagraising, Free Papua Movement, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, Indonesian State Violence, Law, Mimika, Morning Star Flag, Papua, right of free expression, Timika | 1 Comment »
JUBI,
28 November 2012
Jayapura: The head of the Education, Youth and Sports Service in the province of Papua, James Modouw, said that there are at least one thousand kampungs (villages) spread across the province where there is no primary school.
‘Of the more than four thousand kampungs in Papua,’ he said, ‘ it is thought that around 1,047 do not have a primary school. It is also the case that throughout the district of Suru-Suru in the Regency of Asmat, there are eight kampungs, none of which has a primary school. This does not include the regency of Yahukimo about which no data has yet been received.’
He said that the kampungs without a primary school are mainly in the mountainous regions of Papua. ‘In the whole of the Bintang Highland Regency, there is not a single primary school,’ he said. The same is true throughout the regencies of Lany Jaya, Puncak Jaya and Nduga. ‘This is a matter that requires the attention of the local governments in these areas,’ he said.
He said that the problem of the lack of availability of primary education in Papua should be resolved. ‘We call on the local and municipal administrations to insist that adequate funds are made available for primary schools everywhere in the 2013 budget.so as to deal with the lack of schools and the widespread illiteracy among the Papuan people. He said that is calculated that thirty percent of Papuan children get no education at all.
[Translated by TAPOL]
[COMMENT: Over the years, we have read so many reports about the non-availability of teachers as well as healthcare workers in so many parts of West Papua. This is clearly an extremely serious matter indeed, a situation that clearly has not improved since the enactment of the Special Autonomy Law in 2001, more than eleven years ago. No wonder Papuans are being thrust aside as more and more better-educated migrants from other parts of the country outnumber Papuans and take control of the territory's economy and administration. As is so often the case, Papuans are frequently described as being 'terbelakang' or 'backward'. So whose fault is that?! TAPOL]
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November 29, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: failure of Special Autonomy, Indonesian neglect of Papua, lack of educational opportunity for Papuans, neglected People's welfare, Papuan marginalisation, Papuan people, Social dislocation | Leave A Comment »
Jubi,
24 November 2012Jayapura: The many proposals for West Papua to be split up into separate autonomous provinces is provoking a variety of responses. Some say that it is a good move provided there is careful selection, while others fear that splitting up the territory will lead to the marginalisation of the indigenous Papuan people, and turn them into mere spectators in their own country.
Member of the provincial legislative assembly Melkias Yeke Gombo said that splitting u the territory must first and foremost be beneficial to the indigenous Papuan people.’It must lead to improving the welfare of the Papuan people and not result in their becoming mere spectators,’ he said.
Any decision to split up the territory should occur because it is what the community itself wants and not be taken to serve the interests of a clique of the political elite.
‘The chief reason for any decision to split up the territory should be to raise the level of welfare and should be based on the consideration that the human resources in the area in question are better served in terms of developing the area in question. The fact is, he said, that the territories that have been split up have simply turned the Papuans into mere spectators, he said, making it impossible for them to do anything at all in advancement of their own interests.
He also said that splitting up the territory should not result in the creation of little kings who rule the new regions and who forget about serving the interests of the indigenous Papuan people.
‘This will only create difficulties for the Papuan people. What should happen, he said, in that it should provide maximum good for the people as the area being served is diminished in size.
The Minister of the Interior, Gamawan Fauzi described the moves to split up the territoy as ‘progress’ although he accepts that there is room for improvement. ‘This is based on the evaluation of the results of splitting the territory up so far, over a period of three years. He said that there has been some progress although there is room for improvement. According to the minister, there needs to be improvements in the basic infrastructure to comply with the standards reached in other parts of the country.
He admitted that the building of roads and bridges in Papua as being far behind what has been achieved elsewhere in the country.
Prior to this statement, a decision was taken to split up two regencies in the Province of West Papua, namely the Arfak Mountain Regency and the South Manokwari Regency He said that these regions had been turned into new autonomous regions at the same time as the creation of new autonomous regions had been created in North Kalimantan.
[Comment: As is evident, indigenous Papuans see the move to split up their territory as a way of turning them into minority groups, bereft of any political power to determine their own future and indeed to secure their right to self-determination which has been denied to them since the fraudulent 'act of free choice '.]
[Translated by TAPOL]
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November 28, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Leave A Comment »
Bintang Papua,
26 November 2012Jayapura: Alius Asso, the deputy chairman of SHDRP, the Papuan Civil Society Organisation for Solidarity, Law and Human Rights, has urged the police to use persuasive methods on 1 December when demonstrations will take place to mark the anniversary of 1 December.
Asso said that on that day, there will be actions by indigenous groups in seven regions that claim to be part of the Federated Republic of West Papua in Mamta, Saireri, Bomberay, Domberay, Me Pago, Ha Amin and several other places, which will take the form of prayer meetings or flag ceremonies.
However, Asso said that it was not possible for him to tell groups not to wave the Morning Star flag ‘because they have every right to do so’.
He said that it was up to the security force to act in a professional way during these coming events. Demonstrations on 1 December have become a regular annual feature for Papuan people to commemorate this historic day and this has been going on for many years.
‘The police should act wisely and professionally. They should avoid repressive actions. If they fail to do so, there will be many victims among the Papuan people . In Sentani, it is likely that the event will take place at the grave of [the assassinated Papuan leader] Theys Eluay with prayers being said.’ But Asso said he was not sure what would happen in Jayapura.
The chief of police for Papua, Inspector-General Tito Karnavian has said that the army (TNI) and the police will be out guarding the areas because this is an integral part of their duties.. But Asso said that they should not resort to the use of violence. ‘If the demonstrators only intend to say prayers, why should this be banned by the security forces?’
He went on to say that the spirit of democracy is developing and people are expressing their aspirations in peaceful ways, but if the State goes on silencing democracy, it will be responsible for closing down the space for democracy and there will be yet more injustices and human right abuses.
‘Everyone agrees about the need for security and moreover there is a law in force which guarantees protection for the citizens. And this is quite clear in the first article of the 1945 constitution.’
[Translated by TAPOL]
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November 28, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: brutality, civil resistance, criminalization of peaceful dissent, Human Rights and Liberties, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, Jayapura, right of free expression | Leave A Comment »
by wedaumamo at KNPB News
November 17, 2012
Analysis / Opinion
Jayapura, KNPBnews – In their continuous efforts to destroy the legitimate movement of the people of West Papua who are fighting for their rights, Indonesian counter-intelligence operations have now created a rival organization called the West Papua Youth National Committee (Komite Nasional Pemuda Papua Barat, or KNPPB). The organization claims itself to be a forerunner of a self-claimed Republic of West Papua under the leadership of Yance Hembring, an agent of the Indonesian Republic.
The KNPPB, an acronym which bears a striking resemblance with KNPB, was created by Indonesia to further strike a blow at the genuine struggle for Papuan rights, led by the KNPB. The fact that Indonesia would instigate further attacks towards the good image of the political struggle of the people of West Papua was to be expected and it was also predicted. It was only a matter of time before journalists of the newspaper Bintang Papua, a number of which are mere agents of Indonesia, calculatedly published the news item concerning the establishment of this rival organ, based on information passed on by sources who are nothing more than the minions of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and who have been paid to discredit the struggle of the people of West Papua, a struggle led by the KNPB and the people of West Papua.
Active monitoring of the online media shows that Yance Hembring’s group constitutes a faction of the OPM which has already surrendered to the Republic of Indonesia and which is now being used by Indonesia to influence and destroy the bases of the OPM. This faction is now also being used by Indonesia to recruit young people to destroy the KNPB by setting up the rival organ called KNPPB, in exchange for money.
The release today of this deceit by the newspaper Bintang Papua (issues numbers 14 and 15) has as main purpose to blacken the good image of the KNPB and to diminish the sympathy of the people of West Papua for the KNPB. Wim Metlama, KNPB’s National Spokesperson, said that Indonesia was resorting to the old ways of paying Papuans and Papuan newspapers in order to play their dirty political games and soiling the good image of the struggle of West Papua.
“Treacherous moves like these are not something new. These are old tricks that Indonesia has been using, but it has always been to no avail. And we are convinced that the people of West Papua are wise enough to recognise these dreadful tricks played by the colonisers. Even more so, this deceit only proves once again to the people of West Papua that Indonesia is in the habit of manipulating the truth and lying to the people, and precisely for that reason will they realise that the NKRI is truly an occupying colonial force in West Papua”, said Wim.
The newspaper Media Papua is unfortunately contributing to the spreading of the lie, by publishing the news item and disseminating the deceitful information into the public in West Papua. According to our monitoring, a month ago, Papua police chief Tito Karnavian had approached the board of editors of the newspaper Bintang Papua and he had asked them for their support for his colonial agenda. Soon, if not already, many agents of the printed media and other reporters in West Papua will be offered money in return for services to support the colonial program as Tito Karnavian has recently requested.
[Translated by LT]
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November 19, 2012 | Categories: News alert, Opinion, syndication | Tags: Bintang Papua, fake journalism, indonesia, Indonesian intelligence games, Jayapura, knpb, Papua, Papuan people, Tito Karnavian, west papua | 1 Comment »
ELSHAM NEWS SERVICE
16 November 2012
Keerom, – It was early and the streets were not too crowded when I started my journey from Abepura, Kota Baru District at 6.30 a.m. (Papuan time) to Arso, in Keerom which is a drive of about two hours and a half by two wheeler.
After arriving in Arso, I went on to the village of Kwor and arrived at about 9:16 a.m., and from the village of Kwor I continued the journey towards the bivouacs of the internally displaced people (IDPs) who had run into the forests, out of fear for their lives.
During the six-hour drive through the gardens, rivers and forest, I arrived at the bivouacs of the IDPs: the 38 people were scattered in four different bivouacs; they came from three villages, namely, Sawyatami (11 IDPs), Workwana (9 IDPs) and of PIR III Bagia (18 IDPs).
The group of IDPs who settled in the bivouacs in the middle of the forest, is composed of 20 men and 18 women. Among the IDPs, there are seven (7) children under the age of five (toddlers). In addition to parents and toddlers, there are 15 students consisting of eight (8) elementary school students, four (4) junior high school students and three (3) high school students. These students have not attended school for the last five months.
In the camps, the IDPs could rely only on food collected from around the bivouacs likesago, sago worms, wood worms and wild boar. “We have stayed out here in the forest for five months, and in order to survive, the only thing we could eat were sago worms and wood worms and the only thing we could drink was water from the creek,” said LK (68yr), a traditional leaders who is also on the run.
The condition of the refugees is very deplorable: there are two pregnant women, namely the two-month pregnant Rosalina Minigir (36 yr), and the four-month pregnant Agustina Bagiasi (35 yr). Another woman, Aleda Kwambre (28 yr) gave birth to a baby girl at the shelter camp. At the present, two babies were found to be in very poor health conditions: Penina Pekikir (3 yr) and Ruth Kimber (1 yr), and if the situation persists they could turn critical.
“I am afraid of Kopassus [the Indonesian special forces]. I saw how they came with their guns, entered into the village of PIR III and started shooting. So I was afraid of going to school,” said CK (17) who ran away and stopped attending school because he did not feel safe anymore, after all the acts intimidation by the security forces.
NY (8yr) expressed the same fear as CK, as she says with a timid voice:”It’s been a long time since I attended school, I was afraid when I saw the soldiers flying over the village with their helicopters.”
MT (38yr) also expressed disappointment with the local government of the Keerom District, as it was unable to ensure safety and security for the indigenous Papuans in Keerom. “I am angry because these high officials, local government officials, regents, scholars, community leaders, traditional leaders and religious leaders, do not care about us in this forest. I was scared when I saw these police officers, they went into the villages and they just started shooting. I was afraid so I had to run into the forest” she said, sobbing.
The refugees expressed the hope that ELSHAM Papua would return with international human rights institutions to mediate their return to their respective villages. “Christmas is near; we were not able to gather money for the celebrations. These children have not attended school for five months. So we really hope that ELSHAM can help us so we can return to our village,” said FK (50yr), filled with hope.
As reported earlier by ELSHAM, the 38 locals had fled from the three villages because they were afraid of ongoing sweeping operations conducted by the joint Indonesian military and police forces in Keerom, since the shooting of Yohanes Yanuprom, the head of the village of Sawyatami on 1 July 2012.
Up to the date of this report, the IDPs remain in the forest without proper food and adequate medicine.
Elsham News Service
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November 17, 2012 | Categories: Briefing by Papuan Civil Society members, Human Rights Report, News alert, syndication | Tags: brutality, human rights, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian State Violence, Internally displaced person, Kopassus, Papuan people, TNI, village burnings | Leave A Comment »
TITO KARNAVIAN (Photo credit: RubyGoes)
Bintang Papua,
9 November, 2012
Timika: The chief of police in Papua has announced that he will be setting up a special team to investigate recent acts of terror in the vicinity of the Freeport copper-and-gold mine which is located in the district of Mimika,
Inspector-General Tito Karnavian said that the special team will be charged with mapping the incidents and investigating each one so ensure that they are properly solved.
‘The team will be instructed to handle each case seriously. What happens at present that when an incident occurs, everyone talks about it but then is disappears.’
The chief of police spent two days in the area with a number of officers and inspected the open pit mining (Grasberg) as well as the underground mines.
He stressed the need for the incidents to be handled seriously. There have been a number of shootings in the Freeport area since 2009, but in most cases, the perpetrators have not been found.
During the past three years, he said, there have been ‘hundreds’ of shooting incidents leading to the death of twenty people which has included members of the police force, members of the company’s internal security force as well as local people who are involved in traditional mining.
As regards the general situation in Papua, the chief of police said that everything is quiet and under control. He went on to say that there have been a number of terror incidents in Wamena which have been solved as well as cases of the discovery of explosive material in Timika. Six people who are thought to be involved in explosive material are currently in the custody of the police and are being interrogated. He said that the cases are being handled in accordance with legal procedures. ‘Anyone who is deemed to be guilty will be processed according to the law.’
[Translated by TAPOL]
(WPM Note: Bintang Papua has only reported what Karnavian has alleged. However, the facts of the Wamena terror arrests, and also the facts surrounding the ongoing OTK shootings near Freeport have all pointed to the clear involvement of the security forces. If this new Karnavian announcment is the pretext for another wave of crackdowns on local Papuan people instead of the perpetrators in the security forces who are making massive profit of protection rackets and illegal gold mining in Freeport, and in order to justify their security budget, then Karnavian must be aware that most of Papuan civil society knows this is just window dressing. Karnavian knows full well the perpetrators of security incidents, he is just too afraid to go and arrest his big brothers in Kopassus. This strategy is disingenuous, as arresting the wrong people will ensure that the OTK attacks continue, even after the alleged culprits have been extrajudicially executed by the Karnavian death squads of Detachment 88, funded, armed and trained by Australia, UK and the US.)
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November 15, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Tags: black operations, Detachment 88, Freeport-McMoRan, illegal mining, Indonesian military protection rackets, Inspector General, Kopassus, Orang Terlatih Khusus (OTK), Papua, Papuan people, Timika, Tito Karnavian, Wamena, `mysterious' killings | Leave A Comment »
COMMENT by Yan Christian Warinussy
Executive-Director of LP3BH, Manokwari
November 14, 2012In the concluding months of 2012, there have been many more acts of violence in Papua and West Papua which reflects very badly on the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) at a time when development, good governance and security are essential in the Land of Papua as an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). This is happening as a time when many countries which are members of the
UN Human Rights Council are closely watching the situation, following the Universal Periodic Review in May 2012, which made 180 recommendations, thirty of which were rejected by the Indonesian government.
One of the recommendations that was rejected was that arrests and detentions on the basis of Articles 106 and 110 for treason should stop. This means that the state will continue to take firm measures, possibly including the use of firearms, against peaceful actions by members of civil society who give expression to their opinions and political views which are opposed to the views of the government. Several activists of the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) have been summoned and interrogated and are likely to be charged for treason. One of these activists is Alexander Nekenem, chairman of the DWP, the local parliament, who was recently summoned by the police in Manokwari.
The Indonesian government has also rejected the recommendation regarding freedom of expression for persons who have been detained merely for taking peaceful actions, a recommendation that was made by the USA and Canada. What this means is that Filep Kara, Forkorus Yaboisembut, Edison Waromi, Selpius Bobii, Sananay Karma and Dominikus Sorabut will continue to be deprived of their lawful right to freedom of expression.
Another very bad thing for the Papuan people is that the Indonesian government has rejected the recommendation by the Japanese government which called on Indonesia to end all violation of human rights by the security forces (TNI and Polri, the army and the police), because the Indonesian government claims that this is not relevant for Papua because it is not in accord with the facts, whatever they mean by the facts. In my opinion, the Indonesian government’s rejection of this means that there will continue to be an intensification of violence and hence systematic abuses of basic human rights which will continue to occur into the future in the Land of Papua.
In view of all this, as Executive Director of the LP3BH and a defender of human rights in the Land of Papua, I urge the SBY government to open up space for dialogue between Papua and Indonesia before the end of 2012. The SBY government should appoint a team of people to meet Father Dr. Neles Tebay, co-ordinator of the Papuan Peace Network, in order to discuss the format of this dialogue. This would mean that by early 2013, preparations could be started for a dialogue between the Indonesian government and the Papuan people.
In my opinion, dialogue is the best path to take, in the interests of justice, peace and dignity on both sides, as the way, according to universal standards, to resolve the conflicting political views which have existed for such a long time, causing the deep frustration that has borne down both on the Papuan people and the Indonesian government to this very day.
In this way, the Indonesian government would win the respect of the international community for having accepted that the political conflict that has lasted for such a long time should be resolved b means of dialogue.
[Translated by TAPOL]
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November 15, 2012 | Categories: Briefing by Papuan Civil Society members, News alert, Opinion, syndication | Tags: brutality, civil resistance, Detachment 88, dialogue, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, indonesia, indonesian government, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Manokwari, Papua, Papuan people, right of free expression, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, west papua | Leave A Comment »
(via Tapol) The following is a summary of two lengthy reports in Bintang Papua on 7 and 8 November about the visit earlier this month of the US ambassador Scot Marciel, to West Papua:
——-
DPRP Meetings
During discussions with members of the Papuan Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRP), the ambassador expressed strong support for the special autonomy law enacted eleven years ago and said that the US government recognises West Papua as a part of the Republic of Indonesia.He said that his main interest was in the development programme in West Papua and to discuss possible collaboration in this process.
The deputy head of the DPRP, Yunus Wonda, said the ambassador was keen to know what the priorities were in development and said the ambassador was particularly interested in education and health.
He also asked about the difficulties surrounding the election of the governor which resulted in the election being delayed for two years. Yunus explained that the problems had emerged because of a dispute in the MK (This presumably refers to the Constitutional Court – Tapol).
With regard to education, the ambassador said that the US is willing to help by providing study opportunities to young Papuans in the US.
Yunus asked the ambassador how many indigenous Papuans were now studying in the US, adding that they were keen to know the names of these people, to see whether they were indeed indigenous Papuans.
The DPRP also called on the US to support the idea of dialogue between Jakarta and Papua. He said that they would not use this dialogue to press for independence for Papua but were only interested in advancing the implementation of the special autonomy law.
——————
Talks with military personnel
Marciel said that the US was very impressed by the developments that had already been achieved and also with the reforms that had been made with regard to the TNI (the Indonesian army). These remarks were made during a meeting between the ambassador and senior officers of the provincial military command. On this occasion the ambassador met the chief of staff of the military command along with seven other senior officers.
In a press release issued by the US team, the ambassador referred to Freeport and asked for clarifications about the company and wanted to know whether there could be more collaboration (with the company) in education, culture and security.
The chief of staff explained that according to Law 34/2004, the military were now implementing ‘soft power’ in their territorial operations in Papua, and were keen to assist in speeding up development and human resources so as to ensure that West Papua would not continue to lag behind other parts of Indonesia.
In response to the ambassador’s question as to why the duties of the military command in West Papua were so much greater here than elsewhere and required a very different approach, the chief of staff said that the military were acting in accordance with their noble duties as ‘Noble Protectors of the People’ (Ksatria Pelindung Rakyat).
————————–
MRP Meeting
During a meeting with the first deputy chairman of the Majelis Rakyat Papua (Papuan People’s Council) Hofni Simbiak, the ambassador said he wanted to know more about the election of the governor and to know more about governmental affairs in the Province of Papua. Hofni said that even a very large tree could be felled at any time. Because of this, he said that he hoped that there would be more diplomatic visits to Papua so as to give guidance on leadership on the province.
He said that the ambassador’s visit was a good opportunity to discuss the gubernatorial problem, as well as the whole process of government. in the province. He said that they were very interested in this matter so as to ensure the the common people would not be victims of this situation.
He explained that because of the continued absence of an elected governor, no budget had been produced and there was no one who could take responsibility (for finances). This was having serious consequences for the people. (Simbiak) said that they had urged the KPU (Electoral Commission) to discuss this matter with the provincial government and to take firm action on the matter. He said it was extremely important for a governor to be elected because without this, the services provided by the governor were not available and this was leading to big problems for the people.
The ambassador said that the American people were aware of the difficulties regarding the governor and said: ‘We are having an election of our president in the US and face the same situation as you here in Papua because we are keen to provide help for the government here in the fields of education, health and forestry.’
—————————-
Meeting with Tito Karnavian
In a meeting with Inspector-General of the Police Force, Tito Karnavian, the ambassador expressed support for the developments already achieved by the police.
The chief of police said that when they were confronted with acts of violence, they always act in accordance with the law and in a professional manner, keeping the use of violence to a minimum. He also spoke about their activities to combat corruption so as to ensure that the development budget could serve the interests of the people.
He said that the ambassador had stressed the importance of transparency and in case of acts of abuse by the police, everything should be made public. When he asked in what way the US could help, the chief of staff said that they could be given advice on how best to deal with demonstrations. The second point he made was that for purposes of investigation, the difficulty is that there is no forensic laboratory in Papua. His third point was about the need for working together especially with Bhayangkari (the organisation of wives of the military), in particular with regard to partnerships with the people.
In response, the ambassador expressed great enthusiasm and said he hoped that joint programmes would be conducted in the next four or five years.
Marciel also expressed support for the police pursuing a lenient approach and the need to avoid projecting an image of the police as being involved only in arresting and detaining people but should prioritise activities that bring them close to the people.
[Translated by TAPOL]
[COMMENT: There is no mention at all of the ambassador having met leaders of Papuan organisations such as DAP, the Council of Indigenous People, KontraS Papua, ELSHAM-Papua or other people's organisations.]
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November 13, 2012 | Categories: News alert, Papua Briefings, syndication | Tags: Ambassadorial consultations, Detachment 88, dialogue, DPRP, Electoral Commission, Human Rights and Liberties, indonesia, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, Papua, Papuan people, right of free expression, Tapol, Tito Karnavian, US Ambassador Scot Marcial, US Foreign Policy, west papua | Leave A Comment »
Bintang Papua
5 November 2012Jayapura: Timotius Murib, the chairman of the MRP – Majelis Rakyat Papua, Papuan People’s Council - said that the council is keen to have close relations with all governmental organisations in Papua including the provicial administration, the legislative assembly and other possible partners.
He was speaking on the occasion of the council’s seventh anniversary, on 31 October.
‘I would like to say that these communications are very important. Sitting together with indigenous groups can achieve a great deal in everyone’s interests, including the indigenous Papuan people, the Papuan community in general and Indonesia as a whole.’
He said that he recognises that collaboration with executive and legislative bodies is a way for the executive to be made aware of the complaints of the indigenous group, the women’s group and the religious group in the MRP. The MRP had undertaken efforts of this nature with women’s group in 2012, when they advocated the setting up of women’s groups in the districts of Timika and Keerom.
The religious group in the MRP held meetings and consultations with the department of religion in Papua in order to encourage better relations between the various religions in Papua.and to register the number of religious adherents among the indigenous Papuan people.
Murib said that this was very important as part of efforts to provide protection and advancement of the indigenous rights of the indigenous Papuan people among the various religious groups in Papua. But he also acknowledged that there were factors that impeded these efforts because some people believe that the MRP has no authority to get involved in governmental affairs or in local government agencies.
This approach was regarded by some people as mistaken because it had had a major impact on the work of the MRP during the recent period. The person who made this criticism said that such an approach had had an impact on the work of the MRP in its work to produce special regulations known as Perdasus, as part of the requirements of the special autonomy law (OTSUS) for Papua, including regulations regarding ways to implement its duties, its powers, its rights and its responsibilities.
But another view was also expressed, namely that the MRP does not have legislative powers but does have the authority to submit ideas to the governor, the DPRP and the chiefs in the districts and municipalities. on matters related the the rights of the indigenous Papuan groups. According to this view, what the MRP had done was quite correct.
[Translated by TAPOL]
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November 8, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication | Leave A Comment »
KNPB activist, Klismon Woi succumbs to his injuries
November 6, 2012
By KNPB News
(Note: West Papua Media has again independently verified all contents of this report with contacts in Fak-Fak, and is reprinting the KNPB News report in full as WPM has confidence in this reportage).
Fak-Fak, KNPBnews – After Paulus Horik was laid to rest yesterday (5/11), another KNPB activist in Fakfak, Klismon Woi, took his last breath this afternoon (6/11) at 12 noon, at the Regional General Hospital of Fakfak in West Papua. The late Klismon was in a critical condition for two days due to the countless bruises and serious injuries on his face and ribs.
According to information submitted to KNPBnews this afternoon by Arnold Kocu, regional coordinator of KNPB Fakfak, the body of the now deceased Klismon Woi was brought back to the funeral home. He also confirmed that Paulus Horik was buried the day before (5/11).
Klismon Woi was a member of KNPB-Fakfak. According to information collected from the field, there are reasons to believe that Paulus and Klismon were killed by people who were especially trained by Indonesian forces that had been monitoring the activities and events led by KNPB activists in the Fakfak region.
Special operations by the Indonesian security forces against KNPB activists have been stepped up since KNPB Chairman Mako Tabuni was shot dead on 14 June. Search and arrest operations, raids and killings have been undertaken continuously by the Indonesian Special forces in an effort to eradicate the peaceful resistance movement led by the KNPB (wd)
[Translation by LT] http://knpbnews.com/blog/archives/1198
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November 8, 2012 | Categories: Human Rights Report, News alert, syndication | Tags: ACTIVISM, black operations, brutality, civil resistance, Detachment 88, Fakfak, Human Rights and Liberties, Impunity, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian State Violence, Klismon Woi, knpb, KNPB Fakfak, Orang Terlatih Khusus (OTK) | Leave A Comment »
by West Papua Media
November 7, 2012
Credible Reports have again emerged detailing a rampage by troops from the notorious Indonesian Army (TNI) Battalion 756, who have reportedly run amok burning houses and beating up Papuan civilians, during a recent security sweep against Papuan civil society activists.
At 2pm local time on November 4, a joint force of 756 BTn troops, together with Brimob paramilitary police units and troops described as “non-organic special forces” – most likely troops from the Australian-supported Detachment 88 counter-terror unit – conducted a sweep of the houses behind the New Jibama market in Wamena town. The troops laid siege to a group of houses and started shooting at the houses and directly at residents, according to witnesses interviewed by local human rights sources.
One person was reportedly seriously injured by gunshot wounds sustained during the attack, and many more people received major burn injuries after being caught in three houses that were torched by the joint force. Exact casualty figures have been unable to be ascertained and the gunshot victim has yet to be identified, however family members confirmed that several people had been treated at the Wamena hospital for their injuries.
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Family members of those targeted, spoken to by stringers for West Papua Media, have fled Wamena after their houses were set on fire by the joint force. According to local sources, they fled to the forest outside Wamena, and are too scared to return for fear of being shot by Indonesian security force. Those fleeing are being forced to survive on the resources in the forest, as the security presence makes in difficult to return home, according to our sources.
Local human rights activists have also claimed that people in Wamena are confused over the reason behind the attack and the arson, and have questioned who has commanded the attack. “What forces are behind this? This case is not obvious, but the combined forces commit arson and loot residents’ property in the home of all three victims,” said the activist.
The behaviour of security forces against Papuans “is very exaggerated beyond procedures that should be enforced under applicable human rights law in Indonesia and Internationally,” he continued.
On june 7, members of Battalion 756 went on another rampage of arson, looting, shootings and beatings after one of their members was killed after an accident that seriously injured a young boy. In recent months, Detachment 88 troops have also led an intensifying and brutal crackdown on activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), after claims of their involvement in a bombing campaign.
Many credible observers have cast doubt on the motivations of the security forces in this crackdown, accusing them of engineering a situation to criminalise legitimate peaceful free expression.
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November 8, 2012 | Categories: CoProduction, News alert, Written by West Papua Media | Tags: Detachment 88, indonesia, Indonesian Army, Indonesian National Police, Indonesian State Violence, knpb, Papuan people, village burnings, Wamena, west papua | Leave A Comment »
by KNPB News
November 6 , 2012
Fakfak, KNPBnews – In their insatiable witch hunt against members one of West Papua’s main mass organizations, the KNPB (West Papua National Committee), the Indonesian security forces are continuing with the illegal and extrajudicial killing, torture and detention of KNPB activists and leaders.
This time, one of the regional leaders (KNPB Sorong), Paul Horik was found dead on A. Matondang Road, near the Fakfak riverbank on Sunday (4/11) at 1 a.m. Meanwhile, another KNPB activist, Klisman Woi is in critical condition at the Regional General Hospital of Fakfak. There are indications that the attacks were carried out by the Indonesian special forces.
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The Regional coordinators of the Fakfak region submitted to KNPBnews a chronology of the events which led to the murder of the activist. According to the preliminary investigation conducted in the field, the tragic episode started when the two activists hired a motorcycle. For reasons which are still unclear, at 1 a.m., a traffic officer found the two victims lying on the road in very deplorable conditions, whereas the motorcycle itself was in perfect state with no damage or scratches.
The victims’ families were informed of these tragic events at 7 a.m. at the hospital of Fakfak. The autopsy conducted by the hospital doctor revealed that Paul Horik had been killed: a big hole was found in the upper side of his head, his neck was broken, and his nose and face showed signs of serious injuries.
The second victim, Klisman Woi is still in critical condition at the hospital. He was also seriously wounded in the front of his head, both eyes were severely swollen and bluish, countless bruises and contusions, injuries on his left rib and feet.
Arnold Kocu, coordinator of KNPB for the Fakfak region, says that he is pursuing the investigation together with the families to find more information on this tragic event. “We are at great loss, and the People of West Papua in its entirety is in mourning. The KNPB and the Regional Parliament will continue their fact finding operations and should their inquiry be conclusive then they will act accordingly and do everything in their power in order to encourage and put pressure on the Fakfak regional police to fully investigate this tragedy”.
Paulus Horik was part of the leadership of the KNPB commissariat for the Fakfak region. Klismon Woi is also a member of KNPB. Their activities were being monitored extensively by a Special Unit of the Indonesian forces.
Earlier on, the Secretary of the Regional Parliament in Merauke underwent severe beatings by members of the Indonesian military.
[Translation by LT] http://knpbnews.com/blog/archives/1180
(Note: West Papua Media has independently verified all contents of this report with contacts in Fak-Fak, and is reprinting the KNPB News report in full as WPM has confidence in this reportage).
http://knpbnews.com/blog/archi
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November 6, 2012 | Categories: News alert | Leave A Comment »
by West Papua Media and local sources
November 6, 2012
Information and video footage has emerged from Merauke, Papua, documenting the beating by Indonesian soldiers of the Secretary General of the Parlemen Rakyat Daerah (People’s Regional Parliament), further fulling tensions in the area between occupation forces and the local population.
The incident occurred around 3pm local time on November 3 , as the SekJen, Peter T. Katem was riding his Yamaha motorcycle with a community member, Mr Robert Mayonim. The pair lost control of their bike due to newly made but rough village roads in Domba Empat street, accidentally nudged a military officer with their motorbike outside the office of E Company, 755 Battalion (Merauke) of the Indonesian Army (TNI), according to witnesses.
Citizen journalists, Lintah Digoel and Rade Minyak. who interviewed the victims reported that the TNI member and two colleagues then gave chase after they refused to accept the accident, and attacked the pair at the crossroads outside the Company post. As the beatings continued, more soldiers arrived on the scene and joined in, some in plain clothes and some in uniform. The beating was filmed (below) by a witness.
According to local sources, Katem and Mayonim were taken forcibly to the E/755 Btn Post with beatings continuing as they were being dragged. Arriving at the office, they were then tortured for about an hour and a half, they were punched, kicked and beaten with wood, fruit and bamboo.
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The persecution ended after a number of Domba Empat community members came to the office to demand their release, which occurred two hours later, Digoel and Minyak reported.
So far, none of the perpetrators have been investigated.
with KNPBNews.com
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November 6, 2012 | Categories: News alert, syndication, Video | Tags: Domba, Indonesian Army, Indonesian National Armed Forces, knpb, Merauke, Papua, Papuan people, TNI | Leave A Comment »
Fellowship of Baptist Churches in Papua
PRESS RELEASE
1 November 2012
The Central Body for the Fellowship of Baptist Churches are very concerned about Indonesian security forces towards God’s people in Papua. The cause for this concern came after General Kelly Kwalik killed in Timika on December 16, 2009 by Joint TIM – TNI, Indonesian Police, BRIMOB and Detachment 88, and Musa Mako Tabuni, Chairman of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were killed by Detachment 88 on June 14, 2012 at Waena, Jayapura, Papuans are confronted with strange and uncivilised events such as a bomb discoveries, bombings, and the arrest of Papuan civilians on suspicion of possessing ammunition throughout the entirety of Papua.
Examples include:
- The bombing of the parliament Jayawijaya building on 1 September 2012 at 02:15 WIT by OTK;
- the throwing of bombs at the Jayawijaya police station traffic on 18 September 2012 at 20:55 WIT;
- the discovery of a bomb in Timika, Friday, October 19, 2012,
- the discovery of three bombs in Manokwari on October 9, 2012.
- Explosion of three homemade bombs in Sorong on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 22.00.
As of October 30, 2012 there has been the discovery of 7.62 calibre ammunition in as many as 9 points, 5 TJ 5.6 bullets in as much as 121 points, 5.6 servant bullets in 20 points and the arrest of four youths known by the initials DIH (26), a resident of Organda, YP (28), a resident Sampan Timika, AK (24) a woman, a resident of Organda, and YJW (27) a Karubaga citizen. (Cenderwasih Pos News, Wednesday, October 31, 2012).
On Wednesday, October 31, 2012 and the Papua Regional Police arrested a civilian with the initials OG (27) for the alleged possession of Jayapura PTC ammunition.
From the whole combination of “scenarios” and engineered changes that feature indigenous Papuans as owners of ammunition and bomber gives the VERY clear impression of a SYSTEMATIC STRATEGY being applied by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the power of the security apparatus with multiple objectives, agenda and targets, namely:
- A systematic effort to thwart the Papuan demands to work towards a peace dialogue;
- Systematic efforts to destroy and criminalize peaceful struggle for self-determination rights (the right to self-determination) of the people of Papua;
- A systematic effort to make the peaceful struggle for independence of Papuans become known as “terrorists”, so that the international community does not support the struggle of the people of Papua, and the Indonesian security forces instead become supported with funding from the Government of the United States and Australia, which has been instrumental in training and sponsorship of Detachment 88 to fight against “terrorists” in Indonesia.
All ammunition and bombs which have been found and detonated were not owned and operated by indigenous Papuans, but there are several false owners, suppliers and urgers of young Papuans to give truth to the “justification” that those involved in the struggle of the people of Papua are in fact criminals and “terrorists”.
Recommendations:
- The entire Papuan society, migrants and indigenous Papuans, do not easily believe that the bombs which were detonated and found, and ammunition recovered from the hands of indigenous Papuans is not true. because the struggle to find justice and political rights for the people of Papua is found through peace, which has already been shown to be true, and not through violence, which would only be a backwards change.
- The security forces of the Republic of Indonesia must stop committing crimes against humanity by an engineered situation of bombs and ammunition discovery at the houses of indigenous Papuans.
- The Government of the Republic of Indonesia immediately open a space for an unconditional peace dialogue between the Government of Indonesia and the Papuans, mediated by a neutral third party, as a political solution to the Special Autonomy has FAILED to answer the complexity of the issue of Papua. Peaceful dialogue with the following conditions:
- Immediately release all political prisoners such as Filep Karma, Forkorus Yaboisembut and friends unconditionally.
- Immediate withdrawal of all non-organic troops, which are not balanced by the number of indigenous Papuans.
- The Government of the Republic of Indonesia immediately allow access for foreign journalists and humanitarian workers to visit Papua.
- The Government of the Republic of Indonesia immediately inviting and allow the United Nation Special Rapporteur to visit Papua.
Chairman
The Central Body for the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in Papua,
Sofyan Yoman Socratez
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November 6, 2012 | Categories: Briefing by Papuan Civil Society members, News alert, Press Release | Tags: Detachment 88, indonesia, Indonesian State Violence, Jayapura, Kelly Kwalik, knpb, Orang Terlatih Khusus (OTK), Papua, Papuan people, Timika | Leave A Comment »
ELSHAM News Service
November 2, 2012
Investigations and monitoring conducted by Elsham Papua in Keerom between Saturday (27 Oct.) and Sunday (28 Oct.) have revealed that at least thirty-ight (38) indigenous Papuans have had to leave their villages and have fled into the forest and stayed there for more than five (5) months.
During these five months, they have had to move from one place to another, and they have had to settle in huts around the Bagia hills, west of the tow of Arso.
The locals evacuated their villages because they were afraid of becoming victims of ongoing sweeps conducted by joint army/police forces in the area, who are hunting indigenous Papuans who would allegedly be members of the separatist armed struggle (TPN-OPM); another alleged motive behind these sweeps is the search to find the killer of the head of the village of Sawyatami, who was shot on 1 July.
The names of the indigenous Papuans who fled to the forest, and who are now internally displaced persons (IDPs) are as follows:
Name of IDPs from the village of Sawyatami:
1. Hironimus Yaboy (45)
2. Alea Kwambre (28)
3. Afra Kwambre (27)
4. Carles Yaboy (10)
5. Ardila Yaboy (8)
6. Desi Yaboy (4)
7. Lefira Yaboy (1)
8. Markus Kuyi (17)
9. Yustus Kuyi (16)
10. Timotius Kuyi (15)
11. Samuel Kuyi (13)
Name of IDPs from the village of Workwana:
1. Lukas Minigir (68)
2. Rosalina Minigir (36)
3. Hanas Pikikir (21)
4. Naomi Giryapon (19)
5. Krisantus Pikikir (12)
6. Penina Pekikir (3)
7. Habel Minigir (33)
8. Agustina Minigir (21)
9. Adrianus Minigir (2)
Name of IDPs from PIR III Bagia:
1. Agustina Bagiasi (35)
2. Mikael Kimber (18)
3. Jhon Kimber (14)
4. Kristiani Kimber (11)
5. Serfina Kimber (8)
6. David Kimber (2)
7. Fabianus Kuyi (50)
8. Martha Tekam (38)
9. Marselina Kuyi (23)
10. Fitalius Kuyi (20)
11. Margaretha Ibe (19)
12. Jubelina Kuyi (19)
13. Kristianus Kuyi (17)
14. Frins Alfons Kuyi (15)
15. Emilianus Kuyi (11)
16. Maria Yuliana Kuyi (8)
17. Moses Hubertus Kuyi (5)
18. Rati Kimber (1)
Out of the total displaced people, eight (8) are children who were attending school. Their names are:
1. Yubelina Kuyi, high school students at Negeri 1 Swakarsa Arso
2. Kristianus Kuyi, junior high school student at Negeri 1 Arso
3. Frins Kuyi, elementary school student at Inpres PIR III Bagia
4. Emilianus Kuyi, elementary school student at Inpres PIR III Bagia
5. Charles Yaboy, elementary school student at Inpres Sawyatami
6. Nike Ardila Yaboy Sanggwa, elementary school student at Inpres Sawyatami
7. Kristian Pekeukir, elementary school student at YPPK Dununmamoy Arso
8. Yohana Kimber, elementary school student at Inpres Sawyatami
These children have not attended school from 2 July 2012 until the date of this report. YK, whom Elsham found in the camp, explained that she no longer went to school because she was afraid of the TNI/police. “I am scared that the soldiers will shoot me. My father is also fighting for an independent Papua so I am afraid to go to school,” said YK in a plain tone.
During the decade covering the period 1970 to 1980, Keerom was a Military Operations Area. Many local residents have undergone cruel and arbitrary treatment at the hands of the Indonesian security forces, as they were accused of alleged involvement in the separatist movement. Today, residents are still feeling the trauma of living in a military operation area. And up to the date of this report, the IDPs are still afraid to return to their villages.
ElshamNewsService
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November 3, 2012 | Categories: Briefing by Papuan Civil Society members, Human Rights Report, News alert, syndication | Tags: Detachment 88, ELSHAM, IDP, Indonesian National Armed Forces, Indonesian State Violence, internal displacement, Keerom, Papua, Papuan people, west papua, West Papuan languages | Leave A Comment »
