Indonesia’s human rights record reviewed at UN Human Rights Council
TAPOL press release
London, 23 May 2012 – Today, Indonesia’s human rights record was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council during the 13th session of the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland. Concerns about human rights in Papua increased sharply since the last review in 2008, with a significant number of member states raising concerns about freedom of expression, human rights defenders and political prisoners in the region.
“While Indonesia today said it is using a ‘welfare and development’
approach in Papua, the continued presence of thousands of troops and
dozens of political prisoners suggests otherwise,” said Paul Barber,
Coordinator of TAPOL.
TAPOL and United for Truth (Bersatu Untuk Keadilan, BUK) submitted a
report to the review process, making recommendations to improve the
human rights situation in Papua by ending the stigmatisation of
peaceful political activity, repealing repressive legislation and
releasing political prisoners.
Concerns raised by TAPOL based on inputs from local NGOs were picked
up by a number of Member States during the review. Switzerland and
Mexico were among those States questioning Indonesia’s worrying human
rights record in Papua, joined by regional neighbours New Zealand and
Japan. The United States called for action on Indonesia’s repressive
treason laws, backed by Canada and Germany who further called for the
release of peaceful political prisoners.
While Indonesia today announced that it intends to issue an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Mr Frank La Rue, it was unclear whether he would be guaranteed free access to the Papua provinces.
Restrictions on access for foreign media and civil society were
challenged by a number of States including France and Australia, while Germany called for immediate access for the ICRC, who were ejected from Papua in 2010.
“The international community has today sent a clear message to Indonesia that the human rights situation in Papua is totally unacceptable,” noted Barber. “With increasing regional and international engagement on the issue, the pressure is on for Indonesia to provide a meaningful response.”
Related articles
- ‘Saying that there are no political prisoners in Papua is a Lie’ (westpapuamedia.info)
- Human rights still lacking in Papua – Sydney Morning Herald (news.smh.com.au)
- “Papuans do not feel safe in their own land” – Faith Based Network holds forum in Geneva (westpapuamedia.info)
- Journalists and foreign NGOs banned from visiting Papua (westpapuamedia.info)
- TAPOL letter to David Cameron (westpapuamedia.info)
I find it staggering that Indonesia has been allowed to get away with this for so long! Where has the UN been for the past fifty years? The indigenous folk of West Papua – oddly referred to these days as ‘the Papua Provinces’ – have been forcefully subjugated – and with all manner of atrocities – for so long, and without intervention from supposedly civilised nations. It really is time for the world at large to call Indonesia to book.