The independent human rights activist, Sebby Sambom, said that it was deeply regrettable that the police force in Papua had used acts of brutality to prevent the KNPB, the National Committee for West Papua, from conducting an action on Monday 4 June. As a result of the police actions, one life was lost and others were injured, including KNPB members and members of the security forces.
He said in a brief message to JUBI that the security apparatus had acted against the law and violated freedom of expression which is guaranteed according to Article 19, para (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Indonesia ratified the Covenant under Law 9/1998.
Sebby accused the police for not respecting basic human rights which has resulted in the serious crisis situation now prevailing in Papua. ‘This is a humanitarian crisis by a colonial government which refuses to respect universal human rights,’ he said.
‘The fact is,’ said this former political prisoner, ‘that colonial powers never respect the situation of its colonised people.’
He said that the problems in Papua can only be resolved if there is intervention by the international community.
‘We call for the full attention and intervention of the international community, in particular, the United Nations and the UN Human Rights Council
[Translated by TAPOL]
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