Month: August 2012

KNPB: Buchtar Tabuni should be transferred to hospital for medical treatment

 

Bintang Papua, 23 August 2012

The National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) has urged the police authorities in West Papua to agree to the transfer of Buchtar Tabuni who is now in  custody and on trial to the special prison for narcotics offences  in order to ensure that he receives  the necessary treatment for a stomach complaint and low blood pressure.

Spokesman for the KNPB, Wim R. Medlama said that if he remains in a police cell, there is no guarantee that he will be able to get proper medical treatment.

The same matter was raised previously by Buchtar Tabuni during a court hearing in his own trial, shortly before Lebaran, the final days of Ramadhan.

The chairman of the panel of judges at the trial  said this was a matter for the police  and the prosecutor who are still engaged in getting him convicted of involvement in activities to cause damage to facilities in the prison where he was held.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Paniai branch of the KNPB strongly condemned the security forces, the TNI (army) and the police, for having conducted operations against the chairman of the KNPB, hunting down and arresting its members and urging that such operations should be immediately halted.

These shootings were taking place because Papuans continue to uphold the opinions they have held since 1961.

All the efforts being made such as the setting up a development agency known as the UP4B to improve the standard of living of the Papuan people will never halt the resistance of the Papuan people.

‘The Papuan people will continue to wage resistance and the only way to end this is by holding a referendum in Papua,’ he said.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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SBY is trying to deceive the Papuan People

 

JUBI
19 August 2012The chairman of NAPAS (National Papua Solidarity), Marthen Goo, has accused the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of cheating the public and the Papuan people with statements he made in his address to the nation on 16 August 2012.

In a press release made public on 18 August, the chairman of Napas said that the president made two points with regard to Papua. Firstly he said that it will not be easy to resolve the problem of Papua, becaue specific, basic and comprehensive measures would need to be taken. His second point was that in order to ensure that the development programme proceeds, the government had set up a special unit known as UP4B – Unit to Accelerate  Development in Papua and West Papua. – which has the task of ensuring synergy, synchronisation and co-ordination between  all the stakeholders in the development process.

In this way, said the president, we will be able to systematically accelerate improvements in the welfare of the Papuan people. He then referred to the Special Autonomy Law for Papua – Otsus – as ‘our basic framework to imrpove services to the public, development and regional government.

Such words, said Marthen Goo were intended to deceive the public. ‘In fact, the way to reach a settlement is very easy. If the government wants to open its heart to the Papuan people, he should take the path of democracy by entering into dialogue or negotiations.’

‘The government  is simply making things more difficult and we in Napas regard this as the primary purpose of the government with regard to Papua and West Papua. What is all this development that the president is going on about?  And what does the president mean by talking about Otsus? He is simply talking rubbish.’

The president’s remarks showed clearly that  he is completely ignorant about the Papuan people. He is only hoping that people will start dreaming. And UP4B is just something to distract people’s attention and stifle the good intentions of the Papuan people who have called for dialogue as the way to solve the Papuan problem.comprehensively.

He said that what was needed was for  talks to be held immediately, mediated by a neutral third party, such as happened in the case of Aceh. He was just engaging in an attempt to trick and cheat the public.

On a previous occasion, the president spoke about the need for ‘constructive communications’ but to this day, nothing has happened. Neither of the two things that had been promised had happened. Instead, crimes against humanity were continuing to be perpetrated in Papua.’

‘ Now, we have the president talking about implementing UP4B which is nothing more than a programme to  force this unit on the Papuan people. In legal terms,  Otsus is a law and has a higher standing than UP4B. This shows the inconsistency in the government’s policy towards Papua,’ he said.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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ELSHAM finds evidence of 749 acts of violence in Papua

 

JUBI
15 August 2012
Jayapura: ELSHAM, – the Institute for the Study and Advocacy of Human Rights in Papua – found evidence of 749 acts of violence that befell the people living in Papua. Most of these acts of violence occurred during arbitrary arrests and detentions.This is reported in the recently launched book, Masa Lalu dan Tak Lalu – The Past and Never Past – which was published by ELSHAM and the International Centre for Transitional Justice.

During its investigations, the researchers examined 108 testimonies about human rights violations . They spoke to 76 people in Biak, 12 people in Manokwari, ten people in Paniai and ten people in Sorong. The period covered was from the mid 1960s (prior to the Act of Free Choice in 1969) up to the period of ‘reformasi’ (following the downfall of Suharto).

Their researchers spent three months out in the field, studying testimonies and obtained information about 749 cases.

Of the 749 cases, 312 were violations against males and 56 violations against women. The details were obtained from101 victims who were  interviewed. One hundred and one victims  had suffered violations together with a group of people or with more than one person. The types of violence were arbitrary arrests and detentions, 234 cases,  military operations against the civilian population including operations to forcibly evict people 181 cases, and torture and ill-treatment, 97 cases.

There were also 86 cases of deaths as the result of extreme torture,  threats 53 cases, assaults 28 cases, the seizure or destruction of  people’s belongings, gardens or livestock  22 cases, orders to report 26 cases, attacks and searches of people’s homes 4 cases, lack of access to food or medication 4 cases, forcible removals, preventing people from finding work 4 cases, forcible removals 3 cases, lack of access to food or medications, denial of access to families 2 cases, trials without lawyers,  2 cases, preventing people from travelling  2 cases. Finally, there was prevention of access to education. A total in all of 749 cases.

Other points included in the report  were that during the first period, from 1960 till 1969, several witnesses spoke of this period being marked by armed clashes  between the Indonesian army and troops of the OPM  (Papuan Freedom Organisaation)  which were frequently followed up by military attacks aimed directly at  the civilian population and arbitrary arrests and acts of torture, and the arrest of  people regarded as being against integration with Indonesia.

During the second period, from 1969 to 1998,  the focus was on destroying the remnants of the OPM, who were still involved in guerilla actions in the forests, People living in the towns as well as in the villages  were kept under tight guard and were required to obtain permits from the army if they wanted to travel anywhere. Peoeple who had once been arrested  were often re-arrested  for no apparent reason.

In the third perid following ‘reformasi’ after the fall of Suharto, there were many pressures for changes to be made in the situation in Papua. However, civil actions by  students and political groups of people calling for independence  were dealt with by acts of violence.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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AMNESTY STATEMENT: Security forces block peaceful demonstration in Papua

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PUBLIC STATEMENTIndex: ASA 21/031/2012
10 August 2012

Indonesia: Security forces block peaceful demonstration in Papua

Amnesty International calls for an independent and impartial investigation into reports that police used unnecessary and excessive force to disperse a peaceful demonstration in Papua province commemorating International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on 9 August 2012.

If the investigation finds that the security forces committed human rights violations, then those responsible, including persons with command responsibility, should be prosecuted in proceedings which meet international standards of fairness, and victims provided with reparations.

At least seven people were arbitrarily arrested during and after the demonstration and are being held at the Yapen District police station. They should be released immediately and unconditionally if they have been arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression.

Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and military from the 1709 District Military Command (Kodim) led by the Yapen District Police Chief blocked hundreds of peaceful protesters as they marched on the morning of 9 August 2012 in Serui, Yapen Island.

According to local sources, the Indonesian security forces then fired their guns into the air to disperse the protesters, causing many to flee in fear. At least six protesters were arbitrarily arrested during the demonstration and some were reportedly beaten by security forces during their arrest. The police then travelled to Mantembu village to arrest one of the demonstration organizers, a local political activist. When they could not find him they arrested his wife, who is reportedly eight months pregnant.

The actions of the security forces fly in the face of statements made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in February 2012 that he wanted an end to repressive actions by the military and police in Papua.

The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are guaranteed in Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party. Moreover, these rights are protected under Indonesia’s Constitution. However, Amnesty International has documented dozens of other cases of arbitrary arrest and detention in past years of peaceful political activists in Papua.

Amnesty International continues to receive credible reports of human rights violations committed by the security forces in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, including torture and other ill-treatment, unnecessary and excessive use of force and firearms by the security forces and possible unlawful killings. Investigations into reports of human rights violations by the security forces are rare and only a few perpetrators have been brought to justice.

During a 2008 gathering to commemorate International Day of the World’s Indigenous People in Papua, peaceful demonstrator Opinus Tabuni was discovered dead with a bullet wound clearly visible in his chest, after police opened fire at the crowd. Despite a police investigation, to date no one has been held to account for his death.

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KNPB urge police to stop brutality against Papuans

Tabloid Jubi

AUGUST 8, 2012

 BY VICTOR MAMBOR 

WIM METLAMA AND TINUS YOHAME (JUBI / EVEERT)
Jayapura (7/8) — West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has requested that the security forces not  be arrogant in continuing to chase, arrest and interrogate people who do not know anything, without following procedures that are applicable in Indonesia

This statement is conveyed by KNPB Spokesman, Wim R. Metlama.  KNPB also strongly condemned the arrest of the former Chairman of the KNPB, Buchtar Tabuni.  Buchtar, now the Chairman of the National Parliament of West Papua (PNWP), was prosecuted without legal evidence, and with facts unclear.

Medlama explained that the request is also associated with the arbitrary kidnappings of Doga Tabuni (29 years) and Alex Dagay (25 years) by plainclothes security forces on Monday (6/8) at 15:00 CLT at Housing III Waena, Jayapura, Papua, in Cenderawasih University’s Dormitory area.

“They were then subjected to interrogation process under the bridge at New Street.  The security apparatus also asked them about who spoke with a  few people in the police search listings.  They even offer some facilities (inducements) to the detainees if they were able to inform on the whereabouts of people that they are looking for, like (at a) pigsty and a mini kiosk, “said Metlama, accompanied by KNPB activist Tinus Yohame  in the press conference in Abepura, Tuesday (7/8).

Metlama also urged the disclosure of the (facts behind the) shooting of Mako Tabuni, including efforts to arrest the new Chairman of the KNPB, Victor F . Yeimo by the police outside the Court trial of Buchtar Tabuni trial. “Thus Spake KNPB to urge that the police to stop brutality outside the legal procedures against Papuan people, particularly the activists of KNPB,” he said. (Jubi / Eveerth)

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