Author: westpapuamedia

Independent Journalism from West Papua to the World

Lamberth Pekikir acknowledges the risks he is taking

Bintang Papua, 4 July 2012

Lamberth Pekikir, the general co-ordinator of the TPN/OPM who is now being hunted down by the military, has declared that he is prepared to accept the consequences of his actions, saying that he knows what the consequences are for anyone who consistently struggles for a free West Papua. To understand the attitude of Lamberth Pekikir, the following is  an interview of Pekikir conducted by Bintang Papua:

Bintang Papua (BP):  What are your feelings about being chased and hunted down by the security forces?

LP:  To be quite honest, as a human being, I am afraid to be in such a situation but as someone who is struggling for the Land of Papua and in defence of our territory, I know that this means taking great risks.

BP: Are you aware that you are being hunted?

LP:  Yes, indeed, and I have seen the people who are chasing me.

BP: Are you prepared for what may happen if the base of the TPN/OPM, [the military wing of the OPM] were to be attacked?

LP: Ever since I decided to defend the Land of Papua and the Papuan people, I have been ready to face whatever happens,, for the cause of truth and justice for this land.

BP: Is there anything that you would like to convey to the security forces?

LP: I want the security forces to accept responsibility for the human rights violations that occur in West Papua and I want them to put an end to these violations as a result of which many lives have been sacrificed.

BP: Who is it who shot dead the head of Sawiya Tami Kampung?

LP: Evidence must be produced to discover who it was who shot him dead instead of making simply accusations about the crime.. Besides people like me, there are many people in Keerom who own firearms, including members of the security forces as well as quite a few civilians who possess firearms with  the necessary license.

BP: Is there anything else you would like to say?

LP: Speaking from the headquarters of the TPN/OPM, we call on the Indonesian government to acknowledge responsibility for the political conflict in West Papua.

Please accept my thanks.

———————–

As has been reported, the operational area for the OPM leader, Lanberth Pekikir, along the border with PNG has been reduced This followed in the wake of  shots fired by Pekikir at a vehicle belonging to the Indonesian army on 1 July in the district of Keerom which led to the death of the local kampung head.

The security authorities have since said that they are chasing the group of separatists headed by Lamberth Pekikir who they hold responsible for the death of a civilian. The commander of the regional military command, Major General Erwin Safriti said that efforts to capture Pekikir by his men are being undertaken not only by land but also by air in view of the nature of the territory along the border with PNG..

[Translated by TAPOL]

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Kopassus claims to be pursuing ‘persuasive’ approach

The “persuasive” approach used by Kopassus
Bintang Papua, 4 July 2012
The commander of Kopassus, the elite strike force of the Indonesian army, Major-General Wisnu Bawa Tenaya declared during a joint training investigation with  China’s People’s Liberation Army in Shandong, China, that his men will continue to pursue the persuasive approach in its handling of the security disturbances in West Papua.He was quoted as saying: ‘We cannot the kind of actions that we would like to take but must act cautiously because in addition to security problems, other issues in West Papua need to be attended to, such as the welfare of the people.’

He also said that Kopassus forces plan to conduct expeditions in various parts of in West Papua to investigate the what is going on there and what it is that the people there actually want.’

Earlier on,  a representative of Kontras,  Indria Fernida, the chairperson of the Synod of the Kingmi Church, Revd Benny Giay and the secretary of the Working Group of NGOs in Papua, Septer Manufandu made it clear the military approach is still being prioritized in West Papua.

Moreover, the welfare approach that has for so long been proclaimed by the authorities was far from being pursued to any meaningful extent or in any way to the satisfaction of the aspirations of the Papuan people.

[Abridged in translation by TAPOL]

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Full Chronology of Mako Tabuni’s killing

New Chronology from interviews of direct witnesses of the killing of Mako Tabuni on June 14, 2012

West Papua Media has been provided this chronology by a reliable and independent human rights investigator associated with Papuan Churches.

We have held back the publication as we were awaiting further elements of this story from senior international sources, however this source has gone back on agreeing to provide information so we cannot withhold publication of this critical document any further.

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An urgent note to our readers regarding latest OTK shootings

MEDIA ALERT – PLEASE NOT THIS IS NOT A NEWS ITEM, THIS IS A NOTE TO OUR READERS

West Papua Media

July 3, 2012

Two OTK  (Unknown/specially trained persons) Attacks on civilians in West Papua over previous days have been heavily reported by Indonesian controlled media as being blamed on OPM/TPN independence fighters.

An attack in Wamena today has left two Indonesian colonists dead, and West Papua Media is currently getting reports from credible witnesses of a massive retaliatory rampage by Indonesian Army (TNI) Troops from Battalion 756, the battalion that rampaged across Wamena on June 6.

We are also getting credible reports of a major engagement between the TNI and TPN surrounding the village of Bolakme, outside Wamena in the Baliem Valley.

There are many conflicting reports about this incident coming froma wide variety of sources, so West Papua Media is conducting careful and critical investigation currently.

Additionally, the shooting on Sunday of Sawa Tami village chief Yanuarius Yanafrom by OTK attackers is claimed by direct witnesses to be the work of “well-built Malay men”, and we also have credible but unverified reports of the killing of 8 more people claimed by Indonesian to be OPM, but in fact ordinary villagers.  West Papua Media is awaiting identification of these victims before we publish.

Claims made by Indonesian media outlets that the shootings in both Wamena and Keerom are not currently borne by facts, and are exclusively based by Public affairs statements by Indonesian military, police and intelligence officers.  Zero attempt has been made by Indonesian journalists to seek genuine first hand witness statements, or any comment from credible independent observers, and no attempt has been made by ANY Indonesian media outlet to verify the claims of the security forces – a basic failing of journalism.

West Papua Media is in possession of a significant number of direct witness statements on the latest Keerom shooting, and after careful and sober investigation, verification, cross checking and fact checking, we will publish our findings.  There is yet to be any proof of  TPN involvement, and much evidence of an assassination by plain clothes Kopassus or Kostrad officers, consistent with a long history in Keerom regency of brutal random killings of motorcycle riders by Kopassus, “ninjas”, jihadists, and now Kostrad.

There are significant difficulties in getting an accurate picture in a highly dynamic and repressive context, with active military operations against witnesses and ordinary civilians.

West Papua Media will endeavour to publish as soon as we get a clear, verified and detailed story.  We recommend that every report that comes out from both Wamena and Keerom is treated with extreme caution until all verification has been done.

Thank you for listening

West Papua Media Editorial team

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Update: Keerom Shootings

Monday July 2 2012

0150 Papua time

westpapuamedia

A series of shootings have occurred in the remote West Papua – PNG border area of Arso, in Keerom district on Sunday July 1.

Initial reports have confirmed that one man, a village chief, has been shot dead by Indonesian army troops from Kostrad (Strategic Reserve) Battalion   as he was walking back to his village from an army post, after telling soldiers that any ceremonies held that day would not involve the raising of the banned Morning Star flag.

In an incident that may prove be connected to the first shooting, further credible reports are claiming that soldiers opened fire and shot 8 villagers who had come to investigate the first shooting.  Soldiers have arrested these eight victims and are accusing them of being OPM members, however preliminary reports indicate they are ordinary villagers.

Reports are currently conflicting at this point, so West Papua Media will bring more information as it becomes confirmed.

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