Category: News alert

TPN/OPM warned of deadline for return of two weapons

Bintang Papua, 6 September 2011The executive committee of the Synod of the KINGMI Church in the Land of Papua has responded to the threat issued by the police force in Paniai that failure to hand back two firearms by the end of Wednesday, 7 September  would mean that the police will launch hunt and search operations against the TPN/OPM led by John Yogi.

According to the KINGMI Church, these search operations  against John Yogi who is alleged to have seized the weapons, could result in possibly hundreds or even thousands of casualties of innocent people among the civilian population, said Dr Benny Giay.

The deputy chairman of the Papuan branch of the National Human Rights Commission, Matius Murib, also had a meeting with Ruben Magai, the chairman of commission A of the DPRP about the issue.

Dr Benny Giay of the KINGMI Church called on Commission A of the DPRP to provide the opportunity for local leaders and churches to hold discussions with John Yogi and his comrades. The reason for doing so was that, according to reports from local communities in Paniai, everyday life in Paniai has been paralysed and many local inhabitants  have fled their villages in a state of trauma, havng heard about the forthcoming operations against the TPN/OPM. ‘We call upon Commission A and the chief of police to do everything possible to prevent casualties among the civilian population,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Rev. Albert Kesya, said that plans to launch search operations against the TPN/OPM had been made public at a time when the congregation were involved in Spiritual Camping in Madi Kampung, Enaro,sub-district of Paniai. on 26 July. which is not far from the location where the headquarters of the TPN/OPM is believed to be based. Even so, Brimob forces in Panai had attacked and seized many things, including thousands of bullets (the figure given in the article is 40,000), Rp 50 million, twelve hand phones, ten bows and arrows, and a Yamaha motorbike.

Deputy chairman of the National Human Rights Commission in Papua, Matius Murib, said the government and the security forces need to pay attention to three things.  There can be no justification for anyone among the authorities or the population to use violence and cause  casualties among the population. ‘Such actions,’ he said, ‘were rejected by human rights organisations around the world, bearing in mind that  Indonesia has ratified  covenants against the use of violence. and the loss of lives. Secondly, the local population needs to hold negotiations with the TPN/OPM. Whatever the situation, people like John Yogi  and his group can be expected to listen and to understand.’

‘There is no need to set a deadline for the launching of operations. Weapons belonging to the state should be in the hands of the state. There can be no justification for launching search operations against the TNP/OPM. There are weapons in the hands of many groups. And there are many weapons in the hands of  people who are not authorised to hold weapons.’

‘People cannot be allowed to do things that will result in victims falling among the civilian population.’ He said that some people can be expected to use weapons as a bargaining point to achieve certain objectives, but trying to force people to return weapons  will never solve the problems.’

Ruben Magai, chairman of Commission A of the DPRP in Papua, called on the chief of police in Papua to use social means, not military means, because the latter will only traumatise the people and make them very afraid.

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KNPB on the recent acts of violence in Papua

Bintang Papua, 6 September

According to the KNPB – National Committee for West Papua – the many acts of violence that have been occurring in Papua recently would appear to be part of a scenario designed by certain quarters.’

‘This scenario is being promoted by people who want to get their hands on funding. These acts of terror or intimidation are aimed at warning Papuans not to go on pressing for their human rights.,’ said Mako Tabuni of the KNPB, speaking alongside Buchtar Tabuni, the general chairman of the KNPB, as well as Viktor Kogoya, during a press conference at the Prime Garden, Abepura on 6 September.

They said that the KNPB would not be influenced by these incidents. ‘We, as the voice of the Papuan people, will continue to speak up for the human rights which are the true aspirations of the people of West Papua,’ said Mako Tabuni.

On this occasion too, he said, the fifteen arrests were made by joint patrols of the Indonesian army and police (TNI/Polri) of fifteen Papuans (thirteen have since been released ). They were detained by members of the police force in Jayapura. The arrested men are all members of the Wahno Baptist congregation which is located in south Jayapura. He also said that the arrests were made to the accompaniment of acts of violence, and moreover, the correct procedures were not complied with.

The arrests were made in the village of Nafri on 1 August because those in authority had not been able to arrest the real culprits who had committed the acts of violence.

He also said that a nine-year old boy, Dessy Koyoga, had disappeared from the home of Biben Kogoya, the local sub-district chief, at the time of the arrest of the fifteen people.

‘There are indications that the boy was kidnapped by the security forces involved in the arrests. The parents of the boy are still searching for their young son.’

The KNPB say that a special team should be set up by the DPRP (the local legislative assembly) along with those NGOs which have responsibility for undertaking investigations so that the true facts about this case can be made known.

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Statement from the West Papua solidarity gathering at Nga Wai o Horotiu, Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

from Peace Movement Aotearoa

 8 September 2011

We are very encouraged by the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban ki-Moon, at a media conference in Auckland yesterday, 7 September 2011, that West Papua should be discussed by the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

Noting with appreciation the Secretary-General’s statement that “whether you are an independent state or a non-self-governing territory or whatever, the human rights is inalienable and a fundamental principle of the United Nations”, and “we will do all to ensure” that the human rights of the people of West Papua are respected, we therefore call on:

The United Nations Secretary General to act without delay, and:

  • appoint a Special Representative to investigate the situation in West Papua – to review the circumstances and outcome of the 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’, as well as the contemporary situation; and
  • use his good offices to persuade the Indonesian government to allow free access to West Papua for media representatives from the international community and for non-governmental human rights organisations.

The Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in Auckland to act without delay, and:

  • send a fact-finding mission to West Papua to investigate the human rights situation;
  • support the West Papuan people in their call for peaceful dialogue with the Indonesian government;
  • grant observer status to West Papuan representatives who support the people of West Papua’s right of self-determination; and
  • recommend to the United Nations General Assembly that West Papua be put back on the agenda of the Decolonisation Committee.

The New Zealand government to act without delay, and:

  • play a role in mediating and beginning the process of peaceful dialogue between West Papuan representatives and the Indonesian government; and
  • cease all military ties with Indonesia until the human rights of the people of West Papua are respected.

Civil society to:

  • support the West Papuan call for peace and justice, and for a process of peaceful dialogue with the Indonesian government; and
  • take every opportunity to support West Papuans working for peace, justice, human rights and environmental sustainability.

Participating organisations: New Zealand non-governmental organisations Bicultural Desk of the Auckland Catholic Diocese, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, Christian World Service, CORSO Inc., Indonesia Human Rights Committee, Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, Peace Movement Aotearoa, Philippine Migrant Centre, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Aotearoa Section; New Zealand based Coalition for Democracy in Fiji; and Australian non-governmental organisations Australia West Papua Association (Sydney), Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights,  Medical Association for Prevention of War, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre (Australian Province), Pax Christi Australia and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Australia Section.

Photos from some of the West Papua solidarity actions in Auckland: are available at http://www.facebook.com/PeaceMovementAotearoa
Formatted copy of this statement: is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp-ngos0911.pdf
 

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon calls for Papuan Human rights to be respected

Extract from Ban Ki Moon press conference, Pacific Islands Forum, 7 September 2011

Source: United Nations Office of the Secretary General.
see full transcript of the questions and answers, as provided by the Office of the UNSG: http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1929

Question: [unclear] With regards to human rights – for more than forty two years, there’s a struggle in West Papua as people seeking their government in the province of West Papua

What is the United Nations stand on that?

BKM: This issue should also be discussed at the Decolonisation Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
And when it comes again, whether you are an independent state or a non-self-governing territory or whatever, the human rights is inalienable and a fundamental principle of the United Nations.
We will do all to ensure that people in West Papua, their human rights will be respected.

Question: Does a human rights fact-finding mission has be dispatched to West Papua at some time?

BKM: That is the same answer [to a previous question on Fiji] that should be discussed at the Human Rights Council amongst the member states.
Normally the Secretary General acts on the basis of a mandate given by inter-governmental bodies.”amatus”

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KontraS: Arrest and torture of 13 Papuans have worsened the situation in Papua

(West Papua Media Note: this event also subject to a lengthy and detailed investigation by West Papua Media that will be published in coming days) 

Statement by KontraS on 3 September 2011Arrests and torture of ordinary Papuans by the Police and the Army (Polri/TNI) have worsened situation in PapuaKontraS condemns the appalling practices of torture and criminalisation which were perpetrated by the law enforcement agencies against of a number of Papuan people by the police in Papua. Such activities are a serious violation of their human rights which should be avoided at all costs because they are in breach of a number of legal provisions.

Acts of torture and criminalisation were perpetrated on 31 August, during Lebaran, and occurred early in the morning. when a number violent acts also  took place. These activities were perpetrated against a group of Papuans  and occurred as they were being arrested by the police who were acting in violation of the laws in force. The details of what happened are given in the chronology attached to this statement. [Abridged translation only]

These criminal acts were perpetrated without being credibly justifiable in relation to the allegations being made. We fear that this is part and parcel of the practice of stigmatisation of Papuan people which has been developed by the state apparatus, in particular the police and the army,  in their law enforcement activities.

The practice  of torture is inhumane and is moreover in breach of Law 5/1998 regarding the ratification by Indonesia of the  Convention Against Torture . This means that components of law and the security apparatus, in particular the police, are bound by law to  refrain from such practices  and to punish those who perpetrate such acts (see articles 1 and 2). They are also bound by Law 39/1999 on Basic Human Rights, article 33 of which prohibits the use of torture.

With regard to the police, these acts are also in violation of internal police regulation 8/2009 which clearly prohibits the use of torture.

This latest incident  is an indication of the fact that torture and criminalisation have become integral to police practices when they try to obtain statements (that is to say, confessions) from persons who are suspected of committing crimes. In the second place, this behaviour represents a repetition of previous acts of torture that have occurred in Papua. With regard to the army, they are not entitled to be involved in making such arrests. A year ago, we were all stunned when we saw the brief, amateur video  broadcast on Youtube showing members of Brimob and the army engaged in acts of torture against people alleged to be members of the OPM.

Such practices undermine the confidence of ordinary Papuan people in the police. In the past few months, violent practices have been  spreading throughout Papua  such as  the case of 16 people arrested in 2010 and seven people who were arrested in Manokwari. It is necessary to strengthen the confidence between the government, the various pro-independence groups, civil and customary society  and other elements. It is also necessary to strengthen people’s confidence and respect in the implementation of democratic principles such as the law and human rights. The practise of torture will only make it more difficult to comply with the agenda for peaceful dialogue with Papua.

We therefore call on Kompolnas (the police community) and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate these reported incidents of torture  in Papua. And once sufficient evidence has been found, the perpetrators must be made accountable before the law. This is important in order to show that there is no discrimination in law between Papuan civilians  who are vulnerable to actions by law enforement agencies who are treated like heroes  for taking actions against alleged separatists.

This should also be an occasion for the police to improve their behaviour which has been damaged by the continual practice of torture by members of the police force.

We take this opportunity to remind the President that the continuing lack of clarity in the policy of the government towards Papua is a threat to the security and livelihoods of the Papuan people.

3 September 2011:
Kontras National Executive: Haris Azhar, Co-ordinator.
Kampak (?) Dorus Wakum, Chairperson

A chronology attached to the statement provides details of the place and time of the arrests.

The thirteen arrested persons are alleged to have caused unrest during an Idul Fitri ceremony that was being held on the premises of Brimob. They are alleged to have been involved in shootings in Nafri Kampung which resulted in the deaths of three civilians and one member of the TNI.

During an assault, the police fired shots in the direction of  the Wahno Baptist Church and then confiscated traditional equipment such as arrows, machetes and knives as well as some OPM documents.

The thirteen persons are:

Yawanus Kogoya.
Tinus Wenda
Siki Kogoya
Arinus Wenda
Yusman Kogoya
Mis Kogoya
Bodi Kogoya
Wen Wenda
Denias Kogoya
Ekimar Kogoya
Panius Kogoya
Yeskiel Kogoya
One unidentified person

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