Category: News alert

Indonesian naval officer pressures corruption busting environmental NGO in Papua

The following report was received from the Executive-Director of LP3BH, Yan Christian Warinussy regarding harassment of Human & Environmental rights Defender Max Binur by an  Indonesian Naval Officer.

Monday 15 July 2013
(Editor’s Note: Max Binur heads a hard working grassroots environmental NGO in Sorong that was instrumental in documenting and exposing major issues surrounding illegal logging and security force corruption, and together with the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) exposed the infamous case of the “trillion rupiah cop,” First Adjunct Inspector Labora Sitorus.  Sitorus  was arrested in May following the discovery of a massive illegal logging and smuggling operation worth over US$150m. see http://www.eia-international.org/on-film-rogue-indonesian-cops-illegal-logging-operation)
At 11am, someone came to see me who said that he wanted to meet an official of Belantara Papua (This could be translated as the ‘Papuan Jungle’) He was riding on a motorbike  which he parked in front of the office. Because the front door was closed, he went to the back of the house and opened a side door and shouted: ‘There’s someone here who wants to meet you.’When this person entered the office, I was in  a room which is where children play together (singing and painting) When I heard my son calling,  I went up to him together with the visitor who was now standing in the kitchen. When the fellow greeted me, I responded to his greetings. I asked him who he wanted to see. He said that he had come from the naval base in Sorong and wanted to meet some officials from Belantara Papua.I asked him to leave the kitchen  and enter the house through the front door, whereupon he  left the kitchen and went to the front door. I had meanwhile gone into the main room in the office and invited him to enter.

We shook hands and I asked him to sit down.

When I asked him where he was from, he said: ‘I am a member of the Indonesian Navy in Sorong.and I want to meet someone from  the executive of Belantara Papua.’

When I asked him what he wanted, he said that he was hoping to meet someone from Belantara Papua and was hoping that it would be possible for us to work together.

Then he went on to say the following:

‘I know about Balantara from the Internet and I have been looking for its address for almost two weeks’

He then explained at great length how it was that he had met people an international organisation (CI) in Raja Ampat and found out about its programme (Christian Thebu).  He met the chairman of a civil society organisation (LMA Malamoi Silas Kalami) and had also met Ferdiel from Yayasan Penyu Papua.

I asked him how long he had been working in Sorong, to which he replied: ‘Only two weeks,’ adding that he had just moved here from Jakarta.

When we asked him whether he knew Abner Korwa, he said he had found out about Abner Korwa on the Internet and realised that he was an environmental activist. When he asked us whether Abner Korwa was at the office, I told him that Korwa does not work for Belantara but spends most of his time working at home

He then asked me whether I would introduce him to Abner Korwa. I said that I could but he was not here at the moment. He then spoke at  length about Belantara and their work with the local government and the security forces. As the discussion proceeded, he asked me for the names of the executive members of Belantara and then asked me what my name was and I said my name is Max Binur. He asked me what courses I was taking and I said I was doing a course about UNAMIN and its administration.  I also told him that there were five people on its staff.

He also wanted to know  whether he could take part in discussions with Belantara and I said that he could if he wanted to.

‘And what about involving my friends from the Indonesian Navy,’ he asked, to which I said by all means. But I said that at the moment we were very busy doing our own work in the countryside  which means that at present no one was here in the office except the doorman.

He then asked me whether I could give him the names of the members of the executive committee of Belantara and their photographs. I said, I’m sorry but I wont be able to do that until tomorrow. I said if he wants something official, I could send them to meet some people in the Indonesian Navy.

I ended the conversation at this point, explaining that I had to attend another meeting so I could only do this in a few days time.

He then asked for my telephone number which I gave him and in exchange, he gave me his telephone number.

When I asked him what his full name was, he said Major Yandi, adding that he was a member of the Indonesian Navy in Sorong.

———————

Intimidation

1.    When a member of the Indonesian Navy wants to meet people, he should go to their the front door and if no one is there, he should leave.
2.    What happened was that after knocking at the door, he went next door  to see whether anyone was there but there was no one.
3.    Major Yandi then asked for the names of the members of the executive committee of Belantara so that he could take their photographs. This was during our discussion which lasted for about one hour.
4.     During the discussion, he said he would like to work together with Belantara on a joint business project in Katapop.
5.    During the discussion he mentioned the name of Labora Sitorus but the began to talk about something else.
6.     He said he had moved here from Jakarta two weeks ago and that he had met several NGOs.
7.     One of his other tricks  was to say that he had come from Jakarta on a Pelita Air  flight, but as far as I know, Pelita Airlines does not fly from Jakarta to Sorong.

From all  this, I draw the following conclusions:

1.    In the last five years, no members of the security forces, either from the police or the army, have ever come to our Belantara Office asking for the profiles and names of members of the Belantara executive committee.
2.    I think that the re-opening of the case of  Labora Sitorus and the report in METRO TV in a newscast which was broadcast twice on the REALITA Programme could all be part of the same scenario.
3.     Since 12-13 July, I have been investigating  the case of the company BANGUN KAYA IRIAN which is located in Bagaraga Kampung, Kais, in the District of Wayer, Moswaren, the Region of South Sorong. It was when I arrived home from the location on  the next day 15 July) that a member of the security forces visited me.
4.    On my way home from South Sorong (Teminabuan) to the town of Sorong  on Sunday evening, I took several photos of timber which was piled up on the side of the road from Maladofok Kampung to Klamono. All along the road, there were logs that were about to be transported. I stopped my car on the road, got out  and took six photos of the logs  that were piled up.
5.     I was also suspicious about the Bloody AIMAS  case.
6.     This is perhaps in connection with the appeal we received from the Wawiyai people to assist them in fighting their case in Friwen,
7.     It is also perhaps connected to the exploitation of nickel  in Yenbekaki Kampung, Raja Ampat.

These are some recent cases which I  think are connected with the visit of Major YANDI of the Indonesian Navy although he did not tell us anything. There may be other motives about which we know  nothing.

Max Binur, Director of Belantara Papua

Finally, I want to make it clear that I am providing giving my name and identity card details. If any of these people want to contact me, please do so as I am willing to discuss these matters with them.

But because I need to be careful about giving people details about my identity card number,  I have decided to get a new identity card so as to be able to communicate with people about matters of principle.

Thank you!

0

Bobii: The Challenge of the MSG Delegation Visit to Jakarta and Papua

Opinion / Analysis

By: Selpius Bobii in Abepura Prison

15 July 2013

The planned visit by a delegation of member Foreign Ministers of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to Jakarta and West Papua arose as a decision of the MSG Forum held on 16 June 2013 in Noumea. The Foreign Ministers of Fiji, PNG, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Kanak and FLNKS are to visit Jakarta and West Papua within the coming six months, with the delegation to be led by the Fijian Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kabuabola.

The decision was also in response to an earlier invitation from the Indonesian Government made directly by the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs (POLKAM) Djoko Suyanto on 3 June 2013 at the moment he met with the Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama (who at that time the Chairperson of the MSG). The question begs why did Indonesia invite members of the MSG to Jakarta and Papua before the MSG Forum was even under way in June? Without a doubt in making that invitation the Republic of Indonesia (RI) had a particular motive (or motives) that undoubtedly was aimed at achieving the State’s own interests. But what exactly was the true motive behind that invitation?
Indeed Indonesia wanted to obstruct the process of the application for MSG membership by West Papua. In early 2013 the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) had submitted an application for full MSG membership for Papua however at the 19th MSG Summit the leaders supported a recommendation of Foreign Ministers to delay any final discussion and decision on the matter until a delegation of the MSG member Foreign Ministers visited Jakarta and Papua. If Indonesia’s primary motive in making that invitation before the Summit was to obstruct the processing of the application, then they succeeded in doing so.

The second possible motive behind the invitation is that there is potentially much to be gained by having the MSG Foreign Ministers come into Indonesia’s own domain. In particular during that visit RI will be working to develop a working partnership with the MSG on the issue of West Papua but no doubt they’ll be making much effort to build partnerships around a range of matters. The second step following the delay of the MSG’s decision is to deceive the MSG Delegation as to the truth of what’s going on inside Papua. They’ll be looking to do this in a number of ways including unilateral political rhetoric and the engineering of data regarding the situation inside West Papua.

Indonesia and its allies during these next months are going to be making significant ‘efforts’ to prevent West Papua being accepted as a member of the MSG. If the MSG Delegation becomes convinced through these ‘efforts’, that indigenous Papuans’ welfare will be better served by Papua remaining a part of the Republic of Indonesia then that will indeed be a fatal blow for Papua’s application. Clearly RI is going to be putting forward as evidence of their efforts, its packages of ‘Special Autonomy’ and more recently the new version ‘Special Autonomy Plus’. However the fact is that throughout the 12 years to date with Special Autonomy in place that indigenous Papuans have suffered from in fact a continued increase in the frequency of human rights violations as well as from discrimination, marginalization, injustice and being made a minority in their ancestors land.  All of which are now leading towards a slowly moving genocide against the ethnic West Papuan race.  Papuans have no illusions that there’ll be any positive difference under the new Special Autonomy Plus regulations as the characteristics of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) are not about to change and neither is Indonesia’s attitude towards Papua of taking over and plundering the natural resources whilst ‘eradicating’ the land of its indigenous inhabitants. The reality is that Indonesia is a colonizer and as long as Papua remains part of Indonesia the people of Papua will never experience physical and spiritual peace and prosperity.

It’s going to be absolutely critical that the MSG Foreign Ministers Delegation in their visit to Jakarta and Papua, show extreme caution and a highly selective process in their acceptance of data and information given by the Indonesian Government and those groups that are pro-Indonesian. As that data and information will of course become the basis for determining whether West Papua’s application for MSG membership will be accepted or not. If it eventuates that Papua’s application is rejected by the MSG then there may be more bad news to come as it’s likely that in that case RI will be given permanent observer status at the MSG. It’s quite likely that RI was aiming to create a situation where they could control what data was provided to the MSG regarding Papua when they invited the MSG to visit.

. If we look very carefully and at depth at the situation, one can see that there is a major scenario being created by RI at present to break-down the strength of the democracy (both legally and politically based) that arose as a result of the Papuan National Congress III (the Congress) on 19 October 2011 in Abepura when the forum declared the return of the sovereign independence of the nation of Papua in the State of West Papua and as a legal basis of the highest form created the state of the Federal Republic of West Papua. The Indonesian Government has been most concerned since that time to ensure that the declaration of the restoration of the sovereign independence of the nation of Papua is not acknowledged by other nations of the world or by the MSG Forum. A situation which could ultimately lead to recognition of the same by the United Nations (UN). In anticipation of that possibility the State of Indonesia has undertaken whatever means possible since the Congress to break-down the Papuan community’s democratic, political and legal strength that resulted from the Congress and RI’s allies have been supported those efforts.

The recent announced delays in the MSG decision regarding Papuans membership application caused some blaming within Papuan activist circles. If RI and its allies succeed in preventing the nation of Papua becoming an official member of the MSG then this finger-pointing will no doubt become more serious and this will undoubtedly have destructive consequences for the Papuan Struggle. Whether indigenous Papuans are aware of it or not, we are now entering this major scenario created by RI and its allies intended to paralyze and incapacitate the political and legal strength of the Papuan democracy.

Some of the more common political maneuvers of RI that have been used by the State until this time against the people of Papua need to be stated in black and white, as its highly probably they’ll be used in some form or another during the upcoming visit of the MSG Delegation to Jakarta and West Papua. RI is highly skilled in engineering situations and whenever there are intended visits by human rights related groups or official foreign representatives to Papua, all hands and feet of the Indonesian State work together to create anarchy in the land of Papua. So that RI  can allege that Papua is unsafe for foreign visitors and the world doesn’t question that. (Editor’s Note: Bobii is prescient with this observation.  RI Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told Radio Australia that he is open to foreign media access to Papua, but only if conditions are “safe” – “Our concern is an issue of security and safety,” he said. “There are elements in Papua who are keen to obtain international attention by bringing harm to international personalities including journalists.” http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-07-16/marty-natalegawa-says-he-supports-greater-access-to-papua-provinces/1161810 )

This tactic was seen recently with the planned visit by the UN Human Rights special Observer Hina Jilani. It’s so important for Papuans to be able to welcome in a customary way official foreign visitors and human rights of UN delegations; however Indonesia’s armed forces have never to date allowed that to occur. Rather Indonesia’s hands and feet on the ground in Papua create a range of incidents to prevent those visits going ahead. If as the time draws near for the MSG Delegation to visit Papua, RI yet again creates a situation stating they can’t allow the visit to go ahead due to security risks in Papua, then the MSG Delegation will be forced to use other means to meet with and receive official reports from the representatives of the different components of the nation of West Papua.

RI is also an expert at applying tactics so as to ensure there is absolutely no opportunity for a delegation of foreigners visiting Papua to meet with the different components of the community that struggle for liberation of Papua from the colonial domination of RI. A recent example of this was seen with the intended visit of the American Congressman Eni Faleomavaega to Biak and Manokwari in November 2007.

Having become accustomed to these common practices of RI, the Papuan community is most concerned what similar occurrence is likely to be seen at the time of the visit by the MSG Foreign Ministers Delegation to West Papua. It’s highly likely that the Indonesian armed forces will act to prevent the Delegation being able to access the different components of the nation of Papua who until now have struggled for the independence of West Papua. It is probable that RI will once again create a scenario at that time to ensure that the MSG Delegation only meets with the Governor and Indonesian appointed provincial government level assemblies – Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Papua(DPRP) and Majelis Rakyat Papua(MRP) –  those groups and  organizations that are pro- Indonesian and certain pro-Indonesian churches.

Obviously if the MSG Delegation only meets with those who are pro-Indonesian then of course they will accordingly only receive data and information that will suggest that all is just fine in Papua; pro-Indonesian voices will convey that any problems in Papua have already been overcome and that RI is now focusing on the next step of welfare development in the region. This was precisely what occurred when the Netherlands Ambassador for Indonesia visited on 3 July 2013. So in order to obtain balanced and accurate information regardless of what the situation is like, we dearly hope that the members of the MSG Delegation will make every effort possible to meet with the different components of the Papuan community that are pro-Papuan Independence and also to meet with Papuan Freedom Political Detainees who are incarcerated in the Indonesian Colonial Prison.

The other ‘special skill’ of RI in manipulating and engineering situations is that they are absolute masters at political rhetoric and seducing and persuading. Whether with financial offers , offers of expensive objects or sexual favors. Of course Papua’s most bitter memory of these tactics was in 1969 when RI took the chosen 1026 Papuans who would vote to determine the fate of Papua (in representation for more than 800,000 Papuans)were taken to Java where they stayed in luxury hotels and were provided with sexual services then later given handsome sums of money and objects. These well known practices of RI are to mention of course just a few that the nation of Papua and even foreigners who visit Papua have seen on endless occasions.

Indeed the MSG Delegation is going to face a really onerous challenge when it visits Jakarta and Papua in the very near future to get a first-hand idea of the situation in Papua. The points provided above are intended as a pre-warning of what is likely to occur during that visit and it’s hoped will assist the MSG Delegation in comprehending the real meaning of the Indonesian armed forces at that time. It is also hoped that these points might also benefit visitors of other nations or UN delegations who may visit West Papua into the future.
For the attention of all components of the nation of Papua wherever you may be, please let this be an early warning for us all so that we don’t become complacent with that which was achieved at the 19th Summit of the MSG in Noumea. As the matter of the membership of West Papua in the MSG is still undecided and will not be decided until after the MSG Delegation visits Jakarta and Papua sometime within this coming 6 months. Let us consolidate and unite and start at this very time to take real steps to bring about Internal Political Consensus for the nation of West Papua, so that we’re able to establish our membership at MSG and in doing so stand on solid ground. So that the world hears us as one voice, with one goal being the liberation of West Papua.

To the international community in solidarity with Papua throughout the world, please we ask you to remember your critical role at this time and our need for your help in supporting and strengthening the members and forum of the MSG. So that they individually and together are able to maintain their commitment in urging for the process of self-determination for the nation of Papua.

Selpius Bobii is the General Chairperson of Front PEPERA &  is Papuan Freedom Political Detainee held at Abepura Prison, Jayapura

Related articles
0

Commitment of the MSG regarding West Papua to be put to the Test

Opinion / Analysis

By Selpius Bobii

Abepura Prison, 28 June 2013 |

After more than 50 years of struggle, finally the voice of the Papuan nation has been formally discussed in the 19th Summit of the MSG which took place from 17-23 June 2013 in Noumea, New Caledonia.  As the community of the nation of Papua we are most appreciative to the leaders of the MSG and particularly to the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) as the host of the forum that officially invited a delegation from West Papua.

This is the first time an opportunity has been given by MSG to representative groups from both West Papua and Indonesia to convey their respective viewpoints within an MSG Forum. The West Papuan viewpoint was conveyed by Dr John Otto Ondawame of the WPNCL whilst the Indonesian viewpoint was conveyed by the Indonesian delegation led by Maikel Manufandu. The decision of the MSG Forum in handling the issue of Papua and in particular Papua’s application for membership is taken as a realisation of Melanesian solidarity and an upholding of the worth of all Melanesian peoples. The Forum’s decisions as recorded in the MSG Communique reflect decisions by the MSG leadership that West Papua is indeed recognized by MSG as a part of the Melanesian ethnic group and as part of the wider Melanesian family cannot be overlooked or forgotten.

The Indonesian representatives at the MSG Forum were faced with unanimity of heart and resolve by the MSG leadership to support the struggle for the liberation of West Papua. The resolutions of the MSG Summit amount to an implicit statement to other nations of the world of the importance of the West Papua issue such that it would be discussed at length by other nations of the region. This signifies that the nations of the Melanesian region are treating most seriously the humanitarian issues in Papua together with issue of self-determination for Papua in the hope of saving the people of West Papua from this humanitarian emergency.

Even though the decision of the leadership of MSG Summit is something so very pleasing to the people of West Papua, we nevertheless still have concerns that the status of the application for membership by West Papua will not be finalised by the MSG before receipt of the report of the visit to Jakarta and West Papua by the delegation of MSG member Foreign Ministers. Will the nations of the Melanesia region be able to act consistently with their statements of commitment on 21 June 2013 as stated in the MSG Communique regarding West Papua? That commitment is indeed going to be severely tested in the coming months as the State of Indonesia is extremely cunning in its political rhetoric and will be doing whatever it can to ensure West Papua’s application for membership with the MSG (as represented by WPNCL) is cancelled.

The visit by the MSG member Foreign Ministers will clearly have one of two consequences. Either the visit by the delegation will be beneficial for West Papua or conversely the visit could result in West Papua being sacrificed at enormous loss to the people of Papua. The latter may occur if the MSG delegation feels trapped and/or is tricked by the dirty politics of the State of Indonesia (RI). If the MSG delegation members are tricked or trapped by the unilateral rhetoric of RI and/or are tempted by the various ‘offers’ that RI will undoubtedly make, then it may occur that the report of the delegation that visits Jakarta and Papua may be at a tangent to what was its purpose. It will not in that case be objective or just and may conclude that all is ‘just fine’ in West Papua. An outcome which would result in West Papua’s application for MSG membership being rejected and which would be advantageous for RI but absolutely disastrous for the people of West Papua.

The commitment of the MSG leadership as stated in the Communique needs now to be realised through real and positive steps that need to be taken by the MSG Forum including:

  1. West Papua should have been confirmed as a permanent member of the MSG without needing to wait for the report from the delegation of MSG member Foreign Ministers if indeed MSG is truly concerned about the humanitarian emergency in West Papua. However we indeed hope that the MSG leadership will continue to defend West Papua becoming a member of MSG following the visit of the delegation of MSG member Foreign Ministers regardless of what is reported back from that visit.
  2. The taking of real and positive steps immediately by the MSG to mediate negotiations between the nations of West Papua and Indonesia to thoroughly deal with the problems and to arrive at solutions that uphold the dignity of the people.
  3. MSG leadership taking the issue of Papua to the United Nations (PBB) through one or more of the following channels :a)     The UN Committee for Decolonisation for West Papua with the re-registering of West Papua

    b)    The MSG advocating to have the issue of Papua on the agenda at the coming session of UN

    Then  MSG putting forward a motion within a UN forum to determine the legal and political status of West Papua leading to either the independence of the nation of West Papua being recognised or alternatively there being held a referendum.

    c)     The MSG Forum through legal channels mounting a challenge against the annexation of the independence of the nation of Papua into the Republic of Indonesia and/or the so-called ‘Act of Free Choice’ of 1969.

The community of the nation of West Papua and those in international solidarity will be closely following the realisation of the commitment of the MSG leadership and meanwhile will continue our efforts to become recognised as a full official member of the MSG.  With the hope that through MSG West Papua will be able to continue to struggle for the return of our rights as the first-born in the land of Papua and for the sovereignty of West Papua to be legally recognised.  Rights that were unlawfully denied us when Papua was immorally and illegally annexed into Indonesia.

Ideally the sovereign independence of the nation of Papua would be acknowledged at this time by the MSG Forum and that MSG would then lobby other nations at the UN for the recognition of Papua’s independence leading to the return of powers of governance. This way being the ‘shorter road’ which delivers an accurate and effective outcome. Rather than having to fight for our self-determination through a repeated referendum which may not give a clear determination and which is a much longer process that requires significant material resources, time and effort and human victims that will not be small in number.

The decision of the MSG at the 19th Summit was one of wisdom that upholds the values of justice, human rights, truth, honesty, democracy, peace and also the value of the Melanesian ethnic group. These values must not be neglected or overlooked due to offers of any kind by the State of Indonesia and/or its allies. The nation of West Papua dearly hopes that the leadership of MSG will maintain their initial commitment to the people of Papua as stated in June 2013. That the MSG Forum together with the nation of West Papua and the support of the international community in solidarity will continue to struggle for the recognition of the full and free sovereignty of Papua and its liberation from the colonial domination of RI and its allies.

Points 20-21 in the MSG Communique regarding the West Papuan issue are extremely special, meaningful and symbolic.  What will be most wonderful indeed is if the MSG final decision gives realisation to these hopes as a result of their very real and positive actions to rescue the nation of Papua from discrimination, marginalisation, becoming a minority and ultimately genocide of the ethnic West Papuan race.

We hope that the international community including both other nations and international entities/organisations, will give moral and material support to the leadership of MSG such that their commitment as stated in June remains steady. So that they are not manipulated and tricked by the political, security related and economic manoeuvres of the State of Indonesia and its allies intended to bring down the application of West Papua to the MSG and to cut across efforts by the MSG to help the people of West Papua. To help their fellow Melanesians who are presently in a state of crisis and a humanitarian emergency that is most horrifying in its consequences. A situation that has and continues to be hidden from the rest of the world.

The MSG Forum is the door that leads to access to the formal processes of the UN. So wherever people of the Papuan nation may be around the world, together with those of the international community in solidarity with us, we hope that you will be fully supportive of these efforts by the MSG whether directly or indirectly. So that MSG can stand strong in accordance with their commitments at the 19th Summit and fight for the self determination of the nation of Papua which is in accordance with the founding preamble of MSG.

Let us close our ranks and strengthen our position and capacity within the representative body of the WPNCL, so that WPNCL can represent West Papua towards a successful decision of the MSG that will bring an end to the present problems in West Papua. WPNCL cannot go this alone as through a forum of the highest order the nation of Papua at the III Papuan National Congress on 19 October 2011 in Abepura, declared the restoration of the sovereign independence of the nation of Papua in the State of West Papua and as a legal basis was established the State of the Federal Republic of West Papua. At that time the highest mandate of the nation community of Papua was given and that lies with the State of the Federal Republic of West Papua.

There is a need as soon as possible for a gathering of West Papua in the form of a West Papuan ‘National Evaluation’ or ‘West Papuan Internal Dialogue’ to arrive at a compromise or political internal consensus for West Papua. Such that moving forward there will no voice heard that is not in accordance with that arrived at and no claims or counter claims as to ‘ownership’ of the struggle. Such that there may be a mutual understanding and recognition of each others’ positions. The time has now come that there is a most critical need for all components of the Papuan struggle to unite and to divide the roles, then stepping forward together to bring into reality our longing for the nation of Papua, of West Papua, to become indeed fully sovereign.

Let’s work together to uphold those supreme values of truth, justice, honesty, human rights, democracy, self-worth and peace as the most glorious of human actions/works, even though in doing so we may face risks and difficult consequences in the realization of those values. For surely this is far nobler than to dedicate our all to the fulfilment of our own personal interests or our group’s interests and especially by means that are not upholding of humanitarian values. ‘The rescuing of human souls that have been shackled by the tyranny of oppression is indeed the highest law.’

Unity without limits! Struggle until victorious!

Selpius Bobii is the General Chairperson of  Front PEPERA West Papua and is a Papuan Freedom Political Prisoner in the Abepura Prison, Jayapura, West Papua.

 

 

Related articles
1

Nabire: Brimob Assaults a Civilian Due to Wage Demands

by Oktavianus Pogau  at SuaraPapua.com

June 28, 2013

Nabire – On 26 June 2013, Titua Money, a traditional landowner of Kampung Warmi, Yaur District, Nabire Region, Papua was violated by 3 members of the Mobile Police Brigade of Papua district.  Titus was assaulted due because he protested against PT. Nabire Baru, an oil palm plantation regarding a delay in the payment of his wages.

“It is true that my brother’s face was assaulted with a rifle butt by three members of the Mobile Police Brigade (Brimob) of Papua. His lips were bleeding and busted. His buttocks were assaulted with the rifle butt until it turned blue black,” explained the victim’s brother, Imanuel Money, when he was contacted by suarapapua.com, on Friday (28 June 2013) afternoon.

Before the assault, Imanuel said that his brother was detained and handcuffed by the three policemen, after which they rained repeated blows to his face with a rifle butt.

“After the arrest, the policemen released eight shots in the air to intimidate other workers who were present in the plantation,” Imanuel added.

Imanuel further elaborated that, his brother Titus, had protested to the manager of PT. Nabire Baru due to a delay in the payment of his wages. This practice had become increasingly frequent and without an explanation provided to the workers.

“The delay in the payment of the wages of the workers, including my brother, was a common practice of the plantation, however no one dared to protest because armed police personnel were employed by the plantation to pacify the situation to their benefit,” explained Imanuel.

Imanuel said that he had asked his brother to return to Nabire to attend to his medical needs, however this was prohibited by the management of the plantation.

“The plantation has utilized the mobile police brigade to keep peace in the plantation. To our knowledge the plantation has employed eight mobile police brigade personnel for that purpose. The three mobile police brigade who perpetrated the assault are Sertu Eko, Serda Genta and Sertu Urbanus,” said Imanuel.

Imanuel demanded immediate legal disciplinary action by the Police Inspector General of Papua, Tito Karnavian and Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Nabire, Bahara Marpaung against the three personnel.

“As a representative of the kin of the victim I demand that the Police Inspector General of Papua and the Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Nabire take due action against the three personnel who perpetrated an inhumane assault against my brother over a trivial matter,” expressed Imanuel.

When contacted by suarapapua.com for confirmation, the Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner, Bahara Marpaung verified the assault by the three police personnel against Titus Money who is an employee of PT Nabire Baru. The Commisioner claimed that Titus had threatened and assaulted the manager in a drunken stupor.

“Mr Titus Money had threatened and assaulted the plantation manager in a drunken stupor. Our personnel meant to calm him down, however Titus had behaved in a disorderly manner and spat on one of the officers. This had enraged the personnel who resorted to severe action to control Titus Money,” explained the Commissioner of Nabire.

The Commissioner also bid the family of the victim to make a formal police report with adequate medical evidence as proof the assault if they wished to proceed with legal action against the three police personnel who had assaulted Titus Money.

“I welcome the family of the victim to make a police report to start the legal process. I am also prepared to meet the family tomorrow at the District Police Station of Nabire, I shall await them,” he urged.

Pt. Nabire Baru is an agribusiness involved in promoting oil plantations. It started its operations in Kampung Sima, Yaur district and Nabire district, three years ago. It has been actively recruiting the local communities in the areas as labourers and workers with very low wages.

Related articles

 

3

Joy and disappointment after MSG’s West Papua decision

From our partners at Pacific Scoop

Report – By Daniel Drageset

June 27, 2013

Whereas some parties are pleased that the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) drew up a roadmap for membership of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), others are disappointed that the MSG did not go all the way and give full membership to the WPNCL.

West Papua independence
Prior to last week’s MSG meeting many West Papuans were hoping for full membership. Image: West Papua Media Alerts

The WPNCL, which attended the 19th MSG Leaders’ Summit with a five-person delegation, expressed happiness over the outcome.

A ni-Vanuatu MP, however, has said that a roadmap is simply not good enough and that Vanuatu as a strong supporter of West Papua therefore should withdraw from the MSG.

WPNCL, however, seems more than content, even though full membership is yet to be achieved. In a statement issued earlier this week it stated that after many years of lobbying it has now “entered a new chapter in its international efforts.”

Before last week’s MSG meeting in the New Caledonian capital Nouméa, some had expressed hopes that the WPNCL would attain full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, just like the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), which is the coalition of parties calling for independence in New Caledonia.

Although this is yet to happen, the MSG stated that it “fully supports the inalienable rights of the people of West Papua towards self-determination.”

Human rights
Furthermore, MSG expressed concern for human rights violations in West Papua, and therefore decided to send a delegation to Indonesia later this year to discuss West Papua.

In an interview with Radio New Zealand International, Andy Ayamiseba of WPNCL said that this “is a clear indication that the case of West Papua is out of Indonesia’s hands.

“It is no longer a domestic issue or internal matter but it’s not a regional issue, an international issue.”

The Australian West Papua Association (AWPA) said that it is disappointing that the issue of membership was deferred, but it welcomed a number of the other decisions.

“[T]he fact that the issue of the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua was recognised by the representative regional body of the Melanesian Peoples is very significant as is the fact that the MSG leaders acknowledged that there are ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua,” Joe Collins of AWPA said in a statement.

He described it as “encouraging” that MSG goes on a “fact-finding mission” to Indonesia, but warned that such missions may be “controlled or manipulated as to where, when and whom they are permitted to see by the authorities.”

Disappointed ni-Vanuatu MP
In an article in the Vanuatu Daily this week entitled Shameful day for Vanuatu, an anonymous ni-Vanuatu MP said it was a “sad day for Vanuatu when news was made public […] that the issue of West Papua had to wait for another six months.”

The MP alleged that Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands held secret meetings between them on the issue of West Papua and called it “very disrespectful.”

“I call on Vanuatu leaders not to join the other MSG leaders to either Jakarta or West Papua [for a fact-finding mission] but for Vanuatu to protest to the other MSG countries to pull out from the MSG because the vision by Vanuatu’s first prime minister has been defeated,” the MP stated.

Moreover, the MP said that if ni-Vanuatu authorities do go to Indonesia they “will have to consider carrying in their hands messages of condolences to pass on to the families of so many hundreds and hundreds of our Melanesian brothers and sisters who were raped, jailed, tortured and shot in jails, and slaughtered like animals over the past many years by the Indonesian military.”

1

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑