Tag: human rights

800 arrested, many tortured after troops open fire on Papuan Congress

in partnership with newmatilda.com

STOP PRESS – AT time of publication, confirmed information that another victim, Melkias Kadepa has been found dead in the bushes, in Abepura, according to Matius Murib, the Chairperson of Papuan Human Right Committee in Jayapura.

Troops Open Fire On Papuan Gathering

By Alex Rayfield

arrests in west papua
Participants in the Third Papuan People’s Congress are arrested by Indonesian security forces.

The Indonesian military and police opened fire late yesterday on a gathering of West Papuan leaders. At least one person is believed to have been killed and hundreds have fled the capital

The Indonesian military and police started shooting at around 2:37pm West Papua time, yesterday 19 October. Information about what exactly transpired are still sketchy but at least one person was shot (believed dead), scores have been arrested, hundreds have fled to the hills and jungle surrounding the capital, and the capital is in a state of lockdown.

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A Papuan priest who was fleeing the shooting contacted New Matilda to report that an army truck passed him carrying Papuan participants who had been present at the Third Papua Congress. According to the witness they were “covered with blood” and had been “beaten and shot”.

The violence erupted at the conclusion of the Third Papuan Congress, a three-day gathering held at the Taboria oval (Zaccheus Field) in Abepura, during which Papuan leaders declared their independence from the Indonesian state.

As many as 20,000 West Papuans met, danced and debated how to achieve their civil and political rights. For three days the atmosphere had been tense. The venue was ringed by Armed Personnel Carriers, military trucks and Barracudas — a type of armed jeep favoured by the paramilitary police. Machine guns were trained on the participants and thousands of soldiers and paramilitary police armed with automatic weapons were present.

Papuan activists feared that the military and police would try to forcibly break up the peaceful gathering. But the Papuans were determined to have the congress.

One activist told New Matilda “maybe we will die but the congress will go on”. Continue it did. The banned “morning star” flag was flown and the banned national anthem was sung. By lunch time on the third day (19 October) Papuan activists, members of the organising committee and well connected church leaders heard that the police and military were going to use force to break up the congress.

By 2pm Jayapura time the Congress was concluding. Forkorus Yaboisembut, the Chair of the influential Customary Papaun Council was elected President and Edison Waromi was elected Prime Minister of the “West Papua Federal State”. The crowd was ecstatic. One senior tribal leader sent New Matilda the following message by SMS: “Kongres has been successful! No reaction from the military. God bless!”

The jubilation was premature.

Immediately after New Matilda received that SMS, Yaboisembut and Waromi read a declaration of independence. The police and military then opened fire and stormed the stage. As Forkorus Yaboisembut was being arrested, his personal bodyguards stepped in to protect him. A witness reports at least one person was then shot. According to an SMSNew Matilda received from Yaboisembut: “hundreds were surrounded, shot, beaten and then arrested”.

Prior to being arrested, Yaboisembut spoke to a journalist from Bintang Papua, a local Jayapura daily. Yaboisembut was reported as saying that the objective of the congress was to discuss the basic rights of the indigenous Papuan people and not to destroy the the republic of Indonesia.

“Although we will be discussing political rights, we respect the Indonesian government because our intention is not to destroy [the republic of Indonesia]. This is a matter of principle,” he said.

“What we are doing is to struggle for the rights of the indigenous Papuan people. This includes our basic right as a nation.”

Yaboisembut knows what he is talking about. He recently wrote a book about international law, self-determination and the right to secession — a right upheld by the international community most recently in South Sudan and before that Kosovo.

Human Rights defenders in West Papua can confirm that in addition to Yaboisembut, Edison Waromi and his wife and child, Selfius Bobi (Chair of the organising committee), Agus Krar, Abraham Kareni, Yudit Kambuaya and Jan Piet Mirino were also arrested.

At the time of writing those arrested were being detained at the local Jayapura police station. Another source reports that Selfius Bobi has not been seen since. Staff fromWest Papua Media Alerts hold grave fears that he is being tortured.

Extreme violence has been used to break up a peaceful gathering.

This was the third time West Papuans have held a congress. The second congress was in 2000. It culminated in the election of the Papuan Presidium Council which collapsed in late 2001 after the Chair, Theys Hiyo Eluay, was assassinated by Kopassus, Indonesia’s Special Forces.

The first Papua Congress was held on 1 December 1961, a day West Papuans commemorate as their national day, and some 18 months before Indonesia occupied West Papua on 1 May, 1963.

Yesterday was the second time the Papuans declared independence from Indonesia. The first was by Seth Rumkorem on July 1 1976 at Markas Viktoria, a guerrilla base on the Papua New Guinea border.

Yaboisembut’s declaration of independence in front of thousands of Papuan people and thousands of heavily armed police is a clear escalation of the struggle for independence. It also illustrates Yaboisembut’s conviction that the struggle needs to be waged through an unarmed popular civilian uprising.

UPDATE 12.35pm:
This information was gathered by West Papua Media Alerts from local contacts. It has not been verified by New Matilda.

Two victims have been named: Martinus Siep was shot dead, and Pilatus Wetipo was shot in the leg and is now in hiding.

Eight truckloads of Congress delegates were taken into police custody. People arrested by the security forces are now missing.

A witness from Wamena has said: “While I was in hiding I saw with my own eyes in front of me nine people who tried to escape up the hill behind the catholic dormitories were shot dead and were taken away by security forces in Panser [armoured vehicle]. Until now I don’t know where they’ve been taken too”.

The security forces have raided Cendrawasi University in pursuit of two delegates from Serui who got shot in the leg and arm. Therefore, all students and delegates in Yawa dormitory have dispersed and are in hiding.

The security forces have also raided dormitories looking for the Congress committee, the Congress leadership and student leaders. Delegates from Biak are reporting that a lot of their representatives are still missing.

Selfius Bobi, who is chair of the Congress organising committee, is missing.

A priest who was hiding in the jungle behind the Congress venue witnessed security forces positioned in the bush shooting down to the venue below, and forces in armoured Panser and police trucks open fire, causing confusion and chaos among participants. He believed security forces had placed themselves behind bushes and were waiting for anyone who escaped up the hill so that they could shoot them and quickly throw them into the vehicles.


UPDATE 1.10PM:
This message was just sent to West Papua Media Alerts by Congress participant Djenggo Nubiri. It has been translated from Indonesian.

“Sister/brother, I’ve just left the police headquarters along with other students who have exams this morning. There are still around 800 detainees in the Jayapura Police Station at the moment. Yeboisembut was injured by the police, he is still being interrogated in a special room. Eduard Pariri, Mrs. Sroer, Kelly Pedai, Abraham Kareni, Nova Sroer, DAUD ABON (Governor of Yapen-Waropen and Mamberamo), Mr. Jacob Sroer and Elieser Awon (ex Free West Papua – OPM – member), Mama Sroer and there are still so many other activists, youths, students, petapa (?), mama-mama (older women), OPMand others. They are still being detained in the Jayapura Police Station’s tennis court since last night. The repressive and violent act by the authority has caused a lot of injuries to the people, some fractured their skulls, broke their legs, while others suffer serious injuries. We had to sign the letter stating we’ve committed criminal acts as they did not allow us to defend ourselves.”

more information as it becomes available. 

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POLICE AND ARMY OPEN FIRE ON PAPUAN CONGRESS

CONFIRMED REPORT FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES ON THE GROUND
FROM CREDIBLE WEST PAPUA MEDIA STRINGERS

(INDONESIAN MILTARY) TNI TROOPS HAVE OPENED FIRE ON  CONGRESS AT 1530 JAYAPURA TIME

LIVE FIRE IS BEING USED ON PEACEFUL GATHERING.  REPORTS OF CASUALTIES BUT NO CONFIRMATION OF NUMBERS.  PETAPA PEACEKEEPERS HAVE BEEN SHOT, REPORTS OF MANY DEAD.  WOMEN TENDING TO SHOT PETAPA SECURITY ALSO SHOT BY INDONESIAN MILITARY.

FORKORUS YABOISEMBUT ALSO ARRESTED FOR SUBVERSION/MAKAR.

TEXTS MESSAGES FROM DELEGATES STATE “WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED”

Confirmation that Edison Waromi has been arrested.

PLEASE ADVOCATE IMMEDIATELY

PLEASE STAY TUNED
WEST PAPUA MEDIA

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The world is watching Papua: Greens

Posted on 19. Oct, 2011 by RichardDiNatale in Media Release, West Papua

The Australian Greens today urged the Indonesian authorities to show restraint at the 3rd Papuan National Congress in Jayapura, and warned them that the world is watching what occurs.

“The Congress is a peaceful event, and the Papuan people have a right to assemble and discuss their future,” said Greens West Papua spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, from the Australian Parliament today. “To meet without threat of violence is a fundamental human right that all citizens enjoy.”

The Senator’s remarks were in response to reports that a heavy police and paramilitary presence was converging on Taboria Oval, the site of the Congress, and that violence seemed imminent.

“No level of violence is acceptable at a peaceful gathering,” added Senator Di Natale. “The authorities will have to answer to the world for any bloodshed.”

Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600

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Third Papuan People’s Congress opens

Bintang Papua, 18 October 2011The Third Papuan People’s Congress opened on Monday according to plan at Lapangan Zakeus [in the open air]. However, the  plan for it to be opened by the general director for regional autonomy of the interior ministry was not realised so instead it was opened by the collective Papuan leadership and marked by the beating of a tifa drum.

Speaking on this occasion, Forkorus Yaboisembut said the objective of the congress was to discuss the basic rights of the indigenous Papuan people and not to destroy the NKRI.

‘Although we will be discussing political rights, we respect the Indonesian government because our intention is not to destroy NKRI. This is a matter of principle,’ he said, speaking to journalists after opening the congress.

‘What we are doing is to struggle for the rights of the indigenous Papuan people. This includes our basic right as a nation.’  Speaking as part of the collective leadership as well as chairman of Dewan Adat Papua  [Papuan Traditional Council], he said he had no personal agenda. ‘But the people have their aspirations and the Indonesian state and other states should respect this.’

He went on to say: ‘If all parties  uphold democracy, basic human rights and international law, the Third Papuan People’s Congress should not be regarded as being illegal. If everyone in the world is committed, the activities  taking place here in Papua should not been seen as being illegal or against the law. Law is relative,’ he said.

The congress was opened with a prayer and the blowing of the sangkakala trumpet. Forkorus led the prayers together with the leaders of seven regions. The national anthem ‘Hai Tanahku Papua‘ was sung, the only song to be sung as part of the congress agenda.

The Morning Star flag which was flown was quite big and was unfurled twice on a wooden pole while musicians accompanied women dancers who were wearing shirts made of the flag.

The chairman of the congress committee, Selfius Bobii, in his opening address, called on all who were present to be of one heart and determined to bring about change.

‘Past history is realised in what happens today, and the future depends  on what happens now,’ he said, speaking with great feeling. Although his address was interrupted because of the sound system, he gave an account of Papuan history. In the days before  the arrival of people from outside, Papua was a paradise on earth..  ‘During the Dutch colonial era  and the Indonesian colonial era, this paradise on earth turned in a hell on earth.’ Papua’s paradise which existed before the arrival of outsiders is what we are longing for.’

Third Congress: Forward to Peace.

Congress regulations for the proceedings were read out, which included things that the participants should not do and were agreed by everyone present.

After the regulations had been read out, the congress continued with each group from home and abroad presenting their political views. The first person to speak was Frans Kapisa, chairman of the WPNA.  He was followed by a statement from a representative of TPN/OPM from Kasuari Manokwari which was read out by Yakop Dimara (commander). This was followed by a political statement by a representative of TPN/OPM from the mountains who did not want his name  to be reported in the press.

The statement from TPN/OPM marked the conclusion of expressions of political opinions yesterday while others will make their statements tomorrow (ie today) starting as 8am. These political presentations expressed love for a peaceful struggle, although at the start there was some talk about the use of violence.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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Third Papuan Congress to go ahead despite efforts to obstruct it

(Note – the Congress is currently underway, more reports to come)
Bintang Papua, 14 October 2011

[Abridged in translation by TAPOL]

Although the Third Papuan Congress is due to start in two days time, it is not yet known where it will take place. Selpius Bobii, chairman of the organising committee, said that plans to hold the congress at Cenderawasih University are facing obstacles because permission for the UNCEN auditorium has not yet been granted even though, he said, notification of the congress had already been submitted some time ago. Permission to hold the congress at GOR Cenderawasih has also not been received.

Bobii said that those organising the congress believe that there are forces who are exerting pressure to ensure that neither of these locations will be made available. He went on to say that however that may be, the congress will go ahead as planned because Papuan people throughout the territory fully support it.

Bobii said that they were still waiting for permission (STTP) from the police.The main issues to be discussed are the basic rights of the Papuan  people in a situation where Papuans are being violated and intimidated. The intention is to discuss the things they are experiencing  and what measures they need to take to uphold their rights.

The congress will go ahead without any support from the central government; all expences will be covered by the Papuan people themselves, transportation, food and drink will be provided thanks to contributions from Papuan people.

While there are elements who are trying to prevent the congress from taking  place and spreading all kinds of stories to discredit it,, Bobii said this was simply a reflection of the democracy now in place. He said that what was most important was that 273 Papuan tribes would be attending the congress, covering their own costs and even helping out with financing the congress as a whole. ‘There is nothing that will stand in our way,’ he said. Also, security will be guaranteed by a force of about 4,000 people. If anyone moves to prevent the congress from taking place, he said, they will expose the forces who are behind these attempts.

More than 8,000 people have already arrived. As for the location, if not in the UNCEN auditorium, it may take place in Theys  Square in Sentani or at the  graveside of Theys Eluay, as the final alternative.

As for the police permit, this will not be a problem because the central government has already given the green light. Bobii also said that they had received a letter  from the minister of political and legal affairs in Jakarta which, he said, had arrived by fax. This means, he went on, that ‘neither the military commander or the chief of police can prevent us from proceeding with our agenda’.

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