Tag: human rights

State must safeguard the health of political prisoners, says Parjal

 

JUBI, 19 July 2012
[Comment: Just see how many Papuans are serving life sentences or twenty years. TAPOL]Papuan Street Parliament says state must guarantee the heath of tapols

Jayapura, 19 July, 2012

The  Papuan Street Parliament (Parjal) insists that it is the responsibility of the Indonesian government  to safeguard the right to life of Papuans who are still behind bars.

Yusak Pakage, the spokesperson of Parjal, said that as a former political prisoner himself, he knows that prisoners suffer many difficulties as a result of the use of violence. ‘The state should be responsible for medical treatment and for the prisoners’ right to life,’ he said.

The director of the district office of the Department of Law and Human Rights , Daniel Biantong announced last January that there were 23 Papuan political  prisoners, of whom 16 were being held in Wamena prison, three were being held  in Biak and  two  in Abepura. The two in Abepura were Philip Karma [usually spelt Filep] and Samuel Yaru.

Those being held in Biak are Numbuga Talenggu and Yafrai Murib who are both serving life sentences, while Kimanus Wenda and Linus Hiluka  in Nabire prison have been sentenced to 20 years and in Biak, Apotnagolik E. Lokobal has been sentenced to 20 years.

Other tapols who are serving sentences of  20 years are Kanius Murib who is being held in Wamena, while Samuel Yanu  who is being held in Abepura is serving a sentence of three years.

‘Because I  have myself spent time in prison in Wamena, I have a sense of solidarity with these political prisoners. It is the duty of the state to help them,’ he said.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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KNPB members unable to attend trial of Buchtar Tabuni

 

JUBI, 18 July 2012The first hearing in the trial of Buchtar Tabuni, chairman of the KNPB, the National Committee of West Papua took place but none of the thousands of members of the KNPB were present to give their support to the accused.

They were probably absent because of the circulation of text messages  and terror phone calls, giving them reason to believe that they would be included on the DPO, the  ‘wanted persons’ list and would be arrested and they didn’t want their names to be made public.

One man from the central highlands who did not want to give his name said that not all the members of the organisation were known to the police. ‘We dont want to have our names included on the ‘wanted’ list. Had we attended the trial, this would have helped.them..

He said that the absence of KNPB members at any of the trial hearings  would mean that the police succeeded in dampening the militancy of the KNPB.

But others who attended the trial said that the absence of KNPB members was a sign of who supports their struggle and who doesn’t support it. ‘It  proves,’ said one person, ‘who are the real friends and who are people who just want to take part in activities.’

But another person said that the KNPB members  were not prepared to take the risk of facing fabricated charges. They were protecting themselves by not attending the trial. ‘They probably don’t want to be charged with all manner of things,’ he said.

The police guard round the courthouse for the Buchtar trial was not as tight as the guard that was mounted when Forkorus Yaboisembut was on trial, when Brimob troops were guarding the courthouse. Nor were there as many people attending the trial of Buchtar as had attended the trial of Forkorus.

[Translated by TAPOL]

[Comment: Following the brutal murder on 16 June of Mako Tabuni, a leader of the KNPB, members of the organisation certainly could not take the risk of attending any trial that would put them in danger of suffering the same fate. TAPOL]

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Police disperse humanitarian action in Jayapura

JUBI, 19 July 2012
Note: The bulk of this posting was posted yesterday but we are re-posting it with an important addition from Andreas Harsono. TAPOL]

Note: The Papuan Solidarity  for Human Rights Victims, SKPHP, is the
organization which supports political prisoners, including Filep
Karma, in Papua. They regularly do fund raising to buy medicines for
the prisoners. In 2010, they did a specific campaign for Filep Karma,
raising around $3,000 from the streets. Now the Indonesian police
stopped them from doing that on the grounds that SKPHP has no legal
entity.

Regarding Filep Karma’s fund raising, we have now raised IDR116
million. It is enough to do the surgery in Jakarta. He will meet his
local doctor, Donald Arrongear, this week. SKPHP and Karma are still
negotiating with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights about he goes
directly to the PGI hospital in Jakarta (without going to the Jakarta
prison first). They’re also suspicious with a new prison guard from
Java Island who wants to accompany him to Jakarta.

Police disperse humanitarian action in Jayapura

JUBI, 19 July 2012

The police in Papua forcibly dispersed  a humanitarian action taking
place when Papuans were out collecting money to help political
prisoners. They were from an organisation called Solidarity  for Human
Rights Victims, SKPHP. The police said that they had dispersed the
people because the SKPHP  has not registered with the provincial
administration.

The news was confirmed by Peneas Lokbere, a member of the SKPHP, who
told JUBI that before undertaking the action they had notified the
police of their intentions in both Abepura and Jayapura. Having done
this, it meant that the police would grant permission for the action
to take place.

Nevertheless, while the action was in progress on Friday at 1pm, the
police dispersed those taking part in the action. ‘We were forcibly
dispersed,’ said Peneas. ‘They said that this was because  we had not
registered the organisation with the authorities. and therefore, we
were not allowed to continue with this collection of funds.’ He also
said that after the police came to disperse the action, they dispersed
peacefully.’We did not offer any resistance. If we had resisted, it
would have led to a lengthy process.’

Peneas said that  they would follow up their action on Friday, 20
July. ‘We will go to the police and ask for permission to continue
with action.’

The street collections were being undertaken to provide for the
medical requirements of the political prisoners and the other prisoner
who are  ill at the prisons in Abepura and Jayapura. Among those who
are ill in Abepura Prison are Filep Karma, Ferdinand Pakage and Jefrai
Murib.

Their intention was to carry out this action from 9am Thursday 19 July
until Saturday.21 July.

[Translated by TAPOL]

The article is illustrated by a photo showing a large banner which
says: ‘The government doesn’t want to pay for medical treatment for
Filep Karma and Ferdinand Pakage’.   They are carrying posters which
say: ‘The Papuan  political prisoners are not criminals.’

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Statement from the International Parliamentarians for West Papua on the Escalating Violence in West Papua

West Papua flag
West Papua flag (Photo credit: lussqueittt)

P.O. Box 656, Oxford, OX3 3AP England, U.K.Date: : July 22nd 2012

Statement from the International Parliamentarians for West Papua on the Escalating Violence in West Papua

To: Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President, Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Andi Matalatta, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia
Mr. Hendarman Supandji, Attorney General, Republic of Indonesia
Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Chief of National Police, Republic of Indonesia

As members of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, we voice our concerns over the escalating violence in West Papua, especially in Wamena and Jayapura.
We are saddened by the recent murder of West Papuan independence leader Mako Tabuni and we express our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. We call on you to conduct a thorough investigation into Mako Tabuni’s death.

We are also concerned by the recent re-imprisonment of Buchtar Tabuni and his colleagues, Jufri Wandikbo and Assa Alua, and the continued imprisonment of Filep Karma, an Amnesty International recognized prisoner of conscience, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for raising the Morning Star flag at a peaceful protest.  We ask you to release and to drop all charges against these detainees and others who have been held for peacefully expressing views. We also request your help in assuring that Mr. Tabuni and his colleague be released immediately from custody, as we have further concerns that he may be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

We call on you to allow foreign journalists and humanitarian organizations entry into West Papua in order to provide a comprehensive report of the human rights situation there.

As the International Parliamentarians for West Papua, we support the indigenous people’s of West Papua’s call to a genuine act of self-determination, a right which was not recognized in the 1969 Act of Free Choice. We are therefore deeply troubled by your government’s suppression of political activity in West Papua. We urge you and your government to end the violence in West Papua, by listening to West Papuans call to self-determination, rather than attempting to silence them.

Signed,

Andrew Smith, MP (United Kingdom)
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion House of Commons (United Kingdom)
Lord Richard Harries (United Kingdom)
Dr. Russel Norman, MP (New Zealand)
Jamie Hepburn, MSP (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scotland)
Catherine Delahunty, MP (New Zealand)
Bill Kidd, MSP (Glasgow Anniesland, Scotland)
Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, MP (Port Vila, Vanuatu)
Cllr Alex Sobe (Leeds City Council)
Eugenie Sage, MP (Aotearoa)
Cate Faehrmann, MLC Green MP (Australia)

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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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