Tag: right of free expression

Children pray for release of Forkorus and his co-defendants

Forkorus Yaboisembut outside court. Photo: West Papua Media
JUBI, 9 May 2012Dozens of children  from the KINGMI Church in Waena held joint prayers on Wednesday this week, praying for the release of Forkorus Yaboisembut and his four colleagues.  They were intending to hold the joint prayers in the grounds of their school in Abepura but because the building was undergoing restoration, the prayers were said at the church.

JUBI journalist said that the children were very enthusiastic about the event  and had made posters about the many social and political issues in Papua.that have overwhelmed the Papuan people.

Adolof Tenouye, who led the prayers said  that they were all very concerned about the numerous problems in Papua, such as human rights violations, as well as economic and cultural problems.They said prayers for the restoration of their country in the hope that it could emerge from its present problems

One of the banners which they unfurled said: ‘We love my father, the President of West Papua.’ As is known, Forkorus Yaboisembut is the president of the Federal Republic of West Papua which was proclaimed on 19 October 2011, at the end of the Papuan People’s Congress. Forkorus and his co-defendants were found guilty of treason and were convicted to three years each.

The other four men are: Edison Waromi, Selpius Bobii, Dominikus Sorabat and Agust Makbrawen who are all in custody in Abepura Prison.

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KNPB: We never seek justice from Indonesia

Bintang  Papua, 4 May 2012

Jayapura: Following the death of a sympathiser of the KNPB, the deputy chairman of the organisaation Mako Tabuni said that such a thing is part of the risk of the KNPB’s struggle for a referendum. ‘ We do not regard such things as a violation of human rights  but as part of the risk of our struggle,’ he said.

He said that they recognise that loss of life and loss of property  are inevitable.

He said that with regard to the latest victim, they were not intending to seek justice from Indonesia ‘because none of the victims which we have suffered has resulted in justice for the Papuan people.’

With regard to reports alleging that skirmishes said to have been caused by the KNPB masses and in which one student and one member of the security forces were injured and one young man died, he said that he would take responsibility if the police try to prove this.

In a press release issued by the KNPB, the organisation made the following demands:

1.    The Indonesian government should recognise the political right of the Papuan people to determine their own future by means of a referendum because the process of annexation following the New York Agreement of 16 August 1962 violated the principles and standards of international law and universal human rights.

2.    As from 1 May 2012, the Papuan people herewith declare that the presence of the Republic of Indonesia on Papuan soil is illegal and the  Papuan people only recognise the national parliamentary administration of West Papua.

3.     The Dutch people, the Indonesian people and the United Nations must accept responsibility for the hand over of of the administration of the West New Guinea Council/West Papua to the Government of Indonesia on 3 May 1962, without the consent of the Papuan people who were the ones involved in the dispute.

4. The Papuan people are ready to struggle for their right to self-determination by all means possible.

5. That the Papuan people should not become panic-stricken in the present situation.

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Violence reinforces Papua’s independence aspirations, say church leaders

Bintang Papua, 3 May 2012

Jayapura: A number of acts of violence have occurred in Papua, but none of these incidents have been investigated. which creates the impression that the Indonesian government it simply not interested, while these incidents have only intensified the independence aspirations of the  Papua people.’Violent incidents have occurred and Papuans continue to be killed but nothing is being done to bring those responsible to justice. This shows that these acts of violence must have been committed by the State and are quite systematic, according to the Rev Benny Giay, chairman of Synod the Kingmi Church in Papua.

Besides all these shooting incidents against Papuans, the Indonesian government has done nothing to recognise the social, economic and cultural rights of the Papuan people.’The government pays no attention to these matters and simply takes the security approach,’ he said.

All this only intensifies Papuan aspirations for independence.

The chairman of the Alliance of Baptist Churches in Papua, Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman expressed the same opinion, and said that nothing has been done to find and arrest those responsible. ‘This State violence has been going on for a long time which is deeply undermining respect for the dignity of the Papuan people. The result is that the government has been unble to develop any sense of nationalism among Papuan people as part of Indonesia. ‘All it has done,’ he said, ‘is to have reinforced the Papuans own nationalism as Papuan people. The Papuan people have no confidence  in the Indonesian government and all they want is independence.This is clearly evident from the many incidents when thousands of Morning Star flag were flown everywhere throughout West Papua on 1 May which is commemorated by Papuan people as the day of Indonesia’s annexation of West Papua,’ he said.

He also drew attention to the shooting of Papuan people on that day. ‘The Indonesian government continues to perpetrate these crimes and kill Papuan people,’ he said.

He said that the only way to solve the problem is to immediately hold dialogue between the  Papuan people and the government of Indonesia, mediated by a third party. ‘This is the only solution of all the problems in Papua.’

Human rights activists in Papua, including  Maius Murib the former deputy chairman of he Papuan branch of Komnas HAM, Matius Mirib have spoken about the demonstrations on 1 May. He said that in the demonstrations n 1 May, there were run by three different groups. Those who demonstrated at the grave of Theys Eluay said that they were just indigenous Papuans and were not organised by the KNPB – the National Committee of West Papua. Thirnteen people were arrested for flying the Morning Star flag.

The demonstration which took place in Jayapura was organised by the KNPB. ‘Many flags were flown in demos organised by the KNPB in Manokwari, Biak, Merauke and Serui. ‘When they were standing in front of  the koramil -military – headquarters,  one of the students, Terjoli Waea who resides in a student hostel was shot dead in a truck. An autopsy was done at the hospital and then his body as taken back to the Tolikara Hostel.

At ten o’clock that night, Selpius Bobii was forcibly taken to the police command offic in Abepura  The police have said that the Morning Star must not be flown but the fact is that many flags were flown. ‘The shooting in front of koramil must be explained and it cannot be said that this was done by an unknown person. This was not somewhere deep in the forst but in the cente of the city at  7 o’clock in the evening.

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OPM to fly Morning Star flags for three days across West Papua

West Papua flag

JUBI, 3 May, 2012
The TPN/OPM [National Libration Army/Organisasi Papua Merdeka] is planning to fly Morning Star flags throughout the territory of West Papua for three days from 1 – 3 July this year, said Yusak Pakage, chairman of the Street Parliament . He said that the State of West Papua was proclaimed on 1 July 1969 but was disbanded  by Indonesia on the orders of President Soekarno when he proclaimed the People’s Three Commands (Trikora).
He went on to say that various institutions in West Papua such as the DPRP (Provincial Leislative Assembly), the chief of police and the MRP (Papuan People’s Council) have been notified of this plan. as well as church leaders, student organisatons and the Governor of Papua, along with a statement of their views.’Flags will be flown for three days and the authorities will be notified. We will seek assurances regarding the security situation from the chief of police and the armed forces,’ said Pakage. He went on to say that they hoped that no one would become victims during these events.Pakage also expressed the hope that everyone now living in the Cenderawasih Homeland, indigenous Papuans as well as migrants, would preserve an atmoshere of harmony and avoid being provoked by issues spread by irresponsible sources. ‘We hope that there will be no loss of life during this event.’

Flags will be flown in public places around midday  for three days running. He added that the TPN/OPM would guard the streets where the Morning Star flags are being flown.

‘The aim of this plan it to remind people that we continue to exist,’ said Pakage.

When the head of the public relations office of the Papua Police was asked whether he could confirm this plan, he said he was unaware of  it. ‘I will check later on. At the moment, I am in a meeting,’ he said briefly.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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Police urged to investigate the shooting death of Papuan student on 1 May.

JUBI, 2 May 2012A Papuan human rights activist has called on the police  to thoroughly investigate the killing of  a Papuan student.in Port Numbay on 1 May.

Theo Karoba (26) was studying at the High School of Economics and was a resident at the students hostel.  He was shot while attending a demonstration organised by the KNPB, the National Committee for West Papua, to commemorate 1 May which is known in West Papua as Annexation Day.

Human rights activist Mstius Murib said that it was essential for the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing and to identify the person who shot him dead and why he had done so.  He pointed out that the incident occurred in the centre of Jayapura and many people had witnessed the incident.

‘The person who shot Karoba must be identified and his name made public.He should not be allowed to disappear  and become yet another ‘unknown person’ OTK.’  [Many lethal shooting incidents which have resulted in  the deaths of Papuans  have never been investigated and are simply described as the work of ‘unknown persons’.]

Murib said that he had made inquiries with friends of the victim, many of whom saw what happened. Some of them said that they believed that a member of the security forces was responsible for the shooting. ‘It would certainly be easy for the police to get to the bottom of this incident.,’ said Murib,’

‘The person must be identified and this should not be allowed to become a mystery. It did not occur up the mountains or somewhere in a dense forest. If it had happened in such a place, then indeed, it would certainly be difficult to investigate,’ said Murib.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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