Tag: TNI

Open Letter – FREE YOUTH ACTIVISTS AND RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF WEST PAPUA

A Open Letter

 

To the Government of Indonesia, Indonesian Youth Activists, Indonesian Human Rights Defenders and Organisations, and the People of West Papua. 

RE: FREE YOUTH ACTIVISTS AND RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF WEST PAPUA

A collection Youth/Human Rights Organisations and Advocates based in Fiji (and across Oceania) are concerned with the continued suppression of witnesses and the media regarding the imprisonment and secret court proceedings surrounding the arrest of 5 youth activists arrested on December 17th 2010 for raising the West Papua Liberation Flag.

Five youth activists Jhon Wenda, George Rawiay, Benha Supanga, Alex Duwe, and Iyance have been charged under Article 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.

Some 200 people took part in a peaceful ceremony outside Manokwari in December 2010, during which the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence, was raised in commemoration of the declaration of Papuan independence in 1962.  When the flag was raised, Indonesian Military advanced on the crowd, firing shots and beating people with batons.

We have been advised by colleagues within the West Papua Liberation Movement that the health of these 5 youth activist and safety after been detained since December 2010 is of serious concern. They also noted the media censorship on the case and how many witnesses are afraid to testify because of further repression. We have also been told that a heighten sense of fear has been fueled by the continued presence of a 1000 plus military presence in the province of Manokwari that were ordered into the area.

Human Rights and the protection of activists or defenders of these rights must be respected if we are to allow peace to exist in West Papua. Indonesia as a State signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other Human Rights Instruments should see its role in the protection and advancement of Human Rights, Media Freedom, Civil and Political Rights of all peoples they claim to govern.

Indonesia was re-elected this year into the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2011-2014, which is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. Indonesia’s own human rights record has recently been brought to the forefront and we remind State parties of their obligations to ensure citizens are treated with dignity regardless of ethnicity, age or political opinion.

We urge the Indonesian President and Government of Indonesia, Indonesian Human Rights Organisations and all stakeholders  to intervene and ensure the release of the 5 youth activists and to make a public commitment that there will be no further arrests of individuals purely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, opinion, belief or association.  Specifically, we seek to ensure that laws concerning “rebellion” (Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code) are not used against people who have engagedonly in peaceful activities.

As we do not seek to advocate a particular position on the political status ofWest Papua, We believe the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referenda, independence or other political solutions under a free media.  These rights must be upheld and respected.

Signed 

 

Peter Waqavonovono

Young Peoples Concerned Network

Suva, Fiji

 

Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls

FemlinkPacific

Suva, Fiji 

 

Filomena Tuivanualevu

Youth Coalition Fiji

(Former Ms Fiji) 

Suva, Fiji

Merewalesi Nailatikau

Youth Assembly of the Fiji Islands

(Former Ms South Pacific/Fiji) 

 

Veena Singh Bryar

FemlinkPacific

Suva, Fiji 

 

Melei MeleiTuvalu National Youth Council

 

Samuela Vadei

Western Youth United

Lautoka, Fiji

 

Felicity Dronavanua

Change Makers Youth Club

Savusavu, Fiji

 

Siosiua Po’oi Pohiva

 Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement Inc

Nukualofa, Tonga 

 

John Tabeo

Rabi Youth Club

Rabi, Fiji  

 

Reginald Prasad

DAWG Youth Club

Labasa, Fiji

 

O A’U ( Oceania Audacities United)

Long Beach, California

‘Amelia Niumeitolu

 

Kris Prasad

Drodrolagi Movement

Suva, Fiji

 

Peni Moore

Womens Action for Change

Suva, Fiji

 

Seona Smiles

Writer

Suva, Fiji

 

Ester Grace

Soccer Initiatives for Girls

Ba, Fiji

 

Discombobulated Bubu

Democracy Advocate – Libertarian,

Fiji

 

Samuel Bird

Malaita Youth Club

Solomon Islands

 

Dennis Mekai

Vanuaku Youth Club

Santo, Vanuatu

 

Frank Lagi

Komas Bahai Youth

Honiara, Solomon Islands 

 

Sepesa Sigatokacake Rasili

Men Fiji

Suva, Fiji

 

Noelene Nabulivou

Fiji/Australia

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Urgent need for Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Court in Papua

Press Release from LP3BHLaw 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua as amended by Law 35/2008 states the following in article 46, para (1): ‘In order to strengthen unity of the people in the province of Papua, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be set up while Article 46 reads as follows: ‘ Within the framework of strengthening unity and unanimity, a Trth and Reconciliation shall be set up.’

‘The task of the Commission (KKR) shall be (a) to reach a clarification of Papuan history to solidify unity and unanimity of the nation within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and (b) to draft measures towards reconciliation.’

In further elucidation of Article 46, it states the need for reconciliation which shall include the acknowledgement of errors, the need for apology, the offer of forgiveness, peace, the rule of law, amnesty, rehabilitation or other alternatives  necessary to upholding the sense of justice with the community in order to uphold unity and unanimity.

In the opinion of LP3BH-Manokwari, the Association for Research, Advocacy and Development of Legal Aid,  a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation is an integral  part of the implementation of special autonomy that should as a matter of urgency be implemented the Indonesian Government and the regional government in the Land of Papua, namely the governments of Papua and West Papua.

The formation of the KKR is very urgent. There are four issues that need to be dealt with: first, the marginalisation and effective discrimination against the indigenous Papua people as a result of economic developments; political conflicts; and the mass in-migration into Papua since the 1970s.Affirmative action needs to be taken in order to empower the indigenous Papuan people.

The second problem is the failure of development, especially in education, health and economic empowerment. This requires  new paradigms directed towards development that is focussed on improving public services so as to advance the welfare of indigenous Papuans living in the kampungs.

The third issue is the contradiction between the history and political identities of Papua and Indonesia. This problem can only be resolved by means of dialogue such such happened in Aceh.

The fourth issue is the responsibility for state violence committed against Indonesian citizens in Papua. This needs reconciliation between  a human rights court and the truth; to uphold the rule of law and justice for the victims, their families and all Indonesian citizens now living in Papua.

The way to resolve the third and fourth issues  means, according LP3BH, the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission and the setting up of a human rights court in Papua. This is very urgent and pressing and requires the support both of the Indonesian Government and and the governments of the provinces of Papua and West Papua and the various legislative assemblies (DPRP and DRP PB) Why is this so? Because the  historic contradictions and the political identities between Papua and Jakarta all too frequently become the trigger for social-political conflicts  in the Land of Papua. It frequently happens that  when Papuans take action to express their political aspirations in the form of peaceful demonstrations or events held to mark the anniversary of Papuan independence day on 1 December or the anniversary of  the independence of the West Melanesian Republic on 14 December, these incidents become politicised by the state and treaed as criminal acts by the security forces (POLRI) with the arrest of activists of peaceful demonstrators who are then accused of MAKAR or of disturbing the public order and treated as a criminal act in accordance with the criminal code (KUHP).

The security forces frequently use violence amounting to human rights abuses  towards victims either in the form of physical violence or violation of their rights as guaranteed in the KUHAP – the criminal procedural code.

On the other hand, ever since the Act of Free Choice (PEPERA), gross violations of human rights  have been committed by the military against Papuan civilians who are killed, tortured or forcibly disappeared.  Anything between 500 and 1,000 Papuan civilians have been murdered, tortured, forcibly disappeared, and subjected to other forms of violence by members f the military forces (TNI) in virtually all the towns and cities  such as Jayapura, Merauke, Fakfak, Sorong, Manokwari and Biak. In Biak, a number of Papuans who work in the civil service as teachers, nurses, as well as people working for private enterprises, as well as those who worked during the Dutch period  in Serui, Nabire and Biak have been arrested and imprisoned for more than two years at the TNI naval base in Biak.

In addition, properties have been unlawfully and forcibly seized from homes and shops belonging to Chinese inhabitants by members of the armed forces, it being alleged that  they are assets owned by the OPM, which is used as justification. The civilian community in the Land of Papua have themselves felt how  the Indonesian military security forces  entered people’s homes and seized people’s belongings such as transistor radios, tinned food and drinks from The Netherlands All these things were confiscated by the Indonesian military apparatus in 1969 and taken off to Java.

All this has left feelings of bitterness and hatred among the civilian population in the Land of Papua going back many years, which are still being felt today. This is what the Rev. Benny Giay calls Memoria Pasionis.

According to the LP3BH, these matters should have been settled many years ago in accordace with international standards and basic human rights principles.

The LP3BH therefore makes the following demands:

1.    The Indonesian Government should pay attention to the political need to immediately set up a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation in implementation of Law 21/2001, as well as set up a human rights court in Papua.

2.   The provincial governments in Papua and West Papua  should immediately introduce regulations with regard to  the creation of the KKR, its composition, location, and its mode of operation as well as its funding.

3. The DPRP and the DPR PB should take the initiative and play a key role in efforts to set up the KKR and the human rights court in Papua as the  way to solve the social-political conflicts which have continued to persist  from 1969 up to the present day., which should be continued into the future but which have until now been regarded as matters of no importance, and about which nothing has at yet been done to comply with universal legal standards  and basic human rights.

Manokwari, 27 May 2011

LP3BH,
Yan Christian Warinussy, SH

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Papuan students in Jakarta call for end to murders of Papuan people

JUBI, 22 April 2011The anti-militarism coalition of  Papuan Students, KoMPAM, has urged the Indonesian government to immediately end the use of repressive measures which continue to be used by the security forces in the Land of Papua.

The statement was issued in relation to the bloody incident that occurred a few days ago in Moanemani, district of Dogiyai.

The student coalition said that they were very angry about the actions of the police which had led to yet more people’s blood being spilt . The government mut accept responsibility for the incident in which two people, Dominikus Auwe and Aloysius Waine were killed while three others, Vince Yobee, Albertus Pigai and Matius Iyai were wounded.

The statement was issued by hundreds of Papuans studying in Java and Bali who took part in  demonstration outside the presidential palace and the national police headquarters in Jakarta.

The demonstrators also called for the immediate resignation of the police chief in Papua and the police chiefs in Nabire and Dogiyai. They also said that there should be an end to the militaristic methods  being used all the time in the Land of Papua, and said that they would draw the attention of the international community to the many human rights violations that occur in Papua.

KoMPAM consists of the Alliance of Papuan Students, APM, the National Front of Papuan Students FNMP, and the Alliance of Papuan Students  from the Central Highlands.

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Front Pepera: “Military and Police called upon to immediately restore sense of security to the people of Kamuu Valley”

WEST PAPUAN PEOPLE’S UNITED STRUGGLE FRONT (WPPUSF) –

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

(EKNAS FRONT PEPERA PB)

Secretariate: Padang Bulan II – Abepura – Jayapura – Papua

=============================================================================

“Together for the History of the Star of the East”

 

Press Release

 

“Military and Police called upon to immediately restore sense

of security to the people of Kamuu Valley”

 

In the aftermath of the bloody tragedy that began on April 13 2011, the people of Dogiyai Regency have fled their homes.  On April 13 and 14, TNI (Indonesian Military) and POLRI (Police) units killed two local civilians (Dominikus Auwe and Aloisius Waine) and left three others in critical condition (Otin Yobe, Matias Iyai and Albert Pigai).  According to information obtained on April 15, joint Military/Police operations have combed several villages in Dogiyai, razing at least ten homes and destroying crops and livestock.  In an ongoing situation of effective all-day curfew in Moanemani, the capital town of Dogiyai, it is difficult to gather information about these incidents and it is therefore still impossible to confirm the exact number of people who have been killed as a result of these Military/Police sweepings.

Military and Police troops with full combat weaponry continue to be deployed to Dogiyai Regency from surrounding regencies, including Deiyai, Nabire, Paniai and Timika; meanwhile Papua Provincial Police headquarters in Jayapura sent a platoon (two trucks) of troops on Sunday April 17.  Constant troop convoys are running between Moanemani and Paniai in a show of force on the part of the Indonesian Military and Police while villages surrounding Moanemani are combed by the troops.  Moanemani and surrounding districts are quiet, with the local population in hiding.  All government activities have ceased, including schooling.  Not a single person can be seen in Moanemani, save for soldiers and Brimob (Police Mobile Brigade) officers firing their weapons into the air.

All local civilians have fled to villages in nearby regencies, and many have sought refuge in the forest.  As a result, local people are suffering starvation and sickness that has led to several deaths, including that of eight-year old Detianus Goo who had escaped into hiding with his mother.  This child, from Putapa Village, Kamu Selatan District, Dogiyai Regency, died on April 16 at 9 AM (Papua time).  Besides him, Rosia Goo, a 40-year old woman who fled from Mauwa to Udekebo to seek safety, died in Udekebo on April 16.  Meanwhile, residents of Kimupugi and Ikebo whose physical conditions of old age or disability prevented them from fleeing have been in a severe state of torment, under threat of police violence.  Local Police threatened to attack homes if the weapons seized by residents were not returned by April 18 2011.

This drastic situation began to be rectified when the DPRP’s (Papua Provincial Legislature) Join Team, led by Commission A head Ruben Magai, travelled to Dogiyai on April 18 2011 and conducted meetings with local government leaders including Papua Police Special Team as well civil society representatives in Moanemani on Tuesday April 19 between 9 AM and 2:30 PM at the Regent’s (Bupati’s) office.  During this meeting, the DPRP Joint Team asked all parties, including local communities as well as Military and Police to maintain security, refrain from selling and consuming alcohol and gambling.  Meanwhile, local community representatives asked Papua Police and the Cenderawasih Division Military Commander to immediately pull all troops out of Dogiyai Regency, including “organic” (locally-based) and “non-organic” (deployed from other regional bases) troops.   They demanded that the local police chief be the only state officer permitted to carry a firearm, and offered to gather and return all weapons stolen by local civilians to the President as these weapons are the tools of the State, however they asked to meet the Papua Provincial Police Chief first.  This meeting in Moanemani ended after some commitments were agreed upon, including: 1) to return a sense of security to the local population of Kamuu, Dogiyai; 2) all Military and Police units to be pulled out; 3) all local economic and administrative activities to be resumed; 4) stolen weapons to be returned to the President, with DPRP as well as DPRD (Regency Legislature) asked to facilitate the transfer.

The DPRP Joint Team, led by the Commission A head accompanied by various DPRP members, Papua Human Rights Commission Vice-Head Matius Murib and Church representative Yones Douw (Coordinator of Justice and Peace for the Synod of Kingmi Papua Church), as well as student and youth envoys, began yesterday afternoon to circulate around the Kamuu Valley, asking local residents to return from their refuges in nearby forests and villages.  Today, regular local activities began to return to normal.  Still, the security situation has yet to fully return to normal given that the arbitrary violent sweepings by Security Forces over the past days have left local communities with severe trauma.  To respond to the current situation in Dogiyai Regency, we urge the following actions to be taken:

1.                           Military and Police immediately restore a sense of safety to the local population of Kamuu Valley, Dogiyai Regency;

2.                           Immediately pull all Military and Police troops out of Kamuu Valley so as to allow local people to feel secure;

3.                           Heads of Security Forces at the Provincial and Central (Jakarta) level, especially Papua Police Chief and the President of the Republic of Indonesia immediately accept responsibility for the deaths of two civilians who were shot to death (Dominikus Auwe and Aloysiuis Waine) as well as shooting victims (Matias Iyai, Albert Pigai and Otin Yobe) who are in critical condition at Nabire Hospital;

4.                           President of the Republic of Indonesia immediately replace all troops currently deployed from the District to the Provincial Level in the Land of Papua;

5.                           Gambling managers disciplined firmly and the perpetrators of the shootings of civilians fired and punished according to the law;

6.                           Dogiyai Regency Government and Papua Province Governor accept responsibility for material destruction (homes, crops, etc);

7.                           Provincial Government and DPRP in the Land of Papua immediately issue a Provincial Ruling banning illicit alcohol, gambling, bars and casinos in the Land of Papua so as to preserve security, order, morals and faith in humanity.

That is our press release, expressed with full sincerity in the hopes of immediate follow-up action by relevant actors.

Port Numbay: Wednesday, April 20 2011

 

“Unity Without Limits, Struggle Until Victory”

SELPIUS BOBII

(Public Head, WPPUSF (Front PEPERA PB))

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Two people shot dead in Dogiyai but no action has been taken to solve the case

JUBI, 16 April 2011Following a number of shootings of inhabitants in the district of Dogiyai in the past few weeks, the place is now like a ghost town. Many of the inhabitants along with their wives and children have left town.

‘All the offices are closed and nothing is happening here any more.because all the inhabitants have fled,’ Hanen Sendu, head of public relations of the district, told Bintang Papua over the phone.

He said that during sweepings by the police and the security forces, a number of houses were burnt to the ground.. ‘This is now regarded as a ‘red’  (ie highly dangerous) zone by the security forces,’ he said .

According to inhabitants from Dogiyai, a number of homes near the Moanemani building where agricultural training was taking place have been burnt down by security forces who were sent there by Brimob based in Enarotali. ‘They arrived from Enarotali and burnt down people’s homes,’ according to a source in the area.

Many young people from Dogiyai are not going to school any more because the security forces have spread fear among the local people.”The women and children have also left. ‘We were being shot at all the time and we were very afraid, so we have left Dogiyai,’ they said, according to a brief message received from the area.

A member of the local legislative assembly, Frits Agapa said that young people were also afraid and have fled into the forests and to kampungs in a nearby district.

‘This is not a war, but when the security behave like this, nobody would want to accept such treatment.’

A few young people who remained in Dogiyai say that they are afraid to leave their homes because they are afraid of being shot at just like their colleagues were shot at a few days ago.

‘The security forces are shooting people for no reason at all,’ said one person living in the area.

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JUBI, 17 April 2011

The association  of students from the Central Highlands has urged the police to take action quickly in response to the tragedy that happened last Wednesday.

‘Besides taking action against all those who have been shooting local inhabitants, the chief of  police should also  place Togel port  under special protection and put an end to the sweeping operations.’ said the chairman of the association, Andreas Gobai.

He also said that the police should put a stop to all the gambling and drinking in Dogiyai and other districts.

‘If he fails to do so, then he should resign for failing to act responsibly regarding the Moanemani case and other incidents that have occurred here in this region.’

Gobai said that his association is pressing for a comprehensive solution in this case.

Three days after the incident, the situation in Moanemani and the vicinity is still not conducive. Many local inhabitants are panic-stricken and have been forced to leave their homes, although everything had been very peaceful until now..

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JUBI, 16 April 2011

Following the shootings and sweepings by the police and members of the TNI, a few days ago in Dogoyai, some families were shocked by the discovery of the bodies of two young men, Kris Pigome from the Pouwouda kampung and Markus Goo, the son of the chief of Tuwaida kampung. Their bodies were found covered with terrible injuries, near the Nabire Trans highway, about 18 kms from Nabire district.

Their families have been informed of the tragedy.

‘It happened last night. We had advised them not to go to Dogiyai, but they were insistent on going because they wanted to return home to their kampungs, but they were murdered on the way,’ said Vincen Goo, one of the relatives who was contacted by JUBI.

How they died is still a mystery.

‘We have just come from the hospital and we dont know why they were killed. But it is clear that they were murdered,’ said Vincen. The bodies are due to be taken to the homes of the families in Nabire who are now in mourning.

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JUBI, 17 April 2011

Following the shooting dead of civilians in Dogiyai, the local people are shocked that the local government have not said anything about this incident.

‘People here are naturally very afraid  because since that incident, there has been no attempt to close off the area by the security forces, bearing in mind that members of the security forces have shot some local people dead.

‘If local government leaders had been at their posts and were concerned about the local people, this shooting might never have happened.’

As someone who comes from the area, Petrus Agapa  has also expressed his deep concern about the situation . ‘There are other ways to solve problems like this, not by shooting people,’ he said.

The local people have lost all confidence in the local government .

Until now, neither the acting bupati  nor other local officials  have taken any action to resolve the problem.

‘It seems as if officials in Dogiyai  are just hoping that officials from the provincial government will come along and solve the problem,’ said Agapa.

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