friends of Peoples close to Nature
Dear Friend of West Papua.
It is with great sadness that I write to let you know about a humanitarian crisis that is developing in Puncak Jaya region of the West Papua highlands. Indonesian military have been launching sweeping operations for the past week in the Tingginambut district. Homes in three villages have been burnt, two people killed, one lady raped, and all livestock killed by Indonesian military.
British filmmaker Dominic Brown travelled without the knowledge or authority of the Indonesian authorities in order to film Forgotten Bird of Paradise. The documentary provides a rare and moving insight into the forgotten struggle for independence that has gripped West Papua for over 45 years. It includes never before seen footage of OPM rebel fighters at their stronghold deep in the Papuan jungle, as well as interviews with human rights victims of the Indonesian regime.
BiakNews, April 23, 2010. What has claimed of the Public Attorney in Biak on the suit cases of raised morning star flag of West Papua at December 1, th 2009 as the do crime to move a part of all the Indonesian territory under of foreign side.The Court has dicisioned to be free Mr. Septinus Rumere today ( 23 April th 2010).
Puncak Jaya regency of Papua Province
People District Tingginambut and Mewoluk refugees
Hundreds of residents in the District and Mewoluk Tingginambut refuge in local churches and to the City of Honor, the capital of Puncak Jaya, Papua, after the assault group the Free Papua Organization (OPM) led Warius Telenggen.
Attack had occurred two weeks ago with the goal of seven employees of PT Modern Widya Technical. Village Head Puruleme, Sam Telenggen said local people are still scared, they are also alarmed to run activities daily.
A new book by respected Australian academics warns of the danger of the international community failing to intervene in the deteriorating situation in West Papua.
Papua risks erupting in bloodshed, with huge loss of life and disastrous consequences for Indonesia and Australia. Indonesian and international leadership is essential to avert catastrophe and end almost 50 years of conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
It says Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has failed to stand up to his generals who foment the conflict, while Canberra's diplomacy has been ''insipid'', despite the potential consequences for Australia.
To Mr Della-Giacoma
I write this letter to you not as a member of any organisation, but as a fellow human being who has lived in West Papua and seen first hand the situation there.
I feel it necessary to make a response to the recent International Crisis Group report on West Papua and the follow-up article you have written. It is clear that your report is littered with half truths, lies and inaccuracies about the present and historical situation in West Papua. Unfortunately this will only damage yours and the International Crisis Group's reputation. Above all, it presents a false picture to the outside world on the reality of life in West Papua. It also places many people at risk as a result of assertions made in the report.
I will only address 3 points from your report that stood out as requiring urgent amendment by yourself, but am sure others will add. For reference I am also cc'ing the International Crisis Group head office into this email so they can take any appropriate urgent action that they feel may be needed to avert further hostilities.
"The smell was of death and dying. Everywhere was black and my people were crying. Our sacred trees were falling, brutal alien men were driving massive yellow machines through our land and waters, taking our trees, we were being herded out... Soldiers were firing at anything that moved, as helicopters were flying over what was left of our home, sending sheets of fire to burn everything... My mother died, my father died. All I have left is a memory of my home, and my sister alongside me today in this limbo... So of course I must go back and fight. I was born as a warrior, even if I die early as one, I am still fighting for my people’s grandchildren. These Garudas will eat every last one of us unless our poison arrows go for the heart of their greed. We must drive those aliens out, and remind them that THIS IS OUR LAND.”
Is this a key scene James Cameron’s much talked about epic Avatar? No, it is a description from a refugee student (let’s call him Melkias for his safety), of the situation that forced his flight from the Pandora of this planet, West Papua. Interviewing him in a PNG border camp in May 2006, Melkias was describing to me what happened when a logging company, backed and run by the Indonesian military, started clearing out local people from the Boven Digul border area.
(Article originally published at Helo Magazine: www.Helo.Squarespace.com)
On the 40th anniversary of the Act of Free Choice, a shocking new documentary about the situation in West Papua will premier at the UK's prestigious Green Man Festival (www.greenman.net) next week.
Filmed undercover without the knowledge or authority of the Indonesian authorities, 'Forgotten Bird of Paradise' provides a rare and deeply moving insight into the West Papuan peoples ongoing struggle for freedom from Indonesian rule.
The documentary features interviews with human rights victims of the Indonesian regime, startling footage of OPM rebel fighters, and a moving interview recorded in secret with the Amnesty International recognised 'prisoner of conscience' Yusak Pakage. Currently serving a 10 year prison sentence for peacefully raising the West Papuan flag, the interview was recorded in hospital where he was receiving treatment for torture suffered at the hands of prison guards at Abepura Prison. There is also footage and interviews from the launch of International Parliamentarians for West Papua, revealing the developments being made on the international scene towards the goal of West Papuan self-determination.
Summary:
The West Papua Advocacy Team was among the many international organizations which called for justice regarding violence which took the lives of three people in the area of the Freeport gold and copper mine in West Papua in July. A WPAT statement warned that in past violent episodes associated with Freeport, the role of the military was ignored despite evidence of its involvement. The statement also noted that in the past such Freeport incidents have led to retribution and injustice meted out against innocent Papuans. Papuan church leaders have called for an end to the persecution of innocent Papuans in the Timika area by Indonesian security forces. More than 50 U.S. non-governmental organizations urged the U.S. government not to begin training programs or other assistance benefiting Indonesian special forces (Kopassus). In making the case for continued prohibitions on such cooperation, the organizations noted in particular Kopassus's long record of abuse and impunity in West Papua. International criticism over the arrests and prosecution of Papuans in Nabire continued to grow. Human Rights Watch issued an appeal calling for an end to the prosecution of political prisoners in West Papua. Papuans have launched a legal suit against the Indonesian government over its collusion with the giant mining firm PT Freeport which has caused enormous damage to Papuan lives and land. Statistics released by the Indonesian government underscore that Papuans continue to endure poverty at disproportionate numbers relative to migrants and transmigrants. Indonesia continues to seek international respect in the area of human rights protection but at the same time continues to persecute peaceful demonstrators, especially those who display the banned "morning star flag."
This news report shows, the extremely committed West Papuans, in their desperately brave efforts to resist the brutal & illegal Indonesian occupation of their ancestral homeland.
Filmed undercover in West Papua 2008.
A film made with fPcN interCultural: assistance & co-operation.
Date: 04/10/2005 Views: 1588 Owner: collective
Date: 11/02/2004 Views: 10056 Owner: collective
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