Special Autonomy

West Papua Report - March 2010

Submitted by rains on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 13:18

Summary:

The West Papua Advocacy Team urges President Obama to use his March visit to Indonesia to call on the Indonesian Government to implement fundamental changes in West Papua where human rights violations and impunity for security force crimes persist. Reporting from the central highlands in West Papua indicate an increased presence of security force and abusive and corrupt behavior of these forces. Papuans have peacefully demonstrated in large numbers to press demands for the release of political prisoners, respect for human rights, investigation and prosecution of the killing of a peaceful demonstrator, and for demilitarization of West Papua. Papuans also have protested an Indonesian Government plan to seize vast tracts of land for "development" and displace many Papuans. The Indonesian government has failed to provide urgent health care for Filep Karma, a Papuan political prisoner. An Indonesian Minister has protested that Freeport McMoran, the giant U.S. mining operation, is operating illegally. Papuans have rejected plans by the Provincial government of West Java and the national government to send migrants to West Papua. It is feared that the transmigrants will use generous government subsidies to out-compete and marginalize local Papuans as has happened repeatedly in the past in West Papua.

Content:
* WPAT Letter to President Obama on The Eve of His Visit to Indonesia
* Indonesian Security Forces Ramping up Operations in Central Highlands
* Papuans Demonstrate to Peacefully Voice Demands
* Indonesian State Pursues "Land Grab" Targeting Papuans in Merauke Area
* Indonesian Government Fails to Provide Urgent Health Care to Incarcerated Prisoner of Conscience
* Freeport Operating Illegally According to Indonesian Minister
* Papuans Reject Plans for Expansion of "Transmigration"

New WP film: "Strange Birds in Paradise" will be screened in Amsterdam at IDFA

Submitted by FdN on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 10:32

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"Strange Birds in Paradise – A West Papuan Story"

The screening times are official for the 22nd International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam, IDFA:

Tuschinski 5 Mon 23 November 2009 at 18:00 (6 pm) - World Premiere
Tuschinski 2 Wed 25 November 2009 at 11:15 (11:15 am)
Munt 12 Fri 27 November 2009 at 21:30 (9:30 pm)

There is a section of the film based on Arnold Ap and his son Oridek will play two songs live with some West Papuan friends after the premiere screening. The film is eligible for an audience award, so if you like the film please vote before you leave the cinema.

West Papua Report - November 2009

Submitted by rains on Tue, 11/03/2009 - 10:57

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Summary
*The Indonesian Military (TNI) missed a legislatively imposed deadline to surrender to the civilian government its vast legal and illegal business empire, which includes sometimes rogue business operations in West Papua. Continued attacks on the U. S. gold mining firm Freeport McMoran raises questions about the efficacy of Indonesian security forces and the justice of arrests of Papuans months ago for the attacks. Papuans are pursuing a lawsuit against Freeport McMoran for environmental destruction and human rights violations. Papuan democratic activists face arrest and death threats. President Yudhoyono's new cabinet includes one Papuan and a General with a troubled record in West Papua. Violence targeting Papuans continues in the Central Highlands. HIV/AIDS is epidemic among Papuans due in large measure to the failure of the Indonesian Government to provide adequate health services to Papuans. TAPOL's Carmel Budiardjo published a thoughtful essay that among other issues looks at prospect for a dialogue between the Indonesian Central Government and Papuans.

Contents
* TNI Misses Deadline to Divest Its Business Empire Much of Which Is in West Papua
* Continuing Attacks at Freeport Point to Injustice of July Arrests
* Local Papuans Proceed with Lawsuit against Freeport McMoran
* Papuan Democratic Activists Continue to Face Pressure
* President Yudhoyono's New Cabinet Includes Papuan and a General with Troubling Past in West Papua
* More Violence in The Papuan Central Highlands
* HIV/AIDS Reach "Generalized Epidemic" Stage Among Papuans Bereft Of Government Health Services
* Carmel Budiardjo on "West Papuan Issues and The Prospects for Dialogue"

West Papua Report - September 2009

Submitted by rains on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 10:37

Summary: There were Indonesian security force attacks on Papuan civilians in August with reports of continuing assaults in Puncak Jaya and a new report from Yapen island where security forces terrorized villagers following security force murder of a tribal leader and former political prisoner. Amnesty International-recognized prisoner of conscience Filep Karma has been hospitalized after a week's delay in medical attention at the notorious Abepura prison. The Australian Senate has called for a return of the International Committee of the Red Cross to West Papua after Indonesian officials closed its offices there in the wake of an ICRC visit to Abepura prison this Spring. Despite the jailing of several Papuans alleged to have been behind July attacks in the area of the Freeport mining concession, attacks continued in August. Amnesty International has issued a public statement decrying the lack of progress in the investigation of the murder of Papuan activist Opinus Tabuni. Officials of the Home Affairs Ministry have met with Papuans in a rare dialogue. The discussion falls far short of the senior-level, internationally mediated dialogue that Papuans have been seeking for several years. More than a dozen international organizations meeting in Dili have urged an end to impunity for Indonesian security forces operating in West Papua and for a positive Jakarta response to Papuan calls for dialogue. Senior Papuans, in a late August conference, have emphasized the failure of "special autonomy" to address Papuan needs. Conservation groups have joined together to create a protected region in the waters off West Papua's "bird's head" region.

Contents:
*Security Forces Burn Homes and Churches in Puncak Jaya Region and Terrorize Civilians in Yapen Island
*Inadequate Medical Response to Illness of Papuan Prisoner of Conscience
*Australian Government Voices Concern Over Banning of ICRC in West Papua
*Attacks on Freeport Vehicles Continue in August Despite July Arrests
*Amnesty International Statement Decries Lack of Progress in Investigation of Murdered Peaceful Papuan Protester
*Low-Level Dialogue Between Papuans and Indonesian Government Officials
*At Conference in Dili International Call for End to Impunity in West Papua
*Addressing the Moribund "Special Autonomy" Policy
*Prominent NGO's Join Forces to Protect "Bird's Head" Region

West Papua Report - May 2009

Submitted by rains on Wed, 05/06/2009 - 13:15

Contents:
* West Papua Advocacy Tam member Octo Mote spoke before the U.S. Congressional human rights commission regarding threats to the environment and human rights in West Papua
* ETAN and WPAT fault as insufficient Secretary Clinton's call for "a degree of autonomy" for West Papua*
* Repression and violence in West Papua escalates dramatically in April
* U.S.-based human rights groups call for an investigation of the violence and for dialogue
* Papuan clergy and civil society leaders also call for investigation of the violence

PAPUA MERDEKA (2003, 43.06)

Submitted by rains on Thu, 03/05/2009 - 09:25

This film shows; the extremely brutal history the native population of West Papua have endured for many decades under the oppressive Indonesian Military.

How, to this day they continue to struggle for independence from Indonesia, with historical pieces showing the UN Shame vote: Act of 'NO' Choice which lead to their colonisation and the continued thief, of the West Papuan's natural resources.

Filmed undercover in West Papua 2000/1 with historical footage obtained from various sources.

A film was made by fPcN interCultural:

Links for: PAPUA MERDEKA. (2002, 43.06) (720x576 4:3)

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West Papua Report - March 2009

Submitted by Alezev on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 12:48

Summary
The US State Department's just-published Annual Human Rights Report for Indonesia candidly describes repression of Papuan rights including security force murder, beatings and torture of peaceful dissenters and security force collusion in people trafficking and theft of Papuans' traditional lands. Notwithstanding her Department's strong report, Secretary of State Clinton failed to discuss human rights or not meet with Papuans. Her failure to publicly raise human rights concerns prompts concern that the Obama administration may proceed with Bush Administration plans to pursue ties with Indonesian Special Forces and intelligence agencies notwithstanding their egregious human rights records. An ETAN spokesperson urged the Obama administration to utilize its leverage to spur reform of the Indonesian military. Buchtar Tabuni faces charges of subversion because of his peaceful dissent. An Indonesian Human Rights Commission official has accused the Yudhoyono government of failure to prosecute Indonesian military officers for "widespread abuses in Papua." A Jakarta human rights official has criticized Jakarta's "Special Autonomy" as failing to make a difference in the lives of Papuans. A Papuan, also commenting on "Special Autonomy" observed that funds intended to be made available to assist Papuans have been used to "build the military" and spur migrant displacement of Papuans.

JULY 2008 WEST PAPUA REPORT

Submitted by rains on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 08:31

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This is the 50th in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans This series is produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. This report is co-published by the East Timor and Indonesian Action Network (ETAN) Back issues are posted online at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com.

SUMMARY:
*The West Papua Advocacy Team announces creation of the "John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award" and that the first winner of this annual award is legendary human rights defender Carmel Budiarjo, founder of TAPOL.
*Chronic Public Health Emergencies in West Papua Belie Claims of Special Autonomy Success.
*We Mark The Tenth Anniversary of The Biak Massacre with Personal Accounts by Two WPAT Members.
*Government Plans for Massive Highway Project Threatens Papuan Forests and Papuans Themselves.
*International Crisis Group Report Looks at Prospects of Communal Violence But in Recommendations Fails to Call for Justice and An End to Impunity for Security Forces.
Carmel Budiardjo Wins First "John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award."

INDONESIA MILITARY OPERATIONS IN WEST PAPUA DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPECIAL AUTONOMY LAW NO 21 YEAR 2001

Submitted by Alezev on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 19:55

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Sun, 07/01/2007 - 1. During the implementation of the Special Autonomy law no 21, 2001 in West Papua, the Indonesian government, military, and the state police reported to the international community that the security situation in West Papua was safe, conducive, and under control. And during that time the international community has been fed with false information and unjustified reports. The information was not based on the reality in West Papua.