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West Papua Report - September 2009

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

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Brimob exposed as perpertators of Freeport killings

Submitted by Alezev on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 22:36
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A series of shootings this month near Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc's (FCX.N) massive Grasberg mine in West Papua has raised questions once again about Indonesia's occupation of West Papua.

Here are some questions and answers about the situation:

WHAT'S BEHIND THESE ATTACKS?

Probably money.

With its vast natural resources -- copper, gold, timber -- Papua has long been regarded as a honeypot, and Freeport is Indonesia's top tax contributor, paying $1.2 billion in royalties and other taxes in 2008.

Freeport

LETTER TO MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR WEST PAPUA

Submitted by Alezev on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 17:20
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Dear Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP and All Members of IPWP Around the World.

First we want to thank you on behalf of the people of West Papua for your support of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua. This is a very significant step on the road to justice and freedom in West Papua. This is the first time the people's voices in West Papua have been heard at this level and as a result spontaneous demonstrations broke out across West Papua celebrating the formation of the group.

We are however sad to have to inform you of the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua over the last six months and we hope you will be able to help us in bringing attention to this issue.

As a result of the demonstrations in support of the launch of the IPWP, two students have been arrested and mistreated. One of them, Bucthar Tabuni has just been sentenced to three years in prison. Fifteen people are being detained and face possible life sentences for demonstrating in support of the launch of the International Lawyers for West Papua. We are currently aware of over fifty political prisoners being held across West Papua for voicing their opinions in support of West Papuan independence and attending peaceful demonstrations. A recent Human Rights Watch report has raised serious concerns about the systematic torture of prisoners. To add to this, the Indonesian military are currently carrying out sweeping operations in the highlands, burning houses, raping and displacing people into the jungle. Attached is a document summarising the current situation with links to further information.

International Parliamentarians for West Papua - www.IPWP.org

West Papua Report - July 2009

Submitted by rains on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 13:32
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<p>Summary:<br /> WPAT's annual "John Rumbiak Human Rights Defender's Award for 2009 has been awarded to the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and its National Coordinator John M. Miller. Despite the remoteness of the area and Indonesian restrictions on access, reports are emerging of a new "sweep" operation in Puncak Jaya which has already led to mass civilian displacement and some civilian deaths. U.S. Representative Eni Faleomavaega has at the last minute pulled language from a key House of Representatives Bill. The language would have required State Department reporting to Congress about West Papua. Human Rights Watch in June issued two compelling reports: one on continued human rights violations in West Papua by Indonesia's "Special Forces' (KOPASSUS) and one on prisoner abuse in West Papua.Freeport shareholders fail in a vote to get an Environmentalist on the Freeport board but collect a significant percentage of shareholder votes. A new report implicates President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and U.S. officials in a miscarriage of justice concerning the 2002 murder and wounding of U.S. and Indonesian citizens at Timika in West Papua. An academic reviews the historic-diplomatic connection between West Papua and Africa. Indonesian academics have echoed calls by Papuans for several years for a Jakarta-Papuan dialogue.</p>
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OPM resist in West Papua highlands - BBC2 Newsnight pt1

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:55
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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.

Respect BBC2 for broadcasting this.

PAPUA MERDEKA (2003, 43.06)

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


USA Governments: Human Rights Report on Indonesia 2008

Submitted by admin on Fri, 02/27/2009 - 09:59
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Indonesia is a multiparty democracy with a population of approximately 245 million. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono became the first directly elected president in free and fair elections in 2004. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces, although the fact that the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) continued to be partly self financed weakened this control.

Alaska Natives expand sex-abuse suit against Jesuits

Submitted by rains on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 11:08
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Twenty more plaintiffs and a defendant have been added to a lawsuit filed by dozens of Alaska Natives who say they were abused as children and teens by Jesuits or those supervised by Jesuits.

In the original suit, filed last month, 43 Alaska Natives said they had been abused in remote villages in the state. The suit named several defendants, including various Jesuit entities and the head of the worldwide Roman Catholic order.

The suit also named Seattle University President Stephen Sundborg, saying that as a former provincial — or head — of the Jesuits in the Northwest, he knew or should have known about an abusive priest. Sundborg denied those allegations.

The Secret War Against the Defenseless People of West Papua

Submitted by rains on Fri, 02/06/2009 - 09:22
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In 1993, I and four others travelled clandestinely across East Timor to gather evidence of the genocide committed by the Indonesian dictatorship. Such was the depth of silence about this tiny country that the only map I could find before I set out was one with blank spaces stamped "Relief Data Incomplete." Yet few places had been as defiled and abused by murderous forces. Not even Pol Pot had succeeded in dispatching, proportionally, as many people as the Indonesian tyrant Suharto had done in collusion with the "international community."

West Papua Report - February 2009

Submitted by rains on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 11:42
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West Papua Report - February 2009

This is the 57th 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 with the East Timor and Indonesia 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
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Indonesian security forces may have begun sweep operations targeting villages in the central highlands following the alleged theft of four weapons from a police station by individuals claimed by the police to be armed pro-separatists. Amnesty International, noting the sentencing of still more Papuans for peaceful protests, has called for their release and an end to intimidation of peaceful dissenters. The Jayapura District Court has freed a human rights advocate but only after 15 months of detention, including a 15-month trial. President Yudhoyono, under heavy guard, visited Manokwari but failed to meet with ordinary Papuans. The Indonesian central government has significantly underfunded education for Papuans, violating national law and pledges contained in the moribund "Special Autonomy legislation. The inadequate support for Papuan education also perpetuates the inability of Papuans to compete with better educated migrants. Freeport security personnel have joined with notorious BRIMOB police units to evict traditional gold miners. In separate violence in nearby Timika, the apparent police killing of one man led to violent rioting in which four were wounded. Franciscans International has published a " Factsheet" which offers insights regarding current trends and developments in West Papua. Survival International reports indications of increased repression and State violence in West Papua, noting in part the re-emergence of Indonesian-military backed militias. The West Papua Advocacy Team appealed to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to address human rights abuse in West Papua and end assistance to an unreformed, unaccountable and rights abusing Indonesian military that is not under civilian control. Correction: The January 2009 West Papua Report, under the heading "Military Occupation of West Papua Continues Despite Absence of Security Threat," due to a drafting error, conveyed the false contention that Papuan human rights groups, religious leaders and academics had only adopted a non-violent struggle for rights "over the past decade." In reality, these groups and individuals have consistently pursued their rights through nonviolent means since the beginning of their struggle.