friends of Peoples close to Nature
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.
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
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
‘The Right to Self-determination of the Eelam Tamils’ was discussed at World Social Forum in Brazil
(Tamil Centre for Human Rights, 01 02 2009) - The 8th session of the World Social Forum ended on Sunday, after six days of discussions and protests in Belem, Brazil.
The WSF is an open space - plural, diverse, non-governmental and non-partisan - that stimulates decentralized debate, reflection, new proposals, sharing of experiences and building of alliances among movements and organizations engaged in concrete actions towards a more democratic and fair world and greater solidarity.
This is the 56th 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:
A major earthquake struck near Manokwari January 4 killing at least 5 and injuring many. The city airport was rendered unusable by damage to the runway and electricity was also cut. An Australian medical journal has drawn on reporting by other peer-reviewed medical journal, media and NGO reporting to compile a detailed account of the growing humanitarian crisis confronting Papuans. Another report by an Australian NGO describes an early December assault on members of a Nabire church congregation that was engaged in a peaceful dissent. Indonesian police have arrested another peaceful rights advocate, Sebby Sambom, who at the time of his arrest was calling for the release from police detention of Buchtar Tabuni, now in custody for peaceful dissent activity. Tempo magazine describes the limited weaponry available to the armed resistance in West Papua, and the growth in its place of nonviolent struggle for rights by Papuans. Notwithstanding this development, the Indonesian military maintains a large, unjustifiable presence in West Papua. A report details the various groupings among Papuans struggling for their political rights. The massive Freeport McMoran mine has fallen on hard times with deflated copper prices necessitating cutbacks in personnel. Notwithstanding the cutbacks, Freeport, as noted by an Australian medical journal, continues to have a devastating impact on West Papua's environment and the health of Papuans. In the U.S., several NGOs held meetings with U.S. Congressional offices and the U.S. State Department to raise human rights and humanitarian concerns related to West Papua, noting in passing, that "Special Autonomy" is a failed option in the view of most Papuans. In a final commentary, WPAT notes that the failure of Indonesian courts to convict a retired senior TNI officer for his central role in the 2004 murder of leading human rights advocate Munir has dire implications for all human rights defenders in Indonesia, especially in West Papua.
Contents:
*Major Earthquake Strikes Near Manokwari*
*Australian Medical Journal Describes Dearth of Healthcare Infrastructure in West Papua and Alarming Health Data*
*Police Shoot and Beat Papuans in Church Dispute*
*Military Occupation of West Papua Continues Despite Absence of Security Threat*
*One Star or Fourteen?*
* Freeport McMoran, Facing Dire Financial Straits*
*ETAN Urges Restrictions on Any Assistance to TNI Noting Especially TNI Abuses in West Papua*
*NGO's Meet with Congressional Offices and State Department Regarding West Papua*
*Failure to Convict in Munir Killing Has Dire Implications for All Indonesian Human Rights Advocates"
