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Contents of this Page: 13. International Lawyers for West Papua 12. International Parliamentarians for West Papua: The West Papua Declaration 10. Greenpeace in Papua 9. Flag rising "not act of Separatismus!" (from Jakarta Post) 8. Declaration of the World Council of Churches at the Human Rights Council in Geneva 7.Faleomavaega's letter to the General Secretary of the UN 6.Faleomavaega disappointed with his visit to Biak and Manokwari 5. Racial Discrimination in Papua ( by Rev. Corinus Berotabui, Chairman of the Evangelical Church in the Land of Papua) 4. Presseerklärung von TAPOL zum bevorstehenden Pazifik-Forum 3. Chronologie einer Zwangsvorladung in den Zeugenstand 2. Police occupy Church Synod Office in West Papua 1. The policy of development planning in Papua questioned
INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS FOR WEST PAPUALaunch in Guyana, South America, 3rd-5th April 2009.THE WEST PAPUA DECLARATIONWE the undersigned recognise the inalienable right of the indigenous people of West Papua to self-determination, which was violated in the 1969 “Act of Free Choice”,AND call upon our governments through the United Nations to put in place arrangements for the free exercise of that rightSO that the indigenous people of West Papua can decide democratically their own future in accordance with international standards of human rights, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
International Lawyers for West Papua [IPWP]
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua [IPWP] released the following declaration:
THE WEST PAPUA DECLARATION Launch in London on 1st December 2008
WE the undersigned recognise the inalienable right of the indigenous people of West Papua to self-determination, which was violated in the 1969 “Act of Free Choice”,
AND call upon our governments through the United Nations to put in place arrangements for the free exercise of that right
SO that the indigenous people of West Papua can decide democratically their own future in accordance with international standards of human rights, the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
International Parliamentarians for West Papua [IPWP] Hon. Andrew Smith MP (UK)
London on 1st December 2008
HIV/AIDS set to soar in West Papua18 November 2008
A recent investigation by the Al Jazeera programme 101 East has shown the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis amongst the tribal people of West Papua Indonesia. West Papua has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate outside Africa: 3% of the population are now infected with the virus, and experts fear that by 2025 that figure will rise to 7%. Of every four people who are infected, three are indigenous, even though almost half of those now living in the province are outsiders.
The mining and logging industries have brought environmental destruction and social catastrophe to West Papua’s tribal people. They have also brought the military, which supports many of the businesses, and provides protection for others. The armed forces have an appalling reputation for human rights violations against the tribes.
This industrial development is now also responsible for the spread of the deadly HIV virus. Most of the cases of HIV/AIDS in West Papua can be traced back to the commercial sex industry, which has sprung up around logging and mining projects.
A study in 2001 found that more than a quarter of prostitutes tested were HIV positive. Papuan men, drawn to these industries for work, have now taken HIV/AIDS back to their villages. Official figures put the HIV/AIDS figures at 15 times the Indonesian national average, but field workers say the real figure is closer to 50 times.
The Papuans have suffered years of violence and brutality at the hands of the Indonesian military. As a result, many tribal people blame the government and the military for introducing sex workers infected with HIV, and for failing to take adequate measures to halt the spread of the disease.
Much government treatment and awareness raising about the disease is failing to reach the Papuans – most is centred in the towns, which are dominated by the Indonesian outsiders. Many worry that the epidemic is even worse than feared because so few people in the remote areas have ever been tested, or are even aware of how to prevent the disease.
For more information and to take action on this, and other problems caused by the impact of imposed ‘development’ on tribal people around the world, see Survival’s campaign, ‘Progress can kill’.
sumber:http://www.survival-international.org/news/3937
Manokwari, here we come..Posted by jamie on 17 October 2008.
After nine days at sea, the Esperanza pulled into Manokwari harbour this morning - that's Manokwari in the Indonesian province of West Papua, not any other Manokwari you might be thinking of. Crowds of people were already on the dock and despite the overcast skies, we received one of the colourful and exotic welcomes I'm becoming accustomed to on this trip, with traditional dancing and singing to greet us when we disembarked.
Manokwari isn't what I expected. The image I had in my head was a quite an industrial place with lots of concrete, but although I haven't left the port yet it looks very pleasant. It's a small place, strung out along a bay and from the ship, most of the town is concealed by palms and trees. And just behind the town lies the forest, the tall tropical trees towering over the nearby buildings.
Maybe it's the proximity to the forest that gives the people of Manokwari the commitment to protect it, at least that's the impression I got from those gathered on the dockside. People spontaneously shook my hand (although maybe they were just being friendly rather than responding to the Greenpeace t-shirt I was wearing), and there were several rounds of applause for Dominggus Buinei, vice-regent of Manokwari regency, when he spoke during the ceremony.
Buinei stated that the forest and mankind can't be separated, but our greed is destroying the forest and so by implication we are also destroying ourselves. He also warned of natural disaster if the plundering continued, and asked for support from other countries to protect Papua's natural heritage. If the translation was accurate, it was fairly strong stuff. As I write this, a press conference is in progress in the helicopter hanger where journalists are being shown aerial footage and images from the flyovers we've been conducting over the past ten days. The evidence is mounting that, if nothing is done, then the forests in this region will be torn down.
But now there's something you can do. You can send an email now to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, president of Indonesia, asking him to declare an immediate moratorium on deforestation before it's too late. You don't have to live in Indonesia to send an email, because what happens to Indonesia's forests affects us all. Follow the adventures of the Esperanza on the Forests For Climate blog. Source: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/forests/manokwari-here-we-come-20081017
Flag raising 'not act of separatism'
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 09/19/2008 11:51 AM | National
The raising of a Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag by Papuans should be considered an attempt to seek attention rather than an act of separatism, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said in Jakarta on Thursday. "We can't conclude that they want to separate from Indonesia just because they hoisted the flag. We should seek a dialogue with them instead of punishing them," he said in a joint press briefing with his Australian counterpart Joel Fitzgibbon. "Only through dialogue will we know what they want. Punishing them will only spark antagonism," he said. This year alone, 10 incidents involving the raising of the flag have been reported and all perpetrators have been processed legally. Members of the Papua Customary Council have also played down the hoisting of the flag, calling it a spontaneous expression of dissatisfaction at the Indonesian government's failure to fulfill its promise of bringing prosperity to Papua. Statement on the human rights situation in the province of Papua, Indonesia
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SUBMISSION TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
ORAL INTERVENTION ON ITEM 4, General Debate THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN THE PROVINCE OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
Mr. President,
On behalf of the World Council of Churches, we would like to draw your attention to the human rights violations in Indonesia’s Province of Papua. Obviously, Indonesia experienced a democratization process which has altered the political and jurisdictional scenery in many positive ways. We particularly welcome the ratification of the major international human rights instruments by the Government of Indonesia.
However, the fate of the indigenous people of Papua is hardly known to the international community, despite the fact that the Province of Papua is one of the richest region of the world in terms of natural resources. The people of Papua however have never benefited from this richness and rather suffered from the inappropriate implementation of their economic, social and cultural rights. The Province of Papua shows the second lowest Human Development Index (2004-2006) in Indonesia, with the lowest level of adult literacy and the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the country. The Special Autonomy Law from 2001 which aims at strengthening the economic, social and cultural rights of Papuans has not been properly implemented and Papuans remain marginalized.
Papuans still are subject to torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and unfair trials by the Indonesian authorities; as Manfred Nowak in relation to torture and ill-treatment recently revealed in his report to HRC. In addition: On 18 October 2007, the lawyer’s assistant and human rights worker Iwanggin Sabar Olif (43) was arrested in Jayapura by members of the Anti-Terror Special Force Unit of the National Police (Detachment 88) without a warrant arrest. Iwanggin Sabar Olif is accused of sending a short-message (SMS) which insults the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. We ask: Is it a mere incident, that the arrest and trial is conducted exclusively against an assistant lawyer and human rights activist? According to our understanding, the case of Iwanggin Sabar Olif reveals a pattern of arbitrary and disproportional arrest by members of Indonesian’s Anti-Terror Unit.
The right of an independent and fair trial is repeatedly violated in Papua. In the court trial against 23 men allegedly charged for their involvement in the Abepura riots of March 2006, violations are reported against the presumption of innocence, the use of coerced confessions by the Panel of Judges and a climate of fear due to the presence of armed police officers and members of the intelligence services. Contrary to that, until now only one case (Abepura 2000) of crimes against humanity in Papua was brought to the National Human Rights Court in Makassar. The suspects of this case, two senior police officers, who faced command responsibility charges for the killing of 3 Papuan students and the torture of around 100 others, were acquitted. It is unfortunately not the only case of impunity to be attributed to the Indonesian government and its security forces in Papua.
Mr. President, there are reasons to conclude that the mentioned concerns on human rights relates to the ongoing militarization of Papua, particular of the highlands and the Southern part of Papua. According to our information, indigenous Papuans, who are critical towards the Indonesian security forces demanding the protection of their rights, are frequently stigmatized of being separatists and, thus, are subject to intimidation and harassment, as the case of the community of Waris, Keerom Regency, and its Pastor John Jongga (48) shows. On 22 August 2007, Kopassus Commander Letty Usman allegedly threatened to kill the priest and bury him in a 700-metre deep gorge without being held accountable.
This pattern of intimidation is translated also into racial discrimination towards the indigenous people of Papua. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Jakarta reports several statements by members of security forces towards Papuan students related to the Abepura Case 2000 which are grave insults based on the Melanesian origin of Papuans. But when the government should protect the fundamental rights of indigenous Papuans, we face a policy as the Presidential Instruction No. 26 of 1998 which bans the use of the term “indigenous” in all official documents denying the cultural identity.
Mr. President,
The silent violation of the rights of the indigenous people of Papua, obviously, needs the attention of the Human Rights Council. But: The access to Papua for outside human rights workers, journalists and even diplomats is restricted leading to a lack of accurate exchange of data about the human rights situation in Indonesia’s eastern Province. Therefore, the World Council of Churches asks the Human Rights Council to send a fact-finding mission to the Province of Papua in order to assess particularly the right to health and education. We further ask for a visit of the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, the Working Group on arbitrary detention, and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous People.
Thank you, Mr. President
Geneva, 14.03.2008
FALEOMAVAEGA's Letter to the General Secretary of the UN
Dear Mr. Secretary-General: We are writing to express our deep and growing concern regarding rising reports of human rights violations in West Papua. These reports come against a backdrop of decades of abuse by Indonesian security forces targeting the Papuan people. ....... You can download the full letter here (PDF, 1.2 MB). . .
FALEOMAVAEGA DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS VISIT TO BIAK AND MANOKWARI PAPUA, INDONESIA
December 17, 2007, News Release
(received from ETAN on 18 Dec 2007 11:58:44 +0900)
Washington, D.C. In his letter dated December 13, 2007, Congressman Faleomavaega wrote to His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia expressing his serious concerns about his recent trip to the towns of Biak and Manokwari, in Papua, Indonesia on November 27, 2007.
"As you know, I originally wanted to visit Papua during my visit to Indonesia in July of this year but your government was unable to allow me to travel at that time due to security concerns," Faleomavaega said in his letter to President SBY. "In August, I again requested an opportunity to visit Papua and your government proposed alternative dates to coincide with your invitation for me to also attend the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Bali beginning on December 3, 2007."
In good faith, Faleomavaega planned his trip to coincide with the UN conference in Bali in support of President SBY's efforts to implement the provisions of the Special Autonomy Law that was approved by the government of Indonesia since 2001. It was Faleomavaega's understanding that he would visit the towns of Biak and Manokwari in Papua, and, most importantly, the capital of Papua which is Jayapura.
However, while enroute to Jakarta, Faleomavaega received word that the Indonesian government would allow him to spend only 3 days in the provinces of Papua and West Papua. Upon his arrival on November 25, 2007, Faleomavaega was then informed that he would be able to spend only two hours and that he would not be allowed to visit Jayapura.
"Having already been denied entry in July of this year and having accommodated your request to postpone my August visit to the last week of November," Faleomavaega said to President SBY, "I was deeply disappointed that upon my arrival I was again denied entry into Jayapura and that my time was reduced from 5 days to only two hours of actual meetings with the leaders and people of Biak and Manokwari due to supposedly security concerns. Such a decision on the part of your government begs the question, if all is well throughout the provinces of Papua and West Papua, why is security a problem at all?"
"Given that President SBY and I had an understanding that I would support his efforts to implement the Special Autonomy Law based on the understanding that this is what the traditional, religious and political leaders of the Papuan people want at this time," Faleomavaega said, "it is difficult for me to understand why at every turn I have been denied entry to Jayapura and that my time in Papua and West Papua was reduced from 5 days to two hours. In truth, with the exception of the two days I spent with Freeport officials in Timika, I spent all of two hours in Biak and only 10 minutes on the ground in Manokwari."
"In Biak, I met with Governor Barnabas Suebu and other legislators, traditional and religious leaders selected by the government. During the course of our meeting, a highly respected traditional leader, Chief Tom Beanal, was detained by the military, as was Mr. Willie Mandowen. My staff had to go to the gate of the government guesthouse to request that they be allowed entry to our meeting with Governor Suebu. Papuans who had gathered in the streets in Biak were denied the opportunity to meet with us, and US Ambassador Cameron Hume and I had to force our way through a military barricade just to meet with the Papuan people who had to walk several miles from the airport and wait in the hot sun because Indonesian military forces (TNI) barred them from meeting with Ambassador Hume and me."
"During our meeting in the streets with the Papuan people, which the TNI military limited to less than 5 minutes, I publicly thanked President SBY for allowing me to visit Biak. However, though I did not publicly mention it, I was deeply disturbed by the overpowering military presence, which I felt was completely unnecessary," Faleomavaega said.
"In Manokwari, the military presence was even worse. Prior to my arrival in Manokwari, I was told that I would be meeting with the Governor only to learn upon my arrival at the airport that the Governor was in China. Nonetheless, Ambassador Hume and I were put in a car, without any escort and with only a single traffic police unit in front. While we do not require special privileges, we were very aware that our delegation was not given the necessary escort because the TNI was intent on deceiving the Papuans who had gathered on the streets waiting for us."
"As reported by others, we were driven along Trikora Road, the main road from Manokwari to Rendani Airport, then along Sujarwo Condronegoro Road, in the direction of Reremi Road and along Palapa Road (which is very badly damaged, full of potholes and very narrow), then along Merapi Road to Merdeka Road and then on to Siliwangi Road to arrive at the office of the Governor of the Province of West Papua. We were keenly aware that although we were guests of the Indonesian government, TNI drove us through round about routes where acts of sabotage could easily have occurred."
"Arriving at the office of the Governor who was in China, and after meeting for less than 10 minutes with the Vice Governor, I was told that due to weather and security concerns, I would need to depart immediately. In no uncertain terms, I was told by the TNI military leaders that Ambassador Hume and I were not welcome in Manokwari."
"In the TNI 's haste to get us out of Manokwari," Faleomavaega continued, "Ambassador Hume and I were separated and placed in different vehicles. We were again driven along the back roads of Manokwari with no clear indication where we were headed, without any escort, and not one single official of the West Papua government accompanied us back to the airport, meaning we were placed in unfavorable circumstances. While I felt no danger whatsoever from the Papuans who were unarmed and only wanted to meet with us, I was very uncomfortable that the TNI military was so bent on not allowing even a conversation to take place. It was my hope and understanding that I would be able to meet with the people and leaders of both provinces but, when I saw how heavily armed that the TNI military was, I knew that the military had no intention of honoring the commitment that President SBY and I had made in Jakarta in July of this year."
"As I arrived in front of the lobby at the Rendani airport, I was able to briefly walk through the crowd at which time the Papuans handed me a petition and put a Manokwari necklace around my neck. I was also given a stuffed Cenderawasih bird as I made my way to the plane. While there was some concern that the Papuans wanted to block the runway in order to meet with us, due to inclement weather our delegation had to board the aircraft quickly."
"From the window of the plane, I saw pushing and shoving between the heavily armed military and the unarmed Papuans. Banners were also raised. Whether or not anyone was hurt or arrested, I do not know but I have requested that the Indonesian government provide me with assurances that no arrests were made and that no one was harmed. I have also asked President SBY if he is still committed to working together to implement the Special Autonomy Law. As I have explained to him, I will support the Special Autonomy Law and work in the US Congress to make sure the Indonesian government is given every opportunity to make good on its promises to the Papuan people based on the understanding that this is also the consensus of the traditional, religious and political leaders of both provinces."
"However, as long as the TNI military forces of Indonesia continue to deny Members of Congress real access to the provinces of Papua and West Papua, especially Jayapura, it will be difficult for me to support the goals of Special Autonomy when clearly the Papuans in these two provinces are still being intimidated, harassed and abused by the TNI. Likewise, I do not consider two hours in Biak and 10 minutes in Manokwari as access. Until I am allowed to visit Jayapura, as I have been promised, and until I am allowed to meet with the people of Papua, as President SBY and I agreed, I cannot in good conscience inform my colleagues in Congress that progress is being made to implement the Special Autonomy Law which has mostly remained dormant since 2001 and, since for the past 60 years, until President SBY's leadership, the government of Indonesia has done absolutely nothing to help the Papuan people who only want to be treated humanely."
"I do commend President SBY for his efforts to implement the Special Autonomy Law which is supposed to ensure the civil rights and liberties of the Papuan people and, at this time, I still believe we can work together in cooperation with Freeport Mining, USAID, OPIC, and the traditional, religious, and political leaders of both provinces to strengthen the Special Autonomy Law. But, whether or not we move forward is entirely up to President SBY and those who control the activities of Indonesia's TNI military forces."
"While I appreciate the constraints President SBY is under, I remain hopeful that we can overcome these obstacles and establish a more stable environment that is mutually beneficial for Jakarta and the Papuan people," Faleomavaega concluded.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN PAPUA
The 15 pages paper was presented by Rev. Corinus Berotabui at the UEM Council Meeting in Wuppertal in September 2007. It contains chapters on general discrimination, religious discrimination, Human Rights violations including Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and discrimination before the law and trials. An example of discimination given in the paper, reads as follows:
The culture of the Malayan Indonesians and the culture of the Melanesian Papuans differ and racial bias occurs. Related to the Abepura 2000 Case racial discrimination towards the Papuan people could be proven in the report of the Investigation Commission for Human Rights Violations from the National Commission on Human Rights (KPP Komnas HAM) in Jakarta on 8 May. The following racial expressions were reported: · “You have an ugly face with curly hair and a stupid brain” · “You with the curly hair only know how to eat pigs and will never get independence.” · “Curly hair is an animal quality and only worthy of annihilation.” · “You Papuans do not know anything, even as scholars you are stupid people.” · “You people from Wamena sleep with pigs, so you have the brain of a pig, you are all stupid. Better you eat sheep, so you will be as clever as people from Java, Makassar and Jakarta.” · “You Papuans are like pigs, dogs.” · “You have a brain like a pig.” · “Knowing how to raise pigs means to have the brain of a pig.” · “If you want to have freedom, take your freedom tonight. Tomorrow there will be no freedom again”. Papuans living on Java are often called monkeys or “kete” in the Javanese language.
Pacific leaders urged to discuss intimidation of Papuan activistsLeaders of Pacific Island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, should devote special attention to the plight of West Papuan human rights defenders at the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum starting on 16 October in Tonga says TAPOL, the UK-based NGO that promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia.
The level of intimidation against human rights defenders, political activists and religious leaders by Indonesian military and intelligence personnel has increased markedly since a visit to West Papua in June 2007 by the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, says TAPOL in an open briefing to the Forum leaders [available at http://tapol.gn.apc.org/reports/r071009.htm]
"There is currently grave concern for the safety of human rights defenders. Targeted individuals and their families are being terrorised by death threats, anonymous phone calls and SMS messages, constant surveillance, and late-night visits by unidentified persons," it says. "Many are afraid to go out at night and the pervasive sense of insecurity is preventing human rights defenders from carrying out their normal activities and is seriously affecting their health."
The UN Special Representative drew attention to "credible reports of ... arbitrary detention, torture, harassment through surveillance, interference with the freedom of movement and in [human rights] defenders' efforts to monitor and investigate human rights violations" following her visit.
TAPOL calls upon the Forum to urge Indonesia to protect Papuan human rights defenders, implement the Special Representative's recommendations, and bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed in relation to the recent acts of intimidation. The human rights situation in West Papua has shown no signs of improvement since the Forum's last meeting in October 2006 when the leaders expressed concern about reports of violence and "called on all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in Papua and to work to address the root causes of such conflicts by peaceful means". "The available evidence suggests that human rights violations, most notably by police personnel, continue on a routine basis. No significant efforts are being made to tackle impunity for past abuses," says TAPOL.
TAPOL urges the Forum to question Indonesia about its military build-up in West Papua. This "can only add to the human rights problems and increase the tensions in the territory and possibly the wider Pacific region". It has no security or military justification, says TAPOL.
Referring to the presence in West Papua of a senior army officer, Col. Burhanuddin Siagian, indicted on crimes against humanity charges in East Timor, TAPOL warns about the formation of East Timor-style militia groups to create unrest and undermine Papuan efforts to establish their homeland as a 'Land of Peace'.
Reports suggest that Col. Siagian is a leading instigator of the policy of intimidation against human rights defenders and is actively involved in organising the militia groups. TAPOL calls for his immediate withdrawal from West Papua, for judicial action to be taken against him, and for the Forum to renew the call it made last year for the perpetrators of serious crimes in West Papua to be brought to justice.
The Pacific Islands Forum comprises 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific. It is the region's premier political and economic policy organisation. Forum Leaders meet annually to develop collective responses to regional issues. Indonesia is regarded as a key partner of the Forum and attends Post-Forum Dialogue meetings.
West Papua, whose native inhabitants are Melanesian, is lobbying for observer status at the Forum. ENDS
Hiermit schicke ich Ihnen einen Bericht über die Zwangsvorladung in den Zeugenstand von verurteilten Gefangenen im Abepura II Fall (16. März 2006). Dieser Bericht wurde vom Büros für Menschenrechte der Evangelischen Kirche in West-Papua (GKI-TP), Indonesien, herausgegeben. Für den Inhalt, der nicht notwendig die Meinung von West Papua Netzwerk wiedergibt, ist die GKI-TP verantwortlich. Ihr, Uwe Hummel
Chronology of the summons by force of Bobii and others to appear at the Court of Jayapura
The summons by force from the police and prosecution for the convicted Selpius Bobii, Othen Dapyal, Matias Dimara and Musa Asso to testify at the trial of Cosmos Yual is as follows:
First summons on 14 February 2007 Selpius Bobii (alone) is asked to attend as a witness at the trial of Cosmos Yual. With the support of the other prisoners related to the Abepura Case 2006 Selpius Bobii rejects testifying as he had never been interrogated as a witness in the case of Cosmos Yual by the police and prosecution.
Second summons on 19 February 2007 Selpius Bobii along with the other prisoners, Othen Dapyal, Matias Dimara and Musa Asso are requested to appear as witnesses at the trial of the accused Comos Yual, but all of them refuse.
Third summons on 26 February 2007 Also the third summons on 26 February 2007 is rejected by Selpius Bobii and the others. The primary judge Moris Ginting, SH therefore orders a forced summons against the convicted in order to testify at the trial of the defendant Cosmos Yual on Monday, 5 March 2007.
The reasons of the prisoners to reject testifying Selpius Bobii and others reject testifying at the trial of Cosmos Yual for the following reasons:
a. a. The convicted of the Abepura Riots 2006 were not involved in the road blocking, however the police and prosecution tried very hard to find witnesses who would implicate the accused. This resulted in prison sentences for the accused of four to 15 years. Meanwhile the police are very aware of Cosmos Yual’s involvement as field-coordinator during the demonstration and therefore many witnesses could be presented as an alternative to forcing the convicted who are ignorant of demonstration activities to testify for Cosmos Yual. b. b. Based on the above reasons the convicted refused from the beginning to testify in the case of Cosmos Yual and have never signed any interrogation statement identifying them as witnesses for Cosmos Yual; therefore they are not to be summoned as witnesses at the trial of Cosmos Yual. c. c. The prisoners do not want to experience the same fate as their fellow prisoner Nelson Rumbiak who became a witness for the deceased Echo Berotabui and others during the trial at the Jayapura Court and was accused of giving false testimony by the judges ruling under Moris Ginting, SH even though Nelson’s testimony was in accordance with the events of the riots on 16 March 2006. d. The health situation of the prisoners is not yet stable and as of the writing of this report, Komnas HAM has not arranged a medical examination in response to the ill-treatment and torture the prisoners experienced under police interrogation. e. The convicted are still in grieving the death of their beloved friend and fellow prisoner, Echo Berotabui, who passed away in prison on 2 February 2007.
Based on the above reasons the convicted state firmly that:
1. 1. They are not willing to testify, even if they are forced to do so using various means of persuasion including being shot dead 2. 2. They are no longer detainees of the prosecution or the police, but they are now prisoners under the protection and authority of the Prison Class II A Abepura, Jayapura. Because of this, no other side can force them arbitrarily for any reason, to do anything that is not in accordance with their rights as prisoners.
Analytic remarks Having seen, observed and joined the entire legal process relating to the Riots on 16 March 2006 at the State Court of Jayapura from May until November 2006, it was clear that the legal institutions did not uphold justice and did not respect the rights of the convicted in the above mentioned case. This can be seen from a summary of facts related to the interrogation process which took place under police custody and facts from the related trial such as: · · All prisoners claim to have experienced torture and ill-treatment at the Police Station of Abepura (Polsek), the Police Station of the city of Jayapura (Polresta), the Station of the Special Police Forces (Brimob) as well as during custody at the Police Station of the Province of Papua (POLDA). · · During the trial at the Jayapura State Court the rights of the accused for a fair defense was violated both by the prosecution and the judges. · · The Police Officer Aris Purbaya who was the Vice Head of the Jayapura Police and in charge of the operation on the day of the riots on 16 March 2006 is willing to testify at the trial of Cosmos Yual, but did not appear at the trial of the 23 men who were convicted and are now serving their sentences in Abepura prison. Although during police interrogation Aris Purbaya shot the convicted Ferdinand Pakage into the foot. · · The trial could not accurately prove who is responsible for the killing of members of the police force and one member of the air force as the witnesses presented by the prosecution were not able to recognize precisely the faces of the accused and their involvement in the Riots of 16 March. · · The court room was full of armed police members showing that the trial was held under intimidation and terror by the police forces.
Based on the statements of the prisoners and the above mentioned facts we draw the following conclusion:
1. 1. Whatever the testimony the prisoners will make when forced to attend the trial of Cosmos Yual, it will not influence the verdict of the judges; 2. 2. When examining the facts it is doubtful that the court will reveal the truth behind the Riots of 16 March 2006; 3. 3. The summons by force of the prisoners in conjunction with B16M indicates the systematic and steady efforts to silence the democratic rights of civil society in Papua, in particular the rights of students. 4. 4. The ill-treatment experienced by the prisoner Nelson Rumbiak shows that there is no guarantee for the safety of Selpius Bobii and others if they appear on trial.
By way of this chronology we ask for attention from different parties who are concerned about upholding human rights, justice and truth in Papua.
Jayapura, 27 February 2007 Rev. C. Berotabui, M.Th Coordinator of the B16M Advocacy Team
Police occupy Church Synod Office in West Papua
Media Release 30/12/06 from the
Today (30th December 2006) members of Gereja Kingmi (the Indigenous Church in West Papua) organised demonstrations in front of the Church Synod office in Jayapura, West Papua after Indonesian Police yesterday stormed and occupied the Synod Office, injuring two Pastors in the process.
“Police accuse us of being the religious arm of the OPM (also known as the Free Papua Movement) but all we want to do is run our own affairs free of government interference and intimidation” said Pastor Benny Giay, Chair of the Kingmi Church’s Bureau of Justice and Peace. “This attack by the Police is not just against church activists working to defend human rights” said Pastor Giay, “it is an attack on the institution of the Church itself.”
“Our people are now on the street demanding that the Police leave the Synod Office so that church members can use church property” said Pastor Giay.
The occupation of Church property and the assault of the two Kingmi pastors follow a public accusation by the Indonesian minister of Defence earlier this year that the Christian Church in West Papua along with international non-government organisations is promoting independence in West Papua. It is an accusation that Pastor Giay denies.
From 1962 to 1983 the Kingmi Church (which was established by American missionaries from the Christian and Missionary Alliance) operated independently in West Papua. In 1983 Kingmi Church joined with the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) in order to assist the visa applications of foreign missionaries applying to live in West Papua.
“When foreign missionaries stopped coming to West Papua we decided that there was no reason to continue to remain under the control of Jakarta. In our congress this year we withdrew our membership from the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia and reinstated the KIngmi Church's former status as an independent Synod in West Papua. Jakarta opposes this and accuses us of being separatists” says Pastor Giay.
Jason MacLeod from the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights (IPAHR) says that the accusation by Jakarta is ominous. “The label “OPM” is used by the police to silence debate and stigmatise West Papuans on the basis of ethnicity in order to justify repressive security operations. Church leaders in West Papua who speak out for peace and justice are regularly subject to surveillance and intimidation by the security forces.”
Pastor Giay, author of numerous books about politics and religious movements in West Papua, holds a PhD from Leiden University in the Netherlands and is well known internationally for his human rights advocacy. He is calling on his international networks to encourage Jakarta to support the right of the Kingmi Church to run their own affairs free of government interference and intimidation.
For English and Indonesia language interviews phone Benny Giay on +62 (0)852 4437 3166.
Media release prepared by Jason MacLeod from the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights in Australia: +61 (0)438 503 532.
Press coverage
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Kompas, Thursday, 26 Oktober 2006 - 04:27 AM
The policy of development planning in Papua questioned
(Jayapura) Development planning in the province of Papua is not being handled well even though the province has huge sums of money, in the form of general allocations as well as special autonomy funds from the central government.
Frans Maniagasi, member of the Papua Working Group said that at the medium-term Planning Constultation held on Wednesday (25/10), in Jayapura, he asked a question about planning policy in Papua and whether it was meeting the needs of the Papuans or meeting the wishes of the regional government.
"If it's only based on what the government wants, those billions of rupiahs will be wasted,' said Frans.
He went on to say that up to now, as much as 75 per cent of the budget has been used for physical construction, whilst improving human resources has hardly been touched. This is despite the fact that improving human resources is extremely important because so many Papuans are very poor and do not yet enjoying a decent standard of living.
Even worse he said, the provincial government is planning to construct a toll road from Sorong to Jayapura which will destroy four national parks.
"Do the people really need a toll road at a time when poverty is still so widespread? It is wrong to treat Papua in the same way as Java because Papua is in the international spotlight and it acts as the lungs of the world; its forests must not be destroyed like this,' he said.
Meanwhile, Director-General of Regional Development Guidance at the Department of the Interior, Syamsul Arief Rivai, said that careful planning was essential in deciding how to use the special autonomy (Otsus) funds in Papua. "Otsus Papua is for the province, and the needs lie in the districts and towns, which means that distribution of the funds must be well planned.' In his opinion, the province should be demanding that programmes to combat poverty in the towns and the districts should be synchronised. Many regions, including Papua have large suns of money at their disposal but targets have not been correctly identified.
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