This month, the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia received a boost with the second annual 2+2 dialogue, which saw the two countries’ respective foreign ministers and defense ministers sitting down and discussing a variety of issues of common concern.
The Indonesia-Australia bilateral relationship began in 1945, with Australia assisting Indonesia in its attempt to obtain international recognition as an independent nation. Some great Australian names, like that of diplomat MacMahon Ball, were followed by the names of equally great scholars on Indonesia, like Herbert Feith.
The main challenge in the bilateral relationship has been the internal working of politics in both Indonesia and Australia. Australia has been a democracy for more than 100 years, while Indonesia’s democracy is only 14-years-old.
Australia is to have an election this year and Indonesia next year. Elections can be odd times with political promises made to electorates, often at the cost of existing bilateral relationships.
The first major test of the bilateral relationship was David Jenkins’ article in The Sydney Morning Herald in 1986 and it occurred at a time when Indonesia was still under Soeharto’s authoritarian regime and the media were not free.
As a consequence, Jenkins was banned from entering Indonesia and eight years passed before he was able to visit the country again.
There was nothing inaccurate in Jenkins’ report and, in fact, Indonesian historians studying the country’s economic history probably view this as an important article because it reflected Soeharto’s authoritarian approach.
In the 1990s, the East Timor independence struggle dominated the bilateral relationship. In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored self-determination, Indonesia relinquished its control of East Timor (now Timor Leste).
It was a messy undertaking and, as one of the major tests in the bilateral relationship, it remains one that politicians and diplomats on both sides would rather forget.
The year 1999 also marked the birth of Indonesia’s democracy and former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid was at the helm of this first democratic government. Sadly, Gus Dur and his team, which included me, were not prepared for this crucial event in our history.
Indonesian civil society was extremely weak and much too fragmented to meet the enormous challenges of democratization.
Everything that could have gone wrong in the Indonesia-Australia bilateral relationship did! Which is why the second annual 2+2 dialogue this year is so important, marking as it does the attainment of major progress.
There are two crucial questions in the future Indonesia-Australia bilateral relationship. One is Papua and the other is the 2014 Indonesian election. The demand for Papuan independence is an issue with Papuan youths emulating the approach adopted by the East Timorese to gain independence, although the historical context is very different.
The main problem in Papua is that the current Indonesian government has not managed to bring about a better life for Papuans, despite special autonomy that has been in place since 2001.
As happened with East Timor in the 1990s, Australia has become one of the political bases from which Papuans seeking independence are campaigning.
Even so, to some Indonesian political elites, their campaign is seen as a mere pebble in the shoe of the bilateral relationship.
The second question is the extent to which Australia has considered the possibility of Indonesia’s next president being Prabowo Subianto, a former Army general linked to past human rights violations. The various political polls about the level of his popularity may be wrong, but his being democratically elected remains a possibility.
There are 67 million new voters out of the total 175 million Indonesians entitled to vote in the 2014 election. These new voters have no political baggage about Prabowo and the events of 1998, as they were mostly below the age of 5 when reformasi began.
These first-time voters have, instead, grown up in the 10-year period of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration and have serious misgivings about the latter. Just look at the recent fiasco of the national examinations involving our young people, which points to the fact that President SBY has not really focused on education or youth employment.
Life is tough for the average 19-year-old Indonesian. Prabowo, on the other hand, has started to campaign on the distribution of Indonesia’s economic growth. More importantly, whether we like it or not, he has managed to give hope to many young Indonesians.
At this stage, however, these are mere words and he still needs to prove himself.
How well do we understand each other? Are we ready to move ahead, given that over the past 10 years there has been a 40 percent drop in the number of Australian students studying the Indonesian language?
Yet, there are approximately 20,000 Indonesians studying in Australian universities (The Jakarta Post, March 19). Is there enough public understanding in Australia of the problems with democratization in Indonesia?
Do Australians realize that we Indonesians still have a long journey ahead of us in ensuring that the democratization process continues?
Anything can happen in the 2014 Indonesian election; as it did in 1999, when Gus Dur was elected president to the surprise of many, including some in Australia.
The question that people from both sides of the Arafura Sea need to consider is the extent to which the bilateral relationship is sustainable in the face of the political earthquakes that could disturb it.
At this stage, in view of the valuable progress already made, let us keep both feet on the ground.
The writer, a former journalist based in Australia, is secretary-general of the Indonesian Community for Democracy (KID).
2) 50 YEARS TO INTEGRATION PAPUA Homeland NOT fully felt
Author: Islami Adisubrata | 22:00
Editor: Victor Mambor
April 30, 2013 | 0
Filed in: Tanah Papua
Balim Papuan Customary Council (La Pago) when it held a press conference at the DAP Office (Jubi / Islami)
Wamena, 30/4 (Jubi) - May 1 is the date commemorates the return of Papua into the lap of the Republic of Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia) and has now entered a golden age that is 50 years from May 1, 1963.
However, different from the view point of the Papuan Customary Council Balim (La Pago), where the view DAP Balim that two official statements that have a strong argument that the government of the Republic of Indonesia stated that the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia to Papua is legitimate, and the people of Papua declared that May 1 1963 was the annexation / early occurrence of human rights violations in Papua. This was confirmed Chairman of the Papuan Customary Council Balim (La Pago), Mabel Lemok when held a press conference at the Office of the Tribal Council, Wamena, Tuesday (30/4).
According to him, the Papuan people claim that the integration of May 1, 1963 was illegitimate, while the government said it was legal. According to the people of Papua, the integration of May 1, 1963 was the beginning of an offense and the offense is not ended to this day is still ongoing, so that the people of Papua said on May 1, 1963 was the annexation or human rights violations.
"In essence, the government says that if legitimate, why to this day is often a violation of human rights. Until today the people of Papua are still in poor condition, that was very real marginalization, of the development process, the process of alignment so the Indonesian government is not truly constructive Papua, "said Mabel Lemok.
Admittedly, if it is a legitimate government to build integration, meaning the government must establish the Papuan people correctly and fully. Though the people of Papua for 50 years has yet to feel the full development and is seen and the real human rights violations and the suppression of democracy.
"If it is said to integration, why to this day people still in rebellion. Until now the government's policies after the Act and the Act and the establishment of districts in Papua province was legally flawed in terms of rules, "he said.
Meanwhile, according to the Secretary of the Papua Customary Council Balim (La Pago), Julian Hisage, the government must open up to the people of Papua to conduct dialogue between Papua and Jakarta.
"Sit down together and have a dialogue is the only one who wants this in commemoration of May 1," said Julian Hisage.
On the other hand, DAP recluse Balim Coordinator (La Pago), Theo Hesegem asserted, warning May 1 has reached 50 years, and that means the people of Papua deem it an annexation.
"May 1 for our nation of Papua, we would not say to a matter of eating and drinking, because the matter was already done for the Special Autonomy for 9 years that its implementation does not exist, let alone have UP4B, we refused. We want a dialogue between Papua and Jakarta, "he said.
In that case, the Papuan Customary Council Balim wise government wants to open up a space for a dialogue between Papua and Jakarta.
Additionally, DAP memita honestly admit that government policy mistakes and violations that continue to occur until now, the government can implement democracy under the applicable laws in the Land of Papua, as well as to local authorities, religious leaders, NGOs, academics and indigenous Papuans are not silent and lazy to know the conditions are getting worse for the people of Papua. (Jubi / Islami)
The transfer of the Dutch colony of Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia 50 years ago bythe United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) was a failure by the International community in its responsibility to give the people of West Papua a say in their future. During the short UNTEA period there were already indications of oppression by Indonesia.
Joe Collins of AWPA said "on the 1 December in 1962 a march by West Papuan nationalists was banned by UNTEA because of Indonesian coercion and still
50 years later the Indonesian security forces are banning rallies to commemorate this tragic event in West Papuan history".
However, a number of civil society organisations including the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) still plan to hold peaceful rallies to protest the handover by UNTEA
Tension in West Papua
Leading up to the 1 May the security forces said that 1000 security personal will be on duty to monitor events including undertaking security patrols. In the Paniai Region where the security forces are building police posts the TPN/OPM have said they would hold a flag raising ceremony. Local community groups in the region have said they want members of Detachment 88 and Brimob withdrawn from Paniai because off abuses by the security forces.
Because a police officer was fatally stabbed in a home invasion in Yapen Serui Island, last Saturday, a combined security force of military and Police have conducted a sweep through local villages in the district of Angkaisera, Serui, in the Yapen Islands regency causing fear in the local people.
Joe Collins said, "we keep hearing how Indonesian is now a democracy. What better way by the Indonesian Government of proving this than to immediately release all West Papuan political prisoners unconditionally as a sign of good faith to the West Papuan people".
1) ‘Autonomy Plus’ to Tackle Issues Plaguing Papua
2) Separatist-Linked Man Nabbed in Cop-Killing
3) POLICE CAPTURE THE MOMENT OF sweeping
4) OPEN 5 POSPOL, Paniai POLRES Harden kamtibmas
5) Paniai Police: JOHN GROUP OF YOGI RESAHKAN 6) NAPAS Condemning the Ban to Commemorate the 50anniversary of the transfer of administration of West New Guinea from UNTEA to Indonesia on 1 May 1963
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for increased autonomy for Papua province to address the host of development and security problems there, an official said on Monday.
Lukas Enembe, the recently inaugurated governor of the country’s easternmost province, said following a meeting with Yudhoyono at the State Palace in Jakarta that the president had expressed his desire to have a solution for the problems in sight before leaving office in 2014.
He added that the president, through the Home Affairs Ministry, had proposed the concept of “Special Autonomy Plus” for the Papua administration, which is already one of just four provinces in the country that enjoys special autonomy.
“Our hope is that the draft on the Special Autonomy Plus policy is completed by August, because the idea is to address the problems endemic to Papua,” Lukas said.
“All these problems must be dealt with before Yudhoyono’s term in office ends, so there’s another year and a half left to go.”
Under the terms of the expanded autonomy, the provincial administration will have more freedom to engage in dialogue with leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), an outlawed separatist group that had been waging a low-level armed insurgency against security forces for nearly half a century.
Lukas said this move toward engagement was part of Yudhoyono’s call for “development with compassion” rather than suppression of separatist sentiment.
He added that his own administration was calling for the OPM to contribute to policies for the development of the province and improved welfare for its people.
“There’s no denying that a lot of our brethren are on the other [separatist] side, but they’re people too, and as long as we can communicate with one another, we should keep doing so,” the governor said.
“With the right approach, I believe they will be willing to listen.”
He also said that separatist sentiment was waning across much of the province, and that elements of the OPM still holding out for secession from Indonesia would gradually realize that both they and the provincial administration shared the same goal of boosting development for the region’s people.
Papua, which was annexed by Indonesia on May 1, 1963, was granted special autonomy by Jakarta in 2001 in an attempt to address social grievances and a poverty rate that remains among the highest in the country despite the region’s immense wealth of natural resources.
The central government has poured trillions of rupiah into the region over the past decade as part of the autonomy push. However, with 31 percent of the population still living below the poverty line, critics say the huge funds have not been allocated effectively and that the special autonomy status has failed to achieve its objective.
Lukas, who won a long-delayed election in February with 52 percent of votes, said he was confident that under his leadership, and with the extended autonomy policy in the works, there would be progress made toward resolving the problems in the province.
Speaking shortly after his election victory, Lukas said Papua’s problems were so complex that it would take more than just special autonomy to frame a solution.
He said the central government’s development policy was often not in line with regional implementation and the will of the Papuan people, and called on the government to monitor development in the province more closely.
“So many policies have been implemented, yet they are still not what the Papuans want or hope for,” he said.
Jayapura. Police in the restive province of Papua have arrested a man suspected of taking part in an attack at a police residential compound in the Yapen Islands district on Saturday that left an officer dead.
Sr. Comr. Gede Sumerta, a spokesman for the provincial police, said in a statement on Sunday that the suspect, identified as Yahya Bonai, 20, was believed to be part of a criminal gang known for carrying out extortion rackets against local businesses in Serui, the district capital.
The attack at the home of Chief Brig. Jefri Sesa, an officer from the Angkaisera subprecinct police station, occurred at 4:20 a.m. on Saturday when dozens of men stormed the house in a compound for police officers. The group assaulted Jefri’s in-laws and his wife before stabbing the police officer to death.
They then stole a gun from his house and shot at the home of another police officer. The officer in question, Brig. Lamber Matui, fired back at them, forcing the attackers to flee into the cover of the forest.
Sumerta said that the Yapen Police arrested Yahya shortly after the attack, based on statements from Jefri’s family.
Yahya’s gang is alleged to have ties to a militant separatist group led by Ruddy Orarey. The group has been implicated in several attacks in the region, most recently on March 13, also targeting police. The Ruddy Orarey group reportedly has ties to the armed Free Papua Organization (OPM), which has been waging a low-level separatist insurgency against Indonesian security forces for decades.
The police have declined to speculate on the motive for Saturday’s attack, but acknowledged that the Yapen Islands district remains a hotbed for insurgent activity.
The attack comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of Indonesia’s annexation on May 1, 1963, of the then Netherlands New Guinea. It also comes nearly a year after police in the Yapen Islands uncovered an OPM training camp.
The camp was discovered on May 29, 2012. Ten days later, suspected separatists shot at the Angkaisera police station, wounding an officer.
The same police station was the target of an arson attack by a mob on Dec. 20, 2011. After setting the building on fire, the attackers then hoisted the Morning Star flag, a banned separatist standard, from the flagpole in the front yard.
The station was also the scene of another attack in June 2009, when a group of unidentified people set two police motorcycles on fire.
Jayapura, 29/4 (Jubi) - combined forces TNI / Police make visits to three villages in the district Angkaisera, Serui, Yapen Islands regency, Papua police killings related peristitwa, Bripka Jeffery, Saturday (27/4) morning. In the penyiran, police arrested a citizen with the initials YB.
"The joint forces in the village there are sweeping Yapan, Mantembu and Menawi on Saturday (27/4) morning, about 3am," said Manibuy, local residents to tabloidjubi.com through cell telepeon, Monday (29/4).
According to him, sweeping the villagers fear it causes. "There are people who run. Residents feel uncomfortable at home, "he said. Citizens are increasingly uncomfortable as a resident was arrested on charges of TPN combined forces. "One of the initials YB Menawi Residents arrested as TPN," he said.
Manibuy added TPN accusation was not true. "YB just ordinary civilians," he said. The time of arrest, the combined forces of housebreaking. Until this news was published, the Papua Police have not commented. (Jubi / Mawel
The addition of the police station, call him, first in Papato, Kampung Timida, and one post again in Pugo. "Then it's the third post we make in Aikai. His post is so, our members already occupy, "he said.
Paniai, 29/4 (Jubi) - Avoiding the possibility of resistance on May 1, 2013, police in Paniai since last week to build a police post in the six villages.
Resort Paniai Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ronny Semmy TH Abaa, said there were five postal opened this year. Each will be assigned a security post at least 3 members.
"This year we are heading to open five more tightened security in Paniai," he said to reporters, Monday (29/4).Semmy said, except in the context of May 1, security continues to be improved because of the glass eye Paniai security, is still prone areas. "There is a group John Yogi, can appear anytime ncaman, so we continue to be aware of," said the police chief.
In addition, the police chief said Paniai, there are two posts will be built in the near future, namely in Kampung Keniapa and Mount Bobaigo.
"The deployment of our members in his later post in rotation. In addition to security, the post presence that also facilitate services to people who need help, "said Semmy. With this policy, he believes, will minimize the movement of certain persons to act undermine security and public order (internal security), which is often the case in Paniai Police jurisdiction.
How to May 1, 2013? Police Chief stressed, "There is no demo issue and others, maybe it's the other regions. For Paniai, we are ready to secure. "(Jubi / Mark You)
Community and a number of the requesting party or Detachment 88 Brimob withdrawn from Paniai, said Chief of Police, it must wait for the policy of the employer. But he acknowledges, there is currently no more troops. While the number of personnel in Paniai Police, he said, is very limited when seen from a wide area in three districts: Paniai, Intan Jaya, and Deiyai. (Jubi / Mark You)
Paniai, 29/4 (Jubi) - The existence of the group John Yogi in Paniai regency, is considered to be troubling the people in several villages. Because of that, he and his men were asked to stop and give up as good citizens.This revealed Paniai Police, Commissioner Ronny Semmy TH Abaa when interviewed by reporters on Monday (29/4). Assessment, said Semmy, based on field data. "John provoking us village people. We can report, no weapons of coercion with a hold-up man, scare people, livestock and food take by force, to the incidence of rape by his subordinates. We're after because their brutal actions, not self-conscious of his actions had been wrong, "he said."Pursuit still we did as long as he does not give up. There is a command from our superiors, "said Semmy.
Police also responded to the public spotlight on abuses by forces in Paniai. He said, it is not entirely true. "Last month we had shoot John, but I pull forces at the location because there are children and women. So, if the allegations be proved by the data, can not just say so and so, "said Semmy Paniai who served as police chief since January 2013.With accurate data, he was willing to examine all members. If proven true, it is definitely against the law. "Accusations that officials are doing, we will check. If there is, ready to be processed, "said Semmy.Police Chief himself heard directly the allegations to officers as perpetrators of violence in Paniai. When meeting with the government and the legislature, the matter is discussed. He said there was an agreement, form a team to directly check the facts in Paniai. "I'll see the team down. The data gathered, the following evidence statements citizens, perhaps it could strengthen the accusation. So, I say, must not blame game, because they have to prove it directly, "said Semmy.
For Immediate ReleaseNAPAS Condemning the Ban to Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the transfer of administration of West New Guinea from UNTEA to Indonesia on 1 May 1963National Papua Solidarity (NAPAS) condemns the Papuan police decision to ban the plan to organise public demonstration in Papua to commemorate the transfer of administration of then West New Guinea (now Papua) from UNTEA to Indonesia on 1 May 1963. This decision, which was also explicitly endorsed by the Governor of Papua, breached the freedom of expression and association which is enshrined by the 1945 Indonesian Constitution. The ban also represents a reactive, paranoid and discriminative approach of the Indonesian government that limits the exercise of the civil and political rights of Papuans. Furthermore, the decision would undermine the existing processes and initiatives to find a peaceful solution for Papua conflicts. Finally, the ban to commemorate the 50th anniversary event illustrates the Indonesian government position that aims to monopolies the interpretation of Papuan history for the sake of the state, not for Papuans.
According to the 1962 New York Agreement, the Netherlands transferred the administration over West New Guinea territory to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA), which then passed it on to Indonesia on 1 May 1963. The four main points of the New York Agreement that we would like to highlight during this 50th anniversary are as follows:
The transfer was limited to „full administration responsibility,‰ not the transfer of sovereignty (Article XIV);
During the transition period, Indonesia held the primary duty to undertake „further intensification of the education of the people, of the combating of illiteracy, and of the advancement of their social, cultural and economic development‰ (Article XV);
At the end of 1969, under the supervision of the UN Secretary General, the act of free choice would be held for Papuans in order to determine its political status „whether they wish to remain with Indonesia; or whether they wish to sever their ties with Indonesia‰ (Article XVIII);
Indonesia „will honor those commitments‰ (Article XXII para 3) to guarantee fully the rights of Papuans, including the rights of free speech and freedom of movement and of assembly (Article XII para 1).
Reflecting this historic moment of our history, we regrettably highlight the fact that Papuans were never invited to participate in any process of the formulation and implementation of the New York Agreement either by the Netherlands, Indonesia or the United Nations. We question the extent by which the Indonesian government has fulfilled its duty to provide high quality of education, health and other public services as stipulated by the New York Agreement. Furthermore, Papuans‚s rights of free speech and freedom of movement and of assembly were not fully guaranteed and protected as documented in various historical reports around this transition period.
When both the Governor of Papua and the Chief of Police of Papua deliberately ban any activities of Papuans to commemorate this historic moment, history repeats itself. Papuans‚s rights of free speech of free speech and freedom of movement and of assembly were not protected and guaranteed then and now. Therefore, we question both the local authorities in Papua and the national authorities of Indonesia whether they treat Papuans as citizens or just inhabitants.
Regardless of the ban, in Jakarta, NAPAS will organize the Papuan cultural night festival „One Papua, One Struggle‰ to mark this anniversary. We are well aware that suppressing our memory of the past not only denies our rights and freedom but more importantly, our existence. The historical reports have already revealed that the current and ongoing Papua conflicts are rooted in the very historical date, 1 May 1963, when UNTEA transferred Papua into Indonesia. But the launching of „One Papua‰ has a deeper meaning. After fifty years Papuans remain divided, not united, and have not developed a strong sense of solidarity among the oppressed. Taking into account this reality, the cultural night will be an opportunity for NAPAS to reflect on the ways to unify Papua‚s struggle for its liberation and to strengthen solidarity among the oppressed Papuans as well as to mark 1 May as the day to unify Papuan solidarity.
PRESS CONFERENCE DPM BEM FISIP Uncen (JUBI / Aprila)
Jayapura, 29/4 (Jubi) - Mecky Alua of the Student Representative Council and Executive Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Political Science, University of Paradise (DPM BEM FISIP Uncen) said Papua into Indonesia integral to illegal ways.
"We want to inform the public, May 1 was a historic day for West Papuans. Statement Papua Police Chief and Governor of Papua that there is no activity on May 1 for the People of West Papua, we would like to say to the police chief and the governor to open up democratic space for the people of Papua because Papua is part of the People's Republic of Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia), "said Mecky Alua to tabloidjubi.com in Waena, Monday (29/4).
According Alua, whatever people think, they should be free to express opinions. There are 1945 Constitution, Article 29 says, every person has the right to express opinions and gain independence. The Governor is the leader of a pro-people so he had to open the democratic space for its own people.
"We'll go down the road with parts of West Papua People to commemorate the annexation. We commemorate as the integration is carried out illegally by the People's Republic of Indonesia to the West Papuans. We'll go down the road and walked to the Tomb of Theys Hiyo Eluays in Sentani, Jayapura regency, "said Alua again.
According Alua, during this annexation, many things that the government of Indonesia has hurt West Papuans so it also commemorates May 1 as the Day of Mourning Papuans.
"Our target is to be a national and international public knows, Papua into Indonesia integral ways the Act was illegal because it was not fair and did not meet international rules, one man, one vote," he said. (Jubi / Aprila wiring)
2) AHEAD OF MAY 1, FORCES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO ACT arrogant
Author: Eveert Joumilena | 17:19
Editor: Domingoes a Mampioper
| April 29, 2013 | 0
Filed in: Jayapura
Speaker of the National Liberation Army / Free Papua Movement (TPN / OPM), Jonah Wenda (Jubi / Eveerth)
Jayapura, 29/4 (Jubi) - Ahead of Anniversary celebrations (HUT) of West Papua, 1 Mewi 2013, the security forces do not act arrogantly asked, but still performing their duties according to its function.
"We continue to celebrate throughout the land of Papua, so that the security forces do not act more," said a spokesman for the National Liberation Army / Free Papua Movement (OPM), Jonah Wenda, told reporters in Abepura, Monday (29/4).
He added that, if on the other hand there is celebrated as a day of national integration of Papua into the Republic of Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia), but for the intervention we are as a nation against the sovereignty of the nation of Papua Indonesia.
"The government should use the - a good approach in solving the Papuan people, in this case should be opened up negotiations with the Papuan people, so do not use the way - the way of violence," he pleaded.
Himself judge, fundamental problems that happen to the nation of Papua is the Act that do not fit as well as the recognition of Papua as a sovereign and independent state, therefore the government should be able to complete all the better.
"The government should be able to resolve the issue - persolan fundamental, because otherwise this is a negotiation should be opened and if that fails too, then you should have an independent Papua and the Papuan people who organize their own country," he said.
Speaker of the National Liberation Army / Free Papua Movement (TPN / OPM), Jonah Wenda said to Papuan anniversary celebration on May 1, then OPM ready accountable.
"We are ready to be responsible for the implementation of the anniversary celebration of West Papuans around the earth of Paradise," said spokesman TPN / OPM, Jonah Wenda, Tabloidjubi.com answer the question, if there are people who will be victims of the May 1 celebration later.
When asked about the ban by the government and police, Jonah Wenda replied, that it is their opinion. "But we still celebrate, because we will do the courtesy," he said.
"Please keep the security forces, because we will not bother them, because very clearly the existence of OPM is to protect the people and safeguard the nation's struggle for independence in Papua as the dignity of the people of Papua," he said.
Added, related provincial government plans to dialogue with OPM also supported, so that it can be realized.
"We also have to convey to the President of Indonesia through a special messenger some time ago, so dibukannya negotiations and had received a positive response, so that local governments and all parties should support," he said. (Jubi / Eveerth)
Indonesia told: end the myth of ‘no political prisoners’
(London, 29 April 2013) – A new report by UK-based NGO, TAPOL, forcefully challenges the Indonesian government’s repeated assertion that the country has ‘no political prisoners.’ The report urges President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to open up democratic space in West Papua and order the release of all those jailed for expressing their legitimate opinions and aspirations.
The 31-page report, ‘No political prisoners? The suppression of political protest in West Papua,’ documents the cases of 40 detainees who were known to be in prison at the end of March 2013, challenging the government’s claim that there are no political prisoners in West Papua, but only criminals who have broken the law.
“Papua’s political prisoners are not mythical characters – they are real men and women whose existence must be recognised,” said Paul Barber, Coordinator of TAPOL. “If the government wants peace in West Papua, it should be talking to political leaders, not locking them up,” he said.
The report is based on research and interviews conducted by TAPOL and data from papuansbehindbars.org, a new project initiated by civil society groups in West Papua and launched in the provincial capital, Jayapura, earlier this month. The report reveals that there were at least 210 political arrests in West Papua during 2012, but notes that the true number is likely to be higher as a number of arrests go unreported. At least 20 people were charged with treason under the controversial Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code.
Throughout 2012, arbitrary arrest of political activists was often followed by other violations of human rights and international standards, including torture and ill-treatment, denial of the right to a fair trial, and lack of access to proper healthcare and medical treatment. TAPOL reports that torture or ill-treatment occurred in the case of at least 28 political arrests. At least four political activists were shot by police while allegedly resisting arrest – two of them fatally.
Behind the bare statistics are human stories of the hardships faced by prisoners and their families. One woman interviewed in the report described the effect on her children when she was jailed for peaceful political activity, saying “While I was in jail my kids were like street children.” Mina (not her real name), the young wife of a political prisoner, told of the poverty, isolation and stigma she experienced while her husband was in jail, saying, “I got really sick with malaria and it was awful. I had to sell all my clothes and blankets, and when I was sick I had no money to buy medicine – it’s very expensive here. When he was in prison nobody came here.”
The publication of the report comes at a time when both national and international support for the release of Papuan political prisoners is growing exponentially, believes TAPOL. Grassroots campaigns in West Papua are generating increasing support from national and international civil society groups, and a number of states expressed concern about the situation during last year’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Indonesia at the UN Human Rights Council.
In just a few months, Indonesia’s progress on civil and political rights will be in the spotlight, when the UN Human Rights Committee will consider Indonesia’s first ever report on its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Given the growing weight of evidence on the detention, torture, ill-treatment and neglect of Papuan political prisoners, it will be difficult for the government to ignore them any longer.
“For every political prisoner the government is ignoring, there are thousands of Papuans feeling hurt and disregarded. Allowing Papuans the right to express themselves like any other citizen is a basic first step towards resolving the conflict,” said Barber.
TAPOL works to promote human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia. Founded in 1973 by Carmel Budiardjo, a former political prisoner in Indonesia, TAPOL is grounded in grassroots campaigning. Based in the UK, we work closely with local organisations in Indonesia and the contested territory of West Papua to advocate for truth and justice, and encourage the international community to take action.
About Papuans Behind Bars
Papuans Behind Bars, launched in April 2013, is an online resource about political prisoners in West Papua. The site aims to raise awareness about Papuan political prisoners so that nobody is forgotten. Many of the prisoners have suffered arbitrary arrest, violence, abuse, torture, unfair trials, intimidation and neglect.
Papuans Behind Bars is a collective project initiated by Papuan civil society groups working together as the Civil Society Coalition to Uphold Law and Human Rights in Papua. It is a grassroots initiative and represents a broad collaboration between lawyers, human rights groups, adat groups, activists, journalists and individuals in West Papua, as well as Jakarta-based NGOs and international solidarity groups.
