1) Mimika records high number of
HIV/AIDS cases
2) Amnesty:
End Attacks on Freedom of Expression
3) Komnas HAM Hopes Jokowi to be
Committed in Enforcing Human Rights
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1) Mimika records high number of HIV/AIDS cases
The Jakarta Post, Timika | Archipelago | Sun, August 31 2014, 9:43 PM
The Mimika chapter of the National AIDS Commission (KPA) says that as of the middle of this year, the number of people with HIV/AIDS in the regency has reached 3,900.
This means Mimika regency in Papua has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS cases, following Wamena (5,000) and Nabire (4,000).
“According to data we have received, housewives are now the biggest at-risk group concerning HIV/AIDS, compared to commercial sex workers. People from all professions, starting from farmers and fishermen to civil servants and police and military personnel, are vulnerable to the illness as well. HIV/AIDS do not differentiate between age and social group,” said Reynold.
HIV/AIDS infections in Mimika were first found in two commercial sex workers in a red-light district in Kampung Kadun Jaya in 1996.
Reynold said that with continuous efforts involving all components of society, Mimika could control the spread of new HIV infections.
He added that the KPA Mimika was involving religious leaders and families to help eradicate discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.
KPA Mimika continued to introduce information on HIV/AIDS prevention, he said, and train health workers to introduce preventive measures, including encouraging clean and healthy living. (put/ebf)
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2) Amnesty: End Attacks on Freedom of Expression
Jakarta. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has demanded an end to what it calls the Indonesian security forces’ attacks on freedom of the expression in Papua, following the arrest and torture last month of two students for allegedly painting pro-independence graffiti.
“Recent attacks highlight the repressive environment faced by political activists and journalists in the area and the ongoing impunity for human rights violations by security forces there,” London-based Amnesty said in a statement on Saturday.
It cited the arrests of Robert Yelemaken, 16, and Oni Wea, a 21-year-old university student, for painting graffiti that included calls for an independence referendum for Papua. (Amnesty itself makes clear that it takes no position on the matter of Papuan independence.)
Robert and Oni, said to be activists for the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, which espouses greater autonomy for the region, were arrested in Manokwari district on Aug. 8 “and allegedly tortured or ill-treated” by police, Amnesty said.
“They were hit on the head and face with a rifle butt and kicked by the police. Both were forced to roll in a drain filled with dirty water and to drink paint. They were then taken to the Manokwari district police station where the beatings allegedly continued,” the organization said.
Robert was released 10 days later, but Oni remains in custody and has been charged with incitement under the Criminal Code, for which he could face up to six years in prison if convicted.
“The attacks on freedom of expression must end, and all prisoners of conscience — those, like university student Oni Wea, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression — must be immediately and unconditionally released,” Amnesty said.
The group also cited the arrests on Aug. 6 of French journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat for alleged immigration violations.
The were reportedly making a documentary on the separatist movement, and remain in detention.
“Their arrests highlight the ongoing restrictions faced by international journalists, human rights organizations and other observers to access the provinces of Papua and West Papua,” Amnesty said.
It added that it had “long called for free and unimpeded access to the Papuan region for international journalists and human rights organizations and welcomed pledges by President-elect Joko Widodo in June 2014 that he would open up the region if elected.”
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3) Komnas HAM Hopes Jokowi to be Committed in Enforcing Human Rights
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) deputy chairperson Ansori Sinungan hoped elected president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is committed to enforce human rights.
Jokowi should fulfill, protect, enforce, and improve human rights. “These are in accordance with his visions-mission and promises during his campaign,” he said at his office, Friday, August 29.รข€¨
In a different occassion, Komnas Ham member Muhammad Nurkhoiron said he had met with Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla Transition Team's deputy, Andi Widjajanto on Thursday, August 28.
Nurkhoiron spoke about Hendropriyono, one of the member of Jokowi's Transition Team, who is a former head of State Intelligence Agency (BIN). Hendropriyono is allegedly involved in human rights violation when he was still the head of BIN. Nurkhoiron asked Andi whether Hendropriyono's cases of human rights violation will still be investigated deeper or not.
According to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence's (KontraS) records, Hendropriyono had been suspected of being involved in a number of cases of human rights violations when he was a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI).รข€¨
Hendropriyono had also been suspected of in a murder case of human rights activist, Munir Said Thalib, September 7, 2004. At that time, he was the head of BIN. Until yesterday, a refusal petition has been signed by more than thousands of netizens.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN
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