Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 208
Media release -9 October 2015
AWPA has written to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the crackdown on the peaceful rally on the 8 October and on other incidents of human rights abuses abuses in West Papua
AWPA has written to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the crackdown on the peaceful rally on the 8 October and on other incidents of human rights abuses abuses in West Papua
AWPA is urging Julie Bishop to
raise AWPA's concerns about the grave human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government, the crackdown on peaceful civil society groups, the intimidation of journalists simply doing their job and the tragic killing of civilians including school children by the security forces.
to encourage the Indonesian Government to allow a PIF fact-finding mission to investigate the human rights situation in the territory.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hon Julie Bishop
MP
Foreign Minister
House of
Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT
2600
9 October 2015
Dear Foreign
Minister,
I am writing to you
on behalf of the Australia West Papua Association in Sydney concerning a number
of recent incidents in West Papua which raise grave concerns for human rights
defenders and peaceful activists trying to bring the ongoing human rights abuses
in West Papua to international attention.
On Thursday the 8
October, 18 peaceful activists (6 who were priests) were arrested for holding a
peaceful rally in front of a Catholic Church in Abepura, Jayapura. The
Rally was organised by SKP-HAM (Solidarity with Victims of
Human Rights Violations Papua). The
purpose of the rally was to bring attention to the Indonesian authorities that
so far nobody has been held accountable for the killing of four students in
Paniai on the 8 December 2014 by the security forces. As the rally
progressed a police truck arrived with sirens blaring driving into the
demonstrators nearly hitting a number of them. A large number of police
jumped of the truck breaking up the rally and arresting 18 demonstrators.
A number of journalists who were reporting on the rally were intimidated
by police and banned from taking photographs. One journalist had his
camera stolen (at gunpoint) and the entire contents of photos and videos were
deleted. Although the demonstrators were eventually released, during the
arrests the Police acted in a brutal and heavy-handed way.
Other incidents.
Two high school students were shot
by the Indonesian security forces in Timika on Monday the 28 September.
Caleb
Bagau, aged 18, died while his friend Efrando Sabarofek, aged 17, was wounded
in the chest and legs. At approximately 19.00hrs while the students were
sitting in a market culvert with their school friends, dozens of police
officers armed with weapons and cars surrounded the area.
Because they were
afraid the two students ran, however the police shot in their direction killing
Caleb Bagau and wounding Elfrando who was shot in the chest and leg. Another
shooting occurred when the local community went to the police station after
hearing the news that a student had been shot dead at the water channel.
Although the local people were angry with the police, the police basically refused to listen and responded
by firing at them wounding three.
Also on Monday 28th Levi Gebze a 16-year-old West Papuan boy was
arrested and tortured by the Indonesian police in Merauke. According to a
report received, the incident occurred at at 13:30hrs as Levi was on the way
home on the Muli Road. He was suddenly followed by an Avanza car with 4 members
of the Indonesian police/intelligence
inside. He was stopped and forced to get inside the car and with no questions
asked was beaten by the police. He was then brought to the police station where
he was interrogated and tortured again. He was beaten and also electrocuted.
The police arrested him under charges of stealing a bag and laptop on the Yobar
beach but when he denied the charge the police continued to beat and electrocute
him. Levi is still suffering the effects of this brutal torture and there
has been no investigation into the actions of the police whatsoever.
We urge you to raise our concerns about the grave human rights
situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government, the crackdown on
peaceful civil society groups, the intimidation of journalists simply doing
their job and the tragic killing of civilians including school children by the
security forces.
We
note that in the Communiqué from the 46th
Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby, that the PIF Leaders
requested the Forum Chair to consult on a PIF fact-finding mission to West
Papua to discuss the situation in Papua with the parties involved. WE urge you
to encourage the Indonesian Government to allow such a fact-finding mission to
investigate the human rights situation in the territory.
Yours sincerely
-------------------------------------------
photos from suarapapua.com
Mass action when negotiating with the police (Photo: Ist)
Police officers arrested dozens of mass action (Photo: Ist).
(From Majalahselangkah.com) Step Magazine reporter, Abraham Abeth Yow (right), accompanied by Papuan human rights lawyer, Olga Hamadi (left) when negotiating with Wakapolresta Jayapura. Photo: Benny Mawel / Jubi
(FromTabloidjubi) One Catholic monk of the Franciscan Province of Papua,
(From Tabloidjubi) Monks currently protesting in front of the Post Office Abepura-Jubi-Abeth You
Julian Pawika when intimidated police in Abepura, Thursday - Jubi / Beny Mawel
(From Tabloidjubi) Monks currently protesting in front of the Post Office Abepura-Jubi-Abeth You
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