2) Report of atrocities in West Papua launched
3) Catholic Church report describes situation in West Papua as a ‘slow motion genocide’
4) Support for West Papua
5) Police Ban Media Coverage on Protesters’ Detention
6) The Chronology of Mass Arrest in West Papua on May, 2nd
7) West Papuan demonstrations on the rise
8) People in Border Areas Must Go to Vanimo for Health Care
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1) Australian report excoriates Indonesia, church over Papua
Government continues abusing human rights while church does little to stop it
Ryan Dagur, Jakarta Indonesia May 4, 2016
Police detain Papuans on May 2 during a protest in Jayapura to mark the May 1, 1963, annexation of West Papua by Indonesia. (Photo by Benny Mawel)
Church officials in Indonesia welcomed a report by an Australian archdiocese that criticizes the country for persistent human rights abuses in West Papua, and the church for not doing enough to stop it.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane's Justice and Peace Commission officially launched the 24-page report, "We Will Lose Everything" on May 1. The report was based on the commission's fact-finding mission to West Papua in February that found no improvement to the human rights situation there.
The report said the genesis of the present violence and marginalization endured by the Papuan people was in the shabby dealings by international powers that enabled the Indonesian government to annex West Papua in 1963 without the consent of the people.
Resistance to the Indonesian occupation has continued, as did brutal repression by Indonesian security forces, the report said. Resistance leaders were assassinated while thousands of other Papuans were killed as a result of violence led by Indonesian security forces.
Divine Word Father Paulus Rahmat, coordinator of VIVAT International-Indonesia, a Catholic human rights advocacy organization, said the report was important because it demonstrated the concern of the church in the Asia-Pacific region for the suffering of the Papuan people.
"On one hand, the report helps us see obviously that problems in Papua have worsened. On the other hand, the report serves as an important input since it's such an autocriticism against the church in Indonesia," he said during a May 3 Jakarta meeting that addressed the report.
Speaking with ucanews.com separately, Father John Djonga from the Diocese of Jayapura in Papua, said the report "strongly criticizes the church in Indonesia" for not taking "strict actions to deal with problems in Papua."
"Such a stance taken by the church in Australia strengthens our steps in consistently fighting together with the Papuan people against any kinds of injustice," said Father Djonga.
Natalius Pigai, a Papuan and a member of the National Commission on Human Rights, said the report offered no surprises. "That's what happens in Papua," he said.
"So the question is, when will crimes in Papua stop?" he said.
Budi Hernawan, a researcher at the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, said President Joko Widodo failed to meet his commitment to restoring human rights in the region.
He referred to May 2 protests in which more than 1,700 people were arrested for protesting the May 1, 1963, annexation of West Papua.
"What happened recently shows an irony: the Papuan people were arrested only because they expressed their political aspirations," he said.
"What is written in the report is basically a confirmation of the present situation in Papua,” he said.
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2) Report of atrocities in West Papua launched
Posted: Wednesday, May 4, 2016 8:00 am
“This report is an act of solidarity, I make it clear that this struggle is the struggle of the people of Papua. It is not my struggle as an Australian, but I am proud to be in solidarity with them and to support them in whatever they want.”
The Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in Brisbane, Peter Urns made the statement before handing over the Report to the Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki in front of the Paton Memorial (Presbyterian) Church at Independence Park yesterday.
In February this year, the Executive Officer went to West Papua for the second time with a small delegation, after the Pacific Island Forum Summit agreed to seek Indonesian Government cooperation for a South Pacific human rights fact finding mission to be sent to West Papua which has not happened.
His group was the first “shadow fact finding mission” to West Papua this year.
The 24-page Report called “We will lose everything on a Human Rights Fact Finding Mission to West Papua”, is produced by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission following its visit to West Papua last February.
The Report has documented the constant killings and human rights abuses of the West Papuans despite assurances from the Indonesian Government that such atrocities have stopped.
The Executive Officer explains, “When we did this report, Papuans showed us where we would go (in West Papua) and they guided us and told us what we could do and what we could not do.
“And when we finished the draft of the report, we handed it to our Papuan friends who told us what changes were needed and they gave us final approval before we released it as an act of solidarity.
“And it is a great pleasure to have this launched here in Port Vila today (yesterday), in Fiji yesterday (before yesterday), in Australia last Sunday, in Jakarta even today (yesterday) to say the people of Melanesia agree that this is the voice of the people of West Papua that we are trying to represent solely, as I said to one Papuan friend, that this is the voice of the people of West Papua, and not the voice of the Government of Indonesia.
“And so it is with great pleasure that I hand this Report over to the Chairman of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki.”
Pastor Nafuki launched the Report and blessed it with a prayer while the West Papuan Morning Star Flag was flying freely in the wind outside the church.
The Executive Officer Peter Urns is also leading the coordination team of the Australian West Papua solidarity movement with the United Liberation Movement of West Papua.
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Pacific Beat
3) Catholic Church report describes situation in West Papua as a ‘slow motion genocide’
Updated
A report based on a secret fact-finding mission to West Papua by the Catholic church says the Indonesian province is enduring slow-motion genocide, amid fresh allegations of torture and murder being committed by the police and the military.
The report called We Will Lose Everything has just been launched in Brisbane, with further launches to follow in Port Vila and Suva in the coming days.
There are also plans for the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission to go public with their findings in West Papua itself.
Peter Arndt, Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, says while there are risks involved in that particular launch, his colleagues in West Papua are willing to take that gamble.
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4) Support for West Papua
Matilda Simmons And Tevita Vuibau Thursday, May 05, 2016
SODELPA says they continue to stand with the people of West Papua in their struggle for self determination, their show of support coming just days after a damning report on Indonesian human rights violations in West Papua was released.
SODELPA president Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu made the comments yesterday as Indonesian soldiers arrived in Fiji to help with the rebuilding of Queen Victoria School in Tailevu
The report titled "We Will Lose Everything," was compiled by a two-person delegation from the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The pair, Commission Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, and Sister of St Joseph from Sydney, Sr Susan Connelly spent two weeks in West Papua early this year travelling through Merauke, Jayapura, Timika and Sorong.
It noted reports of human rights violations by members of the Indonesian security forces had not declined nor had the economic and social status of Papuans improved.
"While we welcome their valuable assistance in rebuilding Queen Victoria School, the school which has produced distinguished leaders of this nation, this should not be a reason for Government's acquiesce on Indonesia's continuing abuse of human rights on West Papua," Ratu Naiqama said
"Our Melanesian brothers and sisters can count on a future SODELPA Government to support indigenous rights and movements in Melanesia and in the South Pacific".
Launching the report at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Suva on Tuesday, the Head of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia, Archbishop Winston Halapua said the Pacific needed to stand with West Papua in their struggle for self-determination.
"The message is, stand strong and do not be afraid, with God nothing is impossible.
"As the Pacific, we have done this before, standing together recently prior to the Paris Climate Change Agreement talks to raise our voices," Archbishop Halapua said.
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5) Police Ban Media Coverage on Protesters’ Detention
3 May 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Journalists have been banned from covering the arrest of protesters who support the West Papua Liberation (United Liberation Movement for West Papua) in the square of the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters in Kotaraja, Papua on Monday (2/5/2016).
Reporters saw hundreds of protesters being grouped at the square, asked to remove their clothes and footwear and stand in the sun at noon.
Police officers who guarded the headquarters gate, about 100 meters height, prevented media crews including a Tabloidjubi.com reporter to enter the square.
About 20 officers stood guard outside of gate holding wood batons and telling people to stop.
They also prohibited journalists from taking photos of the arrested protestors.
One of the officers said they were acting on a direct order from Mobile Brigade Unit Chief of Papua Police, Senior Police Commissionaire Mathius Fakhiri.
“The point is the Chief Fakhiri ordered us to ban people particularly journalists from covering this,” said Mobile Brigade Officer Romansyah when asked by Jubi at the checkpoint on Monday (2/5/2016).
The protesters were detained in several locations, including Expo, Perumnas 3 Waena and Lingkaran Abe before taken by the police truck to the square of Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters. (Yuliana Lantipo/rom)
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6) The Chronology of Mass Arrest in West Papua on May, 2nd
3 May 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Monday, (02/05/2016), Papua Police arrested protesters including West Papua National Committee (KNPB) members, student activists and Papuan pro-independence supporters.
The activists were held in several places, including Jayapura, Sentani, Merauke, Manokwari, Timika and Sorong.
In Jayapura Municipality, the police detained activists who were protesting in seven locations.
The Secretary General of the Central West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Oneh Suhuniap said the arrest was initially occurred on Monday, 2 May 2016 at 09:00 Papua time in front of the Campus Gate of Cenderawasih University, Perumnas 3 Waena. Jayapura Municipal Police have detained 178 activists consisting of the students of University of Cenderawasih, KNPB activists and Papuan supporters.
In this detention, the First Chairman of Central KNPB Agus Kossay, First Secretary of Central KNPB Mecky Yeimo, KNBP Spokesperson Bazoka Logo and Deputy Chairman of West Papua National Parliament (PNWP) of Ha Anim Region Eliaser Anggainom were also arrested.
Initially at 07:00 Papua time, Agus Kossay and the protesters walked through the circle of the Perumnas III Waena. At 08:00 Papua time, the crowed arrived in front of the campus gate of the University of Cenderawasih but the Police have waited the crowd.
“In a half hour, at 09:00 Papua time, the Police conducted an arrest against some student and KNPB activists as well as the mass supporters. In this detaintion, the Police have seized a number of KNPB flags, 181 cellphones and banners,” said Ones Suhaniap to Jubi.
Additionally, about two hundreds were arrested at Lingkaran Abepura. And the third detention was occurred at 10:30 Papua time. The Police seized a number of KNPB flags, pamphlets, megaphone, cellphones and other attributes.
He explained, at 06:00 Papua time, the crowd has been gathered at Mimika Student Dormitory in Abepura sector. The preparation was done from 06:00 to 08:00 Papua time before they walked from the gathering point at 08:30 Papua time and prayed at the Secretariat of Abepura Sector. At 08:40 Papua time, the crowd walked through the gathering mass point at Lingkaran Abepura led by the Area Coordinator Dolia Ubruangge and Deputy Area Coordinator Lacar Sama. The mass has already been gathered at Lingkaran Abepura at 08:30.
“At 09:00 Papua time, the protesters led by Ubruangeg and Sama did the political orations. After a half and an hour, at 10:30 Papua time, the Police came to arrests the protesters. About two hundreds activists were taken by four police trucks towards the Mobile Brigader Headquarters in Kotaraja,” he said.
In the same day, 203 activists were detained at Den Zipur Waena. People have already gathered at the KNPB Expo Sector at 07:30 Papua time. For five hours, the crowd was gathered at Expo Square, Waena. They walked from the Expo Sector Secretariat at 10:00 towards Abepura to join the mass protesters in the campus gate of the University of Cenderawasih Abepura. But the Police have blockaded the road, so the crowd turned to walk behind the Mega Supermarket towards Den Zipur.
At 11:20 Papua time, the Police blockaded the crowd at Zipur Waena. The mass tried to conduct negation with the Police, but failed. The Police did not allow them to go to Abepura. 203 activists were arrested then at 11:30 Papua time. The Police got them in 3 police’s truck and brought them to Mobile Brigade Headquarters in Kotaraja. They remained not being released until now.
Suhuniap added 50 KNPB activists and students have been arrested at Waena traffic light. The second mass rally was occurred from Puncak Jaya Women Dormitory, Yahukimo Student Dormitory and Paniai Student Dormitory. They conducted a rally to Abepura to join the first crowd. The Police banned the protesters and arrested them, brought them into the Police truck to the Mobile Brigade Headquarters in Kotaraja. Some students who gathered at the campus of the University of Cenderawasih in Abepura were also been arrested by the Police and took to the Mobile Brigade Headquarters.
Then, 115 people were arrested at the bus halt, Yapis Dok V, Jayapura City. The crowd led by the First Chairman of KNPB Numbay Jimmi Browai was detained and took to the Jayapura Municipal Police in two Police’s trucks.
“So, in total about 1.449 people were arrested in Jayapura City within the day,” he said. In addition, a number of 27 KNPB Sorong Raya activists have been arrested when conducting a rally in UKIP Malanu, Sorong City on Monday (2/5/2016) at 08:00 Papua time. The Police and Military Joint Force disbanded the crowd. Now they are detained at Sorong Municipal Police Headquarters.
The Chairman of KNPB Sentani Alen Halitopo said 6 activists were arrested in Sentani at 08:00 Papua time. The arrest was occurred when people were gathered at Pos 7 Street.
“Without negotiation, they were arrested and took to Jayapura Regional Police Headquarters at Doyo Baru Sentani. Besides the detention, a number of mass attributes were seized by the Police,” said Halitopo.
As many as 200 KNPB activists were arrested by Merauke Police in the peace rally at Tugu Pepera Merauke. The Military and Police Joint Force has blockaded the mass led by the Chairman of Merauke KNPB Gento Doop and First Secretary Charles Sraun and forcedly disbanded them. After dispersing the crowd, the Police took the activists into 5 Police trucks and brought them to the Police Headquarters. led by the Chairman of Merauke KNPB Gento Doop and First Secretary Charles Sraun
Some KNPB in Baliem Region were also conducted a rally at the Secretariat of KNPB Baliem Wamena. The Police reportedly arrested them but the number is still not being confirmed. “The total of today arrest, Monday (02/05/2016) in Papua is 1.692 activists. It is the recent data reported from Merauke, Jayapura, Sorong and Sentani,” said Ones Suhuniap.
Peace rally organized by KNPB is express the support on the International Parliamentarian for West Papua (IPWP) conference and support to ULMWP to be accepted as the full member in the Melanesia Spearhead Groups. The rally, according to, Papua Police Spokesperson Senior Police Commissionaire Patrige Renwarin has not obtained license from the Police. “It’s already clear. Papua Police Chief has firmly said this organization is not listed. There is no permit for demonstration. If they insisted to do that, they would be disbanded. Moreover this demonstration was against the State sovereignty and it can not be justified,” he said. (Abeth You/rom
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7) West Papuan demonstrations on the rise
Despite mass arrests by Indonesian police, West Papuans are likely to hold more public mobilisations in support of aspirations for self-determination.
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- 8) People in Border Areas Must Go to Vanimo for Health Care
- Vanimo Jayapura, Jubi – Icelina Mabel from Moso Village of Muara Tami Sub-district, Jayapura, complained that the local health center (Pustu Moso) operates only once a week.
“Health workers come to the Pustu Moso once a week to measure babies, give medical check-up for local people but do not give medication or referrals to patients with serious illness. Doctors also rarely come,” Icelina Mabel told Jubi at Moso Village on Monday (2/5/2016).
Patients often don’t know where to go, she said.
“Finally we are forced to go downhill (to Vanimo Hospital),” she said.
Moso Village is located on the PNG-Indonesia border.
Meanwhile, another villager, Wilem, urged health staffers to come every day, so they can hear the locals complaints.
“People also need socialization and counseling on health issues,” he said.
Earlier Jubi reported that the Health Ministry has disbursed Rp 1.4 trillion for financing the community health services in Papua at regional and municipal levels.
“Within this year, the budget for health from the Central Government, namely the Health Ministry, is Rp 1.4 trillion not Rp 1.3 trillion as previously published. The budget is allocated from the Special Allocation Budget (DAK) of the Health Ministry. It would be allocated for the public health community insurance in Papua Province,” Head of Papua Provincial Health Office Aloysius Giyai in Jayapura on Saturday (13/2/2016). (Roy Ratumakin/rom)
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