Disclaimer: Please note that these papers present the views of the civil society representatives that participated in the Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
2016 Regional Civil Society Organization Forum Position Papers on Regional Policy initiatives
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN WEST PAPUA
Concern about Human Rights violations
Decades of conflict and ongoing human rights violations in West Papua by Indonesian military – termed “the neglected genocide’ by the International Coalition for Papua (ICP)1 poses a threat to regional security, undermines regional cooperation and casts doubt to the realisation of the Leaders vision and attainment of the regional norm for observance of human rights. The 2015 ICP report shows deterioration in the human rights situation in West Papua.
The United liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in 20152 stated that West Papua is on the brink of destruction. Conflicts and violence continue to escalate. For the 7years 2008-2015, ULMWP gathered data showing how Papuans are abused, tortured, raped, attacked, arrested, incarcerated even murdered.
The most recent report on Human Rights Fact Finding Mission to West Papua by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in May 2016 titled “We will lose everything” 3, spells out that the situation in West Papua is fast approaching a tipping point. . In less than five years, the position of Papuans in their own land will be worse than precarious.
Indonesia continues to deny these human rights violations but has refused to allow the PIF Fact Finding Mission. Pacific UN member States must now call for UN intervention. The call upon the UN to appoint a UN Special Representative to investigate human rights abuses in West Papua was made by the then Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Moana Carcasess Kalosil, at the UNGA in September 2013.4 This special mechanism is available under UN Human Rights Mechanisms.
Multi-national companies that operate in West Papua are important stakeholders to be brought into the picture, be engaged in dialogue. Corporations have significant social responsibilities for which they must be held accountable for by the global community. Unfair exploitation of natural resources that should rightly be under the stewardship of indigenous people’s is no longer acceptable and the CSO community urges governments and industries to work together to find solutions that work for all the communities
involved.
1 http://www.humanrightspapua.org/images/docs/NeglectedGenocideAHRC-ICP2013lowres.pdf 2 Haluk, M, Papuans on the brink of extinction, ULMWP, 2015.3 https://cjpcbrisbane.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/we-will-lose-everything-may-2016.pdf4 http://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/gastatements/68/VU_en.pdf
Disclaimer: Please note that these papers present the views of the civil society representatives that participated in the Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
2016 Regional Civil Society Organization Forum Position Papers on Regional Policy initiatives
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Call to Pacific Forum Leaders for Action
- Recalling that Leaders have in several previous Communiqués’, expressed deep concern on ongoing violence and loss of life in West Papua5. In 2006, Leaders expressed deep concern about ongoing violence and loss of life in West Papua, calling on all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of the people of West Papua and to support peaceful dialogue and consultation between the different groups involved in the struggle for a free West Papua.
- At their 46th PIF meeting in September 2015, Leaders recalled their 2006 decision concerning reports of violence in Papua and requested the Indonesian Government for a fact finding mission to Papua. Indonesia, a Post Forum dialogue Partner, has refuted claims of human rights violations and challenges PIF that this issue and their concern is outside its mandate.
- Taking into account articles 3 and 4 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights to Indigenous Peoples6, regarding the right to self-determination and UNGA Resolution 61/295 of 13 September 2007 stipulating that Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
- Recalling the Charter of the United Nations, its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960.
- Noting the Third International decade for the eradication of Decolonisation is 2011-2020,
- Noting the ambition of Agenda 2030 is to leave no one behind;
Pacific Civil Society Urge Leaders to:
- a) Actively engage with the Indonesian Government to halt the deteriorating human rights violations and
- b) Discuss with the UN Secretary-General at their annual meeting (Forum Update in New York on the margins of UNGA) to appoint a special envoy to conduct human rights assessment in West Papua.
- c) Sponsor the re-instatement of West Papua on the United Nations Committee for Decolonisation and enquire into past actions for its removal.
5 http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/2000%20Communique- Tarawa%2027-30%20Oct.pdf
6 UNGA Resolution 61/295
Disclaimer: Please note that these papers present the views of the civil society representatives that participated in the Regional Civil Society Organisation Forum and do not necessarily represent the views of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
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