1) Nafuki disappointed with MSG Leaders

2) The LP3BH- Manokwari (Institute of Research, Investigation and
Development of Legal Aid hereby wishes to report on the Situation in
West Papua throughout 2016

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http://dailypost.vu/news/nafuki-disappointed-with-msg-leaders/article_47ff73cf-1b59-534c-b833-5ea402b2b6f2.html

1) Nafuki disappointed with MSG Leaders

• By Len Garae
 
• Dec 31, 2016

The Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Organisation, Pastor Allan Nafuki, has expressed utter disappointment at leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group for not fulfilling their promise to push through

West Papua’s application to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group this year.

On the other hand he wishes to be placed on record as congratulating Prime Minister Charlot Salwai for standing his ground and proclaiming Vanuatu’s unchangeable position on West Papua to 50 West Papuan leaders in his Office last week, for the Melanesian country to be allowed its God-given freedom to decide its destiny by itself.

In an exclusive interview with the Chairman of the MSG Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in Port Vila last week, Milner Tozaka said their Meeting did not deal with Indonesia’s Associate Membership of MSG or West Papua’s Observer Status of the same organization.

Instead he said the meeting proposed new guidelines or recommendations to qualify an applicant to become a member of MSG.

The new guidelines will be considered by the MSG Prime Ministers early next month most probably in Papua New Guinea.

But Chairman Nafuki said the meeting should be held in Vanuatu, saying the MSG Leaders have been making promises which they seem not ready to keep.

“The leaders and people of West Papua have completed weaving the mat for the MSG Leaders to sit on to approve their application for full membership of MSG,” Chairman Nafuki said.

“They have been struggling for 50 years for their freedom, so please MSG Prime Ministers, give the people of Melanesia in West Papua what they are dying for, over 500,000 have already been killed since 1969 for a simple request – to be allowed to enjoy the same freedom that you and I are taking for granted.”

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via regwestpapua list

2) The LP3BH- Manokwari (Institute of Research, Investigation and
Development of Legal Aid hereby wishes to report on the Situation in
West Papua throughout 2016

The LP3BH- Manokwari (Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid hereby wishes to report on the Situation in

West Papua throughout 2016 paying special attention to several important and critical events, especially regarding human rights

violations.

 

  We would like to report  that during the past year, the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has make a few positive moves during

the course of the year with regard to resolving the violation of human rights in accordance with his stated intention when becoming the

president that he would take action regarding the situation in West Papua. We Recognise that his intention is to take some positive moves

regarding the violation of human rights in West Papua.. Clearly his intention was to restore the confidence of the Papuan people in the

intentions of the government of the Republic of Indonesia. This is indeed in accordance with Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for the

Province of West Papua as amended by Law 35/2008.

 

   There have indeed been some moves to allow access for foreign journalists to visit the Land of Papua but unfortunately, this was not

followed up by the introduction of specific regulations. This has meant that it has not been possible for foreign journalists to carry

out free and impartial investigations to make known the actual situation in the Land of Papua. The fact is that foreign journalists

have been unable to freely investigate the situation and report their findings in the Land of Papua and throughout the world. This applies

also to the granting of amnesty to political prisoners who have been tried as well as those who have not been convicted.

 

   The LP3BH wishes to report that the violation of basic human rights continue to occur at a significant level. This applies to the

freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly. Th fact is that the security approach is still widely used whenever the Papuan people

organise peaceful demonstrations to give expression to their views that may conflict with the views of those in power, when they call for

the right to self-determination. Up to the end of 2016, 8,000 Papuans were arrested, mal-treated or tortured simply for giving expression

peacefully to their political views. This has occurred in a number of cities in the Land of Papua, including Jayapura, Wamena, Merauke,

Sorong and Fakfak. This means that the human rights situation in Papua is at a critical stage with regard to the right to freedom of

expression and assembly.all of which have been seriously restricted for the past ten years.by the security forces using acts of violence

in violation of the principles of democracy in accordance with the

provisions of Laws 106 and 110.

 

   The LP3BH also states that no acts for the promotion of justice have been taken by the TNI (Army of Indonesia) or the police force

wich use acts of violence in the Land of Papua..   Furthermore, the Government of Indonesia has shown no serious

intention to give its support to resolve the serious cases of human rights abuses in the Land of Papua such as Wasior (2001), Wamena

(2003), Paniai (2014) It is extremely important for the government and in particular President Jokowi to resolve these cases in accordance

with the provisions of Law No 26/2000 on Human Rights and the Law on Human Rights Courts. It is very necessary for the President to issue

legal provisions to put an end to actions that violate human rights that have been going on for the past fifty years.The security forces

should also be ordered to stop attaching the label separatist to peaceful actions that are always used by the security forces when the

Papuan people call for dialogue as the way to resolve the difference of opinions democratically while upholding basic human rights.

 

  The LP£BH calls upon the government under President Jokowi to de-militarise the situation the Land of Papua and put an end to the

security approach and to handle the situation in West Papua by peaceful means and dialogue.The cases of Wasior, Wamena Paniai as well

as Sangga-Manokwari should be on the agenda of the President in 2017.in accordance with the laws in force.

 

  The LP3BH together with the civilian and traditional forces are preparing to take legal action regarding the above-mentioned four

cases onto the international arena if the government fails to show a clear commitment to resolve those cases.

 Peace.

Yan Christian Warrinussy,Executive- Director of the LP3BH

Translated by Carmel Budiardjo, recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, 1995

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