Australia West Papua
Association (Sydney)
Media Release 8 July 2017
Up to 150 people reported
arrested in Nabire, West Papua
Hundreds of KNPB activists of the Nabire region were arrested and transported into truck Nabire Police in Bukit Meriam witnessed by a Papuan mama - (Jubi / ist) https://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-7564-tuntut-dua-rekannya-dibebaskan-ratusan-aktivis-knpb-nabire-ditangkap.html
AWPA
has written to the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the arrest
of approximately 150 West Papuan people including children in Nabire, West
Papua. The arrests occurred between the 30 June and the sixth of July.
Joe
Collins of AWPA said,
“It is pointless of governments to say Indonesia is now a democracy and
human rights abuses are a thing of the past. The ongoing arrests of peaceful
demonstrators prove otherwise”.
AWPA has urged the foreign minister (letter below) to use her good
offices with the Indonesian Government urging that all West Papuan activists,
human rights defenders and political prisoners be released.
Ends
———————————————————————————-
Background
Demanded two colleagues released, hundreds of activists KNPB Nabire arrested
———————
From Free West Papua campaign webpage
Around 150 West Papuan people in Nabire arrested, including children. Many tortured.
JULY 8, 2017 FULL REPORT AND PHOTOS AT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Hon Julie
Bishop MP
Minister for
Foreign Affairs
House of
Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT
2600
8 July 2017
Dear Foreign Minister,
I am
writing to you concerning the arrest of approximately 150 West Papuan people
including children in Nabire, West Papua. The arrests occurred between the 30
June and the sixth of July.
On
the 30th June a West Papuan activist Yanto
Waine went missing for 3 days and it emerged that he had been arrested on
Mulia Road in Nabire. It was his arrest that led to a chain of events
resulting in up to 150 people being arrested.
On
hearing of his arrest a peaceful demonstration was held on the 4 July calling
for the release of Yanto Waine. This resulted in another 31
people being arrested. Although Yanto Waine was released on the 6th
July approximately
150 people marched to the Indonesian police station in Nabire to call for the
release of the remaining detainees. However, it was reported they were also arrested.
The names of 104 people arrested have
been confirmed.
According to members of the West Papua National
Committee (KNPB), during the arrests people were kicked, punched, and beaten
with guns, and rattan canes.
Previous
arrests
On
the 1st May this year up to 200 people were
arrested by the Indonesian police in Sentani as they commemorated the tragic
event in their history when the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) handed the administration of West Papua to Indonesia
on the 1st May in 1963 and on the 31 May another 77 members of the
West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested in Merauke.
It is also 19 years since the Biak Massacre. On the 6 July in 1998 the Indonesian security
forces attacked peaceful demonstrators in Biak, massacring scores of
people. The victims included women and children. They were killed at the
base of a water tower in the town where the West Papuan people had raised their
national flag. Other Papuans were rounded up and later taken out to sea
where they were thrown off naval ships and drowned. No security force personal were ever charged over the
killings.
It is pointless to say Indonesia is now a democracy and human rights
abuses are a thing of the past. The ongoing arrests of peaceful demonstrators
prove otherwise.
We urge you to use your good offices with the Indonesian Government
urging that all West Papuan activists, human rights defenders and political
prisoners be released.
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
AWPA (Sydney)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.