Australia
West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO
Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088
Summary
of events in West Papua for October -6 Nov. 2017
Trouble at the
mine
A number of shooting incidents occurred in the
Tembagapura area between 21st and 29 October. Freeport vehicles were
shot at, clashes occurred between the security forces and an armed group,
leaving one security force member dead and a number injured. The police have
referred to the attackers, as either OPM, an armed group or a separatist group.
The police believe the group is lead by Sabinus Waker. Police believe that
Sabinus and his men are responsible for the incidents and the group
reportedly consists of 20 people.
On Saturday morning the 21 October, an armed group opened
fire on two Freeport vehicles
in Tembagapura. The driver of one of the cars received minor injuries. On Saturday afternoon two Brimob members were also injured during a firefight with an
armed group in Utikini village in Tembagapura district.
The clash took place as Brimob personnel led by First
Inspector Taufik chased after the group that had shot at the two Freeport
vehicles on Saturday morning. The two
personnel were taken to Tembagapura Hospital. Although stable they were moved to Jakarta for a more intensive treatment
in Kramat Jati Police Hospital.
On Sunday, 22 October, First Brigadier
Berry Pramana Putra from the mobile brigade corps was shot dead at Utikini
Bridge in Tembagapura District.
On early Monday morning when the police
attempted to retrieve the body of Putra, the armed group resumed its attack and
injuring four police.
On Tuesday, the group attacked a vehicle of Tembagapura Hospitals medical team that was carrying a post-natal patient in Utikini Village. The patient Serina Kobogau was shot in her right thigh.
According to Antara News (25 Oct.), during
the sweeping operation in pursuit of the armed group, the police managed to
take over the groups base camp and other camps around the Utikini hills in
Tembagapura. The police have also found handmade weapons, a walkie-talkie, and
some other equipment.
On Wednesday 25 October, an armed group attacked a patrol vehicle at the 60-mile mark on an
access road to PT Freeport Indonesia’s mine in Tembagapura, Mimika District.
Nobody was injured.
On Sunday 29 October the Brimob post in the
MP66 area of Freeport at Tembagapura was shot at by a group of unknown people.
"Our members were being shot at from an altitude from the left side from
mile 68," said Police Chief Commissioner AM Kamal, Head of Public
Relations at Papua Police”, Kamal said the members of Brimob had returned fire.
RNZI reported (24 Oct.), that Community leaders
in the village of Utikini said a house was burned to the ground by the
Indonesian Military Police.
Utikini
Village in Tembagapura Photo: supplied
The leaders said that on Saturday police
came to the village and set fire to the house, which was destroyed, along with
livestock. The leaders, Tambua Wakerkwa and Yulianus Tabuni, said their people
were now living in fear. They have called upon the Indonesian president Joko
Widodo to command the military to stop harassing them.
The leaders claim the incident was sparked
by the shooting of a car belonging to the PT Freeport mining company. But they
said none of their people were involved in the shooting.
Antara News (30 Oct.) reported that police have
increased the alert security status in Tembagapura District of Papua Province. "We
hope that the security condition in Tembagapura could be returned to normal
soon," the Head of Papua Regional Police Inspector General Boy Rafli
stated here on Monday. The police have been implementing the alert security status since last Sunday,
after the increase in security disturbances in the region.
A recent article on Freeport by John MeBeth (November 2) “Freeport under multiple guns in Indonesia”
at http://www.atimes.com/article/freeport-multiple-guns-indonesia/
Five
kiosks owned by local people in Kampung Utikini, Mimika, Papua, were set ablaze
by an armed group at 2 a.m. on Sunday. There were no casualties in the
incident. (Courtesy of Papua Police/file)
Armed group set kiosks on fire in Papua
Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post
Jayapura, Papua | Sun, November 5, 2017
Civilians
were reportedly on the receiving end of attacks by armed assailants who set
kiosks on fire following attacks against security personnel around a mining
area operated by PT Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura, Mimika regency, Papua.
“Five
kiosks owned by local people in Kampung Utikini were set ablaze by an armed
group at 2 a.m. on Sunday,” Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Cmr. Victor D Mackbon
told journalists on Sunday. There were no casualties as the owners had not been
in theirs kiosks at that time, he added. The arsons occurred just some 100
meters from the Tembagapura Police dormitory. The owners had left the scene on
Oct. 24 following shots fired at an ambulance carrying a patient, a doctor and
nurses from Utikini to Tembagapura Hospital, Victor said. He added that, before the kiosks were set ablaze, an unidentified
gunman had been seen crossing the street to the location, and not long after
that the fire started. A fire exchange reportedly took place between the
assailants and members of the Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) during the
blaze. Papua Police spokesman Sr. Cmr. AM Kamal said armed people had also
opened fire on vehicles belonging to PT Freeport in the area between Mile 69
and Ridge Camp, hitting a windshield and a door. Only bulletproof vehicles pass
the route after the incident. A Brimob officer died in an exchange of fire with armed
assailants, also in Utikini, in late October, amid escalated attacks in the
mining area. (rin)
JK: Separatist Movement Not Accepted in Papua
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
JAKARTA, NETRALNEWS.COM - Vice President
Jusuf "JK" Kalla insists the separatist movement is not accepted in
Papua because the region is part of the Unitary State of the Republic of
Indonesia (NKRI). The statement was delivered by JK at the Vice Presidential
Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/31/2017), related to the terror acts committed by
the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) in Tembagapura, Mimika, Papua, for the last few
days after the shooting of Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Post in the areas of
MP67 and MP66 Tembagapura on Sunday (10/29) at around 10:35 am, Eastern
Indonesian Time (WIT). "Separatist movement, of course, it tries to
disrupt the situation, but the government's preparations in Papua, both police
and soldiers, ready to face anything if anyone tried to interfere," the
vice president said. JK added the government will not stop doing development in
Papua for evenly distributing welfare in all areas of Indonesia. During
the three years of Jokowi-JK's administration, the central government has made
efforts to improve the welfare of Papuan communities, including the
implementation of one price fuel for Papua since October 2016 and the
acceleration of the Trans-Papua National Road along 4,330.07 kilometers. Based
on the statement by Head of Public Relation Division of Papua Regional Police
Senior Commissioner AM Kamal, the joint personnel of Brimob and Indonesian
Armed Forces (TNI) are still on alert in the Brimob Post area of Tembagapura,
Mimika, after the KKB attack on Sunday (10/29). He
added the joint forces are also still pursuing the perpetrators of the Brimob
Post shootings in the areas of MP67 and MP66 Tembagapura on Sunday at around
10:35 am.
Opposition SODELPA disappointed by UN decision
TALEBULA KATE October
04, 2017
ALMOST all the nations
in the Melanesian group in the Pacific support the freedom of West Papua except
Fiji whose governments position on indigenous rights have never been strong
given the blatant disregard of the same at home in Fiji. Opposition leader Ro
Teimumu Kepa made the comment in a statement expressing the disappointment of
the Opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party at the decision by the United
Nations to reject a petition by the people of West Papua. Ro Teimumu
further deplored the move by Fiji on a Melanesian entity like West Papua to
abandon and betray the will of the people of West Papua and support Indonesia
in return for the tacit support it is getting in aid from the oppressors of
West Papua. "We would like it to be known that the rejection of the
petition to free West Papua by the United Nations is in no way going to
diminish our will to support and agitate for the freedom of the West Papuan
people. We stand by them as do the rest of the Pacific States," Ro Teimumu
said.
MPs joining Vanua'aku Pati seen as good for
Papua
RNZI 18 Oct. 2017
Two
members of parliament from Vanuatu's opposition have joined a government party
in a move described as being good for West Papua. The Daily Post reporeds
that two Sanma Province MPs, Hosea Nevu and Marc Ati, have both left the
People's Progress Party. The leader of the
Vanua'aku Pati, Joe Natuman, welcomed the pair into the country's oldest
political party at a kava ceremony in Port Vila. It meant the party now has eight MPs, making it the biggest party in
the coalition government led by Charlot Salwai.
Mr Natuman, who is
the Deputy Prime Minister, said the move by the two MPs would help mitigate
efforts to undermine Vanuatu's interests on West Papua.
He was referring to
moves by the People's Progress Party leader Sato Kilman in forging closer ties
with Indonesia, in spite of his country's long-running support for West Papuan
independence. According to Mr Natuman, Mr Kilman's previous actions when in
government, including supporting Indonesia's entry to the Melanesian Spearhead
Group, were not good for Papua. Mr Kilman recently told RNZ Pacific that
in his view the best way to address human rights issues in West Papua was to
maintain dialogue with Jakarta. However he criticised Mr Salwai's government
for being inconsistent on foreign policy issues.
Indonesia accepts Pacific's right to raise
West Papua concern
RNZI October 2017
Indonesia's
foreign minister says it is the right of Pacific Island countries to raise
issues about West Papua in international fora.
According to Antara news agency, Retno Marsudi said Indonesia
also had the right to explain. This comes after last month's fiery response by
Indonesia to speeches by some Pacific governments at the United Nations General
Assembly. Prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon
Islands called for an investigation into killings and various alleged human
rights abuses against West Papuans by Indonesian security forces. In response,
Indonesia's representative accused the countries of being manipulated by
Papuans with separatist agendas to exploit the issue of human rights.
A month on, Ms Marsudi said that in the UN
all countries were given freedom to express their thoughts. But she emphasised
that Jakarta was pursuing a comprehensive development programme in Papua to
improve living standards. The minister also noted that the Pacific
Islands region was an area of key interest in her country's foreign policy and
diplomacy. "At every annual statement of the Foreign Ministry, we
emphasise that the South Pacific region is one of Indonesia's foreign policy
concerns." She said that during the last three years, Indonesia's presence
and role in the region were evident in the main representative forums such as
the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Island Forum. "In addition,
when the South Pacific countries were affected by a disaster, Indonesia was one
of the countries that sent aid," she said.
South Pacific among Indonesia`s foreign
policy priorities
26 Oct 2017 Jakarta (ANTARA News) -
Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said that Indonesias foreign policy and
diplomacy will always pay attention to countries in the South Pacific region. "At
every annual statement of the Foreign Ministry, we emphasize that the South
Pacific region is one of Indonesias foreign policy concerns," Foreign
Minister Retno Marsudi said here on Thursday.
According to Marsudi, during the last three years, Indonesias presence and role were evident in all forums in the South Pacific region, such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).
"In addition, when the South Pacific countries were affected by a disaster, Indonesia was one of the countries that sent aid," she remarked. In relation to several South Pacific countries that addressed human rights issues in Papua at the UN General Assembly session, Marsudi revealed that it was the right of those countries to convey such issues, and Indonesia was also entitled to submit an explanation. "In the general assembly of the United Nations, all countries are given freedom to express their thoughts. Some countries in the South Pacific conveyed the issue of Papua, it is their right. We too have the right to explain," she pointed out. "At the UN forums, we discussed the comprehensive development in Papua," she concluded. (*)
According to Marsudi, during the last three years, Indonesias presence and role were evident in all forums in the South Pacific region, such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).
"In addition, when the South Pacific countries were affected by a disaster, Indonesia was one of the countries that sent aid," she remarked. In relation to several South Pacific countries that addressed human rights issues in Papua at the UN General Assembly session, Marsudi revealed that it was the right of those countries to convey such issues, and Indonesia was also entitled to submit an explanation. "In the general assembly of the United Nations, all countries are given freedom to express their thoughts. Some countries in the South Pacific conveyed the issue of Papua, it is their right. We too have the right to explain," she pointed out. "At the UN forums, we discussed the comprehensive development in Papua," she concluded. (*)
Papuan Liberation Movement appeals to NZ's
Ardern
RNZI 27 Oct. 2017
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it hopes New
Zealand's new prime minister will take up the issue of Papuan
self-determination.
Jacinda Ardern is sworn in as Prime Minister of New
Zealand. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah
Parsons-King
The
Movement's Secretary-General, Octo Mote, has written a congratulation letter to
Jacinda Ardern on forming New Zealand's new government.
In it he
said Papuans were humbled by Jacinda Ardern's stated commitment to having a
government "driven by principle not expediency and opportunity, not fear".
He said they looked forward to such "messaging on important matters"
in the region in as far as the decolonisation of the Pacific was concerned. New Zealand
governments have consistently supported Indonesia's territorial claim to West
Papua. But Mr Mote hoped the prime minster could revisit attempts made by the
last Labour-led government to facilitate dialogue between West Papuans and
Indonesia. These attempts were rebuffed by Jakarta.
Regional decolonisation
Mr Mote
said that in Ms Ardern's coming term as prime minister the Pacific region would
address several outstanding issues of decolonisation.
He cited
pending independence referendums due in both the French territory of New
Caledonia, before the end of 2018, and Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of
Bougainville in 2019, alongside increasing diplomatic efforts by West Papuans
to finally gain their freedom after a half-century under Indonesian rule.
"Our
hope is that Aotearoa New Zealand will stand by its principles and ensure that
the preparations for and the outcomes of these two referendums are transparent
and fair," he said. "The people of West Papua also hope that Aotearoa
New Zealand will add its important voice to the growing number of countries of
the Pacific region and elsewhere calling for an immediate cessation of human
rights violations against us and for the United Nations General Assembly to
take up the issue of West Papua's long-denied act of political
self-determination," wrote Mr Mote.
He pointed
out that West Papuans now have greater representation under the Liberation
Movement at regional organisations such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group and
the Pacific Islands Forum, and also recognition by countries in the Caribbean
and in Africa. "The time may be right for another attempt at
dialogue," he explained. "We believe that Aotearoa New Zealand is a
nation seeking to right the wrongs of great historical injustice. West Papua is
clearly such a case.”
One of the
Labour-led government's senior MPs, David Parker, who is now Attorney-General,
spoke about the party's policy on West Papua early last month. "When Labour becomes the
Government we will take the opportunity to review the policy with regard to
West Papua, with a view to exploring a greater degree of autonomy for the
people of West Papua in line with the wishes of the people," said Mr
Parker. One of Labour's two main coalition
partners, the Green party, supports the Westminster Declaration for a Free West
Papua, which was signed in the New Zealand Parliament in May this year by
eleven MPs from four different parties. The
Greens leader, James Shaw, last month said his party would take every
opportunity to advocate for and support a peace dialogue between Indonesia and
the West Papua coalition of leaders the United Liberation Movement for West
Papua. He pledged to also urge Indonesia
"to cease state sanctioned human rights abuses and the imprisonment and
torture of political activists” The party
has a long history of support for West Papuan human rights and
self-determination, with the new generation of Green MPs carrying on the work
of former MPs Keith Locke and Catherine Delahunty. "We take this opportunity to thank
you most kindly for your unwavering support towards the struggle for self
-determination of our people of West Papua," said Mr Mote in a separate
letter to James Shaw. What's less
clear is the policy regarding West Papua of the other major coalition partner,
New Zealand First. No information about West Papua is available on the party's
website. However New
Zealand First's leader Winston Peters has been appointed Foreign Affairs
minister, a role he had in the previous Labour-led coalition government. During
that stint in the role, Mr Peters did not veer into action on West Papua.
But among
his parties' 15 core principles is the aim to be a "reliable neighbour in
our region”.
KontraS: 138
Cases of Human Rights Violation Conducted by TNI
WEDNESDAY, 04 OCTOBER, 2017
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission for
Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) recorded 138 cases of
violence and human rights violation involving the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) occurred throughout 2016 to 2017. Based on the data,
KontraS Deputy Coordinator Puri Kencana Putri said that 15 people were dead,
124 injured, 63 were wrongfully detained, and 61 people endured other forms of
losses. Puri said that most of the
violations happened during the year were 65 cases of abuse and 38 cases of
intimidation. It occurred in North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and East Java. Puri
also revealed that there has been a drop in the number of violence and human rights
violation since September 2016 up to August 2017. However, she presumes that
the drop is caused by the victims that are afraid to report their cases to the
authorities, or that it took place in rural regions that are far from law
enforcement offices. “The current trend is that victims will be handed
financial compensation as an attempt to make them silent, even though [these
practices] do not satisfy the victims,” said the KontraS Deputy Coordinator. SAIFULLAH S.
CHRISTIAN COUNCIL: THE PRESENCE OF UMAR THALIB IN
PAPUA IS DISTURBING
Admin Oct 05, 2017
Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the
Indonesian Christian Council (MUKI) of Jayapura City, Dedi Patywael, said that
the presence of Jafar Umar Thalib in Papua, especially in Jayapura city is very
disturbing, related that the City as a barometer of religious life need to be
maintained. “We have several times asked local government together with other
organizations to ban Jafar Umar Thalib,” said Dedi Tuesday (October 3). Dedi
had also asked security forces such as TNI and Polri to take immediate action.
“We know how is Jafar Umar Thalib track record not only involved in Poso riots
and Ambon tragedy but also some conflicts in the country,” explained Dedi. He
said the government should be selective in giving permit to Islamic religious
(Pesantren) school development in Papua. “We must be absolutely clear that we
are not negligent and experiencing friction between religious people,” he said.
Previously, support the call representatives of Ilalang, Papua, La Hardin also
said that Jafar Umar Thalib supporters had clashed with Koya residents. But now
they have moved to Keerom and build a semi-permanent pesantren. “The clashed
was in 2015, they are now moving back to Keerom,” said Hardin. According to him
Pemkab Keerom has issued three warning letter related to the building permit of
pesantren, burt he did not respond. “The third letter is given as an ultimatum
to immediately emptying the land and the buildings constructed by Jafar Umar
Thalib,” he said.(tabloidjubi.com/Zely
Ariane)
Report from Free West Papua Campaign
Attacks, disappearances and killings by
unknown persons are now part of daily life for West Papuans
October 17, 2017
The statement below has been written by
West Papuan Independence Leader Benny Wenda, following a spate of brutal human
rights violations committed towards West Papuan people this month. This month, several West Papuan people,
particularly activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) have been
intimidated, attacked and killed by the Indonesian police and so called
“unknown persons”.
On 14th October, in Port Numbay
(Jayapura), 19 year old West Papuan activist Alex Sambom from the KNPB went
missing and the next day was found dead. He had been stripped naked and
brutally murdered. It is believed that he was beaten to death with wood.
On 16th October, also in Port Numbay,
West Papuan student activist Rosalina Fonataba was attacked in a hit and run
attack by suspected members of the Indonesian police. She suffered wounds on
her hands and feet and it is believed she was targeted after uploading photos
with the West Papuan flag on social media.
On 16th October, in Dogiyai, West Papuan
man Petrus Iyai was brutally beaten until bloodied by the Indonesian police
mobile brigade (BRIMOB), for demanding his rightful pay after dropping off 2
passengers at Moanemani airport.
On 8th October, in Sorong, Indonesian
police confiscated 4 West Papuan traditional bilum bags with the West Papuan
flag on them. When asked why, they replied, “Because it’s terrible and
violates the law”.
On 4th October and 16th October,
West Papuan students studying in Indonesia were terrorised by the Indonesian
police as their student dormitories in Manado and Tomohon were been searched
and raided by the Indonesian police. There have also been many other cases of
intimidation, harassment, torture and killings against West Papuan people in
recent weeks. full report at
Item MOTIONS - West Papua
Senate on 19/10/2017
Speaker : Di Natale, Sen Richard
Rockin’ for West Papua Peace Concerts held around the world!
OCTOBER 12, 2017
Following the
success of the West Papuan People’s Petition being delivered to the United
Nations, this month, the world was once again rocked by the Rockin’
for West Papua Global Peace Concerts!
In a truly historic event, scores of bands,
musicians and artists collaborated together in 5 different countries to use
their talents to shine a light on the genocide and freedom struggle in occupied
West Papua. The concerts raised vital awareness, support and funds for West
Papua and proved once again that #MUSICISAWEAPON.
Opinon
pieces/reports/press releases etc.
Head of the Auyu
people: We’re ready to die for out land and ancestral forest
If the ANJ group wants
a sustainable image, why is it clearing forest and creating conflict?? HTTPS://AWASMIFEE.POTAGER.ORG/?P=1554
US Telegram Reveals
Brutality of 1965 Indonesian Papua Massacre
Attacks,
disappearances and killings by unknown persons are now part of daily life for
West Papuans https://www.freewestpapua.org/2017/10/17/attacks-disappearances-and-killings-by-unknown-persons-are-now-part-of-daily-life-for-west-papuans/
Indonesia’s
West Papua Headache Continues
The Question Of West
Papuan Independence – Analysis
West Papua petition:
Australia made a human rights promise that's about to be tested http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-09/west-papua-petition-australias-promise-about-to-be-tested/9025206
Military
ambitions shake Indonesia’s politics
Grasberg mine’s riches
still a distant glitter for Papuan communities
Indonesia’s big development
push in Papua: Q&A with program overseer Judith J. Dipodiputro https://news.mongabay.com/2017/10/indonesias-big-development-push-in-papua-qa-with-program-overseer-judith-j-dipodiputro/
INDONESIA: Indonesian Government irresponsibly
denies human rights violations in Papua http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-128-2017
Summary of events in
West Papua for September 2017
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2017/10/australia-west-papua-association-sydney.html
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