2) Morning Star badge embroils West Papuan activist
3) The Free West Papua Campaign in 2017.
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1) Kontras demands solution on perceived persecution of civilians
Jakarta | Thu, January 4, 2018 | 07:28 pm
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has called on the government to speed up the legal process of two persecution cases allegedly committed by military and police officers against civilians in Maluku and Papua.
On Thursday, Kontras said it had assisted in the legal process of the cases involving La Gode in Taliabu, South Maluku, and Isak in Kimaam, Merauke in Papua. Both were reportedly tortured to death by security officers.
“In La Gode’s case, the police have named 10 people as suspects but they have not yet revealed who they are, whether they have been detained and which law they have been charged with,” said the commission’s coordinator, Yati Andriyani.
The activist further added that three members of the Yalet 755 Infantry Battalion had allegedly tortured Isak to death in November 2017 in Merauke, Papua. Kontras’ investigation revealed that the military had not taken immediate action to tackle the problem or named a suspect in the case.
“Instead, the military gave the victim’s family ‘condolence money’ to hold a funeral procession,” Yati said.
She added that the police, as a law enforcement institution, had also abandoned the case.
Yati raised concerns that the military and police officers in remote areas often failed to do their job of providing security and safety to people. She was disappointed that the personnel chose to hand out an amount of money to the victim’s family instead of taking full responsibility. (vla/ebf)
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2) Morning Star badge embroils West Papuan activist
31 minutes ago
A former West Papuan political prisoner has been interrogated by Indonesian security forces for wearing the Papua Morning Star symbol.
Filep Karma, the most prominent pro-independence Papuan to have been incarcerated in Indonesia, was held up for questioning by military and police officers at Jakarta's main airport.
It's two years since Filep Karma was released from prison after serving 11 years for treason for raising the banned Papuan nationalist flag, the Morning Star.
Flying in to Sukarno Hatta airport from Yogyakarta, Mr Karma caught the attention of a military, or TNI, officer due to the customary Morning Star badge he wears on his shirt.
He was taken in for questioning by the airport police squad, and interrogated about his activities.
While the national constitution allows citizens to express cultural identity, Indonesian authorities take a dim view of Papuans expressing aspirations for independence.
Filep Karma in 2015 Photo: Eben Kirksey
Mr Karma denied he was breaking the law by wearing a small symbol on his shirt.
He said the security officers tried to link him to armed elements of the Free West Papua movement, or OPM, but his credentials as a peaceful advocate for independence are well established.
At the time of Mr Karma's release from Papua's Abepura prison Indonesia's Political, Law and Security Minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, said the Papuan had been wrongly convicted of treason, or makar, which implies inciting armed revolt.
He had served 11 years of the 15-year sentence.
This week, security forces took Mr Karma in again briefly.
Released after almost three hours of questioning, Mr Karma revealed that officers had become aggressive to him, calling him a monkey.
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3) The Free West Papua Campaign in 2017.
JANUARY 4, 2018
As we say goodbye to a busy 2017 we would like to thank you all for your incredible support, and update you on the great progress you have helped us achieve.
Firstly, a huge congratulations to Benny Wenda, newly elected Chair of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). Elections took place on December 1st in Vanuatu at the ULMWP’s first major summit since forming three years ago. We would like to take this opportunity to offer our best wishes to Benny and the West Papuan leaders to continue to lead the West Papuan people to freedom…………………
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