Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Summary of events in West Papua (10 July - 9 Aug 2018)
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a number of urgent actions that people can respond to.
INDONESIA: Papuan human rights defender intimated and threatened by Yahukimo Regent’s campaign staff
July 18, 2018
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-040-2018
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the terror and intimidation experienced by Mr. Theo Hesegem, a Papuan human rights defender. Prior to this intimidation, Theo advocated against the Yahukimo Regent’s abuse ofpower in unlawfully dismissing 199 village heads. While this has been reported to the authorities, no action is being taken.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 25 June 2018, Mr. Theo Hesegem, a senior and credible human rights defender from Papua, was threatened and intimidated by the campaign team of the Regent of Yahukimo, Mr. Busop MA. According to Mr. Theo, the campaign team, a total of four people, came to Theo’s house. They came by two cars and parked in front of the house without any permission……….
INDONESIA: Police and government staff forcibly dispersed movie screening in Papuan students’ dormitory
July 20, 2018
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-042-2018
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-042-2018
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding intimidation, harassment and forced dispersal of a discussion and movie screening organized by Papuan students in their student dormitory in Surabaya, East Java province. The head of Tambaksari sub-district, along with the police, civil service police unit (satpol PP) and military personnel, forcibly dispersed the students from their discussion and movie screening. Moreover, without clear information or evidence, the students have been accused of causing public disharmony. The officials also unlawfully committed a sweeping operation, asking students to show their identity cards, without any official letter or order.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On Friday, 6 July 2018 at 6 p.m., Papuan students living in the student dormitory in Jalan Kalasan, Surabaya, East Java province organized a movie screening on the bloody tragedy in Biak Papua 1998 (Tragedi Biak Berdarah). However, since 3 p.m., some police officers seriously monitored the dormitory……….
INDONESIA: Military judges must effectively prosecute torture and death of Papuan man
July 24, 2018
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-005-2018
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a national human rights organization, regarding the case of torture and death of Mr. Isak Dewayekua (23), an indigenous Papuan. Army personnel of Yonif 755/Yalet unlawfully arrested and detained Isak and tortured him to death in Kimaam, Merauke Regency, Papua Province. The investigation has taken a long time with little progress. Moreover, the case submitted before the military court lacks all the facts and there are concerns at the low standards of justice applied by the military investigators and prosecutors.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
According to the information received by the AHRC, the trial into the death by torture of Isak is being held at the Military Court III-19, Jayapura. In the first hearing, the military prosecutors submitted the indictment of alleged torture committed by army personnel of Yonif 755/Yalet, First Sergeant La Dili Wance (Vice Commaner of Military Post of Kimaam Satgas Pamrahwan), Abiatar Harri Katoar and Fredrik Pattiasina (personnel at the Kimaam Military Post Kimaam Satgas Pamrahwan)…………………
INDONESIA: Military court III-19 Jayapura Papua must examine witnesses from victim’s family
July 31, 2018
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Update: AHRC-UAU-006-2018
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a national human rights organization, regarding the trial of Mr. Isak, who was tortured to death by military personnel. So far, the trial in the Military Court III-19, Jayapura, Papua has only examined testimony from police officers and military personnel as witnesses, failing to examine witnesses from the victim’s family. In particular, the victim’s two sisters must be heard, as they saw Mr. Isak’s injuries while he was in police custody. They are not able to attend the court hearings due to economic difficulties.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Based on the monitoring by KontraS, there have been five hearings in the trial of Mr. Isak Dewayekua, who was tortured to death by military personnel in the Military Court III-19 Jayapura, Papua with registration number 62-K/PM.III-19/AD/V/2018. The three military personnel suspected of torturing Mr. Isak to death are being prosecuted under Law No. 31 of 1997 on the Military Court…….
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAU-006-2018
Nduga regency
AWPA wrote to the Australian Foreign Minister concerning worrying events in the Nduga regency. There were a number of shooting incidents and as a result of these incidents extra security forces were deployed to the area to conduct a security operation to find those responsible for the shootings. Local people have reported that indicate that a police helicopter supporting the sweep was used to attack villages in the area. Large numbers of local people have fled because of the security operation. Up to 1000 security personnel were reported to be involved".
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/361944/traumatised-papuans-flee-conflict-in-nduga
A RNZ Pacific report
Traumatised Papuans flee conflict in Nduga
17 July 2018
Thousands of West Papuan villagers have reportedly fled from their homes in a remote regency due to conflict between Indonesian military forces and pro-independence fighters.
This follows a string of deaths in Nduga regency where Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army have exchanged gunfire in recent weeks.
AWPA media release and letter at
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2018/07/media-release-awpa-urges-julie-bishop.html
Human rights watch statement at
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363267/indonesian-influence-in-the-pacific-grows-despite-papua-disquiet
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Blacklisted
Belinda Lopez, a PhD candidate at Macquarie University in Australia, wrote on her Twitter account that she had flown to Indonesia for a holiday but had been told by officials at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali that she was “blacklisted” by Indonesian immigration authorities.“I've been refused entry to Bali and have been held in a room at Denpasar airport on a couch since midnight. I am told I can only board a flight at 10 p.m. tonight, so that means I’ll be detained for nearly 24 hours before I’m deported,” she posted on Twitter on Saturday morning. Belinda said she had visited Papua two years ago and that the immigration office refused to renew her visa over suspicion she was also doing journalism. She had been told at the time that she could return to Indonesia six months later.
Human rights watch statement at
Papuans protest over ‘Act of Free Choice’ in 13 cities in Indonesia
By Kustin Ayuwuragil and Ramadhan Rizki in Jakarta
Papuans have launched protest actions in 13 cities across Indonesia to demonstrate against the so-called “Act of Free Choice” that enabled Jakarta to take control of the Melanesian region. The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) organised the rallies in cities, including Jakarta, Bandung and Ambon. AMP spokesperson Surya Anta said that they were taking to the streets based on two principal issues related to West Papuan independence.
West Papuan students protest in Jakarta
West Papuan activists protest in Jakarta on Thursday. Source: AAP
Indonesian influence in the Pacific grows, despite Papua disquiet
A report by Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific Journalist
Indonesia's influence in the Pacific Islands is growing, but is shadowed by disquiet over its region of Papua, known widely as West Papua.
The West Papuan independence movement has significant traction in the region, where it continues to push for its self-determination aspirations to be addressed by the international community.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363267/indonesian-influence-in-the-pacific-grows-despite-papua-disquiet
NZ govt MP calls for West Papua issue to go to UN
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363121/nz-govt-mp-calls-for-west-papua-issue-to-go-to-un
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363121/nz-govt-mp-calls-for-west-papua-issue-to-go-to-un
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