2) The prosecutor sued three KNPB activists with a third alternative indictment
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1) West Papua Issue Raised in UK Parliament, but Follow-Up Is Unlikely
15 MAY 2019 Jarryd de Haan, Research Analyst, Indian Ocean Research Programme
Background
On 9 May, the House of Commons held its first ever debate on human rights in West Papua, specifically regarding the
right of self-determination. The debate was led by MP Robert Courts, who concluded by making two requests to the
UK Government. His first request was that the government place more diplomatic pressure on Indonesia to
honour its commitment to invite the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
to visit Papua. The second request was for the UK Government to push for increased press freedom in West Papua
and for the Foreign Secretary to utilise the newly-launched press freedom campaign to treat West Papua as a top priority.
All attending MPs showed strong support for these comments.
The Indonesian Embassy in London responded to the comments via Twitter, stating that the Indonesian
Government is committed to protecting human rights through prioritising the economic development of the
region, adding that recent election results showcase a high level of satisfaction from the Papuan people.
Comment
For some time, there have been elements of support for West Papua among MPs in Westminster. Perhaps the
most prominent figure in UK politics to recently show such support is the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy
Corbyn, who, in 2016, called for a UN-supervised independence vote. The official position of the UK Government,
however, is much more reserved. It is limited to raising its concerns about issues such as human rights and press
freedoms with the Indonesian Government. Those concerns arguably do not appear to be a top priority for
Whitehall in its relationship with Indonesia. A recent call between Prime Minister Theresa May and President
Joko Widodo, did not discuss concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua.
Despite the right for self-determination being at the heart of the recent debate, it is highly unlikely that the
UK will support an independence movement in Papua. As Mark Field, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific,
stated regarding the 1969 Act of Free Choice: ‘there is no desire in the international community for reopening
the question. The UK, along with other members of the UN, supports Indonesia’s territorial integrity.’
Consequently, with a lack of sustained international pressure, it is unlikely that the UK will take the initiative
o strongly pressure Indonesia to address human rights concerns in West Papua. It is also worth noting that the
Indonesian Government recently gave the green light for UK-based multinational oil and gas company BP,
to begin exporting LNG to Singapore from its Tangguh LNG project in West Papua.
Nevertheless, the recent debate does reflect growing awareness of the human rights issues in Papua and the
push for self-determination. As suggested in a recent Strategic Weekly Analysis, Indonesia’s approach to
Papua may need to change in the future if that momentum for self-determination continues to grow.
The current strategy of suppressing separatist elements, while at the same time promising economic benefits,
is unsustainable in the long-term.
To minimise the threat of independence in Papua, the options available to the Indonesian Government range
from heavier crackdowns on separatist elements, to improving standards of living and freedoms for all Papuans.
If the former approach is taken, greater international pressure on the Indonesian government could result,
which could prompt the UK Government to take a stronger stance on human rights concerns in West Papua.
Any opinions or views expressed in this paper are those of the individual author, unless stated to be those of
Future Directions International.
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
2) The prosecutor sued three KNPB activists with a third alternative indictment
Jubi May 15, 2019
Jayapura, Jubi - Criminal hearing for alleged treason cases against West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Activists Yanto Awerkion, Sem Asso, and Edo Dogopia with the agenda of reading the demands by the public prosecutors were held in the Timika City District Court, Tuesday afternoon (14/5 / 2019). The defendants were initially indicted for three alternative articles, namely first Article 106 of the Criminal Code jo Article 87 jo Article 88 of the Criminal Code concerning treason, second Article 110 paragraph (2) jo Article 88 of the Criminal Code concerning treason, and third Article 169 paragraph (1) and (3) The Criminal Code concerning involvement in associations that intend to commit a crime.
In the end the prosecutor only sued the defendants for the third alternative indictment, namely Article 169 paragraph (1) and (3) of the Criminal Code because they were administrators of associations that were considered to have committed crimes. The defendant Yanto was charged with one year in prison, Defendant Sem was charged with ten months in prison, while the defendant Edo was charged with eight months in prison. "For these demands, we welcome the use of the treason article in the prosecution, because it is evident from the fact that the testimony of the Defendants and witnesses was presented that there were no treason efforts carried out," Veronika Koman said through a release posted to Jubi, Tuesday (05/14/2019). Patris Wetipo from Lemasa who has been accompanying explained. The Papuans want the discussion service to be made treason even though the Papuan people do it according to the Law. And according to him the Freedom of Expression Act does not work in Papua. In fact, it tends to be silenced. Freedom to gather as if forbidden. There will be no more because to seek justice in the court played by this country. "The law in Papua is blunted above sharply below," explained Patris.
He also regretted the issue of freedom of assembly and argued that the KNPB as a peaceful organization was accused of being an association that intended to commit a crime. Therefore, the Legal Counsel will submit a defense on Friday, May 17, 2019, he explained. (*)
Editor: Syam Terrajana
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