2) UN human rights chief calls for dialogue with Papuans
3) Interpol Involved in Indonesian Police's Hunt on Veronica Koman
4) Protesters Flying Banned Bintang Kejora Flag Nabbed
5) Police Deny LBH Claim of 'Sweeping' Papua Dormitory
6) Indonesia police name suspect in West Papua unrest
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1) Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Indonesia (Papua and West Papua)
Geneva, 4 September 2019 “I have been disturbed by escalating violence in the past two weeks in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, and especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces personnel. This is part of a trend we have observed since December 2018, and we have been discussing our concerns with the Indonesian authorities. There should be no place for such violence in a democratic and diverse Indonesia, and I encourage the authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns, as well as to restore internet services and refrain from any excessive use of force. Blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression and limiting communications may exacerbate tensions”.
“I welcome the appeals made by President Widodo and other high-level figures against racism and discrimination – a long-standing, serious issue in Papua and West Papua provinces – and their calls for dialogue and calm. I note that some arrests have been made and some members of security forces have been suspended in relation to the original violent attacks on Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, but I am concerned about reports that nationalist militias and groups are also actively involved in the violence. Local human rights defenders, students and journalists have been facing intimidation and threats and should be protected”.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact: Rupert Colville - + 41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.orgor Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / mhurtado@ohchr.org
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2) UN human rights chief calls for dialogue with Papuans
Dian Septiari The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Wed, September 4, 2019 / 05:03 pm
The United Nations' human rights chief has called for Indonesian authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua after weeks of violent protests and riots in many parts of the region.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said her office was "disturbed" by escalating violence in Papua and West Papua in the past two weeks, especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces.
“This is part of a trend we have observed since December 2018, and we have been discussing our concerns with the Indonesian authorities,” Bachelet said in a statement on Wednesday.
The country’s easternmost provinces have been rocked by protests and rioting since Aug. 19 following an incident of perceived racism in the form of physical and verbal abuse by authorities and members of local mass organizations.
Some protestors have also demanded a referendum on independence, something the government has ruled out.
At least five civilians and one soldier died during a clash at a rally in Deiyai regency on Aug. 28, while a member of an unidentified armed group was reportedly killed in a gun battle with authorities in Papua's Wamena on Aug 23.
Most recently, Papua police confirmed four civilians died at a rally in Jayapura on Monday, but an internet blackout across the island has made verifying information more difficult.
“There should be no place for such violence in a democratic and diverse Indonesia, and I encourage the authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns, as well as to restore internet services and refrain from any excessive use of force," Bachelet said.
"Blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression and limiting communications may exacerbate tensions."
Bachelet also said she welcomed the appeals made by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and other high-level figures against racism and discrimination, noting that it was a long-standing, serious issue in Papua and West Papua.
“I note that some arrests have been made and some members of security forces have been suspended in relation to the original violent attacks on Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, but I am concerned about reports that nationalist militias and groups are also actively involved in the violence. Local human rights defenders, students and journalists have been facing intimidation and threats and should be protected,” she said.
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3) Interpol Involved in Indonesian Police's Hunt on Veronica Koman
4 September 2019 21:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has involved the role of Interpol upon tracking down the location of Veronica Koman, who has been named as a suspect in the Papuan dormitory raid in Surabaya.
The East Java Police believe Veronica had been an instigator following the incident in Surabaya on August 17, 2019, which worsened the aftermath of the unfortunate event.
“The person is currently overseas. The Interpol will later help track her down,” said Indonesian National Police Spokesman Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo in South Jakarta on Wednesday, September 4.
The East Java police deemed Veronica had actively shared provocative contents from her personal Twitter account on the police and military raid on the Papuan dormitory.
“[Veronica is] one of the people who actively provoked the public which eventually caused public unrest,” said E. Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Luki Hermawan on Wednesday.
The incident that was unfortunately experienced by the Papuan university students in Surabaya happened during the country’s Independence Day commemoration. Police with local mass-organizations raided the dormitory after questionable information had spread on the students throwing an Indonesian flag to a nearby sewer.
ANDITA RAHMA | NURHADI
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4) Protesters Flying Banned Bintang Kejora Flag Nabbed
4 September 2019 20:29 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The demonstration in front of the Presidential State Palace caught the public’s attention after a banned separatist flag known as the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag was hoisted throughout the rally. The police eventually detained several people over allegations of treason.
Metro Jaya Police Spokesman Grand Commissioner Argo Yuwono announced Paulus Surya Anta Ginting as the initiator of the demonstration in front of the Presidential State Palace on August 28 by a pro-West Papua group.
“[Paulus Surya] is the person who led the group’s activities. He held three meetings prior to the rally. Plans were prepared [by him],” said Argo at the police headquarters today, September 4.
The police Spokesman announced that Paulus Surya Anta Ginting was arrested at one of Jakarta’s malls on August 31, as he is also believed to be the narrator behind each of the group’s demonstrations.
“[He] acts as the bridge with foreign media in promoting issues regarding Papua’s independence and referendum,” said Grand Commissioner Argo Yuwono.
Other than Surya, police also arrested other people linked to the pro-West Papua demonstration such as Anes Tabuni, Charles Kossay, Ambrosius Mulait, Isay Wenda and Erina Elopere or Wenebita Gwijangge. The five of them are suspected of taking significant roles in the demonstration, which saw one of them hoist the Bintang Kejora flag.
M YUSUF MANURUNG
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5) Police Deny LBH Claim of 'Sweeping' Papua Dormitory
4 September 2019 20:23 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police has denied the statement of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta director Arif Maulana about the 'sweeping action' by members of the force in a number of Papuan student dormitories in Indonesia. The police said they never raided the dormitories.
The Police Headquarters' chief of Public Information Bureau, Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo, said that Arif's statement was misleading.
"Not true, not true. What we do instead is guarantee the security of all Papuan students," Dedi said in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 4.
Dedi warned LBH Jakarta to be careful about making statements or spreading information. If what they convey is false, he said, they can be criminally charged.
"What was the basis for LBH to state a hoax? We can prosecute them for that. What were their bases? What are the facts?" Dedi said, adding that if anyone witnesses police officers who commit such an act, they must report it.
However, Dedi said that if members of the police force are proven to have raided the dormitories, they will be sanctioned.
There have been media reports about LBH Jakarta asking the police to stop raiding a number of Papuan student dormitories. The LBH also asked the police to stop arbitrary arrests and opt for dialogues to resolve conflicts in Indonesia's eastern region peacefully.
LBH Jakarta also urged the police to act professionally and prioritize the principles of human rights in responding to the events that occurred.
Andita Rahma
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6) Indonesia police name suspect in West Papua unrest
9 hours ago
Human rights lawyer and activist Veronica Koman accused of spreading 'hoaxes' and inciting unrest in West Papua region.
Indonesian police have named a human rights lawyer and activist a suspect for alleged incitement and spreading fake news online increasing violent protests in the country's restive West Papua region.
Luki Hermawan, regional police chief in Indonesia's East Java province, said on Wednesday that Veronica Koman was also wanted for violating the country's cybercrime law.
Luki added that the charges were based on testimony from at least six witnesses and experts, according to the Indonesian news website, Detik.
Koman has been accused of using social media to spread "hoaxes" to people in Indonesia and overseas after a police raid on indigenous Papuan students in Surabaya, the capital city of East Java province. Indonesians commonly refer to ''fake news'' as "hoaxes".
Indonesian police said, if necessary, they would contact Interpol about Koman, who is reportedly overseas.
Al Jazeera contacted Koman for comment, but she had not responded by the time of publication.
The unrest in Indonesia's West Papua region is already in its third week.
In a statement on Wednesday, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she was "disturbed" by the "escalating violence".
"There should be no place for such violence in a democratic and diverse Indonesia," Bachelet said in a statement.
"I welcome the appeals made by President [Joko] Widodo and other high-level figures against racism and discrimination," she added.
Breaking: East Java Police police name "VK" as a suspect for incitement, spreading hoax and (the crime of) separatism re Papua protests. Request to Interpol to track her down.We understand it is @VeronicaKoman She's been widely used by media as source of videos from Papua pic.twitter.com/eu3Tzx6Nbp— David Lipson (@davidlipson) September 4, 2019
On Tuesday, the Indonesian news site, Tempo, reported that at least 20 people had been arrested in West Papua for alleged rioting.On Sunday, the Civil Society Coalition for Democracy in Indonesia told Al Jazeera that eight activists had been arrested, including Surya Anta of the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua.Three female Papuan students were also reportedly being held.Racist taunts
The unrest began in the second week of August when authorities arrested Papuan students studying on the island of Java for reportedly holding a pro-independence rally.Another group of Papuan students was accused of damaging the Indonesian flag.Dozens were then rounded up and racist slurs such as "monkeys" and "pigs" were allegedly hurled at them by local people.The students were later released from detention, and government officials who were reportedly involved in the racist taunts were also questioned. By then, however, protests had started to spread in the West Papua region, which is divided into West Papua and Papua provinces.The region of West Papua was a Dutch colony until the early 1960s when Indonesia took control, cementing its rule later in the decade with a controversial referendum.The government in Jakarta maintains that West Papua region, which occupies the western half of the island of Papua New Guinea, is Indonesian because it was part of the Dutch East Indies, which forms the basis of the country's modern-day borders.A low-level armed rebellion by indigenous Papuans, who now make up about half the population after years of migration by people from other parts of Indonesia, has been rumbling ever since.West Papua is rich in natural resources and the site of the world's largest gold mine and its second-largest copper mine, but it remains the poorest region in the archipelago.In December, violence erupted again after a group of construction workers was attacked by separatist rebels, leaving at least 17 dead and triggering a military crackdown.Some 35,000 civilians were forced from their homes as the security forces attempted to flush out the rebels from the forested mountains.According to Human Rights Watch, West Papuans have increasingly become targets of intimidation by "Islamist and nationalist groups" in Indonesia since the formation in 2014 of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, which is advocating for Papuan independence.SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS-----------
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