1) Indonesia must protect rights of Veronica Koman and others reporting on Papua and West Papua protests - UN experts
2) A tragic story from Deiyai Regent Office
3) PNG consistently supports Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua: MP
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1) Indonesia must protect rights of Veronica Koman and others reporting on Papua and West Papua protests - UN experts
GENEVA (16 September 2019) – Indonesia must protect the rights of all people to peaceful protest, ensure access to the internet and protect the rights of human rights defender Veronica Koman and all others reporting on protests in Papua and West Papua, say UN human rights experts*.
“We call for immediate measures to ensure the protection of freedom of expression and address acts of harassment, intimidation, interference, undue restriction and threats against those reporting on the protests,” the experts said.
Veronica Koman, a lawyer who has been subjected to harassment and abuse online for her continuing work on alleged human rights violations in Papua, was named as a “suspect” by authorities who accused her of spreading of false information and provoking unrest after she published reports on the protests and on a racist attack against Papuan students in East Java that had triggered the demonstrations.
“We welcome actions taken by the Government against the racist incident, but we urge it to take immediate steps to protect Veronica Koman from any forms of retaliation and intimidation and drop all charges against her so that she can continue to report independently on the human rights situation in the country,” they said.
The experts also expressed serious concerns over reports indicating that the authorities are considering revoking her passport, blocking her bank accounts and requesting Interpol to issue a Red Notice to locate her, as she is said to be out of the country.
The experts stressed that restrictions on freedom of expression not only undermined discussion of Government policies, but also jeopardised the safety of human rights defenders reporting on alleged violations.
Protests have been increasingly taking place in Papua and West Papua since mid-August over alleged racism and discrimination and amid calls for independence.
“These protests will not be stopped by an excessive use of force or by cracking down on freedom of expression and access to information,” the UN experts said.
“We urge the Government of Indonesia to recognise the rights of all protesters and to ensure continuation of the internet service. We welcome the restoration on 4 September of the internet in almost all of Papua and West Papua provinces.”
The internet had been disconnected completely on 21 August in various parts of both provinces on the grounds of restoring security and order, with the aim of preventing the spread of “rumours” or “hoaxes” during protests.
“Restrictions of the internet and on access to information in general have a detrimental impact on the ability of individuals to express themselves, and to share and receive information. On the other hand, access to the internet contributes to preventing disinformation and ensuring transparency and accountability,” the experts said.
The UN experts have previously expressed their concerns to the Government of Indonesia and are continuing to urge it to engage in genuine dialogue with the protesters. The experts welcomed the engagement of the authorities on these matters and looked forward to continued dialogue.
ENDS
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(*) The UN experts: Mr. Clement Nyaletsossi Voule (Togo), Special Rapporteur on the right to peaceful assembly and association; Mr. David Kaye (USA), Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Ms Dubravka Šimonović (Croatia),Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; Ms Meskerem Geset Techane(Ethiopia), Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls; Mr. Michel Forst (France), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
The Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organisation and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page — Indonesia
For more information and media requests, please write to freedex@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact: Mr. Jeremy Laurence (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org)
Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.
Concerned about the world we live in? Then STAND UP for someone’s rights today. #Standup4humanrights and visit the web page at http://www.standup4humanrights.org
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2) A tragic story from Deiyai Regent Office
Published 10 hours ago on 16 September 2019
By pr9c6tr3_juben
Jayapura, Jubi – A rally to protest racism against West Papuans in front of the Deiyai Regent Office on Wednesday, 28 August 2019, turned to a tragedy. A local parliament member Alfret Pakage told Jubi about the tragic story.
The story began when a young man called Yustimus Takimas died in a car crash involving an Indonesian soldier. His death triggered a mass rampage that ended with the police’s gunshot.
“I don’t have an idea about what was happening at the Regent Office’s backyard because I was standing at the side door watching people coming. After the car accident that killed young Takimai, people killed a soldier who was in the car. Then, all young men joined the crowd. Some entered through the front while others from the back via BKD Office. At that time the joint security force stood at the corner of the Regent Office. I was there too facing the BKD Office,” Pakage told Jubi by phone on Wednesday, (11/9/2019).
Furthermore, he said the mob threw stones to the soldiers, and they responded it with tear gas shots. However, when they found out a soldier killed, they threw bullets against the crowd. “I told the Crime and Investigation Department Chief of Paniai Police to hold. It happened when they (security force) knew a soldier died. They shot their guns to the people,” he said.
Then, the Military District Commandant immediately came out of his office located across the street in front of the Regent Office. “He shouted ‘my soldier is dead. Where’s the Regent? He must be responsible for this. The soldiers took their gun out. Brimob personnel were also there,” he said.
Pakage was alone at the scene, while the regent, deputy regent, local parliament members and all government officials already left their office. The police step on the body of the dead victim lying under the flagpole at the office’s front yard.
“I shouted at them to stop.” While he was confused about how to stop it, he also could not do anything because he was alone and under gun threat.
“I saw people died lying under the flagpole. It’s just me. I was alone. When the soldiers found out that people taken away their guns, they prevented me from being a mediator. They even pointed their guns against me and said ‘you want to back up or not? If not, you’ll be responsible for this’. After that, I backed up. But I still told them not be overwhelming,” he said.
Furthermore, according to Pakage, he moved to a kiosk opposite the Regent Office to join some police officers of Mee origin. It was only 17:12 but already so quiet, and nobody dared to pass. He then saw the ambulance from Deiyai Public Hospital going to the scene.
“I saw the ambulance coming from Deiyai Public Hospital to collect West Papuans who injured and fell because of the shooting. But the police came to block the car, pulled out the victims and took the ambulance’s key. They put their injured friends (soldiers), sent both driver and medical workers home. Then ambulance went to Paniai and left the injured West Papuans,” he said.
It was getting late, so he hurried to go home. He reminded himself that he must keep safe from the danger. Of returning home, he observed that Waghete became so quiet. Only found the security forces standing along the street from the Regent Office to Waghete II until the airport compound.
On the next day, Thursday (29/8/2019), he returned to the scene to check whether the dead bodies are still there or taken to the hospital.
“I only saw the soldiers standing along the street. I didn’t meet any residents. First of all, I checked the Deiyai Public Hospital, but the gate was locked and no activities there. I came inside knocking the door but no one there. So, I went to the scene to check whether the victims are still there or not. So I parked my vehicle at the entrance of the Regent’s office. Suddenly, the joint security force came investigating me with anger.
“They asked, ‘where are our guns?’ I told them I am also a part of this country. Those weapons are the state’s tools; I try to find those losing guns. However, the victims were not there anymore. So I went to Damabagata, Tigi Timur sub-district because I heard from someone that they keep the weapons there. At that time, the Military District Commandant was well-equipped guarding at the intersection of Waghete, Dogiyai and Paniai,” he said.
He continued the story by saying that the Paniai Police then asked him to come to their office as a witness. “At that time, the police acted without thinking. It was a big mistake. They examined me as a witness at the regency police station,” he said.
Meanwhile, Father Santon Tekege Pr said the investigation of the Secretariat of Peace and Justice (SKP) of Paniai Dean – Timika Diocese concludes that a car accident involving a soldier that caused the death of Yustinus Takimai triggered this shooting incident.
“As a result of the gunfire and tear gas shots, seven civilians were dead, while 43 people injured with both minor and serious injuries,” said Father Santon. (*)
Reporter: Abeth You
Editor: Pipit Maizier
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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(note. video footage/photo in story etc)
UN urges Indonesia to protect rights of West Papua activists
10 hours ago
UN Human Rights Council experts call for immediate measures to protect freedom of expression as demonstrations continue
A group of UN human rights experts has urged the government of Indonesia to protect the rights of activists advocating for more freedom in the country's West Papua and allow unrestricted access to information from the restive eastern region as rumblings for independence continue.
In a statement issued on Monday, UN Human Rights Council officials said restrictions on freedom of expression in West Papua, "not only undermined discussion of Government policies but also jeopardised the safety of human rights defenders reporting on alleged violations".
"We call for immediate measures to ensure the protection of freedom of expression and address acts of harassment, intimidation, interference, undue restriction and threats against those reporting on the protests," the experts said.
On Monday, more demonstrations were reported in Yahukimo regency in Papua province, according to a social media post by human rights lawyer and activist, Veronica Koman.
Koman also said that three people have reportedly been arrested and others "forcibly dispersed" in Yapen Islands Regency, also in Papua.
Recent reports said that several West Papua activists, including Koman, have been arrested or had warrants issued for them for alleged incitement to violence, spreading false information and other actions directed at the central government.
Jakarta has issued an arrest warrant for Koman, who is currently overseas, and reportedly threatened to cancel her passport, freeze her bank accounts and request that Interpol locate her.
Last week, authorities detained activist Buchtar Tabuni after he was charged with alleged treason.
Two weeks ago, Indonesian news site Tempo reported that at least 20 people had been arrested in West Papua for alleged rioting.
The Civil Society Coalition for Democracy in Indonesia had also 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.
Excessive force
Protests have been going on in the West Papua region since the middle of August.
Demonstrations started after a group of indigenous Papuan students on the island of Java were allegedly racially abused and harassed by authorities.
At times, the protests have turned violent and Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that as many as 10 people have been killed.
The government has responded to the protests by deploying thousands of police and military personnel to the region and shutting down the internet.
The internet was later restored and the officers accused of the racial abuse that incited the protests have reportedly been dismissed or suspended. But arrests of activists continue.
In the statement on Monday, the UN experts warned that the protests "will not be stopped by an excessive use of force or by cracking down on freedom of expression and access to information."
"We urge the Government of Indonesia to recognise the rights of all protesters and to ensure continuation of the internet service," the experts added, while welcoming the restoration of the internet on September 4 in almost all of West Papua region, which comprises Papua and West Papua provinces.
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.
Jakarta maintains that West Papua, which shares an island with 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.
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 HRW, 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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https://en.antaranews.com/news/132854/png-consistently-supports-indonesias-sovereignty-over-papua-mp
3) PNG consistently supports Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua: MP
9 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA) - While receiving Indonesian Parliament’s several members in Port Moresby last week, Papua New Guinean (PNG) Foreign Minister Soroi Marrepo minced no words in declaring that PNG consistently recognizes Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua and West Papua.
"The PNG foreign minister has obviously conveyed his government's political stance," Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I overseeing Defense and Foreign Affairs Setya Widya Yudha noted in a press statement here on Monday.
At a meeting with the House's Commission I delegation members at the foreign ministry office in Port Moresby last week, Marrepo firmly echoed his view of the PNG Government consistently supporting Indonesia's sovereignty over the two provinces, he remarked.
Indonesia's delegation constituted Evita Nursanyanti, representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Faction, and Sukamta from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Faction, as well as Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andriana Supandi.
Related news: Papua to send 20-ton rice to PNG's dual volcano victims
At the meeting, Foreign Minister Marrepo was accompanied by his ministry's secretary, Barbara Agirigolo Age.
He was quoted by Yudha as saying that a recent rally staged by a group of people in Port Moresby to call for a referendum for the people of the provinces of Papua and West Papua did not represent the PNG government's official political stance.
However, Indonesia is expected to find a wise and peaceful way out to placate the recent violent protests that native Papuans in the two provinces staged over the alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, 2019.
According to ANTARA, the PNG government's recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua and West Papua is also shared by Australia as outlined in the Lombok Treaty of 2006.
Related news: PLN preps to supply 2 MW electricity to PNG's Vanimo
The talks between Foreign Minister Marrepo and the Indonesian delegation members did not solely focus on Papua issues but also on ways to continue to strengthen bilateral multisectoral cooperation between Indonesia and PNG.
"Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and culture must continuously be strengthened by, for instance, opening a direct flight connecting cities in the two countries. Inter-parliamentary cooperation is also needed," he stated. Related news: Extra care for Papua brethren crucial to maintaining Indonesia's unity
Related news: Foreigners not banned in Papua, but numbers restricted
EDITED BY INE
"The PNG foreign minister has obviously conveyed his government's political stance," Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I overseeing Defense and Foreign Affairs Setya Widya Yudha noted in a press statement here on Monday.
At a meeting with the House's Commission I delegation members at the foreign ministry office in Port Moresby last week, Marrepo firmly echoed his view of the PNG Government consistently supporting Indonesia's sovereignty over the two provinces, he remarked.
Indonesia's delegation constituted Evita Nursanyanti, representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Faction, and Sukamta from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Faction, as well as Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andriana Supandi.
Related news: Papua to send 20-ton rice to PNG's dual volcano victims
At the meeting, Foreign Minister Marrepo was accompanied by his ministry's secretary, Barbara Agirigolo Age.
He was quoted by Yudha as saying that a recent rally staged by a group of people in Port Moresby to call for a referendum for the people of the provinces of Papua and West Papua did not represent the PNG government's official political stance.
However, Indonesia is expected to find a wise and peaceful way out to placate the recent violent protests that native Papuans in the two provinces staged over the alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, 2019.
According to ANTARA, the PNG government's recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua and West Papua is also shared by Australia as outlined in the Lombok Treaty of 2006.
Related news: PLN preps to supply 2 MW electricity to PNG's Vanimo
The talks between Foreign Minister Marrepo and the Indonesian delegation members did not solely focus on Papua issues but also on ways to continue to strengthen bilateral multisectoral cooperation between Indonesia and PNG.
"Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy and culture must continuously be strengthened by, for instance, opening a direct flight connecting cities in the two countries. Inter-parliamentary cooperation is also needed," he stated. Related news: Extra care for Papua brethren crucial to maintaining Indonesia's unity
Related news: Foreigners not banned in Papua, but numbers restricted
EDITED BY INE
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