2) More armed Papuan rebels declare allegiance to Motherland
—————————-
1) Why Indonesia’s human rights advocacy at the United Nations is often inconsistent and half-hearted
July 24, 2020 4.27pm AEST
Moch Faisal Karim Assistant Professor, Binus University
Disclosure statement Moch Faisal Karim does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Shutterstock
Over the past 20 years, Indonesia has developed its role as a country that fights for human rights and democracy at the regional level.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia – to some extent – advocates on issues of human rights protection within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Indonesia played a leading role in encouraging the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in 2009.
Recently, Indonesia was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). It will represent the Asia-Pacific region on the council from 2020-2022.
Unlike the part it has played in ASEAN, Indonesia’s efforts in upholding human rights at the UN council are weak, inconsistent and half-hearted.
My recently published research shows Indonesia has frequently obstructed human rights enforcement in order to protect its reputation on the global stage.
I observe this through two cases: Indonesia’s rejection of proposals to reinforce the power of the UN Human Rights Council, and its attempts to block the council’s requests to visit and assess the situation in Papua.
Against strengthening the UNHRC
Indonesia has often voiced its disagreements with proposals to strengthen the role of the UN Human Rights Council.
In 2006, for instance, the council hoped to bolster the authority of its advisory committee. This is a body of 18 experts and academics tasked with conducting independent research and providing policy recommendations concerning worldwide human rights violations to the council.
It was proposed that the committee be given greater autonomy to conduct studies on human rights violations and issue resolutions – formal UN policies related to a certain issue. These resolutions are binding on its member states.
However, Indonesia and other developing countries, such as Tunisia, Egypt, Pakistan and China, rejected the proposal for fear that a more powerful advisory committee would take action on alleged human rights violations in their countries.
Indonesia argues that the assessment of human rights in a certain country must be discussed together by all member states within the main body of the UN Human Rights Council.
However, a more probable reason for its rejection was Indonesia’s bad experience with a previous independent sub-commission in the council.
When it was still called the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, the commission criticised Indonesia’s invasion and occupation of East Timor.
In 1993, the sub-commission issued a report that strongly condemned Indonesia’s actions in the region. The report ranged from demanding entry of the International Red Cross to pressuring Indonesia to respect the Geneva Conventions. It advised the UN Human Rights Council to seriously discuss the East Timor case in its next session.
Preventing human rights monitoring in Papua
Indonesia’s reluctance to strengthen international human rights protection can also be seen in its demands to limit the authority of the council’s “Special Procedure”. This is a mechanism that allows the creation of special delegations that can directly visit, examine and monitor human rights situations in a certain country.
To date, this is one of the most effective mechanisms the UN Human Rights Council possesses due to its ability to observe violations up close.
Indonesia, however, has always hid behind the argument of “state sovereignty” in rejecting these delegations.
During discussions in the council, Indonesia along with a number of African countries called for tighter regulations on creating and sending these delegations, including what they can do when visiting a country or communicating with the media.
So far, Indonesia has received only 12 delegations out of a total of 35 requests.
Several requests that have not yet been accepted aim to observe issues that the Indonesian government considers too sensitive – such as evaluating minority rights, the right to freedom of expression, or the right to be free from torture.
Indonesia seems worried that this Special Procedure could jeopardise the country’s “sovereignty”, especially when it involves allegations of human rights violations in Papua.
In addition, Indonesia is not among the 126 countries promising a “standing invitation”, which means pledging to accept all Special Procedure delegations in the future.
Other countries refusing to promise a standing invitation include those known for their human rights violations such as China, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.
What next for Indonesia’s human rights advocacy?
Indonesia’s failure to support proposals to strengthen the UN Human Rights Council indicates that its pro-human-rights attitude is often only symbolic.
Even in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s involvement in setting up the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) cannot be considered a complete success.
AICHR can only promote human rights but not protect them effectively due to ASEAN’s non-interference principle. The principle prevents member states from intervening in the domestic affairs of other members, including human rights matters.
At the international level, Indonesia has even attempted to limit human rights protection through its rejections of various Human Rights Council proposals.
Read more: Bagaimana negara Asia-Afrika dan PBB membuyarkan impian Papua Barat untuk merdeka
But, as a democratic country, Indonesia has an obligation to fight for human rights values at every available opportunity.
If not, the country will forever be considered inconsistent and half-hearted as a result of ratifying human rights instruments at the national level and promoting human rights causes in ASEAN, but weakening their protection in the UN Human Rights Council.
Therefore, the Indonesian government must resolve its domestic issues – especially the human rights situtation in Papua – as soon as possible.
This way Indonesia’s foreign policy can be consistent with its identity as “the largest democracy in the Muslim world”, as it always boasts to the international community.
Ayesha Muna translated this article from Indonesian.
This article was originally published in Indonesian
————————————————————-
(Note. not unusual to see similar stories one or twice a year as a propaganda exercise)
2) More armed Papuan rebels declare allegiance to Motherland
9 hours ago
More and more armed Papuan rebels have surrendered and declared their allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia over the past few months of 2020.
This good trend can be perceived as the fruit of hard and soft power approaches that the Indonesian authorities and law enforcement agencies have applied in Papua Province.
The results of what XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Commander Major General Herman Asaribab called as a "smart power approach" when speaking at a seminar at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Nov 12, 2019, are obvious.
On July 22, 2020, for instance, five armed Papuan rebels of the Puron Wenda-led separatist group had declared their allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia in Wame Village, Bruwa Subdistrict, Lanny Jaya District, Papua Province.
They swore allegiance to Indonesia in the presence of the Indonesian task force personnel and community members of Balingga Sub-district, according to Spokesman of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III Colonel Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa.
The five armed Papuan rebels, who quit the notorious separatist group, were identified as Vandem Wonda, Dekiron Tabuni, Ibetius Tabuni, Terkis Tabuni alias Yuborak Telenggan, and Delis alias Dua Tabuni.
Vandem Wonda and Ibetius Tabuni had also been involved in gunfights with Indonesian soldiers, while Dekiron Tabuni had supplied logistics to rebels, and Terkis Tabuni and Delis had partaken in an attack on the Pirime police precinct, he pointed out.
While surrendering to the Indonesian army personnel, they handed over a walkie-talkie for communicating with the Puron Wenda-led separatist group members and two 12.7-calibre bullets that they had obtained from the gunfights, Suriastawa remarked.
The deputy commander of the Mobile YPR 305/TKR Border Security Task Force handed over the Red and White flag to the five ex-members of the armed Papuan separatist group to mark their allegiance to Indonesia.
Simultaneously, they also signed a letter declaring their exit from the separatist group and loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, he noted.
These ex-rebels surrendered to the Indonesian soldiers when the task force's Bangau Company personnel were conducting their routine in Wame Village, Bruwa Sub-district. Accompanied by a local village head, they surrendered themselves.
They swore allegiance to Indonesia owing to their keenness to remain united with their family members in the village without fear of being chased by the army and police personnel owing to acts of crimes against security personnel and civilians.
On Feb 22, 2020, a former supporter of an armed Papuan separatist group, only identified by his initials YK, had also surrendered and declared his allegiance to Indonesia.
This 54-year-old resident of Toray Village in Sota Subdistrict handed over his rifle and two 22-caliber bullets to the Indonesian military in Merauke District, Papua Province.
The CIS-typed rifle was handed over by YK to the personnel of the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) MR 411/PDW Infantry Battalion at the Toray Command Post.
"YK voluntarily handed over his rifle and two 22-caliber bullets to the chief of Toray Command Post 2nd Lt Wesly Baslius Tanaem at night on February 22," Commander of the task force at the Kostrad's MR 411/PDW Infantry Battalion Major Rizky Aditya said.
Before making his decision, YK told Private Andri E Ginting, an army personnel at the Toray Command Post that he was supposed to be his adopted son, and about a rifle that he had hidden in a forest near Toray Village, Aditya said.
The rifle was given by his late brother, only identified by his initials A.P.G. (60), Y.K. was quoted by Aditya as saying. YK said his heart was touched by the friendly approach that the task force personnel applied to native Papuans.
As a result, YK felt encouraged to surrender the rifle and its bullets, Aditya said, adding that the weapon would soon be handed over to the 174/ATW Regional Military Command.
The YK case was evidence that a friendly approach could have won the hearts and minds of the native Papuan community members, Deputy Spokesman of the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Lt. Col. Dax said.
Related news: 800 villagers evacuated to Timika City to evade rebels' terror
Related news: Former Papuan separatist hands over rifle to military
The residents who have weapons illegally are also urged to surrender them to the law enforcement agencies to avoid legal sanction, he said.
Major General Herman Asaribab has repeatedly reminded soldiers joining the task force of territorial duties in Papua and West Papua Provinces to respect native Papuans' cultural norms and traditions and avoid wrongdoing.
Asaribab orders his men to keep upholding the local communities' cultural norms and traditions to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Combining the law enforcement against those committing crimes with the religious and cultural approaches in resolving security problems in Papua and West Papua has obviously resulted in more and more armed Papuan separatists to declare allegiance to Indonesia, the Motherland for all Indonesians.
However, a home work remains unfinished as the security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to the acts of deadly violence by notorious armed Papuan separatists.
Indonesia does need highly dedicated, loyal, and reliable soldiers and government officials to safeguard Papua and West Papua, and to bring peace and prosperity to all Indonesians, particularly the natives of Papua living in the two provinces.
Related news: Five armed Papuan rebels surrender, swear allegiance to Indonesia
Related news: Notorious armed Papuan rebels terrorize resident of Pegunungan Bintang
This good trend can be perceived as the fruit of hard and soft power approaches that the Indonesian authorities and law enforcement agencies have applied in Papua Province.
The results of what XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Commander Major General Herman Asaribab called as a "smart power approach" when speaking at a seminar at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Nov 12, 2019, are obvious.
On July 22, 2020, for instance, five armed Papuan rebels of the Puron Wenda-led separatist group had declared their allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia in Wame Village, Bruwa Subdistrict, Lanny Jaya District, Papua Province.
They swore allegiance to Indonesia in the presence of the Indonesian task force personnel and community members of Balingga Sub-district, according to Spokesman of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III Colonel Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa.
The five armed Papuan rebels, who quit the notorious separatist group, were identified as Vandem Wonda, Dekiron Tabuni, Ibetius Tabuni, Terkis Tabuni alias Yuborak Telenggan, and Delis alias Dua Tabuni.
Vandem Wonda and Ibetius Tabuni had also been involved in gunfights with Indonesian soldiers, while Dekiron Tabuni had supplied logistics to rebels, and Terkis Tabuni and Delis had partaken in an attack on the Pirime police precinct, he pointed out.
While surrendering to the Indonesian army personnel, they handed over a walkie-talkie for communicating with the Puron Wenda-led separatist group members and two 12.7-calibre bullets that they had obtained from the gunfights, Suriastawa remarked.
The deputy commander of the Mobile YPR 305/TKR Border Security Task Force handed over the Red and White flag to the five ex-members of the armed Papuan separatist group to mark their allegiance to Indonesia.
Simultaneously, they also signed a letter declaring their exit from the separatist group and loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, he noted.
These ex-rebels surrendered to the Indonesian soldiers when the task force's Bangau Company personnel were conducting their routine in Wame Village, Bruwa Sub-district. Accompanied by a local village head, they surrendered themselves.
They swore allegiance to Indonesia owing to their keenness to remain united with their family members in the village without fear of being chased by the army and police personnel owing to acts of crimes against security personnel and civilians.
On Feb 22, 2020, a former supporter of an armed Papuan separatist group, only identified by his initials YK, had also surrendered and declared his allegiance to Indonesia.
This 54-year-old resident of Toray Village in Sota Subdistrict handed over his rifle and two 22-caliber bullets to the Indonesian military in Merauke District, Papua Province.
The CIS-typed rifle was handed over by YK to the personnel of the Army Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad's) MR 411/PDW Infantry Battalion at the Toray Command Post.
"YK voluntarily handed over his rifle and two 22-caliber bullets to the chief of Toray Command Post 2nd Lt Wesly Baslius Tanaem at night on February 22," Commander of the task force at the Kostrad's MR 411/PDW Infantry Battalion Major Rizky Aditya said.
Before making his decision, YK told Private Andri E Ginting, an army personnel at the Toray Command Post that he was supposed to be his adopted son, and about a rifle that he had hidden in a forest near Toray Village, Aditya said.
The rifle was given by his late brother, only identified by his initials A.P.G. (60), Y.K. was quoted by Aditya as saying. YK said his heart was touched by the friendly approach that the task force personnel applied to native Papuans.
As a result, YK felt encouraged to surrender the rifle and its bullets, Aditya said, adding that the weapon would soon be handed over to the 174/ATW Regional Military Command.
The YK case was evidence that a friendly approach could have won the hearts and minds of the native Papuan community members, Deputy Spokesman of the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Lt. Col. Dax said.
Related news: 800 villagers evacuated to Timika City to evade rebels' terror
Related news: Former Papuan separatist hands over rifle to military
The residents who have weapons illegally are also urged to surrender them to the law enforcement agencies to avoid legal sanction, he said.
Major General Herman Asaribab has repeatedly reminded soldiers joining the task force of territorial duties in Papua and West Papua Provinces to respect native Papuans' cultural norms and traditions and avoid wrongdoing.
Asaribab orders his men to keep upholding the local communities' cultural norms and traditions to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Combining the law enforcement against those committing crimes with the religious and cultural approaches in resolving security problems in Papua and West Papua has obviously resulted in more and more armed Papuan separatists to declare allegiance to Indonesia, the Motherland for all Indonesians.
However, a home work remains unfinished as the security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to the acts of deadly violence by notorious armed Papuan separatists.
Indonesia does need highly dedicated, loyal, and reliable soldiers and government officials to safeguard Papua and West Papua, and to bring peace and prosperity to all Indonesians, particularly the natives of Papua living in the two provinces.
Related news: Five armed Papuan rebels surrender, swear allegiance to Indonesia
Related news: Notorious armed Papuan rebels terrorize resident of Pegunungan Bintang
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.