Human rights and resistance in West Papus - Filef

Dear Filef friends,

FILEF and the Australia-West Papua Association invite you to specialfilm event online on the struggle of West Papuans to their independence and freedom from Indonesian occupation of their land. Watch an update on the current situation by Veronica Korman, indonesian lawyer defending incarcerated West Papuan activists and herself an exile following trumped up charges by the Indonesian police, and  Ronny Kareni, a representative in Australia of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Following the speakers’ update you can watch the acclaimed Film Australia documentary LAND OF THE MORNING STAR by journalist Mark Worth, broadcast by the ABC. The film features rare archival film and eyewitness accounts.

The event starts on THURSDAY 30^th of JULY 2020 and the film will stay on YouTube after the event.

In solidarity

Filef Sydney

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdHWnyxqhUo&feature=youtu.be

Congratulations to the people of Vanuatu on their 40 years of Independence.

Vanuatu Independence Day-July 30, 1980

Congratulations to the people of Vanuatu on their 40 years of Independence.

Also,  Congratulations to Prime Minister Bob Loughman on his support for West Papua. It’s encouraging for West Papuan supporters to see his statement that “ nobody can change his country’s stand on West Papua”. A  courageous stand of support for the Papuan People by Vanuatu.

Australia West Papua Association

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1) Filep Karma: No more Special Autonomy, we want self-determination for Papua

2) Human rights violations in Indonesia hardly to bring to the International Court

3) Indigenous priests call for a referendum for Papua

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https://en.jubi.co.id/filep-karma-no-more-special-autonomy-we-want-self-determination-for-papua/

1) Filep Karma: No more Special Autonomy, we want self-determination for Papua

Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1

Former political prisoner Filep Karma gave a speech in the signing of Papuan People’s Petition held in front of the Papuan Customary Council Office in Jayapura City on Wednesday (22/7/2020). – Jubi/Hengky Yeimo

Jayapura, Jubi – Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma said the Papuan people do not want the extension of the Special Autonomy policy. Independence of Papua is what people want now.

“We are already independent, free. If the Papuan people said the Special Autonomy had failed, it means they want freedom,” said Karma in his speech during the signing of a petition by Papuan civil society movement in Papuan Customary Council Office in Jayapura City on Wednesday (22/7/2020).

The distribution of the Special Autonomy Fund in Papua was equal with two per cent of the Regional Allocated Budget as stipulated in Article 34 (3) of Special Autonomy Law 2001. The termination of the policy in 2021 has raised a discourse to evaluate the implementation of the policy and to revise the regulation.

Tempo.co launched the statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian who expected the revision on the Special Autonomy for Papua could be immediately discussed and authorised within this year. Karnavian told the statement in the hearing with the Commission II of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on 22 January 2020. By contrast, many stakeholders in Papua declined the proposal by the central government to extend the implementation of the policy.

Regarding the central government’s proposal, Filep Karma claimed that the Special Autonomy policy was to respond to the people’s demand for the independence of Papua. The Government of Indonesia offered this policy as a solution to prevent the Papuan independence. However, after 19 years of the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law, it failed to fulfil the Papuan people’s expectation.

“Special Autonomy has no sequence. It happened once, then finished. So, now [we] talk about freedom, not the Special Autonomy. Special Autonomy was the best offer by the state (Indonesia), and we believe it already failed. It means there would be no other chapters. The only thing left is people’s desire for independence. Give back the rights of self-determination to the people,” said Karma.

Karma said Indonesia could get their independence despite their citizens being illiterate at that time. But they can. Today, many Papuan people have obtained the titles of doctors and professors. So, it is time for Papuans to govern and lead themselves.

“This colonial said we were stupid, not capable, so on and so forth. But it’s their thought. We have learned enough; we have many intellectuals among Papuans,” he said.

Therefore, he asked Papuans to not be fooled by the offer they brought through the Special Autonomy that is useless for Papuans. ‘This nation will stand and lead themselves as told by Izaak Samuel Kijne’,” said Karma

In the meantime, Victor Yeimo, the spokesperson of Papuan People Petition movement, said the movement aims to decline the extension of the implementation of the Special Autonomy policy and demand self-determination for Papua. “This petition was purely raised from the people’s aspiration. It wasn’t exploitation by a few people who have a bargain with Jakarta (the central government),” he said.

Yeimo said the Papuan People’s Petition is a consolidation tool of Papuan people in declining the Special Autonomy policy. “It unites us in a consolidation that the conflict between Papua and Indonesia could not be solved during the Special Autonomy policy phase I, and it would not be solved in phase II either. The democratic solution for this, gives the rights for people to determine their lives,” said Yeimo.

The petition has circulated among 29 civil organisations in Papua. 

They are Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua, Gerakan Mahasiswa Pemuda Rakyat Papua, Gerakan Rakyat Demokratik Papua, Solidaritas Nasional Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Papua Barat, Forum Independen Mahasiswa West Papua, West Papua National Authority, Front Nasional Mahasiswa Pemuda Papua, Solidaritas Perempuan Melanesia Papua Barat, Masyarakat Adat Independen, Asosiasi Pedagang Asli Papua, Komunitas Peduli Lingkungan, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara Sorong, BABEOSER BIKAR, Green Papua, Dewan Adat Papua, Pelajar Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Yahukimo di Jayapura, Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua se-Indonesia, Ikatan Mahasiswa Kaimana di Jayapura, Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pemuda dan Pelajar Papua Barat, Komunitas Mahasiswa Independen Kabupaten Intan Jaya, West Papua Interest Association/West Papua Indigenous People, Solidaritas Anak Yalimo, Forum Komunikasi Pemuda Pelajar Mahasiswa Se- Kawasan Teluk Ampimoi, Himpunan Pelajar Mahasiswa Kwiyawagi Bersatu se-Indonesia di Jayapura, Himpunan Mahasiswa Kabupaten Yalimo se-Indonesia, Komunitas Mahasiswa dan Pelajar Aplim-Apom Kabupaten Pegunungan Bintang Se Jawa, Bali, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, dan Sumatera, Solidaritas Rakyat Untuk West Papua, Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua, and Front Rakyat Maubere Untuk West Papua. (*)

 

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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https://en.jubi.co.id/human-rights-violations-in-indonesia-hardly-to-bring-to-the-international-court/

2) Human rights violations in Indonesia hardly to bring to the International Court

Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1

Makassar, Jubi – Beka Ulung Hapsara, a commissioner of KOMNAS HAM RI (National Human Right Commissioner, said that the settlement of severe human rights violation cases in Indonesia, including those that occurred in Papua, are hard to bring to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hapsara told in a discussion held online on 20 July 2020.

It occurred because the Government of Indonesia has not ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, he explained.

“To solve the severe human rights violations cases at the International Court is rather difficult. There is an alternative, but it takes a longer time. The point is Indonesia has not ratified the statute yet that constrains us to do this mechanism,” said Hapsara.

Furthermore, Hapsara said KOMNAS HAM already categorised three incidents that occurred in Papua and West Papua provinces as the severe human rights violations, and the cases are still open.

The three cases are Wamena Incident of 4 April 2003, Wasior Incident of 13 June 2001 and Paniai Incident of 8 December 2014. Because of these three cases occurred after 2000. Therefore, according to Law 26 of 2000, the settlement of human rights violations must be solved at the Human Rights Court.

“However, impunity will be possible to occur,” he said.

A human rights advocate in Papua Iwan Niode said the settlement of human rights violation cases at the Human Rights Court would mean nothing if perpetrators are free of all the charges at the end.

He took an example of the Abepura Incident. Two police officers who were responsible for the incident were found not guilty by the Human Right Court in Makassar, South Sulawesi in November 2005.

“So, what is the Human Rights Court for, If at the end, it would release the perpetrators from the charges? What does the human right trial mean if it only creates impunity for the perpetrators?” said Niode.

Therefore, Niode said KOMNAS HAM needs to evaluate their long time attempt in resolving human rights cases in Papua through the judicial process. Given the fact that it is not their first time effort to bring such cases to the Human Rights Court. However, none of these cases were resolved. He took the Wamena case that occurred in 2004 as an example.

“I involved in the investigation over the Wamena case at that time. But over the time the case has never been solved. It only ended in the discussion process,” he said. (*)

 

Reporter: Arjuna Pademme

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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https://en.jubi.co.id/indigenous-priests-call-for-a-referendum-for-papua/

3) Indigenous priests call for a referendum for Papua

Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1

Indigenous priests from five Catholic Dioceses across the Papua regions in the press conference held at the Kondius Pastoral Residence, Abepura on Tuesday (21/7/2020). -Jubi/Hengky Yeimo

Jayapura, Jubi – Fifty-seven indigenous priests under the coordination of the Rev. Jhon Alberto Bunay asked the Government of Indonesia to conduct a referendum in West Papua. They said the government should not be afraid to do that because it would bring benefits to Indonesia.

“The Government of Indonesia can take a position and make the best decision to Papua, which their people are still Indonesian citizens and by law, the territory is under the Indonesian authorities,” said Bunay in reading their statement at the Kondius Pastoral Residence in Abepura on Tuesday (21/7/2020).

Furthermore, Bunay said the Government of Indonesia should make a spectacular and prestigious political decision to allow a referendum held in Papua and accept its outcome.

“We thought the referendum for West Papua would entirely help the arrangement of Papua after the great political decision,” he said.

Therefore, on behalf of the group members, Bunay asked the Government of Indonesia to not further take natural resources in Papua into account regarding the referendum.

“If the majority of Papuans choose for the independence of Papua, Indonesia should accept it. Nevertheless, Indonesia should stand with Papua to bring Papua as a leader of Melanesia to achieve the golden era of the Pacific. There would be no more tears and blood pouring on the land of Papua like it had when they were with Indonesia,” he said.

Moreover, Bunay said that after independence, Papua would maintain its friendship and partnership with Indonesia. Both nations will work together and turn to be a new power in the global community.

“Both Indonesia and Papua should have a mutual understanding and respect the humanitarian values on the land of Papua. Therefore, there would be no more oppression or massacre occurring in the future,” he said.

In this sense, Bunay said the Indonesian government and citizens must recognise and respect indigenous Papuans’ dignity as the landowners.

“Therefore, Papuans should lead their own land. Give a free choice on the hand of Papuans, and over their relationship with Indonesia,” he said.

Earlier, the founder and member of Papuan Church Council, the Rev Dr Socrates S Yoman stated his rejection of the Special Autonomy policy and asked for a referendum.

“As an indigenous, I thought the Special Autonomy Policy in Papua failed. As a church representative, I believe that people trusted me to declare that the Special Autonomy policy was a failure. As a member of the Papuan Church Council, I conclude that the Special Autonomy policy is dead. Please conduct a dialogue with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP),” he said.

Yoman further said that Papuan people knew that the Government of Indonesia once negotiated with the leaders of the Freedom Aceh Movement (GAM). If the Indonesian Government does not discriminate against Papuans, they should also want to sit with the ULMWP as the representative of Papuans.

“If the negotiation has never been done, it means the Indonesian Government has been discriminative against Papuans. They could negotiate with GAM in Helsinki to solve the conflict with Aceh. It should be applied for Papua as well,” said Yoman.

Moreover, Yoman said the Papuan Church Council thought the Indonesian Government is worried to have a dialogue with the ULMWP. He said the Indonesian Government should be more open minded to meet the ULMWP. They should be open to asking the third party to mediate their negotiation.

“If Indonesia is a democratic state, they have to show their courage. They should treat Papua as equal as their treat to Aceh, which allows the GAM flag to raise, the establishment of the local party. Do not think that Papuans have a lower position, so they refuse to negotiate. We, the churches in Papua, suggest that negotiation with the ULMWP is a must” said Yoman. (*)

 

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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Prolonged conflict, inequality create ‘layers of violence' against women in Papua

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/28/prolonged-conflict-inequality-create-layers-of-violence-against-women-in-papua.html

Prolonged conflict, inequality create ‘layers of violence' against women in Papua 

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie 

The Jakarta Post  

Jakarta   /   Tue, July 28, 2020   /   01:23 pm

When duty calls: Medical workers from the Asiki village clinic in Papua travel to neighboring Kapoho village to administer healthcare services in a mobile clinic. (./.)

The prolonged violence and inequality in Indonesia's easternmost provinces are taking a particularly hard toll on women, increasing the risk of them becoming victims of domestic violence and hampering their empowerment, Papuan rights activists say.

"Papuan people in general experience violence and the psychological stress often lead to domestic violence, so women [in Papua] experience multiple [kinds of] violence," Papuan activist Esther Haluk said during a discussion organized by the Jakarta Feminist Discussion Group on Saturday.

She cited the ongoing military operation against armed rebels in Nduga regency, Papua, which has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians in the region, as an example.

While sheltering refugees from the conflict-ridden regency, Esther said many sick and injured women were afraid to go to the hospital as authorities would put Nduga residents under strict supervision. 

Her volunteer group also found that women and children made up the highest number of deaths among refugees.

Aside from the violence, Esther added that women of Papua were also subjected to systemic oppression through several gender-biased policies, such as the special autonomy funds that were allocated for women.

To support development in the region, the Papua and West Papua provinces were set to receive Rp 5.86 trillion (US$403.508 million) and Rp 2.51 trillion, respectively, this year from the central government. However, Papua only allocated 6 percent of the funds for women, which would also be shared with indigenous people and religious institutions, while West Papua had no specific regulation for budget-channeling to women's issues.

Read also: Indonesia to evaluate special funds for Papua: Why $7.4bn since 2002 hasn't solved problem

Additionally, Esther said women were marginalized culturally in many cases, such as in determining areas of customary land as women were rarely involved in the matter. Women were also often forced out of their land by land concessions and investments, leaving them economically vulnerable.

She added that in majority Christian Papua and West Papua, “misinterpretations” of Christian teachings, such as putting men in leadership positions, often placed women as "second-class citizens".

"Generally, women in Papua today experience layers of violence.”

Despite the concerns, Elvira Rukambu, a social and political science lecturer from the Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, Papua, said the current discourse of racial issues affecting Papuans had left her hopeful.

She noted the favorable reception of the Papua Lives Matter movement, inspired by the global antiracism movement Black Lives Matter, which has spurred many discussions on racism and humanitarian issues, most of them organized by people outside of Papua.

She compared it to the "shallow" discourse about Papuan issues in previous years, when they were usually limited to whether people support separatism or not and did not reflect the complexity of the regions that had experienced decades of violence and discrimination.

"We must maintain this momentum of discussing Papua with all its complexity, especially by providing a red carpet for women's issues as well," Elvira said.

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1) Papua Liberation Army sold arms by Indonesian military

2) Don’t force special autonomy on us, Papuan priests say 

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https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/422136/papua-liberation-army-sold-arms-by-indonesian-military

1) Papua Liberation Army sold arms by Indonesian military

6:39 pm today  

A guerilla force waging war for independence in West Papua has revealed it's been buying weapons from Indonesia's military.

The West Papua Liberation Army has been embroiled in intensified conflict with Indonesian security forces in the highlands interior of Papua region since 2018.

West Papua Liberation Army fighters.  Photo: Supplied.

A highlands regional commander of the Liberation Army, Brigadier General Egianus Kogeya, has revealed that he purchased weapons and ammunition from the Indonesian military and police.

Kogeya's fighters have claimed responsibility for numerous deadly attacks in the past two years, including the massacre of at least nineteen Indonesian road construction workers in Nduga in December 2018.

According to Suara Papua, Papua Police Chief, Paulus Waterpauw, said the circulation of firearms and ammunition remained a serious concern for the security forces, especially in the Papua Regional Police.

The military or TNI has also recognised the pattern. In February, a military court in Jayapura jailed three TNI members for hvaing supplied ammunition to armed criminal groups in Papua. One of those convicted was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Kogeya said he bought ammunition and weapons from the TNI and Police because that was their way of accessing food while posted in Papua.

He explained that usually the security forces connect with the Liberation Army for the arms sales by communicating through subordinates in the field.

After approval by their superiors, the transaction proceeds, Kogeya said.

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https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/07/27/dont-force-special-autonomy-on-us-papuan-priests-say.html

2) Don’t force special autonomy on us, Papuan priests say 

Gemma Holliani Cahya Gemma Holliani Cahya 

The Jakarta Post  

PREMIUM Jakarta   /   Mon, July 27, 2020   /  03:28 pm

A group of 57 Catholic priests from across Papua Island have demanded that the government put a stop to the “forced continuation of special autonomy [Otsus] in Papua”.

The spokesperson of the group, John Bunai, a Catholic priest from the Papuan capital Jayapura, urged the government, policymakers and local administrations in a press conference last week to evaluate how the Otsus Law is enforced and to assess whether it has helped improve the lives of Papuans.

The law on special autonomy in Papua and West Papua provinces was passed in 2001 during the administration of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri to guarantee Papuans the right to manage their own region politically, economically and culturally. It also stipulates the allocation of special autonomy funds, valid for 20 years.

As the funding will stop next year, the House of Representatives has included deliberation of Papua’s special autonomy status in this year’s National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list – the bill of which was proposed under the government’s initiative. Home Minister Tito Karnavian said the government was considering extending Papua’s special autonomy status, as reported by kompas.com.

In January, Tito urged lawmakers to immediately deliberate the bill on the grounds that the Otsus fund would accelerate Papua’s development and help resolve the issue of discrimination in the province.

“What the government has forced [on Papua] are [special autonomy] funds. But what Papuans need is not simply funds; they instead need their lives, education, safety, health and welfare. That’s what they need, not billions of [rupiah],” John told The Jakarta Post on Friday evening.

Read also: 'They label us with degrading prejudices': How Papuan students deal with everyday racism

John said the group of priests was not affiliated with any political organization and that their sole purpose was only to fight for humanity and truth because they, as native Papuans, had witnessed a long history of violence against indigenous Papuans over the years.

While some Catholic priests, such as the late Neles Tebay, had become prominent voices urging dialogue between Jakarta and Papuan people, this is the first time the indigenous priests have formed a group to voice their aspirations.

John said the idea to join hands and speak out first came last year, not long after protests and riots broke out in several cities in Papua as a response to racial abuse in Malang and Surabaya.

“If we [the Catholic priests] stay quiet while our people cry, hurt and are killed, then it seems as if we support the violence. We must speak up. […] These are the people that God has entrusted to us,” John said.

The group of priests is urging the government to open up peaceful dialogue between Papua and Jakarta with the presence of a neutral third party.

“The government did that with the Free Aceh Movement [GAM] in Aceh years ago. They should have also done that with Papuans,” John said.

The group also said the government should consider giving Papuans a referendum to determine their own faith as a “transformative resolution” if the government could not solve conflicts in Papua.

Read also: Govt may deploy more troops in Papua, Minister says

Human rights activists and researchers have called on the government to listen to these priests, as well as other organizations in Papua that have voiced similar demands.

"'Dialogue is the path to justice and peace' – I think that’s the message these Papuan priests want to send. And their voice represents the grassroots communities,” Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Cahyo Pamungkas told the Post on Saturday. "[What has been happening in Papua] is a serious issue, and their aspirations should be heard."

Cahyo said the Catholic priests were deconstructing the government narrative that special autonomy had brought benefits to Papua.

“That’s how the government sees it, from a Jakarta point of view. […] While for Papuans, they see much political violence. Human rights abuses are still happening during the implementation of special autonomy,” Cahyo said. “Public services, especially in rural areas, are also still difficult to access despite the special autonomy.”

Amiruddin Al Rahab, a commissioner at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said that the priests’ demands could push the government to take human rights issues in Papua more seriously. “But only if the government gets the message,” Amir told the Post.

More and more organizations and communities in Papua have voiced their opposition to the continuity of the special autonomy status, with the latest coming from a movement of 16 groups called Petisi Rakyat Papua.

Read also: Papuan groups voice opposition to special autonomy status

Many opposing the Otsus believe that the fund, which has been distributed since 2002 to support Papua’s development, has failed to grow the region’s economy. To date, the government has reportedly allocated around Rp 126 trillion (US$8.7 billion) in Otsus funds for both Papua and West Papua province. 

Despite the large sum, the poverty rate in Papua remains high. The latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show Papua and West Papua were the two provinces with the highest poverty rates in the country last year, with Papua at 27.53 percent and West Papua at 22.17 percent.

The Home Ministry’s regional autonomy director general, Akmal Malik, declined to comment on criticism over Papua's special autonomy status, saying only that critics were entitled to their opinions.

"Just wait for the deliberation [of the Otsus bill]," Akmal told the Post, refusing to disclose any details about the future of Papua’s special autonomy.

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1) Why Indonesia’s human rights advocacy at the United Nations is often inconsistent and half-hearted

2) More armed Papuan rebels declare allegiance to Motherland

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https://theconversation.com/why-indonesias-human-rights-advocacy-at-the-united-nations-is-often-inconsistent-and-half-hearted-143005?fbclid=IwAR0ROY4ms0Z_S8MvLhaUEdOga5DLqEq_XX3RBJDTDUisOyjZVvhrVVuDAPE

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

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(Note. not unusual to see similar stories one or twice a year as a propaganda exercise) 

https://en.antaranews.com/news/153074/more-armed-papuan-rebels-declare-allegiance-to-motherland

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.

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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.

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By Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf