Saturday, September 25, 2021

1) Some 11 other residents of Kiwirok evacuated to Oksibil



2) Indonesian Minister Assures PON Papua Security 

3) Ministry readies PON information centers for journalists 
4) Extract from report of Human Rights Council relating to human
rights workers in Papua
———————————————

1) Some 11 other residents of Kiwirok evacuated to Oksibil  
15 minutes ago
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Some 11 residents of Kiwirok were evacuated from the sub-district to Oksibil, Pegunungan Bintang District, Papua, amid security threats due to the recent Papuan armed group's ambush on the sub-district.

Papua Police's Director for Criminal Investigation Agency Senior Commissioner Faizal Rahmadani informed ANTARA in Jayapura that the flight, carrying 11 Kiwirok residents, arrived in Oksibil at 9:00 local time (UTC +9). Three children are among the eleven evacuated civilians, he added.

The police has currently registered and examined the health of the evacuated residents after having endured prolonged ambush and harassment by the Papuan armed group at their home in Kiwirok Sub-district.


Related news: Minister condemns armed group's attack on Kiwirok's healthcare workers

Senior Commissioner Rahmadani pointed at the likelihood of more residents being evacuated, yet the final decision on the evacuation would be taken later.

"I have returned to Jayapura, and the current evacuation process would be overseen by the Pegunungan Bintang Police," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Pegunungan Bintang Police Head Adjunct Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito confirmed that more residents of Kiwirok would be evacuated to ensure their safety from the Papuan armed criminal group.

"We will prioritise women and children for the first evacuation flights. We hope the evacuation process would be smooth and safe," Sukarnito remarked.

The decision to evacuate civilians from Kiwirok Sub-district was taken after the region came under attack, and the residents were terrorized by the Lamek Tablo-led separatist Papuan armed criminal group on Monday (Sept 13).


Related news: Ensure fulfilment of rights of Kiwirok attack victims: LPSK

During their terror attactsh to Kiwirok Sub-district, the criminals attacked health workers in the Kiwirok public health centre, resulting in the death of a health worker assaulted by the group and injuries to several others.

Apart from attacking the health workers, the Papuan terrorists also torched the Kiwirok public health centre, public elementary school, and Papuan Regional Development Bank office.

Before mounting terror attacks on Kiwirok, the separatist group had earlier set some backhoes, used for the Oksibil-ToweHitam road construction work, on fire to avenge the arrest of two group members, who had attempted to smuggle five firearms into Papua from PNG on Thursday (Sept 2).


Related news: Mahfud MD confident of Papua PON being held smoothly, safely

Related news: Sports Minister to shift base to Papua during PON

Reporter: Evarukdijati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf



-------------------------


2) Indonesian Minister Assures PON Papua Security 
Translator: Non Koresponden   
Editor: Laila Afifa 
25 September 2021 12:08 WIB 

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs, Mahfud Md, hoped the National Sports Week in Papua or PON Papua and National Para Games or Papernas XVI could be successful and run safely.

He said that the government had prepared a number of security measures. "We're trying the best to close the slightest opportunity of possible disorder," said the minister as quoted by Antara on Saturday, September 25.

Responding to the security disruption in several areas in Papua, Mahfud asked the public to remain calm. He said that the situation in four clusters where the games will be held is safe, so far. The four clusters include Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Mimika Regency, and Merauke.

He asserted that the government had built a strong coordination with all regions that send their contingents. "I hope everyone stays calm and supports to success PON Papua. The security, technical, and facilities have been prepared properly," Mahfud Md remarked.


President Jokowi is scheduled to open Papua PON XX on October 2, 2021.

Read: Papua PON: 1,500 Military, Police Personnel to be Deployed in Mimika

Antara


——————————————

3) Ministry readies PON information centers for journalists 
 22 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has readied telecommunication networks and information center facilities (media centers) for journalists covering the 20th National Sports Week (PON XX) in Papua.

"We have readied a media center in these three clusters to facilitate journalists to take photos and videos and for writing to cover the implementation of Papua PON XX," Minister of Communication and Informatics Johnny G. Plate remarked during his working visit to Jayapura, capital of Papua province, as cited from a press release, Thursday.

The media centers are spread across the three districts of Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke, under the Directorate General for Public Information and Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

Those facilities will support content production pertaining to implementation of the Papua PON in October. The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has readied 100 LAN network cables for those information centers.

Related news: Kominfo, BAKTI coordinate IT infrastructure readiness for Papua Games

Plate stated that the provision of media centers to support the Papua PON is part of the development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, which is one of his ministry's tasks in expediting digital transformation.

The development of ICT infrastructure in Papua and West Papua has been conducted on a massive scale. Hence, results of the development can be utilized to support the implementation of the XX 2021 PON, which is the nation's most prominent sports event.

"Specifically, construction of the last mile or Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) spread throughout Papua both in the marine and mountainous areas," the minister noted.

Through the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics has built as many as 213 4G BTS towers in Papua and 244 4G BTS towers in West Papua during the 2015-2020 period.

The development of telecommunications infrastructure in Papua and West Papua is currently still ongoing this year. The development of ICT infrastructure in all regions in Indonesia is targeted for completion in 2022.

Related news: Nestle Milo to help publicize Papua PON
Related news: Papua PON exhibition final features 16 PUBG Mobile esports teams  

Reporter: Natisha A, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto


—————————
4) Extract from report of Human Rights Council relating to human
rights workers in Papua

-----------------

Human Rights Council

Forty-eighth session

13 September–1 October 2021 

Agenda items 2 and 5

Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of 
the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

Human rights bodies and mechanisms

              Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights*, **

                   Report of the Secretary-General 

 

Indonesia

70.     It was reported to OHCHR that individuals and communities were threatened, harassed and surveilled by State and non-State actors for cooperation and sharing of information with the UN, in particular on indigenous communities and land-related rights. Past incidents were not included in previous reports due to a fear of further reprisals.

71.     Special procedures mandate holders addressed the criminalization and intimidation of human rights defenders in the Papua and West Papua provinces (IDN 2/2020), including Mr. Wensislaus Fatubun, adviser of the Papuan People’s Assembly, who regularly provides documentation, testimony and analyses to the UN.  They also addressed the case of Mr. Yones Douw, a member of the indigenous Me tribe, who documents alleged violations in West Papua (IDN 2/2020), and who was targeted for reporting to OHCHR.

72.     It was reported to OHCHR that journalist Mr. Victor Mambor and human rights lawyer Ms. Veronica Koman (IDN 7/2019)[1] faced threats, harassment and intimidation for their reporting on West Papua and Papua provinces, including to UN human rights mechanisms, and for attending UN meetings for which they were questioned by security forces.  

73.     It was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Victor Yeimo, spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee, was arrested in May 2021 and accused of inciting riots and treason following, inter alia, his call for self-determination of the Papuan people at the Human Rights Council in March 2019.[2]  

74.     On 12 August 2021, the Government responded.   

 

Indonesia

43.     OHCHR has received reports of individuals and communities targeted for cooperation and sharing information with the UN.  Previous incidents have not been included in the annual report of the Secretary-General due to concerns that once an individual or organization is seen or perceived as cooperating with OHCHR or UN human rights mechanisms, this exposure can lead to further harm.  Individuals cooperating with the UN have reportedly been subject to threats, harassment and surveillance by government, non-State and private actors, including business enterprises, and local political actors, especially those individuals reporting on indigenous communities and land-related rights such as extractive, infrastructure, and agribusiness projects. 

44.     On 26 June 2020, special procedures mandate holders addressed concerns about the criminalization and intimidation of human rights defenders in the Papua and West Papua provinces (IDN 2/2020).[3]  In particular, they drew attention to the alleged intimidation against Mr. Wensislaus Fatubun, human rights defender and advisor for human rights of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), who regularly provides documentation, testimony and analyses on human rights issues in West Papua to the UN. In March 2017, Mr. Fatubun cooperated with the Special Rapporteur for the right to health during his visit to Papua.  According to information received, on 6 October 2019, personal details were posted about Mr. Fatubun and his family on Facebook, accusing him of affiliation with an armed separatist group, Free Papua Movement.  In October 2019, police officers from the Tomohon City Police Precinct and two members of the Indonesian Military Command in Manado, questioned family members about his work. 

45.     Mr. Fatubun submitted a complaint to the commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) (IDN 2/2020), which has raised concerns with local authorities, but as of May 2021, surveillance has reportedly continued and no action has been taken.  On 17 November 2020, it was reported to OHCHR that 84 people, including Mr. Fatubun, were arrested by Merauke Police ahead of a series of public consultations organized by the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) to discuss the Special Autonomy Law (OTSUS or Otonomi Khusus bagi Provinsi Papua).  He was reportedly questioned about his advocacy and engagement with international mechanisms and released the following day (IDN 2/2020).

46.     Mr. Yones Douw, a  member of the indigenous Me tribe, has been investigating, documenting and advocating against alleged human rights violations in West Papua for over ten years (IDN 2/2020), including with the UN.  It was reported to OHCHR that he has been targeted in relation to documentation and reporting of alleged violations to OHCHR.  On 7 December 2019, two members of the Maleo regiment of Kopassus, the special forces division of the Indonesian military, reportedly visited Mr. Douw at his home in the town of Nabire in Papua province and questioned him about his family life, human rights work and the work of other human rights defenders in Nabire. In particular, the military officers asked Mr. Douw if he planned to hold a public assembly for International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2019. Following that, Mr. Douw has reportedly been monitored and followed by unidentified individuals wearing motorcycle helmets to conceal their identities (IDN 2/2020).  

47.     On 9 July 2020, the Government responded,[4] affirming the right to peaceful protest in Indonesia and rejecting the allegations.  Regarding the complaint by Mr. Fatubun to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Government noted that it contacted the Commission to seek clarification but that no petition had been received in this regard and that no domestic grievance mechanism had been used or exhausted.

48.     It was reported to OHCHR that additional members of civil society faced threats, harassment and intimidation for their reporting on the situation in West Papua and Papua provinces.  This included engaging with OHCHR, such as providing documentation of alleged violations to UN human rights mechanisms or attending UN meetings, for which they were questioned on multiple occasions by security forces, including police, military, and intelligence.  Specifically, there have been reported acts of harassment, intimidation and threats against journalist Mr. Victor Mambor, affiliated with the newspaper Tabloid Jubi and The Jakarta Post, and human rights lawyer to Papuans, Ms. Veronica Koman (see IDN 7/2019[5]). 

49.     Ms. Koman has provided legal support to Mr. Victor Yeimo, a human rights activist in West Papua who is the international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat/KNPB).  Mr. Yeimo had been on the Papua police wanted list (no. LP/317/IX/RES.1.24/2019/Direskrimum of 5 September 2019), reportedly targeted for a statement made during the 2019 anti-racism protests in Papua and West Papua Provinces, where he joined in calling for a referendum on independence. Ms. Koman and another lawyer had submitted appeals to special procedures in 2019 regarding the alleged excessive use of force by security forces, arbitrary arrests, and detention of peaceful protestors following the anti-racism violence in September 2019.  It was reported to OHCHR that, on 9 May 2021, Mr. Yeimo was arrested without a warrant and is being charged under the Penal Code, inter alia, accused of incitement (to riots) and treason.  It was reported to OHCHR that on 10 May 2021, the Papua Inspector General of the Papua Province Police, in explaining the crimes allegedly committed, made reference to calls by Mr. Yeimo for self-determination of the Papuan people at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2019.[6]

50.       On 12 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report, affirming their position condemning intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN, including human rights defenders, which they noted they had made clear during the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council. The Government rejected that the arrest of Mr. Yeimo was related to his cooperation with the UN, including the Human Rights Council in 2019, stating that his case strictly concerns his alleged involvement in the incitement of mass riots of Jayapura, Papua Province on 19 August 2019 and his advocacy for separatism and secession for which


                        *   Late submission to take into account the latest developments and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

                       **   The annexes to the present report are circulated as received, in the language of submission only.

                        [1]   https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34873.

                        [2]   https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15al6ps0l.

                        [3]   https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35417.

                        [4]   https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35417.

                        [5]   https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34873.

                        [6]   Item 4, General Debate, 32nd Meeting, 40th Regular Session Human Rights Council, at https://media.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15al6ps0l (time stamp 02:14:03).



--------------------------------

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)