Australian West Papua Association (Sydney)
Statement 4 June 2022
AWPA condemns harsh sentences on defendants in the Kisor attack
Will PM Albanese raise the human rights situation in West Papua?
Six defendants on trial for the attack on the Kisor Military Post in Maybrat Regency West Papua, were sentenced to between 18 and 20 years in prison on the 31 May.
Three of the defendants are minors. From the beginning of the trial the defendants’ legal advisory team has stated that three of the defendants are minors and requested that all three be tried in a juvenile court. However, the panel of judges denied their request.
From FB Posting 30 September 2021
The Kisor military post was attacked on the 2 September 2021 by an armed group resulting in 4 soldiers killed.
The resulting security force operation in the hunt for the attackers caused over 3000 people (approximately 500 were children) to flee from over 50 villages in the area, in fear for their lives.
A number of reports raised concern about the conduct of the trial.
The defendants were transferred from Sorong to Makassar without their family members being informed. It also made providing them with legal representation more difficult. They were given the name "Sorong Six” because of their transfer from Sorong.
But there are doubts about how fair the trial has been. The accused were subjected to beatings and torture.
A campaign video by TAPOL, LBH Kaki Abu, and LBH Makassar, called for the release of the six political prisoners from Sorong.
Video. Sorong Six: Tortured Repeatedly, Transported Secretly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yESnGa2GmVA
Annual Leaders’ Meeting with President Widodo in Jakarta.
Joe Collins of AWPA said," our new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting Indonesia on the 5 June for the Annual Leaders’ Meeting with President Widodo. He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong and a number of ministers including Australian business leaders”.
"Although regional security, trade and defence ties will be the priority in the talks, it is hoped that the human rights situation in West Papua will also be raised in the meetings. For too long West Papua seems to be a “no go area"in talks with the Indonesian Government.”
“We are continually told we have a special relationship with Indonesia. The Prime Minister should urge Jakarta to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the territory. Thats what the West Papuans want."
The issue of West Papua is not going away as the protests in Jayapura showed yesterday.
Thousands of protestors took to the streets yesterday (3 June) to protest Jakarta's a plan to create new provinces and against the special autonomy status. There were a number of arrests and some demonstrators were beaten.
(From Jub). Crowds of action from all points gathered on the volleyball field at the Nduga Abepura Student Dormitory - Jubi Hengky Yeimo
Ends
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Update SBS News
FB link.
National Action 3 June 2022 Rejects DOB Revocation of Special Autonomy Volume II× Referendum yes✓
https://fb.watch/dsMmGUvSvd/
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Below is a google translate from Amnesty Indonesia in regard to demonstrations in West Papua on the 3 June
Original Bahasa link at
Juni 3, 2022 11:58 am
Repeated use of excessive force against peaceful protests demonstrates disregard for OAP's voice
Indigenous Papuans (OAP) who express their opinions in peaceful protests are, again, subject to repression, violence and excessive use of police force, Amnesty International Indonesia and Amnesty International Australia said today.
“Indigenous Papuans have the right to peacefully protest government policies without fear of being arrested or receiving violence,” said Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director, Usman Hamid. “These repeated incidents show that the state does not respect the voice of indigenous Papuans.”
On Friday, June 3, peaceful demonstrations protesting the central government's plan to split the provinces of Papua and West Papua into new autonomous regions (DOB) were held in various cities in Papua including Yahukimo, Paniai, Nabire, and Jayapura. Activists, human rights defenders and indigenous Papuans have voiced their concern that the new province will be an excuse for the central government to send more troops to Papua as each province in Indonesia is required to have its own regional military and police command areas.
According to information from local human rights defenders, at least 11 protesters in Jayapura were injured after the police forcibly dispersed a demonstration in Waena Village, including two students who were bleeding allegedly by the beating of rattan sticks by the police. At the time this article was written, dozens of protesters in Jayapura and at least 22 protesters in Nabire were detained by the police.
Previously, on May 10, 2022, protesters who were holding a similar demonstration against the DOB were confronted by the police using batons and water cannons. Seven Papuan activists, including KontraS Papua staff, were also arrested on the same day. They were later released without charge, but police said they were being investigated for alleged violations of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE) for spreading online invitations to participate in demonstrations.
On March 15, two protesters in Yahukimo were shot dead by police.
"Today's demonstrations and the treatment of the police are just one of many other incidents that show how the voices and concerns of indigenous Papuans are not being heard, let alone accommodated," said Amnesty International Australia National Director Sam Klintworth.
Last year, peaceful protests against the revision of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua and West Papua, which became the basis for the formation of the new autonomous regions, were also met with disproportionate force from the security forces.
On July 14, 2021, at least four students were injured in Jayapura after clashes with security forces. Police reportedly beat protesters with their hands, firearms and rubber batons.
On July 15, police forcibly dispersed protesters in front of the House of Representatives building in Jakarta. At least 50 people were arrested. One protester recounted that he was beaten, stepped on, and received racist insults from security forces, before being pulled into a truck and taken to the Polda Metro Jaya office. On August 16, during another demonstration in Jayapura, protesters used water cannons and rubber batons to disperse protesters.
"The Indonesian government claims to want to 'build' Papua and provide welfare for Papuans," said Usman. "But how can Papuans prosper if their efforts to express their opinions and aspirations are responded to with violence."
"We urge the Indonesian authorities to release all those detained simply for demonstrating peacefully," Klintworth said. "Police must also carry out prompt, independent and impartial investigations into allegations of excessive use of force and take steps to ensure that similar incidents do not recur."
Amnesty International recognizes that law enforcement officials often face complex situations in the performance of their duties, but they must ensure full respect for the rights to life, liberty and security of all people, including those suspected of committing crimes.
The use of violence and firearms has a direct impact on the right to life, which is protected by Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Indonesia as a state party is obliged to comply with. Therefore, the use of force must be in accordance with strict human rights protections as provided for in the United Nations Code of Ethics for Law Enforcement Officials (1979) and the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990). The use of force by law enforcement officials in Indonesia is further regulated by the National Police Chief Regulation on the Use of Force in Police Actions (No. 1/2009). Article 19 of the ICCPR also protects the right to freedom of expression, including the right to protest.
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