1) Church leaders ask Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot

2) US to continue to strengthen defense cooperation with Indonesia  

3) Anti-racism expression and referendum demand not treason, says expert witness in Viktor Yeimo’s trial

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/church-leaders-ask-papuan-rebels-to-free-nz-pilot/100815

1) Church leaders ask Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot

The separatist group is using Philip Mehrtens, taken hostage on Feb. 7, to bargain with western-led international community

By UCA News reporter Published: March 28, 2023 11:32 AM GMT

Church leaders in Indonesia’s Papua province have asked the separatist group to release a New Zealand pilot, held hostage for nearly two months to garner international support for the Papuan independence movement.

"This act of hostage-taking cannot be justified by traditional norms and the Christian faith that we recognize as a guide in today's life," said an open letter issued by Papua Church Council on March 27. 

Philip Mark Mehrtens, 37, a pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, has been held hostage by the West Papua Liberation National Army – Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) since Feb. 7 in Nduga Regency in Papua Highlands. 

The Church council said the delay in releasing Mehrtens will give the Indonesian government legitimacy to deploy more troops in Papua and to set up more security bases in the region.

The Church leader said they were worried about the pilot's condition as attempts by the Indonesian government to free the pilot, including through diplomatic routes involving New Zealand, failed. 

On its part, New Zealand has sent three diplomats to monitor the search for the pilot.

"We demand that this inhumane treatment stop. Remember, Christ is present in weak people, namely those who are naked, poor and those who are in prison," the council said.

The rebels stormed Mehrtens' single-engine plane, carrying five passengers, in the remote Nduga district. The plane was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers. The rebels released the passengers because they were indigenous Papuans and later burnt the plane.

The rebels sent videos and photos to the Associated Press that showed them setting fire to the plane on the runway. Flying is the only practical mode of transport in many parts of the mountainous Papua province.

Taking Mehrtens hostage has caused panic among residents in many districts who have fled their homes, fearing the possibility of an armed conflict between security forces and the separatists.

Those who are displaced are suffering from shortages of essential items. We ask Egianus Kogoya, TPNPN-OPM leader, “to release the pilot so that these people can return” to their homes, the Council said.

Father John Bunay, head of the Jayapura Diocese's commission for justice and peace, told UCA News on March 28 that this crisis should best be resolved by promoting dialogue and "putting weapons aside."

"It would be wise if the Indonesian government withdrew its troops in the effort to free this pilot” and involve other parties as mediators. The president “can announce a humanitarian pause," he said.

"Religious leaders can also be involved in establishing direct communication," the priest added.

A former Dutch colony, Papua declared independence in 1961, but Indonesia annexed the territory soon. An independence referendum that followed was widely manipulated in favor of Indonesia. Since then, a low-level insurgency is lingering in the mineral-rich easternmost province. 

The conflict has risen recently with dozens of rebels, security forces and civilians killed. President Joko Widodo has initiated many pro-people programs to tame the rebels.

In a video statement, Sebby Sambon, spokesperson for TPNPB-OPM, stated the pilot would not be released until New Zealand and other countries such as Australia, the United States and European Union stop arming the Indonesian police against Papuans.

"On that basis, the pilot will be a guarantee for the United Nations, Europe, America and Australia” to speak, he said.

In another video, Mehrtens read out a statement that asked foreign pilots not to fly to Papua until it becomes independent.

He also urged the United Nations to become a mediator. 

"[They]... will release me after Papua becomes independent," he said in the video.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/276801/us-to-continue-to-strengthen-defense-cooperation-with-indonesia

2) US to continue to strengthen defense cooperation with Indonesia  

13 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) - US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim met with Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Admiral Yudo Margono on Monday (March 27).

Ambassador Kim expressed the US' commitment to continued strengthening and expansion of the already strong US-Indonesian bilateral security and defense ties, according to a written statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kim and Admiral Margono engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on the US-Indonesia defense cooperation, including on preparations for Super Garuda Shield 2023, for which planning is on track for a summer 2023 execution.

The two met earlier at the arrival ceremony for the C130J aircraft held at the Halim Air Force Base on March 8, 2023.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi had earlier met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in early March on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, India, to discuss regional and global security challenges.

"We (Indonesia and the US) are strategic partners, so we are excited to work with you, both on urgent bilateral issues and global issues," Minister Marsudi remarked.

At the meeting, Foreign Minister Marsudi and Secretary Blinken also highlighted cooperation between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN and on Indonesia's leadership in the region.

According to Blinken, this year is a good opportunity to compare notes on the G20, ASEAN, and the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the United States in various aspects of mutual interest and concern.

Marsudi and Blinken also discussed various security challenges, including the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

Related news: US Counselor to discuss regional, bilateral issues with RI, Thailand
Related news: Indonesia, US announce partnership on SMR nuclear clean energy
Related news: RI, US ink MoU to catalyze investments, promote economic development  

Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Sri Haryati

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https://en.jubi.id/anti-racism-expression-and-referendum-demand-not-treason-says-expert-witness-in-viktor-yeimos-trial/

3) Anti-racism expression and referendum demand not treason, says expert witness in Viktor Yeimo’s trial

 News Desk - Viktor Yeimo's Treason Trial 

28 March 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura District Court on Monday, March 27, 2023, held another trial of treason against the International Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Viktor Yeimo. In the hearing, expert witnesses presented by Yeimo’s side, Herlambang Wiratraman and Cahyo Pamungkas said that anti-racism expression and referendum demands were not treason.

The alleged treason case originated from the anti-racism protest against racial slurs directed at Papuan students at the Kamasan III Papuan Student Dormitory in Surabaya on August 16, 2019. Yeimo was charged with treason for allegedly leading the protests that took place in Jayapura City on August 19 and 29, 2019.

The case was first registered at the Jayapura District Court on August 12, 2021. The trial is now led by a panel of judges chaired by Mathius with member judges Andi Asmuruf and Linn Carol Hamadi.

In Monday’s hearing, law lecturer Herlambang Wiratraman of Gadjah Mada University was examined as an expert on human rights and democracy. Herlambang said the expression of anti-racism and the political expression demanding referendum could not be called treason, as freedom of expression was guaranteed in Indonesian and international law.

Herlambang said that freedom of expression was a human right protected by the state. The state is responsible to carry out efforts to promote human rights.

“This responsibility is stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ratified through Law No. 12/2005 which mandates the responsibility of the state to respect, protect and fulfill Human Rights Obligations in Freedom of Expression,” Herlambang said in court.

Herlambang also stated that racism was unacceptable, therefore protest against racism was an important part of the life of the nation and could not be called treason.

He further said that political expression for self-determination was part of human rights. “There is no violation of the law in conveying political expression,” he said.

According to him, referendum demands are one form of constitutional change known and recognized in state administration in Indonesia. He cited the referendum held in East Timor on August 30, 1999 facilitated by then Indonesian President B.J. Habibie.

“The referendum expression is not treason because it is carried out democratically, and solidarity is an expression guaranteed in Indonesian and international law. Political expression cannot be associated with treason,” Herlambang said.

In line with Herlambang, Cahyo Pamungkas, who was presented as an expert on conflict resolution in Papua, reminded that enforcement against anti-racism protester would not solve the conflict in Papua, rather it would fuel Papuan people’s determination to fight the state as they already distrust and resent the Indonesian government.

“This trial is only causing new problems, adding the resentment of the Papuan people and activists toward the Indonesian government,” Cahyo said.

The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has identified four root causes in Papua conflict. Cahyo said these roots must be resolved through a peaceful dialogue, and not by criminalizing activists like Viktor Yeimo.

The current Papua conflict, said Cahyo, was a continuation of the conflict that occurred in the past. In other words, it is an expression of disappointment from the Papuan people towards unfair distribution of resources in Papua, development inequality, and prolonged poverty among Papuans.

The disappointment arises because of various forms of political violence experienced by Papuans, including the stigmatization of Papuans as separatists and other forms of discrimination and racism. “Anti-racism protests like the one attended by Viktor Yeimo were merely conveying the people’s disappointment,” he said. (*)

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