Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
AWPA Update No 4/ 2023
25 June 2023
There has been no improvement in the human rights situation in West Papua. The New Zealand Pilot Phillip Mehrtens continues to be the main story on West Papua in much of the mainstream media. A few of the articles/opinion pieces below.
Papuan churches call on Indonesia's Jokowi to halt military ops in West Papua for Mehrtens' safety
12 June 2023 Finau Fonua, RNZ Pacific Journalist
The West Papuan Council of Churches says Kiwi hostage Phillip Mehrtens' life is in danger if negotiations do not take place with the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB). The Council is calling on Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to cease military operations in West Papua and seek dialogue with TPNPB. Chief moderator Reverend Benny Giay said they are sending a letter to President Widodo. Since the kidnapping of Kiwi Pilot Phillip Mehrtens in February by TPNPB commander Egianus Kogoya, violence has escalated between the Indonesian Army and the guerrilla TPNPB, with both sides reporting military and civilian casualties as a result. "Egianus Kogoya could shoot the pilot," Rev Giay said.
"In order to stop that, the Indonesian government has to take a peaceful approach," he said. "We are asking the Indonesian president to withdraw the military and to allow the church to go in and to dialogue with the TPNPB for the release of the pilot." "We know that the TPNPB leader has proposed a kind of peaceful talk, but the government has not responded, and we are asking this through our letter, the TPNPB have proposed a peaceful talk...so why can't you [President Widodo] take it?" Rev Giay said. But Indonesian authorities say they are pursuing a peaceful dialogue to the crisis.
Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Admiral Yudo Margono told local reporters in Sulawesi last week that they were being cautious. Indonesia news agency Detikcom reported Admiral Margono saying on June 7: "We still prioritise [negotiations] carried out by religious leaders, community leaders and PJ regents there," he said. "If we prioritise operations with the military, of course, there will be many negative impacts on public safety," he added. It was a message repeated late last month by Papua Police chief Mathius Fakhiri. "I talked to various parties about this negotiation process including the Church which includes the Church Council and the Bishop who will do as much as possible to negotiate with the Egianus Kogoya group to be able to release the pilot he carried," Fakhiri told Detikcom on 25 May. "I opened myself to all parties, from the beginning, namely the Nduga government in collaboration with the Chief of Police and then there were also parties from Komnas HAM who offered themselves and we accepted," Fakhiri added.
Church leader claims Indonesia 'not taking us seriously'
However, Reverend Giay said the church cannot mediate a dialogue unless the Indonesia military ceases its operations. "The Papuan Police chief has agreed that a church agreement should go in and talk with Egianus...but that means the military has to be withdrawn from the area but that has not been done yet," Rev Giay said. "As of now, I cannot guarantee anything about church involvement because as of now the government is not taking us seriously," he claimed. Both Indonesia's military and TPNPB have confirmed shootouts in the Nduga Regency of the remote highlands of Papua. Indonesian authorities have confirmed the deaths of four Indonesian soldiers as a result of the fighting. Reuters reported two weeks ago, the TPNPB released a video of Merhtens saying he would be shot in two months if the groups demands were not met."If they (Indonesia) do not allow the church to go in and mediate, we will conclude that they are involved in the possible death of the pilot," Reverend Giay said "From our discussions here, we think the conditions of the pilot may be worsening. We want to see the pilot...for Egianus to show us that he is okay...that is our first priority."
Mehrtens' welfare 'top priority' for MFAT
According to New Zealand's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, everything is being done to try and seek Mehrtens' release, but the details of this have been limited. The TPNPB maintains that New Zealand has not approached them for a negotiation. "The welfare of the New Zealander at the heart of this situation is our top priority," MFAT told RNZ Pacific in a statement in March. "We are doing everything we can to secure a peaceful resolution and the safe release of the hostage, including working closely with the Indonesian authorities and deploying New Zealand consular staff." Reverend Giay said Wellington needs to pressure Jakarta into ceasing its military operations. "New Zealand Government and the international community has to pressure the Indonesia government and military to seek a peaceful dialogue." "That is only possible if the Indonesian military withdraws," he added.
AL JAZEERA 5 Jun 2023. Photos/video in report
New Zealand pilot kidnapping exposes Indonesia’s Papua ‘hotspot’
West Papuan separatists threaten to shoot New Zealand pilot taken hostage if denied talks
Asia Pacific Report June 4
Wenda calls on Papuan rebels to free NZ pilot ‘unconditionally’
The RedLine June 1st
The Conflict in West Papua: Forgotten or Ignored?
The Conversation June 9
I was involved in talks to free a kidnapped Kiwi pilot in West Papua. With negotiations stalled, what happens now?
Indonesia Refuses International Aid to Free New Zealand Pilot
Tempo Translator Dewi Elvia Muthiariny Editor Mahinda Arkyasa
29 May 2023
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md explained the reason why the government refused international assistance to release New Zealand pilot Captain Philips Max Mehrtens who is being held hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM).
The involvement of international institutions, he argued, will only make the case worse. “We will handle it internally. Our policy is not to involve other countries and this is internal issues. And we can do it whatever the stakes are. International communities are not allowed to join the case,” Mahfud said when met in South Jakarta on Monday, May 29, 2023. If the government receives assistance from international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), then other international institutions will intervene in the case, including even the United Nations (UN). “So, we reject any attempts of international interference offered by NGOs, by international NGOs,” Mahfud underlined.
OPM threatens to shoot Susi Air Pilot in two months
On Friday, May 27, TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom sent a video showing a “visibly emaciated” Mehrtens surrounded by Egianus Kogoya and his fighters. Mehrtens said the rebel group will shoot him if other countries did not urge Indonesia to recognize Papua's independence. In the same video, Kogoya threatens to shoot the New Zealander if Indonesia does not recognize Papua's independence within two months.
The Papuan separatist group has been holding Mehrtens hostage since February 7, 2023, right after the latter landed the Susi Air aircraft with flight number SI 9368 at Paro Airport, Nduga Regency, Pegunungan Papua Province. They ambushed the plane and set it on fire. After releasing the passengers, they took Mehrtens hostage.
The government dispatched the Damai Cartenz Task Force to carry out an operation to rescue the Susi Air pilot. However, the effort came to no avail to date. In April, Mahfud stated that the rescue operation was hampered because the TPNPB-OPM made Philips Max Mehrtens, women, and children as human shields. M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH | EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA
Growing concerns spark calls for evaluation as troop deployment intensifies conflict in Papua
JUBI News Desk - Armed Conflict In Papua 14 June 2023
Coordinator of the Papua Peace Network, Septer Manufandu delivered conflict resolution material in Papua in a public lecture entitled "Is Dialogue Possible in the Middle of Conflict Escalation?" organized by the International Relations Study Program of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Cenderawasih University in Jayapura City on Tuesday (13/6/2023). - Jubi/Theo Kelen
Jayapura, Jubi – The deployment of military troops to Papua has prompted calls for evaluation. The presence of numerous troops has intensified the armed conflict in the region and heightened tensions.
Anum Latifah Siregar, the director of the Democracy Alliance for Papua, stressed the importance of assessing the deployment procedures for these troops.
During a public lecture organized by the International Relations Study Program of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Cenderawasih University, Siregar highlighted that the deployment of troops for military operations other than war has granted the central government the ultimate decision-making power over security policies in Papua. This transfer of authority has implications for the region’s governance and autonomy.
The escalating conflict and the centralization of security policies have raised questions about the feasibility of engaging in constructive dialogue to address the underlying issues. Siregar’s remarks shed light on the complex dynamics at play and the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the troop deployment and its implications for Papua.
According to the Democracy Alliance for Papua, a significant number of security forces with combat and intelligence qualifications, totaling 9,205 individuals, were deployed to Papua in 2022. Among them were 7,850 TNI soldiers and 1,355 police personnel.
As reported by the 2022 Papua Human Rights Commission, there were 10 casualties among TNI soldiers and 14 others who sustained injuries. Additionally, four policemen lost their lives, and three others were injured during the same year. Meanwhile, five members of the TPNPB lost their lives, a total of 39 civilians died, and ten civilians were injured throughout 2022.
Siregar pointed out that the deployment of troops to Papua had not followed the correct procedures thus far. The deployment for military operations other than war should require approval from the House of Representatives. Siregar doubted whether the President as the highest command sought such approval. It appears that this step was omitted. Meanwhile, Septer Manufandu, the coordinator of the Papua Peace Network (JDP), said peaceful dialogue was the most effective approach to resolve the conflict that did not entail sacrificing lives.
Manufandu mentioned that JDP had developed the Jakarta-Papua peace dialogue concept, which had been disseminated in 42 districts in Papua through different approaches. He hoped that all conflicting parties and those impacted by the conflict would support peaceful dialogue as the pathway to resolution.
Internally displaced Papuans traumatized as military presence hinders return to hometowns
Jubi 21 June 2023
Presenters, who are also direct victims of armed conflict, share their stories during the commemoration of World Refugee Day, June 20, 2023 at STT Walter Post, Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua. - Doc Committee for Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – The presence of Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police in conflict-ridden areas of Papua has allegedly caused trauma among internally displaced Indigenous Papuans. The displaced people urge the government to immediately cease military operations and restore their communities to normalcy. These concerns were expressed during a discussion attended by displaced women on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, as part of World Refugee Day commemoration. Raga Kogoya, a displaced woman from Nduga Regency, is currently residing in a camp in Jayawijaya Regency with her four children. Raga, along with thousands of Nduga residents, fled to the forest and eventually sought refuge in Wamena City in December 2018.
The Catholic Church of Kampung Faan Kahrio Middle East Aifat District Maybrat Regency Southwest Papua is occupied by TNI soldiers This photo was taken on April 17 2023 Doc LF for Jubi
She longs to return to her hometown, a sentiment shared by other displaced families. However, their hopes of returning to Nduga have not been fulfilled. “If I could go back home, I would,” said Raga, who hasn’t been able to return since December 2018. “But I have nowhere to live because they burned my house five years ago. Moreover, there are still TNI posts in the area,” she added. Raga admitted that she still carries traumatic memories. The acts of violence committed by TNI soldiers against pregnant women and minors remain vivid in her mind.
These memories, according to Raga, deter them from returning to their hometowns despite the government’s assurance of safety and invitation to return. “We, the Nduga displaced people, will only go back home if the state withdraws the security forces. They are still here today, especially in the Nduga area. They must be withdrawn first. Only then will the people of Nduga feel safe to return home,” she said. Lamberti Faan shares a similar story to Raga’s. The mother of four expressed the immense difficulty she faces in meeting her children’s daily needs.
YPPK Faan Kahrio Elementary School Central East Aifat District Maybrat Regency Southwest Papua is also occupied by TNI soldiers This photo was taken on April 17 2023 Doc LF for Jubi
Following the attack on Kisor Military Post in Maybrat Regency in September 2021, which was succeeded by military operations in five districts of Maybrat, Lamberti has been living with several others in a relative’s house in Sorong Regency. “This situation makes our lives very challenging. We struggle to find food, drink, and even a place to sleep. We have to bear with these difficult conditions,” Lamberti explained. If it were possible for her family to return to their house in Faan Kahrio Village, she would gladly take her children back. Unfortunately, her hopes remain uncertain and
“For now, I am compelled to stay in the evacuation site in Sorong because my house, village, church, and school have been occupied by the TNI as military posts. It is impossible for me to go home as long as soldiers and police still reside in our house, school, and church,” she lamented. Since December 2018, over 5,000 indigenous Papuans have been displaced, seeking refuge in forests and other areas within Papua. Many residents have even sought safety near the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border to avoid the armed conflicts between the TNI-Police and the TPNPB.
Internal displacement of Papuan residents is observed in conflict-affected regions such as Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Yahukimo, Bintang Mountains, and Maybrat. (*)
Deterioration of freedom of expression: Activists raise concerns over repression and arrests of Papuans
Jubi 17 May 2023
Jayapura, Jubi – In a recent online discussion on “Status and Trends of Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Digital Rights in West Papua”, Esther Haluk, a women’s rights activist from GARDA Papua, expressed her concerns about the declining state of freedom of speech in Papua. She noted that there was a growing sense of fear among Papuans who wished to openly voice their opinions due to the government’s response.
Haluk pointed out that the deterioration of freedom of expression in Papua could be traced back to 2019 when large-scale protests erupted in response to instances of racism. She further mentioned that individuals from the Papuan community who participated in these protests were subsequently arrested and imprisoned.
“Some Indonesian people call us monkeys but when we fight against it, we are arrested. We are victims,” Haluk said during the discussion organized by SAFEnet and TAPOL on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
According to Haluk, whenever Papuans exercise their freedom of expression to voice the truth, they are consistently met with opposition from the military and police forces. Haluk shared that she personally experienced being arrested for participating in a peaceful protest in May 2022. However, at the police station she was questioned about her social media posts instead. “So at that time we were taken to the police station not because of the protest but rather due to our social media posts. My Facebook account was hacked three times after I posted some comments on the news,” Haluk explained.
Haluk further emphasized that the policies implemented by the Indonesian government do not align with the wishes of the Papuan people, particularly in relation to the expansion of Papua Province through the establishment of new provinces. However, when Papuans protested against the policy, they were arrested.
“We refuse to accept the policies enforced in Papua because they do not positively impact our lives. We are witnessing ecological destruction that poses a threat to our existence, as well as issues of land appropriation. It is our fundamental right to express ourselves and engage in peaceful protests, yet the government responds by deploying a significant number of military and police personnel to suppress Papuan voices,” Haluk asserted. She further expressed her view that Indonesia, being a democratic nation, should uphold and honor the freedom of expression of Papuans. In Haluk’s perspective, the way the Indonesian government treats Papuans indicates that Papuans are not viewed as a part of Indonesia. “We intended to conduct a peaceful protest, so why did the government resort to sending in the police and military to forcibly disperse us? We were simply exercising our rights, so why the use of such excessive force by the military and police? Based on our experiences as Papuans, it feels as though our rights hold no significance and are not acknowledged within Indonesia,” Haluk stated.
Also speaking in the online forum, Ian Moore of the political resistance campaign TAPOL revealed there were 21 instances of arbitrary dispersals that took place in 2022 according to the Tapol West Papua 2022 report “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly”. Moore highlighted that most of the incidents occurred in Papua Province, particularly in Jayapura. However, similar incidents were also reported in other parts of West Papua, especially in Sorong, and Central Papua. Moore further stated that various police units were involved in the dispersal of peaceful demonstrations in Papua, ranging from standard units to special task forces such as the Nemangkawi Task Force, the Mobile Brigade Corps, and police intelligence agencies Meanwhile, Made Supriatma, a researcher at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said the State continued to oppress Papuans by deploying military forces to deal with their protests. This response, Supriatma added, was excessively brutal and amounts to repression against Papuans.
Supriatma noted that various protests by Papuans indicate a growing sense of nationalism, particularly among the youth in Papua. Therefore, the Indonesian government should engage in dialogue with Papuans to address their concerns and listen to their demands. “Papua has a strong movement, and young Papuans are eager to voice their opinions and participate in protests, even in the face of military repression,” Supriatma said. (*)
Worsening civil liberties in Papua: Calls to cease militaristic approach
News Desk - Human Rights
Jubi 19 May 2023
KontraS dan Amnesty International Chapter Universitas Cenderawasih menyelenggarakan kuliah umum bertajuk “Meninjau Kebebasan Sipil di Papua: Betulkah Dibatasi Demi Kepentingan Jakarta?” di Kota Jayapura pada Rabu (17/05/2023). – Jubi/Theo Kelen
Jayapura, Jubi – In a public lecture organized by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Amnesty International Chapter of Cenderawasih University on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, KontraS coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti said civil liberties in Papua had worsened due to the deployment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police. She emphasized that the Indonesian government should cease using a militaristic approach in Papua.
Maulidiyanti highlighted that, based on KontraS’ analysis, approximately 15,000 TNI and Police officers have been sent to Papua by the end of 2022. These officers were deployed for various purposes, including security operations, suppressing the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), and safeguarding national vital objects.
“In our records, we have observed a significant decline in civil liberties in Papua due to the presence of multiple military operations and policies that have affected the security of the Papuan people,” Maulidiyanti told Jubi after the public lecture.
The presence of the military in Papua has been accompanied by incidents of arbitrary arrests, torture, and the prohibition of demonstrations. According to data compiled by KontraS from October 2019 to December 2022, there were 34 cases of arbitrary arrests, 31 cases of forced dispersal, ten cases of persecution, eight instances of citizen shootings, seven prohibitions of protests, four cases of terror, two cases of intimidation, and one case of criminalization.
Maulidiyanti further argued that the underlying problems in Papua must be addressed through a humane, just, and representative approach. She emphasized that the government should consider the fate and circumstances of the Papuan people, and involve them in decision-making processes.
“The formulation of policies should include the active participation of indigenous Papuan civilians in formal forums to provide recommendations and express the situation and needs of the Papuan people. The ones who can provide answers are the Papuans who have not been consulted by the State,” she said.
Lastly, Maulidiyanti emphasized the need for the government to evaluate the deployment of forces in Papua. Such an evaluation is crucial to determine whether their presence is effective and truly contributes to the well-being of the Papuan people.
“It is essential to examine how military operations, including the deployment of 15,000 personnel, are directly related to the underlying issues faced in Papua and whether they truly have a positive impact on the welfare of Papuans,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yuliana Langowuyo, the Director of the Secretariat of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (SKPKC) Franciscan Papua, highlighted the widespread repression of various actions in Papua by security forces. Langowuyo argued that such repression indicated a discriminatory treatment towards Papuans who wish to express their opinions.
“Freedom of expression in Papua is in a very dire state. Discussions in dormitories, open discussions, peaceful demonstrations, and even academic discussion are consistently disrupted and disbanded,” he said. Langowuyo emphasized that Indonesia, as a democratic nation, should provide a platform for Papuans to freely express their opinions on state policies. The constitution of Indonesia guarantees freedom, including the freedom of expression. However, in practice, Papuans’ freedom to express themselves is consistently met with opposition from security forces
“When we try to speak up about our rights, we are dispersed, we are subjected to violence, and unfortunately, we have come to consider such incidents as normal. This is not normal for a democratic country,” Langowuyo lamented. Additionally, according to Professor Melkias Hetharia, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of Cenderawasih University, the situation in Papua can be attributed to a conflict of interests. Hetharia argued that the repressive actions of the TNI and Police indicated a lack of understanding of the essence of a functioning state. He highlighted an incident involving high school students in Sentani as an example.
Hetharia emphasized that freedom was a fundamental human right. He stated that it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens. “The presence of the state is meant to ensure the welfare and safety of society. The state should never resort to violence against its own people. When the police or the army fail to fulfill their duties professionally, they are in violation of the law,” Hetharia asserted.
“The presence of the state is meant to ensure the safety of society. The state should not resort to violence against its own people. When the police or army fail to fulfill their professional duties, they are in violation of the law,” Hetharia stated.
West Papuan representatives have been lobbying the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders to gain support for West Papua to be a full member of the MSG. A concern to Jakarta who has also been lobbying in the Pacific to counter growing support for West Papua.
7 Regional Executives of the ULMWP Provisional Government Announce Support for MSG Full Membership
June 14, 2023 in Announcements
All seven Regional Executives of the ULMWP Provisional Government, representing the seven customary regions of West Papua, have declared their support for the ULMWP gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
This follows the declaration of political support made by the ULMWP’s Executive, Legislative and Judicative Councils for ULMWP full membership made on 4 June 2023 in Port Numbay, West Papua. ULMWP President Benny Wenda separately announced his support for MSG full membership, stating that “our agenda is now totally focused on consolidating support for full membership”. The entirety of the West Papuan liberation movement stands united behind the shared goal of MSG full membership.
The seven customary regions of West Papua, and the Executives representing them are as follows:
Mamta/Tabi Region – Mr. Beny Yantewo
Saireri Region – Mr. Edison Kendi
Domberay Region – Mr. Markus Yenu
Anim-Ha Region – Mr. Mathias Tambai
Lapago Region – Mr. Herman Kossay
Bomberay Region – Mr. Erik Fimbay
Meepago Region – Mr. Habel Nawipa
The full media release can be found here.
President Wenda calls for all West Papuans to support MSG full membership
June 6, 2023 in Statement
We are at a historic moment for the West Papuan people. At the upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders’ summit, we firmly believe that the Melanesian nations will decide to accept the ULMWP as a full member of the Group. On behalf of the ULMWP, I call on all West Papuans, whether in exile, behind bars, in the bush, or in the refugee camps, to support our application and pray for its success.
At a meeting on Sunday in Jayapura, the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative wings of the ULMWP together launched our campaign for MSG full membership. I welcome their endorsement: with all three branches of the ULMWP speaking, our whole movement stands united in support of this goal. As ULMWP Prime Minister Edison Waromi stated during the meeting, our agenda is now totally focused on consolidating support for full membership……………………………….
https://www.ulmwp.org/president-wenda-calls-for-all-west-papuans-to-support-msg-full-membership
West Papuan ‘provisional’ government backs full membership of MSG
By APR editor - June 6, 2023 Asia Pacific Report
The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua
“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting of thew ULMWP executive in Jayapura last Sunday, West Papua Council chair Buchtar Tabuni said full membership of the MSG would be a “sign of victory” for the Papuan nation seeking to become independent from Indonesia.
“[West Papua] membership in the MSG is our safety [net]. The MSG is one of the UN [recognised] agencies in the Melanesian sub-region, as well as the PIF [Pacific Islands Forum] and others,” he said……………..
Indonesia, Vanuatu pledge closer ties
Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta ● Sat, June 17, 2023
In a move seen as a bid to build a bridge over the troubled waters of the past, Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat on Friday met with his Indonesian counterpart Retno LP Marsudi, becoming the first top envoy from Port Vila to visit Jakarta in over 10 years. During the visit, Vanuatu announced plans to open an embassy in Jakarta and to hold annual bilateral meetings with Indonesia. In addition, the two ministers pledged to strengthen cooperation in trade and development, which experts pointed out were part of Indonesia’s larger strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.
Vanuatu, which is part of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), has established itself as an outspoken country supporting human rights in Papua. It has exchanged barbs with Jakarta on numerous occasions at international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly in 2020 and 2021, over reported violations in Indonesia’s easternmost province. Yet Port Vila has been gradually opening up to Jakarta in recent years, an improvement that analysts have credited to Indonesia’s continuing diplomacy to appease some Pacific Island nations as tensions sharpen due to increasing geopolitical competition in the region....................
https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2023/06/indonesia-vanuatu-pledge-closer-ties.html
President Wenda: More arrests in West Papua as military escalation continues
June 20, 2023 in Statement
As the Melanesian Spearhead Group prepares for its Leaders’ Meeting, Indonesia is once again ramping up its military occupation of Melanesian West Papua.
Nineteen members of the non-violent pro-independence group the KNPB (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, National Committee for West Papua) were taken into custody on June 9th, after holding a peaceful coffee meeting in Tambrauw Regency. Three have now been charged with treason, becoming the latest victims of Indonesia’s Papuan prison state. Their arrests are entirely politically motivated and they must be immediately released. Indonesia is already an outlaw in the Pacific region – it has already disregarded the will of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Organisation of African, Pacific, and Carribean States, along with many other major world powers, by refusing to allow the UN Commissioner for Human Rights access to West Papua. Now they are using the kidnapping of pilot Phillip Merhtens to increase their military presence across our land.
West Papuans have suffered greatly over the past few months due to this military escalation. Civilians in Intan Jaya, Puncak Jaya, and other rural areas are living under martial law, with roaming bands of Indonesian soldiers acting with total impunity. Life in West Papua is now defined by surveillance, torture, and arbitrary arrest.
The arrest of these KNPB members is yet another example of what Indonesia’s military ‘combat alert’ means for West Papua. We are still mourning Tarina Murib, a 35-year-old mother who was murdered and beheaded in Puncak in March. Ms Murib’s family, along with a group of West Papuan lawyers, are demanding justice for this heinous and evil crime.
Ms Murib’s cold-blooded killing prompted a flurry of forced displacement in West Papua, as Puncak residents fled in panic to neighbouring Regencies. News from on the ground in West Papua is that more Indonesian military operations are also being conducted on Yapen Island, following the forced displacement of nearly 100 Papuan civilians there last December. Sadly, these displacements are merely a grain of sand in a storm of Indonesian brutality: around 100,000 West Papuans have been forcibly displaced since 2018. The people of Yapen Island are isolated and peaceful. Yet they are again being violently terrorised by an army famed for its brutality, enforcing an illegal military occupation.
Indonesia realises that the West Papuan issue is not going away – that every political arrest or crackdown only strengthens our resolve. But instead of defusing the situation by withdrawing their military, Indonesia is intensifying their repression. With this new crackdown, Indonesia is once again demonstrating that anyone who peacefully stands up for West Papua is a target.
As President of the ULMWP, I am again calling on Indonesia to allow the UN High Commissioner access to West Papua, along with all foreign journalists and NGOs – also currently barred from entering the territory. I demand the immediate release the three KNPB activists, as well as the West Papuan students arrested in November. I also call for the release of Victor Yeimo, another KNPB leader who has now been imprisoned for close to two years on trumped-up treason charges.
My people are crying out for international help. The world must take notice of this Indonesian escalation and intervene.
Benny Wenda Interim President ULMWP Provisional Government
KNPB activists being taken into custody
Papuan People’s Front demands immediate release of Viktor Yeimo, alleging discrimination and racism in legal proceedings
Jubi 8 June 2023
The Papuan people who are members of the Papuan People's Front Against Racism or RPMR, held a free speech action at the Mimika Dormitory in Perumnas I Waena, Monday (5/6/2023).- IST
Jayapura, Jubi – On Monday, June 5, 2023, members of the Papuan People’s Front Against Racism (RPMR) organized a protest in the courtyard of Mimika Dormitory in Perumnas I Waena, Jayapura City. Various organizations, student groups, and Papuan people in Jayapura City participated in the protest. They demand the immediate and unconditional release of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) international spokesperson charged with treason Viktor Yeimo. Yeimo was tried by the Jayapura District Court upon his alleged involvement in the anti-racism protest in 2019 against racial slurs toward Papuan students in Surabaya. Wene Kilungga, the representative of RPMR, stated that Viktor Yeimo had been a victim of racism and had been unjustly criminalized by the state in order to suppress and limit his political expression, which is protected by the law.
A
ccording to Kilungga, the state’s criminalization of pro-democracy activists restricts their fundamental rights, including the right to criticize, which is an integral part of democratic rights. He emphasized that Viktor Yeimo was only criticizing systemic physical and verbal racism against Papuans that has been ongoing for 60 years.
“In law enforcement, there is a consistent bias against indigenous Papuans, with persistent discrimination. Justice has never been served through the court system,” he stated in a press release received by Jubi editorial. Kilungga argued that Viktor Yeimo’s legal proceedings were unnecessarily prolonged, consisting of 36 trials, and resulted in a highly discriminatory verdict. He believed that, based on the trial facts, Viktor Yeimo should have been acquitted, but instead, the panel of judges sentenced him to eight months in prison. “If we consider the trial facts, Viktor Yeimo should be acquitted in the name of law and justice. However, on May 5, 2023, the judge sentenced him to eight months in prison, minus the time already spent in detention. Therefore, Viktor Yeimo should have been released on May 27, 2023,” he explained.
However, on May 12, 2023, the public prosecutor filed an appeal against the judge’s decision. Consequently, the court issued a letter on May 14, 2023, extending Viktor Yeimo’s detention for an additional 30 days. “Based on the discriminatory legal proceedings that Viktor Yeimo has faced, it is evident that racism is deeply embedded within the system itself,” Kilungga said. Therefore, the Papuan People’s Front Against Racism is calling on the state to cease the criminalization and discriminatory treatment of Viktor Yeimo throughout the legal process conducted by the Jayapura District Court.
“We also demand that the state, through the Jayapura District Court, refrain from further extending Viktor Yeimo’s detention period and immediately release him unconditionally, in accordance with the law and the facts presented during the trial,” he concluded. (*)
The International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) is commemorated annually from 25-31 May.
Protesters call for West Papua to be included on UN ‘decolonisation’ list
By APR editor - May 24, 2023 Asia Pacific Report
An Australian advocacy group has called for West Papua to be reinscribed on the United Nations list of “non self-governing territories”, citing the “sham” vote in 1969 and the worsening human rights violations in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region.
"Unfree flags" . . . Kanaky New Caledonia (from left), West Papuan and Aboriginal banners. Members of the Australia West Papua Association protesting outside Sydney's Leichhardt Town Hall on West Papua Independence Day on 1 December 2022. Image: AWPA
The UN Special Committee on Decolonisation began its 2023 Pacific Regional Seminar in Bali, Indonesia, today and will continue until May 26.
Tomorrow the annual International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories is due to begin tomorrow and will end on May 31………………….
Trial continues for students accused of treason as linguist testifies on Morning Star Flag symbolism
9 June 2023
Jayapura, Jubi – The trial of three students accused of treason continued at the Jayapura District Court on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The defendants, Yoseph Ernesto Matuan, Devio Tekege, and Ambrosius Fransiskus Elopere, were charged with treason for organizing a free speech at the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ) on November 10, 2022, where they raised the Morning Star flags.
During the hearing, linguist Robert Masreng testified as a witness presented by the public prosecutor. He said the Morning Star flags displayed in the event were merely an expression. The students organized a protest to voice opposition against the Papua dialogue plan initiated by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). However, the event was dispersed by the police, resulting in the arrest of several participants. Robert Masreng, a faculty member at Cenderawasih University’s Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, clarified the definitions of treason, independence, Morning Star, conspiracy, and the meanings of writings displayed during the free speech.
Robert said that according to the Indonesian thesaurus dictionary, “treason” refers to engaging in deceitful actions or manipulating others to achieve personal objectives. It can also denote rebellion, expressing a desire to prevent something from happening. Additionally, Robert noted that treason could signify an intention to commit murder.
In court, Robert explained that treason involves deceptive actions, rebellion, and an intention to commit murder. He emphasized that the Morning Star flag is a symbol that gains meaning when it is used for a specific purpose. Without a clear intention behind its use, the flag loses its importance. Robert mentioned that the Morning Star flag is often used as a symbol to express ideas. He emphasized that the meaning of the flag can be understood based on how it is used in different situations, and different people may interpret it in their own unique ways. Furthermore, he clarified the term “independence” by explaining that it represents a perspective of freedom that has a wide-ranging and abstract significance when it is used. The understanding of the word relies on the specific situation and how different people perceive it, especially in relation to the core concept of freedom. Robert explained that this means when someone realizes or expresses themselves, it implies being free from criticism and oppression.
He also provided an interpretation of the chant “referendum yes, dialogue no.” He stated that the chant conveys a decision to the general public without involving parliament. Rejecting dialogue is an expression of the speaker’s unwillingness to engage in a dialogue. Regarding the statement requesting the intervention of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Papua, Robert said it signified that the problems in Papua were not limited to domestic concerns but were matters that should be acknowledged by the international community. “It means an expression of asking the government to be open to the international community, allowing them to enter Papua and observe the dire human rights situations in the region,” he said. (*)
Papua police seeks to tighten control at Indonesia-PNG border
Antara News 9th June 2023
Jayapura (ANTARA) - Papua Regional Police plans to tighten monitoring of illegal paths at several locations in the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border region to support National Police Chief's efforts to tackle and handle human trafficking (TPPO) cases.
Deputy Chief of the Papua Regional Police Brigadier General Ramdani Hidayat stated in Jayapura on Friday that the police will also intensify its coordination to ensure security in the border region. On Thursday (June 8), Hidayat visited the Skouw cross-border post (PLBN) at the Indonesia-PNG border region in Jayapura City. "On Thursday (June 8), we conducted a visit to the border region and sought to strengthen coordination in a bid to eliminate human trafficking practices," he remarked.
During the visit, he said, the regional police conveyed its plan to station its personnel on illegal paths and also to deploy bloodhounds to detect forbidden goods. "The Papua Provincial Police will keep bloodhounds on standby. If we cannot permanently station them, then we will just regularly bring them to the locations in question," he noted. According to Hidayat, two bloodhounds will be dispatched according to the crossing hours on the paths from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Indonesian Standard Time (WIT). "The Papua Police will also provide support by stationing personnel at the Skouw Local Police Station after it is officiated, to form the border sector police, akin to the one formed in Sota, Merauke District," he revealed. Hidayat said the provincial police will station at least 15 officers at the police station. Reporter: Tegar Nurfitra Putra Rofian Editor: Rahmad Nasution
The mine at the centre of West Papua’s colonisation
Learo Earle May 20, 2023 Green Left Issue 1382 West Papua
Background: Grasberg mine in West Papua. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. Foreground: Indonesia's Detachment 88 shock-troops. Photo: AK Rockefeller/Flickr
Grasberg mine — the largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine in the world — is central to the story of West Papua’s colonisation. The mine, in West Papua’s Waa Valley on traditional lands (tanah adat) belonging to the Amungme and Kamora people, is a site of extraction, violence and profit. Understanding Grasberg’s existence involves understanding United States mining company Freeport’s entangled history with former Indonesian President Suharto’s military regime. In their article, “Development, Power, and the Mining Industry in Papua: A Study of Freeport Indonesia”, PA Rifai-Hasan notes that by 1962, the US believed the only permanent solution to avoid Jakarta being “driven into the arms” of the communist bloc was Indonesian control of West Papua.
This set in motion two key events.
First, the US provided support under the New York Agreement of 1962 for the Act of Free Choice (Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat), also known as the “Act of No Choice” — a 1969 plebiscite ceding West Papuan sovereignty to Indonesia following a vote, held under duress, of just 1025 West Papuans. Second, a US-supported coup brought Suharto’s self-described “New Order” regime (Orde Baru) to power in 1967. Having politically secured the “open veins” of West Papua, Suharto’s Orde Baru saw Grasberg as what Macarena Gómez-Barris describes as an “extractive zone” in her book of the same title — a site where the existing life forms exist under the gaze of economically rationalised state and corporate mega-projects.
Freeport and Suharto’s regime agreed to a 30-year contract in 1967 (talks had begun in 1965), which included no obligations to traditional landowners and no environmental regulations. Freeport’s mining operations moved three kilometres in 1988, from the depleted Ertsberg to the current site at Grasberg mountain (then-valued at US$40 billion). The inflow of foreign capital helped stabilise Suharto’s regime in the early years and maintain the dictatorship for three decades.
Profit or livelihoods?
In the cosmology of the Amungme people, Grasberg mountain is the sacred head of their mother and its rivers her milk; to them, Freeport is digging out her heart. By contrast, at an annual meeting in 1997, Freeport CEO James Moffett told shareholders that Freeport’s operations were like taking “a volcano that’s been decapitated by nature, and we’re mining the oesophagus”. The colonial extraction at Grasberg has created huge short-term profits for Freeport, while leaving local communities to deal with the long-term social and ecological effects. As a result, the mine is a centrepiece in the bloody struggle for West Papuan independence; a site of resistance to Freeport and Jakarta’s exploitation.
The Free Papua Movement (OPM) has attacked the mine multiple times, fuelled by outrage over the dispossession, environmental degradation and lack of political participation that underpin Grasberg’s operations. The OPM blew up the main slurry pipe in 1977, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage. In response, the Indonesian military massacred at least 800 people, although other estimates are much higher. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the OPM, recently took New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens hostage to draw international attention to the ongoing colonisation of West Papua. Freeport relies on the Indonesian military to protect its operations — it has spent more than US$20 million every year since 2010 on military and police. This is documented in the company’s euphemistically named “Working Toward Sustainable Development” reports.
International attention has slowly increased following successive human rights reports exposing the military’s intimidation, brutality and torture. The reports and investigations have given locals a platform to voice the impacts of their dispossession, which otherwise goes unheard. Amungme community organiser Yosepha Alomang described the abuse she suffered to the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights in the US House of Representatives in 1999. “I myself have experienced torture at the hands of Indonesia and the giant mining company Freeport,” Alomang said. “I have been kidnapped by security forces ... and carried in a Freeport automobile, and held for one month in a ‘bathroom’ which was full of human faeces.”
Mining waste
Mining at Grasberg runs day and night, and requires satellite tracking of the mining trucks that operate shrouded in cloud. This has generated millions of tonnes of mine waste, or tailings, over its lifetime, which are toxic to people and ecosystems.
By 1990, Freeport’s tailings had polluted 84,158 hectares of offshore river systems and 35,820 hectares of onshore systems. About 700,000 tonnes of earth are sifted through every day, with more than 230,000 tonnes of tailings dumped into the local Otomina and Aikwa river systems. A 2016 study published in Nature found that tailings had smothered and destroyed 13,800 hectares of forest in the adjacent world heritage-listed Lorentz National Park. Rifai-Husan writes that, apart from toxicity and destruction of the river and forest systems, the dumping of tailings has “consumed local population gardening, fishing, and hunting areas and wildlife, and separated people from their resources and livelihood”.
Social scientist Kjell Anderson labelled the violence and displacement a “slow motion genocide”, in which West Papuans have had their “identity, autonomy, and physical security substantially undermined through the neo-colonial policies of the Indonesian state”.
Freeport’s exploitation and extraction is an extended arm of the Indonesian state, linking Suharto’s Orde Baru with their new development plans. For example, the Indonesian government often claims that traditional land is not being “effectively used”, and seizes it to supposedly provide for “the greatest welfare for the people”.
As Amungme tribal leader Tom Beanel asks: “Could it be that the Indonesian government is drawn to Irian Jaya (West Papua) not by its people, but by its natural resources?”
Indonesia’s colonialism has sidelined First Nations’ perspectives and follows the same logic applied in settler colonies, from Australia to Palestine. West Papuans have been forced to abandon the living-with-land practices that have existed for thousands of years.
With communities no longer able to survive off polluted rivers and soil, Papuans migrate to the downstream flows of the Aikwa delta to scrape a living. They use handmade sifters to search for scraps of gold, exposing themselves to pollution with often-unknown effects.
By mapping long-term harm, Freeport can be held accountable for the dispossession and environmental damage they seek to hide. At the Grasberg mine, a US company is working to stabilise and benefit a military regime through extraction and exploitation.
Since “The Act of No Choice”, Indonesian governments have profited from exploiting the natural wealth of West Papua, and this extraction is closely tied to foreign capital and aided by military control. Since Suharto, Freeport’s operations have morphed; where once they could escape questioning of killings and land degradation, they now use development discourse as cover. While we can only hope for the safe return of Mehrtens as soon as possible, this is an opportunity to raise awareness around the continuing colonisation of West Papua.
Safeguarding digital spaces: Addressing vulnerabilities faced by activists and journalists in Papua
Jubi 22 May 2023
Jayapura, Jubi – Unggul Sagena, the Head of the Internet Access Division at the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFENet), highlighted that activists and journalists in Papua remain susceptible to digital assaults. Unggul emphasized the need for an enhancement in the digital security capabilities of activists and journalists operating in Papua. In a WhatsApp conversation with Jubi on Friday, May 19, 2023, Sagena stated that activists and journalists are the primary targets of these attacks. He further explained that such digital assaults typically arise from the content they share on online platforms or social media. Activists and journalists frequently experience doxing as a common form of digital attack, while organizations often face hacking and account takeover attempts. Sagena mentioned that the most recent incident occurred in May 2023. “They involved hacking, account hijacking, and the blocking of websites related to Papua, such as the Papuan Student Alliance site. The incident is currently under investigation and is being addressed collaboratively, including seeking clarification from the Ministry of Communication and Information,” he said.
He further stated that SAFENet’s latest research has provided valuable insights from individuals who are at risk and have experienced attacks. Consequently, there is a need to persistently enhance the digital security skills among activists, journalists, and civil society members in Papua.
Sagena stressed the importance of commencing digital security training from the fundamental level and gradually progressing towards advanced techniques.
According to him, many individuals have already taken initial steps in strengthening their security practices, as indicated by research that suggests a moderate level of preparedness. “However, there is the need for expanding and deepening this knowledge, particularly in the realm of communication security as this aspect is the most vulnerable,” he added.
Finally, SAFENet urged those responsible for digital attacks to cease their harmful actions, as they pose a threat to democracy and digital rights, specifically the right to freedom of expression. (*)
West Papua Community Resilience Initiative LAUNCH
The Australia West Papua Association-SA is pleased to invite you to the launch of the West Papuan Community Resilience Initiative WPCRI.
This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of young West Papuan researchers and advocates in their efforts to assist the 60,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP’s) in the West Papuan highlands following years of Indonesian military operations. The initiative is focused on training in the collection of verifiable information on the conflict and to record the personal stories of the IDP’s, which will facilitate the provision of desperately needed assistance from national and international religious and humanitarian agencies.
Where: The Unley Community Centre
18 Arthur Street, Unley, Adelaide, South Australia
When: July 1, 2023. 6pm for a 6.30pm start of presentation and Q & A session finish 7.30pm. entry with gold coin donation.
https://www.facebook.com/events/275300811543449/?ref=newsfeed
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
West Papua conflict: ‘Taken hostage in a country that has also been taken hostage’ https://95bfm.com/news/west-papua-conflict-‘taken-hostage-in-a-country-that-has-also-been-taken-hostage’?fbclid=IwAR3FVqpc7Wnv_VCknhq8RinJMfW4CsKkrlvJLwVC_DoZ1CqS6R7zhkWLFc8
The war we ignore
https://e-tangata.co.nz/comment-and-analysis/the-war-we-ignore/
AWPA Statement West Papua , the elephant in the room- as the C-24 meets in Bali https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2023/05/awpa-statement-west-papua-elephant-in.html
Critical D-day over Papua governor Lukas Enembe’s legal nightmare? https://asiapacificreport.nz/2023/06/19/critical-d-day-over-papua-governor-lukas-enembes-legal-nightmare/
OPM calls on global trade unions to blacklist Indonesian goods, services. https://asiapacificreport.nz/2023/05/22/opm-calls-on-global-trade-unions-to-blacklist-indonesian-goods-services/?fbclid=IwAR2ew879cCJe1WzSXRsXaIabQfeNhNQ9lPX3kUeFN68JyXCES73huofUBq4
Forest recognition for Papua tribe raises hopes for climate
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/8/forest-recognition-for-papua-tribe-raises-hopes-for-climate
How to mourn a forest
https://aeon.co/essays/how-to-mourn-a-forest-a-lesson-from-west-papua
Compromise worked in Aceh – why not Papua?
https://johnmenadue.com/compromise-worked-in-aceh-why-not-papua/
How Indonesian village aid funds weapons for Papua's rebellion
https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/30598-how-indonesian-village-aid-funds-weapons-for-papua-s-rebellion
Author-poet condemns Papuan rebel threat to shoot NZ hostage pilot if denied talks
ASIA/INDONESIA - Tense situation in Papua: Catholics are trying to resolve the conflict
TAPOL's Latest Report - West Papua 2022: Laws, arrests and harassment worsens, despite Jakarta’s sweet words https://www.tapol.org/news/tapols-latest-report-west-papua-2022-press-release
-------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.