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1) Papuan students report human rights violations to UN office in Jakarta
Suara Papua – September 1, 2024
Jayapura – The High School and University Student Front for Human Rights Concern held a peaceful action at the United Nations Representative office in Jakarta on Friday August 30 during which they reported cases of human rights violations, genocide, ecocide and ethnocide to the UN.
In a speech, Papuan student Niko Zol said that the purpose of student action was to report various cases of human rights violations in Papua related to genocide, ecocide and ethnocide that have been committed by Indonesia over the last 64 years.
The report was submitted by Papua Student Alliance (AMP) Chairperson Jeno Dogomo to UN employees at the UN office.
"This report contains human rights violations committed by the Indonesian government through acts of genocide, ecocide and ethnocide that have occurred on a massive scale against the Papuan people. We submitted a form of moral responsibility for the rescue of the Papuan people and it was received by Dwi W who is a UN employee in Jakarta", Dogomo explained in a statement received by Suara Papua on Thursday August 29 [sic].
Dogomo said that the main demand they made was urging the UN to immediately intervene in the acts of genocide, ecocide and ethnocide that the Indonesian government is committing against people in the land of Papua by giving Papuans the right to self-determination as a democratic solution for the West Papuan nation.
In addition to this, they urged the UN to immediately intervene in the military operations being carried out by the Indonesian government through its military apparatus in the regencies of Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak Papua, Puncak Jaya, Maybrat, the Bintang Highlands, Yahukimo, Paniai and the entire land of Papua, because these military operations are illegal that have resulted in 76,919 internal displaced refugees.
The military's presence in Papua violates the declaration of articles 3, 7, 10, 19, 23, 26, 30 and 32, so the military must be immediately withdrawn from and leave the land of Papua.
In a statement, Aten, one of the Papuan students, urged the UN to take responsibility and be actively involved in a fair and democratic manner in the process of self-determination, to straighten out history and resolve cases of rights violations in the land of Papua.
In addition, the students also urged the UN to immediately press the Indonesian government to provide access to the UN, researchers, human rights workers, journalists and academics to investigate the human rights violations that have occurred in the land of Papua.
During the demonstration, the protesters also urged the UN to immediately issue a special memo on the struggle for self-determination for West Papua, the Aboriginal people in Australia, the Kanaky in New Caledonia and Palestine.
Simultaneous actions under the same #A30 hashtag were held in seven countries, namely Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Philippines, Niue, Samoa and Indonesia.
Simultaneous actions were held in 10 cities in Australia and three cities in New Zealand.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Papua Melaporkan Kasus Pelanggaran HAM Ke Kantor PBB di Jakarta".]
2) Pro-West Papua Timorese Activist Arrested Ahead of Pope Francis’ Visit to Timor-Leste
By Ato "Lekinawa" da Costa - September 2, 2024
Reporter David da Costa
Today (September 2, 2024), around 12 p.m., Nelson Roldão, a Timorese human rights activist supporting the pro-West Papua movement, was arrested at Timor-Leste the Prezidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Timor-Leste, while accompanying West Papuan activist, who was traveling back to his home country.
Information gathered from a press conference by Human Rights Defenders later in the afternoon at 4 p.m. stated that Nelson Roldão and Lorico were accompanying a colleague from West Papua at Nicolao Lobato International Airport as he prepared to return to his home country. This West Papuan colleague had come to Timor-Leste to participate in the diplomacy training program whose patron is Ramos Horta, Timor-Leste’s President.
While still at the airport, the Papuan colleague proceeded to immigration to board an outbound Citilink flight. Nelson and Lorico returned to the gate to collect parking tickets when they were approached by armed police officers in plain clothes, threatened Nelson and detained him. The police seized Nelson’s documents, which included a small West Papua flag, but found no criminal materials. Further information indicates that the National Police of Timor-Leste, stationed at Nicolao Lobato International Airport, arrested and detained Nelson Roldão.
The Human Rights Defenders movement argued that the Timor-Leste Police are overreacting, and this is considered a violation of human rights.
“We consider the detention and actions of the police against Nelson to be arbitrary and illegal, as it violates human rights principles and the RDTL Constitution, specifically Article 10, paragraph 1, which asserts that the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is committed to solidarity with all peoples struggling for national liberation,” said Inocêncio de Jesus Xavier, spokesperson for the movement.
The movement also condemned the police arrest and demanded that the National Police of Timor-Leste immediately release human rights activist Nelson Roldão. They called on the international community to protest against the Timor-Leste government, particularly the Security Institution (PNTL), for the detention of Nelson Roldão.
Neon Metin journalists are attempting to confirm details with the police at the airport but have been unable to obtain clear information on Nelson’s current location. Initial reports indicated that Nelson was arrested by the Unidade Polícia Fronteira (Border Police Unit), but unit’s Commander Euclides Belo stated that Nelson was detained for identification with the latest information suggests he is in the custody of the National Police Investigation Unit at the PNTL’s headquarter.
The papal visit to Timor-Leste is just 10 days away, and the Timor-Leste government has issued warnings about the pro-West Papua movement, classifying it as a national security threat. The solidarity movement has been categorized as a security threat rather than as an act of solidarity.
Earlier this year, a video went viral of Indonesian soldiers brutally torturing a West Papuan man.
Placed in a barrel of water with his arms tied behind his back, the soldiers took it in turns kicking, beating, and cutting the man whilst hurling racial slurs at him.
The soldiers implicated in the video are currently undergoing a tribunal, however this wasn't the first time footage like this has surfaced.
Whilst speaking to West Papuan musicians Ronny Kareni and Ukam Maran, the conversation inevitably turns toward the ongoing conflict that has long influenced their art as well as their lives.
Image Details
West Papuan musicians/activists Ukam Maran and Ronny Kareni
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