2) Indonesian security crackdown in West Papua – ‘traumatising raids, torture’
3) The West Papua National Liberation Army kills Indonesian soldiers
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1) UK govt confronted on West Papua in House of Lords
12:51 pm today
The United Kingdom's commitments to upholding human rights came under question on Monday over the West Papua issue, resulting in a heated exchange between a government representative and five members of the House of Lords in the Upper Chamber of the British Parliament.
The exchange occurred after Minister of State for the United Nations, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon responded to a question posed by Lord Harries of Pentregarth on what progress had been made in obtaining access to West Papua for the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Lord Ahmad said the UK government welcomed recent engagements between the UN and Indonesia to meet the recommendations of a Universal Periodic Review, calling for the UN to access and review the human rights situation in West Papua.
He said Indonesia was an important bilateral partner.
"We recognise that a significant amount of time has passed since the visit was first proposed, but we hope that both parties can come together to agree dates very soon," Lord Ahmad said.
The statement was unsatisfactory for Lord Harries, who pointed out that the UK was not among the eight countries who had endorsed the universal periodic review, and demanded clarity on where the UK stood.
"He (Lord Ahmad) mentioned the universal periodic review of Indonesia. He will know that, at that review, a number of major countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada, called for an intervention from the UN in Indonesia and an immediate visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights," Lord Harries said.
"It is not at all clear that the United Kingdom was among those supporting that call. Perhaps the Minister will be able to enlighten us."
Lord Ahmad acknowledged a visit by the UN human rights chief to West Papua had been "pending for a long time" but added that the conservative government supported an earlier visit.
The answer was not well received by Lord Lexden, who condemned Indonesia's control over the region.
"Is it not clear that this small country is suffering grievously under a colonial oppressor," Lord Lexden said.
"Indonesia, which is busily exploiting the country's rich mineral resources and extensive forests in its own interests? Will the Government do all in their power, in conjunction with Commonwealth partners in the region, to get the UN to act and to act decisively?"
Lord Hanny of Chiswick, Lord Kennedy of Southwark and Lord Purvis of Tweed shared their frustrations, describing the details of human right reports on West Papua and pressing Lord Ahmad on why the UK was not among 8 countries that endorsed the Universal Periodic Review.
"It is over a year since the UN special rapporteur's allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the forced displacement of thousands of indigenous Papuans," Lord Kennedy said.
"What is the point of the Foreign Office highlighting human rights concerns if it does nothing about them in its negotiations with the country in question?," Lord Purvis said.
"Why the UK does not seem to have been part of that group of eight countries that pressed for an early visit by the High Commissioner for Human Rights?" Lord Hannay of Chiswick said.
"It is surely reasonable to ask a democratic country such as Indonesia to admit the high commissioner to look into abuses of human rights. That is what it should do, and I hope that we will press that strongly," Lord Hannay added.
Lord Ahmad said he had spoken to the High Commissioner of Rights about the situation, and acknowledged that a visit was overdue.
He said, the alleged human rights abuses, are regularly brought up in bilateral talks between Indonesia and the UK.
"My Lords, I assure the noble Lord that we engage with them quite regularly," he said.
"As I said earlier, Indonesia is an important bilateral and regional partner with which we engage widely on a range of issues of peace, conflict and stability in and across the region; it is a key partner.
"In all our meetings, we raise human rights in the broad range of issues, and we are seeing some progress in Indonesia, including on freedom of religion or belief," he added.
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2) Indonesian security crackdown in West Papua – ‘traumatising raids, torture’
By APR editor - April 21, 2023
Asia Pacific Report
Indonesian security forces have intensified operations in various conflict areas in West Papua, reports Human Rights Monitor.
According to information received by the international watchdog, security force members have raided villages and set residential houses on fire.
The raids reportedly occurred in conflict hotspots in West Papua, predominantly in the Puncak, Nduga, and Intan Jaya regencies, but also in less conflict-affected places such as the districts Elilim and Apahapsili in the Yalimo regency on 1 and 2 April 2023 – two weeks before last weekend’s clash between Indonesian soldiers and pro-independence militia.
Indigenous Papuans, including women and children, were arrested and tortured.
Observers predicted an aggravation of the conflict weeks ago after the Indonesian military deployed more than 2000 additional personnel to West Papua throughout March 2023.
‘Ground combat ready’
Meanwhile, the Indonesian chief-of-armed forces, General Laksamana Yudo Margono, announced that the mode of operations against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) was switched from a “soft approach” to “ground combat ready” operations after a disputed number of soldiers were killed in a firefight with TPNPB members in Nduga on 15 April 2023.
Meanwhile, the increased security force presence comes with government-driven “socialisation” programmes, where military and police members directly interact with local communities.
They participate in collective work, visit schools, and take over or accompany essential healthcare services.
For decades, many indigenous Papuans have been traumatised due to the history of violent military operations in West Papua, says Human Rights Monitor.
They fear becoming victims of arbitrary arrest, torture, killings, or enforced disappearance.
The military presence in schools, health facilities, and churches limits indigenous Papuans from accessing essential public services.
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3) The West Papua National Liberation Army kills Indonesian soldiers
April 21, 2023 Lee Jay
The West Papua National Liberation Army kills Indonesian soldiers
Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker
Modern Tokyo Times
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) recently killed Indonesian soldiers after an ambush. West Papuans are fighting for independence and the right to be free from the colonial policies of Indonesia.
TPNPB forces attacked Indonesian soldiers in the district of Nduga. Conflicting reports say between 6 and 13 Indonesian troops were killed.
West Papua is rich in minerals. However, its resources are exploited by Indonesia – and other nations -which allows their companies to plunder the natural resources of West Papua. At the same time, Indonesia is altering the ethnic and religious angle of West Papua – similar to other colonial nations in history. Therefore, Javanization and Islamization are the twin aims of Indonesia.
The Independent reports, “An Indonesian army report circulating among journalists said there were about 36 soldiers at the post in Mugi Mam village when the separatists launched their attack with automatic weapons, killing at least six troops and sending 21 others fleeing into the jungle. It said nine soldiers were being held by the rebels.”
Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the TPNPB, said: “Indonesia’s government must stop its security operation in Papua and be willing to negotiate with our leaders under the mediation of a neutral third party from a United Nations agency.”
Al Jazeera reports, “Papua’s Melanesian population shares few cultural connections with the rest of Indonesia, and the military has long been accused of human rights abuses there.”
Indonesian troops are searching for Phillip Mark Mehrtens (New Zealand pilot) who was captured by TPNPB forces.
The Guardian reports, “Indonesia has controlled West Papua since invading in 1963 and formalizing its annexation through the controversial, UN approved, ‘Act of Free Choice’. Security forces are accused of severe human rights violations during the occupation with an estimated 500,000 Papuans killed.”
Modern Tokyo Times recently said: “America, Australia, France, Japan, the United Kingdom – and other major trading partners of Indonesia including China, India, Malaysia, and Singapore – are merely concerned with economic trade, geopolitics (America and Australia), military sales, and exploiting natural resources.”
West Papua needs independence and to be free from the colonial policies of Indonesia.
The BBC reports, “West Papua has a population of more than 5.4 million people. The indigenous Papuans, who are Melanesian, are now thought to be outnumbered by settlers from other parts of the archipelago. Indonesia is ethnically very diverse, with the Javanese at around 100 million the largest group.”
Papuan civilization is different from Indonesia. This concerns culture, ethnicity, history, identity, and religion. Accordingly, the indigenous of this rich resource region seek to be independent.
Australian Foreign Affairs reports (Dominic Simonelli), “…successive Australian governments have turned a blind eye to Indonesia’s brutal oppression and economic exploitation of the indigenous peoples of West Papua, prioritizing cooperation with Indonesia over the welfare of West Papuans. Indonesia’s pervasive abuse of ethnic Papuans has become institutionalized in the decades since its independence. Left unchecked by foreign powers, the West Papuan crisis is the Asia-Pacific’s “silent genocide”.
West Papua needs urgent action from the international community.
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