Monday, April 25, 2016

1) PNG calls for new appointment of MSG head

2) Appointment of MSG Director General not legitimate: PNG
3) Tolikara Clash Kills Two, Damages Homes
4) Islands in focus: Two killed in clash in Tolikara 
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1) PNG calls for new appointment of MSG head
2:55 pm today
Papua New Guinea says it doesn't recognise Fiji's Amena Yauvoli as the new director general of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Mr Yauvoli's selection was announced at the start of the month by Fiji's Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and later confirmed by the MSG chairman, Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.
But this anouncement was not welcomed by Vanuatu with its council of Ministers refusing to accept the choice.
Papua New Guinea's High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Fred Yakasa confirmed PNG had written to Mr Sogavare, calling for a new selection process to be undertaken.
"It is not an issue of the candidate but I think the issue is with the process where all leaders come together and have a consensus as to who should be the director for the MSG."
A special MSG leaders summit is scheduled for late next week.


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2) Appointment of MSG Director General not legitimate: PNG
Posted: Monday, April 25, 2016 12:00 am

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil, in a letter to Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands and current Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), informed the Chairman that PNG does not recognize the appointment of the new Director General of the MSG Secretariat, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli.
In a statement by Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rimbink Pato, Papua New Guinea is of the strong view that the established protocols in the Agreement Establishing the MSG were not observed when recent media announcements were made of the appointment of Ambassador Yauvoli.
“Whilst we recognize the credentials of Ambassador Yauvoli, such important decisions concerning the organization requires a meeting of the Leaders to consider short-listed candidates presented through the established process in this case, the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
“After a collective decision, the Leaders then announce the appointment of the successful candidate,” said Prime Minister O’Neil.
He added that whilst Papua New Guinea respects the prerogative of the Chair, it is urging the Chair to allow the Leaders to discuss the matter at the forthcoming Spcial MSG Leaders Summit in Vanuatu.
The process of consensus thought he MSG Leaders Summit by all members must be completed before such appointments can be announced, PM O’Neil said.
The Special MSG Leaders Summit will be convened in Vanuatu next month where the Leaders will discuss amongst other issues, the appointment of the new Director General.

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3) Tolikara Clash Kills Two, Damages Homes
By : Edo Karensa & Robert Isidorus | on 12:05 PM April 25, 2016
Jakarta/Tolikara. A clash over village fund disbursement has left two dead and at least 96 homes damaged in the Tolikara district, Papua, this month. Police and military authorities continue to deny the incident.
The clash was initially reported by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), on Sunday afternoon (25/04) who said the conflict has been running since April 9 in the Gika and Panaga subdistricts.
The dispute was triggered after a perceived unfair disbursement of village strategic development funds among the subdistricts, Sutopo said in a statement.
At least two people have been killed, with 17 others sustaining severe injuries and a further 15 suffering minor injuries, Tolikara Disaster Mitigation Agency head Feri Kagoya said. Almost 100 homes have been damaged in the district.
“Four wheel vehicles cannot reach the conflict area because the road is horribly damaged. Tolikara Disaster Mitigation Agency has requested aid to be delivered by helicopter,” Feri said on Sunday night.
Local commanders of police and military authorities have denied the incident.
Cendrawasih Military Commander Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian said Panaga district resident, 24-year-old Deki Wanimbo, died April 9, just one day after the disbursement of funds in Kembo. The police spokesman said the death had led to the ensuing conflict.
Military and police personnel had facilitated mediation with Yaka Kogo, mother of the victim, Hinsa said. The cause of death remains unclear.
“I’ve called Tolikara Police chief. He said the situation is safe and there were no incidents like the one reported by the head of Tolikara Disaster Mitigation Agency,” said Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, Papua Police chief.
Earlier this year, an Islamic mass prayer in the Tolikara district was attacked.
Tolikara district made headlines during Idul Fitri celebrations last July, after members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) set fire to several buildings, including a mosque where a group of Muslims were readying to perform mass prayer.
Police have named two suspects in the riot and the district’s police chief was also dismissed from the post after the incident.
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4) Islands in focus: Two killed in clash in Tolikara 
Posted: Mon, April 25 2016 | 06:36 am

Two residents of Paga district, Tolikara regency, Papua, have reportedly been killed in a clash over the distribution of village funds.

One of the victims, David Manipo, reportedly died in a brawl among residents of Paga and Gika districts, while the second victim, who has not been identified, died after the incident due to severe injuries.

“Both victims are residents of Paga. The situation remains tense,” Tolikara Disaster Mitigation Agency ( BPBD ) head Fery Kogoya said on Sunday.

Fery said at least 95 houses were burned down during the clash, forcing hundreds of residents to leave the area.

He said the agency had difficulty reaching those who required help because of the remote location and a lack of vehicle access.

However, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw denied that a brawl had occurred in Tolikara, saying districts in the regency were calm.

“Fery just heard it from residents. We will ask him to clarify his fictitious report,” Waterpauw said on Sunday.
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Sunday, April 24, 2016

1) Amnesty pushing for Indonesian law change, after torture ‘admission’


2) Australian Parliament: Active Australia Community Support Release From Indonesian Papua
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1) Amnesty pushing for Indonesian law change, after torture ‘admission’
43 minutes ago
The human rights NGO Amnesty International says the police in Indonesia have admitted torturing a man to death.
The human rights NGO Amnesty International says the police in Indonesia have admitted torturing a man to death.
It says Indonesia's police chief made the admission to a government committee investigating the death in custody of a suspected terrorist.
The NGO said the admission ended a decade of denial by Indonesia that it didn't engage in torture.
An Amnesty spokesperson, Margaret Taylor, said pressure should be applied to the Indonesian government to outlaw torture.
"Many promises have been made including by President Widodo on election that he would address outstanding Human Rights concerns. What we do know is that the criminal code in Indonesia is being reviewed. It's been under revision for close to three decades and when they do review it they need to ensure that torture is criminalised."
Margaret Taylor said Indonesia should also establish an independent body to investigate complaints made against police.
The Indonesian Human Rights Commission said last month that at least 121 people had died in police custody since 2007.
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

2) Australian Parliament: Active Australia Community Support Release From Indonesian Papua
APRIL 24, 2016

Jayapura, Jubi - One member of the Australian Parliament said in state government kangaroo country that does not support the movement that led to the separation of the unitary state of Indonesia, but admitted that many of the civil society in the country's active support of Papua separated from Indonesia.

"We never support the group, but many community groups in Australia are actively supporting the release of Papua from Indonesia," said a representative of the Australian Parliament, in a bilateral meeting with representatives of the Australian Parliament the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) to -9 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on Saturday (04/23/2016).

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the House Fadli Zon said the government has a great attention to territorial issues that exist in Indonesia. One of them is the issue of Papua.
"On several occasions, I guess President Joko Widodo has several times visited Papua to see the issue of infrastructure there," said Fadli.


 
Fadli also hoped that Australia would help Indonesia maintain the integrity of its territory.

Improve communication

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Tantowi Parliament requested that the communication between the Indonesian Parliament and the Australian Parliament can be improved. Therefore, there is often tension between the two countries. "But that only happens at the level of the government, not in parliament. I hope we can be a peacemaker when the escalation of tensions escalate, "he said.

He emphasized that both the Indonesian Parliament and the Australian Parliament should be able to help the respective governments to improve bilateral relations between the two sides. (Yuliana Lantipo)
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Saturday, April 23, 2016

1) CHAIRMAN SAYS WEST PAPUA THEN KANAKY


2) Jokowi`s Arrival in the Hague Welcomed by Protests  

3) KNPB Calls for National Action in Papua on May 2, 2016
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http://dailypost.vu/news/chairman-says-west-papua-then-kanaky/article_0709149f-fa6d-5655-ba7f-8b4993f3f48b.html
1) CHAIRMAN SAYS WEST PAPUA THEN KANAKY
By Len Garae | Posted: Saturday, April 23, 2016 12:00 am

WP Parade March on April 29 to be bigger than last one above in 2010
While more and more people in Port Vila are rushing to sign the public petition at Manples Market for the peaceful march on April 29, to demand the Melanesian Spearhead Group Summit Leaders to give West Papua full membership, the Chairman of the Vanuatu West Papua Committee, Pastor Allan Nafuki says a two-member delegation from Kanaky (New Caledonia) who are pushing to get the Kanaky Referendum issue on the same band wagon, have been advised to wait until after the march on April 29.
The Chairman says his committee has to work on urgent issues one issue at a time. The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu has always placed Independence for Kanaky at all its annual general assembly since day one.
Now Kanaky already has a political voice through FLNKS Victor Tutugoro as a full member of MSG.
The Chairman has recommended for them to pursue their case through their leader Tutugoro.
The well-travelled Chairman says the two persons – one a caucasian Frenchman called Leonelli Jeannick and his partner Tjibaou Sabine, who is the daughter of the late Jean-Marie Tjibaou, have made a number of claims concerning FLNKS and themselves.
Pastor Nafuki says his Committee has to look into the duo’s claims to make sure they are genuine in order to decide whether or not to place their case on a similar plate as that of West Papua.
Meanwhile an increasing number of petition forms have also been sent to the rural Provinces to get the support of the masses there before April 29.
The Vanuatu West Papua Committee expects to mobilise 12,000 signatures for the planned peaceful march.

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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/04/23/055765251/JOKOWIS-ARRIVAL-IN-THE-HAGUE-WELCOMED-BY-PROTESTS




Activists campaigning for independence in Indonesia’s restive West Papua province dance outside the Dutch Parliament in The Hague, Friday, April 22, 2016. The peaceful demonstration coincided with a visit to the Netherlands by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. AP/Michael Corder


SATURDAY, 23 APRIL, 2016 | 12:32 WIB
2) Jokowi`s Arrival in the Hague Welcomed by Protests  

TEMPO.CO, Den Haag - At least 200 people staged a protest when welcoming President  Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo at the front yard of Kurhaus Hotel on Scheveningen beach, the Hague, the Netherlands of Friday (22/4).
The group claimed to be South Maluku and West Papua activists and from the International People Tribunal (IPT) 1965 as well as Indonesian people residing in the Netherlands.
Guarded by dozens of police, the protesters patiently waited for Jokowi come out of the gate of Kurhaus Hotel.
Tempo contributor in Amsterdam Prita Riadhini reported that there were no violent actions during the protest.
In the meantime, Fransiska Pattipilohy from IPT 1965 said that they hoped that Jokowi would revoke the Presidential Decree that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) is not the ‘right movement’. She also said that those exiles hoped to have their rights as Indonesian citizens restored.
Fransiska also regretted that the majority of the exiles are Indonesian students who are not allowed to return to Indonesia.
“Reconciliation cannot be reached without truth finding,” she said.
PRITA RIADHINI (AMSTERDAM)
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

3) KNPB Calls for National Action in Papua on May 2, 2016







Peaceful demonstration supporting ULMWP accepted as a full member in the MSG members in Jayapura. (Photo: Arnold Belau / SP)




JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com --- West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Centre has issued a call to action that will be held simultaneously throughout the Land of Papua on May 2, 2016 to commemorate 53 years of the annexation of Papua to Indonesia.

Ones Suhun, general secretary of the Centre to suarapapua.com KNPB, Saturday (04/23/2016) in Jayapura explained, has been 53 years, since May 1, 1963 the country was annexed West Papua (seized) by the Indonesian colonial rule by greedy and shameless ,
 
"Look around you O people of West Papua. We are increasingly depleted. Prayer and down the street in a peaceful demonstration is one way we save our homeland West Papua, "urge Ones.
 
In the electronic mail received written media, ensure that you engage in acts of peaceful resistance which will take place on May 2, 2016 simultaneously throughout Papua.
 
"Remember, the same time in London, England will be a meeting of International Parliamentarians for West Papua. Certainly some heads of state, politicians, international lawyers will make a global call for a referendum, "he said.
 
Described, on 3 May, MSG summit will begin in Vanuatu. West Papua through ULMWP will present the fight for full membership. People Vanuatu parade will take action to urge the MSG Leaders receive ULMWP as a full member.
 
"Once again, our task is to engage in peaceful protest demanding the right of self-determination. It is the people fighters, KNPB ready to mediate. We must end, "he said.
 
Meanwhile, Victor Yeimo, chairman of KNPB Centre confirmed suarapapua.com justify their national action plans which will be driven by KNPB in all regions of West Papua, from Sorong-Samarai on the southern coast of the island of Papua and from Sorong to Skouw on the North Coast of the island Papua.
 
"Correct. Our appeal according to the people of West Papua on 13 April, on the 2nd of May KNPB will hold peaceful demonstrations across Papua to support UMWP to be accepted as a full member of the MSG. In addition, we will provide support for IPWP meeting to be held in London, "he said.
 
Yeimo hope that all the people of West Papua to take part in the national action. Because, today the world is watching West Papua, so that the people of West Papua have nothing to fear.
 
"We urge the people of West Papua could take part in a demonstration on 2 May. And the Papuan people must rise up and fight all the savagery of the state against the people of Papua. Papuans are ready to self-determination through international mechanisms, namely the referendum, "said Yeimo.
 
In addition, the head of the Parliament Nasioan West Papua (PNWP), Bucthar Tabuni, through personal pages on facebook giving notice three important information to the people of West Papua which will be held in early May.
 
"On April 29 - May 2, 2016 in Vanuatu with a pre-meeting agenda supporters ULMWP sponsored by Team leader Rev. Reconciliation. Alan Morris Kaloran Nafuki and to support the minister's decision and Parliament of Vanuatu country. Two weeks again raised the status ULMWP become full members of MSG and kick out INDO MELAYU of MSG. Second, tanggl 3 to 6 May 3016 MSG meeting in Port Vila Vanuatu. And third, IPWP meeting May 3 in London, UK, "he wrote.
 
 
ARNOLD Belau


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Friday, April 22, 2016

1) Protest in American Samoa over donations from Indonesia


2) European Council President Praises Indonesia’s Democracy and Religious Tolerance
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1) Protest in American Samoa over donations from Indonesia
9:39 am on 22 April 2016
An American Samoan has protested against the government for accepting donations from Indonesia.
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Transcript

An American Samoan has used this year's Flag Day celebrations to protest against the territorial government affiliating with Indonesia.
The government in Jakarta donated $US300,000 towards the construction of the Pago Pago Youth Centre.
Valerie Adams and her seven-year-old daughter held up a sign saying "Free West Papua".
Julie Cleaver spoke to our American Samoa correspondent Monica Miller to find out more.
MONICA MILLER: Indonesia not only gave money but they also offered some scholarships, and I believe that there were members of the police force that did go to Jakarta and attended Homeland Security training. There was also a high level delegation from American Samoa that travelled to Indonesia as guests of the Indonesian government.
JULIE CLEAVER: What do you think the Indonesian government is trying to do by affiliating with American Samoa?
MM: Talking to one of the people that did come, this was a secretary level, council level person and also getting the feedback from the Chamber of Commerce, there was never any political discussion at all. It was more, from American Samoa's point of view, at least with the people that were involved in some of the meetings that I covered, that they were just looking at investors from anywhere, and that's how American Samoa viewed Indonesia.
JC: So what are American Samoan attitudes? Because I saw that there was a protest at the flag day.
MM: The attitudes? Well there was one woman and a couple of her children who were displaying signs at the flag day ceremony - 116 years of American Samoa's association with the United States on Monday. The lady, Valerie Adams, she's questioning the motives of the Indonesian government to give American Samoa this grant when American Samoa has grants from the US government. But I ask her 'don't you think your beef is with the American Samoan government?'. And she said 'well yes, but we also needed to make a stand and let the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States see that we're concerned about this'. So it was her and her two children, one of them seven years-old. I ask if she thinks the average American Samoan cares because there's very little information about West Papua and the struggle that West Papua is facing in American Samoa. She said that she hopes that people will pay attention and start to find out. She's also gone on Facebook and wrote lengthy pieces about what she thinks and yeah, she's basically taking a stand. She’s one of the people that also demonstrated against the legislator when it tried to push through increases, salary increases for law makers at a time when you know we had so many other pressing issues.

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2) European Council President Praises Indonesia’s Democracy and Religious Tolerance
By : Eko Prasetyo | on 10:41 AM April 22, 2016
Jakarta. President Joko Widodo met with European Council President Donald Tusk at the Europa building, seat of the European Council, in Brussels, an official statement said on Thursday (21/04).
In the meeting, Joko said Indonesia is a "living laboratory" where Islam, democracy and religious tolerance exist side by side.
Tusk in response praised the way Indonesia has been fostering democracy, human rights and religious tolerance, often under difficult circumstances, and said the council will continue its interfaith exchange program with Indonesia.
The European Council also said it will look at the proposal for a visa waiver program for Indonesian citizens, as soon as the security situation in Europe improves.
The Indonesian president had earlier met with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, and conducted a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker.
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Thursday, April 21, 2016

1) Indonesia’s commitment to MSG principles questioned

2) Gov`t to Focus on Electricity Infrastructure Development in Papua

3) Indonesia: Authorities attack prayer gathering 

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/302136/indonesia's-commitment-to-msg-principles-questioned

1) Indonesia’s commitment to MSG principles questioned

5:07 pm today


The opposition People First party in Solomon Islands is calling for a review of Indonesia’s membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.



                                    Melanesian Spearhead Group flags flown in Noumea. Photo: RNZI


The call follows an admission by the head of Indonesia's police that a terrorism suspect was kicked to death while in police custody.
Indonesia was made an associate member of the regional body last year making them the official representative of West Papua.
People First MP Derrick Manuari said the admission by Indonesian police gave credibility to reports of police brutality in West Papua.
"It's just one of many examples or many cases that warrants a review of Indonesia's membership in MSG and it's time that Indonesia's membership be reviewed to see if it still upholds the principles of the group or not and if it is not they should remove them totally."
Derrick Manuari said the MSG should call on the United Nations to investigate police brutality in West Papua.

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FRIDAY, 22 APRIL, 2016 | 13:32 WIB
2) Gov`t to Focus on Electricity Infrastructure Development in Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said revealed that the government would focus on developing electricity infrastructures at villages in Papua and West Papua provinces in a bid to realize the Bright Indonesia Program (PIT).
“The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will prioritize electricity infrastructure development in eastern Indonesia, including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, Papua and West papua,” Sudirman said during the launch of the Bright Indonesia Program in Maybrat regency on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
Sudirman added that most of the program budget would be distributed to Papua and West Papua.
“We have set a target to provide electricity infrastructures in Papua and West Papua within five years, so that people in rural areas can have electricity 24 hours a day,” Sudirman revealed.
West Papua deputy governor Irene Manibuy revealed that the majority of people living in West Papua rural areas had no access to electricity. Therefore, Irene said that the West Papua provincial administration positively welcomed the program initiated by the central government.
“We hope that the Bright Indonesia Program can be well-executed so that all regencies in West Papua can enjoy 24-hour electricity supplies,” Irene said.
ANTARA
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3) Indonesia: Authorities attack prayer gathering  
Thursday, April 21, 2016


By Joseph DeCaro
(Worthy News) - Authorities in Indonesia opened fire on a peaceful meeting in Timika, West Papua, as thousands of protesters gathered to pray for an independence referendum on April 5.
According to Barnabas Aid, authorities had arrested 15 protesters, many of whom were also beaten. Other protests in West Papua resulted in additional arrests. The region is currently part of what is known as Melanesia: a sub-region of Oceania, which includes the countries of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea along with a number of other islands and atolls.
Barnabas Aid has supported a variety of projects in West Papua over the past few years. Most recently a grant was given to a local organization that recruits, trains and supports Christian teachers. This grant will hopefully help counter the increasing Islamization of West Papua's schools and ensure that Christianity retains its influence in the region.
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Amnesty International Indonesian Country Report

Amnesty International Indonesian Country Report

HTTPS://WWW.AMNESTY.ORG/EN/COUNTRIES/ASIA-AND-THE-PACIFIC/INDONESIA/REPORT-INDONESIA/

INDONESIA 2015/2016

Security forces faced allegations of human rights violations, including the use of unnecessary or excessive force. Arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters, especially in Papua, occurred throughout the year. The government restricted activities marking the 50th anniversary of the serious human rights violations of 1965-1966. Harassment, intimidation and attacks against religious minorities occurred throughout the country. A new Acehnese Islamic Criminal Code came into force in October, expanding the use of corporal punishment to include consensual sexual relations. There were 14 executions.

Background

Despite commitments made during his election campaign in 2014, President Joko Widodo failed to address past human rights violations. Freedom of expression was further restricted and the use of the death penalty for drug-related offences increased.

Police and security forces

Reports continued of human rights violations by police and military, including unlawful killings, unnecessary and excessive use of force, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
In March, members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) attacked residents in Morekau village, Seram Bagian Barat District, Maluku province, after they had complained to Brimob officers who had entered the village that they were disturbing a religious ceremony. Thirteen people were seriously injured. Despite promises of an investigation by the head of the regional police, no charges were brought.
In August, off-duty military personnel shot dead two people after opening fire in front of a church in Timika, Papua province. Also in Timika, police shot two unarmed high school students during a “security operation” in September, killing one.
In Jakarta, the provincial police force used unnecessary force against protesters at a peaceful labour rally in October. Police arrested and beat 23 protesters, as well as two legal aid activists who reported injuries to the head, face and stomach. Police blamed the protesters for the violence. All were released after being charged with threatening public officials and refusal to disperse.

Impunity

More than 10 years after the murder of prominent human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, the authorities had failed to bring all the perpetrators to justice.
September marked the 50th anniversary of the serious human rights violations of 1965-66. Human rights organizations have documented a range of human rights violations in the context of the abortive 1965 coup, including unlawful killings, torture including rape, enforced disappearances, sexual slavery and other crimes of sexual violence, slavery, arbitrary arrest and detention, forced displacement and forced labour. An estimated 500,000 to one million people were killed during that time and hundreds of thousands were held without charge or trial for periods ranging from a few days to more than 14 years. Although no legal impediments to full citizenship remained for victims of these crimes, a culture of impunity continued to exist for perpetrators.
In May, the Attorney General announced that the government would establish a non-judicial mechanism to resolve past human rights violations through a “reconciliation committee”. It was seen by human rights groups as a small but positive step following decades of impunity for past human rights violations and abuses that occurred during the rule of former President Suharto (1965-1998). However, victims and NGOs remained concerned that this process would prioritize reconciliation and undermine efforts at truth and justice.
In 2015, the people of Aceh commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2005 Helsinki Peace Agreement between the government and the armed pro-independence Free Aceh Movement. The agreement ended a 29-year conflict during which between 10,000 and 30,000 people were killed, many of them civilians. In November, the Aceh House of People’s Representatives appointed a team charged with appointing commissioners for the Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a body set up to examine abuses that occurred during the conflict. Some provisions in the by-law under which the Commission was created fell short of international law and standards. Its mandate was limited to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and did not include other crimes under international law including torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances.1
Investigations into shootings, torture and other ill-treatment by police and the military continued to stagnate. Despite promises from President Widodo for a thorough investigation into the December 2014 incident in which security forces shot dead four students in Paniai, no one had been brought to justice by the end of the year.2

Freedom of expression

Prisoner of conscience Filep Karma was released on 19 November after spending more than a decade in prison for his peaceful political expression. This was the latest in a positive but limited step by the authorities to increase freedom in Papua and West Papua provinces. In May, the President granted clemency to five political activists in Papua province imprisoned for breaking into a military compound, and pledged to grant clemency or an amnesty to other political activists.
Prisoners of conscience, including Johan Teterissa in Maluku, remained imprisoned for peaceful demonstrations under articles of the Indonesian Criminal Code relating to makar (rebellion).3 At least 27 prisoners in Papua also remained imprisoned under these articles, and 29 prisoners of conscience from Maluku remained imprisoned.
The arrest and detention of peaceful activists also continued in Papua and West Papua provinces. In May, authorities arrested 264 peaceful activists who had planned peaceful protests marking the 52ndanniversary of the handover of Papua to the Indonesian government by the UN.4 A further 216 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arbitrarily detained for participating in peaceful demonstrations in support of Papua’s application to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group – a sub-Pacific intergovernmental organization. While most were later released, 12 were charged for participating in the protest, including under the “rebellion” laws.5
President Widodo announced in May that restrictions on foreign journalists applying to visit Papua were to be lifted; this had not been implemented fully by the end of the year. In early October, three Papuan male activists who had accompanied a French journalist to Pegunungan Bintang District in Papua to cover the activities of the KNPB were arrested and interrogated by the local immigration officer about the activities of the journalist. They were held for 10 hours before being released without charge.
Convictions continued to be documented throughout the year of people peacefully expressing their views under laws concerning criminal defamation, blasphemy and “hate speech”.
In March, the Bandung District Court sentenced a woman to five months’ imprisonment after she had written a “private” message to a friend on Facebook accusing her husband of abusing her. He reported her to the police after finding the accusation when he accessed her account and she was charged under Article 27(1) of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (Law No.11/2008) with “transmitting electronic content that violated decency”.6 A further three people were convicted of criminal defamation under the law in Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi and Central Java during the year.
The government continued to restrict activities relating to the serious human rights violations of 1965-1966. In October, police in Salatiga, Central Java, confiscated and burned hundreds of copies ofLentera magazine, run by the Satya Wacana University’s Faculty of Social and Communication Studies in Salatiga, because it featured an in-depth report and front cover commemorating the 50th anniversary of the violations. That same month, the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival removed three panel sessions related to these human rights violations after authorities threatened to revoke their permit.7
At least six people remain detained or imprisoned under blasphemy laws. In January, six members of Gafatar, a national cultural movement that was criticized by Islamic organizations who believed it promoted “deviant” beliefs, were arrested in Banda Aceh in Aceh Province and charged under Article 156 of the Criminal Code for insulting religion. In June the head of the group was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
In October, police passed a new national regulation (Surat Edaran No. SE/6/X/2015) on hate speech. Although the regulation refers to expression “aimed to inflict hatred or hostility [against] individuals”, civil society activists were concerned that they may be used to charge individuals accused of criminal and religious defamation.

Freedom of religion and belief

Harassment, intimidation and attacks against religious minorities persisted, fuelled by discriminatory laws and regulations at both national and local levels.
In July, members of the Christian Evangelical Church (Gereja Injil di Indonesia, GIDI) burned down a Muslim place of worship in Karubaga, Tolikara District, Papua province, where Muslims were celebrating Eid al-Fitr. Members of GIDI originally had gathered to complain that the noise from the place of worship was interrupting a church event. Security officials from both the military and police shot into the crowd, killing one man. GIDI youths then destroyed the Muslim place of worship and several shops in the vicinity. Two men were arrested for inciting violence.
In October, Christian churches were attacked by a group of at least 200 people in Aceh Singkil District after the local government ordered the destruction of 10 churches in the district, citing provincial and district level by-laws limiting houses of worship. The attackers burned down one church and attempted to attack another but were stopped by local security forces. One assailant was killed during the violence and approximately 4,000 Christians fled to neighbouring North Sumatra Province immediately afterwards. Ten people were arrested. The Aceh Singkil government went ahead with its plans to destroy the remaining churches.8
In November, a place of worship of a local Indigenous beliefs community in Rembang, Central Java, was burned down by a mob during the process of renovation. Before the attack, the community leader had received a threat by a local Islamic organization and was also asked by the Rembang District head of government to stop the renovation. At the end of 2015 no one had been held accountable for the attack.
The situation of a number of religious minority communities who had been subject to harassment, violence and forced eviction remained uncertain. Three years after local authorities evicted a community of Shi’a Muslims in Sampang, East Java, after an anti-Shi’a mob threatened violence, 300 members remained displaced from their homes.9
Members of the Presbyterian Yasmin Church and the Filadelfia Church continued to hold congregations outside the presidential palace in Jakarta in response to their churches remaining sealed off in Bogor and Bekasi respectively. Although the Supreme Court overturned the Bogor administration’s revocation of the Yasmin Church’s building permit in 2011, the Bogor city government continued to refuse to allow the church to reopen.

Cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment

At least 108 people were caned in Aceh under Shari’a law for gambling, drinking alcohol or “adultery” during the year. In October, the Acehnese Islamic Criminal Code came into force, expanding the use of corporal punishment for same-sex sexual relations and intimacy between unmarried individuals, with punishment of up to 100 and 30 lashes respectively. The by-law makes it difficult for victims of rape to seek justice, as the victims themselves now need to provide evidence of rape. False accusations of rape or adultery were also punishable by caning.10

Death penalty

Fourteen prisoners were executed in January and April, 12 of whom were foreign nationals. All of these related to drug-trafficking offences, for which President Widodo had previously stated he would refuse to consider any clemency applications.11 The government allocated funding to conduct further executions in 2016. At least 131 people remained under sentence of death.
  1. Indonesia: Appointment of Aceh Truth Commission selection team a step closer to truth and reparation for victims (ASA 21/2976/2015)
  2. Indonesia: Paniai shootings – make investigation findings public and bring perpetrators to justice (ASA 21/0001/2015)
  3. Indonesia: Release Johan Teterissa and other prisoners of conscience (ASA 21/1972/2015)
  4. Indonesia: End attacks on freedom of expression in Papua (ASA 21/1606/2015)
  5. Indonesia: End mass arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters in Papua (ASA 21/1851/2015)
  6. Indonesia: Two women convicted under internet law for social media posts (ASA 21/1381/2015)
  7. Indonesia: Stop silencing public discussions on 1965 violations (ASA 21/2785/2015)
  8. Indonesia: Christian minority in Aceh under threat (ASA 21/2756/2015)
  9. Indonesia: Three years later, forcibly evicted Sampang Shi’a community still wanting to go home (ASA 21/2335/2015)
  10. Indonesia: Repeal or revise all provisions in the new Aceh Islamic Criminal Code that violate human rights (ASA 21/2726/2015)
  11. Flawed justice: Unfair trials and the death penalty in Indonesia (ASA 21/2434/2015)
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