Police disperses two peaceful demonstrations in Jayapura - 93 protesters arrested

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Published on Thursday, 06 September 2018 02:16

Activists from the Papuan Democratic Peoples Movement (Garda Papua) and students from the Jayapura University for Science and Technology (USTJ) have reported that local police forces in Jayapura dispersed two demonstrations and arrested 93 protesters. GARDA Papua had organized a peaceful protest on 3 September 2018, demanding the closing of the Freeport Mine in Tembaggapura, the demilitarization of West Papua and the construction of the market for indigenous Papuan women. On the following day, 4 September 2018, supporters of the ‘United Liberation Movement for West Papua’ (ULMWP) gathered in Sentani and the USTJ Campus in Abepura. The protest was carried out in support of Vanuatu and other Pacific island countries to raise the issue of self-determination for West Papua at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting, which is currently taking place in Nauru until 9 September 2018 (see intro image).

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Violation of law enforcement procedures still common in West Papua

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Published on Wednesday, 05 September 2018 02:09

The ‘Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua’ (PAHAM Papua) reported several cases in which the local police in West Papua allegedly violated law enforcement procedures during arrest and detention of suspects. According to information from PAHAM Papua, police conducted arrests without warrant, applied excessive use of force during arrest, prevented family members to meet with suspects during detention and obstructed lawyers during consultation visits at the detention facility.

Arbitrary arrest and detention of Titus Kwalik, Julianus Dekme and Polce Tsugumol
The local police in Timika unlawfully arrested Titus Kwalik, Julianus Dekme and Polce Tsugumol in the night from 9 to 10 June 2018 at multiple locations in Timika City. Police officers did not show any warrants during the arrests. An arrest information letter was sent to the families two days after the arrest was conducted. Titus Kwalik and Julianus Dekme were subjected to beatings during the arrests.

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Papua regional police raises criminal charges against arrested Polish citizen

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Published on Tuesday, 04 September 2018 05:07

Polish citizen Jakub Fabian Skrzypski (39), who is described by the police as a journalist and had been arrested in Jayawijaya regeceny on 26 August 2018, might face criminal charges. Officer Ahmad Mustofa Kamal, the spokesman of the Papua regional police (Polda Papua), stated in an interview with the independent media outlet ‘Tabloid Jubi’ that Skrzypski will be charged with the treason articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code KUHP, article 53 KUHP regarding the attempt to commit a criminal offense and article 55 KUHP on committing, ordering or participating in a criminal offense. The criminal offense of treason alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

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Update on Freeport's mass lay offs - dismissed laborers report Employment Minister to Ombudsman

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Published on Monday, 03 September 2018 03:58

In February 2017, PT Freeport Indonesia (PT FI) introduced a furlough program to release its workers from their obligations and return them to their point of leave. The Freeport laborers went on strike. PT FI claimed that the workers’ strikes were illegal and thus the strikers were considered to have "voluntarily resigned". In early 2017, PT FI reportedly fired around 4,200 workers participating in the strike. So far, attempts to involve human rights organisations, ministries and government institutions have not lead to a perceptible outcome for the dismissed workers.

On 28 August, hundreds of Freeport laborers gathered at HR. Rasuna Said Street in central Jakarta, in front of the PT FI head office. Security forces repeatedly tried in vain to dissolve the peaceful demonstration. The laborers continued the protest over night, sleeping in front of building (see intro image and image below). The following day eight representatives were allowed to attend a meeting with the management of PT FI. However, the meeting did not bring about any agreement on the longlasting labor rights conflict.

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Police officers shoot down Fery Korwa in Manokwari

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Published on Saturday, 01 September 2018 00:43

Local human rights defenders have reported a police shooting in Manokwari, Papua Barat Province, near the Wosi Market. On 26 August 2018 at 10.00 am, police officers from the Manokwari sub-district municipality police (Polsek Manokwari Kota) shot Fery Korwa (20) in front of the Fajar Roon Hotel in Trikora Wosi Street. Ferry Korwa sustained a bullet injury to the right side of the upper back and had to be trated at the local Navy Hospital (see intro image). The bullet pierced his torso from back to front as he was running away from police officers. According to the local police, Ferry Korwa allegedly stole a mobile phone from a junior high school student and tried to avoid arrest. In response, the victim’s relatives blocked the road at 12.00 am. They claimed that the police used excessive force during the arrest and demanded that the officers in charge shall be prosecuted.

The local police justified the use of fire arms, claiming that Ferry Korwa carried a sharp weapon. The head of the criminal investigation unit of Manokwari sub-district police, B. Limbong,  stated in a public interview on 27 August 2018 that Fery Korwa  threatened the officers with a weapon. He explained that his men tried to shoot the suspect in the leg but accidently hit his upper back. The statement contradicts the information collected by local human rights defenders - eyewitnesses who helped Ferry Korwa after the shooting stated that he did not carry any weapon.

Australian academic blacklisted and deported

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Published on Saturday, 01 September 2018 00:08

Immigration officers have prevented Belinda Lopez, a PhD candidate for Indonesian studies at Macquarie University, from entering Indonesia shortly after landing at the International Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali on 3 August 2018. She was detained for 17 hours in a room at the airport (see intro image) and forced to board an airplane to Australia on the following day, leaving around 10.00 pm. According to Belinda, the authorities repeatedly asked her whether she was a journalist and had "done something bad to Indonesia".

The incident appears to be closely related to her former work as editor for the Indonesian newspapers 'The Jakarta Post' and 'The Jakarta Globe'. Belinda said that Indonesian Immigration authorities denied her visa extension in 2016 after it was suspected she, as a reporter, was conducting media coverage in the province of Papua. At that time she was told that this measure was an administrative matter which meant that she could not return to Indonesia for six months. “Why am I now on the Indonesian government blacklist? For how long? For what reason? For going to Papua? This is devastating for me.” she posted in the social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.

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