Lethal shooting in Puncak Regency –Three more dead bodies discovered
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 17:08
Only three days after security force members allegedly shot dead seventeen-year-old Atanius Murib and injured seventeen-year-old Manus Murib with bullets, three more bodies were found at the Limbaga Mountain, Gome District. The civil servant Akis Alom, 34, and two pupils named Wapenus Tabuni, 17, [see photo below] and twelve-year-old Warius Murib [see photo on top] had been missing since 20 November 2020, the same day as security force members opened fire at Manus Murib and Atanius Murib. The three indigenous Papuans were on their way from the Agandugume District to Ilaga, the largest town in the Puncak Regency, where Wapenus and Warius went to school. Relatives assumed that they passed the Limbaga Mountain around 12.00 pm, approximately 60 to 90 minutes after the previous shooting.
Military police investigate alleged burning of Government facilities in Intan Jaya
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- Published on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 09:37
The military police are investigating allegations on the deliberate arson of a public health facility during a military operation in the Hitadipa District on 19 September 2020. The operation also resulted in the execution of Rev Yeremia Zanambani. The investigation had been launched after multiple investigation teams had reported the arson to various government institutions and representatives. Currently, eight army members, namely Capt. SA, Second Lt. KT, Second Sgt. MFA, First Sgt. S, Second Sgt. ISF, Second Cpl. DP, First Pvt. MI and Second Pvt. MH. Dodik are under investigation concerning the fire which destroyed multiple buildings. The local health department had built the houses as accommodation for medical staffs.
Treason trial against three Papuans from Maybrat in Sorong District Court
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- Published on Monday, 23 November 2020 04:54
On 15 September 2020, the panel of judges launched another political trial in the Sorong District Court. The Papuan defendants: Marten Muuk, Simon Sasior and Yakobus Assem have been charged with three indictments, among them the Articles 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on criminal conspiracy and Article 106 KUHP on treason, the latter carrying a maximum penalty of live imprisonment. The three Papuans were arrested during a police raid in the regency of Maybrat, Papua Barat Province. The arrest occurred on 23 April 2020 in the Tigihmana Village of the Aifat District.
Security force members allegedly shoot dead high school student in Puncak - second student injured by bullets
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- Published on Sunday, 22 November 2020 13:40
The armed conflict in West Papua’s central highlands continues to deteriorate, costing the lives of innocent civilians. The latest extra-judicial killing was reported from the Papuan regency of Puncak. According to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) and the Papuan Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua), the two students were on their way from the town of Ilaga to their home village in the district of Agundugume on 20 November 2020. When the minors reached the Limbaga Mountain in the Gome District, they were intercepted by a group of fully armed security force members who reportedly tried to execute both minors. Seventeen-year-old Manus Murib sustained three bullet injuries as he escaped the execution while his friend, Atanius Murib, also 17, was killed on the spot.
Papuan human rights defender threatened and stigmatised as separatist
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- Published on Thursday, 19 November 2020 09:18
Papuan human rights defender, Theo Hesegem, was verbally attacked and discredited by members of the government’s customary organisation ‘Lembaga Musyawarah Adat’ (LMA) at the airport in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, on 15 November 2020. Mr Hesegem had come to monitor the security situation at the airport. The situation threatened to escalate as LMA members and sympathisers of the ‘Red White Front’ (‘Barisan Merah Putih’ or BMP) prevented a delegation of 62 people from leaving the airport building. The delegation was seconded by the Papuan Peoples Assembly (MRP) to hold a consultation hearing about the success and failure of the Papuan Special Autonomy. Multiple plain cloth intelligence officers and military members recorded the incident with cell phone cameras without making any effort to deescalate the situation.
Members of Papuan Peoples' Assembly face intimidation and arrest during preparation of hearings about Papuan Special Autonomy
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- Published on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 10:38
In 2001, the Indonesian government adopted Law No. 21/2001 on the Special Autonomy for the Papua Province. The government also approved special autonomy funds for 20 years. As the funding period is coming to an end, the Papuan Peoples’ Assembly (MRP) has launched a series of consultation hearings (Bhs Indonesia: Rapat Dengar Pendapat or RDP which can be translated as “meetings to listen to opinions”) to determine the aspirations of the Papuan people regarding a possible prolongation of Special Autonomy funding for the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Article 77 of the law No. 21/2001 provides the legal foundation for “any proposals regarding the amendment of the Law” and mandates the MRP to hold RDP hearings across West Papua.
Palm oil conglomerate Korind accused of clearing rainforest in West Papua with fire
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- Published on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 09:31
A new investigation by Greenpeace International and Forensic Architecture has concluded that the Indonesian-South-Korean palm oil conglomerate Korindo has been using slash and burn practices to clear rainforests in West Papua. The organisations used cutting-edge data analysis to prove the direct correlation between the appearance of fires and the expansion of Korindo’s palm oil plantation in one of the company’s concession areas in West Papua. According to the NGOs, the fires occurred in patterns of consistent, deliberate use. Indonesian law prohibits the use of fire for the clearing of forest areas.
"Papuan Lives Matter" - ELSAM launches new documentary about 2019 anti-racism protests
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- Published on Sunday, 15 November 2020 11:56
The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), a Jakarta-based human rights NGO, has launched a documentary with the title “Papuan Lives Matter” on 15 November 2020. The documentary was produced in cooperation with Nalar TV, and it describes the background as well as the aftermaths of the Papua-wide protests against racial discrimination of indigenous Papuans (see top image). The demonstrations and the subsequent criminalisation campaign against protesters, human rights defenders and political activists must be regarded as one of the most significant events in Indonesia throughout 2019.
Watch full documentary “Papuan Lives Matter” in Indonesian with English Subtitles*
More Articles...
- Korindo accused of illegally burning Papuan rainforest
- Human rights lawyer intimidated in Jayapura
- Indonesian Bishops call for dialogue in West Papua
- Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya shares its findings concerning the killing of Pastor Zanambani
- Another church worker killed in Intan Jaya – Security force members accuse victim of being TPN PB member
- Verdict in treason trial against 23 Papuan political detainees in Fakfak
- Pacific Conference of Churches calls for "40 Days of Hunger for Justice and Peace" in West Papua
- Allegations of enforced disappearance in Nduga Regency – Two indigenous leaders missing after military operation
- Police fail to respect freedom of peaceful assembly in West Papua – 13 protesters arrested, one injured by bullet during demonstration against Otsus II
- Update on killing of Rev Zanambani in Intan Jaya – Fact finding team submits report to Minister Mahfud MD