Anti-racism riot in Wamena affects education and medical services in the regencies Jayawijaya and Yahukimo

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Published on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 22:37

The anti-racism riot in Wamena continues to affect education and medical services in the central highlands. Many non-Papuans who work in the central highlands of West Papua - among them many teachers, doctors and health workers - left in fear of ethnic violence. In the regency of Jayawijaya, the riot has caused the demolition of 25 education facilities including kindergartens, primary schools and high schools. Although schools in Wamena re-opened on 7 October 2019, many students and teachers are still traumatised after the riot and stay away from class. More than 8,000 persons in the Jayawijaya regency living with HIV/AIDS reportedly face difficulties to access health services and antiretroviral medication because 27 health centres (Puskesmas) in the areas around Wamena closed due to lack of medical staff. Medical services and education facilities in Wamena have resumed work after deployment of additional security forces.

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Update on Biak police detention suicide case – Victim’s family demand transparency and justice

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Published on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 22:34

The national human rights mechanisms in Indonesia remain highly ‘unattractive’ for victims of human rights violations and their relatives, contributing to conditions in which perpetrators of security forces enjoy impunity while the victims fail to access justice and restitution. The case of Ronaldo Yawan (21 years) is emblematic for the shortcomings of Indonesia’s national human rights system. Ronaldo was found dead on 15 June 2018 in his detention cell in Biak, tow days after police officers arrested and detained him. The officers claimed that Ronaldo Yawan hung himself using his belt. For four months, Ronaldo’s relatives have in vain requested a transparent investigation into his death.

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Update: Crackdown on student protest in Jayapura – four killed victims confirmed

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Published on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 22:28

One month has passed since security forces cracked down on a peaceful student protest in the Papuan city of Jayapura, on 23 September 2019. While early information regarding the circumstances of the incident and the number of victims varied among different sources, the identities of the killed protesters have now been confirmed. The four students Ason Mujizau, Jery Murib, Otier Wenda and Eremanus Wesareak, were killed as security forces opened fire at the crowd in Waena, Jayapura. Human rights organisations are still investigating the tragic incident, which occurred almost simultaneously with anti-racism riots in Wamena. According to information received, the four students died as a result of bullet injuries. Ason Mijizau sustained two bleeding injuries to the right thigh, a bleeding wound to the right leg (10 cm long), a bleeding wound at the right side of the lower ribs (5 cm long) and a fractured leg.

Mysterious death of student in Enarotali – Police excludes murder as cause of death

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Published on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 22:22

The body of senior high school student, A. Mote (17 years), was found on 25.09.2019 in Ekeitadi Village, Enarotali, Paniai Regency. Villagers found the body – the clothes were broken and had presumable blood stains. The victim's trousers were partly ripped off the body. The alleged cause of death was a deep injury on the backside of the neck (see image) which appeared to be caused by external violence. The local police brought the body to the Madi General hospital for an autopsy. According to the police, the autopsy indicates that A. Mote died as a result of a traffic accident. However, the autopsy results were not shared with the victim’s family. Relatives suspect that the police are trying to avoid a criminal investigation into the case. They believe that A. Mote was killed in a different location and the body was later dumped in Ekaitadi Village.

Amnesty International - Papua visit shows President Widodo still neglecting human rights

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Published on Wednesday, 30 October 2019 13:44

The following press statement was released by Amnesty International on 28.10.2019:

Papua visit shows President Widodo still neglecting human rights

As President Joko Widodo concludes a three-day visit to Papua, Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director said:

"Time and time again, President Widodo has made grand promises to appease Papuans. As he embarks on his second term, his government still fails to recognize that there is still a human rights crisis in Papua. A few photo opportunities and speeches about infrastructure and economic incentives will not paper over it.

"President Widodo visited Wamena today, but his government has yet to initiate a thorough, impartial, independent and effective investigation into last month's tragedy there– one of Indonesia's bloodiest days in 20 years. Security forces suspected to be responsible for human rights violations including cases of excessive use of force and criminal offences must be brought to justice in fair trials.

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Update: Riot in Wamena – Chronology of events and consequences of the riot

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Published on Sunday, 27 October 2019 09:21

The riot in Wamena must be understood as part of a series of anti-racism protests in all major cities across West Papua. The protests occurred in response to racist acts against Papuan students in the Javanese cities of Malang, Surabaya and Semerang between 16 and 18 August 2019. In contrast to previous riots in Jayapura, Waghete, Manokwari, Sorong, Timika and others, the riot in Wamena was reportedly triggered by a specific incident that occurred in a public school in Wamena several days prior to the other riots. The riot in Wamena marked the worst outbreak of violence in a single incident since the end of the military dictatorship under President Suharto. This article was compiled based on information from independent human rights defenders and news articles published by multiple media outlets.

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