Joint Statement: Human Rights Abuses in Papua and West Papua

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Published on Thursday, 17 July 2014 11:49

We, the undersigned organizations, are concerned about the serious and ongoing violations of Human Rights that are taking place with impunity in the easternmost provinces of Indonesia Papua and West Papua. The violations of Human Rights have been well-documentedⁱ and have been brought to the attention of Indonesia during the second round of the UPR process. Thirteen nations made recommendations to Indonesia with regard to the obligation to respect human rights in Papua and West Papuaⁱⁱ.

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UN Committee's Concluding Observations on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in Papua

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Published on Monday, 14 July 2014 15:20

Between April 30 and May 1, 2014, the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) reviewed Indonesia's implementation of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) during its 52nd session. Indonesia acceded to the convention in February 2006 and was overdue to report. During the review the committee raised the situation in West Papua repeatedly with the committee, which is reflected in its concluding observations.

The meeting summary prepared by the media section of the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) shows that the situation in Papua was frequently raised by the committee members.

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New Ormas Law used to back police repression in Papua

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Published on Tuesday, 15 July 2014 09:40

At the end of June 2014, there were at least 76 political prisoners in Papuan jails.

The West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB), a Papuan pro-independence activist organisation, was heavily targeted by Indonesian security forces this month. There were at least 24 arrests of KNPB members across Papua in Boven Digoel, Timika and Merauke. Police performed a mass arrest of 20 KNPB members in Boven Digoel under the auspices of the Social Organisations Law (RUU Organisasi Kemasyarakatan, RUU Ormas), claiming that the KNPB was an illegal organisation as it was not registered with the Department of National Unity and Politics (Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik, Kesbangpol). The police also stated that any KNPB attributes such as flags and symbols were thus also considered illegal. The use of the Ormas Law to de-legitimise and control indigenous civil society groups, especially ahead of planned demonstrations or commemorative events, continues to place unacceptable limitations on freedom of assembly and expression in Papua.

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Indonesia Is at a Crossroads - Its Future as a Pluralistic Democracy Hangs in the Balance

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Published on Monday, 30 June 2014 14:41

A nation "at the crossroads" is a well-worn and overused phrase, but it is one that befits Indonesia today.

On 9 July, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, third largest democracy, fourth most populous nation and south-east Asia's largest economy will elect a new President. The two candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo (known as "Jokowi") represent a very clear and contrasting choice: between the past and the future, a return to authoritarianism or a deepening of democracy, and between the politicisation of religion and the protection and promotion of genuine religious pluralism.

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Demands of Human Rights Organisations for a New Government

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Published on Wednesday, 09 July 2014 12:27

Organised by the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), 32 international human rights organisations including the International Coalition for Papua (ICP) have issued a statement for a new Indonesian government. On July 9, 2014, presidential elections will be held in Indonesia. The steps taken by the new government will decide in which direction the serious human rights situation in the largest South East Asian country and ASEAN leader will develop. Violations of freedom of religion and the isolated conflict region West Papua are among the most serious issues.

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Freedom of expression and Assembly in West Papua, Indonesia

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Published on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 13:00

We, the International Coalition for Papua would like to draw the Council’s attention to the deterioration of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Papua, Indonesia. The area remains restricted to international human rights observers, foreign journalists and researchers. In 2013, the number of political arrests more than doubled, the number of reported cases of torture and ill treatment of detainees quadrupled, and the number of cases involving the denial of access to lawyers and unfair trials doubled during the previous year.

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