Police crackdown on peaceful student protest in Jayapura – at least two students injured
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- Published on Thursday, 01 October 2020 10:57
The Jayapura Municipality Police (Polresta Jayapura) and Indonesian military members have forcefully dispersed a peaceful student demonstration against the university’s scientific assessment of West Papua’s special autonomy since its enactment in 2001. The demonstration was held in the Abepurra campus of Cenderawasih University (UNCEN) Jayapura, Papua Province, on 28 September 2020. Videos of the crackdown show how police officers storm the campus with teargas, water cannons and warning shots. At least two students were injured as a result of the use of excessive force by the police against the protesters. Four protesters were arrested, temporarily detained and released on the same day. According to media outlet Suara Papua, security force members also damaged a dozen motorcycles which belonged to UNCEN students.
Mysterious death of pastor in Nabire raises questions – Relatives allege police is covering facts
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- Published on Thursday, 01 October 2020 10:41
Only a few days after military members killed a Papuan pastor in the regency of Intan Jaya, human rights defenders have reported the mysterious death of another pastor in the Nabire regency. According to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua), 55-years-old pastor Albert Degei was found dead in the Kalisemen village of the Nabire Barat district on 22 September 2020. Relatives noticed multiple injuries on the victim’s head, indicating that Rev Degei was murdered. Shortly after the incident, the local police chief claimed in media interviews that Rev Degei died as a result of an epileptic attack and his body did not show any signs of external violence. The relatives are concerned that the police may attempt to cover up the case because they want to protect the perpetrator.
Youth Forum concerned about the shrinking space for democracy in West Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 01 October 2020 14:16
The West Papua Christian Youth Forum (FPK-TP) has released another open letter called THE LOSS OF DEMOCRATIC SPACE IN THE LAND OF PAPUA. The Forum is deeply disappointed by the actions of the Indonesian Army and Police. They continue to silence democracy in Papua, where students and the Papuan people demonstrating against Special Autonomy Volume II have been forcibly dispersed with acts of violence. "Violent actions were taken to disperse the Cenderawasih students' peaceful protests, including shooting which destroyed vehicles and the doors of the University as well as beatings of the protesters. This should not have happened if the security forces had approached the situation properly," said Yandinus Mabel, Head of the West Papua Christian Youth Forum. Yandinus said, the levels of security that were carried out during the peaceful protests to reject Special Autonomy Volume II were over the top. "The duty of the security forces is to safeguard and not commit acts of violence or prohibit the expression of opinions in public under Law no. 9 of 1998 which allows every citizen to express their opinion in public.
UN Experts question Indonesia regarding security operation in Nduga
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 September 2020 11:07
Since the security force operation in the regency of Nduga in Papua province started in December 2018, there have been numerous reports concerning a series of human rights violations happening in the area. The conflict in the Papuan highlands and its consequences, especially for the civilians caught in the middle, have been brought to the attention of the relevant United Nations Special Procedures first in March 2019 and then again in May 2020.
The UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; UN Special Rapporteur on rights of indigenous peoples; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights of internally displaced persons; and UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, immediately reacted to this issue and communicated with the Indonesian government in April 2019 as the number of displaced indigenous Papuans was increasing.
Papuan students in Makassar attacked during peaceful protest against prolongation of Papuan Special Autonomy
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- Published on Saturday, 26 September 2020 12:40
Papuan students and members of the ‘Solidarity Forum Caring for the Papuan People’ (FSP-RP) organised a peaceful demonstration in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi Province. The students were protesting against the government's plan to prolong the special autonomy status for the provinces Papua and Papua Barat, which is supposed to come to an end in 2021. Members of nationalist mass organisations (ORMAS) allegedly assaulted protesters with stones and helmets. Five protesters were reportedly injured as the Ormas members attacked them with helmets and bare hands while others were throwing stones at the crowd. Multiple police officers witnessed the attacks but failed to protect the peaceful assembly and take action against the attackers.
Three KNPB activists currently tried under treason charges at Sorong District Court
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- Published on Saturday, 26 September 2020 12:28
Three members of the organisation ‘West Papua National Committee’ (KNPB) named Simon Sasior, Marten Muk and Yakobus Assem, have been standing trial at the Sorong District Court since 15 September 2020. Police arrested the three political activists in relation to the killing of a Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer during a raid in the Maybrat Regency in late April 2020. Although the raid was conducted to track down homicide perpetrators, none of the three activists have been charged with murder. Instead, the public prosecutor has raised charges against defendants for alleged treason and criminal conspiracy as stipulated under Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code, for being associated with the KNPB. The KNPB is a political movement organisation which is conducting peaceful protests to advocate the right to political self-determination of the Papuan people through a referendum.
Peaceful protests against prolongation of Papuan Special Autonomy in Nabire and Timika – Police responds with mass arrests
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- Published on Thursday, 24 September 2020 10:27
Multiple civil society groups joining the ‘Papuan Peoples Front’ (FRP) organised peaceful protests against the prolongation of the Papuan Special Autonomy in the cities of Nabire and Timika on 23 and 24 September 2020. The activists registered the protests in advance as required, but the police in Timika and Nabire refused to issue an acknowledgement letter (STTP or ’Surat Tanda Terima Pemberitahuan’). Still, thousands of people came together to express their rejection towards the government’s plan to prolong the special autonomy status of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Instead, the protesters demanded a democratic and dignified solution through a referendum over West Papua’s political status. Yells accompanied both demonstrations for the ‘Papuan Independence’ (‘Papua Merdeka’), and protesters carried banners with Morning Star symbols. The local police in both cities responded with mass arrests. The police forcefully dispersed the rally in Timika. Human rights defenders documented a case of violence against a protester in Timika.
Students launch petition against prolongation of Papuan special autonomy in Manado – Police reacts with roadblocks and tear gas
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- Published on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 08:35
Police officers have prevented Papuan students from conducting a peaceful assembly on 21 September 2020 in the city of Manado, North Sulawesi Province. The students wanted to launch a petition against the prolongation of the Papuan Special Autonomy and for the right to self-determination of the Papuan people. The officers reacted by setting up roadblocks (see intro image, source: Suara Papua) in three different locations around the Papuan student dormitory in Manado, preventing students from other cities in North Sulawesi to enter the dormitory. The Manado Legal Aid Institute (LBH Manado) and the students tried in vain to convince the police officers to allow the peaceful assembly. The officers dispersed the crowd with teargas as some of the protesters attempted to overcome the police barriers.
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