Amnesty International urges police to drop treason charges against six Papuan activists in Java
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- Published on Thursday, 05 September 2019 06:07
3 September 2019 Index: ASA 21/0970/2019
INDONESIA: POLICE MUST DROP MAKAR (REBELLION) CHARGES AGAINST SIX PAPUAN ACTIVISTS
Amnesty International Indonesia urges the Jakarta Regional Police Force (Polda) to immediately drop all “rebellion (makar)” charges brought against six political activists who are campaigning for the right to self-determination for Papua, and to immediately and unconditionally release them. The activists were charged and detained under Articles 106 and 110 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP), which cover crimes against the security of the state, solely for exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expresses concern about the situation in West Papua
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- Published on Wednesday, 04 September 2019 11:38
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said her office was "disturbed" by the escalating violence in Papua and West Papua in the past two weeks, especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces. The OHCHR released the following Comment earlier today:
(Geneva, 4 Septermber 2019) "I have been disturbed by escalating violence in the past two weeks in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, and especially the deaths of some protestors and security forces personnel. This is part of a trend we have observed since December 2018, and we have been discussing our concerns with the Indonesian authorities. There should be no place for such violence in a democratic and diverse Indonesia, and I encourage the authorities to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns, as well as to restore internet services and refrain from any excessive use of force. Blanket internet shutdowns are likely to contravene freedom of expression and limiting communications may exacerbate tensions".
West Papua-wide anti-racism protests accompanied by violence – eight protesters killed, 50 injured during crackdown in Waghete
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- Published on Sunday, 01 September 2019 11:10
Last week, anti-racism rallies in West Papua were accompanied by riots, chaos and violent crackdowns by security forces. The protests occurred in response to acts of racial discrimination and assault by security forces and nationalist mass organisations against Papuan students in the Javanese cities of Malang, Surabaya and Semarang in mid-August. The protesters also expressed their aspirations for political self-determination, arguing that Papuans are treated as ‘second-class’ citizens in Indonesia. The government deployed additional security forces in various Papuan regions and has blocked the internet across in the Provinces of Papua and Papua Barat since 19 August 2019 to prevent the spreading of information through social media and hamper media coverage on the current situation in West Papua. The worst outbreak of violence was reported from the regency of Deiyai, where the forceful dispersal of demonstrations resulted in the deaths of eight protesters. Fifty protesters were injured during the crackdown.
Security force operation in Puncak Regency – about 800 indigenous IDPs flee their homes
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- Published on Sunday, 01 September 2019 11:03
According to multiple Papuan media outlets, a security force operation in the Gome District of the highland regency Puncak has resulted in the displacement of several hundred indigenous peoples, mainly women and children. Between 24 and 26 August 2019, joint security forces have conducted raids in the villages Tegelobak, Mitimaga, Kelanungin, Upaga and Ninggabuma with the goal to arrest Goliat Tabuni and Anton Tabuni, two commanders of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) controlling some areas in the regencies of Puncak and Puncak Jaya. An exchange of fire between the security forces and the TPN PB was reported from Mitimaga on 24.08.2018 around 3.00 pm.
Leading ULMWP activist arrested and charged with document forgery
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- Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 11:05
Members of the Jayapura municipality police have arrested the head of the politics desk of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Bazoka Logo (see intro image). The police pressed charges against Logo for alleged violation of article 266 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on document forgery. Bazoka Logo’s lawyers from the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), the Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (PAHAM Papua) and Posbakum Madim stated that the arrest was not conducted in accordance with law enforcement procedures. They regard the arrest as an attempt to criminalize the ULMWP activist, who had organised a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the ‘New York Agreement’ on 15 August 2019.
Government imposes internet blockade after anti-racism riots in West Papua
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- Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 11:01
The Government has blocked the internet in the Provinces of Papua and Papua Barat since 19 August 2019 after large scale demonstrations and several riots in multiple Papuan cities. Several media outlets reported that the blockade was eased on 5 September 2019, after the Government assessed that the situation in West Papua had 'calmed down'. Other sources claimed that the internet was still down in multiple Papuan cities. The rallies were carried out in response to acts of racial discrimination against Papuan students in the Javanese cities of Malang, Surabaya and Semarang in mid-August. The Government justified the measure, arguing that the blockade would prevent the spreading of false information and assist law enforcement personnel to calm down ongoing tensions. The head of the Papuan branch of Indonesian telecommunication provider PT. Telkom Indonesia, Mr. Charles Aronggear, confirmed that the internet restrictions were imposed by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. He stated in an interview on 26 August 2019 that it is not clear when the restrictions will be lifted again.
Police prevents peaceful commemoration of the ‘International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’
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- Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 10:54
Members of the Lanny Jaya district police have prevented Papuan indigenous leaders to peacefully commemorate the ‘International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’ in the highland town of Tiom. According to the chairman of the Papuan Customary Council (Dewan Adat Papua, DAP), Dominikus Sorabut, police members stopped him and 200 other DAP members on 9 August 2019 (see intro image) in front of the district police station as they were on the way to a large field in Tiom where the commemoration was supposed to take place. Police officers intercepted the group and did not allow them to go continue to Tiom. The group finally returned to Wamena.
Commemorations of New York Agreement accompanied by arrests, violence and racism - Papuan students subjected to harassment and assaults
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- Published on Wednesday, 21 August 2019 06:21
On 15 August 2019, the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian Peoples’ Front for West Papua (FRI West Papua) organised peaceful protests in multiple Indonesian cities in commemoration of the 57. Anniversary of the ‘New York Agreement’ . Simultaneously, a large-scale demonstration took place in Jayapura, Papua Province. While the peaceful demonstrations in Salatiga and Yogyakarta proceeded smoothly, security forces and members of nationalist mass organisations (ORMAS) in the Indonesian cities of Malang and Ternate dispersed the peaceful assemblies. The police responded with mass arrests which were allegedly accompanied by violent acts against the protesters.
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