Update on the situation of IDPs from Nduga, Intan Jaya and Mimika
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- Published on Wednesday, 02 December 2020 11:01
Armed clashes between the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) and Indonesian security forces have caused the internal displacement of thousands of indigenous Papuans from the regencies of Nduga, Intan Jaya and Mimika. Local human rights observers have estimated their total number at around 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Particularly, IDPs' situation from Nduga is of great concern – most of them have already been displaced since December 2018, and an end of military operations in their regency is not yet in sight. The large majority of IDPs are left to themselves, without humanitarian aid from the government, relevant state agencies or the Red Cross. They are not able to return to their villages due to ongoing military raids in the Papuan central highlands which continue to be accompanied by cases of torture and extra-judicial killings.
Download joint report on humanitarian crisis in West Papua here
Military members raid Soloitma Dormitory in Sentani – eleven residents reportedly tortured, one Papuan woman killed
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 December 2020 09:21
Human rights organisations have documented a further case of military violence against indigenous Papuans in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, on 4 November 2020. According to the Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (PAHAM Papua) the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), members of the Yonif 751 Sentani Military raided the Soloitma Dormitory and tortured eleven residents. One of the victims, Demisien Kobak, 19, was reportedly kicked in the abdomen and both thighs although she had pointed out earlier that she was sick. She died shortly after her admission to the Yowari Hospital as a result of the injuries which she sustained from the torture (see photo on top).
++ Live Ticker: 1st December Commemorations in West Papua, Indonesia and other parts of the world++
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 December 2020 02:53
Status: 10.12.2020
1 December 2020, Jakarta
The Papuan Student Alliance (Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua, AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held a peaceful protest in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. The students carried banners and shirts with Morning Star symbols shouting “Independence for Papua!” (Bahasa Indonesia: “Papua Merdeka!”). Police officers closely accompanied the protest. The officers allowed the students to carry out the rally (see photo below).
UN OHCHR calls for a platform for inclusive dialogue with the people of Papua
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November 2020 06:04
Today, 30 November 2020, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the UN has issued a statement (text and video) about the ongoing violations relating to protests against the prolongation of the autonomy law, recent killings of church workers, in particular, that of Rev. Zanambani and the ongoing political conflict in West Papua.
In the statement the OHCHR also calls for a "platform for meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua, to address longstanding economic, social and political grievances."
That statement comes one day ahead of 1. December, a day of political meaning for indigenous Papuans. On 1 December 1961, West Papuans had taken first steps for building a national identity. Since 1969, the region is part of Indonesia. The United Liberation Movement has called for mass prayers on 1 December 2020 and a "peaceful end of Special Autonomy". Every year, Papuans mark the 1 December anniversary with demonstrations that have in the past been met with mass arrests and violence by security forces. OHCHR is now urging "the Government of Indonesia to uphold people's rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in line with its international obligations, particularly ahead of 1 December, when there are often protests, tensions and arrests."
Watch the Video Statement here
Download the Video Statement here
Make West Papua Safe Campaign - Stop funding military repression in Papua, plead TAPOL speakers
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November 2020 05:45
This article has originally been published by Asia Pacific Report on 25 November 2020
Read full article on Asia Pacific Report website here
For more information, visit Make West Papua Safe website
Campaigners at a TAPOL-hosted global webinar have called on the people of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and other countries to stop funding military training for Indonesian security forces who are “killing innocent West Papuans”.
Rosa Moiwend, a member of the War Resisters International, said West Papuans wanted to live peacefully without any oppression by the military – this was the hope of the indigenous Melanesian people.
“If your government is actually behind this scenario, I think the main thing you have to do is to go and talk to your government, Parliament members and question them about your tax money,” she said.
“Where does your tax money go? Does it go to pay [for] the war or is the tax money used for the purpose of human lives?”
Petition for the rejection of more special autonomy funds signed by 520,261 supporters – Pro-Government groups react with criminalisation campaign
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- Published on Thursday, 26 November 2020 11:14
On 4 July 2020, a solidarity group consisting of a few movement organisations and student groups launched a petition (Petisi Rakyat Papua, PRP) against the prolongation of special autonomy funding (Otsus II) for the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Meanwhile, 102 organisations have joined the ‘Peoples’ Solidarity for West Papua’ (see photo on top). On 26 November 2020, the spokesperson of the solidarity group, Victor Yeimo, published a video message on social media according to which the petition was already signed by 520,261 people in and outside of West Papua.
Papuan musician reportedly tortured for singing pro-independence songs
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:35
The Papuan musician, Kris Douw, was allegedly tortured by military members at the Kodim Military Complex in the Papuan town of Nabire on 21 November 2020. The New Zealand-based media outlets Asia Pacific Report and Evening Report published news articles in reaction to social media posts on the case by the Free West Papua Campaign. The posts contain a short narrative and photographs of Kris Douw’s injuries (see photo on top, source: Free West Papua Campaign). He sustained multiple bruises in his face and body, including several broken teeth.
The incident reportedly occurred around 8.00 am. According to information received, military special force members beat up Kris Douw for writing and publishing a song and a video which promote Papuan political independence and the armed struggle by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB).
Illegal logging in the Tambrauw Regency – NGOs demand Govt to take action against PT. Multi Wijaya Wahana
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:07
A coalition of NGOs in the Sorong Regency demand local government and law enforcement institutions to immediately investigate allegations of illegal logging which have reportedly been committed by the company PT. Multi Wijaya Wahana (PT. MWW) in the regency of Tambrauw. According to Charles Tawaru, the director of Papua Forest Watch (PFW), the NGOs found illegal logging practices during investigations between 2018 and 2019, which the company uses until today. The NGOs demand that PT. MWW’s logging concessions shall immediately be withdrawn if investigations confirm the allegations of illegal logging practices. PT. MWW’s logging concession had been extended twice in 2013 and 2018 ignoring strong indications for the violation of multiple laws and local regulations.
More Articles...
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- Military police investigate alleged burning of Government facilities in Intan Jaya
- Treason trial against three Papuans from Maybrat in Sorong District Court
- Security force members allegedly shoot dead high school student in Puncak - second student injured by bullets
- Papuan human rights defender threatened and stigmatised as separatist
- Members of Papuan Peoples' Assembly face intimidation and arrest during preparation of hearings about Papuan Special Autonomy
- Palm oil conglomerate Korind accused of clearing rainforest in West Papua with fire
- "Papuan Lives Matter" - ELSAM launches new documentary about 2019 anti-racism protests
- Korindo accused of illegally burning Papuan rainforest
- Human rights lawyer intimidated in Jayapura