Amnesty International deeply concerned about increasing use of “makar” against Papuans - Open Letter to President Joko Widodo
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- Published on Monday, 07 October 2019 14:59
In relation to the mass arrests and prosecution of activists in Papua in the last weeks, Amnesty International has released on 2 October 2019 an open letter on the increasing use of makar charges against Papuan activists to stifle freedom of expression. AI calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Papuan activists facing treason charges. The letter, adressed to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, reads as follows:
Your Excellency:
Amnesty International is writing to express our deep concern about the sudden surge in the use of makar charges against at least 22 Papuan activists in Jakarta and Papua over the past few weeks based on their peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The activists are being charged and detained under Articles 106 and 110 of Indonesia's Criminal Code (KUHP), which cover crimes against the security of the state and impose life imprisonment as a maximum punishment.
Ecumenical Forum of Papuan Churches further appeal to President Joko Widodo
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- Published on Friday, 04 October 2019 09:59
In addition to the pastoral appeal for solidarity and action and the second appeal to withdraw army and police from Papua among other requests, the Church Leaders and from GKI Tanah Papua, GIDI, Fellowship of Baptist Churches and KINGMI Papua have signed on 1 October 2019 an open letter to President Joko Widodo.. Through this Letter the Ecumenical Forum of Churches in the Land of Papua: Pastor Andirkus Mofu, Pastor Dorman Wandikbo, Pastor Socrates Yoman and Pastor Benny Giay, faced with the reality of the problems explained above make the following recommendations:
a. In order for the Papuan problem to be solved there should be peaceful negotiations as the Indonesian Government did with GAM from Aceh which ended with the Helsinky Agreement. In this spirit we submitted our Pastoral Letter on August 26, 2019 to the National Police Chief and the Army Commander; Point 6 of the Pastoral Letter urges the Government of Indonesia to act fairly towards Papua by negotiating with ULMWP and OPM that would give birth to a new Treaty in whichever location was agreed with ULMWP and the Government of Indonesia (eg. Sydney, New York, Washington or Amsterdam).
b. Stop all efforts to divert the issue of racism to other matters (point 2 and 3 above) and free the prisoners that are held by the Papuan Police which we see as part of b.1. Direct talks to tackle the roots of the problem should not give rise to new problems such as the decentralization or break up of the Province or the building of a Palace etc. and does not serve those who continue to scapegoat those who they consider "separatists", accusing Benny Wenda or ULMWP as provocateurs.
Police officers obstruct Papuan journalists covering student rally in Jayapura
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 September 2019 11:00
Members of the police have obstructed three local journalists who covered a protest of Papuan students in front of the Cenderawasih University Auditorium in Jayapura on 23 September 2019. The chairman of the Independent Journalist Alliance in Jayapura, Lucky Ireeuw, stated that the intimidation and obstruction against Hengky Yeimo (Jubi), Benny Mawel (contributor for The Jakarta Post and Jubi) and Ardi Bayage (SuaraPapua.com) were a violation of media freedom as guaranteed under Law 40/1999 on press. The case is also emblematic for the discrimination which ethnic Papuan journalists face, particularly when they cover demonstrations on sensitive issues.
Series of arrests continues after Papua-wide rallies against racism
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 September 2019 10:53
One month after the first anti-racism demonstrations took place across West Papua, the police launched a series of arrests and criminalisation. Authorities have targeted political activists, human rights defenders and students. Two further arrests of students have been reported from Manokwari, Papua Barat Province. On 19 September 2019, police officers arrested Erik Aliknoe in the Gunung Salju Road for his involvement in demonstrations on 3, 6 and 11 September 2019 (see intro image). The police pressed criminal charges against him for incitement and conspiracy. Two days later police officers arrested another student named Yunus Alitnoe in his house in Manokwari without showing a warrant or providing a reason for the arrest. The parents speculated that the arrest is related to the ant-racism demonstrations in Manokwari.
More extra-judicial killings reported during security force operation in Puncak Regency
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 September 2019 10:46
Further extra-judicial killings have been reported from the remote highland regency of Puncak, where a security force operation is taking place since 24 August 2019. The most recent incident occurred in the Olenki Village on 17 September 2019, in which joint security forces shot dead an indigenous villager and two children. According to the Papuan news outlet ‘Tabloid Jubi’, a sixty-year old man named Ginobinok Tabuni died inside his house. The hut was set on fire during the security force raid in the village of Tegelobak on 24 August 2019. The family was not able to rescue Ginobinok Tabuni as they fled their house in panic. It was reported that twenty houses in the villages of Tegelobak, Mitimaga and Kelanunggin were burned to the ground.
Update on situation in Wamena and Jayapura after the riots
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- Published on Thursday, 26 September 2019 06:13
The recent outbreaks of violence in relation to anti-racism protests in the Papuan cities of Jayapura and Wamena have resulted in the largest number of fatalities in single incidents since the beginning of the ‘Reformasi Period’ in 1998. Statements regarding the death toll in Wamena have varied between Government officials. According to the Head of the Papuan Regional Police Public Relations Desk, Ahmad Mustafa Kamal, the police documented 29 civilian fatalities and 76 injured persons in Wamena. Moreover, 80 cars, 30 motorcycles, 150 shops and houses, a power plant and four government offices were set on fire or severely damaged. The Indonesian Police Chief, Tito Karnavian, mentioned a total number of 26 fatalities and 66 injured persons in a public interview one day later. The fatalities consist of 22 Non-Papuans and four ethnic Papuans, said Karnavian.
Violence escalates in West Papua - ULMWP Chairman calls for urgent UN visit to West Papua
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- Published on Tuesday, 24 September 2019 05:49
West Papua is experiencing the worst wave of violence since decades after various protests against racial discrimination, which started in mid-August 2019, have resulted in security force crackdowns and outbreaks of horizontal violence. Two further outbreaks of violence have been reported in the cities of Wamena and Jayapura on 23 September 2019, resulting in at least 31 civilian fatalities, while 87 persons were injured. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has now called for an urgent UN visit to West Papua. ULMWP chairperson, Benny Wenda, said in an pressing statement on 24 September 2019 that "the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights must visit West Papua now, and the Pacific Islands Forum must help to secure this".
Papua Church Leaders urge the Indonesian Government to withdraw army and police from Papua
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 September 2019 11:41
In addition to the appeal for solidarity and action to the international community on the deteriorating security situation in the land of Papua, the Church Leaders from GKI Tanah Papua, GIDI, Fellowship of Baptist Churches and KINGMI Papua have signed on 13 September 2019 another Pastoral Appeal. Through this Letter of Appeal, the four Church Leaders and members of the Ecumenical Forum of Churches in Papua: Pastor Andirkus Mofu, Pastor Dorman Wandikbo, Pastor Socrates Yoman and Pastor Benny Giay call for the presence of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, as well as independent Human Rights Organisations and foreign journalists to investigate the crimes. They also urge the Government of Indonesia to release imprisoned protesters, withdraw the army and police from Nduga and all of Papua and agree to dialogue with the ULMWP. Moreover, this last appeal provides a detailed account of victims killed and wounded in Jayapura and Deiyai Regencies between 29 August and 1 September 2019.
Download the Pastoral Letter of Appeal as PDF here
More Articles...
- Outbreaks of violence in Wamena and Jayapura – first counts estimate 31 civilian fatalities, 87 persons injured
- 3 indigenous Papuans killed, 4 wounded during security force operation in the Regency of Puncak
- Update Anti-Racism Demonstrations: Government responds with mass arrests and prosecution of activists
- Full response - Veronica Koman published press statement on Facebook
- UN experts request Indonesia to protect rights of Veronica Koman and others reporting on Papua protests
- Jayapura Police alleged of neglect – Nationalist militant groups attack indigenous Papuans
- Military members alleged of killing indigenous Papuan in Wouma District, Jayawijaya Regency
- Update on IDP situation in Gome, Puncak Regency – number of IDPs raise to 1.500
- YouTube blocks West Papua satirical video on request of the Indonesian Government
- Papua Church Leaders call for the involvement of the international community