Update on armed conflict in Puncak Regency – TPN PB suggests armed combat shifted to designated area
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- Published on Thursday, 27 May 2021 09:07
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) has proposed to Indonesian security forces to move the armed conflict into a designated area in order to prevent civilian casualties and reduce the stresses for indigenous civilians living in the Puncak Regency. The TPN PB spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, suggested the Puncak estuary in the Ilaga District as the new combat area. According to Sambom, the TPN PB has gathered its guerrilla groups in the estuary area, where they wait for Indonesian security forces to move in.
Indonesia votes against UN resolution on genocide and crimes against humanity
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- Published on Thursday, 27 May 2021 08:56
Indonesia and 14 other countries have voted against a UN Resolution on the responsibility to protect and prevent (R2P) genocide, war crimes, ethnic genocide and crimes against humanity during a vote at the United Nations General Assembly on 18 May 2021. One-hundred-fifteen countries supported the resolution while 28 states chose to abstain (see list of shame below, source: UN Watch). The R2P concept represents an international principle and agreement aimed at preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry affirmed that Indonesia in principle agrees with the substance of the resolution, but rejects a proposal to establish a new annual agenda for discussing the P2P.
New protests against special autonomy and for the release of Papuan political prisoners – 146 protesters arrested in Manokwari
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:41
Last week, hundreds of people from the Papua Barat province came together to join two public demonstrations in the city Manokwari, the provincial capital of Papua Barat. The protest on 25 May 2021 was dispersed by joint security forces -146 protesters were arrested and temporarily detained. The police claimed some protesters violated COVID-19 health protocols. The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and The Indonesia Peoples Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) organised peaceful protests in the Javanese cities Bandung, Jakarta, Malang and Jember. The protest in Malang was reportedly followed by violence between Papuan students and nationalist counter groups. Protesters in Jember were reportedly intimidated by nationalist groups. All protests expressed disagreement with the continuation of the Papuan special autonomy funding and demanded the immediate release of all Papuan political prisoners.
Update on Internet breakdown in Jayapura – Internet connection planned to be repaired in early June
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 08:08
On 21 May 2021, the Ministry for Communication and Informatics released a press statement (number 180/HM/KOMINFO/05/2021), according to which the internet connection in Jayapura has been partly re-established since 21 May 2021. The General Manager of Telkom Witel Papua, Sugeng Widodo, explained that the internet band width is still very limited and only available in a few public places as well as essential institutions such as hospitals and government offices. Jayapura-based journalists and media outlets are supposed to use a media centre which has been set up at the at the Witel Papua head office in Jayapura.
Six Papuan protesters standing trial in Sorong accused of treason
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 07:58
On 18 May 2021, judges at the Sorong District Court launched two trials against six Papuan defendants (see photo, source: LBH Kaki Abu) who had been arrested on 27 November 2020 during a peaceful demonstration in Sorong. People had gathered with Morning star flags and banners peacefully calling upon the Indonesian Government to recognize the proclamation of the Republic of West Papua New Guinea by a Papuan independence group at the European Parliament in Brussels on 27 November 1997.
New shootings indicate spreading of armed conflict in West Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 20 May 2021 11:43
Recent armed attacks on Indonesian security forces in the regencies Maybrat, Yahukimo and Pegunungan Bintang over the past weeks indicate the armed conflict is spreading to new regencies in West Papua. While isolated armed clashes have been reportedly occurred in Pegunungan Bintang and Yahukimo throughout 2020, the recent attack against police officers in Maybrat is the first incident of this kind reported from the regency.
The armed conflict recently gained momentum, as members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) killed Papuan Security Chief I Gusti Putu Danny Nugraha Karya in the Puncak Regency on 25 April 2021. A few days later, joint security forces launched a massive operation in Puncak (see photo), which reportedly caused the internal displacement of thousands of indigenous villagers.
Update on prosecution of Victor Yeimo – TAPOL reports case to UN Special Procedures
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- Published on Monday, 17 May 2021 06:04
The London-based human rights organisation TAPOL has reported the arrest of Victor Yeimo, the international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), to the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. Yeimo was arrested on 9 May 2021 and is currently detained at the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Jayapura, Papua Province. The police believe Victor Yeimo played a significant role in organising and leading protests against the racial discrimination of ethnic Papuans and for self-determination in 23 towns across West Papua and 17 cities in Indonesia between 19 August and 30 September 2019.
Joint security forces arrest three IDPs in Puncak, among them one minor
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- Published on Monday, 17 May 2021 05:37
According to the Papuan media outlet Suara Papua, joint security forces arrested three indigenous Papuans on 16 May 2021. The arrest reportedly occurred in the Tanah Merah Village, where 16-year-old Nelius Magai, Jon Waker, 30, and Ones Magai, 30, had fled after being displaced from their homes in the Tegelobak Village. They have been detained at the Gome Military Post in the Puncak Regency, where a widespread security force operation has been ongoing since late April 2021 (see photo).
More Articles...
- West Papua Council of Churches voices concern over the escalating situation in Papua
- Update on situation of IDPs in Puncak Regency – Local government say thousands displaced due armed clashes
- Victim of torture dies in Tambrauw Regency – Observers demand independent investigation
- Again internet break down as armed conflict escalates – Coincidence or deliberate government measure?
- Westpapua-Netzwerk fears further violence in WP due to the "terrorist" categorisation
- KNPB Spokesperson Victor Yeimo arrested and charged with treason
- What about Jokowi’s promise to open access for foreign journalists to West Papua?
- SAFEnet suspects internet disruptions in West Papua are deliberate
- Further armed clashes cause more internal displacement in Puncak Regency
- What’s wrong with the education and healthcare system in West Papua? A case study in Yalimo provides insights