Police officers obstruct journalists at the district police station in Yahukimo
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- Published on Sunday, 06 September 2020 11:03
The Papuan branch office of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI Papua) has condemned the obstruction of two Papuan journalists in the town of Dekai, in the Yahukimo regency, where joint security forces have conducted widespread raids in response to the murder of three civilians. Ruland Kabak (see intro image, source: Suara Papua) and Atamus Kepno wanted to obtain information about the murders and the ongoing investigation. Several police officers intimidated the journalists, refused to provide information on the case and prevented them from meeting with suspects.
Papuan Youth Church Leaders raise their voices regarding racism, injustice and Special Autonomy
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 September 2020 11:09
Following repeated calls by Church Leaders, like the open letter from the WPCC released in July 2020, calling for an end of racism and injustice in the land of Papua and rejecting the Special Autonomy "version 2" or "volume II", the West Papua Christian Youth Forum has issued an open letter to President Joko Widodo supporting the Papuan Church Councils position on Special Autonomy and Dialogue as well as the Papuan Peoples Petition rejecting Special Autonomy. They share that "the problem of Papua has become increasingly complex and severe because the root of the problem is racism and injustice, not separatism and treason. It has now been increasingly complicated due to the global mobilization of "Black Lives Matter and West Papua Lives Matter" which has become part of the international community. However, no matter how difficult and complicated, there must be a way out for a win-win solution."
Open Letter in PDF
Raids, mass arrests and torture by security forces in Yahukimo
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- Published on Thursday, 03 September 2020 10:15
Joint security forces have launched raids in the town of Dekai, the largest city in the Yahukimo regency, Papua Province. The raids took place as part of the investigation into three murder cases, which occurred in the second half of August 2020 and in which all victims were migrants. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) has claimed responsibility for two of the murders. According to an official TPN PB statement, two of the victims, one a lumberjack and the other a construction worker, were allegedly affiliated with the Indonesian state intelligence. The third victim was a staff of the local election commission (KPU). The security force members searched multiple houses and seized traditional weapons, hunting gear, gardening tools, and other items with the morning star symbol. Local human rights defenders claimed that sixteen residents were reportedly arrested and temporarily detained. Two persons were allegedly tortured during police detention. On 2 September 2020, the local police Chief, Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, mentioned in an interview with the media outlet Suara Papua a total number of 14 arrestees He stated that all of them were released.
Police officers open fire at 16-year-old Papuan in Dogiyai Regency
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- Published on Monday, 31 August 2020 10:28
The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) has documented another case of police violence against indigenous Papuans. The incident occurred in the Ugapuga village of the Kamu district, Dogiyai regency. According to the information received, seven police officers in plainclothes opened fire at a group of young men who had consumed alcoholic drinks and were stopping passing cars to bag for money. Sixteen-year-old Yan (Keiya Mabipai) Agapa sustained a bullet wound in the left thigh. The family decided not to bring Yan Agapa to the general hospital because they feared further repressive acts by security force members.
Papuan suspect killed during police detention in Sorong – Police Chief blames detainee
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- Published on Sunday, 30 August 2020 12:30
A homicide suspect, 21-year-old Georg Karel Rumbino, died during police detention at the Sorong Municipality Police Headquarters (Mapolres Sorong) in the province of Papua Barat. On 27 August 2020, relatives brought georg Rumbino to the police in connection with the murder of an elderly woman in their neighbourhood. The family members had found a mobile phone in Georg’s room, and they believed it belonged to the victim. According to the police investigator, Misbhacul Munir, Georg Rumbino claimed to be innocent during the interrogation. Eight hours later, while he was still in custody, the family received the information that Georg Rumbino had passed away. The Chief of the Sorong Municipality Police (Kapolres), Ary Nyoto, claimed in a media statement that Georg Rumbino was attacked by another detainee inside the detention cell and died shortly afterwards. The case has drawn attention in the national and social media because Georg Rumbino was related to the Papuan singer, actor and politician, Edo Kondologit.
Indonesian govt can’t neglect internally displaced Papuans - UN requests detailed information
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- Published on Monday, 31 August 2020 12:50
The UN Human Rights Committee is officially asking the Indonesian government to inform about the measures taken to protect refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled due to the conflict in West Papua. The Human Rights Committee (CCPR), the body that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), has adopted the list of issues prior to reporting (LOIPR) of Indonesia at its 129th session (29 June to 24 July). The document also asks Indonesia about Papua/West Papua in relation to violence against women, right to life, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, the establishment of local parties in the context of Special Autonomy, and authorities responses to self-determination/referendum calls. The Indonesian government is now requested to respond to the LOIPR in the country's second periodic report.
Police officers arrest Papuan activist for Facebook post
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- Published on Friday, 28 August 2020 06:34
Papuan political activists continue to face a high risk of criminalisation through law enforcement agencies in Indonesia, and there is no indication of a declining trend. The recent arrest of Philipus Robaha (see intro image, source: Suara Papua), the Vice-Chairman of the West Papua National Student and Youth Solidarity (SONAMAPA), was the latest confirmation of this trend. Police officers arbitrarily arrested Philipus Robaha on 24 August 2020 during a general traffic control in the outskirts of Jayapura City. Thereinafter, police officers detained Philipus at the Jayapura municipality police station and questioned him from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm. They asked him about a critical Facebook post on the evaluation of 19 years of Special Autonomy by the regional leaders’ forum in Sentani, Jayapura regency. The police attempted to press charges against him for alleged violation of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law). The interrogation came to the result that the Facebook post was not uploaded on Philipus Robaha’s personal Facebook account.
Update on prosecution of political prisoner Bazoka Logo
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- Published on Friday, 28 August 2020 06:07
The political prisoner Yusak ‘Bazoka’ Logo, Head of the Politics Desk of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), was released from the Abepura correctional facility in Jayapura on 26 August 2020 after serving a sentence of twelve months. He was arbitrarily arrested on 15 August 2019 in response to a peaceful demonstration in commemoration of the ‘New York Agreement’. The prosecutor sought a sentence of three years for Logo for the violation of Article 266 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on document forgery. According to Bazoka Logo, an immigration officer had offered him help to accelerate the application process and issued a forged passport document against illegal fees. Human rights lawyers claimed that the police pressed the charges against him due to his membership in the ULMWP, because the organisation engages in international advocacy for the right to self-determination of the Papuan people.
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