Update on Treason Trial against Polish citizen – Supreme court raises sentence to 7 years
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- Published on Friday, 20 December 2019 03:26
On 14 January 2019, the District Court in Wamena launched the trial against Polish citizen Jakub Fabian Skrzypsk. Skrzypski was charged with the articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on treason because he had met with members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB). The police claimed that he intended to sell weapons to the TPN-PB. The panel of judges found Skrzypski guilty and sentenced him to five years imprisonment. Jakub Skrzypski’s team of lawyers and the public prosecutor had both filed an appeal against the verdict to the Supreme Court in May 2019. The Supreme Court has now ruled that Skrzypski’s imprisonment sentence shall be raised to seven years.
Police officer ill-treats journalist in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency
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- Published on Friday, 20 December 2019 03:09
The local media outlet JUBI has reported that one of their journalists named Piter Lokon was allegedly ill-treated by members of the police in the town of Dekai on 18 December 2019. Piter Lokon was covering a protest as a police officer approached him and reportedly hit him with his rifle butt on the hand and the waist. The bruises which Piter Lokon sustained during the attack had to be treated at the Dekai General hospital. The journalist stated that he had shown his press card to the police officer. Nevertheless, the officer attacked Mr. Lokon and subsequently seized his camera, a notebook and a mobile phone which he had brought in a traditional net bag.
KOMNAS HAM observes deterioration of human rights situation throughout 2019 as Govt institutions block the settlement of human rights violations
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- Published on Saturday, 14 December 2019 22:58
The human rights situation in West Papua throughout 2019 has significantly deteriorated. This assessment is based on statistics by the Papuan Representative Office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM Perwakilan Papua). Komnas HAM Perwakilan Papua Chairperson, Frits Ramandey, stated on 10 December 2019 (see intro image, source: Jubi) that his office documented 154 cases of alleged human rights violations throughout 2019. This number has significantly increased in comparison to previous years, with 68 of such alleged cases in 2018 and 89 cases in 2017. Fifty-nine of the cases were directly filed to the representative office while the remaining 95 cases were documented after the office had taken note of the incident through other information channels.
Special force members intimidate human rights defender in Nabire
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- Published on Saturday, 14 December 2019 22:55
The head of the Justice, Peace and Integrity Office of the Papuan Taberncale Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua), Mr. Yones Douw, has been subjected to acts of intimidation. Two members of the military special force division ‘Kopassus’ belonging to the Maleo regiment came to his house in the Papuan town of Nabire on 7 December 2019 asking questions about his work and plans to commemorate the global Human Rights Day. Yones Douw understood the unannounced visit as an attempt of intimidation. The military members also asked questions about his children.
Military operation in Lanny Jaya claims lives of two indigenous villagers and causes internal displacement
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- Published on Saturday, 14 December 2019 22:43
Local human rights organisations have documented a further military raid in the Balingga District of Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Province. According to the Papuan Institute of Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua), the Indonesian military infantry (TNI-AD) launched several attacks against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) in the area around the Timonikime Village on 2 and 4 December 2019. The military members allegedly searched multiple houses in the village of Timonikime. According to information on ELSHAM Papua’s website, seven houses were burnt to the ground and two indigenous villagers named Abokman Tabuni and Diron Tabuni were killed during the raid. Indigenous Papuans from the villages Timonikime and Manggalome reportedly fled to the surrounding forests because they feared repressive acts by the military members. The total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relation to the incident is currently unkown.
Recent cyber-attacks aimed to prevent publication of new report on Papuan political prisoners
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- Published on Thursday, 12 December 2019 23:40
The EU based web host ‘GreenNet’, which is hosting websites of human rights and other civil society organisations, was subjected to two cyber-attacks on 22 and 23 November 2019. The attacks were categorised as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). Such attacks aim to overwhelm the servers with millions of requests until they run out of capacity and become unavailable. According to GreenNet the attacks lasted for exactly one hour, indicating that it was likely to have been a "DDoS for hire". A forensic examination found strong circumstantial evidence that the cyber-attacks aimed to prevent the publication of a new report on Papuan political prisoners and detainees throughout 2018 and 2019 by ‘Papuans Behind Bars’. GreenNet called on private users and civil society organisations to disseminate the report widely.
Lawyers express concern regarding health condition of political detainees
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- Published on Sunday, 01 December 2019 23:10
Lawyers are concerned about the deteriorating health condition of several Papuan political detainees in Jakarta and Jayapura. A group of lawyers in Jakarta stated in a public interview with Papuan media outlet Suara Papua that the health condition of pro-independence activist Surya Anta Ginting and five Papuan students have been deteriorating since last week. The six political detainees are in custody at the Rutan Salemba Detention facility in Jakarta (Rutan Salemba Jakarta). According to the lawyers, some of the detainees suffer from a sore throat and typhus.
Commemoration of ‘Papuan Independence Day’ - 115 Papuans reportedly arrested, at least 31 charged with treason
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- Published on Monday, 02 December 2019 22:47
Reports by human rights defenders and media articles mention a total of 115 arrests in multiple locations across West Papua. The arrests occurred in relation to commemorations of 1st December, which many indigenous Papuans regard as the ‘Papuan Independence Day’. This year marks the 58th anniversary of the first official Morning Star flag raising under the Dutch colonial government. In Jayapura, the police summoned two leaders of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Markus Haluk and Edison Waromi. At least 31 arrestees were reportedly charged with treason.
More Articles...
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- 'Papuans Behind Bars' publishes new report on political prisoners, treason charges and lack of judicial transparency in political prisoner cases
- IPAC publishes new report - Numbers matter, The 2020 census and conflict in Papua
- 1,200 Papuan students return to Meepago area - Police arrests 19 protesters during peaceful assembly in Nabire
- 2019 Press Freedom Index in Papua Province: lowest in Indonesia
- Human rights defenders find grave in Nduga Regency – Evidence points to involvement of Indonesian military members
- Anti-racism riot in Wamena affects education and medical services in the regencies Jayawijaya and Yahukimo