Urgent appeals filed with UN by 63 political prisoners in Indonesia amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
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- Published on Thursday, 16 April 2020 23:39
By: Jennifer Robinson and Veronica Koman with the Support of TAPOL
(London, Sydney, 15 April 2020) Sixty-three political prisoners detained on treason charges in Indonesia have made a joint urgent appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and UN Special Rapporteurs.
The 63 political prisoners instructed Jennifer Robinson and Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman, with the support of human rights organisation TAPOL, to bring their cases to the UN. The urgent appeal demonstrates that all 63 prisoners are being arbitrarily and unlawfully detained, in violation of Indonesia’s international human rights obligations.
Police officers arrest Papuan human rights activist and relatives in Mimika Regency – five allegedly beaten during custody
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- Published on Thursday, 09 April 2020 10:06
According to the Papuan online media outlet ‘Suara Papua’, police officers in Timika arrested five indigenous Papuans on 7 April 2020. Around 3.00 pm, Papuan human rights activist Ema Natkime (see intro image, Source: Suara Papua) and five of her relatives named Yohanis Wamang, Roni Wamang, Nangain Magai, Emarain Marai and Imelda Magai (still a minor) were driving to the village of Jayanti, Iwaka District, as police officers stopped their car. When the officers found basic food supplies in large quantities inside the car, they suspected the six passengers were supplying food to members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB). Subsequently, the police officers arrested the six passengers and brought them to the Kuala Kencana Sub-District police station.
Trial update on killing of Govt contractors in Nduga Regency – Mispo Gwijangge released
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- Published on Wednesday, 08 April 2020 19:51
Judges at the Jakarta Central Jakarta District Court have rejected the public prosecutor’s indictment in their interlocutory verdict on 8 April 2020. The judges’ decision brought an end to 333 days of arbitrary detention. During previous court hearings, Mispo Gwijangge’s lawyers and the Indonesian Commission for the protection of children (KPAI) requested a forensic examination of his teeth due to substantial indications that the defendant was still a minor. According to the forensic examination, Mispo Gwijangge was estimated to be around 16 years old – too young to be prosecuted under adult law. The defendant’s age was not the only procedural breach in the law enforcement process. The police and the public prosecution of Jayawijaya regency failed to provide access to a translator and legal support during the investigation. The Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) stipulates that law enforcement institutions are required to provide legal support to all suspects of criminal violations punishable with more than five years imprisonment during all stages of law enforcement. The team called on the National Police (Polri) and the Attorney General’s office to launch an investigation into the allegations regarding the abuse of authority by law enforcement officers.
One employee killed and six injured during TPN PB attack on Freeport office
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- Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2020 00:03
Media sources reported that members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) attacked the offices of mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (PT FI) in Kuala Kencana on 30 March 2020. Around 2.00 pm, a group of TPBN PB fighters armed with three firearms and traditional weapons reportedly attacked PT FI workers in front of the office building. One employee was killed during the attack (see intro image, source: Suara Papua), two others injured by bullets. Their condition is still critical. Four workers sustained minor injuries and received ambulant medical care at the Freeport Hospital.
Sixth update on trials and detentions after anti-racism riots in West Papua
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- Published on Saturday, 28 March 2020 01:43
This article provides an overview on trials related to Papua-wide anti-racism protests between late August and late September 2019 as well as the subsequent wave of criminalisation against human rights defenders and political activists. The International Coalition for Papua summarised earlier stages of the legal proceedings and detentions in previous articles (first update, second update, third update, fourth update, fifth update). The following article covers recent developments in relation to the riots throughout March 2020.
Statistical data suggests that Indonesian police officers reportedly conducted at least 525 arrests between 18 August and 25 September 2019. Subsequently, the police and the public prosecutors initiated legal processes against at least 116 suspects. Twenty-two of them have been charged with treason for participating in demonstrations against racism or peacefully advocating for the right to self-determination.
Jokowi’s Omnibus Bill for job creation – Observers fear far-reaching consequences for West Papua
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 March 2020 18:42
In the third quarter of 2019, economic growth in Indonesia decreased to a three-year low of 4.97 percent as a result of shrinking exports and investments. President Jokowi reacted by drafting the Omnibus Bill on job creation as an effort to boost the economy. The business owners and investors claim that Indonesia is over-regulated, with heavy bureaucracy through central government regulations as well as ministerial-, agency- and regional-level rules posing a burden to business owners and companies. The Omnibus Bill on job creation suggests amendments to 73 laws and consists of 15 chapters and 174 articles to reduce bureaucracy and make Indonesia more attractive for investors.
Coronavirus has reached West Papua
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 March 2020 18:00
According to local reports, the Coronavirus has reached West Papua. On 26 March, local hospitals were able to identify seven cases of COVID-19 in the Papuan cities of Merauke, Jayapura and Biak. The patients’ age ranged from 21 to 51 years old and they all had returned recently from trips to Jakarta or other cities in West Indonesia. Local Governments reacted immediately and took various measures to prevent the quick spreading of the virus.
Papuan student arrested in Ambon for wearing a net bag with Morning Star symbol
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- Published on Thursday, 19 March 2020 22:40
Seven months ago, multiple racist assaults against Papuans students by nationalist mass organisations and discriminative interventions by the local police in the Javanese cities Malang and Surabaya caused large scale demonstrations against racism in all major cities across West Papua, some of them turning into violent riots. The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) has reported a further case, in which military members arbitrarily arrested a Papuan student for wearing a bag with a Morning Star symbol in the city of Ambon, Maluku Province.
More Articles...
- CSO demands access for Indonesian Red Cross to West Papua
- Armed conflict in West Papua aggravates throughout past weeks – over 1,500 IDPs flee to Timika
- Public worship in Nduga overshadowed by armed clash – Security forces kill one indigenous woman, at least three others injured
- Police officers fail to protect truck driver during mob attack in Dogiyai Regency
- Fifth Update on trials and detentions after anti-racism riots in West Papua
- Unrest throughout August and September 2019 results in 59 fatalities
- Joint security forces kill indigenous community leader and minor during raid in Intan Jaya
- Wamena after the September-Riots – Freedom of assembly still subjected to limitations
- Komnas HAM categorises Paniai incident as serious human rights violation – Case submitted to Attorney General
- Fourth Update on trials and detentions after Anti-Racism Riots in West Papua