++ Live Ticker: 1st December Commemorations in West Papua, Indonesia and other parts of the world++
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 December 2020 02:53

Status: 10.12.2020
1 December 2020, Jakarta
The Papuan Student Alliance (Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua, AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) held a peaceful protest in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. The students carried banners and shirts with Morning Star symbols shouting “Independence for Papua!” (Bahasa Indonesia: “Papua Merdeka!”). Police officers closely accompanied the protest. The officers allowed the students to carry out the rally (see photo below).
UN OHCHR calls for a platform for inclusive dialogue with the people of Papua
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November 2020 06:04

Today, 30 November 2020, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the UN has issued a statement (text and video) about the ongoing violations relating to protests against the prolongation of the autonomy law, recent killings of church workers, in particular, that of Rev. Zanambani and the ongoing political conflict in West Papua.
In the statement the OHCHR also calls for a "platform for meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua, to address longstanding economic, social and political grievances."
That statement comes one day ahead of 1. December, a day of political meaning for indigenous Papuans. On 1 December 1961, West Papuans had taken first steps for building a national identity. Since 1969, the region is part of Indonesia. The United Liberation Movement has called for mass prayers on 1 December 2020 and a "peaceful end of Special Autonomy". Every year, Papuans mark the 1 December anniversary with demonstrations that have in the past been met with mass arrests and violence by security forces. OHCHR is now urging "the Government of Indonesia to uphold people's rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in line with its international obligations, particularly ahead of 1 December, when there are often protests, tensions and arrests."
Watch the Video Statement here
Download the Video Statement here
Make West Papua Safe Campaign - Stop funding military repression in Papua, plead TAPOL speakers
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- Published on Sunday, 29 November 2020 05:45

This article has originally been published by Asia Pacific Report on 25 November 2020
Read full article on Asia Pacific Report website here
For more information, visit Make West Papua Safe website
Campaigners at a TAPOL-hosted global webinar have called on the people of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and other countries to stop funding military training for Indonesian security forces who are “killing innocent West Papuans”.
Rosa Moiwend, a member of the War Resisters International, said West Papuans wanted to live peacefully without any oppression by the military – this was the hope of the indigenous Melanesian people.
“If your government is actually behind this scenario, I think the main thing you have to do is to go and talk to your government, Parliament members and question them about your tax money,” she said.
“Where does your tax money go? Does it go to pay [for] the war or is the tax money used for the purpose of human lives?”
Illegal logging in the Tambrauw Regency – NGOs demand Govt to take action against PT. Multi Wijaya Wahana
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:07

A coalition of NGOs in the Sorong Regency demand local government and law enforcement institutions to immediately investigate allegations of illegal logging which have reportedly been committed by the company PT. Multi Wijaya Wahana (PT. MWW) in the regency of Tambrauw. According to Charles Tawaru, the director of Papua Forest Watch (PFW), the NGOs found illegal logging practices during investigations between 2018 and 2019, which the company uses until today. The NGOs demand that PT. MWW’s logging concessions shall immediately be withdrawn if investigations confirm the allegations of illegal logging practices. PT. MWW’s logging concession had been extended twice in 2013 and 2018 ignoring strong indications for the violation of multiple laws and local regulations.
Petition for the rejection of more special autonomy funds signed by 520,261 supporters – Pro-Government groups react with criminalisation campaign
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- Published on Thursday, 26 November 2020 11:14

On 4 July 2020, a solidarity group consisting of a few movement organisations and student groups launched a petition (Petisi Rakyat Papua, PRP) against the prolongation of special autonomy funding (Otsus II) for the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Meanwhile, 102 organisations have joined the ‘Peoples’ Solidarity for West Papua’ (see photo on top). On 26 November 2020, the spokesperson of the solidarity group, Victor Yeimo, published a video message on social media according to which the petition was already signed by 520,261 people in and outside of West Papua.
Military police investigate alleged burning of Government facilities in Intan Jaya
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- Published on Tuesday, 24 November 2020 09:37
The military police are investigating allegations on the deliberate arson of a public health facility during a military operation in the Hitadipa District on 19 September 2020. The operation also resulted in the execution of Rev Yeremia Zanambani. The investigation had been launched after multiple investigation teams had reported the arson to various government institutions and representatives. Currently, eight army members, namely Capt. SA, Second Lt. KT, Second Sgt. MFA, First Sgt. S, Second Sgt. ISF, Second Cpl. DP, First Pvt. MI and Second Pvt. MH. Dodik are under investigation concerning the fire which destroyed multiple buildings. The local health department had built the houses as accommodation for medical staffs.
Lethal shooting in Puncak Regency –Three more dead bodies discovered
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 17:08

Only three days after security force members allegedly shot dead seventeen-year-old Atanius Murib and injured seventeen-year-old Manus Murib with bullets, three more bodies were found at the Limbaga Mountain, Gome District. The civil servant Akis Alom, 34, and two pupils named Wapenus Tabuni, 17, [see photo below] and twelve-year-old Warius Murib [see photo on top] had been missing since 20 November 2020, the same day as security force members opened fire at Manus Murib and Atanius Murib. The three indigenous Papuans were on their way from the Agandugume District to Ilaga, the largest town in the Puncak Regency, where Wapenus and Warius went to school. Relatives assumed that they passed the Limbaga Mountain around 12.00 pm, approximately 60 to 90 minutes after the previous shooting.
Treason trial against three Papuans from Maybrat in Sorong District Court
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- Published on Monday, 23 November 2020 04:54

On 15 September 2020, the panel of judges launched another political trial in the Sorong District Court. The Papuan defendants: Marten Muuk, Simon Sasior and Yakobus Assem have been charged with three indictments, among them the Articles 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on criminal conspiracy and Article 106 KUHP on treason, the latter carrying a maximum penalty of live imprisonment. The three Papuans were arrested during a police raid in the regency of Maybrat, Papua Barat Province. The arrest occurred on 23 April 2020 in the Tigihmana Village of the Aifat District.
Papuan musician reportedly tortured for singing pro-independence songs
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- Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:35

The Papuan musician, Kris Douw, was allegedly tortured by military members at the Kodim Military Complex in the Papuan town of Nabire on 21 November 2020. The New Zealand-based media outlets Asia Pacific Report and Evening Report published news articles in reaction to social media posts on the case by the Free West Papua Campaign. The posts contain a short narrative and photographs of Kris Douw’s injuries (see photo on top, source: Free West Papua Campaign). He sustained multiple bruises in his face and body, including several broken teeth.
The incident reportedly occurred around 8.00 am. According to information received, military special force members beat up Kris Douw for writing and publishing a song and a video which promote Papuan political independence and the armed struggle by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB).
Security force members allegedly shoot dead high school student in Puncak - second student injured by bullets
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- Published on Sunday, 22 November 2020 13:40
The armed conflict in West Papua’s central highlands continues to deteriorate, costing the lives of innocent civilians. The latest extra-judicial killing was reported from the Papuan regency of Puncak. According to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) and the Papuan Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua), the two students were on their way from the town of Ilaga to their home village in the district of Agundugume on 20 November 2020. When the minors reached the Limbaga Mountain in the Gome District, they were intercepted by a group of fully armed security force members who reportedly tried to execute both minors. Seventeen-year-old Manus Murib sustained three bullet injuries as he escaped the execution while his friend, Atanius Murib, also 17, was killed on the spot.
More Articles...
- Papuan human rights defender threatened and stigmatised as separatist
- Members of Papuan Peoples' Assembly face intimidation and arrest during preparation of hearings about Papuan Special Autonomy
- Palm oil conglomerate Korind accused of clearing rainforest in West Papua with fire
- Korindo accused of illegally burning Papuan rainforest
- "Papuan Lives Matter" - ELSAM launches new documentary about 2019 anti-racism protests
- Human rights lawyer intimidated in Jayapura
- Indonesian Bishops call for dialogue in West Papua
- Humanitarian Team for Intan Jaya shares its findings concerning the killing of Pastor Zanambani
- Pacific Conference of Churches calls for "40 Days of Hunger for Justice and Peace" in West Papua
- Another church worker killed in Intan Jaya – Security force members accuse victim of being TPN PB member
- Verdict in treason trial against 23 Papuan political detainees in Fakfak
- Allegations of enforced disappearance in Nduga Regency – Two indigenous leaders missing after military operation
- Police fail to respect freedom of peaceful assembly in West Papua – 13 protesters arrested, one injured by bullet during demonstration against Otsus II
- Update on killing of Rev Zanambani in Intan Jaya – Fact finding team submits report to Minister Mahfud MD
- Military members show up in church during ordination of new priests
- Indonesian Government plans to establish new plantations in Papua Province
- Update on armed conflict in Intan Jaya – Government plans exploitation of gold reserves while residents face displacement and education crisis
- Three Papuans shot down as police disperses unrest in Keerom
- Human Rights Update West Papua - 3rd Quarter 2020
- PAHAM Papua Media Release - Stop the transfer and processing of defendants outside of Papua with the argument Papua is not safe
- Pacific Islands Forum reaffirms support for open and constructive dialogue on the human rights situation in West Papua
- West Papua Council of Churches demands the Govt to stop the remilitarisation of Papua
- Military member sentenced to 1 year 10 months for killing four Papuans in 2019
- Press release by the Civil Society Coalition against Food Estate in Papua: Stop Food Estate Plans in Papua
- Military member allegedly shot down Catholic church worker in Intan Jaya
- Minister seconds team to investigate shooting in Intan Jaya – Papuan civil society rejects team
- The 2019 West Papua Uprising - TAPOL's publication
- Raid in Wuluagaima village – Security forces torture three indigenous Papuans, two arbitrarily arrested
- Youth Forum concerned about the shrinking space for democracy in West Papua
- Police crackdown on peaceful student protest in Jayapura – at least two students injured
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