French Journalists and Indigenous Leader at Risk of Prosecution in Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 04 September 2014 10:28
Dear friends,
The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) is writing to inform you of an ongoing criminal investigation against two French journalists, Mr. Thomas Dandois and Ms. Valentine Bourrat in West Papua. The journalists are charged with articles concerning treason under the Penal Code and immigration crime under the Immigration Law. In addition to the journalist, the police hold an investigation against an indigenous leader in Lanny, Mr. Areki Wanimbo, whom the journalists met during their trip in West Papua. A human rights defender who has been seen with the journalists, Mr. Theo Hesegem, has also been summoned by the police.
Human rights Defender Called for Questioning
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- Published on Thursday, 28 August 2014 13:18
The well-known human rights lawyer Gustaf R. Kawer has received two summonses to the police office of Jayapura in the past few days. Fellow lawyers suspect an attempt to intimidate the tireless human rights defender.
Photo: JUBI
Activists Arrested for Peaceful Boycott
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- Published on Thursday, 04 September 2014 11:45
At least 36 people were arrested in Jayapura, Timika, Fak-Fak and Wamena during July 2014 for their peaceful involvement in calling for a boycott of the Indonesian Presidential Elections on 9 July. Local human rights activists reported that Papuans in these areas faced intimidation from police who attempted to force them to vote in the elections.
Demands of Human Rights Organisations for a New Government
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- Published on Wednesday, 09 July 2014 12:27
Organised by the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), 32 international human rights organisations including the International Coalition for Papua (ICP) have issued a statement for a new Indonesian government. On July 9, 2014, presidential elections will be held in Indonesia. The steps taken by the new government will decide in which direction the serious human rights situation in the largest South East Asian country and ASEAN leader will develop. Violations of freedom of religion and the isolated conflict region West Papua are among the most serious issues.
Joint Statement: Human Rights Abuses in Papua and West Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 17 July 2014 11:49

We, the undersigned organizations, are concerned about the serious and ongoing violations of Human Rights that are taking place with impunity in the easternmost provinces of Indonesia Papua and West Papua. The violations of Human Rights have been well-documentedi and have been brought to the attention of Indonesia during the second round of the UPR process. Thirteen nations made recommendations to Indonesia with regard to the obligation to respect human rights in Papua and West Papuaii.
Joint Statement to the Next Government of Indonesia on Human Rights
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 July 2014 16:57
Indonesia has implemented many positive changes during its transition to democracy in the past 16 years. However, the continued lack of accountability for past and ongoing violations of human rights threatens lasting progress. The election of a new parliament and president this year provide an opportunity to firmly break with the past. Following the parliamentary elections of April 9 and with the third direct presidential election fast approaching, we call upon the incoming government of Indonesia to fully and meaningfully address the legacy of impunity for past human rights violations.
New Ormas Law used to back police repression in Papua
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- Published on Tuesday, 15 July 2014 09:40

At the end of June 2014, there were at least 76 political prisoners in Papuan jails.
The West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB), a Papuan pro-independence activist organisation, was heavily targeted by Indonesian security forces this month. There were at least 24 arrests of KNPB members across Papua in Boven Digoel, Timika and Merauke. Police performed a mass arrest of 20 KNPB members in Boven Digoel under the auspices of the Social Organisations Law (RUU Organisasi Kemasyarakatan, RUU Ormas), claiming that the KNPB was an illegal organisation as it was not registered with the Department of National Unity and Politics (Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik, Kesbangpol). The police also stated that any KNPB attributes such as flags and symbols were thus also considered illegal. The use of the Ormas Law to de-legitimise and control indigenous civil society groups, especially ahead of planned demonstrations or commemorative events, continues to place unacceptable limitations on freedom of assembly and expression in Papua.
Indonesia Is at a Crossroads - Its Future as a Pluralistic Democracy Hangs in the Balance
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- Published on Monday, 30 June 2014 14:41

A nation "at the crossroads" is a well-worn and overused phrase, but it is one that befits Indonesia today.
On 9 July, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, third largest democracy, fourth most populous nation and south-east Asia's largest economy will elect a new President. The two candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo (known as "Jokowi") represent a very clear and contrasting choice: between the past and the future, a return to authoritarianism or a deepening of democracy, and between the politicisation of religion and the protection and promotion of genuine religious pluralism.
UN Committee's Concluding Observations on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in Papua
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- Published on Monday, 14 July 2014 15:20

Between April 30 and May 1, 2014, the UN Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) reviewed Indonesia's implementation of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) during its 52nd session. Indonesia acceded to the convention in February 2006 and was overdue to report. During the review the committee raised the situation in West Papua repeatedly with the committee, which is reflected in its concluding observations.
The meeting summary prepared by the media section of the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) shows that the situation in Papua was frequently raised by the committee members.
Freedom of expression and Assembly in West Papua, Indonesia
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- Published on Wednesday, 11 June 2014 13:00

We, the International Coalition for Papua would like to draw the Council’s attention to the deterioration of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Papua, Indonesia. The area remains restricted to international human rights observers, foreign journalists and researchers. In 2013, the number of political arrests more than doubled, the number of reported cases of torture and ill treatment of detainees quadrupled, and the number of cases involving the denial of access to lawyers and unfair trials doubled during the previous year.
More Articles...
- Live Webcast UN Side Event: Freedom of Expression and Assembly in West Papua
- ETAN's West Papua Report May 2014
- EU - Indonesia PCA agreement in effect
- Letter to Catherine Ashton - EU parliamentarians raise concerns over Papua
- UN body questions Indonesia on Papua, land-grabbing and human rights
- Lives endangered
- Papuans Behind Bars March 2014
- Global action day for Papuan political prisoners
- Demonstration violently dissolved - protesters tortured in custody
- Who stands for Papua?
- Is a UN resolution on Papua possible?
- Vanuatu PM raises West Papua issues before Human Rights Council
- Papuans Behind Bars January 2014
- ETAN's West Papua Report February 2014
- Military attack forces villagers to flee
- EU Parliament Hearing on Human Rights Abuses in West Papua
- What’s next for Papua after the MSG diplomacy?
- Why is West Papua closed to foreign journalists?
- Jakarta Post publishes false article on political prisoners
- Verdict Released: The Biak Massacre Citizens Tribunal
- Indonesian agents sent to Papua-New-Guinea to prevent autopsy from taking place in poisoning allegation in the murder of Danny Kogoya
- Papuans Behind Bars Update November 2013
- The Biak Massacre Citizens Tribunal
- The MSG’s visit: A blessing or curse for Papuans?
- Indonesia’s Forbidden Island
- Petition: Free West Papua Political Prisoners
- Breaking the silence on Papua
- ‘The Neglected Genocide’ – a report detailing series of abuses in 1977–1978 in Papua is launched
- Isolation of Papua highlighted during ICP Consultation
- EU and Indonesia sign historic agreement on illegal timber
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