320 political arrests throughout May 2017
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- Published on Saturday, 03 June 2017 05:11
While the months January to April 2017 were comparably quiet in terms of political arrests, activists and human rights defenders have reported 320 political arrests throughout May 2017. Most arrests occured during peaceful assemblies like demonstrations or prayer sessions in various cities of West Papua. A smaller number of political arrests was related to the distribution of leaflets. Some arrests were allegedly accompanied by acts of violence against protesters, as it was reported from the 1st May commemoration in Sentani and a prayer session in Timika, which was organized by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on the 30 May 2017. Police officers of the Jayapura district police also tortured local journalist Yance Wenda after covering the 1st May demonstration in Sentani.
Epidemic outbreak in Lanny Jaya Regency causes death of 37 villagers
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- Published on Tuesday, 30 May 2017 10:09
Multiple local media outlets have reported the deaths of 37 villagers between 1 January 2017 and 25 April 2017 in the Awena District of Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Province. The alleged reason for the deaths was an epidemic diarrhea outbreak in the villages Tinggira, Nambume, Eyumi, Uragabur, Yugimia and Indawa. At least four villagers had to be hospitalized in Tiom General Hospital, where they received medical treatment.
Police officer allegedly beats human rights defender
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- Published on Monday, 29 May 2017 09:10
A police officer from the Jayapura sub-district police has allegedly beaten Nareky Kogoya on 18 May 2017 during a police sweeping in the sub-urban area of Waena, which was carried out to identify possible suspects in a murder case. According to Nareky, the officers had questioned him, which upon he told them about his profession as staff at the Papuan representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (KOMNAS HAM).
Series of assaults against local journalists in Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 18 May 2017 09:39
Two days before Indonesia hosted the annual event for the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2017 at the Jakarta Convention Center, human rights defenders reported a further physical assault against a journalist, working for the local news website 'Tabloid Jubi'. Police officers arbitrarily arrested Yance Wenda on 1 May 2017 around 9.00 am, as he was covering a peaceful demonstration by the pro-independence organization KNPB (West Papua National Committee) in Sentani, Jayapura Regency. He was subsequently detained for four hours at the Jayapura district police station, where officers allegedly tortured him. According to Yance Wenda, several police officers beat him on face, back, legs and arms using bare hands a rattan sticks (see image below). One officer kicked Yance Wenda in the face, causing a deep cut in the inside of his lower lip.
Military members open fire at protesters in Jayapura
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- Published on Friday, 26 May 2017 08:14
A violent clash between a large number of protesters and military members occurred in Jayapura on 25 May 2017 after members of the Korem 172/PWY military base had allegedly burned several bibles. The protesters had gathered in front of the military base, where they erected road blocks on the main road, connecting Jayapura with the suburban area Waena. The Mayor of Jayapura City and police officers had tried to calm down the crowd, asking the protesters to go home and leave the prosecution of perpetrators to the police. As all attempts of mediation remained unsuccesful, military members forcefully dispersed the protest because angry demonstrators had allegedly thrown stones at security force members and injured two police officers during the mediation attempt.
Protests and side event on press freedom in West Papua as Indonesia hosts 'World Press Freedom Day'
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- Published on Wednesday, 17 May 2017 09:17
The Indonesian government together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Indonesian Press Council (PWI) hosted the 24th annual celebration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) at the Jakarta Convention Center JCC in Senayan from 1 to 4 May 2017. The WPFD is held to make an annual evaluation of global press freedom; to stand up for the independence of the press; and to pay tribute to those who have lost their life carrying their journalistic duties. The celebration with the slogan “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s Role in Advancing Peaceful Just and Inclusive Societies” was attended by approximately 1.500 participants from 100 countries. In the run-up to the event, civil society organisations and journalists had protested against the WPFD in Indonesia, considering the restrictions on Press freedom in the country's easternmost provinces Papua and Papua Barat. The irony of Indonesia hosting the WPFD 2017 has inter alia been noted by the international newspaper Guardian.
Dutch human rights ambassador visits Jayapura
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- Published on Friday, 26 May 2017 04:42
An official Dutch delegation headed by the human rights ambassador Mr. Kees Van Baar visited Jayapura on 4 May 2017. During his short term visit, the Ambassador met with the Governor of the Papua Province and members of the Papuan provincial parliament. The delegation also paid a short visit to the Community School of Justice in the village Nimbokrang, where he talked with community members and school participants.
Military members attack two Papuan men with knifes in Uwibutu Village, Paniai Regency
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- Published on Thursday, 11 May 2017 03:40
Local human rights defenders from the Paniai Regency have reported, that two military members allegedly attacked Yus Degei and Piet Degei in Uwibutu village in Madi District, Paniai regency. The incident occurred at 09.00 am on the 1st May 2017 after the owner of a small shop in Uwibutu had accused the Papuan men of theft and subsequently reported them to members of the nearby 753 military base by phone.
Human rights in Indonesia under review at the UPR - Eight countries address human rights situation in West Papua
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- Published on Thursday, 25 May 2017 07:52
On 3rd May 2017, the human rights situation in Indonesia was reviewed for the 3rd time as part of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. This review was significantly different from previous reviews: Past Indonesian UPR delegations of 2008 and 2012 had tried to pull focus from the human rights situation in West Papua by addressing human rights issues of national relevance, such as the freedom of belief or migrant workers' rights. For the 2017 review, the Indonesian delegation had chosen a different strategy, by providing information on various state efforts to address the human rights situation in West Papua. At the same time, one could observe the general trend that state parties prioritized recommendations referring to national issues, such as the protection from discrimination of women, LGBTI persons (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Inter-sex), religious minorities and people living with disabilities, as well as the abolishment of the death penalty during this third review.
ULMWP lobbies parliament of Uganda to support West Papuan independence
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- Published on Saturday, 06 May 2017 11:01
Uganda's leading daily news paper 'The New Vision' published an article on 2 May 2017 about the lobby meeting between ULMWP executive director Jacob Rumbiak and the deputy speaker of the Uganda Parliament, Mr. Jacob Oulanyah. The meeting was part of a courtesy visit to the Uganda Parliament on 7 April 2017. During the meeting Jacob Rumbiak stated that the ULMWP asks Uganda to influence other African states to support the independence of West Papua at the United Nations.
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- Oral Statement of the 32nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council
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