'Swim for West Papua' - Free West Campaign launches global petition

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Published on Thursday, 16 February 2017 04:33

On Tuesday 24th January 2017 the International Parliamentarians for West Papua together with the Free West Papua Campaign launched the global petition in support of the West Minster Declaration  in the British parliament at the Palace of Westminster. The launching was chaired by Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP, co-founder of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua and Benny Wenda, Spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. The advocacy groups have also planned an additional initiative named 'Swim for West Papua', which should serve the purpose to highlight and promote the petition.

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Joint Statement on the New York Agreement by the Ecumenical Forum of Papuan Church Leaders

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Published on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 11:41

“Clean Your Lectern Before Your Speech”
(The Papuan Church Is Facing A Humanitarian Chrisis)

Today, on 15th August 2016, 54 years ago the New York Agreement was signed by the government of the Dutch Royal Empire and the Republic of Indonesia (without involvement of the Papuan people), to decide over the political status of West Papua/ Irian Barat. The New York Agreement became the political foundation for the long-lasting conflict in West Papua (Tanah Papua) until today. Looking at the situation of the people during the last six months, we as the Papuan churches are re-experiencing the dark periods and powerlessness as it happened in the 1960s, when confrontation and acts of terror occurred all over West Papua/ Irian Barat in order to win the referendum (PEPERA).

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Urgent Appeal - Police officers torture Mr. Edison Hesegem to death in Jayawijaya General Hospital

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Published on Tuesday, 14 February 2017 07:24

The International Coalition for Papua has received credible information about a torture case in the highland city of Wamena, which was committed by six members of the Jayawijaya District Police, Jayawijaya regency, Papua province. The torture occurred on 11th January 2017 during detention at a police post and on 11th January 2017 at the emergency room of Jayawijaya General Hospital in Wamena. According to local human rights defenders, medical personal witnessed six officers as they tortured Mr. Edison Hesegem at the medical facility where he was meant to receive medical aid. The torture was so severe that Mr. Edison Hesegem died in the hospital the following day. In an attempt to downplay the torture, the head of the Papuan regional Police, Mr. Paulus Waterpauw, made a public statement in which he explained that Mr. Edison sustained the fatal injury as he fell off a fence during an attempted escape. Please support this Urgent Appeal to ensure that the investigation into allegations of human rights violations against Mr. Edison Hesegem in Jayawijaya General Hospital, Papua province, will be conducted in a proper and impartial manner.

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Police opens fire on crowd - one killed, many injured

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Published on Monday, 31 October 2016 12:19

On October 26 2016, approximately at 23.00, Police forces opened fire at a group of protesters who had built a roadblock and burned car tires at Yos Sodarso Street, Sanggeng area, Manokwari. Local residents of Papuan origin had built the roadblock after a community member named Vigal Pauspaus was stabbed by an unknown perpetrator from Makassar in a dispute over an unpaid bill.

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European Parliament adopts Resolution on Indonesia, noticing arrest of peaceful protesters in West Papua

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Published on Saturday, 28 January 2017 09:01

On the 19th January 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Indonesia  as a response to the blasphemy case against Jakarta governor Ahok and a current case against two Papuan political activists, who are facing treason charges for having participated a peaceful demonstration. According to the Indonesian penal code (KUHP) treason charges can result in maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The pro-indepence organisation West Papua National Committee (KNPB) called for peaceful Indonesian-wide demonstrations in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) on the 19th  December 2016. That day, peaceful demonstrations took place in Jayapura, Merauke, Wamena, Nabire in Papua Province, Manado in  North Sulawesi Province, Gorontalo and Yogyakarta. The police arrested at least 528 peaceful protesters, including minors. Hosea Yeimo and Ismael Alua were arrested in Jayapura and charged under Articles 106 and 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). Both activists were released on bail on 11th  January 2017 while legal proceedings of the case continue.

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Torture as Theatre in Papua

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Published on Tuesday, 25 October 2016 10:15

Despite international and national exposure, torture in Papua remains widespread and systematic; it is also surrounded by virtually complete impunity and denial. This article analyses torture through a Foucauldian perspective and conceptualizes torture as “theatre” in order to fill the gap of understanding state violence in Papua. Theatricality proffers a new analytical lens to examine the phenomenon by exploring the interplay and dynamics of four interrelated elements: the rationalities that underpin the web of power relations, the techniques of domination, the actors with their multiple and fluid identities, and finally their motivational postures. Taking a Foucauldian perspective, the article analyses the way the Indonesian state exhibits sovereign power to govern Papua as a docile body, and conceptualizes torture as an element of “the art of government”. The analysis is based on 431 cases of torture in Papua during 1963–2010 as well as 214 testimonies of torture survivors, perpetrators and spectators.

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1st December Commemoration in Jakarta - Papuans and Indonesians demonstrate for Right to Self Determination

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Published on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 12:04

On 1st Decemeber 1961 the Morning star flag was officially raised for the first time. Since that day, many Papuans commemorate the 1st December  as their “Independence Day”. Every year demonstrations and orations take place, which are often violently dispersed by security forces.

The Papuan Students Alliance (AMP) and a group named „Front Rakyat Indonesia“ (Indonesian Peoples' Front)  carried out a joint demonstration in Jakarta on 1st December 2016 . The Indonesian Peoples' Front, abbreviated as FRI-WP, consists of people from all parts of Indonesia, who share a feeling of solidarity with the indigenous population in West Papua and are committed in the struggle for their right to self determination.

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UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Initiates Early Warning Procedure Regarding Human Rights Situation in West Papua

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Published on Wednesday, 12 October 2016 06:54

The United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has initiated an early warning and urgent action procedure regarding the human rights situation in West Papua. Non-governmental organisations had drawn the committees attention to a growing number of human rights violations and injustice during its 90th session between August 2nd and 26, 2016. The civil society reports describe allegations of excessive use of force, arrests, killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and strong limitations on the freedom of assembly and association towards indigenous Papuans.

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