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Solidarity for Human Rights Defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar

22 November 2023

Organisations, human rights groups, and defenders are calling for the Indonesian Government to end its judicial harassment against prominent human rights defenders, Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar as well as to further protect all human rights defenders in the country.

Surat Terbuka untuk Majelis Hakim PTUN Jayapura

01 November 2023

Surat Terbuka ini kami sampaikan demi keadilan untuk pejuang lingkungan hidup, Hendrikus Woro yang berjuang untuk Marga Woro dan Suku Awyu yaitu Penggugat dalam perkara lingkungan hidup dan perubahan iklim Nomor 6/G/LH/2023/PTUN.JPR Pengadilan Tata Usaha Negara (PTUN) Jayapura. Gugatan ini menyangkut izin lingkungan hidup yang dikeluarkan Dinas Penanaman Modal dan Pelayanan Terpadu Satu Pintu Provinsi Papua untuk perusahaan sawit PT Indo Asiana Lestari (PT IAL).

Open letter to Jayapura PTUN panel of judges

01 November 2023

We are submitting this open letter for the sake of justice of the environmental defender, Hendrikus Woro, who is fighting for the Woro Clan and Awyu Tribe, the Plaintiff in the environmental and climate change case Number 6/G/LH/2023/PTUN.JPR of the Jayapura State Administrative Court (PTUN). The lawsuit concerns an environmental permit issued by the Papua Province Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office for palm oil company PT Indo Asiana Lestari (PT IAL).

Terusir dan Tak Berdaya: Ekspansi militer mengorbankan nyawa warga sipil

05 October 2023

Laporan ini menyuguhkan beberapa pertanyaan terkait penyebaran konflik di West Papua. Laporan ini juga mengidentifikasi faktor pendorong militerisasi, termasuk meningkatnya jumlah pos keamanan dan pangkalan pasukan keamanan, yang memungkinkan akses pada peluang bisnis, peran militer yang semakin besar dalam operasi 'kontra-teror', serta melihat inisiatif-inisiatif terbaru untuk menghentikan konflik.

Displaced and Disempowered: Military expansionism at the cost of civilian lives

05 October 2023

This report asks several questions about the spread of conflict in West Papua. The report also identifies the drivers of militarisation including increasing numbers of security force posts and bases allowing access to business opportunities, a deepening military role in ‘counter-terror’ operations, and looks at recent initiatives to stop conflict.

Joint Letter on Indonesia's Candidacy for Election to the UN Human Rights Council

19 September 2023

Indonesia is seeking to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the next two years. This body has the responsibility to monitor and promote human rights around the world. Given such an important task, TAPOL and a number of our partners have serious concerns with Indonesia being elected to the Council, given the human rights situation in the country at the moment. A member of the Council should be a worldwide role model for human rights. Given the shrinking space for civic society and restrictions to freedom of expression, the lack of ratification of all...

Found guilty by judges, Yanwaris Sewa sentenced to 18 years in prison

22 June 2023

The Continuation of the hearing for the verdict for case number: PDM-18/R.2.11/Eoh.2/02/2023, against Yanwaris Sewa, on Thursday 22nd June 2023 at Sorong State Court, at a court led by the Chief Judge, Bernadus Papendang, along with Rivai Rasyid Takuboya and Lutfi Tomu serving as other judges, attended by the Public Prosecutor along with the accused and his legal team.During the reading of the verdict, Yanwaris Sewa was found guilty by the court and was sentenced to 18 years of prison. On the 14th October 2022, Yanwaris Sewa was arrested by members of Sorong South area police in Sanbika...

Webinar: Kondisi dan Tren Kebebasan Berekspresi, Berkumpul dan Hak Digital di West Papua

19 June 2023

“Situasi memburuk selama 2019, ketika ada Gerakan West Papua Melawan yang terkait dengan isu rasisme. Menurut saya, ada ketakutan dari pemerintah ketika kami menyampaikan pendapat kami.” (Esther Haluk, Aktivis Perempuan West Papua)“Memburuknya situasi sebagaimana yang kami amati, dalam berbagai  kategori pelanggaran, polisi bekerja sama dengan kelompok-kelompok lain, semisal kelompok milisi… suasana yang mereka ciptakan telah menimbulkan efek yang menakutkan dan menyulitkan bagi masyarakat sipil untuk dapat secara bebas mengekspresikan pendapat dan berdemonstrasi di West Papua.” (Ian...

Webinar: Status and Trends of Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Digital Rights in West Papua

19 June 2023

“It's getting worse in 2019, when we have the Uprising related to racism. There's a phobia, I think, from the state for us to express our opinion.” (Esther Haluk, West Papuan Woman Activist) “In terms of the degrading situation we have seen, certainly across a whole number of different categories, the police, and groups they have worked alongside, such as militia groups… the atmosphere they have created has led to a chilling effect on the civil society and the feeling to be able to freely express opinions and demonstrate in West Papua” (Ian Moore, TAPOL Campaigner) SAFEnet and...

Polisi kembali menangkap aktivis West Papua merdeka, tiga di antaranya disangkakan pasal makar

16 June 2023

Pemerintah Indonesia kembali menginjak-injak hak untuk berekspresi secara damai dan bebas di West Papua. Hal itu tercermin dari penangkapan dan tuduhan makar terhadap tiga anggota organisasi damai prokemerdekaan, Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB), di Kabupaten Tambrauw, Provinsi Papua Barat Daya.Penangkapan tersebut terjadi pada Jumat, 9 Juni 2023, di Kampung Sarwom. Awalnya, mereka yang ditangkap berjumlah 19 orang, terdiri dari seorang pengurus KNPB Maybrat dan sisanya adalah anggota KNPB Tambrauw. Kepala Kepolisian Daerah Papua Barat mengklaim, para aktivis yang ditahan itu telah...

Three West Papuans charged with treason for holding religious service to mark pro-independence organisation's anniversary

05 June 2023

Three West Papuans have been charged with treason and face up to 4 years in prison for holding a peaceful  religious service. The judges must be fair and objective and acquit Karlos Bonay, Andreas Sanggenafa and Soleman Waropen, because expressing opinions and peaceful assembly are human rights protected by national and international law!       

Laporan Terbaru TAPOL - West Papua 2022: Ada hukum, penangkapan dan kekerasan yang memburuk di balik kata-kata manis Jakarta

10 May 2023

Tinta telah mengering. Undang-undang yang membentuk provinsi-provinsi baru di West Papua sudah disahkan lewat klaim Jakarta bahwa pemerintah mendapat dukungan dari masyarakat Papua. Namun laporan terbaru TAPOL, 'West Papua 2022: Kebebasan Berekspresi dan Kebebasan Berkumpul', kembali menunjukkan adanya peningkatan insiden, termasuk penangkapan, pembubaran, intimidasi, dan pembunuhan karena mengekspresikan perbedaan pendapat. Hal ini menandakan adanya penurunan situasi terkait Kebebasan Berkumpul dan Berekspresi di West Papua. Laporan ini juga menyoroti bahwa "trennya terus memburuk, meski ada...

TAPOL's Latest Report - West Papua 2022: Laws, arrests and harassment worsens, despite Jakarta’s sweet words

10 May 2023

With the ink now drying on the laws creating the new provinces in West Papua, claimed by Jakarta to have support from Papuans, TAPOL’s new report, 'West Papua 2022: Freedom Of Expression And Freedom Of Assembly', shows a picture of increasing incidents, including  arrests, dispersals, intimidation and killings for expressing dissent. This belies a declining situation of Freedom of Assembly and Expression in West Papua. The report highlights that: “...the continued worsening trend, despite new initiatives, promises and approaches by the government, shows that it is not working to actively...

West Papua 2022 Kebebasan Berekspresi dan Kebebasan Berkumpul Laporan Lengkap

10 May 2023

West Papua di tahun 2022 menyaksikan meningkatnya pengekangan terhadap kebebasan berkumpul dan berekspresi, termasuk meningkatnya penangkapan, pembubaran demonstrasi, dan kekerasan, hingga memburuknya situasi terkait orang-orang yang berusaha menegakkan dan membela hak-hak, terutama para pembela hak asasi manusia dan media. Tahun itu juga merupakan tahun yang penuh dengan peristiwa besar yang mengekspos Indonesia: pemekaran Papua yang sudah diantisipasi menjadi beberapa provinsi, pengesahan Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) yang baru, dan Peninjauan Berkala Universal (Universal Periodic...

West Papua 2022 Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly Full Report

10 May 2023

West Papua in 2022 has seen increasing clampdowns on freedom of assembly and expression, including increasing arrests, clamping down on demonstrations, and the harassment or worse of people seeking to uphold and defend rights, particularly human right defenders and the media. It has also been a year of big events which has given a high level of exposure to Indonesia: the much anticipated division of Papua into many more provinces, the signing off of the new criminal code and the Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia at the UN.

Update on Viktor Yeimo's trial - delayed yet again

18 April 2023

The agenda for the reading of the prosecution’s case in the trial of Viktor Yeimo on treason charges at Jayapura District Court on 17th April 2023 has been postponed for a second time. The reason given was the same as on the first occasion: the prosecution file from the public prosecutor is not ready because it still has to be coordinated with the Office of the Attorney-General.This move has displeased the chairman of the panel of judges, the defendant's lawyer, the defendant and even the public who were present to watch the trial leading to a turbulent atmosphere in the courtroom.As a...

Joint Oral Statement - 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council Agenda Item 6: UPR Adoption – Indonesia

27 March 2023

Thank you Mr President,Franciscans International, Amnesty International, World Council of Churches, CIVICUS, Human Rights Monitoring and TAPOL appreciate the Government of Indonesia’s support for five recommendations on the human rights situation in West Papua. [1] We regret that five other recommendations on West Papua including on the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are only noted,[2] despite an invitation to the previous High Commissioner.[3]Despite commitments made internationally, Indonesia fails to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights for Indigenous West Papuans....

Joint Oral Statement - 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council Agenda Item 6: UPR Adoption – Indonesia

27 March 2023

Franciscans International, Amnesty International, World Council of Churches, CIVICUS, Human Rights Monitoring, TAPOLFranciscans International, Amnesty International, World Council of Churches, CIVICUS, Human Rights Monitoring and TAPOL appreciate the Government of Indonesia’s support for five recommendations on the human rights situation in West Papua. We regret that five other recommendations on West Papua including on the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are only noted, despite an invitation to the previous High Commissioner.Read the full statement here

Pernyataan TAPOL atas Penyanderaan di Nduga, West Papua

08 March 2023

 Telah sebulan lamanya pilot Susi Air Philip Mark Mehrtens disandera Tentara Nasional Pembebasan Papua Barat (TPNPB) di Nduga, Papua Pegunungan. Kendati membuat masalah West Papua kembali menjadi sorotan dunia, penyanderaan warga sipil ini patut disayangkan dan tidak bisa dibenarkan berdasarkan norma-norma hak asasi manusia (HAM) dan humaniter internasional.Kejadian bermula setelah Philip mendaratkan pesawat Susi Air jenis Pilatus Porter PC-6 di Bandara Paro, Distrik Paro, Kabupaten Nduga, Papua Pegunungan, untuk mengantarkan lima warga Papua dari Timika, 7 Februari 2023. Pasukan TPNPB Kodap...

TAPOL statement on the hostage-taking in Nduga, West Papua

08 March 2023

It has been a month since Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) in Nduga, in the highlands of Papua Pegunungan Province. Despite putting the West Papua issue back in the international spotlight, the hostage-taking of civilians is regrettable and unjustified based on international human rights and humanitarian norms.The incident began after Mehrtens landed a Pilatus Porter PC-6 Susi Air plane at Paro Airport, Paro District, in Nduga Regency, to deliver five Papuans from Timika, 7th February 2023. Troops from the TPNPB’s War...