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Urgent Action: Fears for Papuan Activists

urgent appeal for action as fears grow for the safety of papuan human rights defenders, several of whom have been targeted by security forces and persons whose identity remains unclear.
16 October 2012

Papuan political activists and human rights defenders are living in increasing fear as a result of an intensifying crackdown by Indonesian police, military and intelligence officers against activists, particularly members of the non-violent West Papua National Committee, KNPB. There are concerns that further acts of terror, intimidation, arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings against activists are imminent.’

According to reports received by TAPOL, in the early hours of Tuesday 16 October Indonesian intelligence officers raided student dormitories at the University of Cenderawasih (UNCEN) in Waena, Jayapura in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest Fanny Kogoya, a member of the TIKI network of women human rights defenders, and other activists.

Last week, on 9 October, Simson Yohame, another activist was unlawfully detained and forced by intelligence officers to reveal the whereabouts of Fanny Kogoya and Viktor Yeimo, leader of the KNPB.

These incidents followed the arrests in late September of eight people in the highland town of Wamena after police targeted homes and offices of KNPB members.

The targeting of KNPB activists appears to have intensified after the killing of the KNPB leader Mako Tabuni, on 14 June 2012. Officers of Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit, Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88), funded and trained by Australia, the US and the UK, are thought to have been involved in the killing of Mako Tabuni and the arrest of the KNPB members in Wamena.

Please call or write to the authorities urging them to:

• End the campaign of terror, intimidation and violence against human rights defenders and political activists, particularly members of KNPB

• Guarantee the safety of Fanny Kogoya, Viktor Yeimo, and others who have been targeted. .

• End the deployment of Densus 88 to Papua, investigate all allegations of human rights violations by Densus 88 officers and other security forces personnel and bring those responsible to justice

Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono President of Republic of Indonesia Istana Negara Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara Jakarta Pusat 10010 Indonesia Tel: +62 21 386 3777 Fax: +62 21 344 2223 E-mail: presiden@ri.go.id

Inspector General Tito Karnavian Papua Police Chief (Kapolda) Jl. Samratulangi No. 8 Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia Tel: +62 811 161 777 Fax: +62 967 531717

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