Joint Statement on the Verdict of the Makassar District Court on the Sorong Six
Coalition for Maybrat Advocacy has criticised the verdict of the Makassar District Court, which has found the Sorong Six guilty and sentenced them to prison for between 18 and 20 years. These verdicts add salt to unhealed old wounds of Papuans, and have strengthened their sense that the Indonesian legal system cannot be trusted to deliver fair trials.The court found the Six (Maikel Yaam, Amos Ky, Agustinus Yaam, MS, YW and RY) guilty of the premeditated killing of four Indonesian National Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI) soldiers at the Kisor military post, Maybrat District,...
Briefing: Illegal arms sales, internal displacement and a ‘new approach’ in West Papua
This briefing looks at reports of illegal sales of weaponry by the security forces, continuing internal displacement and the military's claimed new approach. It looks especially at the reasons behind these developments, and the lack of coherent action on the part of the Government. An underlying reason for arms dealing is pervasive militarism in West Papua, where security force operations are leading to violence and causing the displacement of civilians. Arms dealing has been taking place as the security forces try to control the narrative on its role in West Papua, first justifying...
TAPOL calls for the immediate release of detained political activists
TAPOL urges the Indonesian Government to release Jefry Wenda, the spokesperson of the Papuan People’s Petition (Petisi Rakyat Papua, PRP) and others arrested today during a peaceful protest in Jayapura. Wenda was arrested along with several members of the West Papuan National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB) including Ones Suhuniap, Omizon Balingga and Imam Kogoya. Others arrested were Marthen Rumbiak (West Papua National Authority, WPNA) and activists Esther Haluk and Aby Douw.The arrests mark a further shrinking of civic space in West Papua since the Covid-19 pandemic began in...
Press Release: AwasMIFEE! and TAPOL release report on planned Food Estate in West Papua
Press ReleaseAwasMIFEE! and TAPOL release report on planned Food Estate in West PapuaLondon (29 April 2022)Plans to establish 'Food Estates' were announced by the Indonesian government at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic because, it said, it wanted to ensure Indonesia's food security. But as AwasMIFEE! and TAPOL show in their report released today, 'Pandemic Power Grabs: Who benefits from Food Estates in West Papua?', these plans would seem to benefit agro-industrial conglomerates and oligarchs with close connections to figures in the government. Furthermore, based on previous and...
Sorong Six: Tortured Repeatedly, Transported Secretly
"Sorong Enam: Disiksa Bertubi-tubi, Dipindahkan Sembunyi-Sembunyi (Sorong Six: Tortured Repeatedly, Transported Secretly)". This campaign video, by TAPOL, LBH Kaki Abu, and LBH Makassar, calls for the release of six political prisoners from Sorong, West Papua, who were subjected to torture and unfair trial. Three of the six detainees are still minors.Click this link to watch the full video.
Sorong Enam: Disiksa Bertubi-tubi, Dipindahkan Sembunyi-Sembunyi
TAPOL, LBH Kaki Abu, dan LBH Makassar merilis video "Sorong Enam: Disiksa Bertubi-tubi, Dipindahkan Sembunyi-Sembunyi". Video ini merupakan video kampanye untuk mendorong pembebasan enam tahanan politik asal Sorong, West Papua, yang mengalami penyiksaan dan peradilan sesat. Terlebih, tiga dari enam tahanan tersebut masih di bawah umur.Klik tautan ini untuk menonton video lengkapnya.
Defence witness testimony strengthens suspicions of wrongful arrest
Press Release: Developments in the Trial of the Sorong 6 Defence witness testimony strengthens suspicions of wrongful arrest The trial of six political prisoners from Sorong (The Sorong 6) has begun to hear witnesses for the defence. Testimony from two witnesses for the defence, presented by lawyers during the 5 April 2022 trial at the Makassar District Court and online, have strengthened suspicions that defendants MS and AY are the victims of wrongful arrest and were not involved in the murder of four Indonesian Army soldiers at the Kisor military post in South Aifat district, Maybrat...
TAPOL Statement on the designation of Haris and Fatia as Suspects and Intimidation of Amnesty International Indonesia
London, 22 March 2022Freedom of expression in Indonesia is not improving, and the situation is of increasing concern where the opinion being expressed is critical of the human rights situation of West Papuans.On Thursday 17th March 2022, hundreds of militia members of Laskar Merah Putih, (Red and White Warriors) demonstrated outside the office of Amnesty International Indonesia (AII). They accused both Usman Hamid, Director of Amnesty International Indonesia and his organisation, of being provocateurs and of acting for foreign interests, and undermining Indonesia’s sovereignty. This followed...
The Torture of Children in Puncak Papua is Evidence that the State is Not Serious About Protecting Children in Papua
1 March 2022The Advocacy Team for Human Rights in Papua (Tim Advokasi HAM untuk Papua) strongly condemns acts of persecution and torture of seven minors, causing one of them to die. Based on a timeline of events that we have verified, it is suspected that the deceased child was heavily persecuted and tortured by the military (TNI), because they were accused of stealing weapons from Pos PT Modern Tapulunik Sinak, Puncak Regency, Papua. This event certainly adds to the long list of violence committed by the security forces in Papua.This is the verified timeline:The weapons theft occurred in...
Militarisation, Conflict and Injustice in Maybrat Regency, West Papua
Located right in the heart of the Bird’s Head Peninsula at the Northwest corner of West Papua, Maybrat has often been hidden from the world’s view, due to its remoteness, lack of coverage and seeming peacefulness. Following a period of military expansion in the region, Maybrat has been the scene of violence between the military and West Papua’s pro-independence armed group, TPNPB (Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat, the National Liberation Army of West Papua). This briefing shows drivers of recent conflict in Maybrat, especially militarisation and natural resource contestation. This...
Free Leo Idjie, Lawyer in the Kisor and LK Cases in West Papua
Free Leo Idjie, Lawyer in the Kisor and LK Cases in West Papua (as published in change.org)The criminalisation of lawyers and activists in West Papua is happening again. This time the target is Leonardo Idjie, lawyer and human rights defender from LBH Kaki Abu (Kaki Abu Legal Aid Institute), Sorong, West Papua.Criminalisation efforts against Leo began whilst he was accompanying the Kisor case and the case of LK, a child accused of breaking the law (anak berhadapan hukum, ABH), at Sorong State Court.Whilst representing these two cases, LBH Kaki Abu encountered numerous...
LK and Systemic State Violence in Papua
TAPOL and Kaki Abu Legal Aid released a video entitled "LK dan Pusaran Kerasan di Papua (LK and Systemic State Violence in Papua)". This campaign video calls for the release of LK, a child accused of having broken the law (ABH) in Maybrat, #WestPapua, who was subjected to torture and forced to undergo an unfair trial.Click this link to watch the full video.
Constitutional Court orders revisions of Omnibus law, but two-year grace period allows room for more exploitation
On 25 November Indonesia’s Constitutional Court issued an order to the Government and parliament to change parts of the ‘Omnibus Law’ (UU Cipta Kerja). The Court also forbade the passing of any further implementing regulations and policies associated with the law in a two-year grace period. If the necessary changes are not made within two years, the Court ordered that the Omnibus Law would become “permanently unconstitutional”. The Constitutional Court’s judgement will put further pressure on the Government to reconsider the Omnibus law. But a two-year grace period could also be exploited. By...
Friendship requires honesty: UK needs to raise human rights and democracy in Indonesia
On Nov. 11, the UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, visited Indonesia during a week-long trip to Southeast Asia. Truss’s outing happened in the context of the UK’s post-Brexit objectives of “tilting” towards the Indo-Pacific region.In her meetings with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Truss aimed to deepen cooperation between the UK and Indonesia in economy, security and technology. Yet there are several issues which should also have been aired by Truss during her visit. The question of the military’s continuing power and its impact on human rights...
Friendship requires honesty: UK needs to raise human rights and democracy in Indonesia
On Nov. 11, the UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, visited Indonesia during a week-long trip to Southeast Asia. Truss’s outing happened in the context of the UK’s post-Brexit objectives of “tilting” towards the Indo-Pacific region.In her meetings with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Truss aimed to deepen cooperation between the UK and Indonesia in economy, security and technology. Yet there are several issues which should also have been aired by Truss during her visit. The question of the military’s continuing power and its impact on human rights...
TAPOL Statement regarding the attack against Veronica Koman’s family and situation of Human Rights Defenders in Indonesia
TAPOL is deeply concerned about a series of escalating threats and attacks made against the family of prominent Indonesian human rights lawyer and defender, Veronica Koman in Jakarta. These threats and attacks indicate a worsening situation for human rights lawyers and defenders in Indonesia, with other prominent human rights defenders being subjected to police investigations. The incidents against Koman’s family have in recent weeks involved an arson attack outside the house of her parents on 24th October. Two weeks later, on Sunday 7th November, assailants left an explosive device outside...
TAPOL mourns loss of Max Stahl, legendary filmmaker who committed his life to East Timor
TAPOL is sad to report the death of Max Stahl, the legendary journalist and filmmaker who will be remembered, above all, for filming the Santa Cruz massacre in East Timor on November 12, 1991. The massacre of 271 people happened in the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, where Indonesian security forces opened fire on graveside mourners. It was a turning point in the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. Max’s footage came about whilst he was preparing material for the television documentary ‘In Cold Blood: the Massacre of East Timor’. It was shown in many countries and played an important role in...
The Indonesian military and counter-terrorism: new business, same old ways
From the early 2000s, terrorism in Indonesia was regarded as a matter of ‘security and order’, and dealt with by the police and its militarized anti-terror unit, Densus 88. However, in 2018, legislation was amended which marked a shift in that the Indonesian military was again given a key role in countering terrorism. In 2021, this legal provision was brought into play as the main West Papuan armed resistance, the TPNPB was designated as a ‘terrorist’ organisation by the Government. The move further cements the military’s power and authority, which has been growing for twenty years, and has...
Update on Victor Yeimo - Trial adjourned due to deteriorating health condition, delayed medical treatment, responses from the UN
London, 21 September 2021The political trial of Victor Yeimo was adjourned by the District Court of Jayapura on 31 August 2021 until he is declared physically fit by the hospital. On the same day, the Court also dismissed his pretrial motion, challenging his arrest and detention for violating criminal procedural law, on the grounds that the main trial had begun.Victor Yeimo was finally hospitalised on 30 August despite the Court having issued an order to hospitalise him since the evening of 27 August. The prosecutors deliberately defied the Court’s order, which caused uproar among the public...
Job opening at TAPOL
Campaigner, TAPOL September 2021Position: Campaigner (UK-based)Part-time: two days per week equivalentSalary: £24,000 - £27,500 (pro rata), depending on experienceTAPOL is a UK-based NGO that promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia. We are looking for a UK-based campaigner to undertake campaign work particularly on West Papua as well as wider Indonesia-related issues. The successful candidate must be in agreement with TAPOL's objectives.Location: UK-based, preferably with easy/regular access to our London officeStart date: 1 January 2022, ideally.How to apply: To obtain more...