Church leaders: State violence intensifying in the Land of Papua
Press release, Leadership Working Forum of Papuan Churches “Speak out for those who are voiceless, for the rights of all those who are suffering" (Amsal 31:8-9). As leaders of churches in the Land of Papua, we are deeply concerned about the state violence which is occurring in our sacred motherland. This is clear proof of the fact that the government and the security forces have failed to provide protection for the indigenous Papua people. These concerns of ours have already been conveyed by our communities in the following statements: The eleven recommendations made by the...
UK training of Kopassus
To read the Foreign Office response, please download the PDF file.Dear Mr Miliband,TAPOL is deeply concerned about the decision by the UK’s Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team to organise training for members of Indonesia’s special forces, Kopassus, in October this year at the Kopassus training facility in Batujajar, Central Java.We understand that the decision to undertake that training is justified on the grounds that Kopassus has distanced itself from politics and now respects human rights.However, recent events in Merauke, Papua, Indonesia, show that Kopassus...
Statement to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
Statement to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights‘Public Hearing on Human rights situation in South East Asia with special focus on West Papua’[The following is an extended version of the statement delivered to the Hearing]Thank you Chair and members of the sub-committee for giving me the opportunity to speak about West Papua to this meeting today.
I’d like to divide my presentation into three parts. The first will provide some background information about West Papua; the second will cover recent political developments; and the third will look at specific human rights...
Indonesia urged to confront its demons
Indonesia’s failure to address the legacy of the1965-66 massacres against alleged Communists and their associates could continue to stir community divisions, fuel conflict and result in further atrocities, says a new report,’ Indonesia’s unresolved mass murders: undermining democracy’, by TAPOL, a UK-based organisation which promotes human rights, peace, and democracy in Indonesia. Victims of the tragedy and their families are treated as second-class citizens and continue to suffer economic and social discrimination to this day. “While the victims are demonised, the perpetrators are treated...
Human Rights Commission reveals the truth about 1965/66 crimes against humanity
For the first time ever, an official body has revealed the truth about Indonesia’s darkest secret. While official acknowledgement has taken nearly fifty years to attain, the victims of one of the worst massacres of the twentieth century now have a glimmer of hope that justice may finally be done. In July this year, Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission – Komnas HAM – published the results of a four year investigation, describing the events of 1965-1966 as ‘a black page in the history of the Indonesian people,’ involving widespread violence on ‘a truly massive scale.’In the face of...
Forkorus' and four others sentence violates human rights law
The Jayapura state court today found five Papuan leaders guilty of treason, sentencing them each to three years imprisonment. TAPOL, the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Faith-Based Network on West Papua, Franciscans International, and the West Papua Netzwerk seriously regret the verdict and question the fairness of the trial proceedings. The verdict is another example of the severe restrictions by the Indonesian authorities on the right to freedom of expression of the Papuans. We call upon Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to order that all convictions which do not reflect...
Statement by Gustav Kawar, lawyer defending Forkorus Cs
On 24 February 2012, during a hearing at the trial of Mr Forkorus Yaboisembut and his four co-defendants, the public prosecutor officially announced his intention to submit a report to the police regarding an 'unacceptable incident' that occurred during the trial hearing on 21 February. At the time, the meaning of this announcement was unclear and following the hearing, we decided to find out who was likely to face charges.It seems that I am the target of this announcement. It seems that they were very irritated by the fact that, during the hearing on 21 February, seven of the witnesses...
Letter to HE Mark Canning on MIFEE, Papua
Dear Ambassador,Forest Peoples Programme, Down to Earth, TAPOL and Survival International thank you for inviting us to participate in the Indonesia and East Timor Civil Society Human Rights Roundtable, held at Carlton Gardens on February 7 2012. The wide-ranging discussion held that morning provided a unique opportunity to share with you issues of ongoing concern, identify areas of progress, and be informed on UK policy and the Embassy’s work pertinent to these matters.In the light of your genuine concern for the human rights situation in Indonesia, we are pleased to send you a dossier of...
Statement by Five Papuans on trial for treason
This hand-written statement is signed by the five Papuans who went on trial in Jayapura on 30 January 2012.Fully understanding and conscious of our basic human rights as Papuans of the negroid race, part of the Melanesian race who live in the land of the country of West Papua, inheritors from our ancestors, we herewith firmly declare that WE FIRMLY REJECT THE TREASON TRIAL AND OTHER SUCH TRIALS that have been mounted against the five of us, and we speak on behalf our colleagues and the entire nation of the Papuan people of the Nation of West Papua.We call for an understanding of this...
Statement to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
Statement to the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights‘Public Hearing on Human rights situation in South East Asia with special focus on West Papua’First of all, I would like to apologize for not being able to be with you and among you in this important meeting. I have taken the decision to not coming to Brussels, because the tension in West Papua now is running high. The Papuans are preparing themselves to celebrate 1st of december. More Indonesian security forces are being deployed in West Papua. Many people here are worried and restless. Therefore, I have decided to stay among...
Submission to Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia (second cycle), 13th session
The joint submission by TAPOL and BUK provided information on human rights in Indonesia to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in May 2012. The submission focuses on human rights issues in Papua, with a particular focus on the use of treason laws to limit freedom of expression. To read the full submission please download the PDF.
Papuan youth set alight by Indonesian civil security officers
Evidence has emerged of a horrific attack on a Papuan student in the town of Wamena in West Papua’s central highlands.According to a report received by TAPOL, at around 04:45 am on Wednesday 19 October, Yusuf Hiluka, 23, was stopped outside the office of the Regent of Jayawijaya District by two officers from Satpol PP (Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja), the district civil security unit, while making his way from a friend’s house to the Wamena bus terminal. Without questioning Mr Hiluka, the Satpol PP officers poured glue on his head and set it alight. Mr Hiluka’s head and the back of his neck were...
Indonesian Crackdown on Papuan Congress sparks outrage
On Wednesday, a meeting of thousands of indigenous Papuans in Jayapura, West Papua, became the scene of a brutal crackdown by Indonesian security forces. Indonesian troops and police Mobile Brigades reportedly fired hundreds of shots to disperse the crowd, pistol-whipped participants and beat them with batons and rattan canes. They arrested around 300 participants. According to the Indonesian press, security forces turned violent when Papuan indigenous leaders, who had gathered to discuss their basic rights, issued a declaration of independence.“This appalling display of excessive force has...
Kontras condemns police shooting of Freeport workers
Kontras, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence has condemned the shooting of Freeport workers who were seeking negotiations with the management of the company. Since the commencement of the strike on 15 September there has been no sign that the management is seeking to provide the space for dialogue which could accommodate the interests of the two sides. During an action on 10 October, the workers protested against the company for recruiting new workers to replace those now on strike. We have received information that some eight thousand workers were involved in this...
15 Papuans mistreated and tortured by army and police
TAPOL strongly condemns the use of violence and torture against Papuan detainees A report has been released following a joint investigation into the mistreatment and torture of a group of 15 Papuans in connection with two criminal incidents that occurred recently in West Papua. The report, published by Papuan church leaders, the NGO network Foker and the Papua Human Rights Commission, states that 15 Papuans were arrested in Jayapura on 31 August and were mistreated and tortured for nine hours by a joint force of military and police. They were reportedly beaten with rifle butts, punched,...
MIFEE Project Violates Human Rights
One year after the MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate) Project was launched by the central government, the situation of the people in Merauke has become a matter of grave concern. The indigenous Malind people and the inhabitants in Merauke in general have been threatened and marginalised as a result of the conversion of their land and their ancestral forests by the MIFEE Project. Research undertaken by Pusaka, called ‘MIFEE does not reflect the aspirations of the Malind people’ drew the conclusion that the MIFEE Project was launched as the illegitimate offspring of the global...
Statement shows global support for human rights and HRDs in West Papua
In recent weeks, highly regarded West Papuan non-governmental and religious organizations which promote respect for human rights have spoken out forcefully regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the territory. In two separate statements, the organizations decried the failure of the Indonesian government to ensure justice for or protect Papuans who have been the victims of security force brutality, including extra-judicial killing, torture, abduction and imprisonment. The organizations have also called for protection of human rights defenders. The continuing violation of human...
Light sentences for rights violators spark calls to pull support for TNI
The West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT), East and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and TAPOL condemn the Indonesian government's failure to hold Indonesian military personnel responsible for the grave crime of torture of two Papuans. The torture was revealed in a video posted online in October 2010 shocked the international community (http://www.etan.org/news/2010/10video.htm). Rather than try the perpetrators before a civilian court the Indonesian government allowed the Indonesian military to try the soldiers in a military court. On January 24, the Military Court in Papua sentenced three soldiers...
Carmel Budiardjo made an honorary Papuan
Denpasar, Bali - The life's journey being traversed by the Papuan Nation to attain their identity as a nation created by the Almighty on their own land, has been in progress for many years, up to the present day. This journey has not been without suffering and oppression from other nations who are determined to take control of the abundant natural resources of the Land of Papua, while trying to remove the true owners from their own land. During the course of this struggle, we, the Papuan Nation, have observed that there are people who, inspired by humanitarianism, have shown by their actions...
Continued detention of Papuan prisoners violates basic rights
Despite persistent calls for their release, two Papuan political prisoners face another Christmas and New Year in detention for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. The two men, Filep Karma and Buchtar Tabuni, also face criminal charges arising from a riot at Abepura prison on 3 December, which resulted in their transfer with three others from prison to police custody. Since then, they have had limited or no contact with their lawyers and families in contravention of international standards on the treatment of prisoners and persons in detention. “There can be no...