Statement by Papuan Civil Society on the Visit to West Papua by the Solomon Islands Delegation
Dear Sirs/Madams, We, West Papua civil society, consisting of people from Non-Government Organisations, youth, students, women, and indigenous peoples, welcome the government and civil society delegates from the Solomon Islands to our country, West Papua. We sincerely apologise that because we are not free to express ourselves in the land of our ancestors we cannot welcome you well and honorably as Melanesian relatives. To be honest we just heard about this visit. We did not expect this visit would be arranged secretly and unilaterally by the government of Indonesia through its foreign...
Press Release: Stop the sweeping and attacks against civilians in Nduga, Papua
Five civilians allegedly shot, four were persecuted, two houses were burned by the Indonesian military/police. Press contact details below. (Papua/Jakarta, 20th December 2017) The Coalition for Justice, Law and Human Rights in the Central Highlands of Papua, Civil Liberty Defenders and the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) request that the Indonesian security forces, militrary and police do not act indiscriminately in the Mugi district of the Nduga regency, Papua. The tense situation in Mugi District resulting from the intimidating the presence of...
LP3BH calls on President Jokowi to immediately deal with conflict in West Papua
Yan Christian Warinussy, Executive-Director of LP3BH Manokwari, has called on President Jokowi to immediately take action with regard to the conflict now underway in the region of Tembagapura, West Papua. LP3BH calls on President Jokowi to immediately deal with conflict in West Papua As yet, there has been no response from the President to reports about an armed conflict that is currently underway between the Indonesian security forces (Army and Police) and the TPNP (Papuan National Liberation Army) in the vicinity of Freeport's massive Grasberg mine. However, there have been a...
Joint West Papua report details deterioration in the last two years
More than 40 organisations in West Papua, Jakarta and worldwide have brought their analysis on the human rights and conflict situation in West Papua together. The executive summary of the 218-pages report explains how several human rights standards have deteriorated over the last two years. The report is compiled by the International Coalition for Papua (ICP) and the German Westpapua-Netzwerk (WPN). The years 2015 and 2016 were characterized by a significant aggravation of the human rights situation in West Papua compared to previous years. Reports by local human rights defenders describe an...
Indonesia: Government must make public the 2005 fact-finding report on Munir’s case
JOINT PUBLIC STATEMENT6 September 2017Indonesia: Government must make public the 2005 fact-finding report on Munir’s caseIn commemorating the thirteen years after the killing of human rights defender Munir Said Thalib, 7th of September 2017, the undersigned regional and international human rights organizations call on the Indonesian President Joko Widodo to take decisive and concrete action to ensure those responsible – including those at the highest levels – are brought to justice. As a first key step towards establishing the truth, President Widodo must release the 2005 report prepared by...
Statement from Advocacy Team for Citizen Freedom - Tools of State Repression: Abolish treason articles in the Indonesian Criminal Code
Tools of State Repression: Abolish treason articles in the Indonesian Criminal CodeAdvocacy Team for Citizen FreedomJakarta, 22 March 2016 — Political expression by those critical of the Government of Indonesia for not ensuring it’s citizens’ rights if often faced with repressive acts, especially in Papua where those who challenge the state are commonly labelled as rebels, separatists, and guilty of treason [makar].To challenge the State’s usage of the criminal code as an instrument of repression, we, the Advocacy Team for Citizen Freedom, have submitted a petition to the...
Joint oral statement at the 34th regular session of the Human Rights Council
Joint Oral Statement at the 34th regular session of the Human Right Council Item 4: General Debate – human rights situations that require the Council’s attention. March 14, 2017 Delivered by: Andrzej Owca Mr. President VIVAT International, Franciscans International, the World Council of Churches and Geneva for Human Rights with support of the International Coalition for Papua, Tapol and Westpapua-Netzwerk, would like to draw the Council’s attention to the human rights situation in West Papua in particular regarding the rights of the indigenous people, including their right...
Permohonan Bersama Para Pemangku Kepentingan untuk Tinjauan Periodik Universal (UPR) Indonesia Putaran ke-3 (Sesi ke-27)
Permohonan Bersama TAPOL dan BUK tentang situasi HAM di Indonesia kepada Dewan HAM PBB dalam mekanisme Tinjauan Periodik Universal (UPR). Permohonan ini berfokus pada situasi HAM di Papua yang berfokus untuk memastikan kebebasan berekspresi di Papua. Untuk melihat permohonan lengkap, silahkan unduh versi pdf.
Submission to Universal Periodic Review of Indonesia, third cycle (27th session)
The joint submission by TAPOL and BUK provided information on human rights in Indonesia to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in April 2017. The submission focuses on human rights issues in Papua, with a particular focus on ensuring freedom of expression in West Papua. To read the full submission please download the PDF.
Indonesia: Close gap between rhetoric and reality on 1965 mass human rights violations
PUBLIC STATEMENT1 October 2016Indonesia: Close gap between rhetoric and reality on 1965 mass human rights violations Despite President Joko Widodo’s repeated commitments to address human rights violations committed in 1965 – such as extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and torture – more than five decades later millions of victims and their families are still waiting for truth, justice and reparation. On the 51st anniversary of these violations, Amnesty International, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), East-Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), La’o Hamutuk, TAPOL, Watch...
A Historic Choice: West Papua, Human Rights, and Pacific Diplomacy at the Pacific Islands Forum and Melanesian Spearhead Group
A new report by Dr. Jason Macleod, Rosa Moiwend and Jasmine Pilbrow analyses political developments and human rights violations in West Papua by the Indonesian state in response to the West Papuan people's aspirations for self-determination. It covers the period between January 2014, when a delegation of Melanesian Spearhead Group Foreign Ministers' visited the territory, and 15 July 2016, the day after Melanesian Spearhead Group Special Leaders meet in Honiara and decided to defer a decision on the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application for full membership.
Oral statement at the 33nd regular session of the Human Rights Council
Oral statement at the 33nd regular session of the Human Rights CouncilItem 4 General debate – Human Rights situation that requires Council’s attention.19th September 2016Delivered by Andrzej Owca Mr. President, VIVAT International, Franciscans International, the International Coalition for Papua and TAPOL welcome and encourage the commitment and the efforts that have been already made by the government of Indonesia on human rights.However, we remain deeply concerned about the continuous violations of human rights in West Papua, as one of the most vulnerable regions of...
Open Statement: Appointment of Retired General Wiranto as Minister confirms the deep-rooted impunity in Indonesia
Open StatementAppointment of General Wiranto (Retired) as Minister confirms the deep-rooted impunity in IndonesiaJuly 27, 2016 - Three human rights groups, TAPOL, ETAN, and Watch Indonesia!, today criticized President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo’s appointment of former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander General (Ret.) Wiranto as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. Wiranto replaces General (Ret.) Luhut Pandjaitan. Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, told the media that Wiranto was appointed “because he had been well-tested and was experienced in resolving various...
Indonesia: Hentikan Impunitas dan Penangkapan Sewenang-wenang di Papua
(London 24 Juni 2016) –Sebuah laporan terbaru oleh Papuans Behind Bars mengungkapkan bahwa telah terjadi peningkatan tindakan penangkapan sewenang-wenang untuk membungkam protes di Papua oleh Pemerintah Indonesia pada tahun 2015. Dalam peluncuran laporan yang dilakukan di Sekretariat Amnesty Internasional di London pada 24 Juni, organisasi HAM berbasis di London, TAPOL meminta pemerintah Indonesia untuk menjawab situasi impunitas yang terus berlanjut, kekerasan Negara dan meningkatnya tindakan penangkapan sewenang-wenang di Papua. “Pemerintah Indonesia harus menghentikan tindakan penangkapan...
Rising voices, rising arrests: A look at West Papua in 2015
A new report by Papuans Behind Bars (PBB) exposes the Indonesian government’s increased use of arbitrary arrests to shut down protests in West Papua in 2015. The 28-page report ‘Rising voices, rising arrests: A look at West Papua in 2015’ exposes how freedom of expression and assembly in the region remains severely restricted. Based on data and testimonies collected and verified by PBB, the report shows that 1083 Papuans were arrested arbitrarily across Indonesia in 2015. This represents the highest number of arbitrary arrests documented in a single year since comprehensive records began in...
Laporan Papuan Behind Bars 2015: Aksi Protes Makin Meninggi, Penangkapan Makin Meningkat
Sebuah laporan terbaru oleh Papuans Behind Bars mengungkapkan bahwa telah terjadi peningkatan tindakan penangkapan sewenang-wenang untuk membungkam protes di Papua oleh Pemerintah Indonesia pada tahun 2015, dan meminta pemerintah Indonesia untuk menjawab situasi impunitas yang terus berlanjut, kekerasan Negara dan meningkatnya tindakan penangkapan sewenang-wenang di Papua Laporan 28 halaman memperlihatkan bagaimana kebebasan berekspresi dan berkumpul di wilayah ini tetap sangat terbatas, meskipun telah terjadi pembebasan lima narapidana politik yang telah ditahan selama puluhan tahun pada...
Indonesia: End impunity and arbitrary arrests in West Papua
(London 24 June 2016) –A new report by Papuans Behind Bars (PBB) exposes the Indonesian government’s increased use of arbitrary arrests to shut down protests in West Papua in 2015. At the launch of the report, held at the Amnesty International Secretariat in London on 24 June, UK-based NGO, TAPOL, urged the Indonesian government to answer for ongoing impunity, state violence and increased arbitrary arrests in West Papua.“The Indonesian government must end mass arrests at peaceful demonstrations as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are in accordance with Indonesia’s obligations under...
Oral Statement of the 32ndsession of the UN Human Rights Council
On June 22nd 2016, an oral statement regarding the human rights situation in West Papua was heldbefore the UN Human Rights Council. The statement was supported by several organisations, including TAPOL.Mr. President,
We would like to draw the Council’s attention to the human rights situation in West Papua. As one of the most isolated areas in the world, it remains one of the last conflict regions within Indonesia. Local activists continue to report cases of arbitrary arrests by Indonesian security forces of predominantly-indigenous Papuans participating in peaceful gatherings...
Truth seeking and formal apology is essential for 1965/1966 resolution
Luhut PanjaitanCoordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security AffairsJl. Medan Merdeka Barat No. 15Jakarta Pusat 10110 - Indonesia Dear Minister,TRUTH-SEEKING AND FORMAL PUBLIC APOLOGY IS ESSENTIAL FOR 1965/1966 RESOLUTIONAmnesty International, ETAN (East Timor and Indonesia Action Network), TAPOL and Watch Indonesia! are writing to urge you to take the important steps necessary to ensure that the national symposium on the 1965 tragedy, held in Jakarta on 18 and 19 April, leads to justice, truth and reparation for victims.This initiative must be followed with a full investigation into...
Briefing Paper: Political arrests in West Papua from 2012-2014
This briefing paper provides an analytical overview of data on political arrests in West Papua from 2012 to 2014. It includes analysis of emerging trends in human rights violations associated with these political arrests.Our analysis shows that during the three-year period of this report, the majority of those detained were arrested because of their participation in demonstrations or other types of peaceful political activity. 2013 was a particularly bad year, with a record high of 548 arrests. The data also showed that most of those detained were male (95%).Charges of treason (Article 106 of...