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TAPOL is extremely concerned by reports that the Indonesian military’s operations in Nduga Regency, West Papua, cost the lives of 243 people, 45 percent of whom were children, between 4th December 2018 and 8thFebruary 2019. Several hundred civilians fled their homes on 4thDecember 2018 when a joint police and military operation launched an attack on villages in Mbuwa district, Nduga Regency, in apparent ‘retaliation’ for the killing of 18 road construction workers two days earlier by West Papuan freedom fighters, the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogeya. The data was collected by a West Papuan civil society organisation, Yayasan Keadilan dan Keutuhan Manusia Papua (YKKMP).
TAPOL congratulates West Papuan lawyers Gustaf Kawer and Yohanis Mambrasar as the winners of Hukumonline Awards Pro Bono Champions 2019. The awards for Pro Bono Excellence Hours and the Most Inspiring Lawyer in the Field of Pro Bono Non-Litigation respectively were given in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 December 2019.
Kawer and Mambrasar are partners in the Jayapura-based law firm Gustaf Rudolf Kawer & Partners. Both are well-known among the human rights community in West Papua and beyond, with Mambrasar, who has just acquired his legal practice licence this year, following in the footsteps of his senior, Kawer. Kawer is also co-founder of non-profit organisation PAHAM, the Association of Human Rights Lawyers of Papua.
West Papuans have been commemorating their National Day on 1st December every year since 1961. This has often resulted in violent repression by the Indonesian security forces.
TAPOL is very alarmed by the security forces’ crackdown in the lead up to the 1st December commemoration day this year. In particular, we are concerned with the use of treason charges against those commemorating the National Day, and others. The security forces arrested 126 people, resulting in 61 new political prisoners who have been charged with treason. This follows a spate of arrests for treason between 30th August to 23rd September. Security forces brought 22 treason cases in the latter period. A further treason case was brought against an individual on 26th November 2019 in Sorong for carrying a Morning Star flag. In total, there were 84 individuals were charged with treason in the period from 30th August to 3rd December.
TAPOL congratulates Veronica Koman for receiving the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award for her work on West Papua. Ms. Koman is a human rights lawyer and activist who advocates for the rights to freedom of expression and self-determination. The award was given by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) on Wednesday 22 October 2019.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have expressed their concern at the Indonesian government increasing the presence of police and military personnel in West Papua and continued crack down on human rights defenders using criminal law over reporting on West Papua.
Human rights lawyer Veronica Koman has been consistent in defending West Papuan activists, and Free West Papua activist Surya Anta has been consistent in fighting for the right to self-determination for the indigenous West Papuan population.