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1965 Victims Request Judicial Review

08 August 2011

THE PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA SHOULD REPEAL KEPPRES 28/1975On 4 April 2011, a Judicial Review was conveyed to the President of Indonesia to repeal PresidentialDecision (Keppres) 28/1975 by a group of 24 NGOs, lawyers and individuals headed by:Haris Azhar, Constitutional Law Advocate and Coordinator Kontras, Commission for the Disappeared
and Victims of Violence.
Bedjo Untung, chairman of the Investigation Institute
Sumaun Utomo of 1965/66 (YPKP) Victims.The basis for this Judicial Review is as follows:From the historical and political point of view, the events of 1965/1966...

Obituary of Agus Alue Alua: A life of dedication to the Papuan People

11 April 2011

Agus Alue Alua was born on 13 September 1962. He studied at the Catholic secondary school Dok V, Jayapura and later worked as a teacher, then spent three years studying at the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium. From 1997, he took part in discussions within Catholic circles about the need to wage a struggle for the rights of the Papuan people, always stressing the importance of eschewing violence and pursuing the path of peace.During the reformasi era that followed in the wake of the downfall of Suharto, he made good use of the newly-found freedoms to discuss such issues as development...

Timorese call on the UNSC to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity

09 February 2011

Timorese call on the UN Security Council to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity
TAPOL endorses Timorese call to UN Security Council
 ETAN contacts:
Sisto dos Santos: +670-726-6564 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE +670-726-6564 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Dili)
Jose Pereira: +670-736-7518 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE +670-736-7518 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Dili)
John M. Miller +1-718-596-7668 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE +1-718-596-7668 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (New York) 09 February 2011 - A coalition of...

Eldest daughter of Papuan nation: Carmel Budiardjo

30 December 2010

Click here for Bahasa Indonesia version.DEMOCRACY FORUM Bersatu Rakyat Papua has presented the title "Eldest daughter of Papua nation" to the human rights activist Carmel Budiardjo of London on December 28, 2010 in Bali. The event was attended by several Papuan leaders, including Mama Yosepha Alomang from Timika, Reverend Benny Giay of STT Walter Post, Federika Korain and Salmon Yumame of the Democracy Forum. The event was held in Bali because Ms. Budiardjo, as a non-citizen of Indonesia, would have needed a "travel permit" to go to Papua. Travel resprictions are used by the Government of...

Special Honours for Carmel Budiardjo

30 December 2010

Eldest daughter of Papuan nation (2010)
In December 2010 Carmel was presented the title "Eldest daughter of Papuan nation" by Democracy Forum for "showing great commitment, fighting alongside the people of Papua to protect the identity and ultimate freedom given by God to the people of Papua." Click here for further information and a video of the ceremony. Order of Timor-Leste (2009)
In August 2009, on the tenth anniversary of East Timor's vote for independence, Carmel was presented with the Order of Timor-Leste by the country's President, José Ramos-Horta, 'For...

Government Must Promote Basic Rights and Security

10 December 2010

Human Rights Message from KontraS Commemorating World Human Rights Day, 10 December 2010Our success in upholding human rights can be measured by gathering concrete evidence of the outcomes of the priority agenda and strategies we adopt. However, the current government and its leaders, SBY and Boediono, have not yet guaranteed basic rights for citizens or promoted human rights and security. The international slogan of the World Human Rights Day on 10 December 2010 was “Human Rights Defenders Who Act to End Discrimination”. The message, issued by the UN’s Office of the High...

Reflections on the upholding of human rights in the era of Papuan special autonomy: Violence still persists

09 December 2010

Jayapura - Special Autonomy (OTSUS) came into being at a time of struggle when the Papuan people had become the objects of development, resulting in many incidents of violence and human rights violations over many years. This was acknowledged in the introductory paragraphs of the OTSUS law and Articles 45- 47 of OTSUS, in which the State acknowledged that mistakes had been made. There were hopes that an era of truth would emerge by means of creating peace and the right to life for the people of Papua. At the same time, however, there were groups who were against the enactment of OTSUS. After...

Munir Memorial lecture

09 November 2010

Munir Memorial lecture Leading international human rights lawyer and author of Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice, Geoffrey Robertson QC, was the keynote speaker at a lecture at The College of Law in London on 9 November 2010 in memory of Indonesia's foremost human rights activist. Video recordings of the event, alongside a write up of the speeches can be found here.International Lawyers Defending Human Rights:
Developments in Southeast Asia 9 November 2010, The College of Law, London Moorgate
  When human rights defenders are murdered with...

Film Screenings: Indonesia and the 1965 tragedy

15 September 2010

Film ScreeningsFilm screenings: Indonesia and the 1965 tragedy
15 September 2010, Room B102, Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (times and full programme)
  Putu Oka Sukanata (Film-maker) Date: 15 September 2010 Time: 10:00 AM Finishes: 15 September 2010 Time: 5:00 PM Venue: Brunei Gallery, SOAS Room: B102 Putu Oka Sukanata is one of Indonesia’s leading literary figures and producer of documentaries on the brutal events that accompanied former President Suharto’s rise to power in 1965/66. Hundreds of thousands of Communist...

A small paradise that will be annihilated

30 August 2010

Suara Perempuan Papua, 30 August 2010
Rosa Biwangko Gebze Moiwend
Original in Bahasa Indonesia
The Land of Papua, a land of great riches, a small paradise that fell to earth. This is how Frangky Sahilatua, the Malukan musician, sings the praises of the land of Papua in his song Aku Papua which is has become very popular thanks to the singer Edo Kondologit. These riches have turned this small paradise into an attraction for investors from Indonesia and from around the world. Forests, land, water, minerals – everything is there, waiting to be plundered by these people....

Surga Kecil Itu Akan Musnah

30 August 2010

Tanah Papua, tanah yang kaya, surga kecil jatuh ke bumi. Begitulah Frangky Sahilatua, seorang musisi asal Maluku memuja tanah Papua dalam lagunya Aku Papua yang dipopulerkan oleh penyanyi anak negeri, Edo Kondologit. Tidaklah salah jika Frengky mengurai kata dalam lagu ini karena begitulah kenyataannya, tanah Papua kita kaya. Kekayaan itulah yang membuat surga kecil ini menjadi lirikan para penanam modal dari Indonesia maupun dari luar negeri. Hutan, tanah, air, tambang, semuanya menjadi incaran mereka. Benar kata syair lagu “seluas tanah, sebanyak batu, adalah harta harapan”. Semua yang...

A Long Walk for Justice

15 August 2010

When the Alliance of Independent Journalists invited Shirley Shackleton to testify at their judicial review of the government’s decision to ban the film Balibo, they could hardly have made a better choice. Shirley, the widow of one of the five journalists killed in Balibo, East Timor in October 1975, has campaigned untiringly to seek justice for the slain journalists and continues to demand that a formal investigation be held to determine how they died. Along with Greg Shackleton, the other victims of the atrocity were fellow Australian Tony Stewart, Gary Cunningham from New Zealand, and...

Journalist's death overshadows launch of Papua food project

11 August 2010

The death of a local journalist has increased concerns about a giant food estate launched today in Merauke, Southeastern Papua by Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture.TAPOL and Down to Earth, the International Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia are calling for a moratorium on the food project, known as MIFEE (Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate) until independent assessments of the political, economic, socio-cultural, environmental and gender impacts of the project have been undertaken.The suspicious death of the journalist, Ardiansyah Matra’is, in late July, following threats...

Dialogue a must for Papua

09 July 2010

Papua is in a state of heightened tension following a series of events that culminated in a mass rally yesterday by thousands of Papuans at the provincial parliament, the DPRP, in Jayapura. The demonstration and similar actions in other locations across the territory were intended to increase pressure on the DPRP to support a recommendation by the Papuan People’s Assembly, the MRP, to ‘return’ Papua’s 2001 special autonomy law to the central government in Jakarta. A large number of Papuans continued the peaceful protest by staying outside the DPRP overnight. They intended to remain until a...

Papua's fallen leaders

30 June 2010

Anyone who emerges as a leader of the West Papuan people is setting out on a dangerous path. Since the murder of cultural leader and activist Arnold Ap in April 1984 and the kidnap and murder of Theys Hijo Eluay, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council, in November 2001, Papuans who have emerged as leaders have had their lives cut short by assassins from the security forces. Democracy in Indonesia has not changed Jakarta’s treatment of West Papua... For the full article, please download the PDF.

Obama should help a people blighted by a US corporation

02 March 2010

As the much-heralded visit of President Barack Obama draws near, it is worth remembering that, unlike any other US president, Obama enjoys a special affection among Indonesians.Most Indonesians know that he spent several years in Indonesia as a child and probably still remembers the language he used when he played on the streets with local children. For Indonesians, a US president who can actually speak their lingo is indeed a novelty.In The Audacity of Hope, he wrote at some length about Indonesia, not just about his childhood recollections, but also about events in Indonesia in the 1960s,...

Obituary of Gus Dur

31 December 2009

I pay tribute to Gus Dur in particular for being the only Indonesian president to show understanding for and sympathy with the people of West Papua.
I well remember attending a meeting of solidarity with West Papuans being held in Germany. It was at the time of the Habibie presidency and the West Papuans were agog with excitement at the prospect that Gus Dur would become the next president. Although at the time I had little understanding of their feelings, it soon became evident that they were right.
It was during his presidency from October 1999 until July 2001, taking over from...

Death of Papuan leader Kelly Kwalik - TAPOL calls for investigation

21 December 2009

TAPOL has today written to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband expressing concern over the situation in West Papua following the killing last week of the West Papuan resistance leader, Kelly Kwalik..The letter notes that the circumstances of Kwalik's death are contentious and need to be independently investigated. It regretted the fact that the security forces in West Papua were placed under high alert, pointing out that this has only intensified the tensions triggered by the Papuan leaders' death. It also regretted the fact that the police had announced a ban on the display of the Morning...

Separatism stigma and rebellion charges still widespread in West Papua

09 October 2009

A wave of violent incidents in West Papua in the months before and after the recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Indonesia has resulted in pro-democracy activists facing charges of makar (rebellion or treason). A recent analysis of the period by a Coalition of NGOs (Foker LSM) draws attention to the continuance of the central government's policy aimed at clamping down hard on all demonstrations and other manifestations by pro-democracy groups and individuals in West Papua, in violation of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly enshrined in Indonesian law....

West Papua Coalition calls for talks

07 October 2009

WPNCL Media Release The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation has twice sent letters to the Indonesian President, in 2007 and 2008, calling for talks with the Papuan people. However, to this day, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has failed to respond. Since the start, the WPNCL has been committed to using peaceful means as its basic principle in resolving the problem between the Papuan people and Indonesia. The Coalition believes that talks held on equal terms is one of the main steps needed to solve the Papuan problem. The talks should involve a third party as mediator agreed by the...