Press Release:
Queen Mary University of London to hosts tribunal on state and environmental violence in West Papua: Exposing corporate profiteering and human rights violations
The Centre for Climate Crime and Justice at Queen Mary University of London will host a Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on State and Environmental Violence in West Papua from June 27th to 29th.
A panel of eight Tribunal judges will hear evidence from numerous international NGOs and local civil society organisations, as well as testimonies from individuals who have witnessed human rights violations and environmental destruction.
West Papua is home to the world’s third-largest rainforest, currently under threat from industrial development. Due to its global significance, the ongoing state repression and environmental degradation in the region have far-reaching impacts. This Tribunal aims to bring global attention to the need to protect this crucial rainforest by exploring the deep connection between democracy, state violence, and environmental sustainability in West Papua.
Professor David Whyte, Director of the Centre for Climate Crime and Justice, said: “There are good reasons to host this important event in London. London-based companies are key beneficiaries of gas, mining and industrial agriculture in West Papua, and its huge gold and other metal reserves are traded in London. The Tribunal will expose the close links between state violence, environmental degradation, and profiteering by transnational corporations and other institutions.”
The prosecution will be led by Dutch Bar-registered lawyer Fadjar Schouten Korwa, who stated: “With a ruling by the eminent Permanent Peoples‘ Tribunal on the crimes against the Indigenous Papuan people of West Papua and the failure of the state of Indonesia to protect them from human rights violations and impunity, we hope for a future without injustice for West Papua.”
Leading West Papuan lawyer, Gustaf Kawer said: “The annexation of West Papua into the State of Indonesia is part of a long history of environmental destruction and state violence against Papua’s people and its natural resources. Our hope is that after this trial examines the evidence and hears the statements of witnesses and experts, the international community and the UN will respond to the situation in West Papua and evaluate the Indonesian state so that there can be recovery for natural resources and the Papuan people.”
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on State and Environmental Violence in West Papua seeks to initiate a series of events and discussions throughout 2024 and 2025, aiming to engage the UN Human Rights Council and international civil society organisations.
The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on West Papua will take place on Thursday 27th June – Saturday 29th June 2024 at Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Campus.
The Indictment that will be considered by the Tribunal can be found here.
The panel of judges comprises: Teresa Almeida Cravo (Portugal) Donna Andrews (South Africa) Daniel Feierstein (Argentina) Marina Forti (Italy) Larry Lohmann (UK) Nello Rossi (Italy) and Solomon Yeo (Solomon Islands).
