International Human Rights Day

Der Bericht schildert die grausame Realität von Verletzungen ziviler und politischer Menschenrechte sowie wirtschaftlicher, sozialer und kultureller Rechte in Papua in den Jahren 2010 und 2011. Der Bericht soll auf die Menschenrechtssituation in Papua aufmerksam machen und helfen, in Papua ein „Land des Friedens“ zu schaffen.
Konkret lenkt der Bericht die Aufmerksamkeit auf die schwierige Situation von nationalen und internationalen zivilgesellschaftlichen Gruppen und Menschenrechtsverteidigern. Diese sind regelmäßig Opfer von Einschüchterungen, Schikanen und willkürlichen Verhaftungen unter dem Vorwurf des Staatsverrats (makar), während sie von ihrem Recht auf freie Meinungsäußerung im Ringen um Gerechtigkeit und Verantwortlichkeit Gebrauch machen. Der Bericht prangert außerdem die Politik der indonesischen Regierung an, die darauf ausgerichtet ist, internationale Menschenrechtsorganisationen, die in West Papua tätig sind, zu diskreditieren und ihre Arbeit zu beschränken.
Einige internationale Organisationen sind direkt oder indirekt gezwungen, sich aus dem Land zurückzuziehen, wie beispielsweise das International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) und die Peace Brigades International (PBI). Auch der Zugriff auf internationale Medien wird durch manipulierte bürokratische Prozesse häufig behindert. Zur Vorstellung des Berichtes und anlässlich der aktuellen tragischen Entwicklungen in Papua, lud Franciscan International am 2. November zu einem Runden Tisch nach Genf ein. An diesem nahmen sowohl Vertreter der Zivilgesellschaft wie vom Faith Based Network on West Papua, Geneva for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, TAPOL, World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) und dem Papua Peace Network (JDP -Jaringan Damai Papua) teil, als auch Vertreter des UN-Sonderberichterstatters zum Schutz von MenschenrechtsverteidigerInnen und die ständige Vertretung der Republik Indonesien an den Vereinten Nationen. In Reaktion auf die zahlreichen vorgebrachten Probleme und Bedenken, die während der Diskussion geäußert wurden, gab die Vertretung der indonesischen Regierung ein offizielles Statement ab, in dem es hieß, dass der „Schutz der Menschenrechte national Priorität genießt“. Bei aller Anerkennung für die Mitarbeit der ständigen Vertretung der Republik Indonesien traf diese Aussage auf starken Widerspruch seitens der INROs.
Man äußerte, dass „politische Reden im Bezug auf die Menschenrechtsverletzungen in Papua nicht genug seien, da – in Wirklichkeit – noch immer ein Klima der Angst in Papua herrscht.“ Die INROs schlossen mit der Aufforderung an die Regierung Indonesiens, umgehend alle politischen Gefangenen freizulassen; Einschüchterungen, Schikanen und körperliche Gewalt gegen Menschenrechtsverteidiger, Journalisten und religiöse Führer sofort einzustellen; Folter unter Strafe zu stellen und das Fakultativprotokoll zum Übereinkommen gegen Folter zu ratifizieren; das internationale Übereinkommen zum Schutz vor dem „Verschwinden lassen“ zu ratifizieren; und in einen aufrichtigen Dialog mit nationalen und internationalen zivilgesellschaftlichen Gruppen einzutreten.

Der englischsprachige Bericht kann von der FBN-Homepage heruntergeladen werden.

Für weitere Informationen kontaktieren Sie bitte:
Kristina Neubauer – Faith-based Network on West Papua, Koordinatorin
Francesca Restifo – Franciscans International, Direktorin für Internationale Advocacyarbeit
Paul Barber – TAPOL, Koordinator
Wong Kai Shing – Asian Human Rights Commission, geschäftsführender Direktor

Genf, 3. November 2011

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WeiterlesenInternational Human Rights Day

Amnesty International: ‘Slap on the wrist’ for police violence in Papua is accountability failure

Amnesty International, 23/11/2011 – The fact that eight Indonesian police officers involved in a violent crackdown on a peaceful gathering that left three dead have only been given written warnings, is a failure of human rights accountability, Amnesty International said today.
The warnings were given after an internal disciplinary hearing on 22 November found that the officers violated the police Disciplinary Code. On the afternoon of 19 October 2011, police and military units violently dispersed peaceful participants of the Third Papuan People’s Congress, a gathering being held in Abepura, Papua province.
The bodies of Demianus Daniel, Yakobus Samonsabara, and Max Asa Yeuw were later found near the Congress area. “These written warnings are a slap on the wrist. They do not provide accountability for the deaths of three people, nor for the use of excessive and unnecessary force against a peaceful gathering,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director. Some 300 participants were arbitrarily arrested and ill-treated at the end of the Congress.
Most were released the following day but six have been charged and are currently awaiting trial. Amnesty International has called on the authorities to act on the findings of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) that rights violations were committed by security forces, and to prosecute those responsible. “Even though the Indonesian authorities have a responsibility to prosecute human rights violators, this is yet another example of how in Indonesia, most human rights violations committed by police officers never reach civilian courts, but are dealt with through inhouse disciplinary hearings,” said Sam Zarifi. “Internal disciplinary procedures are for dealing with minor offences, not serious human rights violations.” Amnesty International also urges the Indonesian authorities to set up an independent police complaints mechanism to deal with human rights violations by police officers. Current bodies such as the National Police Commission or the National Human Rights Commission do not have the powers to deal effectively with complaints about police abuses, nor to provide reparations to victims.
A Komnas HAM investigation team found a range of human rights violations were allegedly committed by the Indonesian security forces on 19 October, including opening fire on the peaceful Papuan gathering and beating and kicking participants. It was reported on 7 November that the President’s office had rejected the Komnas HAM findings, stating that the police were still handling the case. On 22 November, an internal police disciplinary hearing in Jayapura, Papua found the former Jayapura Police Chief Iman Setiawan guilty of violating the Disciplinary Code for “his inability to co-ordinate police officers under his command”. Seven police officers from Jayapura City were also found guilty of violating the code for not “protecting and servicing the community with the best of their ability” and “degrading the honour and dignity of the state and the police”. They were all each given a written warning. The disciplinary hearings for the seven police officers were reportedly held behind closed doors.

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WeiterlesenAmnesty International: ‘Slap on the wrist’ for police violence in Papua is accountability failure

Thousands of West Papuans march for independence

ABC News – On 14. November, the people, many in traditional dresses or painted in the colours of the Morningstar-flag, walked the 13 kilometres from Abepura to Jayapura, where they met with local MPs and call for a referendum on self-determination. One of the participants said, that the people of West Papua want freedom: “Indonesia kills many people of West Papua. West Papua have been victims from their country.”
The demonstration was largely peaceful, although there are reports that the police attempted to block the protesters from reaching Jayapura. The rally comes after at least six people were shot dead and more than a hundred were arrested and tortured by Indonesian security forces cracking down on a meeting in Jayapura last month. It was the Third Papuan People´s Congress to declare independence from Jakarta.

Please read also the article on www.abc.net.au/news with video footage.

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WeiterlesenThousands of West Papuans march for independence

Neles Tebay welcomes the readiness of the government to enter into dialogue with Papua

´We Papuan people should welcome the constructive communications being offered by the government, as the way to resolve all the crucial problems in Papua. Even though it is not entirely clear, the willingness to communicate with the Papuan people is a sign of good will and means that the government is very concerned about Papua.´
However, he said that the government must explain to the Papuan people what it means by constructive communications, and what form the government intends this to take. Are there phases through which this will pass This needs to be clarified. We have only been hearing recently about Constructive Communications without it being made clear what this means.
This needs to be brought within the context with the perception of the Papuan people for entering into dialogue between Jakarta and Papua. He said that a meeting should be held with the Papuan people who want dialogue.
In such a meeting, it should be possible to clarify the substance of a Jakarta-Papua Dialogue and Constructive Communications. This meeting should discuss the format of dialogue and the format of constructive communication that would be acceptable to both sides. He expressed his optimism that there will be a resolution to the problem for the Papua people.

Forwarded by West Papua Media Alerts

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WeiterlesenNeles Tebay welcomes the readiness of the government to enter into dialogue with Papua

CSW CALLS FOR DIALOGUE ON PAPUA QUESTION

Migration from other parts of Indonesia has had a major impact on Papuan society, and experts fear that Papuans could become a marginalised minority in the near future. Key jobs and business opportunities appear to be taken by migrants, while Papuans face discrimination.
Pressure is growing in Papua itself for a solution, as Papuans increasingly feel frustrated with the current situation. Indonesia took control of West Papua from the Netherlands in 1962, without the consent of the Papuan people. In 1969, a sham consultation was conducted with handpicked Papuan delegates, and the ‘Act of Free Choice’ ratified Indonesian sovereignty.
In 2001, a new special autonomy arrangement was introduced, but today many Papuans believe the current arrangement has not delivered anything meaningful for their people. Last week, the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) formally handed back the Special Autonomy status, and an estimated 10,000 people demonstrated in support of a new agreement for Papua. CSW’s National Director Stuart Windsor said: “Our team met with a number of key individuals and organisations in West Papua, and the message they received was a resounding call for dialogue. It is clear that Papuans are becoming a minority in their own land. The potential for religious tensions to rise is also there, as the predominantly Christian Papuans feel discrimination from the largely Muslim migrants.
The presence of Islamist groups in Papua remains a concern. Health, education and the environment are all further challenges that need solutions. The Papua question cannot be resolved by violence, and therefore dialogue must be the way forward. Indonesia acted with impressive responsibility in seeking a peaceful solution in Aceh, and CSW hopes the Indonesian government will take a similar approach to Papua. We encourage a home-grown process led by Indonesians and Papuans, but recommend the presence of international mediators.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8329 0045, email kiri@csw.org.uk
or visit www.csw.org.uk.

CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

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WeiterlesenCSW CALLS FOR DIALOGUE ON PAPUA QUESTION

Human Rights in Papua 2010/2011

Amnesty International – The Indonesian government must immediately act on the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission’s (Komnas HAM) findings that human rights violations were committed by Indonesian security forces at the Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress on 19 October 2011.
The Komnas HAM investigation team found a range of human rights violations allegedly committed by the Indonesian security forces, including opening fire on participants of the peaceful gathering and beating and kicking them. The Commission, which made its findings public on 4 November 2011, has called on the Indonesian National Police chief to investigate these human rights violations. It was reported on 7 November that the President’s office had rejected the findings of Komnas HAM, stating that the police were still handling the case. The Indonesian authorities must initiate an independent, thorough and effective investigation into the Commission’s findings.
If the investigations find that the security forces committed unlawful killings or torture or other ill-treatment, then those responsible, including persons with command responsibility, must be prosecuted in proceedings which meet international standards of fairness, and victims provided with reparations. The failure to bring perpetrators of these violations to justice in fair trials will reinforce the perception that the security forces in Papua operate above the law and fuel the ongoing climate of mistrust towards the security forces there. On the afternoon of 19 October 2011, police and military units violently dispersed participants of the Third Papuan People’s Congress, a peaceful gathering held in Abepura, Papua province. The bodies of Demianus Daniel, Yakobus Samonsabara, and Max Asa Yeuw were found near the Congress area. An estimated 300 participants were arbitrarily arrested at the end of the Congress.
Most were released the following day but six have been charged. Five people were charged for “rebellion” and “incitement” under Articles 106, 110 and 160 of the Criminal Code, while one was charged for “possession of weapons” under Emergency Law No. 12/1951. According to Komnas HAM, the three people who were found dead had gunshot wounds on their bodies. The Commission was not able to confirm whether they were killed by the police or military, and have called for police forensics investigators to examine the bullets. Komnas HAM also found that at least 96 participants had been shot, kicked or beaten by police officers.
Komnas HAM further reported that security forces had raided a Catholic monastery and seminary. They shot at the building and broke the windows when the monks refused to hand over alleged separatists to the police. Many Papuans are now afraid to leave their homes because of the continued security checks and raids. The Commission also raised concerns that security forces had confiscated mobile phones, laptop computers, printers, cameras, cars, motorcycles and millions of rupiah in cash, and called for these items to be returned to the owners. The Commission stated, contrary to statements by the Indonesian authorities that the Congress was illegal, that the Indonesian Minister of Law, Politics and Security had in fact directed the Director General of Regional Autonomy at the Home Affairs Ministry, to attend the Congress and give the opening speech.
The Commission made a series of recommendations including calling on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to accelerate the dialogue with the Papuan people and to evaluate the deployment of a large security presence in the area. The Komnas HAM investigation indicates that security forces appear to have violated the rights to life and to freedom from torture and other ill-treatment, both of which are non-derogable under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party. By using unnecessary and excessive force and firearms against the participants, the Indonesian security forces have also violated the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Indonesia has also ratified.
Moreover, the right of all people in Indonesia to be free from torture and other ill-treatment is guaranteed in the Indonesian Constitution and the 1999 Law on Human Rights. The actions of the security forces also appear to contravene the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials which provide, among other things, that force should be used only as a last resort, in proportion to the threat posed, and should be designed to minimize damage or injury.

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WeiterlesenHuman Rights in Papua 2010/2011

Police and army chiefs must be held responsible for attacks on Papuan Congress participants

The attack by members of the Indonesian Police/Polri and the Indonesian Army against partiipants at the Third Papuan People’s Congress on 19 October was a gross violations of human rights because it was perpetrated against ordinary civilians who were unarmed and were not involved in any acts of resistance.
This is abundantly clear from video which I and the LP3BH-Manokwari have in our possession and which have been shown to government officials and members of the European Parliament as well as to members of the German Parliament last week in Berlin. The videos clearly show that the attacks that were launched by members of Polri and the TNI were acting under the command of the chief of police in Papua and in Jayapura. There were no acts of resistance whatever by members of the public or by any of the participants at the Congress, including members of the special defence group for the Congress, the PETAPA. The videos also show a number of persons in civilian clothing, wearing short pants and shirts who are clearly intelligence agents of the police and the army, who can be seen holding pistols as well as rifles and who can be seen firing their weapons into the air, and even show some members of the security forces firing in the direction of the large crowd of people who were running away towards the mountains or to places in Abepura, in fear of their lives. The discovery of six dead bodies following the tragedy of the Third People’s Congress is a clear indication of the use of ammunition being aimed against the mass of people.
As a human rights activist in the Land of Papua, I saw no actions aimed at dispersing the people or attempts to prevent chaos. The Congress was already over and one hour later, members of the security forces who were under the command of Police Commissioner Imam Setyawan SIK can be seen trying to prevent a vehicle which was driving along Jalan Yakonde with the lawyer Edison Waromi on board, which was damaged by the security forces who pulled the people of the vehicle and started beating them and then pushed them into a police van to be driven to police headquarters where they are now being held in custody. Following the arrest of Waromi, the security forces starting firing their weapons and chasing participants of the Papuan Congress as they were leaving the location of that event.
I herewith, as Executive Director of LP3BH/Manorkwari and a human rights defender in the Land of Papua, urge Komnas HAM, to investigate the matter and to bring formal charges against the Papua chief of police and the police chief in Jayapuara, as well as the commander of the 1702 military command in Jayapura who were in command of the operation to be held fully accountable for the bloody incident that occurred on 19 October 2011.

Source: West Papua Media Alerts

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WeiterlesenPolice and army chiefs must be held responsible for attacks on Papuan Congress participants

Aide-Mémoire, October 2011 Indonesia

Am 19. Oktober, gegen 14 Uhr, hatte der Kongress eine neue Papuaführung bestimmt und eine Erklärung zur Selbstbestimmung des Papuavolkes vorgelegt. Die indonesischen Sicherheitskräfte reagierten daraufhin mit repressiver Gewalt. Sie feuerten Warnschüsse ab, setzten Tränengas ein und schlugen mit Knüppeln auf Kongressteilnehmer ein. Augenzeugen berichten von hunderten von Schüssen, die bis gegen 18 Uhr angehalten haben sollen.
Die indonesischen Sicherheitskräfte drangen auf der Suche nach Kongressteilnehmern auch in ein Haus des katholischen Franziskanerordens ein und durchsuchten es gewaltsam. Augenzeugen der katholischen Kirche wie der evangelischen Kirche GKI-TP berichten von Stunden der Angst und des Schreckens in Abepura am vergangenen Mittwoch. Die indonesische Polizei bestätigte den Tod von zwei Zivilisten. Mindestens 30 weitere sollen verletzt worden sein.
Von zunächst 300 festgenommenen Kongressteilnehmern sind die meisten inzwischen wieder auf freiem Fuß. Fünf Personen sind von der Polizei wegen Rebellion und Staatsverrat unter Artikel 110, 106 und 160 des indonesischen Strafgesetzbuches verhaftet worden und befinden sich in Polizeigewahrsam. Darunter auch prominente Papua wie der Vorsitzende des Traditionellen Papuarates DAP (Dewan Adat Papua), Forkorus Yaboisembut. Ihm und den vier weiteren Verhafteten droht möglicherweise eine lebenslange Haftstrafe. Das brutale Vorgehen der indonesischen Sicherheitskräfte gegenüber den friedlichen Kongressteilnehmern hat weltweit Entsetzen hervorgerufen. Der Senator der Grünen im australischen Bundesstaat Viktoria, Richard Di Natala, rief die australische Regierung dazu auf, die militärische Zusammenarbeit mit Indonesien unverzüglich zu beenden.
Der US-amerikanische Kongressabgeordnete Eni Faleomavaega äußerte sich besorgt über die Festnahmen am vergangenen Mittwoch und forderte die sofortige Freilassung von Forkorus Yaboisembut. Der Ökumenische Rat der Kirchen Indonesiens PGI (Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia) verurteilte in einer Pressemitteilung das gewaltsame Vorgehen der Sicherheitskräfte und rief den indonesischen Präsidenten Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dazu auf, in eine konstruktive Kommunikation (Dialog) mit der Bevölkerung Papuas zu treten. Die Vorfälle vom vergangenen Mittwoch zeigen, dass die indonesische Regierung nach wie vor mit Gewalt auf die bestehenden Probleme in Papua reagiert. Es ist zu wünschen, dass es angesichts der Tragödie vom 19. Oktober zu einem Umdenken von indonesischer Seite kommt.
Ein Modell zur friedlichen Lösung des Konfliktes liegt bereits seit über zwei Jahren auf dem Tisch: das Dialogkonzept von Neles Tebay ist aktueller denn je.

(Q.: Asian Human Rights Commission: Urgent Appeal Case AHRC-UAC-213-2011; JPIC-Büro Evangelische Kirche im Lande Papua GKI-TP 21.10.11: Kongres Papua III; Joint Statement by TAPOL, WPAT, ETAN 20.10.11: Indonesian crackdown on Papuan congress sparks outrage; The Age 21.10.11: Bodies found near West Papua barracks; Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia (PGI) 21.10.11: Press Release: PGI prihatin atas insiden kekerasan di Papua)

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WeiterlesenAide-Mémoire, October 2011 Indonesia

UN wants to send Special Rapporteur to Indonesia for MIFEE

In the first place, to agree to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to visit Indonesia in connection with MIFEE, the Merauke Integrated Energy and Food Project in West Papua.
In the second place to hold talks with CERD for this matter to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the Committee in Geneva from 13 February – 13 March 2012.
And thirdly, to to make available comprehensive information regarding all the matters contained in the afore-mentioned latter. This was made public following a meeting by a number of NGOs in Jayapura on 12 October which was attended among others by Foker-NGO-Papua, Sawit Watch, Greenpeace, Justuce and Peace Commission/Jayapura, Walhi and Sorpatom in Jayapura on 12 October. The Coalition of NGOs said that the response of the UN to the MIFEE project had exerted pressure on the Indonesian government to halt all activities related to the MIFEE project and to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights to investigate this project before 13 January 2012. The coalition said that MIFEE would have a strategically significant inpact on the availability of foodstuffs and energy resources in Indonesia. This project will cover an area of 1.6 million hectares which will be used to produce millions of tons of rice, corn, beans and sugar as well as promote cattle-rearing. Dazzled by this massive project, they have closed their eyes to a huge problem that will confront the population of Merauke whose land will be consumed by the MIFEE.project.
The MIFEE project is a highly ambitious mega project of the Indonesian Government based on a slogan to produce food for the whole world. They intend to take control of an area of 1.6m ha of land for agri-business purposes. The resultant food will be exported, meaning that MIFEE is directed towards the export market. Thirty-six companies have already been attracted by the MIFEE project with investment capital to the value of Rp 18.9 trillion, along with domestic capital. Research undertaken by various organisations has identified a number of problems. First of all, this project which will cover a total area of altogether 2m ha of land belonging to the indigenous people will have a direct impact on the traditional rights of the these people. Furthermore, this expansion will cut down forests belonging to indigenous people in order to grow palm oil and will result in the influx of a huge number of people from outside the area, threatening the local people´s livelihoods and destroying their traditional economic practices. These developments will exert huge pressure on the Malind people and their traditions in particular, and the Papuan people in general, turning them into a minority people in their own land. In addition, these developments which are supported by various state forces will require the protection of the Indonesian army. Fourthly, the decisions regarding exploitation of natural resources are hugely dependent on the central government and are being developed in accordance with national laws that ignore the indigenous people, despite the adoption of the Special Autonomy law in 2001, the aim of which was to decentralise decision-making to the provincial level with regard to a number of issues, while nothing has happened regarding the introduction regulations.for the implementation of this law.
Fifthly, it is understood that most of the MIFEE area has been classified as ´forest´ and placed under the jurisdiction of the forestry department, whose interpretation of the forestry laws impinge on the rights of the indigenous people. Finally, there are reports that local communities have been manipulated by investors and government officials so as to secure their signatures to provide the legal basis for certificates affirming their right to the land of the indigenous people.

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WeiterlesenUN wants to send Special Rapporteur to Indonesia for MIFEE