The statement was endorsed by 54 international, regional, national and local organizations, based in more than a dozen countries. It was initiated by Tapol , West Papua Advocacy Team and East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)

July 14, 2011 – In recent weeks, highly regarded West Papuan non-governmental and religious organizations which promote respect for human rights have spoken out forcefully regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the territory.
In two separate statements, the organizations decried the failure of the Indonesian government to ensure justice for or protect Papuans who have been the victims of security force brutality, including extra-judicial killing, torture, abduction and imprisonment. The organizations have also called for protection of human rights defenders. The continuing violation of human rights starkly demonstrates the limits of ´democratization´ in Indonesia. In a recent press conference, two human rights NGOs, BUK (United for Truth) and KontraS-Papua (Commission for the Disappeared and the Victims of Violence), underscored the failure of the Indonesian justice system to address endemic violation of human rights by the military and police.
They noted that some cases have languished for over a decade and said that years of inaction by the Indonesian government regarding these cases have compelled them to appeal to „international mechanisms“ to ensure that the Government of Indonesia brings these incidents before a court of law. At their June 14 press conference in Jayapura, the NGOs, describing the consistent failure of justice in West Papua, said: „With regard to the human rights violations that have been perpetrated in Papua at the hands of members of the Indonesian army (TNI) and the Indonesian police (POLRI), in all these cases, it has been virtually impossible to bring them before a court of law. In the case of those incidents that were actually taken to court, nothing was done to side with the victims; the perpetrators were protected with the argument that what had been done was in the interest of the security of the state.“ The NGOs made specific reference to particularly egregious incidents in which Papuans were killed, brutally tortured or disappeared.
These include the June 2001 Wasior and 2008 Wamena incidents, a police rampage in Abepura, as well as repeated military „sweeping operations“ in West Papua´s central highlands in which civilians were driven from their homes into local forests where many died due to a lack of food, shelter and access to medical care. The NGOs also detailed policies and practices which subject „many Papuans to discrimination, intimidation and extra-judicial punishment based on groundless charges by Government agencies that these Papuans, or their family members are „separatists.“
The two NGOs issued the following demands:
1. The President of Indonesia should immediately resolve the Wasior and Wamena cases and in doing so recognize the fact that Papuans are citizens of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, NKRI which means that their standing and dignity within the state is in keeping with the values of the Papuan people as citizens of Indonesia.
2. The attorney-general´s office should end its machinations with regard to the Wasior and Wamena cases and co-ordinate with other state institutions and in so doing halt their activities which have resulted in reinforcing the cycle of impunity.
3. The administration of the province of Papua, along with the DPRP (Provincial Legislature of Papua), KomnasHAM-Papua and the MRP (The Papuan Peoples Council) should act together as quickly as possible to ensure that the Wasior and Wamena incidents are brought before a human rights court in the Land of Papua.
4. A Papuan human rights court should be set up immediately.
5. If the government fails to deal seriously with the Wasior and Wamena cases, we, as representatives of all the victims of human rights violations in the Land of Papua, will bring these matters before an international court of law.
In a separate June 17 press conference, the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in the Land of Papua, comprising leading human rights and religious organizations spoke out against „acts of violence and terror that have been perpetrated against human rights defenders as well as against journalists.“ The coalition includes KomnasHAM-Papua, the Synod of the Kingmi Church in Papua, the Synod of the Baptist Church in Papua, Foker NGO (NGO Working Group) Papua, KontraS Papua, LBH – Legal Aid Institute in Papua, and BUK. The organizations were especially critical of the Indonesian military whose members were involved in five recent incidents of violence against Papuan civilians and whose actions they noted, contradict claims that the Indonesian military is engaged in a process of reform.
The Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in the Land of Papua therefore issued the following statement:
1. Protection is needed for human rights defenders in Papua in carrying out their humanitarian activities throughout the Land of Papua. Such protection can be provided by the introduction of a special law, while at the same time setting up an independent commission at state level for the purpose of monitoring and advocacy as well as taking sanctions against those individuals who commit violence against human rights defenders.
2. As a short-term measure, we regard it as important to set up a special bureau within KomnasHAM to focus on the protection of human rights defenders.
3. In view the many acts of intimidation and violence perpetrated by members of the armed forces, we urge the military commander of Cenderawasih XVII military command (in West Papua) to take firm measures in the law courts and administration against all violations perpetrated by members of the TNI on the ground.
4. To provide moral guidance to all officers of the armed forces as well as disseminate an understanding of human rights so as to ensure that acts of violence perpetrated by members of the armed forces are not committed against civil society or against human rights defenders in the Land of Papua.
Indonesia has clearly failed to ensure justice in multiple cases of gross violations of human rights in West Papua and to protect Papuans defending their human rights violate the Indonesian government´s legal obligations contained within international agreements to which it is party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It also contravenes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, notably articles 6, 7 and 8. These abuses, policies and practices, as well as others not mentioned specifically by the NGOs and religious organizations have been carefully documented and condemned in United Nations reports, reports by other governments, and by leading international human rights organizations. These international reports also include accounts of egregious government abuse, including the 1998 Biak tragedy and the Indonesian government´s incarceration of scores of political prisoners. Many of these political prisoners experienced targeted abuse and mistreatment that exceeded even the brutality meted out to criminal prisoners. International accounts of the failure of justice in Indonesia have also condemned the continued use of provisions of the Indonesian criminal code which form the basis for charges of „subversion“ (such as Article 106 of the code). This was a legal tool of the Suharto dictatorship to repress freedom of speech and has its antecedents in Dutch colonial rule. We, the undersigned organizations express our strong solidarity with and support for these courageous appeals made by these Papuan non-governmental and religious organizations. We pledge to pressure our individual governments and international organizations to press the Indonesian government to act positively and immediately on these demands for justice and the protection of human rights defenders.

Endorsed by
Tapol (UK)
West Papua Advocacy Team (USA)
East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) (USA)

ARTICLE 19
Asia-Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
Asia Pacific Action (USA)
Asia Pacific Support Collective (Australia)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Australia East Timor Friendship Association Inc Australian West Papua Association South Australia (Inc)
Baltimore Nonviolence Center (USA)
Campaign for Peace and Democracy (USA)
Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD) (UK)
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane (Australia )
East Timor Action Network / Portland, Oregon (USA) East Timor Religious Outreach (USA)
Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA)
Foundation Dr. F.C. Kamma, the Netherlands Foundation Pro Papua, The Netherlands Green Delaware (USA)
Indonesia Human Rights Committee, Auckland (New Zealand)
Indonesian Solidarity (Australia)
THE INSTITUTE on Religion and Public Policy (USA)
International League for Human Rights KontraS (Indonesia)
Land is Life Luta Hamutuk Institute (Timor-Leste)
Madison-Ainaro (East Timor)
Sister-City Alliance, Madison, WI (USA)
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre, Australia Nonviolence International Office of the Americas (USA)
Pax Christi Aotearoa-New Zealand Pax Christi Australia Pax Christi Metro New York (USA)
Pax Christi, New Orleans (USA)
People´s Empowerment Consortium (PEC), Indonesia
Philippine Workers Support Committee (USA)
Press for Change (USA)
Seattle CISPES Seattle International Human Rights Coalition (SIHRC) (USA)
Swedish Association of Free Papua Swedish East Timor Committee Syracuse Peace Council (USA)
Urban Poor Consortium, Indonesia War Resisters League (USA)
West Papua Action Network, Canada West Papua Action Network / US West Papua Media (Australia)
West Papua Network (WPN), Germany
The West Papua Solidarity Group Brisbane (Australia )
John Feffer, co-director, Foreign Policy In Focus* Sharon Silber, U.S. Representative, Society for Threatened Peoples Eileen B. Weiss, Co-Founder, Jews Against Genocide (U.S.)
Shulamith Koenig, People´s Movement for Human Rights Learning (PDHRE)
*organization for identification only
This statement is online at http://etan.org/news/2011/07papua.htm

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Amnesty International welcomes the acknowledgement by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that security forces have committed human rights violations in the region of Papua.
The President said further that he wants an end to repressive actions by the military and police in Papua. In turning his words into action, the President should ensure that all investigations into human rights violations by security forces are conducted in a thorough, independent and impartial manner. This should include the investigation and prosecution of past human rights violations.
Suspects should be prosecuted in proceedings which meet international standards of fairness and victims should be granted reparations. In a 16 February meeting with diplomats at the Foreign Ministry, the President acknowledged that both police and military personnel had committed human rights violations and that these cases would be legally processed and perpetrators penalized.
According to media reports, he stated that military trials would be held for military officers suspected of committing violations. He also stressed that the military and police in Papua were there to maintain security and were not part of a military operation. Amnesty International welcomes this positive step by the President in publically recognizing the ongoing violations in Papua and the need to take decisive action to hold perpetrators to account. Credible reports of human rights violations committed by the security forces continue to emerge in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, including torture and other ill-treatment, unnecessary and excessive use of force and firearms and possible unlawful killings. Investigations into reports of police abuses are rare and only few perpetrators have been brought to justice.
Most recently in October 2011, police and military violently dispersed a peaceful gathering in Papua which left at least three people dead and dozens injured. An investigation by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) found a range of human rights violations allegedly committed by the Indonesian security forces, including opening fire on participants and beating and kicking them. While a number of internal disciplinary hearings were held, the officers were only given administrative penalties.
Amnesty International is not aware of any criminal investigation into the deaths of the three people, or the ill-treatment of participants of the gathering. Most human rights violations committed by police officers never reach civilian courts, but are dealt with through in-house disciplinary hearings. Amnesty International is also concerned by the President’s statement that military officers charged with human rights-related offences would be tried in military courts. Human rights organizations have highlighted the lack of independence and impartiality of these trials and that military officers suspected of such offences are often charged with disciplinary rather than criminal offences.
Three soldiers who were caught on camera burning and kicking Papuan villagers were sentenced to prison terms of between eight and 10 months by a military court in Papua in January 2011. The video was widely circulated via YouTube. The victims were too frightened to testify in person due to the lack of adequate safety guarantees.
The Indonesian authorities must revise the Law on Military Tribunals (Law No. 31/1997) so that military officers suspected of human rights violations can be investigated and tried in an independent civilian judicial system and victims and witnesses provided with adequate protection. Amnesty International believes that the lack of independent and impartial monitoring of the human rights situation in Papua contributes to the climate of impunity there.
The Indonesian authorities should allow international observers, non-governmental organizations and journalists unrestricted and ongoing access to the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

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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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Kontras (translated by TAPOL) Kontras, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence has condemned the shooting of Freeport workers who were seeking negotiations with the management of the company. Since the commencement of the strike on 15 September there has been no sign that the management is seeking to provide the space for dialogue which could accommodate the interests of the two sides.
During an action on 10 October, the workers protested against the company for recruiting new workers to replace those now on strike. We have received information that some eight thousand workers were involved in this action. They marched from the secretariat of the SBSI, the trade union, to the culverts, a distance of about 500 metres along a road that was six metres wide. A short distance away, hundreds of policemen were standing on guard. The police tried to disperse the workers action as they were seeking to meet the management of the company.. Having failed to meet the management, the workers burned some vehicles believed to belong to the company.
The police then opened fire on the workers: Petrus Ayamiseba who works in catering at the company was shot in the waist and died. Six others were wounded, Leo Wandagau, Alius Komba, Melkius Rumbiak, Yunus Nguliduan, Philiton Kogoya and Ahmad. Some of the policemen were also injured.
We regard the shooting and violence as an act of intervention and intimidation against industrial relations as guaranteed in Law13/2003 on Labour Affairs. The government, in this case the Department of Labour and Transmigration, should be playing a role to guarantee the basic rights of the workers as stipulated in that law, in particular with regard to legal procedures in article 137. Furthermore, it is clearly stated that no one shall interfere with strike actions undertaken by the workers. (article 143) and workers on strike may not be replaced by other workers in any form whatsoever (article 144). The presence and acts of violence by hundreds of police have damaged the efforts of the workers to seek negotiations with the namagement. The police have clearly sided with Freeport by undertaking patrols and protection of the company and have been receiving monthly contributions (see letter from head of operations no b/918/IV/2011).
The function of the police should be to protect the people, The shooting and acts of violence have also violated a number of regulations. Internally, the police should implement the regulations of the police Furthermore the police have also violated a number of other laws such as the Human Rights Law of 1999 and Law 12/2005 on Ratification of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Kontras therefore calls on the police: 1. To conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting and acts of violence that occurred on 10 October, 2. To pursue legal procedures that are impartial, credible, accountable and transparent with regard to the shooting and acts of violence. 3. Should take steps to ensure that the police maintain their independence in all industrial relations disputes so as to ensure that they do not trigger acts of violence and other breaches of the law.

Jakarta, 10 October 2011

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Bis heute würden Papua Opfer von Folter, politischen Morden, willkürlichen Verhaftungen und Einschränkungen ihres Rechtes auf freie Meinungsäußerung. Papua, die sich kritisch gegenüber der Regierung oder dem Vorgehen der Sicherheitskräfte äußern, würden oft des Separatismus beschuldigt und so Zielscheibe von Militär und Polizei. Matheus Adadikam kritisierte darüber hinaus, dass immer öfter Menschen ihres Landes enteignet würden. Das bedrohe die Existenz vieler Papua. Umwandlung von Wald in Plantagenland, die Vergabe von Bergbaukonzessionen und anhaltende Migration von anderen indonesischen Volksgruppen in das Gebiet verdrängten an vielen Orten die Papua mehr und mehr aus ihren angestammten Siedlungsgebieten.

Dialog gefordert
Für Novel Matindas lässt es die indonesische Regierung bis heute an politischem Willen zur Umsetzung der 2001 beschlossenen Sonderautonomie fehlen. Folter und Mord bedrohten das Leben von Menschenrechtsverteidigern in Papua. Hunderte Papua seien in den letzten Jahren getötet worden. Der Kirchenrat hat den indonesischen Präsidenten Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) dazu aufgerufen, in einen Dialog mit den Papua einzutreten und die militärischen Operationen in Papua unverzüglich einzustellen. In einem Gespräch mit Kirchenvertretern hat der Präsident zugesagt, dies zu tun. Bis heute fehlten jedoch eindeutige Signale, die eine Umsetzung dieser Zusage belegen würden, so Matindas.

Hoffnung auf Gesprächsbereitschaft
Veranstalter der Diskussion in Genf war unter anderem das internationale Faith Based Network on West Papua (FBN), dem die Vereinte Evangelische Mission (VEM) und das deutsche West Papua Netzwerk (WPN) angehören. Dr. Jochen Motte, Mitglied des Vorstandes der Vereinten Evangelischen Mission und Vertreter der VEM im FBN, äußerte die Hoffnung, dass die indonesische Regierung sich der Kritik der indonesischen Kirchenvertreter und anderer Menschenrechtsverteidiger stellt, entschieden Maßnahmen zur Beendigung von Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Straflosigkeit ergreift und alle Militäroperationen in Papua beendet als Voraussetzung für den Beginn eines wirklichen Dialogs mit den Papua.

Jochen Motte, VEM

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A CSW delegation returned from a three-week visit to Indonesia last week, which included three days in West Papua. CSW requested permission to visit Filep Karma in Abepura prison, but access was refused. Mr. Karma, 51, has been in jail since 2004, after he raised the West Papuan flag known as the ‘Morning Star’, a symbol of independence.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to sources close to Mr. Karma who spoke to CSW, he is in poor health due to lack of nutrition, and his body weight is reported to have fallen from 69kg to below 50 kg. He is reportedly banned from writing, and is denied radio, books or access to international media. He has not been provided with a mattress, and so sleeps on the cement floor, causing him cold and back pain. The prison authorities have reportedly not provided food since 3 December, 2010, so he relies on food supplies provided by family members and other visitors.
CSW was denied access to the prison, so is unable to verify these reports, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was expelled from West Papua in 2009. CSW met Filep Karma’s daughters Audryne, 23, and Andrefina, 22 in Jakarta. Audryne Karma told CSW, “I want to say to the international community: please help us, please voice our father’s struggle. We suffer a lot.” During the three-day visit to West Papua, CSW also met prominent church leaders and human rights activists, and heard evidence of the continuing humanitarian and political crisis in West Papua. It is clear that Papuan people believe the “special autonomy” package introduced in 2002 has failed, and has not resulted in any meaningful improvement for the people of West Papua. “Special autonomy has failed, and there is now a need to have a thorough evaluation and to obtain Jakarta’s response to Papuans’ demand for dialogue,” one church leader told CSW. Migration from other parts of Indonesia is having a serious demographic impact, with migrants perceived as taking the best business and employment opportunities and indigenous Papuans facing discrimination in access to health care, education, trade and jobs. Concerns were also expressed that a religious dimension is emerging, with the growth in the Muslim community as a result of migration having an effect on the predominantly Christian Papuan population.
Some sources warned that if these factors are not addressed, inter-religious tensions will grow and a conflict could develop. “The marginalisation of indigenous Papuans has the potential for conflict, and it is no longer just a conflict with the state, but also with elements in society,” one church leader said. “The best solution is a genuine, high-level, peaceful dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papuan representatives, without preconditions, mediated by the international community,” said a senior church leader. “Now is the time to stop playing games and sit together round the table.” In Jakarta, CSW met advisers to the Vice-President of Indonesia to discuss West Papua, and urged the Government of Indonesia to take steps to respect human rights, release political prisoners, and engage in a genuine dialogue. CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston said, “Our team spoke to a wide range of representatives of the Papuan people, and the unanimous message was that indigenous Papuan people are severely marginalised, becoming an ethnic and religious minority in their own land. Some even talk of a slow genocide occurring. It is in Indonesia’s own interests that the voice of the Papuan people is heard. If grievances are ignored and the suppression of the Papuan people continues, the consequences could be very grave for all concerned. It is therefore vital that Indonesia work with the Papuan people and the international community to establish a dialogue to identify the core issues and seek a common solution.
The first step to signal a new direction would be for Indonesia to release Filep Karma.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk
or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

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Bis heute würden Papua Opfer von Folter, politischen Morden, willkürlichen Verhaftungen und Einschränkungen ihres Rechtes auf freie Meinungsäußerung. Papua, die sich kritisch gegenüber der Regierung oder dem Vorgehen der Sicherheitskräfte äußern, würden oft des Separatismus beschuldigt und so Zielscheibe von Militär und Polizei. Matheus Adadikam kritisierte darüber hinaus, dass immer öfter Menschen ihres Landes enteignet würden. Das bedrohe die Existenz vieler Papua. Umwandlung von Wald in Plantagenland, die Vergabe von Bergbaukonzessionen und anhaltende Migration von anderen indonesischen Volksgruppen in das Gebiet verdrängten an vielen Orten die Papua mehr und mehr aus ihren angestammten Siedlungsgebieten.

Dialog gefordert
Für Novel Matindas lässt es die indonesische Regierung bis heute an politischem Willen zur Umsetzung der 2001 beschlossenen Sonderautonomie fehlen. Folter und Mord bedrohten das Leben von Menschenrechtsverteidigern in Papua. Hunderte Papua seien in den letzten Jahren getötet worden. Der Kirchenrat hat den indonesischen Präsidenten Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) dazu aufgerufen, in einen Dialog mit den Papua einzutreten und die militärischen Operationen in Papua unverzüglich einzustellen. In einem Gespräch mit Kirchenvertretern hat der Präsident zugesagt, dies zu tun. Bis heute fehlten jedoch eindeutige Signale, die eine Umsetzung dieser Zusage belegen würden, so Matindas.

Hoffnung auf Gesprächsbereitschaft
Veranstalter der Diskussion in Genf war unter anderem das internationale Faith Based Network on West Papua (FBN), dem die Vereinte Evangelische Mission (VEM) und das deutsche West Papua Netzwerk (WPN) angehören. Dr. Jochen Motte, Mitglied des Vorstandes der Vereinten Evangelischen Mission und Vertreter der VEM im FBN, äußerte die Hoffnung, dass die indonesische Regierung sich der Kritik der indonesischen Kirchenvertreter und anderer Menschenrechtsverteidiger stellt, entschieden Maßnahmen zur Beendigung von Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Straflosigkeit ergreift und alle Militäroperationen in Papua beendet als Voraussetzung für den Beginn eines wirklichen Dialogs mit den Papua.

Jochen Motte, VEM

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Papuan activist Melkianus Bleskadit has been imprisoned in West Papua province for his involvement in a peaceful protest and for raising an independence flag. His sentence highlights the continuing use of repressive legislation to criminalize peaceful political activities in the province. Amnesty International calls for his immediate and unconditional release. On 14 December 2010 a group of activists including students took part in a peaceful march in Manokwari, West Papua province, protesting against injustice and human rights violations by the Indonesian security forces against Papuans. The march ended at the Penerangan field in Manokwari where other political activists had gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the independence of “West Melanesia”. During the ceremony the “14 Star Flag”, a symbol of West Melanesian independence, was raised. The Manokwari Sub-district Public Order Police (Polres) arrested seven political activists: Melkianus Bleskadit; Daniel Yenu, a priest; and five students – Jhon Wilson Wader, Penehas Serongon, Yance Sekenyap, Alex Duwiri and Jhon Raweyai. All seven men were charged with “rebellion” under Article 106 of the Indonesian Criminal Code which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and with “incitement” under Article 160. On 18 August the Manokwari District Court sentenced Melkianus Bleskadit to two years’ imprisonment while Daniel Yenu was sentenced to seven months and 16 days’ imprisonment on 23 August 2011. Daniel Yenu has been released as he has spent more than eight months in detention. The trials of the five students are ongoing. Daniel Yenu’s lawyer has also raised concerns about his trial. The lawyer alleges that evidence not obtained from the location of the incident was introduced during the trial and that Daniel Yenu was brought before the court on 16 August and forced by the judges to defend the charges against him without the presence of his lawyer, who was preparing a written defence brief. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is a state party, and the Indonesian Constitution guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful assembly. While the Indonesian government has the duty and the right to maintain public order, it must ensure that any restrictions to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are no more than is permitted under international human rights law. Amnesty International calls on the Indonesian authorities to withdraw government regulation No. 77/2007 that bans the display of regional logos or flags, which are used by separatist organizations. Amnesty International believes that this regulation is contrary to the spirit of the 2001 Special Autonomy Law that granted Papuans the right to express their cultural identity. Furthermore, the ban on waving these flags cannot be considered legitimate grounds for restricting freedoms of expression and association as set out in the ICCPR. Amnesty International is aware of al least 90 political activists in the provinces of Maluku and Papua who have been imprisoned solely for their peaceful political activities. Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. Amnesty International takes no position whatsoever on the political status of any province of Indonesia, including calls for independence. However the organization believes that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referendums, independence or any other political solutions that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. — Working to protect human rights worldwide DISCLAIMER

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Am 15. Juni, gegen 09:00 Uhr, war es auf dem Gelände des Militärkommandoposten Kodim 1705 zu einer Demonstration von Zivilsten gekommen. Sie protestierten gegen das brutale Vorgehen von fünf Militärangehörigen, die am 14. Mai den indigenen Papua Derek Adii getötet haben sollen.
Familienangehörige und Freunde des Ermordeten forderten bei dem Protest eine Aufklärung des Verbrechens und die strafrechtliche Verfolgung der Täter. Dabei kam es zu gewalttätigen Übergriffen zunächst von Seiten der Demonstranten, die Fensterscheiben des Militärstützpunktes zerschlugen und mit Gegenständen warfen.
Yones Douw, der zur Beobachtung des Protests vor Ort war, lief auf das Militärgelände, um die aufgebrachte Menge zu beruhigen. Die Demonstranten sollen daraufhin gemeinsam mit Yones Douw das Gelände verlassen haben.
Das Militär reagierte nun seinerseits mit Gewalt: Soldaten feuerten Warnschüsse ab und begannen, auf offener Straße auf Demonstranten einzuschlagen. Dabei hatten sie vor allem den in der Öffentlichkeit bekannten Menschenrechtsverteidiger Yones Douw im Visier.
Mindestens fünf Soldaten sollen mit Holzlatten auf Yones Douw eingeschlagen und ihm Verletzungen an Kopf, Schulter und Handgelenken zugefügt haben. Auch der Vater des Ermordeten Derek Adii, Damas Adii, wurde durch Militärangehörige mit Holzlatten attackiert. Während Yones Douw geschlagen wurde, hörte er die Soldaten sagen: „Diesen Tieren muss eine Lektion erteilt werden“ und „Tötet die Leute einfach“. Eine ärztliche Versorgung soll Yones Douw anschließend im Krankenhaus untersagt worden seien, da das Personal für die medizinische Behandlung einen Brief der Polizei verlangt habe.
Yones Douw leidet seitdem vor allem unter Kopfverletzungen und ist besorgt um seine Gesundheit und Sicherheit. 2009 war er bereits Opfer polizeilicher Gewalt gewesen.
Menschenrechtsorganisationen und Kirchen Papuas verurteilen die Gewalt an Yones Douw und anderen Menschenrechtsverteidigern in Papua. In einer gemeinsamen Presseerklärung vom 17. Juni 2011 fordern sie explizit den Schutz von Menschenrechtsverteidigern durch den indonesischen Staat.
Amnesty International hat in einer Eilaktion (Urgent Action) dazu aufgerufen, zum Schutz von Yones Douw Briefe an die indonesischen Behörden zu schicken. Wer sich an der Aktion beteiligen möchte, kann bei der Koordinationsstelle des West Papua Netzwerkes weitere Informationen und einen entsprechenden Musterbrief anfordern.

Kristina Neubauer

(Q.: Amnesty International: UA:188/11 Index:ASA 21/014/2011 Indonesia, 17.06.2011; Sekretarias Biro Keadilan dan Perdamaian Klasis Nabire; Siaran Pers Bersama Koalisi Para Pembela HAM di Tanah Papua „Jaminan Perlindungan Pembela HAM…?).

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