02 Desember 2011

The Status of Papua, Indonesia

2 November, 2011

The Status of Papua, Indonesia

Joe Yun
Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Statement Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment
Washington, DC
Published: http://www.state.gov/p/eap/

Chairman Faleomavaega, Mr. Manzullo, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify today on the situation in Papua.

U.S. Policy

Developments affecting Papua, which includes the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, are closely followed by the Department of State and represent an important aspect of our overall relations with Indonesia. The United States recognizes and respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia within its current borders and does not support or condone separatism in Papua, or in any other part of the country. At the same time, we strongly support respect for universal human rights within Indonesia, including the right of peaceful assembly, free expression of political views, and the fair and non-discriminatory treatment of ethnic Papuans within Indonesia.

Within this context, we have consistently encouraged the Indonesian government to work with the indigenous Papuan population to address their grievances, resolve conflicts peacefully, and support development and good governance in the Papuan provinces. The Administration believes the full implementation of the 2001 Special Autonomy Law for Papua, which emerged as part of Indonesia’s democratic transition, would help resolve long-standing grievances. We continue to encourage the Indonesian government to work with Papuan authorities to discuss ways to empower Papuans and further implement the Special Autonomy provisions, which grant greater authority to Papuans to administer their own affairs.

Human Rights


Advancing human rights is one of our primary foreign policy objectives not only in Indonesia, but also throughout the world. We believe that respect for human rights helps to strengthen democracy. We want to see the right of peaceful, free expression of political views and freedom of association observed throughout the world, including in Papua.

We monitor allegations of human rights violations in Papua and West Papua, and we report on them in the annual Country Report on Human Rights. With the growth of democracy over the past decade in Indonesia, there has been substantial improvement in respect for human rights, although there remain credible concerns about human rights violations. The improvement includes Papua, although, as our annual reporting has documented, there continues to be some credible allegations of abuse. We regularly engage the Government of Indonesia on the importance of respect for human rights by security forces, and we continue to emphasize our strong support for an open and transparent legal system to look into any claims of excessive use of force. We also urge them to increase accountability for past human rights abuses. We deplore violence committed by armed groups, including in Papua, against civilians and government security forces.

It is critical that independent and objective observers have unrestricted access to Papua in order to monitor developments. At present, Indonesian journalists, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and Indonesian citizens may travel freely to Papua and West Papua. However, the Indonesian government requires that foreign journalists, NGOs, diplomats, and parliamentarians obtain permission to visit Papua. We continue to encourage the Indonesian government to give these groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, full and unfettered access to Papua and West Papua.

Papuans are Indonesian citizens and are free to travel to other parts of Indonesia.

Demographic Shifts

Migration from other parts of Indonesia has increased the number of non-Papuan residents to about 40 percent of the current population in Papua and West Papua. The total population of both provinces is 2.4 million, of which 900,000 are migrants. Past government-sponsored transmigration programs, which moved households from more densely populated areas to less populated regions, account for part of the influx. The majority of the population shift has resulted from natural migration trends from Indonesia’s large population centers to Papua where there is relatively low population density. Some Papuans have voiced concerns that the migrants have interfered with their traditional ways of life, land usage, and economic opportunities.

Economic Development

Although the region is rich in natural resources, including gold, copper, natural gas, and timber, Papua lags behind other parts of Indonesia in some key development indicators. Poverty is widespread in Papua and Papua has the lowest level of adult literacy in Indonesia at 74 percent. The region also has a disproportionately high number of HIV/AIDS cases compared with the rest of Indonesia and high rates of infant and maternal mortality.

According to the World Bank, the two greatest challenges to economic development are Papua’s topography and climate—great distances between towns, steep mountains, swampy lowlands, fragile soils, and heavy seasonal rainfall—and its social structure—low population density and cultural fragmentation.

Special Autonomy

Indonesia’s parliament in 2001 granted Special Autonomy to Papua, which, along with Aceh, was one of the two areas in Indonesia that harbored high-profile separatist movements. This law devolved to provincial and local authorities all government functions outside of five national competencies; defense, foreign affairs, religious affairs, justice, and monetary/fiscal policy.

The Special Autonomy Law has not been fully implemented in Papua. Implementation has been delayed due to lack of implementing regulations. In addition, the provincial governments have lacked the capacity to take on certain key responsibilities and some central government ministries have yet to cede their authorities. Although full implementation of Special Autonomy has not yet been realized, Indonesian government officials point to increased funding to Papua, which has totaled Rp 27 trillion or approximately US$3 billion in the past nine years, higher per capita than any other area in Indonesia. The Special Autonomy Law created the Papuan People’s Council (MRP) to protect Papuan culture. Recently, the MRP rejected Special Autonomy, symbolically handing Special Autonomy back to Indonesian authorities. This action had no practical legal effect, but it did highlight the need for increased dialogue between Papua and Jakarta to resolve the region’s outstanding differences.

We continue to encourage the Indonesian government and the provincial governments of Papua and West Papua to fully implement the Special Autonomy Law. This would include the promulgation of implementing regulations for all provisions of the law, central government action to ensure that provincial or local laws take precedence in areas of delegated authority, and actions to increase the capacity for development and good governance. We believe that full implementation would help to address Papuans’ grievances against the central government. Dialogue between central authorities and the indigenous Papuan population could facilitate full implementation of Special Autonomy, and result in actions that would support development and boost good governance in Papua.

U.S. Assistance

The United States is working in partnership with the government of Indonesia and the provincial governments of Papua and West Papua to find ways to address the key developmental challenges of Papua, including increasing good governance, access to quality healthcare and education, and protecting the environment. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implements programs in Papua to foster improvements in these sectors with activities that total $­­­­11.6 million, or 7 percent of USAID’s budget for Indonesia for fiscal year 2010.

In addition to USAID programs, the Department of State also brings Papuans to the United States for thematic engagement on issues such as resource distribution. Our Fulbright programs have had over 22 grantees from Papua. We also partner with the private sector to leverage resources. For example, in a public-private partnership, the Fulbright-Freeport Scholarship Program has funded 18 individuals from Papua for study in the United States.

Embassy Jakarta maintains a vigorous schedule of engagement with Papua and West Papua. U.S. Mission officers routinely travel to the provinces. Ambassador Marciel, who arrived at post in mid-August, plans to travel to Papua soon after he presents his credentials to the Indonesian government. Officers maintain a wide base of contacts concerning Papua, including central and provincial government officials, human rights activists, military and police personnel, traditional and religious leaders, and NGO staff. In addition to official meetings, Embassy officers conduct regular public outreach in Papua and West Papua.

Conclusion


In closing, I would like to emphasize that Papua plays an important role in our sustained engagement with the Government of Indonesia. While Indonesia’s overall human rights situation has improved along with the country’s rapid democratic development, we are concerned by allegations of human rights violations in Papua and continuously monitor the situation there. We urge increased dialogue between the central government and Papuan leaders and the full implementation of the Special Autonomy Law. We will continue to provide assistance to build a strong economic and social foundation in Papua.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify before you today. I am pleased to answer your questions.

Mengapa Masalah Papua Penting bagi PVV?

26 November, 2011

Mengapa Masalah Papua Penting bagi PVV?

Partai untuk Kebebasan PVV, pimpinan politikus anti Islam, Geert Wilders minta agar Menteri Luar Negeri Belanda, Uri Rosenthal, bertindak lebih tegas dalam masalah Papua. Belanda wajib membantu rakyat Papua, karena berhutang secara moral. Demikian PVV.
Menurut Wim Kortenoeven, anggota parlemen dari Partai untuk Kebebasan PVV, ada dua alasan.

Terkait:

Pertama, rakyat Papua korban rezim penindas. Mereka hanya meminta pengertian atas keinginan mereka, yakni otonomi. "Itu tidak aneh melihat posisi mereka di Indonesia," demikian Kortenoeven.
Kedua, tahun 1963, Belanda memberikan beberapa janji politik kepada Papua terkait kemerdekaan. Belanda bahkan membantu merancang bendera untuk Papua, yaitu bendera Bintang Kejora.

PVV prihatin dengan nasib rakyat Papua dan merasa wajib membantu rakyat Papua melihat hubungan panjang Belanda-Papua. Sayangnya, janji-janji itu tidak pernah ditepati.

Bukan keinginan rakyat
Kortenoeven menambahkan Papua secara paksa digabung dalam NKRI, walaupun itu bukan keinginan rakyat. "Karena itu kami menganggap mereka berhak menuntut otonomi," demikian Kortenoeven.

PVV ingin agar menteri Luar Negeri Belanda, Uri Rosenthal, turun tangan, yaitu dengan membahas masalah ini dengan rekan sejawatnya dari Indonesia. Dalam pembicaraan itu, Menlu Belanda harus mengangkat isu-isu berikut:
Rakyat Papua tidak lagi boleh dianiaya seperti terjadi sekarang. Penindasan harus berhenti. Papua harus diberi kesempatan untuk bebas berbicara. Pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora tidak lagi dilarang. Para pemimpin Papua yang ditangkap dalam protes pekan lalu, harus dibebaskan.

Tidak sah
Menurut PVV orang-orang itu ditangkap secara tidak sah. Para pemimpin itu ditahan karena memiliki pendapat politik tertentu.

"Sebuah negara yang bersahabat dengan Belanda, tidak boleh melakukan hal tersebut, dan memperlakukan warganya dengan sopan. Itu dasar persahabatan yang baik," demikian kata Kortenoeven menjelaskan.
Belanda, khususnya Menlu Rosenthal, menurut anggota PVV ini, harus bersikap lebih tegas, karena diplomasi diam-diam yang selama ini diterapkan, sama sekali tidak berhasil.

Sanksi
Rosenthal harus berani berkata: "Jika kalian tidak mau mendengar, kalian harus merasakan dampaknya. Penindasan terhadap kelompok-kelompok lemah Papua tidak bisa ditolerir. Mereka tidak berdaya menghadapi kekuatan tentara Indonesia."

Jika Indonesia tetap tidak mau mendengarkan seruan itu, maka sanksi bisa diberlakukan Belanda. Juga jika itu bisa merugikan hubungan dagang antara kedua negara.

Tidak berdaya
"Ini rakyat yang tidak berdaya. Lain hal jika ini menyangkut gerakan gerilya bersenjata berat yang menuntut pemisahan. Namun ini hanya menyangkut orang-orang tidak berdaya yang hanya mau mengibarkan bendera. Untuk itu mereka ditangkap, dipenjarakan dan dianiaya karena menyanyikan lagu kebangsaan."

Itu tidak bisa diterima, kata Kortenoeven. Walaupun demikian Kortenoeven juga menambahkan tidak mau menyentuh integritas teritorial Indonesia, melainkan meminta pengertian atas keinginan otonomi kelompok-kelompok di Papua.
Ditambahkan jika rakyat Papua menyatakan ingin lepas dari NKRI dan melakukan perjuangan kemerdekaan, menurut PVV, itu adalah sebuah perkembangan yang tidak diinginkan dan harus dipikirkan betul-betul.

Kelompok minoritas
PVV ingin agar hubungan antara Indonesia dan Belanda tetap berlangsung seperti sekarang. Namun pada waktu bersamaan Partai untuk Kebebasan ini juga ingin agar posisi kelompok-kelompok minoritas di Indonesia, seperti Papua, Maluku dan Kristen, membaik.

"Kami ingin Indonesia berhenti mentolerir pembakaran gereja, kekerasan dan ancaman terhadap kelompok Kristen yang kadangkala dilakukan pemerintah daerah. Penindasan terhadap kelompok Kristen tidak hanya dilakukan kelompok Muslim."
Pemerintah pusat harus mengakhiri situasi itu. Pemerintah di Jakarta harus melindungi kelompok Kristen dari agresi pihak ketiga. Itu bisa pemerintah daerah, namun juga perorangan. Pemerintah RI harus menjaga agar hukum ditegakkan. Demikian Wim Kortenoeven, anggota parlemen Belanda dari Partai untuk Kebebasan PVV kepada John Tyler, wartawan Radio Nederland.

Kontras: Warga Papua Diserang Teror

29 November, 2011

Kontras: Warga Papua Diserang Teror

Peneror, katanya, mengaku berasal dari aparat kepolisian dan TNI.

VIVAnews – Koordinator Kontras Haris Azhar menyatakan, saat ini pihaknya banyak menerima aduan dari masyarakat dan mahasiswa asal Papua di beberapa kota besar yang merasa terancam. Ancaman ini diterima paska-penembakan saat Kongres rakyat Papua digelar beberapa waktu lalu.

Kerusuhan di Papua (REUTERS/ Stringer )


Haris mengakui jika Kontras sudah menerima beberapa pengaduan dari masyarakat Papua di berbagai kota di Indonesia. Modusnya, tutur Haris, mereka diteror, dimintai identitas secara paksa, diancam akan dibunuh dan ada yang mengancam akan mengusir dan membuangnya ke laut.
BERITA TERKAIT

Teror semacam ini, sambung Haris, sering dialami warga Papua dalam beberapa pekan terakhir pasca-merebaknya kasus penembakan di Papua baru-baru ini.

"Ini sesuatu yang tidak benar karena mereka adalah warga negara Indonesia yang berhak mendiami tanah airnya di mana saja," ujarnya, di Kuta, Bali, Selasa 29 November 2011.

Ia mengimbau kepada mahasiswa dan warga asal Papua yang sedang kuliah atau bekerja di berbagai daerah di Indonesia untuk berhati-hati menanggapi isu eksodus mahasiswa atau masyakarat Papua dari berbagai kota besar di Indonesia. Imbauan tersebut juga ditujukan kepada seluruh elemen bangsa, terutama para pengambil kebijakan atau pemerintah pusat.

"Dugaan kita, isu ini sengaja dihembuskan untuk memicu sentimen geopolitik dan memperkeruh suasana yang ada. Kita tahu saat ini Papua sedang bergolak, lalu ada oknum yang tidak bertanggungjawab sengaja memperkeruh suasana agar konflik ini semakin memuncak," ujar Haris.

Beberapa kota besar yang sering mengalami teror bagi rakyat Papua adalah Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar dan terakhir Denpasar. Di Denpasar, telah terjadi teror bagi salah satu mahasiswa asal Papua. Oknum yang mengaku diri aparat mendatangi penginapan mahasiswa asal Papua dengan alasan meminta identitas lengkap.

Permintaan tersebut ditolak karena dinilai terlalu berlebihan. "Kalau hanya minta identitas, kenapa tidak langsung saja ke pemilik kontrakan, RT, RW setempat. Permintaan tersebut juga disertai ancaman. Ini sesuatu yang tidak benar dan dinilai melanggar hukum dan HAM," ujarnya.

Hingga saat ini Kontras terus menerima pengaduan dari mahasiswa dan masyarakat Papua yang berada di luar Papua. Pengaduan tersebut berisikan tentang permintaan dan mohon perlindungan akibat intimidasi dari kelompok-kelompok tertentu yang mengaku diri sebagai aparat keamanan.

Namun demikian, Kontras belum bisa memiliki data yang pasti tentang eksodus orang Papua yang berasal dari berbagai kota besar di Indonesia.

Laporan: Bobby Andalan | Bali
VIVAnews

29 November, 2011

Kontras: Warga Papua Diserang Teror

Peneror, katanya, mengaku berasal dari aparat kepolisian dan TNI.

VIVAnews – Koordinator Kontras Haris Azhar menyatakan, saat ini pihaknya banyak menerima aduan dari masyarakat dan mahasiswa asal Papua di beberapa kota besar yang merasa terancam. Ancaman ini diterima paska-penembakan saat Kongres rakyat Papua digelar beberapa waktu lalu.

Kerusuhan di Papua (REUTERS/ Stringer )


Haris mengakui jika Kontras sudah menerima beberapa pengaduan dari masyarakat Papua di berbagai kota di Indonesia. Modusnya, tutur Haris, mereka diteror, dimintai identitas secara paksa, diancam akan dibunuh dan ada yang mengancam akan mengusir dan membuangnya ke laut.
BERITA TERKAIT

Teror semacam ini, sambung Haris, sering dialami warga Papua dalam beberapa pekan terakhir pasca-merebaknya kasus penembakan di Papua baru-baru ini.

"Ini sesuatu yang tidak benar karena mereka adalah warga negara Indonesia yang berhak mendiami tanah airnya di mana saja," ujarnya, di Kuta, Bali, Selasa 29 November 2011.

Ia mengimbau kepada mahasiswa dan warga asal Papua yang sedang kuliah atau bekerja di berbagai daerah di Indonesia untuk berhati-hati menanggapi isu eksodus mahasiswa atau masyakarat Papua dari berbagai kota besar di Indonesia. Imbauan tersebut juga ditujukan kepada seluruh elemen bangsa, terutama para pengambil kebijakan atau pemerintah pusat.

"Dugaan kita, isu ini sengaja dihembuskan untuk memicu sentimen geopolitik dan memperkeruh suasana yang ada. Kita tahu saat ini Papua sedang bergolak, lalu ada oknum yang tidak bertanggungjawab sengaja memperkeruh suasana agar konflik ini semakin memuncak," ujar Haris.

Beberapa kota besar yang sering mengalami teror bagi rakyat Papua adalah Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar dan terakhir Denpasar. Di Denpasar, telah terjadi teror bagi salah satu mahasiswa asal Papua. Oknum yang mengaku diri aparat mendatangi penginapan mahasiswa asal Papua dengan alasan meminta identitas lengkap.

Permintaan tersebut ditolak karena dinilai terlalu berlebihan. "Kalau hanya minta identitas, kenapa tidak langsung saja ke pemilik kontrakan, RT, RW setempat. Permintaan tersebut juga disertai ancaman. Ini sesuatu yang tidak benar dan dinilai melanggar hukum dan HAM," ujarnya.

Hingga saat ini Kontras terus menerima pengaduan dari mahasiswa dan masyarakat Papua yang berada di luar Papua. Pengaduan tersebut berisikan tentang permintaan dan mohon perlindungan akibat intimidasi dari kelompok-kelompok tertentu yang mengaku diri sebagai aparat keamanan.

Namun demikian, Kontras belum bisa memiliki data yang pasti tentang eksodus orang Papua yang berasal dari berbagai kota besar di Indonesia.

Laporan: Bobby Andalan | Bali
VIVAnews

ILWP Statement in advance of West Papua's independence day commemorations

ILWP Statement in advance of West Papua's independence day commemorations

International Lawyers for West Papua
Statement in advance of 1 December commemorations in West Papua

This Thursday, 1 December 2011, marks the 50th anniversary of West Papua’s declaration of independence from the Dutch and the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag. Rather than celebrating 50 years of independence, West Papuans will be protesting their continued occupation by Indonesia. Thousands of West Papuans will take to the streets to engage in peaceful protests and flag raising ceremonies to commemorate the events of 1 December 1961 and to call for Indonesia and the international community to respect their right to self-determination under international law.
The political situation in West Papua is tense following the recent excessive and lethal force by Indonesian security forces at the Third Papuan Congress, a peaceful assembly at which Papuans exercised their right to freedom of speech and assembly to meet and to voice their desire for self-determination. The attacks resulted in at least 3 protestors being killed, 90 persons being injured and approximately 300 persons arrested. At least five prominent protesters remain in detention for peacefully expressing their opinions.

International Lawyers for West Papua expresses its concern that 1 December 2011 will see a repeat of the recent violence and human rights abuse in Papua.

International Lawyers for West Papua respectfully calls upon the Indonesian authorities to:

· Ensure that the people of West Papua are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, in accordance with Indonesia’s international obligations and the Indonesian Constitution, to     participate in peaceful demonstrations and flag-raisings;
· Ensure against the unnecessary use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions by security forces on and around 1 December 2011;
· Immediately release all prisoners of conscience currently being held in arbitrary detention for peacefully protesting for self-determination, including Filip Karma;
· Repeal all laws which criminalise the peaceful expression of opinions and, in particular, the peaceful expression of West Papuans’ desire for self-determination.

International Lawyers for West Papua respectfully calls upon governments to:

· Deploy embassy staff to Papua to monitor and observe events on 1 December given the lack of international observers as the result of current restrictions on access for journalists and international organisations;
· Urge the Indonesian government to ensure full and free access of journalists and international human rights organisations to Papua;
· Call for an immediate, full and impartial investigation into the deaths and injuries arising from the Third Papuan Congress on 19 October and accountability for those involved;
· Reiterate support for the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association and condemnation of excessive use of force and the suppression of peaceful protest in Papua;
· Urge Indonesia to release all persons detained in Papua for the peaceful expression of their political views; and
· Urge Indonesia to repeal all criminal laws, such as the makar or treason provisions, which are being used to criminalise dissent and the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of expression.

Legal Background and Significance of 1 December for West Papuans

On 1 December 1961, West Papuans raised their flag, the Morning Star, and sang their national anthem as they formally announced their independence from the Dutch. Today, raising that same flag attracts prison sentences of up to 15 years in Indonesian courts. The importance of 1 December for West Papuans and the annual peaceful flag raisings held to commemorate this day is only properly understood in the historical context of West Papua’s ongoing struggle for self-determination.

West Papua is the western half of the island of New Guinea. The other, better-known half of the island is the independent state of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Melanesian peoples of West Papua and PNG share similar ethnicities, cultures and religions: only their different colonial past sets them apart. West Papua was colonised by the Dutch and formed part of the Dutch East Indies. When Indonesia was granted independence after WWII, West Papua remained under Dutch control. Distinct from Indonesians in ethnicity, culture, history and religion, West Papuans were to be given independence.

Successive UN General Assembly resolutions recognised the independent state of Indonesia but noted specifically that West New Guinea was not part of Indonesia. Listed as a UN Non-Self Governing Territory, the Dutch held the territory of West New Guinea in “sacred trust” until such time the Papuans right to self-determination could be implemented through self-government and the creation of an independent West Papuan state. In 1961 the West Papuan national parliament was elected and officials from Australia, Britain, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and members of the South Pacific Commission attended the inauguration. With the flag and anthem recognised by the Dutch, Parliament voted for independence and it came into effect on 1 December 1961. On that day, the Morning Star flag was raised for the first time.

Then Indonesia invaded. To protect the West Papuans, the Netherlands and their ally in the region, Australia, prepared for war. The US – concerned about losing Indonesia to the Russians and keen to secure lucrative mining contracts – intervened. Facing US pressure and continued Indonesian military incursions, the Dutch agreed to a UN and US-brokered settlement: the 1962 New York Agreement. West Papuans, unanimous in their demand for independence, were not consulted.

Under the Agreement, West Papua administration was transferred from the Netherlands to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) and to UN-supervised Indonesian administration in 1963, pending a vote for self-determination which would determine West Papua’s fate.

Having signed concession agreements with US mining company Freeport for the exploitation of West Papua’s natural resources in 1967, Indonesia had no intention of allowing West Papuan independence in 1969. With the acquiescence of the UN and the international community, Indonesia conducted a violent military campaign against the Papuan leadership and Papuan people.

Between 1962 and 1969 in the lead up to the vote, the Indonesian military is estimated to have killed 30,000 West Papuans. Frank Galbraith, US Ambassador to Indonesia at the time, warned that Indonesian military operations and abuses “had stimulated fears… of intended genocide among the [Papuans].” An Australian journalist, Hugh Lunn, reported that West Papuans protesting for a democratic vote were arrested by the Indonesian military. Others were killed.

In 1969 and under UN supervision, Indonesia held the now-discredited “Act of ‘Free’ Choice”, popularly known as the “Act of ‘NO’ Choice”. A handpicked group of 1,022 West Papuans (of an estimated population of 800,000) were coerced into voting unanimously for integration with Indonesia under threat of violence.

UN officials admitted in private that 95% of Papuans supported independence. British diplomatic correspondence noted that the UN wanted quick resolution of the matter, but “[p]rivately…we recognise that the people of West [Papua] have no desire to be ruled by the Indonesians…and that that process of consultation did not allow a genuinely free choice to be made.” Former United Nations Under-Secretary General Chakravarthy Narasimhan, who handled the Indonesian takeover, has since admitted that the process was a “whitewash”. Distinguished international jurists have dismissed the 1969 vote as a “spurious exercise”, amounting to a substantive betrayal of the principle of self-determination.

But as UN Representative Sanz told Australian journalist Hugh Lunn, “West [Papua] is like a cancerous growth on the side of the UN and my job is to surgically remove it”. In November 1969, the UN approved the outcome of the sham vote and West Papua became a province of Indonesia.

The West Papuan parliament’s declaration of independence on 1 December 1961 was ignored, along with their right to self-determination under international law. West Papuans were sacrificed in the name of Cold War politics and natural resources.

This year marks 50 years since the West Papuans declaration of independence from the Dutch. But instead of celebrating 50 years of independence and the end of colonial rule, West Papuans will be protesting their continued occupation by Indonesia and peacefully demanding their right to self-determination. Had the UN – and the Dutch – properly discharged their sacred trust under the UN Charter, West Papuans would this week be celebrating 50 years of independence, rather than 48 years of oppression under Indonesian rule.

Since that time Indonesia has committed crimes against humanity against the West Papuan people. Both Yale and Sydney Universities have reported the situation is approaching genocide. In 2006 a West Papuan delegate to the UN Economic and Social Council Working Group on Indigenous Rights reported alarming figures:

‘At the end of 1960…the West Papuan population amounted to 800,000 - more than the 600,000 people of their brother and sisters in Papua New Guinea (PNG)… in 2004 [West Papuan] indigenous people amounted to only 1.5 million, whereas the PNG indigenous population had grown to 6 million. We fear that corrupt business interests have wanted to deny West Papuan self determination until foreign nationals outnumber our indigenous population, making us a minority in our own land.’

These crimes against humanity continue today. Earlier this month, Indonesian security forces used excessive and lethal force against the Papuans gathered at the Third Papuan Congress, a peaceful assembly at which Papuans exercised their right to freedom of speech and assembly to meet and to voice their desire for self-determination. Indeed, the Third Congress once again declared independence from Indonesia. The response was violent retaliation by Indonesian police and military. The attacks resulted in at least 3 protestors being killed, 90 persons being injured and approximately 300 persons arrested. At least five prominent protesters remain in detention for peacefully expressing their opinions.

West Papuans insist that their right to self-determination was denied and call for a new “one person one vote” referendum. A growing list of international parliamentarians and lawyers are calling on the UN Secretary General to initiate a review of the UN’s conduct in West Papua and for a fresh referendum. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a supporter of West Papua’s campaign for UN review, has asserted “[a] strong United Nations will be capable of, among other things, acknowledging and correcting its mistakes”.

In 1999 most observers hailed the success of the UN administration in East Timor (UNTAET), the conduct of the vote for self-determination and East Timor’s transition to independence from Indonesia. But few people are aware of the UN’s failure in its first - and disastrous - attempt at administration in the nearby Indonesian province of West Papua more than 40 years earlier. East Timor got a democratic vote. West Papua got a sham vote. East Timor got independence. West Papua became part of Indonesia.

For West Papuans, 1 December is their independence day and they continue to recognise it each year with symbolic flag raisings to assert their right to self-determination. As a matter of international law, 1 December should properly be recognised as their independence day.

Kemlu Tak Bisa Tutup Toko OPM di Belanda

Kemlu Tak Bisa Tutup Toko OPM di Belanda

Karena berada di Belanda maka, setiap kegiatan swasta menjadi kewenangan Belanda.

Rabu, 23 November 2011, 19:46 WIB
Arry Anggadha, Dedy Priatmojo
Sarang OPM di Belanda (Jackson Kumaat)
VIVAnews - Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) makin menunjukkan keberadaannya di negeri kincir angin, Belanda. Buktinya, mereka terang-terangan mendirikan sebuah toko di Filiaal 0024 Kalverstraat 71 Amsterdam, Belanda.

Pemerintah mengakui keberadaan toko tersebut. Namun, pemerintah tidak bisa menutup toko tersebut. Pemerintah hanya bisa mengawasinya saja.

"KBRI di Den Haag terus memantau kegiatan-kegiatan kelompok-kelompok separatis yang berada di Belanda," kata Juru Bicara Kementerian Luar Negeri (Kemlu), Michael Tene, di Jakarta, Rabu 23 November 2011.

Menurut Tene, toko itu tidak hanya menjual barang-barang OPM, tetapi juga kosmetik. Dan karena berada di Belanda maka, setiap kegiatan swasta menjadi kewenangan Belanda.

Menurut Tene, toko itu juga sudah diketahui oleh pihak KBRI. Berbagai upaya pengawasan pun terus dilakukan guna mengantisipasi aksi-aksi yang bisa merugikan persatuan Indonesia. "Karena aktivitas toko itu di Belanda maka hukum setempat yang berlaku. Nota protes tidak bisa dilakukan karena bukan toko pemerintah Belanda" katanya.

Jubir Kemlu menegaskan, sikap pemerintah Belanda sudah sangat jelas, mengakui kedaulatan Indonesia dan  Papua dianggap sebagai bagian Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (NKRI). "Sikap pemerintah Belanda sangat  jelas, mengakui kedaulatan indonesia dan Papua sebagai bagian NKRI. Adanya toko itu tidak mencerminkan sikap pemerintah Belanda," ujarnya.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, sejumlah atribut OPM beredar di sebuah etalase toko di Amsterdam, Belanda. Tidak hanya atribut, toko ini pun menampung donasi dari berbagai pihak untuk mendukung kegiatan OPM di luar negeri.

Cerita ini disampaikan staf khusus Gubernur Sulut Bidang Investasi, Jackson Kumaat yang kebetulan tengah berada di Negeri Kincir Angin tersebut. Jackson menceritakan, atribut-atribut yang ia lihat ini berada di sebuah bangunan ruko beralamat di Filiaal 0024 Kalverstraat 71 Amsterdam Belanda.

"Kalverstraat itu semacam Pasar Baru kalau di Jakarta. Saya kaget begitu lihat ada satu toko yang memasang bendera dan atribut OPM," ujar Staf Khusus Gubernur Sulawesi Utara, Jackson Kumaat saat berbincang dengan VIVAnews.com, Senin 21 November 2011.

Bahkan Jackson lebih kaget lagi, toko yang berdiri di sebuah ruko tua itu juga mengumpulkan donasi dan tanda tangan untuk memberikan dukungan OPM memerdekakan Papua dari Indonesia. Dia menggambarkan kawasan pertokoan itu sangat ramai pengunjung. (eh)
• VIVAnews

Joint Letter to Minister Rudd on Promoting Respect for Human Rights in Papua

28 November, 2011

Joint Letter to Minister Rudd on Promoting Respect for Human Rights in Papua

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Foreign Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Dear Minister Rudd,

Re: Promoting respect for human rights in Papua
We are writing because 1 December 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag. This date is considered by many Papuans as their unofficial ‘Independence Day’ and it is almost certain that protests and flag raising ceremonies will be held throughout Papua on this day.

As you are aware, tensions have been heightened in Papua following the recent use of unnecessary or excessive force, including lethal force, by Indonesian police and military forces on a peaceful assembly of the Third Papuan People’s Congress. The attacks on 19 October resulted in at least three protesters being killed, at least 90 persons being injured, and approximately 300 arrested. While we understand the majority of those arrested have now been released, at least five prominent protesters are still being detained for peacefully expressing their views and should be immediately released. Moreover, the authorities should take action to ensure against the use of unnecessary or excessive use of force by the security forces during any protests on and around 1 December.
While Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Law Centre do not take any position on claims to self-determination in Papua, we do support the rights of all persons to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Indonesia has ratified. All persons, including independence supporters, should be allowed to express their political views peacefully without fear of arrest or reprisal. Further, consistent with international law, any use of force by police or military forces must be strictly necessary, proportionate and exercised for a legitimate purpose in accordance with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms.
In light of Australia’s close relationship with Indonesia, together with the Australian government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, we call on you to take the following steps to reduce the likelihood of violence, the use of excessive force, and the suppression of peaceful protest:
  1. Urge the Indonesian government to ensure full and free access of journalists to Papua; because of such restrictions, deploy Australian embassy staff to Papua to monitor and observe events on 1 December.
  2. Reiterate your government’s support, both publicly and privately with relevant Indonesian officials, for the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association and your unequivocal condemnation of excessive use of force and the suppression of peaceful protest. We note that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently confirmed that the US has “very directly raised concerns about the violence and the abuse of human rights” in Papua. In our view, a clear and firm public statement on Australia’s position on human rights in the area is critical, especially since there is a real risk that Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty’s recent reference to the actions of Papuan People’s Congress leaders as “illegal, provocative and counterproductive” may otherwise be interpreted as supporting a government crackdown on the Congress. While the Lombok Treaty between Indonesia and Australia affirms the “sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of both Parties” it also requires respect for obligations under international law and the UN Charter.
  3. Call for an immediate, full and impartial investigation into the deaths and injuries, and allegations of excessive use of force by the authorities, arising from the demonstration on 19 October. Accountability for Indonesian police and military personnel implicated in human rights abuses is critical, especially given the increasing military and security cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. Respect for human rights and the rule of law should be essential pillars of Australia’s engagement in Indonesia.
  4. There is clear evidence that a number of peaceful activists, politicians and religious clergy in Papua have been subject to arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, harassment and violence. The Australian government should urge Indonesia to release all persons detained in Papua for the peaceful expression of their political views, and not conflate the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and dissent with criminal activity. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a legal opinion on Filep Karma, a prominent Papuan political prisoner, asking the Indonesian government to “immediately release” him.
Australia plays a critical leadership role on human rights in Asia and the Pacific and should take a principled and proactive stand on human rights with a key partner like Indonesia. The above-mentioned steps we urge you to undertake are both desirable and necessary to reduce the likelihood of violence, use of excessive force or the suppression of peaceful protest in Papua.
We would be pleased to meet with you to further discuss our concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Philip Lynch                                                              Phil Robertson
Executive Director                                                 Deputy Director, Asia Division
Human Rights Law Centre                                     Human Rights Watch

                                        


CC:

The Hon Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence

The Hon David Feeney
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence

Mr Denis Richardson
Secretary
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tom Connor
Indonesia, Regional Issues and East Timor Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Foreign Minister

Clashes as West Papuans mark independence call

01 December, 2011

Clashes as West Papuans mark independence call

West Papua Baptist Church, Reverend Socrates Yeoman
Indonesian security forces and West Papuan activists have clashed during protests to mark the 50th anniversary of the province declaring independence.
Local television stations showed footage of police driving through crowds of protesters who were waving Papuan independence flags and cheering.
The footage showed police firing shots into the air, violently wrestling protesters to the ground, and confiscating the province's banned independence flag.
There are also reports protesters were shot but this cannot be confirmed as the ABC is not allowed into the region.
TV reports also showed images of an Indonesian policeman who it is claimed was shot with an arrow during the clashes.

Arrests made at ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of West Papua's independence. Photo: Police arrest a man after dispersing hundreds attending an independence ceremony at Timika, West Papua on December 1. (Reuters: Muhammad Yamin)
 
The disturbances happened on Thursday at rallies marking the 50th anniversary of West Papua's declaration of independence.
That declaration is not recognised by Indonesia and the Australian Government says it respects Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua.
Police said they fired warning shots but Indonesian security minister Djoko Suyanto denied that protesters had been shot.
He said protesters attacked a policeman and a number of Papuans were arrested for waving their independence banner.
The head of the West Papua Baptist Church, Reverend Socrates Yeoman, says several people taking part in the flag-raising ceremonies were shot and others arrested by Indonesian security forces.
Video on YouTube has also shown flag-raising ceremonies being conducted in Papua on November 30.
Reverend Yeoman says security has been tightened, with increased numbers of police and military.
He says despite the violence he and his compatriots will continue their activities.
"We are here. How can they do this? We are the owners of this land. How can these outside people be coming in and killing, arrest and torture us continually?" he said.
Foreign journalists are not allowed into the region so it is difficult to verify the many reports coming from there.
Flag-raising ceremonies were held in a number of towns across Papua, while in Jakarta where Papuans in traditional dress marched through the streets of the capital.
Others ceremonies were held overseas in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Source: abc.net.au

President' calls for recognition of West Papua

01 December, 2011

President' calls for recognition of West Papua

Tom Allard, Jakarta :West Papua Independence

THE man anointed as the leader of an independent West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, says democratic countries that espouse human rights are hypocrites if they do not support the region's desire for self-determination.


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 Speaking by telephone from his prison cell in Jayapura, Mr Yaboisembut was unflagging in his optimism that West Papua will be independent from Indonesia one day, even though not one state in the world supports his aspirations.
He spoke as thousands of West Papuans in the troubled region yesterday commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first declaration of West Papuan ''independence''.
While there were fears of widespread violence, the occasion was relatively peaceful, except for the violent dispersal of a rally in Timika and an early-morning fracas between police and separatists near Jayapura. One policeman was killed and another badly injured, with arrow wounds.
According to Papuan student leader Markus Haluk, four people - two men and two women - were shot at the Timika rally and taken to hospital after the gathering was dispersed.
Mr Yaboisembut was proclaimed president of the ''Federal Republic of West Papua'' at the Third Papuan People's Congress, a gathering of indigenous Papuan delegates, on October 19. Within two hours of being anointed, he was beaten and arrested in a crackdown that left six people dead.
''I call on all nations that love democracy and human rights and respect international law to recognise the Papuan nation,'' Mr Yaboisembut told The Age.
Forkorus Yaboisembut
''All speeches made by world leaders about democracy and human rights are empty speeches because they allow the discrimination to take place against Papua in Papua.''
West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a highly controversial plebiscite involving about 1000 hand-picked tribal leaders.
The economic benefits from the resource-rich region have largely flowed to Jakarta, foreign corporations or migrants from other parts of Indonesia, creating further antagonism.
''The Papuan people have been marginalised, discriminated against,'' Mr Yaboisembut said.
''We have become minority in our own land. We are going to extinction.''
Asked about his own legitimacy given he was proclaimed president by a meeting of 1000 or so delegates, Mr Yaboisembut pointed to his role as chairman of the Papuan Customary Council since 2007. ''We applied the tribal mechanism,'' he said.
Facing up to 20 years in prison for treason, Mr Yaboisembut's future looks grim but he maintains West Papua will be free.
A declaration by Mr Yaboisembut demanding global recognition for an independent West Papua was read out at many rallies yesterday.
The banned Morning Star flag was raised in three towns but not at most events, including the biggest gathering, near the capital of West Papua, Jayapura.

01 December, 2011

Queensland Seruhkan untuk tindakan terhadap Papua

Queensland Government Sports Minister Judy Spence Brisbane. Photo: Tony Moore

Oleh: Sean Parnell
Dari: Australia
Source published: Theaustralian.com.au/news/
THE Parlemen Queensland telah meminta Indonesia untuk menyelidiki dan bertindak atas pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua.

Buruh pensiun veteran dan Amnesty International advokat Judy Spence menggunakan dari Parlemen terakhir semalaman untuk memanggil Indonesia untuk bertindak atas tuduhan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua Ketiga Rakyat Kongres pada bulan Oktober
lalu.

Di tengah laporan tentang bentrokan lebih jauh antara polisi Indonesia dan aktivis kemerdekaan Papua Barat, Ms Spence mengatakan kepada parlemen ia putus asa bahwa hak asasi manusia yang terjadi di banyak negara di dunia saat ini".
"Saya tidak berpikir kami mencari perbaikan," kata Ms Spence.

"Bahkan, saya pikir kita mengambil langkah mundur di banyak negara Jadi itu behooves kita semua untuk menjadi sangat waspada tentang standar hak asasi manusia di negeri kita sendiri dan negara kita sendiri tetapi juga untuk memperjuangkan penyebab internasional di setiap kesempatan.."
Partai Nasional Liberal MP Bruce Flegg didukung gerak, mengatakan "ada bukti yang cukup serius pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di depan pintu kami untuk membuat kami keprihatinan mendalam".

Dr Flegg meminta Indonesia untuk mengakui telah melakukan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia, menurunkan kehadiran militer di Papua Barat dan memungkinkan akses oleh para pengamat PBB dan wartawan masuk ke papua barat.

"Ini adalah bangsa (Indonesia) yang sangat dekat dengan kita," katanya.

"Dalam banyak hal, mereka adalah teman dari Australia dan saya pikir itu adalah benar dan layak bahwa parlemen Queensland dan Australia sebagai keseluruhan harus mendesak mereka untuk memperbaiki catatan hak asasi manusia di daerah ini. Ini adalah titik hitam bagi mereka. "

Queensland Seruhkan untuk tindakan terhadap Papua

01 December, 2011

Queensland Seruhkan untuk tindakan terhadap Papua

Queensland Government Sports Minister Judy Spence Brisbane. Photo: Tony Moore

Oleh: Sean Parnell
Dari: Australia
Source published: Theaustralian.com.au/news/
THE Parlemen Queensland telah meminta Indonesia untuk menyelidiki dan bertindak atas pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua.

Buruh pensiun veteran dan Amnesty International advokat Judy Spence menggunakan dari Parlemen terakhir semalaman untuk memanggil Indonesia untuk bertindak atas tuduhan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua Ketiga Rakyat Kongres pada bulan Oktober
lalu.

Di tengah laporan tentang bentrokan lebih jauh antara polisi Indonesia dan aktivis kemerdekaan Papua Barat, Ms Spence mengatakan kepada parlemen ia putus asa bahwa hak asasi manusia yang terjadi di banyak negara di dunia saat ini".
"Saya tidak berpikir kami mencari perbaikan," kata Ms Spence.

"Bahkan, saya pikir kita mengambil langkah mundur di banyak negara Jadi itu behooves kita semua untuk menjadi sangat waspada tentang standar hak asasi manusia di negeri kita sendiri dan negara kita sendiri tetapi juga untuk memperjuangkan penyebab internasional di setiap kesempatan.."
Partai Nasional Liberal MP Bruce Flegg didukung gerak, mengatakan "ada bukti yang cukup serius pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di depan pintu kami untuk membuat kami keprihatinan mendalam".

Dr Flegg meminta Indonesia untuk mengakui telah melakukan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia, menurunkan kehadiran militer di Papua Barat dan memungkinkan akses oleh para pengamat PBB dan wartawan masuk ke papua barat.

"Ini adalah bangsa (Indonesia) yang sangat dekat dengan kita," katanya.

"Dalam banyak hal, mereka adalah teman dari Australia dan saya pikir itu adalah benar dan layak bahwa parlemen Queensland dan Australia sebagai keseluruhan harus mendesak mereka untuk memperbaiki catatan hak asasi manusia di daerah ini. Ini adalah titik hitam bagi mereka. "