fPcN interCultural:

friends of Peoples close to Nature

Latest CONFIRMED information received on situation inside is as follows. This is a follow on to the previous media alerts on the demonstrations in West Papua to call for referendum.

*Abepura*

At 1000 AM East Indonesia time, MONDAY MARCH 3, West Papuan students and political figures were gathering in Abepura to demand a referendum and dialogue with Indonesian government.

AFTER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE; VOW DEMONSTRATIONS UNTIL INDONESIA LISTENS TO WEST PAPUANS

*JAYAPURA, WEST PAPUA, MARCH 5 2008*

WEST PAPUAN leaders calling for a Referendum on the future of West Papua who were arrested by Indonesian Police for “spreading hatred against the government”, have been released without charge from Police Regional Headquarters this afternoon.

Thu, 12/06/2007 - Dear all friends of West Papua,

I just want to say a big THANK YOU on behalf of my people to all of you for your solidarity and support for Freedom & Justice for West Papua!

On Friday, our West Papua Independence Day demo outside the Indonesian Embassy in London and our March for Justice to BP & Rio Tinto was the biggest ever! Because so many of you were with us you helped show all the world that we Papuans are not alone in our struggle any more.

Mon, 02/26/2007 - 06:12 — Sentral Info AMP, West Papua

JAKARTA (JP): An international human rights watchdog has accused the Indonesian government of detaining Papuan activists for their political views.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report, which was made available to The Jakarta PostY on Wednesday, that dozens of activists in Papua have been detained by theauthorities for expressing their views and raising the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) separatist flag.

Activists Still Punished For Peaceful Expression

(Jakarta, February 21, 2007) – At least 18 Papuans are serving sentences in Indonesian jails simply for peaceful acts of freedom of expression and opinion, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Such imprisonment violates international law and Indonesia’s international legal obligations.

Sat, 02/10/2007 - 11:18 — Dewa Adat Biak, West Papua

Six West Papuan Student activists from the Student and Civil Society Coalition Concerned about Human Rights in Papua (Koalisi Mahasiswa dan Masyarakat Peduli HAM di Papua) were arrested, detained & later released by Indonesian Police during a demonstration of about 60 people outside the front of the Provincial Parliament in Jayapura on Tuesday 6 February 2007.

Sat, 02/10/2007 - 11:12 — Dewa Adat Biak, West Papua

Six West Papuan Student activists from the Student and Civil Society Coalition Concerned about Human Rights in Papua (Koalisi Mahasiswa dan Masyarakat Peduli HAM di Papua) were arrested and detained by Indonesian Police during a demonstration of around 60 people outside the front of the provincial parliament building in Jayapura on Tuesday the 7th of February 2007.

Dear friends, I just got a telephone call from West Papua saying that Jonah Pengu Wenda was arrested by the Indonesian Police at 9.30 am Papua time yesterday morning, Thursday 30 June 2005 in Abepura (Trikora football field) with two other students. They are all now in Jayapura Police station (Polres Jayapura).

TOLIKARA INCIDENT: PURE MANIPULATION BY INDONESIAN MILITARY ARMED FORCES
A. The burning of School and District buildings
The burning of school and district buildings in Wunin village, Tolikara regency on 21st January 2005 which was reported by local media, Cenderawasih Pos and which was put on the headlines during 24, 25 and 26 January is a pure manipulation by the Indonesian military armed forces.

The news through local media, Cenderawasih Pos was the military armed forces efforts to do a public denial in order to influence public opinions especially the native Papuans.

URGENT: phone prisoners ASAP and especially on Tues 21st Dec when there will be a mass phone in...

THEY HAVE REFUSED TO EAT AND TALK - "They accused the police of breaking their promises and treating the people brutally" Elsham news service - Jayapura, 4 December 2004 - Two prisoners (pro-independence activists), Philip Karma (47) and Yusak Pakage(26) who have been arrested since 2nd of December 2004 at 15.30 West Papua Time(WPT) are reported to have been on a hunger strike. They have refused to eat and talk to the police and whoever comes to visit them.

The 86 members of Sengwer an ethnic minority hunter-gatherers arrested last Thursday were charged of felony by Kitale court on friday and each given bond of Kshs 2000. By Saturday in the afternoon only one person was still in the police cell in Kapenguria.

We are pleased to announce the release of the following 8 prisoners from Abepura prison the other day. They were being held after re-arrest in connection with the 6th October 2000 Wamena case. In a brief phone call they thanked everyone who has supported them and sent letters and cards to them, which they said helped save their lives... 1.. Edi Marian, 2.. Frans Huby, 3.. Herry Kosay, 4.. Joel Wenda, 5.. Timanus Kogoya, 6.. Yohakim Huby, 7.. Agus Surabut, 8.. Isak Wenda.

Unfortunately the following four are still being held in Abepura in connection with the same case: