fPcN interCultural:

friends of Peoples close to Nature

This is the 51st in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans. This series is produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. This report is co-published by the East Timor and Indonesian Action Network (ETAN) Back issues are posted online at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com .

SUMMARY:
*A Respected International Medical Officer Describes Inadequate Health Care and Migration as Likely to Make Papuans a Minority in Their Own Land by 2011
*International Community Calls for Release of Peaceful Papuans Demonstrators Beaten and Arrested by the Police
* World Council of Churches Say Papuans Traumatized and Subject to Militarization
*A WPAT Member Who Visited the Tailings Wasteland Created by Freeport-McMoran Mine Rebuts the Operation's Propaganda about Successful "Reclamation" Efforts"
*A WPAT Alum Writes about the Need to Ensure a Role for Local Communities in Advocacy for the Environment
*Papuans Call for Halt on Development Schemes until Papuans Obtain Rights to Consider their Impact
*Forestry Firms Provide Little to Local Papuan Communities as They Destroy West Papua's Natural Resources
*Indonesian National Human Rights Commission to Investigate Abuses in West Papua Despite Government Opposition

Press Release
Police Beatings and Arrests at Flag-Raising
also:
Indonesia must release detained Papuans: rights group.

(New York, July 24, 2008) – The Indonesian government should immediately release more than a dozen Papuans detained for raising the Papuan "Morning Star" flag in Fakfak, a major city in western Papua, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the Indonesian government to launch an investigation into the excessive use of force by the Indonesian police, who beat and kicked the activists during the arrests on July 19, 2008.

In early July 1998 the small West Papuan island of Biak rejoiced. Rumours were circulating that President Clinton had officially recognised West Papua’s independence. Celebrations followed and the Morning Star flag was flown freely despite being a banned ‘separatist’ symbol.

Before dawn on Monday 6 July, after a night of revelry, a large group of young people slept near the town’s harbour. A mixed army unit drawn from four battalions approached and opened fire on these people as they slept.

This is the 50th in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans This series is produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. This report is co-published by the East Timor and Indonesian Action Network (ETAN) Back issues are posted online at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com.

SUMMARY:
*The West Papua Advocacy Team announces creation of the "John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award" and that the first winner of this annual award is legendary human rights defender Carmel Budiarjo, founder of TAPOL.
*Chronic Public Health Emergencies in West Papua Belie Claims of Special Autonomy Success.
*We Mark The Tenth Anniversary of The Biak Massacre with Personal Accounts by Two WPAT Members.
*Government Plans for Massive Highway Project Threatens Papuan Forests and Papuans Themselves.
*International Crisis Group Report Looks at Prospects of Communal Violence But in Recommendations Fails to Call for Justice and An End to Impunity for Security Forces.
Carmel Budiardjo Wins First "John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award."

"Anton was … beaten from the front and back [by Indonesian police and soldiers] until he fell down. They stamped on his body with their jack boots and then beat him.
PUNCAK JAYA – A bad day for Anton Asse (28 years old), a government official from the information and communication department, Puncak Jaya Regent’s Office. He was tortured by a police officer in Tingginambut on Wednesday (25/6/08).

TO A FREE WEST PAPUA

It is meaningful for a person to spend time writing and publishing reliable articles in order to raise and debate important issues. It is inappropriate, however, for a person to publish articles (whether it be in books, journals or on the internet) when the topic and the publication is not researched properly, providing inaccurate, misplaced or solely speculative data. This creates unsuitable grounds for interesting debates, rather forcing other parties concerned to correct mistakes and obviously wrong believes made by those who initiated the topic.

In this context the article by Mr. Lee Jones “Is West Papua being Eco-Colonised?” is a good example and makes it unfortunately necessary to rectify the lack of research and understanding by Mr Lee Jones regarding several aspects of his article.

Indonesian Military & Police’s alcohol business kills Papuans

* Illegal alcohol business run by Indonesian Military & Police
* Alcohol smuggled in on Indonesian military transports
* Hundreds of Papuans are victims of alcohol poisoning
* Regent’s wife is one of main illegal alcohol traders

(Tanah Merah [red earth], Boven Digoel is in the south of West Papua, near the PNG border)

http://maroke.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/bisnis-miras-tni-polri-di-boven-d...

“deeply concerned” by
“routine & widespread use of torture”
by Indonesia, “especially in Papua”
& “deeply troubled” that
Indonesian War Criminal Col. Siagian
is currently serving in West Papua

Report by the Environmental Investigation Agency & Telepak

Extract: Official complicity

For the full report, see:
http://www.eia-international.org/files/reports93-1. pdf

Companies involved in timber theft from Papua are aided every step of the way by officials from the military, police and forestry department, as long as the requisite bribe is paid.

Two Reports from the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)

on TORTURE by Indonesian Security Forces

1) UN Committee against Torture begins Review of Report of Indonesia (6 May 2008)

2) UN Committee against Torture hears Response of Indonesia (7 May 2008)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some extracts from the Review & from the Indonesian response (for the FULL REPORT see below) :

“During his recent visit to Indonesia, the Special Rapporteur on Torture had noted that torture is routine in Indonesian police stations.”

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.

From 1 December 2007 – 9 January 2008

Police arrest 36 people for flying the Morning Star Flag in Timika
On 1 December the police arrested at least 36 Papuans for flying the Morning Star flag in Kwamki Lama, district of Mimika Baru. Seven are due to be charged for the crime of makar (rebellion) at the district court.

Soldier tortures ELSHAM activist in Fakfak.
On 1 December a soldier named Ahmad Heremba, who is from the Babinsa command in Kramomonggo, 40 kms from Fakfak, is reported to have severely beaten Elias Kredenggo, 27 years old

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.

Thu, 11/22/2007 - 23:44 — The Lani Singers will be he guests of DJ Ritu on her World Music Show on BBC Radio London 94.9fm, on Saturday 2nd February 2008.

Tune in for the 2 hour long session from 8-10pm, and hear Benny and Maria Wenda talk about the plight of the West Papuan people, their struggle for freedom, and the importance of music in acting as a unifying bond amongst them and their fellowcountrymen. They will also be playing music live on air.