fPcN interCultural:

friends of Peoples close to Nature

This is the 54th 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:
* International Parliamentarian Group (IPWP) Concerned about West Papua Convenes in London
* Peaceful Papuans Beaten, Detained for Welcoming Launch of IPWP; Indonesian Parliamentarians Protest Launch
* Papuan Religious Leaders Call for Dialogue between Papuans and Jakarta over Fraudulent 1969 "Act of Free Choice"
* Greenpeace Calls for Moratorium on Logging in West Papua*
* The Failure of TNI "Reform"
* U.S. Academic Testimony to US Congress Regarding Impact of Freeport Operations on The Papuan People

A month-long blockade of logging roads by indigenous people in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia set to protest illegal logging on their communal lands is about to be broken up by police.

More than 100 indigenous Kenyah people gathered at the blockade site on the upper Moh River on the island of Borneo claim that the blockade is their only way of calling on representatives of the Samling Timber Company and government authorities to have a consultation and meet with them to listen to their problems and demands.

Wed, 02/21/2007 - 11:53 — Dewa Adat Biak, West Papua

Jakarta criticised on Papua rights - 2 reports

At least 18 people in Indonesia's Papua province are serving jail sentences for peacefully expressing political views, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says.

The rights group said several Papuans had been jailed in recent years for their peaceful support for self-determination for the province.

Opposition to Indonesian rule in Papua has simmered since Jakarta took over from Dutch colonial control in 1963.

An official in Papua denied anyone had been jailed for peaceful protest.

Hundreds of people have rallied in Port Moresby to urge Pacific leaders meeting there to take West Papua's case for independence from Indonesia to the United Nations.

Activists for the cause of Melanesians in the Indonesian province on Papua New Guinea's western border, also wanted the Pacific Islands Forum to admit West Papuan delegates as observers.

But they have been barred from this week's meeting.
As forum leaders met in a hotel, West Papuan independence supporters rallied peacefully on the beach below to hear speeches and display West Papuan flags.

30 September 2005, Around 12 pm the first people were already present getting prepared for the Free West Papua demo which was organised by “stichting Pro West Papua”. Mr. Benny Wenda of the “Chair of DeMMak (The Koteka Tribal Assembly)” International Lobbyist in the UK for a Free West Papua and Mr. Richard Samuelson of the Free West Papua Campaign (www.freewestpapua.org) were also present at Malieveld, The Hague.
Between 1.30 and 2 pm the protest rally started and right from the beginning the Melanesian Soul was present which made sure it would be a passionate but peaceful protest.

FOLLOWING THE PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY A COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CHURCH AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS YESTERDAY (16 DEC) ON THE DETERIORATING SITUATION OF THE HIGHLANDS OF WEST PAPUA, TODAY (FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2004.MORE THAN 500 WEST PAPUANS OCCUPYING THE WEST PAPUAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN JAYAPURA, THE CAPITAL OF WEST PAPUA.

Yesterday, December 9th 2004, there was picket line in front of the Peace Palace in The Hague from 12.00 – 15.00 hour. There was gathering of Indigenous People, Speaking 4 Earth.

We have handed out some copies of the Puncak Jaya SOS message, that was forwarded by f P c N interCultural.

West Papua protest at the Peace Palace in the Hague

It was a good day.

West Papuans & Solidarity Activists in Holland

December 1, 2004 - VIOLENCE has flared in the capital of Indonesia's troubled province of West Papua as security forces moved to break up a flag-raising ceremony by independence supporters, a Sydney-based human rights monitor said today. Five people were shot and wounded and at least 18 people arrested as 100 police dispersed the gathering at Trikora soccer field in Adepura, a suburb of Jayapura, just before 4.00pm (AEST) today, John Rumbiak, international spokesman for the Papuan human rights group Elsham, said.

1st December 2004 Indonesian Embassy, London - As darkness fell over London a group of Papuan supporters held a candle lit vigil outside the Indonesian Embassy in Grosvenor Square. The Morning Star flag was raised in solidarity with our West Papuan brothers and sisters in their struggle to establish an independent free and just homeland. A letter concerning the current situation in the Puncak Jaya District of West Papua was officially handed to an embassy representative.

Letter of protest is delivered to Indonesian Embassy

Mr. Eddy Pratomo,
Deputy Chief of Mission,

Kia ora,
this message is to let you know that some photos of the W Papua solidarity events on 1 December here in Aotearoa -New Zealand are now online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wp011204.htm
Having solidarity events in three cities is a record for here I think. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Peace Movement Aotearoa (PMA)
the national networking peace organisation
PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173 email pma@xtra.co.nz
PMA website - http://www.converge.org.nz/pma