Sabtu, 11 Mei 2013

AMNESTY URGES PROBE INTO PAPUA ACTIVIST DEATHS


Amnesty urges probe into Papua activist deaths
Papuan activists rally in Jakarta to demand Papua independence.

Amnesty International has urged Indonesia to probe the deaths of three Papua independence activists who were gunned down as they protested 50 years of Jakarta's control over the restive region.

Two men were killed last week at an anti-government rally in Sorong, western Papua, and a woman died in hospital on Tuesday from gunshot wounds sustained at the protest, according to Amnesty and witnesses.

Those in attendance said police had opened fire on the peaceful demonstration. However, police deny shooting the activists and say they fired over protesters' heads in retaliation for being attacked.

Indonesian authorities must "set up a comprehensive and independent investigation into allegations of unnecessary use of firearms by security forces during the protests," said Isabelle Arradon, Amnesty's Asia-Pacific deputy director.

"Failure to take action will send a message that the security forces in Papua operate above the law," she added in a statement late Thursday.

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay also expressed concern over the deaths.

The shootings happened on April 30 as protesters gathered to mark 50 years since Papua was placed under Indonesian control by the UN, witnesses told an AFP journalist.

Isak Klaibin, the brother of the female victim Salomina Klaibin, 37, who was also at the demonstration, said protesters were gathering peacefully when police opened fire.

He told AFP at the scene: "There was going to be no raising of the (separatist) flag, nor reading of documents about the (rebel) movement" at the service.

"But as we were gathering, we were surprised to suddenly hear gunshots."

Abner Malagawak, 22, and Thomas Blesia, 28, died at the scene.

However, Papua police spokesman Gede Sumerta Jaya denied police had shot the activists, saying: "The shots were aimed upwards, it was self-defence because (we were) attacked."

Jaya said Salomina Klaibin was a lieutenant in the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), and her brother was part of a local separatist group. He said police confiscated rifles and ammunition from the scene of the protest.

Violence occasionally erupts in Papua -- the western half of New Guinea island in Indonesia's extreme east -- where separatists have for decades fought a low-level insurgency on behalf of the mostly ethnic Melanesian population. – Sapa-AFP. 

Jumat, 10 Mei 2013

WEST PAPUA: SHOOTING AND ARRESTS ATTACK ON HUMAN RIGHTS

West Papua: Shootings and Arrests Attack On Human Rights


West Papua: Shootings and Arrests Attack On Human Rights
Shooting peaceful protesters in West Papua and arresting a radio host for comments made on a talkback show are clear attacks on human rights by Indonesia, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
“Indonesia is showing little progress towards answering serious and long-running concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.
 “In this case, the right to peaceful protest as a freedom of expression was again denied through us of lethal force and arbitrary arrest.”
Two protesters were reportedly killed and three seriously wounded in the district ofSorong as police and security forces cracked down on peaceful protests on 1st May across West Papua, marking 50 years of Indonesian rule.
An unconfirmed number were arrested.
In a separate incident since then, police also arrested a radio journalist hosting a talkback show where callers criticised the performance of a local official.
PFF supports comments from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who expressed serious concerns over the crackdown on mass demonstrations across Papua.
In a UN statement, Pillay said: "These latest incidents are unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and excessive use of force in Papua. I urge the government of Indonesia to allow peaceful protest and hold accountable those involved in abuses."
Her office reported receiving 26 alerts since May 2012 on human rights abuses, including 46 killings and cases of torture, “many” involving state officials.
PFF also supports comments reported from Independent Journalist Alliance, AJI, that any complaints against journalist should be handled under press laws.
PFF co-Chair Monica Miller praised work by AJI and civil society networks in exposing continual human rights abuses in West Papua.
“Without their calm work in often hostile environments, the outside world may never get to hear of historic and ongoing killings, torture and arrest.”
“These latest incidents illustrate the dismal failure by authorities in Jakarta to ensure constitutional equality across the republic.”
PFF calls for the withdrawal of charges against the journalist, and his immediate release.
PFF also calls for independent review of the process by which security forces deal with freedoms of expression, including peaceful protests.
ENDS

TEXTYOUR SAY: FREE WEST PAPUA OFFICE


Text your say: Free West Papua office

Papua brouhaha: A group of people from the National Youth Guard rally outside the British Embassy in Central Jakarta to protest at the opening of Free West Papua office in Oxford, UK. The protesters urged the British government on Tuesday to close the separatist group office. (Antara/Dhoni Setiawan)Papua brouhaha: A group of people from the National Youth Guard rally outside the British Embassy in Central Jakarta to protest at the opening of Free West Papua office in Oxford, UK. The protesters urged the British government on Tuesday to close the separatist group office.(Antara/Dhoni Setiawan)
Your comments on the government’s statement objecting to the establishment of the Free West Papua office in Oxford, UK, on April 28, although the UK government said it did not represent the country’s policy.
Indonesia is not Indonesia without Papua. Objecting the establishment of the so-called Free West Papua office in Oxford, UK, will not solve the problem.

Providing Papuans with infrastructure and increase the prosperity of its people will help ease the situation and win its people’s hearts. After all they are still our countrymen. It is our country’s duty to provide all of its countrymen with the equal chance of prosperity.

AJ Lienardi

Bandung

So, what’s the difference between Aceh’s flag and the West Papua’s office — here the flag is legal a court chief says – and there an office is strongly objected according to the government.

Charlotte Woerner
Ubud

The UK government is well within its rights to permit a West Papua office on its land. We should not read too much into this.

Manohar Virmani
Jakarta

It will be final when West Papua has won freedom from their colonialists. The Dutch handed a colony to Indonesia.

As an example the Germans had to hand the colony of Papua New Guinea to Australia who then later gave the colony (it was a colony under Australian rule) independence.

Do you not see the same parallel with East Timor? And they at least are the same race of people.

Brien

If the United Nations would say when and if or how Papua became part of Indonesia then there would be overseas support. Will President Yudhoyono ask the UN to do that?

Andrew Johnson

Indonesia we should unite. These people don’t care about you! They are the same lords that sell opium. They and their spy friends are always lurking to split the country into two or three. It’s time to ban British goods from Indonesia, time to bring our children home from the country.

Alibaba
It is news we really don’t like. But do not waste our energy on the matter. Look back and see what’s good have we done to the province and what other things do they have not got but really need. Have we done enough for their well-being?

Eddy Arjuna Zainy


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