Konflik Papua: Human Rights Watch Soroti Persoalan Akses 14 June 2012 12:45

Kerusuhan Perum III (foto jubi)

JAKARTA–Human Rights Watch mendesak pemerintah Indonesia membuka akses penuh untuk media internasional termasuk ahli hak asasi manusia  Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa  untuk memantau pelanggaran HAM dan meminimalisir informasi yang keliru soal Papua.

Wakil Ketua Komite Nasional Papua Barat Mako Musa Tabuni diduga ditembak di otak belakang oleh aparat keamanan sehingga meninggal dunia hari ini. Aksi itu memicu massa membakar sejumlah tempat di Jayapura, Papua.

Aktivis HAM Papua Markus Haluk mengatakan saat itu Mako tengah memakan pinang bersama dengan empat rekan lainnya dan mengetahui kedatangan aparat pada sekitar pukul 09.30 WIT. Mako kemudian menghindari mereka, namun akhirnya ditembak aparat.

“Tidak ada surat pemanggilan sama sekali terhadap Mako. Aparat kalau ingin tembak, tembak saja sekarang seperti preman. Ini bukan penegakan hukum,” ujar Markus ketika dikonfirmasi Bisnis, Kamis 14 Juni 2012.

Dia juga mengatakan setelah kejadian itu sejumlah anggota KNPB dan mahasiswa melakukan pembakaran terhadap sejumlah tempat karena marah dan memprotes insiden tersebut. Penembakan terhadap  Mako dilakukan di daerah putaran taksi Universitas Cendrawasih-Perumnas III, Waena Jayapura.

Saat ini, sambungnya, aparat juga tengah melakukan penyisiran di lokasi terkait dengan kejadian tersebut. Menurut Mako, para anggota KNPB dan mahasiswa pun sudah kembali ke tempat mereka masing-masing.

Direktur Deputi Asia HRW Elaine Pearson mengatakan pemerintah Indonesia seharusnya mengizinkan media asing dan kelompok masyarakat sipil untuk memasuki Papua untuk melaporkan terjadinya praktik kekerasan dan pelanggaran HAM. Selain itu, organisasi tersebut juga mendesak agar Indonesia menerima permintaan Dewan HAM PBB untuk  mengundang para pakar HAM organisasi dunia tersebut.

“Dengan menempatkan Papua di balik tabir, pemerintah Indonesia tengah menumbuhkan impunitas untuk pasukan militer dan kebencian dari orang-orang Papua,” kata Pearson dalam rilis media pada Kamis, 14 Juni 2012. “Pemerintah sebaiknya membiarkan media dan kelompok sipil menerangi provinsi tersebut.”

Dia menuturkan pemerintah Indonesia telah gagal menghukum para pihak yang bertanggung jawab atas kekerasan yang baru-baru ini terjadi di Papua.

Peristiwa pada 6 Juni lalu, bermula dari dua anggota TNI Infanteri (Yonif) 756/WMS saat melewati Jalan Raya Hone Lama, Distrik Wamena, Jayawijaya dan menabrak anak kecil. Berdasarkan laporan persekutan gereja, keduanya kemudian berusaha menghindari kemarahan orangtua dari sang anak namun akhirnya terlibat perkelahian.

Seorang anggota TNI yang bernama Pratu Ahmad Sahlan mati di tempat karena mengalami luka tusuk di dada tembus jantung. Sementara anggota TNI bernama Serda Parloi Pardede dalam keadaan kritis karena pukulan benda keras di seluruh bagian tubuh dan sedang dirawat di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Wamena.

Aksi pembalasan dari pasukan TNI Batalyon 756 kemudian dilakukan sangat brutal dan tak terkendali dengan menyerang, menyiksa, membunuh dan melukai warga sipil  dan membakar rumah.

HRW juga meminta agar Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono tidak mencari-cari alasan lagi atas kegagalan pemerintahannya melakukan investigasi.  Pearson mengatakan dengan mengizinkan akses penuh ke Papua, akan meminimalisir romor dan misinformasi yang memicu pelanggaran.

HRW juga mengingatkan tentang permintaan sejumlah negara dalam perhelatan the Universal Periodic Review PBB pada Mei, terkait dengan pembukaan akses penuh Papua dan mengundang Reporter Khusus.  Sejumlah negara itu adalah Inggris, Perancis, Austria, Chile, dan Korea Selatan.

“Beberapa negara menyatakan kekhawatirannya di Dewan HAM PBB soal kegagalan Indonesia untuk mengundang ahli dari PBB,” ujar Pearson.  ”Jika Indonesia ingin dianggap serius, maka tidak seharusnya mengabaikan permintaan tersebut

Indonesia: Dialog Uni Eropa Harus Tekan untuk Kemajuan Hak Asasi Manusi

Angkat Kebebasan Beragama dan Ekspresi Politik Damai

 "Dialog Uni Eropa-Indonesia harus lebih dari pernyataan token hak asasi manusia, tetapi harus mendiskusikan langkah-langkah konkret untuk mengatasi intoleransi agama meningkat dan pembatasan pada kebebasan berekspresi di Indonesia. Dialog ini harus menjadi wake-up call bagi Indonesia untuk melindungi agama minoritas terhadap meningkatnya kekerasan dan diskriminasi.Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director "

Papuan Human Rigth (HRW)

 (New York)-Uni Eropa harus menekan Indonesia untuk bertindak melawan intoleransi religius tumbuh dan untuk melepaskan semua tahanan politik selama dialog hak asasi manusia Uni Eropa-Indonesia pada tanggal 3 Mei 2012, Human Rights Watch hari ini.

"Dialog Uni Eropa-Indonesia harus lebih dari pernyataan token hak asasi manusia, tetapi harus mendiskusikan langkah-langkah konkret untuk mengatasi intoleransi agama meningkat dan pembatasan pada kebebasan berekspresi di Indonesia," kata Elaine Pearson, wakil direktur Asia Human Rights Watch. "Dialog ini harus menjadi wake-up call bagi Indonesia untuk melindungi agama minoritas terhadap meningkatnya kekerasan dan diskriminasi."

Berwenang Indonesia telah gagal untuk merespon meningkatnya insiden kekerasan massa diarahkan oleh kelompok-kelompok Islam militan terhadap kelompok agama minoritas di Jawa dan Sumatera, termasuk Ahmadiyah, Kristen, dan Muslim Syiah. Pada tahun 2011, kelompok-kelompok Islam menyerang anggota komunitas agama Ahmadiyah dan masjid mereka di 14 lokasi. Bahkan dalam beberapa kasus kekerasan yang telah mengakibatkan penuntutan, pemerintah seringkali gagal untuk mengisi semua yang terlibat, dan hukuman yang dijatuhkan telah sangat ringan.

Pihak berwenang juga telah menggunakan hukum 1965 penghujatan dan hukum pidana tentang pencemaran nama baik untuk menuntut anggota kelompok minoritas agama, yang melanggar hak-hak dasar mereka. Beberapa anggota kelompok minoritas sekarang menghadapi persidangan pidana di bawah hukum-hukum ini meliputi:
 

    Tajul Muluk, seorang ulama Syiah, yang ditangkap pada 13 April 2012, kini diadili di Pengadilan Negeri Sampang, Jawa Timur, untuk menghujat (hukuman penjara sampai lima tahun) dan pemerasan oleh fitnah yang mengancam di bawah 335 pasal dari KUHP ( maksimum satu tahun) untuk tuduhan "ajaran menyimpang." Pada tanggal 1 Januari Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) dalam Sampanghad mengeluarkan fatwa yang menjelaskan ajaran Tajul Muluk sebagai "menyimpang."
    Sebuah Alexander, seorang PNS yang diduga menjadi ateis, ditangkap pada 18 Januari dan sekarang diadili di pengadilan distrik Sijunjung, Sumatera Barat, untuk menghujat dan menghasut kerusuhan publik (hukuman penjara sampai enam tahun) di bawah Informasi dan Elektronika Transaksi Hukum untuk beberapa posting dari akun Facebook-nya.
    Hasan Suwandi, penjaga masjid Cipeuyeum Ahmadiyah di Cianjur, kini diadili di Pengadilan Negeri Cianjur, Jawa Barat, untuk pencemaran nama baik pidana berdasarkan pasal 310 KUHP (hukuman penjara sampai dua tahun). Polisi membawa biaya setelah pernyataan Hasan dibuat untuk koran Radar Banyumas di mana ia menuduh bahwa polisi Bojongpicung kepala, Hafidz Iskandar, telah memberi izin bagi sebuah masjid Ahmadiyah harus dibuka kembali.
     
Human Rights Watch sebelumnya telah mendokumentasikan bagaimana pidana pencemaran nama baik hukum di Indonesia memungkinkan orang kuat, termasuk pejabat publik, untuk membawa tuntutan pidana terhadap aktivis, wartawan, konsumen, dan lain-lain yang mengkritik mereka, dan telah meminta Indonesia untuk mencabut undang-undang tersebut. Tuduhan pencemaran nama baik pidana telah diajukan terhadap individu setelah mereka mengadakan demonstrasi publik memprotes korupsi, surat tertulis kepada editor mengeluh tentang penipuan, pengaduan resmi terdaftar dengan otoritas, dan menerbitkan laporan berita tentang subyek sensitif. Namun tren baru adalah penggunaan hukum pidana pencemaran nama baik menargetkan agama minoritas. 

Badan Koordinasi Pengawas Aliran Kepercayaan Masyarakat (Badan Koordinasi Pengawas Aliran Kepercayaan Masyarakat atau Bakorpakem) yang terletak di kantor Kejaksaan Agung, memberikan jalan hukum bagi para pemimpin agama untuk tekan untuk penuntutan tokoh agama minoritas. Forum ini secara aktif mendorong polisi untuk mengisi Tajul Muluk, Hasan Suwandi, dan Alexander An. Uni Eropa harus menyerukan kepada pemerintah Indonesia untuk meninjau peran investigasi dari Bakorpakem dan untuk biaya yang akan dijatuhkan terhadap Tajul Muluk, Alexander An, dan Hasan Suwandi.
Meskipun konstitusi Indonesia yang melindungi kebebasan beribadah, berbagai hukum dan ketetapan pemerintah membatasi kebebasan itu dan telah berani untuk menargetkan kelompok-kelompok Islam agama minoritas, Human Rights Watch. Tekanan dari kelompok ini, berani karena keputusan pemerintah membatasi pembangunan rumah ibadah, dalam beberapa tahun terakhir telah menyebabkan pemerintah setempat untuk menutup ratusan gereja Kristen dan puluhan masjid Ahmadiyah. Bahkan dalam kasus di mana Mahkamah Agung telah memerintahkan otoritas setempat untuk membuka kembali gereja-gereja - seperti kasus sebuah gereja Presbyterian di Bogor, dan gereja HKBP Filadelfia di Bekasi - pemerintah daerah telah sering menolak untuk mematuhi keputusan pengadilan. Uni Eropa harus mendesak Indonesia untuk mencabut dekrit tahun 1969 dan 2006 pada rumah ibadah, tahun 2008 anti-Ahmadiyah keputusan, dan keputusan provinsi dan bupati berbagai berlaku setelah keputusan nasional di tahun 2008. 

"Orang-orang dituntut kiri dan kanan untuk memegang keyakinan agama minoritas, dan gereja-gereja dan masjid yang ditutup," kata Pearson. "Uni Eropa harus publik dan pribadi menyerukan kepada pemerintah Indonesia untuk mengambil tindakan dan menghentikan penuntutan agama minoritas."
Indonesia saat ini memenjarakan hampir 100 aktivis dari Maluku dan Papua untuk secara damai menyuarakan pandangan politik, mengadakan demonstrasi, dan mengibarkan bendera separatis. Tahanan ini biasanya dihukum karena pengkhianatan (makar) dan "menghasut kebencian" (haatzaiartikelen). Tahanan politik saat ini meliputi Filep Karma hamba Papua mantan sipil (15-tahun penjara jangka di penjara Abepura) dan Maluku petani Ruben Saiya (20-tahun penjara istilah di Nusa penjara Pulau Kambangan). Pada bulan November 2011, PBB Kelompok Kerja untuk Penahanan Sewenang-wenang mengeluarkan pendapatnya bahwa pemerintah Indonesia telah melanggar hukum internasional dengan menahan Filep Karma, dan menyerukan segera dibebaskan. 

Uni Eropa harus mendesak pemerintah Indonesia untuk segera membebaskan tanpa syarat semua tahanan politik yang diselenggarakan untuk ekspresi damai dari pandangan politik mereka. Beberapa tahanan, seperti Filep Karma,, 53 dan Ferdinand Waas, 64, memiliki masalah kesehatan yang parah dan telah menerima perawatan medis yang tidak memadai. Uni Eropa juga harus mendorong pemerintah Indonesia untuk memberikan perawatan kesehatan yang memadai bagi semua tahanan. 

"Indonesia telah membuat kemajuan besar dalam membangun kembali perekonomian dan memperkuat demokrasi, tetapi etnis minoritas di Papua dan Maluku tampaknya ditinggalkan dari perubahan di negara itu," kata Pearson. "Uni Eropa harus mengingatkan pemerintah bahwa menganiaya aktivis politik damai adalah sebagai salah sekarang seperti di masa lalu.
Sumber: http://www.hrw.org/news/
Berita Terkait : EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue

Human Rights Watch Mengutuk Pemerintah RI atas Putusan Hukum aktivis Papua

Forkorus Yaboisembut, pemimpin suku Papua (foto dok)

New York,--Human Rights Watch (HRW) yang berbasis New York telah mengutuk pemerintah Indonesia karena membiarkan keyakinan lima aktivis kemerdekaan Papua, Jumat, mengatakan keyakinan bertentangan kebebasan konstitusional berekspresi.

Jayapura Pengadilan Negeri dihukum lima pria aktivis dan menghukum mereka tiga tahun penjara karena pro-kemerdekaan pernyataan yang dibuat di Rakyat Papua Ketiga Kongres di Kecamatan Abepura pada Oktober tahun lalu.

Lima pria Selpius Bobii, aktivis media sosial, Agustus Sananay Kraar, seorang PNS, Dominikus Sorabut, pembuat film, Edison Waromi, mantan tahanan politik, dan Forkorus Yaboisembut, pemimpin suku Papua.

Sebuah tindakan keras oleh aparat keamanan Indonesia selama protes damai Oktober menewaskan tiga orang dan 90 lainnya terluka.

"Human Rights Watch tidak mengambil posisi pada klaim untuk menentukan nasib sendiri di Papua," kata HRW dalam pernyataan pers, Jumat.

"Konsisten dengan hukum internasional, bagaimanapun, Human Rights Watch mendukung hak setiap orang, termasuk pendukung kemerdekaan, untuk mengekspresikan pandangan politik mereka secara damai tanpa takut ditangkap atau bentuk-bentuk pembalasan."

Kelompok ini menyarankan amandemen KUHP Indonesia "untuk memastikan bahwa tidak ada orang yang dituntut karena pengkhianatan untuk melaksanakan hak mereka untuk protes damai dilindungi dalam konstitusi Indonesia dan hukum internasional."

Hal ini juga mengkritik kurangnya sanksi terhadap 17 petugas polisi yang diduga terlibat dalam tindakan keras kekerasan, dengan mengatakan mereka hanya diberikan peringatan tertulis, tanpa tindakan lebih lanjut diambil terhadap mereka untuk kemungkinan penyalahgunaan kekuatan.

"Human Rights Watch kembali menuntut agar pemerintah Indonesia untuk membebaskan semua tahanan politik dan mengizinkan organisasi-organisasi hak asasi manusia dan wartawan asing tanpa hambatan akses ke Papua," katanya menambahkan.

Menanggapi teguran tersebut, juru bicara kepresidenan Bahasa Indonesia Teuku Faizasyah mengatakan pemerintah pusat tidak akan campur tangan dalam proses hukum di Papua, mengatakan bahwa lima narapidana mungkin menarik bagi pengadilan yang lebih tinggi jika tidak puas dengan putusan.

"Sistem politik kita hari ini menghormati sepenuhnya trias politica dan proses hukum yang sedang berlangsung. Masih ada ruang bagi narapidana untuk meminta hukuman yang lebih ringan, atau kebebasan; mekanisme hukum yang ada memungkinkan untuk itu, "katanya dalam sebuah wawancara telepon dengan The Jakarta Globe.

Faizasyah menambahkan bahwa kebebasan berbicara tidak berlaku untuk kegiatan separatis, dengan alasan negara anggota Uni Eropa yang mengklasifikasikan separatisme sebagai bentuk terorisme.

"Setiap ekspresi separatisme di Uni Eropa dengan demikian dianggap sebagai tindakan terorisme."

Faizasyah mengatakan bahwa petugas keamanan terbukti bersalah atas tindakan keras Oktober kekerasan yang sebenarnya menerima sanksi yang tepat. Ia mengatakan, pemutusan hubungan kerja perwira itu adalah hukuman sosial yang cukup dengan menolak mereka hak mereka untuk pendapatan.

"Itu akan menjadi pelajaran baik untuk petugas keamanan kami yang lain untuk menghormati hak asasi manusia, karena kini telah menjadi bagian dari kurikulum militer kita," kata Faizasyah.

Obama Didesak Soroti Aksi Kekerasan di Papua

Preseden AS, B. OBAMA (foto APF)

Washington - Presiden Amerika Serikat Barack Obama didesak untuk menyoroti lemahnya akuntabilitas pasukan keamanan Indonesia di Papua. Lemahnya akuntabilitas selama ini mengakibatkan terus berlanjutnya tindak kekerasan dan pembunuhan di sana.

Desakan itu disampaikan oleh Human Rights Watch, lembaga penggiat hak asasi manusia yang bermarkas di Washington, Amerika Serikat, secara tertulis kepada Obama, Rabu 16 November 2011.

Obama akan berkunjung ke Indonesia untuk mengikuti Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi ke-19 ASEAN dan Konferensi Asia Timur di Nusa Dua, Bali, 17-19 November 2011.

Menurut Deputi Direktur Asia HRW, Elaine Person, Obama harus meningkatkan perhatiannya terhadap aparat penegak hukum Indonesia yang menghukum orang-orang yang menyampaikan pandangannya secara damai mengenai politik, agama, dan lainnya di Papua dan kepulauan Maluku.

HRW mencatat, lebih dari 100 orang ditahan atas penyampaian pendapat mereka secara damai dan bebas. Termasuk mantan pegawai sipil asal Papua Filep Karma yang dihukum 15 tahun penjara setelah mengumumkan kemerdekaan Papua pada Desember 2004 lalu.

"Obama harus memberikan perhatian bahwa selama pasukan yang melakukan kekerasan diganjar hukuman hanya beberapa bulan di penjara sementara aktivis perdamaian dihukum bertahun-tahun, maka Papua tidak akan pernah percaya pada hukum di Indonesia," tutur Pearson.

Pearson mengatakan Obama harus mendesak Yudhoyono untuk mulai memenangkan kepercayaan masyarakat Papua dengan membebaskan tanpa syarat semua tahanan politik.

Obama, kata Pearson, harus menekankan bahwa hak asasi manusia merupakan tantangan utama di Indonesia seperti penyerangan terhadap kelompok penganut agama minoritas, hambatan dalam penyampaian pendapat secara merdeka, dan lemahnya akuntabilitas pasukan keamanan yang menimbulkan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia khususnya di Papua.

Keep Papua, Do not Fear Violate Human Rights

Front Pembela Islam

Jakarta (SI ONLINE) - To defend the land of Papua from the Republic of Indonesia's lap, the government asked to not be afraid violate Human Rights (Human Rights). "No need to fear is also at the International Criminal Court (ICC)", said former Chairman of Legal Aid Foundation, Munarman, Kemenhan Office, Jakarta, Friday (23/12/2011).

The reason, said Munarman, as long as the United States is actually the most widely violated human rights. Even when prompted Munarman expressed his willingness to defend the state when brought to the Court of Human Rights.

Treat as opposed to human rights, further Munarman, actually done by the enemies of this country. DPP Chairman Nahi Munkar FPI field is pointed out, in Papua MER-C makes health clinic but were not given permission. Yet this effort to preserve and maintain Papua.

"AFKN Papua moving to maintain even accused the Christians have done Islamisation", continued Munarman.

Munarman shows there are researchers from Human Rights Watch (HRW), based in New York, Andreas Harsono, who continuously make the internationalization of human rights issues in Indonesia. "I have the proof, this man had invited foreign journalists to come to Indonesia. He said there will be something", beber Munarman.

Meanwhile, in the same occasion, one of the administrators DDII Center, Zahir Khan, accused Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group (ICG) also intervenes in a number of problems in Indonesia. "People like this should be deported from Indonesia. First is, why now left free to mess up the country", said the former diplomat said.

Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence

Title	Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence
Publisher	Human Rights Watch
Country	Indonesia
Publication Date	28 October 2011
Cite as	Human Rights Watch, Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence, 28 October 2011, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4eb253d42.html [accessed 20 December 2011]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher.

Here: UNHCR Publisher

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should immediately establish an independent investigation into the deaths of at least three protesters and the ongoing violence in Papua, Human Rights Watch said today.

On October 19, 2011, Indonesian police and the army fired warning shots to disperse approximately 1,000 Papuans gathered for a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura, after one of the leaders read out the 1961 Papua Declaration of Independence. In an ensuing crackdown by the security forces on the demonstrators, at least three people were killed and dozens were injured. Witnesses said several had gunshot wounds.

“Papuans peacefully calling for independence does not justify a deadly crackdown,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to show Papuans that he’s concerned about their rights by seriously investigating these deaths.”

The involvement of security forces in the violence, as well as government denials of any wrongdoing, demonstrate the need for an independent investigation, Human Rights Watch said. While the military announced that the National Police were investigating the incident, the government has already said that the police and military acted appropriately. “The government did not find any abuse of power nor mismanaged approaches by the security officers,” said presidential spokesman, Julian Aldrin Pasha. “Police officers and security forces just accomplished their duties mandated by the state.”

Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that at about 2:30 p.m. on October 19, at the “Third Papuan Congress,” Forkorus Yaboisembut, chairman of the Papuan Customary Council, read out a 1961 Declaration of Independence, and said that he and Edison Waromi, the president of the West Papua National Authority, had been elected by the Congress as president and prime minister respectively of the “Democratic Republic of West Papua.”

About 30 minutes later, the event concluded and the crowd started to disperse, but about 1,000 people remained in the field, talking, and socializing. At approximately 3:30 p.m., the police and military, who had deployed anti-riot trucks and surrounded the field since midnight the night before, began firing military assault weapons over the crowds and into the air.

Witnesses said that most of the people in the field began running. Others stopped and surrendered, putting their hands up. The police then arrested approximately 300 people, ordering them to strip down to their underwear. Witnesses say that security forces pistol-whipped or beat those they arrested with rattan canes and batons, resulting in several injuries.

Many others fled into the woods near the field, with some using a road by a nearby school and military outpost. Witnesses said the police and military forces followed into the woods and there arrested numerous others.

The three reported deaths are:

• Daniel Kadepa, 25, a law student at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Hukum Umel Mandiri. A witness said that Kadepa died from gunshot wounds to the head after soldiers fired on him as he was running away.
• Max Asa Yeuw, 35, a member of the Penjaga Tanah Papua (Papua Land Guard or PETAPA).
• Yakobus Samansabra, 53, a member of PETAPA, had bullet wounds to his torso, reportedly in the back.

Several other PETAPA members had gunshot wounds.

Indonesian security forces should abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, Human Rights Watch said. These which call upon law enforcement officials, including members of the armed forces, to apply nonviolent means before resorting to the use of force, to use force only in proportion to the seriousness of the offense, and to use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable, to protect life. The principles also provide that governments shall ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense under their law.

Police have since released all of those arrested except for six men, five of whom were charged with treason, and one charged with possession of a sharp weapon:

• Forkorus Yaboisembut, chairman of the Papua Customary Council, probably the most prominent pro-independence leader in Papua. Documents from Indonesia’s special forces, or Kopassus, leaked by Australian media in August, have revealed that Yaboisembut was on the top of the military’s watch list. Kopassus reportedly placed informants around Yaboisembut, including his neighbors and a journalist.
• Edison Waromi, president of the West Papua National Authority.
• Dominikus Surabut, secretary of the Papuan Customary Council in La Pago region.
• Selpius Bobii, a social media activist, who organized the Papuan Congress. He eluded the police crackdown, but surrendered to police on October 20, accompanied by his lawyers and a Papuan journalist.
• August M. Sananay of the West Papua National Authority.
• Gat Wanda, a member of PETAPA, charged with possessing a sharp weapon.

The six men have had access to lawyers. Human Rights Watch has previously documented torture and ill-treatment of political detaineesby police and prison guards in Papua, and the failure of the government to hold those responsible to account.

“Past mistreatment of Papuan political prisoners means the safety of these detainees is also at risk,” Pearson said. “Those detained should be treated fairly and have access to Indonesia’s human rights commission and local human rights groups.”

This incident follows a string of violent incidents in Papua since July, including:

• On July 31, a deadly clash between two local Papuan groups in Puncak Jaya, Papua, that claimed 17 lives. Leaders of both groups were planning to run for office for the same political party.
• On August 1, the fatal shooting of three Javanese migrants and an Indonesia soldier, in Nafri, Jayapura. Police later arrested 15 Papuan villagers, including several children, in Horas Skyline village, Jayapura, allegedly beating and kicking the detainees. All but two of those detained have been released without charge.
• On August 3, the fatal shooting of Pvt. Fana Suhandi, a member of the Army 753^rd Battalion, as he guarded a military post in Tingginambut in Puncak Jaya. A sniper shot at a military helicopter that had arranged to transport his body from Puncak Jaya.
• On August 22, in Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya, the fatal shooting by a sniper of an unarmed motorcycle taxi driver near a post of the Army 753^rd battalion. Media reports say the victim may have been an army informer.
• On August 23, Army Capt. Tasman M. Noer was stabbed to death by two men as he rode his motorcycle in broad daylight near his home in Abepura. A witness to the attack was beaten and hospitalized later the same day.
• Since October 10, the killings of at least four people at the Freeport mine site in Timika, southern Papua. More than 2,000 workers stopped work in July and again in September demanding wage increases. Freeport has replaced workers on strike with other miners. On October 10, one of the striking workers was killed by police and several others injured. Several police officers and two journalists were also injured in the melee. Unidentified gunmen shot dead three non-Papuan workers on October 14.
• On October 24, two unidentified men shot dead Mulia police chief, Dominggus Oktavianus Awes, in Mulia, Puncak Jaya. The men seized his pistol and used it to shoot him in the face.

Police investigations into these incidents have lacked transparency, and it has been difficult to gather information about the progress of investigations. Police efforts to hold the killers accountable have been frustrated by a lack of serious investigations, equipment, and manpower. In some areas, police have not gone to the crime scene or collected evidence due to concerns for their safety.

Documenting human rights violations during protests and other events is especially difficult because of restrictions, since 1962, on access to Papua for foreign human rights monitors and journalists. Human Rights Watch called on the Indonesian government to lift these restrictions. Human Rights Watch takes no position on the self-determination of the Papuan people.

“Police and military personnel have also been the victims of violence in Papua,” Pearson said. “But police investigations have been woefully inadequate, and there’s a need for independent investigations into this escalating violence.”

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

 Published: http://www.hrw.org/news/

Dear Minister Rudd,

Re: Promoting respect for human rights in Papua

We are writing because 1 December 2011 marks the 50^th 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

Exodus in Papua amid fears of crackdown

Karlis Salna, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent

Human rights groups have called for Australian monitors to be allowed into Papua amid reports people are fleeing parts of the Indonesian province due to fears of another violent crackdown on pro-independence rallies planned for next week.
This source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news
In a joint letter to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Human Rights Watch and the Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre have called for Australian embassy staff to be deployed to the restive Indonesian province to monitor events on December 1.

Large numbers of people are expected to gather in cities and other areas in Papua on Thursday for rallies to mark an unofficial independence day and the 50th anniversary of the first raising of the Morning Star flag.

The flag has been adopted by the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) and is regarded as a symbol of independence in the province which has been racked by a surge in violence over the past six months.

However, the Indonesian government considers the raising of the flag an act of treason.

At least three protesters were killed and another 90 people injured last month when Indonesian police and military stormed a pro-independence rally in Abepura after the raising of the Morning Star flag.

Video of the aftermath of the rally, broadcast on Australian television, also showed police beating unarmed protesters, including children.

As many as 300 people were arrested.

A spokesman for the pro-independence group, the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), has told AAP that large numbers of people have begun leaving Jayapura and Manokwari in Papua, fearing a backlash from security forces at rallies planned for Thursday.

As Indonesia remains off limits to foreign journalists, the report could not be confirmed.

In the letter to Mr Rudd, Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Law Centre raise concerns about the likelihood of a repeat of last month's violence as well as the use of excessive force by the police and military.

The letter calls on Mr Rudd to urge the Indonesian government to allow full and free access of journalists to Papua and to deploy Australian embassy staff to monitor and observe events on December 1.

The human rights organisations say there should also be a full and impartial investigation into the deaths and injuries, and allegations of excessive use of force by the authorities, arising from the demonstration in Abepura on October 19.

But the letter also criticises the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty who had described the actions of the protesters at the rally as provocative.

"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," the letter said.

Mr Moriarty, however, had also pointed to the response by Indonesian security forces as being disproportionate.

The letter to Mr Rudd also questions Australia's funding and training of Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism squad Densus 88, members of which were among the security forces present at the rally on October 19.

"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 two human rights organisations said.

Indonesia has been battling a long-running but low-level insurgency since its takeover of Papua in 1969.

However, the security situation has deteriorated in recent months with the province experiencing its worst violence in years.

Figures from Indonesia's Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence show at least 40 people have been killed as a result of the violence since the beginning of July.