Recent Statements by ETAN on Myanmar, LGBTIQ+ Pride in Timor and the Life and Death of Carmel Budiardjo

ETAN Honors LGBTIQ+ Pride in Timor-Leste

ETAN Celebrates the Life of Carmel Budiardjo,  Mourns  Her Passing

ETAN Calls for End to Military Coup and Repression in Myanmar

A call to action to defy Internet shutdowns and suppression of online political opinion on West Papua

----- Forwarded message from GreenNet Support -----
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2019 18:07:56 +0000
Subject: A call to action to defy Internet shutdowns and suppression of
political opinion online

   
GreenNet

Dear Friends,   

*Thursday 5 December 2019*
We'd like to ask you to share this report
    
<http://www.papuansbehindbars.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PBB-Jan-2018-Oct-2019-Nov2019.EN_.web_.pdf> as far and wide as possible, here's why:

On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd November 2019 GreenNet's website and most of our online services, including most of our customers' websites, went offline for several hours on two occasions. Our technicians became aware of the outage on Friday lunchtime and worked remotely and at our data centre until the small hours of Saturday morning to identify the fault and restore access to websites and emails.

By about 2AM on Saturday things were coming back online, but they went down again later that day. By then we had revised our initial diagnosis of a hardware problem, and as we checked though our logs and discussed with our upstream provider LDEX, we became aware that the outage was caused by a deliberate attack on our infrastructure. We tweeted updates as we worked to bring back our services at https://twitter.com/GreenNetISP


The attack was a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) which basically hammers away at our servers with millions of requests until they run out of capacity and become unavailable. The volume of traffic at one point was equivalent to our Data Centre's entire traffic with Google, which gives an idea of the scale of the DDOS - the impact on the Data Centre was significant enough that they also had to block access or "blackhole" a large amount of traffic.

Once we had got everything back up the and dust had settled we were able to carry out some forensic examinations of our servers and logs. We were able to glean strong circumstantial evidence that we believe shows that the target was an organisation that was publishing new research that weekend https://www.papuansbehindbars.org.

*This is the report that the attack was aimed at blocking:
**http://www.papuansbehindbars.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PBB-Jan-2018-Oct-2019-Nov2019.EN_.web_.pdf**
Now we'd like you to please disseminate it as widely as possible! *

We've been in contact with TAPOL https://www.tapol.org and SAFEnet
https://safenet.or.id/2019/08/keepiton-in-papua-and-west-papua, who work closely with PBB and in the region to promote human rights and to highlight the plight of political prisoners, as well as to challenge internet shutdowns.

Please promote their important work! We will be tweeting about this over the next few days, please retweet, boost and amplify the message, and #keepiton <https://twitter.com/hashtag/keepiton>!

Thanks from all of us at GreenNet, we'd also really like to say a big thank you to our customers for all your patience and support during and after the attack.

GreenNet, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA.
Tel (UK): 0330 355 4011 Tel (int'l): +44 (0)330 355 4011
Email: info@gn.apc.org <mailto:info@gn.apc.org>


----- End forwarded message -----

[Please note that ETAN is a supporter of Papuans Behind Bars (PBB). And as of the time we prepared to forward the message below, the PBB website was slow. If you cannot reach the PBB website, you can read the text of the PBB Jan-2018-Oct-2019-Nov2019 report here: https://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/reg.westpapua/2019-11/msg00035.html - or download the PDF here: http://etan.org/etanpdf/PBB-Jan-2018-Oct-2019-Nov2019.EN_.web_.pdf --John for ETAN]

Now out - April 2015 West Papua Report

Now out - April 2015 West Papua Report
Read report here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE provides a detailed overview of the Tolikara incident in which security force fired on a demonstration by Christian Papuans killed one and injured 11 others. The demonstrators then attacked a Muslim community, burning kiosks and a mosque. Years of government "transmigration" policies and neglect of Papuans have left West Papua a powder keg. Despite this, the local Tolikara community has come together to resolve tensions.In UPDATE: Pressure is growing on the Indonesian government to credibly investigate the December 14, 2014 murder of four West Papuans by security forces. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham) "Ad Hoc Investigation" has made little headway and competing security force investigations appear aimed at pressuring victim families to abandon efforts to force accountability. Negotiations between the Indonesian government and mining giant Freeport McMoRan have led to a six month extension of its license. Talks to renew its contract have not yet gotten underway and are essential if Freeport operations are to continue past 2021. There are growing calls to reduce security forces in West Papua.
In CHRONICLE: Demographic trends in West Papua which have seen the reduction of Papuans to the status of a minority in their own land. Renowned human rights campaigner Carmel Budiardjo calls into question the United Kingdom's cooperation with the Indonesian government. AWest Papua "embassy" was temporarily set up in Darwin. The Pacific Islands Forum was urged to put West Papua on its agenda.
 

Grasburg Mine in West Papua

Join #openpapua demonstration in 5 cities: NYC, London, Darwin, Perth, Edinburgh

Join #openpapua demonstration in 5 cities: NYC, London, Darwin, Perth, Edinburgh

Wednesday, April 29

Links are to each protest Facebook page

Darwin, Australia protest details here: http://tinyurl.com/l3yqseh
April 29 2015, 12:00 noon, outside the Indonesian embassy. For us here in Perth the address is 134 Adelaide Terrace East Perth.

Perth, Australia protest details here: http://tinyurl.com/ohfcqnp
April 29 2015, 12:00 noon, outside the Indonesian embassy. For us here in Perth the address is 134 Adelaide Terrace East Perth.

New York, USA protest details here: http://tinyurl.com/khcw8nu
Wednesday, April 29,  6:00 pm,
Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia
5 E 68th St, New York, NY 10065, New York, New York 10065

London, UK protest details here: http://tinyurl.com/nvkwqqg
Wednesday, April 29, at 12:00 noon
Indonesian Embassy 38 Grosvenor Square London W1
W1K 2 London, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland details protest here: http://tinyurl.com/nshfyrv
Wednesday, April 29, 12:00 noon at the Scottish Parliament, EH99 1SP

Demonstrations to Call for Open Access to Papua #openpapua

Demonstrations to Call for Open Access to Papua

End 50 years of isolation and Support free and open access to Papua.

April 29, 2015, 6 p.m.

Indonesian Consulate, 5 E 68th St. (near 5th Ave.) in Manhattan
(take #6 train to 68 St.-Hunter College stop; N, R, Q to 5th Ave/59th St.)

On April 29, demonstrations will be held in London and New York calling for an end to 50 years of isolation and free and open access to Papua. (The London protest will take place at noon, outside the Indonesian embassy, 38 Grosvenor Square) the New York protest will begin at 6 pm at the Indonesian consulate in Manhattan. 

Tapol, which initiated the protests, is organizing the London demonstration. ETAN is organizing the one in New York. Additional events may be organized elsewhere.

West Papua is one of the world’s most isolated conflict spots. For decades, indigenous activists campaigning for their rights have been arrested, disappeared, tortured and killed. Local journalists who uncover the truth face lethal risks. Foreign journalists trying to report on Papua have been arrested, deported and even imprisoned. One by one, international humanitarian organizations have closed their Papua offices. Access for UN human rights observers has been closed for eight years. Until Indonesia lifts the repressive restrictions on access to Papua, Indonesian security forces and paramilitaries are free to act with total impunity, and indigenous Papuans will continue to be killed.

Demonstrators will be wearing all-black clothing to protest the media blackout in Papua. They will be carrying placards, some of which will be ‘censored,’ and have their mouths taped shut.

Contact ETAN (etan@etan.org) or 917-690-4321 for more info.

• Facebook page for this event
• Facebook page for London event

Just out: West Papua Report June 2014: West Papua Report June 2014: Poverty and Discrimination, land rights, calls for UN action, Police training, more

Read issue here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE by renowned human rights campaigner Carmel Budiardjo provides a succinct overview of the history of Indonesian repression of West Papua and includes a focus on the special challenges facing Papuan women.

UPDATE highlights the intention of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission to focus on the plight of indigenous peoples, notably in West Papua. The Asian Human Rights Commission draws attention to police shooting of three Papuans in Nabire. The online activist network "Anonymous" has announced that it will focus on the plight of Papuans. A Pacific regional UN forum on decolonization was urged to consider the situation in West Papua. Indonesian President Yudhoyono's planned visit to Fiji illustrates Jakarta's efforts to undercut the broad appeal of the Papuan cause in the region. Religious activists are focusing on the exploitation of workers and their families by the oil palm plantation run by Sinar Mas. A New Zealand police training program in West Papua has been cancelled. The Australian government is urged to mitigate culpability for rights violations abroad.

CHRONICLE highlights "West Papua: No-One's Colony" by the Pacific Network on Globalization and May 14comments before the UN by Julianus Septer Manufandu, of the Papua Customary Council. A new illustrated, interactive eBook tells Papuan stories. Australian TV journalist broadcasts program on human rights in West Papua.

Freeport Mine 

West Papua Report November 2012: Malign Neglect, Health, Women, Protests Attacked

Perspective: Genocide in West Papua by Malign Neglect
Update

• Indonesian Security Forces Attack Peaceful Political Rallies Across West Papua
• KontraS Says Scores of Violent Acts Have "Engulfed" West Papua
• Military Sweep Operations Again Force Flight of Civilians
• Indonesia Fails to Meet Basic Papuan Health Needs
• The Need to Empower Papuan Women
• Indonesia Seeks to Deny Obligations to Indigenous by Claiming They Don't Exist

Chronicle

• Tapol: "Britain and Indonesia: Too close for comfort?"
• Survival International Condemns UK Plans to Honor Yudhoyono
• CSW: Indonesia Must Address Human Rights Violations
• Amnesty International: End Police Violence against Demonstrators in Papua
• End Violence against Papuan Journalists

Demonstrators protest SBY's visit to London at 10 Downing Street. Photo via Facebook.

ETAN, Groups Respond to Mystery List of Papua Supporters

A list is currently circulating on the internet which purports to list international supporters of the OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdek) in West Papua. A number of the organizations on the list - including ETAN - recently issued a statement. 


The list seems to confuse support for the rights of the people of West Papua with support for a particular West Papuan organization, the OPM. Our organizations work on issues and do not take sides among local organizations. We do this out of respect for the right of the Papuan people to organize themselves. 

Lists like these seek to blame others for problems created by the Indonesian government’s and security forces' own policies and actions.


see full statement here: http://etan.org/news/2012/07papua.htm

ETAN on Papua attacks, Freeport strike

UPDATE: Read U.S. Congressman Faleomavaega's letter to the Indonesian ambassador, which concludes "It is obvious the actions by the TNI and police are contrary to the commitments made by President Yudhoyono to solve the issues in West Papua in a 'peaceful, just, and dignified manner.'"

ETAN joined others in two recent statements on events in West Papua.


With Tapol and the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT), ETAN condemned the assault on the close of the peaceful Third Papuan Congress. The groups demanded the release of those arrested. The release - Indonesian crackdown on Papuan Congress sparks outrage - also included comments from Lord Avebury, Vice Chair of the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group and U.S. Congressmember Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS). Tapol's  Carmel Budiardjo said "The daily discrimination and violations experienced by Papuans are bad enough, but an attack of this nature on a democratic congress is an absolute outrage. ETAN is quoted as saying “The right to gather and speak out is a fundamental freedom, it doesn’t just disappear because the government doesn't like what is being said.”

Events are still unfolding with new information that at least six were killed in the Indonesian security force attack.

Some of the 100s arrested at Papua Congress.

In a separate statement WPAT and ETAN, expressed concern over 

"the escalating violence in the area of [Phoenix, Arizona]-based Freeport McMoran's massive gold and cooper mining operation located in the Timika-Tembagapura area of West Papua. Workers have been on strike since September 15 seeking higher wages on par with those that Freeport pays workers at its mines elsewhere. Freeport's response has been to stonewall, reject worker demands, and hire scab workers."

The groups said the U.S. government

should publicly emphasize its commitment to respect for worker rights in the context of the ongoing labor dispute. It should urge Freeport to negotiate in good faith with its workers. It is urgent that the U.S. government press the Indonesian government to forego the use of violence in addressing the current tensions in the area of the mining operation. The U.S. government also should investigate Freeport operations, especially actions taken by security forces at Freeport's behest to date. Finally, it is high time that the U.S. Congress undertake, including through committee hearings, a review of Freeport operations which have for decades undermined respect for the United States in Indonesia and West Papua.

Freeport strikers

UPDATE: Three more were shot dead at the mine on October 21.

Light Sentences for Rights Violators Spark Calls for Suspension of Aid to Abusive and Unaccountable Indonesian Military

Contact: Ed McWilliams (WPAT), +1-575-648-2078
Paul Barber (TAPOL) +44 1420 80153 or +44 774 730 1739
John M. Miller (ETAN) +1-917-690-4391

The West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT),  East and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and TAPOL condemn the Indonesian government's failure to hold Indonesian military personnel responsible for the grave crime of torture of two Papuans. The torture was revealed in a video posted online in October 2010 shocked the international community (http://www.etan.org/news/2010/10video.htm). Rather than try the perpetrators before a civilian court the Indonesian government allowed the Indonesian military to try the soldiers in a military court. On January 24, the Military Court in Papua sentenced three soldiers to minimal sentences of eight to 10 months imprisonment for the minor procedural offense of disobeying orders.

The Indonesian Government's refusal to prosecute the perpetrators in a civilian court and the failure to charge them with serious criminal offences commensurate with the violence inflicted on the victims reflect a longstanding pattern where security force personnel who commit heinous crimes against Papuans are inadequately punished, if they are punished at all.  For example, the special forces (Kopassus) personnel convicted by a military court for the torture-murder of the leading Papuan political figure, Theys Eluay, in 2001 similarly received sentences not commensurate with the crime. They were lauded publicly by a leading Indonesian military figure as "heroes." 

Unfortunately, Indonesia President's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in pre-sentencing public remarks described the torture, which included the burning of the genitals of a Papuan man with a stick pulled from the fire, as "only a minor incident."  This dismissal of the seriousness of the crime reinforces a pattern of impunity for security personnel.

WPAT, ETAN and TAPOL remain concerned  that Indonesia has  refused to make torture a specific offence under Indonesian criminal law, notwithstanding Indonesia's obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture which it signed in 1985 and ratified in 1998. We urge Indonesia to do so.

Indonesian military personnel, especially those operating in West Papua, which has seen the worst security forces abuse over the past decade, continue to perpetrate torture, rape, extrajudicial killings and other well documented abuses in part because they are aware they will never be effectively prosecuted for these crimes. By refusing to prosecute military offenders to the full extend of the law in civilian courts the Indonesian government is complicit in the military's continuing abuses.

The impunity long enjoyed by Indonesian security personnel for their criminal behavior stands in stark contrast to the severe sentences meted out to Papuans who assemble peacefully to protest decades of Indonesian government repression and the denial of essential services to the Papuan people. Dozens of Papuans have been imprisoned for years where, as described by UN reports, these peaceful  dissenters endure health and life threatening treatment and conditions.  Amnesty International and other reputable human rights organizations have identified many as "prisoners of conscience."

Government restrictions on travel to and within West Papua have long impeded the ability of the international community to monitor human rights and other developments. Indonesian security and intelligence forces within West Papua routinely shadow and obstruct the movement of the few international journalists and even diplomats who do manage to enter West Papua. Papuans who speak to these observers are often threatened and harassed.

The U.S. and other governments should act in a substantive way to end the continued abuses by Indonesian security forces against Papuans. The U.S., in particular, should exercise its significant leverage by suspending its extensive and expanding military assistance programs for Indonesia pending real reform of the Indonesian military. This reform should, at minimum, include an end to human rights violations by Indonesian military personnel,  as well as effective prosecution in civilian courts of military personnel who perpetrate abuses and with sentencing commensurate with the crimes. The U.S. should also make any resumption of military-to-military cooperation contingent on an end to Indonesian government restrictions on access to West Papua by independent journalists and other observers, as well as an end to Indonesian security and intelligence force intimidation of those Papuans peacefully advocating for their political and other human rights.

More generally, WPAT, ETAN and TAPOL appeal to the governments of the  United States and the United Kingdom and the European Union to promptly and publicly register with the Indonesian government their deep concern over what is only this latest example of decades of failed justice in West Papua.

  see also West Papua Report
U.S.-Indonesia Military Assistance