November 2015 West Papua Report

November 2015 West Papua Report is out: TNI embeds, fires and smoke, transmigration, Freeport, Melanesian gambit, more

CONTENTS

This edition's Perspective discusses the implications for West Papua for the Indonesian military's continuing effort to re-involve itself in civilian affairs.

Update summarizes the grave problems of toxic smoke from massive fires set by palm oil plantation developers and others across the Indonesian archipelago. For the first time, fires are taking place on a large scale in West Papua. Transmigration continues to undermine West Papuans. The lack of Papuan involvement in the controversial plan to extend Freeport's mining concession in West Papua is raising concerns. The Indonesian government'sMelanesian gambit meets resistance.

Chronicle announces two important new reports and calls attention to the special problems posed by military repression for Papuan women, We link to Democracy Now! coverage by  of President Widodo's visit to the U.S.  The Indonesian Perss Council derends press freedom in West Papua. Maire Leadbetter sees hope for West Papua.

Want to receive issues of the West Papua Report via email: send us a note.

Cartoonist's depiction of Indonesian government restrictions on media freedom and rights monitoring in Papua. Copyright 2015 Toni Malakian for Human Rights Watch.

Cartoonist's depiction of Indonesian government restrictions on media freedom and
rights monitoring in Papua. Copyright 2015 Toni Malakian for Human Rights Watch.

Read the September 2015 West Papua Report

September 2015 West Papua Report is available here.

CONTENTS

This edition's Perspective provides background on the widely-respected West Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma.

In the "Update" section, the prospects for President Joko Widodo to fulfill his promise to release political prisoner releases. General Hartomo who was convicted for his part in the killing of Papuan leader Theys Eluay has been promoted. Indonesian military personnel killed two and wounded more in Timika. Religious leaders and the Indonesian Human Rights Commission are among those demanding justice. Papuans Behind Bars reports on growing threats to human rights defenders in Wamena. A proposal by senior Widodo administration officials to tighten restrictions on journalists was aborted, but policy regarding journalist freedoms remains unclear notwithstanding a May pledge by President Widodo to loosen restrictions. Vanuatu reiterates support for West Papua as the Pacific Islands Forum prepares to meet. Jakarta has admitted inadequate support for air traffic in West Papua, in the wake of a costly air crash there.

In Chronicle the report highlights to a commentary by Pastor Neles Tebay who underscores the importance of communications among Papuans in addressing issues confronting Papuans. The leader of the Muslim community in Tolikara has emphasized the role of customary law in addressing the violence in that community in July. An excerpt from a forthcoming book describes the West Papuan campaign for MSG membership.

Mourners accompany the bodies of Yulianus Okoare and Herman Mairimau, victims of a recent
 shooting by members of the military to the cemetery Photo: Antara/Husyen Abdillah

West Papua Report coverage of West Papuan application for membership in the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) ETAN and West Papua Advocacy Team (and some friends) on the mining giant Freeport McMoRan Subscribe to ETAN's e-mail Listservs for news and views on Timor, West Papua and Indonesia Join ETAN, Sign up today!

June 2015 West Papua Report is now out!

read the issue here: http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2015/1506wpap.htm

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE examines Indonesia President Widodo's failure to follow through on his election promises concerning West Papua, as his policy changes are regularly contradicted by those charged with implementing them.

In UPDATE: Five political prisoners in Papua were released as the fate of the rest remains in question. Jokowi's opening of West Papua to foreign journalists will only be meaningful with explicit rules governing access. A Papuan charged with treason over his assistance to journalists in West Papua has been acquitted. New reports tell of torture of Papuan civilians and of security force assaults and mass arrests at peaceful Papuan demonstrations. Plans to establish a new military command in West Papua has met with opposition. A prominent human rights advocate has been threatened with prosecution over his reports of security force excesses. U.S. authorities have inexplicably revoked the visa of prominent Papuan leader Benny Wenda. Jokowi goes to PNG, as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) summit nears. Fiji groups attack their government's stance on West Papua.

In CHRONICLE: President Widodo is backing a major transformation of Papuan land through food plantations. which has prompted loud objections from local people for years. A palm oil supplier continues to destroy of Papuan forests. Global Day of Action's free expression demands remain unfulfilled.

Protester at April 29 Global Day of Action on Access to Papua. Photo by Tapol.

November West Papua Report is now out

This is the 127th 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 Indonesia Action Network (ETAN). Back issues are posted online at  http://www.etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Q

Read the full issue here; http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2014/1411wpap.htm. For additional news on West Papua see the reg.westpapua listserv archive or on Twitter.

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE looks at the controversial appointment of retired General Ryamizard Ryacudu as Defense Minister by President Joko Widodo. UPDATEreports on Widodo's initial comments on West Papua. He has pledged to pursue a more benign approach to the multiple economic, education and heath problems facing Papuans, but critics note his failure to acknowledge ongoing human rights problems there. Two French journalists who had been detained for alleged immigration violations were finally freed. Their arrest prompted widespread protest internationally and within Indonesia over efforts by Jakarta to limit international awareness of the repression in West Papua. The U.S. plans to expand cooperation with the Indonesian navy notwithstanding its role in the 1998 Biak massacre. The arrest of six Papuans and wounding of one has prompted armed rebel threats of new hostilities in the Central Highlands. A new project employs mapping to advance land rights protections. President Widodo has named the first Papuan woman to be an Indonesian government minister. The new Home Minister has pledged to pursue solutions to problems affecting minorities, but supports further division of Papua into more provinces. Legislation to end local voting for governors, mayors and district heads is stalled for now. In CHRONICLE, the report notes an outstanding analysis by Inside Indonesia which explores the devastating impact of HIV-AIDS in West Papua.

Sign ETAN"s Petition and spread the word.

Timor-Leste President TMR Urged to Veto Bad Media Law

Read more here.


On 6 May, after only three hours of specific debate, Timor-Leste's Parliament passed a law which would severely restrict Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and of the press. More than three weeks later, they have not yet sent the law to President Taur Matan Ruak. The President will have 30 days in which to sign or veto the law after he receives it.

Yesterday, La'o Hamutuk and other organizations wrote a letter urging the President to veto the law, "because it will harm democracy and human rights, restrict many people's rights to freedom of expression, and give power to a single group to issue a few licenses while limiting other people's rights to share information. We believe this violates Timor-Leste’s Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

The letter is online at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuTe.pdf , 
with an English translation at www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/LHLeiImprensa29MaiuEn.pdf . 
More information and analysis, including texts and translations of versions of the law, are at http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/14MediaLaw.htm .

ETAN supports the letter, and Lao Hamutuk welcomes additional endorsements for this letter, especially from organizations, and will provide a supplemental list to the President next week. Write us and we will forward the endorsements.

Timorese Journalist José Belo protests media law at a seminar in Dili.
Photo: Jornal Independente

U.S. State Dept briefing on Obama's trip

President Obama will be in Indonesia from June 14 according to Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero.

She held a press briefing yesterday. No questions touched on military assistance or Kopassus, justice and accountability, Papua or much else beside that the Indonesian people are overwhelmingly muslim. What's up with the State Department press corps?

  

Kopassus blocks Nairn from appearing on Indonesian TV

Indonesia's TV One cancelled an appearance after pressure from Kopassus by Allan Nairn to talk about his story about last year's killings by the Indonesian army in Aceh today. The Indonesian military has threatened to bring Nairn to court for his reporting, saying it is defamatory.

Nairn wrote:

As I was making my way to their studio for our agreed live interview on Indonesian armed forces (TNI) assassinations, I received a call with the news that TV One, the Indonesian national news channel, had canceled my appearance due to pressure from Kopassus....

Even though TV One had agreed to interview me alone for 15 to 30 minutes, they decided unilaterally -- without telling me -- that they would only let me on air if the Kopassus commander, Gen. Lodewijk was there to rebut me. 

I would have been glad to face and question the General, but the catch was that the General refused to face me. 

A week ago, METRO TV ended a scheduled half hour interview:

Within a couple of minutes I was pulled off the air. A producer came on the phone and acknowledged that I had just been "censored."

Sign ETAN's petition opposing U.S. training of Kopassus.

Reporting 1999 - Getting it wrong, getting it right

The article below, circulated to the east-timor list, contains many errors. Given China's large role in Timor-Leste, it worrisome that a reporter visiting Dili could get so many things wrong, both about current events and about history. I've interspersed some corrections below, and hope that anyone in contact with Xinhua or the journalist can pass them on.

-- Charlie


At 10:05 PM 8/13/2009, you wrote:

Timor-Leste to become role model for post-conflict countries: president

< http://www.chinaview.cn/index.htm>www.chinaview.cn

2009-08-13 19:46:52

DILI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta said here on Thursday that Timor-Leste will become a peaceful country that hopefully can be a role model for the countries that had been going through conflicts and violence in their history.

Speaking at a session to commemorate the referendum day on Aug.30, 1999 whose result split the territory from Indonesia, the president said that each citizen of Timor-Leste has the obligation to prevent the violence from occurring again.

The referendum did not "split" Timor-Leste from Indonesia, as it had never legally been part of Indonesia.

"It would be the test for all of us. I hope that peace will grow among us and develop well among the public," the president said.

With peaceful condition, the government and the people of Timor-Leste will have the chance to develop the country and bring prosperity to its people, Jose said.

Thousand of Timor-Leste people were killed during and after the referendum day following bloody conflicts committed by militants who supported the separation and the other one who supported to stay intact in Indonesian territory.

The great majority the more than 150,000 Timorese victims were killed during the first ten years following Indonesia's invasion in 1975, although about 1,400 more were killed during 1999. Nearly all of the victims were civilians or pro-independence people, while nearly all of the perpetrators were Indonesian military or police, or militia groups they created and directed. There were no "bloody conflicts committed by militants who supported the separation" during and after referendum day -- the massive mayhem and destruction during September and October was entirely done by Indonesian military and their militia proxies.

Timor-Leste also saw a tough crisis in 2006 that almost toppled down Jose Ramos Horta's presidency.

In 2006, Jose Ramos Horta was Foreign Minister. He became interim Prime Minister after the crisis toppled the Prime Ministership of Mari Alkatiri. Ramos-Horta wasn't elected President until mid-2007.

The referendum was the result of Indonesian and Portuguese governments' and was held to determine whether Timor-Least would remain as a part of Indonesia, as a Special Autonomous Region, or separate from Indonesia.

The referendum was the mechanism to implement Timor-Leste's legal and moral right to self-determination, as specified in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It was delayed by 24 years because of Indonesia's illegal invasion and occupation, which was never recognized by the international community.

The referendum was organized and monitored by the United Nations Mission in Timor-Least.

"Least"?

In 2002, Timor-Leste was declared as an independent country.

Timor-Leste declared its independence on 28 November 1975 Actual independence wasn't achieved until 20 May 2002, due to Indonesia's invasion and the lack of international political will before 1999 to do anything about it other than pass resolutions.

***********************************************************
Charles Scheiner - ETAN and Lao Hamutuk