Japan's military commander Gen. Ryoichi Oriki visited the Kopassus headquarters on June 2, 2010. The Kopassus put the visit on their home page with a photo.
Gen. Ryoichi Oriki greets Kopassus commander Maj. Gen. Danjen Lodewijk F. Paulus.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Japan to engage Kopassus?
ETAN has learned that Japan may intensify cooperation with Indonesia's notorious special forces troops. This is something the U.S. still refuses to do, because of Congressional opposition among other reasons. This is an issue that ETAN has long been working on.
Japan's military commander Gen. Ryoichi Oriki visited the Kopassus headquarters on June 2, 2010. The Kopassus put the visit on their home page with a photo.
If anyone has more information about Japanese cooperation with the Indonesian military, especially Kopassus, let us know.
Japan's military commander Gen. Ryoichi Oriki visited the Kopassus headquarters on June 2, 2010. The Kopassus put the visit on their home page with a photo.
Friday, June 18, 2010
New Kopassus Number 2 helped form militia in East Timor in 1999
The Masters of Terror (MOT), which mispells his name as Wioyotomo Nugroho, says he served as SGI intelligence head in 1998 and possibly early 1999 in East Timor, where took "an active role in setting up the militia," SGI centers served as torture houses during the Indonesian occupation.
James Dunn in a report to the UN wrote that Nugroho "exercised a key responsibility in the TNI/militia command structure and his role be much worse than 23 years ago.’ Militia witnesses allege that he issued orders to kill. Is accused of sexual attack on Timorese woman.'
Allan Nairn told the U.S. Congress on September 30, 1999, that "Nugroho, who was the on the ground coordinator for the militias in the initial months of their operation," was a graduate "of U.S. IMET and intelligence training."
This is the complete MOT entry follows
WPAT: Concerns about operations in Puncak Jaya Region of West Papua
from the West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT)
Reports from the Puncak Jaya region, inside the central highlands of West Papua, indicate that Indonesian security forces, principally the militarized police ("BRIMOB"), have launched actions against the small, armed Free Papua Movement (OPM). In May, security force spokespersons warned that if the local OPM leader, Goliat Tabuni, did not surrender by June 28, major operations would be launched to capture him and his small force. Notwithstanding that deadline, it appears that major operations are already underway. The Indonesian government announced in mid-June that additional BRIMOB personnel were being dispatched to the region.
According to reports from the field, the operations have already caused large numbers of civilians to flee to other villages or into the surrounding forests. Specifically, thousands of people are reportedly hiding in forests, notably some from the Tingginambut Distirct; other residents of Tingginambut District have fled to Kuyawagi Astir, Tiom, and Lani Districts. Civilians from the Districts of Yambi, Agandugume, and Ilaga Peak have fled to Majesty Towogi District.
These civilians, in particular those who have fled to the forests, face health and possibly life threatening conditions including lack of access to food, adequate shelter, and medical services. In the past such "sweeping operations," Indonesian security forces prevented provision of humanitarian assistance to these besieged populations.
Reports from the field also tell of security forces targeting of civilians through widespread arrests, also:
The WPAT urges those concerned about these operations to contact their members of Congress and the administration to urge that the U.S. government press the Indonesian government about the urgency of meeting the humanitarian needs of the people in this region and to express concern about military and police acts against civilians.
There have been growing Papuan calls, including by the Papuan Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD), to pursue negotiations rather than a "security approach" as a means of resolving tensions in the region. Indonesian officials have publicly discussed a release of Papuan political prisoners.
Those concerned about the growing violence in West Papua should also urge the Congress and the administration to press the Indonesian government to reduce tensions in West Papua through humanitarian steps including:
Reports from the Puncak Jaya region, inside the central highlands of West Papua, indicate that Indonesian security forces, principally the militarized police ("BRIMOB"), have launched actions against the small, armed Free Papua Movement (OPM). In May, security force spokespersons warned that if the local OPM leader, Goliat Tabuni, did not surrender by June 28, major operations would be launched to capture him and his small force. Notwithstanding that deadline, it appears that major operations are already underway. The Indonesian government announced in mid-June that additional BRIMOB personnel were being dispatched to the region.
According to reports from the field, the operations have already caused large numbers of civilians to flee to other villages or into the surrounding forests. Specifically, thousands of people are reportedly hiding in forests, notably some from the Tingginambut Distirct; other residents of Tingginambut District have fled to Kuyawagi Astir, Tiom, and Lani Districts. Civilians from the Districts of Yambi, Agandugume, and Ilaga Peak have fled to Majesty Towogi District.
These civilians, in particular those who have fled to the forests, face health and possibly life threatening conditions including lack of access to food, adequate shelter, and medical services. In the past such "sweeping operations," Indonesian security forces prevented provision of humanitarian assistance to these besieged populations.
Reports from the field also tell of security forces targeting of civilians through widespread arrests, also:
- A church in Kayogwebur district Tingginambut has been taken over as headquarters for the BRIMOB. Local people unable to worship there.
- Local people are forced to do labor tasks for Indonesian military.
- In the district of Kampong Tinggineri Tingginambut, a pregnant woman was raped by BRIMOB personnel in the first half of June.
- 12 houses and 2 churches have been burned by security forces in Gwenggu Pilia.
- In Pos Nalime Tingginambut District residents have been forced to clear their gardens and prepare landing positions for military helicopters.
- On June 11, BRIMOB conducted a residential sweep search of all houses on the road between Ilu and Mulia, detaining anyone without identification, putting them on Army trucks. (Most local people do not have ID and now afraid to leave their homes. As a result, gardens are untended and local commerce is crippled.)
The WPAT urges those concerned about these operations to contact their members of Congress and the administration to urge that the U.S. government press the Indonesian government about the urgency of meeting the humanitarian needs of the people in this region and to express concern about military and police acts against civilians.
There have been growing Papuan calls, including by the Papuan Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD), to pursue negotiations rather than a "security approach" as a means of resolving tensions in the region. Indonesian officials have publicly discussed a release of Papuan political prisoners.
Those concerned about the growing violence in West Papua should also urge the Congress and the administration to press the Indonesian government to reduce tensions in West Papua through humanitarian steps including:
- release Papuan prisoners of Conscience (Amnesty International has identified over 30 such prisoners);
- open a senior level, internationally monitored dialogue between the Central Government and Papuans as called for by leading Papuans officials and civic leaders.
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Upcoming ETAN Events in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, CA
A Luta Continua... The Struggle Continues...
Two events for EAST TIMOR
Tuesday June 22, 2010
7:00-9:00pm
at the Resource Center for Nonviolence
515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Friday June 25, 2010
6:30-8:30pm
at the United Presbyterian Church
112 E. Beach Street, Watsonville
Speakers: Curt Gabrielson, Director Watsonville Science Workshop, previous instructor at National University of Timor-Leste and Pamela Sexton, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network
On May 20th, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor) celebrated its 8th anniversary as a sovereign nation. A survivor of 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule and 25 years of an internationally-supported genocide, Timor-Leste is the newest and poorest nation in Asia. It continues to face huge challenges to genuine independence including struggles to defend its rights to offshore oil reserves, to protect itself from the debt trap, and to develop curriculum that is not simply neo-colonial drivel.
Come learn more about current issues in Timor-Leste from two locals who spent last year in Timor-Leste and will soon return to work with grassroots organizations. Curt will be providing teacher training in hands-on culturally relevant science and math; Pamela will be working with a national women's organization and a solidarity organization that monitors international players in Timor.
This is a free event co-sponsored by IF and the Pajaro Valley Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Tax-deductible donations to support Curt and Pam's work in Timor-Leste can be made out to IF (write "Timor-Leste" on check.) For more info, call Pam at 831-724-8051.
Two events for EAST TIMOR
Tuesday June 22, 2010
7:00-9:00pm
at the Resource Center for Nonviolence
515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Friday June 25, 2010
6:30-8:30pm
at the United Presbyterian Church
112 E. Beach Street, Watsonville
Speakers: Curt Gabrielson, Director Watsonville Science Workshop, previous instructor at National University of Timor-Leste and Pamela Sexton, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network
On May 20th, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (East Timor) celebrated its 8th anniversary as a sovereign nation. A survivor of 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule and 25 years of an internationally-supported genocide, Timor-Leste is the newest and poorest nation in Asia. It continues to face huge challenges to genuine independence including struggles to defend its rights to offshore oil reserves, to protect itself from the debt trap, and to develop curriculum that is not simply neo-colonial drivel.
Come learn more about current issues in Timor-Leste from two locals who spent last year in Timor-Leste and will soon return to work with grassroots organizations. Curt will be providing teacher training in hands-on culturally relevant science and math; Pamela will be working with a national women's organization and a solidarity organization that monitors international players in Timor.
This is a free event co-sponsored by IF and the Pajaro Valley Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Tax-deductible donations to support Curt and Pam's work in Timor-Leste can be made out to IF (write "Timor-Leste" on check.) For more info, call Pam at 831-724-8051.
Monday, June 7, 2010
KontraS's Usman Hamid on assistance to Kopassus and the Indonesian military
If the US does restore all aid to Kopassus, without concrete and meaningful preconditions, it would be a disaster for Indonesian human rights. Aid which is not meant just for Kopassus, but also for the TNI, the State Intelligence Agency, and the Ministry of Defense should be carefully tailored to exert maximum pressure to put structural reforms in place that can ensure accountability and civilian control.He continues:
Accountability for past crimes is not a separate question from military professionalism and human rights protection in present-day Indonesia. Kopassus has been implicated in major crimes such as the Wamena tortures in 2001 and the assassination of Papuan leader Theys Eluay in 2001, as well as recent reports of the assassination of Aceh political activists in 2009. These occurred under democratic governments, precisely because Kopassus has never been held accountable.Vetting is not the answer.
The Obama administration has indicated that it only intends to give aid to officers and soldiers who have passed human rights “vetting”. But this procedure only operates on an individual basis, and does so ineffectively. It is not possible to know the names of all these who have pulled the trigger, and, in any case, the disappearances, tortures and murders are not the result of individual soldiers running amok.
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