Call in this week! Support Human Rights in West Papua

ETAN Action ALERT

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

This week the House subcommittee on Asia will hold hearing on West Papua (Wed, September 22, 3 pm, 2172 Rayburn House Office Bldg., broadcast online via WEBCAST link at http://www.hcfa.house.gov/)

Can't come to hearing please take this simple step to support human rights and justice.

Call your representative in Congress. Urge him or her to co-sponsor H. Res. 1355, The resolution, submitted by Rep. Patrick Kennedy urges the government of Indonesia to improve  human rights in West Papua.

Prisoners of Conscience like Filep Karma and others may spend many years in prison in Indonesia for peacefully raising a flag. Indonesian assaults on freedom of expression and abuse in its prisons are well-documented. A year ago, the Indonesian government expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross in West Papua.

What YOU can do:

Call your Representative today. Urge her/him to co-sponsor House Resolution 1355 supporting human rights in Indonesia's West Papua. A copy of the Resolution is below.

When you call, ask to speak to the foreign affairs legislative assistant. The Congressional switchboard number is 202-224-3121 (ask for the office of your Representative), or check www.congress.org for contact information. To sign on to the resolution, the office should contact Daniel Murphy in Rep. Patrick Kennedy's office (5-4911).

Your call can make the difference.  Please keep us posted of the results of your calls by writing to etan@etan.org. Go here to check on current go sponsors. Be sure to thank your representative if she or he is on the list. Please spread the word on Facebook and elsewhere. Support ETAN's work by donating today. Thank you!!

Sample e-mail and talking points:

Dear Rep. xxxx,

1. The U.S. Department of State, UN investigators and human rights organizations have documented threats to freedom of expression and dire prison conditions in the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua.

2. The government of Indonesia must demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by releasing people convicted for peacefully expressing their political views, improving prison conditions, and allowing access to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

3. The U.S. Congress needs to be a strong advocate for human rights in Indonesia and elsewhere. Representative Kennedy's resolution is an opportunity for members to express their commitment to the rule of law and freedom of expression in Indonesia. This can only strengthen democracy.

4. The Congressmember can support human rights by co-sponsoring House Resolution 1355 by contacting Dan Murphy in Rep. Patrick Kennedy's office.

You can also e-mail your member of Congress on the Resolution via Amnesty International USA.

House Hearing on West Papua - Wednesday, September 22, 2010

On Wednesday, September 22, at 3 p.m. (room 2172, Rayburn House Office Bldg), the Asia, the Pacific and the Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on West Papua. Come support those testifying. A number of Papuans are coming to DC for the hearing and, in addition to the hearing, will be going to meeting on Capitol Hill. If you can help with these meetings. please let us know.

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING NOTICE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515-0128

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA, THE PACIFIC AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D-AS), Chairman

You are respectfully requested to attend an OPEN hearing of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, to be held in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building (and available live, via the WEBCAST link on the Committee website at http://www.hcfa.house.gov):

DATE:  Wednesday, September 22, 2010

TIME: 3:00 p.m.

SUBJECT: Crimes Against Humanity: When Will Indonesia's Military Be Held Accountable for  Deliberate and Systematic Abuses in West Papua

WITNESSES:

Panel I

Mr. Joseph Y. Yun

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary

Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

U.S. Department of State

Mr. Robert Scher

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia

Asian and Pacific Security Affairs

U.S. Department of Defense

Panel II

Pieter Drooglever, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Institute of Netherlands History

Mr. Octovianus Mote

Founder, West Papua Action Network

President, Papua Resource Center

Mr. Henkie Rumbewas

International Advocate

Australia West Papua Association (AWPA)

Mr. Nicholas Simeone Messet

West Papua

Mr. Salamon Maurits Yumame

Head of FORDEM (The Democratic Forum)

S. Eben Kirksey, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor

The Graduate Center

The City University of New York

Sophie Richardson, Ph.D.

Asia Advocacy Director

Human Rights Watch

NOTE: Witnesses may be added

Kampanye Nonkekerasan

War Resisters International's Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns is now available online in Indonesian. Download it as a PDF or read it online chapter by chapter.

DAFTAR ISI

- Pengenalan

• Kata Pengantar Direktur WMC
• Kata Pengantar -Demokrasi, Civil Society Dan Nonkekerasan
• Tentang Buku Panduan Ini Dan Cara Menggunakannya
• Apa Nonkekerasan itu dan Mengapa Menggunakan Istilah Tersebut?
• Bagaimana Aksi Nonkekerasan Bekerja?
• Pelatihan Aksi Nonkekerasan
• Anda dan Kelompok Anda
• Sejarah Penggunaan Aksi Nonkekerasan
• Studi Kasus: Pelatihan Aksi Nonkekerasan Selama Gerakan-gerakan Hak Sipil di Amerika
• Studi Kasus: Otpor: Kekuasaan Masyarakat di Serbia

- Jender Dan Nonkekerasan

• Apakah jender itu
• Sebuah Contoh yang Mengaitkan Perdamaian dan Isu Jender: New Profile (Profil Baru) di Israel

 - Tugas Dan Alat Untuk Mengatur Dan Memfasilitasi Pelatihan

• Bekerja Bersama
• Check list untuk Mengatur Sebuah Pelatihan
• Check list untuk Memfasilitasi Pelatihan

 - Kampanye/Aksi Nonkekerasan

• Apa yang Membuat Sebuah Kampanye itu "Nonkekerasan"
• Merencanakan Aksi Nonkekerasan
• Program konstruktif
• Rencana Aksi Gerakan Bill Moyer/ Bill Moyer's Movement Action Plan (MAP)
• Bentuk-bentuk Aksi Nonkekerasan
• Langkah-langkah Eskalasi dalam Sebuah Kampanye Nonkekerasan
• Peran Media
• Pentunjuk Studi Kasus Kampanye

 - Mengorganisir Aksi-Aksi Nonkekerasan Yang Efektif

• Menyampaikan Pesan Protes-Membuat Sebuah Aksi Yang Efektif
• Menangani Stres dan Beratnya Mengambil Posisi
• Humor dan Aksi Nonkekerasan
• Bekerja dalam Kelompok
• Check list Untuk Merencanakan Aksi
• Peran Selama, Sebelum dan Setelah Aksi
• Dukungan Hukum
• Dukungan Penjara: Pengalaman MOC Spanyol
• Evaluasi Aksi

- Cerita Dan Strategi

• Pengenalan
• Kampanye Solidaritas Internasional di Afrika Selatan
• Seabrook Wyhl Marckolsheim: Link Jaringan Kampanye Transnasional
• Barisan Antimiliter Internasional
• Chili: Pandangan Gandhi Membuat Orang Berani Menentang Diktator Chili
• Israel: New Profile (Profil Baru) Belajar dari Pengalaman Orang Lain
• Turki: Membangun Budaya Nonkekerasan
• Aplikasi Teater Kaum Tertindas Augusto Boal
• Tantangan dan Kesuksesan Kerja Aksi Nonkekerasan di Korea Selatan
• Komunitas Perdamaian San Jose de Apartado, Kolumbia: Pelajaran tentang Perlawanan, Kehormatan, dan Keberanian
• Bombspotting: Menuju Sebuah Kampanye Masyarakat Eropa

- Latihan-latihan Untuk Aksi Nonkekerasan

• Garis Konflik
• Curah Pendapat
• Angkat Bicara
• Dialog Jender bagi Para Pembangun Damai
• Why do what teacher says? (new)
• Who Has Power in a School? (new)
• Strategi 10/10
• Pohon
• Pilar-pilar Kekusaan
• Specktrum Sekutu
• Konsekuensi-konsekuensi Ketakutan
• Permainan Kapercayaan Pohon dan Angin
• Membuat Keputusan
• Spektrum Silang
• Permainan Peran
• Teater Forum
• Alat-alat Penghentian, Perlindugan dan Blokade
• Spektrum atau barometer

 - Kerjakan Sendri: Membuat Buku Panduan

- Pengertian Istilah-Istilah Penting

- Sumber-Sumber Pustaka

- A.J. Muste Memorial Institute International Nonviolence Training Fund

- Link ke WRI jaringan

West Papua Report - September 2010

West Papua Report - September 2010

This is the 77th 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 with the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) Back issues are posted online at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com.

Summary: 

More than a score of international non-governmental organizations called on President Yudhoyono to release Papuan Political Prisoners in commemoration of Indonesia's August 17 Independence Day. Although the President did release and reduce sentences for convicted terrorists and common criminals on the national day, he did not respond to the appeal regarding political prisoners. The Indonesian Government has banned activities by Cordaid, a Dutch humanitarian organization that has aided poor Papuans for over three decades. The action is reminiscent of the Indonesian Government's banning of International Committee of The Red Cross in West Papua in 2009. The Indonesian Commission on Human Rights and Papuan churches have urged the Indonesian government to reconsider  its security approach in the Puncak Jaya region and address the growing violence there, including attacks on churches. The Indonesian government is under growing pressure to investigate the mysterious murder of a journalist in Merauke. Local police claim he committed suicide. The murdered journalist had built a reputation on investigation of illegal military businesses. The murder comes at a time of growing tension in the area as corporate interests seek to develop a massive food plantation. A video circulating widely on YouTube reveals the final moments of a Papuan bayoneted while in custody as he is taunted by the police.

Read the complete issue here

Groups call on SBY to release Papua political prisoners

An international collection of groups have written to Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urging the release of Papuan political prisoners and amending the laws under which they and others are imprisoned. 

Among the groups signing are ETAN, Human Rights Watch, West Papua Advocacy Team, Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal, Tapol, and Foundation Pro Papua. The complete list is here.

The key demands of the letter are  

 * releasing all Papuan political prisoners, including those already convicted and those waiting trial;

* securing the deletion of Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code;

* ordering an immediate investigation into conditions in the prisons where the prisoners are being held and ensure the punishment of all prison personnel held responsible for maltreatment.