East Timor and Indonesia Action Network

Friday, June 3, 2011

West Papua Report - June 2011

Read full issue here

Summary:

The daughter of prominent Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma has written about the failure of justice in West Papua. In spite of democratic progress in much of Indonesia, she notes that "the old regime dies hard in West Papua." Amnesty International's annual report on human rights trends in Indonesia documents continued human rights abuse, notably in West Papua, where AI cites the poor performance of security forces. The failure of the Indonesian government to afford justice in a number of outstanding cases of security force abuse in West Papua is exemplified in a recent case in which a civilian was killed by security forces who deny responsibility. The Indonesian government's intervention to prevent an elected member of the Papuan Peoples Council from taking her seat is only the latest example of discrimination against Papuan women. The Indonesian military appears to be reassuming a major role in providing security for the Freeport mining complex. HIV/AIDS infections in West Papua continue to rise dramatically with the Freeport mine complex town of Mimika recording the largest increase. Observers continue to comment on the failure of "special autonomy" in West Papua.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

We couldn't resist - Kissinger false alarm

Fairness and Accuracy in Media (FAIR) posted this on their blog.

As they write: "Turns out it was a false alarm; the noted Peace Prize winner was a guest, talking about another war criminal."

More on Kissinger and Indonesia/East Timor here.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Demonstrate against Henry Kissinger, May 31, 2011 in NYC

Hold Kissinger Accountable leaflet to distribute at this and future Kissinger appearances (PDF)

Demonstrate against Henry Kissinger, May 31, 2011
92nd St. Y, 92nd Street and Lexington Ave. in Manhattan

Join ETAN and other organizations in protesting Henry Kissinger's appearance at the 92nd St. Y, Tuesday, May 31 beginning at 6:30 pm. The 'Y' is located at 92nd Street and Lexington Ave. in Manhattan.

Remind people about Henry Kissinger's sordid history concerning East Timor, Vietnam, Chile, Cyprus, Bangladesh, Angola and elsewhere.

Ask the 'Y' why they are hosting an accused war criminal and treating him as a respectable commentator on international affairs. Urge them to cancel the event. Call the Y - 212-415-5500.

On December 6, 1975, then Secretary of State Kissinger and President Gerald Ford visited Jakarta. At their meeting, Ford gave Indonesia's dictator Suharto an explicit go ahead for the invasion of East Timor and Indonesia invaded the next day. According to East Timor's Commission on Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) up to 180,000 died as a direct result of the illegal invasion and occupation. Declassified and leaked documents show that Kissinger understood that Suharto was balking at invading, concerned that the U.S. would cut off its supply of weapons and military training. Kissinger guaranteed continuation of weapons shipments. According to Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation as many as 180,000 people died as a result. For more on Kissinger's role in East Timor click here.
Kissinger is currently out promoting his latest book on China.

In addition to ETAN, initial sponsors of the protest include The Indypendent, Veterans For Peace-NYC Chapter CH 34, Code Pink, World Can't Wait , Granny Peace Brigade, Movimiento la Pena del Bronx, War Criminals Watch and Bolivarian Circle Alberto Lovera NY.

Contact ETAN - 718-596-7668 for more information or to help out.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Audryne Karma on human rights in West Papua

Audryne Karma has an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today on human rights in West Papua and her father Filep Karma's case.

She writes "for many West Papuans like me, the old regime dies hard. Indonesia has yet to realize the promise of democracy and human rights for all of its citizens... Papuans who peacefully express dissent are punished with more than a decade of imprisonment."

Audryne is Filep Karma's eldest daughter. Filep was sent sentenced in 2005 to 15 years in prison "for speaking about our survival as a nation and raising the West Papuan Morning Star flag at a ceremony organized to commemorate West Papua's liberation from Dutch rule back in 1961." She then goes on to describe Filep's trial and continued persecution in prison.

She writes that "My father is only one of more than 130 political prisoners inIndonesia. Many have been tortured. And many are being held in violation of not only international legal standards, but also

Indonesian laws." For a description of Filep's and other cases, see the Human Rights Watch report, Prosecuting Political Aspiration: Indonesia's Political Prisoners.

Amnesty International's campaign to free Filep can be found here. Write the Indonesian government today!