Allan Nairn speaks on East Timor, Indonesia, ETAN, Occupy Wall Street and more

Allan Nairn at OccupyWall Street's ThinkTank. Photo by John M. Miller/ETAN

Journalist/Activist Allan Nairn's reporting has been crucial in exposing U.S. complicity with human rights and war crimes by Indonesia's security forces. He has forcefully urged that U.S. officials be held accountable for their crimes against humanity.

On November 12, 1991, Nairn with Amy Goodman witnessed the Santa Cruz massacre in Dili, the capitol of East Timor. Nairn was beaten and had his skull cracked. Their reports of the massacre inspired the founding of ETAN, and Nairn has served as a key advisor to ETAN and was a member of its Steering Committee. 

In January, Nairn spoke about the successful movement to support East Timor's self-determination and restrict U.S. military assistance to Indonesia  and its significance for Occupy Wall Street and today's global movements for justice.

On January 5, Nairn spoke at an event organized by ETAN. On January 9, he spoke at an event organized by OccupyWallStreet Think Tank.

View the video of the two talks here.

Allan Nairn to speak at Occupy Wall Street

Journalist/Activist Allan Nairn will speak to Occupy Wall Street

MONDAY, January 9, 2012, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

60 Wall Street Atrium, Manhattan, New York City

Journalist and activist Allan Nairn will be speaking at OccupyWallStreet. Nairn has over 20 years of experience in global justice movements, and will speak about strategies for change, protest, and police violence.Allan will share his experiences with violence and activism in East Timor, and then OWS ThinkTank will facilitate a discussion about these issues.

On Thursday, January 5, 2012, Allan spoke talk on 20 years of organizing for justice for East Timor and Indonesia, including his work with ETAN. 

Watch this space for video of that talk which will be posted soon.

More info on Allan Nairn is here.

West Papua Report January 2012 is out

Read it here: http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2012/1201wpap.htm

Summary: Indonesian security forces, including the U.S. and Australian supported Detachment 88, conducted "sweeping operations" in the Paniai area of West Papua that destroyed churches, homes and public buildings, and forced hundreds of civilians from their homes. The Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) urged the Police Commander to remove forces from the region, echoing civil society leaders in Paniai. Jakarta's failure to provided basic health services to Papuans has led to a high rate of death among mothers at child birth according to a recent report. An unconfirmed report claims that President Yudhoyono has committed to withdraw non-organic troops from West Papua and to suspend the operations of a special unit proposed to address fundamental Jakarta-Papua problems. The cost in human life for Papuans of Jakarta's decades of neglect of the Papuan population is well documented. Amnesty International met with a senior official in Jakarta to press for release of political prisoners, particularly in West Papua and Maluku. The three-month old strike by workers at the Freeport McMoRan mines appears to be headed toward resolution.

Contents:

• Brutal "Sweeping Operation" Continues to Displace Civilians in Paniai
• Indonesian Human Rights Commission Calls for Withdrawal of Security Forces from Paniai
• Inadequate Health Care Responsible for High Rate of Death of Mothers at Child Birth
• President Yudhoyono Reportedly Offers Pledge to Withdraw Non-Organic Troops from West Papua
• Amnesty International Appeals for Political Prisoners Release
• Freeport Strike Grinds Toward Resolution

Freeport and MIFEE in West Papua

Recently published:


Strike at Freeport settled, even as mine’s scars linger- by ETAN's John M. Miller on the end of the strike at Freeport McMoRan's mine and its ongoing impact on West Papua



A few months ago, WIN Magazine published Food vs. Forests, Profits vs. People, by Octo Mote and John M. Miller. The article examines Jarkata's plans for the massive Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) near the Papua New Guinea border. MIFEE's impact will be devastating for people's and environment of the region.

Occupy Jakarta on Papua and Freeport

Max Lane reports that Occupy Jakarta's general assembly passed a resolution on Papua after a week's debate.

"The main points were: an end to all violence against the people of Papua; withdraw the army and police from Papua; freeze Freeport and its assets and hand over its future to a decision of the Freeport workers, local people and traditional leaders; Indonesia must immediately improve infrastructural, health and education facilities; a free dialogue between the Papuan people, Indonesian people and government on the future of Papua, excluding anybody who has received funds from Freeport; democratic rights for the Papuan people as well as efforts to increase productivity there; end stigmatisation of Papuans as criminals or separatists; bring Freeport to justice for human rights violations, environmental damage and violence towards workers; and Freeport to agree to the wage demands of Freeport workers."

Occupy Jakarta, inspired by Occupy Wall Street pickets daily outside the Jakarta stock exchange. It can be found on Facebook and Twitter.