In 1965-1966, up to a million Indonesians were massacred.
Hundreds of thousands more were injured, disappeared, raped and
imprisoned without trial. The United States and the United
Kingdom secretly welcomed and supported the killings.
Many of the mass murderers are still alive today and have never
been brought to justice – on the contrary, the killers are
celebrated as heroes. For fifty years the victims have been
asking for justice and for the government to
Say Sorry for ‘65, but Indonesia denies these crimes
even happened.
The new film THE ACT OF KILLING has finally exposed the staggering
reality of Indonesia’s holocaust, and given the victims the
chance they dream of – take action now to support their call for
President SBY to Say
Sorry for '65.
Say Sorry for ’65 is campaign initiated by
Tapol and supported by the
East Timor and
Indonesia Action Network (ETAN).
Take action!
3.Find a screening near you
Going to a showing of The Act of Killing?
Download and print Factsheet:
Minta Maaf! Say Sorry for 65 (PDF)
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Friday, July 19, 2013
Watch The Act of Killing, Say Sorry for 65
Thursday, July 4, 2013
West Papua Report July 2013: Human Rights Award, Biak Massacre, MIFEE, youth
West Papua Report
July 2013
This is the 111th 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 Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com. If you wish to receive the report directly via e-mail, send a note to etan@etan.org. Link to this issue: http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2013/1307wpap.htm
CONTENTS
The West Papua Advocacy Team announces the granting of the 2013 John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award to Port Moresby Governor Powes Parkop. This month's "PERSPECTIVE" provides an account of the 1998 Biak Massacre by an observer who visited the scene days after the Indonesian Navy's brutal assault on peaceful civilians there.UPDATE offers a detailed account and analysis of the Melanesian Spearhead Group's consideration of Papuans' application for membership. UNICEF examines the Indonesian government failure to address the needs of Papuan youth and also reports on Indonesian exploitation of Papuan youth. The report notes that the police in West Papua have honored two of their own, notwithstanding their involvement in brutality targeting West Papuan civilians. The "CHRONICLE" section notes a new report on the Indonesian military's plans to build a massive highway system in West Papua, and cites two reports on the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) "development" scheme that has already severely damaged local people's interests. The International Coalition for Papua has a new report on human rights violations in the territory.
The West Papua Advocacy Team announces the granting of the 2013 John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award to Port Moresby Governor Powes Parkop. This month's "PERSPECTIVE" provides an account of the 1998 Biak Massacre by an observer who visited the scene days after the Indonesian Navy's brutal assault on peaceful civilians there.UPDATE offers a detailed account and analysis of the Melanesian Spearhead Group's consideration of Papuans' application for membership. UNICEF examines the Indonesian government failure to address the needs of Papuan youth and also reports on Indonesian exploitation of Papuan youth. The report notes that the police in West Papua have honored two of their own, notwithstanding their involvement in brutality targeting West Papuan civilians. The "CHRONICLE" section notes a new report on the Indonesian military's plans to build a massive highway system in West Papua, and cites two reports on the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) "development" scheme that has already severely damaged local people's interests. The International Coalition for Papua has a new report on human rights violations in the territory.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Free West Papuan Political Prisoners
 |
| Photo by John M. Miller/ETAN |
Free West Papua political prisoners!
Sign the petition
to Indonesia's President SBY
Please support the appeal of Audryne Karma, daughter of West Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma, that you to instruct the government to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners in West Papua. to Indonesia's President SBY
 |
| Filep Karma with his daughter |
Please donate today. http://www.etan.org/etan/donate1.htm
ANTI: We are very sad because you are starting to forget and ignore the history of suffering and the past that is still painful!
A-N-T-I
THE TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
Aliansa Nasionál Timor-Leste ba Tribunál Internasionál
THE TIMOR-LESTE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
Aliansa Nasionál Timor-Leste ba Tribunál Internasionál
We are very sad because you are starting to forget and ignore the history of suffering and the past that is still painful!
ANTI is aware that every act of murder committed against Timorese citizens was done by those who were following instructions of their commander, namely Prabowo. |
Today is the third day of the Development Partners Meeting in Timor-Leste. ANTI notes that the agenda for the Development Partners Meeting did not touch on the issue of justice, especially past human rights violations. We consider that the donors have only demonstrated a "half-hearted approach" or have not shown that they are serious about dealing with development issues in a comprehensive manner.
Therefore gaps/inequalities continue to be created in society.
In accordance with news announced by the Antara News Agency on 10 June 2013 a meeting took place between Prabowo Subianto, Wiranto and Mari Alkatiri in Jakarta, Indonesia. Timorese leaders and the principal perpetrators of human rights violations have already met on numerous occasions since 2004. According to the aforementioned news report Mr. Mari Alkatiri visited the GERINDRA Party to meet with Prabowo and the GERINDRA Party leadership. Prabowo said that this visit was a special visit for Prabowo and his leadership. This news shocked the Timorese community because it reminds us of the atrocities committed by the Indonesian military, especially KOPASSUS, against innocent civilians in Timor-Leste during the occupation by the military regime.
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| Alkatiri (left) meets with Prabowo (right) |
We are reminded of the human rights violations committed by Indonesia, especially those committed by KOPASSUS. The CAVR report indicated that there was a sharp increase in sexual violence during the mass arrests that took place between 1978-1983. After 1983 Kopassandha/Kopassus (Indonesian Special Forces) committed more than 100 arrests and incidents of torture in Mauchiga (Hatu Builico, Ainaro) and Kraras, Bibileo, (Viqueque). Prabowo was directly involved in the Craras Massacre in Bibileo. In addition, Prabowo?s men were also involved in the Santa Cruz Massacre (1991).
A number of cases involving sexual violations occurred in military posts or on military bases. In 1976, Prabowo was the platoon commander of the Group 1 Sandhi Yudha Troop Command (Kopassandha) that started to lead operations carried out by the
Nanggala Team in Timor-Leste.
We know for sure that he was involved in human rights violations committed in 1983, and at that time he was a captain.
It is very strange that Prabowo was a commander at that time and that he has not been held accountable for human rights violations that he committed together with his men. ANTI is aware that every act of murder committed against Timorese citizens was done by those who were following instructions of their commander, namely Prabowo.
Based on the CAVR report, approximately 102,800 people died as the result of murder, hunger and disappearances that occurred during the conflict. However, there are several estimates that are much higher than the one mentioned in the CAVR report. In addition, approximately 250,000 people were forced to flee to Indonesia and more than four thousand children were taken by Indonesia and until now their families don't know about their circumstances. More than 800 people were victims of forced disappearances and until now their whereabouts are unknown.
At the end of "Black September" in 1999, the UN Commission for Human Rights held a plenary session to discuss human rights violations in Timor-Leste. This special plenary session was the fourth special session conducted in the history of the Commission. The Commission strongly condemned the planned and systematic "crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law" and called for the perpetrators of these crimes to be prosecuted. The Commission also requested to the UN General Secretary to set up a Commission of Inquiry. Not long after, Kofi Annan set up an International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor (ICIET). ICIET was able to fulfill its mandate by visiting Timor-Leste and Indonesia between November ? December 1999. ICEIT concluded that "a wide range of human rights violations and crimes against humanity and crimes against international humanitarian law had occurred over a long period of time that included intimidation, terror, destruction of property, violence against women and forced removal" At the same time the UN sent three special rapporteurs to Timor-Leste in December 1999. These special human rights envoys recommended for the UN to establish an International Court if the Indonesian government fails to effectively bring the main perpetrators of crimes to justice.
When the ICIET released its report, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson stated that "the report of the Commission of Inquiry has sent a message to the people of Timor-Leste that the international community has not forgotten their suffering. I hope that those that are responsible for the atrocities committed in Timor-Leste are held accountable so that there is no impunity"
However, until now the perpetrators have not yet been held accountable for the human rights violations that they committed. More disappointingly, cases involving serious crimes are starting to be forgotten and ignored. How can the chain of impunity be broken if there is no formal process to try the main perpetrators of human rights violations that occurred in Timor-Leste during the occupation?
Therefore, ANTI calls for and demands the commitment of the international community to provide accountability for violations that occurred in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian occupation via a fair and credible process.
A number of cases involving sexual violations occurred in military posts or on military bases. In 1976, Prabowo was the platoon commander of the Group 1 Sandhi Yudha Troop Command (Kopassandha) that started to lead operations carried out by the
Nanggala Team in Timor-Leste.
We know for sure that he was involved in human rights violations committed in 1983, and at that time he was a captain.
It is very strange that Prabowo was a commander at that time and that he has not been held accountable for human rights violations that he committed together with his men. ANTI is aware that every act of murder committed against Timorese citizens was done by those who were following instructions of their commander, namely Prabowo.
Based on the CAVR report, approximately 102,800 people died as the result of murder, hunger and disappearances that occurred during the conflict. However, there are several estimates that are much higher than the one mentioned in the CAVR report. In addition, approximately 250,000 people were forced to flee to Indonesia and more than four thousand children were taken by Indonesia and until now their families don't know about their circumstances. More than 800 people were victims of forced disappearances and until now their whereabouts are unknown.
At the end of "Black September" in 1999, the UN Commission for Human Rights held a plenary session to discuss human rights violations in Timor-Leste. This special plenary session was the fourth special session conducted in the history of the Commission. The Commission strongly condemned the planned and systematic "crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law" and called for the perpetrators of these crimes to be prosecuted. The Commission also requested to the UN General Secretary to set up a Commission of Inquiry. Not long after, Kofi Annan set up an International Commission of Inquiry on East Timor (ICIET). ICIET was able to fulfill its mandate by visiting Timor-Leste and Indonesia between November ? December 1999. ICEIT concluded that "a wide range of human rights violations and crimes against humanity and crimes against international humanitarian law had occurred over a long period of time that included intimidation, terror, destruction of property, violence against women and forced removal" At the same time the UN sent three special rapporteurs to Timor-Leste in December 1999. These special human rights envoys recommended for the UN to establish an International Court if the Indonesian government fails to effectively bring the main perpetrators of crimes to justice.
When the ICIET released its report, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson stated that "the report of the Commission of Inquiry has sent a message to the people of Timor-Leste that the international community has not forgotten their suffering. I hope that those that are responsible for the atrocities committed in Timor-Leste are held accountable so that there is no impunity"
However, until now the perpetrators have not yet been held accountable for the human rights violations that they committed. More disappointingly, cases involving serious crimes are starting to be forgotten and ignored. How can the chain of impunity be broken if there is no formal process to try the main perpetrators of human rights violations that occurred in Timor-Leste during the occupation?
Therefore, ANTI calls for and demands the commitment of the international community to provide accountability for violations that occurred in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian occupation via a fair and credible process.
- We request for the international community, including the people of America, England, France, Holland, Norway, Germany, Australia and Latin America, Africa and Asia to be morally responsible in accordance with international humanitarian law. ETAN and Amnesty International in particular need to keep focusing attention and following up on serious crimes cases that occurred in Timor-Leste.
- We urge the donors to pay attention to crimes against humanity that occurred in Timor-Leste during the occupation by the Indonesian military to ensure that there is a legitimate process to break the chain of impunity because problems from the past will reflect on the development of democracy now and in the future.
Dili, 20 June 2013
Members:
- Asosiasaun HAK
- JSMP (Judicial System Monitoring Program)
- La'o Hamutuk
- Fokupers
- Asosiasaun Chega ba Ita (Acbit)
- MDI
- CDI
- Luta Hamutuk
- Kadalak Sulimutu Institutu (KSI)
- Asososiaun Vitima 74-99
- Timor-Leste Student Front
- Forum Tau Matan (FTM)
- Sek. Fongtil
- Haberan Institute
- Asean Justice and Rights (AJAR) - Timor-Leste
see also Human Rights & Justice page
- ANTI: Joint Statement on International Day for the Right to the Truth and Justice for Victims: ANTI demands for the State of Timor-Leste to not ignore the rights of victims
- As UN Meets on Anniversary of Massacre ETAN Urges UN and U.S. to Act for Justice for Timor-Leste (November 12, 2012)
- ANTI/Amnesty International: Tackling Impunity in Timor-Leste and Indonesia: Justice Is the Only Way, Statement to Commemorate November 12, 2012
- La'o Hamutuk: Ultimate letter to the UN Security Council about justice, sustainable development and not forgetting Timor-Leste (November
- ANTI: Letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on UN responsibility for justice (August 14)
- ANTI: Timor-Leste demands justice - “Because we love peace, and we want the truth to strengthen reconciliation” (May 18)
- 10 Years After Timor's Independence, Where Is the Justice? (May16)
Sunday, June 9, 2013
now available: West Papua Report June 2013
now available: West Papua Report June 2013
This edition of the West Papua Report's PERSPECTIVE is by a longtime observer of West Papua. This is the last of a three-part series (see Part 1 and Part 2). In this part, the author, who for his safety asked to remain anonymous, examines the decreased effectiveness of NGOs and the declining influence of elements of the religious community to improve the plight of West Papuans. He also sets out essential conditions for a successful Papuan-central government dialogue.
In UPDATE, Papuan political prisoners have spurned President Yudhoyono's pledge to offer clemency at some future date. The number of political prisoners nearly doubled in May. There has been significant progress in advancing West Papuan interests within the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Government intelligence and defense agencies yet again speculate that foreign agents are at work in West Papua. WPAT notes that such tales are usually created out of whole cloth in order to justify continued restrictions on outside observers. This report also details accounts of a wave of military-on-civilian violence in the central highlands, including the discovery of many mutilated bodies.
In CHRONICLE, we provides links to recent testimony before the U.S. congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Indonesia and West Papua; to recent UN statements on West Papua's political status and the human rights situation in the territory; to Amnesty International's annual rights review of Indonesia; and to WPAT and ETAN's evaluation of the U.S. State Department's report of the human rights in Indonesia. Also, nearly a dozen international groups appealed to UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. Finally, President Yudhoyono intends to offer a new version of "Special Autonomy" for West Papua. The new plan is a tacit admission that the existing "Special Autonomy" has failed.
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