June 2015 West Papua Report is now out!

read the issue here: http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2015/1506wpap.htm

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE examines Indonesia President Widodo's failure to follow through on his election promises concerning West Papua, as his policy changes are regularly contradicted by those charged with implementing them.

In UPDATE: Five political prisoners in Papua were released as the fate of the rest remains in question. Jokowi's opening of West Papua to foreign journalists will only be meaningful with explicit rules governing access. A Papuan charged with treason over his assistance to journalists in West Papua has been acquitted. New reports tell of torture of Papuan civilians and of security force assaults and mass arrests at peaceful Papuan demonstrations. Plans to establish a new military command in West Papua has met with opposition. A prominent human rights advocate has been threatened with prosecution over his reports of security force excesses. U.S. authorities have inexplicably revoked the visa of prominent Papuan leader Benny Wenda. Jokowi goes to PNG, as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) summit nears. Fiji groups attack their government's stance on West Papua.

In CHRONICLE: President Widodo is backing a major transformation of Papuan land through food plantations. which has prompted loud objections from local people for years. A palm oil supplier continues to destroy of Papuan forests. Global Day of Action's free expression demands remain unfulfilled.

Protester at April 29 Global Day of Action on Access to Papua. Photo by Tapol.

West Papua Report October 2014: Widodo challenged, access, indigenous land rights, Scotland, Fiji, MIFEE, Vanuatu

West Papua Report October 2014 is now out. Read the full report here

CONTENTS

This month's PERSPECTIVE by WPAT's Edmund McWilliams looks at the challenges facing incoming President Joko Widodo, including those posed by West Papua.

This edition's UPDATE groups urge police to provide security to West Papua human rights defenders and reviews growing Indonesian and international calls for an end to repression in West Papua with particular focus on demands for an end to restrictions on access by journalists and others to West Papua. The surge in concern is prompted in large measure by the continued detention of two French journalists whose has been the focus of numerous appeals for their prompt release (see September 2014 West Papua Report). A local Papuan official drew attention to the release ofgreenhouse gases associate with the MIFEE project. A West Papuan conference hosted by Vanuatu has been postponed to December. Attacks on Indonesian security forces in the Papuan highlands continued in September. Indonesia's national Human Rights Commission is holding a series of hearings on the land rights of indigenous peoples, including in West Papua, The U.S. military has begun training for Indonesian military personnel with the AH-64 Apache helicopters which will enhance TNI capacity to conduct "sweep" operations in West Papua.

CHRONICLE notes an analysis by Al Jazeera America of the targeting of journalists in West Papua. Fijian NGO urges government to support West Papua, The September referendum which afforded Scotland a vote on their political status prompted several analyses that highlighted the continuing denial of the right to self-determination in West Papua.

Sign ETAN's Petition to U.S. Government Release the Records, Acknowledge the Crimes of 1965/66 Mass Violence in Indonesia

Just out: West Papua Report June 2014: West Papua Report June 2014: Poverty and Discrimination, land rights, calls for UN action, Police training, more

Read issue here

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECTIVE by renowned human rights campaigner Carmel Budiardjo provides a succinct overview of the history of Indonesian repression of West Papua and includes a focus on the special challenges facing Papuan women.

UPDATE highlights the intention of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission to focus on the plight of indigenous peoples, notably in West Papua. The Asian Human Rights Commission draws attention to police shooting of three Papuans in Nabire. The online activist network "Anonymous" has announced that it will focus on the plight of Papuans. A Pacific regional UN forum on decolonization was urged to consider the situation in West Papua. Indonesian President Yudhoyono's planned visit to Fiji illustrates Jakarta's efforts to undercut the broad appeal of the Papuan cause in the region. Religious activists are focusing on the exploitation of workers and their families by the oil palm plantation run by Sinar Mas. A New Zealand police training program in West Papua has been cancelled. The Australian government is urged to mitigate culpability for rights violations abroad.

CHRONICLE highlights "West Papua: No-One's Colony" by the Pacific Network on Globalization and May 14comments before the UN by Julianus Septer Manufandu, of the Papua Customary Council. A new illustrated, interactive eBook tells Papuan stories. Australian TV journalist broadcasts program on human rights in West Papua.

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