Following last month’s violent dispersal by Indonesian security
forces of the Third Papuan Peoples’ Congress in Jayapura, Indonesia has
been confronted with the full scale of human rights problems in Papua by
the new Report ‘Human Rights in Papua 2010/2011’. This was launched yesterday
in Geneva, by the Faith Based Network on West Papua (FBN), Franciscans
International (FI), and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
The Report portrays the bleak reality of the abuse of civil and political
rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights in Papua in 2010
and 2011. The aim of the Report is to raise awareness of the human rights
situation in Papua and to create in Papua a ‘land of peace’.
More specifically, the Report draws attention to the hardship faced
by national and international civil society as well as by local human rights
defenders who are too often victims of intimidation, harassment and arbitrary
detention on the charge of makar (treason) while exercising their right
to freedom of expression in their struggle for justice and accountability.
The Report further denounces the policy of the Government of Indonesia
aimed at discrediting, limiting and jeopardizing the work of international
human rights organizations working in Papua, including denied access to
international media through the manipulation of bureaucracy. As a result,
certain international organizations are directly or indirectly forced to
withdraw from the country, as was the case of the International Committee
for the Red Cross (ICRC) and Peace Brigades International (PBI).
With a view to presenting the Report and raising awareness on the recent
tragic events, Franciscans International organised a round table discussion.
This was attended by representatives of the Faith Based Network on West
Papua, Geneva for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Papua Peace Network
(JDP -Jaringan Damai Papua), Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights defenders TAPOL, World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), and
the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations.
In response to the numerous issues and concerns raised during the discussion,
the representative of the Permanent Mission of Indonesia made an official
statement asserting that “human rights protection is a national priority”.
Despite the appreciation for the participation of the Permanent Mission
of Indonesia, this statement was visibly met with strong disagreement by
NGOs. They attested that “Political statements are not enough to address
human rights violations in Papua, since – the reality is -a climate of
fear prevails in Papua”.
The NGOs present concluded by calling upon the Government of Indonesia
to: Immediately release all political prisoners; Immediately cease intimidation,
harassment and physical violence against human rights defenders, journalists,
and religious leaders in Papua; to criminalise torture and ratify the Optional
Protocol to the Convention against Torture; ratify the International Convention
on Enforced Disappearances; and to Start a genuine dialogue with national
and international civil society.
Download the report (PDF 1.2
MB)
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