Yahukimo Regency: Police crackdown on protests against new autonomy regions in West Papua, 2 shot dead

Case / , / 20 May 2022

A peaceful demonstration against the formation of new provinces in West Papua took place on 15 March 2022 in Yakuhimo’s largest town Dekai. A heated argument between police personnel and protesters quickly escalated into unrest. The police opened fire indiscriminately at the crowd injuring at least ten protestors. Two of them died due to their injuries, and three were hospitalised at the General Hospital in Dekai. Following the crackdown, police officers reportedly arrested the person registering the protest, Mr Denias Helembo, and several other protesters.

Police crackdown on protests against new autonomy regions in West Papua – two protesters shot dead, 14 injured, 103 arrested

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

Police forces cracked down on peaceful protests against the formation of new autonomy regions in West Papua. A protest in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo regency on 15 March 2022, was forcefully dispersed with firearms. According to local informants, the police indiscriminately opened fire at the crowd, causing the death of two protesters while eight …

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Jakarta declares openness for peaceful dialogue as armed conflict in West Papua costs further lives

Human Rights News / , / 12 May 2022

The number of victims in the violent conflict in West Papua rises while human rights organisations, churches and intellectuals keep calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Human Rights Monitor documented at least twelve armed clashes between Indonesian security forces and TPNPB fighters in the regencies Pegunungan Bintang, Maybrat, Intan Jaya and Puncak between …

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Police officers ill-treat protesters in Jayapura during a peaceful demonstration against new autonomy regions in West Papua

Case, Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

Police officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful protest by students of the Cenderawasih University (UNCEN) in Jayapura on 8 March 2022. The students voiced their aspirations against Jakarta’s plan to establish four additional provinces in West Papua, and also demanded the withdrawal of non-organic military personnel from West Papua.
According to information received from Jayapura student groups, police officers ill-treated at least 14 students. dispersed the crowd. Ten protesters were arrested and detained at the Abepura sub-district police station.

UU RI 2/2021 Tentang Perubahan Kedua Atas UU 21/2001 Tentang Ontonomi Khusus Bagi Provinsi Papua

Law / , , / 9 March 2022

UNDANG-UNDANG REPUBLIK INDONESIA NOMOR 2 TAHUN 2021 TENTANG PERUBAHAN KEDUA ATAS UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 21 TAHUN 2001 TENTANG OTONOMI KHUSUS BAGI PROVINSI PAPUA DENGAN RAHMAT TUHAN YANG MAHA ESA PRESIDEN REPUBLIK INDONESIA, Menimbang : bahwa dalam rangka melindungi dan menjunjung harkat martabat, memberi afirmasi, dan melindungi hak dasar Orang Asli Papua, baik dalam bidang ekonomi, politik, …

UU RI 2/2021 Tentang Perubahan Kedua Atas UU 21/2001 Tentang Ontonomi Khusus Bagi Provinsi Papua Read More »

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Human Rights in West Papua brought up at the EU

Human Rights News / , , / 2 March 2022

In December 2021 three Members of the European Parliament requested the Vice-President of the EU Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to provide a written answer regarding the human rights situation in West Papua. MPs Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó (NI), Antoni Comín i Oliveres (NI), and Clara Ponsatí …

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Security force members torture five minors in Puncak Regency – One victim dies two days later

Case, Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

Security force personnel reportedly tortured five minors in the Sinak District, Puncak Regency, on 22 February 2022. One of the children succumbed to his injuries, while the others were brought to the Mimika regency for medical treatment. Security forces accused the children of stealing a firearm belonging to a military officer. They tortured them before and duting detention at the local police station. Thirteen-year-old Makilon Tabuni died on 24 February 2022 due the injuries sustained during the torture.

Indonesia: UN experts sound alarm on serious Papua abuses, call for urgent aid

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

GENEVA (1 March 2022) – UN human rights experts* today expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, citing shocking abuses against indigenous Papuans, including child killings, disappearances, torture and mass displacement of people. The experts called for urgent humanitarian access to the region and …

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Trial against Papuan human rights activist Victor Yeimo continues despite ongoing medical treatment

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

On 21 February 2021, Indonesian law enforcement institutions continued the trial against Papuan human rights defender and activist Mr Victor Yeimo. He is the international spokesperson of the West Papua National Coalition (KNPB), a civil resistance movement promoting the right to political self-determination in West Papua through peaceful means. The trial against Mr Yeimo was …

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Papuan Legal Aid Institute is concerned about the health condition of political detainees in Jayapura

Case, Human Rights News / , / 23 May 2022

Eight Papuan activists: Malvin Yobe, Devio Tekege, Ambros Elopere, Maksi You, Paul Sode Hilapok, Luis Sitok, Ernesto Matuan, and Melvin Waine were arrested for raising the Morning Star flag in front of the sports hall (GOR) in Jayapura on 1 December 2021. The police charged the activists with Articles 106 KUHP on treason and Article 110 KUHP on criminal conspiracy against the state. Allegedly the police is unnecessarily prolonging the detention because the y prolonging the detention because the evidence against the eight activists is not sufficient to submit the case to the public prosecutor. On 30 January 2022, the police extended the period of detention for another 30 days. Prior to the arrest, Melvin Yobe was undergoing a pulmonary treatment program, while Sode Hilapok was suffering from hemorrhoids. Their health condition of Mr Malvin Yobe and Mr Paul Sode reportedly deteriorated in late January 2022. Mr Hilapok was once permitted to see a doctor while Mr Yobe has not yet received any medical treatment.

New IPAC Report: How a pro-ISIS cell emerged in Papua

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

Between late May and early June 2021, more than a dozen suspected ISIS supporters were arrested in Merauke. They were suspected of planning a bombing in this easternmost city of Indonesia, on the southern coast of Papua. The May-June arrests were not the first evidence of pro-ISIS cells in Papua but they were a more …

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Eight KNPB activists were arrested in Sentani

Case / , / 20 May 2022

On 4 February 2022, police officers arrested eight members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) working at a construction site in the town of Sentani, Jayapura regency. The police also seized the activists’ mobile phones and four motorcycles without showing a warrant. At the police station, the officers interrogated the detainees in relation to the alleged theft of a motorcycle. The KNPB activists denied any wrongdoing or involvement in a criminal offence. Three of the arrested activists were minors.

Series of arrests and torture of West Papua activists – 10 arrested, 2 tortured

Human Rights News / , / 19 May 2022

Human rights defenders condemned the arrest of ten West Papua activists in three cities across Indonesia throughout early February 2020. Police personnel reportedly tortured two arrestees, both students, during two separate incidents in the cities of Manokwari, Papua Barat province, and Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Province. The Indonesian Government continues to restrict human rights …

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Police officers arrest and torture Papuan student in Manokwari

Case / , / 20 May 2022

On 3 February 2022, police officers arrested and tortured Papuan student Mr Amzal Yohame during a peaceful protest against the government’s plan to establish four new provinces in West Papua. Officers dragged him away from the crowd and into a police car. According to Mr Yohame, police officers punched him in the face and the ribs and kicked him multiple times to the waist on the way to the police station. At the station, officers forced him to take off his clothes. An officer broke his bracelet with the Morning Star emblem, a symbol of cultural identity for indigenous West Papuans. The police released him after two-and-a-half hours.

Papuan student in Mataram was tortured for raising the Morning Star flag at the university campus

Case / , / 20 May 2022

On 1 February 2022, police officers arrested and tortured Papuan student Mr Fanimo Nyamuk Karungu at the Mataram University campus. Mr Karungu raised the Morning Star flag commemorating the anniversary of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) branch in Mataram. After 30 minutes, he removed the flag and went to his room at the university dormitory. In the late afternoon police officers arrested Mr Karungu without a warrant and seized multiple belongings, including his mobile phone, books, Morning Star flag, and motorcycle. The officers dragged Mr Karungu to a hidden corner and collectively punched and kicked him to the body while verbally abusing him with racist insults such as pig, dog and monkey. The racist slurs continued at the NTB regional police station. Mr Karungu refused to answer any questions without legal counsel. He was released after six-and-a-half hours, at around 1:00 am.

West Papua Council of Churches laments displacement and killing of Papuans

Human Rights News / , / 8 February 2022

On the 167th Anniversary of the Gospel Entering the Land of Papua, the West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) has released a open letter praying for the safety of the Papuan people. “Lord, right now the lives of Papuans are being messed with by the interests of the State, encouraged by the fervor of racism, …

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Jakarta paths the way for the formation of new provinces in West Papua

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

On 27 January 2021, the National Parliament (DPR RI) held a first discussion about the formation of new autonomy regions in various parts of Indonesia, including West Papua. The government has announced plans to establish four additional provinces on its territory in the western half of New Guinea Island (see table below). The Papua Barat …

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Military members torture fisherman in Mappi Regency, West Papua

Case, Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

On 7 January 2022, military members allegedly tortured a fisherman for seven hours in a post at the Sumuraman Village, in the Minyamur District of Mappi Regency. The following day, AMS was admitted to the local health centre and later transferred to the Mappi public hospital because he had difficulties breathing. Relatives filed a complaint to the Mappi District Police against the military personnel on 11 January.

West Papua: Police mobile brigade occupy schools in Yahukimo regency – Students protest peacefully

Human Rights News / , / 20 May 2022

Papuan students are protesting against the occupation of three schools in the Yahukimo Regency. Members of the police mobile brigade (Brimob) have been using the school facilities since October 2021, which reportedly led to a breakdown of school activities in the affected areas. On 20 January 2022, about 300 protesters walked to the Yahukimo education department in Dekai and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Brimob members from the schools.

Criminalisation of human rights defenders Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidyanti: Jakarta police alleged to be biased

Case, Human Rights News / / 20 May 2022

On 20 August 2021, activists Fatia Maulidyanti and Haris Azhar openly discussed the relations between Indonesian security forces deployments and economic interests behind gold mining operations in the Papuan regency Intan Jaya in a YouTube video. The former military general and incumbent Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Mr Luhut Panjaitan, was named in the video. Mr Panjaitan sent two subpoena to the activists demanding a public apology. On 22 September 2021, Mr Panjaitan reported the activists for the alleged violation of the Indonesian Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) and the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP) to the police. He also announced filing a civil lawsuit against Mrs Maulidyanti and Mr Azhar, demanding the activists pay 100 billion rupiahs (about six million Euro) compensation for alleged defamation.