Home > South-East Asia >> West Papua

TAPOL condemns police decision to ban actions in Jayapura

Statement by TAPOL - November 14, 2005

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, strongly condemns the decision of the police in Jayapura to ban an action planned for tomorrow, 15 November, to welcome the launch in The Netherlands of a book by Dutch historian, Professor Drooglever on the 1969 Act of Free Choice.

TAPOL condemns the ban as a grievous violation of the rights of the people of West Papua, in particular their right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression. This decision is a serious setback for democracy and human rights in Indonesia and reveals an unwillingness on the part of the authorities to let the people of West Papua freely express their views about a past event in their history which was so significant for their future.

It is in the interests not only of the people of West Papua but also of the Indonesian people to open their minds to an investigation by an eminent Dutch historian on the events leading up to the Act of Free Choice which sealed the fate of the West Papua people by recognising a grossly fraudulent action that took place in 1969 when Indonesia was ruled by a military dictatorship.

The present government and its law enforcement agencies should allow the people of West Papua to express their views freely in an atmosphere of peace, without let or hindrance, and refrain from any actions that prohibit the exercise of their legitimate democratic rights.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road
Thornton Heath
Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.

Tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 fax +44 (0) 20 8653 0322 tapol@gn.apc.orghttp://tapol.gn.apc.org
 

Click here for archive of statements and press releases