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Clashes and police brutality in West Papua need to be probed

Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition Press Release - March 20, 2006

The Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) demands an independent investigation into the cases of Indonesian police brutality in West Papua reported after last week's protests from local students demanding a pull-out of the Indonesian army (TNI) and police from West Papua and the closure of the US-owned Freeport mining operations.

The protests from Cenderwasih University in Jayapura started on 15 March and have resulted in deaths to police and injuries to civilians including that of a 5-year old Papuan child. But the Indonesian Brimob police have reacted to the protests by shooting into university dormitories and indiscriminately beating up ordinary civilians and arresting them for interrogation as suspects. Road blocks have also been set up by the police and military from the adjacent area of Abepura and cars entering Jayapura have been stopped, people were pulled out of the vehicles and some were beaten.

The Brimob have been terrifying the students and civilians around the university as a show of vengeance for the deaths of some 3-5 policemen. But the police are taking their vengeance on the entire Papuan community.

The situation has deteriorated in West Papua this year. A recent US newspaper report that Freeport has been making payments of millions of dollars to the Indonesian military has apparently fueled long-held resentment against Freeport and the Indonesian occupation of West Papua. It does not help that Indonesian troop deployments to West Papua have increased since last year, with an estimated six battalions now inside composed of some 40-50,000 Indonesian troops.

While peace and order should be restored as soon as possible, APSOC is appealing to the Indonesian military and police to stop heavy-handed police operations in Jayapura in order to defuse the tensions. The beating up and indiscriminate arrests of Papuan civilians will only inflame the protesters. An independent investigation or fact-finding mission should be carried out to look into the immediate factors for the violent clash last Thursday, March 16.

APSOC expresses deep concern for the West Papuans and it extends its solidarity on this occasion when the human rights situation is worsening in the territory. We uphold the right of the West Papuans to express their legitimate grievances and we urge the Indonesian government to address through peaceful means the conflict situation and the root cause of the problems in West Papua.

We also call on the United Nations to review the 1969 "Act of Free Choice" in West Papua that has been widely criticized as a sham vote on Papuan political choices. Like other historical injustices, the "Act of Free Choice" will continue to be a major cause of conflict in West Papua.

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