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'Manokwari 11' join ever-growing ranks of imprisoned human rights defenders in West Papua
Australia West Papua Association (Victoria) Media Release - January 9, 2009
The Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) is calling on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to initiate a dialogue with his Indonesian counterpart in response to fresh evidence that the suppression of civil, political and human rights in West Papua continues with full Indonesian Government support.
UK based human rights monitor TAPOL have just released reports that 11 West Papuans detained in March 2008 on political charges of subversion have now been given prison sentences of either three or three and a half years. International media coverage at the time of the arrests (March 2008) corroborate the post-sentencing comments of the group's lawyer, Jan Christian Warinussy of the Manokwari-based legal aid institute, LP3BH.
The substantive case against the West Papuans is based on them holding peaceful demonstrations, speaking freely about their aspirations for the future, raising a flag and performing traditional cultural ceremonies involving music and dancing. These are crimes under Indonesian law in West Papua.
"The detainees would be charged under Articles 102, 106 and 110 of the [Indonesian] Criminal Code, the same articles which were used to convict Philip Karma and Yusak Pakage (who were sentenced to 10 and 15 years respectively) in 2004."
AWPA spokesperson, Richard Rumbiak, said it is a clear case of state sanctioned political persecution against human rights defenders.
"Indonesia claims to respect and protect human rights. This is clearly not true. Indonesia says it does not govern West Papua through violence and repression. The case of the Manokwari 11 shows that this is also a lie. I fear for the safety of these innocent people in an Indonesian prison system famous for their use of torture and abuse against political inmates. They are not criminals.
"Australia is an important advocate for the protection of human rights in our region, but Indonesia exists in a blind spot. This is neither pragmatic, principled nor is it in Australia's long-term national interest. It is nothing more than East Timor all over again."
Melbourne's West Papua community will hold a peaceful demonstration and cultural celebration outside the Indonesian Consulate in Melbourne to ask for the release of all political prisoners in West Papua, including the Manokwari 11.
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