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Indonesia: One person killed, hundreds arrested and five persons charged with rebellion at Third Papuan People's Congress
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - October 20, 2011 (see sample letter below)
Dear friends,
The AHRC has received information regarding the killing of at least one person and the arrest of hundreds of participants at the Third Papuan People's Congress including Forkorus Yaboisembut and Edison Waromi on 19 October 2011 in Abepura, Papua. Concerns about the safety of the arrested persons and the need for an investigation into the killing need your urgent intervention. (photo: security forces in Papua surround the Third Papuan People's Congress)
Case narrative:
According to reports received by the AHRC, around 2200 members of the Indonesian army (TNI) and the mobile brigades (BRIMOB) were mobilized on the occasion of the Third Papuan People's Congress that began on 17 October 2011, and was attended by more than 4000 indigenous Papuan participants, at the Taboria oval (Zaccheus Field) in Abepura, Papua. At least 100 members of the security forces had surrounded the area andfour police cars, two armoured vehicles from the police and a further two armoured vehicles from the mobile brigades of the police (BRIMOB) had approached close to the area. This show of force with heavy firearms was seen as a form of intimidation to the unarmed participants. Several persons were reported to have refrained from participating at the event due to this.
The event concluded at around 2pm on October 19, and a political declaration regarding the self-determination of the indigenous Papuan population was read out. Following this declaration the security forces opened fire, allegedly as warning shots only. Tear gas was used and security personnel from the army and police started dispersing the crowd and beating up numerous participants. About 300 persons were arrested and taken into custody in trucks. Around 200 of them were later released, while 100 remain detained at the Regional police headquarters (POLDA Papua). Video material is available from MetroTV.
Forkorus Yaboisembut and Edison Waromi, elected at the event as indigenous political leaders, were also arrested. Selfius Bobi (Chair of the organising committee of the congress) is currently being investigated by the police as well. According to the law, the police are required to release detained persons within 24 hours or lay charges against them. The police has so far charged 5 persons with with article 110 p.(1), 106 and 160 of the Indonesian Criminal code, rebellion/secession (maker): Forkorus Yaboisembut, Edison Gladius Waromi, August Makbrawen Sananay Kraar, Dominikus Sorabut, and Gat Wenda. Numerous Papuan political prisoners have been sentenced for up to 20 years based on this charge in the past.
At around 4pm on October 19, Mr. Kadepa, one of the Congress participants, was found dead behind the office of the military resort command (KOREM) in Abepura. Mr. Kadepa's corpse was then taken for an autopsy to a local hospital. (photo: police troup truck at the incident location)
Additional information:
Soon after the Second Papuan People's Congress in 2000, the elected political representative of the indigenous Papuan community, Theys Hiyo Eluay was abducted and killed by the Indonesian military. All perpetrators of the case were later aquitted. During the Third Papuan People's Congress the participants again questioned the legality through which Indonesia claimed sovereignty over the then decolonized former Dutch Western New Guinea in a UN administered process that was later shown to have been flawed. At the event Yaboisembut, head of the Papuan Customary Council was elected as the President and Waromi as the Prime Minister of the West Papuan Federal State. The Papuan flag was also displayed at the event. These acts were seen as secessionist activities (Indonesian: MAKAR).
In other flag raising events or gatherings where political opinion were expressed in the past many persons had been arrested and subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Foreign journalists are not given access to the Papuan provinces by Indonesia and several international groups including the Red Cross have been banned from operating in Papua.
Suggested action:
Please write letters to the authorities listed below asking them to intervene in the case immediately to ensure the safety of all arrested persons, an investigation into the killing and that all perpetrators are brought to justice in accordance with international human rights norms.
Please be informed that the AHRC is also sending letters to the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people, the working group on arbitrary detention, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, calling for their intervention into this matter.
Dear ___________,
Indonesia: Security forces kill at least one person and arrest hundreds at Third Papuan People's Congress
According to the information I have received from the AHRC, around 2200 members of the Indonesian army (TNI) and the mobile brigades (BRIMOB) were mobilized on the occasion of the Third Papuan People's Congress that began on 17 October 2011, and was attended by more than 4000 indigenous Papuan participants, at the Taboria oval (Zaccheus Field) in Abepura, Papua. At least 100 members of the security forces had surrounded the area andfour police cars, two armoured vehicles from the police and a further two armoured vehicles from the mobile brigades of the police (BRIMOB) had approached close to the area. This show of force with heavy firearms was seen as a form of intimidation to the unarmed participants. Several persons were reported to have refrained from participating at the event due to this.
I am informed that the event concluded at around 2pm on October 19, and a political declaration regarding the self-determination of the indigenous Papuan population was read out. Following this declaration the security forces opened fire, allegedly as warning shots only. Tear gas was used and security personnel from the army and police started dispersing the crowd and beating up numerous participants. About 300 persons were arrested and taken into custody in trucks. Around 200 of them were later released, while 100 remain detained at the Regional police headquarters (POLDA Papua).
Forkorus Yaboisembut and Edison Waromi, elected at the event as indigenous political leaders, were also arrested. Selfius Bobi (Chair of the organising committee of the congress) is currently being investigated by the police as well. According to the law, the police are required to release detained persons within 24 hours or lay charges against them.
I am disturbed to learn that around 4pm on October 19, Mr. Kadepa, one of the Congress participants, was found dead behind the office of the military resort command (KOREM) in Abepura.
In light of the above information I am of the opinion that the killing of one person and the arrest of hundreds of participants at the Third Papuan People's Congress by members of the Indonesian army (TNI) and members of the mobile brigades (BRIMOB) are a violation of the right to life and a violation of the right to freedom of expression and require and independent investigation.
I am therefore urging you to ensure that all human rights violations are investigated and that no persons remains detained or chareged solely for the peaceful expression of their political opinions. The Regional Police of Papua (POLDA Papua) must ensure a fair treatment of all arrested persons according to international norms and that no person is subjected to torture or ill-treatment.
I also urge you to ensure that an impartial and professional investigation into the death of Mr. Kadepa is conducted and all those found guilty are prosecuted according to the law.
I am looking forward to your intervention in this case.
Yours sincerely,
Please send your letters to:
1. Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono
The President
of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No.
16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3863777/3503088.
Fax: +62 21 3442223
2. Mr. Kemal Azis
Stamboel
The Chairman
of the First Commission of House of Representative of Indonesia
Gedung DPR RI
Nusantara II, Lantai 1
Jl. Jenderal
Gatot Subroto
Jakarta 10270
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5715518
Fax: +62 21 5715523
3. Chairman of
Third Commission of The House of Representative of Indonesia
Jl. Gatot Subroto
No. 6 Jakarta
INDONESIA
Tel:+62 21 5715569
Fax: +62 21 5715566
4. Military Commander
in Chief
Mabes TNI, Cilangkap,
Jakarta 13870
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 8459-1244/8459-1243
Fax: +62 21 845-6805
5. Mr. Pramono
Edhie Wibowo
Army Chief of
Staff
Jl. Veteran No.
5 Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tlp: +62 21 3846002/3456838
Fax: +62 21 3848300
6. Mr. Erfi Triassunu
Commander of
Regional Military Command XVII Cendrawasih
(Kemiliteran
Daerah Papua/Kodam Papua)
Jl. Polimak atas
Jayapura Provinsi Papua
INDONESIA
Fax: +62 967
533763
7. General of
Police Timur Pradopo
Chief of Indonesian
National Police
Markas Besar
Kepolisian Indonesia
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3
Kebayoran Baru
South Jakarta
12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3848537/7260306/7218010
Fax: +62 21 7220669
Email: info@polri.go.id
8. Head of Division
of Profession and Security of Indonesian Police
Markas Besar
Kepolisian Indonesia
Jl. Trunojoyo
No. 3
Kebayoran Baru
South Jakarta
12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3848537/7260306/7218010
Fax: +62 21 7220669
Email: info@polri.go.id
9. Chairman of
the National Police Commission (Kompolnas)
Jl. Tirtayasa
VII No. 20 Komplek PTIK Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739
2352
Fax: +62 21 739
2317
10. Head of National
Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia
Jalan Latuharhary
No.4-B,
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392
5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392
5227
Email: info@komnas.go.id
11. Ms. Harkristuti
Harkrisnowo
General Director
of Human Rights
Department of
Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR Rasuna
Said Kav.6-7 Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525
3006/525 3889/526 4280
Fax: +62 21 525
3095
12. Chief of Regional
Police of Papua province
Jl. Samratulangi
No. 8 Jayapura
INDONESIA
Tel: + 62 0967
531014
Fax: +62 0967
533763
13. Chief of Jayapura
city district police (Polresta Jayapura)
Jl. A. Yani No.11
Jayapura
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 967
531027
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals
Programme
Asian Human Rights
Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
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