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Letter send by Australian academics to foreign affairs minister on fatal shootings in West Papua

Monday, 13 May, 2013

• Indonesia: Three dead and 22 protestors detained for their peaceful political activism in Papua - Amnesty International Public Statement. May 9, 2013
• Groups call on US to condemn Indonesian attacks on peaceful demonstrations in West Papua - East Timor & Indonesia Action Network Statement. May 5, 2013
• AWPA letter to Aust Foreign Minister re deaths/arrests in West Papua on the 1st May - Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) Press Release. May 2, 2013
• NAPAS condemns ban on commemorating 50th anniversary of the transfer of administration of West New Guinea to Indonesia - National Papua Solidarity (NAPAS) Press Release. April 29, 2013
• Indonesia told: End the myth of 'no political prisoners' - TAPOL Press Release. April 29, 2013

RE: the deadly shooting in Papua, Indonesia

Dear Senator,

We, the concerned Australian academics and researchers, raise the issue of the recent deadly shooting in Sorong, Papua (Indonesia). The incident occurred on the night of 30 April 2013 when a joint patrol of the Indonesian police and army shot at a Papuan group who gathered to prepare the 50th anniversary of the transition of power from the UN Temporary Executive Administration (UNTEA) to Indonesia on 1 May 1963.

Two young men were killed on the spot: Mr Abner Malagawak (22) and Mr Thomas Blesia (22). Three others were seriously injured and now are being treated in the local hospital in critical conditions: Ms Salomina Klaibin (42) who sadly died in the hospital on 6 May 2013, Mr Herman Lokmen (18), and Mr Andreas Safisa (24).

This brutal action by the Indonesian security service to their own people not only sparked a domestic public reaction but has prompted the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to make a public statement.[1] Since this incident is not novel, the latest deadly shooting by the Indonesian state authorities continues highlighting the longest unresolved conflict in our region.

It is our responsibility to protect civilians, particularly in our region, against any state brutality. West Papua is not far away from us. On the contrary, they are literally at our doorstep. Therefore, we appeal to you:

1. To request the Indonesian authorities to hold accountable all those who were involved in the abuse;

2. To publicly support President Yudhoyono's willingness for peace dialogue with Papuans as a way to find a peaceful solution for West Papua in the long term;

3. To raise with the Indonesian authorities the urgency to protect local journalists and human rights workers in monitoring and reporting the human rights conditions in Papua;

4. To support the appeal of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to have unrestricted access for the UN human rights mechanisms, international human rights organisations, scholars and journalists, to visit Papua.

Signatories

• Dr Camellia Webb-Gannon, Visiting Scholar, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney
• Professor Francesca Merlan, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, CASS, Australian National University
• Dr Rebecca Monson, Lecturer, College of Law, Australian National University
• Natasha Tusikov, PhD Scholar, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Professor Alan Rumsey, Department of Anthropology, School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University
• Ed Wensing FPIA, PhD Candidate, National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Australian National University
• Budi Hernawan OFM, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Professor Peter King, West Papua Project, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney
• Dr Jason MacLeod, Lecturer, University of Queensland
• Annie Feith, Fieldwork Coordinator Community Development, College of Arts, Victoria University
• Dr Nathan Harris, Research Fellow, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Dr Annie Pohlman, Lecturer in Indonesian Studies, The University of Queensland
• Sri Lestari Wahyuningroem, PhD Scholar, Political and Social Change, Australian National University
• Dr Janet Hunt, Fellow, Australian National University
• Dr Katie Young, Associate Professor, College of Law, Australian National University
• S. Eben Kirksey, Ph.D. Environmental Humanities, University of New South Wales
• Professor John Braithwaite, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Dr Nick Cheesman, Lecturer, Political and Social Change, Australian National University
• Professor Chris Sidoti, Australian Catholic University
• Professor Neil Guningham, Regulatory Institutions Network and Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
• Dr Tyrell Haberkorn, Research Fellow, Political and Social Change, Australian National University
• Fanny Cottet, PhD Scholar, School of Culture, History and Language, Australian National University
• Dr Tony Foley, Associate Professor, College of Law, Australian National University
• Dr Ann Kent, Visiting Fellow, College of Law, Australian National University
• Fajar Argo Djati, Master Student, Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University
• Dr Emma Larking, Australian Research Council Laureate Postdoctoral Fellow, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Aloysia Brooks, Sessional Lecturer, Australian Catholic University
• Niko Kobepa, PhD Scholar, School of Culture, History and Language, Australian National University
• Seung-Hun Hong, PhD Scholar, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Dr Susan Harris Rimmer, Director of Studies, School of Regulation, Justice and Diplomacy, Australian National University
• Professor Valerie Braithwaite, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Dr Kathryn Henne, PhD Program Coordinator and Research Fellow
• Ibolya Losoncz, PhD Scholar, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Dr Kylie McKenna, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University
• Frederika Korain, Master Student, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, CASS, Australian National University
• Filiga T Niko, Master Student, College of Law, Australian National University
• Dr Blayne Haggart, Visiting Scholar, Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University

Budi Hernawan,
OFM,
Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Regulatory Institutions Network,
ANU.
Email: budi.hernawan@anu.edu.au,
Tel. 02-6125 7065

[1] See Pillay concerned about persistent violence and abuses in Papua (Indonesia) <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13287&LangID=E>

See also:

West Papua

West Papua Links

Statements and Press Releases on West Papua

Indonesia

Indoleft Archive

Indonesia links

Indonesia News Digest

News services on Indonesia

Publications & videos on Indonesia

Reports & articles on Indonesia

Statements & press releases on Indonesia