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Indonesia: Indigenous Papuans face persecution while exercising their right to freedom of assembly and expression
Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeal - June 14, 2017
Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Press Legal Aid (LBH Pers) regarding the persecution of members of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) and Local People Assembly (PRD) on 30-31 May 2017. The members faced arbitrary arrest and detention, intimidation, and forced dispersal of their peaceful prayer gatherings. The KNPB chairperson was also charged with treason.
Case narrative:
On 30 May 2017, Indonesian security forces forcibly dispersed a mass prayer organized in Wamena and Merauke, Papua province. They also targeted members of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB). Police officers of the Mimika Police Office (Polres Mimika) along with military personnel arrested the KNPB Chairperson, Mr. Yanto Awekion. The security forces arrested Yanto when he and his friends were gathering for the prayers at their office. The security forces forcibly dispersed the prayer gathering, then charged Yanto under section 106 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP) on Treason. The security forces also interrogated six others for some two hours.
On the same day, security forces also went to the KNPB secretariat in Wamena, and interrogated the KNPB members about their planned activities. The interrogation resulted in trauma and fear.
On May 31, the security forces arrested 77 people in Merauke, Papua. They are activists of KNPB and also Local People Assembly (PRD), who were gathering for prayers when the security forces arrested them and forcibly dispersed the ceremony. Despite all of them being released subsequently, many of them suffer trauma and face uncertain human rights protection.
The Indonesian police and government have failed to ensure human rights protection in Papua, particularly for indigenous Papuans. The government tends to prioritize infrastructure development rather than human rights protection. Without effective law enforcement, human rights violations continue to recur in Papua.
Suggested action:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that the Indonesian government stops all forms of persecution against local indigenous Papuans. The government should comprehensively evaluate the presence of security forces in Papua, and should open access for journalists to ensure the realization of human rights in Papua.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression calling for their intervention into this matter.
To support this case, please click here: http://www.urgentappeals.net/support.php?ua=AHRC-UAC-055-2017
Sample letter:
Dear....................,
Indonesia: Indigenous Papuans face persecution while exercising their right to freedom of assembly and expression
On 30 May 2017, Indonesian security forces forcibly dispersed a mass prayer organized in Wamena and Merauke, Papua province. They also targeted members of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB). Police officers of the Mimika Police Office (Polres Mimika) along with military personnel arrested the KNPB Chairperson, Mr. Yanto Awekion. The security forces arrested Yanto when he and his friends were gathering for the prayers at their office. The security forces forcibly dispersed the prayer gathering, then charged Yanto under section 106 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP) on Treason. The security forces also interrogated six others for some two hours.
On the same day, security forces also went to the KNPB secretariat in Wamena, and interrogated the KNPB members about their planned activities. The interrogation resulted in trauma and fear.
On May 31, the security forces arrested 77 people in Merauke, Papua. They are activists of KNPB and also Local People Assembly (PRD), who were gathering for prayers when the security forces arrested them and forcibly dispersed the ceremony. Despite all of them being released subsequently, many of them suffer trauma and face uncertain human rights protection.
The Indonesian police and
government have failed to ensure human rights protection in Papua, particularly
for indigenous Papuans. The government tends to prioritize infrastructure
development rather than human rights protection. Without effective law
enforcement, human rights violations continue to recur in Papua.
I look forward to your prompt
action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
...................
Please send your letters to:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic
of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human
Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.
6 – 7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525
3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH.,
MH
Director General of Human
Rights
Office of the Director General
of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.
6 – 7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Pol. Drs. H.M.
Tito Karnavian, M.A., Ph.D
Chief of National Police
(KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 KebayoranBaru,
Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726
0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky Indarti
Commissioner of the National
Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id,
skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor. Amzulian Rifai
S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman
of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav.
C-19 Kuningan (GedungPengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. H. Bambang Soesatyo, S.E.,
M.B.A
Chairperson of the Commission
III of The House of Representative
KetuaKomisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR
RI, Lt I
JalanJenderalGatotSubroto,
Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp: +62 21 -5715566, +62
21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax: +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency
for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi
dan Korban (LPSK)
Jalan Raya Bogor KM. 24
No. 47-49, Susukan, Ciracas, RT.6/RW.1, Susukan, Ciracas, Kota Jakarta
Timur, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 13750
Tel: +62 21 29681560
Fax: +62 21 29681551/+62
21 29681557
9. General Gatot Nurmantyo
Chief of Indonesian Military
Mabes TNI Cilangkap Jakarta
Timur
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 84595576, +62
21 8459-5326
Fax: + 62 21 84591193
Email: ppidtni@puspen.tni.mil.id
10. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson of the National
Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
(ua@ahrc.asia)
Source: http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-055-2017.
See also:
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