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News on West Papua's human rights and conflict situation

  • Call for Solidarity Action: Free Victor Yeimo
  • Protests for release of Victor Yeimo – 14 students arrested
  • Event Notice: Pacific Education and Advocacy Festival
  • Prosecution of Papuan human rights activist - Victor Yeimo’s health worsened during detention
  • The Guardian: Merauke Police chief alleged of torture was trained in Australia funded law enforcement facility
  • Chairperson of journalist association in Jayapura intimidated
  • Nationalist organisation reports Bali Legal Aid Institute and four Papuan students to police
  • The Oneibo Shooting – Another example of widespread impunity among security forces in West Papua
  • Police officer opens fire at Papuan villager – Angry mob burn down Nimboran police station
  • New YLBHI research on police misconduct in Indonesia
  • Police officer opens fire at indigenous villager in Sorong Selatan
  • Military members arrest 12 Papuans in Skofro – 9 arrestees alleged affiliation with the TPN PB
  • Torture of Papuan man in Nabire again captured on video – Security force violence is rampant in West Papua
  • Two military members torture disabled Papuan in Merauke – Video goes viral on social media
  • Paham Papua calls upon military to be transparent about prosecution of perpetrators
  • Trial against 2 AMP members in Jakarta – Activists sentenced to 5 months imprisonment
  • Military member opens fire at villager in Mappi Regency
  • Officers torture son of Papuan church leader during police patrol in Padang Bulan, Jayapura
  • Further peaceful protest against Papuan Special Autonomy dispersed – 36 protesters arrested in Sorong
  • Korean palm oil producer Korindo loses FSC certification

 
 
 
 
 
 

Call for Solidarity Action: Free Victor Yeimo
We are sharing this urgent request for solidarity for the Free Victor Yeimo campaign. Our friends from West Papua are preparing for a national action next week and are asking for our support through the following:
1. Sign the following petitions from Amnesty International: AI Australia here & AI Indonesia here
2. Send a text message to authorities: "SEGERA BEBASKAN VICTOR YEIMO! KORBAN SISTEMIK RASISME, SEKARANG MENJADI TAWANAN. BERIKAN AKSES KESEHATAN, PENGACARA HUKUM, DAN KELUARGA SEKARANG JUGA!" [Release Victor Yeimo immediately! He is a victim of systemic racism and was imprisoned for calling it out. Allow him access to legal, medical, and family support immediately!]

Protests for release of Victor Yeimo – 14 students arrested
On 10 August 2021, Papuan students launched a peaceful protest in front of the Cenderawasih University auditorium in Jayapura. The protesters demanded the immediate release of Papuan human rights activist and international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Victor Yeimo. Police officers dispersed the protest around 8.00 am and reportedly arrested 14 students. The students were detained at the Jayapura Municipality police station (see photo, source: Jubi). All were released in the late afternoon at 5.20 pm after lawyers of the Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (PAHAM Papua), and the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) had provided legal support to the protesters.
Event Notice: Pacific Education and Advocacy Festival
National, regional and international civil society organisations working in the Pacific region will hold an online event. The participants will have the opportunity to learn about the struggles in the Pacific region from the perspective of indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, environmental activists, women and other groups. The event with the title “Pacific Education and Advocacy Festival” will be coordinated by the Pacific Council of Churches (PCC), the Fiji Council of Social Services, Pasefika Fono, Rize of the Morning Star, and the Papuan Customary Council (DAP).
Prosecution of Papuan human rights activist - Victor Yeimo’s health worsened during detention
Multiple observers have expressed concerns regarding the health of Papuan human rights activist Victor Yeimo. Mr Yeimo was arrested on 9 May 2021 and charged with various criminal charges, among others treason, conspiracy and incitement. He has been detained at the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Jayapura for more than three months. Human rights lawyer and director of the Papuan Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (PAHAM Papua), Gustaf Kawer, visited Victor Yeimo on 9 August 2021 during detention. Kawer said Mr Yeimo’s health has continuously deteriorated since his imprisonment at the Brimob headquarters. Mr Yeimo lost weight. He feels pain in the chest and reportedly vomited blood.
 
The Guardian: Merauke Police chief alleged of torture was trained in Australia funded law enforcement facility
The Guardian has revealed possible connections between the unlawful detention and torture of 14 Papuan activists in Merauke (see photo, source: Jubi) and the Indonesian police training facility Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, Java Tengah Province. The police education centre is partly funded and run by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to teach best practice counter-terrorism and counter-people smuggling techniques to Indonesia’s national police (Polri).

Chairperson of journalist association in Jayapura intimidated
The Chairperson of the Association of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Jayapura, Lucky Ireeuw, was reportedly subjected to acts of intimidation on 8 August 2021. According to local media outlets, Mr Ireeuw and his family parked their car on 7 August at the roadside in Hamadi and took a boat to the island of Engros-Tobati. The family was forced to stay overnight at the island because of a sudden change of weather. When they returned to their car on the following day, unknown perpetrators had smashed a side window (see photo, source: Jubi). In contrast to usual cases of criminal theft, no valuables were removed from the car. Moreover, other vehicles which were parked next to Ireeuw’s car remained unharmed. Both findings support the assumption that the act was meant as intimidation against Lucky Ireeuw, who also works as chief editor for the Papuan news outlet Cenderawasih Post.

Nationalist organisation reports Bali Legal Aid Institute and four Papuan students to police
The Bali-based nationalist organisation Patriot Garuda Nusantara (PGN) has filed a complaint against the Bali Legal Aid Institute (LBH Bali) and four Papuan students to the Bali Regional Police (Polda Bali) on 2 August 2021. PGN raised allegations of treason against the Papuan students, and LBH Bali after the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) had commemorated its anniversary at the Papuan student dormitory in the city of Denpasar, Bali Province. LBH Bali argues it only provides legal aid to the four Papuan students. Their clients have publicly expressed their opinion as guaranteed under the Indonesian constitution, said LBH Bali director Ni Kadek Vany Primaliraning during an interview with the news outlet Suara Papua.
The Oneibo Shooting – Another example of widespread impunity among security forces in West Papua
Recent violent incidents involving Indonesian security force members have brought the issue of widespread impunity in West Papua once again into the public spotlight. Human rights organisations keep reporting human rights violations from the easternmost Indonesian provinces – almost all involve the police and military. In none of the cases, security forces members have been held accountable. The director of the Papuan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), Emanuel Gobay, mentioned the Oneibo shooting as a typical example for the lack of accountability in West Papua.

Police officer opens fire at Papuan villager – Angry mob burn down Nimboran police station
Multiple media outlets have covered a further case of police violence against an ethnic Papuan in the Nimboran District, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. According to media sources, a member of the Nimboran sub-district police opened fire at 22-year-old Fredrik Sem in the Worambaim village on 2 August 2021. Mr Sem sustained an injury to the head due to a bullet and was admitted to the hospital. Following the incident, angry relatives and residents mob burned down the Nimboran police station.
New YLBHI research on police misconduct in Indonesia
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has published two-and-a-half-year long research about misconduct among police officers in Indonesia. YLBHI documented 202 cases across Indonesia between January 2019 and June 2021. The violations range from police negligence to severe violations such as torture or extra-judicial executions. 2020 appeared to be a terrible year with 105 such cases – more than 50 per cent of all cases documented throughout the entire research period. The most vulnerable groups among victims of such violations were police suspects and students.
 
Police officer opens fire at indigenous villager in Sorong Selatan
On 20 July 2021, a member of the Sorong Selatan District Police with the initials OD reportedly attacked and tortured 46-year-old Nicolas Kemerai (see photo, source: Jubi) in the Bariat village, Sorong Selatan regency. The officer torture was meant to be a punishment for a broken timber deal. According to media outlet Jubi, OD was running a liquor business and had given 20 litres of liquor in return for two ironwood trees on Mr Kemerai’s land. As Mr Kemerai ‘s relatives prevented OD from cutting the trees, OD became angry and drove to Nicolas Kemerai’s house to take revenge.

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Military members arrest 12 Papuans in Skofro – 9 arrestees alleged affiliation with the TPN PB
Indonesian military members arrested a group of twelve Papuans near the village of Skofro, Keerom Regency, on 14 July 2021. The soldiers stopped the group in a pick-up truck driving from the Papua New Guinea border to Skofro. Nine arrestees are alleged of being affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB), an armed resistance group fighting for West Papua’s political independence. They are believed to have participated in a TPN PB meeting at the Victoria TPN PB headquarters, located in Papua New Guinea near the border. The military members reportedly found several TPN PB member cards and notes taken during the meeting.

Torture of Papuan man in Nabire again captured on video – Security force violence is rampant in West Papua
On 26 July 2021, a video showing two military members torturing a deaf Papuan man in Merauke caused public outrage across West Papua. Two days following the incident, another similar video taken in the Nabire Regency has gone viral on social media. This time, witnesses recorded two mobile police brigade officers torturing a Papuan man in the Bumiwonoreja village on 28 July 2021. Joint security forces had been deployed to the village to secure local elections. The Papuan police chief, Mathius D Fakhiri, declared during a press conference on 29 July 2021 that both officers have been taken into custody and are currently investigated by Propam, an internal disciplinary police unit.
Two military members torture disabled Papuan in Merauke – Video goes viral on social media
The ICP has compiled the latest information from human rights observers and media sources regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the regencies Puncak and Nduga. All information received indicates a lack of commitment from the local governments in Puncak and Nduga. The IDPs from Nduga already have to live under these uncertain conditions for more than two years without adequate healthcare, education, and humanitarian government services.
Paham Papua calls upon military to be transparent about prosecution of perpetrators
The Association of Human Rights Lawyers for Papua (Paham Papua) has called upon the XVII/Cenderawasih military chief commander to publish information about the current status in the law enforcement procedure in four cases of human rights violations as well as the arson of public health facilities in the Intan Jaya regency and the killing of a police officer in the Mamberamo Raya regency. Investigations had revealed that all cases were committed under the involvement of military members.
Trial against 2 AMP members in Jakarta – Activists sentenced to 5 months imprisonment
Victor Yeimo’s lawyers have reported the Papuan police for alleged maladministration to the Ombudsman’s office. According to the lawyers, the police disregarded their client's right to communicate with legal counsel and his family and the right to meet clergy during detention at the mobile police headquarters in Kotaraja, Jayapura. Human rights observers had already expressed concerns over various criminal procedure violations in mid-May 2021. The lawyers called upon the Ombudsman’s office to ensure that the police will adhere to human rights standards during detention.
Military member opens fire at villager in Mappi Regency
A Koramil 1707/Kepi military command member has tortured two indigenous Papuans in the Kanami Ville, Asgon District, during a dispute on 16.7.2021. The perpetrator named Syarifudin reportedly attacked Mr Anes Samogoi causing Mr Samagaoi to fall on the floor. As his brother, Mr Yosep Kamogou Samogoi, 26, stepped in to help, Mr Syarifudin drew his firearm and fired two shots at the brothers. One of the projectiles hit Mr Yosep Kamogou Samogoi in the leg, causing a bullet injury in the left thigh. He was brought to the Mappi general hospital, where he received medical treatment.

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Officers torture son of Papuan church leader during police patrol in Padang Bulan, Jayapura
Police officers reportedly tortured Charles Yoman during a patrol in Padang Bulan, Heram District of Jayapura City, on 10 July 2021. Mr Charles Yoman is the son of Rev Socrates Sofyan Yoman, president of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in West Papua and a West Papuan Council of Churches member. According to information received from the Baptist Church, seven officers of the Heram sub-district police approached Mr Yoman and his friends as they were consuming alcoholic drinks in front of a house. As the officers asked the group to disperse, Mr Charles Yoman responded, “Be careful, this is the complex I live in. You don't know who I am?”. Thereupon, one of the officers allegedly shouted, “Arrest him and get him up [on the police truck]. Beat him up”.

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Further peaceful protest against Papuan Special Autonomy dispersed – 36 protesters arrested in Sorong
The Papuan Peoples’ Front for the Rejection of Special Autonomy organised a peaceful protest in the city of Sorong, Papua Barat Province, on 19 July 2021. The crowd wanted to walk to the local parliament in Sorong to voice their rejection of the Papuan Special Autonomy but was blocked by police forces. Police officers reportedly dispersed the protest and arrested 36 protesters, among them two minors. They were detained at the Sorong police headquarters. Semuel Kogoya, 36, sustained abrasions on the nose and forehead due to police violence during the arrest.

Korean palm oil producer Korindo loses FSC certification
The Korean palm oil conglomerate Korindo will lose its sustainability certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in October 2021. The FSC worked with Korindo, although various environmental groups have repeatedly raised allegations of illegal deforestation and human rights violations against local communities. The FSC has now decided to withdraw Korindo’s certification after the relationship with the Group has "become untenable". The FSC certificate should inform consumers that the products are sourced from ethical and sustainable companies.

About the ICP

Human Rights and Peace for Papua is an international coalition of faith-based and civil society organisations (the Coalition) addressing the serious human rights condition in West Papua and supporting a peaceful solution to the conflict there. West Papua (Papua) refers to the western half of the New Guinea island in the Pacific and comprises the eastern most provinces of Indonesia. Indigenous Papuans are suffering from a long and ongoing history of human rights violations and security forces subject them to violence including killings, torture and arbitrary arrests. Impunity prevails. A lack of adequate access to health care and education as well as demographical and economical marginalisation and discrimination mark the living condition for Papuans. A heavy presence of Indonesian security forces, lack of access for international observers such as journalists, corruption and transmigration from other parts of Indonesia aggravate the situation. Political prisoners and the persecution of political activists shows the extent of repression with which freedom of expression and indigenous peoples’ rights are being violated. Papua’s wealth in natural resources attracts businesses and security forces resulting in exploitation through mining, logging, harmful agricultural projects, and environmental degradation. This dynamic challenges traditional indigenous culture while Papuans demand their right to self-determination.
 
visit our website at www.humanrightspapua.org