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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Torture of Papuan man in Nabire again captured on video – Security force violence is rampant in West Papua
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.