PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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Open briefing for Forum Leaders on Human Rights in West Papua

38th Pacific Islands Forum, Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 16-17 October 2007

9 October 2007

This briefing is provided by TAPOL, a UK-based NGO, which promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia.

TAPOL notes the Forum's expression of concern in its communiqué following its 37th meeting in 2006 about reports of violence in Papua and welcomes its call for ‘all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in Papua and to work to address the root causes of such conflicts by peaceful means.’ It further welcomes the Forum’s call for the Indonesian authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of serious crimes.

The human rights situation in West Papua has shown no signs of improvement since the Forum’s last meeting. The available evidence suggests that human rights violations, most notably by police personnel, continue on a routine basis. No significant efforts are being made to tackle impunity for past abuses.

Although West Papua does not currently suffering from the level of abuse and violence associated with a military operations zone, there is increasing concern over the oppressive presence of military personnel, intelligence agents and police special forces and the intimidation of perceived ‘separatists’ and human rights defenders.

Detailed information about the human rights situation remains difficult to obtain because of restrictions on access to and movement within the territory, but indications of the extent of violations have been provided by reports by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani.

An HRW report on political prisoners in West Papua, published in February 2007, highlighted persistent abuses of the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly. A later report by the organisation, published in July 2007, documented routine abuses in the Central Highlands area, notably by the police and it special forces unit, Brimob. Following her visit to West Papua on 8 June, the UN envoy, Hina Jilani, noted ‘credible reports of … arbitrary detention, torture, harassment through surveillance, interference with the freedom of movement and in defenders’ efforts to monitor and investigate human rights violations’.

TAPOL urges the Forum to devote special attention in its own deliberations and in its post-Forum dialogue with Indonesia to: the situation of human rights defenders in West Papua; the military build-up in the territory; and the persistence of impunity for serious crimes.

Human rights defenders
The level of intimidation against human rights defenders, political activists and religious leaders by military and intelligence personnel has increased markedly since the visit of the UN Special Representative in June 2007. Even the local representative of the National Commission on Human Rights, Alberth Rumbekwan, has been subjected to intense intimidation. There is currently grave concern for the safety of human rights defenders. Targeted individuals and their families are being terrorised by death threats, anonymous phone calls and SMS messages, constant surveillance, and late-night visits by unidentified persons. At the end of September, the 17-year old daughter of a prominent political leader was reportedly abducted and assaulted at gunpoint. Activists are accused of links with separatist organisations and false SMS messages have been sent in their name to senior police and military personnel containing invented plans to attack police and military targets. Many are afraid to go out at night and the pervasive sense of insecurity is preventing human rights defenders from carrying out their normal activities and is seriously affecting their health.

TAPOL calls upon the Forum to urge the Indonesian authorities: to take all necessary steps to protect Papuan human rights defenders; to address the concerns of the UN Special Representative and implement her recommendations without delay; and to bring to justice those responsible for any crimes committed in relation to the recent acts of intimidation against human rights defenders.

Military build-up
Troop levels in West Papua are continuing to grow as a result of an increase in the size and number of infantry battalions and the creation of new territorial commands. There are reported plans to enhance the troop presence along the border with Forum member, Papua New Guinea, and to deploy a new third division of Indonesia’s Kostrad (strategic reserve command) troops ‘to patrol Papua border areas and other conflict-prone regions’.

TAPOL urges the Forum to question Indonesia about its policy of expanding its military presence in West Papua. There is no security or military justification for the troop build-up. It can only add to the human rights problems of West Papua and increase the tensions in the territory and possibly the wider Pacific region.

Impunity for serious crimes
Indonesia is making no serious attempt to investigate and prosecute those responsible for gross violations of human rights in West Papua. On the contrary it has deployed to the territory a senior army officer indicted on crimes against humanity charges in East Timor. Col. Burhanuddin Siagian created of one of the most violent militia systems in East Timor and has been charged in relation to his threats to kill independence supporters and his involvement in the deaths of seven men in April 1999. In May 2007, he threatened to destroy any Papuan who betrays Indonesia. He later said that anyone who tends towards separatism would be crushed by the Indonesian military. Reports suggest Col. Siagian is a leading instigator of the policy of intimidation against human rights defenders and that, in a reprise of his role in East Timor, he is actively involved in organising pro-Indonesia militia groups to create unrest and undermine Papuan efforts to establish their homeland as a ‘Land of Peace’.

TAPOL urges the Forum to call for Col Siagian’s immediate withdrawal from West Papua, his suspension from active duty, and for judicial action to be taken against him. It further encourages the Forum to renew its call for the perpetrators of serious crimes in West Papua to be brought to justice.

October 2007