From the United Nations News Centre, June 12, 2007

Human rights defenders in Indonesia’s province of West Papua continue to face torture, arbitrary detention and harassment from the country’s police, military and security forces, an independent United Nations expert said today after wrapping up a week-long visit to the Asian archipelago, which she said had also taken some positive steps in the legal realm.

Hina Jilani, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the situation of human rights defenders, said she had received “credible reports"? of such activities, as well as attempts to interfere with defenders’ freedom of movement.

MASS PROTEST IN MANOKWARI WEST PAPUA, PROTESTERS DEMAND UN REVIEW ON ACT OF FREE CHOICE 1969 AND A GENUINE REFERENDUM

This morning (8 June, 2007), around 1000 people held peace protest in Manokwari, the capital town of Papua Barat Province. The protest was conducted in conjunction with the arrival of Ms. Hina Jilani, a special representative of the UN Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in Indonesia. She was expected to arrive in Jayapura today (8 June 2007). Jayapura is the capital of Papua province, the eastern-most province in Indonesia. Several years ago, Papua was divided into two provinces, Papua and Papua Barat.

Biak to Become Military Base for Eastern Indonesia - report submitted by ELSHAM Biak, Papua

(Abridged translation courtesy of TAPOL)

I. INTRODUCTION

The district of Biak Numfor is strategically located, being near the Pacific Ocean while the northern tip is close to The Philippines.

Its inhabitants are able to engage in trade with the Philippines, while fishing vessels operate in nearby waters from The Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.

In terms of security, it is strategically located for a military base, being close to Asia and the Pacific. Three islands, Mapia, Tandjung Barari and Pantai Korem, are frequently visited by foreign warships docking here to monitor the activities of the Indonesian army.

Press Release: May 14th, 2007

Indonesian Police move to close Kingme Church

Reports from the Kingmi Church in Jayapura, West Papua, today indicate that the Indonesian Police working with the members of the GKII Church from Jakarta have moved to illegally occupy & close the Kingmi Church Synod.

It is reported that this afternoon (1300 Jayapura time) that members of the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) GKII have attacked and savagely beaten members of the Kingmi church in the street outside the Synod.

NOTE: Since this article was first posted, participants in the protest have been arrested or threatened. Names and photos have subsequently been removed for the protection of those involved.

Today, (1 May 2007) between 9.00 and 12.00 a.m., a mass protest was conducted in Manokwari. Protesters rallied from the Manokwari Stadium to Panggung Terbuka.

An estimated 1 000 people participated in the demonstration, not including those who rode motorcycles. They stated that the Papuan people have lost their trust in the Indonesian Government and demanded the following (quoted from their press release):

1. The United Nations must give Observer status to the land and people of Papua and immediately send a Peace Keeping Mission to the territory of Papua.

2. The General Assembly of the UN must immediately review the so-called “Act of Free Choice 1969 in West Papua� and annul Resolution No. 2504 dated 19 November 1969.

--- Bahasa Indonesia version follows below the English ---
--- Photos of the demonstration can be viewed here ---

PRESS RELEASE:

THE COALITION OF STUDENTS AND PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR PAPUA LAND
Secretariate: Jl. Perumnas I Gg Mawar 108 Waena, Jayapura Telp. 085255672878

SPECIAL AUTONOMY HAS FAILED, THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT MUST CARRY OUT RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE WITH PAPUAN PEOPLE

When the spirit of reform led by the students swept the entire Nusantara archipelago, the autoritarian regime of Soeharto could not stand anylonger. In relation to this, all the Papuan people did not stay silent. Having been muzzled for 39 years by the autoritarian military regime, Papuan people demand the Indonesian government the recognition of their sovereignty as a free nation,a goal which has never died since 1969 of (forced) integration. The climax was on 26 February 1999 where 100 Papuans joined in a team called Tim 100 met President BJ Habibie in the State Palace demanding the recognition of the independence.

 
Many activists around the world use e-mail and Internet tools on a regular basis. They are often spied on and harassed by people who are trying to hurt them or their cause. If you use technology for your cause, you may be endangering yourself or the people you communicate with - unless you take the following precautions.

Don't make it easy for the wrong people to gain access to your private information, i.e., to identify and locate you, and to read your e-mail messages. Protect your safety and the safety of others! (Please pass this information on to anyone whose life may be threatened by forces monitoring their use of email and the Internet.)

Indonesia: Military Business Threatens Human Rights
Response to Research by Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Source: Kontras

Commision for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) expresses regret toward the tardiness of Indonesian govenrment to release President Decision on implementation of Law No. No.34/2004 on Military. This setback will weaken iniative to push military withdrawn from businesses, reform the budget process and hold military personnel accountable for crimes by 2009. That tardiness threatens human rights.

[An English version of this article is published as "A Yellow Light for Indonesia" by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.]

PacNet #4 (CSIS-Hawaii) February 1, 2007

oleh Professor Donald E. Weatherbee

Selama enam tahun pemerintahannya, George W. Bush telah mendorong pemulihan hubungan dengan Indonesia. Amerika Serikat memandang Indonesia sebagai mitra utamanya dalam berurusan dengan masalah yang menjadi prioritas yakni counter-terrorism. Lebih penting lagi, Amerika Serikat melihat peranan besar Indonesia dalam membentuk terjaminnya wilayah Asia Tenggara yang stabil dan damai dalam jangka panjang di mana Amerika Serikat akan berpartisipasi sepenuhnya.

Diterjemahkan oleh: a West Papuan citizen...

FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN
www.freewestpapua.org
PO Box 656, Oxford OX3 3AP, UK

SIARAN PERS
------------------------------
30th January 2007

"BIARKAN PAPUA BARAT MELAKUKAN PEMUNGUTAN SUARA BAGI
KEMERDEKAAN!" KATA ANGGOTA PARLEMEN (MP) OXFORD KETIKA MENTERI-MENTERI
INDONESIA BERKUNJUNG KE LONDON, MP ANDREW SMITH BERKATA BAHWA INILAH
SAATNYA BAGI SEBUAH REFERENDUM KEMERDEKAAN PAPUA BARAT, DALAM SEBUAH
SURAT KEPADA PRESIDEN INDONESIA

SEKARANG, JANUARI 2007, DI HUTAN-HUTAN NEW GUINEA, TENTARA-TENTARA