Politics & History

Papuan People need not be afraid to talk about Merdeka (Independence)
(translation courtesy of Tapol, comments via West Papua Media Alerts

Bintang Papua,6 January 2011
Biak

A human rights lawyer and advocate has reminded the Papuan people that they needn’t be afraid to talk about independence for Papua because independence for Papua is a basic human rights that is legally recognised and can be fought for by legal, democratic and political means. ‘I say this because the 1945 Constitution guarantees these rights,’ said Yan Christian Warinussy, executive-director of LP3BH-Manokwari.

Australian Labor Party National Conference, Sydney, 2011

RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON PAPUA

This Labor Conference

1. Expresses its continuing concern over violent incidents in the Papuan provinces;

2. Welcomes the Indonesian President’s announcement of 9 November 2011 that his government is willing to conduct a dialogue with Papuan Leaders;

Detained Papuan Leaders Speak Out
by: Alex Rayfield, New Matilda, and West Papua Media

New Matilda has obtained the first interview with West Papuan leaders detained after last month's violent crackdown on the Third Papuan People's Congress in Jayapura.

The man who was last month elected President of the ‘Federal Republic of West Papua’ after a declaration of independence by the third Papuan People’s Congress may be behind bars, he may have been savagely beaten by the Indonesian police, but he has not been silenced.

New Docos examine upheaval in West Papua
source: West Papua Media Alerts

As the 1st of December looms, two new short documentaries published by West Papua Media take a look at the recent wave of unprecedented political and industrial action and state repression in the lead up to the 50th anniversary of West Papuan Independence.

The Third Papuan People’s Congress

The Third Papuan People's Congress from westpapuamedia on Vimeo.

Why Now? A West Papua Backgrounder
By: Jim Elmslie
Source: New Matilda

NM has kept a close eye on West Papua as pressure in the breakaway Indonesian province builds. Long-time Papua watcher Jim Elmslie explains why the situation has escalated - and may get worse in coming months

Two seminal events have shattered the uneasy status quo in West Papua: a labour strike at the Freeport mine, and the declaration of an independent West Papua at a landmark mass meeting of Papuan nationalists, the Third Papuan Congress.

from the Java Post - November 18, 2011
Ribuan Massa Teriakkan Papua Merdeka - Jawa Pos. Jum'at, 18 November 2011

Manokwari -- Shouts of "Papuan is independent" enlivened a peaceful protest action at the West Papua Provincial House of Representatives (DPRPB) on Thursday November 17.

Thousands of protesters took to the street and marched from Jl. Pahlawan Sanggeng to Jl. Yos Sudarso and then to Jl. Merdeka before eventually conveying their demands on the grounds of the DPRPB.

UNITED NATIONS DECLARES INDONESIA’S DETENTION OF FILEP KARMA A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Source: Freedom Now

In response to a petition filed by Freedom Now and Hogan Lovells, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued its opinion that the Government of Indonesia is in violation of international law by detaining Filep Karma. The Working Group calls on the Government of Indonesia to immediately release the human rights advocate.

Neles Tebay welcomes the readiness of the government to enter into dialogue with Papua
source: Bintang Papua, 9 November 2011; translation courtesy of TAPOL

Jayapura: Pastor Neles Tebay, co-ordinator of the Papua Peace Network has stated today that he has received information that the central government is willing to have a dialogue with the Papuan people. He said that the offer from the goverenment, by the Minister-Coordinator for Politics and Law to enter into construction communications with the Papua people was welcome.

'We Papuan people should welcome the constructive communications being offered by the government, as the way to resolve all the crucial problems in Papua. Even though it is not entirely clear, the willingness to communicate with the Papuan people is a sign of good will and means that the government is very concerned about Papua.'

RAW FOOTAGE OF THE ATTACK ON THE PAPUAN PEOPLE’S CONGRESS

source: West Papua Media Alerts

This is raw footage of the attack of Oct 19/2011 by the Indonesian military and police on the Third Papuan People’s Congress in Jayapura. The footage shows people dancing, soldiers closing in, and gun shots. The video was shot by several observers. The last sequence was shot while the camera person was hiding from gunfire. Police have now confirmed that five people were killed in the attack – human rights groups say it was more.

click here for full footage (Oct 21/2011)

click here for more (Nov 11/2011)

Full translation by TAPOL of the report received from KPKC, Synod of GKI, Indonesian Christian Church on 21 October 2011

THE THIRD PAPUAN PEOPLES' CONGRESS

The Third Papuan Congress was held from 17 October and attended by Papuans from across the territory of Papua. After facing difficulties regarding the venue of the Congress, the Congress was held in the Zakheus Tunas Harapan Padang field.