West Papua deserves Barack Obama's attention
If East Timor-like horrors are to be avoided, Barack Obama and the west must not ignore abuses by Indonesian security forces
Dominic Brown
guardian.co.uk, Monday 15 November 2010 17.59 GMT
Article history
An independence rally that took place last week in the city of Manokwari in West Papua to coincide with Obama's trip to Indonesia. Photograph: West Papua Media Alerts
In his autobiography Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama recalls a conversation with his stepfather who had just returned home after a tour of duty with the Indonesian military in West Papua. On asking him: "Have you ever seen a man killed?", his stepfather recounted the bloody death of "weak" men.
Last month, video footage circulated online showing members of the Indonesian security forces brutally torturing Papuan civilians, including burning the genitals of an elderly farmer. It seems as far as West Papua is concerned, some things never change.
Earlier this year, the US administration announced the re-establishment of military ties with Indonesia's Kopassus special forces – the same forces implicated in the atrocities of East Timor. Leaked Kopassus documents released last week, have heightened fears that Indonesia's claims of military reform – a condition of the US deal – are without foundation. The documents show that Kopassus continue to engage in "murder and abduction" and include a target list of "enemies of the Indonesian state", including West Papuan church leaders, political and student activists.
Last year I travelled to West Papua to film an undercover documentary about the independence struggle. I found a land where the remnants of the Suharto era very much live on into the modern day – far from the image of democracy that Obama painted in his speech to the Indonesian nation.
Saturday 4 December 2010
Jakarta under pressure to prosecute torture troops
Tom Allard, Jakarta
December 4, 2010
A scene from the torture video that has sparked calls for action.
AUSTRALIA and the US have urged Indonesia to bring to justice soldiers who tortured two Papuan men in May, pressuring Indonesia to meet its commitment to reforming its military.
Ambassadors from the two countries - which share a close security relationship with Indonesia - have raised the issue in the past week or so in response to a farcical investigation into the torture, which was captured on video and revealed by The Age.
The video depicts Indonesian soldiers repeatedly burning the genitals of a Papuan man while he cries in pain.
Advertisement: Story continues below
After the video surfaced, before a visit by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised that the perpetrators would face trial.
Four soldiers were soon court-martialled and sentenced to between five and seven months in prison. But it emerged that the men were on trial for an earlier and far less serious incident in which unarmed Papuans were kicked and hit with a helmet.
The investigation into the video has since stalled, with some senior Indonesian military officials continuing to claim that those imprisoned were involved in the torture.
Tom Allard, Jakarta
December 4, 2010
A scene from the torture video that has sparked calls for action.
AUSTRALIA and the US have urged Indonesia to bring to justice soldiers who tortured two Papuan men in May, pressuring Indonesia to meet its commitment to reforming its military.
Ambassadors from the two countries - which share a close security relationship with Indonesia - have raised the issue in the past week or so in response to a farcical investigation into the torture, which was captured on video and revealed by The Age.
The video depicts Indonesian soldiers repeatedly burning the genitals of a Papuan man while he cries in pain.
Advertisement: Story continues below
After the video surfaced, before a visit by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and US President Barack Obama, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised that the perpetrators would face trial.
Four soldiers were soon court-martialled and sentenced to between five and seven months in prison. But it emerged that the men were on trial for an earlier and far less serious incident in which unarmed Papuans were kicked and hit with a helmet.
The investigation into the video has since stalled, with some senior Indonesian military officials continuing to claim that those imprisoned were involved in the torture.
Military Continues Crackdown in Indonesian Papua
Nivell Rayda & Banjir Ambarita | December 02, 2010
Jakarta. At least one person has been reportedly killed in raids in Papua as the military steps up its search for members of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), which marked its 45th anniversary on Wednesday.
Markus Haluk, a member of the Papuan Customary Council (DAP), the largest nongovernmental organization in Papua and West Papua, told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday that Wendiman Wenda, a 55-year-old farmer, was killed outside his house.
He said that Wendiman was shot while working in his garden in Yambi village, Puncak Jaya district, on Sunday, shortly after returning from church.
“The military was patrolling the area and assumed he was an OPM member,” he said. “Wendiman was not a separatist. He was just a farmer.”
A neighbor, Piron Moribnak, said the soldiers had shot Wendiman from a distance.
“They called out to him, but he was hard of hearing and they were a ways off, so of course he didn’t hear them and he didn’t respond,” he said. “That’s when they opened fire.”
Neither the Puncak Jaya Police nor military officials in Papua could be reached for comment.
In Wamena district, the West Papua Media Alerts Web site reported that two people had been killed in a similar raid there on Thursday. However, Markus said the two had survived but were in critical condition.
“We’re still trying to gather more information on the two incidents because both areas are so remote,” he said.
The two men reportedly shot in Wamena have been identified as Asili Wenda and Elius Tabuni.
Lemok Mabel, chairman of the DAP’s Baliem Valley chapter in Wamena, said neither man was an OPM member or sympathizer.
Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumek Jaya, chief of the Jayawijaya subprecinct police in Wamena, denied there had been a shooting in the area on Thursday.
Australian Government Urges Yudhoyono to Ensure Papua Torture Case Resolved: Report
December 03, 2010
Jakarta. In what one Australian media outlet is describing as an “embarrassing diplomatic tangle,” Australia’s Ambassador Greg Moriarty to Indonesia was ordered to raise concerns directly with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about Indonesia’s stalled investigation into the alleged torture of two Papuans by the military.
ABC Radio, on its Web site, reported that the Australian government raised concerns about an investigation by the Indonesian Military (TNI), which has failed to hold anyone accountable for the shocking incident in which five soldiers were caught on tape torturing two men.
A spokesperson for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told ABC that she was “concerned that there be a full and transparent investigation” and will “continue to make our expectations regarding this issue clear with the Indonesian government.”
December 03, 2010
Jakarta. In what one Australian media outlet is describing as an “embarrassing diplomatic tangle,” Australia’s Ambassador Greg Moriarty to Indonesia was ordered to raise concerns directly with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about Indonesia’s stalled investigation into the alleged torture of two Papuans by the military.
ABC Radio, on its Web site, reported that the Australian government raised concerns about an investigation by the Indonesian Military (TNI), which has failed to hold anyone accountable for the shocking incident in which five soldiers were caught on tape torturing two men.
A spokesperson for Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told ABC that she was “concerned that there be a full and transparent investigation” and will “continue to make our expectations regarding this issue clear with the Indonesian government.”
Sunday 28 November 2010
Papua torture probe continued by rights group
Posted at 01:48 on 27 November, 2010 UTC
Video footage of the torture, which involved burning of the Papuans’ genitals, was widely circulated last month via the internet.
Human Rights groups are concerned that the government is stalling on moves to investigate the torture, while the military has signalled that the perpetrators aren’t identifiable.
However, footage has been released in the past two days of one of the Papuan victims giving testimony about being tortured.
West Papua: Uncovering the ‘hidden’ conflict
Sunday, November 28, 2010
By Ash Pemberton
Sunday, November 28, 2010
By Ash Pemberton
6000 Papuans protested for self-determination and human rights. Manokwari, November 8. Photo: West Papua Media Alerts
Maire Leadbeater is a spokesperson for the Indonesia Human Rights Committee (Auckland). She recently returned from West Papua, a nation that has faced repression since its occupation by Indonesia in 1963. She spoke to Green Left Weekly's Ash Pemberton.
Can you give your impressions of West Papuan society under Indonesian occupation?
Two things stand out when you first arrive in [the capital] Jayapura, the extent of the militarisation and the dominance of the migrant community in business and everyday life.
I quickly gave up the attempt to count the number of military and police bases — there were just too many. Policemen and soldiers seemed to be everywhere.
In the rural areas it was the same. I visited a small village of perhaps 30 or 40 houses with no electricity, phone, running water or transport service, but its very own TNI [Indonesian army] post keeping track of everyone's movements.
In Jayapura, the immaculate Brimob (special police mobile brigade) base was particularly formidable — with five tank-like vehicles and one shiny new anti-terror vehicle equipped with water cannon.
During my visit I saw the vehicles deployed, waiting in readiness in central Jayapura while a 50 or 60-strong “reject autonomy” demonstration took place at the provincial parliament building.
Fortunately, on this occasion there were no arrests, but it would be hard to overestimate the courage of those who gather knowing that their actions are always being monitored.
The “intel” will be around close by riding an ojek (motor bike taxi) or “selling” food on a stall.
I read all the time about the marginalisation of the Papuan community but it was another thing to see the reality — the Papuan women selling their produce or their beautiful craftwork on the pavement outside the glossy Western-style supermarket.
At the Yotefa market near Abepura, migrants seemed to have cornered the market for every kind of commodity and are even, to the dismay of the Papuans, selling penang (or betel nut), a treasured part of Papuan culture.
The Merauke Intergrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) is a proposed 1.6 million hectare agribusiness that has been imposed on the people of Merauke on the south coast. What did you learn about what's going on in Merauke?
New Species Of Blind Cave Fish Found In Indonesia
Posted on: Friday, 26 November 2010, 13:10 CST
Scientists have discovered a new species of cave fish which has developed without eyes or pigmentation in Indonesia’s eastern Papua area.
"This is, to our knowledge, the first cave fish that has been discovered in Papua," scientist Laurent Pouyaud told the AFP news agency.
Pouyaud and a team of researchers from the Institute of Research and Development in southern France, studied underground rivers, caves and jungles in an isolated region of New Guinea island.
A new species of frog that carries its offspring on its back was also discovered in the vast limestone “labyrinth.”
Posted on: Friday, 26 November 2010, 13:10 CST
Scientists have discovered a new species of cave fish which has developed without eyes or pigmentation in Indonesia’s eastern Papua area.
"This is, to our knowledge, the first cave fish that has been discovered in Papua," scientist Laurent Pouyaud told the AFP news agency.
Pouyaud and a team of researchers from the Institute of Research and Development in southern France, studied underground rivers, caves and jungles in an isolated region of New Guinea island.
A new species of frog that carries its offspring on its back was also discovered in the vast limestone “labyrinth.”
Sunday 21 November 2010
BBC News report from Jayapura
Press Release – BBC
The BBC has been granted rare access to West Papua by the Indonesian Government. However, it will come of no suprise that the highly controlled visit was only to Jayapura, and an aide from Jakarta accompanied the BBC crew at all times.BBC News report from Jayapura
The BBC has been granted rare access to West Papua by the Indonesian Government. However, it will come of no suprise that the highly controlled visit was only to Jayapura, and an aide from Jakarta accompanied the BBC crew at all times.
A 7 minute report was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 earlier today, and a further report will go out on BBC News (time tbc). In today’s radio report, the presenter Rachel Harvey talks about the clear resentment felt by Papuans towards Indonesia. She also talks of the high military build up, and seeing a convoy of at least 15 army and police trucks at one point.
The BBC has been granted rare access to West Papua by the Indonesian Government. However, it will come of no suprise that the highly controlled visit was only to Jayapura, and an aide from Jakarta accompanied the BBC crew at all times.BBC News report from Jayapura
The BBC has been granted rare access to West Papua by the Indonesian Government. However, it will come of no suprise that the highly controlled visit was only to Jayapura, and an aide from Jakarta accompanied the BBC crew at all times.
A 7 minute report was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 earlier today, and a further report will go out on BBC News (time tbc). In today’s radio report, the presenter Rachel Harvey talks about the clear resentment felt by Papuans towards Indonesia. She also talks of the high military build up, and seeing a convoy of at least 15 army and police trucks at one point.
Indonesia’s human rights body unsatisfied with military tribunal on Papua abuses
Posted at 22:35 on 15 November, 2010 UTC
It claims that a recent military tribunal merely paid lip service to the attempt to bring justice to the perpetrators of torture.
Sunday, November 21, 2010 06:32 AM Follow us on 
Editorial
Editorial: Travesty of justice in Papua
The Jakarta Post | Mon, 11/15/2010 9:12 AM | Editorial
Second Lt. Cosmos was found guilty of defying a superior order when he allowed his men to torture civilians suspected of supporting the Papuan separatist movement. His three men each received five month terms for breaching the military code of conduct. The court also found Cosmos guilty of tarnishing the reputation of the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Torture video reveals "Indonesia's Abu Ghraib"
Submitted by WW4 Report on Mon, 11/15/2010 - 02:20.
In the wake of Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia, a video has emerged showing the torture of helpless detainees in the restive territory of West Papua. Rights groups are describing the footage as "Indonesia's Abu Ghraib," and say it raises serious questions about the Obama administration's decision to embrace cooperation with the Indonesian security forces. The video is the second in recent months to offer graphic footage of Indonesian security force torture of Papuans.
In the video, a Papuan man is held to the ground while a hot stick, still smoldering from a fire, is held against his genitals. A plastic bag is wrapped around his head several times, a rifle held against him. Another man has a large knife held against him while he pleads: "I'm just an ordinary civilian, please..." One of his interrogators responds: "I'll cut your throat... Do not lie, I will kill you! Burn the penis!"
While Indonesia is generally moving towards democratization, West Papua appears on the opposite path: towards ongoing military domination, widespread suppression of political activity, routine use of torture and other severe violations of basic human rights. Rights observers say that in West Papua, the Indonesian military and its accomplices—the militarized police (Brimob), special forces (Kopassus) and "anti-terror" force (Detachment 88)—continue to operate with impunity under the old dictatorship's rules: peaceful dissent is criminalized; civil society leaders are intimidated, and the international community is precluded from any effective monitoring. (ETAN, Oct. 19)
Source: http://www.ww4report.com/node/9244
Melbourne joins global protests to free West Papua
Saturday, November 13, 2010
West Papuans and their supporters staged protests worldwide to coincide with US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia. Large protests were held in West Papua.
In Melbourne, about 50 activists protested at Federation Square on November 10, demanding action against the Indonesian government and its atrocities against West Papuans.
West Papua: Death threat to human rights defenders
The Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Media release 12 November 2010
Media release 12 November 2010
AWPA calls on PM to raise concerns about death threat to human rights defenders with Indonesian President
AWPA is calling on Julia Gillard to raise the threat to human rights defenders in West Papua with President Yudhoyono. Joe Collins of AWPA said both Julia Gillard and President Obama had just been in Jakarta and neither raised concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian President although they knew about the video footage of the torture of Papuans which caused outrage around the world.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
West Papua deserves Barack Obama's attention
If East Timor-like horrors are to be avoided, Barack Obama and the west must not ignore abuses by Indonesian security forces
Tuesday 16 November 2010
‘They own the people’: Report on Ampatuans out
By H. Marcos C. Mordeno | Tuesday| November 16, 2010 | Filed under: Top Stories
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 November) — For over two decades, the powerful Ampatuan family of Maguindanao province committed killings and abuses with impunity with the support of high government and security officials, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The 96-page report, released a week before the first anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre which killed 58 people including 32 media workers and blamed on certain members of the Ampatuan family as the masterminds, was based on at least 80 interviews with victims and witnesses as well as sources familiar with the Ampatuan family security structure.
By H. Marcos C. Mordeno | Tuesday| November 16, 2010 | Filed under: Top Stories
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 November) — For over two decades, the powerful Ampatuan family of Maguindanao province committed killings and abuses with impunity with the support of high government and security officials, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
The 96-page report, released a week before the first anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre which killed 58 people including 32 media workers and blamed on certain members of the Ampatuan family as the masterminds, was based on at least 80 interviews with victims and witnesses as well as sources familiar with the Ampatuan family security structure.
Thursday 11 November 2010
Anggota TNI Penganiaya Warga Papua
Dituntut Tiga dan Empat Bulan
JAYAPURA--MICOM: Empat anggota TNI Yonif 753 AVT/Nabire yang terlibat penganiayaan terhadap sejumlah warga Papua dituntut hukuman tiga dan empat bulan penjara dalam sidang di Pengadilan Militer III-9 Jayapura, Selasa (9/11). Selasa, 09 November 2010 19:04 WIB
Tuntutan hukuman tersebut dibacakan oleh Oditur Militer Mayor CHK Obet Manase dalam dua persidangan terpisah. Tuntutan tiga bulan penjara ditujukan kepada tiga anggota TNI yang terdiri dari Praka Syaminan Lubis, Prada Joko Sulistyono, dan Prada Dwi Purwanto. Sedangkan,
Letda (Inf) Cosmos Z, selaku komandan pos dituntut hukuman empat bulan.
Oditur Militer menyatakan terdakwa Letda Cosmos dituntut dengan hukuman empat bulan penjara karena dinilai melawan perintah atasan dan membiarkan terjadinya pelanggaran oleh ketiga anak buahnya.
"Terdakwa selaku komandan pos terbukti melanggar Pasal 103 KUHP (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana) Militer juncto Pasal 56 KUHP dengan tuntutan empat bulan penjara," ujar Obet.
Sementara itu, terdakwa Syaminan Lubis, Joko Sulistyono, dan Dwi Purwanto yang dituntut tiga bulan penjara dinilai terbukti melanggar Pasal 103 KUHP Militer juncto Pasal 55 KUHP.
"Ketiga terdakwa terbukti melawan perintah atasan atas inisiatif sendiri. Oditur Militer menuntut masing-masing terdakwa tiga tiga bulan penjara potong masa penahanan sementara serta membayar biaya perkara Rp10.000," kata Obet.
Persidangan penganiayaan akan dilanjutkan Rabu (10/11) dengan agenda pembelaan para terdakwa di hadapan majelis hakim. (OL-01)
Wednesday 10 November 2010
Breaking News: Secret Files Show Kopassus, Indonesia's Special Forces, Targets Papuan Churches, Civilians. Documents Leak from Notorious US-Backed Unit as Obama Lands in Indonesia.
By Allan Nairn
Jakarta, November 9, 2010.
Secret documents have leaked from inside Kopassus, Indonesia's red berets, which say that Indonesia's US-backed security forces engage in "murder [and] abduction" and show that Kopassus targets churches in West Papua and defines civilian dissidents as the "enemy."
The documents include a Kopassus enemies list headed by Papua's top Baptist minister and describe a covert network of surveillance, infiltration and disruption of Papuan institutions
The disclosure comes as US President Barack Obama is touching down in Indonesia. His administration recently announced the restoration of US aid to Kopassus.
Kopassus is the most notorious unit of Indonesia's armed forces, TNI, which along with POLRI, the national police, have killed civilians by the hundreds of thousands.
The leaked cache of secret Kopassus documents includes operational, intelligence and field reports as well as personnel records which list the names and details of Kopassus "agents."
The documents are classified "SECRET" ("RAHASIA") and include extensive background reports on Kopassus civilian targets -- reports that are apparently of uneven accuracy.
The authenticity of the documents has been verified by Kopassus personnel who have seen them and by external evidence regarding the authors and the internal characteristics of the documents.
Some of the Kopassus documents will be released in the days to come, in part via this website.
Those being released with this article are about West Papua, where tens of thousands of civilians have been murdered and where Kopassus is most active. Jakarta has attempted to largely seal off Papua to visits by non-approved outsiders.
When the US restored Kopassus aid last July the rationale was fighting terrorism, but the documents show that Kopassus in fact systematically targets civilians.
Monday 8 November 2010
Obama diminta perhatikan HAM di Papua
Minggu, 07/11/2010 16:43:40 WIB
Oleh: Anugerah Perkasa
JAKARTA: Presiden Amerika Serikat Barack Obama diminta untuk memperhatikan kasus dugaan pelanggaran HAM di Papua terkait dengan adanya penyiksaan aparat militer terhadap warga sipil yang beredar melalui video You Tube pada Oktober lalu.
Hal itu disampaikan Human Rights Watch (HRW), organisasi pemantau HAM yang berbasis di New York, terkait dengan rencana kedatangan Obama pada pekan ini di Jakarta.
Direktur Asia HRW Sophie Richardson mengatakan sejumlah tantangan serius terkait dengan masalah HAM dinilai akan menggerogoti demokrasi Indonesia dengan tak ada reformasi pada sejumlah institusi.
"Indonesia memang telah membuat kemajuan, namun tak berati Presiden Obama mengabaikan persoalan hak asasi manusia lainnya," ujar Richardson hari ini. "Obama harus mendorong pemerintah Indonesia mengambil tindakan untuk melindungi kebebasan berekspresi serta mewajibkan akuntabilitas militer."
Minggu, 07/11/2010 16:43:40 WIB
Oleh: Anugerah Perkasa
JAKARTA: Presiden Amerika Serikat Barack Obama diminta untuk memperhatikan kasus dugaan pelanggaran HAM di Papua terkait dengan adanya penyiksaan aparat militer terhadap warga sipil yang beredar melalui video You Tube pada Oktober lalu.
Hal itu disampaikan Human Rights Watch (HRW), organisasi pemantau HAM yang berbasis di New York, terkait dengan rencana kedatangan Obama pada pekan ini di Jakarta.
Direktur Asia HRW Sophie Richardson mengatakan sejumlah tantangan serius terkait dengan masalah HAM dinilai akan menggerogoti demokrasi Indonesia dengan tak ada reformasi pada sejumlah institusi.
"Indonesia memang telah membuat kemajuan, namun tak berati Presiden Obama mengabaikan persoalan hak asasi manusia lainnya," ujar Richardson hari ini. "Obama harus mendorong pemerintah Indonesia mengambil tindakan untuk melindungi kebebasan berekspresi serta mewajibkan akuntabilitas militer."
Home / Nasional / Hukum
KontraS Ragukan Mahmil Ungkap Penyiksa Warga Papua
Tribunnews.com - Senin, 8 November 2010 13:43 WIB
Video yang diposting di YouTube ini menunjukkan dua pria Papua tengah dianiaya oleh beberapa orang yang diduga pasukan keamanan Indonesia. Salah satu personel keamanan melakukan penganiayaan dengan mengarahkan benda tumpul ke alat kelamin pria Papua tersebut.
Laporan wartawan Tribunnews.com, M Ismunadi
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Komisi Nasionala untuk Orang Hilang dan Tindak Kekerasan (KontraS) meragukan persidangan yang digelar Mahkamah Militer bakal mengcover kasus video penyiksaan aktivis OPM yang ramai diperbincangkan selama dua pekan terakhir. Pasalnya, berdasarkan pemantauan KontraS, Mahmil malah menyidangkan kasus video yang berbeda dengan video penyiksaan yang sempat beredar di You Tube.
"Mahmil malah menyidangkan kasus yang lebih ringan daripada yang diperdebatkan," ungkap Koordinator KontraS, Harris Azhar kepada Tribunnews di kantor KontraS, Jakarta, Senin (8/11/2010).
"Ini menjadi bukti bahwa Mahmil tidak transparan dan accountable," tambahnya.
Harris mengaku keraguan pihaknya semakin kuat menyusul informasi lain yang diperolehnya. Informasi itu adalah tidak adanya pemeriksaan terhadap korban. Yang ada, lanjut Harris, pemeriksaan saksi yang tidak lain adalah juga pelaku.
KontraS Ragukan Mahmil Ungkap Penyiksa Warga Papua
Tribunnews.com - Senin, 8 November 2010 13:43 WIB
Video yang diposting di YouTube ini menunjukkan dua pria Papua tengah dianiaya oleh beberapa orang yang diduga pasukan keamanan Indonesia. Salah satu personel keamanan melakukan penganiayaan dengan mengarahkan benda tumpul ke alat kelamin pria Papua tersebut.
Laporan wartawan Tribunnews.com, M Ismunadi
TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Komisi Nasionala untuk Orang Hilang dan Tindak Kekerasan (KontraS) meragukan persidangan yang digelar Mahkamah Militer bakal mengcover kasus video penyiksaan aktivis OPM yang ramai diperbincangkan selama dua pekan terakhir. Pasalnya, berdasarkan pemantauan KontraS, Mahmil malah menyidangkan kasus video yang berbeda dengan video penyiksaan yang sempat beredar di You Tube.
"Mahmil malah menyidangkan kasus yang lebih ringan daripada yang diperdebatkan," ungkap Koordinator KontraS, Harris Azhar kepada Tribunnews di kantor KontraS, Jakarta, Senin (8/11/2010).
"Ini menjadi bukti bahwa Mahmil tidak transparan dan accountable," tambahnya.
Harris mengaku keraguan pihaknya semakin kuat menyusul informasi lain yang diperolehnya. Informasi itu adalah tidak adanya pemeriksaan terhadap korban. Yang ada, lanjut Harris, pemeriksaan saksi yang tidak lain adalah juga pelaku.
Sidang Lanjutan Penganiaya Warga Papua Hadirkan
Perwira TNI
Senin, 08 November 2010 | 11:43 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jayapura - Sidang lanjutan empat anggota TNI 753 AVT/Nabire, Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih yang diduga menganiaya warga di Kampung Gurage, Distrik Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, seperti terekam dalam video penganiayaan di situs Youtube, kembali disidang di Pengadilan Militer III-19 Jayapura, Papua, Senin (8/11).
Keempat terdakwa masing-masing Praka Sahminan Husein Lubis (Anggota Pos Gurage), Prada Dwi Purwanto (Anggota Pos Gurage), Prada Joko Sulistiono (Anggota Pos Kalome), dan Letnan Dua Infantri Cosmos.
Sidang kali ini menghadirkan saksi seorang perwira TNI, Lettu Inf. Sudarmin, komandan pos Gurage. Sudarmin sebelumnya juga dihadirkan dalam sidang perdana Jumat (5/11) lalu. Sidang hari ini dipimpin hakim Ketua, Letkol CHK Adil K didampingi anggota majelis Letkol CHK Moch Affandi dan Mayor CHK S Heri P.
Perwira TNI
Senin, 08 November 2010 | 11:43 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jayapura - Sidang lanjutan empat anggota TNI 753 AVT/Nabire, Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih yang diduga menganiaya warga di Kampung Gurage, Distrik Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, seperti terekam dalam video penganiayaan di situs Youtube, kembali disidang di Pengadilan Militer III-19 Jayapura, Papua, Senin (8/11).
Keempat terdakwa masing-masing Praka Sahminan Husein Lubis (Anggota Pos Gurage), Prada Dwi Purwanto (Anggota Pos Gurage), Prada Joko Sulistiono (Anggota Pos Kalome), dan Letnan Dua Infantri Cosmos.
Sidang kali ini menghadirkan saksi seorang perwira TNI, Lettu Inf. Sudarmin, komandan pos Gurage. Sudarmin sebelumnya juga dihadirkan dalam sidang perdana Jumat (5/11) lalu. Sidang hari ini dipimpin hakim Ketua, Letkol CHK Adil K didampingi anggota majelis Letkol CHK Moch Affandi dan Mayor CHK S Heri P.
Aktivis Papua Ditangkap Jelang Kedatangan Obama
Senin, 08 November 2010 | 11:21 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jayapura - Tiga aktivis Papua ditangkap di Jayapura menjelang kunjungan Presiden Amerika Serikat, Barrack Obama ke Indonesia, Senin (8/11). Polisi menggelandang tiga orang tersebut karena diduga melakukan makar dan penghasutan.
Mereka yang digelandang polisi yakni, Selvius Bobi, Ketua Front Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, Frans Kabak, Tokoh Pemuda dan Matius Waur, aktivis Front Pepera. “Saat ini mereka sementara ditahan, kami akan memprosesnya karena kita ini Negara hukum,” kata Kepala Kepolisian Resor Kota Jayapura, AKBP H Imam Setiawan, Senin (8/11).
Senin, 08 November 2010 | 11:21 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jayapura - Tiga aktivis Papua ditangkap di Jayapura menjelang kunjungan Presiden Amerika Serikat, Barrack Obama ke Indonesia, Senin (8/11). Polisi menggelandang tiga orang tersebut karena diduga melakukan makar dan penghasutan.
Mereka yang digelandang polisi yakni, Selvius Bobi, Ketua Front Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, Frans Kabak, Tokoh Pemuda dan Matius Waur, aktivis Front Pepera. “Saat ini mereka sementara ditahan, kami akan memprosesnya karena kita ini Negara hukum,” kata Kepala Kepolisian Resor Kota Jayapura, AKBP H Imam Setiawan, Senin (8/11).
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Letter to Prime Minister Julia Gillard
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Re: Australian Assistance to Indonesian Security Forces
Dear Prime Minister Gillard,
Congratulations on your recent election as Australia's Prime Minister. We write to you regarding Australian assistance to the Indonesian security forces as we understand you are travelling to Indonesia on November 1.
We appreciate that Australia values its bilateral relationship with Indonesia, and that the two countries have recently upgraded the status of their relationship to that of a "comprehensive strategic partnership." We also note that in March 2010, during Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Australia, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that when Australia seeks to improve the Indonesian security forces' ability to handle their law enforcement responsibilities, "we always seek to take a positive and constructive approach."
We believe promoting accountability for human rights violations should play an important role in Australia-Indonesia bilateral relations. Indeed, as former Prime Minister Rudd and President Yudhoyono noted in a joint statement in March, Australia and Indonesia "seek to promote the values or freedom, good governance, tolerance, and the rule of law," and "have a mutual stake in each other's progress."
This letter identifies ongoing concerns related to the Indonesian security forces, with particular attention to Detachment 88 and Kopassus, Indonesia's special forces, and recommends measures to increases the professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights of the Indonesian security services. In particular, we recommend that Australia take steps to establish a systematic, transparent method of vetting those members of the security services that Australia seeks to train.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010 14:47 PM
Follow us on
Tuesday, November 02, 2010 14:47 PM
THE ARCHIPELAGO
Papuans want government to put end to violence
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Wed, 10/27/2010 9:53 AM | The Archipelago
Papua lawmakers insisted Tuesday that government take stern action against security personnel involved in a controversial video of alleged torture of Papuans by members of the Indonesian Military.
Papua legislative councilors Yan Mandenas and Ruben Magai said that Papuans fervently hope that the perpetrators be punished for their actions, and the matter not being treated lightly, to ensure violence against Papuans should be stopped.
Yan Mandenas said violence committed by security personnel against civilians in Papua had taken place too frequently due to light punishments given to perpetrators, sending the message that taking the life of a civilian could be a normal matter.
Papua legislative councilors Yan Mandenas and Ruben Magai said that Papuans fervently hope that the perpetrators be punished for their actions, and the matter not being treated lightly, to ensure violence against Papuans should be stopped.
Yan Mandenas said violence committed by security personnel against civilians in Papua had taken place too frequently due to light punishments given to perpetrators, sending the message that taking the life of a civilian could be a normal matter.
Will Obama Cut Ties With Indonesian Torture?
Asia, United States | Posted by: The Editors, October 29, 2010 at 8:47 AM
By Carole Marzolf, Indonesia Country Specialist for Amnesty International
President Obama will visit his childhood home of Indonesia in early November in his first official visit since taking office. While his visit may bring back fond memories of his youth, there is nothing fond about the years of rampant human rights abuses carried out by Indonesia’s Special Forces that are about to receive renewed support from the US.
Indonesia may be perceived as a country gaining clout in the international arena but it is wrecked by massive corruption and its security forces get away with torture in total impunity, and those with opposing views may find themselves muzzled and thrown in jail.
As President Obama readies for his visit to Indonesia, join us in asking your Representative to support House Resolution 1355 calling for an end to human rights abuses and freedom for prisoners of conscience in Indonesia.
Although since the fall of President Suharto in May 1998 Indonesia saw a period of rapid reform, twelve years on, the process seems to have severely crumbled away. According to Transparency International which measures corruption perceptions worldwide, Indonesia ranked 110th in 2010 on an equal footing with Gabon, Senegal or Bolivia. As a comparison, the United States ranked 22nd, while Malaysia ranked 56th and China 78th.
Asia, United States | Posted by: The Editors, October 29, 2010 at 8:47 AM
By Carole Marzolf, Indonesia Country Specialist for Amnesty International
President Obama will visit his childhood home of Indonesia in early November in his first official visit since taking office. While his visit may bring back fond memories of his youth, there is nothing fond about the years of rampant human rights abuses carried out by Indonesia’s Special Forces that are about to receive renewed support from the US.
Indonesia may be perceived as a country gaining clout in the international arena but it is wrecked by massive corruption and its security forces get away with torture in total impunity, and those with opposing views may find themselves muzzled and thrown in jail.
As President Obama readies for his visit to Indonesia, join us in asking your Representative to support House Resolution 1355 calling for an end to human rights abuses and freedom for prisoners of conscience in Indonesia.
Although since the fall of President Suharto in May 1998 Indonesia saw a period of rapid reform, twelve years on, the process seems to have severely crumbled away. According to Transparency International which measures corruption perceptions worldwide, Indonesia ranked 110th in 2010 on an equal footing with Gabon, Senegal or Bolivia. As a comparison, the United States ranked 22nd, while Malaysia ranked 56th and China 78th.
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Pemerintah Susah Cari Lahan Aman di Wasior
INILAH.COM, Jakarta - Pemerintah berencana membangu 1.000 hunian sementara (huntara) untuk pengungsi korban banjir bandang di Wasior, Papua Barat.
Itu ditegaskan oleh Juru Bicara Wakil Presiden Yopie Hidayat saat mempresentasikan hasil rapat Wakil Presiden Boediono dengan beberapa menteri terkait rencana aksi pasca bencana di Wasior.
"Yang disiapkan 1.000 unit huntara, sesuai yang dibutuhkan," ujar Yopie di Kantor Wakil Presiden, Senin (25/10/2010).
Yopie mengatakan, bahwa jumlah itu masih fleksibel karena masih menyesaikan dengan jumlah pengungsi. "Ketika diumumkan ada seperti itu, tiba-tiba jumlah pengungsi melonjak, karena ada juga pengungsi yang lebih suka tinggal dulu di rumah keluarganya. Ini tentu saja semua akan bergerak sangat variatif dan dinamis, soal angka harus menimbang terus situasi di lapangan," katanya.
Itu ditegaskan oleh Juru Bicara Wakil Presiden Yopie Hidayat saat mempresentasikan hasil rapat Wakil Presiden Boediono dengan beberapa menteri terkait rencana aksi pasca bencana di Wasior.
"Yang disiapkan 1.000 unit huntara, sesuai yang dibutuhkan," ujar Yopie di Kantor Wakil Presiden, Senin (25/10/2010).
Yopie mengatakan, bahwa jumlah itu masih fleksibel karena masih menyesaikan dengan jumlah pengungsi. "Ketika diumumkan ada seperti itu, tiba-tiba jumlah pengungsi melonjak, karena ada juga pengungsi yang lebih suka tinggal dulu di rumah keluarganya. Ini tentu saja semua akan bergerak sangat variatif dan dinamis, soal angka harus menimbang terus situasi di lapangan," katanya.
Hunian Sementara Wasior Ditargetkan Rampung Bulan Depan
Senin, 25 Oktober 2010 | 17:00 WIB
Kabupaten Teluk Wondama, Papua Barat. TEMPO/Tony Hartawan
TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta - Menteri Pekerjaan Umum Djoko Kirmanto menargetkan hunian sementara di Wasior, Papua Barat, bakal rampung bulan depan. "Mudah-mudahan pertengahan November semua pengungsi sudah bisa pindah ke huntara (hunian sementara)," ujarnya seusai rapat Grand Design Wasior di Istana Wakil Presiden, Senin (25/10).
Sejauh ini, katanya, baru 20 persen bahan baku hunian sementara yang telah tiba di lokasi.
Menurut Juru Bicara Wakil Presiden Yopie Hidayat, pemerintah menyiapkan seribu unit hunian sementara. Angka ini bisa berubah sesuai perkembangan di lapangan. "Yang penting sekarang percepatan pengiriman material. Target dalam waktu tiga minggu selesai. Pesan Pak Wapres, agar melibatkan pemerintah setempat," ucapnya.
Kerugian Bencana Wasior Rp278 Miliar
Pemerintah menyiapkan grand design rekonstruksi Wasior yang dilakukan Bappenas.
Senin, 25 Oktober 2010, 23:21 WIB Arfi Bambani Amri, Bayu Galih
Warga Kembali Ke Wasior (Antara/Yudi Mahatma)
BERITA TERKAIT
"Ini sekali lagi perkiraan sementara sampai tanggal 20 Oktober berdasarkan data Bappenas," kata Juru Bicara Wakil Presiden, Yopie Hidayat, di kantor Wakil Presiden, Jakarta, Senin 25 Oktober 2010.
Untuk rekonstruksi dan rehabilitasi, rapat terbatas di kantor Wakil Presiden memutuskan Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional akan menyiapkan grand design. "Minggu depan, Bappenas dengan bahan dari BNPB dan dari Pemda, sinkronkan master plan dengan pembangunan Papua dan Papua Barat," kata Yopie.
DPR Usut Dana Otsus Papua-Aceh Rp587 M
INILAH.COM, Jakarta - DPR RI meminta klarifikasi Menkeu tentang alokasi otonomi khusus (otsus) Papua dan Aceh terkait temuan BPK senilai Rp587 miliar.
"Dana otsus memang haknya Papua dan Aceh, tapi bukan berarti hak itu bisa digunakan semena-mena karena kita dapat masukan itu tidak digunakan dengan baik. Harusnya kan untuk kesehatan dan lain-lain, tapi kelihatannya tidak," ujar Ketua Banggar DPR, Melchias Mekeng di DPR RI, Selasa (26/10).
"Dana otsus memang haknya Papua dan Aceh, tapi bukan berarti hak itu bisa digunakan semena-mena karena kita dapat masukan itu tidak digunakan dengan baik. Harusnya kan untuk kesehatan dan lain-lain, tapi kelihatannya tidak," ujar Ketua Banggar DPR, Melchias Mekeng di DPR RI, Selasa (26/10).
Saturday 23 October 2010
Siaran Pers Bersama: NEGARA ABAI PADA PERLINDUNGAN PEMBELA HAM DAN KASUS-KASUS KEKERASAN DI PAPUA
by Poengky Indarti on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 6:32pm
SIARAN PERS BERSAMA
NEGARA ABAI PADA PERLINDUNGAN PEMBELA HAM DAN KASUS-KASUS KEKERASAN DI PAPUA
Tiga tahun setelah kedatangan Wakil Khusus Sekjen PBB untuk Situasi Pembela HAM Ibu Hina Jilani ke Papua pada bulan Juni 2007, situasi para Pembela HAM di Papua tidak mengalami perubahan.[1] Aparat keamanan, antara lain polisi, militer dan intelejen masih saja melakukan kekerasan terhadap Para Pembela HAM di Papua.[2] Target kekerasan adalah perorangan maupun organisasi yang melakukan kritik terhadap kebijakan pemerintah, mulai dari aktivis Dewan Adat Papua hingga para pemimpin agama.[3] Meskipun kekerasan tersebut telah dilaporkan kepada Pemerintah, tetapi kekebalan masih saja menyelimuti aparat yang melakukan pelanggaran terhadap para Pembela HAM di Papua.[4]
Di tahun 2010, tuduhan melakukan tindakan makar[5] masih digunakan oleh aparat kepolisian di Papua untuk membungkam gerakan mahasiswa.[6] Di sisi lain, Pemerintah juga menggunakan stigma separatis untuk menjustifikasi kekerasan yang dilakukan aparat terhadap Para Pembela HAM Papua[7].
Berbagai kekerasan terhadap Para Pembela HAM di Papua antara lain pada tanggal 15 Januari 2010, Pemerintah mengumumkan pelarangan buku tulisan Pendeta Socrates Sofyan Yoman berjudul “Suara Gereja bagi Umat Tertindas” dengan alasan buku tersebut dianggap mengadu domba dan membahayakan NKRI.
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Brutality in Papua will continue, expert warns
Tom Allard HERALD CORRESPONDENT October 20, 2010
JAKARTA: The torture of a Papuan man by Indonesian security forces, depicted in a video that emerged this week, is not surprising and is likely to be repeated, according to the man who led a landmark study into the unrest in Papua for the Indonesian government.
The frank assessment from Muridan Widjojo, editor of The Papua Road Map, comes amid further evidence of Indonesian military brutality in the troubled region, with a video showing soldiers indiscriminately kicking and punching bound Papuan detainees.
''I am not surprised,'' said Dr Widjojo when asked about the first video, which shows a Papuan, believed to be a man called Tunaliwor Kiwo, stripped naked and then poked with a burning stick in his genitals.
''Given the dominant 'anti-separatist' security perspective among [military and police] officials both in Jakarta and in Papua, similar conduct would very likely take place again in the near future.''
Minister Mum on Papua Torture Video, but Promises Investigation
Ismira Lutfia & Nivell Rayda | October 19, 2010
Jakarta. Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar declined comment on an Internet video that appears to show Indonesian soldiers torturing Papuans, but promised a probe. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the launch of the Human Rights Resource Center for Asean.
The 10-minute video was posted on video-sharing Web site YouTube late last week under the title “Military Torture of Indigenous Papuans,” but was taken down on Monday morning.
It showed two Papuan men pinned to the ground and being roughly interrogated by six unidentified men. One is wearing Army-issue blue aerobics pants and another is wearing an Army camouflage jacket.
Ismira Lutfia & Nivell Rayda | October 19, 2010
Jakarta. Minister of Justice and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar declined comment on an Internet video that appears to show Indonesian soldiers torturing Papuans, but promised a probe. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the launch of the Human Rights Resource Center for Asean.
The 10-minute video was posted on video-sharing Web site YouTube late last week under the title “Military Torture of Indigenous Papuans,” but was taken down on Monday morning.
It showed two Papuan men pinned to the ground and being roughly interrogated by six unidentified men. One is wearing Army-issue blue aerobics pants and another is wearing an Army camouflage jacket.
Indonesia: Papua 'torture video' must be independently investigated
Posted: 19 October 2010
The Indonesian government should initiate an independent investigation into reports of torture and other ill-treatment in Papua over the last two years, Amnesty International said today.A video published online last week shows Papuans being kicked and physically abused, in some instances by men in uniform. Amnesty is urging the Indonesian government to appoint the National Human Rights Commission to lead the investigation.
Amnesty said the government should also ensure the security of the members of the commission carrying out the investigation, as well as the security of victims, witnesses and their families. Amnesty also called on the Indonesian government to publicise findings and make them accessible, whenever relevant, to victims and their families.
Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Deputy Director Donna Guest said:
“The release of this video is the latest reminder that torture and other-ill-treatment in Indonesia often go unchecked and unpunished.
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 16:17 PM
Follow us on
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 16:17 PM
HEADLINES
Govt urged to verify Papua torture video
Legislators and human rights activists have urged the government to verify the authenticity of a video that appears to show men in military uniform torturing an indigenous Papuan, including one scene in which soldiers press a red-hot stick against the man’s genitals.
The Asian Human Rights Commission posted the nearly five-minute-long video on YouTube for 22 hours Saturday before removing it, Kompas.com reported.
“The government must find out the truth behind the video, including checking the place, time and people involved in the video,” National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) chairman Ifdhal Kasim said, adding that the government must take legal action against the culprits if the video turned out to be genuine.
In the video, the torturers held a knife against the throat of a Papuan man, who is almost completely naked and lying on the ground. In another scene, a man with a black bag on his head presses a glowing bamboo stick against the victim’s genitals.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 16:16 PM
Follow us on
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 16:16 PM
OPINION
Thorough look into Papua autonomy
After nine years of waiting, the central government has finally decided to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the Law on Special Autonomy for Papua. The evaluation is scheduled for next year.
The director for regional management and special autonomy at the Home Ministry, Sumarsono, said in August that the comprehensive evaluation would measure the effectiveness of the autonomy law in practice. Thus the evaluation needs to be supported by all parties and stakeholders — whether in Jakarta, Jayapura or Manokwari.
To assess the government’s action plan, three variables must be considered: The evaluation’s objectives, content and parameters.
First, there is a need for clearly-defined objectives for the evaluation. The evaluation needs to define tangible, attainable and visible objectives that will help not only to direct each and every party involved, but also determine the evaluation’s agenda.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)