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The West Papua Report
February 2006
The following is the 24th in a series of regular reports
prepared by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights (CHR)-West
Papua Advocacy Team providing updates on developments in West Papua.
The CHR has monitored and reported on the human rights situation in
West Papua since 1993 when Indonesian lawyer Bambang Widjojanto
received the annual RFK Human Rights Award.
February Overview: International attention grew
to the deteriorating human rights climate in West Papua. A senior UN
official expressed concern about possible genocide there while major
human rights organizations and a US Senator visiting Jakarta urged
President Yudhoyono to end a ban on access to West Papua for
international journalists and NGOs. Human Rights Watch, noting
increased militarization and reports of human rights abuse,
pointedly raised the concern that Indonesia might have "something to
hide" in West Papua. The International Federation of Journalists
described a ban on foreign media in West Papua as "a direct attempt
to conceal human rights abuses from the world." A US Congressman, a
long-time advocate on behalf of the Papuans, publicly pressed
Secretary of State Rice to address greater attention to the plight
of Papuans.
Meanwhile, Papuan civil society continued to rally behind West
Papuan governmental bodies opposed to the partition of West Papua
dictated by the central government. The latter appears determined to
press ahead with provincial elections on 10 March which will
disenfranchise Papuans living in the disputed new provincial
jurisdiction.
In the Timika area, Papuans protested efforts by Freeport to prevent
them from extracting trace gold and copper from waste rock. Their
demands, which also included provision of humanitarian assistance to
impoverished Papuans in the area, were supported by demonstrations
in Jakarta, Makassar, Semarang, and Jayapura. West Papuan
parliamentarians also called for a suspension of operations at the
mine. Freeport management has refused permission for the National
Human Rights Commission to visit the site, prompting the local
Commission team chief to "deplore" Freeport's action. A Papuan
independence leader had told the Indonesian media that he is
committed to avoiding human casualties in his struggle. He echoed
concerns of Papuan and international observers regarding the failure
to pursue leads indicating Indonesian military involvement in the
attack in August 2002 that left two US citizens and one Indonesian
dead.
Summary/Contents
• UN Special Advisor Expresses Concern over Possible
Genocide in West Papua
• US Congressman Presses Secretary Rice on West Papua
• US Senator Presses Indonesia on Access to West
Papua
• Human Rights Watch Asks Indonesian President if
his Government has Something to Hide in West Papua
• International Federation of Journalists Demands
End to Ban of Foreign Journalists in West Papua
• West Papuan Civil Society Unites to Oppose
Partition
• Pressure Mounts to Shut Down Freeport McMoRan
Mining Operation
• Papuan Independence Fighter Speaks Out
UN Special Advisor Expresses Concern over Possible
Genocide in West Papua
A senior UN official, in the context of a public warning about
conflicts in several African countries that could become genocidal,
expressed concern about developments in West Papua. Juan Mendez, a
special adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of
Genocide, told Voice of America on 27 January that "West
Papua in Indonesia" was among "countries of concern where indigenous
populations are at risk of extinction."
The Australian media carried an interview on 1 March with Mendez
in which he expressed concern that the Indonesian government was
preventing human rights observers from monitoring the situation in
West Papua amid "worrying" reports of abuses there. He added that
the UN was prepared to step in and mediate a solution to the
long-running tensions in the province. "It's very worrying and
there's evidence about violence that's continued since 1963. It's
important that we look closely at the conflict now and make sure
it's not getting out of hand," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Asked if he was prepared to act as a mediator between the government
and separatists, Mendez said "absolutely," although he noted that
that would require invitations from both parties.
The Yale Law School’s Allard K. Lowenstein International Human
Rights Clinic concluded in an April 2004 report that there was "a
strong indication that the Indonesian government has committed
genocide against the West Papuans." (For Yale report go to:
http://www.law.yale.edu/outside/html/Public_Affairs/426/yls_article.htm.)
A 2005 University of Sydney study reached a similar conclusion.
US Congressman Presses Secretary Rice on West Papua
In an appearance before the US House of Representatives
International Relations Committee on 15 February, Secretary of State
Condoleeza Rice faced criticism for what a Congressman described as
the Bush Administration's inadequate attention to the situation in
West Papua. In extended remarks, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega
(Democrat-American Samoa) lamented the deteriorating human rights
conditions in West Papua, and reminded Rice that "the crisis of West
Papua . . . will not go away." He added, "We need your help."
Noting that the US government considers West Papua to be a part of
Indonesia, Rice assured Faleomavaega that US officials "tell
Indonesia all the time (of) the need for sensitivity to and
protection of minorities within Indonesia and for significant
autonomy for those populations." Rice assured that "the issue is not
off of our radar screen, even though we may not agree on the same
solution."
US Senator Presses Indonesia on Access to West Papua
During a mid-February visit to Indonesia, Senator Russ Feingold
(Democrat-Wisconsin) urged Indonesia to ease a ban on access to West
Papua. Senator Feingold informed a press conference that he had told
Indonesian President Yudhoyono that "any degree of openness and
ability to examine what happened there would be helpful." He said
that he explained that granting access would demonstrate Indonesia's
"dedication to trying to solve this difficult problem." He said that
he expressed concern that the Papuans be able to "feel comfortable
in their region and had the openness and the protection from many
possible abuses by the military."
Human Rights Watch Asks Indonesian President if his
Government has Something to Hide in West Papua
In a public letter to Indonesian President Yudhoyono, Human Rights
Watch (HRW) complained about the Indonesian government’s ban on the
foreign media and NGOs from the province of Papua in eastern
Indonesia (to see the letter, go to:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/02/10/indone12653.htm).
HRW also drew attention to the ongoing militarization of West Papua,
expressing concern regarding "the human rights impact of the
increasing military presence in Papua." HRW indicated that the ban
had been used to hide a deterioration of human rights observance in
West Papua, including "a significant build-up of troops [and] . . .
reports of widespread displacement of civilians, arson, and
arbitrary detention in the central highlands region." HRW said it
feared "the lack of access and monitoring by independent observers,
including the media, will further create a climate in which the
armed forces and police believe they can act with impunity and
commit abuses, unreported and away from the public eye." Referring
to a recent statement by Defense Minister Sudarsono endorsing the
ban, HRW noted that Sudarsono had "admitted that some cases of
killing, rapes, and abuses by some soldiers had occurred in the
province."
HRW also expressed "alarm" that the Indonesian government effort to
ban or limit press coverage of human rights violations and other
issues in West Papua "harkens back to the previous era of autocracy,
not the new democracy that your government leads." HRW Executive
Director Roth concluded: "We fear that restrictions on reporting
from Papua are aimed at making the human rights situation in Papua
largely invisible to the world and reducing international pressure
to ensure respect for human rights. But as your government has
learned from its experience in Aceh, silencing or censoring the
media will only fuel misinformation and create conditions for more
abuse. These cannot be the goals of a reform-minded democratic
government. Aceh is now open to critical eyes; unless there is
something to hide, we cannot understand why Papua should not also be
accessible. Human Rights Watch urges the Indonesian government to
respect press freedom and to allow full press coverage of all issues
affecting the province."
International Federation of Journalists Demands End to
Ban of Foreign Journalists in West Papua
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), an organization
representing over 500,000 journalists in more than 100 countries,
called on the Indonesian government to lift its ban on foreign media
in West Papua (for letter go to:
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/72301/). In a February
17 statement, the IFJ expressed concern that the ban constituted "a
direct attempt to conceal human rights abuses from the world." The
statement noted that "greater public scrutiny of the region is
needed to minimize social, cultural, political, human rights and
environmental abuses by the military, local government or
corporations." The IFJ specifically objected to Indonesian Minister
of Defense Juwono Sudarsono’s contention that a ban on access to
West Papua for all foreign media, churches, and NGOs was necessary
because their presence in West Papua would "encourage Papuans to
campaign on issues of human rights." The IFJ also noted that the ban
had prevented any foreign journalist from having official access to
the region during the past 18 months. This, the IFJ noted, had
severely restricted the media's ability to tell the West Papua
story.
The IFJ reminded the Indonesian government that the restrictions on
foreign media were "in direct opposition to Indonesia's obligations
since ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights." Article 19 recognizes the right to "seek, receive, and
impart information and ideas through any media regardless of
frontiers." "Restrictions on foreign journalists represent a blatant
violation of this right and seriously curtail the ability of the
world's media to report in West Papua," said IFJ president
Christopher Warren. "An independent and free media is essential to
ensure democracy," said Warren. He added that "the silencing and
censoring of the media will only fuel misinformation and foster
conditions for abuse, mistreatment and corruption."
The president of IFJ's affiliate in Indonesia, Alliansi Jurnalis
Independen (AJI), Heru Hendratmoko, said: "AJI will never agree with
any policy on media banning . . . We have to respect the people's
rights wherever they live, including people in West Papua, to get
access for information. So let journalists work freely there."
West Papuan Civil Society Unites to Oppose Partition
The Jakarta Post and other Indonesian media reported in February
that West Papuan civil society was rallying against plans by the
central government to partition West Papua into two or more separate
provinces. The groups explicitly supported the stand of the Papuan
Legislative Council which has indicated its opposition to the
creation of West Irian Jaya province.
"I fully support the Council's decision because it is considered
the best to avoid any possible conflicts that may arise in Papua
over the establishment of West Irian Jaya province," Rev. Herman
Saud, chairman of the Papuan Injili Christian Church Synod, said in
Jayapura on 18 February. Rev. Herman Saud warned it would set a bad
precedent were the central government to ignore Article 76 of the
2001 Papua Special Autonomy Law which states that any partition of
the province must first be approved by the MRP.
Also opposing the partition were the Indonesian Christian Students
Movement (GMKI), Association of Catholic Students (PMKRI),
Indonesian Christian Women's Association (PWKI), and the Cooperation
Forum of Non-governmental Organizations (Foker LSM). The growing
Papuan consensus against partition was reinforced by the results of
a public consultation conducted by the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP)
within the purported new province which showed broad opposition to
the plan.
It remains unclear how the central government will react to the
strong Papuan consensus against division of West Papua. It faces a
key test of its policies in provincial elections for governor, long
delayed but now set for 10 March. It appears that while plans to
hold simultaneous elections in the disputed "West Irian Jaya"
province are on hold, voters living in the disputed jurisdiction
will not be allowed to vote in the election set for West Papua.
Pressure Mounts to Shut Down Freeport McMoRan Mining
Operation
Pressure continued to mount on Freeport McMoRan, Inc. to shut down
its massive mining operation in West Papua. The company has faced
years of accusations that it has devastated the local environment
and conspired with the Indonesian military in decades of human
rights abuses targeting local Papuans.
The new focus on the mine was prompted by demonstrations by Papuans
beginning in mid-February just outside the mine operation area.
Local citizens succeeded in closing down mining operations in a
protest over refusal of the company to allow them to work waste rock
for remnant gold and copper. They also demanded that the company
address issues such as discrimination in employment, disadvantaging
Papuans, and inadequate fundamental services in the area.
In support of these protests, hundreds of demonstrators clashed with
security forces at the Jakarta headquarters of the mining company on
February 23, 27, and 28. Police, employing tear gas and water
cannon, were able to disperse the crowd, which included Papuans and
allies from environmental NGOs. Some demonstrators were injured and
a number were arrested. Several police were also injured in the
melee. NGO and media sources contend that some of those detained
were severely mistreated once in police custody. There were also
demonstrations in Maskassar in South Sulawesi and in Semarnag in
Central Java that similarly called for Freeport to suspend
operations.
In the West Papua capital of Jayapura, protesters numbering upwards
of 500, succeeded in winning the support of the local parliament
(DPRP) leadership, which announced on 28 February that it was
sending a letter to the central government and to the management of
the Freeport McMoRan mine calling for a cessation of mining
operations while investigations were undertaken. The Papuan People's
Assembly (MRP) has taken similar action.
For its part, Freeport McMoRan management appeared unwilling to
cooperate with investigations. The Indonesian media reported on 28
February that it would not give permission for a team from the
National Human Rights Commission (Komnas Ham) to visit the site to
investigate violence associated with the demonstrations earlier in
the month.
Alberth Rumbekwan, head of Komnas Ham’s Papua office, told the
media February 28 that his organization had received the complaints
by victims of violence and sought to look into the incidents. He
said he contacted certain PT Freeport Indonesia officials in
Tembagapura and Timika on 27 February, but that the company's
management refused to allow a Komnas Ham team to come to the mine
site in Tembagapura because, the company contended, no act of
violence was committed against civilians. Rumbekan noted that the
investigation was necessary inasmuch as two security guards and
three civilians had been injured in the demonstration, according to
Indonesian security authorities. "We feel offended by the company's
attitude," added Rumkewan. "We strongly deplore PT Freeport
management's prohibition for a Komnas Ham team to come to listen
directly to them and the victims. We think something wrong is being
covered up," he concluded.
Papuan Independence Fighter Speaks Out
In a rare interview from his jungle hide-out, Kelly Kwalik, local
commander of the Papuan resistance (OPM), spoke briefly to
Indonesian SCTV network journalists about the 2002 attack on a group
of US citizens near the Freeport McMoRan mine in West Papua. In the
interview, summarized in the weekly journal "Reformasi," he claimed
that while OPM was committed to confronting the US-run mining
operation which has devastated the local environment and enabled
decades of human rights abuses by the Indonesian military, the OPM
was determined to avoid harm to "Papuans, non-Papuans, and
foreigners." He called for involvement of international NGOs to
investigate the facts surrounding the case, including the identity
of three masked shooters who many believe to have been members of
the Indonesian military. He also questioned the rationale for the
sudden removal from West Papua of Police Chief I Made Pastika after
the respected police official released a police report indicating
the likely involvement of the military in the attack.
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