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Call for the Immediate for the Release of Papuan Political Prisoners! see also ETAN: West Papua Update (June 10) Sign ETAN's Petition: Free West Papua Political Prisoners
ETAN Condemns Violence and Racism Against West Papuans Calls for freeing Papuan Political Prisoners May 1, 2020 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) condemns the ongoing violence and racism against West Papuans living in various parts of Indonesia and in West Papua (the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, and the government’s reactions to these expressions of discontent.  We condemn the
recent conviction of the
Jakarta Six for their peaceful expression of
their opposition to Indonesia’s heavy-handed
rule in West Papua. We call for the immediate release of these prisoners and other Papuans arrested for freedom of expression and for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the terrible violence perpetrated on them. As Indonesia struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19, the government continues to hold anti-racism and pro-independence activists in overcrowded prisons across West Papua, in Jakarta and in Balikpapan. In many cases, trials have continued against these political prisoners endangering the health of the prisoners, lawyers, judges and court staff. The six were charged with treason for demanding self-determination for West Papua and flying the “morning star” flag at a demonstration at the end of August 2019. Paulus Suryanta Ginting, Ambrosius Mulait, Ariana Elopere, Dano Tabuni, and Charles Kossay were sentenced to nine months in prison; Isay Wenda was sentenced to eight months. (These sentences include time-served. Suryanta - also known as Surya Anta - is the first non-Papuan Indonesian to be detained on treason charges for supporting West Papua’s freedom.)
The demonstrations and violence spread to other parts of Indonesia. In West Papua, security forces used overbearingly violent means to subdue protests, killing dozens. Racist language directed at Papuans by a teacher in Wamena led to protests that authorities met with violence, with nearly 30 Papuans killed. The Indonesian government implemented a media blackout in West Papua. Although information of the horrific violence leaked out in real time, these reports were portrayed as “hoaxes” designed to “spread conflict.” Journalists in West Papua were detained and assaulted. In West Java, Indonesian journalist and filmmaker Dandhy Laksono was arrested for tweets describing the violence in West Papua and voicing support for self-determination. Papuan protesters linked these recent grievances to their decades of suffering under Indonesian authority, and in some cases they raised the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag, a symbol of Papuan nationalism, and renewed their calls for a referendum.  Following the violence,
the governor of East
Java apologized for the treatment of the
Papuans. But this was an atypical reaction.
Condemnations of Papuans and what is
perceived as their “ingratitude” for
Indonesia’s supposed “largesse” toward the
population were common in the mass media.
Articles about the demonstrations and
violence in the mainstream media almost
exclusively cited government, police and
military sources who condemned the Papuans.
There was very little sympathy expressed for
their situation as poor and marginalized,
nor were Papuan voices allowed to express
their version of events. As
Papuan writer
Tamara Soukotta asked, “if West Papua is —
as the Indonesian state officially claims —
part of the Unitary State of the Republic of
Indonesia, why then are the West Papuans, as
citizens of the Republic of Indonesia,
denied their constitutional rights?”This is an excellent question, and one for which Indonesia should be taken to task.
Indonesia proudly describes itself as a democracy. Following 32 years of brutal military dictatorship under General Suharto, Indonesia’s democratization began in 1998. Although the country has made some strides, including relatively open elections and a more open society, recent events threatening tolerance and pluralism and of course the situation in West Papua and with Papuans elsewhere in Indonesia have called into question Indonesia’s commitment to a fully realized democracy. ETAN calls for the immediate release and the end to the criminalization of Papuans and journalists held in response to the recent demonstrations and flag raisings, people who were exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of information, freedom of speech, and freedom to congregate.  Furthermore, ETAN calls for an investigation
into the perpetrators of these acts of
violence, including civilians, militia
members, and members of Indonesia’s security
forces. Along with video footage that
clearly shows these despicable acts, there
are thorough, detailed reports of these
atrocities that can be introduced as
evidence, including those compiled by
international, Indonesian and Papuan
organizations.Democracy in Indonesia will remain democracy in name only until the rights of its people can be respected, including the rights of West Papuans to express themselves and to have a say in determining their present and their future. For more information see:
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