Demands of Global Day of Action on Access to Papua remain unfulfilled
A month ago today, on 29 April 2015, TAPOL organised a demonstration outside the Indonesian Embassy in London, where dozens of demonstrations gathered to demand open access to Papua for international journalists, humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations. The demonstration sparked similar rallies in more than 20 cities across the world, including Jayapura, Wamena, Manokwari, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Sydney and Honiara, amongst others. In what is now known as the “Global Day of Action on Access to West Papua,” hundreds of protestors gathered in front of...
Papuan journalist arrested as world calls for Papua press freedom
According to a report received from Majalah Selengkah, a Papuan independent news site, their journalist Yohanes Kuayo was arrested in Nabire just one day after global protests around the world called on Indonesia to respect media freedoms in Papua and open the region for foreign journalists, humanitarian NGOs and human rights observers. The full report from Majalah Selengkah is published below.Chronology of the arrest of Majalah Selengkah journalist Yohanes Kuayo by Papua regional police taskforce team and Nabire Police Station Special Team, while Yohanes was covering events at Nabire General...
Areki Wanimbo is first Papuan treason suspect to be acquitted in 14 years
Today, Papuan political detainee Areki Wanimbo was acquitted of conspiracy to commit treason and released from prison, after spending over nine months in detention in West Papua, Indonesia. Mr Wanimbo, an indigenous tribal leader and local teacher was arrested in Wamena in the Central Highlands of West Papua, alongside two French journalists who had travelled to the resource-rich region to investigate one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.Mr Wanimbo was arrested on 6 August 2014 when the journalists he was meeting attracted the attention of intelligence agents. Due to the de-facto ban...
London demonstrators lead global protest against Indonesian media blackout in West Papua
Global Day of Action for Access to West Papua unites protestors across 20 citiesDozens of demonstrators dressed in black gathered outside the Indonesian Embassy in London today to lead the global protest against West Papua's 50-year long isolation. The demonstration was organised by TAPOL and Survival International, supported by Amnesty UK and the Free West Papua Campaign. The rally was one of 22 protests around the world calling for free and open access to Indonesia’s most secretive region. Since West Papua’s annexation in 1963, Indonesia has imposed a media blackout on the contested,...
Indonesia’s Brimob police execute eight
TAPOL would like to express deep sorrow at the reprehensible execution of eight people in Indonesia at 00:00 on 29 April 2015. Eight prisoners were executed by a police mobile brigades (Brimob) firing squad at Nusakambangan Prison, Java for alleged drug-related offences. Rodrigo Gularte (Brazil), Okwudili Oyatanaze (Nigeria), Raheem Agbaje Salami (Nigeria), Sylvester Obiekwe (Nigeria), Martin Anderson (Ghana), Zainal Abidin (Indonesia), Andrew Chan (Australia), and Myuran Sukumaran (Australia) are now dead, leaving behind grieving relatives as well as deep rifts in Indonesia’s diplomatic...
The Eyes of the Papuans: A video advocacy process
Thirty years later, I have still not forgotten. It happened in the south of the Indonesian province of West Papua, a journey of two days from the “big city” of Merauke. Life in the small village of Yodom centered around trips to and from the ubiquitous, generous forest, provider of every need. The arrival of a South Korean lumber company brutally intruded on the traditional way of life. Workers started to fell trees. Word had it that a plantation of palm oil trees was to take their place.While the helpless population watched the destruction of part of their source of food, the children in the...
New footage of West Papua massacre casts spotlight on military abuses
New video footage showing the bloody aftermath of the ‘Paniai massacre’ in West Papua highlights the urgent need for Indonesia to hold an independent and transparent investigation into the tragedy, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) said on Thursday.In December 2014 four unarmed Papuan teenagers were killed and 17 more Papuans were injured when the Indonesian army and police opened fire on a group of peaceful protestors in Paniai. They had gathered to protest an earlier incident of violence by the Indonesian security forces.The four-minute video, shot by citizen journalists and...
Demonstration: Open access to Papua!
Join us to call on the Indonesian government to allow free and open access to Papua for international journalists, humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations!29 April 2015, 12:00 noon, outside the Indonesian embassy, 38 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HWWest Papua is one of the world’s most isolated conflict spots. For decades, indigenous activists campaigning for their rights have been arrested, disappeared, tortured and killed. Local journalists who uncover the truth face lethal risks. Foreign journalists trying to report on Papua have been arrested, deported and even...
TAPOL Coordinator vacancy: extended!
CoordinatorBased: LondonStatus: 28 Hours a week (4 days) with potential to build to full-time as a result of successful fundraising.Remneration package: £ 32-35,000 pro rata (Depending on skills and experience)Closing Date: 5.00pm, 22 February 2015Interviews: Week of 2nd March Applications: By CV and covering letter explaining how your skills and experience fit the role/person specification. Send an email to barbara.patilla@tapol.org for the job description and further information. We are looking for a highly motivated and resourceful individual with a genuine commitment to...
Utikini: Dozens arrested and hundreds flee homes
On 1 January following the shooting of two police and one security staff of Freeport, police arrested 13 people and detained them at Mimika police station (polres). Their initials are: KW, KMW, DT, JK, MLW, PM, AW, DW, SM, MIW, MRW, KM and NW. They are currently detained in Mimika police station.On 7 January the police and the military arrested 116 people consisting of 65 men, 48 women and three children. Around 92 of them were only arrested because they possessed ID cards for the West Papua Interest Association (a group supporting self-determination). Of the 116 arrested, only 64 were...
Researcher vacancy
ResearcherBased: LondonStatus: 14 hours a week (2 days), one year contract Salary: £25,750 pro rataClosing Date: 9.00am, 4 February 2015Interviews: Week commencing 9 February 2015 Applications: By CV and covering letter explaining how your skills and experience fit the role, referring to the job description. Enquires and applications by email to esther.cann@tapol.org ******************************************************************* We are looking for a motivated researcher with a strong background in peace and conflict to conduct a one-year research project with TAPOL and ...
Preface to Filep Karma's 'As if We're Half Animals'
Filep Karma, born in 1959, lived his entire adult life under the shadow of the Indonesian military. In one of the darkest chapters of West Papua’s dark history since 1962– the Biak Massacre of 6 July 1998 – Karma was the key player in peacefully confronting the Indonesian state and demanding independence. His philosophy and practice of non-violence protest were met with extreme violence by the Indonesian military. Karma survived the violence of that day and his first long prison term, and is viewed by many in Papua and beyond as a kind of saint – a man prepared to give up everything to...
'As if We're Half Animals' Filep Karma on repression, racism and resistance
Today on the 10th anniversary of his incarceration, political prisoner Filep Karma publishes his new book ‘As If We’re Half Animals,’ a powerful and damning account of repression, racism and resistance. Through the book we learn about Karma’s childhood, his upbringing, and the development of his political consciousness in an environment where violence and brutality was part of the backdrop.Despite spending the last decade in prison for treason, the loss of his liberty has done nothing to dent Karma’s values. Arrested after leading the 1 December 2004 events in Biak, the publication of this...
Kimanus and Linus to be moved to Abepura prison
Jayapura - Anum Siregar, lawyer for Linus Hiluka and Kimanus Wenda, met with the Head of Correctional services at the regional office for Law and Human Rights, Papua province, Jayapura, in order to find out the truth about the condition of her clients.“I contacted the Head of Nabire prison after receiving an sms from Anum,” explained the Head of Correctional services (Kadiv Pas) at the regional office for Law and Human Rights, Papua province, Yohan Yarangga,S,Sos (12/11/2014).“It’s correct, Kimanus and Linus have been moved to Nabire police station; this policy was taken to ensure the safety...
Kimanus and Linus forced to use plastic bottles for toilet at Nabire police station
Jayapura - Linus Hiluka and Kimanus Wenda are political prisoners serving 20 year prison sentences for the ammunition store raid in Wamena in 2003 and are serving their sentences at Nabire prison. However, since 8 November 2014 they have been moved to the holding cell of Nabire police station.“According to Linus, initially this happened because Kimanus was not given permission to leave the prison to send money to his family in Wamena,” explained Anum Siregar, relaying the information from her client Linus. (12/11//2014).Kimanus and Linus, who have already entered the ‘assimilation’ period of...
Police intimidation of Papuan lawyer continues
Despite interventions from local, national and international NGOs and lawyers groups, police intimidation of Papuan human rights lawyer Gustaf Kawer continues. Following the preliminary summons addressed to him last month and the formal summons addressed to him via his bar association, a second summons has now been issued, showing that police still have no intention of dropping the investigation. After receiving the formal summons via his bar association, Mr. Kawer relocated to avoid the investigation, which may be an attempt to hinder the lawyer’s human rights work. Police state that if Mr...
Communications and research internship with TAPOL
Communications and research internshipDuration: 4 to 6 monthsTAPOL are looking for an Indonesian-speaking intern to work on its programme advocating for political prisoners and monitoring freedom of expression in Indonesia. The successful candidate will be fluent in written and spoken Bahasa Indonesia and English. She or he should have good oral and written communication skills, have a basic understanding of using Wordpress and have good research and inter-personal skills. An ability to assist with administration tasks from time to time is also desirable.The intern will undertake a variety of...
French journalists still behind bars in Papua; campaigns for their release continue
One month after their arrest, two French journalists and a Papuan tribal leader remain behind bars in Papua while the campaigns for their release are growing louder. Arrested on 5 August for working on tourist visas, Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat remain in detention, along with Areki Wanimbo, an indigenous leader from Lanny Jaya. Indonesia continues to impose severe restrictions on access to Papua for foreign journalists and human rights workers. While most foreign journalists apprehended in Papua are switfly deported to their home countries, in this case the pair have been charged...
Outcry over intimidation of prominent Papuan lawyer
Intimidation of prominent Papuan lawyer and human rights defender Gustaf Kawer has provoked a local, national and international outcry. Mr Kawer, who has provided legal defence for numerous cases involving peaceful political activity and indigenous land disputes, has bizarrely been summoned by Papua police as a witness in a case against himself. The case has been brought by a court judge after Mr Kawer criticised the judge for ignoring his request for the trial to be delayed, to allow himself and his client to be present at the hearing of a case involving an indigenous land dispute with the...
Jayapura Five walk free - but what lies ahead?
Today five men were released from Abepura prison in Papua, after each spending two years and nine months in detention. Imprisoned for a peaceful political event which declared Papua’s ‘independence’ from Indonesia, authorities and the Indonesian justice system have branded the men as treacherous criminals. International human rights groups such as Amnesty International instead label the men as prisoners of conscience, imprisoned for their political and ideological beliefs. Regardless of how their status is viewed, today’s release begs the question – what exactly is achieved by imprisoning...