Sendawi, winds of life
“Sendawi” means “The wind blows.” For Malind people, Sendawi always gives freshness, happiness, calm and life. I have experienced this when I and several villagers from Bibikem walked on foot from Bibikem village to Woboyu village. The journey passed through swamps, jungles and zafana. By afternoon, around 16:00 Papua time, we had walked to the middle of Zafana, which is know by local people as “Wonop field.” We were very weak, and when the wind blew (Sendawi), the villagers spontaneously cried “Ah, Sendawi, ah...” with very happy expressions. I was surprised and really pleased. The feeling...
Angry Papuan leaders demand Jared Diamond apologises
Leaders across West Papua have demanded controversial author Jared Diamond apologizes for describing them in his new book as warlike, and strengthening the idea that indigenous people are ‘backwards’.The West Papuan leaders attack Diamond’s central arguments that ’most small-scale societies (…) become trapped in cycles of violence and warfare’ and that ‘New Guineans appreciated the benefits of the state-guaranteed peace that they had been unable to achieve for themselves without state government.’Mr Diamond makes no mention of the brutality and oppression suffered by the people of West Papua...
From my place of exile
Acceptance Speech for the Hellman/Hammett Appreciation Award 2011Waa, waa, waa, waa (Papuan greeting of respect)From my place of exile, I give my respect for this honourable place and opportunity to: Manager, Hellman/Hammett Human Rights Watch selection process Human Rights Watch Asia Human Rights Watch Indonesia Non-governmental organisations and human rights activists The Papuan people whom I loveThanks be to you, GodBy realising that this adult life is full of selfishness, competition and abrasive human values, the heart shrinks when humankind questions itself as human. Am I...
The Papua-Jakarta dialogue will happen if President SBY wants it to
As the Executive Director of LP3BH Manokwari, I believe that whether the Papua-Indonesia dialogue – which most Papuans are hoping for – runs or not, really depends on the goodwill of the President of the Republic of Indonesia DR H Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. If the President does not give a positive response in the near future, then there is really no possibility that the hopes of Papuans will be answered.In any case, politically speaking this dialogue will really improve Indonesia’s bargaining position internationally, as Indonesia has long been known for its involvement in resolution of...
Feelings of injustice and trauma still widespread in Papua
Jayapura: KontraS, The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, and BUK, United for Justice, say in a press release that since 1997, they have received information about scores of human rights violations in Papua none of which has been dealt with by the courts.This has lead to feelings of injustice, deep resentment and trauma.Furthermore, in a press release sent to JUBI in Padang Bulan, Jayapura, Papua, on 7 December, they drew attention to three grave cases of violations of human rights which occurred: the Bloody Abepura Incident 2000, the Wasior Incident 2000, and Wamena 2003...
Join TAPOL! Paid internship vacancy
West Papua trainee programmeTAPOL is a UK-based NGO that promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia. Our West Papua trainee programme provides a paid internship in international human rights advocacy, with the opportunity to contribute to TAPOL’s project work on West Papua and our news translation service.The position is intended for a trainee from West Papua, but we will also consider Indonesian speakers from Indonesia and elsewhere who have an interest in, and knowledge of, the human rights situation in West Papua.The successful candidate will be fluent in written and spoken...
Reflections on the 1962 New York agreement
In October 1962 Dutch rule in West Papua ended and was replaced by a temporary UN administration (UNTEA). This was established as part of the UN-brokered New York Agreement [1], signed between The Netherlands and Indonesia to resolve their dispute over the territory. For all its flaws, this agreement guaranteed the Papuans the right to self-determination in accordance with international practice, but this never happened. Indonesia took over from the UN seven months later and never left. In October 2012 Indonesian security forces attacked peaceful political rallies in several West Papuan...
Freeport's entry into Intan Jaya Regency, West Papua
Intan Jaya Regency is a new administrative region which split from Paniai Regency in 2008. Until that time, Sugapa, Hitalipa and other areas were still under the administration of Paniai Regency.The story begins in 1989 - 1990 when several westerners arrived, calling themselves the Survey Team. They were accompanied by a missionary from District Hitalipa, who had been given the friendly nickname of Jani Mala by local people. His real name is John Cutts, a foreigner who was born and raised in Intan Jaya.They arrivedfrom Timika in an Airfast helicopter, and after arriving at the Kingmi...
Indonesians paying £20 million for weapons used in repression
By tomorrow, 1 December 2012, the Indonesian people are due to pay the UK government £27 million. Of this, £20 million is for arms sales to past dictator General Suharto.In the 1980s and 1990s, the UK government’s UK Export Finance backed loans to Suharto’s regime to buy British exports, including weapons such as Hawk aircraft and Scorpian tanks. £400 million is still ‘owed’ to the UK government on these loans, and the next instalment is due to be paid.At the start of November, the UK government revealed that three-quarters of Indonesia’s debt comes from loans for arms. [1] Some of the...
Living without a state
Indonesian Papua is not a uniform entity. When outsiders think of Papua, they imagine provincial and national-level political conflicts and protests against Indonesian rule. But this is only the reality for a minority of Papuans in the major towns of Jayapura, Wamena, and Timika, and their suburbs. Outside of select groups within these areas, most people do not engage in political issues related to referendum protests, dialogue with Jakarta, or Merdeka (independence).Instead, local fissures count more in day-to-day politics. In the province, most people’s primary loyalties are not to an idea...
UK challenged on Indonesia arms sales and Densus 88
As the UK prepares to receive the President of Indonesia for the first state visit in decades, UK groups prepare an alternative welcome for the President. Human rights groups are planning to mark the state visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with protests on behalf the victims of abuses in Papua, Timor-Leste and elsewhere. During the visit, from 31 October to 2 November, the British Government will also be challenged about its policy of increasing arms sales to Indonesia, its training of anti-terror police implicated in the killing of Papuan leaders, and its promotion of unsustainable...
Britain and Indonesia: Too close for comfort?
President's visit prompts fresh concerns about arms sales and training of anti-terror police 30 October 2012 – British-funded training of Indonesia’s anti-terror police, Special Detachment 88, should be reviewed in the light of serious concerns about the unit’s human rights record and its operations in Papua, says TAPOL ahead of a state visit to London by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from 31 October to 2 November 2012. In the run-up to the visit TAPOL, which promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia, is also appealing for an immediate ban on the sale to...
Indonesian President to receive ghoulish Halloween welcome
Media Advisory Notice Demonstrations planned for Wednesday, 31 October 2012 What: As Indonesian security forces opened fire on unarmed protestors attending a demonstration in Papua in support of an International Parliamentarians for West Papua meeting in the UK Parliament, human rights groups are planning to mark the state visit of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with protests on behalf the victims of abuses in Papua, Timor-Leste and elsewhere. During the visit, from 31 October to 2 November, the British Government will also be challenged about its policy of...
Urgent Action: Fears for Papuan Activists
Papuan political activists and human rights defenders are living in increasing fear as a result of an intensifying crackdown by Indonesian police, military and intelligence officers against activists, particularly members of the non-violent West Papua National Committee, KNPB. There are concerns that further acts of terror, intimidation, arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings against activists are imminent.’According to reports received by TAPOL, in the early hours of Tuesday 16 October Indonesian intelligence officers raided student dormitories at the University of Cenderawasih (UNCEN)...
Human rights watchdog urges RI to confront its 'demons'
TAPOL, a UK-based human rights watchdog, has urged Indonesia to address the 1965 Communist purge, as failure to do so would result in continued community divisions, fuel conflict and lead to further atrocities in the country.The organization recently released a report titled “Indonesia’s unresolved mass murders: undermining democracy” prior to the 47th commemoration of the September 30 movement that set off a chain of violent reactions, including a massacre of suspected communists reportedly led by the Army.The report said that victims of the tragedy and their families continued to be treated...
The truth about 1965
Historians have recorded many massacres that occurred during the 20th century but few mention the massacres in Indonesia that took place during 1965-1966, which paved the way for Soeharto to seize power in 1965. For six months from October 1965, the Indonesian military, aided by anti-communist gangs, perpetrated killings on a nationwide basis. The majority of those slaughtered were villagers dragged from their homes, who were tortured and then killed. The true scale of the massacres may never be known but the political and social consequences were profound. All left of centre political...
UK defends Indonesia arms sales as military run riot in Papua
Today UK human rights campaigners called for an immediate ban on all arms sales to Indonesia, following Wednesday’s brutal rampage by Indonesian security forces in the troubled Papua region.TAPOL, a UK group campaigning to improve human rights in Indonesia, today received a statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office defending UK arms sales to Indonesia as “promoting security and stability.” TAPOL also today received reports of military attacks in Wamena, Papua, with a number of civilians suffering gunshot and stab wounds.According to local activists and church leaders from Wamena town...
A life of struggle
Carmel Budiardjo has spent much of her life campaigning for the freedom of political prisoners in Indonesia through her organisation TAPOL. In the name of upholding human rights in her adopted country Indonesia, she was constantly vilified and disparaged by Indonesian government officials. To read the full article, please download the PDF
Sharp increase in international concern about Papua
Indonesia's human rights record reviewed at UN Human Rights CouncilToday, Indonesia's human rights record was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council during the 13th session of the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland. Concerns about human rights in Papua increased sharply since the last review in 2008, with a significant number of member States raising concerns about freedom of expression, human rights defenders and political prisoners in the region.“While Indonesia today said it is using a ‘welfare and development’ approach in Papua, the continued presence of thousands of troops...
Resource-rich West Papua, but who benefits?
Indonesia is these days praised as a success story among the countries of Southeast Asia, with growth figures that compare favorably with its neighbors and an absence of conflict. It is also the largest country in the region which enjoys an abundance of natural resources that have lured foreign companies to its shores.Since the fall of Soeharto in 1998 and the end of his dictatorship, economic progress has fostered a growing middle class.A referendum in East Timor 18 months after his exit secured that country’s independence after 25 years of devastating occupation, while in the other conflict...