There have been a number of demonstrations in West Papua in the last two weeks with demonstrators protesting the failed autonomy package.

Urgent Action

There have been a number of demonstrations in West Papua in the last two weeks with demonstrators protesting the failed autonomy package.

13 were arrested in Manokwari for carrying the West Papuan flag and although two were released, 11 are still in custody. There is concern for their safety.

Also church leaders have been intimidated at a church conference by police and military personal in the highlands of West Papua.

We urge you to write to the Foreign Minister (along the lines below) about your concern for the safety of those arrested.

Contact details.
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Hon Stephen Smith MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Parliament House Contact
Tel: (02) 6277 7500
Fax: (02) 6273 4112
Email: Stephen.Smith.MP@aph.gov.au

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The Hon Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600

17 March 2007

Dear Mr Smith,

I am writing to you concerning the dangerously deteriorating situation in West Papua.

There have been a number of demonstrations by the West Papuan people in the past two weeks protesting against the special autonomy law which they say has failed and has brought no benefit to the West Papuan people.

At a demonstration on the 13 March in Manokwari, 13 people were arrested for carrying the West Papuan National flag, The Morning Star. Two were later released, however there is cause for the safety of the other 11 people held in custody. They are, Yakobus Wanggai, Frans Kareth, Markus Solig Umpus, Edy Ayorbaba, Daniel Sakwatorey, Marthinus Luther, Noak AP, George Risyard Ayorbaba, (Amd T), Ariel Werimon, Leonardus Decky Bame and Silas Carlos Teves May who is just 16 years old.

Also on the 13 March at the opening of a regional conference of Baptist Churches in Magi, Jayawijaya regency in the Highlands of West Papua, the Revd Socratez Sofyan Yoman and other delegates to the conference were intimidated by armed soldiers.

The Revd Socratez Sofyan Yoman who is President of the Fellowship of West Papuan Baptist Churches reported that the Magi regional Head of Police, the Military Commander, the Head of District and the Post 756 Military Commander came to the opening of the Church conference with five armed Indonesian soldiers. They took photographs and walked amongst the delegates intimidating them.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms Hina Jilani, recently visited West Papua and said in a report on her mission to Indonesia “that there is a climate of fear in West Papua”.

Amnesty International (USA) in a press release/statement dated January 28, 2008 titled “Suharto leaves violent legacy” also raised concerns about the situation in West Papua.

Extract from AI statement
Amnesty International is still concerned about reports of human rights violations in different parts of the country including in Papua, where there have been reports of torture and extra-judicial executions by government forces since the fall of Suharto. Peaceful supporters of independence have been imprisoned and church and community leaders have recently been threatened by members of the military. Two Papuans, whom Amnesty International believes are prisoners of conscience, were given long prison sentences for non-violent expression of their beliefs.

I am greatly concerned about the safety of those arrested and ask you to use your good offices with the Indonesian government to urge the Indonesian government to release not only those arrested on the 13 March but to release all political prisoners as a sigh of good faith to the West Papuan people.

The Indonesian military have also been known to use such incidents as peaceful demonstrations to crack down on those groups they term separatists. We also call on you to urge the Indonesian government to control their security forces in the territory and halt their intimidation of peaceful demonstrators and human rights defenders as a way of easing tensions and avoiding possible bloodshed.

Yours sincerely