West Papua Report June 2015

This is the 133rd in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans. Thisseries is produced by the non­profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts,other NGO assessments, and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. This report is co­published by the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN). Back issues are posted online athttp://www.etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed toEdmund McWilliams at edmcw@msn.com. If you wish to receive the report directly via e­mail, writeto etan@etan.org. Link to this issue: http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2015/1506.htm.

The Report leads with PERSPECTIVE, an analysis piece; followed by UPDATE, a summary of somerecent news and developments; and then CHRONICLE which includes analyses, statements, newresources, appeals and action alerts related to West Papua. Anyone interested in contributing aPERSPECTIVE or responding to one should write to edmcw@msn.com. We also welcomesuggestions of resources and analysis to for listing in the CHRONICLE section. The opinionsexpressed in Perspectives are the author's and not necessarily those of WPAT or ETAN. For ongoingnews on West Papua subscribe to the reg.westpapua listserv or visit its archive; the list is also

available on Twitter. Follow @westpapuanews 1,924 followers

CONTENTS

This edition's PERSPECITVE examines Indonesia President Widodo's failure to follow through on his election promisesconcerning West Papua, as his policy changes are regularly contradicted by those charged with implementing them.

In UPDATE: Five political prisoners in Papua were released as the fate of the rest remains in question. Jokowi'sopening of West Papua to foreign journalists will only be meaningful with explicit rules governing access. A Papuancharged with treason over his assistance to journalists in West Papua has been acquitted. New reports tell of torture ofPapuan civilians and of security force assaults and mass arrests at peaceful Papuan demonstrations. Plans toestablish a new military command in West Papua has met with opposition. A prominent human rights advocate hasbeen threatened with prosecution over his reports of security force excesses. U.S. authorities have inexplicably revokedthe visa of prominent Papuan leader Benny Wenda. Jokowi goes to PNG, as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)summit nears. Fiji groups attack their government's stance on West Papua.

In CHRONICLE: President Widodo is backing a major transformation of Papuan land through food plantations. whichhas prompted loud objections from local people for years. A palm oil supplier continues to destroy of Papuanforests. Morning star flags for sale. Global Day of Action's free expression demandsremain unfulfilled.

PERSPECTIVE

What to Make of President Widodo by Ed McWilliams Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected soon to be making his firstofficial visit to Washington. Discussions will likely include expanding bilateralmilitary cooperation, pumping up commercial ties and reviewing joint efforts tocounter "international terrorism." U.S. officials are not likely to seriously address themany human rights problems that plague Indonesia. The Obama administration, likeits predecessor, has ignored serious human rights violations by an unreformed andunaccountable Indonesian military and instead continues to expand military­to­

Days later, Defense MinisterRyamizard Ryacudu told themedia that if access to Papuawere granted to journalists, itwould be with an obligation toproduce "good reports."

President Jokowi Widodo with President Obamaat Apec 2014.

President Joko Widodo and Iriana Widodo with President Obama atAPEC Summit 2014 in Beijing. Photo from liputan6.com.

military ties.

Any review of human rights concerns inIndonesia under the new Widodoadministration would reveal thecontinuing violation of Papuan humanrights, especially by Indonesian securityforces.

In his 2014 campaign for president, andsince his election, Widodo appeared torecognize that a truly democraticIndonesia could no longer pursue a "security approach" in West Papua. During thecampaign and in the early days of his Presidential tenure, Widodo seemed intentgenuine reform of Indonesian policy.

On May 9, President Widodo, during a trip to West Papua, announced an end torestrictions on access to West Papua for journalists (see below). For decades,Indonesia has imposed repressive restrictions on international observers visiting WestPapua, especially journalists. Days later, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu toldthe media that if access to Papua were granted to journalists, it would be with anobligation to produce "good reports."

He also explicitly equatedforeign journalists' negativePapua reporting with"sedition."

Also contradicting thePresident, CoordinatingPolitical, Legal and SecurityAffairs Minister Tedjo EdhyPurdijatno defended thegovernment's intimidatingfollowing of journalists

claiming that "We aren't spying on them [the journalists]. We're simply monitoringtheir activities."

President Widodo later announced that he was ending the widely criticized"transmigration program" under which hundreds of thousands of non­Papuans havebeen re­located to West Papua. The program, in place since Indonesia occupied WestPapua in 1969, amounts to a policy of ethnic cleansing as migrants, with governmentassistance, marginalize Papuans, displacing them economically, politically andsocially and destroying Papuans' great natural resources.

But Minister for Transmigration Marwan Jafar quickly announced that thecontroversial program would continue. He said that, if anything, it will be expanded.He told media on June 7 that the program would be ramped up in support of thegovernment's plan to develop 1.2 million hectares of rice fields in the region, underthe Merauke Integrated Rice Estate project (see below). To support the anticipatedsurge in newcomers, Marwan said his ministry planned to build more settlements.This can only lead to greater conflict as indigenous West Papuans are crowded offtheir own lands. Indigenous protest of the Merauke project in particular has beenparticularly strong for years.

President Widodo also has been frustrated on another issue of central importance toPapuans. During his campaign he pledged to free the dozens of Papuan political

It is becoming ever more clearthat on critical concerns relatedto repression in West Papua,Indonesian president Widodo'spledges of reform aremeaningless.

prisoners, most held for peaceful opposition to Jakarta's repression. However, in Mayhe only released five Papuan prisoners (see below). The rest had refused to apply forclemency, which requires an admission of guilt. Amnesties required Parliamentaryacquiescence which Widodo, apparently, was not yet prepared to spend the politicalcapital to obtain.

It is becoming ever more clear that oncritical concerns related to repression inWest Papua, Indonesian presidentWidodo's pledges of reform aremeaningless.

In addition to the failure of all ofWidodo's reform promises to thePapuan people, there is one additionalharsh reality. Since the inauguration ofthe new administration, Indonesia's security forces have deliberately escalatedtensions in West Papua. The killing of Papuan students in Paniai in early Decemberby security forces has yet to be investigated. "Sweeping operations" which displacehighland villagers continue. Numerous peaceful protests have been violently brokenup.

In keeping up the pressure, the security forces are creating an environment in whichtheir repressive "security approach" continues to dominate strategic and tacticalresponses to the myriad problems afflicting the Papuan people. Moreover, decades ofruinous exploitation of Papuan natural resources by the Indonesian governmentoperating in league with Indonesian and foreign corporations (with security personnelacting as enforcers) continues apace.

While this deeply disappointing collapse of President Widodo's pre­election promisesto open a new chapter in relations between Jakarta and West Papua is manifest, itremains unclear whether this collapse reflects the new President's duplicity orwhether the new President is simply unable to hold his own against the security andcorporate bureaucracy that has long dominated policy toward West Papua. Whetherthe failure of Widodo's new approach to West Papua is due to the sabotage or thepresident's own duplicity is important in assessing prospects for the president's otherreform pledges. But for the Papuan people, the meaning and reality of this failure isclear: Suharto era policies and approaches will continue and the reform promises ofanother Indonesian president have proven once again to be empty.

UPDATE

Five Political Prisoners Released

During his May visit to Papua, Indonesia President Joko Widodo freed five WestPapuan political prisoners and announced an end to restrictions on foreign journalists(see below).

According to Tapol, the "five men

President Joko Widodo shakes hands with freed Papuanpolitical prisoners during a ceremony in Abepura prison inJayapura. Photo by Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images

who were released each spent 12 yearsin prison for their alleged role in aweapons arsenal raid in Wamena inthe Papuan highlands in 2003.Apotnalogolik Lokobal, NumbunggaTelenggen, Kimanus Wenda, LinusHiluka, and Jefrai Murib experiencedtorture and ill­treatment in detention,and as a result have suffered seriousand long­term damage to their health."Another 38 Papuans and 29Moluccans remain imprisoned fortheir political activities.

The other Papuan political prisoners reportedly refused clemency (as they had in2013) demanding that they be released unconditionally, saying they would not admitguilt as they had not done anything wrong. Clemency requires an admission of guilt.but the "president can also grant convicted prisoners an amnesty and grant prisonerswhose legal process is not yet exhausted abolition. Neither abolitions nor amnestiesrequire a prisoner's request or admission of guilt, but the president must consult theHouse of Representatives prior to issuing either abolition or an amnesty," accordingto Human Rights Watch.

Filep Karma, chairman of West Papua Political Prisoners' Forum, told Jubi that "If he[Jokowi] wanted to grant an amnesty, thank you then. But we [will] never ask or begfor it, moreover write a letter of request for exemption...." Karma is currently servinga 15 year sentence for raising the banned morning star flag in 2004. In 2011, the UNWorking Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) said that Karma's detention wasarbitrary because he was imprisoned for the exercise of his rights to freedom ofexpression and peaceful assembly.

WPAT comment: Most of Indonesia's political prisoners are imprisoned for makar(rebellion) and/or raising banned Papuan Morning Star or the rainbow flag of theRepublic of the South Moluccas. Even if all political prisoners are released, theIndonesian government has no plans to amend these laws. Arrests of peacefulprotesters in West Papua have escalated in recent months. Will they lead to a new setof political prisoners?

see also Human Rights Watch: Indonesia: Free All Political Prisoners , Clemency for 5Papuan Leaves Dozens Behind Bars

Amnesty International: Indonesia: Ten years behind bars for peaceful expression

Tapol: Are Jokowi's Papua moves merely savvy media stunts?

President Lifts Media Restrictions, Maybe

On May 9, during a visit to West Papua, Widodo announced "Starting tomorrow,(Sunday 10/5) for foreign journalists (to) have us open, No problem." Several of hissenior ministers quickly contradicted the President.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)Deputy Director for Asia PhelimKine has urged President JokoWidodo to issue explicit rules

Protester at April 29 Global Day of Action on Access to Papua.Photo by Tapol.

Areki Wanimbo. Photo from PapuansBehind Bars.

governing access to West Papua. Kine in a commentary in the JakartaGlobe wrote that "Joko's initiativeto allow foreign media to freelyreport from Papua indicates that hesees media freedom as part of thesolution to Papua's toxiccombination of political repressionand impunity. The willful ignoranceor outright hostility of key ministerssuch as Tedjo and Ryamizard willdoom that plan unless Joko

addresses their obstructionism head­on."

Under the guise of 'protecting' journalists, Coordinating Political, Legal & SecurityAffairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno said the government would continue with itsMonitoring Team for Foreign Journalists. The team is made up of representativesfrom government ministries and agencies, including the Indonesian military (TNI)and the National Police, scrutinizes (and mostly denies) foreign journalistapplications to visit West Papua.

What the team does is "monitor the journalists' movements. If for instance, they enterdangerous territory, we'd be able to watch over them so no one ends up missing,"Tedjo said told The Jakarta Post, a few weeks after the President's announcement.

At the same time, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu tied the policy to the contentof the journalists' report. "We will support them if they produce good reports, but wecan easily expel them if they are found committing sedition," said Ryamizard.

"Ryacudu didn't precisely define 'good reports'," noted HRW's Kine. "Ryacudu'ssolution for foreign media whose reporting displeases the government: 'We can easilyexpel them,'" he added, quoting the minister.

WPAT Comment: All the ministerial comments indicate that even if advancepermission should no longer be required, reporters who go to West Papua willcontinue to be followed, harassed and intimidated. And that the Papuans they meetwith will continue to face risks of questioning, arrest or worse.

Papuan Acquitted

Tapol reports that on May 8 Papuan politicaldetainee Areki Wanimbo was acquitted ofconspiracy to commit treason and released fromprison on May 9. He had spent over nine months indetention in West Papua following his arrest onAugust 6, 2014, along with two French journalistsin Wamena in the Central Highlands of WestPapua. (see West Papua Reports for September2015 and October 2015). Wanimbo, an indigenoustribal leader and local teacher, was arrested after thejournalists attracted the attention of intelligenceagents. Unlike the trial of the two Frenchjournalists, which lasted a few days, Wanimbo'strial was subject to lengthy delays.

"In the history of political trials in Papua, this the first time in 14 years that a treason

suspect has been acquitted; the last time was the case of Theys Eluay. This verdict isa real step forward," said Latifah Anum Siregar of Wanimbo's defense team. LastSeptember, Siregar was attacked with a knife by an unknown assailant.

New Reports of Torture of Papuans by Security Forces

Human rights groups in West Papua reported two new cases of torture in Pirime andLanny Jaya in the Central Highlands in April. Papuans Behind Bars wrote that inLanny Jaya, two men were tortured in when they had attempted to hand over toauthorities a pistol belonging to a deceased relative in response to a weaponsamnesty. In Pirime, two teenagers were arrested and then tortured after a militaryraid on a village church. The victims received inadequate medical care a theBhayangkara Hospital. One of the Lanny Jaya victims, Kamori Murib was tortured atthe hospital.

Nineteen­year­old Cabang Tabuni, arrested in Puncak Jaya, died after more than sixmonths in detention after suffering from serious gunshot wounds without receivingmedical treatment. Oktovianus Tabuni, a 15­year­old boy, arrested at the same timewas smuggled out of the hospital for treatment in PNG. Doctors there found a pair ofsurgical clamps in his abdomen. Mass Arrests of Peaceful Papuan Demonstrators May saw continued security force assaults on peaceful Papuan assemblies anddemonstrations.

On May 1, security forces detained over 250 demonstrators who rallied in protest onthe anniversary of Indonesia's coercive annexation of West Papua (see also WestPapua Report for May 2015)

Later in May, security forces detained and assaulted some 80 demonstratorssupporting the application of the United Movement for the Liberation of West Papua( ULMWP) for membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The next week, on May 28 additional rallies in support of the ULMWP's applicationtook place. Rocks were thrown at police at some of these events, but rally organizersclaimed that the rock throwers were provocateurs.

(WPAT note: Security forces in Indonesia periodically resort to provocative actionsto justify crackdowns. This, for example was standard operating procedure insecurity force efforts to disrupt peaceful rallies against the Suharto regime in 1998.) New Military Command in West Papua Criticized

The Jakarta Post reported noted strong opposition to the launch of a new militarycommand in West Papua. The new command, the Kasuari/XVIII is set to beconstructed in Arfai village in South Manokwari.

Yan Warinussy, Executive­Director of the LB3BH, the Institution of Research,Analyzing and Development for Legal Aid, said the new command contradictsArticles 48 and 49 of the Special Autonomy Law. That law he said put security in thehands of the police, not military.

Human Rights Advocate Threatened

Yan Christian Warinussy, a human rights advocate in Manokwari, recently reported on two incidentsinvolving rights violations by security forces, one involving the tear­gassing and detention of young

PNG PM O'Neill welcome Indonesia President Joko Widodo inPort Moresby in May.

protesters on May 20 and a detailed report involving a Brimob assault on the house of a religiousleader.

After sharing these reports with others, Warinussy was threatened. He wrote that he "was subjected to'terror' and the threat of being criminalized by the head of 'reskrim', the Criminal Reserve of the PoliceForce in Manokwari, AKP Tommy Helmy Pontororing, who said that he would be looking closely at astatement I made in a local media outlet in Manokwari."

Warinussy reported that on May 16, about 20 members of Brimob (the Indonesian police's specialforces) destroyed the home of Rev. M.L. Marthen Luther Wanma in Sowi Gunung, Manokwari,"apparently acting in solidarity with one of their colleagues who had been drinking heavily."Warinussy said that those involved in the attack "could face the strongest possible sanctions inaccordance with Law 2/2002 regarding the Indonesian Police Force" and other laws.

U.S. Officials Revoke Benny Wenda's Visa

On May 13, U.S. officials revoked the ten­year multiple entry visa of Benny Wenda,a leading Papuan activist in exile in England. The visa was revoked when checked inat Heathrow airport for a flight to the U.S. for a planned speaking tour of Californiasponsored by Pacific islander groups. U.S. officials did not explain why they revokedhis visa

Wenda has travelled to the U.S. several times, including earlier this year, formeetings with political representatives, groups, churches and government officials. PNG Prime Minister Meets Indonesian President

During a two­day visit by Indonesia President Joko Widodo to Papua New Guinea(PNG), Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said that the ULMWP application to join theMSG "must be with the endorsement of the Indonesian Government."

O'Neill said his nation had "no visibility of what is happening in West Papua," so theIndonesian application to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group was "veryimportant." O'Neill's formula appears to ignore the ULMWP application formembership which has received extensive public support within West Papua.

He also said that elected leaders ­­the governors of West Papuanprovinces and beyond ­­ should berepresented at the MelanesianSpearhead Group. "This applicationis now in the hands of ourMelanesian nations to decide. If thisapplication is accepted, MSG willwelcome a delegation agreed by theGovernors of the five Melanesianprovinces in Indonesia to attendMelanesian Spearhead Groupmeetings." Indonesia argues that inaddition to the provinces of Papua

and West Papua, nearby provinces with traces of Melanesian heritage (Maluku, NorthMaluku and East Nusa Tenggara) should also be considered as Melanesian.

Governor of Oro Province Gary Juffa MP said he has no confidence that theMelanesian Spearhead Group will act in the interests of the region's people as itconsiders West Papua's MSG membership. He said that "If it's going to be there to bedictated to by Indonesia, what's the point? MSG was set up to fight for Melanesianviews and issues, not just be a trade agreement conduit, and not just be a muppet and

"MSG was set up to fight forMelanesian views and issues,not just be a trade agreementconduit, and not just be amuppet and puppet to the willand whim of say Indonesia." ­ PNG Governor Gary Juffa

puppet to the will and whim of say Indonesia." If the MSG is not promoting theinterest of Melanesians then it must be disbanded. His statements come after PNG hassupported Indonesia's bid to be an associate member of the MSG.

It is becoming ever more clear that on criticalconcerns Police broke up a protest in PortMoresby as Jokowi's visit began led by the PNGUnion for a Free West Papua. Juffa said that thegroup had a court order allowing the protest.Several people were detained for hours. "Wecan't allow Indonesia to extend theirauthoritarian rule into Papua New Guinea whichis what seems to be happening. And in instanceswhen Indonesians visit or when Indonesianofficials are here then there's a gag on the media,there's all the military persons, the people arecontrolled, it's as if we are a province of Indonesia."

WPAT Comment: It appears that Indonesian and the MSG are seeking a formulathat finesses Papuan "membership" in the MSG in a manner that does not challengeIndonesian sovereignty over West Papua. Indonesia already holds "observer" statusin the MSG, a reality which may complicate efforts to devise a formula for Papuanmembership that does not result in Indonesians holding both observer and memberstatus.

Fiji Civil Society Criticize Government Stance

Civil society groups in Fiji "expressed concerns concerns over the recentannouncement of support by Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama forIndonesia's bid to become an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group(MSG). NGO coalition chair Shamima Ali, Director of the Fiji's Women's CrisisCenter (FWCC) and a former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner, said that the PrimeMinister's downplayed 50 years of violent occupation by Indonesia of West Papua.

"The government of Indonesia remains unable to address serious human rightsviolations in terms of civil, political, cultural, economic and environmental rights,"she said.

The Fijian groups supported the bid of the ULMWP to join the MSG and they urgedtheir government "to exercise real leadership on this issue by respecting the decisionsand wishes of the people of West Papua about who represents them."

CHRONICLE Jokowi Relaunches MIFEE

Awas MIFEE analyzes Jokowi's recent launch of plans to convert 1.2 million hectaresof indigenous land to rice fields within three years. He flew to Merauke to make theannouncement during his June visit to West Papua.

The group called the president's announcement "much more extreme" than hispredecessor's Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) plan thatallocated 1.2 million hectares for food plantation development by 2030. Jokowi's plancould eventually encompass 4.6 million hectares (an area larger than Switzerland).Calling the announcement "a bit spontaneous," it said that "the government has notyet published any official plans, we only have journalists' reports of what was said atthe event to go on."

picture­8

Palm Oil Supplier Violates Pledge Not to Clear Rainforest

Last summer, an Indonesian NGO published research showing that palm oildeveloper, Austindo Nusantara Jaya (ANJ) Agri, was clearing rainforest in WestPapua despite promises by its biggest customers not to buy the oil from suppliersengaged in deforestation. In a follow up to its initial report, Greenomics­Indonesiareports that the company's bulldozers are still at work. Responding to the allegations,Golden Agri­Resources (GAR), ANJ Agri's biggest buyer this year, suspendeddealings with the company. Earlier Wilmar "put its business with the company... onhold in April, though it waited nine months from the release of Greenomics' firstreport to freeze the relationship," according to Mongabay.West Papua Flags

The UK­based Free West Papua Campaign has WestPapuan Morning Star/Bintang Kejora flags for sale. Theyare available in three sizes. Order fromhttp://freewestpapua.org/shop/west­papua­flag/

Global Day of Action Demands Remain Unfulfilled

A month after the Global Day of Action on Access to Papua (see May 2015 WestPapua Report), Tapol, its coordinator, called the day's demands unfulfilled. Inaddition to protests in over 20 cities, TAPOL issued a joint letter signed by 52 NGOsand parliamentarians, urging President Jokowi to remove restrictions on visits byforeign journalists, human rights observers and humanitarian organizations to Papuaand to take steps to end violence and intimidation against journalists in Papua. A fewweeks later, the President of Indonesia announced the release of five politicalprisoners and an end to restriction on foreign journalists. The later announcement wassoon contradicted by other officials.

Tapol urged Indonesia to end the "mixed messages." If President Jokowi is seriousabout change," the group wrote, "he needs to send a clear and consistent message. Heshould grant immediate presidential amnesty to all political prisoners in Papua, whilethose still facing legal process should have their charges abolished. Indonesia shouldalso issue an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression,David Kaye to visit Papua, as was pledged during the Universal Periodic Review ofthe UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2012. While Jokowi's initial moves aresteps in the right direction, they must be followed with concrete policies to end thecriminalization of free speech."

This issue can be found at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2015/1506.htm

Back issues of West Papua Report

This issue can be found at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/2015/1506.htm.

Back issues of West Papua Report

ETAN on Facebook

Follow @etan009 3,527 followers

ETAN's other twitter accounts:

Follow @TimorNews 1,855 followers

Follow @westpapuanews 1,924 followers

Follow @actindonesia 702 followers

119FollowETAN on Linked

In ETAN on Pinterest

ETAN's Blog ETAN on Google+

ETAN's Key Contact List

Action alerts, media releases, key news and otherresources on East Timor (Timor­Leste) and Indonesiaselected by ETAN, focused on ETAN's program and

priorities

ETAN listservs

Subscribe to ETAN's e­mail Listservson Timor, West Papua

and Indonesia human rights

Find us on Facebook

East Timor and Indonesia ActionNetwork (ETAN)

3,933 people like East Timor and Indonesia Action Network(ETAN).

Facebook social plugin

Like

Google Search WWW http://www.etan.org

Become an ETAN Sustainer, make a pledge via credit card here

Background | Take Action | News | Links | What You Can Do | Resources | Contact

ETAN Store | Estafeta | Images | Home | Timor Postings | Search | Site Index |

Follow ETAN:

LikeETANon

ETANemaillistservs

ETANblog

DonatetoETAN!