Protester arrested outside Indonesian Embassy held in custody overnight for fine-only offences

Protestors lie on the road covered in white sheets stained with red dye, at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.

Photo: Protesters blocked the road outside the Indonesian Embassy. (Facebook: Free West Papua Campaign Australia)

A protester arrested outside the Indonesian Embassy has been fined and released from police custody after being held for almost 24 hours, under what his defence lawyer has described as unusual circumstances.

Adrian ‘AJ’ Van Tonder, 25, was arrested on Friday morning at the rally in Canberra, where he and his fellow protesters lay in the embassy driveway covered in sheets and fake blood.

Van Tonder, a Melbourne student, was with about 30 people protesting alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian Government in West Papua.

The group blocked vehicles from entering and exiting by lying across the driveway.

Protestors wave flags and signs outside the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.

Photo: Protesters travelled from Melbourne to take part in the rally. (Facebook: Lewis Prai Wellip)

This morning Van Tonder pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to obstructing the embassy, refusing to provide a name and address and failing to comply with an order to move on.

He was fined $750 and released.

The combined offences carry a maximum penalty of up to $3,800.

The court heard the other protesters gave their details when asked by police to move on, but Van Tonder remained silent.

Van Tonder’s defence said being held in custody overnight on offences that carry fine-only punishments was “not something that would normally happen” and it was not clear why it had.

Magistrate Robert Cook told Van Tonder the right to protest peacefully should be protected.

“You should engage in it and that’s your right,” he said.

But he warned against ignoring police instructions.

“Ultimately then you leave police with no choice than to remove you physically,” he said.

Claims police trying to appease Indonesian Government

A group of fellow protesters supported Van Tonder in court.

Outside, they said his time in custody was unfair and stressful.

“The last 24 hours have been horrible,” Kiah Dennersterin said.

The protesters claim police are being pressured by Indonesia to arrest activists like themselves.

“Police are trying to appease the Indonesian Government and show they’re being strong against West Papuan activists,” another protester Rebecca Langley said.

“Recently there’s been a bit of tension between Indonesia and Australia regarding their military cooperation and it means eyes are on.”

Member of the West Papuan community Ronny Kareni said the arrest would not silence their message to free West Papua.

“It’s evident that the Australian Government is bowing down to Indonesia’s pressure,” he said.

“[The arrest] will only create more fire and fuel more support from people in the streets.”

The group said they travelled to Canberra from Melbourne to take part in this protest and Invasion Day protests.

ACT Policing was contacted for comment.

January 28, 2017 0

Two West Papuans charged with treason for demonstrating

AWPA Sydney – Over 500 people were reportedly arrested from West Papua demonstrations in Indonesia. Photo: Supplied

The Jayapura demonstration was one of more than 14 rallies in Indonesian cities, calling for West Papuan rights to self-determination to be respected.

More than 500 people were reported to have been arrested for participating in the rallies.

While the vast majority were released later in the day, two arrested in the Papua provincial capital have been charged.

Demonstrators march in Timika in West Papua. Photo: Supplied

Hosea Yemo and Ismael Alua are reportedly members of the West Papua National Committee, (KNPB), the pro-independence representative group which organised some of the rallies.

Papua provincial police said the two were arrested after allegedly inciting sedition or treason against the state, and provoking other participants of the rally to commit treason.

A treason charge could lead to a jail term of up to 15 years in Indonesia.

Demonstrators in Timika, West Papua. Photo: Supplied

Police said that from the Jayapura demo, they also found 1kg of hashish at the KNPB’s premises, and confiscated a number of weapons from the crowd.

Law and order has been maintained in the cities and the situation was back to normal, according to police who said they avoided using excessive force in handling the demonstrations.

However, Jakarta-based human rights monitoring groups have condemned intimidation and violence by police officers in the Jayapura rally.

West Papuan photographic journalist Whens Tebay Photo: Tabloid Jubi

The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, and its local partner in Papua, Elsham Papua, said it condemned intimidation and violence by police officers against photographic journalist Whens Tebay during the rally.

Mr Tebay said police arrested, interrogated and hit him, later confiscated his camera and forced him to erase all photos taken during the rally.

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December 21, 2016 0

West Papuans arrested for supporting ULMWP

8:42 pm GMT+12, 14/07/2016, Solomon Islands

Reports of arrests of West Papuans by Indonesian security forces have increased in numbers since Thursday, as many gathered in anticipation of the Melanesian Spearhead Group decision on the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) membership.

Reports from inside West Papua confirmed that 348 arrests since were made.

ULMWP Secretary General, Octovianus Mote, confirmed the 348 arrests, saying West Papuans simply wanted to celebrate the outcome of the MSG Special Leaders Summit’s decision on ULMWP membership application.

“Most of these West Papuans are youth and they just want to express their freedom and right to association…but many were arrested.”

Mote said this is Indonesia’s clamp down on West Papuans who support ULMWP will only impose fear among the people.

He said most arrests were done in Timika, Jayapura, Merauke, Nabire, and Yahukimo. “Just to confirm that these arrests were done while more Melanesians in Fiji, PNG, Kanaky, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands joined in solidarity to support us.”

Pacific solidarity movements for West Papua are calling on Melanesian leaders’ to recognise ULMWP and not to shy away from their responsibility as Melanesian leaders.

The call for West Papua’s political recognition at the MSG through ULMWP has been supported by solidarity movements in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kanaky (New Caledonia).

With representatives from respective West Papua movements in Melanesia, over 3000 people marched the streets of Honiara in a peaceful demonstration yesterday morning, while the MSG leaders convened the special leaders summit.

Chairman of the PNG Union for Free West Papua, Kenn Mondiai, reminded the PNG delegation present at the summit that it was the advice of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in 2012 that the ULMWP was asked organise itself before seeking membership to MSG.

“In 2014 MSG granted Observer status to ULMWP. So Papua New Guinea must be true to its word and recognize its brothers and sisters from West Papua for they are Melanesian and they are family,” urged Mondiai.

“I call on Prime Minister Pete O’Neill and Minister Rimbink Pato to reserve their economic relations with Indonesia and consider humanity, our Melanesian cultural and connection to our West Papuan family,” said Mondiai

SOURCE: PACNEWS

July 14, 2016 0

Indonesia must allow peaceful protests in Papua, stresses UN rights chief

un.org – 2 May 2013 – The United Nations human rights chief today expressed concern over the recent crackdown on mass demonstrations in Papua, Indonesia this week and called on the Government to allow peaceful protests and hold accountable those responsible for the violence.

“These latest incidents are unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and excessive use of force in Papua,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. “I urge the Government of Indonesia to allow peaceful protest and hold accountable those involved in abuses.”

On Tuesday, police reportedly shot and killed two protesters in the city of Sorong who were preparing to mark the 50th anniversary of Papua becoming a part of Indonesia. At least 20 protesters were arrested in the cities of Biak and Timika on 1 May. Many were arrested for raising pro-independence flags.

Ms. Pillay underlined the need for coherent policies and actions to address the underlying concerns and grievances of the local population in Papua. She said that since May 2012, her office has received 26 reports concerning alleged human rights violations, including 45 killings and cases of torture, many of which are linked to law enforcement officials.

“International human rights law requires the Government of Indonesia to conduct thorough, prompt and impartial investigations into the incidents of killings and torture and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Ms. Pillay said.

“There has not been sufficient transparency in addressing serious human rights violations in Papua,” she said, urging Indonesia to allow international journalists into Papua and to facilitate visits by the Special Rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council.

As of March, at least 20 political prisoners remain in detention in Papua. During her visit to Indonesia in November, Ms. Pillay raised concerns over Papuan activists being imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, and said she was disappointed by continued arrests.

Ms. Pillay encouraged the Governments to implement the recommendations put forward by the National Human Rights Commission, Komnas Ham, and the National Commission on Violence against Women, Komnas Perempuan, regarding freedom of expression, and emphasized the role of these institutions in protecting human rights in the country.

May 2, 2013 0