West Papua diplomatic cause advances in Brussels

A coalition of Pacific Island nations has called on the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states to back West Papuan self-determination.

Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands gave a joint statement at the group’s Council of Ministers in Brussels.

Johnny Blades has been following developments.

Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz

Transcript

JOHNNY BLADES: In Brussels the other day, this African, Caribbean and Pacific bloc heard from a Vanuatu government MP who was representing this Pacific coalition of seven countries which also is a network of NGO, civil society and church groups as well, who are saying that the world community has to act now on human rights abuses in Papua, but specifically to push Indonesia to have a legitimate self-determination process for the West Papuans, because questions about the legitimacy of the self-determination process by which Papua was incorporated into Indonesia back in the 1960s, questions over that are really gaining momentum at the moment. This follows on from the Coalition’s two recent representations at the UN level on Papua: that is, last September at the UN General Assembly, and then in March at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

BEN ROBINSON-DRAWBRIDGE: So how did the other countries in this group react to this call from their Pacific members?

JB: The Caribbean and African countries were signalling strong support for this, to have a resolution urging a proper self-determination process for the Papuans. But the Papua New Guinea ambassador at the meeting in Brussels spoke out against it. He actually said that the group shouldn;t push too hard at this. He suggested that a fact-finding mission to Papua is necessary for the African, Caribbean and Pacific group to conduct first in order to get a clearer picture of the situation. Remember PNG of course is right next door to West Papua and its proximity to this huge Asian country is a point of great sensitivity.

BRD: Have other Pacific groups like the Melanesian Spearhead Group or even the Pacific Forum, have they made similar representations on West Papua?

JB: They have attempted to, really. This issue has been brought up at both of those bodies many years ago, and particularly for the Melanesian Spearhead Group it was a huge issue because Melanesians in these countries feel strongly about West Papuan self-determination. It’s just that their leadership have not been able to find a unified position on it. And for instance since Indonesia has come in to the MSG as an observer and now an associate member, this issue has not advanced. So they haven’t been able to take it up at UN or ACP levels. And it’s much the same with the Forum: there’s not a unified stance on it. So the group of seven Pacific countries here who took up the issue in Brussels have really just thought ‘we’ll go ahead and do what we have to on our own’ because the Forum and the MSG, they seem to be saying, have failed on the West Papua issue.

BRD: Do any of the other countries in this (ACP) group, do they have significant political clout to be able to make a difference on this issue?

JB: They aren’t powerhouses on the world stage, most of these countries. But I think if there was to be this bloc of 79 countries suddenly taking it up at the UN General Assembly, that is significant in itself, and it would really add to the international pressure on Jakarta to maybe look for a new kind of solution to this simmering discontent in Papua.

May 11, 2017 0

Call for more access to West Papua

RadioNZ – A church-backed coalition has called on Indonesia to open greater access to West Papua for international journalists, independent observers, human rights organizations and the International Red Cross.

International consultation on West Papua 22-24 February 2017 in Geneva, hosted by the World Council of Churches. Photo: Victor Mambor

The call came at an international consultation hosted by the World Council of Churches with the International Coalition on Papua in Geneva.

Also in Geneva this week, at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council, seven Pacific Island countries delivered a statement about their concern over rights abuses in West Papua.

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who visited Papua in 2012 said the organisation supports the struggle for West Papuan human rights, and urges an end to ongoing violence and impunity.

He said the WCC backed the call for social and economic justice through serious dialogue and a concrete political process that seeks to address root causes of the present problems.

The round-table gathering included civil society proponents, human rights experts and diplomats who examined current patterns of human rights abuses in West Papua.

The gathering coincides with the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where seven Pacific nations this week raised concern about a lack of justice over serious and prolonged rights abuses in West Papua.

Indonesia denied allegation that it failed to address rights abuses in Papua, saying it always endeavoured to address violations, takes preventative measures and delivers justice.

Protesters are resisting police using water cannons during a protest by mostly university students from Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on December 1, 2016. — Protests in West Papua in 2016. Photo: AFP

However, the WCC website reported that this week’s consultation in Geneva had shown growing level of international concern about Papua.

Victor Mambor of the Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights said that the civil society group made a number of recommendation to the government of Indonesia.

As well as demanding open access to Papua for international journalists and human rights groups they called for ensuring

“that perpetrators of the police and military responsible for past and present human rights violations in West Papua are prosecuted in public and fair trials, resulting in the appropriate sentences for perpetrators and the restitution, compensation and rehabilitation of victims”.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches based in Fiji, Rev. Francois Pihaate, said churches in the region were very concerned about violence in Papua.

West Papuan journalist Victor Mambor. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

“How can we as churches be ignorant of what is going on outside our own world? That is why we as churches are concerned,” he said.

A member of the Indonesian mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Denny Abdi, disputed the veracity of claims that nearly 5000 Papuans were arrested last year for peacefully demonstrating their independence aspirations.

However, the WCC’s West Papuans representatives have said there is no trust between the people of West Papua and the government in Jakarta, rendering it “not possible to talk heart to heart about what is going on”.

“We have to talk, ” said one member of the WCC’s Papua chapter. “As a church the prophetic voice needs to go beyond boundaries.”

Demonstrators march in Timika in West Papua.

Demonstrators march in Timika in West Papua. Photo: Supplied

Veronica Koman of the Papua Itu Kita based in Jakarta said the government of Indonesia has failed to address the root problem, which stems from Papua’s controversial incorporation into Indonesia in the 1960s.

“The West Papuan people will not stop screaming for independence until the root cause is addressed,” she said.

March 10, 2017 1

Pacific nations want UN report on Papua

News.com.au – Seven Pacific island nations have called for a UN investigation into allegations of human rights abuses in Indonesia’s West Papua and Papua provinces, where a separatist movement has simmered for decades.

A statement to a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, read on behalf of the seven states by Vanuatu’s Justice Minister Ronald Warsal, accused Indonesia of serious human rights violations of indigenous Papuans including extrajudicial executions of activists and beatings and fatal shootings of peaceful protesters.

The statement called on the council to request a comprehensive report from the high commissioner for human rights and Indonesia’s co-operation in providing unfettered access to the two provinces, which independence supporters refer to collectively as West Papua.

Pacific island leaders angered Indonesia last year when they used their speeches to the UN General Assembly to criticise Indonesia’s rule in West Papua.

Jakarta accused them of interfering in Indonesia’s sovereignty and supporting groups that carry out armed attacks.

Warsal, who spoke on behalf of Vanuatu, Tonga, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Solomon Islands, said they also wanted to highlight the Indonesian policy of encouraging the migration of Javanese and other ethnic groups, which has led to the dramatic outnumbering of indigenous Papuans in their own land.

The Indonesian government “has not been able to curtail or halt these various and widespread violations,” he said.

“Neither has that government been able to deliver justice for the victims.”

The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II.

It became part of Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969 that involved only a tiny proportion of the population and was criticised as a sham. Independence supporters want a second referendum.

The indigenous people of the two Papua provinces, which make up the western half of the island of New Guinea, are ethnically Melanesian and culturally distinct from the rest of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

West Papua is home to the world’s largest gold mine by reserves, one of the world’s biggest copper mines and vast areas of virgin forest.

The government insists it is an indivisible part of the Indonesian state and is unlikely to make any concessions to separatists out of fear that could re-energise other dormant independence movements.

March 5, 2017 0

Jakarta slams Solomons and Vanuatu over human rights

radionz.co.nz – Indonesia has strongly rejected statements about West Papua by Vanuatu and Solomon Islands at the UN Human Rights Council session last week.

Delegates of the two Pacific Islands’ countries accused Indonesia of failing to prevent ongoing human rights abuses against West Papuans.

But Indonesia’s delegate at the session, Michael Tene, said Vanuatu and Solomon Islands’ statements showed a lack of understanding of Papua.

He said they were politically motivated in support of separatist groups which incite public disorder and terrorist attacks against civilians and security personnel.

Indonesia as a democratic country is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including by taking necessary steps to address the allegations of human rights violations and abuses in Papua. No one is perfect. We are always open to have dialogue on human rights issues, but we reject politicisation of these issues. We deplore the way Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have abused this council and the universal principles of the promotion and protection of human rights by supporting the cause of separatism.

Michael Tene from Indonesia’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

He has described Vanuatu and Solomon Islands as being far from perfect on protection of human rights.

He said the two countries still face serious human rights problems, have rampant corruption in all segments of society and government, human trafficking, mistreatment of children and daily abuse of women.

“It would be for the betterment of their populations if the governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu give attention and priority to seriously address their respective own domestic human rights shortcomings.”

Furthermore, Mustika Hanum, the third secretary at Indonesia’s Permanent Mission, expanded on her country’s concerns about domestic violence in Solomon Islands.

June 27, 2016 0

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu call for West Papuan human rights to be supported at UN Human Rights Council

FWPC – On Wednesday 22nd June the governments of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu made historic statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua.
Solomons un

Solomon Islands government representative who spoke on behalf of his country, supporting the people of West Papua, at the United Nations Human Rights Council

Speaking first the Solomon Islands government representative said,

“The delegation of Solomon Islands would like to draw the attention of the Council on the human right situation in West Papua, Indonesia. We express our deep concerns on the eroding human rights situation of the indigenous Melanesian Papuans, who are the indigenous population of West Papua. As a Melanesian state, the incumbent chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and designated chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) would extend its solidarity to our fellow Melanesians in West Papua. We would encourage the Government of Indonesia to find peaceful and sustainable solution of the on-going conflict in West Papua through constructive engagement with the representatives of the West Papuans and respect their right as a people.

“Whilst we welcome the increased attention given by President Joko Widodo to West Papua, the violation of human rights against West Papuan remains unresolved. The Solomon Islands government receives regular reports of cases of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, ill-treatment, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by the Indonesian police.

“On 2 May 2016 alone, 2,109 people were arrested mainly indigenous Melanesian Papuans, while participating in peaceful demonstrations in several cities in West Papua and some Indonesian cities. The demonstrations were held in support of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the commemoration of 1 May 1963 as Indonesia’s annexation of West Papua and to support the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting. During the arrest, some of them experienced torture and ill treatment from the Indonesian security forces.

“The Solomon Islands notes the recent outcomes of the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead group that was held last week in Fiji (14-17TH June 2016) where both Representatives of Indonesia and the ULMWP sat as MSG members during the deliberation. This outcome envisages to establish a safe space for constructive engagement with all parties with a view to addressing the concerns of the MSG members about the recent developments in West Papua. In this regard, the Foreign Ministers further agreed to establish a Committee of High Level Representatives of the MSG members to accompany and facilitate this constructive engagement.

“We also welcome the initiative of the MSG to work closely with the Indonesian government to visit the Melanesian Provinces of Indonesia at a later date. This important visit would allow for a clear, objective and independent view by the members of the MSG leaders and ministers.

“We strongly endorsed the final declaration of this International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Forum which took place in London on 3 May which calls for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua. The declaration has been endorsed by cross regional parliamentarians coming from 15 UN member States.

“Journalists working on human rights are still prevented to have free and full access to do their work in West Papua. Our delegation is convinced that access of international community to West Papua, particularly to the UN Special Procedure, will provide an opportunity to improve the human rights situation. We reassure the Government of Indonesia to cooperate with the Human Rights Council by allowing the agreed visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to Indonesia which should include to West Papua.

“Finally, we encourage the Indonesian Government to facilitate the human rights fact-finding mission to West Papua that the members of the Pacific Island Forum have decided to conduct.’
vanuatu 4 un

Vanuatu government representative who spoke on behalf of his country, supporting the people of West Papua, at the United Nations Human Rights Council

“Thank you Mr President”

The Vanuatu government representative then briefed the United Nations council and said

“My delegation associates itself with the statement made by Solomon Islands.

“Vanuatu wishes to express to the Council our deepest concerns on the deteriorating human right situation in West Papua. We continue to receive increasing reports of gross human rights violations in West Papua.

“In the recent months more than a thousand of West Papuans were arrested by Indonesia police for participating in peaceful demonstrations. This contradicts the responsibility to protect and facilitate protests that advocate for political and cultural views that differ from, and even oppose, those espoused by the Government.

“Whilst we acknowledge and welcome the Report by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom and of association, which gave example of West Papuans whose rights to freedom of assembly and of associations are restricted by the Indonesian Government, Vanuatu would like to call upon the Human Rights Council to do more.

“We call on the Council to work with Indonesia Government to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit West Papua to get objective and independent views of the situation on the ground in that region.

“We also call on the Government of Indonesia to allow free and full access of international journalist to West Papua and allow the human rights fact-finding mission by the Pacific Islands Forum.

“Thank you Mr. President”.

Speaking after his statement, the Solomon Islands government representative spoke about how he was positive of the Solomon Islands raising support for West Papua at the United Nations.

“Well just a few minutes ago the Solomon Islands made statement at the Human Rights Council about highlighting the continuous human rights violations in West Papua. Its really good, I really feel happy that the Solomon Islands is able to make such statements at the Council level. I think that it will give the International Community awareness of what’s going on. Not much information goes out to the International Community about whats happening so we thank the Rights body of the UN to raise the voices of our fellow human beings there that do not have a voice at the Human Rights Council.

“I’m glad as well that my college from Vanuatu made a statement in support of west Papua in highlighting the human rights issue in west Papua so its really great.”

The Vanuatu government representative also spoke of the Melanesian solidarity and support for West Papua at the United Nations.

“Thank you, we Melanesian brothers, we made statement in association with the Solomon Islands here in the Human Rights Council. We made statements on requiring the human rights considerations along what has been happening in the place of human rights in West Papua and we hope the statement which has been stated today will be groundwork for the Commissioner, the Council to take note of the human rights issues in West Papua.

“And we as Vanuatu, we stand, we support our Melanesian brothers, as the founder of Vanuatu stated that Vanuatu will not be Independent until all our Melanesian brothers get Independent. Thank you.”

June 25, 2016 0

UN Human Rights Council Highlights West Papua

2:35 pm on 23 June 2016, radio anz

Indonesia’s Papua region, or West Papua, has been highlighted at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva in recent days.

A meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Photo: AFP

During the 32nd session of the Council Plenary, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, zeroed in on Papua.

Referring to West Papuans’ struggles with rapid demographic and socio-economic change in their homeland, Mr Kiai spoke of the domination of a particular culture, language and tradition which are clamied as being superior to others.

He said what is occurring in Papua was a phenomenon connected with cultural fundamentalism and nationalism seen in other parts of the world.

“In each case, the superiority has triggered the process of dehumanization or delegitimizing of particular groups,” said Mr Kiai in his report.

“Gradually, these groups would lose their humanity and rights. This process can lead to devastating consequences, because history has proved it many times.”

A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

A number of civil society groups attended the plenary to express concern about the restriction of freedom of expression in Papua.

They urged Indonesia’s government to open up access on Papua for the international community.

The Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Franciscans International Program, Budi Cahyono, told Tabloid Jubi that civil society asked the Council to press Jakarta to set a date for the UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Expression to visit Papua.

Indonesian police talk to members of the West Papua National Committee in Jayapura during their demonstration, 31 May 2016.

Indonesian police talk to members of the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, in Jayapura during their demonstration, 31 May 2016. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

Other civil society groups that were present include groups include the World Council of Churches, VIVAT International, International Coalition for West Papua, West Papua Nezwerk, Tapol, and Minority Rights Groups International and Geneva for Human Rights.

They urged the UN Human Rights Council to ask Indonesia’s government to conduct investigation on the arbitrary arrests in Papua and other places, and to guarantee the rights of freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and association for Papuans.

June 23, 2016 1

UN and Jakarta focus on Papua rights abuses

4:57 pm on 23 June 2016, RNZ

Solomon Islands’ diplomat in Geneva has told the UN Human Rights Council’s 32nd session about an eroding human rights situation in Indonesia’s Papua region.

West Papuan demonstrators tightly monitored by Indonesian police. Photo: Whens Tebay

Barrett Salato told the session that whilst his country welcomes increased attention on West Papua from Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo, violations of Papuans’ rights remain unresolved.

Mr Salato said his government received regular reports from Papua of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by Indonesian police.

After the session, he said it was important to raise the issue globally.

“It will give the international commmunity some awareness about what’s going on (in Papua),” he said.

“Not much information goes out to the international commmunity about what’s happening so we take it here to the right body of the UN to raise the voices of our fellow human beings that does not have a voice in the human rights council.”

West Papua was singled out for attention at the session by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai.

He said what is occurring in Papua was a phenomenon connected with cultural fundamentalism and nationalism seen in other parts of the world.

“In each case, the superiority has triggered the process of dehumanization or delegitimizing of particular groups,” said Mr Kiai in his report.

A large peaceful demonstration in Jayapura in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. — Since April, a series of large demonstrations in West Papua in support of Papuan self-determination rights have resulted in an estimated four thousand Papuans being arrested. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

Barrett Salato pointed out to the Council session that on 2 May 2016 alone, over 2000 West Papuans were arrested for participating in peaceful demonstrations in several cities in Papua and eastern Indonesian cities.

“We would encourage the government of Indonesia to find peaceful and sustainable solution of the on-going conflict in West Papua through constructive engagement with the representatives of the West Papuans and respect their right as a people,” he said.

MSG focus on Papuan rights

Solomon Islands is currently occupying the chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. In this capacity it has been pushing for increased engagement with Indonesia’s government over the situation in West Papua.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua was granted observer status at the MSG last year and is seeking full membership in the group, with a decision to be made at an upcoming MSG leaders summit in Honiara next month.

Solomons PM Manaseh Sogavare and leaders of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Photo: Facebook

Indonesia, which has associate member status in the MSG, has been opposed to greater representation within the group by the ULMWP.

Indonesia’s delegate at last week’s MSG Foreign Ministers meeting in Fiji was reportedly unhappy about having to sit alonside the Liberation Movement representative for discussions.

The Solomons government, however, was upbeat about the impact of getting Indonesians and West Papuans together at the same table.

The MSG Foreign Ministers meeting concluded with agreement to establish a Committee of High Level Representatives of MSG members to facilitate constructive engagement between Jakarta and West Papuans as concernd parties on the issues of rights abuses against Papuans.

Jakarta establishes team to address Papuan rights abuses

Indonesia’s government has been making efforts to respond to the ongoing international concern about rights abuses in West Papua.

While the UN Human Rights Council was discussing Papua in Geneva, Jakarta has been pushing ahead with the establishment of a team tasked with addressing a number of cases of human rights abuses in Papua region.

Indonesia's Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security, Luhut Pandjaitan. — Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security, Luhut Pandjaitan. Photo: AFP

The team is being created under the watch of the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, who has invited regional monitoring for the team’s inception.

Mr Luhut told media the team would consist of the chairmen of both National and Provincial Human Rights Commissions and several human rights commissionaires.

But Papua’s Governor Lucas Enembe and various Papuan civil society figures have voiced concern that the team would not be independent and would be restricted in its scope.

RNZI's Johnny Blades and Koroi Hawkins finally get to interview the extremely elusive Governor of Papua Province Lukas Enembe. — Papua’s Governor Lucas Enembe (left) says human rights abuses in Papua should be resolved according to Papuan custom. Photo: RNZI/Koroi Hawkins

Jakarta is under increasing pressure to be transparent about its efforts in Papua.

According to Barrett Salato, the Solomons would continue to urge Jakarta to accept MSG and Pacific Islands Forum fact-finding missions to Papua, and open up Papua to international access.

“Journalists working on human rights are still prevented to have free and full access to do their work in West Papua,” he said.

“Our delegation is convinced that access of international community to West Papua, particularly to UN Special Procedure, will provide an opportunity to improve the human rights situation.”

June 23, 2016 0

West Papua report given to Ban ki Moon at Humanitarian Summit

25/05/2016, Turkey, PINA.com.fj

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has been presented with the West Papua Fact Finding Mission Report titled “We Will Lose Everything” by PIANGO’s executive director, Emele Duituturaga.

Duituturaga presented the report to Ban Ki Moon during day two of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. The report was received by the assistant Secretary General.

Duituturaga who captured the handing over in a photograph said she was privileged to have had a brief exchange with Ban at the end of the summit.

The handover comes after Duituturaga addressed the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) plenary on day one calling for United Nations intervention on human rights violations in West Papua.

“PIANGO strongly advocates human-rights based approaches and we commit to upholding norms that safeguard humanity, specifically in relation to speaking out on violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws,” she said.

“In the Pacific, we have our share of conflict induced humanitarian challenges. We applaud the closing of the Manus Refugee camp in Papua New Guinea, we are concerned about the conflicts at the Nauru detention centre and we call for UN intervention for human rights violations in West Papua.”

“As a leading civil society organisation, the Pacific Islands Association for Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO), representing NGOs in 21 Pacific Islands Countries and Territories, is committed to this Agenda for Humanity.”

“In the Pacific where 80% of our population are rural based, the first and the last response is always the local response and so we need to reinforce local leadership, strengthen community resilience and reprioritise localisation of aid.”

She said while governments remain the driver at the national level, community engagement is the lever.

“PIANGO is committed to facilitate effective coordination of local and national civil society organisations with the complimentary role of international NGOs.”

“We also expect our leaders to match the ambition of this agenda with national and regional strategies and accountability mechanisms for inclusive and participatory implementation, bringing all stakeholders together and at all levels – to include government, civil society, private sector, academics, parliamentarians, local authorities, faith communities and UN agencies.”

The summit which had 9000 participants from 173 states, including 55 heads of state, hundreds of private sector representatives and thousands of people from civil society and non-governmental organisations ended Wednesday.

SOURCE: PIANGO/PACNEWS

May 25, 2016 0