West Papua 2012 Human Rights Report - Aus. West Papua Assoc.

Press Release: Australia West Papua Association 

Summary of events 2

• Concern about journalists alleged to be serving TNI interests 4
• Australian - Indonesian relations 4
• Australia’s involvement 5
• Australia to sell more military equipment to Indonesia 5
• Australia raises concerns with Indonesian Government 6
• Dialogue with Jakarta 6
• West Papua National Committee rally in May 7
• Attack on the village of Honai Lama 7
• 15 human rights activists arrested in Jayapura 8
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous People 9
• Security operations 9
• Crackdown on the West Papua National Committee 10
• Shootings in West Papua 16
• Recommendations 19

AWPA Human Rights report - West Papua 2012

Houses burn in Kampung Honai Lama , Wamena after attack by the military June 2012

This report details incidents of human rights abuses in the past year and in particular looks at the crackdown on the KNPB. It shows the continuing struggle of the West Papuan people for their right to self-determination. It is by no means exhaustive. In the report AWPA uses the name “West Papua” to refer to the whole of the western half of the Island of New Guinea. However, “West Papua” at this time is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua.

Summary of events

There was no improvement in the human rights situation in West Papua in 2012. In fact, the human rights situation continued to deteriorate with the Indonesian security forces targeting human rights defenders, peaceful demonstrators and in particular members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB). 

The year started with the trial against five Papuan activists for treason. The trial began on the 30 January and the five men, Forkorus Yaboisembut, Edison Waromi, Selpius Bobii, Domingkus Sorabut and Agustinus Kraar were charged with treason because of their involvement in the 3rd Papuan People's Congress which was held between the 17 and 19 October in 2011. 

In March the Jayapura District Court sentenced the men to three years in prison for subversion. At no time did these men commit violence and they have been jailed solely for peacefully expressing their political views as is their right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As opposed to the three-year sentence given to the five activists, no action was taken against the security force personal who were involved in the brutal crackdown and they received only written warnings. There were also serious doubts about the fairness of the trial proceedings. The security forces maintained a heavy presence during the trial sessions and one of the senior lawyers for the defence, Gustav Kawer, was threatened with prosecution, in violation of his right under Indonesian law and international standards to carry out his professional duties in defending clients in court. Amnesty International considers all five men to be prisoners of conscience. 

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