The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr. U. Rosenthal
Postbox 20061
2500 EB The Haque
25 oktober 2012
Dear Mr. Rosenthal,
We want to share our great concern about the deteriorating situation in Papua and West Papua, including the arrests and intimidating of KNPB activists, students and human rights defenders.
On the 29st of September eight members of KNPB were arrested by members of the security forces including members of Detachment 88 without any reason. They were arrested during a raid on the KNPB Regional Secretariat in Wamena. The authorities tried to blame the activists for a bomb accident in Wamena.
On Tuesday the 16th of October the security forces consisting of intelligence officers raided student dormitories at the Universitas Cenderawasih (UNCEN) in Waena, Jayapura in an unsuccessful attempt to arrest peaceful activists Fanny Kogoya and Danny Wenda.
On the 23rd of October the security forces cracked down on peaceful rallies which were called by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB). The peaceful rallies were held in a number of towns throughout Papua and West Papua including in Timika, Sorong, Biak, Merauke and Jayapura. The rallies were organized to draw attention to the UN the human rights abuses suffered by the Papuan people.
Reports indicate that the security forces consisting of Police, TNI, Koppassus, Detachment 88 and BIN responded violently to the peaceful demonstrations. In Manokwari the security forces fired rubber bullets at students injuring at least eight. A local reporter and activist Oktovianus Pogau who was covering the rally said he was beaten badly by five policemen when he tried to present his press card. "They punched me twice in the face and tried to strangle me. They hit other journalists and I saw at least two people get shot," he reported.
A number of people have also been detained and we are very concerned for the safety of those human rights defenders that have been arrested, as many reports have indicated that they routinely use torture to extract confessions.
There is a danger that the situation could deteriorate
even further and we ask you to use you good offices with the Indonesian Government,
urging that they control the security forces in Papua and West Papua and to halt
the intimidation and arrests of
peaceful activists.
yours sincerely
Foundation Pro Papua