Translation Pro Papua
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Asia and Oceania Department
Postbox 20061
2500 EB The Hague
To the Chairman of the
House of Representatives
Binnenhof 4
The Hague
Date: November 8, 2012
Our ref. DAO-432/12
Contact:
Your ref. 2012Z18026
Subject: Answers to questions of Members of Parliament Voordewind (ChristenUnie),
Van der Staaij (SGP), Van Bommel (SP) and De Roon (PVV) to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs regarding the bloody suppression of Papuans in Indonesia.
Herewith I offer you the answers to the written questions posed by Members of Parliament Voordewind (ChristenUnie), Van der Staaij (SGP), Van Bommel (SP) en De Roon (PVV). These questions were sent on October 25th with characters 2012Z18026.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Frans Timmermans
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Answers of Frans Timmermans, Minister of Foreign Affairs to questions of Members of Parliament Voordewind (ChristenUnie), Van der Staaij (SGP), Van Bommel (SP) en De Roon (PVV) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the bloody suppression of Papuans in Indonesia (sent in on October 25th 2012)
Question
1
Have you taken notice of the bloody intervention of the Indonesian authorities
during a demonstration held by Papuans at which there were at least 4
casualties? 1)
Answer
On last October 23rd disturbances have taken place between demonstrators and
the police force in Manokwari in West Papua. According to the police and human
rights activists a number of people were injured.
Question
2
Do you agree with us that the bloody repression of Papaun demonstrations by the
Indonesian authorities is structural?
Answer
No. There are demonstrations on a regular basis at which security forces
refrain from intervention and peacefully keep order.
Question
3
Are you willing to condemn the repressions? Are you also willing to summon the
Indonesian ambassador? If not, why not?
Answer
The facts of the disturbances at the demonstration on October 23rd is still
subject to investigation by the authorities in charge.
Question
4
Are you willing to deploy initiatives in order to promote free press in West
Papua given the fact that free media is obstructed by Indonesian authorities?
If so, which initiatives?
Answer
There is freedom of press in Indonesia. Free admittance of foreign journalists
to the provinces of Papua and West Papua is limited, just as the way in which
journalists are able to operate in these two provinces. The Indonesian
authorities appeal to the security situation in these cases. The Netherlands
have pleaded for greater accessibility for foreign journalists both bilaterally
and during discussions with the EU.
Question
5
Do you agree with us that now it is the time to send independent observers to
the area? If not, why not?
Answer
No. The Netherlands will continue to seek attention for the human rights
situation in Papua and West Papua both in bilateral contacts and in the
EU-human rights dialogue.
1 ) See
West Papua Media, 23 October 2012,
http://www.westpapuamedia.info &
‘Papua rally in Jayapura broken up, say reports, Radio New Zealand
International,
23 October 2012, http://www.rnzi.com.