http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/01/25/in-eu-activists-tell-papua-abuses.html
Margareth S. Aritonang and Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, January 25 2014, 9:31 AM
In a move that will irk officials in Jakarta, a group of activists have spoken about the human rights situation in the West Papua and Papua provinces at the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights.
Three activists, two of whom are Indonesian, were guest speakers at the committee’s hearing from Wednesday to Thursday in Brussels, Belgium.
The activists are Zely Ariane from Jakarta-based National Papua Solidarity (Napas), Victor Mambor from the Jayapura chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and Norman Voss from German-based International Coalition for Papua (ICP).
Representing the Indonesian government was Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Arif Havas Oegroseno.
In the hearing, video footage of which can be viewed at europarl.europa.eu, the activists raised concerns about the unresolved human rights cases in Papua and the limited access of foreign journalists and NGOs to Indonesia’s easternmost region.
“There are still double standards in Papua and other parts of Indonesia when it comes to media freedom and the application of the Press Law,” Mambor told the hearing.
In his written statement to the forum, which was made available to The Jakarta Post, he said that AJI had documented 22 cases of threats and violence against journalists in Papua in 2013 alone.
Zely, meanwhile, told the hearing that “the Indonesian government should admit that the state of the human rights situation in Papua is serious”. She called on the EU to put pressure on the government to uphold their commitment to a dialogue with Papua.
Norman called for the release of all political prisoners in Papua and reminded the committee of the long outstanding visit of UN human rights mechanisms to Papua. “Papua needs to be opened up and international human rights norms be realized for Papuans. A peaceful and sustainable change cannot be expected in a climate of fear and repression of political dissent,” he said.
“We came [to the hearing] to explain our version of what is actually happening in Papua and ask for support from the EU Parliament to help uphold justice and peace in Papua,” Zely told the Post upon leaving for Brussels.
“We hope that our presentation will encourage the EU Parliament to endorse calls for the Indonesian government, as well as lawmakers, to actually protect and uphold the rights of Papuans, as well as to ideally implement a peaceful dialogue between Indonesia and Papua,” she added.
In a 16-page dossier submitted by the activists to the committee, activists also criticized the restricted access slapped on foreign diplomats who attempted to assess the situation in Papua, citing the recent closed visit of foreign ministers from Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member nations as an example.
“After the MSG — a regional body of Melanesian nations who support the human situation in Papua — decided to visit Papua to meet with civil society representatives, the Indonesian authorities only prepared a tour to industry and trade related projects. As a result of this access restriction, Vanuatu withdrew from the visit as it felt the ‘pre-arranged’ tour would not meet the purpose,” the dossier says.
This particular incident also highlights similar restricted practices implemented for other foreign agencies, including those that deal with humanitarian and development cooperation.
Arif, according to the recorded footage, rejected the activists’ claim that the situation had not changed in Papua. He emphasized that the government’s policy of decentralization and special autonomy for Papua had boosted development there.
Comments:
Jagera 5 days ago
There should be a story to tell about the comparatively better standard of living Melanesians in Papua and West Papua have in comparison to those in PNG and the Solomons. There can only be credibility to such a story if journalists are able to research and report on it freely.
purnomor 5 days ago
Indeed, PNG is a poverty-stricken country wracked with tribal warfare in its countryside while its urban areas are blighted by raskol gangbanger criminals who rape, rob, and murder at will. I know some Malaysian living in Port Moresby who said it is normal for his home to be robbed thrice a year. Other than relying on Australian aid money, PNG invites Indonesian fugitive businessmen to invest there to keep the country solvent.
Papua is an oasis of peace compared to PNG.
Jagera 5 days ago
purnomor, Having lived in PNG myself I am more than aware that independence doesn't necessarily improve life for people. Indonesia should be able to provide much better governance than that provided by PNG and the Solomons. But how do we know if respected journalists (as opposed to activists) are not freely allowed in.
purnomor 3 days ago
Journalists are free and has been freely entering Papua, as I said before.
Sabar P. 3 days ago
what you said before, purnomor, like what you say now, is mere disinformation. So, it's not relevant and you are not credible. You are nothing else than a lackey of the indon fascist regime and your job here is apparently to deny that crimes against humanity are committed regularly by the indon gov. in West Papua.
purnomor 3 days ago
LOL, it is clear it is you who is not relevant and has zero credibility. I guess you are sore since I've exposed and debunked the silly lie on 'ban of journalists in Papua'. SabarP, you've been exposed again for what you are, a liar.
Jagera 3 days ago
purnomor, chanting slogans as you do proves nothing. You are one large credibility gap.
purnomor 2 days ago
Nah, that is just what liars say after having their lie on 'ban on journalists in Papua' exposed and debunked. These Papuan separatist sympathisers are really inept and incompetent liars.
Turius Wenda 6 days ago
EU committee hears West Papuan testimonies
West Papua has been described as a place marked by fear, violence, and isolation, during a hearing with an EU parliament committee.
Indonesia's West Papua region has been described as a place marked by fear, violence and isolation, during a hearing with a European Union parliament committee.
West Papuan campaigners gave testimony at the Human Rights subcommittee in Brussels last Friday into the situation in the region.
They asked the committee to press the Indonesian government to allow for greater media freedom and an open dialogue with Papua.
Bridget Tunnicliffe reports:
Zely Ariane from the National Papua Solidarity in Jakarta, spoke on behalf of Indonesian Civil Society living outside Papua, who are disappointed with the Indonesian government's attitude to Papua. She says after 15 years of Indonesian reform there is no fundamental change of approach by the government to deal with Papuan issues.
"It is therefore important to continue encouraging the central government to honour its commitments and to show a visible progress in resolving the conflict peacefully in light of the upcoming national election. An end to human rights violations are the pre-condition to a peaceful and sustainable end of the conflict in Papua that continue to cause the suffering of the civilians."
But the Indonesian government's representative Arif Havas Oegroseno disputed the claim that Papuans haven't seen any progress.
"To say that nothing changes since the last 15 years in rather mis-leading we the government believe that the dialogue since 1999 have established Papuan policy that move away from a security approach to a prosperity approach facilitated Papuans to manage their own affairs through wide-ranging autonomy."
Norman Voss from Human Rights and Peace for Papua told the committee there is an underlying current of fear in West Papua, perpetuated by the military presence. He also told the hearing there is a high level of social disparity and Indonesia is pilfering Papua's natural resources.
"The exploitation of natural resources usually without the free prior and informed consent of local communities and the ongoing influx of non-Papuan settlers result in a marginalisation of indigenous Papuans who now make up less than 50 percent of the population."
Victor Mambor from the Alliance of Independent Journalists listed cases of attacks against journalists in Papua and called on the EU to ensure protection of media freedom in Papua.
"Intimidation and violence by the police against journalists are increasing every year. It is limiting press freedom therefore I call on this parliament to urge the Indonesian government to allow free access for foreign journalists as this would also protect the work of local journalists."
The Indonesian Ambassador to the EU, Mr Oegroseno, admits that poverty remains high but says the trend is reversing. He told the committee that a recent World Bank report found about 25 percent of the population is living in poverty, compared to 54 percent in 1999. Norman Voss says before any real change can happen Indonesia must follow through on promises to hold open discussion with Papua.
"We call on the EU to support president Yudhoyono's pledges to hold a dialogue with Papua. Churches and other peace activists have been calling for years for a peaceful dialogue under neutral mediation between hard-liners on both sides. Jakarta shows reluctance while violations continue and conflict tensions are escalating."
Turius Wenda 6 days ago
Obstruction of access of journalists in West Papua, Papua became marked that the most secret areas for crimes against humanity, if properly construct Papua Indonesia, should open up so that the journalists can publish the results of development in Papua, Papuan government to lie to claim both, but very bad human rights situation and slaughter occurred outstanding.
One example, the MSG mission to review the human rights situation in Papua has in turn and covered by the government, whereas MSG agenda should meet Papuan activists, NGO organizations, church leaders, civic organizations and students, but the mission was a complete failure because the government does not give access to MSG met with civil society.
bigredman 9 days ago
You all like to claim that you are a fully formed modern democracy and everyone should respect you for it but things like this are why you remain in the eyes of the world a semi dictatorship. You can not call yourself a modern democracy while simultaneously preventing journalists access to a large section of the nation where there are huge claims of human right abuses occurring. This would be like the UK preventing journalists from joining to Northern Ireland during the troubles or if Australia was to ban all press from the Northern Territory.
If you want to be able to call yourself a modern democracy, it's time to act like one, let the world see what is happening in Papua.
FMN 6 days ago
People (yourself especially) need to manage their expectation correctly.
Indonesia is a budding democracy only for 10+ years, after years of dictatorship. You can't compare orange-to-orange with UK with history of 300+ years as world's leading democracy.
Again, you see the gap between 10+ years and 300+ years?
Please don't kid yourself with the assessment, yes there are many rooms for improvements, and you can help making tangible progress out there after you're done commenting here.
bigredman 6 days ago
Well how do you explain the differences between other recent democracies? The Soviet Union fell around 1990 and with that all the puppet dictators in Eastern Europe fell. Yet, in the early 2000's there were no human right's violations of the scale of Papua happening in Poland, in Romania when they had only been free nations for 10 years. In Chile, the dictatorship (established by US agents) fell in 1990 and yet again, no abuses like in Papua after it fell.
Your right, Indonesia is making improvements, but you are not yet a democracy in my opinion, at best I would say Indonesia is ranking about the same as Russia, moderately fine if you are the main ethnic and religious (or in the case of Russia political), but otherwise you face major, even life threatening human rights abuses.
As far as me helping out Indonesia on the paths to a proper democracy, I would love to help, but I believe that the kind of change needed to truly propel Indonesia towards democracy needs to come from within. The fire of revolution needs to ignite once again in Indonesia and people need to take to the streets in protest to demand that the government accepts human rights for all. This is the same ideas that made thousands of people flock to Tiananmen square, made 22% of the French population go on strike in 1968, the ideas that have throughout history made the people rise up and demand that the powerful accept that all men has rights, and those rights must be obeyed. Once the fire starts, I will give my all to help, but untill it does, there is very little that I can do that will actually make a difference.
purnomor 6 days ago
That's just your opinion. President Obama says we are robust democracy. I think his words are more credible than yours anytime.
bigredman 6 days ago
You mean the man that is floating around Asia trying to make allies to surround China flattered you? This must mean that there is nothing wrong at all in Indonesia, it is surely a true heaven on Earth. Remember that when he asks you to go to the front lines.
Obama has spent his entire presidency ordering the NSA to spy on every man woman and child, ordering the deaths of thousands of people via unchecked, unchallenged drone strikes with no regard to national sovereignty and has allowed the corruption that is taking over US elections to continue to set in. He is not really anyone to talk about democracy.
The One Farmer 5 days ago
P Obama words credible? He has a flair for words and a certain charisma, but I doubt you can call him credible.. He was voted as saying the "Biggest Lie of 2013", something about promising Americans they could keep their existing health plans and designated doctors all throughout the promotion of Obamacare, and look how happy Americans are with him now.
purnomor 5 days ago
LOL, so you claim to be more credible than Obama? I wonder why you are not yet elected president of USA. You've got to be kidding if you expect to be treated seriously.
FMN 5 days ago
Haha good one Bro
Sabar P. 3 days ago
purnomor, it looks that you have been mistakenly identifying Obama''s anus as his mouth and have felt in agreement with the shit that was expelled down the toilet at that moment
purnomor 3 days ago
LOL, so in your opinion, Obama and the entire world is 'shit' in admiring Indonesia's democratic prowess and national unity. Your opinion is the only thing that is not 'shit'. LOL, you are really full of 'shit', Sabar P.
tomganesha 5 days ago
listen fmn, you got it all wrong. you were never the world's leading democracy, not one single day in the last 3000 years. the british imperialism destroyed more countries and cultures than anything else. lucky we are, that you stupid brits have nothing to say anymore in world politics, hopefully for ever. just stay on your tiny overpopulated island and solve your problems in northern ireland. indonesia is already the most democratic country in south east asia with almost unlimited press freedom. sure this process is still 16 years young and there is certainly a lot of room for improvements. but indonesia is making progress, slowly but surely. and the uk is going downhill, socially and economically, slowly but surely.
FMN 5 days ago
tomganesha, Since when I am British and speak for their behalf, can you read & understand my post?
purnomor 6 days ago
There is no 'ban on journalists' to Papua. That's just plain lie. In fact, there are hundreds of foreign (mostly Western) Christian missionaries living in Papua. There's simply nothing extraordinary happening there.
bigredman 6 days ago
One, a missionary is not a journalists. They are there to spurke their god and stay in the approved zones that the government sets. Surely you must realise the difference between someone that is only interested in converting people to their religion and people that are only interested in ensuring that the truth of the events gets out.
I suppose in the most literal sense of the word, there is no 'ban on journalists', they just require a special permit in which they need to disclose their entire list of place they intended to go to, people the intended to interview and when and where these meetings wi happen. They also require a police escort. That is not freedom of the press. I can go to North Korea and take a tour, but I would be under the same requirements.
Open up Papua for the BBC, for the ABC, for Al Jazeera to the major investigative news agencies for a full investigation of Papua. Until this happens, you fail this part of the test to being a democracy.
purnomor 5 days ago
LOL, there are already journalists from BBC, ABC, Al Jazeera who visited Papua but found nothing interesting there. I guess you fail to defend your lie regarding the fictional 'ban of journalists'.
Eddy Saf 9 days ago
Please Indonesia, allow journalists from all over the world into all the areas of Papua so that they can see for themselves what it is like there and relay that to all the world.
purnomor 6 days ago
There is no 'ban on journalists' in Papua. That's just plain lie. In fact, there are hundreds of foreign Christian missionaries living in Papua. There's simply nothing happening there worthy to print.
Sabar P. 5 days ago
Always the same systematic response by purnomor. You d it so automatically, that it is obvious you are not even excited by the task that has been assigned to you (either by the Indon gov., or by the military, or by someone or some group linked to them). That is, to defuse critiques from readers regarding Indonesia's policy of repression in West Papua. You use disinformation, lies, or simply slip subject, as Bigredman has shown.
Change job, purnomor you may see the world with more optimistic eyes.
purnomor 5 days ago
LOL, I am merely exposing lies which is a noble job. You are perpetuating lies which are easily exposed, which is not quite smart to say the least.
Sabar P. 5 days ago
Your rubbish makes me yawn, purnomor. Your responses are stereotyped, they are too predictible.
BatmenBinSupermen 4 days ago
Even if thats true, you would called Indonesian as fascist base on comments that express disagreement with yours, wouldnt you?
purnomor 3 days ago
You really should stop trying to make lies, SP. You're just not good at it.
Jagera 5 days ago
purnomor, are you a computer generated response?