Update ICP News: 59 killed during Anti-Racism-Riots | EJKs in Intan Jaya | Paniai Case submitted to Attorney General | Update on Anti-Racism trials

News on West Papua's human rights and conflict situation

• Updated data: Unrest throughout August and September results in 59 fatalities
• Joint security forces kill indigenous community leader during raid in Intan Jaya
• Wamena after the September Riots - Freedom of assembly still subjected to limitations
• Komnas HAM categorises Paniai incident as serious human rights violation - case submitted to Attorney General
• Update on trials and detentions after Anti-Racism Riots in West Papua
• Update on Killing of Govt Contractors in Nduga Regency - Trial against defendant launched in Jakarta
• Freedom of speech in West Papua under threat - Police presses charges against student for Facebook post on Sugapa shooting
• One indigenous civilian killed and two injured in Sugapa - 15 villages in Intan Jaya reportedly affected by internal displacement

The unrest due to Papua-wide anti-racism riots between late August and late September marks one of the most significant events throughout 2019. The ICP has compiled a list of victims who died during the series of violent incidents. Outbreaks of ethnic violence between Papuans and non-Papuans as well as violent security force crackdowns on demonstrations resulted in a total number of 59 civilian fatalities within a period of less than one month. The ICP demands Indonesian authorities to conduct independent, impartial and effective investigations into all cases.

A military operation has been ongoing in the regency of Intan Jaya since late December 2019. Human rights defenders reported that a recent raid in the Yoparu Village of Sugapa District resulted in the deaths of indigenous leader, Kayus Sani, and an eleven-year-old primary school student named Melki Tipagau (see image). Melki Tipagau’s mother, Malopina Sani (31 years), and another minor named Martina Sani (12 years) sustained bullet injuries during the incident. The bodies of Melki Tipagau and Kayus Sani were buried on 19 February 2020 in the village of Bulapa, Sugapa District.

Almost five months have passed since unrest in the highland town of Wamena on 23 September 2019 claimed the lives of 41 victims. Meanwhile, the situation in Wamena has calmed down, but the local police still put heavy limitations on the freedom of assembly under the pretext of re-establishing law and order in Wamena. The Chief of the Jayawijaya District Police, Dominggus Rumaropen, stated that he will not allow any public protest to take place as demonstrations could threaten the security situation after the riots in September 2019. According to Rumaropen, the demonstration could be used for voicing the interests of third parties. While a Government may temporarily limit particular human rights and fundamental freedoms, such limitations must be of an exceptional and temporary nature and can only be imposed during an officially proclaimed emergency situation.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has officially categorized the infamous ‘Paniai Case’ of December 2014 as serious human rights violation. During a plenary session on 3 February 2020, Komnas HAM discussed the findings of five years of investigation and concluded that the case meets the criteria of a systematic, widespread attack against the civilian population during the incident. According to Komnas HAM Chairperson, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, Komnas HAM submitted the results of the investigation to the Attorney General on 11 February 2020. For five years, an ad-hoc investigation team under the lead of Choirul Anam interviewed 26 witnesses and examined the site of crime in the town of Enarotali, Paniai Regency. The investigation team concluded that members of the XVII/ Cenderawasih military command and sub-commands in Enarotali were responsible for the killing of four young men.

The third and fourth update articles provide an overview on trials and the situation of detainees related to Papua-wide anti-racism protests between late August and late September 2019 as well as the subsequent wave of criminalisation against human rights defenders and political activists. The International Coalition for Papua summarised significant findings in various stages of the legal proceedings between mid-December 2019 and early February 2020. Meanwhile, some trials already resulted in the first verdicts against perpetrators of hate speech as well as several protesters and political activists.

Update on Killing of Govt Contractors in Nduga Regency - Trial against defendant launched in Jakarta

Human Rights and Peace for Papua is an international coalition of faith-based and civil society organisations (the Coalition) addressing the serious human rights condition in West Papua and supporting a peaceful solution to the conflict there. West Papua (Papua) refers to the western half of the New Guinea island in the Pacific and comprises the eastern most provinces of Indonesia. Indigenous Papuans are suffering from a long and ongoing history of human rights violations and security forces subject them to violence including killings, torture and arbitrary arrests. Impunity prevails. A lack of adequate access to health care and education as well as demographical and economical marginalisation and discrimination mark the living condition for Papuans. A heavy presence of Indonesian security forces, lack of access for international observers such as journalists, corruption and transmigration from other parts of Indonesia aggravate the situation. Political prisoners and the persecution of political activists shows the extent of repression with which freedom of expression and indigenous peoples’ rights are being violated. Papua’s wealth in natural resources attracts businesses and security forces resulting in exploitation through mining, logging, harmful agricultural projects, and environmental degradation. This dynamic challenges traditional indigenous culture while Papuans demand their right to self-determination.
visit our website at www.humanrightspapua.org