ICP News: Final veredict for 'Kalimantan 7' | Yones Douw and Theo Hesegem on #PapuanLivesMatter | Attacks against human rights defenders

The trial against the seven political detainees Fery Gombo, Alexander Gobay, Hengki Hilapok, Buchtar Tabuni, Irwanus Uropmabin, Stevanus Itlay and Agus Kossay reached a final verdict. On 17 June 2020, judges at the Balikpapan District Court sentenced Buchtar Tabuni, Agus Kossay and Stevanus Itlay to 11 months imprisonment. Ferry Gombo, Alexander Gobay, Hengky Hilapok and Irwanus Uropmabin were sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. Papuan human rights lawyer, Gustaf Kawer, thanked all stakeholders for the support throughout the trial. The seven activists have one week to appeal against the verdict – Kawer stated that his clients are still considering this option. Many stakeholders in and outside of West Papua have been expectantly waiting for this verdict after the public prosecutor sought particular long sentences for the defendants.

On 25 May 2020, police officers killed Justinus Dimara in Jayapura as they dispersed a group of Papuans who had violated contact restrictions and distance requirements, which the local government imposed for the prevention of COVID-19. Now, the enforcement of Corona prevention policies has resulted in a further case of security force violence against indigenous Papuans in the regency of Paniai. The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) reported that joint security force members ill-treated 29-year old Sarah Yeimo and subsequently tortured Yosia Magai (24 years) and Yupen Magai (28 years) at a roadblock near the Uwibutu Hospital on 10 June 2020. All three victims sustained injuries and had to be hospitalised. The control post with a roadblock (see image below on the right) had been set up by the local government to prevent people that live outside of Paniai to enter the regency.

On 15 June 2020, police officers arbitrarily arrested four students at the Jayapura University for Science and Technology (USTJ) during a peaceful open stage event in support of the seven political detainees in Balikpapan. One of the detainees, Alexander Gobay, is the incumbent USTJ student president – he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment on 17 June 2020. The USTJ students had already set up a racism-protest post and the open stage on 13 June 2020 to make peaceful orations and express their aspirations for the release of the Kalimantan 7.

The Papuan Provincial Parliament (DPRP) and the Papuan Peoples Council (MRP) have raised concerns regarding the demanded sentences against seven political activists during a trial on 5 June 2020. They have been charged with treason and other vague legal provisions for their involvement in Anti-racism Protests in West Papua throughout August and September 2019. Both government institutions, as well as Papuan Catholic priests and other religious leaders of the interfaith network in West Papua, published statements. They wrote letters to President Jokowi asking him to stand up for the seven defendants. Politicians and religious leaders fear riots and outbreaks of violence in West Papua if the seven activists are sentenced to long prison terms.

Human rights defenders advocating for human rights in West Papua have recently been victims of attacks and harassment. A physical attack against human rights defender Yuliana Yabansabra occurred on 8 June 2020 in the Papuan regional capital of Jayapura. She is part of a team of lawyers providing legal support to the seven political detainees, who are currently being tried under treason charges at the District Court in Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur province. Three days before the attack, Yulaina Yabansabra spoke out about the human rights situation in West Papua during a public Zoom conference organised by Amnesty International Indonesia.

Since the integration of West Papua into Indonesia, the country has considered indigenous Papuans, particularly those demanding justice, law enforcement and respect for human rights, as second-class citizens. The Indonesian government seems to support the idea that indigenous Papuans are Indonesian citizens who do not have the right to live, although they must have the same rights as other Indonesians. However, there are still government representatives and Indonesian citizens who see Papuans as people with dark skin and curly hair who are not worthy of being part of the Indonesian nation. Indigenous Papuans continue to be labelled as monkeys and the Papuan victims of human rights violations are considered trash. Until today, the victims and their families in West Papua keep waiting for justice in the law enforcement system.

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Statement by Papua's religious leaders on the trial against 7 Papuan defendants at the Balikpapan District Court
The network of Interfaith leaders in Papua released a statement regarding Racism and the trial of Papuans in Balikpapan. In the court trials, various legal decisions do not favour justice and truth. The legal facts that were proven in court were not respected and the judge's decision favoured the policies of the government and those who had capital power. Cases of hate speech and racist acts against Papuan students occurred outside Papua, but in fact, the perpetrators of racists statements were punished very low while those who refuse racist treatment are punished severely. People fear that this will lead to greater turmoil in the community.

Papuan human rights defender, Yones Douw, has closely followed the riots in the United States of America in response to the tragic killing of George Floyd by police officers. “As a human rights activist, I see no difference between black Americans and black indigenous Papuans given the colour. The violations by security force officers which black Americans and indigenous Papuans have to face are the same. The discrimination which indigenous Papuans experienced is even crueller. In West Papua, the root cause of the problem is closely linked to opposing views on the historical integration of West Papua into Indonesia. As Papuans, we have to underline that the conflict in West Papua is not a matter of development disparities or economic issues.”