- 1st December Commemorations in West Papua, Indonesia and other parts of the world
- UN OHCHR calls for a platform for inclusive dialogue with Papuan people
- Petition for the rejection of more special autonomy funds signed by 520,261 supporters
- Members of Papuan Peoples' Assembly face intimidation and arrest during preparation of hearings about Papuan Special Autonomy
- Papuan human rights defender threatened and stigmatised as separatist
- Lethal shooting in Puncak Regency –Three more dead bodies discovered
- Security force members allegedly shoot dead high school student in Puncak - second student injured by bullets
- Eleven residents reportedly tortured and one Papuan woman killed after raid in Dormitory in Sentani
- TAPOL speakers' plea: Stop funding military repression in Papua
- Papuan musician reportedly tortured for singing pro-independence songs
- Illegal logging in the Tambrauw Regency – NGOs demand Govt to take action against PT. Multi Wijaya Wahana
- Military police investigate alleged burning of Government facilities in Intan Jaya
- Treason trial against three Papuans from Maybrat in Sorong District Court
- Korindo accused of illegally burning Papuan rainforest
- "Papuan Lives Matter" - ELSAM launches new documentary about 2019 anti-racism protests
1st December Commemorations in West Papua, Indonesia and other parts of the world
UN OHCHR calls for a platform for inclusive dialogue with Papuan people
On 30 November 2020, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the UN has issued a statement (text and video) about the ongoing violations relating to protests against the prolongation of the autonomy law, recent killings of church workers, in particular, that of Rev. Zanambani and the ongoing political conflict in West Papua. In the statement the OHCHR also calls for a "platform for meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua, to address longstanding economic, social and political grievances". That statement comes one day ahead of 1. December, a day of political meaning for indigenous Papuans. OHCHR is now urging "the Government of Indonesia to uphold people's rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in line with its international obligations, particularly ahead of 1 December, when there are often protests, tensions and arrests." Read more
Members of Papuan Peoples' Assembly face intimidation and arrest during preparation of hearings about Papuan Special Autonomy
As the funding period is coming to an end, the Papuan Peoples’ Assembly (MRP) has launched a series of consultation hearings (Bhs Indonesia: Rapat Dengar Pendapat or RDP which can be translated as “meetings to listen to opinions”) to determine the aspirations of the Papuan people regarding a possible prolongation of Special Autonomy funding for the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Article 77 of the law No. 21/2001 provides the legal foundation for “any proposals regarding the amendment of the Law” and mandates the MRP to hold RDP hearings across West Papua. The meetings were supposed to take place in all five customary areas of West Papua between 17 and 18 November 2020. They were finally cancelled because MRP members faced intimidation and obstruction by civil groups in multiple cities.
The armed conflict in West Papua’s central highlands continues to deteriorate, costing the lives of innocent civilians. The latest extra-judicial killing was reported from the Papuan regency of Puncak. According to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) and the Papuan Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua), the two students were on their way from the town of Ilaga to their home village in the district of Agundugume on 20 November 2020. When the minors reached the Limbaga Mountain in the Gome District, they were intercepted by a group of fully armed security force members who reportedly tried to execute both minors. Seventeen-year-old Manus Murib sustained three bullet injuries as he escaped the execution while his friend, Atanius Murib, also 17, was killed on the spot.
Campaigners at a TAPOL-hosted global webinar have called on the people of Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and other countries to stop funding military training for Indonesian security forces who are “killing innocent West Papuans”. Rosa Moiwend, a member of the War Resisters International, said West Papuans wanted to live peacefully without any oppression by the military – this was the hope of the indigenous Melanesian people. “If your government is actually behind this scenario, I think the main thing you have to do is to go and talk to your government, Parliament members and question them about your tax money,” she said. This article has originally been published by Asia Pacific Report on 25 November 2020.
Read morePapuan musician reportedly tortured for singing pro-independence songs
The Papuan musician, Kris Douw, was allegedly tortured by military members at the Kodim Military Complex in the Papuan town of Nabire on 21 November 2020. The posts contain a short narrative and photographs of Kris Douw’s injuries. He sustained multiple bruises in his face and body, including several broken teeth. According to information received, military special force members beat up Kris Douw for writing and publishing a song and a video which promote Papuan political independence and the armed struggle by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB).
On 15 September 2020, the panel of judges launched another political trial in the Sorong District Court. The Papuan defendants: Marten Muuk, Simon Sasior and Yakobus Assem have been charged with three indictments, among them the Articles 110 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) on criminal conspiracy and Article 106 KUHP on treason, the latter carrying a maximum penalty of live imprisonment. The three Papuans were arrested during a police raid in the regency of Maybrat, Papua Barat Province. The arrest occurred on 23 April 2020 in the Tigihmana Village of the Aifat District.
"Papuan Lives Matter" - ELSAM launches new documentary about 2019 anti-racism protests
The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), a Jakarta-based human rights NGO, has launched a documentary with the title “Papuan Lives Matter” on 15 November 2020. The documentary was produced in cooperation with Nalar TV, and it describes the background as well as the aftermaths of the Papua-wide protests against racial discrimination of indigenous Papuans. The demonstrations and the subsequent criminalisation campaign against protesters, human rights defenders and political activists must be regarded as one of the most significant events in Indonesia throughout 2019.