Seventh comprehensive report on West Papua's human rights situation published today
(8.12.2021) The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) and the Westpapua-Netzwerk (WPN) are publishing this joint report after extensive documentation and research work in close collaboration with local groups in West Papua and in Jakarta. Twenty-two stakeholders - consisting of local, national and international NGOs, faith-based organisations and international experts - have contributed to the publication, making it a comprehensive and accurate compilation of events throughout 2019 and 2020.
The executive summary of the 137-page report explains how the human rights situation in West Papua has significantly deteriorated over the last two years. This was caused by the aggravation of the armed conflict, an increasing number of extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, and the internal displacement of thousands of indigenous Papuans in the central highlands. At the same time, ‘the Uprising’ led to a wave of legal prosecutions against protesters and the persecution of political activists and human rights defenders using vague criminal provisions such as treason and criminal conspiracy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic in West Papua served as a justification for the government to add further restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly, the freedom of movement, and freedom of expression in the province.
READ MORE
To order a hard copy of the report contact the ICP Secretariat at: Dit e-mailadres wordt beveiligd tegen spambots. JavaScript dient ingeschakeld te zijn om het te bekijken.
About the ICP
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.
