AWPA has written an open letter to the PIF
leaders asking that they discuss the human rights situation
in West Papua at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum in
Majuro.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, we would like the Forum Leaders to follow the example of the MSG leaders who at their summit in Noumea, raised concerns about the human rights abuses in West Papua in their official communiqué. They also recognised the right of the West Papuan people to self-determination.
We note that in recent years the PIF
has dropped concern about the human rights situation in West
Papua from its agenda and West Papua has not been mentioned
in the official PIF Communiqué as it has in the past. Time
to put it back on.
Joe Collins
OPEN letter to Pacific Islands Forum Leaders
29 August
2013
Dear Pacific Islands Forum leaders,
I am writing
to you concerning the issue of West Papua. We understand
that you are well aware of all the issues of concern in West
Papua and will not go into great detail about all the human
rights abuses that were committed by the Indonesian security
forces since the last Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in
the Cook Islands.
However, since the last PIF meeting, the
situation in West Papua has deteriorated further. AWPA uses
the name “West Papua” to refer to the whole of the
western half of the Island of New Guinea. However, “West
Papua” at this time is divided into two provinces, Papua
and West Papua.
On the 1 May 2013, Papuans commemorated
the 50th anniversary of the administrative transfer of Papua
to Indonesia. Peaceful demonstrations went ahead despite a
ban issued by Indonesian authorities in contravention of the
right to free expression and assembly. Police opened fire on
demonstrators killing three, seriously injuring others and
arresting leaders. When civil society groups gathered on 13
May to peacefully demand accountability, more arrests were
made. At least 30 demonstrators were arbitrarily arrested in
Timika, Sorong, Biak, Abepura and Jayapura. As recently as
10 June a rally called by civil society organisations was
banned and a number of those taking part arrested.
In
relation to the crackdown on the 1 May, the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay raised her
concerns stating,
“These latest incidents are
unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom
of expression and excessive use of force in Papua,” and
“I urge the Government of Indonesia to allow peaceful
protest and hold accountable those involved in
abuses.
Amnesty International in its annual report for
2013 also stated in relation to West Papua that
“Indonesian security forces, including police and military
personnel, were accused of human rights violations in Papua.
Torture and other ill-treatment, excessive use of force and
firearms and possible unlawful killings were reported. In
most cases, the perpetrators were not brought to justice and
victims did not receive reparations”.
The U.S.
Department of State's Annual Country Reports on Human Rights
for 2012 on Indonesian stated
The suppression or
abridgement of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities
was a problem. The government applied treason and blasphemy
laws to limit freedom of expression by peaceful independence
advocates in the provinces of Papua, West Papua, and Maluku
and by religious minority groups. Official corruption,
including within the judiciary, was a major problem.
All
governments want stability in our region however AWPA
believes that the actions of the security forces in West
Papua could lead to the very instability that governments
want to avoid.
We note that at the MSG Summit in Noumea,
the MSG raised concerns about the human rights abuses in
West Papua in their official communiqué. They also
recognized the right of the West Papuan people to
self-determination.
We note that in recent years the PIF has dropped concern about the human rights situation in West Papua from its agenda and West Papua has not been mentioned in the official PIF Communiqué as it has in the past.
However, In light of the ongoing human rights abuses
in West Papua, AWPA urges the PIF Leaders;
- To discuss
the human rights situation in West Papua at the 44th Pacific
Islands Forum in Majuro, The Republic of the Marshall
Islands and to acknowledge these concerns in the official
communiqué.
- To request permission from the Indonesian
Government to allow a PIF fact finding mission to West Papua
to investigate the human rights situation in the
territory.
- To grant observer status to genuine
representatives of the Melanesian people of West Papua who
are struggling for their right to self-determination. We
believe that the time is now right to bring representatives
of the Melanesian people of West Papua back into the Pacific
community.
The West Papuan people have been calling for
dialogue with Jakarta for years and AWPA believes the PIF
can play an important role in helping facilitate such a
dialogue between genuine representatives of the West Papuan
leadership and the Indonesian Government. The PIF should
place pressure on Jakarta to resolve West Papuans’ issues
of concern. Otherwise we will see increasing conflict in
West Papua which in turn could affect the region.
Yours
sincerely
Joe Collins
Secretary
Secretary
AWPA
(Sydney)
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