Excessive force against peaceful protests, incidents of public disorder and during attempts to arrest criminal suspects was used in 41 out of the 69 cases included in the report.
On several occasions, unlawful killings followed incidents affecting individual members of the security forces.
All of the cases documented by Amnesty International involved either or both the police and the military, with one case involving the municipal police (Satpol PP). Most of the victims were ethnic Papuans.
"What's most worrying is that not one of the perpetrators, not a single one, has been taken to a civilian court," Usman said.
According to the report, some cases have been settled through the police or military internal disciplinary mechanisms, while other were resolved in accordance with the customary law.
There are currently two ongoing investigations, including a shooting incident in Paniai, Papua, which took place in 2014 and resulted in four fatalities.
In 25 cases, there has been no investigation at all.
"Investigations are rare, and it is even rarer that anyone is held accountable for killings. Security personnel are generally subject to disciplinary sanctions at the very most, leaving victims' families without access to justice and reparation," the report said.
Curbing Independence Movement
The government continues to use the antiseparatist argument to validate the use of excessive force in Papua, but Amnesty's report detailed the extent to which most of the recorded extrajudicial killings did not take place in a political environment.
For example, in 2011, police opened fire against a crowd of protesters in Timika, Papua, who were demanding higher wages from Freeport Indonesia. Petrus Ayamiseba and Leo Wandagau were killed in the incident.
While the police claimed they only used rubber bullets, a report by Indonesia's human rights commission, Komnas HAM, revealed that Petrus was killed by live ammunition.
"They weren't fighting for independence, they were demanding proper wages, and there has been no accountability to this day," Usman said.
Reports of abuse, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions in Papua have prompted criticism by international human rights groups and activists, including the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein.
Al-Hussein said he and his team were invited by the government to send a mission to the region for further investigation, but the trip has yet to happen.
Impunity Prevails
The issue of impunity among perpetrators of past human rights abuses in Indonesia has long been a concern for many rights groups and activists. Top officials and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo have many times promised to address it.
Also the 2014 Paniai shooting made Jokowi pledge to bring those responsible to justice.
"The case of Paniai, the case in which President Widodo made a promise in 2014, is a test for his administration, whether he is successful in delivering his promise to Papua or not. It's a test in which his administration has failed," Usman said.
The Papua report, which took two years to compile, is part of Amnesty's work to monitor efforts to combat impunity for security forces in Indonesia.
The international organization asserted that there is a direct and causal link between impunity and human rights violations.
"Each failure to investigate or bring those responsible to trial reinforces the confidence of perpetrators that they are indeed above the law," the report said.
Sylvana Apituley, an expert on politics, legal, defense, security and human rights at the Presidential Office, said the government remains committed to addressing human rights abuses in Papua.
The government is currently focusing on the cases of Wamena, Wasior and Paniai, based on a recommendation made by an investigative team coordinated by Chief Security Minister Wiranto, she said.
"Resolving human rights abuses is something we are working on, and there is progress – it's slow but sure," Sylvana said.
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5) Unlawful killings still reality in Papua
Usman Hamid
Director of Amnesty International Indonesia
Jakarta | Mon, July 2, 2018| 09:23 am
The tactics used by the country’s security forces may have changed since the fall of military rule in 1998, but in Papua — Indonesia’s easternmost, restive region — deadly violence from the use of excessive force by police and military personnel remains a constant threat.
A new Amnesty International report released Monday, titled “’Don’t bother, just let him die’: Killing with impunity in Papua”, details how unlawful killings remain high.
At the same time, we have documented how security forces are applying the same lethal tactics they have used for years against armed groups in non-political contexts, and there has been no accountability for the deaths.
During the Soeharto era, the concept of human rights was virtually unrecognized in Papua. The integration of Papua in 1969 from Dutch rule under United Nations supervision was not accepted by all, and prompted some Papuans to take up arms to demand independence.
The Soeharto government responded brutally by launching a decades-long military campaign to contain the armed pro-independence groups that resulted in an enormous number of deaths, many of them unlawful. Disproportionate attacks on armed groups also claimed the lives of many civilians. However, there was no accountability for the extrajudicial killings. This fallout left the region’s people reluctant to publicly express any desire for independence.
After 32 years in power, the fall of Soeharto in 1998 paved the way for greater respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
While armed groups continue to operate in the region, many Papuans, including church representatives, students and indigenous people, have voiced their political views peacefully to avoid further violence. This has led to the birth of several peaceful political movements in Papua in the years since 1998.
However, despite the increased respect for human rights, post-Soeharto governments have shown an uncompromising stance towards independence movements, even for those in Papua advocating independence through peaceful means.
As part of their commitment to reform, post-Soeharto governments separated the police from the military. Consequently, the police have been tasked with maintaining internal security while the military is to focus solely on defense. However, both security forces are present and active in Papua today.
The killings of armed group members still take place on a relatively small scale in Papua, but in the post-Soeharto era, unlawful killings mainly target peaceful political activists. The authorities say they fear such peaceful activism could lead to greater calls for independence and, eventually, national disintegration.
What is alarming is that police officers and soldiers apply the same ruthless and deadly tactics in Papua that they have used against armed groups for years, but to public events that are unrelated to independence. As a result, members of the public voicing non-political grievances have also become victims of unlawful killings.
Amnesty International’s latest report shows that the majority of victims of unlawful killings in Papua from January 2010 to February 2018 were peaceful protesters in cases unrelated to pro-independence protests. The perpetrators have been both police officers and soldiers, and none of them have been subject to criminal investigation by an independent institution. Ninety-five total deaths have been recorded, or about one person every month since 2010.
Security forces unlawfully killed 95 people, of which 56 were unrelated to independence. This includes incidents in which security forces dealt with peaceful social protests and public disorder, attempts to arrest criminal suspects and sometimes, individual misconduct of security personnel. Meanwhile, 39 have died from the unlawful use of force in cases related to pro-independence issues.
The fact that most victims of these unlawful killings are ethnic Papuans — 85 out of the total 95 — possibly underlines the years-long resentment the local people hold toward security forces for associating any civilian protesters with the Free Papua Movement (OPM) separatist group and applying repressive — including lethal — measures when dealing with them.
On a visit to Papua in December 2017, a group of local journalists of Papuan ethnicity told Amnesty International that they frequently suffered discriminative and repressive treatment from security forces.
Amnesty International’s report reveals that the police have been behind most of the unlawful killings that took place over the last eight years in Papua. The police have killed a total of 39 people, while soldiers have killed 27. In other incidents, the police and military together killed 28 people.
This is a serious stain on Indonesia’s human rights record. Now is the time to change course: The unlawful killings in Papua must end, and those responsible for past killings must be held accountable before an independent, civilian court.
The deadly tactics used by security forces remain unchanged, but the victims of unlawful killings in Papua are increasingly peaceful political activists and non-political protesters. Our report reveals that the use of unnecessary or excessive force, including firearms, in policing non-political public assemblies and public disorder in Papua has resulted in deaths, which has not happened elsewhere in the country. Security forces must review their training, equipment, regulations and tactics in policing public assemblies in Papua.
After the December 2014 shooting by security forces that killed four Papuan students during a peaceful protest in Paniai, newly installed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo promised to prioritize human rights in the region and to turn Papua into a “land of peace”.
However, three years later, there still has been no justice for the victims and families of the Paniai incident. The investigation into the Paniai shooting remains in legal limbo, like many other human rights cases in the region.
The report records that unlawful killings in Papua have resulted in a total 39 deaths during the Jokowi administration, a record that does not inspire confidence. All suspected cases of unlawful killings, whether they took place before or after President Jokowi assumed office, must be investigated thoroughly and efficiently by an independent body.
The current administration must not close its eyes to the unlawful killings that are still taking place in Papua, even as the government is stepping up economic development in the region. Sustainable development is welcome, but it is not enough on its own — there must be justice and respect for human rights to heal the pain of the Papuan people. The two should be done hand-in-hand.
Now is the right time for Jokowi to work toward the resolution of past human rights violations in Papua to put an end to unlawful killings and realize his pledge to turn Papua into a “land of peace”.
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The writer is executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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6) Airlines in Papua ask for a security guarantee from local authorities
Published
1 day ago on
2 July 2018
Jayapura, Jubi –Airlines operating in Papua expect a security guarantee from security forces, local government and communities following the shooting over a commercial aircraft in Keneyam, Nduga Sub-district a few days ago.
Papua Regional Manager of Trigana Air Bustomi asked for flight security assurance at the destination airport. “We do not prohibit flying, but before we have assurance from local authorities, both security forces and local government, we are not flying to that airport,” Bustomi confirmed by phone on Thursday (28/06/2018).
In line with Bustomi, the Director of PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) Bob Kayadu also said the airline would not fly to the ‘red area’ for the sake of neutrality and crew safety.
“Despite a request from the Election Commission to deliver the logistics, we decided to reject it last week. It turns weird when the authorities already guaranteed the security after the Demonim aircraft shooting, another shooting was happening,” he said.
He hopes for a smooth solution so that the public service is not disturbed anymore. “I hope we can sit together rather than continuing violent. So we (airlines) feel comfortable and safe to serve the public,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Sindung Sukoco
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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7) Legislators remind the government to tighten the migrant flows to Papua
Published
1 day ago on
2 July 2018
Jayapura, Jubi –Papuan legislator elected from Saireri customary area Yonas Nusi advises the provincial and regional (municipal) authorities to tighten the migrant flows into Papua following the eid al-fitr break.
“It’s often occurred that after religious occasion people come to Papua in many ways, by sea or air. But what I worried about is they come without any clear purpose. Thus it can cause negative impacts. On the other hand, it becomes a burden for the government and people of Papua,” said Nusi on Thursday (28/06/2018).
He also thinks the government needs to anticipate this migrant flows could be an entry of radicalism to Papua which would potentially break the tolerance and harmonious interfaith among communities.
He further hopes both regional and municipal government offices of population and demography to conduct the migrant raids regularly.
Another legislator Emus Gwijangge also has a similar opinion. He said the influx of people into Papua so far is very easy. As a consequence, it has a significant impact on indigenous Papuans.
“Many people come to Papua without any clear purpose. Moreover, the rapid flow of population into Papua has marginalised the indigenous Papuans,” said Gwijangge. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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8) Looking for populist representatives
Published
1 day ago on
2 July 2018
Jayapura, Jubi – Legislative election in Indonesia is going to run. People would elect their representatives in parliament including those who will sit in the regional (municipal), provincial and national House of Representatives.
Now the legislative candidates for the period of 2019-2024 in Papua have prepared themselves to win the public attention, in particular in their retrospective electoral areas. However, people in Papua, especially indigenous Papuans, still want figures who are populist; those who can materialise their words in a campaign, listen and struggle for people’s aspirations.
Solpap activist Franky Warer who assists the indigenous woman traders said he wants a figure with a clear vision. “Based on my experience, many candidates only gave their words. People should be careful to select their representatives in parliament to avoid disappointment like what was happening now. Therefore, it needs to choose figures who care to the people, including the indigenous women traders in economic development,” he said.
Further, he said there are some legislators to speak for the people’s aspirations, the future of indigenous Papuans and the economics of native women traders. However, they often lose in decision making because sometimes the decision determined by the majority. “We believe in some individuals at Papua House of Representatives, but there is an institutional mechanism that needs to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, an indigenous woman trader at ‘Pasar Mama-Mama’ Asnat Inggamer said she hopes the next legislators at Papua House of Representatives and Jayapura Municipality House of Representatives can give more attention to the indigenous women traders at ‘Pasar Mama-Mama Papua’.
“During the times, none of the municipal legislators came to see us. Only a few of provincial legislators who knew the Solpap activists or were activists themselves visited us when we were at the temporary market, the old building,” she said. Then she added, “So we hope the future legislators are populist. Not just given promises and then forget people who elect them to sit in the parliament.”
Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa told Jubi he assessed the performance of Papua House of Representatives has not been optimal. “I cannot see their performance within the last three years. I hope it could be better in the fourth or fifth year,” Kadepa told Jubi sometime ago.
According to him, there is no real action towards the people’s aspirations, whether delivered by individual, groups or people’s demonstration. He further said the Papua House of Representatives should come to the ground whenever there are problems. Each aspiration should be followed up according to the people’s demand. “Not just give the promise to follow up, talk about a mechanism, and et cetera. Do not talk to calm the people but take action to satisfy and represent the people,” he said.
He also reminds legislators not to pretending against the contra-public policy and becoming an opposition for the sake of popularity and personal interest. “This is what I saw,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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