West Papua Report March 2010 This is the 70th in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans. This series is produced by the non- profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments, and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. This report is co-published with the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) Back issues are posted online at http://etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at [email protected]. Summary The West Papua Advocacy Team urges President Obama to use his March visit to Indonesia to call on the Indonesian Government to implement fundamental changes in West Papua where human rights violations and impunity for security force crimes persist. Reporting from the central highlands in West Papua indicate an increased presence of security force and abusive and corrupt behavior of these forces. Papuans have peacefully demonstrated in large numbers to press demands for the release of political prisoners, respect for human rights, the investigation and prosecution of the killing of a peaceful demonstrator, and for demilitarization of West Papua. Papuans also have protested an Indonesian Government plan to seize vast tracts of land for "development" and displace many Papuans. The Indonesian government has failed to provide urgent health care for Filep Karma, a Papuan political prisoner. An Indonesian Minister has protested that Freeport McMoran, the giant U.S. mining operation, is operating illegally. Papuans have rejected plans by the Provincial government of West Java and the national government to send migrants to West Papua. It is feared that the transmigrants will use generous government subsidies to out-compete and marginalize local Papuans as has happened repeatedly in the past in West Papua. Contents z WPAT Letter to President Obama on The Eve of His Visit to Indonesia z Indonesian Security Forces Ramping up Operations in Central Highlands z Papuans Demonstrate to Peacefully Voice Demands z Indonesian State Pursues "Land Grab" Targeting Papuans in Merauke Area z Indonesian Government Fails to Provide Urgent Health Care to Incarcerated Prisoner of Conscience z Indonesian Minister Says Freeport Operating Illegally z Papuans Reject Plans for Expansion of "Transmigration" WPAT Letter to President Obama on The Eve of His Visit to Indonesia Your visit affords an opportunity The West Papua Advocacy Team welcomes your to press for genuine reforms and further democratization in upcoming visit to Indonesiaas an opportunity to Indonesia and specifically in deepen U.S.-Indonesian ties and to encourage further West Papua where human democratization of Indonesia. Indonesia's democratic rights abuse, injustice and security force corruption is progress in the decade since the overthrow of the endemic. Special Autonomy has Suharto dictatorship has been impressive and has not resolved the issues and is facilitated the expansion of U.S. cooperation with this no final solution. Papuan human rights activists remain subject important nation. Critical to Indonesia's to intimidation, arrest and even democratization is the expansion of respect for death. human rights. Respect for human rights and the process of democratization generally continue to face threats from the Indonesian military which continues to evade full civilian control and remains largely unaccountable before Indonesia's flawed judicial system. It is imperative that the United States employ its not inconsiderable influence to work for the full subordination of the Indonesian military to civilian control and accountability before the law. Nowhere in the Indonesian archipelago is military insubordination, corruption and abusive behavior more on display than in West Papua, where the military continues to operate in a manner that reflects the rules and practices fostered under the Suharto dictatorship. Your visit affords an opportunity to press for genuine reforms and further democratization in Indonesia and specifically in West Papua where human rights abuse, injustice and security force corruption is endemic. Special Autonomy has not resolved the issues and is no final solution. Papuan human rights activists remain subject to intimidation, arrest and even death. In your meetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono we urge you to pursue real reforms that reflect the agenda of issues raised by human rights advocates in West Papua. These include: z an end to military human rights violations, especially including an end to military "sweeping operations" by Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) and others which regularly displace thousands of Papuans; z replacing the culture of impunity with genuine accountability of military and police personnel before the courts for past and ongoing human rights crimes and corruption; z an end to resort to force by military and police to address peaceful protest by Papuans to include their employment of flags and banners; z release of Papuan political prisoners and prisoners of conscience to include all those who have been detained for such peaceful protest; z cessation of the practice of conflating political protest with "separatist" activity, a practice which enables security forces and Indonesian courts to address such peaceful protest as "terrorist" activity under the Indonesian governments functional definition of terrorism; z demilitarization of West Papua and an end to military protection of and operation of business operations, many of which have had a devastating impact on Papuan natural resources; z an end to restrictions on access to and travel within West Papua now imposed on international journalists, researchers, humanitarian workers and diplomats and in that regard to permit the return of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to its offices in West Papua. We also urge that you encourage the Indonesian President and government to respond positively to long-standing calls by the Papuan civil society and Papuan officials for z a senior-level, internationally mediated dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papuan civil society, building on the success of the earlier dialogue in Aceh and responding to calls from Papuans and also from prominent voices within Indonesian civil society; z steps to address persistent Papuan concerns including policies such as "transmigration" and "special autonomy" which marginalize Papuans in their own land; z the creation of a demilitarized "zone of peace" in West Papua. The United States played a central role in the process that saw West Papua annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s, a process that transparently failed to afford Papuans an opportunity to exercise genuine self determination. The period since then has seen continuing, extensive human rights problems. Democratization in Indonesia since 1998, and now your visit to that country, provide an opportunity for United States involvement in support of civil society efforts to solve some of the subsequent human rights problems. Indonesian Security Forces Ramping up Operations in Central Highlands Reports from reliable sources within the Papuan central highlands reveal a significant expansion of Indonesian military force deployment, particularly by the U.S.-funded "Detachment 88" which has constructed two new, apparently permanent posts. The military inter alia, is reported to be targeting largely unarmed guerillas associated with the aging Papuan leader Thadeus Yogi. Papuan parliamentarians reporting are seeking to intervene to preclude new conflict by negotiating an agreement that would provide for "rehabilitation" for the aged rebel leader. Separately, there are also reports that the Indonesian military is targeting rebel forces led by Goliath Tabuni in the Punjak Jaya area. Indonesian military officials have justified such an offensive on the recent killing of a Brimob (militarized policed) officer, found dead on February 15. The military claims of a rebel role in that killing have been disputed by Lukas Enembe, the local Bupati (the government official heading the administrative regency in which the killing took place). Over several months local officials have sought to secure the removal of Indonesian state security personnel from the Mulia area, also in the central highlands. These personnel include troops from Battalions 754 and 756 based in Timika and Wamena. Among the problems these troops have generated is inflation of the number of personnel (claiming 150 when in fact there are 120 personnel) in order to extract additional funds to support their deployment. In addition to these battalions the 753 Battalion remains in Nabiere. These newly arriving military personnel have also busied them selves with constructions of new traffic control points - frequently used to shake down local travelers. Meanwhile, police forces have constructed three new road-control posts at which they interrogate civilian who are bearded or who carry bows and arrows which is a traditional practice of the local Mee culture. Indonesian military personnel are also reported to be creating problems elsewhere in the Central Highlands. Kopassus and other military personnel in Mulia, the capitol of Puncak Jaya are engaged in Ojek (motorcycle transportation) business as well as the illegal sale of alcohol. Huge profits are made through mark ups of 600 percent of vodka in Mulia as compared with the price in Jayapura. Papuans Demonstrate to Peacefully Voice Demands The February 23 Cenderawasih Pos reports