Papua Solidarity, in Jakarta, urged the Government of Indonesia to open the humanitarian access to Papua – #papuaitukita
Jayapura, Jubi – About forty national and international organizations united in Papua Solidarity urged the Government of Indonesia to open the humanitarian access to Papua. They held a peaceful march simultaneously on Thursday (29/4/2015) in twenty cities of ten countries in the world. This movement urged the Government of Indonesia to open the access for foreign journalists to Papua.
“In some recent years, several journalists from the Czech Republic, French and Netherlands have been deported for reporting on the political situation of peace in Papua. “In Papua, violence and intimidation against local and national journalists are at high risk,” cited Jakarta International for Papua Solidarity in press release received by Jubi on Wednesday (29/4/2015).
It reported on 30 July 2010, journalist Ardiansyah Matrais was founded be drowned in Maro River, Merauke after repeatedly terrorized by military when he conducted investigation on illegal logging. On 24 August 2010, two agents of State Intelligent Agency (BIN) attacked Radio 68 H reporter Musa Kondorura.
On 3 March 2011, journalist Banjir Ambarita who works for Jakarta Globe and Bintang Papua was attacked and stubbed after reporting a police officer who raped a woman prisoner and causing the resignation of Abepura Police Chief Imam Setiawan.
While the Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) Indonesia recorded there are seven cases of violence and intimidation against journalists, and it increased to be twelve cases in 2012. In July 2013, the house of a journalist from independent online media Majalah Selangkah was raided and searched by unknown people.
The report continued to report serious violations against human rights, including acts of torture, enforced disappearances, murder, dignity degradation, the use of excessive force and arbitrary detention against Papuans by the Indonesian security force.
In August 2014, the West Papua National Committee’s activist has been kidnapped, tortured, killed and his body was dumped in the river without police’s investigation. Only a few media published this story.
At least six people were shot and twenty-one were arrested by Papua Police officers in Yahukimo Regency in March 2015. 48 years Village Chief Obang Sengenil died by bullet in this incident.
The freedom and open access to Papua for international journalists, humanitarian and human rights organizations will serve the efforts to endorse the protection and respect towards human rights for Papuans and those who consider Papua as their home.
The termination towards the access restriction to Papua is not only in accordance with the international obligation of the Government of Indonesia but it will also strengthen its position as undemocratic country. Therefore, Papua Solidarity asked the Government of Indonesia to (1) discontinue the violence and intimidation towards journalists in Papua, conduct the investigation towards alleged acts of violence and bring the involved perpetrator to trial; (2) to abolish all visit restrictions for foreign journalists to Papua and freedom restriction to build movement inside Papua, including visa application system selected by government’s clearing house; (3) to provide access for international humanitarian and human right organizations to carry out their work without fear of restriction and get assurance with the standard of international human right; (4) to open the space of freedom and restriction access to UN Special Rapporteurs who intend to visit and report the current situation in Papua. The Government of Indonesia in particular must invite David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion as promised in the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva in 2012.
Papua Solidarity consisting of about forty national and international organization will conduct a peaceful march simultaneously in Jakarta, Australia, Pacific and Europe to urge the Government of Indonesia to open the access for foreign journalist to Papua. (Arnold Belau/Domnggus Mampioper/rom)
