INDONESIA: Tatchell arrested at Indonesian President protest

West Papuan flag unfurled - Arrest for breach of the peace
President accused: War crimes in West Papua & East Timor

London - 1 November 2012 (Published Asia Human Rights Commission)

The State Visit to the UK of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been beset by protests against his government’s human rights abuses in West Papua, Aceh and the Moluccas.

On Wednesday police arrested human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell when he unfurled a West Papuan flag as the Indonesian President’s limousine departed Westminster Abbey in central London.

"I went to where the President's motorcade was passing and tried to hold up a West Papuan flag. Unidentified men in plainclothes wrestled me to the ground. I was then arrested by Metropolitan Police officers, who claimed they were acting at the request of the President's entourage. The officers applied unnecessary, excessive force, given that I was no threat and was not resisting arrest," said Mr Tatchell, who is Director of London-based the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

He was one of nearly 100 protesters who had gathered to protest at human rights abuses by the Indonesian regime.

Still photos and video footage are available from Claudio von Planta: 07785 330 616
https://vimeo.com/52566880

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should have been arrested on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity under British and international law. I settled for displaying the West Papuan flag as the President's motorcade passed by. I was stunned to be chased and arrested for a peaceful, lawful protest.

"The Indonesian President stands accused of crimes against humanity in East Timor and West Papua, involving the deaths of thousands of people.

"It is appalling that the Royal Family and the Prime Minister are hosting a man who is implicated in mass murder. Well in excess of 100,000 West Papuan civilians have been killed by the Indonesian army.

Watch this film of the Indonesian security services opening fire on peaceful, unarmed pro-democracy protesters in West Papua on 23 October 2012:
http://youtu.be/7Py9Ghj-8Xg

"Under Indonesian rule, West Papuans are denied basic human rights, including freedom of expression. Two Papuan men, Yusak Pakage and Filep Karma, have been jailed for 10 and 15 years respectively for merely raising the West Papuan flag. Foreign media and human rights groups are denied access to the region by the Indonesian Government.

"The Indonesians annexed West Papua in the 1960s. The West Papuan people never agreed to be a part of Indonesia. Jakarta maintains its rule by military force. It refuses to allow the people of West Papua the right to self-determination, in flagrant defiance of the United Nations Charter.

"A long, slow genocide is being perpetrated in West Papua.

"I was arrested for a peaceful, lawful protest, which involved nothing more sinister than holding a flag. I was deemed to have breached the peace. I was also threatened with further breach of the peace charges for "shouting loudly" and for what one police officer described as "pointing your finger at me in a way that I find intimidating."

"A police officer intimidated by a pointed finger? Bizarre. Are police officers nowadays really such ultra-sensitive souls? Heavens help us if they have to deal with hardened criminals with weapons.

"I was put in rigid handcuffs that were twisted by the police, which pinched the nerves in my wrist; causing agonising pain. It seemed like this was deliberate. I am still in pain hours later but what was done to me is nothing by comparison to the daily brutalities inflicted on the heroic people of West Papua by the Indonesian army of occupation.

"I am saddened that some police officers apparently have no respect for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

"I was detained unlawfully and deprived of my liberty for two hours. After being taken to Charring Cross police station, I was eventually released without charge. Clearly, the police knew they had over-stepped the mark and that the charges against me were baseless," he said.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Indonesian President's State Visit to the UK is from 31 October to 2 November.

Document Type :

Forwarded Statement

Document ID :

AHRC-FST-049-2012

Countries :

Indonesia

Human Rights Activist Arrested for Unfurling Morning Star Flag Near SBY

Activists Protes UK

Police in London detained Peter Tatchell, an Australian-born human rights activist, on Wednesday after he unfurled the West Papuan Morning Star flag as Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s limousine departed from Westminster Abbey.

“I was arrested for peaceful protest against #Indonesia crimes in #WestPapua,” he tweeted. “Only held a flag.”

The 60-year-old Tatchell said he was wrestled to the ground by Yudhoyono’s presidential security guard (Paspampres) before he was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers.

“The president stands accused of war crimes in East Timor and West Papua,” Tatchell said on his foundation’s website, petertatchellfoundation.org.

“It is appalling that the Royal Family and the Prime Minister are hosting a man who is implicated in mass murder,” he went on. “I am saddened that some police officers apparently have no respect for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.

According to Tatchell, he was released without charge two hours after being taken to Charring Cross police station.

“Clearly, the police knew they had over-stepped the mark and that the charges against me were baseless,” he said.

Tatchell had been planning to perform a citizen’s arrest — something he has attempted before — on Yudhoyono, but failed to do so.

In 2001, Tatchell, who is a well-known for gay rights proponent, was attacked by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s security personnel during a visit to Brussels.

Beside Tatchell, dozens of protesters on Wednesday denounced alleged human rights abuses in Indonesia and accused Britain of putting commercial interest ahead of basic freedoms.

“The West Papuans are being held, tortured and killed and all England and the whole European Union do is back him [Yudhoyono] up — they are only in it for the money,’ protester Nal Pattinama said with tears in her eyes, as quoted by Reuters.

Indonesia’s government and military have been criticized in the past for human rights abuses in West Papua after Indonesia took over the province in 1969 via a vote by community leaders that was widely criticized as rigged.

A low-level insurgency for independence has simmered on Indonesia’s eastern-most island for decades.

Protesters, some wearing Halloween masks and ghoulish face paint, gathered outside the prime minister’s office on Downing Street and waved red paint-splattered placards calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners, imprisoned for advocating independence from Indonesia.

Others, including representatives from Amnesty International and Indonesian non-government organizations, waved West Papuan flags, an act they said is punishable by 15 years in prison in Indonesia.

“It’s disgusting that one can walk up towards [Buckingham Palace] and the Indonesian flag is flown on behalf of our government supporting the likes of Indonesia,” protester Bob Corn said.

 Source News: The Jakarta Globe

Indonesia scored over human rights in state visit

(Reuters) - Dozens of protesters denounced alleged torture in Indonesia and accused Britain of putting commercial interests ahead of human rights on Wednesday on the first day of a state visit by the Indonesian president.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a lavish royal welcome for the first Indonesian state visit to Britain in more than 30 years, but activists criticised the British government for valuing commercial ties over the rights of Indonesian minorities.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/

"The West Papuans are being held, tortured and killed and all England and the whole European Union do is back him (Yudhoyono) up - they are only in it for the money,' protester Nal Pattinama said with tears in her eyes.

Indonesia has one of the world's fastest growing economies and is seen as one of the most democratic countries in Southeast Asia, but its military has kept a tight rein on Papua, home to a mine with the world's largest gold reserves.

Indonesia's government and military have been criticised in the past for human rights abuses in West Papua, after Indonesia took over the province in 1969 in a vote by community leaders that was widely criticised as flawed.
A low-level insurgency for independence has simmered on Indonesia's eastern-most island for decades.

Protesters, some wearing Halloween masks and ghoulish face paint, gathered outside the prime minister's office on Downing Street and waved red paint-splattered placards calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners, imprisoned for advocating independence from Indonesia.

Others, including representatives from Amnesty International and Indonesian non-government organisations, waved West Papuan flags, an act they said is punishable by 15 years in prison in Indonesia.

"It's disgusting that one can walk up towards the Palace and the Indonesian flag is flown on behalf of our government supporting the like of Indonesia," protester Bob Corn said.

Nearby, the Queen greeted President Yudhoyono and his wife in a red-carpeted pavilion on Horse Guards Parade, as a 41-gun salute rang out and regimental bands in bearskin hats played the Indonesian national anthem.

Britain is keen to foster a strong commercial relationship with the fast-emerging nation and has channelled resources from its embassies in the European Union to boost its diplomatic presence in Indonesia and the region.

After the official welcome, Yudhoyono was whisked off in a gilded carriage to Buckingham Palace for a private lunch with the queen. In the three-day official visit, Javanese-born Yudhoyono will attend a state banquet, address parliament and open the Indonesia-UK Business Forum.
(Corrects to describe Bob Corn, quoted in story, as a protester)

(Reporting By Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Michael Roddy and Myra MacDonald)

Britain and Indonesia: Too close for comfort?

TAPOL Press release

Britain and Indonesia: Too close for comfort?

President’s visit prompts fresh concerns about arms sales and training of anti-terror police

30 October 2012 – British-funded training of Indonesia’s anti-terror police, Special Detachment 88, should be reviewed in the light of serious concerns about the unit’s human rights record and its operations in Papua, says TAPOL ahead of a state visit to London by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from 31 October to 2 November 2012.

In the run-up to the visit TAPOL, which promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia, is also appealing for an immediate ban on the sale to Indonesia of any military equipment that may be used for internal repression.

“While British businesses are no doubt eagerly anticipating the President’s visit, victims of human rights abuses will derive little comfort from the prospect of increased arms sales and ongoing training of Indonesian security forces,” says Paul Barber, Coordinator of TAPOL.

As the UK government prepares a state welcome for President Yudhoyono, rights groups from the UK and beyond are organizing an alternative welcome at a demonstration on behalf of the victims of human rights abuses outside Downing Street from 13:00 to 14:30 on Wednesday 31 October.

While Indonesia has made substantial progress in its transition from dictatorship to democracy since the downfall of former President Suharto in May 1998, serious human rights concerns remain.

“The news that the President is to receive a prestigious honour from the Queen is a gross affront to those who have suffered violations at the hands of successive Indonesian governments,” said Barber [1].

Special Detachment 88, known as ‘Densus 88’ was formed after the Bali bombings in 2002 to combat terrorism, but is reportedly being deployed to tackle other issues, such as alleged separatism in Indonesia’s conflict-affected provinces. Local civil society monitors say Densus 88 is being used to crack down on the Papuan independence movement, and the unit has been implicated in the assassination of its leaders, such as Mako Tabuni who was shot dead in June this year.

The unit is trained at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation, JCLEC, which received a minimum of £400,000 in funding from Britain in the financial year 2011/12, as well as training provided by British officers. These include the UK’s South East Asia Counter Terrorism & Extremism Liaison Officer Detective Superintendent Phil Tucker; former Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Milton, and David Gray, an officer from the Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard who sits on JCLEC’s Board of Supervisors and has been teaching on the course since August 2009.

In July this year, leading Indonesian human rights NGO, KontraS, published research which stated that Densus 88 operations commonly involved arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, physical abuse and injury causing death [2].

Indonesia has been identified by the UK as a priority market for defence sales, with Prime Minister David Cameron boosting the export effort when he visited Jakarta with arms company executives in April 2012. The value of approved arms export licences has risen dramatically under the coalition government. The use of British equipment such as Hawk jets, armoured personnel carriers and water cannon for internal repression has been widely documented over the years and was acknowledged by the British Government in the 1990s. UK Tactica vehicles have been used to crush protest on the streets of Jakarta as recently as March this year, and are used by Indonesia’s notorious paramilitary police unit Brimob.

During the President’s visit, groups including TAPOL, Down to Earth, Survival International, Progressio and Christian Solidarity Worldwide will be highlighting these and other key issues, including Human Rights in Papua; The Need for Dialogue in Papua; Freedom of _expression_; Rights, Livelihoods and Climate Justice; Religious Intolerance; and Timor-Leste and Impunity.

Information on these issues is set out in a briefing available here.

ENDS

Contact: Paul Barber on 01420 80153 / 07747 301 739 or Esther Cann on 07503 400 308.

Notes:

1. President Yudhoyono will reportedly be awarded the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Bath by the Queen during his visit.

2. KontraS report on Densus 88 available from TAPOL on request

Indonesia denies it has any indigenous peoples

The government of Indonesia has responded to UN recommendations to recognise the rights of its indigenous peoples by claiming that none live in Indonesia. In fact, Indonesia is home to an estimated 50-70 million indigenous and tribal people.

In a response to the United Nations Periodic Review, a four–year human rights check-up for all countries, Indonesia said this month, "The Government of Indonesia supports the promotion and protection of indigenous people worldwide… Indonesia, however, does not recognise the application of the indigenous peoples concept… in the country".

This More News: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/

The UN’s report recommended that Indonesia should consider ratifying ILO Convention 169, the only international law for indigenous and tribal peoples. It also recommended that Indonesia should secure the rights of indigenous peoples, especially to their traditional lands, territories and resources. Indonesia’s denial of the existence of indigenous peoples within its borders was in response to this.

Survival International, the NGO which campaigns for the rights of tribal people, believes that Indonesia treats its indigenous and tribal people, especially in West Papua, worse than any other country in the world. In West Papua killings, torture and rape of tribal people are commonplace – the figure of 100,000 people killed since 1963 is believed to be a conservative estimate.

The denial of the very existence of indigenous peoples in Indonesia is symptomatic of the government’s total disregard for their rights.

Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will travel to the UK for a State visit on October 31st.
[Ekk/4]

Implementasi Otsus dan Pilgub Jadi Perhatian Kedubes Inggris

Jayapura— Dubes  Inggris Mr.Mark Canning, MS didampingi   Sekretaris  II Bidang Politik  Kedubes  Inggeris Julia Shand dan Staf Politik  Kedubes  Inggeris   Mr. Benny Sastranegara melakukan audensi  dengan Pimpinan  dan  Anggota  DPRP diruang   rapat   Ketua  DPRP, Jayapura, Senin (17/9) petang. Rombongan Dubes  Inggris  diterima  Drs. John Ibo, MM (Ketua DPRP), Yunus Wonda, SH (Waket I DPRP), Ruben  Magay, S.IP   (Ketua Komisi  A  DPRP),  Yanni, SH (Waket Komisi A), Kenius Kogoya, SP, M.Si (Ketua Komisi E), Ina Kudiay, S. Th (anggota Komisi A), Magdalena Matua (anggota Komisi E), Hagar Aksamina Maday (Sek. Komisi E) dan Pdt. Charles Simaremare (anggota Komisi C).

Wakil Ketua  DPRP Yunus Wonda, SH ketika dikonfirmasi Bintang Papua membenarkan pihaknya   telah menerima kunjungan  Dubes  Inggris  dan  rombongan. Dia  mengatakan, pihaknya  Kedubes Inggris  sangat  konsisten  memperhatikan  perkembangan  yang terjadi di Papua baik politik maupun tentang  kesejahteraan dalam implementasi UU No 21 Tahun  2001  atau  UU Otsus serta perkembangan  Pilgub Papua.
“Pemerintah Inggris sangat kosisten melihat perkembangan Otsus di Papua baik dari kesejahteraan, pendidikan, kesehatan dan ekonomi,” katanya. 

Menurutnya,  DPRP menjelaskan tentang kondisi-kondisi, perkembangan-perkembangan dan persiapan Pemilukada Gubernur termasuk menjelang putusan Mahkamah  Konstitusi  (MK) tentang  sengketa   kewenangan lembaga penyelenggara Pilgub di Papua apakah DPRP atau KPU. Selain ke DPRP, Duta Besar (Dubes) Kerajaan Inggris, S. H. Mir. Mark Canning juga melakukan pertemuan dengan Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Papua yang diterima oleh Sekretaris Daerah (Sekda) Provinsi Papua, drh. Constant Karma, dimana pertemuan tersebut untuk mengevaluasi program - program kerjsama antara Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris dengan Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Papua.

Menurut Sekda Provinsi Papua, drh. Constant Karma kepada wartawan usai pertemuan diruangan Wakil Gubernur (Wagub) Provinsi Papua, Senin (17/9) kemarin siang mengatakan, kunjungan Dubes dari Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris tersebut untuk mengevaluasi program - program dan melihat sudah sejauh mana program kerjasama selama ini yang telah dilakukan kedua belah pihak.
“Kunjungan dari Duta Besar (Dubes) Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris ini, karena ada program - program kerjasama antara Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris dengan Pemprov Papua,” ujarnya.
Karma mengatakan, kerjasama antara Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris dengan Pemprov Papua lebih banyak melalui Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah (BAPPEDA) Provinsi Papua serta ada kerjasama masalah karbon.

“Selain itu, juga ada program kerjasama pada bidang lingkungan hidup, dimana kerjasama ini sangat bagus untuk dievaluasi sehingga penguatan kelembagaan diharapkan kedepannya akan lebih diperkuat lagi ke daerah - daerah,” tandasnya.

Kunjungan Duta Besar (Dubes) Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris melalui program – program mereka yang sudah ada saat ini bersifat untuk lebih membantu pemerintah daerah (Pemda), jadi kunjungan Dubes Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris ini tidak membawa program baru, akan tetapi datang untuk melihat sejauh mana kerjasama yang telah terjalin selama ini.

Sementara itu,  Dubes  Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris untuk Indonesia, S. H. Mir Mark Canning menjelaskan bahwa kunjungannya ke Papua adalah untuk menjalin kerjasama dan membantu Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Papua, terutama dalam bidang perencanaan pembangunan daerah. “Intinya kedatangan kami di Papua ini untuk melihat dan mengevaluasi kerjasaman yang selama ini sudah terjalin dengan Pemprov Papua,” tandasnya.

Dari pantauan Bintang Papua akhir dari pertemuan tersebut yakni dengan penukaran cinderamata antara Dubes Pemerintahan Kerajaan Inggris dan Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) Papua yang diwakili oleh Sekda Papua, drh. Constant Karma.

Sumber: Bintang Papua

Call for arrest of Indonesian President for genocide in Papua

A campaign to have Indonesia’s President arrested for directing genocide in Papua has highlighted Susilo Bambang Yudhyono’s record in the troubled eastern region.

The campaign is offering an 80-thousand US dollar reward for a citizen’s arrest of Yudhyono when he is in the United Kingdom in early November.

It claims he’s wanted by the International Criminal Court for orchestrating ongoing genocide in Papua where over 500,000 innocent people have been killed.

Ed McWilliams of the West Papua Advocacy Team says the figure is an exaggeration but that the campaign highlights the President’s failure to solve the Papua problem.

“You know the broader point I think is that the Indonesian military, the TNI, continues to operate very brutally in West Papua, and of course we continue with a decades old policy of malign neglect whereby the healthcare and education opportunities for Papuans have been minimal particularly in the remote rural areas.”

Ed McWilliams.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International

TV West Papua Network@ BT River of music festival London

The sound of West Papua freedom was brought to the people of London at the official pre-Olympic concert in Greenwich Park, London, July 21st 2012.

As part of David Bridie's Wantok Music Sing Sing, the flag of West Papua was raised as George Telek was joined on stage by exiled musicians Mambesak and independence leader Benny Wenda, as the crowds of British citizens in the crowd sung along for West Papua freedom.

The voice of West Papua will never be silenced and this will be the first of many West Papua flagraisings to be held during the London 2012 Olympic Games, all directed to bring the worlds attention towards the ongoing genocide that Indonesia is committing against the Papuan population.

Free West Papua. The world is watching.

Kematian Mako Tabuni RI Menuai Protes Dari Rakyat London

 (Video Aksi Protes Rakyat Inggris)

Voice Baptist,--- Penembakan Aktivis Papua Musa Mako Tabuni oleh aparat Kepolisian Polda papua 14/06/12 manuai kritikan dan protes dari aktivis  ibu kota inggris raya  London.

Rakyat London yang tergabung dalam Free West Papua Campaign UK, melakukan demontrasi di pusat kota dan selanjutnya menggelar orasi di depan Kedutaan Besar Indonesia di Inggris. Para demonstran berhias muka dengan tanah liat, membawa peti mati sebagai bentuk rasa bela sungkawa atas kepergian aktivis papua Mako Tabuni.

Dalam orasinya, Benny Wenda mengatakan Indonesia melakukan pelanggarah Hak Asasi menusia di papua barat secara sistematis dan jumlah korban pembantaian sudah mencapai 400.000 jiwa rakyat papua terbunuh oleh aparat TNI/Polri di papua.

Benny Meminta kepada pekerja kemanusiaan dan negara - negara dunia untuk melakukan intervensi atas tindakan pemerintah RI terhadap rakyat papua, anda tahu kenapa wartawan asing dan LSM tidak di ijinkan masuk ke papua, ada apa disana, ada sesuatu yang di sembunikan disana, Tegas Benny.

Mako di tembak atas tunduhan melakukan teror dan kriminal di jayapura beberapa hari sebelumnya hayal tiba, Mako adalah Wakil Ketua Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB). Mako yang dikenal paling vokal menyuarakan aspirasi rakyat papua tentang penentuan nasib sendiri.

Dalam kesempatan itu seorang aktivis mahasiswa UO mengatakan, kami protez atas tidakan negara terhadap rakyat papua, ini bentuk seolidaritas kami terhadap kaum tertindas di papua, kemi beraharap kekerasan di sana segera berhenti dan memberikan hak politik rakyat papua sesuai harapan dan keinginan rakyat papua.

Aksi itu berakhir dengan lancar dan berjanji akan terus melakukan protes agar pemerintah di bawah kerajaan inggris berbicara demi rakyat papua. (tw)

2013 Falkland Gelar Referendum, Bagimana Untuk Papua

"Anda Orang Papua! Menuntut "REFERENDUM" Pasti Pemerintah anggap Melanggar Hukum serta Anda di jerat dengan Pasa Makar"

London – Kepulauan Falkland yang diperebutkan Inggris dan Argentina, akan menggelar referendum untuk menentukan statusnya pada 2013 mendatang.

Penduduk Falkland, lanjutnya, ingin pulau itu tetap memiliki status otonomi daerah, yang bagian dari Overseas Territory Kerajaan Inggris. 

Masalah status wilayah hampir sama dengan papua ( UU Otsus 2001), Pro - kotra status otonomi khusus bagi provinsi papua tidak kalah dengan perebutan dan pro-kontra status Falkland Uk.

Namun jika papua diminta referendum dianggap sebagai bentuk pelanggaran hukum, padahal negara demokrasi di dunia referendum sebagai satu media yang paling demokratis di dunia. 

Referendum untuk menentukan status politiknya itu merupakan upaya untuk menghentikan perebutan atas kepulauan tersebut antara Inggris dengan Argentina.

“Kami memutuskan, dengan dukungan sepenuhnya pemerintah Inggris, untuk menggelar referendum,” ujar Gubernur Falkland Gavin Short.

Short menyatakan, penduduk teritori Inggris yang secara geografis terletak dekat Argentina itu tak mau wilayah mereka dikuasai Buenos Aires.