KONTRAS: Papua akan jadi wilayah operasi Densus 88

An Australian funded Detachment 88 unit in 2010.

JAKARTA: Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan  (Kontras) menilai Papua akan dijadikan wilayah operasi Detasemen  Khusus (Densus) 88 sehingga kekerasan di provinsi tersebut akan terus  berlangsung. Kalangan masyarakat sipil mendesak untuk dilakukannya  penarikan TNI dan Polri. 

Koordinator Kontras Haris Azhar mengatakan pihaknya menyesalkan hak  atas kemerdekaan, berkumpul dan mengeluarkan pendapat di Papua tidak  sepenuhnya dijamin oleh negara. Organisasi tersebut mencatat sejak  Januari hingga Oktober 2012 terdapat  81 tindakan kekerasan,  setidaknya 31 meninggal dan 107 orang mengalami luka-luka di Papua.

"Demokrasi di tanah Papua telah dipancung dan menjadi tantangan berat  bagi warga sipil untuk menkritisi kebijakan Negara yakni TNI dan Polri  yang berlangsung hingga saat ini," ujar Haris dalam pernyataan bersama dengan National Papua Solidarity, Bersatu untuk Kebenaran dan Yapham,  yang dikutip pada Jumat (26/10/2012).

Dia mengatakan salah satu sebab mengapa terjadinya kekerasan di  provinsi tersebut adalah ingin dijadikannya Papua Barat sebagai  operasi Densus 88. Sedangkan sebab lainnya, kata Kontras, adalah  adanya pelabelan separatis pada sejumlah warga di Papua serta isu  keamanan di Asia Pasifik, khususnya Papua Barat telah menjadi alasan Indonesia memperkuat kerja sama keamanan bersama negara-negara imperialis.

Haris mengungkapkan kondisi tersebut telah menjadikan Papua sebagai  lahan subur bagi konflik, demi kepentingan negara, ekonomi dan  kekuasaan. Kontras menilai tidak heran kenyataan itu mendorong rakyat  pribumi di Papua bangkit memperjuangkan keadilan dan kebenaran yang  tak kunjung tiba.

"Kami mendesak kepada Presiden untuk segera membuka ruang gerak demokrasi di Papua dan merealisasikan dialog damai antara rakyat Papua dan pemerintah Indonesia tanpa syarat yang dimediasi pihak ketiga," demikian Haris. (Bsi)

 Sumber: http://www.bisnis.com

Jubir KNPB Wim R. Metlama, KNPB Melatih Anggota Membuat Bom Adalah Fitnah dan Kriminalisasi KNPB

Jayapura, Voice Baptist,-- Juru BIcara KNPB, Wim R. Metlama kemarin (18/10) di Kafe Prima Garde, mengatakan bahwa KNPB melatih BOM kepada anggota KNPB adalah suatu fitnah dan kebohongan untuk membenarkan penangkapan dan penculikan liar yang dilakukan oleh Densus 88 dan Kepolisian Indonesia.

Sebelumnya, Polda Papua melalui Direskrim kemarin (17/10) kepada wartawan menuduh  bahwa KNPB melatih anggotanya merakit bom.

Pada bulan September, sebuah ledakan bom mengguncang sebuah ruangan Dewan Legislatif Jayawijaya, Diikuti oleh yang lain ledakan di sebuah pos polisi di Wamena.

Sejauh ini Polisi telah Menahan 10 anggota KNPB sebagi  tersangka dan Mereka masih mengejar lima tersangka tambahan lagi Kata Jubir Polda papua.

Di susul sekretariat KNPB di wamena  di temukan sejumlah bahan peledak  termasuk bahan-bahan pembuat Bom.

Namun para petinggi KNPB membantah tuduhan polisi, kata Ketua Umum KNPB Victor yeimo mengatakan, penemuan bom adalah suatu skenario dan membenarkan diri keberadaam densus 88 di papua yang notabena sebagai anti teror, yang di kutip ABC-TV Australia beberapa waktu lalu.

KNPB menunding Polisi hanya kriminalisasikan KNPB yang selama ini berjuang tanpa kekerasan dan damai kata Victor di ABC.

Para pekerja kemanusiaanpun meragukan penemuan BOM di wamena, ini hanya skenario untuk membasmi para aktivis kemanusiaan di papua, di kutip the jakarat post.

Densus 88 di latih oleh Polisi Federal Australia saat kejadian BOM bali 2002 silam. Densus adalah anti terorisme bukan anti separatisme, dan hal ini mendapat sorotan dari paratai hijau australi termasuk Polisi Federal Australia berjanji akan meninjau bila di salah gunakan apa yang kami melatih.

 

Akui Keberadaan Densus 88 Di Papua, Anggota DPR RI Kecam Menlu Australia

Update by Jubi

Anggota DPR RI, Mahfudz Siddiq (IST)

Jayapura)---Anggota DPR RI, Mahfudz Siddiq, mengecam Menteri Luar Negeri Australia Bob Carr yang menurutnya memiliki standar ganda, setelah Carr menyerukan penyelidikan terhadap pembunuhan Mako Tabuni, Wakil Ketua I Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB).

Dalam wawancara dengan media Australia, The Age (30/8), Mahfudz Siddiq meminta Carr agar berhati-hati dengan pernyataan mereka karena bisa menunjukkan standar ganda yang dimiliki Australia.

"Menurut pendapat saya, itu terlalu jauh untuk Bob Carr menyebutkan pelatihan HAM bagi Densus 88. Apakah Australia memberikan komentar ketika aktivis Islam terbunuh atau terluka oleh Densus 88?" tanya Mahfudz.

Dalam wawancara yang sama, Mahfudz Siddiq, Legislator dari Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) ini juga mengkonfirmasi keberadaan Detasemen Khusus Anti-Teror (Densus 88) di Papua. Disebutkan oleh Mahfudz, keberadaan Densus 88 di Papua karena serangkaian kekerasan yang terjadi di Papua sudah bisa dilihat sebagai teror. Termasuk serangkaian kekerasan yang dituduhkan kepada Mako Tabuni selama ini.

"Itu yang membuat kehadiran Densus 88 dan keterlibatannya dalam beberapa kasus di Papua sebagai tugas mereka. Beberapa kasus di Papua Barat pada waktu itu sudah dilihat sebagai teror," kata Mahfudz.

Menlu Australia, Bob Carr, ketika wawancara live di Stasiun Televisi Australia, ABC, mengatakan bahwa Australia tak pernah ragu untuk terus mengangkat isu Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) di dua provinsi Indonesia, Papua dan Papua Barat.

"Namun, sekali lagi, itu terjadi dalam konteks kita konsisten mengakui kedaulatan Indonesia atas Papua, dan pada saat yang sama menegaskan hak kita sebagai teman dan tetangga untuk mengangkat isu-isu hak asasi manusia - paling baru yang satu ini (keberadaan Densus 88 di Papua)." kata Caar. (Jubi/Victor Mambor

Detachment 88 implicated in new activist crackdown

An Australian-funded police unit in West Papua has again been implicated in recent crackdowns on the region's independence movement.

Chaiman KNPB Victor Yeimo (Photo ABC)

The region has been the scene of violence and tension in 2012, with independence leaders arrested, beaten and killed, and police confronted by unruly and angry demonstrations.

In June, Indonesian soldiers went on a rampage in the highland's town of Wamena, a stronghold of the West Papua National Committee, which is known as KNPB.

Last weekend police were again targeting the area, raiding the homes and offices of KNPB members.

Eight people were arrested and witnesses, including KNPB leader Victor Yeimo, say once again the Australian-trained and funded police unit Detachment 88 was involved.

"When they arrest the KNPB brothers in Wamena, we saw Detachment 88 with one car, and another car with police, joined in by TNI (the Indonesian military)," Mr Yeimo said.

Indonesian police accuse those arrested of making bombs and claim to have found explosives during the raid.
This Video Report ABC--News,

 West Papua arrests highlight Australian Detachment 88 links 

Mr Yeimo rejects that and says his group is being framed as terrorists to justify Detachment 88's presence.

In West Papua, the Institute for Human Rights Advocacy, known as ELSHAM, has studied the arrests and suspects the explosives recovered by police were planted.

It is a view that is supported in Australia by advocates of the West Papuan cause.

"They don't have the capacity to gain the materials, so ELSHAM has actually said that the material was probably planted in the KNPB member houses where they found the explosives, and that's not an unusual thing for security forces to do," says Cammi Webb-Gannon, from the University of Sydney's West Papua project.

"I don't think KNPB has any reason to be making bombs because they believe in a peaceful approach to pursuing independence, they want a referendum on independence in West Papua."

Deadly crackdowns

Detachment 88, which is trained by Australia as part of counter-terrorism operations, has also been linked to a string of incidents in which Papuan independence leaders have been arrested and killed.

When 7.30 travelled to the province in August, the crackdown on the independence movement was already severe and had resulted in several deaths, including the killing of former KNPB leader Mako Tabuni.

Witnesses say he was shot in a street by Detachment 88.

Victor Yeimo succeeded Mr Tabuni as leader of the KNPB and since then, he says the crackdown has worsened as he takes the campaign public.

"We are the non-violent activists in West Papua," he says in a video sent to 7.30.

"We will fight for our right of freedom according to peaceful means in West Papua.

"We demand our right of self-determination, for referendum to be held in West Papua peacefully and democratically."

But the Indonesian authorities do not believe his claim of non-violence and they are pursuing KNPB like never before.

International observers say it is because the Indonesian government is threatened by the movement.

Cammi Webb-Gannon says the Papuan movement's international links could explain Indonesia's concern.

"First of all a lot of them are young, they're students, or have recently been students," she told 7.30.

"So they do have a lot of passion, a lot of fire, they have a popular support base, they work from a very grassroots perspective, and I think Indonesia is worried because they do have these international links."

New police chief

The weekend raids follow the appointment of a new police chief in Papua, Brigadier General Tito Karnavian.

His background as the former head of Detachment 88 generates serious unease among some Papuans despite his assurances of a new inclusive approach.

"They will be opposed to his former role as head of Densus (Detachment) 88, and as a police chief it doesn't seem to mesh with his new approach of working to win the hearts and minds of Papuans," Ms Webb-Gannon said.

7.30 put several questions to the Indonesian government about the latest situation in Papua but received no reply. Attempts to contact the new Papuan police chief were also unsuccessful.

As for Mr Yeimo, he is pushing for the release of the eight activists arrested on the weekend.

And with his supporters in Australia, he is pressuring the Australian Government to rethink its funding for Detachment 88.

"The Papuans will be pretty much living like prisoners in our own land, where our movement, what we do will be censored, will be followed, will be monitored," Mr Kareni said.

"There's no room for democracy at all."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news

Densus 88 diimplikasi dalam operasi terhadap aktifis di Papua

Densus 88 menghadapi tudingan baru penyalah-gunaan wewenang di Papua.
Published By Hayden Cooper http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/

Victor Yeimo mengatakan, operasi terhadap para aktifis kemerdekaan Papua semakin gencar. (Credit: ABC) 

 

Satuan yang dilatih dan dibiayai oleh Australia itu telah melancarkan operasi baru terhadap para aktifis kemerdekaan Papua dan menahan delapan orang atas tuduhan membuat bom.

Namun Komite Nasional Papua Barat menolak tuduhan itu dan mengatakan kepada ABC bahwa pihaknya dijebak dengan bahan peledak demi membenarkan kegiatan Densus 88.

Papua telah diguncang kekerasan dan ketegangan tahun ini dengan sejumlah aktifis kemerdekaan ditahan, dipukuli dan dibunuh.

Pada bulan Juni, tentara melancarkan operasi di Wamena, yakni kubu Komite Nasional Papua Barat atau KNPB.

Akhir pekan lalu polisi sekali lagi menyerbu daerah itu, menggeledah rumah-rumah dan kantor anggota KNPB.

Delapan orang ditahan, dan para saksi, termasuk Ketua KNPB, Victor Yeimo, mengatakan, sekali lagi Densus 88 terlibat.

"Ketika mereka menangkap saudara-saudara kami dari KNPB di Wamena, kami melihat Densus 88 dalam satu mobil, dan satu mobil lagi terdiri dari polisi dan TNI," kata Yeimo.

Polisi menuduh mereka yang ditahan itu membuat bom dan menyatakan menemukan bahan peledak dalam operasi itu.

Yeimo menolak tuduhan itu dan mengatakan, pihaknya dijebak sebagai teroris untuk membenarkan kehadiran Densus 88.
Di Papua, lembaga advokasi HAM yang dikenal dengan nama ELSHAM mempelajari insiden penangkapan tersebut dan menduga bahwa bahan peledak yang ditemukan polisi memang sengaja dipasang untuk menjebak.

Pandangan ini mendapat dukungan di Australia dari para aktifis kemerdekaan Papua.
"Mereka tidak memiliki kapasitas untuk memperoleh bahan peledak. Menurut Elsham, bahan peledak tersebut mungkin sengaja ditaruh di rumah anggota-anggota KNPB dimana mereka menemukannya dan bukan hal baru bagi aparat keamanan untuk melakukannya," kata Cammi Webb-Gannon, dari Proyek Papua Barat Universitas Sydney.

"Saya pikir KNPB tidak punya alasan untuk membuat bom karena mereka percaya pada pendekatan damai untuk meraih kemerdekaan, mereka menginginkan referendum kemerdekaan Papua."

Operasi Berdarah

Densus 88, yang dilatih oleh Australia untuk operasi kontra-terorisme, juga dikaitkan dengan serangkaian insiden dalam mana sejumlah pemimpin kemerdekaan Papua ditangkap dan dibunuh.

Ketika jurnalis program 7.30 ABC pergi ke Papua pada bulan Agustus, operasi terhadap gerakan kemerdekaan sudah sangat gencar dan mengakibatkan beberapa korban jiwa, termasuk pembunuhan tokoh KNPB, Mako Tabuni.

Para saksi mata mengatakan, ia ditembak di jalan oleh Densus 88.
Yeimo menggantikan Tabuni sebagai Ketua KNPB dan sejak itu, ia mengatakan, operasi semakin hebat karena ia berkampanye secara terbuka.

"Kami adalah aktifis non-kekerasan di Papua Barat," katanya dalam sebuah video yang dikirim kepada 7.30.
"Kami akan memperjuangan hak kami untuk merdeka dengan cara-cara damai di Papua Barat."
"Kami menuntut hak penentuan nasib sendiri, hak untuk menyelenggarakan referendum di Papua Barat secara damai dan demokratis."

Namun pihak berwenang Indonesia tidak percaya pada pernyataan non-kekerasan Yeimo dan mereka mengejar KNPB lebih keras lagi.

Para pengamat internasional mengatakan, itu karena pemerintah Indonesia merasa terancam oleh gerakan kemerdekaan.

Cammi Webb-Gannon mengatakan, hubungan internasional gerakan kemerdekaan Papua dapat menjelaskan kekhawatiran Indonesia.
"Pertama banyak dari mereka masih muda-muda, mereka mahasiswa, atau baru lulus," katanya kepada 7.30.
"Jadi mereka memiliki semangat yang kuat, mereka juga mempunyai dukungan rakyat, mereka berjuang dari prespektif akar rumput, dan saya pikir Indonesia khawatir karena mereka mempunyai hubungan internasional."

Kepala Polisi Baru

Operasi pada akhir pekan itu menyusul pengangkatan Kapolda baru Papua, Brigadir Jendral Tito Kurniawan.
Latar belakangnya sebagai mantan kepada Densus 88 menimbulkan keresahan serius di sebagian kalangan di Papua meskipun ia menjamin penerapan suatu pendekatan baru yang inklusif.

7.30 mengajukan beberapa pertanyaan kepada pemerintah Indonesia tentang situasi paling akhir di Papua tapi belum mendapat jawaban. Upaya untuk menghubungi Kapolda Papua juga tidak berhasil.
Sementara itu Yeimo mendesak dibebaskannya delapan aktifis yang diciduk pada akhir pekan.

Dan bersama para pendukungnya di Australia, ia menghimbau pemerintah Australia untuk mempertimbangkan kembali pemberian dana kepada Densus 88.

Analisa KNPB: Skenario Dibalik Teror Di Papua Barat

Photo Ilustrasi

Photo Ilustrasi

Jayapura Voice Baptist,-- Dugaan awal bahwa skenario penguasa membungkam gerakan perlawanan damai yang dilakukan oleh KNPB mulai nyata dan terbukti. 

Praktek kolonialisme seperti ini sudah lasim digunakan oleh penguasa kolonial dan kapitalis terhadap rakyat di wilayah yang dijajah dan dijarah hak ekonomi politiknya. Bahwa Partai ANC dan Nelson Mandela di Afrika Selatan juga pernah mengalami praktek itu dibawah kekuasaan Apartheid.

Dari kasus penembakan hingga teror di Papua Barat, paling tidak Indonesia sangat berkepentingan agar: Pertama, Organisasi KNPB dan aktivisnya dibunuh dengan alasan teroris dan separatis; kedua, menjadikan wilayah Papua Barat sebagai lahan operasi Densus 88; Ketiga, agar isu keamanan di Asia Pasifik, khususnyaPapua Barat menjadi alasan Indonesia memperkuat kerja sama keamanan bersama negara-negara imperialis.

Skenario Degradasi Gerakan Perjuangan

Jika melihat skenario pertama, Penjajah Indonesia merasa tidak ada cara lain dalam membungkam dan menghancurkan kebangkitan gerakan perlawan damai rakyat Papua Barat selain menggiring organisasi dan aktivis ke arah kriminal dan terorist. Indonesia sangat tidak suka orang Papua Barat lakukan demo damai tuntut hak-haknya dalam ruang demokrasi, sehingga mempersulit aksi demo, memprovokasi aksi damai agar terjadi kriminal, memblokade aksi damai rakyat Papua Barat dan atas nama “hukum”, aparat hukum memperkosa ruang demokrasi dengan menangkap, memenjarahkan, memukul dan membunuh aktivis dan massa pendemo.

Indonesia merasa, pasal penghasutan dan makar yang dialamatkan kepada pejuang kemerdekaan tidak berhasil membunuh gerakan, sehingga cara lain yang kini dipakai adalah membuat drama penembakan dan teror bom, kemudian mengkambing hitamkan aktivis gerakan damai. Buktinya, Mako Tabuni pernah dipenjara karena memimpin aksi demo 2009 lalu. Penjara tidak membuat Mako Tabuni mundur dan ia terus memimpin aksi demo, dan Indonesia menempuh cara lain yaitu menjadikan Mako Tabuni sebagai tumbal dari skenario penembakan dan teror yang dilakukan pasukan khusus yang dikirim dari Jakarta, melibatkan Densus 88 Polda Papua.

Penembakan terhadap massa aksi demo KNPB serta rakyat sipil lainnya oleh berbagai satuan militer Indonesia di Papua Barat dibiarkan dan tidak mendapat perlakukan hukum di depan hukum NKRI. Justru, sang eksekutor dipandang sebagai pahlawan dan digelari kedudukan dan uang. Bila polisi menyerang warga sipil dengan senjata, di Asrama Limboran beberapa waktu lalu tidak dianggap teroris. Bila militer menyerang warga di Eduda, Paniai 2011 lalu tidak dianggap teroris. Hampir semua warga pendatang di Papua telah dipersenjatai dengan pedang hingga pistol tidak pernah dirasia dan justru dilindungi, tapi anak panah sebagai budaya orang Papua dirasia, Yusak Pakage yang hanya membawa pisau pemotong kuku saja ditangkap dan dikenakan pasal darurat.

Skenario labelisasi aktivis KNPB sebagai teroris mulai nyata di wamena. Modus itu berawal dari tanggal 1 September 2012 di Kantor DPRD Jayawijaya dan 18 September di Pos Polantas jalan Irian Wamena. Tiba-tiba tanggal 19 Polisi juga merekayasa temuan bungkusan Bom di kantor Satlantas Jayapura. Sudah diduga bahwa akhir dari temuan dan peledakan itu akan diarahkan pada rekayasa dimana aktivis KNPB dijadikan sebagai aktor dari kepemilikan dan teror peledakan bom.

Perumahan sekretariat KNPB Wilayah Baliem, di Wamena adalah sebuah tempat terbuka yang selalu didatangi oleh rakyat Papua Barat. Keberadaan Sekretariat itu selalu diawasi oleh intelijen, baik dari pendatang, maupun warga lokal yang sengaja dipasang sebagai agen NKRI. KNPB sebagai media secara tebuka selalu menerima pengunjung. Secara organisasi, aktivis KNPB akhir-akhir ini fokus dalam penguatan konsolidasi massa, dan tidak punya agenda merakit bom dan menyerang TNI Polri maupun institusi lain atau bangunan lain. Adalah rekayasa dan merupakan permainan dari skenario menggiring aktivis KNPB di Wamena menjadi teroris.

Sebagai Upaya Melegitimasi Densus 88 di Papua Barat

Detasemen Khusus anti-teror yang dilatih oleh Polisi Australia itu, setelah misi pemberantasan teroris terhadap jaringan fundamentalis di Indonesia, merasa bahwa tidak ada lagi proyek sehingga Densus 88 harus mencari ladang proyek yang baru. Papua Barat menjadi satu-satunya tempat bagi gerakan anti teror dengan sasaran menghabisi pejuang Papua Merdeka. Makanya, tidak heran bahwa AKB Paulus Waterpau beberapa waktu lalu membenarkan bahwa Ditreskrim Polda Papua ikuasai oleh mantan-mantan pasukan Densus 88.

by, Victor yeimo (Chaiman KNPB) - KNPB-News

Densus 88 dikritik oleh TV ABC Australia atas keterlibatannya membunuh aktivis KNPB, Mako Tabuni, dimana Menlu Australia, Bob Carr ikut memberi reaksi atas elanggaran HAM di Papua Barat. Merasa kiat Densus 88 mulai ketahuan di Papua Barat, Indonesia kemudian mengatur skenario dengan cara menaikan isu teroris di Papua Barat agar Australia, AS dan UK selaku yang memback-up Densus 88 dapat terus melatih dan membiayai Densus 88. Wilayah Papua Barat dilihat sebagai wilayah operasi Densus 88, sehingga setiap gerakan perjuangan kemerdekaan digiring dalam isu teroris.

Pergantian Kapolda Tito Karnavian yang merupakan mantan Kepala Densus 88 semakin membuktikan niat tersebut. Sudah tentu proyek operasi Densus 88 di Papua Barat akan menjadi program utama. Mantan-mantan Densus 88 yang sudah berpengalaman dalam memberantas -membunuh- jaringan teroris fundamental di Indonesia diarahkan ke Papua Barat untuk memberantas aktivis Papua merdeka yang berjuang secara damai dan bermartabat.

Isu Teror Bom di Papua Barat diciptakan dan dipublikasi oleh media-media propaganda Indonesia agar tercipta opini bahwa terorisme ada di Papua Barat, lalu penempatan Densus 88 berjalan mulus, sebagai hasil rekayasa isu. Adalah jelas-jelas permainan keji yang dipraktekan oleh NKRI di Papua Barat.

Skenario Jual Isu Keamanan di Internasional

Saat ini, Pemerintah Indonesia mempererat hubungan diplomasi dengan Amerika Serikat dan Australia, khususnya dalam bidang pertahanan. Tentu saja, negara-negara yang memiliki kepentingan ekonomi di wilayah Asia Pasifik, merasa Indonesia sebagai “satpam” yang perlu dipersenjatai dengan kekuatan militer dalam upaya mengamankan kawasan asia pasific dari ancaman keamanan dalam dan luar negeri.

Papua Barat dipandang sebagai ladang ekonomi imperialis, dimana Indonesia merasa -ikut watak Soekarno- menjual isu terorisme dalam menggaet negara-negara Imperialist seperti AS. Kalau dulu, Seokarno menggunakan isu komunis untuk merampas Papua Barat, kini Pemerintah Indonesia menggunakan isu pemberantasan terorisme. Sehingga, bagi Indonesia Papua Barat harus menjadi wilayah dengan ancaman terorisme agar proyek anti teror bersama negara-negara imperialis terus terjaga, lebih khusus Internasional dapat terus mengakui integritas NKRI di Papua Barat.

Menlu AS, Hillary Clinton dalam pertemuan bilateral dengan Menlu Indonesia, Marty Natalegawa di AS (20/9) lalu, menjanjikan penjualan 4 Helycopter merek Apache. Kerja sama itu merupakan bukti bahwa Indonesia berhasil menjual isu keamanan regional, sehingga diharapkan posisi saling membutuhkan antara AS dan Indonesia tidak mengganggu kedaulatan NKRI. Adalah politik luar negeri NKRI.

Dari kasus penembakan dan Bom, pejuang kemerdekaan Papua Barat harus digiring ke arah teroris agar negara-negara imperialis dapat beridir dibelakang Indonesia untuk membasmi pejuang-pejuang yang telah dijual dengan label teroris oleh Indonesia.

Korban kekerasan antar suku di Timika Papua Barat, tempat Freeport milik AS beroperasi itu dibiarkan oleh negara, Densus 88 yang berhasil membunuh Kelly Kwalik di Timika tidak berfungsi untuk menjaga warga dari konflik perang suku. Sebaliknya, negara melalui militer Indonesia memelihara konflik di Timika agar Indonesia dengan mudah menjual isu keamanan, dan AS merasa Indonesia penting untuk menjaga aset miliknya di Timika.

Adalah merupakan praktek penjajahan keji di abad moderen, dimana rakyat tertindas yang melakukan perlawanan digiring menjadi teroris, agar proyek keamanan bagi petinggi militer maupun kepentingan negara dapat terus terjaga. Dan, rakyat tertindas mulai sadar dari semua permainan kotor, dimana praktek kolonialisme dan imperialisme selalu berhasil mengajar rakyat tertindas untuk sadar bahwa perlawanan demi kemerdekaan adalah sesuatu yang mutlak. (Victor Yeimo)

West Papua: Did The East Timor Tragedy Teach Us Nothing?

By Jennifer Robinson (update)

Jennifer Robinson (photo Rt.com)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Pacific Scoop, June 25, 012) – As violence escalates in West Papua, one cannot help but recall East Timor and wonder how much worse it must get before Australia, New Zealand and the international community will act.

Tensions are at breaking point in the easternmost province of Indonesia after the police shooting of independence activist Mako Tabuni.

Human rights activists report Tabuni was unarmed when shot six times by the Australian-trained Detachment 88 forces. Tabuni was deputy chairman of the West Papua National Committee, an organization advocating independence and the right to self-determination under international law. Tabuni had also been campaigning for an investigation into a recent spate of military killings.

The shooting follows years of violence. At least 16 people have been killed in the past month, according to human rights groups, and hundreds of homes raided, with many burnt to the ground. Thousands are reported to be evacuating, seeking refuge in the forest or heading for refugee camps in Papua New Guinea. Credible reports of human rights violations by Indonesian security forces have emerged, including torture, excessive use of force and extrajudicial killings.

Yet Indonesia’s State Intelligence Agency chief, Lieutenant-General Marciano Norman, placed blame on the Free Papua Movement, "foreign agents" and local residents for the violence.

The President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, played down the events. As Indonesia obfuscates and Australia remains silent, West Papua bleeds.

While most Australians are proud of our role in ending 24 years of bloody Indonesian occupation in East Timor, we should not forget it came after a long history of accepting Indonesian assertions of sovereignty while ignoring human rights abuse on our doorstep.

Wide-eyed innocence

After East Timor, we cannot claim any wide-eyed innocence regarding West Papua.

Australia is now bidding for a place on the United Nations Security Council on the basis of our alleged "human rights-based foreign policy," highlighting our role in East Timor while trying to keep a lid on our history of inaction there.

The federal Attorney-General has refused freedom of information requests for the release of diplomatic cables dating to the 1970s – cables that a University of NSW professor, Clinton Fernandes, says will show Australian complicity in concealing the mass starvation of Timorese.

Are we now making the same mistakes with West Papua? Few are aware of Australian and UN involvement in West Papua 30 years before the intervention in East Timor.

Like East Timor, West Papua was annexed by Indonesia in circumstances that violated international law. Comparisons are made, and with good reason.

Both territories are made up of distinct minorities. Both are rich in natural resources. Both have struggled for self-determination. Like East Timor, West Papua had a UN vote for self-determination, only the outcome could not have been more different.

Sham vote

In 1999, East Timor got a proper vote and won independence (not before an estimated 200,000 Timorese had died). But in 1969, West Papua got a sham vote and became part of Indonesia.

Last month, East Timor celebrated 10 years of independence or, as the Timorese say, 10 years since the international community recognized their independence.

But an estimated 400,000 Papuans have now been killed after more than 40 years of Indonesian oppression and abuse.

This year, Indonesia faced international condemnation for the imprisonment of West Papuan leaders for peacefully calling for independence. When asked if Australia had raised concerns with Indonesia, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Bob Carr, responded by admitting that "before I could raise the subject…

The Indonesian Foreign Minister nominated that they have a clear responsibility to see that their sovereignty is upheld in respect of human rights standards," and Carr "was impressed by that."

In responses eerily similar to statements made by Gareth Evans about East Timor during Indonesian rule, Carr warned members of Parliament "against foolishly talking up" West Papuans’ right to self-determination because it "threatens the territorial integrity of Indonesia" and "would produce a reaction" towards Australia. It would be a foolish foreign affairs minister who did not learn from our mistakes in East Timor.

Australia should, at a minimum, reconsider military aid to Indonesia and call for them to allow media and international organizations access to West Papua to investigate abuses and facilitate peaceful dialogue.

East Timor should remind us of the hefty price of turning a blind eye to repression in the mistaken belief that it serves stability in our region. As a Deakin University academic, Scott Burchill, has long argued, it is not only "a dereliction of our ethical duty, it is politically short-sighted and usually results in blowback."

Jennifer Robinson is an Australian human rights lawyer in London. The article was first published in The Age. Pacific Scoop
All editorial and news content produced under the principles of Creative Commons. Permission to republish with attribution may be obtained from the Pacific Media Centre - pmc@aut.ac.nz

Photos News: Benny Wenda Give talk at the Amnesty Reading updating Human Rights situation in West Papua 2012

By: West Papua News (WPnews)

 

West Papua Human Rights Situation

Filep Karma is serving 15 years in prison for raising a flag. A prominent advocate for the rights of Indonesia's Papuan population, Filep was arrested in 2004 for taking part in a peaceful ceremonial raising of the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papua.

Recently Detachment 88 setting up by Australia, America and British for untie terrorist Unit for counter terrorism in Indonesia. The untie terrorist unit mist use the fund to Killing West Papua Leader Mako abuni. 

 

Then arrested Buthat Tabuni without any evident what his crimes was, just because of the leading campaign West Papua Self Determination and independence he was in Jail.

West Papua: End Australian complicity in genocide

Papuan Photo: uwip.org

The Socialist Alliance released the statement below on September 10.

The Socialist Alliance condemns the Australian government’s ongoing support for Indonesian security forces, particularly the Detachment 88 “counter-terrorism” unit implicated in human rights abuses in the occupied nation West Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia.

Detachment 88 has operated in West Papua for several years and has been implicated in killings, harassment and torture of Papuans as part of Indonesia’s efforts to repress the movement for independence.

The latest crackdown by security forces — which included the alleged involvement of Detachment 88 in the killing of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) leader Mako Tabuni — has finally gained much-deserved attention from the mainstream media and put pressure on the Australian government over its complicity in the repression.

Detachment 88 was formed after an agreement between Indonesia and the Australian government following the terrorist bombing in Bali in 2002. Australia has given tens of millions of dollars to pay for the unit’s equipment, training and facilities. The Australian Federal Police have also held special training seminars for the unit’s members.

The Australian government also has long-term links to the Kopassus special forces unit, notorious for its long history of human rights abuses throughout Indonesia, East Timor and West Papua.

As new KNPB leader Victor Yeimo told ABC TV's 7.30: “You [Australia] give money for Indonesia to kill people in West Papua. You are the perpetrators ... you are the actors of violence in West Papua.

“Australian government — also American government — they are actors of violence in West Papua because they fund them, they train them, and then with the gun they kill people. They kill us like animal.”

Australia has also provided political cover for successive Indonesian governments to maintain a regime of brutality in West Papua. Foreign minister Bob Carr’s comments on 7.30 on August 28 were typical of this — defending Indonesian officials as being “responsive” when Australian diplomats raised human rights concerns, despite human rights abuses continuing.

Western countries have long been complicit in Indonesia’s brutal treatment of West Papua. The harsh regime has helped facilitate the exploitation of the area’s riches in natural resources by Western and Indonesian companies. Papuans see little benefit from the pillaging of their land, and have the lowest standard of living in Indonesia.

The Socialist Alliance recognises West Papua’s status as an illegally colonised nation. It supports the independence movement’s campaign for freedom from oppression, including its calls for an internationally supervised referendum on independence.

The Socialist Alliance calls on the Australian government to cut all ties with the Indonesian security forces. It must pressure Indonesia to bring to justice those responsible for human rights abuses, including any responsible commanders and politicians.

Australia should pay reparations to the West Papuan people for any abuses committed by forces funded and trained by Australia.

The Socialist Alliance also calls on the Australian government to end its political support for Indonesia’s crimes and to recognise the right of the West Papuan people to exercise self-determination.

More: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/52206

Australia's West Papua bind

Change won't come easily for West Papua, writes Professor Damien Kingsbury. But as long as Australia demurs on the issue, it will continue to be linked to human rights abuses there.

Densus 88 di latih Australia

It seems that no matter how cordial Australia's relationship with Indonesia is, or how much it is desired to be so, perennial issues continue that call aspects of that relationship into question.

Critically, the gap between how Australia officially engages with Indonesia and how that engagement is more widely viewed within Australia continues to test the relationship.

This has again been illustrated with the continuing human rights problems experienced in West Papua, which have been the subject of a report on the ABC's 7.30.

That story highlighted the role of the Indonesian police anti-terrorist squad Special Detachment 88 ('Detasemen Khusus 88', usually abbreviated as Den 88), which receives support from the Australian Federal Police.

 Source: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4231042.html

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said that official representation to the Indonesian government had been made about specific issues concerning Den 88's activities in West Papua. But, as with foreign ministers before him, he has been caught between having to balance Australia's often tricky relationship with its largest near neighbour with widely accepted fundamental values that inform Australian public life.

Den 88 was established in 2003 following the Bali bombing in which 88 Australians were killed. As well as receiving Australian support, Den 88 is supported by the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service and is mostly trained by former US special forces members, under the CIA, at Megamendung, 50 kilometres south of Jakarta.

Part of the rationale for establishing Den 88 was that, at a time of growing Islamist terrorism in Indonesia, Indonesia's key counter-terrorism unit, the army's Kopassus (Special Forces) Group 5 (renamed Duty Unit 81 Counter Terrorism), had itself been deeply implicated in widespread human rights abuses and the employment of terrorist tactics.

Following Indonesia's democratisation and a reduction of army control, it was regarded as more appropriate to 'civilianise' domestic counterterrorism by handing it to the police.

However, Indonesia's police force, only removed from military control in 2000, has continued to have a paramilitary function. In regions such as West Papua, it also continues to operate within the military chain of command. There is much evidence to implicate Den 88 in a string of serious human rights violations, including murder, torture and kidnapping.

Importantly, too, while Indonesia has undergone a process of democratisation and its conflicts elsewhere have been effectively resolved, West Papua remains quarantined from most of those changes. In this respect, the history of impunity by the army and police continues largely unaffected in West Papua.

The underlying problem has been that president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono used up much political capital on the Aceh peace settlement and has since been stymied over West Papua. Military reform, and effectively reform of the police, has also stopped. Both continue to reflect many of the repressive characteristics of Indonesia's pre-democratic period.

West Papua remains the most important source of significant 'offline' income for both the army and the police, through legal business as well as 'grey' and illegal activities. As a result, they are both deeply reluctant to see the West Papua conflict resolved; repression and reaction in West Papua continue to serve the financial interests of the army and the police.

President Yudhoyono's limited attempt at a political settlement in West Papua have been without any of the politically expensive concessions that were granted to help resolve the Aceh issue. West Papuan activists have, unsurprisingly, rejected such efforts as insincere.

That the West Papuan activists' language is often couched in terms of 'liberation', and that the Morning Star flag continues as their primary symbol, is seen as a provocation by Indonesian nationalists. This is all the justification the army, and the police, require to act in ways that would no longer be tolerated anywhere else in Indonesia.

Within Jakarta, the resource-rich West Papua is seen as a problem that does not require real efforts to fix while it continues to be hugely financially profitable to the Indonesia state. Similarly, knowing that even a reformist leader such as President Yudhoyono has little scope for movement in West Papua, Indonesia's international friends, such as Australia and the US, continue to demure on the issue.

The problem is, however, that this diplomatically realpolitik position continues to be confronted by widely held competing views outside Indonesia. Until enough of Indonesia's friends act strongly enough in concert to assist President Yudhoyono and other reformists to re-start the country's reform process, organisations such as the US and Australian-supported Den 88 will continue to be implicated in serious human rights abuses which most Australians deeply oppose.

Professor Damien Kingsbury is Director of the Centre for Citizenship, Development and Human Rights at Deakin University, and has written widely on Indonesian politics and security. View his full profile here.

Is Australia funding Indonesian Death Squads? Densus 88 in West Papua

Fhoto Ilustrasi

Jayapura, (17/7)---Statement by the West Papua Project, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, 16th July, 2012 Questions are being asked about the role that the partly Australian funded and trained elite Indonesian police squad, Densus (Detachment) 88, has played during the recent violence in West Papua. 

Set up in the wake of the Bali terrorist bombings, Densus 88’s mandate was to tackle the rise of domestic terrorism in Indonesia. Australian support might have been motivated by revenge as well: 88 Australians were killed in the Bali attack. While acclaimed for capturing or killing known and suspected terrorists, Densus 88 also gained a reputation for extreme violence: many suspects being killed rather than arrested. Now reports are suggesting that
Densus 88 is operating in West Papua, possibly clandestinely, and has been responsible for the
assassination-like killing of Papuan political activist, Mako Tabuni, on June 14.

While Indonesian National Police spokesman, Saud Usman Nasution, has denied Densus 88is operating in West Papua he has left the door open for their involvement, saying in the Jakarta Globe onJune 27, “Densus will be deployed if terrorism occurred there.” However other reports, for instance from Kontras Papua, a local human rights organization, state that Densus 88 is already operating in West Papua “carrying out undercover activities” (Cenderwasih Pos, June 23). Kontras Papua believes that Densus 88 was involved in theTabuni killing - where the victim is reported to have been standing in the street eating betel nut when three unmarked cars pulled up nearby. With no provocation a person emerged from one car and shot the victim dead.

Police report that the victim had tried to snatch a weapon from the plainclothes police involved and was killed in the resulting fracas. Police also claim that Mako Tabuni was wanted for a series of shootings that had occurred in Jayapura over the previous few weeks: a claim that seems unlikely given his role as Deputy Director of KNPB (the West Papua National Committee), which is a non-violent political organization. T abuni had also been publicly calling for an independent investigation into the recent shootings of which he was accused. 

Nonetheless, any charges should have been heard in court and given due legal process, now impossible with Tabuni’s death. Other reports of Densus 88 activities in West Papua have come from respected Papuan leaders. Reliable sources observed Densus 88 police arrest KNPB member, Zakeus Hupla, in the lobby of the Dhanny Hotel, Entrop, Jayapura, on the morning of June 23. Other reports indicate further arrests of KNPB m embers by Densus 88 and their subsequent torture. According to family members, no arrest warrants were issuedby Indonesian police for these arrests, and the Jayapura police deny that the KNPB members are in their custody. Indeed it is unclear if these men have been arrested, abducted or ‘disappeared.’

These events are of genuine interest and concern to Australia because Australian taxpayers’ money is spent training and maintaining Densus 88. This organization has a legitimate role to play in countering the rise of terrorism, but it should act strictly within its organisational mandate. If Australian taxpayers are indeed partially funding a clandestine force involved in killings, abduction and torture of Papuan activists an unacceptable situation has developed. 

These events and allegations must be comprehensively investigated and all funding for Densus 88 frozen until either the allegations have been disproved or the individual police officers guilty of crimes arrested and tried in an open court. We call on the Australian government to immediately halt the funding of Densus 88, to investigate the claims of its misconduct, and to apologise to the Papuan people if they are proven to be true. Source: tabloidjubi.com/

• Dr. Jim Elmslie West Papua Project co-convener 0407 913 870
• Dr. Peter King West Papua Project co-convener 0422 647 025
• Dr. Cammi Webb-Gannon West Papua Project co-ordinator 0408 727 367
• Joe Collins Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) 0407 785 797
• Budi Hernawan OFM Australian National University 02 6125 7065
• Eko Waluyo Indonesian Solidarity 0416 809 107
• Jason Macleod University of Queensland 0402 746 002

Is Australia funding Indonesian Death Squads? Densus 88 in West Papua

Statement by the West Papua Project, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, 16th July, 2012

Densus 88 In Papua ( West Papua Media)

Questions are being asked about the role that the partly Australian funded and trained elite Indonesian police squad, Densus (Detachment) 88, has played during the recent violence in West Papua. Set up in the wake of the Bali terrorist bombings, Densus 88’s mandate was to tackle the rise of domestic terrorism in Indonesia. Australian support might have been motivated by revenge as well: 88 Australians were killed in the Bali attack.

While acclaimed for capturing or killing known and suspected terrorists, Densus 88 also gained a reputation for extreme violence: many suspects being killed rather than arrested. Now reports are suggesting that Densus 88 is operating in West Papua, possibly clandestinely, and has been responsible for the assassination-like killing of Papuan political activist, Mako Tabuni, on June 14.

While Indonesian National Police spokesman, Saud Usman Nasution, has denied Densus 88 is operating in West Papua he has left the door open for their involvement, saying in the Jakarta Globe on June 27, “Densus will be deployed if terrorism occurred there.” However other reports, for instance
from Kontras Papua, a local human rights organization, state that Densus 88 is already operating in West Papua “carrying out undercover activities” (Cenderwasih Pos, June 23). Kontras Papua believes that Densus 88 was involved in the Tabuni killing – where the victim is reported to have been standing in the street eating betel nut when three unmarked cars pulled up nearby. With no provocation a person emerged from one car and shot the victim dead.

Police report that the victim had tried to snatch a weapon from the plainclothes police involved and was killed in the resulting fracas. Police also claim that Mako Tabuni was wanted for a series of shootings that had occurred in Jayapura over the previous few weeks: a claim that seems unlikely given his role as Deputy Director of KNPB (the West Papua National Committee), which is a non-violent political organization. Tabuni had also been publicly calling for an independent investigation into the recent shootings of which he was accused. Nonetheless, any charges should have been heard in court and given due legal process, now impossible with Tabuni’s death.

 Other reports of Densus 88 activities in West Papua have come from respected Papuan leaders. Reliable sources observed Densus 88 police arrest KNPB member, Zakeus Hupla, in the lobby of the Dhanny Hotel, Entrop, Jayapura, on the morning of June 23. Other reports indicate further arrests of KNPB members by Densus 88 and their subsequent torture. According to family members, no arrest warrants were issued by Indonesian police for these arrests, and the Jayapura police deny that the KNPB members are in their custody. Indeed it is unclear if these men have been arrested, abducted or ‘disappeared.’

These events are of genuine interest and concern to Australia because Australian taxpayers’ money is spent training and maintaining Densus 88.

This organization has a legitimate role to play in countering the rise of terrorism, but it should act strictly within its organisational mandate. If Australian taxpayers are indeed partially funding a clandestine force
involved in killings, abduction and torture of Papuan activists an unacceptable situation has developed. These events and allegations must be comprehensively investigated and all funding for Densus 88 frozen until either the allegations have been disproved or the individual police officers guilty of crimes arrested and tried in an open court. We call on the Australian government to immediately halt the funding of Densus 88, to investigate the claims of its misconduct, and to apologise to the Papuan people if they are proven to be true.

West Papua Report July 2012: escalating violence, rights award, Detachment 88

West Papua Report July 2012

Mako Tabuni ( Wakil Ketua KNPB)

This is the 99th 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 ActionNetwork (ETAN). 

Back issues are posted online at http://www.etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm Questions regarding this report can be addressed to Edmund McWilliams at edmcw @msn.com. If you wish to receive the report via e-mail, send a note to etan@etan.org.

SUMMARY
 

The West Papua Advocacy Team gives its annual John Rumbiak Human Rights Defenders Award to Anne Noonan and Joe Collins and the Australia West Papua Association (Sydney). Detachment 88 forces gunned down leading Papuan activist Mako Tabuni in what witness describe as an extrajudicial killing. Tabuni was a key official of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), an organization pressing for a referendum on West Papua's status. Indonesia's security forces and Detachment 88, a purportedly anti-terror unit supported by the U.S. and Australian governments, are ratcheting up pressure on KNPB and other Papuan groups at a time of growing tension in the territory. 

That tension derives in part from an early June assault on the village of Honai Lama by Indonesian military personnel which led to the death of at least one Papuan civilian, the beating of others, and destruction of villagers' homes. The Asian Legal Resource Center warned the UN Human Rights Council of "escalating violence" in West Papua and the failure of Indonesian authorities to arrest the perpetrators of this violence. 

 

WPAT urges the U.S. government to suspend support for Detachment 88. WPAT also endorses a Human Right Watch call for the Indonesian government to admit the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.

 

Full Report : http://etan.org/

Aktivis Kemerdekaan Papua Barat, Mako Tabuni Tewas di tembak Polisi, Jayapura Rusuh

Mako Tabuni ( Sekjen KNPB)

Jayapura--Wakil Ketua Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB) Mako Tabuni, Kamis (14/6) sekitar pukul 11.50 WIT tewas tertembak di Jayapura, Papua.

Saat berita ini ditulis, jenazah korban masih berada di Rumah Sakit Polri Bhayangkara, Jayapura, untuk autopsi.

Mako Tabuni tewas tertembak saat berada di kawasan Perumnas Waena sedang belanja roko di depan kios . Pagi tadi kawasan perumnas itu memanas setelah sejumlah massa KNPB mengamuk akibat tewasnya pimpinan mereka.

Mako cs, adalah orang aktivis papua yang paling vokal menyuarakan aspirasi rakyat papua untuk penentuan nasib sendiri, dia juga Menjabat sebagai Sekjen Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB).

Sejumlah rumah toko (ruko), kendaraan roda dua dan empat dibakar massa. Kepala Humas Polda Papua Ajun Komisaris Besar Polisi Johannis Nugroho membenarkan adanya kerusuhan tersebut. Namun Kapoda Menyangkal penyebab kerusuhan, Ia mengatakan belum bisa memastikan penyebab. Satuan Brimob sudah dikerahkan ke kawasan itu.

Menurut sejumlah saksi, Polisi datng menenbak mati pimpinan KNPB yang paling vokal itu, setelah terjadi penembakan massa datng membakar ruko dan kendaraan mereka melarikan diri ke gunung. Polisi tengah mengejar para pelaku yang lari ke arah belakang Kampus Universitas Cenderawasih, Waena. Warga panik dan lari menyelamatkan diri.

Diduga, kerusuhan ini masih terkait dengan serangkaian kekerasan di Jayapura, Papua, dalam beberapa pekan terakhir. Polda papua mengklaim bahwa keterlibatan Komite Nasional Papua Barat dalam serangkaian kekerasan jayapura.

Ketua Komte Buchtar Tabuni ditangkap Kepolisian Daerah Papua. namun keterlibatan bukthar Cs, tidak membuktikan oleh penyidik Polda Papua dan bukthar di jerat dengan kasus pengrusakan LP abepura tahun 2010 silam.

Buchtar ditangkap di Lingkaran Abepura dan kemudian di giring ke Markas Polda Papua Jalan Samratulangi, dengan pengawalan ketat anggota Reskrim dan Brimob Polda Papua. 

Wakapolda Papua Brigadir Jenderal Pol Paulus Waterpauw mengatakan, penangkapan Buchtar Tabuni karena ditengarai sebagai dalang berbagai kekerasan di Papua

Rights group write to NZ minister for action on West Papua

Posted : Radio New ZealandInternational

 Indonesia Human Rights Committee says its written to the New Zealand foreign minister asking to take a more assertive stand against military violence in Papua.

Marie Leadbetter says reports are emerging from the Paniai District of the Indonesian military committing horrendous violence, firing from helicopters and torching villages.

Call to Suspend Training and Funding of Indonesian Police Unit Detachment 88

Contact: John M. Miller (ETAN) +1-718-596-7668

Ed McWilliams (WPAT) +1-575-648-2078
September 29, 2010 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) today urged that the U.S. government to suspend all funding and training of Indonesia's Detachment 88 police unit pending review of charges leveled against the unit for systemic human rights violations, including use of torture.
"U.S. funding and training should not go to a security force that has repeatedly and credibly been charged with human rights violations including torture of those engaged in peaceful dissent," said WPAT's Ed McWilliams.

"Indonesian authorities have consistently failed to prosecute Detachment 88 personnel for these widely reported abuses," he added.

"Detachment 88 has been funded and trained by the U.S. from its inception. With that history, how can anyone believe that U.S. assistance will improve the human rights behavior of other units, like Kopassus," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of ETAN.
"While the reported withdrawal of Detachment 88 from the province of Maluku will end its persecution of peaceful protesters there, we are concerned that the unit will continue to operate in West Papua," said McWilliams. "We urge the Indonesian government to stop treating pro-independence activists as terrorists and to deal with the underlying issues."
Indonesian and international non-governmental organizations and media regularly report on the counter-terrorism police unit's brutal methods, including torture against nonviolent protesters and suspects.
In addition to suspending assistance to Detachment 88, ETAN and WPAT urge:

a) that the U.S. Government urge the Indonesian government to investigate credible charges of human rights violations and other illegal activity by Detachment 88 personnel and to prosecute these personnel as necessary;

b) that the U.S. Government review its own procedures for providing funding to foreign security units to ensure that in the future all credible reports of human rights violations and other illegal activity by these units are promptly and thoroughly investigated by U.S. officials to ensure that U.S. funds and other forms of assistance are not used to support such activities;

c) that the U.S. Government review its "vetting" procedures which is supposed to ensure that no personnel involved in human rights violations or other illegal activity are members of units receiving U.S. government assistance.

Background

Detachment 88 (Densus 88) was created by the Indonesian government statement in 2003 with the assistance and encouragement of the U.S. Government. The U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Services used funds appropriated under the Anti-Terror Assistance Program to support the initiative, which was in response to the 2002 Bali bombings. In addition to providing funding for the unit, the U.S. government has trained its personnel, drawing on the resources of various agencies.

Though the unit has drawn praise for its successful actions against small numbers of militants, it has also gained a reputation for brutality in its more than 500 arrests, including allegations of torture.

The unit has increasingly been used by the Indonesian government in its suppression of separatist activities around the country. In 2007, Detachment 88 members arrested and tortured 22 civilians after they unfurled the Maluku independence flag in front of Indonesia's President. Yusuf Sipakoly, who in 2007 was sentenced to 12 years for possessing a "separatist flag" recently died in prison. He had told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I was tied with nylon [by the Detachment 88 officers] and my head was covered with a bucket," he said. "Then they started beating me until I urinated in my underwear..."

The Herald also reported that the United States had secretly banned some Detachment 88 members in Maluku from receiving assistance in May 2008 because of concerns over human rights violations. However, abuses continued. In August 2010, 12 activists were allegedly detained and torturedat the hands of Detachment 88 members. The activists had planned to "to float dozens of the distinctive rainbow flags attached to helium-filled balloons during Ambon's Sail Banda regatta" which Indonesias President planned to attend. Following an outcry, the unit was disbanded in Maluku in September, but the unit's commander Brig. General Tito Karnavian has said that the unit will stay in Papua.

In April 2010, members of Detachment 88 detained 28 West Papuan activistsfor organizing a peaceful demonstration in Manokwari. Some of these detainees were sentenced to three and three and a half years in prison for talking about freedom and for holding a Morning Star Flag. In December 2009, Detachment 88 personnel shot Papuan independence figure Kelly Kwalik, allowing him to bleed to death without medical intervention. On October 18, 2007, the prominent Papuan human rights lawyer Iwanggin Sabar Olif was arrested by Detachment 88 on charges of "incitement of hatred and rebellion," after forwarding a text message to colleagues criticizing the Indonesian President and military. The U.S. reportedly provided Detachment 88 with the technical capacity and other support to intercept SMS and possibly other messages among civilians.

The U.S. government has paid for training costs, instructors' salaries, weapons and wire tapping devices. For example, as of late 2005 Washington had provided at least $12 million for Detachment 88 for training an initial 400 officers. Australia has also provided substantial aid to the unit. In 2004, Australia pledged US$35 million over five years for Indonesia to build a training center.

One Indonesian legislator has warned that "We have to be really careful about [Detachment 88] because we don't want anyone to turn the clock back to the old days when Kopassus got training in the U.S. and tortured their own people when they're back home.''

The Indonesian government has recently announced the creation of an umbrella organization, the National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT), to coordinate the actions of the National Police, especially Detachment 88, the Indonesian military, the State Intelligence Agency, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. There are concerns that this new agency's scope will broaden to target to not just terrorism suspects but "separatist" activists as well, as well as deepen the military's controversial internal security role.

The National Police have now put Detachment 88 under direct control of the National Police chief, General Bambang Hendarso Danuri. Over the weekend Danuri said "Please understand that our officers, particularly those of Densus 88, have never violated human rights in the course of their duty."

ETAN was formed in 1991 to advocate for self-determination for occupied East Timor. The U.S.-based organization continues to advocate for democracy, justice and human rights for Timor-Leste and Indonesia. For more information, see ETAN's web site: http://www.etan.org. The West Papua Advocacy Team produces the monthly West Papua Report.