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Papuan Human Rights : Military Operations

West Papua:Removed from W. Papua, ETAN Urges Prosecution of Indicted TNI Officer
By ETAN Urges His Prosecution
Sep 3, 2008, 13:16

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ETAN (East Timor and Indonesia Action Network New York
August 21, 2008

Indicted Officer Removed from West Papua
ETAN Urges His Prosecution
For Immediate Release

August 21 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)
andthe West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) today welcomed the
removal of Col. Burhanuddin Siagian from his command in West
Papua. Siagian faces twoindictments in East Timor for crimes
against humanity committed in 1999.

Col. Siagian's removal from Papua is a welcome move," said
John M. Miller, National Coordinator of ETAN. Indonesia should
take the next steps and suspend him from any command and then
hand him overfor trial for the crimes he committed in East Timor.

Siagian was the target of international campaign urging his
removal fromPapua and calling for his trial.

As commander in West Papua, he made extremely incendiary remarks
aboutPapuans engaged in peaceful protest. In May 2007, he
reportedly threatened to “destroy” anyone who betrays Indonesia.
This and other statements were similar to those he made while
stationed in East Timor in 1999 during the referendum period.

Unfortunately, the transfer of Col. Siagian has not ended
therepression in West Papua. A little over a week ago Opius
Tabuni was shot and killed by Indonesian security forces during
a celebration World Indigenous People's Day in Wamena,"
said Ed McWilliams of WPAT. “Prisoners of conscience, like Filep
Karma and Yusak Pakage, continue to serve outrageously long
prison terms for engaging in peaceful protest.”

The failure of the Indonesian government to extradite Siagian
and his continued service in the Indonesian armed forces are
signs of the Indonesian government's lack of commitment to
justice andaccountability," said Miller.

Background

Siagian was replaced in late July as commander of the
Jayapurasub-regional military command (Korem 172) in Papua.
However, he remainson active duty, stationed in East Java.

Col. Burhanuddin Siagian has been indicted twice in East Timor
for crimesagainst humanity. According to the indictments issued
by a UN-backed court in 2003, Col Siagian publicly threatened to
kill supporters of Timor-Leste's independence and was directly
responsible for the death of seven men. He is also thought to
have been responsible for the creation of the Bobonaro militia,
one of the most brutal in East Timor. Col. Siagian is named as a
suspect in the report of Indonesia's own Commission of
Investigation into Human Rights Violations in East Timor, which
investigated human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999. (Copies
of the indictments involving Col. Siagian can be found
here:http://jsmp.minihub.org/indictmentspdf/Cailacoindnannexeng07feb03
andhttp://jsmp.minihub.org/indictmentspdf/Maliana_Burhanuddin22_7_03.pdf.)

In May 2008, members of the UN Committee Against Torture asked
whether "Indonesia, as a member of Interpol" was
planning to hand over people, including Siagian, for whom
Interpol has issued red notices – notifications of international
warrants. Interpol issued a Red Notice forSiagian in 2003.

Committee Expert Felice Gaer asked about Indonesia's response to
Interpol red notices for people currently residing in Indonesia
indicted in East Timor for alleged crimes committed in 1999. The
next day, she noted that Indonesia had failed to respond to her
questions;about the legal proceedings concerning the
individuals that were wanted by Interpol for their implication
in the East Timor conflict. One of them was a colonel currently
serving with the Indonesian military command. Was the Government
planning to arrest this individual and respect its obligations
under Interpol? Also, the question of sending such commanders
from onehot spot to the other had not been addressed.

In June 2007, a coalition of Indonesian and international human
rights organizations wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
urging him to withdraw Col. Siagian from West Papua, suspend him
from active duty, and extradite to East Timor those indicted by
Dili's Special Panel forSerious Crimes.

For more information see Siagian’s profile in the Masters of
Terrordatabasehttp://www.villagechief.com/mot/cons92z%20-%20Burhannudin%20Siagian.htm
and the ETAN website: www.etan.org.

-------------------------

Radio New Zealand International August 21, 2008

NGO welcomes Indonesian military commander’s removal from Papua

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, or ETAN, has
welcomed theremoval of Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian from his
command inPapua.

A leading Indonesian military officer, Siagian faces two
indictments in East Timor for crimes against humanity committed
in 1999.

The Colonel has been the target of an international campaign
urging hisremoval from Papua and calling for his trial.

Last year, as regional military commander in Papua, he issued
death threats against anyone daring to demonstrate their support
for Papuan independence.

It is yet be confirmed whether Siagian will be transferred to
anotherIndonesian province.

However ETAN’s John Miller says that while his removal from
Papua is awelcome move, Jakarta should take the next steps and
suspend him from any command and then hand him over for trial
for the crimes he committed inEast Timor.

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