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INFO PAPUA

Members of Congress Urge President Yudhoyono of Indonesia to Open up Access to West Papua; Ongoing Human Rights Abuses Condemned
By WPNews Europe
Sep 17, 2005, 15:23

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Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN)

Members of Congress Urge President Yudhoyono of Indonesia to Open up Access
to West Papua; Ongoing Human Rights Abuses Condemned

CONTACTS:
S. Eben Kirksey, RFK West Papua Advocacy Team
(831) 429-8276/(831) 227-4347

Edmund McWilliams, RFK West Papua Advocacy Team
(703) 237-3913/(703) 899-5287

John M. Miller, Spokesperson, ETAN
(718) 596-7668/(917) 690-4391

Ann Vaughan, Office of Sam Farr (CA-17)
(202) 225-2861

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 16, 2005-Members of the U.S. House of Representatives today
called on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to rescind policies
that restrict international access to West Papua.

In a letter (see below) to President Yudhoyono, Representatives wrote that
"the travel permit (surat jalan) system, requiring travelers to report
their own movements to local intelligence agencies, is contrary to the
freedom of movement that is essential to a functional democracy." The
letter calls on Yudhoyono to suspend the travel permit system, as well as
visa policies "that restrict access of international journalists,
researchers, and NGO workers to West Papua."

The letter, sponsored by Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Christopher H.
Smith (R-NJ), also calls for an end to "new military operations and . . .
the military build-up in West Papua as a whole." Today Rep. Farr said "I
commend President Yudhoyono for seizing the opportunity in the aftermath of
last year's tsunami to make positive progress towards peace in the Aceh
Province. I encourage the Indonesian government to make similar efforts to
return to the negotiation table with the Papuans and work toward the
demilitarization of that area."

Lawmakers highlighted the detention of political prisoners Yusak Pakage and
Filep Karma, who were recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for raising
a flag.

"Scholars who would not normally be concerned with politics - botanists,
zoologists, and anthropologists - are being denied visas to do basic
research in West Papua," said Eben Kirksey, a Chancellor's Fellow at the
University of California, Santa Cruz. "Indonesia's policy of prohibiting
research in West Papua has backfired; it is turning academics into
activists," he added.

"Access is a problem of long standing and even as a US diplomat, I had to
seek special Indonesian government permission to visit West Papua," said
Edmund McWilliams, formerly the Political Councilor to the U.S. Ambassador
to Indonesia.

"While international access does not guarantee an end to human rights
violations, as we saw in East Timor, it is vital in giving the victims hope
and in generating international pressure for genuine change," said John M.
Miller, spokesperson for the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN).

President Yudhoyono, who is currently touring the United States, will
address world leaders today who have convened in New York City for the
United Nations Summit.

The letter was signed by 35 members of Congress. (see
http://etan.org/news/2005/09papua.htm for list)

Background

West Papua, the half of New Guinea controlled by Indonesia, is the site of
unparalleled natural and cultural diversity. With over 250 local languages
as well as a high number of plant and animal species found nowhere else on
earth, it is a sought-after location for academic research.

The Indonesian government is trying to hide ongoing human rights abuses in
West Papua from the world. A report documenting extensive crimes against
humanity by Indonesian troops in West Papua was released last year by the
Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale
University. The report found "a strong indication that the Indonesian
government has committed genocide against the Papuans."

In March, 2005, 37 members of the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
asking them to support West Papua's right to self-determination. On 9 June
2005, the House International Relations Committee passed H.R. 2601, the
State Department Authorization Act for FY2006, which contained historic
language about West Papua and would require that the Secretary of State
submit a report about the Act of Free Choice-the 1969 plebiscite that led
to West Papua's incorporation into Indonesia. Many historians regard the
Act of Free Choice as a sham. The State Department Authorization Act for
FY2006 must still be approved by the Senate.

In August over 10,000 Papuans held a peaceful demonstration asking the
Indonesian government to end ongoing kidnappings, torture, and
assassinations. No international correspondents were given permission to
travel to West Papua to cover this demonstration. As a result, the event
went unreported in the global media.



September 15, 2005
Office of the President
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10110
Indonesia

Dear President Yudhoyono:

We, the undersigned members of Congress, commend you for changing visa
policies that allowed journalists and international organizations access to
Aceh following the tsunami disaster. Countless lives have been saved
because of this change. We write to encourage you to continue with these
positive steps by opening up access to West Papua and by addressing the
following issues:

*Military Operations in West Papua*

We note that recently announced plans to establish a new Strategic Army
Reserve (Kostrad) post in West Papua's Mimika District with plans to
station up to 15,000 new military troops in West Papua, are further
threatening to undermine peace initiatives. We also are deeply concerned
about ongoing Indonesian military (TNI) operations in Mimika District
itself. For example, we understand that a TNI patrol near the Coffee River
(Kali Kopi) reportedly shot dead two Papuans in mid-March and that four
other Papuans recently were killed in this area.

Despite efforts to impede access by international journalists and human
rights and humanitarian workers, we are aware that operations in the
highlands have resulted in numerous human rights violations since August
2004. Churches, human rights organizations, and regional parliamentarians
(DPRD Papua) are reporting that thousands of villagers have been forced to
flee these military operations.

We call on you to immediately end the new military operations and to halt
the military build-up in West Papua as a whole.

Press reports indicate that these military operations are being financed in
part by funds from international donors that were designated to help
Papuans develop local governance. These reports further suggest the TNI is
diverting these funds to create militia, a situation gravely reminiscent of
TNI sponsorship of militia to ravage East Timor in 1999.

We urge you to promptly investigate this reported misuse of funds. We urge
you to order the immediate disbanding of the militia, criminally prosecute
those culpable, and repay illicitly-spent funds.

*Peace Process and Human Rights*

We recognize that many prominent leaders of West Papua are seeking
solutions to the pressing problems in the region through dialogue and
negotiation. We are aware of recent reports about the formation of a
special Presidential Commission on West Papua. We believe this to be a
positive development deserving of your government's full cooperation and
support. However, detaining non-violent leaders - such as Yusak Pakage and
Filep Karma - is clearly limiting the possibilities for political
compromise. We urge you to immediately release Pakage, Karma, and other
political prisoners who are working for peace.

*Restriction on Travel*

The travel permit (surat jalan) system, requiring travelers to report their
own movements to local intelligence agencies, is contrary to the freedom of
movement that is essential to a functional democracy. In all areas of West
Papua outside of major urban centers, foreigners are required to carry
surat jalan travel permits. In some localities Indonesian citizens of
Papuan descent are even required to carry similar permits.

We call on you to abolish the travel permit system and allow for the
freedom of movement throughout Indonesia.

Visa policies are in place that restrict access of international
journalists, researchers, and NGO workers to West Papua. We urge you to
abolish these visa restrictions.

Moving towards a democratic system of government with respect for human
rights is the key to a sustainable peace in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic
Indonesia. We respect the fledging efforts you have made towards building
democratic institutions and encourage your continued efforts to institute
respect for human rights and rule of law as you lead your country on a path
towards democracy.

Sincerely,

Cc:

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, B. Lynn Pascoe

Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Soemadi Djoko Moerjono
Brotodiningrat

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Chris Hill



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ETAN welcomes your financial support. For more info:
http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm

John M. Miller Internet: fbp@igc.org

Media & Outreach Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network:

48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to find out
how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet

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