13 West Papuans involved in a peaceful demonstration yesterday have been charged with subversion and rebellion under Indonesian law. The group was arrested for carrying and waving the Kejora (Morning Star) flag which the government has banned from public display.

It must be stated, however, that under the law of Special Autonomy, the People of West Papua are guaranteed the right to express their cultural practices and political aspirations. The Kejora Flag is a symbol of autonomy and independence for West Papuans.

A media alert prepared by Nick Chesterfield, …

Reports have recently come out of West Papua that indigenous people from the Muyu tribe have clashed with employees of Korindo, the Korean and Indonesian owned logging and oil palm company—resulting in the destruction of four Korindo company trucks, and the death of atleast one local Papuan.

According to the Institute for Papuan Advocacy, “The military have reportedly accused the OPM/TPN guerrillas of the attacks” and is apparently using this as a pretext for further action against local Papupans.

“The recent violence reported at the Korindo operation appears to be as …

Wilmar, the world’s biggest trader in palm oil, is illegally logging rainforests, deliberately setting forests on fire, and intentionally destroying lands that are home to numerous communities in Indonesia without even consulting them.

Friends of the Earth (FOE) and two other NGO’s recently released a report (pdf) discussing these activities.

Point for point, Wilmar emphatically denies all of this — but Laili Kharnur of Lembaga Gemawan, who traveled to attend the release of the report, said in an interview she had witnessed first hand the misery caused by Wilmar’s activities:

“For …

Yesterday, eight West Papuan men and women were arrested at the conclusion of a four-day Papuan Tribal congress meeting in Jayapura. The police say the arrests are because the West Papuan national flag was used in the opening ceremony of the conference; however it’s more realistically part of the continuing campaign to intimidate anyone who would discuss self-determination. Indonesian authorities also recently banned U.S Congressman Eni Faleomavega from entering Papua and attending the Tribal Congress.

Amid this comes the announcement that Indonesian police, military and local government have teamed teaming up …

SPECIAL AUTONOMY HAS FAILED, THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT MUST CARRY OUT RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE WITH PAPUA

From adnki.com - More than 1,500 students on Friday gathered in front of the governors palace in Jayapura, the capital of the Indonesian province of Papua, demanding an end to the province’s special autonomy status, which they say does not work. The protestors called instead for dialogue with the government to decided the future of the province. “We want a three-way dialogue, involving Jakarta, a delegation from Papua and a representative …

Indonesia - Solidarity Needed: Stop the Northern Coastal Reclamation Project
From PH Mobile Infoshop
March 22, 2007

Dear All,

We know that your country had suffered like us, and we also know that it is quite impossible to measure one’s suffering and compare it to the suffering of others, to the fact that we are still in the same earth in which capital power had spread their influence everywhere. We are in this together. Even so, we would like to inform you what we are facing and trying to do down here.

To this year, since the collapse of Soeharto’s …

Supporting Genocide In West Papua
from www.heathlander.wordpress.com
March 4, 2007

note by Ahni - the following is slightly skimmed-down version of the original article, which can be found here.

“Since Indonesia gained control of West Papua, the West Papuan people have suffered persistent and horrible abuses at the hands of the government. The Indonesian military and security forces have engaged in widespread violence and extrajudicial killings in West Papua. They have subjected Papuan men and women to acts of torture, disappearance, rape, and sexual violence, thus causing serious bodily and mental harm. Systematic resource exploitation, the destruction of Papuan resources and …

Human rights in decline in Asia
By Kathleen Hwang
www.upi.com

HONG KONG, Jan. 18 — Respect for human rights is deteriorating in many Asian countries; security forces are abusing suspects with impunity, and people are living in greater fear of those in authority, the Asian Human Rights Commission said in a report released Tuesday in Hong Kong.

The report documents state-sponsored violence, including kidnappings, torture and murder. It cites Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal as countries of special concern, and includes reports on Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Basil Fernando, executive director of the AHRC, said there …

The following is a detailed look at history of conflict among Papuan Peoples in Indonesia, and the “Special Autonomy Legislation” that was implemented, allegedly in the best interests of Paupan Peoples.

Messages of solidarity for the people of West Papua
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wpsol.htm

You are invited to send a message of solidarity to the people of West Papua. This web page was launched on 1 December 2004, the forty-third anniversary of the West Papuan Declaration of Independence from Dutch colonial rule.

Since 1963 West Papua has been occupied by Indonesian armed forces. For the past forty-one years, the people of West Papua have been …