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| West Papua (Irian Jaya) |
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In West Papua, members of the armed pro-independence group, the Free Papua Movement (Organisasi Papua Merkda, OPM),
the army and the police, have all committed numerous human rights abuses. While Papuan leaders have repeatedly
expressed their commitment to pursue independence through peaceful means, civilian defense “task forces” (satuan tugas or
satgas) informal security organization of Papuan men and youths, grew in size and importance throughout the year.
Extrajudicial killings and torture have also become widespread. The enforcement of a ban on raising the West Papuan
"Morning Star" flag, has resulted in many clashes between civilians and the security forces. This culminated in a violent
clash in Wamena in October 2000 in which over 25 people were shot and 200 were arrested and tortured. In other flag-raising
incidents in December 2000, eight Papuans were shot dead.
In the same month, the police conducted a raid on student hostels in the capital Jayapura, in apparent retaliation for
the killing of three security officials. According to the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in Papua
(KPP HAM Papua), the Jayapura police and Brimob (police Mobile Brigade) used excessive force, resulting in the death of
a Papuan student 100 arrests, of whom at least 35 were tortured and 2 died in police custody. KPP HAM Papua also accuses
the police of intimidating witnesses and denying the torture and arrest in the media.
For more on this, please click on the following links:
Amnesty International: “Indonesia: Political crisis deepens in Jakarta while repression continues in Aceh and Papua”
UN OCHA: Indonesia – OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 19
Human rights activists are continually arrested and harassed in Papua. Five political activists were detained three
months after the Wamena clash and accused of organizing the disturbances. They have been charged with expressing hostility
against the government and conspiring to commit separatism. According to Amnesty International, there is no indication
that the five were involved, and amnesty considers them to be prisoners of conscience.
For more on these cases, please click on the following links:
Amnesty International Indonesia: Political crisis deepens in Jakarta while repression continues in Aceh and Papua.
For more on human rights abuses in Papua, please click on the following link:
Human Rights Watch on Papua
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