Hendra Mambrasar and Jacob Mandobayan at the ceremony for the Freedom Flotilla on September 14th 2013
Six West Papuans have fled across the border to Australia after being hunted by Indonesian authorities for participating in a ceremonial handover of sacred water and ashes from Australian Indigenous Elders. They have been detained by Australian Immigration after reaching Boigu Island in Australia on Tuesday.
The peaceful ceremony was the culmination of the Freedom Flotilla from Australia to West Papua, and was intended as a symbolic reunification of the peoples and struggles of Indigenous West Papuans and Australians. However, it had to be conducted in secret after Indonesian authorities refused permission for the Australian participants to enter Indonesian waters and threatened to arrest or respond violently to their arrival.
Indonesian authorities also refused permission for Papuans to hold a welcoming ceremony for the Freedom Flotilla in their destination port of Merauke, where police and military surrounded the house of the welcoming committee’s chairman Jhon Wob. Despite this intimidation, a small ceremony was held later in the day at a remote beach, sending origami boats south towards the Australian mainland.
The families of those who participated where then hounded by Indonesian intelligence who sought to identify the people involved in the ceremony. With four Papuans from Sorong already charged with treason for holding a congregation to pray for the safe passage of the flotilla – a charge which carries a maximum life imprisonment, the group had to flee for their safety.
Freedom Flotilla Spokesperson Ruben Blake holds fears for their safety now that they have been detained by Australian authorities. “In this case if they ‘turn back the boats’ the Australian government would be sending them directly back to the country from where they have fled from persecution. Sending refugees back to a country where holding a ceremony can get you arrested, or refusing to cut your hair can get you killed, would be criminal.”
Amos Wainggai, who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2006, said that “these people have no choice but escape from Indonesia. Now the intelligence is hunting them, they must run otherwise be arrested or killed. They need a safe place to live like I have now in Australia.”
Meanwhile Edison Kendi has been arrested and is currently being detained in Serui, Yapen Island. More than twenty police, military and intelligence presented Kendi with a warrant for his arrest at 8pm last night, for his involvement in organising a welcoming of the sacred water and ashes today. Two others are currently being hunted by police. Other organisers of the event say they will attempt to go ahead with the action despite Kendi’s arrest, saying that “this event is representing our culture and identity, the spirit of our people can not be put out by military force and intimidation”.
• AWPA: Situation in West Papua should be raised by Prime Minister Abbott and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop on their trip to Indonesia
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088
The Hon Tony Abbott MP
Prime Minister
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
26 September 2013
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Australia West Papua Association in Sydney concerning the issue of West Papua and your coming trip to Indonesia at the end of September. AWPA uses the name “West Papua” to refer to the whole of the western half of the Island of New Guinea. However, “West Papua” at this time is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua.
I am sure you are aware of the historical background to the issue of West Papua and that it is now 50 years since the hand over of the former Dutch colony by the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) to Indonesian administration. Since Indonesia took over the administration of West Papua in 1963, there have been ongoing human rights abuses in the territory.
As recently as the 1st May, West Papuans commemorated the 50th anniversary of the handover by holding peaceful demonstrations. The demonstrations went ahead despite a ban issued by Indonesian authorities in contravention of the right to free expression and assembly. Police opened fire on the demonstrators killing three, seriously injuring others and arresting the organisers of the rallies. When civil society groups gathered on 13 May to peacefully demand accountability, more arrests were made. At least 30 demonstrators were arbitrarily arrested in Timika, Sorong, Biak, Abepura and Jayapura.
The 15 of September is International Day of Democracy. The West Papuan people decided to celebrate the International Day of democracy by calling rallies through out West Papua for the 16 September. The security forces again banned the rallies. On the 16th the security forces cracked down on a number of the rallies arresting a large number of the demonstrators and generally intimidating those taking part. We keep hearing how Indonesia is now a democracy yet peaceful rallies to celebrate democracy are banned in West Papua. It is a basic right enshrined in article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association”.
In relation to the crackdown on the 1 May, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay raised her concerns stating,
“These latest incidents are unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and excessive use of force in Papua,” and “I urge the Government of Indonesia to allow peaceful protest and hold accountable those involved in abuses.
Amnesty International in its annual report for 2013 also stated in relation to West Papua that “Indonesian security forces, including police and military personnel, were accused of human rights violations in Papua. Torture and other ill-treatment, excessive use of force and firearms and possible unlawful killings were reported. In most cases, the perpetrators were not brought to justice and victims did not receive reparations”.
The U.S. Department of State’s Annual Country Reports on Human Rights for 2012 on Indonesian stated
The suppression or abridgement of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities was a problem. The government applied treason and blasphemy laws to limit freedom of expression by peaceful independence advocates in the provinces of Papua, West Papua, and Maluku and by religious minority groups. Official corruption, including within the judiciary, was a major problem.
In light of the ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua, we urge you to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian President during your visit to Indonesia.
We also urge you to request permission from the Indonesian Government to allow a cross-party parliamentary fact finding mission to West Papua to not only investigate the human rights situation in the territory but to see how Australia can help the West Papuan people in capacity building in the fields of health and education.
Yours sincerely
Joe Collins
AWPA (Sydney)
Ruben Blake. Joe Collins AWPA (Sydney)
