The Profile of Human Rights Situation in West Papua 2011

On 19th October 2011, the Indonesian military and police  broke up the third Papuan People’s Congress, a peaceful gathering held in Abepura. More than 300 were taken into custody and released the following day, the leaders accused of treason.

On 7th November the President rejected the National Commission on Human Rights’ (Komnas HAM) finding that human rights violations did occur at the third Papuan Congress, stating that the police were still handling the case. Komnas HAM recorded several deaths, including James Gobay, 25, Yosaphat Yogi, 28, Daniel Kadepa, 25 and Maxsasa Yewi, 35. There has been on going human rights abuses in the territory, the democratic elected government, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has not be able to bring the perpetrator to justice.

In addition the biggest multinational investment (dating from 1967) and biggest tax payer in Indonesia, has been the mine owned by Freeport in West Papua. Workers at the mine have been on strike for 8 weeks, two workers shot dead. Freeport Indonesia workers reportedly receive the lowest salaries among all Freeport McMoRan workers around the world, with wages ranging from US$1.50–$3.00 per hour.

Speakers:

Olga Helena Hamadi is a human rights lawyer and a director of Kontras Papua. Helena is also one of the lawyers assisting the leaders of Papuan Congress accused of treason.

Ms Indria Fernida is a human rights lawyer and a vice director of Kontras Jakarta. Kontras (The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence) is a very reputable Indonesian human rights NGO.

Mr Octovianus Mote is a former head in Papua for Kompas, the biggest daily in Indonesia, and now an exile in the US. He is affiliated with Yale University’s Southeast Asia Program and the International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School. Mr Mote was elected by Papuan civil society at the Papua Land of Peace Conference as a Papuan negotiator.