Journeyman Pictures report in 2007 on the Biak massacre in 1998.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Matt Peacock of ABC News

Indonesia is facing calls to investigate the killing, raping, and torture of more than 150 civilians on the West Papuan island of Biak 15 years ago.

A Sydney University citizen’s tribunal presided over by former NSW Attorney-General John Dowd, now the president of the International Commission of Jurists, today found that “large numbers” of West Papuans had been tortured and mutilated.

The tribunal urged Indonesia to bring those responsible for the “crimes against humanity” to justice. Read more »

West Papuans of the mountain areas in the 1960s. Image: United Nations Photo

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a report into human rights abuses against West Papuans by the Indonesian military in 1977 and 1978, saying what occurred amounted to genocide.

The Hong Kong-based organisation called for an ad hoc human rights court to be set up to hear the allegations and try those responsible.

The organisation conducted field visits, interviewed witnesses and examined historical records over three years to collect the names of more than 4000 people it believed were killed.

Read more »

Victor Mambor of the Alliance of Independent Journalists is critical to the level of press freedom in West Papua. Image: JFCC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

A petition to revoke the ban on media reporting from West Papua has been initiated by press freedom groups.

At the time of publication, the avaaz.org petition had only accumulated 237 electronic signatures.

The petition, which was launched recently, was initiated after the governor of West Papua said journalists would be allowed to enter the Indonesian-ruled region.

Read more »

Yacob Mechrian Mandabayan is one of seven West Papuans deported to Papua New Guinea after seeking asylum from Australia. Photograph: West Papua Freedom Flotilla

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

Six West Papuans who had sought asylum in Australia, but were secretly moved to Papua New Guinea by Australian authorities, have now been moved to a remote part of Western Province, near the border to the Indonesian-ruled region of West Papua.

The six, who were human rights activists, said they had fled Indonesia when security officials began searching for them after their involvement with the West Papua Freedom Flotilla from Australia, Radio New Zealand International reported.

According to Guardian Australia, the correct number of human rights activists was seven, of whom there was one woman and one child. Earlier this week, the group was moved to the East Awin camp about 50 km from the town of Kiunga.

Read more »

Reports that Papua governor Lukas Enembe has removed the restrictions on journalists visiting West Papua appear unfounded. Image: en.tempo.co

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

Australian newspaper The Age has rebuffed Papua governor Lukas Enembe’s statement that the journalist blockade in West Papua has been lifted.

Enembe said recently he wanted to welcome reporters and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the region.

“Why not? There’s nothing that needs to be covered up. That would only raise questions…Please, come to [West] Papua. It’s open for everyone,” the governor said in an interview with the Jakarta Globe.

Read more »

Rofinus Yanggam (left), Yuvensius Goo and Markus Jerewon (right) left the Australian consulate in Bali yesterday. Image: Marni Cordell

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

Three West Papuan student activists entered the Australian consulate in Bali this weekend with calls on Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to push Indonesia to release at least 55 political prisoners jailed in the Indonesian-ruled region.

In an open letter addressed to the Australian people, the three students also called for greater press freedom for international journalists reporting on West Papua, Radio Australia reported.

The student activists said in the letter they wanted to deliver a message to the leaders attending the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali this weekend.

Several organisations have asked Australia to give sanctuary to the three West Papuans, but according to Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb the West Papuans did not seek asylum.

Read more »

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Moana Carcasses Kalosil raised the question of West Papua’s status during the UN General Assembly. Image: UN Photo / Ryan Brown

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Moana Kalosil Carcasses has called on the United Nations to appoint a special representative to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Indonesian-ruled region of West Papua and its political status.

Carcasses said West Papuans had been consistently denied any sort of recognition by the world body.

“We are now deliberating on the issue of Syria, but when it comes to the issue of the rights of the people of West Papua, our voices are muted even on this podium,” Prime Minister Moana Carcasses told the United Nations General Assembly’s annual general debate recently.

Read more »

Audryne with her father when he was still a free man. Image: etan.org

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

The daughter of a political prisoner in West Papua has sent a letter to the Indonesian president appealing for the release of all political prisoners in the Indonesian-ruled region.

Audryne Karma’s father Filep Karma was arrested on December 1, 2004, after participating in a peaceful ceremony to commemorate the 1962 declaration of West Papuan independence, where the participants raised the Morning Star flag.

In her letter addressed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Audryne told the president what happened the day her father was arrested.

Read more »

People in the town of Manokwari welcomed the sacred water and ashes the Freedom Flotilla awarded West Papuan leaders. Image: West Papua Freedom Flotilla

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

The West Papua Freedom Flotilla has arrived back in Gove in the Northern Territory of Australia, describing its attempt to get the attention of the region’s Indonesian masters and the world’s media, a success.

“We really hope and really feel that this campaign has helped to put West Papua on the map and in people’s consciousness and hopefully in the consciousness of Australian politicians and Australian people as well,” spokesperson of the Freedom Flotilla, Izzy Brown, told Radio Australia’s Campbell Cooney.

The flotilla’s flagship The Pog decided on Friday to not attempt entering the West Papuan port city of Merauke as it had received threats the Indonesian military would “take measures” against them.

Read more »

Video of Kevin Buzzacott (with cap to the left) and other members of the West Papua Freedom Flotilla at the cultural ceremony in West Papua on Thursday. Footage: West Papua Freedom Flotilla

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset

Evading the military, two tiny boats with members of the West Papua Freedom Flotilla made it to shore on Thursday and completed its mission to present water and ashes to West Papuan leaders on.

At an undisclosed location, near the Australia-Indonesia border, members of the flotilla held a ceremony between indigenous people of Australia and West Papua.

The ceremony was “the pinnacle of a 5000km journey beginning in Lake Eyre [in central Australia], in which sacred water and ashes were carried and presented to West Papuan leaders”, the flotilla stated on its website.

Read more »