By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
JAKARTA, Indonesia –- The Indonesian government is charging nine Papuan activists with plotting against the state for waving a Papuan Morning Star flag at a peaceful, student protest last week. Indonesia’s recent efforts to round up Papuans involved in political expression has drawn harsh criticism from human rights organizations.
Human Rights Watch, the largest human rights organization, is calling for the nine’s release, and condemning the Indonesian government for suppressing freedom of speech. “Raising a flag at a demonstration is a nonviolent act, but in Indonesia it can land you in prison,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.
While several provisions of Indonesia’s criminal code were declared unconstitutional in 2007, others remained intact; specifically, a law prohibiting the display of the Morning Star Flag in Papua, the South Maluku Republic Benang Raja flag in Ambon, and the Crescent Moon flag in Aceh. All three flags are examples of banned separatist symbols. Just last week, two pro-independence demonstrators were sentenced to 15 and 17 years in prison for preparing flags for the South Maluku Republic.
But political instability and public protests have long marked Papua’s history. Once a Dutch colony on New Guinea’s western end, Papua became Indonesia’s largest province in 1969. Violence erupted in 2003 after President Megawati Sukarnoputri separated Papua into three provinces: Central Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Tengah), Papua (or East Irian Jaya, Irian Jaya Timur), and West Irian Jaya (Irian Jaya Barat). Indonesian courts declared that the creation of the central province was unconstitutional and in opposition to Papua’s Special Autonomy status.
The separation has divided Papuans who accuse the Indonesian military of violating human rights. In addition, many Papuans complain that the money earned from Papua’s natural resources mostly ends up profiting Jakarta. As a result, many Papuans have been campaigning peacefully for independence from Indonesia.
The nine Papuan activists, including a 16 year old boy, have been in custody since March 13. The West Papua National Authority has reported that Indonesian police have been threatening and harassing relatives of the charged activists. Meanwhile, responding to the military threat, other activist leaders have gone into hiding.
“If Indonesia wants recognition as a rights-respecting nation, it should stop imprisoning people for acts of peaceful expression,” Pearson said.
For more information, please see:
Reuters, Asia –- Free Peaceful Protesters in Papua –- 19 March 2008
Radio New Zealand International –- West Papua National Authority fears Indonesian forces are rounding up more Papuans –- 19 March 2008
UNPO, Netherlands — West Papua: Worrying Signs of Crackdown — 18 March 2008
Radio New Zealand International –- Australian NGO raises concerns about Papuan protestors arrested in Indonesia –- 17 March 2008
News.com.au –- Nine in court for waving ‘Free Papua’ flag –- 18 March 2008
The Jakarta Post –- New law to end Papua legal dispute –- 05 March 2008
