Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
JAYAPURA, Indonesia – Human rights activist, Paula Makabori, claims that the beating of the West Papuan political prisoner, Buchtar Tabuni, in Jayapura warrants the need for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to re-enter the region.
In West Papua, there have been a number of cases where democracy activists are arrested, intimidated, and face police raid. These democracy activists are claimed to have been against state emergency law and subversion articles. Tabuni is one of these activists who is said to be a “clear example of how freedom of expression and democracy are still restricted to Papuans.”
Tabuni was arrested earlier this year for his protest against the launching of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua in London. There were many reports that he was beaten and mistreated by the police and prison officials since he was arrested.
Tabuni claims that he did nothing more than express his opinion. He is regarded by many as “someone who struggles for the aspirations of the Papuan people.”
Tabuni was sentenced to prison for three years for provocation at Abepura, the notorious prison located in Papua’s provincial capital, Jayapura.
It has now been discovered that Tabuni suffers from bad head injuries resulting from many assaults by five Indonesian security force officials at the Abepura prison. Many activists fear that he is being denied medical treatment.
Makabori, who is a representative of the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, says that the ICRC, which was forced by Jakarta to shut its office back in April 2009, has “a role to play.”
Makabori stated: “With all the maltreatments of West Papuan political prisoners, especially those activists and student activists in Abepura and police prison, I think Indonesia’s government has to go give free access to International Red Cross to come back to West Papua to advocate these situations and also give the right treatment to all those political prisoners.”
TAPOL, a UK-based NGO which seeks to promote peace, human rights and democracy in Indonesia, states that criminalizing those who have engaged in legitimate and peaceful activities is a violation of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
Carmel Budiardjo, the founder of TAPOL, stated: “There is no justification to charge these men with [subversion]. The charges should be dropped and the men released.”
For more information, please see:
Free West Papua – Beating claims prompt calls for ICRC to return to Papua – 27 November 2009
Radio New Zealand International – Beating claims prompt calls for ICRC to return to Papua – 27 November 2009
InfoPapua – Social-Political Analysis – The Continuing Violence in Papua – 05 September 2009
West Papua Action – 15 Papuans face serious charges for peaceful demonstration – 04 August 2009
Ipahr’s West Papua blog – West Papua: Buchtar Tabuni on trial for subversion – 18 February 2009
