In 2010, I stand on the wall of the old Portuguese fort overlooking the tiny mountain village of Balibo. I was here previously, 10 years ago.

Click here for the full article: Pacific Scoop: Balibo Review by Bruce Honeywill in Dili

A “true hero” killed in the line of duty is to be recognised in Wellington as an investigation continues into his 1975 murder.

Cameraman Gary Cunningham was gunned down with four other journalists in East Timor by invading Indonesian forces, while on assignment for Australia’s Channel 7.

Though the Indonesian Army initially said the men were caught in cross-fire, it later emerged they were slain to prevent reports of the invasion reaching the world.

Mr Cunningham, who lived in Wellington until he was 21, would be pleased to live on in Mt Victoria’s Charles Plimmer Park, where a commemorative plaque, park bench and tree was to be erected, aunt Patricia McGregor said.

She wished her brother, Gary’s father, Jim – who died in 2001 – was still alive to see the memorial.

The New Zealand Government had not helped the family get answers, she said.

Click here for the full article: Dominion Post: Civic honour for Balibo murder victim

MATTHEW BACKHOUSE

February 12, 2010

NZPA

The New Zealand government has been criticised for its “appalling” failure to hold Indonesia to account over the Balibo Five killings in East Timor.

New Zealander Gary Cunningham and other Australian-based newsmen Brian Peters, Malcolm Rennie, Greg Shackleton and Tony Stewart were shot dead at Balibo, East Timor, in October 1975.

A memorial to Cunningham was announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Friday.

The Australian Federal Police launched a war crimes investigation into the killings last year, following a 2007 coronial inquest which found Indonesian forces deliberately killed the Australian-based journalists to cover up their 1975 invasion of East Timor.

Retired Indonesian army colonel Gatot Purwanto appeared to back the coroner’s findings in December last year, becoming the first senior Indonesian figure to contradict the official explanation the newsmen were killed in crossfire.

The planned memorial in Wellington, organised by the Indonesia Human Rights Committee with support from the Media Freedom Committee and Wellington City Council, would be the first official commemoration in New Zealand.

Click here to read the full article: NZ must act on Balibo deaths

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Pejambon No.6. Jakarta Pusat, 10110
Indonesia

Chris Evans

Minister of Immigration,

Parliament House,

Canberra, ACT 2600,

Australia

14 January, 2010

Dear Ministers,

We are very disturbed by the news that some 246 asylum seekers remain moored at sea off the Indonesian coast in the region of Merak.  As you know the people involved are Tamils from Sri Lanka and there are many children in the group, all of whom have been in this unresolved situation since last October.  Indonesian authorities intercepted their vessel after they were given assistance and intelligence information from Australia.

We understand that all would like the opportunity to claim refugee status and that some 109 of the group have already been recognised by the UNHCR as genuine refugees. Only 8 of the initial group have agreed to leave the boat on an understanding that they would have access to the UNHCR but this has not been granted and all are still held in cramped detention cells.

To add insult to injury, the Indonesian authorities gave Sri Lankan navy officers permission to interview the 8 detainees.   This action shows utter disregard for the safety of these asylum seekers and the safety of their families in Sri Lanka.  Under international refugee protocols it is mandatory that asylum seekers should be protected at all times from all renewed persecution by the Government of the country they have fled. Refugee advocates consider that Indonesia has committed the most serious breach of refugee protocols and undermined its stated commitment to sign and abide by the UN Refugee Convention.

We also read reports that some Indonesian police figures have been quoted as recommending that the asylum seekers be sent back to Sri Lanka.

In these circumstances, it is entirely understandable that the large group still on the boat choose to stay where they are rather than disembark in Indonesia and face indefinite detention or deportation to Sri Lanka

The conditions on board this boat have become very dire, especially from a sanitation point of view: there is only one toilet and gastroenteritis and diarrhea afflict many. At Christmas time one young man fell ill and died from an undiagnosed illness. Named as George Jacob Samuel Christin, 29, the man was clearly very ill for several days before his death but his hospital care was delayed until it was too late to save him.

Reports say that there is no one on board the boat with any medical qualifications, that medical supplies are rudimentary and that there are only 18 life-jackets. The boat has no anchor and is vulnerable to drifting off to sea. The shelter on board the boat is limited and the tarpaulins used for rain protection are now torn and inadequate.

There can be no doubt that Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka have reason to fear persecution as most have had their lives disrupted by extreme violence and internal displacement. Human Rights groups have called for the Government of Sri Lanka to be investigated for alleged war crimes committed during the recent conflict with the Tamil Tigers and the long drawn out siege of the Tamil areas in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

International law enshrines the principle of “non-refoulement”, explicitly prohibiting the forced return of refugees to areas where their lives are potentially in danger.  There have been recent reports that the Sri Lankan navy has been conducting a surveillance operation on the coastline and arresting those attempting to flee by sea.

We urge that these asylum seekers should have immediate access to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and that Australia and Indonesia should work together putting the needs of the asylum seekers before political considerations.

In the case of the asylum seekers who were previously held on board the ‘Oceanic Viking’ in Indonesian waters, international co-operation did prevail and we understand that this group will shortly be resettled in Australia and other western countries, including New Zealand.  We believe that the Merak group merit the same opportunity begin a life free from the threat of persecution.

Few asylum seekers manage to reach New Zealand because of its geographic isolation, but we will continue to lobby our Government to urge that New Zealand share in the regional responsibility for assisting Tamil asylum seekers, especially this group who are being held in a tortuous limbo.  New Zealand already has a large and well-settled Tamil community and could easily accommodate a significant number from this group.

Yours sincerely,

Maire Leadbeater

For the Indonesia Human Rights Committee

Copy to

Hon Murray McCully,

Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Parliament Buildings,

Wellington

Hon Mr David Carter,

Minister of Forests,

Parliament Buildings,

Wellington

Dear Minister Carter,

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee and Rainforest Action are shocked at the limp measures included in the Government’s recently announced policy to address illegal logging.

We believe that the policy measures are weak, non-specific and about talking rather than taking action. Many of the proposals are also dependent on the uncertain prospect that other countries will take the lead.   These soft measures are unlikely to have any impact on the regional problem of rampant illegal and unsustainable logging of precious old growth forests.  Nor will they stem the steady stream of illegal tropical hardwood imports into this country.

We fully agree with Government’s assessment that the key species of concern with respect to illegal logging practice is kwila (also known as merbau). However we strongly disagree that an approach which relies on a voluntary code of practice on the part of New Zealand importers and retailers will be effective.

While we are pleased that the Government supports the campaign for kwila to be listed on Appendix 11 of the Convention on Internationally Endangered Species (CITES) we urge that New Zealand take the initiative to bring this about rather than simply support the work of other countries and NGOs.

As you know, we have been researching and campaigning on this issue for several years, liaising with other environmental groups such as Greenpeace. We have developed a strategy of dialogue and demonstrations aimed at those retailers that continue to sell kwila outdoor furniture and kwila decking. While it is commendable that some furniture retailers have ceased to stock kwila products this is far from the complete answer.

Kwila decking continues to be sold by several major timber chains and is on offer at cheaper prices on the internet on sites such as Trade Me.  Some furniture retailers sell products which have no legality documentation or grossly inadequate documentation which does not include any independent third party certification of legality.

We are particularly concerned because we have found that most of the kwila products on sale in Auckland are sourced from Indonesian controlled West Papua.  West Papua and its neighbour Papua New Guinea hold the Asia Pacific region’s last significant tracts of undisturbed and unique rainforest.

The exploitation of West Papua’s forest is escalating because of the lure of immediate profits to be made by clearing out the forests and replanting with palm oil plants.

Late last year, a report from environmental groups Environment Investigation Agency (UK) and Telepak (Indonesia) revealed in their joint report  ”Up for Grabs” that  five million hectares of  land in West Papua are being targeted for deforestation by powerful  agro-industrial companies. These companies use all kinds of devious tactics to get the local people to sign contracts, all for the sake of lucrative palm oil plantations.  Often the clearing for new plantations takes place without any permits.

P.T. Sinar Mas, for example, is accused by Greenpeace as being responsible for illegal land clearing and for irreversible damage to forests and peatlands in West Papua as well as Kalimantan and Riau.  Unilever has suspended its purchases of palm oil from Sinar Mas in response to these credible claims.

In West Papua the logging industry is closely intertwined with the security forces. Local community groups in West Papua are trying to stop the destruction of their traditional land and their all important food basket, but they are isolated, lack resources and are subject to military intimidation.   It is estimated that 80% of the logging in West Papua is conducted illegally.

The respected international NGO Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org ) has just published a new report “Indonesia: Timber Corruption’s High Costs”  This report shows that corruption in  Indonesia’s forestry industry costs the Indonesian government US$2 billion  annually taking money away from essential spending on economic and social needs. The extent of corruption, conflicts of interest and poor oversight in this industry strongly suggest that there will be major difficulties for any carbon trading or REDD schemes in Indonesia.

The practice of illegal and unsustainable logging is driven by demand from wealthy countries where some consumers can afford attractive leisure products.  But tropical timber imports come at the expense of local industry and the livelihoods of workers.   A 2007 report commissioned by the Government estimated that illegal logging cost the forest industry NZ $266 million annually in lost revenue.

Both the European Union and the United Stares have begun to address this problem by regulation.  We therefore call on Government to adopt a strong regulatory approach which would prevent the sale of kwila and all illegally and unsustainably logged tropical woods.

Whether the ban is imposed at the border or at the point of sale, what is essential is that the forests of West Papua and Papua New Guinea are saved from exploitation before it is too late.

Yours sincerely,

Maire Leadbeater

On behalf of Indonesia Human Rights Committee and Rainforest Action

A former Indonesian officer, Gatot Purwanto, has just made a dramatic revelation confirming that Indonesian Special forces killed the Balibo Five journalists in cold blood.  Mr Purwanto, a retired colonel,   is the first senior Indonesian military figure to give a public eye witness account of the events.  He said ‘we tried to make them disappear’.   Australian Federal police are undertaking investigations for a possible war crimes tribunal and in   2007 Coroner Dorelle Pinch found that the men were killed deliberately by Indonesian officers including Captain Yunus Yosfiah and Christophorus da Silva.

“It is time that New Zealand took action on behalf of justice for its national Gary Cunningham who was murdered on October 16, 1975.  Over the years, New Zealand has feebly stood back and left any action to Australia.  Gary was killed with his companions because they wanted the world to know the truth about the imminent  Indonesian invasion of East Timor.  Gary bravely chose to keep filming as the Indonesian forces advanced on Balibo and he paid with his life.’

‘Indonesia has adamantly refused to co-operate with the Australian Federal Police in their current war crimes investigation.  New Zealand should immediately make an urgent call to Indonesia to cooperate with the justice process under way in Australia and to ensure that Yunus Yosfiah and Christophorus da Silva are brought to trial for their alleged crimes. It is time to end Indonesia’s impunity for its historic crimes in East Timor and justice for the Balibo Five can be a first step.’

The Indonesia Human Rights Committee is writing to both the Attorney General and Prime Minister John Key to  take action now.

For further information: Maire Leadbeater; 09-815-9000 or 0274-436-957

Even now, Indonesians find it difficult to face the traumatic events of the past

Robert Cribb and Michele Ford

Prisoners captured during the Trisula Operation

Photograph taken at the Museum Brawijaya by Vannessa Hearman

In the course of little more than five months from late 1965 to early 1966, anti-communist Indonesians killed about half a million of their fellow citizens. Nearly all the victims were associated with Indonesia’s Left, especially with the Communist Party (PKI) that had risen to unprecedented national prominence under President Sukarno’s Guided Democracy. The massacres were presided over and often coordinated or carried out by anti-communist sections of the Indonesian army, but they also engaged wider elements of Indonesian society – both people who had reason to fear communist power and people who wanted to establish clear anti-communist credentials in troubled times.

The killings followed a coup which took place in Jakarta on the morning of 1 October 1965 in which six senior army generals were killed and a revolutionary council was formed, seizing power from Sukarno. For the whole of the New Order period, Indonesian authorities portrayed these events as a communist grab for power, which was to be followed by the wholesale slaughter of their opponents. Sceptics, by contrast, doubted the PKI’s involvement and even wondered whether the coup might have been a ‘black’ operation by conservative forces, intended to compromise the Party. Recent research, especially by John Roosa, who writes for this issue, has shown that the PKI leadership was closely involved in the coup, but that the aims of the operation were far more limited than a seizure of power.

Click here for the full article: Inside Indonesia: The Killings of 1965-66

Papuans have staged rallies in support of calls for a referendum on West Papua’s political status and to welcome efforts of international support groups. New research has pointed to the persistence and perniciousness of the Indonesian military’s illegal logging. A new attack on Freeport personnel re-enforces analyses that Indonesian security forces are orchestrating the violence. An Indonesian NGO and the Papuan branch of the Indonesian Human Rights Commission say that rights protection in West Papua declined in 2009. A Human Rights Watch report details rights violations in 2009. The Indonesian military has named a senior Special Forces (Kopassus) officer to head up the military in West Papua. The appointment conflicts with Papuan efforts to begin a dialogue with the central government and to demilitarize West Papua. The man chosen to replace independence leader Kelly Kwalik, killed by the police in December, has pledged to continue Kwalik’s pursuit of a peaceful dialogue with Indonesian authorities. The police who killed Kwalik have been honored for their action. The Indonesian government plans to ban more books, including some which address Papuan issues. The Indonesian Government is moving forward with plans for a “food estate” in West Papua which will expropriate land from local people and bring many non-Papuans to the site as laborers. A local union and others have condemned the plan as a “land grab.”

Click here for the full article: WPAT/ETAN report on West Papua Feb 2010

Cabinet decisions addressing illegal and unsustainable logging imports released last week claim to be a package of actions. In fact they are a long list of inactions.

The National Government has backed away from the previous Government’s 2008 requirement to label the tropical timber used in outdoor furniture – kwila – which is being illegally logged, particularly across West Papua.

Labour’s mandatory labelling requirement hadn’t yet been fully implemented, but it was a good start. Now National have ignored calls from the New Zealand forestry industry and environmental networks for regulation to stop the import of wood products from rainforests.

I am personally extremely disappointed because when my Customs and Excise (Sustainable Forestry) Bill to ban illegal and unsustainable timber imports was voted down, the Minister of Forestry, David Carter, told me that while he hadn’t supported the Bill, he would take action. He said he was aware that voluntary regimes to stop this trade were not working.

Yet Cabinet has decided that we should follow the Australian Government who have also just reneged on an election promise to act on the issue and decided that encouraging voluntary labelling is sufficient action.

One of the most offensive aspects of Cabinet’s decision is that in his paper to Cabinet – which I have read – the Minister states that no human rights are affected by this policy position. The human rights of the 60 million indigenous people worldwide who are affected by illegal logging clearly don’t matter to this Government.

The illegal timber trade is a bloody business costing human life, endangered species, and the environment.

Click here to read the full article: NZ Inaction on Illegal and Unsustainable Logging