News
- UPCOMING EVENTS – ARCHIVES -
West Papua Morning Star flag raised at Aotea Square
Indonesia Human Rights Committee led the flag raising of the Morning Star at Aotea Square in commemoration of West Papua’s “independence day”. It’s the 50th anniversary of their struggle against the Indonesian colonisers.
West Papua's Morning Star proudly flying
Tangata Whenua lowering the Morning Star after the celebration
Raising the Morning Star
Lush shines a light on the Free West Papua campaign
Lush shines a light on the Free West Papua campaign at the Regent St. shop on the launch day of International Lawyers for West Papua which is seeking to free political prisoners in West Papua and bring about a free and fair referendum on self determination for the people of West Papua
Strange Birds In Paradise Screening
Submission to Ministerial Inquiry into use and operation of Foreign Charter Vessels
Indonesia Human Rights Committee,
Box 68-419,
Auckland.
22 September, 2011
Jenny Wood
MAF
PO Box 1020
Wellington 6140
Submission to Ministerial Inquiry into use and operation of Foreign Charter Vessels
Introduction
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee (IHRC) has been deeply concerned about the parlous situation of many Indonesian fishermen who are contracted to serve on foreign Charter boats in New Zealand waters.
There is no need to itemise the kinds of abuse suffered by these men as they have been well documented in the excellent research report: ‘Not in New Zealand’s waters, surely? Labour and human rights abuses aboard foreign fishing vessels’ by Christina Stringer, Glenn Simmons and Daren Coulston, recently published by the University of Auckland in the News Zealand Asia Institute working paper series
However, from our perspective as an NGO working closely with human rights groups in Indonesia, it was a shock to find this level of abuse taking place under New Zealand’s jurisdiction.
In our work we are attempting to highlight the human rights violations experienced by vulnerable groups in Indonesia, especially in areas such as West Papua where the military maintains tight control over any expression of dissent. We did not expect to find similar kinds of abuse, including beatings and food deprivation amounting to a form of torture, to be happening in our waters at the hands of brutal fishing vessel operators.
To read the full article, click here: Submission to Ministerial Inquiry into use and operation of Foreign Charter Vessels
West Papua and Pacific Islands Forum
17 June 2011
Dear Prime Minister,
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee draws to your attention the ongoing
human rights abuses suffered by the indigenous Melanesian people of West
Papua.
You will be aware that West Papua has now been controlled by Indonesia for
48 years since Indonesia took control from the United Nations Temporary
Executive Authority (UNTEA) in 1963. Since that time tens of thousands of
lives have been lost in the ensuing conflict.
Currently West Papuan leaders are committed to non-violent means to achieve
their aspirations and to resolve problems and grievances. There have been
repeated calls to the Government in Jakarta for a process of peaceful
dialogue.
In recent weeks, perhaps inspired by the democracy uprisings in the Middle
East, there have been thousands-strong peaceful demonstrations in West
Papua when the people have rallied to call for a new self-determination
referendum and also to a call for the release of all political prisoners.
Click here for the full article: Letter to NZ Prime Minister from the IHRC
Free West Papua Prisoners Now
www.freewestpapuanprisonersnow.blogspot.com
To download these as PDF’s, click below:
Rusdi Marpaung’s visit to Aotearoa
10-14 December 2010
Impunity is like a ‘virus’
IHRC was very pleased to welcome Rusdi Marpaung as our guest at a seminar following our AGM on 11 December, 2010. Rusdi also addressed a public meeting in Whangarei, met with Auckland MPs and attended the Amnesty Aotearoa’s Human Rights Defender Award ceremony.
Rusdi is a Senior researcher with Imparsial—a prominent Indonesian human rights NGO focusing on monitoring state policies from human rights perspectives. Coming from a legal and media background, Rusdi was one of the 17 high profile human rights activists who came together to form Imparsial in 2002.
He has been actively campaigning for human rights and democracy since the Suharto years and was a close colleague and friend of the late Munir Said Thalib, tragically murdered in 2004. Rusdi has just completed his Masters degree in International Human Right Law and Policy at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
Rusdi emphasised that the problem of legal impunity is like a virus in Indonesia which continues to spread and to influence the violent mentality of the security forces. The following is a summary of some of the key points from Rusdi’s presentations and discussions.
Click her for the full article: Rusdi Marpaung in Aotearoa
Message from Filep Karma, jailed in Indonesia
“Don’t Buy Kwila” demo in front of Country Road
18 December 2010
West Papua, search for justice: an eyewitness perspective
7 December 2010
Article: Maire Leadbeater
One of the great things about my November visit to West Papua was the chance to reconnect with some of the special people who have been here to New Zealand on speaking tours over the last few years.
I called on Rev Socratez Yoman, the leader of the Baptist Churches in West Papua, and one of the most outspoken advocates for peace and justice. Socratez’ name was at the head of a list of Papuan leaders targeted in a leaked Kopassus document exposed in November by US journalist Alan Nairn.
Socratez told me he was not concerned about being labelled as an ‘enemy of the state’ because his job is about protecting ‘God’s people’.
When he visited here four years ago Socratez brought power point images to illustrate the problem of unrestrained migration of people from other parts of Indonesia. The reality hit me as I moved about the capital Jayapura and later the southern city of Merauke.
Indigenous Papuans, their religious life and their cultural icons are devalued and marginalised. In the business and trading sector migrants dominate while the Papuan women sell their beautiful craft work and their fresh produce on the pavement outside the glossy western style supermarkets or at the night market which functions as a carpark during the day.
To read the full article, click here: Scoop: West Papua, search for justice