The following report was compiled by the participants at the North Component of the Fourth International Solidarity Meeting for West Papua in Brussels on 7/8th June 2003.

As the Indonesian military (TNI) is attacking civilians and burning schools in Aceh in the far west of Indonesia, they are committing similar atrocities at the opposite end of the archipelago, hidden in the remote highlands of West Papua.

4th April:

On 4 April 2003 the military command post (Kodim 1702) in the central highland town of Wamena was attacked by unknown men. 29 M-16s, pistols and a large amount of ammunition were stolen. Two soldiers and one of the attackers were killed. Initially TNI accused separatists of the attack, however it is strongly suspected that TNI themselves were behind the attack. This echoes the recent shootings of US citizens in Timika (August 2002), as justification for the
military's presence in Papua. Indeed the army's elite orps,
Kopassus, recently ordered to leave the province have now been recalled.

Immediate military response:

Immediately following the attack the military arbitrarily arrested and detained up to thirty Papuans. Many were beaten and tortured. Yapenas Murib was killed whilst under military arrest after being tied by his neck with a chain to the back of a truck and dragged along a road. Another innocent woman, Paulina Itlay, was beaten, mutilated, burnt with cigarette butts and raped by military officers.

Sweeping operations targeting innocent civilians:

Within days of the attack 186 army personnel, including some of the notorious Kopassus and Kostrad units, were deployed to the region. TNI began a mass sweeping operation through highland villages, arbitrarily attacking and killing civilians and destroying homes and crops. TNI soldiers arbitrarily shot people on sight. They also burnt
many homes (burning some people alive), three schools, a health clinic and plantations and crops and confiscated farming equipment. Many people were arbitrarily beaten and questioned in relation to the attack on the military command in Wamena. In conducting their operations, the army used Kelompok Satgas Merah Putih (East Timor style pro-Jakarta militia), which consists of 50 local people. As a
result of these TNI operations approximately 1000 people, mostly from Kwiyawagi, have been forced to flee their homes and are now hiding in the forests.

Current situation:

Many of the villages remain under military control and occupation. The villagers remain in the forests, too scared to return to their homes. They have no access to food, are exposed to extreme conditions and are experiencing widespread starvation. They are unable to return to their crops, as those that are not destroyed are guarded by military officers who shoot people on sight. Already a number of adults, a twelve year old boy and one baby have died due to starvation and exposure and there are concerns for the rest of those in hiding.

The military has closed off the area and is refusing access to church groups, humanitarian aid and human rights workers. To date sixteen people have died either at the hands of the TNI or due to exposure and starvation in the forests (see appendix).

One civilian, Mikael Heselo, is still being held in police custody. Also, Kanius Murib, a civilian, is still being held in Kodim 1702 (army custody) and has not been allowed access to a lawyer. Also, five members of Jayawijaya District Military Command are being held in military police custody (see appendix).

This type of disproportionate retaliation by the military in response to alleged "separatist attacks" which targets the innocent civilian population is a regular tactic, which has been experienced by the people of West Papua since the beginning of the Indonesian occupation in 1963.

Wider context: Military in Papua and Aceh

The atrocities reported here are part of a larger pattern being seen across Indonesia at the moment. Since Megawati came to power the role of the military has become ever more dangerous, in particular in the regions of West Papua and Aceh. As commented by John Rumbiak, Supervisor of the Institute for the Study and Advocacy of Human Rights, West Papua, "West Papua and Aceh are becoming political commodities in the Indonesian military's attempts to restore their control over politics in Indonesia to the levels they enjoyed during Suharto's regime".


Moving Forward:

In light of the above, the organisations recently gathered at the Fourth International Solidarity Meeting for West Papua in Brussels made the following demands:

"We call on the Indonesian military to withdraw immediately from the highland region of West Papua and allow human rights workers, church groups, and most importantly humanitarian aid into the area";

"We urge the international community to place pressure on Indonesia to stop military operations in West Papua and to enter into peaceful dialogue with the Papuan community, out of respect of the Land of Peace agreement, approved by all Papuan groups and the police force."

"In light of recent reports of weapons and equipment sold by the UK, Germany, and Netherlands to Indonesia being used in Aceh and Papua, we urge the international community to enforce military sanctions against Indonesia for their illegal attacks on the civilian population in these provinces (in breach of international law). This includes a total arms embargo as well as a halt to any military
funding and training provided to the Indonesian military.";

"We point out that the root cause of conflict in West Papua derives from the denial of the Papuan's right to self-determination, in particular the fraudulent 1969 'Act of `Free' Choice'. We urge the international community to call on the UN to review its role in the 'Act' as a step towards resolving the problems in West Papua.


Appendix:

List 1: List of those either killed by TNI or who died due to being forced from their homes during the military operations in the central highland region of West Papua since 4 April 2003

1. Yapenas Murib, Napua M (40) Known civilian, died in army custody due to being dragged by chain around neck, 15 April
2. Arman Tabuni (alias Titus Murib), Napua M (39)
3. Arekean Wuka (alias Kabelak Hiluka), Holkima M (40) Known civilian, shot by TNI
4. Turuan Telenggen, Kwiyawagi M age-?
5. Yesaya Telenggen, Kwiyawagi M age-?
6. Yuben Wenda, Kwiyawagi M age-?
7. Yukilele Wanimbo, Kwiyawagi M age-?
8. Alius Murib, Kwiyawagi M (30)
9. Yingget tabuni, Kwiyawagi M (45)
10. Enggelak Tabuni, Luaren M (40) Secretary of Kwiyawagi Baptist church
11. Ketis Tabuni, Luaren M (30) Treasurer of Kwiyawagi Baptist church
12. Gelen Tabuni, Kwiyawagi M age-?
13. Yanis Tanggen, Kwiyawagi M age-?
14. Debanus Murib, Kwiyawagi M age-?
15. Obenus Telenggen, Kwiyawagi M age-?
16. Eretena Murib, Kwiyawagi M age-?
NB.
i) In many cases cause of death is not clear.
ii) It is believed by local people that all of the above are civilians
iii) Reports from local students put the actual number of deaths at 18


List 2: List of people still being held in custody as a result of the April 4th incident.

1. Kanius Murib, M (48) Civilian, still being held in Kodim 1702 (army custody)
2. Mikael Heselo, M (32) Civilian, being held in Polda, Jayapura. He was badly beaten on arrival in Polda.
3. Marthen Wenda, M (48) Jayawijaya District Military Command, being held in POMDAM (military police custody) Jayapura
4. Pelius Wenda, M (38) As above
5. Telianus Jikwa, M (40) As above
6. Paus Kogoya, M (40) As above
7. Terinange Murib, M (42) As above