West Papuans Charged With Rebellion Subject To Ill-treatment In Prison
West Papua, Friday April 11 1530 2008 -- As Indonesian security forces intensify a West Papua wide crackdown and round up of up to 100 peaceful
demonstrators, serious concerns are held for the safety of all West Papuan peace activists and flag raisers currently
being held in inhuman conditions by the Indonesian police, particularly those in POLRES Manokwari, held on charges of
Rebellion and Subversion.
Eleven West Papuans involved in peaceful demonstrations are still being held in under the Custody of Brigadier Yakobus
Marjuki. They have been Charged with Rebellion and Mutiny according to KUH Pidana (Indonesian Criminal Code) article
106, 110, para 55.56. Contrary to Indonesian law and past practice, the detainees are being treated as common criminals
and not as political prisoners (Tapols), and have been housed with remanded and convicted prisoners on murder and
violence charges. The activists in Manokwari are:
Sources close to the detained activists speaking on condition of anonymity have expressed well founded fears of
mistreatment, given that the past history of detention and abuse of political prisoners by the Indonesian security
forces, which comes amid confirmed reports of high level concerns of the extreme potential for this within the
Indonesian government.
Photographs have been smuggled out of the prison showing the detainees, and are available at http://manukoreri.net/../..detainees/
Currently the legal team of LP3BH has gained access to the detainees, and have established that they are in good
spirits. However, all allegations of torture and ill treatment still have not been satisfactorily ruled out. This can be
allayed by allowing international media access.
It is unconfirmed when the trial will be held, but the detainees have reported that from May 13, they will be taken from
POLRES to the Department of Justice, where a trial date will be set if enough evidence can be found. There are serious
concerns about the transparency of any trial process of Dutch colonial era charges of Rebellion and spreading hatred
against the state. For Indonesia's entire modern history, past trials on charges of Rebellion have been politically
motivated, and far from transparent or accountable. Detainees have urgently appealed for international monitors visit
them, and to be present at their trial.
The police under Brigadier Marjuki have placed all the detainees together with the high security convicted criminals and
gangsters, and are doing so as the Police have accused the peaceful demonstrators of being "Criminals against the
security of the State". All day and night, these non-violent political prisoners have had to contend with drunk and
violent cell mates, and are facing regular assaults. According to Jack Wanggai, "While we are in prison, we must think
about our safety from violence both inside prison and after we get out"
The detainees have reported dire conditions inside the prison, and have detailed a litany of problems. Knowing full well
the risk of further physical punishment, they have decided to speak out. According to Wanggai, "we need check up on our
health and conditions because: we have not enough to eat, we are unable to have any circulation of fresh air, our cells
are unhygienic and we have to sleep on the floor". The detainees have also reported they are also subject to
intimidation and terror of the police, TNI, and intelligence every time they are interrogated, and that they are
constantly hunting the family and friends of the detainees.
As more international organisations take up the issue of the brutal treatment of West Papuan people, it is critical to
keep the pressure up. To date, The World Council of Churches, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have all
taken up the case of West Papua and the treatment of political dissent, and more organisations are getting involved
daily across the world. The Indonesian government in Jakarta have shown that they are vulnerable to international
perceptions of security forces out of control, and allegations of institutionalised brutality, which is clearly on
display across West Papua.
Reports have also been received that intelligence and police have been rounding up many dissidents and conducting
forceful interrogations across West Papua, in Serui and in several centres in the Highlands. Access has been difficult
to ascertain exactly how many people have been rounded up. More information as it comes to hand
*/MEDIA CONSIDERATIONS. The situation is being monitored closely, and updates will be available from people on the
ground. Photographs will be provided as soon as we have them. Please visit /**/www.manukoreri.net/* */ to access photographs and all background documents. All West Papua material on this site is Copyleft./*
ENDS