The Profile of Human Rights Situation in West Papua in 2011

A Leading Human Rights Defender from West Papua Speaks Out about the Human Rights Situation in West Papua.

On 19th October 2011, the Indonesian military and police attacked the participants at the third Papuan People’s Congress, a peaceful gathering held in Abepura. More than 300 were taken into custody and released the following day, theleaders accused of treason.

The biggest multinational investment, dating from 1967, and biggest tax payer in Indonesia, has been the mine owned by Freeport. Workers at the mine havebeen on strike for 8 weeks, two workers shot dead. Freeport Indonesia workers reportedly receive the lowest salaries among all Freeport McMoRan workers around the world, with wages ranging from US$1.50–$3.00 per hour.

On 7th November the President rejected the National Commission on Human Rights’ (Komnas HAM) finding that human rights violations did occur at the third Papuan Congress, stating that the police were still handling the case. Komnas HAM recorded several deaths, including James Gobay, 25, Yosaphat Yogi, 28, Daniel Kadepa, 25 and Maxsasa Yewi, 35.
There has been a grassroots movement in West Papua calling for a dialogue betweenJakarta and Papua to address social and political issues in the territory. Indonesian Solidarity is inviting two human rights defenders from West Papua to Australia.

Speakers:
Olga Helena Hamadi is a human rights lawyer and a director of Kontras Papua. Kontras (The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence) is a very reputable Indonesian human rights NGO. Helena is also one of the lawyers assisting the leaders of Papuan Congress accused of treason.

More speakers from Indonesia will be added to agenda soon.

Date & Time
Friday 2nd December 2011
5.30pm to 7.30pm

Venue
Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW, 2008
Amnesty International Australia

Further information please contact John Rawson on 02 9217 3874, Eko Waluyo on 0416 809 107 or at Indonesian_solidarity@yahoo.com.au

Indonesian Solidarity is an independent, non-profit organisation that supports human rights, social justice and democracy in Indonesia

INDONESIAN SOLIDARITY
Phone/Fax: + 61 2 92173874
Mob: +61416809107
indonesian_solidarity@yahoo.com.au
PO.BOX A 538
Sydney South NSW 1235
AUSTRALIA

ENDS

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