West Papua - A People Betrayed
The transfer of the Dutch colony of Netherlands New Guinea to Indonesia 50 years ago by the United Nations Temporary
Executive Authority (UNTEA) was a failure by the International community in its responsibility to give the people of
West Papua a say in their future. During the short UNTEA period there were already indications of oppression by
Indonesia.
Joe Collins of AWPA said "on the 1 December in 1962 a march by West Papuan nationalists was banned by UNTEA because of
Indonesian coercion and still
50 years later the Indonesian security forces are banning rallies to commemorate this tragic event in West Papuan
history".
However, a number of civil society organisations including the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) still plan to hold
peaceful rallies to protest the handover by UNTEA
Tension in West Papua
Leading up to the 1 May the security forces said that 1000 security personal will be on duty to monitor events including
undertaking security patrols. In the Paniai Region where the security forces are building police posts the TPN/OPM have
said they would hold a flag raising ceremony. Local community groups in the region have said they want members of
Detachment 88 and Brimob withdrawn from Paniai because off abuses by the security forces.
Because a police officer was fatally stabbed in a home invasion in Yapen Serui Island, last Saturday, a combined
security force of military and Police have conducted a sweep through local villages in the district of Angkaisera,
Serui, in the Yapen Islands regency causing fear in the local people.
Joe Collins said, "we keep hearing how Indonesian is now a democracy. What better way by the Indonesian Government of
proving this than to immediately release all West Papuan prisoners unconditionally as a sign of good faith to the West
Papuan people".
ENDS