Mrs Mary Robinson High Commissioner on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland

Geneva, April 5, 2000

Subject: Appeal to the High Commissioner regarding the political deadlock in West Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya).

Dear Mrs Robinson,

Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Hak Asasi Manusia (ELS-HAM), or the Institute of Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD), is a Human Rights organization, created to promote, advocate and defend the rights of the people of West Papua. ELS-HAM works in close cooperation with grassroots organizations and institutions in West Papua. ELS-HAM aims to internationalise the West Papuan case. While lobbying at the 56th session of the UN-Commission on Human Rights, we would like to draw your attention to the social and political developments in West Papua (Irian Jaya). We fear that because of the unwillingness of the government of Indonesia to enter into a meaningful dialogue with the
peoples of West Papua the situation has reached a deadlock.

Since 1963, when the sovereignty of Dutch New Guinea (West Papua) was
transferred to Indonesia, the people of West Papua have been the victims of a systematic campaign of human rights violations at the hands of the Indonesian government and army. These abuses include
killings, rape, arbitrary detention, torture, intimidation and other
forms of injustices.

The genesis of this campaign is the Indonesian government's failure to
understand the root cause of discontent in West Papua, a discontent which leads people to raise the West Papuan flag ('The Morning Star') and speak out against their Indonesian rulers.

In 1969 the 'Act of Free Choice' resulted in 1026 hand picked Papuans
who, some literally at gun-point, were forced to vote to become part of
Indonesia. Human rights violations followed the Act of Free Choice as the Indonesian government and its army fought to repress the anger felt about this denial of the Papuan's rights. Tens of thousands of Papuans have been killed, detained, tortured and intimidated. This in turn has lead to a crisis of identity amongst the Papuans, generated by racist government policies and government officers who speak of 'breeding the Papuans out of existence'.

The Indonesian government, because it has failed to have meaningful
dialogue with the Papuan people sees all forms of protest as secessionist threat, ignoring the genuine concerns of the Papuans regarding their rights to their political, cultural and human rights. This is why innocent civilians who are demonstrating their dissatisfaction with their Indonesian rulers by symbolic flag raisings and public gatherings are brutally repressed by the Indonesian army and police.

By ignoring the real concerns of the Papuan people and by refusing to enter into a genuine dialogue, the government of Indonesia is encouraging the cycle of violence to continue. Since the election of Mr
Abdurachman Wahid as President of Indonesia in October 1999 at least 800,000 people have taken part in flag raisings, or pro-independence meetings of some sort, in all the different regions of West Papua. In turn this has led to four people being shot dead, 81 people detained and tortured and 165 people injured. Until the government of Indonesia stops using force to resolve its problems the violence in West Papua will undoubtedly continue.

Recent examples of killings and repression in towns across West Papua:

1. Fak Fak, 28th - 29th of March, 2000. 45 people were arrested and tortured by the police after a peaceful pro-independence protest
   during the visit of the head of the regency.
2. Nabire, 28th of February - 2nd of March, 2000. Three people were shot dead, 16 people were detained and tortured and 11 were badly injured by police shooting when the West Papuan
   flag was raised.
3. Jayapura, 26th of February, 2000. 16 people who were involved in a
   peaceful public meeting to discuss the future of West Papua have been interrogated and officially charged with subversion.
4. Merauke 16th of February, 2000. One person was shot dead by the police and three were badly wounded during a pro-independence demonstration.
5. Timika 2nd of December 1999. One person was tortured and died and 149 were wounded when police brutally dispersed a flag raising.

As part of its crackdown the military and police have
formed a pro-Indonesia militia, similar to those in East Timor.
There are now about 2000 pro-Indonesia militia in the town of Fakfak, and 300 in Manokwari. Many of them comprise of non-Papuan migrants who
have been armed with hand made guns and live ammunition. The militia group in Fak Fak were involved in the arrest and torture of 45 Papuans in March.

This is a new development in West Papua and one that greatly concerns us. ELS-HAM is concerned that the introduction of the militia tactics used in East Timor into West Papua is a clear indication that the Indonesian government and army are committed to continuing the violent repression of the Papuan people. We therefore have to conclude that the political process and dialogue for peace and reconciliation between the Papuan people and the government of Indonesia has reached a deadlock.

We therefore request you to use your good offices with the Indonesian
government to take the following steps:

1. put pressure on the Indonesian government to end the use of violence in West Papua and for those responsible for human rights violations to be brought to justice;
2. urge the Indonesian government to reopen dialogue with the Papuans so that they may understan