The following is the text of a letter sent by TAPOL, the Indonesia
Human Rights Campaign, today to Minister of State John Battle about the gathering crisis in West Papua.

We urge groups in other countries to exert pressure on their own governments along similar lines.

31 October 2000

John Battle MP,
Minister of State,
Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
London SW1

Danger of more clashes and loss of life in West Papua

I wish to draw your attention to the continuing crisis in West Papua, following the Wamena Tragedy and the heavy loss of life. That incident resulted from an operation by a joint force of the army and police/Brimob, to take down the Papuan flag on 6 October. According to reports from ELS-HAM, although the flag-raisers offered no resistance, the security forces used strong-arm tactics resulting in two persons being shot dead and many others being wounded. The subsequent acts of violence towards settlers from outside appears to have been provoked by police taking up positions in settlers’ homes. At least seventeen people are being held for public order offences, having been subjected to various forms of brutality by police officers. One person in police custody who was severely beaten was dead on arrival in hospital. Even so, the Minister-Coordinator for Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was quoted in yesterday’s Suara Pembaruan as saying on a visit to Wamena that the =91security forces in Wamena handled the situation on 6 October very correctly and speedily’, adding that he hoped that people in other places would =91learn from the experiences of what happened in Wamena’.

The situation in Wamena is still described as tense, with a heavy build-up of troops and new military posts set up in many parts of the town as well as in outlying areas.

ELS-HAM in Jayapura reported today that the police chief, Lt-Colonel Daud Sihombing yesterday issued an order to the pro-independence militia to take down the Papuan flag now flying outside the city’s cultural centre, DKIJ, by 1 November, accompanied by the threat of strong measures if the order is not carried out. ELS-HAM also states that pro-independence groups aregathering in large numbers and have made it clear that they will not remove the flag. In the absence of any consultation, ELS-HAM has described the situation as in =91deadlock’.

It is highly regrettable that the government in Jakarta and the military authorities are persisting in their new policy of direct confrontation with flag-raisers. This shows a failure on their part to recognise the depth of feeling among Papuan people of the injustices to which they have been subjected over many years, and most recently in Wamena.

As you so rightly stated in your letter to me of 15 September, =91what is now important is that Indonesia engages with the West Papuan people in dialogue and reconciliation’. Unfortunately, as we know, that commendable policy which President Wahid was pursuing has since been reversed with dangerous consequences.

• We would urge you to press the authorities in Jakarta not to pursue the current policy of confrontation.
• The threat hanging over Jayapura because of the police chief’s order should be withdrawn and accommodation reached between the authorities and the local people regarding ways of allowing flag-raising to proceed as a legitimate expression of popular feeling.
• The security authorities should also be urged to withdraw the thousands of non-organic troops sent to West Papua during the past few months, as a way of reducing the atmosphere of crisis and intimidation.
• In particular, the Indonesian government should be urged to ensure that the security forces refrain from taking any action that might sow conflict and mistrust between the Papuan population and settlers from outside. Everything must be done to prevent the emergence of ethnic conflict which has until now been absence in West Papua

We fear that if these measures are not taken by Jakarta, conditions in West Papua will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis in various parts of the province, leaving in its wake more clampdowns, violence and loss of life among both Papuans and settlers.


Yours sincerely,
Carmel Budiardjo

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org  www.gn.apc.org/tapol