ULMWP CONDEMNING THE INHUMANE ACTS IN PUNCAK PAPUA

UNITED LIBERATION MOVEMENT FOR WEST PAPUA - ULMWP

International Secretariat Headquarters:

Winston Churchill Street, 1571 Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu.

Secretariat of the Home Affairs Coordination Headquarters in West Papua:

Address: Jln. Mapilema, No. 11 Wamena Kabupaten Jayawijaya- West Papua. 

Media Release

Condemning the Inhumane Acts in Puncak Papua

Thank You Lord!

On Friday 22 March 2024, the public was shocked by the circulation of two video clips of sadistic torture carried out by the Indonesian Government through TNI (Indonesian Army) members in one of the highland areas in West Papua.

This torture incident is the smallest snapshot of what the Indonesian government has done during the 61 years (May 1963-2024) of occupation in West Papua. During this period the threat of genocide, ethnocide and ecocide was before our eyes for the Papuan people. The public will definitely recall several incidents of inhumane torture and murder of Papuan civilians which have attracted attention after being published via video clips on social media such as: 

a). On 13 August 2009, in Serui West Papua, members of the Indonesian Papua Police Mobile Brigade carried out shootings and torture which resulted in the death of Yawan Wayeni; 

b). On May 27 2010, in Puncak Jaya, West Papua, TNI members tortured two Papuan civilians, (Telenggen Gire and Tunaliwor Kiwo or Anggen Pugukiwo). They were tortured by TNI members by being tied up using clotheslines and having their genitals burnt using burning coals. The victim also had his face covered with black plastic; 

c). On 8 December 2014, in Pania West Papua, TNI members shot dead five Papuans (Otianus Gobai, Simon Degei, Yulian Yeimo, Abia Gobay and Alfius Youw); 

d). In June 2021, in Merauke West Papua, two members of the Indonesian Air Force committed physical violence against Steven Yadohamang in front of a chicken porridge stall owned by one of the Indonesian migrant traders and 

e). On August 22 2022, in Timika West Papua, TNI members committed inhumane acts by mutilating 4 Papuan civilians (Arnold Lokbere, Lemanion Nirigi, Iryan Nirigi and Jenius Tini).

Responding to incidents of torture against civilians in one of the regions in West Papua, the Executive President of ULMWP, Mr. Menase Tabuni firmly stated, "I strongly condemn the Indonesian Military's actions against civilians like this in West Papua. This kind of action violates human values. No law can condone heinous acts of torture as seen in the two video clips that are currently viral." 

As a follow-up to the concerns and pressure from various parties in the international community regarding the facts of human rights violations in West Papua by the Indonesian Government, including the report of the secretary of the advisor to the special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the situation of the threat of genocide in West Papua, he called on the "UN High Commission for Human Rights to immediately form an investigation team to carry out investigations into human rights violations and threats of genocide against the Papuan people."

Octavianus Mote, Executive Vice President of ULMWP asked the Papuan People to "rise up to make concrete self-defense efforts as an effort to defend themselves against every crime and real threat that continues to occur to the Papuan people in their Ancestral Land."

Thus, we are issuing this media release for information and follow-up. This statement was issued in Jayapura, West Papua on March 22 2024.

For Indonesian media inquiries please contact Markus Haluk (+628524444250),

hmarkushaluk@yahoo.com

For international media inquiries please contact Octovianus Mote (+1(203)5203055),

tuarek62@yahoo.com