URGENT ACTION AND MEDIA ALERT - WEST PAPUA
MARCH 16: INDON POLICE INTIMIDATING JOURNALISTS WITH SUHARTO ERA TACTICS OVER COVERAGE OF WEST PAPUANS CHARGED WITH REBELLION
FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
MARCH 16, 2009 0600 AEST
Manokwari, WEST PAPUA, Sunday March 16 2008: URGENT/ IMMEDIATE ACTION
MEDIA MOB – PLEASE REPORT OR TAKE ACTION ON THIS – THEY ARE GOING AFTER YOU.
In actions reminiscent of the former Suharto dictatorship, Journalists in Manokwari are currently being targeted, threatened and intimidated by Indonesian security forces to suppress coverage of West Papuan protest, whilst peaceful demonstrators have been charged with Rebellion for raising the banned Morning Star flag. Security forces have also demanded media outlets provide footage and photographs to arrest and prosecute West Papuan people non-violently and legitimately expressing their demands for Referendum to peacefully solve the West Papua Problem. This completely contradicts the Indonesian government’s assertion that there is no media interference, and further bolsters the call for access to West Papua for international journalists and observers.
Press Freedom violations
LP3BH (Institute of Research, Analysis and Legal Aid Development) Manokwari Executive Director, Yan Christian Warinussy reports the following actions have occurred on Journalists attempting to cover the protests.
Every carrying out their duty can face a difficult job. Indonesian police, military and intelligence have been threatening and harassing journalists after they covered a peaceful demonstration of West Papuan youth and students calling for referendum in Manokwari 13 March 2008. Whilst some local journalists at Manokwari, West Papua were covering this rally they were being psychologically intimidated and terrorised by police officials.
On 6 March 2008, Manokwari Daily journalists and Jawa Pos press Group were intimidated by CAPTAIN MIHARDI or IPTU MIHARDI (Manokwari POLRES, Head of Special Criminal Unit) when the journalists took photographs of FRANS KARETH SE inside POLRES jail at Manokwari. Captain MIHARDI told the journalists that “when you journalists take one photo I will beat you, said Captain MIHARDI to MUSAIR.
On 14 March 2008 IPTU MIHARDI gathered 11 local print and electronic media in Manokwari in the Special Criminal Unit room of Manokwari PolRES and IPTU MIHARDI said that: ”I need you to help me with your Hand Phones, your Tape Recorder and all kinds of monitoring tools”. Again IPTU MIHARDI said that:”I hope you friends, local journalists will be working together with us Indonesian police, please help police by giving us police all your photographs from the peace rally on 13 March 2008 yesterday because it is very important to us police for interrogation”.
IPTU MIHARDI’s act was part of psychological intimidation violating journalists’ rights, a violation of basic human rights principles, especially the international and national laws that guarantee rights of journalists. This also completely opposes the Indonesian National Police CODE ETIK (Ethical Code).
URGENT ACTION is required to stop intimidation and terror that is still continuing by the actions of Indonesian national police. Please call KAPOLRES in Manokwari +62) 81344771448.
The 11 Journalists summoned by police are from: TOP TV, METRO TV, Arauna FM, Harian Manokwari Pos, Harian Cahaya Papua, Harian Media Papua, TV One and Radio Elshinta Jakarta.
Manokwari 13 Case
Yan Christian Warinussy SH, Executive Director of LP3BH, has reported the following with the case of Jack Wanggai and his colleagues:
On Friday, 14 March, Jack Wanggai, the spokesperson of the West Papua National Authority (WPNA) for the district of Manokwari was again interrogated, this time by Bripka Aris Patandung SH. Yesterday, he was interrogated by AIPDA Juli Sabagio, when he was asked 34 questions. During the interrogation today, he was asked 28 questions.
Most of the questions yesterday where about the WPNA. Who set it up? Who is the leader? Where it is office/secretariat? What is the address? What is Jack Wanggai’s status in the organisation. What was the purpose of the demonstration that took place on 3 March? Who took the initiative for that demonstration? Why did Jack deliver a speech? Why were some holding aloft the kejora flag?
Replying to the earlier questions, Jack said it was Ev. Edison Waromi, President of WPNA in Jayapura, who asked them to take part and to carry the Morning Star flag.
The interrogation lasted from 10.30 until 15.30. After the interrogation, Jack was placed in detention based on warrant No SP.Han/29/!!!/2008 Reskrim, 14 March 2008, signed by Manokwari Police Chief Drs Yakobus Marjuki. .He is being held for 20 days, in accordance with KUHAP, the Criminal Procedural Code, from 14 March until 2 April 2008. As of Saturday afternoon he has now been formally charged with rebellion under the following sections of the criminal code: 106, 107, 110 + 55, 56.
On the same day, Frans Kareth SE, charged in connection with the 3 March 2008 event was interrogated by police officer Juli Subagio SH when he asked 35 questions. The interrogation lasted from 10.30 until 15.30.
The LP3BH has set up a legal team called: Advocacy Team of Human Rights for the Papuan People, which consists of lawyer and assistant lawyers from LP3BH and the lawyer, Demianus Waney SH
Today, two of the demonstrators who were arrested were released because evidence against them was inadequate.. They are: Yan Maniani and Orgenes Mandabayan. This means that there are now eleven persons being held in detention:
The last named person, Silas Carlos Teves May is 16 years old and is being held in a cell for children. He is in the third grade at YPK Oikukeme School, Manokwari. We have submitted a letter proposing that the arrest warrant for him should be cancelled.
Please monitor this situation closely by calling the numbers in Manokwari below to ask why West Papuan leaders and Journalists are being threatened with violence with Suharto era charges. It is important to put pressure on these Military and police figures.
· Police Papua province hp:967 531 014
· Indonesian Criminal Intelligence Unit Manokwari: + (62 986) 211363
· Indonesian TNI Commander of Manokwari regency/DANDIM phone Number: +62 (986) 211703
· Head of Police Manokwari Regency (KAPOLRES) phone No. +62 (986) 211359
· Deputy Police Manokwari Regency level (WAKAPOLRES) phone NO. +62 (986) 211826
· rmh dins kapolres tlp.0986 211355;
· Waka (Deputi Commander) Polres.tlp.0986 211826.
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