Footnotes to: Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Actions and Pro-Independance Actions In Irian Jaya December 1998

1. The Dutch territory known as West Irian was brought under a temporary U.N. trusteeship in 1962 after strong pressure on the Netherlands from the United States. The Kennedy administration was sympathetic to the Indonesian government claim that West Irian, as part of the former Dutch East Indies, was as much a part of Indonesia as the island of Java. Under the terms of an agreement brokered by the U.S., Indonesia took over control from the U.N. in 1963, and in 1969, some 1,000 tribal leaders from Irian Jaya were brought together under Indonesian military supervision, many of them at gunpoint or after well-documented intimidation, and asked to choose wheter or not they wanted integration with Indonesia. A Bolivian diplomat was brought in to oversee the process for the U.N. with a total of sixteen support staff. Not surprisingly, the vote was unanimously in favor of integration. This was the "Act of Free Choice".

2. "Gafur: Bahaya Laten OPM Masih Ada di Irian Jaya, "Media Indonesia (Jakarta), August 3, 1998.

3. Personal communication, August 25, 1998

4. PaVo note: the proclamation of independence took place on 1 July 1971

5. Interviews in Jayapura, August 1998

6. Personal communications, August 25, 1998

7. Tim Advokasi Hak Azasi Manusia untuk Rakyat Irian Jaya. "Laporan Pelanggaran HAM di Biak" (undated report)

8. "Chronology of the Incidents involving Demands of the Security Distributers of the Security Disturbers Who Call Themselves the Free Papua Movement" (Kronologis Kejadian Tunutan Gerombolan Pengacau Keamanan Yang Menamakan Dirinya Organisasi Papua Merdeka), memo, date missing, from Fx. Agus Edyono, commander of regional military command 173.

9. The letter was signed "in the name of all the people of West Papua in the name of God our Lord Jesus Christ" by: Filep Yacob Semual Karma, Ayub Bransik, Markus Rumsowek, Inseren Sampari Karma, Djoumunda Costan Karma, Neles Stroyer, Nolbert Rumpaidus, Yoram madacan, Semuel Sauyas, Simson Karma, Dorus Kararbo, Thitus Komboi, Sonny Mnubefor, Theo Sado, Pius Wakum, Yusuf Miage, Edu Song, Melky Ap, Edith Ap, Beny Y Faknik, Nelson Simbiak, Wellem Manggaprouw, Petrus Wabdaron, Samuel Prawar, Hendrik Wakum, Melkias Arwam, Isak Mamoribo, Percilla Mandowen, Frederik Rumbiak, Andreas Marsyom, Niko Smas, Lukas Orboi, Tobias Orboi, Tinike Rumkabu, and Nelinee Bonsapia.

10. Kronologis, p.4

11. Interview in Jayapura, August 15, 1998

12. Interview in Jayapura, August 15, 1998

13. Interview in Jayapura, August 16, 1998

14. See "Six Corpses Found on East Biak Beach, " Cendrawasih Pos (Jayapura), July 28, 1998; "Nine More Bodies Found in East Biak,"Cendrawasih Pos, July 29, 1998; "Residents of East Biak Find Two More Bodies," Cendrawasih Pos, July 30, 1998; and "Tsunami Victims From PNG Now 33, "Cendrawasih Pos, August 8, 1998.

15. Article 9 of the U.N. Basic Principles on Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials states, "Law enforcement officials shall not use firearms against persons except in self-defense or defense of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life."

16. "Complete Report on the Peaceful Demonstration to Raise the Flag of West Papua and The Riot in Manokwari That Followed, " Fact-finding Team of the Christian Churches and Nongovernmental Organizations in Manokwari, October 1998.

17. "Fosmi Minta Pemimpin Papua Dibebakan Kapolda: Polisi Bentuk Tim Khusus, "Cendrawasih Pos, October 8, 1998.

18. "RI Hartus Membaca Fenomena Theis, "Cenderawasih Pos, October 9, 1998.

19. "Pertartungan Menjelang Dialog Nasional, "Tifa Irian (Jayapura), Second Week of October, 1998.

20. "Dialog Nasional Tak Bahas Papua Merdeka, "Cendrawasih Pos, October 12, 1998.

21. "Bincang-bincang dengan Ketua BPA AM Sinode GKI Irja Pdt. Herman Saud: Keinginan Merdeka Sekelompok Orang Tak Didukung Gereja, "Cendrawasih Pos, October 17, 1998.

22. "Rektor III Uncen dan Mahasiswa Datangi Polres Jayapura, "unpublished report of students who attended meeting with police commander of Jayapura, October 2, 1998.