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On This Page:

UN envoy highlights rights abuses in Papua

NGO receives report on violence in Abepura Prison

Papuan Dancers arrested at flag raising ceremony in Manokwari

Papuan assembly debates microchips for HIV carriers

 

UN envoy highlights rights abuses in Papua

Source: ABC Radio Australia


JAYAPURA(Antara): PADMA Indonesia, an advocacy service for justice and
peace, has received a written report from inmates at the Abepura
penitentiary in Papua province on violence they were suffering in jail.
"The report is earmarked for the Papua governor while PADMA as a
non-governmental organization (NGO) received a copy of the report," leader
of PADMA Indonesia, Dr Norbeth Betan told Antara by phone from Jakarta on
Sunday.

According to the priest, PADMA would not keep silent after receiving the
report as the NGO is committed to offering advocacy for justice and peace to
all people regardless of ethnic groups, religions, races and social status.
Norbeth admitted various kinds of violence frequently occurred against
inmates in the prison but many of them were not known because the
penitentiary is located on a remote isle.

It was reported that Filep JS Karma who represented other prisoners had the
courage to send a letter telling what had happened in jail to the Papua
governor with the copies to the Law and Human Rights Minister, the Papua
provincial police chief and NGOs including PADMA Indonesia.
"We are trying to get information as soon as possible on the violence case
at the Abepura penitentiary from different parties especially prisoners. We
will also open a representative office in Jayapura soon to enable us to give
advocacy for justice and peace there," Norbeth said.

 

Papuan dancers arrested at flag raising ceremony in Manokwari.

Source: Cendrawasih Post, 13 July 2007, Jayapura, West Papua .

Jayapura: In order to move forward with efforts to investigate the unfurling of the Morning Star flag at the Sports Stadium recently, the police are continuing with the questioning of witnesses to the incident.

A team of police officers was sent to Manokwari on Thursday to question the twelve dancers who performed at the Opening of the Congress of the Dewan Adat Papua when the flag was unfurled.

Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Papua police, commissioner Drs Paulus Waterpauw confirmed that these investigations were underway.

'We sent faxes to the police in Manokwari and to the dancers, and the dancers came as summoned.'

The questioning started in the morning and continued until 4pm when it had to stop because of a power failure and will continue tomorrow.

Asked to say what the results of the questioning has revealed so far, Commissioner Waterpauw said that the dancers had said that their dance had been intended as the expression of a cultural symbol

He said that at present there was no specific regulation (perdasus) regarding cultural symbols, and added: 'We will therefore go deeper into the matter.'

He also said that after the dancers have been questioned, experts will be asked to explain the cultural significance of the dances which made use of certain attributes. He said: 'We intend to seek explanations from experts at Cendrawasih University and from the MRP.'

 

Papuan Assembly debates microchips for HIV carriers.

Source: The Jakarta Post July 24, 2007

The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, West Papua

The Papua Legislative Council is deliberating a regulation that would see microchips implanted in people living with HIV/AIDS so authorities could monitor their actions.

According to Article 35 of the regulation on healthcare in the province, to supervise and control people with HIV/AIDS a "detection device is needed to monitor the movements and sexual activities of people with HIV/AIDS".

The article has been condemned by activists and government officials in the province as a gross violation of rights.

Dr. John Manansang, a member of the working group deliberating the regulation, told reporters in Jayapura that if the regulation was approved by the council in its present form, the article on microchips would be implemented.

He said the microchips would be implanted in people with HIV/AIDS who engaged in high-risk behavior, such as unprotected sex or the sharing of needles.

He said this was necessary to monitor the movements and activities of these people.

"It will only be imposed on people with HIV/AIDS who practice high-risk behaviors. Implanting the microchips is expected to check the number of people infected by the deadly virus in Papua."

Manansang said the spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua had reached a point where it "threatened the existence of the Papuan people", making it necessary that authorities introduce new policies to deal with the disease.

"Now nearly 24 percent of the Papuan population has been infected with HIV/AIDS. It's time to try a different policy ...," he said.

He said a special team would be set up to implant the microchips, and that the program would be kept guarded so most people would not know its details.

The head of the Papua chapter of the National AIDS Commission, Constant Karma, slammed the proposal as a violation of human rights.

"People with HIV/AIDS are not like sharks under observation so that they have to be implanted with microchips to monitor their movements. Any form of identification of people with HIV/AIDS violates human rights," he said.

According to data from the Papua Health Office, the province has seen 3,375 people with HIV/AIDS. This includes 1,879 people with HIV and 1,496 people with AIDS, including 356 who have died.

 

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