Video footage of police opening fire on West Papuan demonstration

October 23, 2012

Today police opened fire on a demonstration in Manokwari in West Papua. The following disturbing video footage is from Indonesian MetroTVNews channel:

The demonstration was held by the KNPB (National Commitee of West Papua) in support of a UK meeting of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua. The protestors were requesting the UN to send monitors to West Papua (to witness exactly this sort of violent response from the security forces) and for the UN to oversee a referendum in West Papua for self determination.

The video footage clearly shows both uniformed and plain clothed police officers shooting directly at unarmed protestors. We are so far aware of four protestors who have been seriously injured.

The Indonesian state repeatedly claims it is democratic and respects human rights, this footage clearly shows otherwise. With just one week before the President of Indonesia visits the UK please do whatever you can to put pressure on the Indonesian government to let them know that these actions are unacceptable and to withdraw all armed police and military immediately.

Please contact the Indonesian government directly and if you are a British citizen please also write to your MP or directly to the UK government to raise these issues with the Indonesian president next week. Contact details follow. (We also include a statement direct from Victor Yeimo, International Spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee [ KNPB ] below)

Please contact:

Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Republic of Indonesia
Istana Negara
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara
Jakarta Pusat 10010
Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 386 3777
Fax: +62 21 344 2223

Mr. Kemal Azis Stamboel
The Chairman of the First Commission of House of Representative of Indonesia
Gedung DPR RI Nusantara II, Lantai 1
Jl. Jenderal Gatot Subroto
Jakarta 10270
INDONESIA
Phone : +62 21 5715518
Fax : +62 21 5715523

Ms. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo
General Director of Human Rights
Department of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav.6-7 Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Phone : +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889, 526 4280
Fax : +62 21 525 3095

Head of National Commission on Human Rights of indonesia
Jalan Latuharhary No.4-B,
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Phone : +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax : +62 21 392 5227
E-mail : info@komnas.go.id

Inspector General Tito Karnavian
Papua Police Chief (Kapolda)
Jl. Samratulangi No. 8 Jayapura,
Papua,
Indonesia
Tel: +62 811 161 777
Fax: +62 967 531717

The Rt Hon David Cameron MP
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
Email: https://email.number10.gov.uk/Contact.aspx
Fax: +442079250918

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Letter from Victor F. Yeimo, International Spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee [ KNPB ]

Dear people in the world,

I’m still writing from my deepest heart with tears on the emergency situation today where Indonesian military blocked, arrested and shot the peaceful demo coordinated by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in whole regent in West Papua.

I want let you know that today people of West Papua carried out terror, intimidation, arresting, and shooting to the peaceful demo who were demanding the right of self determination (referendum), and to  immediately urging UN to send Observer to organize referendum in West Papua

As a leader of KNPB, i have been contacted to the police to give the room of democracy so that people could mediated by KNPB to express their political right under the Indonesian law also international law, but chef of Papua Police Tito Karnavian didn’t allow us.

Today, we just demonstrate in front of the campus and we did not disturb public but police came with full power and attack directly to the peaceful demo. More then ten people shot by Police and we just identified 4 people named: Melkias Wanagau, Maikel Sama, Melkias Wanagau and Adison Peyon. They were injured to the hospital (watch the vide here).

In Jayapura, join forces from Police, TNI, Koppassus, Densus 88 and BIN accopied all the public places, road and whole houses. I lead thousands people but we have been blocked, arrested also intimidated by them. 5 of our people already arrested and released.

In Sorong and pak-pak, peaceful coordinator and leader of the KNPB in the regent already been arrested by police. One day before demo, 2 of our leader of KNPB Biak Island were also arrested. In Timika, Densus 88 and Brimob arrested 2 of KNPB leader and 6 friends. They are in jail now. Hundreds more people of West Papua have been occupied police office in Timika to urge police to release but they the police did not release them.

We are under more attack just because we lead peace demo in West Papua. So that we need people in the world who committed to the humanity, justice and freedom on the people in the world to give more concern and to urge your government to use right as member of UN to solve the emergency situation in West Papua. We are needing the fact finding, observer, also peace keeping from UN in West Papua. Indonesian government is already failed to protect us as human in West Papua. We need your help.

Thank you for your help,

Victor Yeimo
Chairman of KNPB
www.knpbnews.com
+6281248356352

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Victor F. Yeimo,
International Spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee [ KNPB ]
“Tidak ada kemenangan revolusioner tanpa teori revolusioner”