PORT VILA (Media Asosiesen blong Vanuatu / Pacific Media Watch): International media reported on two incidents in West Papua last week where Indonesian security forces violently repressed gatherings of indigenous Papuans.
The Media Asosiesen blong Vanuatu (MAV) has joined the voices of other advocacy groups in support of the people of West Papua, their rights to free assembly and freedom of expression, and expressing concern at the repression of free and independent media in West Papua.
“As the leaders of free and democratic nations meet at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia this weekend, we ask that they address ongoing human rights abuses and media repression in their neighbours and trading partners,” MAV president, Evelyne Toa, said.
On Wednesday last week, it was reported that Indonesian troops fired hundreds of shots and subjected participants to beatings to disperse a meeting of thousands of indigenous Papuans in Jayapura, West Papua, arresting about 300 people.
Indonesian press reported that the crackdown occurred when Papuan indigenous leaders, who had gathered to discuss their basic rights, issued a declaration of independence. At least [six people - source: Pacific Scoop] were confirmed dead.
Also last week, the ongoing strike by thousands of Papuan workers employed at the Freeport copper and gold mine was met by violence from Indonesian security forces.
These most recent reported incidents of repression paint a dire picture of life for the indigenous people of West Papua.
A recent report on press freedom in the Pacific region from the Pacific Media Centre also sheds light on the plight of the media and journalists in the Indonesian province.
The report, published in the most recent issue of the Pacific Journalism Review, says that in the past year in West Papua, two journalists have been killed, there have been five abductions or attempted abductions, 18 assaults (including repeated cases against some journalists), censorship by both the civil and military authorities and two police arrests (but no charges).
"In addition to criminal libel, Papuan journalists are forced to contend with the crime of makar (subversion) as applied to the media," said the PJR report.
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Pacific media freedom report 2011: A status report
Pacific Media Watch
