ndonesia maintains control over West Papua, using military

might to silence demands for self-determination and denying

the indigenous people their human rights. Since its invasion in
1963, an estimated 100,000 Papuans (about 15% of the population)
have been killed by ndonesian armed forces and militias.
WEST PAPUA
WEST PAPUA
A forgotten Iand in turmoiI
A forgotten Iand in turmoiI
As a last desperate attempt to save their people, Papuan leaders have
declared Papua a "Land of Peace, calling on the military, police and militias
to lay down their arms and negotiate a peaceful settlement. gnoring this,
the military is beginning an intense operation similar to that witnessed in
East Timor. YOU CAN HELP YOU CAN HELP - nternational pressure is needed to
encourage the ndonesian government to respect the calls for peace.
West Papua, located to the north oI Australia, is blanketed with tropical
rainIorests. These are rich in biodiversity and represent the largest remaining
untouched rainIorests in Asia. But more than three quarters oI the 40 million
hectares oI Iorest have been designated Ior logging or mining by the Indonesian
government. Revenues Irom logging in Papua are used to support continued
military oppression as well as Indonesia`s corrupt political control.
East timor
www.westpapua.ca
40 years oI Human Rights Abuses and Impunity
In 2001, Theys Hiyo Eluay, leader oI the Papuan
Presidium Council, was murdered by a group oI
elite military personnel. However, the soldiers
received minimal sentences oI only two years in
jail and were described as 'national heroes by the
army`s chieI oI staII. During the trial, they
admitted that Theys was murdered to prevent him
Irom declaring Papuan independence.
The Murder of Theys Hiyo Eluay
1945 1945 The Dutch East Indies, excluding Papua, becomes the Republic oI Indonesia.
1961 1961 Papuans celebrate their 'Independence Day by raising the Morning Star Ilag.
1963 1963 Indonesian troops take over Papua and declare it a province oI Indonesia.
1969 1969 The UN sponsor a popular consultation over Papua`s Iuture. One thousand representatives
are Iorced to vote openly in Iront oI armed soldiers, and told they would be shot unless the
vote supported integration with Indonesia.
2001 2001 AIter 30 years oI oppression, an autonomy deal grants Papua increased control oI its
resources and the Ireedom to express its cultural identity.
2003 2003 The Indonesian army begins a campaign oI terror in the highlands, burning villages and
torturing detainees. Indonesia bans all Ioreign journalists in Papua, sealing Papua oII in
order to eliminate all voices opposed to Indonesian control.
2005 2005 AIter the Government oI Indonesia Iails to implement the autonomy agreement, the
People's Assembly oI Papua Iormally returns it to Jakarta demanding a real solution be
negotiated.
A History of Betrayal
The Indonesian government has attempted to legitimise its sovereignty over Papua
by relocating Indonesians to Papua through a program supported by the World
Bank and CIDA. Migrants are given land that belongs to indigenous Papuans, but
no compensation is oIIered to the original owners. Over 40 oI Papua`s 2 million
people are now Indonesian migrants. While Papuans recognise the right oI
migrants to stay, Islamic extremists and the military are raising militias to pit the
predominantly Muslim migrants against the predominantly Christian Papuan
population.
www.westpapua.ca
Papua is rich in natural resources including natural gas, oil, minerals and rainIorests. The
Indonesian government relies on the taxes Irom Ioreign extraction industries that devastate the
environment and return Iew or no beneIits to the Papuan people. The military is directly involved,
engaging in illegal logging and acting as security Ior mining companies. Papua is now home to
the highest concentration oI illegal logging operations in Asia.
Widespread logging and mining have a serious impact on the livelihood and traditions oI the
Papuan people who rely on the land Ior survival. Traditional land is continually being cleared,
creating conIlict among the indigenous people, Ioreign companies and Indonesian security Iorces.
Freeport McMoran (oI the USA) is operating the world`s largest
gold and copper mine in the mountainous home oI the Amungme
indigenous people, who have always opposed the mine.
The Indonesian armed Iorces and militia groups regularly use torture, extra-
judicial killings and Iorced detention to block Papuans Irom protecting their
traditional lands and expressing their right to selI-determination.
Human rights deIenders and community leaders are routinely harassed and
intimidated by the Indonesian security Iorces.
Despite ample evidence oI atrocities, only once has a military oIIicial been
charged Ior human rights violations committed against Papuan people.
Papuan women are oIten sexually assaulted by the military and are denied access
to health services, resulting in Papua having the highest HIV rates in Indonesia.
Human Rights Abuses and njustice
Environmental Destruction
Freeport's Grasberg Gold Mine
Onlv this pool remains where once
lav the mountain believed bv the
Amungme people to be the sacred
head of their mother-ancestor.
Each day the mine earns US$1 million proIit, less than 0.01
oI which is shared with the local communities.
Freeport has paid the Indonesian military US $5 million per
year to maintain security at the mine. These Iorces are known
Ior human rights atrocities, including torture, killings and
disappearances used to terrorize Papuan communities.
Deep-sea dumping oI tailings and spills in local rivers have
destroyed traditional Iisheries and drinking water sources.
Freeport holds a mining concession the size oI the state oI
Vermont, which has now mostly been logged and excavated.
www.westpapua.ca
1. Visit www.westpapua.ca - Ior recent news and inIormation, to sign a
petition to the UN, to add your comments, or to make a donation.
2. 1oin Canada`s West Papua Action Network - a network oI dedicated
Canadians and Papuans working in solidarity to voice concern about
injustice in West Papua and the associated destruction oI its people, unique
cultures and rare ecosystems. (contact: actionwestpapua.ca)
3. Write to Canadian Foreign AIIairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and
the President oI Indonesia to put pressure on the Indonesian government to
stop the killings, torture and arrests, and resume dialogue with Papuan
leaders Ior a peaceIul resolution to the conIlict.
The Honourable Mr. Lawrence Cannon Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
125 Sussex Drive (no stamp necessary) President oI the Republic oI Indonesia,
Ottawa, ON, Canada Istana Merdeka
K1A 0G2 Jakarta , 10110, Indonesia
3. Donate to WestPAN: We need your help to continue to support the rights
oI the Papuan people. (visit www.westpapua.ca Ior details)
More information on the web
If we do not stand in soIidarity with the
Papuan peopIe, the worId risks Iosing the
Iast remaining untouched rainforest in Asia,
home to rich traditionaI cuItures, and over
253 distinct Ianguages.
The Papuan peopIe risk Iosing everything.
Hoisting the Morning
Star flag, the svmbol of
Papuan rights
Papua press agency westpapua.net
ndonesia human rights campaign tapol.org
Oxford Free Papua Campaign freewestpapua.org
The Peace and Justice Secretariat hampapua.org
Kabar rian kabar-irian.com
www.westpapua.ca