Indigenous Papuans Arrested for the Celebrating the UN International Day

Indigenous Papuans Arrested for the Celebrating the UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous  Peoples.

by West Papua Media team
9 August 2012
UPDATED: 2300 West Papua Time
On the International Day of the Indigenous Peoples, Papuan people took to the streets to celebrate their continued survival as indigenous people, and called for an end to the Indonesian government’s occupation of their land.  Demonstrations took place in Manokwari, Serui, Baliem, Jayapura and various other locations around West Papua.
Although the United Nations declaration of 2012 as the year of ‘Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices’ communicated a sense of optimism to First Nations people around the world, indigenous Papuans continue to experience a media blackout and silencing of indigenous voices by the Indonesian military. Despite the repression of Papuan voices this report demonstrates that local indigenous media activists continue to find ways to circumvent Indonesian government censorship and control of the press.
According to local sources a few days prior to the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, the head of Police in Yapen Island, Roycke Harry Langie, officially issued a letter rejecting a request for Papuans to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’s in Serui. In defiance of the Police refusal indigenous Papuan leaders in Serui proceeded to organise their planned celebration.
At around 9:00am (West Papua local time) on August 9, 2012 the combined forces of Brimob (Police Mobile Brigade), Densus 88 and TNI (Indonesian Army) blocked off access to Mantembu District and destroyed several houses.
Local stringers sent SMS messages to West Papua Media that at Anotaurei junction in Mantembu district, peaceful demonstrators were confronted with shots fired into the air by the police. A local source reported that sixteen shots were fired – six to the air and ten at human targets. The shoting generated fear and panic amongst the people and forced many, including local villagers to seek refuge in the nearby jungle.
At midday Australian time, West Papua Media team rang the Head of Police, Roycke Harry Langie but the call was redirected to an interrogation squad spokesperson (Reskrim), Mr Waluyo, who denied that any shots were fired and stated that no arrests had been made.
Despite police claims West Papua Media continued to get reports from several people in Serui who confirmed that eleven people had been arrested including a seven months pregnant woman, Ratna Semboari, who is a Member of State Council of Yapen of the Federated Republic of West Papua, an Indonesian-banned independence organisation. A witness told West Papua Media by phone conversation that Ms Semboari was pushed forcefully into BRIMOB truck and fell very hard on her belly.
Sopina (Yosina) Pangkurei, the wife of Daud Abon, governor of Saireri of the Federated Republic of West Papua was also arrested, despite also being  8 months pregnant.  Activists told West Papua Media that she stood in agony as she watched the security forces destroy her house. Local stringers report that police took a printer, a laptop and four banners declaring that ‘The indigenous Papuans also support indigenous people’s birthday.’
Other people arrested in Serui are:

• Edison Kendi – Deputy governor of Saireri of the Federated Republic of West Papua
• Sopia Kayani – Member  of State Parliament of Federated Republic of West Papua
• Yosina Pangkurey, wife of Daud Abon.
• Hendrikus Warmetan – State secretary of Saireri of Federated Republic of West Papua
• Ruben Bonai – Member of  State Parliament Federated Republic of West Papua
• Yan Piet Maniambo – Member of State Parliament of Federated Republic of West Papua
• Matius J Pedai – Head of Regency of Mamberamu under Federated Republic of West Papua
• Bram Wainarisi – a local activist
• Elia Karma
• Arnelda Kayane
• John Paririe
• Daniel Kandipi – a local activist
• Beni Yobi – a local activist

At time of writing, Kayani, Waremtan, Wainarisi and Maniambo had been released from arrest.
After the release of the arrested women,  Mrs. Yossi Pangkurey (28 yrs) told another West Papua Media stringer that after they were arrested by a joint military-police apparatus in the village of Anatourei, they were immediately taken to the Police HQ of Yapen island.  Police officers immediately separated the men and women, with all the women in one room to undergo interrogation.  Male police officers, who claimed to the detainees that they were acting  on the orders of chief of Yapen police Roycke Harry Langie,  forced all the arrested women to strip and conduct the interview semi-naked, dressed only in their underwear under assumption of imminent sexual assault, according to the women.
In Manokwari, the celebration was held in front of the Papuan Tribe Council office with up to twelve Morning Star flags flying high in defiance of laws banning the West Papuan national flag. Many other people held smaller flags. Local stringers report that a thousands paraded around Manokwari town. Heavily armed Security forces attempted intimidation on the protest, and confiscated the Morning Star flags but people proceed to continue the march peacefully.

 

Slideshow: Images from the demonstration in Manokwari, August 9, 2012 (Photos: West Papua Media stringers)

Meanwhile, in Jayapura, the Baliem Valley and other locations across Papua, celebrations were carried out under strict police supervision.  In Jayapura the police prevented Papuan protesters from marching.  However, protesters proceeded to the Council of Papuan Customary Chiefs to continue the celebration.
In the central highlands celebrations were also held at the Council of Papuan Customary Chiefs despite provocation by police, who according to local stringers surrounded the event in full combat gear.  A Lani highland chief told West Papua Media by SMS that “the reason the police tried to stop the demonstrations was that they were held by ‘unregistered’ groups.”
What this means,” he continued, “is that the Indonesian Government does not respect human rights and universal freedoms.”

Related articles

• Is Australia funding Indonesian Death Squads? Densus 88 in West Papua (westpapuamedia.info)
• KNPB leader Mako Tabuni shot dead by Aust-funded Indonesian Detachment 88 troops; riots in Jayapura (westpapuamedia.info)
• Flag-flying across West Papua planned for 1 July; Police are ready to respond (westpapuamedia.info)
• Two nonviolent activists arrested for pleading for international community to ‘Save Papua from Genocide and Grievances’. (westpapuamedia.info)
• Papuans allege Australian trained D88 personnel shot dead Mako Tabuni (westpapuamedia.info)

Jaish-e-Mohammed 'man' detained in Dhaka

Jaish-e-Mohammed 'man' detained in Dhaka Thu, Aug 16th, 2012 4:09 pm BdST   Dhaka, Aug 16 (bdnews24.com) – Police arrested one from Fakirapool suspecting ties with Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed. Mawlana Mohammad Yunus, 48, was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) Thursday noon. He is a teacher at Moulavikata Al Evari Dakhil Madrasah in Cox's Bazaar's Ramu Upazila. Police alleged that Yunus has been working as the local coordinator of the terrorist organisation and recruiting Rohingya refugees for the group. DB Deputy Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters that the former principal of the madrasah (Islamic seminary), Saber Ahmad, was currently in Pakistan and Yunus was running organisational activities in collaboration with him. Police were probing whether Yunus' organisation only operated in Cox's Bazaar or had wings in other places, he added. The police official said that the arrest was carried out based on information obtained from Rohingyas arrested from Shahjalal International Airport while trying to leave the country using forged passports. Police detained Nur Haba and Nur Ahmed from the airport along with counterfeit passports on Wednesday. bdnews24.com/lh/ah/rn/sk/1555h. မူရင္းလင္ခ္႔ေလးတင္ေပးလိုက္ပါတယ္ http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=3&id=230428&hb=3#.UC0uHXB9hK8.facebook

'Don't misuse pictures to provoke tension,' CTA appeals

'Don't misuse pictures to provoke tension,' CTA appeals

Phayul[Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:19] DHARAMSHALA, August 15: The exile Tibetan administration has expressed concerns over the misuse of photographs showing Tibetans to provoke conflict between the Buddhist and Muslim communities. Following reports of recent clashes between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, certain sections of the media as well as social websites have portrayed photographs involving Tibetans to misinform the public and to lead a hate campaign. The recent ethnic clashes in the Indian northeastern state of Assam have raised further tensions. The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a release yesterday said it was “deeply disturbed and concerned” over the circulation of a misleading photograph in some section of the media showing Tibetan monks. The release noted that many websites in the Muslim countries, especially Pakistan have used a photograph of Tibetan monks standing in front of a pile of dead bodies in their reports on the clashes in Myanmar. “This photo of Tibetan monks was actually taken during their relief work in Kyegudo (Yushul), eastern Tibet, after a devastating earthquake hit the region on 14 April 2010,” CTA clarified. “The Tibetan monks extended remarkable service in the rescue and relief operations at the time.” The release said that a particular website in Pakistan which was carrying the picture removed it after CTA pointed out the factual and misleading error. “But the photo is still in circulation, as some Muslims carrying the photo during their recent protest in Mumbai on 11 August 2012, appeared in Zee News, a leading news channel in India,” the exile Tibetan administration noted. “We strongly appeal to the media across the world not to use this photo, which is being circulated by miscreants to provoke conflict between the Buddhist and Muslim communities.” There have been increased concerns over the safety of Tibetans, especially in cities, after a Tibetan youth was stabbed in the south Indian city of Mysore yesterday evening. Reports say that the youth in out of danger but the real motive of the attack, right in the centre of the city, is not fully known. Police suspect the assailants may have attacked the Tibetan youth thinking that he is from northeast India.   http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=%27Don%27t+misuse+pictures+to+provoke+tension%2C%27+CTA+appeals&id=31906

Letter to Sao Harn Yawnghwe

EBO

Square Gutenberg 11/2

B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel +32 (0)2 280 06 91
Fax +32 (0)2 280 03 10

                                                                                                                            13 August 2012
Dear Sao Harn Yawnghwe;

With respect and on behalf of my organizations and the community in Malaysia, I am writing this letter to request you to clarify us your involvement in IOC and have been received millions of dollars from the IOC in order to promoting the Bengali, most are illegal immigrants, issues in Burma and in the international communities in line with the current Burmese government reform process.

We do not know whether the allegations are true or not but we are reported you have signed a number agreements with the IOC to make the so-called Roahingya organizations unity and help them to raise their issues in order to gain their ethnic status and citizenships. You are also assisting the Rohingya organizations to have dialogue with U Maung Min led Union level peace negotiation team.

Our main concerned is you should consult our Arakanese leaders and the community first before you received any funds from the IOC and singed any agreement with it.  We are sole representatives and consequences of the Rakhine people so that we are entitled and have rights to know transparent information of the funding and the policy which definitely affects the Arakanese community in the Rakhine State. Indeed, you are not given any legitimacy right of the Arakanese constituency to represent the Arakanses us to sign aush agreement. This essence of legitimacy should be respected.  

We are also informed that you are behind the Turkish foreign minter visited to Burma and to the Rakhine State and met the IDPs from both sides, the Rakhine and the Bengali. The $50 million Saudi aids to the Bengalis community in the Rakhine State are outburst after your advised ARU, ARNO, and RSO to approach the IOC. We are in fact blinded on these allegations. Perhaps these can be a half truth or the whole truth we will never been known unless an independent inquiry of conduct is taken places or you sincerely let us know the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

As you well aware of that the founding father nationalities of Burma dreamed the Union strong and united based on the will of justice, peace, equality, and liberty had agreed within the main eight ethnic people, Arakan, Chain, Kachin, Karen, Karanii, Mon and Shan. If this sprit is forced to break and accept the Bengali as ethnic status through the international pressure, the violence, and the political conflicts, Burma is an inch away from the collapse of the Union. We wish you are keen not to see such consequences impeding with one’s own agenda.

In short, I have attached two pictures, the ARU conference and the signing ceremony between the EBO and IOC where you were presenting. And, it would be very kind of you to let us know the text of the agreements and amount of the fund you have received so far from the IOC and other Arab nations.   Thank you.

Sincerely,

Maung San Win

General Secretary

Arakan National Supporting Committee and Arakan Refugee Relief Committee

Kuala Lumpure

Malaysia

e-mail: arrc.kl@gmail.com   

CC: EBO-Office and all IOC members, UN, ASEAN, Myanmar Government and all ethnic organizations.

bxl@euro-burma.be  

Two Myanmar nationals murdered

Two Myanmar nationals murdered
Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:08

TWO Myanmar nationals were found murdered in separate incidents in the city on Saturday night.

In the first incident at 8.15pm, the body of Pa Ram Nana, 27, was discovered in Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz.

His throat was slit.

Initial investigations showed that Pa had met his friends at a nearby cybercafe.

It is learnt he had been in an argument with some of them after they had left the cybercafe.

Pa was a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card holder.

He had also been wanted by the police for his involvement in a drug case.

No weapons were found at the scene.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Ku Chin Wah confirmed the incident.

In another incident, police apprehended two Myanmar nationals who were trying to remove their friend’s body from a house in Taman Midah, Cheras.

Cheras district deputy police chief, Supt Abdul Rahim Hamzah Othman said police received a tip-off at 11.40pm from several neighbours who overheard what appeared to be a heated argument from the house.

“Two police patrol officers were deployed to the scene and when they went to check, they saw two men lifting a lifeless body,” said Abdul Rahim.

Both suspects, in their 30s and 40s, were arrested.

Police found stab wounds on the victim’s chest.

Two knives believed to have been used in the killings were seized.

http://www.mmail.com.my/story/two-myanmar-nationals-murdered-26324

Sectarian Violence Not About Race or Religion

Sectarian Violence Not About Race or Religion
Burmese President Thein Sein says the recent deadly communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Burma's western Rakhine state "has nothing to do with race or religion."

The president made his comments Thursday while hosting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who is in the country to offer aid for the tens of thousands who have been displaced in the conflict. President Thein Sein says the unrest was ignited by the brutal murder of a girl and the desire for revenge against those who committed the crime.

Sectarian violence between ethnic Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists has killed dozens since late May, according to official figures. But some rights groups and media reports suggest the figure may be higher.

President Thein Sein dismissed such speculation in comments carried Friday by the state-controlled New Light of Myanmar, saying he was "disheartened by the hairsplitting of the media." He insisted that only 77 people - 31 Rakhine and 46 Rohingya - have died.

Before leaving for Burma, Foreign Minister Davutoglu said he had received "conflicting information" regarding casualty figures in Rakhine state, telling reporters he has spoken with religious leaders who say thousands have died.

The violence broke out in late May after three Muslim men were accused of raping and murdering a young Buddhist woman and 10 Muslims were killed in an apparent revenge attack.

The issue has prompted a wave of criticism by Muslim-majority nations, some of whom view the conflict as a case of religious persecution against the Rohingya. The Saudi-based Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also urged a probe into the violence.

Rights groups have also called for Burma to do more to protect the Rohingya, most of whom are denied citizenship. Human Rights Watch said in a recent report that Burmese security forces have committed killings, rape, and mass arrests against the group in the aftermath of the sectarian violence.

Burma has denied the accusations, saying its security forces acted with restraint after moving quickly to put an end to the riots. It says it is working to provide relief to the 60,000 people left homeless from the conflict.

President Thein Sein on Thursday welcomed the $50 million aid donation by Turkey. He also said he would welcome a visit by the OIC leaders so they can "witness the reality" in Rakhine.

The state has seen a heavy police presence since June, when a state of emergency rule was declared to end the violence. Some rights say the conflict threatens to put a damper on the recent political and economic reforms carried out by Burma's nominally civilian government.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

http://www.voanews.com/content/burma-sectarian-violence-not-about-race-or-religion/1483768.html

Gunmen attacked a Buddhist temple in the Kyauk Taw Town ship

Myanmar PPF-Gunmen attacked a Buddhist temple in the Kyauk Taw township  near Bangladesh Burma border line Arakan state western part of Burma killing at least 25 people, a military official said Tuesday. Among the dead  was the pastor of the Deeper Life Buddhist temple in Arakan State said Buddhist monk leader.

No one has claimed responsibility, but immediate suspicion fell on the militant Islamic group, RSO, ARIF and ARNO which has carried out similar attacks in the past. An eyewitness told PFP that the attackers were carrying sophisticated firearms and shot randomly at the members of the Arakanese gathered for culture festival Monday night. Blood flowed through the Buddhist temple as bodies fell limp, the witness said.

 Religious attacks have been on the rise in Arakan State western part of Burma  recently. Buddhist minority have attacked by so called Rohing terrorists. At least 77 people were killed and 114 were wounded in terrorist attacked from last month.

PPF News