Media Conference on West Papua

Venue
Trade Hall
4 Goulburn Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Time and Date
Thursday, 27th October 2011
11.30 am to 12.30 pm

This conference will feature the following speakers, who will be available for interviews post-conference:

Octovianus Mote is a former head in Papua for Kompas, the biggest daily in Indonesia. He is now an exile in the United States and is affiliated with Yale University’s Southeast Asia Program and the International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School.

Rex Rumakiek is an exiled Papuan leader based in Australia. Mr Mote and Mr Rumakiek were elected by Papuan civil societies at the Papua Land of Peace Conference to serve as Papuan negotiators.

The Hon John Dowd AO serves as the President of the International Commission of Jurists, Australia.

The CFMEU , which will meet the Freeport union in Jakarta on 1-2 November, ispart of ICEM (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions).

Professor Peter King is from the West Papua project, University of Sydney and author of a book about recent Papuan politics.

Arooma Gul, a student and human rights activist studying at the University of Sydney

MEDIA CONFERENCE

On the 19th of October 2011, the Indonesian military and police attacked the peaceful Papuan People’s Congress which was attended by almost 5000 people, after the Congress declared independence from Indonesian rule. At least 6 people were killed with more than 300 were taken into custody. The leaders were accused of treason and many others were beaten with rattan canes and batons by police and soldiers.

On the 10th October 2011, the police in Timika opened fire and killed an employee of PT Freeport Indonesia, Petrus Ayamiseba. His death sparked fury not only in Timika but also outside the city with demands for the resignation of regional and provincial police chiefs. Ayamiseba was one of the 8,000 employees of Freeport McMoRan in Timika, Papua, where workers began their strike on 29 September 2011 to demand an increase of 25 percent in wages and other employment benefits. Freeport Indonesia workers receive the lowest salaries among all Freeport McMoRan (FM) workers around the world, with wages ranging from US$1.50 to $3.00 an hour. In contrast, Freeport posted a net income of $1.37 billion equivalent to $1.43 per share during the second quarter of 2011.

There is clear evidence that continuing human rights abuses in West Papua has been going on for many years without access by international media. The Indonesian government has ensured that media access to the human rights abuses committed in Papua is prohibited to cover up the crimes committed by its military. The heavy presence of the Indonesian military has created concern among Papuans, who fear for their livelihoods and safety. Additionally, a new report on Pacific media freedom states the most serious cases of media freedom violations in the Pacific in the past year have occurred in West Papua.

Australia has strong security cooperation with Indonesia. Similar to its behavior in regards to East Timor, Australia prefers to turn a blind eye to military violence in West Papua.

This conference will feature the following speakers, who will be available for interviews post-conference:

Octovianus Mote is a former head in Papua for Kompas, the biggest daily in Indonesia. He is now an exile in the United States and is affiliated with Yale University’s Southeast Asia Program and the International Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School.

Rex Rumakiek is an exiled Papuan leader based in Australia. Mr Mote and Mr Rumakiek were elected by Papuan civil societies at the Papua Land of Peace Conference to serve as Papuan negotiators.

The Hon John Dowd AO serves as the President of the International Commission of Jurists, Australia.

The CFMEU , which will meet the Freeport union in Jakarta on 1-2 November, ispart of ICEM (International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions).

Professor Peter King is from the West Papua project, University of Sydney and author of a book about recent Papuan politics.

Arooma Gul, a student and human rights activist studying at the University of Sydney

Venue
Trade Hall
4 Goulburn Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Time and Date
Thursday, 27th October 2011
11.30 am to 12.30 pm

Following press conference, there will be a demonstration in front of Indonesian Consulate in Maroubra at 2pm which will be held consecutively with a candlelight vigil initiated by members of Indonesian civil society in the Jakarta CBD (at the front of Hotel Indonesia)

ENDS

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