Protest to Highlight Restrictions on Access to
Papua
Calls for an End to Open Papua to
International Journalists,
Aid Organizations and
Human Rights Investigator
Contact: John M. Miller,
+1-917-690-4391
Today, Wednesday, April 29, 6
p.m., the East Timor and
Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) will protest
Indonesian restrictions on access to West Papua. The protest will take
place at the consulate of Indonesia (5 E. 68 St., near 5th Ave.),
New York City.
Many of the protesters will be wearing
all-black clothing to symbolize the media blackout in Papua. They will be
carrying placards, some of which will be "censored" and have their mouths
taped shut.
"Why are there such heavy restrictions on access
to West Papua?" asked John M. Miller, coordinator of ETAN. "Indonesia's
President Joko Widodo should fulfill his promise to end the barriers to
journalists, human rights investigators and humanitarian organizations
working in the region."
The New York City demonstration coincides
with similar protests in more than a dozen cities in London, Australia,
Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, Los
Angeles, CA. The protests were initiated by Tapol, the
British based Indonesia human rights organization. Updates on the
protests will be tweeted with the hashtag #openpapua.
A letter asking "What is
Indonesia hiding in West Papua?" urges "the end to restrictions on access
to Papua" was delivered to Indonesian embassies around the world. The
letter, organized by Tapol and signed by 45 organizations worldwide
(including ETAN), said "The media blackout in Papua denies the Papuan
people the right to have their voices heard and allows human rights
violations such as killings, torture and arbitrary arrests to continue
with impunity."
West Papua is one of the world's most
isolated conflict spots. For decades, indigenous activists campaigning for
their rights have been arrested, disappeared, tortured and killed. Local
journalists who uncover the truth face lethal risks. Foreign journalists
trying to report on Papua have been arrested, deported, and even
imprisoned. One by one, international humanitarian organizations have
closed their Papua offices. Access for UN human rights observers has been
closed for eight years. Until Indonesia lifts the repressive restrictions
on access to Papua, Indonesian security forces and paramilitaries are free
to act with total impunity, and indigenous Papuans will continue to be
killed.
The East Timor and Indonesia Action
Network (ETAN) was founded in 1991. ETAN supports
democracy, human rights and justice in Timor-Leste, West Papua and
Indonesia. Website:
www.etan.org Twitter: @etan009.
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