West Papuan Independence Leader Found Floating In Sack At Sea

[Latindancer]

1 Sep 2014
West Papuan Independence Leader Found Floating In Sack At Sea

By Amy McQuire


The Indonesian security forces have been accused of the murder of another pro-independence West Papuan leader. Amy McQuire reports.


A West Papuan pro-independence activist has been found dead less than a week after he went missing in the lead-up to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s visit to the region.
The body of Martinus Yohame was found in a sack floating in the sea near the city of Sorong, West Papua on August 26. He went missing on August 20. Yohame was head of the local Sorong branch of the pro-independence group the West Papua National Committee (KNPB).
Amnesty International said the disappearance had coincided with the detention of another political activist just prior to President Yudhoyono’s attendance at a sailing event in Sorong.

Yohame had reportedly staged a press conference in Sorong the day before he disappeared, opposing the President’s visit and raising the issue of illegal logging.
The KNPB were reportedly planning demonstrations, including the raising of the banned “Morning Star” flag, an act which has seen activists jailed by the Indonesian government.

Amnesty International has condemned Indonesia, saying the attack “highlights the repressive environment faced by political activists and journalists in the area and the rights violations by the security forces there”.
It also follows the arrest of two school students earlier this month for painting pro-independence graffiti.
Robert Yelemaken, 16 and Oni Wea, 21, were reportedly beaten by the arresting police officers. Amnesty International reports they were forced to roll in dirty water and drink paint.
Yelemaken has been released but Wea is still incarcerated and facing charges of “incitement”.

The fate of two French journalists who were arrested earlier this month whilst allegedly in the company of separatists is also uncertain.
They may be charged with espionage, despite the international Reporters Without Borders stressing they were in West Papua to report on the economic and social problems faced by Indigenous people under Indonesian rule.
International journalists are prohibited from reporting in West Papua, and local journalists are intimidated from reporting on independence sentiment.

Amnesty International called on the President-elect Joki Widodo to ensure freedom of expression in the country, by amending the Criminal Code to bring it in line with the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Indonesia's own Constitution.
Human Rights Watch has also called on the incoming President to release political prisoners and allow human rights organisations access to the region.
“In Papua, the failure of Indonesia’s security forces to distinguish between violent acts and peaceful protests has contributed to rising tensions and insecurity in the province,” a statement from Human Rights Watch said.
“Human Rights Watch urged Widodo to order the immediate and unconditional release of everyone imprisoned for the peaceful exercising of their political views, and to permit foreign journalists and human rights organizations unimpeded access to the province.”
Indonesia has had control over the province since the withdrawal of the Dutch in the 60s, and the passing of the controversial “Act of Free Choice” in 1969.


https://newmatilda.com/2014/09/01/we...ating-sack-sea

[Kurgen]

Amnesty International has condemned Indonesia

I bet they are shitting themselves.

[sabang]

There are better creative suicides to be found in Thailand though.

[thaimeme]

Ever noticed, over the last couple of decades, the almost silent mainstream coverage that long-time Indonesian separatist/independence movements receive?

West Papua/Iraian Jaya, Maluku, Kalimantan, Aceh.....even during the turbulent Timor days.

[sabang]

Oh yeh, I've noticed.

[Albert Shagnastier]

This might be apt.

[thaimeme]

This might be apt.

Mr. Pilger has done some outstanding and consistence work in his day...

Little recognized, though.

[sabang]

He's more recognised than you think, as is Noam Chomsky. Even Robert Fisk (unquestionably the world most knowledgable middle eastern correspondent) is largely sidelined. Seymour Hersh (a real journalist) has come out with some crackers too, still does- which is why you'll probably read his best stuff in Rolling Stone magazine these days.

But if 'They' admitted that, they might end up even more recognised, if you get my drift. So you won't find their publications advertised on Fox, or even BBC. But they are widely available, and well worth a read- even though they are often telling you what was stridently and vehemently denied back then (when they wrote it), but known to be fact now. You should have heard the brouhaha and demonisation when Chomsky told the world the facts about the (illegal) bombing of Cambodia and Laos, the mischief in Nicaragua and El salvador, and so on. It's a good laugh- recommend you check it out, as well as the strident denials at the time from 'respectable figures'.

You see, things change but they don't change. The sheep easily have the wool pulled over their eyes. Thus it has ever been- and frankly it explains both religion and government.

[Latindancer]

You'd think that the Australian ABC would report it, but I haven't seen it so far. Perhaps I should phone their Four Corners section and see if they're going to cover it ?


His body was found floating inside a gunny sack by Nana island, with bullet injuries and his arms and legs tied up, reports Radio New Zealand.


"This is a common form of torture and execution used by the Indonesian government in West Papua. 1000's of West Papuans have been murdered in this way over the last 50 years," said Free West Papua Campaign in a statement.

[wasabi]

Oh yeh, I've noticed.

I did not notice, because it has never been drawn to My attention by the BBC in the U.K
At least here you pick up things that the main stream media ignore.

[thaimeme]

Oh yeh, I've noticed.

I did not notice, because it has never been drawn to My attention by the BBC in the U.K
At least here you pick up things that the main stream media ignore.

Always thought that the beloved BBC was/is mainstream.
Akin to the same establishment?

[Kurgen]

West Papuan Independence Leader Found Floating In Sack At Sea

is his name Bob?

[reddog]

the UN conjob with the act of free choice was right up there with the best of of their stuff ups,carn't have the dutch running the place,must have the indos come in and give the locals a good kicking and send in javanese to settle and out number the locals.
the indos are never going to ease up on the papuans because they want to rip off all the resources, i think the freemont gold mine funds most of the indo military.
you don't get much media coverage but i saw a SBS australia(i think) show recently
and the reporter was followed every where, nearly no one was willing to speak on camera about the indo brutality, really is a police state for the locals.

[Iceman123]

^^
He was known as "Bob the sack thief"

[Necron99]

I think no one is talking about it because that sort of journalism is dead in Oz.
Th days of George Negus parachuting into the jungle to talk to Bougainville separatists or Timor freedom fighters have gone.

[Codesh]

Australia has learned to play by the international media rules - if it is embarrassing for someone from whom you make money - forget it. Filter the reality to keep the people mollified. And right now Australia is also keen to get some brownie points back from Indonesia after being caught spying on their government.

Investigative journalism went out the window years back. News feeds from Reuters and AP now fill the gaps where intrepid reporters once published thought-provoking insights and stories.