Joint statement on Human rights crisis in West Papua, Indonesia

Statement at the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Thank you Mr President,

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the human rights situation in West Papua has continued to deteriorate due to the escalation of armed conflict, an increasing number of extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances, and the internal displacement of thousands of indigenous Papuans in the central highlands and elsewhere. There has also been a wave of arbitrary arrests, prosecutions of protesters, political activists and human rights defenders and the pandemic has served as a justification for adding further restrictions including access to information and the internet, in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia.

Perpetrators of serious human rights violations among the Indonesian security forces enjoy impunity, claiming that victims were associated with non-state armed groups.

There is no dialogue for peace, and international humanitarian access to the affected communities is denied. The Indonesian government introduced a new conflict policy on West Papua to strengthen the local military infrastructure and the involvement of security forces in development programs. The unilateral amendments of the controversial and highly contested Special Autonomy arrangements for the Papuan provinces and plans for their further division have only deepened the crisis.

The expansion of plantation, food estate projects and mining activities are causing more deforestation, threatening the wellbeing of indigenous communities.

We urge the Human Rights Council to mandate a comprehensive report by the High Commissioner on Human Rights on the human rights situation for Indigenous Papuans in these provinces of Indonesia. 

Thank you Mr President.

 Civic space in Indonesia is rated as obstructed by the CIVICUS Monitor