Stop the repression in West Papua

LETTER | On Aug 17, Indonesian Independence Day, armed Indonesian police, soldiers and radical Islamic militia stormed a student dormitory in the city of Surabaya (on the island of Java), which housed West Papuan students, arresting 43. 

The attack reportedly took place because the students had allegedly refused to raise the Indonesian flag.

Indonesia invaded West Papua in 1962 and has continued a brutal occupation since. It has conducted military attacks in areas populated by civilians, under the cover of targeting West Papua’s pro-independence forces. It is illegal to raise the West Papuan flag (the Morning Star - a symbol of independence).

Reports of human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, torture and displacement are rife.

West Papuans are regularly subject to racism and according to eye-witness reports, students were tortured and called "monkeys", "pigs" and "dogs" during the attack on August 17.

Following the attack, protests have continued in West Papua and thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest Indonesia's systematic racism, and to demand freedom and a referendum on independence.

In the Indonesian cities of Medan and Bandung, the students have also received support.

In response to the protests, Indonesia has sent more than 1,200 troops into West Papua, including the notorious Detachment 88 and Brimob (mobile police units). 

Detachment 88, which is trained by Australia, with the United States and Britain, was reportedly involved in the attack in Surabaya and has been regularly used in a counter-insurgency role in West Papua. It was reportedly responsible for the killing of West Papuan independence leader, Kelly Kwalik.

Protesters and activists are being repressed by Indonesian forces. The internet has been cut off and journalists are prevented from entering the province, which is preventing information from coming out of West Papua. 

Surya Anta, spokesperson for the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua was also arrested on Aug 31.

This statement on behalf of left organisations in the Asia-Pacific raises the following demands:

1. Stop the repression against West Papuan activists and protesters and release all those detained during the protests, including Surya Anta.
2. Respect the right to self-determination of the Papuan people by agreeing to an internationally monitored referendum on independence.
3. Immediate withdrawal of military forces from West Papua.
4. Stop racism and systemic racist discrimination against the Papuan people.
5. Restore internet access in West Papua.
6. Allow international journalists access to West Papua.

Signatories:

1. Socialist Alliance (Australia)

2. Socialist Party of Malaysia – PSM

3. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation – CPI(ML)

4. Party of the Laboring Masses - PLM (Philippines)

5. Korean House for International Solidarity (South Korea)

6. Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières (ESSF), France

7. Asia Monitor Resources Centre, Hong Kong

8. Socialist Workers, Thailand

9. Sedane Labour Resource Centre (LIPS), Indonesia

10. International Movement of Catholic Students Asia Pacific (IMCS AP)

11. Socialist Party of Bangladesh

12. Jammu Kashmir Awami Workers Party

13. Radical Socialist, India

14. Left Voice, Sri Lanka

15. Fightback Aotearoa

16. The Alliance Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

17. Australia-Asia Worker Links