'Grave concern' for West Papuans

Monday, 22 October 2007 04:22

Leaders of Pacific Island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, should devote special attention to the plight of West Papuan human rights defenders at the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum this week in Tonga, says TAPOL, the UK-based NGO that promotes human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia.

The level of intimidation against human rights defenders, political activists and religious leaders by Indonesian military and intelligence personnel has increased markedly since a visit to West Papua in June, 2007, by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani, says TAPOL in an open briefing to the Forum leaders.

“There is currently grave concern for the safety of human rights defenders.

“Targeted individuals and their families are being terrorised by death threats, anonymous phone calls and SMS messages, constant surveillance, and late-night visits by unidentified persons,” it says.

 The UN Special Representative drew attention to “credible reports of ... arbitrary detention, torture, harassment through surveillance, interference with the freedom of movement and in [human rights] defenders’ efforts to monitor and investigate human rights violations” following her visit.

 

 

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