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Indonesia and Cyprus

World Council of Churches
Update, Up-01-09
Embargoed against delivery
2 April 2001

Oral intervention on the violation of human rights and funadamental freedom 
in West Papua/Irian Jaya, Indonesia, and in Cyprus

cf. WCC Press Release, PR-01-09, 16 March 2001
cf. WCC Update, Up-01-06, 28 March 2001

The following is the full text of the intervention to be  made by John 
Rumbiak, from the Institute for Human Rights, Study and Advocacy (IHRSTAD), 
on behalf of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the 
World Council of Churches (WCC) today, 2 April, to the 57th Session of the 
United Nations Commission on Human Rights.  IHRSTAD is a human rights 
non-governmental organisation based in Jayapura, Irian Jaya.  Please note 
that this text is embargoed against delivery :

Thank you Mr Chairman.  I speak on behalf of the Commission of Churches on 
International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, and would like to 
draw the attention of this Commission on the human rights situation in 
Indonesia.  The Council has closely monitored the situation in the 
different regions of Indonesia, particularly the ongoing human rights 
violations in West Papua, also known as Irian Jaya.  In October last, the 
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, visited the country 
and had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the worsening human rights 
situation in the region.  This situation is the result of the repressive 
measures adopted by the government of Indonesia in response to the demands 
of the Papuan people to exercise their right of self-determination.  The 
churches and the NGOs in West Papua have made several appeals to the 
government of Indonesia to engage the leaders of the local community in 
dialogue to prevent further deterioration in th!
e human rights situation.  While these appeals remain unanswered, the 
repression and human rights abuses by the Security Forces not only continue 
but are on the increase.

The institute for human rights study and advocacy in West Papua/Irian Jaya 
- Elsham - has reported that during the so-called period of reformation in 
Indonesia between 1998 and 2000, there have been gross and systematic 
violations of human rights.  These include approximately 80 cases of 
summary executions and 500 cases of arbitrary detentions and 
torture.  There is also a marked increase in incidences of torture and 
mal-treatment of detainees, which in some cases have resulted in custodial 
deaths.  The security forces intimidate and threaten human rights defenders 
and obstruct them from performing their duties.  The freedom of the press 
has been curtailed, restrictions have been placed on local journalists, 
while foreign journalists are denied access to West Papua.  The churches 
are particularly concerned about the detention of 22 prisoners of 
conscience being detained at the prison of Jayawijaya in Wamena.

Mr Chairman, a major concern is the presence of large numbers of security 
forces that are deployed in West Papua.  This has resulted in an increase 
in human rights abuses, as the security forces remain beyond the scope of 
law.  The recent investigations of human rights abuses by the Indonesian 
Commission on Human Rights have been hindered by the non-cooperative 
attitude of the security forces.  The Indonesian authorities have failed to 
bring the perpetrators of human rights violations to justice despite 
repeated representations.  This has resulted in a culture of impunity.

The Commission of Churches on International Affairs therefore calls on the 
Indonesian authorities to immediately stop the human rights violations and 
enter into a dialogue with the community leaders in West Papua, order the 
release of the 22 prisoners of conscience detained in Wamena and to bring 
to trial before courts of law those guilty of human rights violations.

Cyprus

Mr Chairman, the Commission of Churches on International Affairs would also 
like to address the human rights situation in Cyprus.  The Council has 
repeatedly expressed its belief that the continuation of the status quo in 
Cyprus that dates back to the invasion and occupation of 37% of the island 
by Turkish armed forces is unacceptable.  It violates not only the 
sovereignty and unity of Cyprus but also the fundamental human rights of 
its people, including the right of more than two hundred thousand refugees 
to return to their homes and the rights of all Cypriots to freedom of 
movement and settlement and to hold property.

The Commission of Churches on International Affairs therefore urges that 
the human rights of the people of Cyprus be respected and there should be a 
speedy implementation of the UN Resolutions.

For further information, please contact Karin Achtelstetter, Media 
Relations Officer
Tel:  (+41.22) 791.61.53, Mobile:  (+41) 79.284.52.12

**********
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, 
in more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian 
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works 
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, 
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally 
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by 
general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

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