FOcus On - International Press Institute

Former Indonesian President Suharto
(REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni)
nesian military presence. Papuans were
granted greater autonomy in 2001, but
those pushing for independence are targeted
by Indonesian authorities. Jour na -
lists covering the unrest are reportedly
threatened and harassed by local officials.
Between 14 and 16 October, according
to the East Timor Action Network,
Papuans held rallies in several cities across
Indonesia to welcome the formation of
the International Parliamentarian Caucus
for West Papua (IPWP) in London. In
the Papuan capital Jayapura, IPWP committee
chairman Buchtar Tabuni was
taken into custody by the police for questioning.
According to reports, he and 17
others were beaten in public and then
forced into police cars at gunpoint. On or
around 17 October, one protest organizer
was killed; the an autopsy of Yosias
Syet Sentani concluded that he died of
torture.
Sources say the local deputy police
chief told journalists not to report the
case, warning that those who cover this
story may be “victims of an accident on
their way home.” TV journalists in the
Papuan police office were also told not to
investigate the local police force and its
interrogation of suspects linked to the
demonstrations. Deputy Director Borent
reportedly added, “Your motorcycle could
end up having a crash.”
Chozin, eldest brother of Bali bombers Amrozi and Mukhlas, talks to journalists at Tenggulun
village near Lamongan. (REUTERS/Beawiharta Beawiharta)
Recommendations
Decriminalize defamation
Give journalists in Papua and other
provinces the same rights to free
speech accorded to journalists elsewhere
in Indonesia
Abolish the ITE law
Indonesia In Brief
Population: 238 million
Domestic Overview: Since Suharto stepped down a decade ago,
Indonesia has slowly moved toward greater transparency and democracy.
However, corruption remains endemic, and may even be on the rise.
A World Bank report says Indonesia’s rapid post-Suharto decentralization
exacerbated the problem. While powers mandated to local officials have
increased, there has not always been a sufficient expansion of oversight,
encouraging graft and “money politics,” the World Bank says.
A secular state, 86% of all Indonesians are Muslims.
In some parts of the archipelago, inter-ethnic and inter-religious tensions,
as well as violent separatist movements, are simmering. Heavy-handed
military and police efforts to combat Islamist terrorist threats, as well
as maintain central control over restive provinces, have led to numerous
documented human rights abuses.
Beyond Borders: Indonesia is an active member of ASEAN and other
regional efforts, and pursues an active foreign policy commensurate with its
status as the world’s fourth most populous country, and as the most populous
Muslim-majority country. Although conducting a generally internationalist
foreign policy, the violent secession of East Timor after the 1999 independence
referendum strained Indonesia’s relations with many countries.
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