Refugees in West Papua: Border Mission May/June 2006: SECURITY ASSESSMENT & INTELLIGENCE P : Melbourne Indymedia

West Papua Border Mission May/June 2006

SECURITY ASSESSMENT & INTELLIGENCE PROFILE

download the report at http://freewestpapua.com/files/SITREP%20West%20Papua%20Border%20Mission%20MayJune%202006.pdf

Executive Summary
Nick Chesterfield compiled this report as a result of fieldwork he undertook from May 14 to 14 June 2006 on behalf of the Free West Papua campaign in Australia. The work was funded by grassroots donations from Australia.

For too long the security and human rights issues present along the border of the Papua Niugini and West Papua have been ignored at the strategic peril of countries in the region. In abandoning those who fought so hard for our freedom in World War 2, we have missed out on a genuine opportunity to stop displacement of our neighbours, and to genuinely combat terrorism on our doorstep.

Currently a massive troop buildup is occurring on the border by the Indonesian military, who have so far managed to resist genuine civilian control within Indonesia. After the defensive killings of five security personnel and agents provocateur in the demonstrations of March 15/16, the Indonesian military and Police have conducted widespread reprisals against students and the family members of all university students in West Papua. The TNI's network of terror has spread furthermore deep within Papua Niugini and has made its presence felt within isolated communities along the border, who are living in fear of an imminent invasion. Evidence was uncovered that a massive ground offensive is in the final stages of planning, and there are questions that need to answered publicly by many people in the region to prevent this from happening.

This Security Assesment also revisits some of the military evidence uncovered in “Terror-Razing the Forest: Guns,Corruption, Illegal logging, JI & the Indonesian military in Papua Niugini” which was release in January of this year and has caused quite a stir already. It contains the following information:

(i)Documentation of situation if Siti Wainggai
This report present information that there has been an on-going program carried out by the Indonesian authorities to capture Siti Wainggai in Papua New Guinea and return her to Indonesia. Siti Wainggai is the mother of child who travelled with her father to Australia with the 43 asylum seekers in January 2006. Siti Wainggai fled to Papua New Guinea after being forced to make a statement by Indonesian authorities that her child had been abducted by “its” father and taken to Australia against her wishes.

The report presents information that is not safe for Siti Wainggai to stay in Papua New Guinea. A scenario is presented for her to go to New Zealand as a refugee.

(ii)Circumstances of students fleeing aftermath of demonstrations in Jayapura of March 15/16 2006.
Results of interviews and information collected about the West Papuan students who were seeking political asylum after the March 15 & 16 2006 demonstrations in Jayapura suggest that there are many hundreds of students and other persons who have left Jayapura and have gone into hiding because of concerns for their personal safety.

Interviews undertaken demonstrate that these persons have been subjected to beatings, torture, retaliatory action and reprisal killings by Indonesian authorities. The information presented demonstrates that these persons face a real threat of persecution, imprisonment or death in West Papuan from the Indonesian
authorities. Information is presented that parents or relatives of these persons have also been subjected to reprisal and torture.

On the basis of the information presented these persons appear to be political refugees who face real danger of persecution from Indonesia.

Information contained in the report presents an argument that these persons may not be safe from Indonesian authorities while staying in Papua New Guinea, and that international assistance is immediately required.

(iii)Links between timber logging operations, Indonesian military and Islamic militia
This report presents strong information about links between personnel of the Indonesian military and commercial logging operations along the north coast of Papua New Guinea. The report relies on information to suggest that the commercial fish industry and timber logging operations in Papua New Guinea are working with Indonesian military and armed militias from Phillipines & Indonesia. Information is presented that these armed personnel are providing security for the industry operations. The nature and origin of these armed personnel suggests that a strategic political role is be being played by these personnel.

It has been established that past and present members of Indonesian military have interests in logging and resource exploitation. These interests form a military industry complex, which has been ongoing in Indonesia since the Suharto era. It seems plausible that these same interests have extended into logging interests in Papua New Guinea. Information presented by the author in the past argues this is the case. Where this is proven, the military industrial complex which includes Indonesia’s TNI is entrenched in Papua New Guinea.

(iv)OPM attack on TNI camp in Border region
This report presents information about an attack by the OPM on an Indonesian military camp on April 10 2006. It is reported that this attack was supposed to assist the students fleeing persecution after the March 15/16 2006 demonstration.

(v) Indonesian Troops and Militia in the northern border region
This presents details of very large deployments of Indonesian troops and equipment along the northern border region with Papua New Guinea. Information is presented about TNI installations including locations, equipment, troop numbers & battalion identifications, which extend through territory along the northern section of the Trans
Irian Highway to Wutung.

The report presents information that Islamist or Jihadist type militias are currently active & training in the immediate region.

Information is presented that local people have been removed from the area of military operations, face restricted movement and face an vastly increased danger of attack.

(vi)General situation in northern coast of Papua New Guinea
The report details concern of PNG people in the border region for incursion or attack by Indonesian troops into Papua New Guinea territory. The reports suggest that Papua New Guinea Government has little capacity or willingness to respond to an incursion.

The report details some information about the landowners in Saundan province working to wrestle control of the logging operations from RH.

(vii)Additional Comment
Information presented in the report suggests that the corrupt nature of the current PNG Government of Michael Somare is assisting Indonesian territorial and business interests’ in the region. This begs the question of what happens if the government in Papua New Guinea stops being compliant to timber & resource companies and their military associates in Indonesia.

It seems credible that the Indonesian force along the border could be used to secure strategic interests further inside Papua New Guinea if the need arose.

The report of Kopassus and militia already in Papua New Guinea suggests that this military control is already being established.

Small detachments of armed forces can be used to make local people scared and powerless. Then the local people will be unable to act against increased troop numbers and any increased Indonesian control will face an already compliant population.

This report suggests a stealthy campaign by the TNI for territorial control is already underway in PNG.