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To: President Obama

Tell Obama to Support Human Rights in West Papua

Petition Text

When you meet with Indonesia's President Widodo this fall, we urge you support an end to human rights violations in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Specifically we urge you to condition U.S. support for the Indonesian security forces to concrete improvements in human rights, including credible trials of those who are accused of past and ongoing human rights violations; unconditional freedom for political prisoners; unrestricted access to the territory; and engaging in internationally-mediated talks between the Indonesian government and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Why is this important?

On October 26, 2015, President Obama will meet with Indonesia's President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Beginning in May 1963, West Papua was occupied by Indonesia with U.S. government support and encouragement. By 1969, Indonesia had annexed the territory. Over the course of five decades, West Papuans have suffered mass killings, torture, rape, and the loss of their culture and lands. U.S. corporations like the mining giant Freeport McMoRan have devastated the environment. At least 100,000 Papuans are estimated to have died as a result of Indonesian rule. In addition, the region has been so inundated with migrants that indigenous Papuans are no longer a majority in their own land.

The U.S. continues to arm and train the security forces that repress the West Papuan people. The Indonesian government's attempts to conceal the truth about West Papua include banning foreign journalists and UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights from visiting the territory. While President Widodo has announced several positive initiatives, elements in his government, including the security forces, are resisting change and the human rights violations continue.

The West Papuans continue to resist Indonesian rule. Groups supporting self-determination recently came together in the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in a broad coalition to press their case within West Papua and internationally.

Restrictions on security assistance from the United States were important in Timor-Leste (East Timor) gaining their independence from Indonesia. The U.S. should again restrict training and weapons to Indonesia in support of the rights of West Papuans.

This is a petition of the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network For more information on West Papua, read the monthly West Papua Report, published by the West Papua Advocacy Team and ETAN.

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Updates

2016-03-09 11:27:36 -0500

More info: http://etan.org/news/2014/09breaking_the_silence.htm

Join ETAN in supporting S.Res. 273. Urge your Senators to cosponsor Sen. Tom Udall's resolution condemning the 1965-1966 mass murder in Indonesia and expressing concern about the lack of accountability for these crimes. Call the switchboard - (202) 224-3121 - ask for your Senators' offices. Once connected urge the Senator to co-sponsor Senate Resolution 273 on Indonesia. The U.S. and Indonesia must acknowledge the past by releasing all its documents from 1965/66. By taking responsibility for its role in these crimes, the U.S. will be supporting justice, reconciliation and assist efforts in Indonesia to hold its security forces accountable and to lift ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression.

Read more about S.Res. 273 here: http://etan.org/news/2015/10senate.htm

2015-10-27 16:51:27 -0400

Thanks for signing this petition. ETAN has another demanding the U.S. government release all its records and acknowledge the U.S. role in 1965/66 violence in Indonesia. Please sign and share this one also. Thanks. http://chn.ge/1v50Edj

https://d22r54gnmuhwmk.cloudfront.net/photos/7/ye/rk/MdYeRKLkijBCyqG-800x450-noPad.jpg

2015-10-27 16:49:25 -0400

We had planned two demonstrations during Jokowi's visit. The President of Indonesia cancelled the two events we had targeted. Just saying...
Please contact us if you would like to be kept up to date on future events - [email protected] or sign up for our email lists: https://fs20.formsite.com/jmm555/form2/index.html

2015-10-20 09:18:28 -0400

In the SF Bay Area: Join our protest.
Demand President Jokowi Support Justice for All!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 9am - noon
Computer History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043; http://www.computerhistory.org/directions/

Indonesia's President Widodo will be giving a speech.

Contact : Peter Phwan, ETAN/ICANet, San Francisco (415) 812-2414
John M. Miller, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN), 917-690-4391 [email protected]

More details here: Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/438488373014974/ or http://etan.org/news/2015/10joko_protest.htm

2015-10-17 07:30:27 -0400

Obama will meet Jokowi in a little over a week. Please spread the word about this the petition. Here is a sample tweet:
Urge Obama to support Papua #humanrights. Sign @etan009 petition. http://diy.rootsaction.org/p/papua

2015-10-13 14:53:55 -0400

1,000 signatures reached

2015-10-07 02:50:49 -0400

500 signatures reached

2015-09-29 01:59:40 -0400

100 signatures reached

2015-09-28 13:35:22 -0400

50 signatures reached

2015-09-27 21:21:33 -0400

25 signatures reached

2015-09-27 19:14:42 -0400

10 signatures reached