• November 2014: KNPB remain most targeted Papuan civil society group‏
• At the end of November 2014, there were at least 65 political prisoners in Papuan jails.

The West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat, KNPB)
remains the most heavily targeted civil society group in Papua. So far
this year, there have been 101 arrests of KNPB activists or those
suspected of being affiliated to the KNPB. The pattern of mass arrests of
KNPB members continued this month with 28 KNPB members arrested for
participating in peaceful commemorative activities celebrating the 6th
anniversary of the formation of the KNPB in 2008. This July, 36 KNPB
arrests were made in relation to a peaceful planned boycott of the
Indonesian Presidential elections. There appears to be no end in sight for
punitive and indiscriminate actions against the KNPB, including raids,
mass arrests, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and torture. Police
attempts to delegitimise the KNPB as an ‘illegal’ organisation under the
auspices of Law 17/2013 on Social Organisations (UU 17/2013 tentang
Organisasi Kemasyarakatan) restricts peaceful expression and represents a
shrinking of democratic space.

The 12 detainees in the Nimbokrang Elections Boycott case were released on
bail but may yet be tried and are currently under city arrest. The four
detainees in the Freedom Flotilla arrests case in Sorong in August 2013
and the two detainees in the Sarmi treason case in December 2013 likewise
remain in legal limbo. In these cases, bail conditions included the
possibility of re-arrest if found repeating the same ‘offence,’ such as
demonstrating or boycotting an election. These stringent bail conditions
together with police surveillance and restrictions on physical movement
are aimed at deterring indigenous Papuan activists from exercising their
right to peaceful protest. This clearly violates the rights to freedom of
assembly and expression. Similarly, the inclusion of activists and leaders
in police ‘wanted’ lists (Daftar Pencarian Orang, DPO) is another strategy
used by police to criminalise and intimidate indigenous civil society
groups.

Linus Hiel Hiluka and Kimanus Wenda, two political prisoners detained in
Nabire who are serving sentences of 19 years and 10 months each, were
subjected to inhumane treatment by police. The trial for Areki Wanimbo,
who has been detained since 6 August, is expected to begin in December.
Wanimbo was arrested alongside two French journalists who visited him as
part of their investigations into the situation in Lanny Jaya. He faces
charges of conspiracy to commit treason which carries a maximum six-year
sentence.

You can read the full update here:
http://www.papuansbehindbars.org/?p=3359

The full Update is also attached - we hope you find this information useful.
Papuans Behind Bars November20 2014.doc

With best wishes,

Papuans Behind Bars team