Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JAKARTA3015
2007-10-29 07:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
PAPUA -- ACTIVIST DETAINED; MISSION EXPRESSES
how-toVZCZCXRO1629 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #3015 3020759 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290759Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6837 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 3504 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1439 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6198 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1020 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1936 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003015
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, DRL/AWH, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS ID
SUBJECT: PAPUA -- ACTIVIST DETAINED; MISSION EXPRESSES
CONCERN
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 003015
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, DRL/AWH, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS ID
SUBJECT: PAPUA -- ACTIVIST DETAINED; MISSION EXPRESSES
CONCERN
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian National Police (INP) have
arrested a well-known Papuan human rights activist. The INP
claims the activist--who is now in detention in Jakarta after
being transferred from Papua--sent "defamatory messages."
Pol/C has expressed concern about the case to the GOI. END
SUMMARY.
ARREST OF ACTIVIST
2. (C) The INP arrested Iwanngin Sabar Olif--a Papuan human
rights activist and volunteer lawyer for the human rights
advocacy group Els-ham Papua--for sending "defamatory
messages" regarding Indonesian officials and spreading
"terrorist messages" via short-message-services (SMS).
(Note: Els-ham Papua is a well-known human rights advocacy
NGO. In the past, it has defended a number of Papuan
independence activists.) Contacts report that Olif was
arrested in Jayapura, Papua, on October 18; police officials
publicly announced the arrest on October 24. The police
transported Olif to Jakarta on October 25 for further
questioning. Olif's supporters claim he was not the source
of the messages and that the charges are
politically-motivated and linked to his human rights efforts.
A STRANGE SMS
3. (SBU) The INP says that the SMS message that Olif
allegedly sent to some Papuan contacts read:
"New information, be on the alert, SBY (the initials of
President Yudhoyono) has already ordered the elimination (of)
the people of Papua to take control of the natural resources
of their land. The methods to be used to eliminate the
Papuan people are food poisoning, hired doctors, hired food
stalls, hired motorbike taxis, hired drivers and ABRI (former
name for the Indonesian Armed Forces)--forward this quickly
to the whole community of Papua before it is too late."
KEY ANTI-TERROR SQUAD INVOLVED?
4. (C) Initial press reports claimed that SD-88, an elite
anti-terror strike force, had made the arrest. National
SD-88 chief Brigadier General (police) Bekto Suprapto told
poloff that the INP's Jakarta-based Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) made the arrest, not SD-88. The anti-terror
squad,s Papuan intelligence unit had been present during the
arrest, but only in a back-up capacity. Suprapto confirmed
that Olif was being investigated for possibly "defaming" the
Indonesian president.
EXPRESSING CONCERN
5. (C) Pol/C has expressed concern about the case. In an
October 26 meeting with Pol/C, Albert Matondang, a high-level
official in the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal
and Security Affairs, confirmed that he had heard of the
case, but did not have any details. Pol/C also flagged
concern in conversations with Department of Foreign Affairs
contacts. Pol/C noted that we would appreciate any further
information about the arrest, commenting that the case was
bound to spark concerns among Papuans and human rights
groups. Pol/C underscored that the GOI should carefully
review the grounds for the arrest, and whether such detention
was warranted based on the law and the facts.
THE FOG OF PAPUA
6. (C) Events related to Papua are almost always shrouded in
fog and, true to form, what exactly is going on here is
difficult to ascertain with much precision. It seems
possible that Olif has transgressed some Indonesian law
regarding defamation. At the same time, it is possible he is
being singled out in some way, perhaps for his activist
agenda. Mission will continue to inquire about the case.
HUME
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, DRL/AWH, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS ID
SUBJECT: PAPUA -- ACTIVIST DETAINED; MISSION EXPRESSES
CONCERN
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Indonesian National Police (INP) have
arrested a well-known Papuan human rights activist. The INP
claims the activist--who is now in detention in Jakarta after
being transferred from Papua--sent "defamatory messages."
Pol/C has expressed concern about the case to the GOI. END
SUMMARY.
ARREST OF ACTIVIST
2. (C) The INP arrested Iwanngin Sabar Olif--a Papuan human
rights activist and volunteer lawyer for the human rights
advocacy group Els-ham Papua--for sending "defamatory
messages" regarding Indonesian officials and spreading
"terrorist messages" via short-message-services (SMS).
(Note: Els-ham Papua is a well-known human rights advocacy
NGO. In the past, it has defended a number of Papuan
independence activists.) Contacts report that Olif was
arrested in Jayapura, Papua, on October 18; police officials
publicly announced the arrest on October 24. The police
transported Olif to Jakarta on October 25 for further
questioning. Olif's supporters claim he was not the source
of the messages and that the charges are
politically-motivated and linked to his human rights efforts.
A STRANGE SMS
3. (SBU) The INP says that the SMS message that Olif
allegedly sent to some Papuan contacts read:
"New information, be on the alert, SBY (the initials of
President Yudhoyono) has already ordered the elimination (of)
the people of Papua to take control of the natural resources
of their land. The methods to be used to eliminate the
Papuan people are food poisoning, hired doctors, hired food
stalls, hired motorbike taxis, hired drivers and ABRI (former
name for the Indonesian Armed Forces)--forward this quickly
to the whole community of Papua before it is too late."
KEY ANTI-TERROR SQUAD INVOLVED?
4. (C) Initial press reports claimed that SD-88, an elite
anti-terror strike force, had made the arrest. National
SD-88 chief Brigadier General (police) Bekto Suprapto told
poloff that the INP's Jakarta-based Criminal Investigation
Division (CID) made the arrest, not SD-88. The anti-terror
squad,s Papuan intelligence unit had been present during the
arrest, but only in a back-up capacity. Suprapto confirmed
that Olif was being investigated for possibly "defaming" the
Indonesian president.
EXPRESSING CONCERN
5. (C) Pol/C has expressed concern about the case. In an
October 26 meeting with Pol/C, Albert Matondang, a high-level
official in the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal
and Security Affairs, confirmed that he had heard of the
case, but did not have any details. Pol/C also flagged
concern in conversations with Department of Foreign Affairs
contacts. Pol/C noted that we would appreciate any further
information about the arrest, commenting that the case was
bound to spark concerns among Papuans and human rights
groups. Pol/C underscored that the GOI should carefully
review the grounds for the arrest, and whether such detention
was warranted based on the law and the facts.
THE FOG OF PAPUA
6. (C) Events related to Papua are almost always shrouded in
fog and, true to form, what exactly is going on here is
difficult to ascertain with much precision. It seems
possible that Olif has transgressed some Indonesian law
regarding defamation. At the same time, it is possible he is
being singled out in some way, perhaps for his activist
agenda. Mission will continue to inquire about the case.
HUME