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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Note to Readers re. Upcoming Release of Secret Documents
NOTE TO READERS: News and Comment is looking for assistance with translating blog postings into other languages, and also with fund raising and distributing the blog content more widely. Those interested please get in touch via the e-mail link below. NOTE TO READERS RE. TRANSLATION: Portions of News and Comment are now available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, French, German, Russian and Spanish translation (click preceding links or Profile link above) but translation help is still needed -- particularly with older postings, in these and all other languages. NOTE TO READERS RE. POTENTIAL EVIDENCE: News and Comment is looking for public and private documents and first-hand information that could develop into evidence regarding war crimes or crimes against humanity by officials. Please forward material via the email link below. Email Me
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Indonesian Armed Forces Chief Confirms, Defends, Targeting Civilians.
The Jakarta Globe has a piece this morning on the TNI response to my November 9 report detailing their targeting of churches and civilians:
"The Indonesian military chief has confirmed claims by a rights activist [Allan Nairn] that the armed forces are actively carrying out intelligence gathering in Papua, and defended the move as crucial for national security... On Thursday, Adm. Agus Suhartono, the recently appointed chief of the Indonesian Military, admitted that they were involved in intelligence gathering operations, but only to guard against threats to the nation’s sovereignty and to back up police operations there. He rejected the idea that gathering intelligence among civilians was wrong, saying all intelligence operations in Papua served to detect and prevent separatist threats. 'What we’re doing is maximizing the use of our intelligence unit for the sake of the military and the country,' Agus said." ( See Markus Junianto Sialoho, "Indonesian Military Chief Defends Spying Operation in Papua," The Jakarta Globe, November 12, 2010).
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What the TNI does to civilian dissidents in Papua is not just "intelligence gathering operations" but also, as a secret Kopassus report puts it: "abduction [and] murder." (See News and Comment, November 9).
If the TNI wants to defend this practice they should do so in open court. When they commit murder they should stand trial for it, just like any ordinary person.
NOTE TO READERS: News and Comment is looking for assistance with translating blog postings into other languages, and also with fund raising and distributing the blog content more widely. Those interested please get in touch via the e-mail link below. NOTE TO READERS RE. TRANSLATION: Portions of News and Comment are now available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, French, German, Russian and Spanish translation (click preceding links or Profile link above) but translation help is still needed -- particularly with older postings, in these and all other languages. NOTE TO READERS RE. POTENTIAL EVIDENCE: News and Comment is looking for public and private documents and first-hand information that could develop into evidence regarding war crimes or crimes against humanity by officials. Please forward material via the email link below. Email Me
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Breaking News: Secret Files Show Kopassus, Indonesia's Special Forces, Targets Papuan Churches, Civilians. Documents Leak from Notorious US-Backed Unit as Obama Lands in Indonesia.
Secret documents have leaked from inside Kopassus, Indonesia's red berets, which say that Indonesia's US-backed security forces engage in "murder [and] abduction" and show that Kopassus targets churches in West Papua and defines civilian dissidents as the "enemy."
Link to view Radio France Internationale interview, coverage re. this piece
Link to view Jakarta Post coverage re. this piece: "'Leaked' file shows civilians targeted in Papua"
Link to view Radio New Zealand International coverage re. this piece: "Leaked Documents Offer Glimpse of Kopassus Motives in Papua"
Link to view Tempointeraktif.com (Indonesia) coverage re. this piece: "Panglima TNI Belum Baca Dokumen Operasi Kopassus yang Bocor," ("TNI Commander Has Not Yet Read Leaked Kopassus Operational Documents")
Link to view Czech coverage re. this piece
Link to view Guardian (UK) editorial re this piece: "Obama's missed opportunity in Jakarta. Even as President Obama landed, evidence of Indonesia's spotty record on human rights emerged. Yet he said nothing"
Link to view The Courier-Mail (Australia) editorial re. this piece: "Military Violence Threatens Progress"
Link to view Jakarta Globe coverage re. this piece:"Indonesian Military Chief Defends Spying Operations in Papua ," Excerpt: "The Indonesian Military chief has confirmed claims by a rights activist that the armed forces are actively carrying out intelligence gathering in Papua, and defended the move as crucial for national security..."
Link to view Koran Tempo (Indonesia) coverage re. this piece: "Panglima TNI Maklum Dokumen Rahasia Bocor," ("TNI Commander Informs Regarding Leaked Secret Document")
Link to view Tempointeractive.com (Indonesia): "TNI Commander Agrees Leaks of Secret Documents Not Impossible."
Link to view Jakarta Globe on reaction to this piece: "Activist Papuan Priests Say They Won't Be Intimidated."