Statement by Front Pepera Chairman Selpius Bobii

(WPMA note - the correct spelling of the Special Rapporteur is Frank La Rue, not Frank Laure)

Press statement by Front Pepera Chairman - response to RI not allowing UN envoy to visit Papua & Ambon Jan 2013
THE UNITED FRONT OF THE STRUGGLE OF THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA
(FRONT PERSATUAN PERJUANGAN RAKYAT PAPUA BARAT (FRONT PEPERA PB))
Secretariat Office Address : 01 Victoria St – Padang Bulan, Abepura– West Papua

Statement :

At the Universal Periodic Review of the Session of the United Nations Council for Human Rights in May 2012, a number of member countries highlighted problems in regards to freedom of religion of minority groups and the freedom of expression in the Republic of Indonesia (RI) - in particular in Papua and Ambon and a number of specific cities in these areas. The UN Committee on Human Rights in response, decided to send a special Observer to Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia as a member of the UN Human Rights Council at the time agreed for the UN Reporter to enter Indonesia. Accordingly it was planned for Frank Laure - as the UN’s Special Observer on Freedom of Expression - to come to Indonesia. Even though he had planned to visit both Papua and Ambon as part of his visit, this was prevented by RI which would not approve of Frank Laure visiting Papua and Ambon. Frank Laure then as a result refused to visit Indonesia at all, unless permission was granted for him to visit Papua and Ambon as part of the trip schedule. Mr Laure’s response in this regard amounts to indirect pressure from the UN Committee on Human Rights towards the Republic of Indonesia (RI) in regards to RI’s blocking access to international journalists and foreign Human Rights workers to Papua and Ambon.

We urge the Republic of Indonesia to immediately open access for foreign journalists and Human Rights Workers to enter Papua and Ambon.

Selpius Bobii
General Chairperson
The United Front of the Struggle of the People of Papua
& Political Prisoner of Conscience

From Behind Prison Walls,

Abepura Prison, Papua
9 January 2013

ENDS

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