Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jayapura (Agenzia Fides) - The indigenous women of the Indonesian Papua have suffered and continue to suffer all kinds of violence, rapes, torture, abuse, kidnapping by the Indonesian military forces committed in the repression regarding the rebellion of the natives of Papua: the complaint, reported to Fides, released by "Papuan Women's Human Rights Network, a new network born in Papua to protect the rights of women and to improve women's condition in the province.
"The indigenous women of Papua - says a note sent to Fides - have been suffering from all kinds of abuse for more than 40 years and so far have suffered in silence. Today they intend to be heard, they have formed a network to tell the truth and to put pressure on the government so that it changes its attitude. "
When Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945, Papua (the western half of the island of New Guinea) remained under the Dutch colonial government. Indonesia annexed the nation in 1962 after a referendum on the choice of independence or integration. At the referendum, however, only 1,000 men chosen by the Indonesian army voted and the annexation was ratified unanimously. Today the Indonesian military presence remains strong in Papua, to squash any new pro-independence turmoil, which, in particular the indigenous communities are accused of. Abuses by the Indonesian military caused an uproar in October 2010, when on the Internet a video that documented the torture inflicted on a local indigenous man was released.
The indigenous women of Papua, after meetings, and organization and awareness have formed a new network that will work in partnership with international associations for the protection of human rights. The network has produced a Report entitled "It is already too much" that documents the violence suffered by indigenous women in the period 1963-2009. The Report was presented to the civilian government of Papua, asking for an end to violence and discrimination against women in the province. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/05/2011)
