Interview with Yan Christian

HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER, Mr Warinussy is Executive Director of the Institute for Research, Analysing and Development of Legal Aid, also known as LP3BH, an organization committed to defending the rights of West Papuans affected by the Indonesian military's efforts to assert control over the region, which occupies the western half of the island shared by Papua New Guinea.

Mr Warinussy has distinguished himself by his frontline role as a defence lawyer to those in West Papua's remote regions who would otherwise have no legal representation. He also has played a leading role in the defence of West Papuan human rights campaigners working to expose human rights violations committed by the Indonesian military and paramilitary groups.

Mr Warinussy is also a respected community leader who has helped build bridges between West Papua's highland and lowland peoples. In the last year, he also served as an independent human rights advisor on the resettlement of West Papuans affected by a British Petroleum natural gas facility in Bintuni Bay.


INTERVIEW:

1. How is the current human rights’ situation in West Papua?

Everyday,things seem to get worse. There are more violations, and the perpetuators of these violations continue to act with complete impunity. The Indonesian government has been inconsistent in its policies regarding West Papua. The Special Autonomy Law was passed but has not been implemented up until now. The government acts only in its own political and economic interests—not in the interests of the Papuan people. The Indonesian government does not treat Papuans fairly. We are seen as a people who are stupid, dirty and sick, hence, inferior. Our economic, civil, cultural and social rights are violated on a daily basis. We have extremely limited access to schools, to health services and to land. The government does not want to give us freedom or justice. Papuan people want peace. We want to live our lives peacefully and to have our culture respected and appreciated.


2. What role do you see the international community playing to put an end to the massive human rights abuses in West Papua?

We need help in many ways. In the past, the Institute for Research, Analysis and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH) has organized campaigns with some international organizations and this has helped to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua. The international community could help the Papuan people in the following ways:

By pplying pressure on the Indonesian authorities to end human rights
violations and to hold the perpetrators accountable for them. By promoting human rights through advocacy. By providing funds to the organizations in West Papua who work to defend human rights and who monitor and investigate abuses. Sadly, these organizations often lack funding to carry out this very important and necessary work.


3. What do Papuans need to feel that justice is being served?

There is impunity towards the perpetrators of human rights abuses in West Papua and this impunity needs to end. There is a need to create a dialogue between the Papuan people and the Indonesian government to end human rights violations and to find a peaceful solution for West Papua.