Letter to Murray McCully on Killing of Papuan leader Kelly Kwalik

Submitted by Cam on 17 December 2009 - 11:35am
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Indonesia Human Rights Committee,
Box 68-419,
Auckland
 
 
 
17 December, 2009
 
 
Hon Mr Murray McCully,
 Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Parliament Buildings,
Wellington.
 
 
Dear Mr McCully,
 
 
Security forces in West Papua have shot and killed OPM (Free West Papua Movement) leader Kelly Kwalik apparently in the process of a Timika raid and an attempt to arrest him.
 
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee expresses its concern about the death of this prominent figure.  
 
Kelly Kwalik has long had a high profile and is held in high regard as a resistance leader by many West Papuan people.  In recent years the OPM has followed a path of non-violence and support for a zone of peace in West Papua. The OPM has also joined civil society in the call for calling for dialogue with Jakarta. Kelly Kwalik has denied any involvement in the spate of ambushes and shootings on the road to the Freeport mine.
 
In the wake of this killing there have been calls for the return of Kelly Kwalik’s body and some reports of a local market being set on fire. It seems inevitable that there will be further tension and possibly a security crackdown.
 
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee asks you to request an explanation of this killing and to call on Indonesia to exercise maximum restraint.
 
We also call for a thorough and impartial investigation into all the circumstances of Kelly Kwalik’s death.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Maire Leadbeater
For the Indonesia Human Rights Committee