International human rights activists have condemned plans by the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to reinstitute the death penalty in response to rising incidents of crime and violence. “We have prepared a presidential decree that is now being studied so that development in Papua can truly be felt by the people,” he said. A bird of paradise can fetch as much as $1,500 on the black market in Jakarta. Women and … Papua New Guinea (PNG) is often labelled as potentially the worst place in the world for gender-based violence. FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a … “Most Papuans want to be free,” said Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights attorney and activist based in Australia. Officials differ on whether the attack happened on Sunday or Monday. "Our report contains a number of recommendations, including increased media access and press freedom, and more humanitarian funding for communicating from crisis zones. The spread of HIV in Papua New Guinea is influenced by the social and cultural context. “Our independent nation was stolen in 1963 by the Indonesian government,” he said by phone from Oxford. “They want independence from Indonesia. Bay Ismoyo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images. Papua New Guinea: Prosecute Domestic Violence. Other companies are logging large swaths of pristine forest and replacing them with lucrative palm oil plantations. The death toll and dates of the violence in the remote highland province of Hela varied in reports by Australian Broadcasting Corp. and the Post-Courier newspaper. CANBERRA, Australia -- Police and soldiers have been sent to Papua New Guinea's highlands to make arrests and provide security after more than 20 people, mostly women and children, were slain in recent tribal violence over a feud that has lasted for years, officials said Wednesday. “We are taking another step toward reclaiming our legal and moral rights.”. Key findings. The magnitude of gender-based violence (GBV) incidence in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is considered by some to be of epidemic proportions: 41% of men in PNG admit to having raped someone, over two-thirds of women are estimated to have suffered some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and it is reported that 7.7% of men admit to having perpetrated male rape. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File). Related Stories Oct. 2, 2020 How Australian Aid Is Helping Papua New Guinea Address Infectious Diseases Like Polio Walton hopes the report’s publication will spur real change. But one armed group, the National Liberation Army of West Papua-Free Papua Organization, issued a statement rejecting his claim, saying he is a resident of Britain who does not have the majority support of Papuans. PNG Prime Minister James Marape addresses a business discussion in Port Moresby, January 2020. Six years ago, three factions united behind Mr. Wenda to form the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and Mr. Wenda says he has their backing. Indonesia has harvested West Papua’s wealth in minerals, natural gas and timber with the help of foreign companies. Gender-based Violence and the Impact on Women’s Health and Well-being in Papua New Guinea. In Indonesia his citizenship has been revoked. Exercise increased caution in Papua New Guinea due to COVID-19, crime, civil unrest, health concerns, natural disasters, and kidnapping.Some areas have increased risk. The Buruni market burning during a violent protest in Fakfak, West Papua, in August 2019. "How can a province of 400,000 people function with policing law and order with under 60 policemen ...?" Read the entire Travel Advisory. Women are often accused of sorcery, and violence is used as retribution. The Indonesian government adamantly opposes holding a vote. In Papua New Guinea, one study found two-thirds of women had been beaten by their partners. "Today is one of the saddest days of my life," he said on social media. The shocking killing of 18 people in a highlands village may have ‘changed everything’, warns police minister. This month, the United Nations Human Rights Office called on all sides to reduce escalating violence in the territory, which has included the recent killings of activists, church workers and members of Indonesian security forces. On average, employees experienced a total of 7.8 incidents of GBV in the past 12 months and 2.4 incidents of severe GBV. In 1969, in a vote regarded by many Papuans as rigged, Indonesia rounded up a thousand tribal leaders and held them until they agreed to join Indonesia. As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25 to December 10), activists from PSI’s SASA! Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said … Violence against women in Papua New Guinea is not always of a sexual nature. The multiple negative sequelae of this violence can be long-lasting throughout the lifespan and across generations as well as impacting on individuals, A tribal chief who lives overseas recently declared himself president of the embattled territory. Home to about four million people, it takes up the western half of New Guinea — the world’s second-biggest island after Greenland — and is split into two large provinces, confusingly named Papua and West Papua. Demographic data is scarce, but a steady influx of migrants from other islands means that Indigenous Papuans are likely now outnumbered. (Sydney) – Women and girls in Papua New Guinea are enduring brutal attacks from their partners, as … The mountainous island, which lies north of Australia, has the world’s second-largest rainforest after the Amazon and is rich in biodiversity, with plant and animal species that remain unknown to the outside world. The Karida massacre: fears of a new era of tribal violence in Papua New Guinea. Tokura said 20 police officers and 10 soldiers were sent to Hela to "stop any further violence and capture the killers.". The group says most are charged with treason for the peaceful and legitimate expression of their views. “He’s a rebel. More than 20 people including pregnant women and children have been killed in recent tribal violence in Papua New Guinea, media reported on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Papua’s independence movement has long been fragmented and it is unclear how much support Mr. Wenda has for his claim to be president. The killers were possessed by Satan and "feed on the soul, or the spirits, of the innocents that have been lost," Humbi said. They want a referendum. 68% of survey participants experienced gender-based violence (GBV) during the past year, with 47% experiencing more severe forms of GBV. "This is a tragedy. Violence has been escalating since December 2018, when 19 migrant laborers working on the Trans-Papua Highway were killed by Papuan rebels. “We urge the government of Indonesia to uphold people’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in line with its international obligations,” said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva. Also 18 percent of women who have been pregnant have experienced violence during their pregnancy. Police and soldiers have been sent to Papua New Guinea's highlands to make arrests and enforce peace after more than 20 people, mostly women and children, were slain in recent tribal violence … With partial blame for the Capitol attack, majority favors barring Trump from office, NY passenger bus hangs off overpass in the Bronx after crash, at least 8 injured, Outstanding questions as Trump's 2nd impeachment trial approaches, NYC cuts ties with Trump organization following Capitol riots, FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2018, file photo, a girl runs towards their home at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Globally, one in three women have experienced sexual or domestic violence. It is estimated that 67% of women in PNG have suffered domestic abuse and over 50% of women have been raped. “Indonesia destroys not only my people but our forests and our mountains.”, ‘Free Papua Movement’ Intensifies Amid Escalating Violence. Further studies have found that 86% of women had been beaten during pregnancy. … Keywords: Sorcery accusation related violence, PNG. Main article: Sexual violence in Papua New Guinea. Violent clashes erupted last year after reports emerged of the police insulting students with racist slurs. Hela official Rex Humbi said the latest violence was part of a tribal war that had been waged for more than 15 years. They have the authority, of course, but don't have the firepower" to bring the killers to justice. "The police do go and investigate. The American mining company Freeport-McMoRan extracted gold and copper for decades from the giant Grasberg mine. West Papua was annexed by Indonesia decades ago, leading to a prolonged conflict. Papua New Guinea National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence 2016-2025 Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. Indonesia has no intention of granting independence to the two provinces that make up West Papua. Mainland Papua New Guinea reaches its maximum north-south expanse of some 510 miles (820 km) along its western border with Indonesian Papua. The island’s eastern half is occupied by the nation of Papua New Guinea. The country’s minister for political, legal and security affairs, Mohammad Mahfud MD, rejected the idea that Mr. Wenda could ever represent the Papuan people. Two years after Papuans declared independence in 1961, Indonesia sent troops to occupy the former Dutch territory, and has maintained a military presence ever since. As outsiders come to the province to help exploit its resources, Native Papuans complain of a lack of jobs and opportunity. The Indigenous people have among the country’s lowest life expectancies and infant mortality is high. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.. “It was ratified by the U.N. General Assembly that Papua is a legitimate part of Indonesia. West Papua is also one of the most isolated and undeveloped parts of the world. As president of an independent Papua, Mr. Wenda said, he would protect the rights of Indigenous Papuans and halt environmental destruction. Tribal violence is common in Papua New Guinea’s interior, where villagers avenge relatives in retaliation known as payback. Papua New Guinea stretches from just south of the Equator to the Torres Strait, which separates New Guinea from Cape York Peninsula to the south, the northernmost extension of Australia. Indonesia annexed West Papua in 1963, and formalized its sovereignty over the region in 1969. Many Papuans see their region as occupied and would like a true referendum to decide its status. Mr. Wenda claimed he was elected by a clandestine congress that met in secret. 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