Latest news with #Harsono
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
More Deaths Reported Out Of West Papua Clashes
Article – RNZ Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of 14 May in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua. Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono, in a video statement translated into English, said 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed. He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya but they were confronted by the TPNPB. Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag – used as a symbol for West Papuan independence. But, according to the TPNPB, only three of the group's soldiers were killed with the rest being civilians. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child. Both the women were allegedly found on 23 May in shallow graves. A spokesperson from the Embassy of Indonesia in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as confirmed by the military. 'The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group,' they said. 'The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion.' The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities 'followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorized by the armed criminal group'. Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider, Operation Habema which started last year. 'It is a military operation to 'eliminate' the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya but in several agencies along the central highlands,' Harsono said. He said it's been intensifying since the TPNPB killed 17 miners in April, which the armed group accused of being 'military informers'. RNZ Pacific has been sent photos of people who have been allegedly killed or injured in the 14 May assault, while others have been shared by ULMWP. Harsono said despite the photos and videos it's hard to verify if civilians had been killed. He said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties – including of the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves – were a result of the TPNPB. 'The TPNPB says, 'of course, it is a lie why should we kill an indigenous woman?' Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct, because they're fighting the battle [in a very remote area]. 'It's difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata.' Harsono said Indonesia is now using drones to fight the TPNPB. 'This is something new; I think it will change the security situation, the battle situation in West Papua. 'So far the TPNPB has not used drones; they are still struggling. In fact, most of them are still using bows and arrows in the conflict with the Indonesian military.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
More Deaths Reported Out Of West Papua Clashes
Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of 14 May in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua. Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono, in a video statement translated into English, said 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed. He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya but they were confronted by the TPNPB. Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag – used as a symbol for West Papuan independence. But, according to the TPNPB, only three of the group's soldiers were killed with the rest being civilians. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child. Both the women were allegedly found on 23 May in shallow graves. A spokesperson from the Embassy of Indonesia in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as confirmed by the military. 'The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group,' they said. 'The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion.' The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities 'followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorized by the armed criminal group'. Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider, Operation Habema which started last year. 'It is a military operation to 'eliminate' the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya but in several agencies along the central highlands,' Harsono said. He said it's been intensifying since the TPNPB killed 17 miners in April, which the armed group accused of being 'military informers'. RNZ Pacific has been sent photos of people who have been allegedly killed or injured in the 14 May assault, while others have been shared by ULMWP. Harsono said despite the photos and videos it's hard to verify if civilians had been killed. He said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties – including of the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves – were a result of the TPNPB. 'The TPNPB says, 'of course, it is a lie why should we kill an indigenous woman?' Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct, because they're fighting the battle [in a very remote area]. 'It's difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata.' Harsono said Indonesia is now using drones to fight the TPNPB. 'This is something new; I think it will change the security situation, the battle situation in West Papua. 'So far the TPNPB has not used drones; they are still struggling. In fact, most of them are still using bows and arrows in the conflict with the Indonesian military.'
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
More Deaths Reported Out Of West Papua Clashes
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of 14 May in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua. Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono, in a video statement translated into English, said 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed. He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya but they were confronted by the TPNPB. Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag - used as a symbol for West Papuan independence. But, according to the TPNPB, only three of the group's soldiers were killed with the rest being civilians. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child. Both the women were allegedly found on 23 May in shallow graves. A spokesperson from the Embassy of Indonesia in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as confirmed by the military. "The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group," they said. "The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion." The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities "followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorized by the armed criminal group". Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider, Operation Habema which started last year. "It is a military operation to 'eliminate' the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya but in several agencies along the central highlands," Harsono said. He said it's been intensifying since the TPNPB killed 17 miners in April, which the armed group accused of being "military informers". RNZ Pacific has been sent photos of people who have been allegedly killed or injured in the 14 May assault, while others have been shared by ULMWP. Harsono said despite the photos and videos it's hard to verify if civilians had been killed. He said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties - including of the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves - were a result of the TPNPB. "The TPNPB says, 'of course, it is a lie why should we kill an indigenous woman?' Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct, because they're fighting the battle [in a very remote area]. "It's difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata." Harsono said Indonesia is now using drones to fight the TPNPB. "This is something new; I think it will change the security situation, the battle situation in West Papua. "So far the TPNPB has not used drones; they are still struggling. In fact, most of them are still using bows and arrows in the conflict with the Indonesian military."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge orders ICE to immediately release Indonesian man accused of overstaying visa
A Minnesota federal judge ordered immigration officials to immediately release an Indonesian man who was taken into custody in late March after allegedly overstaying his student visa, reports say. Aditya Harsono, 34, has been held at the Kandiyohi County Jail in Willmar since being arrested by ICE agents at his workplace in Marshall on March 27, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. "The Court finds that [Harsono] has shown that he is in custody in violation of the First Amendment and is entitled to a writ of habeas corpus for his immediate release," the newspaper cited U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez as saying in her ruling Wednesday. "The Court finds it is more reasonable to infer that Respondents have detained [Harsono] in retaliation for his speech than because of any professed public safety concern," Menendez reportedly added. Judge Orders Trump Administration Restore Ohio State Grad Student's Visa Menendez ordered that Harsono be released within 48 hours, with his attorney Sarah Gad telling MPR News that his family posted a $5,000 bond. Read On The Fox News App Harsono previously said he thought his arrest on March 27 was in retaliation for his participation in protests following the 2021 police-involved killing of Daunte Wright, according to the outlet. "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Aditya Wahyu Harsono of Indonesia March 27 at his place of work. Harsono entered the United States legally on Jan. 7, 2015. Harsono was arrested by Lyon County Sheriff's Office Oct. 18, 2022, for damage to property and convicted on Feb. 7, 2023. US law enforcement determined he poses a public safety threat," a senior Homeland Security official told Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. The station reported that Harsono first arrived in the U.S. under a student visa to study at Southwest Minnesota State University before he married an American citizen in October 2023. It added that Harsono was in the process of obtaining a green card, but his visa was revoked just days before he was arrested at the hospital where he works. Trump College Crackdown: List Of Students Detained Amid Antisemitism On Campuses Harsono's attorney told Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul that his misdemeanor vandalism conviction is not a deportable offense. "There seems to be this trend recently where international students who have engaged in some type of activism or expressed, you know, political speech or have expressed, you know, support for Palestine – something along those lines – their student visas get revoked," Gad said to the station. Harsono's lawyers also argued in court that the government targeted him over posts on the Instagram page of his clothing line, which had pictures with messages such as "Free Palestine" and "Black Lives Matter," according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Gad did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment from Fox News article source: Federal judge orders ICE to immediately release Indonesian man accused of overstaying visa
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Fighting Is More Frequent Now': Human Rights Researcher Warns Of Escalating Conflict In West Papua
Article – RNZ A spokesperson for Indonesia's Embassy in Wellington said they could not confirm if there was a military attack in Puncak Regency on Tuesday. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist The escalation of violence in West Papua is on par with some of the most intense times of conflict over the past six decades, a human rights researcher says. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims that Indonesia killed at least one civilian and severely injuring another on last Tuesday in Puncak Regency. In a statement, ULMWP interim president Benny Wenda said Deris Kogoya, 18, was killed by a rocket attack from a helicopter while riding his motorbike near Kelanungin Village. Jemi Waker, meanwhile, sustained severe violent injuries, including to both his legs. The statement said Waker has refused to go to hospital, fearing he will be killed if he goes. Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said that over the past month he has received an unusually high number of messages accompanied by gruesome photos showing either Indonesian soldiers or civilians being killed. 'The fighting is much more frequent now,' Harsono said. 'There are more and more Indonesian soldiers sent to West Papua under President Pradowo. 'At the same time, indigenous Papuans are also gaining more and more men, unfortunately also boys, to join the fight in the jungle.' He said the escalation could match similarly intense periods of conflict in 1977, 1984, and 2004. A spokesperson for Indonesia's Embassy in Wellington said they could not confirm if there was a military attack in Puncak Regency on Tuesday. However, they said all actions conducted by Indonesia's military are in line with international law. They said there were attacks in March and April of this year, instigated by an armed criminal group targeting Indonesian workers and civilians. Harsono said if the attack was indeed on civilians, it would be a clear breach of human rights. However, he said it was difficult to confirm due to the remoteness of the area. He said it is common for civilians to wear army camouflage because of surplus Indonesian uniforms. Wenda said West Papuans are 'a forgotten, voiceless people'. 'Where is the attention of the media and the international community? How many children must be killed before they notice we are dying?' Wenda compared the lack of attention with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict that is getting more media attention. He said Indonesia has banned media 'to prevent journalists from telling the world what is really going on'. The Indonesian Embassy spokesperson said foreign journalists were not allowed in the area for their own safety.
