COLOMBIA: Combats and heavy bombings in countryside of Tame (Araucan)

by the Farmer Association of Arauca Friday, Jul. 31, 2009 AT 11:08 p.m.

Towards the noon of Thursday 30 of July, in the village Philippine, jurisdiction of the municipality of Tame, department of Arauca, combats between the guerrilla and the National army occured for about two hours, approximately. As a result of the confrontations, the public force carried out heavy bombings and strafings from helicopters and airplanes KFIR, which hit on several farmers' properties . Particularly the estate of Mrs. Maria Camila Benavides Durán was affected, since ten animals of their property died because of the bombings. In a public official notice released in recent days, the Farmer Association of Arauca denounced that from the 25th of June the National army occupied the Philippine small village and held the civil population as human shield, since the soldiers were located in the houses without the consent of their inhabitants. This attitude puts in risk the life of the settlers of the Philippines and represents an infraction of the International Humanitarian Law, that forces the combatants to exclude the civil population of the armed conflict.

www.prensarural.org

Indonesian military attacks PNG villages. Jakarta forced to apologise to PNG government

posted on infoPapua By The National PNG Jul 30, 2008, 16:45

1) Indons give word of no repetitions (The National PNG)
2) Students protest border incursions (The National PNG)
3) PNG to Formally Protest Indonesia Border Incursions (Pacific Magazine)
4) Indonesia to apologise for PNG border incursions: report (ABC)
5) Indonesians promise to apologise (The National PNG)
6) Indonesians raid village (The National PNG)
7) Border post in bad shape (The National PNG)

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1) Indons give word of no repetitions

The National PNG 28/7/08

THE Indonesian government has assured PNG that there would be no repeat border incursions into PNG by its soldiers.

The assurance was conveyed to Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Minister Samuel Abal by his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajudi, in Singapore last week.

There had been a number of alleged border incursions by the Indonesians in the last three months. PNG had protested through a diplomatic note conveyed through the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby.

The apologies from the Indonesians blamed the incursions on “new recruits deployed to the border region”.

Reports said appropriate instructions had been issued to commanding officers in the border areas to deal with those responsible and ensure such incidents do not occur again.

Mr Wirajudi was also grateful that the PNG Government “exercised restraints” although these incidents do cause serious concerns.

Mr Abal told his counterpart that should occurrences of border incursions persist, PNG would seek to raise them in other forums such as Asean, Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations.

“With our border areas developed and properly managed and secured, we can expect people from either side to live and enjoy normal lives,” Mr Abal told his Indonesian counterpart, referring to his recent statement in Parliament on the creation of a border development and management authority.

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2) Students protest border incursions

The National PNG 28/7/08

By JEFFREY ELAPA

A PEACEFUL protest march was held in Madang on Saturday by Divine Word University students over the alleged border incursions by Indonesian soldiers.

More than 500 students and Madang residents walked with placards through the town to the Bates oval where speeches were made.

The march was organised by international relations students at the university.

Protesters chanted and carried placards expressing concerns that the incursions were a violation of territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

They accused the Government of being silent, slow and indecisive over the incursions.

Speakers said the continuous incursions by the Indonesian soldiers and terrorising of PNG citizens was a threat to national security and an abuse of human rights.

Student leaders said the act of unprovoked aggression by the Indonesians should be totally condemned and shamed. No more apologies and excuses must be accepted.

They said monies like the US$40 million in an MP’s account in Singapore should be used to improve PNG’s security and surveillance along the border.

The students also called on the Government to immediately sack PNG Defence Force commander, Peter Ilau, for not advising Cabinet well on national security issues affecting the country.

They said that the Defence White Paper policy of downsizing the force was of poor judgment and must be abolished. Instead, PNGDF numbers must be increased so that enough men are stationed at the border.

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PACIFIC Magazine


3)PNG to Formally Protest Indonesia Border Incursions

By Tereni Kens in Port Moresby

Friday: July 25, 2008


The Papua New Guinea government will be making a formal protest to the Indonesian government over the recent border incursions made by members of the Indonesian armed forces.


That’s the word from PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Samuel Abal, who spoke with Pacific Magazine before departing for Singapore yesterday to attend the annual ASEAN ministerial meeting and regional forum.

Abal said PNG-Indonesia bilateral relations in recent years had been cordial and he was concerned that the incursions could undermine relations between the two countries.


Whilst in Singapore Abal said he will take this up with his Indonesian counterpart Dr N. Hassan Wirajuda to express his concern and seek an explanation.

A joint ministerial commission meeting at the foreign minister level will be convened later this year as a means to maintaining closure dialogue between the governments of the two countries.


The National reports a confidential PNG Defense Force report on the incursions provided to the government last week highlighted seven instances of incursions by Indonesian soldiers into PNG territory in May, June and July.


On May 27, eight Indonesian Army soldiers who were inside PNG were ordered back by police, the report said.


On June 9, eight soldiers crossed into Wutung and defaced monument marker 1.

On June 13 two patrols (18 armed men) crossed over. Two TNI (Indonesian Army) soldiers crossed again on June 23.


His report further revealed that on June 28, company strength of armed TNI soldiers was intercepted by PNG Defense Force soldiers, who ordered them to retreat.

On July 5, six TNI crossed over and intimidated a retired policeman while, on July 6, four TNI soldiers crossed 7 km into PNG and fired shots at Bungon village, Skotchiau.


Concerned about the incursions, Forest Minister Belden Namah and Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor visited the border area, and learnt of the incursions first hand on July 13.


The report said after they flew out in the Kumul aircraft that evening, an Indonesian military aircraft flew over Vanimo at about 7 p.m., violating PNG airspace.

Meanwhile, Abal will also be speaking with Australian foreign minister over the recent criticisms raised against PNG ministers by AusAid Minister Counsellor, Margareth Thomas.

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News July 21, 2008


4)Indonesia to apologise for PNG border incursions: report


Pacific correspondent Campbell Cooney


The Indonesian Government has reportedly agreed to make an official apology to Papua New Guinea for a least a dozen border incursions in the past three months.


Media outlets in Papua New Guinea are reporting claims that in the past three months there has been a number of incursions by Indonesia's military - based in its province of Papua - burning down at least 10 houses in one village and physically attacking locals in the region.


Last week Indonesia's Ambassador to Papua New Guinea was summoned before the acting Foreign Affairs Secretary, Kila Karo, and the national newspaper is reporting he has acknowledged PNG's concerns.


It is reported the ambassador has claimed the incursions were made by new recruits from Central Java unfamiliar with the PNG-Indonesian border boundaries and that any future incursions will be dealt with under Indonesian military law.

------------------------------------------

The National PNG 21//08

5) Indonesians promise to apologise


By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK


THE Indonesian government will make an official apology on 12 border incursions between May 27 and July 13 next week.

Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Bom Soejanto was summoned before the acting Foreign Affairs Secretary, Kila Karo, in Port Moresby last Thursday and conveyed his government’s position on the issue.

Foreign Affairs officials yesterday said PNG’s serious concerns on the alleged border crossings by Indonesian troops into Vanimo, Sandaun province, will be conveyed to his superiors in Jakarta this week.

Mr Soejanto said the incursions were made by new recruits from Central Java who were not familiar with the PNG-Indonesian border boundaries.

He said any future border incursions will be dealt with under Indonesian military rules.

Government officers said they would act on reports about the burning down of 10 houses, affecting about 100 Kwara villagers in Western province once official reports are received.

South Fly police commander Insp Peter Philip claimed last Thursday that Indonesians soldiers at Sota had crossed over into PNG territory on July 9 while in pursuit of a Papua New Guinean working at the Weam station.

They did not find the man and allegedly set some houses on fire, and gun-butted three Medapor villagers.

A joint border meeting will be held in Jayapura next week. Security issues are among matters for discussions.


The National PNG 18 July 2008

6) Indonesians raid village


By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
ABOUT 100 villagers in Western province are displaced and homeless after Indonesian soldiers allegedly raided their village and burnt houses, police in the province said yesterday.
The raid was staged by a platoon-sized group of Indonesian soldiers, and police described it as an act of unprovoked aggression on PNG citizens living in Kwara village close to the PNG-Indonesian border last Tuesday.
South Fly police commander Insp Peter Philip said yesterday a platoon strength (about 25) of armed Indonesian soldiers crossed the border in search of an officer attached to the Weam district administration and burnt down 10 houses.
“The next day (July 9), a section strength (about 10) of armed Indonesian soldiers met three Medapor villagers in PNG territory and assaulted them with gun butts.
“The villagers, with traditional border crossing permits, were on their way to the Indonesian border station at Sota when they were assaulted,” Mr Philip said.
He said the officer the Indonesians were after was based at the PNG border station of Weam.
He had allegedly gone across to Sota early this month, got drunk with Indonesian officers, and behaved unruly.
Indonesian border security officers locked him up at their police station. However, he was released from the station with the help of some Indonesian friends but without the Sota’s Indonesian military commander’s permission.
“When the commander discovered what had happened, he sent soldiers across the border searching for the officer, and destroyed houses in the village,” Mr Philip said.
There is only one policeman at the Weam station, but he has no communication with Daru or Port Moresby.
Mr Philip said that the Indonesian soldiers’ action is uncalled for as the villagers were not involved with that officer.
“There was a similar situation early this year when Indonesians soldiers raided a village and killed a pig.
“During the border liaison meeting in Jayapura last May 26 -27, I had raised this issue about Indonesian soldiers’ unruly behaviours along the border.
“Indonesian officials had assured me that no such incidents will happen again. But the recent incidents showed that the Indonesians still have a long way to go in controlling their soldiers,” Mr Philip said.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Council has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to protest strongly to the Indonesian government over incursions into PNG by its troops.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, during question time in Parliament, said Cabinet had been fully briefed on the matter and was very concerned.
“The Government has directed Foreign Affairs Minister and Secretary to send a diplomatic note on the continuous border incursions.”
Dr Temu said Defence Force commanders from both PNG and Indonesia have met over the issue.
He said the issue will also be raised at the joint PNG-Indonesia border liaison meeting scheduled for either August or September.
He said the PNG Government had moved to upscale its activities along the border with the Prime Minister giving directions for Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch to take charge of the border programme.
He said Mr Pruaitch had put together a border development package to be brought before Cabinet for endorsement and implementation, which include improving monitoring and surveillance along the border.
---------------------

7) Border post in bad shape

By HARLYNE JOKU in Vanimo
GOVERNMENT officers including PNG Defence Force personnel and police manning the PNG-Indonesian border post in Vanimo, Sandaun province, are facing chronic systematic problems.
Only two weeks after reports of an incursion by Indonesian military and the defacing of a PNG border monument, Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc and Sandaun administrator Joseph Sungi visited the border post on Wednesday.
They conducted interviews with government officials on site who revealed that they were faced with a chronic shortage of manpower. Defence, police and government officials manning the Wutung border post and Customs office all expressed similar sentiments.
There is no constant power and fuel supply.
A government official said PNG Defence Force soldiers at Wutung had to sell raffle tickets occasionally to raise enough money to pay for fuel.
Others said they had to wait for up to between two weeks and a month for cheques to be processed at the Waigani and Lae offices, resulting in delays and inconsistent supply of logistics.
In the nights when the Indonesian side of the border lights up like a city, the PNG border is in total darkness.
Seven people work at the Customs office at Wutung processing and checking about 200 people travelling to and from Indonesia a day. The Indonesian station is manned by more than 100 officials a shift.
“Ours is incompatible to the Indonesian side.
“They are serious about their presence at the border.
“Ours is more like a rural outpost.
“It is no surprise that their soldiers can wander onto our side of the border and do anything at will,” a PNG official said.
“The Indonesians are indirectly telling us that they can walk into our country anytime,” he said.
The Wutung post is serviced by one vehicle and, at most times, there is no fuel to run it. Officers had to catch PMVs to make a 50km trip into Vanimo town.
The Defence Force personnel on the ground number 18 instead of the required 32 soldiers. They have no vehicle.
Mr Zurenuoc said it was time the Government seriously considered decentralising funding and administrative powers.
He said the current system was handicapped where IRC, provincial affairs, quarantine, and police personnel and soldiers on the ground depend on their own offices for direction and funding.
Mr Zurenuoc wants to see that officials on the ground are authorised to make decisions regarding access to funding and logistics.
__________________________________________________________

Honduras: Rafael Alegria has been released

Telesur, 25 July 2009

http://www.telesurtv.net/noticias/secciones/nota/54707-NN/rafael-alegria-es-liberado-y-continua-en-la-lucha-por-la-democracia/

The Via Campesina’s leader in Honduras, Rafael Alegria, was freed last Saturday night in the Honduran town of Danli (south). He was hold detained for over 6 hours due to a supposed break of the curfew imposed by the de facto government who promoted the cup d’etat in the Centro-American country.

In an exclusive interview with the special correspondent of TeleSUR in Honduras, Madeleine Garcia, Alegria stated that he was moved from Posta, in the El Paraiso department (border with Nicaragua), to Danli, where he was arrested.

"They lock me in a cell with 45 other comrades detained (since earlier than myself) for the same reason. We had violated the curfew. Regardless, I told them that it was illegal (the measure taken) and that we could not accept it", said the leader who has stand on the struggle for longer than 28 days on a row for the return of the democracy and the legitimated President, Manuel Zelaya.

About the other 50 people “they already were imprisoned since the morning”. There were children and women amongst them.

Alegría specified that, while he was detained, several journalists from different international media arrived but they did also suffer different forms of repression from the police.

"We now by fact that while they were trying to get an interview from a 5metres distance, when the comrades (detainees) shouted ‘freedom’, they were pushed away and they messed up with their equipment. The Venezuelan media, which they were closely covering everything happening there, were also hassled, Alegria denounced.

“The release of the demonstrators happened thanks to the assistance of a human rights worker who intervened and freed us” the leader of Via Campesina confirmed.

In this sense, there has definitively been a violation of our human rights (…) they arrested us without a judicial warrant and we were imprisoned.

Linked to this statement, Rafael Alegria insisted about the illegality of the curfew imposed by the cup government. Right after, the leader said he would keep contact with his comrades who are with President Zelaya in the border area of Las Manos “to asses the situation and check over the different possibilities".

"We will stay on the struggle” affirmed Alegria, who said that “the co-ordination raised the fact that its crucial to keep up the resistance, both today and tomorrow (Sunday)".

Furthermore, he denounced the presence of hundreds of armed military forces at the border with Nicaragua. “To reach the village where he was detained (Posta), we crossed five roadblocks. It was not easy to get there. The road was jammed because of the high military presence around the Nicaragua and Honduras border”.

Later on, Madeleine Garcia interviewed Inspector Molina, from Danli’s police department, who repeated that “we are arresting people that breaks the rule (curfew). We are not out breaking peoples rights, this is a decree and it’s the law which has to be obeyed” said.

Regardless the wounded, or even the confirmed death of a citizen arrested in El Paraiso, the Inspector said that “we care for the security of all the Hondurans and we seek their cooperation with us”. “A curfew has been established. We have to understand it and enforce its compliance. We do not want to violate nobodies’ rights, but it is every Honduran duty to comply” concluded.

(activist translation by Viatransla)

COLOMBIA: Assasination of farmers' leader, member of the ANC and the Minga Popular Resistance

Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009

JOSE Betancourth ANTONIO LOPEZ from the Association of Peasants of antioquean Bajo Cauca (ASOCBAC)

With anger and pain in the world today we denounce the vile assassination of farmers' leader JOSE ANTONIO LOPEZ Betancourth member of the Association of Peasants of antioquean Bajo Cauca (ASOCBAC) who was missing since Tuesday June 30 at 6 : 15 pm approximately, when he was going in a taxi from the town of Taraza Antioquía to El Doce.

Versions say it was down by men who tied him, took him away and was found today, July 2 in the morning buried near the aqueduct in the village of Piedras completely dismembered.

The comrade Jose Antonio was a spokesman for the marches by coca farmers, and on several occasions in which they signed agreements with national and departmental governments which were never fulfilled.

The comrade Jose Antonio arrived with the intention to unite efforts in the struggle, resistance and permanence in the territories.

Also he was member of the Political Committee of MINGA SOCIAL AND POPULAR RESISTANCE in which he actively participate in scheduled meetings, ans also in meetings with delegates of the national government.

He leaves behind his wife and 3 children grieving for his loss and claiming justice, he leaves behind a process of peasant struggle and resistance and a legacy of sacrificing his life in defense of the peasantry, and the message of unity, solidarity and resistance.

These facts are presented in the framework of democratic security policy of the president Alvaro Uribe Velez, in an area of military and paramilitary control, only 10 minutes from a checkpoint of the Army of Colombia and with presence of Police in urban areas.

We confirm once again that the government does not care about solving the problems of Colombian peasants and all of us who dare to demand we are branded as terrorists, brought to courts, killed or disappeared.

We appeal to the national and international sister organizations to demand from the Colombian State to clarify the facts, punish those responsible for his murder shall not remain in the impunity that reigns today in Colombia.

We send a warm and fraternal solidarity hug to the family of Jose Antonio, as well as to the comrades of ASOCBAC expressing our commitment to continue the struggle, resistance and following the example of our comrade and leader

National Agrarian Coordinator of Colombia CNA

Bogota, July 2, 2009

source: Colombia Indymedia

Philippines: Body of slain farmer-leader laid to rest, search for justice continues

Renato Penas (Ka Rene) AFA wishes to thank all of you who sent your generous expressions of sympathy and solidarity for PAKISAMA and the family of our beloved and esteemed farmer-leader, Renato Penas, who was murdered last June 5. AFA joined the activities of PAKISAMA last June 6-12 in honor of Ka Rene when his body was brought to Metro Manila. Together with many farmers, NGOs, students, and other supporters of the agrarian reform movement in the Philippines, we joined the memorial services, masses, and marches for Ka Rene; as well as solicited financial assistance for the bereaved family. We also printed out and handed over your messages to his wife and children. His body was brought back to Mindanao and buried last June 16. The search for truth and justice continues. A multi-sectoral body aimed at conducting an independent Fact Finding Mission (FFM) to be able to gather evidence and other information that could help surface the motive behind the killing of Ka Rene Peñas was launched. PAKISAMA welcomes any donation to cover the expenses of this investigation. Read more about Ka Rene here

Philippines: Sumilao peasant leader shot dead in Bukidnon

06/06/2009 | 10:02 AM

GMANews.TV

MALAYBALAY CITY, Philippines – The peasant activist who led his fellow farmers in walking all the from Sumilao, Bukidnon in Mindanao to Manila in 2007 to seek justice was shot dead Friday midnight, police and the victim's family said on Saturday.

Rene Peñas, 51, and two others were riding a motorcycle on their way home when they were fired at by an unidentified assailant using a shotgun, said SPO4 Rey Vasquez, acting police chief of Sumilao town.

Peñas, a barangay (village) councilman in San Vicente, died of a gunshot wound on his left chest, Vasquez said.

His two other companions, Eliezer Peñas and Samson Dollete, also suffered injuries but both were sent home after being treated at the Provincial Hospital in Bukidnon.

"The assailants were on the left side of the road. Peñas tried to crawl but he was again shot," Vasquez told GMANEWS.TV.

Noland Peñas, the victim's eldest child, said the trio were shot when they were driving along the darkest stretch going to his father's farmhouse to drop off Eliezer, a relative and caretaker of the farmhouse.

Noland said that two men allegedly were seen running away after the shooting. He said the police had already conducted crime scene investigation.

When asked of the motive of the killing, Noland told GMANEWS.TV on a mobile telephone interview that his father's death was probably related to a land issue he currently handled.

"My father had recently been consulted by CLOA holder beneficiaries in another land claims here. Perhaps, this is a possible motive of his killing," Noland said without elaborating so as not to hamper the police's investigation.

A CLOA is a certificate of land ownership award given by the Department of Agrarian Reform to farmer-beneficiaries of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Rene Peñas was one of the participants in the 1,770-kilometer “walk for land, walk for justice" of Sumilao farmers in October 2007 to prod the government to award the land long denied them due to the manipulations of a landlord.

He was also one of the pioneers of the Mapalad hunger strike in 1997, and one of the leaders of the community organizers of the 444-kilometer walk of Banassi farmers in Ula, Camarines Sur.

When the CARP Extension with Reform (Carper) bill was passed in the lower house on Wednesday his son Noland said his father was already in Sumilao.

"He came home on May 30 and was so jubilant when the Carper has been passed on Wednesday and quoted his father saying "Nidaug na ta!" (We have won!).

Last March, Peñas was elected as national vice president of peasant organization Pakisama.

Peñas' remains were brought to a funeral home in Impasug-ong town, the wake will be later held in his home in San Vicente in Sumilao town.

Balaod Mindanaw, a non-government organization helping farmers on legal matters, will send a team to investigate the death of Peñas, according to lawyer Noemi Batula, the organization's managing director.

"We condemn the death of Rene. It is so painful to lose a great farmer leader who aggressively push forward the Carper and the other land campaigns which he strongly advocated. We demand justice for his death, we are holding our own investigation to his death," Batula said.

Batula said she was surprised to hear Peñas' death since he was in Manila before he came home on May 30. "I only knew that he was back home when I heard the news that he was shot dead Friday midnight," Batula said.a

Rene left behind his wife Evangeline, 55, Noland, 27, Wopsyjenn, 26, Jerald, 24, Realynme, 16 and his two-week old grandson. - GMANews.TV

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PAKISAMA leader ambushed! (updated)

Renato Penas, Vice-President of PAKISAMA, was ambushed dead by unidentified gunmen at 11:00 PM yesterday, on the way to his farm in Sumilao, Bukidnon.

He was 51.

His 2 companions are in the hospital nursing gunshot wounds.

It was a high price to pay for selflessly dedicating himself to the agrarian reform movement.

He is one of the most respected, trusted farmer-leaders, and whose creative, dynamic ideas have fired the spirits of many farmers to make the agrarian reform program truly work in the country.

Ka Rene, a recognized leader of the Sumilao farmers and presently Vice-President of PAKISAMA, recently led various campaigns in Congress to help enact CARPER (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform with Extension and Reform).

He led to victory the 1,700-kilometer Sumilao and the 444-kilometer Banasi farmers’ marches in 2007-2008.

His last text message about CARPER was “Panalo na tayo!” (We won!).

Ka Rene is the third PAKISAMA leader gunned down in the last 7 months, in what are apparently agrarian-related and politically motivated killings. They were all from Mindanao.

He has attended AFA events before, such as the 3rd General Assembly in Korea in March 2008, and the IFAD final negotiations for the medium term cooperation program in May this year.

Ka Rene is survived by his wife Evangeline (55), and 4 children, Noland (27), Wopsyjenn (26), Jerald (24) and Realynme (16).

Please pray for them and his soul that they may have justice and peace.

We ask you to also pray for our country as well.

Justice for Ka Rene! These brazen, senseless killings must stop!

Related stories published in newspapers today:

Sumilao farmer slain

Sumilao farmer leader gunned down

Afghan farmers complain 'Canadians' shooting at them while they work

posted on Yahoo News Canada

Wed Jun 3, 9:47 AM

By The Canadian Press

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Some Afghan farmers are complaining Canadians soldiers are shooting at them while they work their fields after dark.

They say unless the shooting stops, they will be forced to leave their village homes nestled in the heart of the insurgent badlands of southern Afghanistan. But the Canadians are adamant the firing isn't coming from them.

They believe soldiers from Afghanistan's army may be firing at people suspected of planting roadside bombs.

In one recent case, Canadian solders did kill a man relaying their movements to insurgents.

The incidents highlight the difficulty Canadian forces face dealing with an enemy that blends with the local population, and villages caught in the middle.

Mexico: Rural leader murdered in Sinaloa

Translated from La Jornada

Pedro Lugo used to walk in the mornings; wife and children found his corpse shot.

The PRD condemns the crime; requires the state and federal governments to take measures against violence and impunity

Javier Valdez Cardenas, Correspondent

Culiacán, Sinaloa, 16 of May. Unknown gunmen shot to death the rural leader Pedro Lugo Rivera when he was near his house, in the community of Ocoroni, municipality of Sinaloa, reported the ministerial police of the state.

The leader used to go for walking in the mornings but this Saturday he got unusually late. His children and wife they went to seek for him and they found him a few kilometers from the house, with bullet wounds in thorax and abdomen.

Lugo Rivera was a leader of the Peasant National Confederation of the PRI. Then he entered at the front of Defense of the Agricultural Producers, next to various leaders perredistas, and recently he worked in the region along with Juan Figueroa Sources, local representative of the PRD.

Ramón Lucas Lizárraga, perredista state leader, condemned the murder and he demand the state and federal governments to adopt measures to fight the violence and to put an end to the impunity. "Every act of this nature is reprehensible", maintained.

Also he deplored that the violence reign in Sinaloa and recalled that besides Lugo Rivera, they were murdered Rogelio Zamora and another militant in the municipality of Narrowness on November 14, 2008. "The government should apply the necessary measures so that these cowardly murders don't remain unpunished", demanded.

The rural leader of Ocorini also collaborated with the National Union of Autonomous Rural Organizations in the movement against the farm chapter of the NAFTA, and he fought for changes in the social politics of the government.

In October of 2004, along with other leaders and rural organizations of Sonora, Michoacán, Puebla, Guerrero and Sinaloa, he participated in a protest in front of the Office of the secretary of Agriculture, Stockbreeding, Rural Development, Fishing and Alimentation (Sagarpa) in the Federal District, to demand endorsement to their farm projects.

On that occasion, Lugo Rivera said that the coop members of Ocorini continued expecting the lands of irrigation that they were promised 26 years ago in exchange for donating 5 thousand 400 hectares for a dam. "They despoiled us and 350 families lost their plots", denounced at that time.

He exposed that beside that the coop members carried a five-year period requesting to the federal government works of irrigation and a project of farm development for the region, but the Sagarpa asked them 50 million pesos –the half of the cost– to get to work. And he asked: "¿From where are we going to raise that money?"

Venezuelan Rural Activists and National Land Institute Workers Arrested for Occupying Estate

Published on April 21st 2009, by James Suggett – http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4381

Farmers in Portuguesa state (MINCI).

Mérida, April 21^st 2009 (Venezuelanalysis.com) - Police in Portuguesa state, Venezuela, forcibly evicted more than sixty landless farmers and three National Institute of Land (INTI) workers on Friday from a section of a privately owned estate that the INTI had marked for re-distribution.   
The eviction is emblematic of the clash between powerful landed elites and the government of President Hugo Chávez, whose 2001 land reform law permits the state to forcibly purchase idle sections of large private estates for re-distribution as a means to spur agricultural production.
Last week, officials from the INTI and the Socialist Agrarian Fund (FONDAS) announced they would gradually parcel out 926 hectares (2,290 acres) of underused lands on the privately owned El Rodeo Estate to a group of 86 landless families in Portuguesa state.
While INTI personnel were assisting a group of sixty farmers to demarcate a section of the territory last Friday, state police known locally as the Jungle Police staged an "ambush" and ordered the entire group to lie face down on the ground, according to alternative media reporters who have accompanied the farmers in their struggle for land.
The police briefly detained and then released the INTI functionaries and most of the farmers, but arrested and transferred Carlos Ortega and six other farmer rights leaders to the state capital Guanare to be tried for trespassing. Police and National Guard (GN) forces now occupy the disputed lands.
GN Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo Saluzzo, who commands the Portuguesa State Police, told the local press, "Our idea is to respect the law... while the land reform law says landed estates are not permitted, the law also establishes sanctions for those who invade private property."
According to independent media reports, Saluzzo has repeatedly threatened to jail Ortega, and United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Governor Wilmar Castro has publicly denounced the confrontational land "invasions" promoted by Ortega as a tactic to speed up the process of land re-distribution.  
Also, former Portuguesa Governor Antonia Muñoz, who is currently the regional coordinator of the PSUV, created the Jungle Police to be a special force to fight ecological crimes, but the squad has fallen under control of elite regional estate owners and has mainly been used to repress rural activists, according to independent news reports.  
On Saturday, a group of eighty allies of Ortega marched to the Portuguesa state police headquarters and demanded the release of the seven arrested organizers, who they alleged had been politically persecuted. The seven activists remain in police custody.
Since the 2001 land reform law was passed, 1,507 small or landless farmers in Venezuela have been arrested as a result of their struggle to gain legal title to lands, according to a growing network of farmers' rights groups nation-wide.
The rights groups, which advocate the reform of Articles 471 and 471 of Venezuela's Penal Code in order to de-criminalize small farmers who occupy private lands, also report that 214 rural activists have been murdered since 2001, most recently Nelson Lopez in Yaracuy state and Mauricio Sánchez in Zulia state in March.
Following the killings in March, several Venezuelan farmer rights groups held a joint conference in Caracas to form a united front against the politically motivated assassinations and arrests of rural activists, and to call for an end to impunity for "the landed oligarchy that is killing our brothers in the rural communities."
Agriculture and Lands Minister Elías Jaua attended the conference and promised to appeal to the Attorney General and president of the Supreme Court to accelerate the investigations of crimes against farmer rights organizers.
In an interview on the state television channel VTV Monday, Jaua said that 90% of the private lands re-distributed by the Ministry, which amounts to almost one million hectares (2.47 million acres), are now producing food, including meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Recuperated lands are distributed either to state-owned Social Production Enterprises or to cooperatively run projects such as the Zamoran Farms, named after Venezuela's legendary farmer rights fighter Ezequiel Zamora, said Jaua. Zamoran Farms are now producing food on 155,000 hectares (383,000 acres) of formerly idle private land, the minister added.
After announcing the launch of the Ministry's "Operation Free Land and Men" aimed at recuperating more land in the states of Barinas, Amazonas, Miranda, and Aragua, Jaua said, "we are making a reality of the dream for which generations of humble farmers struggled: That the best lands of our country... be at the service of food production."

One Papua farmer killed, 4 farmers injured among other civilians by Indonesian Police

posted on koteka.net

Photos & News of Shot Papuans in Nabire

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 07 April 2009

Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB)/WPNC (West Papuan National Committe) Camp in Nabire Destroyed, 15 Papuans Arrested, 7 Civilans Shot, One Policeman Shot with Arrow Indonesian Police in Nabire destroyed and burnt peaceful camp belonging to the Nabire branch of Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB) which had been set-up to celebrate the launching of ILWP (International Lawyers for West Papua). Indonesian Police arrested 15 Papuans who were preparing banners and posters in preparation for a peaceful demonstration scheduled for 6/4/2008, having duly informed the Indonesian Police previously in writing. "The Police came into where the masses where gathered and blindly opened fire into the crowd," stated a witness who for safety reasons prefered to remain anonymous. 15 Papuans including students were arrested. Jerry Nawipa (18) was shot. The 15 arrested include Agus Pigome (30), Yohanes Agapa (42), Samuale Pekey, Frans Kotouky, Mafras Adii, Amoye Pakage, Yohanes Gobay (25). The identity of the remaining 9 Papuans currently unknown. The masses scattered from the area to escape the pokice shooting. The following morning, the masses arrived at the camp to discover it had been destroyed and burnt by the Indonesian Police. The heavy-handed Indonesian Police then fired wildly into the crow, resulting in 7 Papuans currently receiving emergency treatment for bullet wounds in Nabire General Hospital. A 10 year-old primary school student on his way home from school, Albertus Tagi, shot in hip (see photo); Yonandi Pigome (30), bullet entered back of head and exited front (see photo - condition critical); Ipoo Boga (28), shot left thigh, bullet entered and exited thigh; Roy Singgamui (30), shot left side of chest, bullet entered and exited body (see photo). An Indonesian Police member, Bribda Jejen (24) still hospitalized due to arrow wound. No media allowed to photograph the wounded police member. Three other Papuans have returned home, namely Yan Yeimo (24) bullet grazed head; Franky Boma (20), shot in right thigh; Hengky Tebay (20), head wound. *** Albertus Tagi (10 - primary school student, an orphan), shot in hip, bullet still lodged in. condition critical. Ipoo Boga (28), shot left thigh, bullet entered and exited thigh. Roy Singgamui (30), shot left side of chest, bullet entered and exited body. Yonandi Pigome (30), bullet entered back of head and exited front, condition critical. Update: Yonandi Pigome died 9/4/2008 after 4 days in critical condition in hospital. Human Rights in West Papua deteriorates with shootings, arrests and orchestrated violence reported in Nabire April 9, 2009 by ipahr Human Rights Report 8 April 2009 Human Rights in West Papua deteriorates with shootings, arrests and orchestrated violence reported in Nabire The human rights situation in West Papua continues to deteriorate before Indonesia? General Election tomorrow. Local people have been shot and critically injured in a operation reportedly organised by Indonesian security forces against West Papuan demonstrators in Nabire on the 6 April 2009. This report provides details of nine people who are confirmed shot by security forces. A policeman was also wounded by a traditional arrow in Nabire on the 6th April and many other protesters and police are reported to have also suffered injuries. Paula Makabory from Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights said today, ?Reports received from Nabire indicate that the violent confrontation that occurred on Monday the 6 April between the security forces and Pro-independence protesters was actually promoted by a Pro-Indonesian militia member and other Papuans working with the Indonesian security forces.? ?The fact that there are reports that the Indonesian security personnel were positioned in the buildings & armed clearly suggests that this confrontation and the subsequent shooting and wounding of civilians was planned & staged by the Indonesian security forces.? ?This incident occurred following two other Pro-Independence rallies by about 15,000 local people in the town of Nabire, and another of 10,000 people in the Wamena district on Friday-the 3 April which the police had attempted to prohibit. Rally organizers ignored the attempted ban claiming their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.? The protesters at both these rallies said they were supporting the launch of the group ?International Lawyers for West Papua? [ILWP] and said they would boycott Indonesia?s general elections this year. Protesters also called for a referendum on self-determination. A report containing information about the incidents in Nabire on 6 April 2009 is detailed below. For further information, including video footage of the protesters contact: Paula Makabory Institute for Papuan Advocacy & human Rights (+61) 402 547 517; or Matthew Jamieson (+61) 418291998; ? 1.0 Events in Nabire from 30 March to 6 April 2009 The KNPB (National Committee for West Papua) set up their tents on 30 March 2009 as a base camp for KNPB in Nabire, under the leadership of Zeth Giay. On Friday 3 April 2009, the KNPB held a large rally with more than 15,000 people involved. This peaceful rally was in support of the launch of International Lawyer for West Papua (ILWP). The rally also called for a referendum in West Papua and a boycott of the Indonesia Election and a demand for Independence for West Papua. One of the organisers of the rally and the chair of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) for Nabire, Zet Giay, said the rally had been the biggest ever in Nabire. ?We support the launch of ILWP in America and we know that we are not Indonesian, we are Papuan, Melanesian, so we will not vote in the Indonesian Public election 2009,? Mr Giay said. He added that the protesters would continue to rally against these attacks by the security forces and in support of the ILWP. The protesters were also calling for investigations into the widespread human rights violations that have occurred in West Papua, and for a review of the 1969 so-called ?Act of Free Choice?, which saw West Papua?s formal incorporation into Indonesia. On Saturday the 4 April 2009, KNPB sent an information letter to the police precinct to let them know about the second rally that was to be held on Monday 6 April. There was no response from the police. 2.0 Raid on KNPB Protest camp On Monday the 6 April 2009, at around 3am (Papua local time) there was a raid on the KNPB camp in Taman Bunga Bangsa, Oyehe, Nabire. Two tents that had been set up since the 30 March 2009 were burned by the police . The police also searched for Morning Star flags and other political articles. The Nabire Police Precinct under the command of Police Chief AKBP. Rinto Jadmoko, SIK, then arrested 15 people from the KNPB group. One man Jerry Nawipa (Male/ 18 Years old) was shot with a bullet during this police raid on the KNPB camp. The Taman Bunga Bangsa grounds is the location that was used by the West Papua people to raise the Morning Star in a series of flag raising in 1999 and 2000. According to a local KNPB organizer, after the raid the KNPB and their supporters decided to continue the rally and focus their next rally at Taman Bunga Bangsa Oyehe. They decided that the people who were living in each of the regions of Oyehe, Siriwo and Karang Tumaritis would gather and travel together to meet at Taman Bunga Bangsa . The KNPB planned not do a long march to DPRD (Local Provincial Assembly) and to focus their next demonstration at Oyehe. There was some concern reported at that time that their protest was infiltrated by Papuans working as informers for an Indonesian security forces intelligence group (TBO). 3.0 Indonesian militia in Karang Tumartis protest Later in the morning of the 6 April at about 8am, one of KNPB organizers passed the Karang Tumaritis area and saw that people were blockading the road. A local man, Alipin Pigay, who is recognized as being from a militia group from the Nabire Military District Command (KODIM), was seen clearly encouraging the other demonstrators. Another 6 Papuans who work as TBO (Tenaga Bantuan Operational/ Operational Field Helper) for the Indonesian security forces intelligence organisation, were also seen among the people who were blocking the road. This KNPB organizer told the protesters that he wanted them to clear the road and wait beside the market or in the taxi terminal or by the road at Karang Tumaritis. He told the people that they had to choose to follow the instructions of KNBP or this other party. He asked them to wait for the other KNPB organizers to join the rally from Karang Tumaritis to Oyehe. A local community member who also recognized Alipin Pigay reported that it was Alipin Pigay who encouraged the protesters to block the road and to attack the traffic policemen and the police car. According to this source Alipin Pigay was the first to throw stones at the traffic police and their car. It was reported that Alipin Pigay and the others from TBO encouraged the other people to violently resist the Police and throw stones and then to fire arrows against the traffic policemen. Bribda Jejen (Male/ 24 Years old) a policeman, was shot with an arrow. He was shot during the incident when the police attacked the protesters at Karang Tumaritis. The traffic police had tried to clear the road to allow an army truck from TNI Battalion 753 to pass through. Some people were also arrested by the Nabire police precinct at that time in Karang Tumaritis. An eye witness said that there were casualties on both sides, the Indonesian police and the protesters who were fighting. The police troops were using machine guns and stones against the protesters and the protesters were using arrows and stones against the police. Metro TV has shown footage of this conflict between protestors and police. 4.0 Hidden Security forces and shooting around Karang Tumaritis According to another local witnesses Indonesian security force intelligence officers with long and short guns were seen hiding in a second floor house in front of the Effata church in Karang Tumaritis and other houses that belonging to non-Papuans around the Karang Tumaritis area before the incident/protest on the road occurred. Those security forces reportedly shot at civilians who were not involved in the conflict & demonstration on the road around Karang Tumaritis. These local people were passing the location of the protest to reach their houses and were shot at by the security forces. Local Human Rights sources reported that while the Police troops were attacking groups protesting on the road and the concealed security forces were shooting as people went past the protest to reach their homes. The shooting in Karang Tumaritis resulted in many civilians suffering server bullet wounds. Reports from Nabire said eight shot with seven of the injured being treated at Emergency Unit (UGD) in the Nabire public hospital. The News Service from Reuters confirms 11 hospitalised in Nabire with serious bullet wounds. It is not clear who the police shot amongst the protesters on the road. Reports provided to IPAHR suggest that 7 people who were shot and injured but were not part of the protest. These people were said to be shot in the vicinity of the protest, amongst this group was an orphaned 4 grade elementary student Albertus Tagi. The shooting of Fritz Singamui and Albertus Tagi had clearly no link to the protest. Details of victims shot at Karang Tumaritis District, Nabire 6 April 2009: 1. Fritz Samuel Singamui / Roy (Male 30 Years old) is dying in hospital in a very critical condition. He was shot with a real bullet in the left side of the chest, the bullet passed through to his left shoulder blade. He is in a coma in Nabire Public hospital. He was shot when he was trying to take a short cut with his motorcycle to his house. The Indonesian Police members attacked him and pushed him off his motorcycle into the gutter and shot him on the ground. He was not involved in the demonstration. Fritz has been working for an NGO called VCI, which focuses on community service providing clean water, natural disaster relief, promoting health for women and children, and raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Fritz was reported to be evacuated to Makassar, Sulawesi, for further medical treatment. 2. Albertus Tagi (Male/10 Years old) is an orphan, a 4th grader student at the local elementary school. He is in a very critical condition in Nabire hospital. He was shot with a real bullet in his right ribs as he approached his house after school. He was not in the demonstration. He was sent home early in the morning before the visiting of the Papua Regional Police Chief to the hospital that was planned for the 7 April 2009. According to the medical workers who told activists that as an orphan, Albertus, has no one to look after him in the hospital was sent home. 3. Yunandi Pigome (Male/28 Years old), is a farmer. He is reported to be dying in Nabire hospital. He was shot with a real bullet, the bullet entered his left back skull bone, passed through the front skull and went out above his left eye brow. He was shot on his way to his house. He was not involved in the demonstration. 4. Ipo Boga (Male /28 Years old), a farmer, he was shot with a real bullet in the buttocks and the bullet passed through near his genitals. He went to the local market and bought some rice and was returning home when shot. He was not involved in the demonstration. 5. Hengky Boma (Male/ 25years old), a farmer, was shot in his right thigh. He is supposed to have an operation at Nabire hospital today (April 7, 2009). He was not involved in the demonstration. 6. Alfonse Yeimo (Male/ 22 Years old), a student was shot in the forehead, lost lots of blood. 7. Yafeth Keiya (Male/26 Years old) a farmer, he was shot in the right wrist, he was not involved at the demonstration, he was on his way to market. w 8. Hengky Tenouye (Male/ 20 Years old), a farmer, he was shot on the left side of his chest. He was not involved in the demonstrations. For further information, including video footage of the protest rally, contact: Paula Makabory (+61) 402 547 517; or Matthew Jamieson (+61) 418291998; Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights PO Box 1805 Byron Bay NSW 2481 Australia