Indonesian President to receive ghoulish Halloween welcome

Media advisory, October 24, 2012

Demonstrations planned for Wednesday, 31 October 2012

What: As Indonesian security forces opened fire on unarmed protestors attending a demonstration in Papua in support of an International Parliamentarians for West Papua meeting in the UK Parliament,  human rights groups are planning to mark the state visit of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with protests on behalf the victims of abuses in Papua, Timor-Leste and elsewhere. During the visit, from 31 October to 2 November, the British Government will also be challenged about its policy of increasing arms sales to Indonesia, its training of anti-terror police implicated in the killing of Papuan leaders, and its promotion of unsustainable business interests in Papua and elsewhere.

When: 31 October 2012

13:00­14:30: Demonstration opposite Downing Street, London, SW1A

13:30: Photo opportunity: ­ Mock presentation of giant dossier of

unresolved human rights cases to Indonesian President by the ghosts of victims.

Why: Despite Indonesia’s transition from dictatorship to democracy,

many serious human rights problems remain. The rights groups will be highlighting key issues during the visit, including UK training of

Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit, Densus 88; Arms Sales; Human

Rights in Papua; The Need for Dialogue in Papua; Rights, Livelihoods

and Climate Justice; Religious Intolerance; and Timor-Leste and

Impunity.  Information about these issues is set out in a briefing

available here.

Who: Groups organising the protests include TAPOL, Down to Earth,

Survival International, the UK-based NGO Forum for Indonesia and

Timor-Leste and their supporters.

How: For interviews and further information, please contact - Paul

Barber, TAPOL (paul.barber@tapol.org; 07747 301 739); Chloe Corbin, Survival International (020 7687 8700); Andrew Hickman, Down to Earth (indonesiandrew@yahoo.com 07504 738 696).