The Last Frontier - Illegal Logging in Papua and China's Massive Timber Theft 2005
Quoting the 2003 report "Above the Law"-
Military Collusion
Military involvement in illegal activities is taken for granted in Indonesia. Hundreds of reports of military involvement in illegal logging have emerged and there is recognition of this serious problem within government. Reports of military personnel owning illegal sawmills, backing timber barons, and applying pressure for the release of con?scated logs are common and widespread. For instance research carried out in 1999 found that out of 25 illegal sawmills operating near Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra, 13 were backed by the armed forces.(11)
In West Papua testimonies have been collected from villagers who had their timber stolen by military personnel. Many of them claim to have been threatened or beaten and the testimonies describe systematic bullying, violence and rape. According to Elsham News Service, one of their Papuan sources spoke with military personnel who conceded that those brought into Papua from outside are allowed by the military top brass 'to conduct timber and logging trade / business to sustain troops "daily expenses."'(12)
Human Rights Practices - 2004 Security forces continued to commit unlawful killing of rebels, suspected rebels, and civilians in areas of separatist activity, where most politically motivated extrajudicial killings also occurred. There was evidence that the TNI considered anyone its forces killed in conflict areas to have been an armed rebel. Security forces also committed nonpolitical extrajudicial killings.
Human Rights Practices - 2003 The security forces continued to employ unlawful killing against rebels, suspected rebels, and civilians in separatist zones, where most of the politically motivated extrajudicial killings occurred. There was evidence that the TNI considered anyone its forces killed to have been an armed rebel, particularly in areas where the TNI had announced an operation and told all civilians to leave. The security forces also committed numerous extrajudicial killings that were not politically motivated. The Government largely failed to hold soldiers and police accountable for such killings and other serious human rights abuses.
Human Rights Practices - 2002 The security forces continued to employ harsh measures against rebels and civilians in separatist zones where most politically motivated extrajudicial killings occurred. The security forces also committed numerous extrajudicial killings that were not politically motivated. The Government largely failed to hold soldiers and police accountable for such killings and other serious human rights abuses.
Human Rights Practices - 2001 Security forces tortured and otherwise abused persons. Rapes and sexual exploitation by security forces continued to be a problem. Prison conditions are harsh. Security forces employed arbitrary arrest and detention without trial in Aceh. Despite initial steps toward reform, the judiciary remains subordinate to the executive, is corrupt, and does not always ensure due process. Security forces infringe on citizens' privacy rights. Security forces continued to intimidate and assault journalists. The Government places some controls on freedom of assembly; however, it allowed most demonstrations to proceed without hindrance except in Aceh and Papua. Security forces also brutally dispersed demonstrations on several occasions. The Government places some controls on freedom of association. There are some restrictions on certain types of religious activity and on unrecognized religions. The Government continues to restrict freedom of movement to a limited extent.
Human Rights Practices - 2000 The 275,000-member armed forces (TNI) are under the supervision of a civilian defense minister but retain broad nonmilitary powers and an internal security role, and are not fully accountable to civilian authority. The military and police jointly occupy 38 appointed seats in the DPR reserved for the security forces, as well as 10 percent of the seats in provincial and district parliaments.
The Government's human rights record was poor, and the overall human rights situation worsened during the year, despite the Wahid Government's efforts to continue the country's democratic transition and permit the exercise of basic freedoms. Security forces were responsible for numerous instances of, at times indiscriminate, shooting of civilians, torture, rape, beatings and other abuse, and arbitrary detention in Aceh, West Timor, Irian Jaya (also known as Papua or West Papua), the Moluccas, Sulawesi, and elsewhere in the country. TNI personnel often responded with indiscriminate violence after physical attacks on soldiers. They also continued to conduct "sweeps" which led to killing of civilians and property destruction.