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Media release- AWPA letter to Aust. Foreign Minister re 1st December in West Papua

November 28, 2016, 2:23 pm
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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Media release 29 November 2016

AWPA letter to Australian Foreign Minister re 1st December in West Papua

AWPA  has written to the Australian Foreign Minister re 1st December in West Papua

Civil Society groups in West Papua have again called for people to celebrate their national flag day. AWPA is concerned the security forces will crack down on any peaceful rallies called.


 Joe Collins of AWPA said, 

“Throughout the past year the security forces in West Papua have been cracking down on rallies held by civil society groups resulting in thousands of peaceful activists arrested.  As recently as the 26 November, 14 activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested in Manokwari simply for handing out leaflets about an upcoming rally to be held on the 1st December and on the 19 November 106 KNPB activists were arrested in Sorong while celebrating the eight anniversary of the of the KNPB.

AWPA has called on the Foreign Minister Julie Bishop 
to use her good offices with the Indonesian Government asking that it control its military in West Papua and asking it to inform the security forces that it should allow any rallies called to celebrate West Papuan National flag day to go ahead peacefully, without interference from the security forces.


AWPA has also asked the Foreign Minister not only to refuse the request of the Indonesian defence minister for Australia to pressure the Pacific countries to stop raising the issue of West Papua in global forums and called on the Foreign Minister to support  the Pacific leaders in calling on Jakarta to allow a PIF facing mission to West Papua. 

The Australian Government should realise the issue of West Papua is not going away and should be doing all it can to also raise concern about the human rights situation with the Indonesian Government and at the UN. Australia should be following the example of the seven Pacific leaders who raised the issue of West Papua at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2016. 



AWPA letter to Foreign Minister 


The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Foreign Minister

House of Representatives


Parliament House


Canberra ACT 2600



29 November 2016


Dear Foreign Minister,


I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.


The 1st of December is West Papuan National day or National Flag day. Fifty Five years ago on the 1st of December 1961, the Morning Star flag was flown for the first time officially beside the Dutch Tricolor.  The Dutch were finally about to give the West Papuan people their freedom. However it is one of the great tragedies that at their moment of freedom it was cruelly crushed and West Papua was basically handed over to Indonesia in 1963. After 6 years administration of the province, Indonesia held a sham referendum called the “Act of Free Choice” under UN supervision.  The Papuans call this the’ act of no  choice’.


The West Papuan people continue to raise their flag as an act of celebration but also of protest against the injustices they suffer under Indonesian rule. They can face up to 15 years jail for doing so. 


On the 1stDecember each year the West Papuan people celebrate their National Flag day and at past celebrations people have been arrested, received long prison terms and in some cases faced torture.


During the anniversary last year at least 306 Papuan students were arrested by the Police in Jakarta. Hundreds of AMP (Papua Students Alliance) members and approximately 400 police were involved in clashes after the police tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) also condemned the police for attacking and threatening several journalists covering the rally. 


Civil Society groups in West Papua have again called for people to celebrate their national flag day. AWPA is concerned the security forces will crack down on any peaceful rallies called.



Throughout the past year the security forces in West Papua have been cracking down on rallies held by civil society groups resulting in thousands of peaceful activists arrested.  As recently as the 26 November, 14 activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested in Manokwari simply for handing out leaflets about an upcoming rally to be held on the 1st December and on the 19 November 106 KNPB activists were arrested in Sorong while celebrating the eight anniversary of the founding of the KNPB.



We also note Jakarta’s request to Canberra urging Australia to pressure the Pacific countries to stop raising the issue of West Papua in global forums. The request from the Indonesian Defence Minister urged Australia to pass a message to Solomon Islands that it should refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia, including on the issue of West Papua.


We would like to point out that the Indonesian Defence minister said of the soldiers who killed Chief Theys Eluay (chairperson of the Papuan Presidium Council) in November 2001, (The defence Ministerwas chief of the Indonesian army’s strategic command at the time),   ’I don’t know, people say they did wrong, they broke the law. What law? Okay, we are a state based on the rule of law, so they have been punished. But for me, they are heroes because the person they killed was a rebel leader.'


Hopefully this year the security forces will allow the West Papuan people to celebrate their National Flag day peacefully and not resort to their usual heavy handed approach to any peaceful rallies called by the West Papuan people.


Not only should Australia refuse the request of the Indonesian defence minister but

should be supporting the Pacific leaders in calling on Jakarta to allow a PIF facing mission to West Papua. The Australian Government should realise the issue of West Papua is not going away and should be doing all it can to also raise concern about the human rights situation with the Indonesian Government and at the UN. Australia should be following the example of the seven Pacific leaders who raised the issue of West Papua at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2016.


I urge you to use your good offices with the Indonesian Government asking that it control its military in West Papua and asking it to inform the security forces that it should allow any rallies called to celebrate West Papuan National flag day to go ahead peacefully, without interference from the security forces.


Yours sincerely


Joe Collins


AWPA (Sydney)

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West Papuan solidarity events planned to mark Morning Star flag day

November 28, 2016, 3:37 pm
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http://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/11/29/west-papuan-solidarity-events-planned-to-mark-morning-star-flag-day/

West Papuan solidarity events planned to mark Morning Star flag day

By  - 
  



Papuans holding a self-determination rally last week in Sentani, Papua, demanding that the government conducts an independence referendum for the province. Image: KNPB/Jakarta Post
By Anne Noonan
It is now 55 years since the Morning Star flag was flown officially in West Papua for the first time on the 1 December 1961.
The West Papuan people continue to raise their flag as an act of celebration but also in protest against the injustices they suffer under Indonesian rule. They can face up to 15 years jail for doing so.
Jakarta is becoming increasingly concerned at the internationalisation of the issue of West Papua which is why the security forces  have been cracking down on peacefully rallies organised by civil society organisations in West Papua.
The most recent crackdown was on the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) as they celebrated their eighth anniversary last week – 106 people were arrested in Sorong.
However,  thousands of West Papuans have been arrested at rallies throughout the past year in West Papua. Although the majority of activists were eventually released, during the arrests activists were regularly beaten and in some cases faced torture.
In Sorong, police ordered a Papuan praying congregation to disperse, accusing them of separatism.
There has been a huge groundswell of support around the world and in the Asia-Pacific region on the issue of West Papua.
This support includes civil society organisations, churches and governments.
UN session support
Seven Pacific leaders raised the issue of West Papua at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
The Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu all raised concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua.
From the Solomon Islands, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said in a statement:
“The Solomon Islands is gravely concerned about the human rights violations against Melanesians in West Papua.
“Human rights violations in West Papua and the pursuit for self-determination of West Papua are two sides of the same coin.
“Many reports on human rights violations in West Papua emphasize the inherent corroboration between the right to self-determination that results in direct violations of human rights by Indonesia in its attempts to smother any form of opposition.”
Recently a new “Pacific Coalition on West Papua” was formed.  The initial membership comprises the Solomon Islands government, Vanuatu government, Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the Pacific Islands Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO).
Two new members are Tuvalu and Nauru.
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Note .  In Sydney supporters will celebrate the day in a solidarity march from the Opera House to Town Hall Square on the 4 December.
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Photos-The West Papuan struggle through T-shirts

November 28, 2016, 7:47 pm
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The West Papuan struggle through T-shirts

A simply way of raising awareness





































Rockin for West Papua



















Free West Papua One People One Soul










Punks for West Papua











Oceania Interrupted 








Free political prisoners














                                                                                    
                                                                           

                                                                                                               






                   






                                                                                       



                                                                                                       



West Papua Action Auckland























                                                                                               




























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1) Island focus: Police prepare for one-price fuel in Papua

November 28, 2016, 11:32 pm
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2) Pacific NGOs separate from ‘Asia Pacific’ tag

3) Fidel Castro And The Vanuatu Connection

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1) Island focus: Police prepare for one-price fuel in Papua
Jayapura | Tue, November 29 2016 | 08:51 am

The Papuan Police have assigned 50 of their personnel to a special task force to monitor the distribution and pricing of fuel following the launch of the one-price fuel policy in October by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“The taskforce will monitor the fuel distribution in Papua to make sure that the price is as decided by the President and a supply is available in each gas station,” Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said last week.

The 50-strong team would also collect data on problems found on the ground, he said. In their operation, the team would act in synergy with the military, local administrations and state oil and gas company Pertamina.

With the single-price policy, the price of fuel in Papua and West Papua, which previously cost up to tens of thousands of rupiah per liter, is being held at the same price as applied in the rest of the country.

The implementation of the policy is being backed by Bank Indonesia through the distribution of around Rp 15 billion (US$1.1 million) in coins and small bank notes to 19 regencies in Papua during November and December.
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2) Pacific NGOs separate from ‘Asia Pacific’ tag
00:00 am GMT+12, 29/11/2016, Kenya
By Pita Ligaiula in Nairobi, Kenya
 
The Pacific Civil Society group has successfully removed itself from the ‘Asia Pacific tag’ to become a separate group on its own.
 
Speaking to PACNEWS in Nairobi, Pacific Islands of Non-Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) Executive director, Emele Duituturaga said traditionally the Pacific has always been considered to be part of the Asia Pacific region.  
 
“And this is something that civil society of the Pacific has always raised as a policy issue, that the issues of the Pacific are very different from Asia.
 
“Couple of years ago, the Pacific made representation at the world level, about the need to separate the Pacific from Asia and it wasn’t until last year that it happened. So today at this global assembly for the very first time, the Pacific delegation had a separate’ Pacific identity’- separate from Asia, so that is something civil society has won.
 
“To this day even at the UN, the Pacific still considered to be part of Asia but in the civil society world we have successfully separated the Pacific as a separate region from Asia,” Duituturaga told PACNEWS.
 
Duituturaga said with Fiji expecting to host the International Civil Society week in 2017, the move will certainly boost the Pacific profile at the world stage.  
 
“We are fully anticipating and we are waiting for the official confirmation from Civicus that the Pacific again for the first time will be hosting the International Civil Society week which has been taking place annually around the world.
 
“For us as the Pacific it is part of trying to establish itself yet again. The Pacific is considered to be too far, too expensive and also our issues are really not considered at the global stage.  
 
“So by bringing this international meeting that happens only once a year to the Pacific and specifically to Fiji it will certainly boost the Pacific profile. It will certainly help the rest of the world have a better understanding of the issues of the small island states, it will certainly give recognition to the Pacific.  
 
“A lot of NGO and civil society in the Pacific don’t get much profile from donors and also from larger countries, so it will be a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity for CSOs in the Pacific to actually hold an international civil society gathering,” Duituturaga told PACNEWS.


SOURCE: PACNEWS


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A bit of history


3) Fidel Castro And The Vanuatu Connection


Former Prime Minister and First Vanuatu Roving Ambassador, Barak Sope, yesterday expressed his personal tribute to the late Fidel Castro of Cuba who died late last week.
Speaking from his home on Ifira in a telephone interview with the Daily Post, Barak Sope, who was one of the young political activists for the Vanuatu independence during the New Hebrides era, related how Cuba was the first country in the world to support the then New Hebrides for a political freedom from the two colonial powers, Britain and France.
“In 1977 Father Walter Lini (late) and I were present during a UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization in New York.
“This was the first time that the Vanuatu cry for political independence was heard by the UN Committee of the 24th on Decolonization.
“It was through the Cuban President Fidel Castro, at the time that Cuba became the first country in the world to sponsor the then New Hebrides application to the UN 24th Committee on Decolonization in 1977.
“So, Father Walter Lini (late) who was the President of the Vanua’aku Party and I made a trip to New York to be present during the UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization to listen to the debate for our freedom,” Barak Sope recalled.
“It was timely too because Cuba did not only sponsor Vanuatu’s application to the UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization, but it so happened that at the time, Cuba chaired the UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization, and so we knew, with hope that our political freedom was eminent, with Cuba Ambassador appointed by President Fidel Castro to Chair the UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization,” Sope recalled.
He said it was through the two roles that Cuba played at the time that the UN Committee of 24th on Decolonization shepherded Vanuatu’s application through.
Sope said other countries that supported the then New Hebrides in its initial stages for political freedom through the UN were Algeria and Tanzania.
“After Independence in 1980, I was appointed by Vanuatu’s first Prime Minister Father Walter Lini (late) as Vanuatu’s first Roving Ambassador and Secretary for Foreign Affairs, because the Foreign Affairs at the time were under the Prime Minister’s portfolio.
“In August 1981 Prime Minister Father Walter Lini appointed me as a Special Envoy to travel to Havana, Cuba, to deliver Vanuatu’s Special Message of “thank you and appreciation” to Cuban President Fidel Castro, and at the same time formalized diplomatic relations with Cuba that saw Vanuatu flag raised in Havana.
“I could not travel through the US at the time, so I had to make a long trip via UK and Canada and then to Havana, Cuba where I was accorded a high level welcome and personally me President Fidel Castro, in his Presidential Palace.
“I extended to him on behalf of the Government and the people of Vanuatu, deep appreciation for the support that President Fidel Castro and his country that paved the way from Havana to the corridors of the United Nations and finally to the Committee of the 24th on Decolonization that released our colonized country and people from Britain and France to become the Independent state and the new Republic of Vanuatu,” Sope said.
“Port Vila tied diplomatic relations with Havana in August 1981 before becoming a full member of the United Nations (UN) in September of 1981-the same year, but we recognized Cuba first because without Cuba and President Fidel Castro, it may have taken longer or never for this country to become an Independent State from Britain and France,” Barak Sope recalled.
“In 1977 Father Walter Lini and I attended the UN Decolonization Committee in informal clothing but in 1981 we attended the UN General Assembly for the first time after Independence where Father Walter Lini the first Vanuatu Prime Minister addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time as an Independent State and as the UN welcomed Vanuatu as its full member.
“Today, I am sad to say that Vanuatu has lost its first political pillar of our political freedom, the late President Fidel Castro. Personally, and of course the country has lost a man that stood up for the right of the political freedom of our nation and people in international forum and the United Nations. We truly miss him,” Sope noted of the passing away of Cuba’s former President, Fidel Castro.
The former Cuban President Fidel Castro handed his responsibilities in 2006 to Raul Castor.
He died at the age of 90 on November 25, 2016.
The relations with Cuba was enhanced further when the country provided scholarships for ni-Vanuatu to attend medical school there to become doctors.
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1) Group supports referendum for West Papua

November 29, 2016, 10:55 am
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2) Support the “Self-Determination”, FRI West Papua was declared in Jakarta

3) Young people take initiative to better education opportunities
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1) Group supports referendum for West Papua

News Desk The Jakarta Post

Jakarta | Tue, November 29, 2016 | 07:09 pm


Fight for freedom: Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta speaks to reporters at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) on Tuesday to declare the group’s support for Papuans to exercise the right to self-determination. (JP/Fachrul Sidiq)


Persistent oppression and discrimination as well as cultural and historical differences are sufficient reasons for Papuan people to decide their own fate through a referendum, an alliance has said.  

The Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua), consisting of non-Papuan Indonesian activists and intellectuals, was established as a form of solidarity from non-Papuans regarding the constant oppression suffered by Papuan activists who have fought for independence.

"There is no happiness for Papuans as long as they are part of Indonesia," the alliance’s spokesperson, Surya Anta, said in a press conference held at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) on Tuesday. 
(Read also: 


Surya said ongoing efforts from the government, such as giving special autonomy to the country’s easternmost region, had not eliminated military oppression or the destruction of natural resources. 


He said the group believed the only solution for Papua was to be able to exercise the right to determine whether to part ways with or remain part of Indonesia.

He claimed that an exercise of the right to self-determination for Papuans through an act of free choice (Pepera) in 1969 was invalid because only 1,022 individuals were involved in the plebiscite, less than 0.2 percent of the population.

"Moreover, they [Papuan people] were put under pressure to express their concerns about integrating with Indonesia," Surya added. (fac/jun)

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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at


2) Support the “Self-Determination”, FRI West Papua was declared in Jakarta

News Portal Papua No. 1 | Jubi,




                                    Illustration Solidarity action for Papua 2015 - catatankaki.info

Jayapura, Jubi - Front Rakyat Indonesia's West Papua (West Papua FRI) declared on Tuesday (11/29/2016) in Jakarta in order to demonstrate solidarity attitude and some of the elements of the Indonesian people to self-determination aspirations of the people of Papua.

Following the escalation of the issue of West Papuan self-determination on the international stage today, some communities in Indonesia are also encouraged to take a stand. FRI West Papua was declared in the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta, on Tuesday afternoon as a union of political parties, student organizations, cultural groups and media activism group.

In a press release received by the Editor Jubi Tuesday (29/11), they emphasized the establishment of five background the front.

Surya Anta, spokesman FRI West Papua lays the first cornerstone of the front declared for fraud and deception history of Papua's status and its integration into the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"West Papua is the territory of the colony non-self-recognized United Nations and also the Dutch in 1949, so too is still recognized on the delivery of administrative to Indonesia in 1963, the status does not change, prior to self-determination," said Surya in those releases ,

The only legitimacy integration of West Papua into the Republic of Indonesia was an Act (Act) 1969, he said, proved to be invalid because it is not democratic.

FRI West Papua also highlighted the systematic racial discrimination and historically in Papua as the cornerstone of their attitude.

"Racial discrimination has been done long ago, even before the Act of place, as to which statements Murtopo in 1966" Indonesia does not want the people of Papua, Indonesia just want the land and natural resources contained in the island of Papua. If Papuans want independence, please find another island in the Pacific for free. Or ask the Americans to provide a place for people in Papua occupies over there ", as quoted by Surya in the release.

Genocide slowly; arrest, torture and imprisonment of the nation of Papua; and robbery Papua's natural wealth is the foundation of the next three founding group of this solidarity.

The fifth runway, carrying FRI West Papua to the conclusion that it knowingly to admit, "the existence of the Republic of Indonesia in West Papua is illegal; colonization has occurred in Papua during the 50s; and West Papua is a Nation (nation) (which is different from the Indonesian people - ed), "said the statement.

FRI West Papua was established by the People's Liberation Party, the Center for People's Struggle Indonesia, LIBERATION, Cultural States Indonesia Society, Socialist Study Circle, Society Solidarity Net.

Surya Anta, who also came from the People's Liberation Party in a press conference which was still ongoing at the LBH Jakarta, Jakarta Diponogoro 74, stressed the need for solidarity to Papua united, "can not be continuously dispersed. What we are doing at FRI West Papua are trying to put it together, "he said.

Through live video, looks Surya Anta alone in front of the press conference of the forum to explain and answer questions from reporters.

Initiatives supporting the West Papuan self-determination can be said to be the first openly declared in Indonesia. During this time, the solidarity the people of Indonesia to Papua issue usually ranging in matters of human rights and humanity in general, without expressly provides support to Self-Determination itself.

In the 1990s, civic groups, Indonesia has also been doing the same thing by supporting the self-determination of East Timor. Those groups such as the People's Solidarity for Maubere Rakyat Indonesia (SPRIM), Solidarity for Peace Settlement of Timor Leste (SOLIDAMOR) and the Forum of Solidarity for the People of East Timor. (*)


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3) Young people take initiative to better education opportunities
Juliana Harsianti Contributor
Jakarta | Tue, November 29 2016 | 10:44 am

Dedication: Rosa Dahlia teaches students outdoors in Lenny Jaya regency, West Papua.
Two young people combine their entrepreneurial skills and passion to solve problems in education.
Despite a major allocation in the state budget, many parents still complain about the high cost of education.

At first, education activist Ai Nurhidayat thought it was normal for private schools to impose high tuition fees, since they offer qualified teachers and better facilities. It was common to see some schools apply a cross subsidy system to help high-achieving students from poor families.

However, after some contemplation, he considered that such a system was unfair.

“It favors those who are better off and more gifted than students with average abilities,” the native of Pangandaran in West Java said.

He was speaking during the Young People’s Festival, which was held by Tempo Institute in South Jakarta recently. During the event, young people met to exchange perspectives during discussions and to expand their networks.

Ai returned to Pangandaran after finishing his study in Jakarta and completing his apprenticeship in multiple areas, including in Timor Leste where he was exposed to other cultures.

Believing that schools should apply equality in their student enrollment, Ai set up SMK Bakti Karya vocational school in Parigi district, Pangandaran.

The multicultural school has enrolled students from 25 regencies all over Indonesia.

“In the beginning, I recruited volunteers from various regions to promote the school and to recruit students,” said the 26-year-old.

Ai’s does not set grade minimums for student admission. His school accepts all students as long as they have graduated from junior high school and are younger than 21. Unsurprisingly, it has drawn public interest.

“Those rejected by other schools enroll in our school,” Ai said.

He employs teachers who come from around Pangandaran as well as other cities and asks them to embrace the school’s mission. Ai wants his students to learn academic skills and participate in extracurricular activities, so they will be capable of working independently after graduation. The school also provides a dormitory facility.

  Meanwhile, Rosa Dahlia, another participant of the Young People Festival, focused on education for children in West Papua. In contrast to the numerous schools that are available in Jakarta and big cities in Java, students in West Papua have limited access to education.

“The government has intentions to improve education in Papua, but they use Java as a reference, while local conditions [in Papua] are different,” said Rosa.

Unlike Ai, who returned to his hometown, Rosa accepted a job from a foundation to teach at Lanny Jaya Papua after graduation. She has observed that Papuan students need a teaching approach that is different from the one applied in big cities on Java.

“If the teaching method is adjusted, the children are quick to learn,” said Rosa.

For instance, teachers from big cities are used to teaching primary school students who already have basic arithmetic training, so they may get impatient when they find that the students in Papua do not possess the same skills in the subject.

Rosa also highlighted the language gap. Papuan children rarely speak Indonesian or speak it in a muddled structure. She said she decided to learn the local tongue to ease communication with her students.

“I was once at a loss for the proper way to teach them Indonesian until an idea struck me,” recalled Rosa.

In order to make Indonesian language teaching easier, she created a bulletin entitled Elege Inone, which means “the voice of children” in the local Lanny language. Issued monthly, the publication was processed by students, who wrote stories, took photos, drew illustrations and printed the newsletter, with Rosa helping to create its graphic designs.

“We managed to produce three editions and planned to distribute them to schools in Lanny Jaya, but I had to move and my successor hasn’t continued this project,” she said.

(Courtesy of SMK Bakti Karya)
Critical thinking: Two comic strips by students from vocational school SMK Bakti Karya share messages of multiculturalism.
When her contract expired, Rosa could not secure an extension from her foundation. Rosa’s love of Papua prompted her to stay in the province with the help of many circles, thus enabling her to carry on teaching in Lanny Jaya.

Ai, who raises funds from donations, has also faced some problems despite receiving overwhelming interest in his school. The latest repressive measures taken in the arrest of Papuan students in Yogyakarta on allegations of promoting separatism in July have prompted a number of candidates from Papua to cancel their enrollment.

Rosa and Ai share the view that with serious effort, funds will come from various sources. They believe the most important thing is to maintain strong determination without losing hope in order to promote Indonesia’s education.
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Watch Airileke’s Powerful Video for West Papuan Independence Day

November 29, 2016, 9:23 pm
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http://rollingstoneaus.com/music/post/watch-airilekes-powerful-new-video-for-west-papuan-independence-day/5230

Watch Airileke’s Powerful Video for West Papuan Independence Day 

by Jonny Nail | November 30th, 2016 2:40:PM EST

video

The title in the opening scene alone speaks volumes: "West Papua is a country in waiting".
On December 1st, 1961 West Papua — once known as Dutch New Guinea — was granted independence. Indonesia promptly invaded and took back control of the region, and ever since the West Papuan people have been fighting for their freedom, battling both against oppression from Indonesia (including actions that has seen their population percentage reduce from 98% to under 50%) and for wider recognition from international governing agencies — a bureaucratic struggle epitomised with the widely criticised 'Act of No Choice' vote of 1969.
Attempting to re-ignite awareness of the issue and to coincide with the annual December 1st global ceremonies — commemorating the first Morning Star flag raising in 1961 — ARIA-nominated, Melbourne-based Melanesian artist Airileke has recorded a new track entitled "Sorong Samarai". It's the debut release from politically motivated label Rize of the Morning Star and exclusively premiering today via Rolling Stone Australia.
The song's title references Sorong, a town in the north-west corner of West Papua and Samarai, a small township in the south-east of neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The geographical line between the two locations — commonly referred to as "S2S"— is often used to signify a united state of solidarity.
Building from that strong statement of heritage and identity, the song fuses traditional chanting and log drum percussion with a punctuating reggae rhythm that delivers a striking sense of urgency. The fist-pumped passion through the verses —  both in English and traditional dialect — is only momentarily paused for the poignant, anthemic hook: "one people, one soul, one destiny"; a line adapted from exiled activist Benny Wenda's United Nations address 20 years ago.
"We wanted to positively present the beauty of West Papua and PNG and the strength of its culture and people, so the wider community connects emotionally to the situation and begins to take a stronger interest", explains Airileke of the striking scenes in the accompanying video. The clip, directed by Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown, Nattali Rize, One Rebel Creative), continues the song's strong sense of celebration via a vibrant array of pristine island scenery and — more importantly — an exhibition of the tightly preserved culture of the people of that land.
Following the release, Airileke is set to take the song to an even wider audience in early-2017, with plans for a series of performances with collaborators from West Papua, PNG and Australia.
For more information on the Free West Papua Campaign visit the official website.
—Channel Ten's current affairs program, 'The Project', will also be airing a special report on West Papua's fight for independence on December 1st at 6:30PM (AEDT).
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1) Support grows for Papua referendum

November 30, 2016, 11:37 am
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2) Komnas HAM RI Have No repressive apparatus on December 1 in Papua
3) Villages may soon see the light
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/11/30/support-grows-papua-referendum.html

1) Support grows for Papua referendum

Moses Ompusunggu and Marguerite Afra Sapiie
Jakarta | Wed, November 30 2016 | 08:42 am

Amid what has been perceived as government inaction over injustice in Papua, civil society organizations have rallied to support residents in the country’s easternmost region to exercise their right to self-determination through a referendum. 

The groups, which have formed an alliance called the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua), said on Tuesday that a referendum would serve to end the “practice of colonization and militarism” in the restive region. 

Announcing a plan to rally on Dec. 1, which is seen by West Papua liberation proponents as the province’s national day, FRI-West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta said the need for a referendum was a consequence of abuses carried out by the government that have resulted in a persistent lack of welfare in the region.

“It’s not possible for West Papuans to live normally if manipulation and deceit of history still persist, racial discrimination is deeply entrenched in every aspect of their lives, the slow-motion genocide continues systematically and extortion of natural wealth destroys their livelihoods and culture,” Surya told a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in Central Jakarta. 

The group claimed that West Papua “never became a legitimate part of Indonesia”, taking into account what happened in Papuans’ act of free choice (Pepera), a referendum in 1969 that it claimed was “flawed”. 

The group said only 1,022 individuals, less than 0.2 percent of the Papuan population at that time, were involved in Pepera, emphasizing that the participants had been put “under pressure” to express their consent to integrate with Indonesia. 

Some 200 protesters from various organizations across the country, including those advocating for West Papua’s liberation, were due to join the Dec. 1 rally in Jakarta and several regions, Surya said. Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) chairman Jefry Wenda confirmed to The Jakarta Post that his organization would partake in the demonstration. 

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said he had yet to be informed about the planned rally, adding that if it was meant to support a referendum for Papua, it could arose suspicion about a separatist movement. “It may violate Article 6, point (e) of the 1998 Freedom of Speech Law,” Boy said, referring to a provision stipulating that any protester is obliged and is responsible to maintain the unity and solidity of the nation when participating in a rally.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has played down the issue of a referendum, saying the government would answer the call with sustainable development efforts in Papua and West Papua.
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
2) Komnas HAM RI Have No repressive apparatus on December 1 in Papua
Penulis
 Arnold Belau
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JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com- Komnas HAM Representatives requested the repressive security forces are not facing dated December 1, 2016 against the people of Papua to commemorate the birth of embryonic republic of West Papua are 55th in Papua.

"Komnas HAM asked the authorities do not take action criminalization, arrests, persecution, torture and killing of activists and the people of Papua. Party apparatus as minimal as possible to avoid the potential for human rights violations amid Indonesia was reassuring the international community about the prospects for peace in the land of Papua, "pleaded Natalius Pigai to suarapapua.com not long ago from Jakarta.

Pigai said Manokwari new cases last month occurred just be counter-productive to the Government's efforts to improve the human rights situation in Papua. Even Tim Monitoring Commission recommended to the plenary session of the Commission to decide investigating gross human rights violations of Law No. 26 of 2000 in Manokwari.

According hemar Pigai, by looking at the escalation of human rights violations in Papua deteriorating shows Jokowi Government has no goodwill to stop human rights violations in Papua.

"At this time when the world more open and information is easily accessible course various incidents of human rights violations in Papua will be recognized and highlighted with ease, then the relevant date of December 1 we ask that all parties, both groups celebrating and also the security forces remain engaged in corridors human rights, namely freedom of expression is certainly respected by all parties and order that people will be maintained, "said Pigai.

For that Komnas HAM, Pigai said, would monitor developments and the situation prior to and during dated December 1, 2016.

Announcers: Arnold Belau

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3) Villages may soon see the light

Fedina S. Sundaryani and Viriya P. Singgih
Jakarta | Wed, November 30, 2016 | 07:21 am
The government will soon issue a new rule to electrify 2,500 remote villages with the help of the private sector that may need billions of dollars for the cause.
These affected villages are part of the total 12,659 villages across the country that it aims to electrify with renewable energy sources under the Indonesia Terang (Bright Indonesia) program, the umbrella program of the development plan involving the private sector.
The rule will allow private companies, provincial administration-owned companies and cooperatives to set up off-grid power plant projects in remote villages, 2,376 of which are located in Papua and West Papua.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s electricity development program director, Alihuddin Sitompul, said the regulation had been signed by Minister Ignasius Jonan and was being processed at the Law and Human Rights Ministry.
 “The government hopes to encourage the private sector and provincial-administration owned companies to enter the small-scale electricity business. With a maximum capacity of 50 megawatts [MW], investors can act as mini versions of [state-owned electricity firm] PLN,” Alihuddin said during a seminar held on Tuesday.
PLN is currently the sole electricity off-taker in the country. However, with the impending regulation, private investors will be able to sell their electricity directly to residents without having to go through PLN.
Private investors will also be requested to focus on procuring electricity through a hybrid power system, supported by both renewable energy sources and conventional fossil fuel sources.
A hybrid power system combines two or more modes of electricity production, usually involving at least one renewable energy source to ensure the village can maintain power 24 hours a day.
Alihuddin was upbeat that the private sector and provincial administration-owned companies would be interested in the projects as the government would offer subsidies as an incentive. However, he declined to disclose any details.
Even though Indonesia recorded an electrification rate of 88 percent last December, it was attributed to heavy concentration on Java, while eastern regions have remained in the dark.
Lack of electricity in the regions has been mostly blamed on poor infrastructure, which also contributes to high transportation costs.

The ministry previously said the development of electricity infrastructure in Papua and West Papua would require Rp 156.02 billion (US$11.64 million) and annual operating fees of Rp 191.9 billion.
Previously, PLN corporate planning director Nicke Widyawati said the company had expressed its interest to the government in leading projects that could be interconnected into its existing network and was already assessing locations in Papua.
The ministry has remained quiet about whether the impending ministerial regulation would also involve PLN.
The private sector, meanwhile, has expressed its readiness to take part in the remote village electrification program.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy head for bioenergy and water power Jaya Wahono said that the business group was trying to submit funding proposals worth $8 billion to various international groups, including World Bank financing arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to meet the electricity procurement plan.
The massive fund could help provide 300 kilowatts of electricity to one village, where each house could get at least 450 watts of electricity.
“That way, the government can boost the economic growth in remote areas. People in coastal villages, for instance, can use the electricity to build cold storages for their fishery products,” Jaya said.
Kadin has formed a partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce to explore business opportunities available to European companies, which are expected to invest in and transfer their technological knowledge to Indonesia
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Photos/video-The Morning Star on Sydney Harbour

November 30, 2016, 5:45 pm
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West Papua supporters gather at PMC for Morning Star flag event

November 30, 2016, 6:12 pm
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West Papua supporters gather at PMC for Morning Star flag event

About 20 academics, librarians, journalists and Pacific issues activists gathered at the Pacific Media Centre at noon today for a Morning Star flag-raising ceremony as part of global actions for West Papuan freedom.

Kevin McBride of Pax Christi and the Asia Pacific Human Rights Coalition (APHRC) spoke of the important human rights concerns for West Papua and how “we’re all part of the oppression” with New Zealand’s complicity with Indonesian policies. PMC’s Dr David Robie talked of the “vision of hope” with mounting solidarity and support in Pacific Island nations, especially the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu…………………….

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1) PARTICIPANTS OF WEST PAPUA RALLY ARRESTED

December 1, 2016, 12:54 am
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2) Indonesian police fire water cannon at pro-Papua demo
3) Lend West Papua your voice
4) West Papuans protest against Indon rule
5) West Papuans Protest Against Indonesian Rule
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1) PARTICIPANTS OF WEST PAPUA RALLY ARRESTED
Safrin La Batu The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Thu, December 1, 2016 | 01:34 pm



Participants of a rally held to demand a referendum for West Papua gather on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday. Some of their colleagues were arrested during the event. (JP/Safrin La Batu)

Police apprehended on Thursday several people who were participating in a peaceful rally to demand a referendum for West Papua.
One of the people arrested was the coordinator of the rally, Surya Anta, a lawyer for the rally participants, Veronica Koman, said on Thursday.
Veronica said the protesters were beaten and arrested by police officers who wore civilian attire on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta when they were about to head to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, located a few meters away from the scene.
"We may report the police because we saw many procedures the police violated. They beat and arrested [participants] without wearing police uniforms," Veronica said.
Veronica said she was not sure how many of the participants had been arrested, but said there were no more than five.
About 100 people participated in the rally, which coincided with what they called "the aborted independence day of West Papua" in Dec. 1.
Other participants, consisting of both Papuan and non-Papuan students, remained at the scene after their colleagues were arrested and demanded the police release them.
The police at the scene refused to comment about the arrest of the rally participants.
Veronica said the police had blocked the participants from advancing to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in fear of disrupting the traffic flow.
"[The ban] has no valid grounds. Why can't they stage a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle?" she asked. (jun)
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2) Indonesian police fire water cannon at pro-Papua demo
  • Posted 01 Dec 2016 14:32



Protesters confront police using water cannons during a protest by mostly university students from the Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta. (Photo: AFP/BAY ISMOYO)


JAKARTA: Indonesian police Thursday (Dec 1) fired water cannon in a bid to disperse a demonstration against Jakarta's rule over the insurgency-hit eastern region of Papua, and rounded up scores of protesters.

About 150 protesters rallied in Jakarta to mark the anniversary of Papua's 1961 declaration of independence, two years before Indonesia took control of the region from former colonial ruler the Netherlands.

Insurgents have been fighting against rule from Jakarta ever since, while the central government has sought to keep a tight grip on the resource-rich region with a heavy military and police presence.

The protesters, mostly university students from the Free Papua Organisation and the Papua Student Alliance, yelled "Free Papua", facing off against hundreds of police in riot gear.

"It's enough. Our people have been killed and detained, it's enough," said protester Cheko, who only gave one name.

Four demonstrators were detained after police accused them of displaying the pro-independence "Morning Star" flag, which is banned, and most of the other protesters were later taken away in police vans, going voluntarily without any violence breaking out.

Veronica Koman, a lawyer from Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation, said the group had a team of lawyers ready to defend the protesters.

Six years after taking control of Papua, Indonesia held a referendum that it says validated its claim to the region. But the vote was widely seen as a sham, with Jakarta hand-picking 1,026 people to vote on behalf of all Papuans.

Tregular small-scale clashes between insurgents, fighting on behalf of the ethnic Melanesian population, and security forces in Papua. Activists often accuse police and the army of committing human rights abuses in the name of anti-rebel operations.
President Joko Widodo has pledged to improve livelihoods in Papua, which is one of the least developed regions of the archipelago, and has repeatedly travelled there during his two years in office.

- AFP




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3) Lend West Papua your voice
LICE MOVONO Thursday, December 01, 2016
Update: 12:40PM AS futile as it may seem, your voices can make a difference in the Free West Papua movement, a group of young Pacific Island activists told students today.
Speaking at the "Raise The Morning Star" gathering at the Unviersity of the South Pacific today, students who make up the Youngsolwara movement called on youths to join them.
Second year student, Elizabeth Volavola told hundreds of peers at the Free West Papua event that prayers were not enough.
"It made me emotional and it made me want to take a stand so that the flame that they ignited in the hopes of freeing West Papua - we as students will fuel that flame," Ms Volavola said.
"Not just sit back on the side on facebook and say we hope and pray that you will continue the fight. No we will stand up!"
"At the end of the day, we are connected by one ocean."
Event organiser, Joey Tau said the event was focused on using art to raise awareness on the Free West Papua movement. 
The "Raise The Morning Star" event used drama, music and poetry to mark West Papua's original independence day when it first raised the Morning Star flag, the current day simple of the Free West Papua movement. 
"With due respect to the explicit realities put before on social media, the (We Bleed Black and Red) campaign tries to encourage a lot of young people and their creativity. Some people have reservations about explicity - the campaign brings in another dimension to the whole movement," Tau said.
The campaigner said using a creative arts approach has created a larger following of the movement.

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1 DEC 2016 - 4:44PM
4) West Papuans protest against Indon rule

Dozens of West Papuan protesters calling for the region's independence have been detained after clashing with police in Jakarta.
West Papuan protesters have faced off with police in the Indonesian capital while calling for the remote region's independence.
Organisers had promised protests in other cities and said on Thursday police had denied them permission to march in central Jakarta.
The dozens of demonstrators were blocked from marching on to a busy traffic circle in the capital by several hundred police, who fired water cannons and dragged several men from the crowd into waiting police vans.
After about three hours, they agreed to end the protest and were detained by police.
"Don't hinder our right to voice our aspirations. Papuans are demanding the truth of our history," a speaker standing on a small truck shouted at the crowd.
Members of the Papua Students Alliance chanted "Freedom Papua" and others sang independence songs.
Rights groups accuse the Indonesian military of serious human rights abuses in Papua and some Melanesian island states have also voiced concerns and called for Papuan independence.
Many West Papuans see December 1 as the anniversary of what should have been their independence.
The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II.
It became part of Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969.
A low-level insurgency has plagued the mineral-rich region, which is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia, for years.
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5) West Papuans Protest Against Indonesian Rule
By STEPHEN WRIGHT AND NINIEK KARMINI, ASSOCIATED PRESS JAKARTA, 
Indonesia — Dec 1, 2016, 1:36 AM ET
West Papuan protesters faced off with police in the Indonesian capital on Thursday in a demonstration calling for the remote region's independence.
Organizers had promised protests in other cities and said police had denied them permission to march in central Jakarta.
The dozens of demonstrators were blocked from marching onto a busy traffic circle in the capital by several hundred police who fired water cannons and dragged several men from the crowd into waiting vans. After about three hours, they agreed to end the protest and were detained by police.
"Don't hinder our right to voice our aspirations. Papuans are demanding the truth of our history," a speaker standing atop a small truck shouted at the crowd. Members of the Papua Students Alliance chanted "Freedom Papua" and others sang independence songs.
Rights groups accuse the Indonesian military of serious human rightsabuses in Papua and some Melanesian island states have also voiced concerns and called for Papuan independence.
Many West Papuans see Dec. 1 as the anniversary of what should have been their independence.
The Dutch colonizers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II. It became part of Indonesia following a U.N.-supervised referendum in 1969 criticized as undemocratic.
"They feel that the referendum back then in 1969 was a sham," said Veronica Koman from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.
"There were 800,000 West Papuans at that time. West Papuans were promised one man and one vote. But instead only 1,022 turned up, it was set up that way. They have to vote with the military all over them and intimidation. It's illegal. And they want Indonesia to admit that and hold a referendum," she said.
A low-level insurgency has plagued the mineral-rich region, which is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia, for years.
The Indonesian government, which for decades had a policy of sending Javanese and other Indonesians to settle in Papua, is now also trying to spur economic development to dampen the separatist movement.
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1) Papuan Leaders Tell Pro-Independence Activists to Trust Jokowi Administration

December 1, 2016, 12:00 pm
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2) NZ MPs among those sending message of hope for Papuans
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1) Papuan Leaders Tell Pro-Independence Activists to Trust Jokowi Administration
By : Alin Almanar | on 11:09 PM December 01, 2016



Police disperse a demonstration by the Papuan Students Alliance and the Indonesian Front for West Papua in Central Jakarta on Thursday (01/12). Protesters are demanding the government to hold a referendum for Papuan independence. (Antara Photo/Juan Ferdinand)


Jakarta. A protest in support of Papua's independence in Jakarta on Thursday (01/12) ended up with the police beating up the protesters and drew criticism from fellow Papuans, who called on the demonstrators to heed efforts by the government to speed up development in Indonesia's easternmost province.
The protest was the latest in a string of demonstrations recent years that saw authorities repressing protesting Papuans in various parts of the country as decades-old insurgencies in the province showed no signs of abating.
Around 100 Papuans joined the pro-independence rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to celebrate the Free West Papua Movement's anniversary.

The Indonesian government claims it has been intensifying efforts to ease tension in Papua by starting a number of infrastructure projects to boost economy in the island.
But many Papuans say the developmental approach could barely address the root causes of injustice in the province, which has led to rampant cases of human rights abuses.
Hours after Thursday's demonstration, senior Papuan leaders in Jakarta called on the protesters to calm down, saying President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has been doing its best to find a solution for Papua.

"The government is trying to understand the conditions in Papua while at the same time carrying out those development programs," Nico Yarangga said. "Maybe the protesters have yet to see the results as the programs are still underway."
Police prevented dozens of Papuans from marching from the busy Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in the city center to the Presidential Palace. The police fired water cannons at the protesters before taking some of them to their headquarters.
Protesters wore Morning Star headscarfs, the banned symbol of the Papuan independence movement, prompting police to move against them.

"We brought them into custody because they were wearing accessories that are an insult to the state," Supt. Hendy Kurniawan of the Jakarta Police told reporters after the demonstration.
Papuan insurgents have long protested against a UN-backed referendum in 1969 that saw Papua becoming part of Indonesia, saying it was rigged. They have complained the central government has since given the resource-rich region an unfair share of the state's wealth.
"There will always be insurgencies if Papuans are hungry. But they will calm down if they are happy. And what the government is doing now is trying to make them happy," Nico's colleague, Max, told the Jakarta Globe.




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2) NZ MPs among those sending message of hope for Papuans
7:23 pm on 1 December 2016

New Zealand MPs were among those demonstrating today in cities across the country to raise the West Papuan nationalist flag.

t's 55 years since the Papuan Morning Star flag was first flown officially when the indigenous people of the former Dutch New Guinea declared independence.
However 1961's declaration was soon eclipsed by a US-brokered agreement between the Dutch and Jakarta which paved the way for an Indonesian takeover.
The Morning Star was subsequently banned in Indonesia, but each year on December 1st rallies around the world mark this anniversary in support of Papuans by raising the Morning Star.

Up to 20 New Zealand MPs are involved in ongoing West Papua soldarity activities, having voiced concern about human rights abuses in the Indonesian-ruled region.
Half a dozen of them were present to hold the Morning Star at today's demonstration outside parliament.
Global Morning Star flag raising events are also taking place today cross Australia, Britain, South Africa, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria and elsewhere.
In Wellington, on the steps of the New Zealand parliament, the Greens MP Catherine Delahunty conveyed a message of hope to Papuans.
"People of West Papua who are not allowed to raise their own flag, all over the world today we say to them do not give up hope. Merdeka! Freedom! Solidarity with West Papua."
The MPs gathered to raise the Morning Star in the capital today say Papuans should be able to raise their flag without fear of imprisonment.
Meanwhile, civil society groups planning to demonstrate in Indonesia's capital Jakarta today to raise West Papua's nationalist flag have been warned they face arrest.
And in Papua itself, in recent days, security forces had launched crackdowns in some towns in the region in anticipation of December 1st rallies.

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1) Police accused of beating pro-referendum activis

December 1, 2016, 11:55 pm
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2) Morning Star flag raised
3) A voice from Papua, Indonesia

4) More mass arrests at Papua rallies in Indonesia

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1) Police accused of beating pro-referendum activists
Jakarta | Fri, December 2 2016 | 08:53 am

Moses Ompusunggu The Jakarta Post


Papua protest: People chant slogans during a protest by university students from the Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on Thursday. The police detained at least four of the protesters, who were rallying against Indonesian rule over the eastern province of Papua.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
Papua protest: People chant slogans during a protest by university students from the Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on Thursday. The police detained at least four of the protesters, who were rallying against Indonesian rule over the eastern province of Papua.(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
Lawyers for protesters attending a West Papua liberation rally in Jakarta on Thursday have accused police officers of beating their clients after a clash broke out between the two sides, leading to the arrest of 10 protesters.

One of the lawyers, Veronica Koman, claimed some of the 10 apprehended protesters were beaten by Jakarta Police officers on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, when rally participants insisted on marching to the nearby Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

The rally was organized by an alliance named the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua), which consists of numerous civil society organizations, aimed at supporting residents of the country’s easternmost region to exercise their right to self-determination through a referendum.

FRI-West Papua argues that the need for a referendum is a consequence of abuses carried out by the government that have resulted in a persistent lack of welfare in the restive region.

Those detained by the police included FRI-West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta, who was one of the protesters allegedly beaten by the police, and Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) chairman Jefry Wenda.

The 10 apprehended protesters were released by the police on the same day. 

Veronica said the legal team, consisting of representatives from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), the Press Legal Aid Institute (LBH Pers) and the Keadilan Bogor Raya Legal Aid Institute (LBH KBR) based in Bogor, West Java, may report the incident to the Jakarta Police. Beatings, she said, were also carried out by police in plain clothes. 

“We may report the police because we saw the police violated many procedures. They beat and arrested [some of the protesters] without wearing police uniform, making it difficult for us to identify whether it was officers who allegedly beat the protesters,” Veronica said.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said he had not received any reports about the alleged beatings by police officers, but added that he would allow the activists to report the incident to the National Police’s internal affairs division (Propam). 

Apart from Jakarta, West Papua rallies were held on Thursday in nine other cities, such as Jayapura and Yogyakarta, coinciding with what West Papua liberation proponents see as their national day.

Hundreds of protesters participating in the rally in Jakarta initially planned to march from the LBH Jakarta office on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, to the Presidential Palace. The plan, however, did not materialize as the mass was forced to stop and stage the rally at an intersection on Jl. Imam Bonjol, which was guarded by around 700 Jakarta Police personnel. 

During the rally, a leader frequently told the mass, which consisted of members of the FRI-West Papua and the AMP from various cities, that the event had to be conducted in a peaceful fashion, warning them to remain calm amid possible “provocation”.

But some protesters, who were seen wearing headbands resembling the Morning Star flag, insisted on advancing to the Presidential Palace via the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, prompting Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Dwiyono, who led the police effort, to issue several warnings to them.

Clashes broke out as the protesters nevertheless tried to break through the police barricade, during which Surya claimed he and other protesters were apprehended and beaten by a number of uniformed and non-uniformed police officers.

— Nethy Dharma Somba and Bambang Muryanto contributed to this story from Jayapura and Yogyakarta.

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2) Morning Star flag raised

Chiefs, politicians, Ministers, community leaders, women, and youths from around Port Vila gathered yesterday morning to raise the Morning Star, West Papua’s flag The gathering which took place at the Chiefs Nakamal joins other gatherings around the globe in commemoration of the first raising of the flag in 1961, in West Papua. Vanuatu’s support towards West Papua’s struggle for Independence has always remained strong over the years and this year’s flag raising was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, Minister Ralph Regenvanu, and the President of Malvatumauri, along with Barak Sope, a former prime minister. “We raise the Morning Star flag every year in support of West Papua’s struggle for independence and to commemorate the first ever flag raising of 1961,” said Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki. “The first raising of the Morning Star took place when West Papua was still under the colonial rule of Holland. “They asked Holland for Independence but when Holland left, West Papua was left with Indonesia after the creation of the Act of Free Choice which a lot of West Papuans had no knowledge of at that time.” Yesterday’s event included speeches from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Regenvanu, Malvatumauri President, Pastor Nafuki and Rex Rumakiek, Secretary General of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) who travelled to Vanuatu this week especially for the event. thompson@dailypost.vu


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3) A voice from Papua, Indonesia
COLETTE DAVIDSON — PUBLISHED about 6 hours ago

WHEN journalist and media activist Victor Mambour wants information from inside Papua, Indonesia, he knows how to get it — he has to ask someone who isn’t Papuan.
“I’m Papuan so when something happens, I ask the police about it but they don’t give me an answer,” says Mambour. “My friend, who isn’t Papuan, can ask the same thing and get an answer.”
The situation epitomises how Mambour has had to operate in order to fill the pages of his Papuan-based newspaper, Jubi.
“If you want to be a real journalist in Papua and committed to ethics, it’s very hard, from the reporting to the salary,” says Mambour. “There’s a double standard for Papuan journalists and a lot of discrimination.”
The Indonesian government has used the long-standing conflict in Papua to justify implementing harsh rules in the region, offering limited opportunities and restricted access to journalists. While authorities may withhold information from local Papuan journalists — who are identified by their family name or physical characteristics — foreign journalists have little chance of even accessing the region.
But while the lack of access to Papua means that coverage of the region remains limited, some say that the coming year will be a test for Indonesia as it gets set to host Unesco’s World Press Freedom Day celebrations on May 3, 2017. Many Papuan journalists say they are fed up with the censorship, self-censorship and dangers that go along with reporting from and about the region and they are ready to let the world know.
Papua and West Papua have a long-standing history of human rights abuses, ever since the Free Papua Movement began its low-level guerrilla war against the Indonesian state in the 1960s. Since then, West Papuans have protested for independence, accusing the Indonesian government of violence and abuses of freedom of expression. In an attempt to mask the suppression of Papuan nationalism, the Indonesian government has long made outside access to Papua a challenge.
For journalists who do tackle the task of reporting on Papua, the primary focus is often related to the environment, with topics on resource extraction or corruption — topics very difficult and dangerous to report on.
Recently, the Indonesian government looked ready to open access to Papua, when President Joko Widodo made an announcement in May 2015 stating that the government would lift restrictions on foreign media access. But Phelim Kine, the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch in New York, says that the announcement hasn’t pulled much weight.
“It was never followed up by any written decree, so while it was a rhetorical opening to Papua, foreign media still can’t get in,” says Kine. “And if they do get in, they’re subject to surveillance and harassment that makes effective reporting very difficult.”
Kine says journalists routinely self-censor material, and that the Indonesian government and security forces in Papua often infiltrate informers into media organisations to monitor and influence coverage. At other times, an intelligence operative will be required to follow a journalist into the region, restricting what they can report on and how sources offer testimony.
The result is that little or no coverage exists about the realities inside Papua, where civilians — especially in remote areas — are victims of civil, social and economic rights violations. Many in the region have no access to health or education services, or risk having their land stolen by the police or military. Because of their isolation, they have no one to whom they can report the violations.
But as much as authorities within Papua have tried to censor incriminating material, much of the news that comes out of the region remains negative, says Lina Nursanty, WAN-IFRA’s Indonesian Media Freedom Committee chair and a West Java-based freelance editor.
“Whenever we hear anything about Papua, it’s always about a tribal war or human rights abuses,” says Nursanty. “The news we get from there is always violent.”
As hosts of next year’s Unesco World Press Freedom Day celebrations, Indonesia has the challenging task of convincing the world that it deserves to act as a platform for media freedom. Nursanty says that while attending last year’s Press Freedom Day event in Helsinki, she joined a meeting with the Indonesian ambassador, where the discussion of Papua was at the top of the agenda.
“The Indonesian press council representative said that our biggest homework for next year is press freedom in Papua,” says Nursanty.
The Indonesian press council is currently creating a press freedom index for each region. And while the country’s overall index is improving, many Papuan journalists say it’s not enough. Mambour says that at next year’s World Press Freedom Day, he is willing to expose the truth about Papua, even if it puts his personal safety at risk.
“We need to take the opportunity to tell the world about what’s happening in Papua,” says Mambour. “We need to say how we are not granted freedom of the press and about the discrimination there.”
“I’m already past paranoia. I’ll talk about what’s going on. I’m not worried. Sometimes you have to take the risk.”
The WAN-IFRA Indonesia Media Freedom Committee is organising a joint reporting trip to Papua at the beginning of 2017. The initiative will see 10 Indonesian media organisations provide a week of joint coverage from the region, working with local Papuan journalists to shift the national news agenda and provide more detailed coverage of issues of importance to Papuans.
Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016
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4) More mass arrests at Papua rallies in Indonesia
20 minutes ago 
An Indonesian lawyer says the police continue to make mass arrests on spurious grounds at West Papuan rallies.
Police arrested over two hundred people in Jakarta yesterday for participating in a rally to mark the West Papuan nationalist day, 1st December.
A public interest lawyer who was present, Veronica Koman, said police subsequently released those arrested, without charge, a few hours later.
But she said the arrests follow the pattern seen in the large demonstrations across Papua region in May and June, where authorities violate citizens' right to freedom of expression.
She said that in their bid to silence West Papuan solidarity, police created excuses such as wanting to prevent traffic jams.
"The police will always find ways to forbid the demonstration. This year alone, since April, April 2016 until now, there have been at least 4,800 arrests,” said Veronica Koman.
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1) Call for Vanuatu to seek seat on UN committee of 24

December 2, 2016, 1:05 am
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2) RI and the Pacific: A history of cooperation
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1) Call for Vanuatu to seek seat on UN committee of 24
3:44 pm today 
A former Vanuatu prime minister Barak Sope wants Vanuatu to become a member of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation to counter Indonesia's influence.
Barak Sope said Indonesia is only on the committee to ensure the subject of self determination in West Papua is not discussed.
Vanuatu is one of the strongest supporters of Papuan self determination and Mr Sope has been one of the strongest advocates.
He said Vanuatu has a right to sit on two UN committees and should push to have its say on what is known as the Commmittee of 24.
"The reason why Indonesia is there is to prevent West Papua's case. That is all they are doing - always wanting to be in that top committee to ensure that West Papua is not discussed in that committee," he said.
"That is why it is important that we have countries that would support the idea of West Papua to get independence and the proper way of doing it is to be on the Committee of 24."
While West Papua is not on the list of 24 territories being considered for independence, six Pacific territories are on it - namely French Polynesia, New Caledonia, American Samoa, Guam, Tokelau and Pitcairn.
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2) RI and the Pacific: A history of cooperation
Jakarta, Indonesia | Fri, December 2, 2016 | 12:00 am
Inforial The Jakarta Post
Indonesia has had a long history of positive and fruitful relations with the South Pacific region and its 14 countries and 10 million inhabitants.
The overall relationship between the two sides has shown a slow but steady increase in economic cooperation over the years.
In 2013 alone, Indonesia donated millions of US dollars to Pacific countries to be used in various fields. In early 2016, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi visited Pacific countries to reiterate Indonesia’s interest in strengthening relations with them.
The Foreign Ministry has expressed its belief that this relationship has the potential for further development.
“Becoming part of the Pacific is destiny. You can choose your friends but not your neighbors,” said Desra Percaya, who is director general for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Indonesia’s diplomatic mission in the Pacific is to create a territory that is safe, stable and friendly, and to increase economic cooperation, trade, investment and social-cultural relations.”
The country has developed diplomatic relations with nearly all countries in the Pacific, and is currently in the process of opening a relationship with the Cook Islands.
Its relations with Pacific nations encompasses aspects like capacity building, diplomatic training, inter-university partnerships (such as between Pasundan University and Fiji National University) and work on dealing with common concerns, such as climate change.
With the Fiji archipelago, for instance, Indonesia has maintained a strong and dynamic relationship for the past 30 years. It has helped Fiji respond to disaster. In the aftermath of the recent category-five tropical storm, Cyclone Winston, which devastated Fiji last February, the Indonesian government has given the Fiji island nation US$5 million in reconstructive and rehabilitative aid.
The government has also pledged to help Fiji rebuild its Queen Victoria School by deploying engineer troops. It has also offered cooperation in areas of fisheries, food security and general disaster mitigation. In helping Fiji develop its agriculture sector, Indonesia has also sent 100 hand tractor units to aid the Fiji government.
Another Pacific nation, Papua New Guinea, has also enjoyed positive relations with Indonesia. In April this year, Rimbink Pato, Papua New Guinea’s foreign affairs and immigration minister, said that both countries had signed 11 memorandums of understanding and three corporate arrangements that spanned issues such as economic cooperation and politics.
The ministers of both countries have also discussed security arrangements, intelligence sharing and working in close cooperation on the border.
Throughout the years, Indonesia’s work with its neighbors in the Pacific region has also resulted in a number of influential intergovernmental sub-regional organizations, such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the Southwest Pacific Dialogue (SWPD), the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) and the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF).
Among the most notable of the organizations is the MSG, which began in 1988 as a means to promote economic cooperation among Melanesian nations – Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Indonesia was recognized as an associate member in 2015, after initially being accepted as an observer in 2011.
The relationship between Indonesia and the MSG countries is not simply economic. Indonesia in the past has used its common cultural background with these Melanesian countries to strengthen bilateral relations.
Indonesia has 11 million people of Melanesian descent spread across provinces such as Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.
In fact, according to Vice Minister of Foreign Affair A. M Fachir, increased connectivity between Melanesians in Indonesia and the MSG nations could pave the way for broader access to the Indonesian market.
“Stronger connectivity will create wider opportunities,” Desra added.
“To answer this challenge, Indonesia is pushing for a meeting of the SWPD Group on Connectivity under the leadership of Papua New Guinea to discuss strengthening connectivity between Indonesia and the Pacific, especially the Southwest Pacific.”
In 2014, Indonesia and the MSG nations also agreed on a nine-paragraph joint statement that identified potential venues for cooperation in fields such as food security, education, democracy, good governance and social and cultural issues.
The country’s desire to improve cooperation extends to the natural world as well. In 2009, during the World Ocean Conference, Indonesia spearheaded the CTI-CFF with countries like Malaysia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Aside from protecting nature, Indonesia has also used the CTI-CFF as a way of fighting against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, and to have it classified as a Transnational Organized Crime.
This decades-long history of cooperation between Indonesia and the Pacific nations has all been part of Indonesia’s diplomacy goal of building good relations with all of its neighbors and maintaining a stable, prosperous and secure regional neighborhood, which in turn is crucial for Indonesia’s own security, development and prosperity.
“Indonesia has an interest in pushing for stronger political stability and economic growth in the Pacific by playing its role in building bridges to Southeast Asia,” Desra said.
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1) DEMOS AND ARRESTS EXPOSE CORE WEST PAPUA GRIEVANCE

December 2, 2016, 11:56 am
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2) Flag day in Papua takes form of prayer events, petition
3) World stands with 78 million HIV-positive people: UNAIDS

4) Inspirational farm girl from Greenvale immortalised in print

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HTTP://WWW.RADIONZ.CO.NZ/INTERNATIONAL/PROGRAMMES/DATELINEPACIFIC/AUDIO/201826243/DEMOS-AND-ARRESTS-EXPOSE-CORE-WEST-PAPUA-GRIEVANCE

1) DEMOS AND ARRESTS EXPOSE CORE WEST PAPUA GRIEVANCE

FROM DATELINE PACIFIC, 4:04 PM ON 2 DECEMBER 2016 

More mass arrests at West Papuan demonstrations are clouding Indonesian government claims that it is trusted by indigenous people of Papua region.
Yesterday was the 55th anniversary of the first official raising of the Papuan nationalist Morning Star flag when the indigenous people of the former Dutch New Guinea declared independence.
The Morning Star was subsequently banned after Indonesia took over, but each year global rallies mark this anniversary in support of Papuans.
Johnny Blades reports.

Listen duration3:


TRANSCRIPT

This year, non-Papuan Indonesians were among the hundreds demonstrating in Jakarta. They were blasted by water cannons, before police arrested 203 of them. A public interest lawyer who was present, Veronica Koman, says demonstrators were roughed up by undercover police, and that ten of those taken in by police sustained injuries. They were all released without charge within a few hours, but Ms Koman says the arrests follow an ongoing pattern of infringement of constitutional rights.
"It's just basic freedom of expression. As long as Papua is still a part of Indonesia it means they still have the right to freedom of expression, and it's being violated systematically by the state."
Thursday's demos also occured in Papua region itself, mainly as prayer events and under the tight watch of police. Unlike December 1st demos in global centres such as London and Sydney, the Papua events were not allowed to feature raising of the Morning Star. Two days earlier a new organisation called the Indonesia's People Front for West Papua declared support for a legitimate self-determination process. Its spokesman Surya Anta was among those arrested in the capital
"All the members of this organisation, and also the individuals that support this United Front for West Papua, we are from Indonesian people. All the members of this organisation. There are no Papuans who are members of this United Front."
Although Jakarta says it is final, 1969's Act of Free Choice under which Papua was subsumed into Indonesia, voted on by only 0.2 percent of its population, remains a core grievance for Papuans. Mr Surya says if Indonesian and Papuan people can work together, and combine with international pressure, it is realistic that Jakarta can be encouraged to address the question of legitimacy. However the government prefers to focus on its economic development efforts in Papua, which include a major infrastructure drive taking in remote regions. The government's official on development in Papua, Judith Dipodiputro says in grassroots communities there is a growing sense of positivity about  the opportunities opening up.
"Most of my work is at the village level and I see this willingness, this positive wanting to... (like) this is the time, what can we do; creativity, wanting to innovate, try this, try that. Papuans in Papuan villages try to serve themselves with the help of the district, or Kabupaten (regency) or municipal or provincial government."
Yet Veronica Koman says that as far as Indonesia's general public is concerned, the state has long censored accurate information about Papua.
"And we in Jakarta are really campaigning, letting Indonesians know what's actually happening in West Papua, and also the history of manipulation by state. So people are opening their eyes, and it's growing, the solidarity is definitely growing."
She says since April this year, police have made 4,800 arrests of people participating in demos in support of West Papuan self-determination.



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2) Flag day in Papua takes form of prayer events, petition
8:40 pm on 2 December 2016 

Events held in the cities of West Papua to mark the anniversary of the Papuan nationalist day mainly took the form of prayer events.




Yesterday was the 55th anniversary of a declaration of independence by the indigenous people of the former Dutch New Guinea declared independence.
The Papuan nationlist Morning Star was subsequently banned when Indonesia took over, but each year global rallies mark this anniversary in support of Papuans.
In Papua, the biggest of yesterday’s events was in the Highlands town of Wamena where 3000 people converged for a large prayer event at the Traditional Council headquarters.
Benar News reported that organisers of the event thanked the Indonesian authorities for permitting the opportunity to worship.
Among the speakers at another peaceful event, across in Papua's provincial capital, was Filep Karma.
Mr Karma was released from prison a year ago after serving eleven years for raising the Morning Star in 2004.
At the Jayapura event, hundreds signed a petition in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua with its growing representative role in the Pacific region.

'Political maturity'

Unlike December 1st demos in global centres such as London, Sydney, the Papua events were not allowed to feature raising of the Morning Star.
"Papuans are already aware and do not want to be provoked by violence and conflict," Mr Karma was reported as saying.
“Prayers and speeches such as these show political maturity and a dignified struggle."
The event also heard a speech written by the Liberation Movement secretary-general Octo Mote.
He said Indonesians "are starting to acknowledge that crimes have been committed by the government and military of Indonesia in Papua".
In Jakarta police arrested over two hundred people for participating in a demonstration in support of West Papuans' right to self-determination.
14 were arrested in the other Indonesian city of Yogyakarta.
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3) World stands with 78 million HIV-positive people: UNAIDS
Jakarta | Fri, December 2 2016 | 08:50 am

Awareness: Volunteers from NGOs campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness in Sorong, West Papua, on Thursday. West Papua is reported to be the third-ranked province in Indonesia in terms of HIV/AIDS prevalence, with Sorong being the city with the highest number of cases at 1,841 as of this year.(Antara/Olha Mulalinda)
In commemorating World AIDS Day on Thursday, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) executive director Michel Sidibé said the international community stood “in solidarity with the 78 million people who have become infected with HIV”. 

With this year’s theme of “Hands Up for HIV Prevention”, the world also remembers “the 35 million who have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the first cases of HIV were reported”, the UN under-secretary-general said on the UNAIDS website.

Today, “more than 18 million people are on life-saving HIV treatment and country after country is on track to virtually eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child”, Sidibé added.

However, the number of new infections of HIV “is not declining among adults”. Sidibé cited young women in sub-Saharan Africa who face the triple threat of a high risk of HIV infection, low rates of HIV testing and poor adherence to HIV treatment.

On Wednesday UNAIDS in New York awarded UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his leadership in “reducing the impact of HIV and expanding access to health for millions of people”, said Sidibé. “He has been consistent in his support for the most vulnerable [...] and remains a staunch human rights defender for the people most affected by the epidemic.” 

Reports cited stigma as a major reason for low rates of HIV testing.

From Manila, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Thursday that a senator, Risa Hontiveros, underwent HIV testing at the senate on Tuesday to not only raise awareness about the virus but also to encourage the public to take the test, which she said was free at social hygiene clinics.

An HIV test, Hontiveros said, could spell the difference between life and death. “It’s important that all individuals should be open to undergoing a voluntary HIV test especially now that our health authorities are saying that one out of two people with HIV are not aware of their disease so we need this kind of information for our safety, so we can save our lives and become healthy,” she said.

“We need to break down this barrier that prevents Filipinos from getting tested, especially that one in two persons living with HIV is not diagnosed,” Hontiveros, chairperson of the senate committee on health and demography, said in a separate statement.

The senator cited a Department of Health report that said there were 25 new cases of HIV infection every day in the Philippines.

Hontiveros is also pushing to lower the age of those allowed to take the HIV test, from the present 18 years old to 15 years old and above.

“If HIV testing would be opened to youth as young as 15 years old, then they would no longer need parental consent,” she said. 

Young people are seen at the losing end of the fight against HIV, with Hontiveros citing some adolescents’ “risky behavior”, which she said could lead to the spread of the virus.

Also on Thursday, Reuters reported that China’s first lady and World Heath Organization HIV/AIDS prevention goodwill ambassador attended an event at a Beijing university on Tuesday to raise awareness among students. 

Over 2,300 students between 15 and 24 tested positive for HIV/AIDS in the first nine months of this year, with new cases in the group increasing four times since 2010, according to the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Xinhua News Agency reported.

From Laos, the Vientiane Times reported that the health ministry and development partners had set up 168 centers countrywide to provide free consultations and HIV tests.

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4) Inspirational farm girl from Greenvale immortalised in print
Alesha Capone, Hume Leader November 29, 2016 12:00am

THE inspirational life of Jessie Williamson, a Greenvale farm girl who became a missionary nurse, is the subject of a new book.
Brisbane writer John Algate has penned Jessie’s House of Needles, about a little-known but extraordinary woman.

Jessie was born as Roseabel Jessie Williamson in 1938, the ninth in a family of 10 children.
Jessie’s mother and father lived in Greenvale, which was a small farming community at the time.
As a youngster, Jessie attended the Greenvale Primary School.
A childhood accident left her with a hearing impairment, but she graduated from Essendon High School and became a nurse.
Mr Algate’s biography about Jessie details how she chose to leave a successful medical career in Melbourne to face the dangers and uncertainty of life in the remote villages of West Papua, between 1966 and 2001.
“For 35 years, Jessie served the Dani, Kimyal and other indigenous people of the region where she nursed, evangelised and built networks of local medics and midwives who continue her lifesaving work today,” Mr Algate said.
In 1998, Jessie was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her services to international humanitarian assistance.
Jessie passed away two years ago, after a three-year fight against leukaemia.
Jessie’s House of Needles by John Algate is published by Ingram Spark.
The recommended retail price for the paperback edition is $19.95.
An e-book is also available.
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‘Rize of Morning Star’ boosts global ‘free Papua’ movement with new video

December 2, 2016, 11:12 pm
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‘Rize of Morning Star’ boosts global ‘free Papua’ movement with new video
By  - 
  
The new video Sorong Samara. Video: The Rize Of The Morning Star
While Indonesian authorities tried to brutally suppress West papua “independence day” rallies across the republic this week, the creative empowerment group Rize of the Morning Star (ROTMS) has been campaigning with passion, determination and focus.
A new video, Sorong Samarai, from the group is rapidly raising global awareness for the Free West Papua Movement, with self determination through non-violence a core focus.
Filmed on location from the tip of West Papua (Sorong) to the tip of Papua New Guinea (Samarai), producers Airiliki say the programme features from from the highlands to the islands, and the bush to the city streets.
“Sorong Samarai….One People, One Soul, One Destiny. A celebration of Papuan Identity, fighting for a free West Papua.”
Using music as a key unifier and amplifier of energy and action, ROTMS has successfully organised some of the largest scale international Free West Papua solidarity actions so far.
According to the ROTMS website, the group “engages in a broad cross section of activity including mobilising, training and resourcing community, fund raising, concerts, partnerships, publicity, promotion and educating predominantly through the arts and entertainment industry”.


Activating a collective of musicians, filmmakers, journalists, publicists, activists, companies, brands and the wider community, ROTMS inspires and empowers individuals and communities to uphold equal rights for human beings, hold persecutors accountable and to play an integral role in the global momentum for a Free West Papua.
Let the light shine into the darkness, for the dawning of a new day comes, with the Rize Of The Morning Star!
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Pacific CSO commemorate West Papua flag raising ceremony in Kenya

December 3, 2016, 11:43 am
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Pacific CSO commemorate West Papua flag raising ceremony in Kenya
11:19 pm GMT+12, 01/12/2016, Kenya


By Pita Ligaiula in Nairobi, Kenya
 
Pacific regional civil society delegates attending the High Level Meeting (HLM2) in Nairobi Thursday commemorated the West Papua flag raising ceremony.  
 
Pacific Islands Non-Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) Executive Director Emele Duituturaga said the event is another opportunity to raise awareness of the struggle faced by West Papua in their quest for independence from Indonesia.
 
“For us in civil society and those of us who have been very supportive of the West Papua campaign today is the 1st of December where in 1961 the Papuan flag was raised as part of Netherlands preparation of Papua for independence. So we commemorate that day. We are calling for the recognition of West Papua peoples struggle for self-determination which was a human right.
 
"And we also calling for decolonisation of Indonesia because West Papua is a nation that was prepared for independence and the people have suffered for the last 50 years. They have been killed and deprived off their right to self-determination,” Duituturaga told PACNEWS.
 
Duituturaga also welcomed Pacific Leaders who champion the cause of self-determination in West Papua.
 
“In fact Pacific Leaders have already recognised their rights as indigenous people and we want to bring that back. Certainly we are calling other Pacific nations and other Pacific countries to support that cause. It’s good to see seven Pacific leaders champion this at the UN.
 
"We are now working with the Human rights Council to ensure that violation of human rights continuing in Indonesia are  brought back  to the UN  and that we calling for UN intervention of what is really going on in West Papua,” said Duituturaga


SOURCE: PACNEWs
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Photos of West Papuan march & rally. Sydney Opera House to Town Hall 4 Dec.

December 3, 2016, 11:24 pm
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Photos of West Papuan march & rally. Sydney Opera House to Town Hall 4 Dec.


Another inspiring event and congratulations to all


































































































































































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Indigenous West Papuans send solidarity to Standing Rock

December 4, 2016, 11:44 am
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http://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/12/05/indigenous-west-papuans-send-solidarity-to-standing-rock/

Indigenous West Papuans send solidarity to Standing Rock

By  - 
  

A previous activist video on West Papua Independence Day. Video: Free West Papua
Indigenous groups from around Oceania have sent their support to the ongoing struggle in North Dakota in the United States.
While protesters at Standing Rock and West Papua may seem worlds apart, they share a common bond from an indigenous struggle against a larger oppressor, says West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda in a letter of solidarity and friendship.
“On behalf of the people of West Papua we offer solidarity to our indigenous brothers and sisters as we intimately understand the complicated struggles they are facing,” said Wenda via his website.
While last Thursday marked “West Papuan Independence Day,” the indigenous Melanesian people in West Papua are still subject to neo-colonial rule by Indonesia and have been struggling for independence for more than five decades.

West Papuans raising the banned Morning Star flag in defiance of Indonesian authorities in Yahukimo in the Highlands last Thursday. Image: Benny Wenda
Wenda said his independence movement was drawing parallels and inspiration from the ongoing protests in North Dakota and was “alarmed that their people, lands, and traditional ways of life have become threatened to the point of extinction.”
“As we witness militarised law enforcement agencies commit acts of violence against peaceful water protectors in the US, it reminds us of our own mistreatment at the hands of those intending to overpower and silence our voices,” he said.

Wenda, who is currently living in exile in the United Kingdom, added that “the urgent situation at Standing Rock reminds us to advocate for the right of every Indigenous person to protect their culture and religion, tribal systems and natural resources”.
Celebration hashtags
Around the world, supporters joined the celebration of West Papuan Independence Day through the hashtags #GlobalFlagRaising and #LetWestPapuaVote.
Because of a widespread media blackout by Indonesia, the independence movement gains little international coverage, but has increasingly taken to social media to raise awareness.
Wenda and Melbourne producer Airileke Ingram also released the track Sorong Samaraito coincide with the day.
On 1 December 1961,  Melanesian West Papuan first raised their Morning Star flag, but were then annexed by Indonesia in 1969 in a controversial referendum after previously winning their independence from Dutch colonialism in 1963 and then being invaded by Indonesian paratroops.
In ongoing oppression, about 500,000 Melanesians are thought to have been killed by Indonesian authorities and face restrictions of movement and assembly, with many protesters being held as political prisoners.
Indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand have also expressed their support for West Papua and Standing Rock.


A solidarity for West Papua rally at the Sydney Opera House at the weekend. Image: Australia West Papua Association (AWPA)
A number of New Zealanders from the Māori community have started posting versions of their traditional haka war dance to social media as a show of solidarity to the North American protesters.
“When one group of relations is being hurt, abused, being bullied, being ripped off, we all feel that – especially us as Māori – we are very much a leader to the indigenous people,” Te Hamura Nikora told Radio New Zealand.
Nikora, a New Zealand media personality, helped to create the Facebook page “Haka With Standing Rock”.
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1) Video -West Papua Solidarity March (Sydney) 4th December

December 5, 2016, 12:05 pm
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2) More mass arrests in Indonesia at West Papua demos
3) Wings Air connects Yahukimo to Jayapura

4) Success in BBM single price policy depends on infrastructure


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1) Video -West Papua Solidarity March (Sydney) 4th December

Sydney Opera House to Town Hall


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2) More mass arrests in Indonesia at West Papua demos
From Dateline Pacific, 4:01 pm on 5 December 2016 
There have been more mass arrests in Indonesia of those participating in rallies for West Papuan self-determination.
Over two hundred people were arrested in Jakarta last week at a rally to mark the anniversary of the first raising of the banned Papuan nationalist symbol, the Morning Star flag.
A public interest lawyer who was present, Veronica Koman, says police subsequently released those arrested, without charge, a few hours later.
But she told Johnny Blades that police didn't cite any particular alleged breach of the law in making the arrests.


TRANSCRIPT

VERONICA KOMAN: So for Jakarta the police didn't mention any particular laws. It's just a pattern of violating their right to freedom of expression. I think the state is just being paranoid of the Morning Star symbol.
JOHNNY BLADES: But this is against the rules, you say, because you have the freedom of expression?
VK: It's just basic freedom of expression. As long as Papua is still a part of Indonesia it means they still have the right to freedom of expression, and it's being violated systematically by the state. And also, I would like to say that today is an historic moment for the West Papua movement. Because this year it's the first time ever that Indonesians have taken to the streets together with the West Papuans in celebrating 1st of December and demanding the right to self-determination for West Papua. And we in Jakarta are really campaigning, letting Indonesians know what's actually happening in West Papua, and also the history of manipulation by state. So people are opening their eyes, and it's growing, the solidarity is definitely growing.
JB: There's a lot of young people, urban young people (taking the action), often students, I suppose?
VK: Yeah. And human rights activists and civil society organisations. Although mostly organisations cannot declare themselves supporting (Papuans) really openly, but I know most of them actually agreed that West Papuans deserve the right to self-determination.
JB: How do the police regard these events? They must know about the rule of freedom of expression?
VK: So I've been the lawyer for West Papuans during demonstrations for the last two years. And always... each time that West Papuans do any protest, the police will always find ways to forbid the demonstration. They keep creating excuse to silence the West Papuans. This year alone, since April, April 2016 until now, there have been at least 4,800 arrests.
Veronica Koman says that as well as being blasted by water cannons, the demonstrators in Jakarta were roughed up by undercover security forces, and ten of those arrested sustained injuries. 
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3) Wings Air connects Yahukimo to Jayapura
Nethy Dharma Somba
Jayapura | Mon, December 5, 2016 | 07:14 pm
Wings Air, part of the Lion Air group, is now serving routes from Nop Goliat Airport in Yahukimo regency in Papua, an airport newly opened by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Oct. 18.
The airline’s first flight from the airport in Dekai was on Nov. 30, carrying 72 passengers in a ATR-72 plane to Sentani Airport in Jayapura.
Yahukimo Regent Abock Busup said the residents of his regency had long wanted to have an airplane route to Jayapura.
“Wings Air with an ATR plane has landed in Dekai. It’s not enough. We hope for a Boeing to arrive here too. Two weeks ago I met with the airport manager and the transportation minister to allow for a bigger plane to land in Dekai. This was a follow-up from Jokowi’s visit,” he said.
The Lion Air manager in Papua, Agung Setio Wibowo, said Dekai residents had been enthusiastic about the Wings Air service, which flies every day from Sentani to Nop Goliat in Dekai at 1:30 p.m. local time in 50 minutes and from Nop Goliat to Sentani at 2:45 p.m. local time.
The ticket price is about Rp 900,000 (US$67).
Before Wings Air, Trigana Air flew round-trip from Sentani to Dekai.
Wings Air will open routes from Dekai to Timika next year. (evi)

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/108180/success-in-bbm-single-price-policy-depends-on-infrastructure

4) Success in BBM single price policy depends on infrastructure

Senin, 5 Desember 2016 09:56 WIB | 430 Views



Biak (ANTARA News) - Success in the policy of administering single price for oil fuels (BBM) all over the country would depend much on the availability of adequate infrastructure especially in eastern part of the country such as in Papua, a lawmaker said.

Peggi P. Pattipi, lawmaker from the Commission VII of the House of Representatives said the government has taken a right decision by setting the price of BBM in Papua the same as in other regions of the country. 

"The people of Papua have suffered from injustice over the past years as they have to pay a much higher prices for BBM than in other regions of the country," Peggi said here on Sunday. 

For many years, the people in the interior areas of Papua suffered under unfair economic development, she said. 

She cited BBM is available at a price of Rp6,500 per liter in other regions of the country, but in Papua the price could be as high as Rp100,000 per liter. 

If the government did not immediately attend to infrastructure problem it would be difficult to maintain the policy in Papua.

She said development of land transport infrastructure between districts areas in Papua is expected to be completed only in 2018.

The connectivity will help in the implementation of the policy to create a single price of BBM all over the country, she said. 

The bold decision of President Joko Widodo to create a single price for BBM will greatly contribute to the welfare of the people in interior areas of Papua, she said. 

"As a member of the House of Representatives from Papua, I call on the people to take part in safeguarding implementation of the policy," she said. 

President Joko Widodo has told the State Enterprise Ministry and state-owned oil company Pertamina to be in charge of administering the policy in Papua and West Papua starting next year.

Pertamina said it would suffer at least Rp800 billion a year to implement the policy in Papua and West Papua because of the difficulty in transport and distribution. 

Pertamina has to operate air tankers for the distribution of BBM to the interior areas in that the two provinces.(*)

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1) Yahukimo residents pleased over new flight route

December 5, 2016, 11:39 pm
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2) PLN working to end blackouts in North Sulawesi, Papua

3) Indonesia takes new step to combat loss of forests, fires

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/06/yahukimo-residents-pleased-over-new-flight-route.html

1) Yahukimo residents pleased over new flight route

Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post
Jayapura | Tue, December 6 2016 | 08:53 am

People in Yahukimo, a remote regency in Papua, have hailed the opening of a new commercial flight route that connects the regency’s capital, Dekai, to Jayapura, the capital of the Papua province.

Wings Air, a subsidiary of the country’s largest domestic flight operator, Lion Air, opened the Jayapura-Dekai route on Nov. 30, following the inauguration of Dekai’s Nop Goliat Airport by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Oct. 18.

Yahukimo Regent Abock Busup said the people in the mountainous regency had hoped to have more flights connecting the area with other cities in the province.

“We really appreciate Wings Air for opening the route, but Yahukimo residents need larger planes. Two weeks ago, the Nop Goliat Airport head and I talked with Transportation Minister [Budi Karya Sumadi] to see if flights to and from Dekai could use jet-powered planes, such as a Boeing B737,” he told reporters in Jayapura recently.

Wings Air, which operates short domestic routes, flies French-Italian made ATR 72-600 planes for the route, which can accommodate up to 72 passengers.

For the Jayapura-Dekai flight, a plane departs daily from Sentani Airport in Jayapura at 1:30 p.m. and from Nop Goliat at 2:45 p.m.

With a flight duration time of only 50 minutes, tickets for the flight range from Rp 900,000 (US$67) to Rp 920,000.

Lion Air’s Papua regional manager Agung Setio Wibowo said demand for the route was high.

According to him, Wings Air planned the route during the day because it would help passengers who have connecting flights to and from other areas.

“It will help passengers coming from cities other than Jayapura, such as Merauke, Wamena and Makassar, so they won’t have to spend a night in Jayapura before flying to Dekai,” he said.

He added that Wings Air had supported the government’s priority to develop remote regions.

“Why shouldn’t we fly to Dekai? Even the presidential aircraft can land at the airport,” he said.

During his visit to Yahukimo in October, Jokowi also launched the government’s one-price fuel program for people in the region.

Agung added that Wings Air had also planned to open a new route connecting Dekai and Timika by the end of this year.

Nop Goliat Airport head Joko Harjani said the new daily route had significantly helped ease the load of the airport.

Previously, passengers flying between Jayapura and Dekai were only served by Trigana Air, which also operates ATR aircraft.

A Dekai resident, Dian, said she was pleased with the new route.

“Before, we had to be on a waiting list to get a flight to or from Dekai. It could take up to a week before a flight was available,” she explained.


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2) PLN working to end blackouts in North Sulawesi, Papua
Lita Aruperes and Nethy Dharma Somba
Manado/Jayapura | Tue, December 6 2016 | 08:56 am

Blackouts that lasted nearly a full day in Kombi district, Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, disrupted daily activities and cut off communications for people living in several villages along Lake Tondano.

The blackouts began on Saturday at around 5 p.m. and the power 
did not resume until around the same time the next day, said local resident Yannemieke Singal on Sunday evening.

State-electricity company PLN did not provide much information regarding the blackout, she said, adding that it took more than six hours for the company to respond to her complaint.

North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo (Suluttenggo) PLN spokesman Jantje Rau said the power disruption in Kombi district was the result of a disconnected line.

“Our workers met difficulties because of the rough terrain in the forest, so it will take a long time to locate the severed cable,” said Jantje.

PLN could also no provide information to customers because of the difficulties accessing the area. “So, we were late in conveying the information,” said Jantje.

In an effort to speed up the restoration of the North Sulawesi-Gorontalo power network, PLN has flown in parts of an emergency tower from Makassar, South Sulawesi, by means of an Air Force Hercules cargo aircraft, which arrived at Gorontalo’s Djalaluddin Airport at 11:47 a.m on Monday.

Jantje said the emergency tower was hauled by three low-bed container trucks to the location where the No. 6 high-voltage line tower collapsed. PLN expects the broken power system will be restored later this week.

Meanwhile, PLN’s Papua and West Papua office has brought in seven 4-megawatt power generators to deal with the ongoing power crisis, which has taken place for the past two months in Jayapura. 

The generators arrived at Jayapura Port on Monday and will be installed at the Waena diesel power plant (PLTD). 

“This is part of our efforts to prepare and maintain power supplies ahead of the Christmas holiday by adding around 4 MW of power. The Orya hydroelectric power plant [PLTA] and Halltekamp steam power plant [PLTU] are still being renovated,” said PLN’s Papua and West Papua region technical manager PPL Tobing.

Tobing said the seven generators and two fuel tanks were brought in from Surabaya, East Java, and had already been transported to the Waena power plant, which would later connect power to the Jayapura power system.

“The generators will not be immediately in operation as they will take 15 days to prepare and then linked to the Jayapura power system. We expect power will not be disrupted over Christmas and power outages will no longer occur,” said Tobing.

PLN’s Jayapura regional office has been experiencing a deficit of between 10 and 15 MW and has had to impose rotating blackouts for up to six hours daily.

“When will this end? The blackouts take place every day. If a blackout occurs in the morning, power will only resume later in the day,” lamented Sari, a housewife.

Papua provincial council Commission IV member Yan Mandenas said he would push for the central government’s help in overcoming the power crisis in Jayapura. 

He expected that Papua would have better power facilities following the inauguration of six electricity projects in Papua and West Papua by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in October

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http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/latest-oil-and-gas/2016/12/06/Indonesia-takes-new-step-to-combat-loss-of-forests-fires/stories/201612060125

3) Indonesia takes new step to combat loss of forests, fires

Indonesia is expanding its moratorium on converting peat swamps to plantations to help prevent disastrous annual fires and cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions


December 6, 2016 2:02 AM
By STEPHEN WRIGHT Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia has strengthened its moratorium on converting peat swamps to plantations in a move a conservation research group says would prevent annual fires and substantially cut the country’s carbon emissions if properly implemented.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s amendment to the moratorium regulation, which was issued on Monday, expands it to cover peatlands of any depth and orders companies to restore areas they’ve degraded.
Indonesia’s move was welcomed by Norway, which in 2010 pledged $1 billion to help the country stop cutting down its prized tropical forests but has released little of it. As a result of the expanded regulation, Norway said it would give $25 million to Indonesia to fund restoration of drained peatlands and another $25 million once an enforcement and monitoring plan is ready.
Draining of peat swamps by plantation and pulp wood companies is a major contributor to destruction of tropical forests in Indonesia and the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. It worsens annual fires that release huge amounts of carbon stored in the peat. A study in the journal Nature Climate Change estimated that by 2012, Indonesia was clearing 840,000 hectares (2 million acres) of forests a year, more than any other country.
Arief Wijaya, a forests expert at the World Resources Institute, said Tuesday that the strengthened moratorium is particularly important for protecting Indonesia’s Papua region as the “last frontier of natural forests” still largely untouched by exploitation.
Deforestation is far advanced on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and worsening in Kalimantan, which is the Indonesian part of Borneo.
The institute estimates Indonesia could achieve a 7.8 gigaton reduction in carbon emissions over 15 years, which is equivalent to about one year of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Wijaya said that in practice the amended regulation means companies such as Asia Pulp & Paper are prohibited from expanding their use of peatlands, even if they are within their concessions. They also must rehabilitate drained peatlands.
Last month, the company was criticized by Indonesia’s Peatland Restoration Agency which released photos showing one of its suppliers in South Sumatra was replanting peatlands which burned in last year’s dry season fires and were supposed to be restored.
First Published December 6, 2016 12:00 AM
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