2) PANIAI STUDENTS CRITICIZE EDUCATION IN THEIR REGION
3) KOMNAS HAM SHOULD DO MORE THAN FORMALITY
4) POOR HEALTH SERVICES IN KOROWAI, DANIEL HATIL STRUGGLED TO BRING HIS SON TO HOSPITAL
5) PAPUA GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD FIVE DORMITORY SCHOOLS
6) SOLO DANCE FOCUS ON WEST PAPUA AT TEMPO DANCE FESTIVAL
7) Papua to discuss distribution of 10% Freeport shares
8) Indonesia for Sale: in-depth series on corruption, palm oil and rainforests starts tomorrow
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1) SECURITY FORCES NEED TO UNDERSTAND PAPUA CULTURE
Police stand in front of Mimika student dormitory at Jalan Kamp Wolker Perumnas I Waena, Jayapura – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – Speaker of the Papua House, Yunus Wonda said that the security forces to be deployed in Papua need to be equipped with Papua cultural knowledge and character of the local indigenous people.
He said it is important so the security forces serving in Papua can avoid repressive approach and not to react excessively.
“This is important, especially for the security forces sent from outside Papua,” Wonda said last week.
According to him, the security forces should avoid violence, especially shootings, which could lead to civilian casualties. As now human rights violations in Papua are becoming an international issue. As long as there are shootings, especially against civilians, the issue of human rights in Papua will never end.
“Regional police chief and TNI need to always remind their ranks to refrain from doing things outside the law and human interest,” he said.
Civilian victims in other areas that have been subjected to violence by the security forces may not be so highlighted by the international community, as it different in Papua. Papua has now becomes a world issue.
(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)——————————————————————
2) PANIAI STUDENTS CRITICIZE EDUCATION IN THEIR REGION
Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Student Communication Forum of Paniai in Jayapura (FKMKP), Yosafat Mai Muyapa criticized the performance of Paniai local government, especially in the field of education, which is according to him more opaque.
Yosafat assessed the development of education in Paniai Regency is very bad because the lack of attention.
“The impact is to teachers and students in Paniai,” said Yosafat Mai Muyapa Monday (October 10).
He also said that there are unscrupulous individuals who make education in Paniai as a business land. This was evidenced by the protests of hundreds of students in Paniai district on Monday (Oktober 9). “They went to the Paniai District Headquarters in Madi to demand teaching fees,” Yosafat added.
He asked Paniai Education and Education Office to immediately settle the unpaid wage issue, so the teachers would return to school and teaching.
“If their demand is ignored, the teachers will not reinvigorate teaching in their respective schools,” he said.
The condition of Paniai District education system will be discussed in series of seminar in Jayapura, specifically highlight the education system in the area of student origin in early 2018.
Vice Chairman of FKMKP, Aquino Youw, said the agenda to be discussed in the seminar in order to get the picture of real condition of Paniai education.
“So every element is obliged to support Paniai education to be improved as our shared responsibilirites,” he said.
(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)
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3) KOMNAS HAM SHOULD DO MORE THAN FORMALITY
Jayapura, Jubi – Speaker of the Papua House, Yunus Wonda said the existence of Komnas HAM is not just for formality.
He assumed that Komnas HAM investigations are not supported with enough funds from the government. And that the condition indicates the government is not reliable to solve human rights problems in Indonesia, including Papua.
“There have been many human rights abuses in Papua since 1960. These cases are not one-sided, it is not a question of which countries support the issue of human rights in Papua, but it is universal and humanitarian,” he said last week.
According to him, if the state is serious about solving human rights violations, it should provide sufficient funding support to Komnas HAM.
“From 1960, only two human rights cases in Papua went into the court, although the perpetrators are free, which were Bloody Abepura case and Theys Eluay,” he said.
So far there are those who argue the obstacle to reveal cases of human rights violations in Papua, because the witness and the victim’s family did not want to give information. And this is because they have lost faith during the process.
“They testify if they are threatened and terrorized, so they choose to keep silent,” he said.
Wonda also remind that deep inside the heart of Papuans are hurting, and it makes they hardly love the country.
“Their families, their relatives, their parents, are victims of human rights violations, it’s a matter of trust,” he said.
(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)
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4) POOR HEALTH SERVICES IN KOROWAI, DANIEL HATIL STRUGGLED TO BRING HIS SON TO HOSPITAL
Jayapura, Jubi – A 10-hour long journey from Afimabul village to Danowage, a citizen of Korowai tribe, Daniel Hatil, has take while holding his son, Puti Hatil (three years old), to seek treatment for his suffering from ulcers on his left cheek that has created a hole.
Daniel Hatil traveled for hours in order to get to the clinic of a missionary Trevor Christian Johnson in Danowage, for his son to get medical treatment from the missionary’s wife. There is no medical personnel and service in his village.
“I left the village at seven in the morning, and arrived at Danowage at 5 pm. I spent night in there and had not spoken much to Mr. Trevor. The next day he told me to pack my luggage and take Puti to Jayapura,” Daniel Hatil to Jubi, last weekend.
But Daniel initially refused to go to Jayapura because he had no money, and did not know anyone nor ever get to the city. Daniel asked his son to be treated at the clinic then to take him home immediately to Kampung Afimabul.
“But Mr. Trevor said the ulcer on Puti’s cheek was getting worse, and he had to be taken to Jayapura for further treatment. So three days later I went to Jayapura using the plane that Mr. Trevor had prepared, he took care of everything, I just packed and go,” he said.
Arrived in Jayapura on Tuesday (October 3), Daniel with his wife and son, Puti who was sick, also Puti’s sister, picked up by solidarity activists in Jayapura who care about health conditions in Papua.
“We were immediately taken to Dian Harapan Hospital, so Puti got treatment. The ulcers on Puti’s cheeks had been a month. Initially it was only small a red spot, which came after we went home looking for sago worms in the garden,” he said.
He thinks the red spots will heal in two or three days. But it was grow bigger and fester. When he examined the condition of his son, Puti’s inner cheek was wounded.
“His Mother then broke the boils on Puti’s cheeks, but then we saw the hole inside. I hope Puti will be recovered soon so I would return to my village, I do not want to come here, but my son need treatment,” he said.
First time ever
For Puti, this is the first time Daniel ever left his native village and went to Jayapura. He never traveled out of Korowai.
He got many new experiences in the capital city of Papua Province. For the first time in his life Daniel Hatil saw himself how a four-wheeled vehicle is, and the two wheels, as well as what it feels like to eat rice.
“In the village, we only eat bananas, sago, fish, red fruits, vegetables geds, vegetable genemo every day. This is the first time I eat rice, I feel like to eat banana more,” he said.
Health care card
Secretary of Rimba Papua Care and Education (TPKP) Team, Soleman Itlay, one of the health activists who accompanied Puti during the treatment in Jayapura, said that when he arrived at Dian Harapan Hospital, the hospital asked whether Puti was using a Papuan Health Card (KPS) or BPJS Health.
“He do not have KPS or BPJS,” said Soleman, who has been proud of the benefits of Korowai community because of the cooperation between the Papua Health Office so Puti has received treatment.
The cost of Puti treatment is borne by the Papua Health Office and donors. He hopes, the hospital provides maximum care to Puti.
“In some areas, friends are also raise funds to help to treat Puti,” he said.
After Puti got initial treatment, he is now in the period of nutrition improvement. “From the doctor’s information, the development of Puti condition will be observed in the coming days, because there are plans for surgery,” he said.
Poor health services in Korowai
Soleman Itlay, highlighted the case of Puti Hatil, a three-year-old boy who suffered from ulcers on his left cheek through a hole, illustrated the poor health of the Korowai tribe in southern Papua.
The Korowai region is in the five border regencies of Boven Digoel, Asmat, Mappi, Yahukimo, and Pegunungan Bintang.
“There are still a lot of people and children in Korowai are suffering, not receiving health services,” Soleman told Jubi.
According to him, Korowai children should get a decent education; at least they can become educators or health workers, to serve their own community.
He also said, health funds in Papua should be divided not only for the service of official health care office, but also to those who work on the ground voluntarily, without asking anyhing from the government.
Chairman of Remote Humanitarian Community Care (Kopkedat) in Papua, Yan Akobiarek said that it has been two years they addressed the health and education issues in Korowai.
“A few months ago, we had a discussion with the Papua Health Office, and the head of department sent three officers to Korowai to retrieve the initial data,” Yan said.
The Papuan Health Office promised at that time to send medical teams to Korowai. But until now it has not ralized.
“Last July, I spent a month in Korowai and the community asked me this question (the promise made by Health Office), I am confused how to answer,” he said.
Now, with the case of Puti Hatil, he said, there has been very crowded public discussion; and officials want to visit Puti in Dian Harapan Hospital.
“Even the minister may probably come to see Puti. While in Korowai there are still many who need help,” he said.
Korowai tribe he continued, mostly malnourished because they only consumed sago and banana from the forest, sago worms, and anything that nature provided.
“There is no other nutritional intake; we hope that in the future, Korowai children will also get immunizations, such as children in other areas. Papua Health Office and the health ministry shall immediately deploy medical teams to Korowai. The Korowai tribal area is large and inhabits with many sub-tribes,“ he added.
(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)————————————————————
5) PAPUA GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD FIVE DORMITORY SCHOOLS
Sentani, Jubi – Papua Provincial Government will build five dormitory schools in five customary areas in order to increase human resources in Papua.
This was conveyed by a member of Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) Papua, Nathan Pahabol, in a seminar held by Lanny Jaya students, at Expo Waena Hall of Jayapura city on Saturday (October 7).
“To improve the human resources of Papua we must dare to make a major breakthrough. We have allocated the money in 2017. The Papua Provincial Government will build five schools in five customary areas,” Nathan said.
The school is said to be built in Tabi custom territory, Lapago, Saireri, Anim Ha, and Bomberai, all dormitories. The five schools to be built are high school level (SMA).
“The budget and the location are ready,” he said.
To the participants of the seminar Nathan said that during a visit to Germany recently, he met with about 200 students from Papua and West Papua who are studying there.
“English language skills are necessary. Of the approximately 200 students, sent by Papua and West Papua Provinces, about 50 people were forced to return to Papua because they failed in English. They were not equipped with sufficient English skills earlier,” he explained.
Pahabol also said the purpose of building a dormitory school is to empower people in science, improve the quality of education, and build the character of children.
“The dormitory education program refers to the 1945 Constitution article 31. It has guaranteed 20 percent of the budget. In the Special Autonomy Law it is also clear that 30 percent for the local area. One of the main concerns is the development of foreign language skills so that the case in Germany will not happen again,” he said.
(tabloidjubi.com/Zely)—————————————————————————
6) SOLO DANCE FOCUS ON WEST PAPUA AT TEMPO DANCE FESTIVAL
Auckland, Jubi – The Tempo Dance Festival season of ‘a world, with your wound in it’ has a specific focus on the ‘Free West Papua Movement’ and their fight to end Indonesia’s violent 50 year occupation of West Papua, whose death toll is currently numbered at over 500,000.
‘A world, with your wound in it’ is a redeveloped solo dance-theatre work from Pacific artist Jahra Rager Wasasala and her collaborators.
The cross-disciplinary work embodies the complex relationship between the earth and the indigenous female form through performance.
The idea of ‘possession’ serves as a central motif; possession of people, possession of land, possession of language, possession as punishment, possession as a divine act that connects us with the gods.
Within this concept, Jahra explores the realm in-between being a vessel for other voices, traditions and ideologies whilst still attempting to reclaim a human-sense of autonomy over one’s possessed physical form.
Utilizing the mediums of contemporary dance-based movement, spoken poetic text, unique costuming and featuring an art film from acclaimed Pacific artist Pati Solomona Tyrell, ‘a world, with your wound in it’ is a politically potent multidisciplinary work that explores Pasifika diaspora, boldly dissects the world through a woman’s body, and serves as a ‘translator’ for the daughters and sons of the severed tongues.
It will be performed two days from 14 October to 15 October 2017 every evenening in Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland CBD.
(tempo.co.nz/Zely)
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7) Papua to discuss distribution of 10% Freeport shares
Jakarta | Wed, October 11, 2017 | 11:49 am
Provincial and regental administrations in Papua are to discuss the distribution of 10 percent shares in gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia after Freeport agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares, reported Antara.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said the shares should be distributed to the Papuan people through “one door”, suggesting that no single party should discuss the matter with the central government on behalf of the Papuan people.
“The provincial administration and the administrations of regencies surrounding the mining site, as well as leaders of customary communities, will discuss the details [instead],” Antara quoted Lukas's statement on Tuesday .
Read also: Freeport divestment deal still far from settlementPT Freeport Indonesia's agreement to divest 51 percent of its shares was announced by Freeport McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson during a joint press conference n Aug. 29 with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan.
American mining giant Freeport McMoRan is the parent company of Freeport Indonesia.
“Once the central government agrees to give [Papua] 10 percent of the shares, we will buy them. We will discuss the technical details of the shares' purchase,” said Lukas, adding that his administration was following progress of the ongoing discussions between the central government and Freeport representatives.
Although Freeport agreed to divest its shares in principle, the company has not yet accepted the the government's proposed divestment scheme, which includes the shares' valuation and the divestment schedule. (bbn)
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8) Indonesia for Sale: in-depth series on corruption, palm oil and rainforests starts tomorrow
- The investigative series Indonesia for Sale, launching this week, will shine new light on the corruption behind Indonesia’s deforestation and land rights crisis.
- In-depth stories, to be released over the coming months, will expose the role of collusion between palm oil firms and politicians in subverting Indonesia’s democracy. They will be published in English and Indonesian.
- The series is the product of nine months’ reporting across the country, interviewing fixers, middlemen, lawyers and companies involved in land deals, and those most affected by them.
- Indonesia for Sale is a collaboration between Mongabay and The Gecko Project, an investigative reporting initiative established by UK-based nonprofit Earthsight.
Indonesia, a nation of thousands of islands draped across the equator, is in the grips of a social and environmental crisis.
Its rainforests are being destroyed at a catastrophic rate. Nearly every year it is cloaked in a choking haze from burning peatlands. Thousands of conflicts over land persist across the archipelago. It is one of the most unequal societies on earth, with half of its wealth controlled by 1 percent of the population. Local elections, where power over millions of people is decided, descend into a brazen display of vote-buying and bribery.
Many of the causes of these problems can be traced back to one source: the corrupt actions of a small number of politicians who have taken control of Indonesia’s districts.
In the turbulent years after the fall of the dictator Suharto in 1998, huge powers were transferred from the central government to Indonesia’s districts. Specifically, to the bupatis, the elected officials who presided over these jurisdictions, and who assumed new control over how land and forests within them could be used.
Within a few short years, the bupatis had built fiefdoms across Indonesia. They used their newfound powers to cash in on natural resources, bankroll elections and build dynasties by installing relatives as their successors and in other influential positions.
Under their watch, oil palm plantation companies were granted millions of hectares of land and forests. Much of it was used and owned by indigenous and other rural communities, whose rights were cast aside in favor of the private sector.
Plantation companies have played a central role in the destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests. They have drained its peat swamps, rendering vast landscapes prone to outbreaks of fire. They have taken community lands and offered little in return, sparking intractable conflicts.
The land deals overseen by the bupatis concentrated immense territories in the hands of conglomerates owned by super-rich oligarchs from around Southeast Asia. At the same time, they deprived many of the poorest rural families from access to the fields and forests on which they depend for their livelihoods and food security. While successive national governments paid lip service to the need for land reform, precisely as a means of reducing inequality, the bupatis were busy giving more land to the rich.
Over the past nine months, Mongabay and The Gecko Project have investigated the corrupt ways in which government officials handed out vast tracts of Indonesia to private firms. We traveled to the heart of Borneo, to the swamplands of southern Kalimantan, to a paradise island of mangrove forests, and to a remote corner of eastern Indonesia. We met with indigenous activists who carried out their own investigations into the officials pillaging their land, and with fixers who facilitated deals between politicians and companies in Jakarta hotels. Over the coming weeks we will release our findings in a series of articles and short films collectively titled Indonesia for Sale. The series is centered around three case studies, each shedding light on a central component of the way in which large swaths of the country have been transferred by corrupt politicians into private hands.
The first installment, “The palm oil fiefdom,” shines a spotlight on a bupati in Borneo who tried to turn almost the entire southern half of his district into one giant oil palm plantation, for the benefit of his relatives and cronies. Published tomorrow, it delves into one of the most egregious examples of a system in which district chiefs collude with private companies to exploit their office, with devastating consequences for people and the environment.
The next installment follows the money trail that ended in the bribery of Akil Mochtar, chief justice of the nation’s highest court, to secure an election win in Borneo. It lays bare the connection between natural resources, land deals and money politics, and the middlemen who serve as the connective tissue in that relationship.
The final installment exposes a shadowy cabal that constitutes the largest single threat to Indonesia’s forests today, with links from Papua to Malaysia to Yemen. It reveals the methods these individuals are using to hide their identities and the illegality of their projects as they forge east into the archipelago’s last frontier.
These will be supported by articles that explore broader issues raised by our investigations. For example, the role of brokers in facilitating oil palm deals, the tricks employed by companies to acquire land from indigenous groups, and the widespread failure of plantation firms in Indonesia to provide smallholdings for nearby communities, as required by law.
For more than a decade, the fate of Indonesia’s forests has been recognized as a global problem. The expansion of agriculture into these carbon-rich ecosystems has made the nation a leading greenhouse gas emitter.
But for all of the responses that have been devised by policymakers and the private sector, plantation companies continue to destroy forests and violate human rights. Many policies have failed because corrupt politicians have been allowed to collude with the private sector in a vacuum of accountability and scrutiny.
Indonesia for Sale puts these politicians firmly in the spotlight
Follow Mongabay and The Gecko Project on Facebook (here, here) for updates on the series. ----------------------------
