2) A doctoral graduate from Harvard presents a dissertation on Papua and colonialism

3) Papuans hold simulations rallies in Java and Bali protesting 'illegal' New York Agreement

4) Papuan dormitory in Surabaya attacked and vandalised, 49 arrested by police

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364230/papuan-students-in-surabaya-questioned-after-protest

1) Papuan students in Surabaya questioned after protest

1:37 pm today

Dozens of West Papuan university students in the Indonesian city of Surabaya were taken in for police questioning during a protest.

The protesters were arrested and held in the Surabaya police station. Photo: Facebook/ Free West Papua Campaign

The students were hosting a discussion event to mark the anniversary of 1962's New York Agreement regarding the administration of West New Guinea.

After the discussion forum, the Papuan students' dormitory was raided by police who detained 49 of them for questioning.

They remain in custody at Surbaya's main police station, although it's unclear whether charges have been laid.

The NGO Piberang news portal quotes a police spokesman saying the students were being investigated over an alleged hacking incident.

But the Papuans drew the attention of police and intelligence personnel on the same day as their public event regarding the controversial Agreement that paved the way for the former Dutch New Guinea to be taken over by Indonesia.

Earlier, the discussion event was disrupted when projectiles were thrown at the Papuans' dormitory by members of Indonesia's nationalist Pancasila movement.

This group reportedly insisted the Indonesian flag be raised in the dorm.

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/a-doctoral-graduate-from-harvard-presents-a-dissertation-on-papua-and-colonialism/

2) A doctoral graduate from Harvard presents a dissertation on Papua and colonialism

Published 3 days ago on 13 August 2018 by admin

Jayapura, Jubi – Veronika Kusumayarti, a doctoral program alumnus in anthropology from Harvard University, held a discussion related to her dissertation ‘The latest ethnography of colonialism, experience, history and political awareness in West Papua’ on Friday (8/10/2018) in Jayapura.

Joined the author, as speakers in the discussion were the rev. Dr Socrates Yoman, Papuan literary and cultural activist Andy Tagihuma, historian and lecturer Albert Rumbekwan.

In the discussion attended by some student and women activists, lecturers as well as priests, the author shared her experience in compiling research materials throughout Papua from 2012-2016. In general, her dissertation was about the history of Papuans who made the first contact with foreigners or Dutch missionaries until the integration era where Papua invaded by Indonesia.

“Until the awareness of indigenous identity was emerged from Papuans,” she said during her presentation held in P3W Hall. She further said Papuans made contact for the first time with missionaries in 1855 along with the arrival of the German missionaries Ottow and Geisller in Mansinam, while the Catholic missionaries have served in Fakfak and Merauke. “Then in 1962, the British and Australian missionaries divided their service area on the north coast which is now dominated by GKI, whereas the Catholic missionaries carried their service in the south coast area. Meanwhile, in the mountainous areas, different churches played the role, such as Kingmi in Paniai regional, GIDI and Baptist Church in Lanny,” she said.

Meanwhile, Papuan intellectual Benny Giay appreciated Veronika for her academic work. “This is an important lesson for indigenous Papuans about their history. It reminds me of my writing about people’s vote ‘Pepera’,” he said. (*)

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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From INDOLEFT News service via reg.west papua list

3) Papuans hold simulations rallies in Java and Bali protesting 'illegal' New York Agreement

Suara Papua - August 15, 2018

Bastian Tebai, Semarang -- The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) have called on all Papuan students through their city committees in Java and Bali to declare that the 1962 New York Agreement was illegal.

The AMP and FRI-WP said that the agreement, which was signed on August 15, 1962 and used as the basis for the 1968 "Act of Free Choice" (Pepera), was illegal because it did not involve a single representative from the Papuan people.

On Wednesday August 15, the AMP and FRI-WP commemorated the agreement in their respective cities.

Demonstrations were held by AMP committees in Makassar (South Sulawesi), Malang (East Java), Yogyakarta (Central Java), Jakarta and the satellite city of Tangerang, Semarang (Central Java), Surabaya (East Java) and Bandung (West Java). In Bali, Solo (Central Java) and Bogor (West Java), the AMP commemorated the agreement with public discussions.

The peaceful AMP demonstration in Yogyakarta today was blocked by police and reactionary mass organisations (ormas). Likewise during a peaceful demonstration in Surabaya the front gates to the Papuan Kamasan Dormitory was vandalised by an ormas and Surabaya police.

During the simulations protests today, the AMP called on the regime of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the Dutch government, the United States and the United Nations to, first, give the right to self-determination to the nation of Papua as a democratic solution that must be implemented.

Second, acknowledge and affirm that the New York Agreement was legally and morally invalid because it did not involve a single representative of the Papuan people.

Third, they called for the withdrawal of all organic and non-organic TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) from the land of Papua.

Forth, the demanded the closure of the Freeport gold-and-copper mine, the LNG Tangguh gas field operated by BP, the MNC Group LNG plant, the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) in Merauke and other multi-national company projects in West Papua which continue to be the masterminds behind humanitarian crimes in the land of Papua.

Fifth, that the UN take responsibility for and be actively involved in a manner that is just and democratic, in a process of self-determination, the straightening out of history and resolving the human rights violations against the Papuan nation.

Notes

Following the launch of the Trikora military operation which was aimed at harassing and forcing the Dutch out of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961-62 and under the threat that Indonesia would move from armed infiltrations to a large-scale military attack, US sponsored negotiations led to the signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962 in which the Netherlands agreed to hand over administration of Western New Guinea to Indonesia pending a UN administered plebiscite. Seven years later under the newly installed Suharto dictatorship, the treaty led to the so-call "Act of Free Choice" in 1969 in which 1025 hand-picked Papuans "voted" at gun-point for the territory remain part of Indonesia.

[Abridged translation by James Balowski. The second part of the article contained an explanation of the New York Agreement and "Act of Free Choice". The original title of the article was "15 Agustus: AMP dan FRI WP Sebut New York Agreement Ilegal".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2018/08/15/15-agustus-amp-sebut-new-york-agreement-ilegal/

INDOLEFT News service

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4) Papuan dormitory in Surabaya attacked and vandalised, 49 arrested by police

Suara Papua - August 15, 2018

Bastian Tebai, Surabaya -- As many as 49 Papuan students who reside at the Kamasan Papuan Dormitory in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya were arrested by police this evening and are being held at the Surabaya district police headquarters (Polrestabes).

There were two reasons for this according to information gathered by Suara Papua.

First, opposition by mass organisations (ormas) to planned peaceful demonstrations rejecting the 1962 New York Agreement which were held earlier this morning, in which the Papuan student dormitory was the gathering point for protesters.

Second, the residents of the dormitory refused to put up the national flag in front of the dormitory as part of the upcoming August 17 national celebrations of Indonesian independence because they said they did not feel part of the Indonesian state. Local residents, the ormas and police ended up forcing the Papuan student to fly the red-and-white flag.

Earlier this afternoon, Papuan students were involved in a clash with a combined group of police and ormas who vandalised and then demolished the front gate of the Papuan dormitory.

A number of ormas joined with police in the incident including the groups Patriot Garuda, the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila) and the Bastions of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Benteng NKRI).

According to information gathered by the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), these reactionary groups earlier attacked the Papuan students who were refusing to put up the national flag.

The Papuan students living at the dormitory attempted to defend themselves and according to several media reports, one ormas member was injured by a sharp instrument.

Since then, the dormitory has been surrounded by police and reactionary ormas. Later in the evening, police arrived and tried to arrest several Papuan students resulting in an argument that continued until 11pm.

In the end, all of the Papuan students, totalling 49 people, were taken away and held at the Surabaya district police office.

Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) secretary general Albert Mungguar told Suara Papua that the incident that occurred in Surabaya is the same as that which is carried out by the Indonesian military against the people of Papua.

"Nationalism is not something that can be forced. Nationalism is related to ideology, it is born out of the people's consciousness. If today the Papuan people and Papuan student don't want to fly the red-and-white flag, what should be done by the state and its citizens is to ask, why don't Papuan students have a sense of Indonesian nationalism, not to pressure them, force them, like they were possessed by the Devil, enforcing their view though acts of violence", said Mungguar on Wednesday evening.

With regard to the 49 Papuan students, who are still being held at the Surabaya district police office, the AMP is demanding their unconditional release in the name of upholding human rights and the principles of democracy.

"We condemn the repressive actions by police, in this case the Surabaya Polrestabes and reactionary ormas. And we call for the immediate release of our 49 comrades who were arrested for no rational reason", asserted Mungguar.

Earlier this morning, simulations actions were held in several cities in Java and Bali coordinated by the AMP rejecting the New York Agreement which was signed on August 15, 1962.

Notes

Following the launch of the Trikora military operation which was aimed at harassing and forcing the Dutch out of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961-62 and under the threat that Indonesia would move from armed infiltrations to a large-scale military attack, US sponsored negotiations led to the signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962 in which the Netherlands agreed to hand over administration of Western New Guinea to Indonesia pending a UN administered plebiscite. Seven years later under the newly installed Suharto dictatorship, the treaty led to the so-call "Act of Free Choice" in 1969 in which 1025 hand-picked Papuans "voted" at gun-point for the territory remain part of Indonesia.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Asrama Papua di Surabaya Dikepung, 49 Penghuni Diangkut ke Polrestabes".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2018/08/15/asrama-papua-di-surabaya-dikepung-49-penghuni-diangkut-ke-poltabes/

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INDOLEFT News service

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2) Past human rights cases get little attention in Jokowi's speech

3) Infrastructure Development Unites Indonesia: Jokowi

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https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/08/16/indonesian-police-arrest-49-in-attack-vandalising-of-papuan-dormitory/

1) Indonesian police arrest 49 in attack, vandalising of Papuan dormitory

By PMC Editor -

August 16, 2018

The 49 arrested Papuan students in Surabaya police station after the protest. Image: Suara Papua

By Bastian Tebai in Surabaya

Indonesian police last night arrested 49 Papuan students who live at the Kamasan Papuan Dormitory in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya and they are being held at the district police headquarters (Polrestabes).

There were two reasons for the arrests, according to information gathered by Suara Papua news service.

First, opposition by mass organisations (ormas) to planned peaceful demonstrations rejecting the 1962 New York Agreement which were held earlier this morning, in which the Papuan student dormitory was the gathering point for protesters.

Second, the residents of the dormitory refused to put up the national Indinesian flag in front of the dormitory as part of the August 17 national celebrations of Indonesian independence tomorrow because they said they “did not feel part of” the Indonesian state.

Local residents, the ormas and police ended up forcing the Papuan students to fly the red-and-white Indonesian flag.

Yesterday afternoon, Papuan students were involved in a clash with a combined group of police and ormas who vandalised and then demolished the front gate of the Papuan dormitory.

A number of ormas joined police in the incident, including the militant Patriot Garuda, the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila) and the Bastions of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Benteng NKRI) groups.

According to information gathered by the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), these “reactionary” groups earlier attacked the Papuan students who were refusing to put up the national flag.

Students defend themselves
The Papuan students living at the dormitory tried to defend themselves and, according to several media reports, one ormas member was injured by a sharp instrument.

Since then, the dormitory has been surrounded by police and “reactionary ormas”. Later in the evening, police arrived and tried to arrest several Papuan students resulting in an argument that continued until 11pm last night.

In the end, all of the Papuan students – 49 people – were taken away and held at the Surabaya district police office.

Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) secretary-general Albert Mungguar told Suara Papua the incident that occurred in Surabaya was the same as that which was carried out by the Indonesian military against the people of Papua.

“Nationalism is not something that can be forced. Nationalism is related to ideology, it is born out of the people’s consciousness.” Mungguar said.

“If today the Papuan people and Papuan students don’t want to fly the red-and-white flag, what should be done by the state and its citizens is to ask, why don’t Papuan students have a sense of Indonesian nationalism, not to pressure them, force them, like they were possessed by the Devil, enforcing their view though acts of violence.”

Unconditional release
Regarding the 49 Papuan students, who were still being held at the Surabaya district police office today, the AMP is demanding their unconditional release in the name of upholding human rights and the principles of democracy.

“We condemn the repressive actions by police, in this case the Surabaya Polrestabes and reactionary ormas. And we call for the immediate release of our 49 comrades who were arrested for no rational reason,” said Mungguar.

Earlier in the day, simulations actions were held in several cities in Java and Bali coordinated by the AMP rejecting the New York Agreement which was signed on August 15, 1962.

Pacific Media Centre notes:Following the launch of the Trikora military operation which was aimed at harassing and forcing the Dutch out of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961-62 and under the threat that Indonesia would move from armed infiltrations to a large-scale military attack, US sponsored negotiations that led to the signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962. Under this agreement, the Netherlands agreed to hand over administration of Western New Guinea to Indonesia pending a UN administered plebiscite.

Seven years later under the newly installed Suharto dictatorship, the treaty led to the so-called “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 in which 1025 hand-picked Papuans “voted” at gun-point for the territory remain part of Indonesia.

Bastian Tebai is a Suara Papua journalist.

Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was “Asrama Papua di Surabaya Dikepung, 49 Penghuni Diangkut ke Polrestabes“.

The wrecked entrance to the Kamasan Papuan Dormitory in Surabaya, Indonesia. Image: Suara Papua

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/08/16/past-human-rights-cases-get-little-attention-in-jokowis-speech.html

2) Past human rights cases get little attention in Jokowi's speech

Margareth S. Aritonang The Jakarta Post

Jakarta | Thu, August 16, 2018 | 03:20 pm

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has claimed his administration will keep its commitment to settle unsolved past human rights abuses without any elaboration on how to realize it.

“The government aims to resolve cases of past rights abuses and to improve protection of human rights to prevent similar cases from taking place in the future,” Jokowi said in his state of the nation address during a plenary session before lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Thursday.

He cited that the government would work based on a 2018 regulation stipulating the implementation of the national human rights action plan. However, he stopped short on how his administration would settle the prolonged unsolved cases as he will reach the end of his term next year.

Jokowi had included the settlement of past abuses cases in his top priority agenda during his presidential campaign and after he officially took office in 2014.

There are six major human rights violations, namely the 1965 communist purge, the 1989 Talangsari incident in Central Lampung, the 2001 and 2003 Wamena and Wasior incidents in Papua, various kidnappings and unresolved shootings in the 1980s, the May 1998 riots and the disappearances of activists that remain unresolved.

Activists have lambasted Jokowi and his administration’s slow progress to settle the abuses and take the perpetrators to court nearing the end of his term in office.

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http://jakartaglobe.id/news/infrastructure-development-unites-indonesia-jokowi/

3) Infrastructure Development Unites Indonesia: Jokowi

By : Sheany | on 5:48 PM August 16, 2018

Jakarta. In his annual address to the People's Consultative Assembly on Thursday (16/08), President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in uniting Indonesians.

New infrastructure is needed to promote growth in other regions than Java, to give them a chance to flourish.

During his term, Jokowi has been focused on various energy and transportation projects to spur economic growth. The projects cover regions outside Java as well, including Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

"Acehnese can easily connect with Papuans, Rote [East Nusa Tenggara] people can connect with our brothers in Miangas [North Sulawesi]. We can increasingly feel we are one nation, one homeland," the president said.

Under Jokowi, the government has build more than 12,700 kilometers of new roads, 11 airports, 48 new dams and an irrigation network covering 168,000 hectares of farmlands.

Since 2015, Rp 127 trillion ($8.7 billion) has been spent on infrastructure projects in villages across the country, to build roads, bridges, irrigation systems, markets, as well as drinking water and health care facilities.

Economic growth in the past two decades has been concentrated in western Indonesia, particularly Java and Sumatra, which contribute around 80 percent to the country's gross domestic product.

Indonesia has thwarted numerous separatists movement in the 73 years since it gained independence. Violent incidents, however, still occur in Papua, as some groups in the easternmost province continue to want sovereignty.

Jokowi said the government's efforts are aimed at restoring the trust of Indonesians in the regions that had felt left behind.

"Many still only see infrastructure only from the physical side. In truth, we are developing civilization, connections across cultures, and establishing infrastructure of a new culture," Jokowi said.

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2) Police in Ternate violently break up protest commemorating New York Agreement

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364321/49-west-papuan-students-released-after-police-questioning

1) 49 West Papuan students released after police questioning

2:48 pm on 17 August 2018

All 49 West Papuan university students taken in for police questioning in the Indonesian city of Surabaya have been released, according to a legal aid group.

The incident on Wednesday night came on the anniversary of the transfer of administration over West Papua to Indonesia.

Before being taken in by police, the students had reportedly planned an event to discuss the anniversary of 1962's New York Agreement between the Netherlands and Indonesia regarding the administration of West New Guinea.

The plans were disrupted when the Papuans clashed with a group from Indonesia's nationalist Pancasila movement.

The group converged on the Papuans' dormitory and demanded the Indonesian flag be raised ahead of the country's independence day today.

Abdul Wachid, the director of the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation, says police interrogated the students for 10 hours, before releasing them the next morning.

The water supply at the Papuan students' dormitory was cut off yesterday afternoon, said Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman.

The Indonesian government claimed they had not paid the water bill, said Ms Korman, but the dormitary is state-owned and the government normally pays its water bills.

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Via reg.westpapua list

2) Police in Ternate violently break up protest commemorating New York Agreement

Suara Papua - August 15, 2018

Arnold Belau, Jayapura -- A peaceful action that was to be held by the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) in Ternate, North Maluku, was forcibly broken up by local police on August 15.

Action coordinator Rudhy Pravda told Suara Papua that the action by 22 protesters was to be held to commemorate 56 years since signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962.

Rudhy explained that the FRI-WP had followed the legal guidelines by submitting a notification with Ternate district police (Polres) three days prior to the action. Police responded however with a written rejection on the grounds that the action conflicted with the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"We said that we would still hold the action no matter what the consequences. Given the situation we held the action but with the position that we would accept bear the risk from Ternate Polres. Prior to the action being broken up we held negotiations with police, there were several FRI-PW members who had were interrogated by four plain-clothed intelligence officers while they were waiting for protesters to arrive. They tried to intimidate them saying that they were not allowed to hold action and if they insisted on protesting they must be prepared to accept the risk including saying 'if you want to die please go ahead'", Rudhy explained.

Rudhy said that the information on plans to block and break up the rally was obtained from protesters attending an earlier rally at the same location. He said that that they wanted to negotiate with police but were instead threatened and intimidated.

Then before they had even unpacked campaign materials for the action, they were surrounded by plain-clothed intelligence officers and uniformed police who prohibited them from holding the protest no matter what, without being willing to negotiate their legal rights.

"I was pushed and shoved including a female demonstrator who was also pushed and shoved and they tried to use violence. The female action coordinator she was pulled and grabbed by intelligence officers. Although we were determined to continue with the action they out-numbered us so in the end we weren't able to hold the action", said Rudhy.

Field coordinator Gamaria Mansur meanwhile said that in addition to breaking up the action, police also confiscated and tore up protest materials such as banners, placards and propaganda.

She added that earlier there had been an argument between protesters and police. "Police intimidated protesters with threats, [saying] 'do you want to die', and calling us traitors and the like. I was also pulled and grabbed, then after I shouted I was finally let go", she explained.

When sought for confirmation on the incident, FRI-WP chairperson Surya Anta said that he strongly condemns the violent actions by police in Ternate.

"We strongly condemn it. The police's actions in prohibiting and breaking up the action violate Indonesia's own laws and regulations on freedom of expression", he asserted.

As of submitting this report for publication, Ternate police chief Assistance Superintendent Azhari Juanda, who was contacted by Suara Papua through his official Facebook account, has yet to responded.

Notes

Following the launch of the Trikora military operation which was aimed at harassing and forcing the Dutch out of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961-62 and under the threat that Indonesia would move from armed infiltrations to a large-scale military attack, US sponsored negotiations led to the signing of the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962 in which the Netherlands agreed to hand over administration of Western New Guinea to Indonesia pending a UN administered plebiscite. Seven years later under the newly installed Suharto dictatorship, the treaty led to the so-call "Act of Free Choice" in 1969 in which 1025 hand-picked Papuans "voted" at gun-point for the territory remain part of Indonesia.

[Abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Polisi Bubarkan Aksi FRI-West Papua di Ternate".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2018/08/15/polisi-bubarkan-aksi-fri-west-papua-di-ternate/

--------

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2) Women protest the electricity cut off

3) Authority close the Illegal mine site in Korowai

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/freeport-the-entrance-to-evaluates-all-investments-in-papua/

1) Freeport, the entrance to evaluates all investments in Papua

Published

11 hours ago

19 August 2018

By admin

Demonstration held by Papua Community Solidarity Forum Freeport (FMPPF) in Papua House of Representatives Office, Thursday, 9 August 2018. – Jubi / Arjuna Pademme

Jayapura, Jubi –Second Deputy Chairperson of Papua House of Representatives Fernando Yansen A Tinal said PT Freeport Indonesia is the entrance to evaluate all companies that invest in Papua.

“I have captured the points that there is a need to be open and involved the indigenous Papuans as the landowners in every investment in Papua,” he said after the meeting with Papua Community Solidarity Forum (FMPPF) who held a rally in the parking of Papua House of Representative on Thursday (9 / 8/2018).

So far, he added, every negotiation with PTFI has almost not involved the indigenous people.

In the rally which coincided with the commemoration of the International Indigenous Day, the FMPPF chairman Samuel Tabuni and the field coordinator Yusak Andato read 12 points of statements in public. One of the points is requesting the Papua House of Representative and the Papua People’s Assembly to establish a special commission to evaluate all national and international investment operating in the land of Papua, particularly PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika and British Petroleum in Sorong, West Papua Province. (*)

Reporter: Arjuna Pademme

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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

http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/women-protest-the-electricity-cut-off/

2) Women protest the electricity cut off

Published

2 days ago on 18 August 2018

by admin

Jayapura, Jubi –Dozens of indigenous women who are selling local products at the traditional market ‘Pasar Mama-Mama Papua’ blocked the road in front of the market on Friday afternoon (8/10/2018) to protest the National Electricity Company (PLN) for cutting off the electricity at the market for several hours due to late payment for the last four months amounted to Rp 60 million.

The coordinator for the Solidarity for indigenous Papuan traders (Solpap) Franky Warer said it just happened spontaneously because of their disappointment. “The electricity was cut off at around 11.00 Papua time when I was still at home, then someone called me. I then went to the market and called the mayor,” Warer told Jubi by phone on Friday evening (08/10/18).

After that, he said, the Municipal Government agreed to contact the PLN and the electricity in the market turned normal at around 18:00 Papua time.

Meanwhile, the Papuan legislator John NR Gobai commented that relevant parties should pay attention to this matter for not outsizing the traders. “This market is managed under the Trade and Industry Office of Jayapura Municipal Government. So the agency needs to find a solution immediately,” he said. (*)

Reporter: Arjuna Pademme

Editor: Pipit Maizier

———

http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/authority-close-the-illegal-mine-site-in-korowai/

3) Authority close the Illegal mine site in Korowai

ublished

2 days ago

18 August 2018

by admin

Jayapura, Jubi – Acting Papua Governor Soedarmo confirmed that as of 10 August 2018, the illegal mine sites that had been operating in Korowai area had closed.

This closure was carried out by the acting governor himself who came to the mine sites accompanied by Papua Police Chief the Inspector General Boya Rafly and Cenderawasih Military Commander Major General George E. Supit on Friday morning (08/10/2018).

“That’s right,” he replied when being asked for confirmation about the closure of the illegal mine sites in Korowai on Friday afternoon. Further, he said Papua Police also sealed the helicopters which had been used to transport the miners and goods.

The closure of this illegal mine got an appreciation from a member of the Papuan House of Representatives John Gobay. He said this is a good step, but he reminded of the possibility of such mine sites in Korowai or Deguwo to re-operate. (*)

Reporter: Alexander Loen

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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2) Separatist Group Members Killed 2 Military Officers in Papua
3) Papuans feel differently about Indonesia's Independence Day
4) ‘PNG Will Not Back Vanuatu Push For WPapua’
5) Special envoy confident of support for UN resolution on West Papua
-------------------------------------
https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/364490/vanuatu-could-be-alone-on-west-papua-bid-at-un
Vanuatu could be alone on West Papua bid at UN

3:13 pm today

Vanuatu's government could be alone among regional administrations in its bid to have West Papua inscribed on the United Nations de-colonisation list.

Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai speaks at the UN General Assembly. Photo: UNGA

The Charlot Salwai-led government plans to submit a draft resolution to the Pacific Islands Forum, calling for Indonesian-ruled Papua to be inscribed on the list at next year's UN General Assembly. The intention was conveyed at this month's meeting of Pacific Forum foreign ministers in Apia. Despite claims in Vanuatu, however, that other Pacific governments had indicated they would back the draft, no other countries committed support in Apia. Vanuatu's announcement of its intention to table the draft was met with demur by Papua New Guinea, Australia and Fiji, while other countries did not make a comment. Mr Salwai said he would take the draft resolution to Nauru where Pacific Forum leaders hold their annual summit next month.

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2) Separatist Group Members Killed 2 Military Officers in Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - Two officers of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) were killed by armed separatist group members in Tigginambut, Papua Province. The assailants equipped with guns and arrows.

The two officers were identified by their names as second lieutenant Amran Blegur and first private Fredi. They respectively served as commander and staff of the Tingginambut post.

According to deputy commander of the Cenderawasih XVII Military Command Lt Col Dax Sianturi on Monday, the victims were about to distribute food to Papua children. They were attacked by separatist in a bridge.

The report about the separatist ambush was received by Tingginambut military office from local people. The military officers were found dead with arrow and gunshot wound and their bodies were rushed to Mulia Public Hospital.

Their remains were expected to be taken to Jayapura and later to Jakarta on Monday.

ANTARA

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/08/20/papuans-feel-differently-about-indonesias-independence-day.html

3) Papuans feel differently about Indonesia's Independence Day

Ivany Atina Arbi and Nethy Dharma Somba

Jakarta/Jayapura | Mon, August 20, 2018 | 01:21 pm

The 73rd celebration of Indonesia’s Independence Day was tinged with reports on actions from some Papuans outside and inside the provinces, which upset authorities over their perceived refusal to celebrate Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch.

On Aug. 15, a clash occurred between Papuan students and mass organization members on Jl. Kalasan in Surabaya, East Java, as the students reportedly refused to raise the country’s red-and-white flag in front of their dormitory.

The men demanded the Papuan students comply with a regulation mandating the raising of the Indonesian flag every Aug. 17.

A release signed by Azizul Amri of the National Students Front and Nies Tabuni of the Papuan Students Association in Surabaya said the students actually did not object to raising the flag. They accused people from the mass organizations of attacking their dormitory before the dialogue between them had concluded.

According to the students, about 30 people from mass organizations asked them to raise the Indonesian flag. The students claimed they did not object to it but they needed time to “coordinate” with the dormitory’s caretaker, who was out of Surabaya at that time.

A clash ensued, in which a man was injured. Basuki, one of the mass organization members, said as quoted by kompas.com that one of his men had been attacked by a dormitory resident wielding a sharp weapon. The students said in their release that three members of the organizations had beat one student. The student later ran to the kitchen to retrieve a machete. He brandished the weapon and the men ran away in a panic. “One of them collided with another and he hurt himself from a fall,” the release stated.

Surabaya Police officers then visited the scene and took dozens of students living in the dormitory to police headquarters for questioning.

But by Thursday, the students had returned to the dorm, and none of them were taken into custody.

“As many as 48 students have been returned to the dorm,” said Surabaya Police criminal unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sudamiran. He said the police would first gather evidence on the injured man.

After the clash, local residents of Jl. Kalasan eventually raised the country’s flag in front of the dormitory, named Kemasan III.

Separately, during the orientation event for freshmen at Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, Papua, on Aug. 14 and 15, senior students required the freshmen to chant free Papua slogans and bring Morning Star attributes to the campus. Morning Star refers to a flag used by the Papuan independence movement.

During the opening ceremony of the event, the seniors reportedly prohibited the freshmen from singing the national anthem, “Indonesia Raya”.

The university’s rector, Apolo Safanpo, confirmed the incident, accusing some people of imposing their political motives on the orientation event.

“The intruders required the freshmen to bring Morning Star attributes and chant slogans contrary to Indonesia’s ideology,” Apolo said, adding that the orientation events had been halted.

Meanwhile, Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Gustav Urbinas said the use of Morning Star attributes could be linked to treason, and therefore he had called Cendrawasih University student executive body chairman Ferry Kombo and the chairman of orientation events Agus Helembo to the police headquarters.

“We asked for some explanations about the use of Morning Star attributes and the chanting of free Papua slogans,” Agus said. Both of the students had signed a statement citing that they would not let the same incident happen again at their university, or else they would be prosecuted for treason.

A prominent youth figure in Papua, Samuel Tabuni, who is also the director of the Papua Language Institute, said what happened at Cendrawasih University was the students’ “spontaneous action to show their intention to create a future that is free from all threats”.

According to a 2018 Amnesty International report titled “‘Don’t bother, just let him die’: Killing with impunity in Papua”, unlawful killings by security forces remains high in Papua even after the 1998 reform began.

Amnesty International has recorded 69 cases of alleged unlawful killings between January 2010 and February, with 95 victims. Eighty-five of them were native Papuans, the report said.

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https://postcourier.com.pg/png-will-not-back-vanuatu-push-wpapua/

4) ‘PNG Will Not Back Vanuatu Push For WPapua’

Papua New Guinea Will Not And Does Not Support The Issue Of West Papua Now Being Pushed By Vanuatu At The United Nations. August 16, 2018

August 16, 2018

BY GORETHY KENNETH

Papua New Guinea will not and does not support the issue of West Papua now being pushed by Vanuatu at the United Nations.
This is because according to Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato, West Papua is still an integral part of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea under its foreign policy will not interfere with that and the international law on the matter.
Pato was asked about PNG’s stand on West Papua, given the fact that Vanuatu is now pushing for West Papua at the UN.
He said: “We object to it, so Papua New Guinea will not and doesn’t support any action taken by Vanuatu, so we object to it.”
“Any action to support will be a breach of the international law, you know West Papua or Papua is still part and parcel, an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia and we have a bilateral relationship with the Republic of Indonesia, so we will not support that,” he said.
Papua New Guinea is a bigger player in the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Island Forum, let alone the Pacific. There has been lobbying from MSG countries and Pacific to support the West Papua in their quest for independence.
Vanuatu this week has announced that they would be pushing for West Papua at the United Nations meeting this month.
Mr Pato said PNG’s stand is that the government will not support Vanuatu in its push for West Papua at the UN level.

———————————————

Pacific Beat with Catherine Graue

5) Special envoy confident of support for UN resolution on West Papua

By Richard Ewart on Pacific Beat

While the rest of Melanesia has cooled on supporting the push for an independent West Papua, Vanuatu has raised the stakes with plans to take a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling for the disputed Indonesian territory to be included on the UN de-colonisation list.

To ramp up their campaign, the Vanuatu government has appointed Lora Lini, the daughter of the country's first prime minister, Walter Lini, as Special Envoy for West Papua.

Duration: 4min 46sec

Broadcast: Mon 20 Aug 2018, 6:00am

http://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/van-west-papua/10138766

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/08/20/papua-military-command-beef-up-security-after-two-soldiers-killed.html

Papua military command beef up security after two soldiers killed

Nethy Dharma Somba

Jayapura | Mon, August 20, 2018 | 06:25 pm

A map of Papua (JP/-)

The Cendrawasih Military Command (Kodam) in Papua beefed up security following an encounter between armed civilians and military personnel in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua, on Sunday which resulted in the deaths of two military personnel.

“I order all levels of personnel of Cenderawasih Kodam to increase their caution in every post,” Cendrawasih Kodam 17 commander Maj. Gen. George E Supit said Monday.

“And to chase the armed separatist criminal group [the Papua National Liberation Army], which is based in the forests of inland Papua,” he added.

George, however, ensured that the situation in Papua remained "under control" because the scene was relatively far from the center of public activities.

Lt. Inf. Arman Blegur, the head of military task force for safeguarding vulnerable areas in Tingginambut, and First Officer Fredi, a member of the task force, were shot by armed civilians on Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred when the armed civilians encountered the victims at the Tingginambut bridge. At that time, the soldiers were heading to a village after receiving a call from Teranus Enumbi, a member of the armed group who requested food in exchange for firearms that they had, according to the military command. The two soldiers rode a motorcycle to the village at around 1:30 p.m., but half an hour later residents reported that the two had been shot.

When found, the victims had suffered gunshot wounds and a bow shot. The bodies were then transferred to Mulia Hospital in Papua before being flown to Jakarta to their families on Monday morning. (sau/swd)

2) Fifteen PNG citizens escape from Indonesian prison

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/117628/border-security-task-force-foils-attempt-to-smuggle-drug-from-png

1) Border security task force foils attempt to smuggle drug from PNG

Reporter: antara 12 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - The border security task force of the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) has foiled an attempt to smuggle two kilograms of marijuana via a border post at Skamto, Papua.

Two suspects from Papua New Guinea (PNG) identified as TK (18) and PV (30) were arrested on Monday when they tried to cross the border into the Indonesian territory of the Papua island, commander of the task force Lt.Col. Eko Anthoni Chandra said here on Tuesday.

The two suspects were caught when driving their vehicle right in front of the Skamto post when it happened that the the task force was launching raid on the street.

PV told his investigator that the drug was to be sold in Jayapura, Anthoni said ,adding the two suspects lived in different villages in Papua New Guinea not far from the border.

?Now the two suspects and the drug have been handed over to police for legal investigation," he said.

He said the border area is rampant with smuggling of illegal goods not only drug but also sharp fin , vanilla and areca nuts.

Therefore, the task force has to launch patrol and raids more frequently, he added.

Reported by Evarukdijati
Edited by Andi Abdussalam

2) 450 Army personnel to be deployed to safeguard Indonesia-PNG border

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

https://thediplomat.com/2018/08/whats-next-for-indonesia-fiji-military-ties/

1) What’s Next for Indonesia-Fiji Military Ties?

By Prashanth Parameswaran August 22, 2018

On August 13, the defense ministers of Indonesia and Fiji briefly held an official meeting in Jakarta. While few specifics were publicly disclosed about what was discussed, the interaction nonetheless put the spotlight on the still young but growing defense relationship between the two countries in spite of the challenges that remain.

Indonesia and Fiji have long had a diplomatic relationship, which dates back to 1974. But the defense component of ties more specifically has only seen an uptick in recent years, in spite of some of the continued complications it creates for Fiji’s positions on issues such as West Papua both at home and abroad with some regional states. Notable steps have included Jakarta’s assistance in capacity-building and reconstruction as well as some collaboration among their police forces, with officials from the two countries also talking up some more ambitious areas for cooperation as well Image Credit: Government of Fiji

that have yet to be realized.

Within that broader context, a notable development came in September 2017, when there was finally the inking of a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation in September 2017 between Fiji’s Defense Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. The agreement, which had been talked about for months previously, covered a range of areas – including exchanges, visits, dialogues, research, information-sharing, and capacity-building – across common issue areas to include counterterrorism and peacekeeping. Both sides had indicated that it would lead to the deepening of security cooperation in a wider range of areas.

Last week, in another indicator of the ongoing defense ties between the two countries, Ryacudu received Kabuobola at the offices of the Indonesian defense ministry (KEMHAN) on August 13. While the meeting was quite brief, according to the ministry, one of the items under discussion was the advancement on exchanges of naval officers between both sides.

The discussion of the item itself was no surprise: it had been floated as one of the areas for further cooperation previously as well. Few details were disclosed about exactly how this would play out, though the initial focus as laid out was on education and only for a few officers over a few days. That was testament to both the nascent nature of defense ties between the two sides as well as the need for calibration between their bilateral ties as well as other bilateral relationships in the region as well.

Nonetheless, with the MOU signed and given the willingness of both sides to gradually expand the scope of their defense ties, how things actually evolve in the coming months will continue to be of interest to not only the two countries, but other actors in the region and beyond.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/117663/450-army-personnel-to-be-deployed-to-safeguard-indonesia-png-border

2) 450 Army personnel to be deployed to safeguard Indonesia-PNG border

Reporter: Antara 22nd August 2018

Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA News) - A total of 450 personnel of the Lampung-based Tri Wira Eka Jaya`s Infantry Battalion would be deployed to Papua Province on August 26 to safeguard the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border, a military officer said.

"The entire personnel are ready for the deployment," Deputy Assistant for Operations at the Indonesian Military Headquarters First Marshal M. Khairul Lubis stated when observing the troops` readiness at the infantry battalion compound in South Lampung on Tuesday.

They would be transported by a military ship to Merauke naval ship in the eastern Indonesian province. Then, they would continue their journey to reach their respective border posts by land, he noted.

"They will be deployed in groups to 16 border posts. Each group would have 32 personnel," he added.

The Indonesian military personnel in Papua Province remain challenged by serious transborder crimes, including drug smugglers.

Early this week, the border security task force of the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad), for instance, successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle two kilograms of marijuana via a border post at Skamto, Papua.

Two suspects from Papua New Guinea (PNG), identified as TK (18) and PV (30), were arrested on Monday when they tried to cross the border into the Indonesian territory of the Papua island, commander of the task force Lt. Col. Eko Anthoni Chandra noted.

The two suspects were caught while driving their vehicle right in front of the Skamto post when the task force was launching a raid on the street.

PV told his investigator that the drug was to be sold in Jayapura, Anthoni remarked, adding that the two suspects lived in different villages in Papua New Guinea not far from the border.

"Now, the two suspects and the drug have been handed over to police for legal investigation," he revealed.

He stated that the border area is rampant with smuggling of illegal goods, which included not only drugs but also sharp fin, vanilla, and areca nuts. Therefore, the task force has to launch patrol and raids more frequently. **2***

Reporting by Agus Wira Sukarta and Ardiansyah
Editing by Rahmad Nasution

2) How New Zealand joined Australia to betray West Papua

3) U.S. Delegation to attend 30th Pacific Islands Forum

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

https://www.ucanews.com/news/fired-freeport-workers-seek-papuan-legislators-help/83141

1) Fired Freeport workers seek Papuan legislators' help

Protesters at Indonesian rallies demand severance pay for their lay-offs 14 months ago

Fired Freeport workers, accompanied by university students, seek legislators' intervention over their fate at a rally in front of the legislative building in Jayapura on Aug. 21. (Photo by Benny Mawel)

Benny Mawel,

Jayapura Indonesia August 22, 2018

Dozens of Indonesian former workers of U.S.-based PT Freeport-McMoRan, parent company of PT Freeport Indonesia, staged a rally on Aug. 21 to seek legislators' intervention in their case.

They represented more than 8,000 contractors and workers who were laid off by the giant gold and copper company more than 14 months ago following a strike.

"The company fired us unilaterally. We only received the news by text messages. Until now we don't know the reason why we were fired," Yosepus Talakua, who coordinated the protest, told ucanews.com on the sidelines of the rally in front of the legislative building in Jayapura, capital of Papua province.

He claimed the company only paid workers' last salaries and did not provide severance pay.

Talakua said many former Freeport workers had to work as motorcycle taxi drivers and laborers to meet their daily needs. "But we still cannot afford our children's school tuition," he said.

Another protester, Ningsih Wanggai, said she has been jobless since being laid off. "I have just stayed at home," said the former heavy equipment operator.

A similar rally was held by dozens of fired Freeport workers in front of the presidential palace in Jakarta.

Responding to the protesters' demand, legislator Laurenzus Kadepa said the provincial legislative body will form a special committee to review the case. "We will fight for you," he told protesters.

Freeport spokesman Riza Pratama said the lay-offs were the result of a contractual dispute between the Indonesian government and the company.

He said the dispute had reduced operations at the company by about 60 percent and stemmed from Indonesia seeking to change mining industry regulations over ore processing and foreign ownership.

The Indonesian government wanted to cap copper concentrate exports to boost its domestic smelting industry. However, the company said the regulations breached its current contract with the Indonesian government.

"We offer former workers an opportunity to work again for the company through contractors or an industrial relations court instead of a political path," Pratama said.

PT Freeport-McMoRan obtained its first contract to operate in the region in April 1967, two years before Papua was annexed by Indonesia following a controversial 1969 referendum. A second contract was given in December 1991. In 2014, the company obtained its third contract, which will expire in 2021.

The Indonesian government has owned a 51 percent share of the company since July after tough negotiations. The company previously owned 90.64 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia's shares.

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/how-new-zealand-joined-australia-betray-west-papua

2) How New Zealand joined Australia to betray West Papua

Joe Collins August 23, 2018

Issue 1193 West Papua & New Zealand

Maire Leadbeater documents the oppression of West Papua and the campaign for its freedom.

See No Evil: New Zealand’s betrayal of the people of West Papua
By Maire Leadbeater
Otago University Press, 2018
Paperback, 296 pages

New Zealand solidarity activist Maire Leadbeater’s new book, See No Evil: New Zealand’s betrayal of the people of West Papua, features a theme also relevant for Australia. Both countries were involved in the tragic betrayal of West Papua.

It is a valuable record for anybody interested in West Papua. It’s a well-documented timeline of the history of the nation from its early links with Asia through the period of Dutch colonisation, the Indonesian takeover in the 1960s and up to the present day.

New Zealand and Australia both shared a deep fear that they may be overwhelmed — swamped — by the Asian masses to our north. NZ had its equivalent of the White Australia policy.

NZ officials even had their own version of the domino theory. Then-NZ foreign minister Frederick Doidge attended the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers conference in Colombo in 1950 where the Colombo Plan was inaugurated with the aim of preventing Southeast Asian nations turning to the Communist world. His officials warned him that the unsolved problem of “Dutch New Guinea” might be raised at the conference.

NZ officials said in a memo: “New Guinea (or any major part of it) in the hands of an enemy or potential enemy would constitute a threat to New Caledonia, Fiji and hence to NZ.”

The same memo said of New Guinea: “It is part of the long, broken spine of mountains that runs from Central Asia through Burma, East Indies, New Guinea, New Caledonia down to New Zealand and would be on the direct route for any potential aggressor from South or South-eastern Asia.”

If such a scenario seems far-fetched today, the memory of the Japanese advance south in World War II was still fresh in people’s memories. The Japanese occupied the Dutch East Indies during the war.

The Indonesian people won independence from the Dutch in 1949, but the Dutch held on to their colony in West New Guinea. With Indonesian President Sukarno demanding that Dutch New Guinea be part of Indonesia, the Dutch prepared for West Papuan independence.

At first, NZ and Australia supported Dutch claims to the colony. It was seen by both countries as in their strategic interest to have another colonial power acting as a buffer zone from any potential invader from the north. Leadbeater writes that NZ “was not looking at the Papuan people but rather at its own strategic interests and the need to stay in step with Western allies”.

It was ultimately a plan by United States diplomat Elsworth Bunker, the New York Agreement, which eventually paved the way for Indonesia's takeover of West New Guinea.

The New York Agreement aimed to “set out a semblance of international involvement and fair process: first temporary UN administration, then full Indonesian control and finally some opportunity for ‘self-determination’, which would involve the United Nations.”

Tragically the “self-determination” involved was a farce — the so-called Act of Free Choice held in 1969 is known to West Papuans as the Act of No Choice.

Australia was probably the last country to keep supporting the Dutch claims on West New Guinea, finally caving in after the New York Agreement.

An indication of Australia’s commitment to supporting the Dutch was an anecdote told to me by a former Australian soldier from those days who told me he was part of a contingent of Australian troops who were set to fly to West Papua to support the Dutch, until Australia’s change of heart with the New York Agreement.

Leadbeater also covers the effect various regional issues had on West Papua. The most important was the horrific mass killings in 1965-1966 of Communists and leftists that accompanied a military coup. Up to a million people are believed to have been killed, with thousands more jailed.

Leadbeater writes: “Within months … Sukarno’s left-leaning nationalist regime gave way to the ‘New Order’ — an anti-Communist dictatorial regime with a welcome mat for foreign corporations.”

It also led to the West, strongly supportive of the New Order dictatorship of General Suharto, being unwilling to criticise the farce that was the Act of Free Choice in 1969.

Leadbeater’s timeline continues down the tragic path of West Papuan history. It takes in the Indonesian takeover and the various uprising by the West Papuan people against Indonesian rule.

Leadbeater also writes about the Papuan cultural revolution in the 1980s. This was led by Arnold Ap, an anthropologist, musician, leader of the Mambesak group and curator of the Museum at the Cenderawasih University. He was arrested in November 1983 as a suspected sympathiser of the Free West Papua Movement (OPM), which was waging an armed struggle against Indonesian occupation. He was shot while allegedly escaping custody in 1984.

Leadbeater also documents the growing support for West Papua’s cause in the Pacific region. She looks at the formation of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in 2014, led by Octo Mote and Benny Wenda. This was critical to presenting a united front to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) who the West Papuans were lobbying for membership. The ULMWP was granted observer status at the MSG in June 2015.

Support by governments in the region has led to the issue being raised at the UN and support by civil society continues to grow in the Pacific region. Indonesia has responded to this growing support by offering aid to Pacific countries.

NZ civil society groups have hosted many visits from West Papuan activists and leaders. The NZ media have also continuously covered the West Papuan issue, in particular Radio New Zealand International (now Radio New Zealand Pacific).

It is now 55 years since Indonesia took over the administration of West Papua. The West Papuan people are still marching in the streets, risking arrest and torture to insist on their right to self-determination.

As long as the West Papuan people continue to protest the injustices they suffer under Indonesian rule, and their supporters continue to help in raising awareness of the issue, they will be successful.

As Leadbeater concludes: “Freedom finally came to East Timor, and international solidarity was a key factor in bringing about change.”

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http://dailypost.vu/news/u-s-delegation-to-attend-th-pacific-islands-forum/article_3401825c-59f8-5983-85b2-c54595a3f6d5.html

3) U.S. Delegation to attend 30th Pacific Islands Forum

10 hrs ago

A high-level U.S. government delegation comprised of senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Agency for International Development will attend the 30th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Session with Forum Dialogue Partners on September 4, 2018 in Nauru.

The delegation will be led by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. This visit will underscore the U.S.’ close partnership with the Pacific Islands in promoting sustainable growth and prosperity, ensuring regional stability, and addressing global concerns.

The U.S. delegation will host a roundtable with Pacific Islands leaders on September 4, 2018.

Members of the U.S. delegation will also conduct bilateral consultations with heads of state of Pacific Islands Forum members and other senior foreign officials to discuss issues of regional and global importance, including regional security, responding to the threat posed by the activities of the DPRK, combatting illegal fishing, and sustainable development.

The Pacific Islands region is an enduring foreign policy priority for the United States. Through 17 of our departments and agencies – the United States committed more than $350 million in FY 2016 to its engagement with the Pacific Islands via projects, assistance, and operations that directly benefit the 9 million people of the region.

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2) New 150 kv electrical relay station commissioned in Papua

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https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/new-faces-and-absent-friends-pacific-diplomacy

The Interpreter

1) New faces and absent friends in Pacific diplomacy

BY Tess Newton Cain

23 August 2018 06:00 AEDT

Ahead of next month’s meeting of Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Nauru, the region’s foreign ministers met recently in Apia, Samoa. The Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is one of two standing ministerial meetings in the region (the other is the Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting). The 2018 meeting was the third and it retains a fairly low profile, despite the significance that it has in finalising the agenda for the Leaders’ summit.

The 10 August meeting of foreign ministers was perhaps most interesting for who was there, and (possibly more so) who was not. There have been some notable changes to the line-up since last year, which no doubt had an impact on proceedings.

Two new faces at this gathering that would be expected to make their presence felt were Vanuatu’s Ralph Regenvanu and New Zealand’s Winston Peters.

In a recent interview, Regenvanu signalled very clearly that he saw engagement at the Pacific Islands Forum as a key priority for Vanuatu, including to progress the cause of self-determination for West Papua. So it should not have come as a surprise to see that Vanuatu tabled an agenda item in Apia seeking regional support for a proposed resolution to go the UN General Assembly to have West Papua reinscribed on the decolonisation list. Unsurprisingly, this was “met with demur” by Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Australia, while other countries made no comment.

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds at the Leaders’ meeting next month. Vanuatu is also seeking support from the region to gain a seat on the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C24), and has newly appointed Lora Lini as Special Envoy for West Papua.

For Peters, this was the first such meeting since he resumed the foreign affairs portfolio in Wellington, and his first chance to meet with Pacific counterparts since the announcement of the “Pacific reset” by the Ardern government this year. No doubt, the foreign ministers of the island countries were keen to hear from Peters what this reset will involve, given details have been fairly scant to date.

Yet noticeable by her absence was Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. This was especially so given Bishop had been in Apia the day before with a busy agenda, including meeting the Samoan Prime Minister, and her New Zealand counterpart, launching the Australia Pacific Training Coalition, and opening a new radio broadcast tower.

Bishop returned to Australia ahead of the foreign ministers’ meeting, leaving then Pacific and International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells to lead the delegation. Bishop’s absence from the formal proceedings was disappointing in this era of oft-promised “stepped up” engagement by Australia. I asked Bishop’s office why she did not attend and was told: “The Foreign Minister had duties in Australia as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.” (She delivered a speech in Perth at the Western Australian Liberal State conference on 11 August.) With the subsequently uncertainty in Australian domestic politics following the leadership challenge in Canberra on Tuesday, there is now speculation Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull may not attend the Leaders’ meeting in Nauru, which would compound a sense that Australia does not regard the Pacific as a priority.

A key area of focus for this meeting was reviewing and revising the text of the regional security agreement “Biketawa Plus”, which will now go to the meeting of Leaders for consideration. Despite, somewhat premature reporting in parts of the Australian media, this potential regional security agreement was still in development up to and during the foreign ministers’ deliberations – part of a prolonged and multi-faceted consultation and engagement process led by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The current draft version of the text indicates some robust engagement on the part of the region’s foreign ministers. This has led to (among other things) an elevation of climate change as the “single greatest threat” the region faces, and a reduced emphasis on cyber security.

The draft text’s reference to a “recalling” of the principles of good governance, democracy, and the rule of law, is certainly a marked improvement on what was previously in place. However, it remains to be seen if this will be sufficient to quell the concerns of many in the region about where, if at all, democratic norms fit within a security-driven debate. This forms part of a larger concern to ensure that discussions about regional security are focused on issues that matter for the majority of Forum members, and not the geo-strategic preoccupations of the few.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/117766/new-150-kv-electrical-relay-station-commissioned-in-papua

2) New 150 kv electrical relay station commissioned in Papua

Reporter: Antara 18 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Minister of State Enterprises (BUMN) Rini Soemarmo has officially commissioned a 150 Kv Holtekamp electrical relay station and transmission cables in Jayapura designed to increase electrification ratio in Papua and West Papua.

"With the new transmission system, Papua is expected to have more supply of power," Rini said when commissioning the facility here on Friday.

She said she hoped there would be no more blackouts in Papua and the people could receive sufficient supply of power.

Electricity would help improve the people`s welfare and the children could study at home more conveniently , she said.

"With the electricity, children could study longer and the people could use electricity to support their business," shes aid.

Meanwhile Business Director of the Maluku and Papua branch of the state electricity company PLN Ahmad Rofiq said the government was set to increase electrification ration especially in eastern Indonesia.

Ahmad Rofiq said the electrification ratio in Papua and West Papua was still low at 53.62 percent -- Papua 44.85 percent and West Papua 86.28 percent.

"In order to increase the ratio, PLN has a program of Bright Papua bu speeding up construction of infrastructure in rural areas," he said.

He said the geographical condition of Papua is a big challenge in the implementation of the program.

Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman
Editing by A Saragih, A Abdussalam

http://dailypost.vu/news/if-vanuatu-does-not-speak-for-west-papua-then-who/article_4fbe1b69-9724-5ac6-b0d2-b667aac160a9.html

If Vanuatu does not speak for West Papua, then who will?: Lini

By Godwin Ligo
10 hrs ago

West Papua Special Envoy

By Jane Joshua

Since her appointment as the Special Envoy on Decolonization of West Papua to the Pacific Island States, Lora Lini spoke exclusively to the Daily Post about how she sees her role and the importance of the position entrusted upon her by the Vanuatu Government.

But first, she says that it is the present government who recognizes the importance of taking the West Papua issue further and to a higher level via a United Nations Resolution for West Papua.

Ms Lini says past governments and civil society organizations of Vanuatu have maintained the country’s stand for the West Papua since Vanuatu’s independence in 1980. But the issue of West Papua has reached another level and the present government also recognizes the struggle of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and other organizations that support and work together with the Movement for the cause of West Papua self- determination.

“My role as Special Envoy on the Decolonisation of West Papua to the Pacific Island States is to bring to the attention of member states of the Pacific Islands Forum Vanuatu’s intention to table a UN Resolution for the decolonization of West Papua.”

The draft Resolution has now been presented to all Forum members.

Ms Lini is optimistic and says although Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, may have indicated not to support the Resolution on West Papua which Vanuatu intends to push through to the UN Committee of 24 on Decolonization, Vanuatu will continue to lobby for support from all member states of the Pacific Islands Forum including Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji.

Ms Lini confirmed that Vanuatu will raise the issue of West Papua and lobby support from the Pacific Leaders at the upcoming Leaders Summit in Nauru in early September 2018.

She said one thing is clear during her previous stint at the Pacific Islands Forum meetings in Samoa is that most members share the sentiments that raw colonialism has no place in Melanesia or in the Pacific. The issue of West Papua is like climate change issues they seem to come in all different forms but the root is still colonialism just in other forms and but Pacific Island States are no longer blind,” says Ms Lini.

“If Vanuatu as a Melanesian country who we share the same ethnicity with our brothers and sisters of West Papua but does not speak for West Papua? Then who will?” She said there is no way around this issue — the only way is to re-present the issue at the United Nations.

“We must not turn a blind eye on West Papua — this issue has been around longer than we have struggled for our own independence and we, like other Melanesians and Pacific Islander are the only people that can truly speak for West Papua not because we have policies or conventions that obliges us to do as Governments but because we know that as Melanesians or Pacific Islanders it is our duty to speak for them and it is the right thing to do because they are unable to do so in such international forums, says Ms Lini.

She said although Vanuatu is seen as a small nation but over 38 years now since Independence Vanuatu has over the years established bilateral relations with many countries and gained many friends small states as well as super powers.

Ms Lini says if it is the will of the Government and the people of Vanuatu and the Almighty God to set free West Papua — then let thy will be done. She is not new to the issue of West Papua. She is a founding member of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association Of Vanuatu.

She has also previously worked at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat in Port Vila and is well versed over the outstanding work for West Papua at the level of Melanesia as a sub-regional Organisation that was founded in the core issues of Decolonisation in the region of Melanesia. She is adamant that MSG is still obliged to the issue of West Papua as agreed by the Leaders meeting and the MSG is a key region that she will visit to rally support.

“This is our own backyard and we must be the first to unite on this issue,” says Ms Lini. She also served at the Communications and Public Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London in the United Kingdom and is a journalist by profession.

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

Nauru will host the 49th Pacific Islands Forum (PIFS) and related meetings from September 3rd to the 6th 2018. The Government of Nauru has chosen “Building a strong Pacific: Our Islands, Our People, Our Will” as the theme for this year’s gathering.

The Free West Papua Campaign is calling on people all across the Pacific to help amplify the voices of West Papuans by raising as much awareness as possible and directly engaging your representatives on the issue of West Papua. There is only one key message for Pacific Islands Forum Leaders: West Papua’s fundamental right to self-determination must be brought back to the United Nations agenda.

Suggested actions at

https://www.freewestpapua.org/go/5214

Social media cover photo calling for West Papuan self-determination to be supported at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Photo: Free West Papua Campaign.

In a recent letter to Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop AWPA raised the matter of West Papua at the PIF.

From AWPA letter,

“At the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) forum meeting in Port Moresby (2015), the PIF leaders requested Jakarta to allow a PIF fact-finding mission to West Papua.

We also urge you to raise again the matter of a PIF fact-finding mission to West Papua at the upcoming PIF summit in Nauru in September. Fact-finding missions by the international community to West Papua can only help improve the human rights situation in the territory”.

Each year the Forum Secretariat oversees an inclusive and public process that allows the people of the Pacific to submit initiatives that can help drive regionalism.

A submission by AWPA to the PIF Secretariet.

West Papua -A Pacific Territory

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/West-Papua-A-Pacific-Territory.pdf

Other submissions at

Justice for West Papua

Josephite Justice Network

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Justice-for-West-Papua.pdf

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN WEST PAPUA

Pacific Islands Association of NGOs

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HUMAN-RIGHTS-VIOLATIONS-IN-WEST-PAPUA.pdf

Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in West Papua.

PNG Union for Free West Papua (PNGUFWP)

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Deteriorating-Human-Rights-Situation-in-West-Papua..pdf

Self – Determination in the Pacific Region

The Provisional Government of the Federal Republic of West Papua in Jayapura West Papua Capital

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Self-–-Determination-in-the-Pacific-Region-1.pdf

and on Kanaky/New Caledonia

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)

https://www.forumsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/The-longstanding-struggle-for-self-determination-in-New-Caledonia.pdf

All submissions including previous years at

https://www.forumsec.org/previous-pacific-regionalism-submissions/

About the PIF

The Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation. Founded in 1971, it comprises 18 members:

Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Tokelauis an Associate Member

The Forum’s Pacific Vision is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives. The Pacific Islands Forum works to achieve this by fostering cooperation between governments, collaboration with international agencies, and by representing the interests of its members.

Since 1989, the Forum has organised an annual meeting with key Dialogue Partners at Ministerial level. The Forum currently recognises 18 dialogue partners: Canada, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

The work of the Forum is guided by the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, which was endorsed by Forum Leaders in July 2014. It sets out the strategic vision, values, objectives and approaches to achieve deeper regionalism in the Pacific.

In recent years West Papua has been put back on the agenda at the Forum.

Statement on PIF Secretariet webpage

https://www.forumsec.org/west-papua/

West Papua (Papua)

“Leaders recognised the political sensitivities of the issue of West Papua (Papua) and agreed the issue of alleged human rights violations in West Papua (Papua) should remain on their agenda. Leaders also agreed on the importance of an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on the issue.” – 2016 Pacific Islands Forum Communique.

West Papua was first put on Forum Leaders’ agenda in 2000 when they “expressed deep concern about past and recent violence and loss of life…and called on the Indonesian Government, the sovereign authority, and secessionist groups to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue and consultation.”

West Papua was subsequently raised by Leaders in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2015.

At their 2015 meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, “Leaders recognised the political sensitivities of the issue of West Papua (Papua) and agreed the issue of alleged human rights violations in West Papua (Papua) should remain on their agenda. Leaders also agreed on the importance of an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on the issue.”

Through the regional public consultation process under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, concerns regarding alleged human rights abuses in West Papua were raised once again by over 40 Pacific Non–Government Organisations and individuals in 2015.

Forum Leaders considered all available information at 2015 meeting and “… noted concerns about the human rights situation, calling on all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in Papua. Leaders requested the Forum Chair to convey the views of the Forum to the Indonesian Government, and to consult on a fact finding mission to discuss the situation in Papua with the parties involved.”

In January 2016 Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea, as Forum Chair, announced that he had written to H.E Mr Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia conveying Forum Leaders views on the alleged human rights violations and expressed the desire of the Forum to consult with Indonesia on a fact finding mission to discuss the situation in West Papua with the parties involved.

Later in 2016 the issue was again discussed at the Forum Leaders meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia where, “Leaders recognised the political sensitivities of the issue of West Papua (Papua) and agreed the issue of alleged human rights violations in West Papua (Papua) should remain on their agenda. Leaders also agreed on the importance of an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on the issue.”

In their 2017 meeting in Samoa, Forum Leaders “recognised the constructive engagement by Forum countries with Indonesia with respect to elections and human rights in West Papua and Papua and to continue dialogue in an open and constructive manner.”

Open dialogue with the Government of Indonesia has led to the Forum being invited to take part in the Election Visit Programme and observe the 2017 Indonesian provincial elections. The Forum team comprised Mr Sambue Antas, Acting Director-General for Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Ms Fetogi Vaai of the Samoan Electoral Commission, with support from the Forum Secretariat.

The team observed electoral activity in Jayapura and Manokwari in the provinces of Papua and West Papua whose report can be found here.

In December 2017 the Government of Indonesia invited the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to attend the 10^th Bali Democracy Forum where a statement was delivered at the plenary session.

Opinion pieces on PIF and West Papua

What Drives Indonesia's Pacific Island Strategy?

Jakarta is courting Pacific Island states, hoping to change regional positions on the West Papua issue.

https://thediplomat.com/2018/08/what-drives-indonesias-pacific-island-strategy/

New faces and absent friends in Pacific diplomacy

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/new-faces-and-absent-friends-pacific-diplomacy

Indonesian influence in the Pacific grows, despite Papua disquiet

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/363267/indonesian-influence-in-the-pacific-grows-despite-papua-disquiet

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2) Fiji opposition leader says govt betraying West Papua

3) Opposition leader calls on Fiji to end ‘betrayal’ of West Papuans

4) A total of 133,025 children in Papua vaccinated of Measles and Rubella

5) 3.7-magnitude earthquake hits Jayapura district

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1) Letter to PIF leaders from West Papua Action Auckland

A congratulatory letter has been sent to Vanuatu Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai and to Vanuatu’s special envoy on decolonisation for West Papua, Lora Lina

West Papua Action Auckland

PO Box 68419

Auckland, New Zealand

25 August 2018

Dear Prime Minister/ President,

We understand the issue of West Papua will come before the 49^th Pacific Island Forum in Nauru. We strongly urge you to support Vanuatu’s proposed draft resolution intended for the United Nations General Assembly in 2019. This resolution ‘Realisation of the right of Papuan people to self-determination in the former colony of the Netherlands New Guinea (West New Guinea)’ was tabled by Foreign Minister of Vanuatu Mr Ralph Regenvanu at the recent meeting of Pacific Forum foreign ministers and Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai intends to discuss this at the September Forum meeting.

The denial of the right of self-determination to the West Papuan people in the 1960s set the scene for decades of state-sanctioned violence against the indigenous population. The people of West Papua were never given an opportunity to determine their own political destiny. The 1962 New York Agreement brokered by the United States delivered West Papua to Indonesian control without any consultation with West Papuan representatives. As Papuan leader Markus Kaisiepo described the situation, they “were traded as goats by the Americans”. The so-called ‘Act of Free Choice’ of 1969, mandated by the New York Agreement, was a fraudulent exercise carried out under extreme duress. As human rights lawyer Julian Aguon has pointed out, “in no universe was the infamous 1969 plebiscite a valid exercise of self-determination.”

As you know, Vanuatu’s latest initiative builds on the advocacy work undertaken by Vanuatu and several other Pacific nations in the UN General Assembly and at the UN Human Rights Council. This high-level lobbying reflects the burgeoning support for West Papuan rights among the peoples of the Pacific, including Aotearoa. It also reflects the growing strength of West Papuan resistance which is united under the umbrella of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP). We note that a number of MPs in this country have called for the issue of West Papua to go back before the UN Decolonisation Committee.

This issue is extremely urgent. There is much evidence that the people of West Papua are experiencing slow genocide due to ongoing human rights abuses and the harmful conditions of life experienced by so many Papuans. The Genocide Convention says that “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” meets the definition of genocide.

The recent Amnesty International report Don’t bother just let him die: killing with impunity in Papua documented 95 extrajudicial killings at the hands of the Indonesian security forces in a ten-year period. Not a single perpetrator was brought before a civilian court. This report is the latest in a long list of authoritative human rights reports documenting the routine use of torture and killings as well as the denial of fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. The indigenous population is also subject to ongoing suffering because of Indonesia’s gross neglect of basic health services in rural areas. An outbreak of measles which came to attention early this year claimed the lives of dozens of malnourished Asmat children.

It must also be noted that the proportion of indigenous Papuan people as a percentage of the total population continues to decline as a result of migration from other parts of Indonesia. This inward migration poses a huge threat to the well-being of the people who live in areas targeted for exploitation of minerals and forests, or for the expansion of palm oil and other lucrative agri-business projects.

We strongly urge you to support Vanuatu and its plan to take the issue of the right to self-determination of the West Papuan people to the UN General Assembly.

Yours sincerely

Maire Leadbea

For West Papua Action Auckland.

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365029/fiji-opposition-leader-says-govt-betraying-west-papua

2) Fiji opposition leader says govt betraying West Papua

3:18 pm today

The Fiji opposition leder, Ro Teimumu Kepa, says the government has to stop its betrayal of the people of West Papua.

Ro Teimumu Kepa (centre) with staff flying the West Papua flag. Photo: supplied

She is urging the government to strongly support the inclusion of the territory on the United Nations' decolonisation list.

Ro Teimumu said Vanuatu had taken a courageous decision to seek freedom for the West Papuans through the UN and Fiji and other regional governments should demonstrate solidarity with this cause.

She said she saluted Vanuatu prime minister, Charlot Salwai, for showing real leadership, and for being a true Melanesian brother to the West Papuan people.

Ro Teimumu said a SODELPA-led government would put its weight behind West Papua.

She said Fiji's leader Frank Bainimarama was an outspoken advocate for Melanesian unity but he is stabbing the indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua in the back by refusing to support their quest for independence.

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https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/08/27/opposition-leader-calls-on-fiji-to-end-betrayal-of-west-papuans/

3) Opposition leader calls on Fiji to end ‘betrayal’ of West Papuans

By PMC Editor -

August 27, 2018

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

Fiji’s Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has called on the government of Fiji to “stop its betrayal” of the people of West Papua.

She said the government should strongly support the inclusion of the territory in the United Nation’s Decolonisation List at next year’s UN General Assembly.

“Vanuatu has taken a courageous decision to seek freedom for the West Papuans through the UN,” Ro Teimumu added in a media statement.

Vanuatu is pushing for support from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) which is meeting in Nauru next week.

Fiji’s official stance over the region has been to regard the future of the twin Melanesian provinces of Papua and West Papua as an internal matter for the Indonesian government.

Indonesia invaded the former Dutch colony in 1962 and established rule by a controversial UN-sanctioned “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 that has been widely criticised as a flawed process and achieved by coercion.

West Papuans have continued to struggle for self-determination since then.

“I call on Fiji and other regional governments to demonstrate solidarity with this cause. It is time to stand up and be counted, ” Ro Teimumu said.

‘True Melanesian brother’
“I thank and salute Prime Minister Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu for showing real leadership, and for being a true Melanesian brother to the West Papuan people. The SODELPA opposition in Fiji is behind him in his mission.

“A SODELPA-led government will put its weight behind West Papua.”

Fiji is due to have an election this year but the date has not yet been called.

Ro Teimumu said Fiji’s government and its Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama were outspoken advocates for Melanesian unity.

“Despite this they have stabbed the indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua in the back by refusing to support their quest to be released from the colonial control of their homeland by Indonesia,” she said.

“Their behaviour towards the oppressed West Papuans is shameful.

“How dare the Prime Minister speak so glowingly of Melanesian brotherhood when he and his government have completely sold out their West Papuan kin to Indonesia?

‘Afraid to challenge’
“The truth is that they are afraid to challenge Indonesia’s sham claim to sovereignty over West Papua. They should have the courage to follow Vanuatu’s example.

“The West Papuan struggle is known here at home, throughout the region and around the globe – our silence and that of our neighbours is deafening.

“For more than 50 years, the indigenous people of West Papua have struggled for self-determination.

“It is immoral for the region and international community to look the other way and deny the people of West Papua the liberty to decide for themselves how they wish to be governed.

“There is little that we can do to reverse our past failure to support the people of West Papua; however we can do something now and in the future to make amends for our past failures.”

Fiji is due to hold elections this year – but a date has not yet been set – and West Papua is expected to be an issue.

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/a-total-of-133025-children-in-papua-vaccinated-of-measles-and-rubella/

4) A total of 133,025 children in Papua vaccinated of Measles and Rubella

Wamena, Jubi – Since it has been launched in the early August this year, measles and rubella immunisation already give to 133,025 children throughout Papua. The Head of Prevention and Control (P2P) Department of Papua Provincial Health Office Aaron Rumainum states it is still beyond the target of around 1 million children.

Therefore, he asks all parties to support this program. “This is in line with the commitment of the provincial government to reach 100 per cent of the target during the campaign from August to September 2018,” he told reporters on Wednesday (08/14/2018) in Wamena.

According to him, this program is very important considering the number of measles cases that occurred in Papua, including 66 cases in Asmat, 38 cases in Nduga, 40 cases in Deiyai, 3 cases in Pegunungan Bintang, 3 cases in Boven Digoel and 1 case in Merauke.

Meanwhile, he takes an example of rubella case in Jayapura Municipality, Jayapura District, Keerom, Biak Numfor and Mimika whose cases reached 9 cases based on the laboratory results in Surabaya. This information is based on the data from Papua Provincial Health Office 2017.

“We must remember that the immunisation can protect children from measles, rubella and polio. These three diseases are very threatening to the future generations of Papua because they can cause disability or even death. We don’t want the special case in Asmat reoccur and take the life of children away,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Papua Health Office Aloysius Giay reveals that despite the incidents in Jayawijaya, the office would continue their program to provide immunisation to the entire regions of Papua. “We want all children in Papua to be immunized properly, and reach the target until September as planned,” he said. (*)

Reporter: Islami Adisubrata

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/117862/37-magnitude-earthquake-hits-jayapura-district

5) 3.7-magnitude earthquake hits Jayapura district

Reporter: Antara 17 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News)- A 3.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Jayapura District in the Indonesian province of Papua on Sunday at 06.40 pm local time but there were no reports on casualties in the aftermath of the quake.

The Jayapura Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located around 11 kilometers away from northwest of Jayapura District at a depth of nine kilometers.

Due to the fact that it lies on Pacific ring of fire, Indonesia is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Over the past four weeks, the Indonesian resort island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara Province has been under the spotlight for a string of strong earthquakes that hit it since since July 29.

As a result, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of August 23, the strong earthquakes, including the 7.0-magnitude quake that shook Lombok Island on August 5, have killed at least 555 people and caused injuries to 829 others.

The majority of the fatalities were residents of North Lombok District areas, due to their close proximity to the strong earthquake`s epicenter. The repeated earthquakes have also damaged 23,098 houses and forced 134,236 people to be displaced.

Reporting by Musa Abubar
Editing by Rahmad Nasution

2) Scott Morrison faces test on Paris climate deal

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https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/08/27/14/52/aid-to-pacific-being-abandoned-labor

1) Morrison won't go to Nauru Pacific meeting

5:21pm Aug 27, 2018

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not go to the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru next month, as Labor says he is abandoning Australia's international backyard.

New Foreign Minister Marise Payne will instead go to the forum, which has taken on particular significance this year as China ramps up its development efforts in the Pacific.

"(I'll be) making my first visit as foreign minister into one of the most important regions in which we engage, the Pacific," Senator Payne told Sky News on Monday.

Labor criticised the government for moving the International Development portfolio off the front bench, and for snubbing the forum on Nauru.

"(It) sends a terrible signal to our Pacific neighbours about just how little this government cares for the region," Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said.

South Australian senator Anne Ruston has been appointed Assistant Minister for International Development, but will not be in cabinet.

Senator Payne spent time in the Pacific as Defence Minister and said she was keen to see Australia continue as the "security partner of choice" in the region.

"I think that it is a very important way for Australia to engage in our region and more broadly, I've seen the value over the past few years of the strength of our defence co-operation program in the region," she said.

Mr Morrison's first international trip as prime minister will be to Indonesia, where he is due to sign a landmark free trade deal.

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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-faces-test-on-paris-climate-deal-20180827-p50045.html

2) Scott Morrison faces test on Paris climate deal

By David Crowe & Fergus Hunter 28 August 2018 — 12:00am

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing his first foreign policy test ahead of a regional visit next week, as Pacific leaders urge him to deepen Australia’s cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and cement Australia’s commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change.

The moves heighten pressure on the new Prime Minister to confirm his stance on the global climate deal as two new cabinet ministers take on the Energy and Environment portfolios amid talk of a policy reset.

Fiji Prime Minister Josaia "Frank" Bainimarama wrote to Mr Morrison on Monday to congratulate him on his elevation while also seeking a commitment to tackle carbon emissions.

“We cannot settle for business as usual and we certainly cannot tolerate any backward steps,” Mr Bainimarama said of the urgent need to address climate change.

“I appreciate Australia’s commitment in this fight so far and I believe that this commitment must grow even stronger moving forward.

“This will include increased ambition in your commitments under the Paris agreement.”

The letter, seen by Fairfax Media, came after Marshall Islands president Hilda Heine also congratulated Mr Morrison and highlighted the drought along eastern Australia.

“The Paris agreement is a vital tool in the fight against climate change and for helping protect your Pacific neighbours,” Ms Heine tweeted to Mr Morrison.

The message from Mr Bainimarama carries special influence because Fiji chairs the United Nation’s COP23 round of climate change negotiations and expects Australia to deliver on its pledges.

Mr Morrison has cancelled plans to attend the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru next week and is sending Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne instead, with climate change one of the major items on the agenda.

Government backbenchers have called for a withdrawal from the Paris agreement during the debate on energy policy in recent weeks, with Nationals MP Keith Pitt quitting the ministry over the issue last week.

The government has set a target to cut emissions by 26 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, while Labor is pledging a 45 per cent reduction. Coalition MPs have baulked at legislating cuts to emissions in the federal bill linked to the National Energy Guarantee, the policy that helped trigger last week's leadership crisis.

Mr Morrison said “everybody knows” that the climate is changing when asked in Queensland on Monday whether he thought the drought was linked to climate change.

“It’s not a debate I’ve participated a lot in in the past because I’m practically interested in the policies that will address what is going on here right and now,” he said in Quilpie.

The Australian position now depends on a future cabinet decision on how to reset the National Energy Guarantee, with new Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Environment Minister Melissa Price charged with fixing the issue.

Amid tensions over China's growing influence in the Pacific, Senator Payne said ensuring Australia was the "security partner of choice" in the region.

Mr Morrison's first overseas trip as Prime Minister will be to Indonesia to sign a landmark free trade agreement with President Joko Widodo.

Asked on Monday about Australia's commitment to the Paris agreement, newly installed Treasurer and deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg said Australia would not damage its economy in pursuit of climate goals.

"And that is the key, we are not going to have a recklessly high target," Mr Frydenberg told ABC radio. "What we are going to do is be a good global citizen, but ensure that Australians are always first and ensure that jobs are being created and that we don't do anything that damages the economy."

Environment Victoria chief Erwin Jackson said Pacific nations expected Australia to meet its Paris commitment.

"The Pacific Island Forum will be the first real foreign policy test for the government," he said.

"Reneging on our international promises would illicit hostile responses from our neighbours and allies. If you are not a good friend on climate change, other countries will not be inclined to be good friends on issues Australia might care about like China’s role in the region and regional security and trade."

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2) Papua resident arrested for alleged hate speech against Indonesia

3) Call for Pacific leaders to support West Papua resolution

4) New Zealand recognizes West Papua as part of Indonesia

5) 2 Million Papuan Voters Threatened to Lose Voting Rights, House of Parliament Reacts

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https://postcourier.com.pg/png-indon-ties-going-stronger-says-pato/

1) PNG, Indon Ties Going Stronger, Says Pato

August 28, 2018

BY MATTHEW VARI

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato has reminded those set on displacing the country’s connections with its closest neighbour Indonesia that both have a solid relationship.

He said the struggles of Indonesia to reach its current position and standing today after 73 years, sees it poised to be one of the great economies of the world in the next few years.

“Of course there are others who have all manners of views to displace the trust and confidence and relationship between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea,’’ he said.

“Let me remind them that the relationship between Papua New Guinea is very strong and is growing from strength to strength.’’

“Of course it is through the support of Indonesia in 2014 when it hosted APEC in Bali that PNG was given the opportunity at the encouragement and support of the Republic of Indonesia to host APEC this year.

“It is Indonesia’s support that has given PNG a special observer member of ASEAN nations.”

He said such opportunities and challenges only arise between close friends.

Mr Pato said in the spirit of agreements, PNG respects the commitment of the government of Indonesia to take a focused development approach to border issues.

“We have in recent years signed on multiple memorandums of understandings to enhance the relationship of our two countries, that is very important very much so in the border regions,’’ Mr Pato said.

“We believe that through economic development, close cooperation and friendship through respectful discussion and dialogue we will advance the living conditions of the people on both sides of the border.

“We have been steadily improving conditions on this side and we know that Indonesia has been doing the same.

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

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/08/28/papua-resident-arrested-for-alleged-hate-speech-against-indonesia.html

2) Papua resident arrested for alleged hate speech against Indonesia

Jakarta | Tue, August 28, 2018 | 01:53 pm

The Mimika Police in Papua have arrested AY, a worker at gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, for making a video that police have described as “hate speech against Indonesia” and distributing it on social media.

Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agung Marlianto said on Tuesday that AY was arrested at his house at Bumi Kamoro Indah housing complex last Thursday.

“[AY] faces charges under Article 45 Paragraph 2 of Law No. 19/2016 on electronic information and transactions, because he deliberately spread information aimed at fueling hatred against an individual or group of people based on their ethnicity, religion or race,” Agung said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

AY made a short video of his young son expressing opposition to Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua. The video was then posted on Facebook. The police did not arrest the child.

Conflicts between Papuan residents and police have spiked in the past week, as the country celebrated its Independence Day on Aug. 17.

A group of Papuan students living in a dormitory in Surabaya, East Java, refused to fly the Indonesian flag ahead Independence Day, resulting in a clash between the students and local residents.

Separately, freshmen from the Jayapura-based Cendrawasih University wore attributes of the Morning Star, the flag used by separatist groups in Papua, on campus and chanted “free Papua”, as instructed by senior students.

The students were taken to police stations for questioning but were later released as the police did not press charges. (vny)

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365115/call-for-pacific-leaders-to-support-west-papua-resolution

3) Call for Pacific leaders to support West Papua resolution

1:52 pm today

A West Papua support group in New Zealand is calling on Pacific leaders to support Vanautu's push for the Indonesian region to be included on the UN's decolonisation list.

West Papua Action Auckland said leaders attending next week's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nauru must back Vanuatu's draft resolution when it is raised by prime minister Charlot Salwai.

It said the denial of the right of self-determination for West Papua in the 1960s set the scene for decades of state-sanctioned violence against the indigenous population.

The activist group said the so-called 'Act of Free Choice' in 1969 was a fraudulent exercise carried out under extreme duress.

It said there is evidence West Papuans are experiencing slow genocide due to ongoing human rights abuses and the harmful conditions of life experienced by so many Papuans.

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http://dailypost.vu/news/new-zealand-recognizes-west-papua-as-part-of-indonesia/article_57cfcb72-f47f-5764-b780-748e4a97151d.html

4) New Zealand recognizes West Papua as part of Indonesia

6 hrs ago

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters says his country recognizes West Papua as a part of Indonesia.

He made this comment when asked about New Zealand’s stand on the West Papua issue where Vanuatu is spearheading efforts in support of West Papua, during his recent visit to Port Vila.

“If you were the examine the economic and social condition of West Papua per capita as opposed to PNG, even PNG would acknowledge that their (West Papua) performance is higher than PNG’s.

“PNG is the neighbor of West Papua.

“And I think as a Polynesian, or Melanesian or Pacific concept, the first person I’d be consulting on an issue like that is the nearest neighbor to the issue that might be the problem, namely PNG.

“So all I was trying to say is let’s not underestimate the emotional sincereity of the Vanuatu people’s feeling on the issue but never at the same time overlook how deeply concerning this issue is to the nearest neighbor, Papua New Guinea,” Mr Peters said.

He continues that the Indonesian Government should be worked with to look at its programs of improving the lives of its people.

“But what we do not want, surely is to have PNG, that is soon to put on APEC, having all this anxieties of being condemned by its own kin, namely fellow Melanesian countries.

“We are from the most southern part of Polynesia, New Zealand, but we see it that way, in a sense.

“Our job is to try to facilitate at ease a longterm comfort with this issue where the people concern in this issue, people of West Papua, where their conditions are improved.

Mr Peters says New Zealand is dreading very carefully on handling this issue.

The Minister was responding to a question raised by Kizzy Kalsakau from 96 Buzz FM on New Zealand's stand on West Papua.

Vanuatu is the only country in the world that has been in the forefront of this issue in the past to see fellow Melanesians gain political freedom and the stand has been supported recently by other countries in the Pacific.

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http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/currentnews/read/23793/2.million.papuan.voters.threatened.to.lose.voting.rights..house.of.parliament.reacts

5) 2 Million Papuan Voters Threatened to Lose Voting Rights, House of Parliament Reacts

Monday, 27 Augst 2018 | 20:22 WIB

JAKARTA, NNC - House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) fears that some 2 million Papuan voters could not exercise their voting rights in the 2019 Election. This was said after the Papua Election Commission released a data on voters who did not have an electronic identity card (e-KTP) comprise of 2 million prospective voters.

Bamsoet says if referring to Regulation Number 7 Year 2017 on General Elections, e-KTP becomes a valid requirement of voters to exercise their right to vote. The right to vote for all Indonesian citizens (WNI) must be guaranteed.

Therefore, Bamsoet asked the Interior Ministry together with the Papua Population and Civil Registration Service to immediately collect data / matching activities and research on people who do not have e-KTP.

"Residents can immediately make e-KTP so that they can use their voting rights in the 2019 Election," Bamsoet told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, Aug 27.

Bamsoet said that the Papua Regional Government through Disdukcapil is optimizing performance to improve the system or infrastructure of e-KTP. Its expected that the making of e-KTP in Papua is according to the target.

"One of the obstacles in making e-KTP is the damaging of the device," said Bamsoet.

Bamsoet urges Papua's Disdukcapil to invite the public to record their data for all provincial residents in the eastern Indonesia.

"Papuans who do not have e-KTP should immediately record their data so they can use their voting rights in the upcoming 2019 Election," Bamsoet said.

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2) SAGU Foundation and Curtin University Australia alumni organize ‘sharing and caring event’ at school

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/man-and-his-child-arrest-posting-video-on-facebook-is-overwhelmed-says-the-legislator/

1) Man and his child arrest posting video on Facebook is overwhelmed, says the legislator

Published

2 days ago

27 August 2018

admin

The Illustration of a demonstration. -Jubi / Doc

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa considers the arrest of a man AY, who posted a ‘Free Papua’ video on his Facebook account, and his child SY by Mimika Police are overwhelmed.

“It’s exaggerated. If this continuously occurs, it means the state is really silencing the democracy in Papua,” Kadepa told Jubi by phone on Saturday (08/25/2018).

According to him, this arrest is not a proper solution. Indonesia must change its approach to the Papuans.

Meanwhile, a human right activist Theo Hesegam said he is very concerned about the violence that unceasingly occurs in Papua, as it has taken hundreds of people’s lives.

“Up to now, the number of victims is still growing whether the Indonesian military of Papuan liberation army cause it. In the conflict involved both sides, civilians always become a victim. “The victims are not only indigenous Papuans but also non-Papuans,” he said.

Referring to this situation, he suggests the Indonesian Government should have a solution to end the violence in Papua. (*)

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/sagu-foundation-and-curtin-university-australia-alumni-organize-sharing-and-caring-event-at-school/

2) SAGU Foundation and Curtin University Australia alumni organize ‘sharing and caring event’ at school

Published

11 hours ago

28 August 2018

admin

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of SAGU Foundation Tisha Rumbewas said the ‘sharing and caring event’ in SMAN 3 Jayapura is a collaboration between the Curtin University Alumni and her foundation for sharing experience on study abroad.

“We are very pleased with this activity because in recent years a passion for Papuan children to study abroad has increased. This indicates a positive improvement of education in Papua,” she told Jubi on Friday (08/24/2018).

In the event, she also invited the IALF Global from Bali to deliver the material in a session, while a Curtin University alumnus Patrisia Rumaseray gave a presentation about the lecture activities abroad to the students.

“Don’t be shy about learning English. I always love learning English, so I went to high school abroad. I am sure that you can also go abroad later,” said Rumaseray who graduated from Paulus Junior High School Abepura. (*)

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizer

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2) Indonesia: running mates spark controversy

3) Too early to judge new Aust regime approach to Pacific - Batley

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http://indonesiaexpat.biz/news/polish-man-arrested-filming-papuan-armed-groups/

1) Polish Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying To Film Papuan Armed Groups

Indonesia Expat Aug 29, 2018

A Polish citizen is currently in custody with police in Papua over his alleged attempt to film what the Indonesian Military (TNI) claims was a planned “ammunition trade” between two armed groups in the restive province.

The Pole, identified only as JF, 39, was arrested on his way to the location of the handover at Habema Lake in Jayawijaya last Friday, according to the police.

172/PWY Military Command commander Col. Inf. J. Binsar P. Sianipar told reporters on Wednesday that his personnel had found indications that he was linked to an armed group.

“He had communicated with the armed group, and that day he was going to Habema Lake to cover the sale of hundreds of rounds of ammunition,” he said, adding that the suspect had been planning to expose the event to the world.

Binsar said JF had come to Indonesia on a tourist visa and had visited Raja Ampat in West Papua. “It is reprehensible that [he] entered Indonesia using a tourist visa but is also engaging in another activity—building relations with armed groups.”

Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yan Piet Reba told The Jakarta Post that the ammunition transaction was between an armed group operating in Wamena and another group from Puncak Jaya.

“JF was planning to go to Habema Lake, where representatives of the armed group from Puncak Jaya were waiting to buy the ammunition,” he said.

Police have questioned four people linked to the case.

“Three people have been sent to the Papua Police, one is a Polish national and the other two are locals,” Yan Piet said.

Source: Jakarta Post

Photo courtesy of freewestpapuaindonesia.com

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https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/indonesia-running-mates-spark-controversy

2) Indonesia: running mates spark controversy

BY Greta Nabbs-Keller

28 August 2018 06:00 AEDT

The confirmation by President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo’s of conservative Islamic cleric Ma’ruf Amin as running mate for the April 2019 presidential contest evoked disappointment among constituencies in Indonesia committed to democracy and pluralism.

Interpreted as a forced compromise, a Jokowi-Ma’ruf ticket certainly acts as a buffer against conservative Islamic opposition, but it by no means guarantees Jokowi an election victory. Economic issues above religious ones are likely to be a key point of vulnerability for Jokowi in the presidential campaign.

Ma’ruf’s record of sowing division and intolerance in his capacity as Chair of the Council of Indonesian Ulema (MUI) has caused concern among non-Muslim segments of Indonesia’s population and more liberal political circles, concerned about their country’s increasingly divisive politics. Critics of Jokowi’s decision have pointed to Ma’ruf’s propensity to legitimise violence and discrimination against minorities and political opponents as leader of MUI, an increasingly obscurantist, national body of Islamic scholars.

Ma’ruf stems from Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdhlatul Ulama, whose former leader and Indonesia’s fourth president, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), was a respected a champion of pluralism and democratic ideals. Ma’ruf, however, strays far from Gus Dur’s enlightened traditions.

Under Ma’ruf’s leadership MUI has issued fatwas against Muslim minority sects Ahmadiyah and Shia, which have served to sanction violence and discrimination against them. Similarly, an October 2016 MUI fatwa declaring that incumbent ethnic Chinese Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahjaja (Ahok) Purnama had insulted the Quran, was a legitimating factor in the mobilisation of sectarian and racially-charged Islamic opposition against him.

Ma’ruf’s previous actions have been rightly interpreted as the triumph of conservative Islamic values over Indonesia’s pluralist and democratic norms. But in a pragmatic sense Ma’ruf’s confirmation undoubtedly adds to Jokowi’s legitimacy in the eyes of conservative Muslim constituents. It also affords Jokowi somewhat of a bulwark against Islamic-based opposition used to such devastating effect against Ahok, Jakarta’s former governor. Many will recall in both the 2014 presidential election and to a lesser extent, in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, how doubt was sown about Jokowi’s ethnicity and religion by opportunistic and radical opponents.

Meanwhile, confirmation from the challenger Prabowo Subianto that incumbent deputy Jakarta governor, Sandiaga Uno, would run as his vice presidential candidate also caused consternation, not least for Partai Demokrat (PD) chair, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). SBY was understood to have clinched a deal for his son, 40 year old former Army Major, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to run with Prabowo in return for PD joining Prabowo’s Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra)-led opposition coalition.

Shock within PD ranks was followed by allegations that Uno, one of Indonesia’s wealthiest men, had used his considerable largesse to secure the vice presidential ticket. Uno had allegedly paid considerable sums to the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) to remain in, and to the National Mandate Party (PAN) to switch, to, the opposition coalition. PAN, the political vehicle of Indonesia’s second largest Islamic mass organisation, Muhammadiyah, had until 10 August been part of Jokowi’s governing coalition.

Uno’s joint Sumatran and Sulawesi ancestry means he appeals to a voter base beyond Java, but undoubtedly Uno’s main political utility for Prabowo is his wealth. Uno is understood to be one of the key financiers behind Gerindra’s-coordinated opposition to Ahok during the 2016-2017 Jakarta gubernatorial contest.In the months leading up to the vice presidential announcement there was speculation that Prabowo would not run again due to denuded campaign resources. The 2019 election will be Prabowo’s fourth attempt at the presidency and in securing Uno, Prabowo significantly boosts his campaign coffers.

The wily political veteran has also managed to retain PD in his coalition despite SBY’s deep disappointment with the decision. No doubt, AHY has been promised political rewards in a key cabinet post, following in his father’s footsteps. With 10.19% of the national vote in the 2014 legislative elections, PD’s entry into the opposition coalition along with PAN at 7.59%, strengthens Prabowo’s chances.

Unless Indonesia’s economy significantly improves, Jokowi’s incumbency gives the rival Prabowo-Uno ticket the natural advantage on economic issues. Indonesia’s economic prospects over the next eight months to the April 2019 first run-off are far from certain, particularly given recent developments in emerging markets. Turkey’s currency slide has buffeted the Rupiah and the uncertainty of Trump’s “trade wars” still have a way to play out on global economies, including Indonesia’s.

Jokowi’s ambitious infrastructure agenda, moreover, lends him vulnerable to Prabowo’s strident economic nationalism and anti-Chinese inclinations. Prabowo understands that many Indonesians are uneasy about perceived Chinese dominance over the economy, expressed in negative sentiment toward Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese and in Beijing’s generous investment in Indonesia’s infrastructure projects.

Moreover, resentment toward Chinese workers in particular, is becoming more apparent, fanned by perceptions of a “flood” of illegal Chinese labour and online fearmongering. If Indonesia's economy slides, it will boost Prabowo’s chances with an electorate suspicious about foreign control and erosion of economic sovereignty.

Disappointing for some, the vice presidential picks are insightful in what they reveal about Indonesia’s contemporary politics. Indonesia’s secular-based parties must now edge to the religious right in order to become more electable; a significant shift over the last 20 years, where it was previously the conservative Islamic parties forced to the centre. The presidential-vice presidential tickets also illustrate how the distribution of largesse determines elite coalition formation and senior political appointment. Another disappointment for those who hoped that democratisation would diminish rent-seeking behaviour and instil greater integrity within Indonesia’s political and institutions.

But in the end, Jokowi’s fate may be contingent upon external factors largely outside the cauldron of Indonesia’s domestic politics. For despite growing Islamic conservatism, Indonesia’s voters, like many others around the world, are usually impelled by economic considerations above religious ones.

Notwithstanding unanticipated shocks and disjuncture, the economy will continue to be Jokowi’s key point of political vulnerability despite high personal approval ratings. Expect another dirty campaign based on a populist narrative of economic nationalism and anti-Chinese sentiment.

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365252/too-early-to-judge-new-aust-regime-approach-to-pacific-batley

3) Too early to judge new Aust regime approach to Pacific - Batley

about 1 hour ago

A commentator on Pacific issues says it's disappointing but not surprising that Australia's new prime minister won't be attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru.

Australia's incoming Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne, will be attending the Forum instead of Scott Morrison - as her first international engagement.

Former diplomat turned academic, James Batley, says it's not unexpected that Mr Morrison isn't going and he thinks other Forum members will be understanding.

"For a brand new prime minister, I think there's a lot of pressing domestic concerns and I have to say I'm just not surprised that he's taken that decision and there's plenty of precedent for this - it's a rare forum meeting when all the leaders are able to turn up."

Mr Batley, who is part of Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs, also said it's too early to say whether the government's decision to drop the role of International Development and Pacific Minister had any real significance.

As part of Scott Morrison's reshuffle, the portfolio no longer had a minister and has instead been given what's called an 'assistant minister' - also known as a parliamentary secretary.

Australia's Labor Party called the move a downgrade, saying it sends a signal to Pacific nations about how little Australia cares about the region.

However Mr Batley warned against reading too much into the change of position.

"What really counts in that position is firstly the personality of the minister or the assistant minister, how well they interact with Pacific Islanders, but also, and really importantly, how much freedom they're given by the Foreign Minister," he said.

Mr Batley said he suspected there might be a bit of "political mischief making on the part of the Opposition" by saying the move represented a downgrade.

"In formal terms, yes it does, but really I think the assistant minister will speak with all the authority of the Australian government.

"It's going to depend on what level of decision making the Foreign Minister allows her to make, and how she actually performs in the field."

The new assistant minister for International Development and the Pacific is Anne Ruston.

She will report to incoming Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne.

Mr Batley said Ms Payne had a long-standing interest in foreign affairs issues.

"She's not starting from scratch. I think she'll bring a real interest, a personal interest, to the portfolio."

Whereas, Mr Batley said the vast amount of Ms Ruston's experience had been in domestic portfolios.

"She's been in Parliament for half a dozen years now from South Australia, but she has represented Australia at a couple of meetings at the Forum Fisheries Agency, but really you would have to say that she is pretty much starting from scratch when it comes to I think both the Pacific and the aid programme."

Ms Ruston told ABC Adelaide she had "no idea" why she had been given the role, but said it was a "very exciting new challenge”.

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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Media Release 30 August 2018

PM Morrison heads to Indonesia but not the PIF

Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads to Indonesia today on his first overseas trip as leader to conclude a trade deal between the two countries.

Joe Collins of AWPA said “although we can expect the usual backslapping about our special relationship there is no doubt that the human rights situation in West Papua will not be mentioned”.

Its also disappointing that PM Morrison will not be attending the 49th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Nauru next week, sending the New Foreign Minister, Senator Marise Payne instead.

AWPA has written to Foreign Minster Payne urging her and the PIF Leaders to continue to raise concern about the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government and to continue to press Jakarta to allow a PIF fact-finding mission to the territory as was suggested at the 46th PIF meeting in Port Moresby”.

AWPA also urges Sen. Payne to support a draft resolution which Vanuatu will submit to the PIF calling for West Papuans’ right of self-determination, to be presented at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, in September 2019.

Ends

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Media releases

1) INDONESIA: Arbitrary arrest and detention in Papua

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00130/indonesia-arbitrary-arrest-and-detention-in-papua.htm

2) Call on Pacific Leaders to support Vanuatu’s West Papua stan

https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00127/call-on-pacific-leaders-to-support-vanuatu-s-west-papua-stan.htm

3) PM Morrison heads to Indonesia but not the PIF

https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00128/pm-morrison-heads-to-indonesia-but-not-the-pif.htm

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2) Police say detained Polish man to face trial in Papua

3) The Pacific can no longer turn a blind eye to West Papua, envoy

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http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=17308011325b88b6d37077d65414a1

1) PIANGO calls on Pacific leaders to take West Papua case to UN

10:32 pm GMT+12, 30/08/2018, Nauru

The Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) is calling on the Pacific Island Forum Leaders to support Vanuatu to take the issue of West Papua to the United Nations.

With membership in Pacific Forum Countries and Territories, PIANGO continues to be concerned with ongoing violations of the human rights of ethnic Melanesians in Indonesia’s Papua provinces.

PIANGO Executive Director Emele Duituturaga said that the issue of West Papua has been on the Leaders Agenda without evident progress. PIANGO had previously raised its concerns on this issue in 2016 and 2017but the situation has not improved.

According to The report the International Coalition on Papua Human Rights Update for the fourth quarter of 2017 confirmthat human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings continue.

Duituturaga said that in PIANGO’s submission to Pacific Leaders through the Forum Specialist Sub-regional Committee of Regionalism in February this year, PIANGOcalled for;

*A UN Special Rapporteur on West Papua to investigate continued human rights violations;

*Support for a UN General Assembly Resolution to include West Papua on the UN Decolonisation List; and

*Scrutiny of development cooperation with Indonesia and participation in the Pacific Island Forum.

PIANGO commends the Government and People of Vanuatu for their continued efforts for West Papua and joins them in calling on Pacific Forum Leaders’ to not give up on West Papua but to heed their moral duty as Pacific neighbours and relatives to halt these violations immediately.

The issue of West Papua will be on the agenda of CSO roundtable meetings jointly organised by PIANGO and its National Affiliate - Nauru Islands Association of Non-Government Organisation (NIANGO), to precede next week’s PIF Leaders CSO Dialogue under the theme .“Rethinking and Reshaping a Free and Secure Blue Pacific”.

The Roundtablefor national and local CSOs is underway in Nauru today.

A regional CSO Roundtable will take place next Monday 3 September in Nauru.

The Forum Leaders-CSO Dialogue will take place on Tuesday 4 September - a closed session between Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and selected civil society representatives.

PIANGO has been actively campaigned over the past years for the inclusion of civil society voices and representation in regional policy and decision making which has been adopted with the Framework for Pacific Regionalism.

SOURCE: PIANGO/PACNEWS

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https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/police-say-detained-polish-man-to-face-trial-in-papua-20180831-p5013l.html

2) Police say detained Polish man to face trial in Papua

31 August 2018 — 6:05pm

Jakarta: Police say a Polish man detained in Indonesia's troubled Papua region on suspicion of links to separatists will be tried there instead of being deported.

Jakub Fabian Skrzypski, 39, described by police as a journalist, was arrested several days ago in Wamena, the capital of the mountainous district of Jayawijaya, following the arrests of five Papuans who had a quantity of ammunition.

Papua police spokesman Ahmad Mustofa Kamal said on Friday that Skrzypski would be charged with involvement in a treasonous plot.

Indonesia restricts foreign journalists from entering its two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, where a pro-independence insurgency has simmered for decades.

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018660580/the-pacific-can-no-longer-turn-a-blind-eye-to-west-papua-envoy

3) The Pacific can no longer turn a blind eye to West Papua, envoy

From Dateline Pacific, 3:04 pm today

Vanuatu's newly appointed special envoy for West Papua, Lora Lini, says the West Papua issue is something the Pacific region can no longer turn a blind eye on.

Vanuatu is to ask next week's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nauru to support its plans to ask the UN General Assembly to inscribe West Papua on its decolonisation list.

Ms Lini told Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor about her new role.

Listen 3:35

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