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1) LEGISLATOR: INDONESIA-PNG BORDER COMMUNITY TREATED UNFAIRLY

December 14, 2015, 10:42 pm
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1) LEGISLATOR: INDONESIA-PNG BORDER COMMUNITY TREATED UNFAIRLY
2) HEAD OF NATIONAL LAND AGENCY : COMMUNAL RIGHTS TO LAND EXIST IN PAPUA


3) Villagers still cross PNG/Indo border despite abuses

4) Just Kidding, Minister Luhut Says Over Freeport Shakedown Scandal
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1) LEGISLATOR: INDONESIA-PNG BORDER COMMUNITY TREATED UNFAIRLY
Jayapura, Jubi – Wutung people who live in the border of Papua New Guinea feel that they have been treated unfairly as they cannot cross the border despite having a crossing permit, said Deputy chairman of Commission I of Papua Legislative Council on Governance, Foreign Relations, Politics, Law and Human Rights, Orwan Tolli Wone.
“Watung women traders who sell betel nut and others admitted the difficulty when crossing over to PNG to sell their goods even though they have a cross-border card,” Orwan told Jubi on last week.
“While PNG citizens who want to sell or buy staples in Wutung gets free access,” he said after conducting a working visit to the area few days ago. .

He said he hoped Jayapura government to pay attention to the condition of society Wutung including basic infrastructure.
“The border region is a state authority. Measure of state success is border communities. Yet the real condition is different. This is not only happening in Papua, but also Indonesia’s border regions in other provinces, “he said.
He further said, to build border region can not simply rely n provincial budget, it needs support of state budget. He hopes the central government to prepare a budget sufficient for the border region, including in Papua.
Mama Septina Wemallo, Wutung citizen who daily sells betel nut to PNG said she and other residents felt treated unjustly when crossing into neighboring country.
“We find difficulty when we want to go to PNG, difficult. Yet, residents of PNG easily come to Indonesia easy. I ever had an argue with PNG security, even though we had a cross-border card, “said Septina Wemallo some time ago. (Arjuna Pademme/ Tina)
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2) HEAD OF NATIONAL LAND AGENCY : COMMUNAL RIGHTS TO LAND EXIST IN PAPUA
Des 13, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning / Head of National Land Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said the communal rights to land exist in Papua.
He stated when meeting with the government of Papua Province in the context of socialization of the Land Acquisition Act in Jayapura on last week.
He said the government has issued a regulation on communal rights. Definition of communal rights based on Agricultural and Spatial regulation No. 9 of 2015 is the common property of land a customary law community or collective ownership rights over the land given to the people who are in forests or plantations.

This regulation is to recognize and respect for indigenous rights. ” The land rights are in Papua,” he said again.
He explained if later the government of Papua feel there are things that need to be elaborated or add, he allows it as Papua applies Special Autonomy Law.
He added, in the context of the norm, it is necessary to strengthen the provision of communal rights in Papua.
The regulation issued is to help and develop the province of Papua regarding to the communal rights of land in Papua. (Alexander Loen)
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3) Villagers still cross PNG/Indo border despite abuses
Updated at 5:26 pm on 10 December 2015

A representative from a Papua New Guinea village close to the border with Indonesia says traditional border crossing rights still have a place despite some abuses of the system.
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A representative from a Papua New Guinea village close to the border with Indonesia says traditional border crossing rights still have a place despite some abuses of the system.
Traditional Border Crossers have officially recognised rights to travel back and forth between PNG and Indonesia's Papua region for cultural reasons.
Jame Nunakru is a ward representative in Lido village in PNG's West Sepik province.
He spoke to Johnny Blades about life near the border.
JAME NUNAKRU: Those people who are living close to the PNG border, we have relatives who are living on the other side of the border - we sort of have common, traditional ties. That is why even though West Papua is ruled by Indonesia we still have those traditional ties and we still travel across for customary purposes and things like that, not using passports but using traditional TBC cards - a traditional border card. This is the card I talk about and this is issued to the five villages along the west coast and we use this to travel across the border.
JOHNNY BLADES: So all of the villagers have them?
JN: That's right, yes.
JB: Do you have to prove that you were born here or anything like that?
JN: Yes, we have to. The council will endorse any application form of any community member to satisfy that they are a citizen of that village. Even then they take it to, I think, foreign affairs who will process a card for him or her.
JB: And does the system work quite well? Does it work alright?
JN: It used to be, but there's a lot of abuse now because the card has been issued to those people who are not entitled to it, that's why there is some abuse. We have relatives who live on the other side, when they come I don't see any problems there. They live with our people for quite a while and then they return.
JB: Do you get many OPM [West Papuan independence rebels] people coming over?
JN: I cannot give you any exact figure but we have elements living on our side of the border and we have PNG sympathisers who accept them when they come into our territory.
JB: Are they coming because they are also related to people here or because they're fleeing?
JN: Sometimes they are in search of medicine, maybe food supplies, and others they just cross over to escape from Indonesian authorities.  
JB: What are the biggest changes to your way of life here?
JN: There is not much development taking place along the border compared to the Indonesian side, where there is tremendous development taking place. On our side of the broder the government is not concentrating and, as such, we have not seen much improvement in terms of development.
JB: Is that contrast over there, is that pulling people over? People who want better services or anything like that.
JN: I think yes. It's not happening very much along the coast but there's a lot of people migrating to the Indonesian side in search of, you know,  better life.
JB: Things like...
JN: Education, health, you know the general standard of living. They are not getting much attention or much help they tend to move across in search of a better life.

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4) Just Kidding, Minister Luhut Says Over Freeport Shakedown Scandal
By : Jakarta Globe | on 8:28 PM December 14, 2015
Jakarta. Chief security minister Luhut Panjaitan played down House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto's alleged attempt to shake down mining giant Freeport Indonesia for a purported $4 billion, saying that Setya's remarks in the secret audio recording are "nothing more than a joke."
Appearing before the House Ethics Council, which probing Setya’s conduct, Luhut claimed that since the government has no intention of renewing Freeport's contract beyond 2021, Setya's request for Freeport to divest its shares through him must have been a joke.
“Why would anyone ask for shares?” Luhut told the Ethics Council, suggesting that Freeport's contract might not be extended and the company's assets would then belong to the Indonesian government.
“So it is impossible that Setya is trying to control [the distribution of Freeport] shares. I see Setya's remarks as nothing more than a joke,” Luhut explained.
Setya and oilman Muhammad Riza Chalid said Luhut would advocate on Freeport's behalf, saying that Luhut is a close friend of James R. Moffett, the founder and chairman of Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan, Freeport Indonesia’s parent company.
Luhut, a retired army general, admitted that he met Moffett in 2012 to discuss possibilities of him overseeing security in Freeport's Grassberg mine in Papua but denied that he had become close with Moffett ever since.
Luhut added that he has been advising President Joko Widodo against allowing the contract negotiations to take place before 2019.
“Novanto and Riza mentioned my name and made it appear that I could influence the president [to bring forward the contract discussions]" Luhut told the House Ethics Council.
“But instead I sent out a memo to the president advising him not to. If [Joko] makes a wrong decision and one that goes against rules and regulations, then politically it will lead to a backlash against the government,” Luhut added.
Luhut also reiterated his displeasure at Sudirman for going public with the recording.
“The case needs to be settled without creating this much controversy. I am merely reminding [Sudirman] to not overreact,” Luhut said.
Unlike the president, Luhut said he is not mad at Setya and Riza for saying that he could influence Joko to side with Freeport: “I have no interest in the [contract renegotiation] issue. I'm not mad. Everything is under control,” he said.

The plot thickens
Setya is accused of soliciting a 20 percent stake in the copper and gold miner in exchange for speeding up the miner’s contract extension negotiations with the government before the scheduled 2019 start date. It is alleged that the request was made during a meeting in June with Freeport Indonesia chief executive Maroef Sjamsoeddin, who secretly recorded the meeting.
Luhut’s name comes up no fewer than 60 times in the recording, with Setya and businessman Riza telling Maroef that they could get Luhut to change the president's mind on the Freeport renegotiation bid.
The House Ethics Council was supposed to also hear Riza's testimony but the oilman has snubbed calls to appear before the tribunal on Monday.
“We have received no official notification [to explain Riza's absence],” House Ethics Council member Syarifuddin Sudding said, adding that the council will determine later  whether it should involve the police.
This is the second time Riza failed to appear for a hearing, which means the council could enlist the help of the police to bring him in the third time.
National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said last week that Riza had left the country and the businessman was likely “hiding in an Asian country.”
However, Badrodin also said it would be difficult for Indonesia to seek extradition of Riza from any country as the ongoing inquiry is done by an ethics tribunal and not part of a criminal investigation. He could therefore not be formally charged with any crime at this point.
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1) Cold dark matter: Don’t wait for Papua to explode

December 15, 2015, 9:45 am
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2) Cause of deaths of Papuan children revealed
3) Asia’s Human Rights Activists Condemn Brutal Past and Present Call for Brighter Future
4) Ruhut: AGO has Evidence Tying House Speaker to Freeport Scandal
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1) Cold dark matter: Don’t  wait for Papua to explode 
Puguh Sadadi, Leicester, UK | Opinion | Tue, December 15 2015, 4:55 PM 

Dec. 1, which many supporters of the West Papuan freedom movement regard as West Papua’s national day, marks the date in 1961 when the New Guinea Council — the West Papuan parliament under Dutch colonial rule — raised the Morning Star flag for the first time. 

The debate whether it was a plot by the Dutch colonial rulers to stir up conflict between the Indonesian government and the West Papuan indigenous people, or a genuine promise to grant independence to West Papua, no longer benefits anyone living in Papua. 

Every year the Morning Star flag is raised or displayed in some areas, sometimes followed by a clash. Especially after the reform movement in 1998, the flag-raising has become a routine occasion for conflict between supporters of the Free West Papua movement and the security forces, especially in Papua and West Papua. The cycle of conflict symbolized by the flag-raising is akin to a hamster spinning around in his wheel, which is not funny at all for the hamster. 

One of the iconic figures in such flag-raising incidents is Filep Jacob Samuel Karma, a Papuan independence activist who helped raise the Morning Star flag on Dec. 1, 2004, in Jayapura. He was then arrested and charged with treason and given a 15-year prison sentence. The case is just a small part of the bigger problem of West Papuan grievances.

Filep was finally released on Nov. 19 this year after 11 years behind bars. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention classified Filep’s detention as “arbitrary”, while Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience. 

The government has sought to reduce secessionist sentiment through democracy and the acceleration of economic and social development. However, it has failed in cultural recognition or to make sincere efforts to help Papuans live a better life since the beginning of Indonesian administration in West Papua, especially after the 1969 Act of Free Choice. 

After the national reform movement of 1998, the two most significant democratic changes in Indonesia have been free and fair elections and decentralization or regional autonomy, and in the case of Papua and West Papua, special autonomy. 

But economic wellbeing has increased demands for political participation, including the preference for an independent West Papua. Public dissatisfaction has been addressed to elected mayors and regents, governors, councilors, and also successive presidents. 

At the extreme level, the combination of factors supporting conflict such as neglecting historical facts, social injustice, a heavy-handed security approach and mounting distrust has metamorphosed into a violent secessionist movement. 

Indonesia’s “success stories” in resolving domestic conflicts in former East Timor and Aceh were a combination of external and internal efforts triggered by very harsh events. In East Timor, the human rights violations and international pressure intertwined with domestic democratization, while in Aceh, the tsunami, external support and domestic realization of the futility of war by both the central government and the Free Aceh Movement led to an agreement to end the conflict. 

With such a limited experience of purely government initiatives in resolving its domestic conflicts, Indonesia needs to strengthen its democracy as the foundation for generating the initial moves in resolving the conflict in Papua. 

With the success of “procedural democracy” through local elections at national, provincial and local levels — the latest on Dec. 9 — elected rulers should be able to create a stronger connection with their voters by recognizing the preferences of the people. “Substantive democracy” should be felt by all citizens of Indonesia. 

After 32 years of authoritarian rule, it is proving difficult to build structures of civic participation based on mutual trust in West Papua and Papua. Although the reform movement turned 17 years old this year, the West Papua issue not only remains but also may reach the state of a “routine conflict”, where the only communication that the conflicting parties understand is violence or to agree to disagree. 

The most difficult part of secessionist problems in a democratic state is the contradiction between freedom of political expression of the secessionist group and national integrity or sovereignty. 

Part of the core of objective national interests of all countries is related to sovereignty over an internationally recognized physical geographic boundary. 

According to Joseph Frankel in his 1970 book, National Interest, objective national interests are those that relate to a nation-state’s ultimate foreign policy goals. 

These are permanent interests, comprising factors such as geography, history, neighbors, resources, population size and ethnicity. A secessionist problem within a democracy deteriorates in the absence of alternative channels of communications apart from incessant argument, diplomatic dispute, violent conflict and symbolic conflicts like the flag-raising issue. 

Once in a philosophy research class, a professor showed a picture of an abstract geometric painting with lighting and shadows. However, as the professor explained, the cold dark matter was actually a garden shed. The shed had been blown up with explosives and all the debris was flying or lying on the floor.

The illustration not only suits the “explosive conflicts” that Indonesia has undergone since its independence, but also reflects the emotion of the conflicting parties. It doesn’t matter where we stand, everybody hurts. The trouble in rearranging the modern democratic Indonesia is somewhat like organizing historical facts, justice, emotions, sadness and bitterness, all in an atmosphere of residual conflict. The effort of the artist to arrest the moment where the pieces of the garden shed are still in the air is like carefully capturing the tangible and intangible factors of the social and political problem. 

In former East Timor, how many social, political, and economic parts of interwoven fabric did Indonesia detonate? In Aceh, the most explosive event was the tsunami by Mother Nature. No one would like to experience another cold dark moment in Papua. 
The writer is a PhD candidate at the University of Leicester, UK. The views expressed are his own.

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2) Cause of deaths of Papuan children revealed
thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | Archipelago | Tue, December 15 2015, 1:41 PM - 
Respiratory bacteria and a mosquito-borne virus caused the deaths of dozens of children in Mbuwa district of Nduga regency in Papua, a researcher said, urging people to keep clean to prevent diseases from spreading.
The director of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Amin Soebandrio, said recently that laboratory tests on samples taken from the victims showed that pneumococcus and Japanese encephalitis were spreading in the area. These are two common things in Indonesia and children are mostly at high risk of infection.
”Pneumococcus is short for streptococcus pneumonia and it is classified as a bacteria," he said as quoted by Kompas.
Amin said that the pneumococcus bacteria resided in people's respiratory tracts, including in people who were healthy, but normally it did not trigger illness.
"People who are prone of infections are children and the elderly because they have weaker stamina," he said.
The Papua Health Office announced in November that 41 children had died in Nduga regency from an unidentified disease.
The health office and Health Ministry sent teams of doctors, nurses and researchers to investigate the cause of the deaths of the children, who were mostly under the age of 2.
Amin added that for children, the effects caused by streptococcus pneumonia could be pneumonia, hearing impairment and sinus infection.
Infected children could have symptoms such as sore throats, vomiting, fever and seizures. Infected lungs could lead to death.
Amin said that that there was vaccine for the bacteria, but it is not part of the government's immunization program since the vaccine is expensive and the government is still studying its effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the Japanese encephalitis virus could be transferred from humans to animals or vice versa, Amin said.
The virus was usually found in wild pigs and poultry and it infected people through mosquito bites. Fever is its usual symptom.
He said that if the virus attacked nerve tissue, the probability of death could reach 60 percent. Still, most patients could be cured.
Children to teenagers are prone to this virus if they have a weakened immune system.
Amin urged everyone to keep a clean neighborhood and to clean pigsties regularly as that would be the best preventions for the disease.
"To prevent mosquitos from breeding," he said, adding that the treatment for the disease was similar to treating fever. (rin)(+)





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3) Asia’s Human Rights Activists Condemn Brutal Past and Present Call for Brighter Future
By : Donny Andhika Mononimbar | on 6:38 PM December 15, 2015


A Papuan activist commemorates the West Papuan declaration of independence from Dutch rule in Jakarta on Dec. 1, 2015. (Reuters Photo/Darren Whiteside)

Jakarta. Recipients of the Gwangju Human Rights award took part in a two-day "Torture and Violence in Asia" workshop in Indonesia, hosted by activist organizations to highlight the dire human rights violations committed across Asia.
The recipients — hailing from Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran, Sri Lanka, India, Laos and Indonesia — were joined by human rights monitor Imparsial, the May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Indonesian Association of the Families of the Disappeared (IKOHI).
Scores of Indonesia's human rights abuse cases have yet to be investigated, including the 1965/66 anti-communist massacres, the disappearance of dozens of human rights activists and the deaths of university students during the 1998 Jakarta riots.
The lack of response and accountability from the government has allowed those responsible for these heinous crimes to go unpunished, activists say.
Current human rights concerns in Indonesia also go unreported and are rarely investigated — particularly in Papua, they added

"The human rights situation in Papua has shown no progress," said Imparsial chief Poengky Indarti.
"Development programs introduced by the government tend to be pro-investment rather than pro-people. This inequality worsens human rights abuses," added Latifah Anum Siregar, chairwoman of the Alliance for Democracy in Papua and an expert on the Commission for Law and Human Rights for Papua.
"For Papua, we urge the Indonesian government to hold peace dialogues and stop the use of torture. We also encourage Indonesia to open the province up to foreign journalists."
Unresolved human rights atrocities are common across the continent, spurring activists from across the region to join their Indonesian counterparts in highlighting the need for transparency.
"Irom Sharmila Chanu, a human rights defender, has been detained by the Indian government. He has been on a hunger protests for 16 years because of AFSPA [a law targeting 'threats' to national security]. The UN Human Rights Committee has requested the Indian government lift AFSPA, but [official] just turned their [heads]," said Sushil Raj Pyakurel, a prominent human rights activist from Nepal and recipient of the 2010 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (GPHR).
Governments around the region have introduced similar repressive laws to ban the use of Skype, social media and other websites. Drones and torture are used as enforcement in some countries, most rigidly in Bangladesh which has cracked down on personal liberties in the name of national security, activists said.
According to data from the Asian Federation Against Disappearances (AFAD), around 60 percent of the world's enforced disappearances occur in Asia, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka topping the list with thousands of citizens missing.
The eight laureates presented a united front in calling on governments across Asia to end torture and increase efforts to solving past atrocities while also preventing them from happening in the future.
Ratification of the United Nation's International Convention on Protection of All Persons From Enforced Disappearance is crucial, they said.

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TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER, 2015 | 20:30 WIB
4) Ruhut: AGO has Evidence Tying House Speaker to Freeport Scandal
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party politician Ruhut Sitompul claimed that the Attorney General's Office (AGO) is in possession of two evidence - enough for the Prosecutors to start an investigation into the suspected corruption in the lobbies made by House of Representatives (House) Chairman, Setya Novanto. Sitompul also claimed that he maintains communication with Chief Prosecutor M. Prasetyo pertaining to the case, as they are both members of the House's Legal Commission.
"[Prasetyo] will act on these evidence, I'm sure of it. Especially considering that we already have two evidences," said Ruhut at the Parliamentary Complex on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. Ruhut also mentioned that he is certain that Novanto will be removed from his position as House Speaker. "If we lose at the Ethics Council, but the AGO names him as a suspect, then he will be removed from his position," Ruhut said.
Ruhut also called on his fellow legislators to draw the line between a recording, and wire-tapping - saying that there are no laws in place to forbid recordings, before making his support for PT Freeport Indonesia's President Director, Maroef Syamsuddin - who has recently made headlines for his refusal to allow the AGO to release the original recording to the Ethics Council. "He obviously knew how hostile the situation is - especially considering the behaviour of Ethics Councils members from the Golkar party in recent hearings," Ruhut said.
Previously, Setya Novanto's standing in the Parliament is challenged by the ethics violations alleged by the Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, Sudirman Said. He has been broadly viewed to have violated the DPR's ethical code for meeting with the President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, Maroef Syamsuddin, along with oil-tycoon, M Riza Chalid to discuss PT Freeport Indonesia's contract extensions. During the conversation, Novanto repeatedly cited President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla's names.
LINDA TRIANITA
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West Papua: Mining in an occupation forgotten by the world

December 15, 2015, 10:50 pm
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West Papua: Mining in an occupation forgotten by the world



A protester from the Papuan Students Alliance holds West Papua’s banned Morning Star flag 
in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Image: Ulet Ifansasti/Equal Times

Pacific Media Centre

16 December, 2015

Now more than ever, say activists, media access to West Papua is crucial in order to bring global attention to a planned smelter, and to give the world a true understanding of the human rights situation in the region – and Freeport’s role in it. Nithin Coca reports.

It is a region rich in natural resources, the biggest source of tax revenue for the fourth most populous country in the world and, under de-facto military rule - it is also a place where activists are jailed, tortured, disappeared and assassinated.

So why doesn’t the world know more about West Papua?

Quite simply, because Indonesia’s restive, easternmost region is home to “one of the least covered armed conflicts in the world,” says Bob Dietz, Asia-Pacific director for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), of the more than 50-year conflict.

There are no official statistics but estimates put the number of Papuans killed by Indonesian authorities at anywhere between 100,000 and 500,000 people.

Four decades of heavy restrictions on media and human rights groups’ access to West Papua has resulted in a near media blackout.

Linked to all this is a United States-based mining giant, Freeport-McMoRan.

Though its Phoenix, Arizona, headquarters is almost 15,000 kilometres away from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, it is the country’s largest taxpayer.

State security
In 2014, Freeport contributed a massive US$1.5 billion to the Indonesian state coffers.

Not surprisingly, a huge percentage of its profits and revenue depends on its Papua operations – and this has wider implications.

“Freeport needs a lot of government security support to operate,” says Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher with Human Rights Watch.

“In remote areas like Papua, this means less monitoring and more potential rights abuses taking place in their mining operations.”

In fact, national police and military are in charge of ‘maintaining order’ so that copper and gold can be safely extracted, and tax revenues can flow into Jakarta.

Freeport’s massive Grasberg mine – one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, with a minority stake held by global mining giant Rio Tinto – is essentially closed off to outside access.

“I like to joke that even if Jesus Christ wanted to visit [West] Papua, I don’t think he would get a permit,” says Harsono, noting that official permission requires signatures from 18 separate ministries and security agencies – an impossible task.

“Any bureaucracy that requires so many signatures to get a permit means there must be something terribly wrong in the area they want to enter.”

A history of oppression
West Papua (known by the Jakarta administration simply as Papua) forms the western half of the island of New Guinea (the eastern half being the independent nation of Papua New Guinea) and has long been a crown jewel for aspiring global powers.

It has, at various times, been controlled by Germany, The Netherlands and Australia, before it was annexed by Indonesia in 1969 in a military-run election in which about 1000 hand-picked representatives were forced to vote for ascension.

West Papua was then ruled with the strongest of iron fists during Indonesia’s ‘New Order’ era under General Suharto.

“Suharto was a brutal dictator who savagely treated Papuans like animals and ordered many bombings and massacres in West Papua,” says Benny Wenda, leader of the Free West Papua.

These attacks were aimed chiefly at destroying the region’s independence aspirations and forcing its people to become Indonesians.

Wenda currently lives in exile in the United Kingdom, travelling around the world to raise awareness of the brutal atrocities committed by Indonesia against his people.

He witnessed this personally, when, as a child, the Indonesian military bombed his village and killed members of his family.

Crucial role
Natural resources have played a crucial role in the trajectory of Papuan history.

Just four years after its annexation, Freeport arrived, marking the beginning of a long relationship which has proved prosperous for the company, the Indonesian government and few others.

Meanwhile, the people of West Papua have endured great pain and suffering.

There was hope when Suharto’s dictatorship fell in 1998, bringing free elections to the archipelago, and even an independence referendum in East Timor, which was itself invaded and annexed by Indonesia in 1975, and faced similar, bloody oppression.

It turned out to be false hope for West Papua.

“It looked as though an independence referendum was imminent but the new Indonesian government became incredibly scared of losing West Papua,” says Wenda.

Theys Eluay murdered
“So [Papuan independence leader] Theys Eluay was murdered by the Indonesian authorities, and ever since then, the situation in West Papua has only declined. There have been no real attempts to help with human rights or self-determination from any Indonesian government since.”

What has changed, however, has been an even greater investment in resource development, and the continued inflow of migrants from Java and Sumatra, Indonesia’s two most populous islands, into West Papua to manage resource development.

“Indonesia’s in-country migration is coming close to making Papuans a minority in their traditional homeland,” says Dietz.

Of a population of 3.5 million, only about half are from the hundreds of Melanesian Papuan ethnic groups, with the remainder of the population coming from Javanese, Sundanese, Malay and Madurese migrants, nearly all of whom have arrived since 1969.

Moreover, Indonesia plans to further exploit Papua by expanding palm oil plantations into traditionally-held forested land, and increasing downstream mining revenue by building smelters and other industrial facilities along the coast.

“I’m concerned with how the government uses [all this] tax money,” says Eric Samudra, a Jakarta-based governance researcher. “Is it being used for the good of the people, especially Papuans? The answer, obviously, is no.”

Disengaged public
Despite the news of police killing four protesters ilast December, many Indonesians remain silent on their government’s occupation of a minority, mostly non-Islamic people who have been waging a low-level insurgency for freedom and justice.

“The problem is most people choose not to do anything about it, while some others believe that nothing can be done,” says Samudra.

However, recent documentaries such as the Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing are slowly opening Indonesians eyes to the country’s troubled past, which includes a bloody repression of its nascent Communist Party in the 1960s.

John M. Miller, the National Coordinator of the East Timor & Indonesia Action Network, who publishes a monthly update on the situation in West Papua, believes that while public awareness is growing, it still has a long way to go before real change can occur.

“The silence is beginning to be broken, but a broad understanding isn’t there yet.”

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo promised to bring greater development and autonomy to Indonesia’s outer islands, and the December killings brought Papua to the forefront of his administration’s efforts.

But questions remain about whether he will really be able to change the Papua situation.

“We believe President Jokowi would like to make a difference in Papua, and he has already made some moves to do that,” said Harsono, pointing to the president’s pledge to visit Papua frequently and listen to local concerns.

“But moving the security and civilian bureaucracy over [West] Papua is not easy.”

Empty words
That is one reason why many Papuan activists, including Wenda, are tired of empty words and want a referendum.

“We do not believe that any outcome other than full independence for West Papua can ever be a solution.”

On the ground, government policy seems to be going in the opposite direction.

A case in point: the planned new smelter, to be operated by Freeport and an Indonesian partner, will be built on traditional Kamoro lands in the Arafura coast, south of Freeport’s existing mining operations in the region.

The smelter was negotiated directly between the Indonesian government and Freeport, with no say or consultation from the local people.

Not surprisingly, locals groups oppose the smelter, which they fear will further pollute their lands and destroy their traditional way of living. If plans move forward, tensions will likely rise.

Dominikus Mitoro, acting chair of the Kamoro indigenous consultative organisation leadership council, has said publicly:

“Freeport or any other investor will encounter endless problems,” and that “no business will run smoothly until it leaves [our lands].”

According to activists, now more than ever, media access to West Papua is crucial in order to bring global attention to the planned smelter, and to give the world a true understanding of the human rights situation in the region – and Freeport’s role in it.

But that access seems unlikely for now.

“Indonesia’s leaders appear determined not to lose another part of its far-flung archipelago by having troublesome reporters, international or Indonesian, expose what is happening in Papua,” says Dietz.

Freeport McMoRan declined to comment on this story.

 

Pacific Media Watch
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1) WEST PAPUA: Distrust hinders hopes for peace, activist says

December 16, 2015, 10:55 pm
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2) Papua politicians urged to unite in seeking a share in Freeport

3) Teater Koma Casts Spotlight on the Land of Papua
4) PAPUA LEGISLATOR ASKS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STOP ASKING FOR FREEPORT’S SHARES 
5) PAPUA FACES BIG CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, SAYS THE GOVERNOR
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1) WEST PAPUA: Distrust hinders hopes for peace, activist says




Latifah Anum Siregar ... Indonesian government focuses on corporate 
development, rather than people. Image: WANMEC

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Item: 9525

Ryan Dagur
JAKARTA (UCA News/Pacific Media Watch): A lack of trust between the Indonesian government and the people of Papua has jeopardised hopes for a lasting peace in the restive province, according to a prominent human rights activist.

Persistent human rights abuses, a crackdown by the government on civil liberties and a focus on corporate development, rather than on the people, has left citizens feeling disenfranchised and distrustful, Latifah Anum Siregar said.

"We ask for open space for democracy, freedom of expression, and dialogue as promised by President Joko Widodo several times," Siregar told ucanews.com during a two-day "Torture and Violence in Asia" workshop held in Jakarta.

Siregar, a human rights lawyer and the chairwoman of the Alliance for Democracy in Papua, received the South Korean Gwangju Human Rights award in May for her role in promoting peace in Papua.

She said government efforts for progress in Papua would always be met by resistance because Papuans were not involved in policy making.

"Many of the government policies to encourage progress in Papua don't work because they never involve the Papuan people," she said.

Indonesia has maintained a heavy military presence in Papua, where a low-level insurgency against the central government has simmered for decades.

Accusations of killings
The military has been accused of resorting to extrajudicial killings, torture and abuse to defeat rebel forces.

A crackdown on activists in an attempt to crush the Papuan independence movement, has left local people deeply resentful and suspicious of the national government.

Siregar noted that the government has taken some positive steps this year, such as freeing political prisoners, including pro-independence activist Filep Karma.

"But, it's useless if freedom of expression remains prohibited. People will be arrested again," she said.

Siregar urged the government to change its approach to Papua from a pro-investment to a pro-people strategy.

Poengky Indarti, executive director of the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor, or Impartial, said that the government should stop using torture and violence in Papua.

"We witnessed many cases in which security officers in dealing with the Papuans failed to uphold their rights," Indarti said.

Instead, Indonesia should take persuasive steps in holding accountable human rights abusers, she said.

"Conflict in Papua has lasted for 50 years now. However, we have not seen any efforts that can really solve the problem," she said.


 

 

Pacific Media Watch


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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102082/papua-politicians-urged-to-unite-in-seeking-a-share-in-freeport

2) Papua politicians urged to unite in seeking a share in Freeport

Kamis, 17 Desember 2015 11:09 WIB | 363 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the Papua regional executive board of Hanura party Yan P. Mandenas calls on regional political leaders to unite in seeking a share in PT Freeport Indonesia for the people of Papua and regional administration.

PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the US mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, has large copper and gold mines in Papua. 

"Political elite in Papua should stop their political quarrel, instead they should unit in giving contribution to the welfare of the local people," Mandenas said here on Thursday.

Local politicians should think for long term interest of the people and educate the people to be able to manage and develop abundant natural resources of Papua, he said. 

He said the politicians should help the Papua customary community in seeking compensation for their land used by Freeport. 

"I call on the governor , regional leaders , community leaders and politicians to contribute to the efforts that the people and regional administration are given a share in Freeport under its next contract," he said.

"We would take the initiative to coordinate with the governor to bring the demand to the central government that the people of Papua be given a share in Freeport Indonesia if its contract is extended. As a shareholder, the Papuan people could no longer be tricked with falsehood," he added. 

He said he agreed with extension of the contract of Freeport but the central government , regional administrations and customary communities should have a share. 

It would be more complicated if the contract of Freeport was terminated to be replaced by new investors, he said.

He said Freeport played a strategic role in the history of integration of Papua into Indonesia. 

PT Freeport is seeking to renew its working contract which would end in 2021. 

Its attempt to talk the government into extending its contract has placed it in the center of controversy as according to the countrys regulation discussion of contract extension could start only two years before the end of the present contract or in 2019.

The controversy was worse with Parliament Speaker Setya Nonvanto was reported to the Parliament Honorary Tribunal (MKD) by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said.

Novanto was reported inviting Freeport President Director Maroef Sjamsudin to secret meetings and asked for share in the company. 

The controversy ended with the downfall of Setya Novanto as Parliament speaker on Wednesday night. 

Novanto, who was charged with violation of ethical code, tendered his resignation after all MKD members voted against him.(*)

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By : Jakarta Globe | on 10:46 AM December 17, 2015
3) Teater Koma Casts Spotlight on the Land of Papua
Jakarta. The local theater company Teater Koma staged a politically charged performance of "Cahaya dari Papua" ("Light from Papua") at Galeri Indonesia Kaya last Saturday.
Directed by Nano Riantiarno, the 50-minute play revolves around a devilish dragon that terrorizes Papua. The play's storyline can be seen as an allegory for the repressions the Papuans have been facing since the land became part of Indonesia back in the 1960s.
The fire-breathing creature in the play — which may represent certain outsiders grabbing Papua's natural resources — monopolizes all the foods and causes hunger among the people. But a prophecy predicts that a newborn baby will become a hero that eventually saves Papua from the dragon.
"Our production of 'Cahaya dari Papua' this time is a development from the one we staged last year. Through this performance, we want to put a focus on the land of Papua and its hopeful progress toward a better future," the director said in a statement.
Since its inception in 1977, Teater Koma has produced around 130 plays — including works of internationally renowned playwrights like Shakespeare and Moliere — for television and the stages of Taman Ismail Marzuki and Gedung Kesenian Jakarta.


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4) PAPUA LEGISLATOR ASKS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STOP ASKING FOR FREEPORT’S SHARES 


Des 15, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – A Papua legislator from Hanura Party, Yan P. Mandenas, urged officials in Jakarta to stop asking for Freeport’s shares.
“Don’t be greedy about Freeport’s shares, because Papuans have no stocks there,” he said in Jayapura on Monday (14/12/2015).
Further he said if there are those who observed to be entitled with Freeport’s shares, therefore Papuans are the most eligible. “If the central officials ask for it means they have no shame. While Papuans who dealt whit this stuff had so many victims, but the human rights violations had never been investigated,” he said.
Therefore he appealed to those who allegedly asked the Freeport’s shares in turn pushing Freeport to give shares to the local governments and the people of Papua. “What they should do is to make the customary land owners and local government are enable to obtain the shares from Freeport. It doesn’t need to pay their tax, but give their shares to people every year,” he said.
Then he suggested the local government and customary land owners in Freeport mining area could obtain the company’s stock in change with tax exempted for Freeport.
“Well, if it was me, I will refuse the tax but I want the shares. Give small percentage to the local government and customary landowners. So how long it takes for investment, we will get the result of production and we could get clear portion,” Mandenas said.
He also asked the Papua Governor Lukas Enembe to not enforce the Freeport’s contract extension that would be termeninated in the end of 2021 without any written agreement, which takes sides to Papua. “I think the governor didn’t understand that we can push the contract extension without a transparent MoU,” he said. (*/rom)
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5) PAPUA FACES BIG CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, SAYS THE GOVERNOR
Des 15, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said the province is facing a big challenge to improve education, a main indicator human development.
The average length of school participation in Papua is at 6.87 and the literacy rate is 75.92, he said.
“Most of those indicators are under the national average and MDG’s standard,” Enembe said in Jayapura on Monday (14/12/2015).
Thus, Enembe said, the challenge of Papua to realize the basic and qualified education service in the future is so huge. “It needs a breakthrough, big innovation and enormous creativity for the development acceleration in education sector,” he said.

Breakthroughs are being made to address the problem of limited infrastructures, teachers’ high absenteeism, lack of teachers especially in rural and remote areas, books and library facilities as well as appropriate school laboratories.
The additional challenge are local custom that Papuans are still not yet consider the importance of education for their children and other issues that contribute to disappearance of basic and qualified education services.
He explained the latest statistic data (Statistic Bureau, 2014) indicates the Papua Province as the province with lowest rate of the human development index in Indonesia, which is at 66.25 (Statistic Bureau, 2013).
“It is still outranged from the average national HDI, that is 73.29 (Statistic Bureau, 2012),” Enembe said.
According to him there are four elements constructing the human development index, those are the average length of school participation, life expectancy and purchasing power.
“When refer to it, the four elements of HDI are very closely with the development in education and health sectors, both directly or indirectly,” said Enembe.
He added with public service improvement in education sector, especially in terms of access, the literacy rate and average length of school participation could be improved. (Alexander Loen/rom)
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1) Freeport: 10 Years Required to Prepare Underground Mine

December 17, 2015, 8:04 am
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2) Asked to Investigate Human Rights Commission Completed Case shooting of four residents in Serui

3)  Bank assets in Papua grow 8.81 percent
4) Disgraced Setya Apologizes to the People of Indonesia
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2015/12/17/056728629/FREEPORT-10-YEARS-REQUIRED-TO-PREPARE-UNDERGROUND-MINE

THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER, 2015 | 19:32 WIB
1) Freeport: 10 Years Required to Prepare Underground Mine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Senior Vice President PT Freeport Indonesia Wahyu Sunyoto said the key to success in developing an underground mine is the investment for underground drilling. “Investment certainty is important as a mine will require ten years preparation,” Wahyu said in Jakarta on Thursday, December 17.
 
Freeport has spent $17 million in last year’s exploration. Next year, it is estimated to spent $10-15 million fund.
 
The largest mineral producer still comes from Grassberg open pit. Grassberg open pit is capable of producing 70 percent, while DOZ Block Cave is just 30 percent. Other units include Big Gossan Block Cave, Kucing Liar, and Deep MLZ Block Cave has yet to operate.
 
Wahyu said Big Gossan is ready to start producing. This production will be allocated for next year yet very small that it is not too significant. Its maximum production reaches 7,000 ton. However, the early production is estimated to be 1,000 ton.
 
The government and Freeport are currently in talks on the divestiment mechanism. Freeport will be divesting its share of 10.64 percent.
MAWARDAH NUR HANIFIYANI


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A google translate of article in suarapapua.com. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
original bahasa link at


2) Asked to Investigate Human Rights Commission Completed Case shooting of four residents in Serui

JAKARTA, SUARAPAPUA.com --- Papua That We, Solidarity Victims of Abuse (SKP) HAM Papua, Indonesia Without Militarism, and the Regional Indigenous Council Meepago reported a gross human rights violations in the village Wanapompi, Serui, Papua, on December 1st, 2015 and, and asks the Commission to thoroughly investigate the case.

"Shootings and maltreatment by the security forces in Serui this adds to a long line of serious human rights violations which must be disclosed and accounted for in Papua," said Veronica Koman, one representative of Papua That We !.
 
According to Veronica, murder and persecution that led to four people were killed and eight people were seriously injured in the incident in Serui indicated a planned and systematic, as well as the attack against the civilian population since that time all the victims were unarmed.
 
"So this event is categorized kind alleged gross human rights violations such as crimes against humanity as stipulated in Law No. 26 of 2000 on Human Rights Courts Articles 7 and 9, as well as international law the Rome Statute Article 7."
 
"Today Papua That We together with other colleagues in the Commission to take action as a form of solidarity. After the action, we also have to report this incident formally to the Commission so that the Commission can investigate allegations of human rights violation, "said Veronica.
 
Meanwhile, Peneas Lokbere of SKP HAM Papua, said the past year has been a lot of shootings that occurred in Papua, such as March 8 in Yahukimo, June 26 at Dogiyai, July 17 at Tolikara, August 28 and September 28 in Timika, and This last in Serui.
 
"None of the cases were touched by the law. I hope Serui case is an entrance to said other cases, "said Peneas Lokbere.
 
Civil society in Papua and Jakarta also demanded that the National Human Rights Commission alleged gross human rights violations that occurred in Serui can be immediately acted upon through the mechanism of inquiry and investigation as stipulated in Law No. 26 of 2000.
 
Komnas HAM also asked to take effective measures to make reparation for the victims and witnesses. It also coordinates with the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (Agency) to provide legal and human rights protection to witnesses of events.
 
"We are in Jakarta will not break the silence on human rights violations in Papua. Papua is not alone, "said Veronica.
 
Oktovianus POGAU

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3)  Bank assets in Papua grow 8.81 percent
Kamis, 17 Desember 2015 20:23 WIB
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Head of Bank Indonesia representative office in Papua Joko Supratikto said bank assets in Papua has increased significantly this year from last year.

"By October 2015, banks assets in the province grew 8.81 percent on year," Joko said here on Thursday.

Increase was also recorded in the amount of third party fund held by banks - up 8.32 percent.

"The largest among the third party funds is in savings , followed by deposits and giro," he said.

Credit expansion, however, is not as expected growing only 8.10 percent, he said.

"Loan to deposit ratio (LDR), therefore, is only 56.5 percent in Papua," he said.

The quality of credits in Papua is quite alarming with non performing loan ratio already reaching the maximum level set by the central bank.

"Quality credit in Papua is relatively low with Non Performing Loan (NPL) at 6.23 percent exceeding the maximum level of 5 percent considered safe," he said.
(Uu.H-ASG/F001)


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4) Disgraced Setya Apologizes to the People of Indonesia

By : Yashinto Sembiring & Markus Junianto Sihaloho | on 9:55 AM December 17, 2015
Jakarta. Setya Novanto staged a press conference at his home on Wednesday night where he finally spoke in public about his decision to resign as speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I would like to apologize to the entire people of Indonesia for the [way in which] I have performed. All [of what I did] was for the people of Indonesia,” he said.
Setya said his resignation was in the best interest of the nation and the House of Representatives, adding that he would remain committed to his job as a lawmaker.

The resignation came just before the House Ethics Council was due to deliver its verdict on Wednesday evening, with 15 of the 17 council members concluding that Setya, along with his alleged private-sector associate, oilman Muhammad Riza Chalid, had broken the House's ethics code by secretly organizing two private meetings between May and June with Freeport Indonesia chief executive Maroef Sjamsoeddin.
During the June meeting, Setya and Riza allegedly promised to expedite the negotiation process for Freeport Indonesia's contract extension from 2019 – in exchange for a 20 percent stake in the Papua-based gold and copper miner.
With the resignation submitted, the Ethics Council decided to not read out its verdict.
“I have been observing everything, the development of the situation," Setya said. "As we all know, the Ethics Council has performed its duties well. And I respect them.”
Earlier this year, before the Freeport shakedown scandal hit the news, Setya already was the topic of negative publicity over his appearance at a campaign event for US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
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I) 1NDONESIA’S STATE INTELLIGENT AGENCY (BIN) CHIEF TO VISIT SENTANI PHARAA MARKET

December 17, 2015, 10:23 pm
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I) 1NDONESIA’S STATE INTELLIGENT AGENCY (BIN) CHIEF TO VISIT SENTANI PHARAA MARKET
2) 125 EMPLOYEES LAID OFF, PARLIAMENT THREATENS TO EXPELL PT. REDPATH FROM PAPUA
3) LEGISLATOR URGES GOVERNOR TO CHANGE SPECIAL AUTONOMY FUND SHARING SCHEME
4) MIMIKA GOVERNMENT URGED TO RESOLVE LAND ISSUES

5) RADIOLOGY EQUIPMENT AT YOWARI HOSPITAL DAMAGED
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I) 1NDONESIA’S STATE INTELLIGENT AGENCY (BIN) CHIEF TO VISIT SENTANI PHARAA MARKET
Des 16, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia’s State Intelligent Agency (BIN) Chief Lieutenant General (ret) Sutiyoso visited the construction of Sentani Pharaa Traditional Market in Sentani, Jayapura Regency on Tuesday.
Jayapura Regent Mathius Awoitauw and some regional officials including BIN Papua Chief Brigadier General Handy accompanied Sutiyoso.
During his tour, he talked with native women traders known as mama-mama Papua and bought some cork fish, vegetables, taros and bettle nuts for a hundred rupiahs.
What is your message to Mr. President, mam?” he asked one of native women traders at Pharaa Market.
“I want a decent place to sell my products,” she answered.
Then Sutiyoso monitored the progress of the construction of Pharaa Market initiated by the President Joko Widodo upon his visit last year.
He spent about an hour at the market listening the explanation from Jayapura Regent about market building that designed using the Papuan ornaments. After visiting the Pharaa Market, Sutiyoso and other officials went directly to Jayapura City to meet and talk with Papuan community leaders at one of famous restaurant at Jayapura City.
On his visit, he was accompanied by the expert staff of the Ministry of Information Technology Ir. Woro Indah Widiastuty, Director of Special Telecommunication, Public Broadcasting and Universal Obligation of the Minister of Information Technology Bachtiar Manurung, and Acting Sestama BNPP Eko Subowo, the Head Water Resources Development Sub-unit of the Minister of Agriculture Ir. Priyono and the Secretary General of PUPR Ministry Taufik Widjoyono Budi Suyanto. (*/rom)
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2) 125 EMPLOYEES LAID OFF, PARLIAMENT THREATENS TO EXPELL PT. REDPATH FROM PAPUA
Des 17, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – A Papua legislator warned PT. Redpath Indonesia, a Freeport Indonesia affiliated company, to immediately rehire 125 employees who were fired in May, or face expulsion from Papua.
Wilhelmus Pigai said most of these employees are Papuans. Further he said the company is a foreign company that comes to exploit the Papua’s natural resources.
“I ask the company to rehire those employees unconditionally. If it has no good intention, we will take another way. It would be in the black list if necessary,” Pigai said on Tuesday (15/12/2015).
He said he already met with the employees. They confessed that they were fired because of doing a strike some times ago. At that time, the employees demanded the company to pay their bonus as promised. However, the company considered their action was illegal.
“They were fired without recognition from the Court. In accordance to the Manpower Regulation No 13 Year 2003, contract termination should be terminated by legal process at the Court. The employees are the Indonesian citizens and have rights to express their aspiration,” he said.
The company, according to him, has pledge a bonus for the employees during the huge protest of Freeport’s workers some times ago. At that time, PT. Redpath Indonesia asked its employees for not being involved in the rally. Those who were not participated into the demonstration would be provided with bonus. But up to now it was not given and becomes the reason of the employees’ strike several months ago.
“Other Freeport’s affiliation companies such as KCP, Hero and so on provided bonus to their employees who were not involved in the demonstration. Redpath is exceptional. We have reported to the Chairman of Papua Legislative Council and he already sent the letter to PT. Redpath with copies to the president, minister of manpower, Indonesian House of Representative and other related stakeholders,” he said.
He said if the company ignored the letter from Papua Legislative Council, the parliament would take this case to the Central Government. “If the company has no good intention, we will take action. Mimika Regent and other institutions have sent the letter asking the company to rehire those employees but it was ignored,” he said.
The Chairman of Papua Legislative Council Yunis Wonda said the parliament marked three points in the letter sent on 10 December 2015 to PT. Retpath. He said Contract Termination of 125 employees is against the Regulation No. 13/2003 and Regulation No. 2/2004 about the settlement of industrial disputes.
“In addition, according to Papua Special Autonomy Law and Papua Provincial Regulation No.4/2003 about the Employment, the company operated in Papua should able to develop and prioritize the indigenous Papua,” said Wonda.
According to him, for the two reasons, the Papua Legislative Council asked PT. Redpath to rehire the fired 125 employees unconditionally. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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3) LEGISLATOR URGES GOVERNOR TO CHANGE SPECIAL AUTONOMY FUND SHARING SCHEME
Des 16, 2015


Jayapura, Jubi – A legislator from PPP, Nason Utty, urged Papua Governor Lukas Enembe to change the current Special Autonomy fund sharing scheme to regencies/municipality.
“The governor’s policy actually indicate the kindness of Lukas Enembe, but the regents and major misused it. The money never reached communities. Better to withdraw the money to overcome the existing problems,” he said in Jayapura on Tuesday (15/12/2015).
He said the fund sharing scheme of 80 percent to regencies/municipality and 20 percent to province is not effective and more likely to be exploited for political interests.
“The scheme of 30-70 or 40-60 percent is fine. Let’s us pray that the governor could be wise on this for clear reason, because some regents in certain regencies used this fund for their political activity, thus the money transferred was used for other purpose,” he said.
Utty further asked for supports from the entire parliament’s fractions to endorse the governor to change his policy. “It should be changed in 2016, I expect the supports from other fractions because the regents are not able to apply this policy. The Commission V has submitted this issue to the Budgetary Body. This is a political decision, the decision is on the hand of fractions,” he said.
He also explained that since the implementation of 80-20 schemes in 2014, the Provincial Government had difficulties to monitor the expenditure because most of funds were transferred to the regional governments. Therefore, he underlined the portion of fund sharing for provincial government must be larger than regional government to support the provincial monitoring and evaluation on budget expenditure that would be ended in 2021.
“Activities always depend on budget. No budget, no activity. Moreover if it has connection with the public services,” he said. (*/rom)
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4) MIMIKA GOVERNMENT URGED TO RESOLVE LAND ISSUES

Des 16, 2015

Timika, Jubi – Dozens of owners of customary land rights rallied to demand payment for the use of land by Mimika regency.
Chief of Wania and Kaugapu, James Yawa said 17 customary rights onwers complained about part of land used by the government, compensation of which has not been resolved.
“I demand the government pay for the land used for the construction of government assets because until now some of indigenous peoples’ territories until have not been paid at all, “he said in Timika on this week.
Some of the land that has not been resolved are the General Cemetery (TPU) in Kamoro Jaya (SP 1), land development office of Regent at Poros Asri Jalan Limau (SP 5), and 17 places used as the construction of government buildings and offices.
“Basically, we support the development but the government must resolve the land issue first, “said Yakobus.
Other customary owner, Urbanus Yafom said since 2013 it has addressed this case but it was ignored.
Indigenous legal counsel office, Elesius Awiyut told reporters that the incumbent office area has been measured covering 106 hectares. The Government has issued a certificate, but the release of land has not been done.
“The problem of this land has been reported to the Interior Minister and the Governor of the Province. In 2013 the governor ordered the Mimika government to make payments, only until now has not been done, “said Elesius.
“We are here because the government does not recognize the court’s decision so that we are demanding,” he continued.
Assistant III for Administration, Yohanis Kasamol hoped the owners of customary rights to not ask for payment in this month. Surely, the government will complete the payment but not this month because it is about to close the book in 2015. (Eveerth)
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5) RADIOLOGY EQUIPMENT AT YOWARI HOSPITAL DAMAGED
Des 15, 2015


Sentani, Jubi – Repair work for equipment at the radiology unit of Yowari hospital remains unclear.
A number of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital was then forced to be referred to another hospital because scan equpment at the Radiology unit of Yowari hospital is broken.
“Yes, radiology cat scan is broken, so we are unable to check patients with severe accidents, ” said dr.Christhin who was on duty in the ER on Monday (14/12/2015).
She further said this condition is very worrying for people who seek treatment here.
Meanwhile in a separate place Bastian Felle’s mother brought her son by using a wheelchair to get to the ER. .
“Because this hospital has no photo facilities, forced us to go to another hospital. We had got the result and now my son is under treatment, “she said. (Engel Wally)
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Filmmaker aims to dispel AIDS stigma in Papua

December 18, 2015, 11:25 pm
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Filmmaker aims to dispel AIDS stigma in Papua

Sally Round, Radio New Zealand International - sally.round@radionz.co.nz
Wesley Kosai thought he had been cursed. The 34 year old from Wamena in Indonesia's Papua region had fallen ill and didn't know he'd contracted HIV.
He says for three years he suffered, losing half his body weight and staying captive in his own home for fear of being burnt alive because of his illness.

34 year old Wesley from Wamena is HIV positive, “I always encourage my friends to go to the hospital and take ARV so they can be healthy like me.”
Photo: Andri Tambunan / iampositif.org

Andri Tambunan has documented Wesley Kosai's survival and those of other people living with HIV/AIDS in a film which seeks to educate people in Indonesia's easternmost region about the disease.
At the end of a high school class in Sorong City, the students walk to the front of the room and press the hand of their teacher to their foreheads in a traditional gesture.
Listen to an interview with Andri Tambunan on Dateline Pacific ( 5 min 2 sec )

Their teacher is 31 year old Ibu Ratna and she is also living with HIV.
She assumed she had contracted the disease from her husband who was also HIV positive.
Determined to survive for the sake of her daughter, she searched out medicine and has been taking antiretrovirals since 2010.

31 year old teacher school teacher Ibu Ratna is HIV positive, "Although I am HIV positive my colleagues at school continue to give me support."
Photo: Andri Tambunan / iampositif.org
Andri Tambunan films everyday life for Ibu Ratna and shows her managing her illness and the acceptance she gets from her colleagues, family and friends.
But acceptance is not the case for the vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia's easternmost region, especially those Papuans who live in remote villages far from medicine and hospitals.
"I met a young man who, when he opened his status, he was kicked out of his family, he was attacked by some people in the community. I talked to another woman who people were just trying to kick her out from her house with an axe and machetes. I have people who were afraid to be burned alive.” said the Jakarta-based documentary-maker.
The Papua region suffers an HIV/AIDs rate twenty times higher than the national average and three quarters of those with the disease are indigenous Papuans.
20 year old Meri from Pugima is HIV positive, "We should not reject people with hiv but instead give them support and encouragement."
Photo: Andri Tambunan / iampositif.org

Inequalities, remoteness and a lack of information in the local language contribute to the high rate.
"Papuans, you know, they have the highest infant mortality, the highest maternal mortality, the highest illiteracy, so they're already at a disadvantage in the beginning and then you have this disease, and most of that is because of the lack of information. People don't know how to get help, or they don't know what HIV is or how it's spread," said Mr Tambunan.
Mr Tambunan has been researching and filming in Papua since 2009.
He says he it took months to gain the trust of those who appeared in the films and that's despite advancements in Papua over the past few years.
"The stigma and the fear of discrimination is still the biggest obstacle. So it doesn't matter if there's medicines now which are more readily available. If people are afraid to get tested, if people are afraid to seek care they're not going to do it. "
Mr Tambunan has set up a website and is distributing information to NGOs to help educate people in Papua because the continued stigma around HIV/AIDs means his material is not being broadcast widely despite approval from the authorities in Indonesia.

Wesley from Wamena shares his story about being HIV positive on iamPositif.org 
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Line between PNG and Indonesia increasingly blurred

December 20, 2015, 7:05 pm
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Line between PNG and Indonesia increasingly blurred
Updated at 11:52 am today

Johnny Blades, Radio New Zealand International - johnny.blades@radionz.co.nz
Papua New Guinea communities along the border with Indonesia say growing links with the other side are inevitable.
The 750-kilometre line down the middle of New Guinea is the Pacific Islands region's only international land border. The division has long been problematic, due to sensitivities around the West Papuan self-determination struggle. But the line that separates the two sides is becoming increasingly blurred.

The border is long and porous, difficult to secure and an artificial barrier to many tribal groups who live on both sides. For many years, Indonesia and PNG have allowed members of these communities to move back and forth. One of them is James Nunakru from Lido village on PNG's north coast, a 40-minute drive from the border.
"Those people who are living close to the PNG border, we have relatives who are living on the other side of the border - we sort of have common, traditional ties," said Mr Nunakru.
"That is why, even though West Papua is ruled by Indonesia we still have those traditional ties and we still travel across for customary purposes and things like that, not using passports but using traditional TBC cards - a traditional border card," he said, showing me the yellow laminated card that gave him and other Papua New Guineans regular access to Indonesia's Papua province.

Border crossing

Another source of cross-border traffic is the OPM Free West Papua Movement whose members have long used PNG as a haven in their separatist conflict that has simmered in Indonesia for decades.
"I cannot give you any exact figure," said Mr Nunakru, "but we have elements living on our side of the border and we have PNG sympathisers who accept them when they come into our territory."
Mr Nunakru conceded that at times the traditional border crossing system is abused, but he stopped short of blaming the OPM. The problem in Indonesia's Papua region is that if you are a native Papuan and express aspirations for being independent, you can easily be branded an OPM separatist, by the authorities, even if you are not part of the OPM. One way or another, for decades, many thousands of West Papuans have felt a critical need to cross into PNG with Indonesian military forces in pursuit.
“Sometimes they are in search of medicine, maybe food supplies, and others they just cross over to escape from Indonesian authorities," said Mr Nunakru.
Incursions by Indonesian military have been a sore point for PNG governments over the years, underlining the inability of PNG's under-resourced Defence Force to adequately secure the border.
However, the PNGDF recently won praise from Indonesia for rescuing two Indonesian logging workers who had allegedly been kidnapped in a remote area near the border, on the Indonesian side.
News reports indicated the hostages were kidnapped by OPM rebels and then held in a West Sepik village from where, after several days, PNG soldiers rescued the pair and handed them over to Indonesian authorities.
Both PNG and the Papua provincial government in Indonesia have spoken of the need for a harmonious and peaceful border region in which business and trade can advance and help build common prosperity.

Trade and infrastructure

At the far north of the border, PNG people frequently use the crossing at Wutung to visit the Bhatas markets, just inside Indonesia, which offer a huge range of cheap goods, from bags of rice to the latest porn DVDs from Java. The Governor of PNG's West Sepik province, Amkat Mai, said this had its downsides.
"We think that Indonesia is benefiting more from this trade than us because even our kina gets across the border into Jayapura. Jayapura is becoming now a vibrant city rather than Vanimo and West Sepik province. So there is a trade imbalance,” he explained.

"Our people buy all the stuff from Indonesia, but at the small to medium enterprise level. It's good for the grassroots because they buy stuff at Bhatas, they sell them and they make money for their daily living. But for us as a government, we are losing big time because money is going one way, to the other side."
The Governor said this was why he was urging the government to explore the concept of a free trade area in Vanimo to encourage PNG companies to establish themselves there and take advantage of proximity to Indonesia, in an effort to balance trade.

However in a sign of growing links, the municipal administration of Indonesia's Jayapura city has forged co-operation agreements with counterparts in the two main towns of PNG's Sepik region, Wewak and Vanimo,in sectors such as fisheries, agriculture and education. And the two national governments have plans to boost collaboration in areas of infrastructure.
Amkat Mai said that there was an inter-governmental recommendation being considered that the national provider, PNG Power, get its electricity supply from Jayapura, via Vanimo.
"So, the Indonesian side, they have actually built a power station and the power station has come as far as the border line," he said.
"I think temporarily it's worth doing because the maintenance of the power and it's going to be cheaper to get from Indonesia than maintaining our own generators, but eventually in the end we should have our own power. You know, we have plenty of rivers and streams, we could source power ourselves later."

Close neighbours, friends

West Sepik people have been increasingly turning to the other side for better services in education, health and telecommunications.
"We are close neighbours, we are friends, we are buddies," Mr Mai said.
"I would like to see more Papuan people visiting Papua New Guinea and more Papua New Guineans visiting Jayapura, going there for education or for trade or for sports, I'd like to see more sports being encouraged."
But Indonesia's sensitivity about support for West Papuan self-determination remains an obstacle. Persipura Jayapura, the champions of the Indonesian football league, were recently invited to PNG to play the national side to mark PNG’s 40th anniversary of independence; but after reaching the border, the Indonesian consulate in Vanimo barred them from entering.
However, this may be slowly changing, if the current Indonesian government has its way. Indonesia's president Joko Widodo has started to open up outside access to Papua region. In Jayapura, the Papua Customary Council secretary general, Leo Imbiri, cautiously noted that in the last few years, civil society collaboration with PNG had increased.
"I mean, I will see the participation of the church, some of the church organisations in Papua New Guinea can come visit us here. Also from indigenous people organisation," he said.
"But I can't really assume that in the future, the process will be smoothly increasing because if sometimes the process depends on how the government determine or interpreted the collaboration that now we have built."

One island

Yet, there's a growing understanding that the two sides of New Guinea have common concerns. Not the least of which, according to West Sepik environmentalist Dorothy Tekwie, has been rampant illegal logging and destruction of much of New Guinea's huge biodiversity.
"Well the island of New Guinea is the third largest tropical rainforest on earth. The first is the Amazon and then the Congo and this is the third largest. Well it is going very, very fast under logging."
Mrs Tekwie said that the destruction wrought upon New Guinea's forests by the logging industry typifies the way so-called development works in PNG.
"And here you know the world is talking about climate change, they really are not doing anything about saving the forest on this island. Both sides of this island. You know it is not (just) Papua New Guinea and Indonesia or West Papua, no. This is one island - it is supposed to be one island and meant to be one people, anyway."
"If we don't do anything about taking joint action on both sides we are going to lose this biodiversity, we are going to lose this because the logging is going faster than we government or the government can take action or take responsibility for," she lamented.
While such a thought is rarely outwardly entertained by either country, anxiety about an Indonesian takeover is something that festers in the backrows of PNG's national mindset. However growing demand for co-operation means various forms of merger between the two sides could become a fact of life.
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1) Indonesia warns other countries to respect its sovereignty over Papua

December 21, 2015, 4:56 am
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2) Australia plans more defence exchanges with Indonesia

3) Novanto scandal not new, says Papuan church leader
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1) Indonesia warns other countries to respect its sovereignty over Papua
Australian Associated Press Monday 21 December 2015 04.46 GMT

For us, Papua is [part] of the united Republic of Indonesia,’ says defence minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. ‘That’s the way it is.’

The Indonesian defence minister has warned other countries to respect his country’s sovereignty over the troubled region of Papua, as meetings with Australian ministers ended in mutual agreement about the strength of the bilateral relationship.
Ryamizard Ryacudu said Indonesia had “never disrupted or caused disruptions in other countries” and it expected the same of other nations regarding Papua and its long-running independence movement.
“There are countries that are getting involved in the issue of Papua. For us, Papua is [part] of the united Republic of Indonesia. The united Republic of Indonesia extends from Sabang [in Sumatra] to Papua. There is no other solution, that’s it, that’s the way it is,” Ryacudu said in Sydney on Monday.
The comments from Ryacudu, who previously served as chief of staff of the Indonesian Army (TNI) and commander of the Strategic Army Command, or Kostrad, follow reports that all international NGOs have been ordered to close offices in Papua.
Ryacudu, who previously served as chief of staff of the Indonesian army (TNI) and commander of the strategic army command, was in Sydney with foreign minister Retno Marsudi for a meeting with Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop and defence minister Marise Payne.
Bishop confirmed Papua was discussed during the talks and reiterated that Australia respected Indonesia’s sovereignty over Papua.
“On the issue of Papua, yes, that was part of our discussions. We had a general discussion about regional issues, about Pacific issues and Australia restated, as we have done on many occasions, publicly and privately, our unconditional support and respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty in this regard,” Bishop said.
Indonesia, which took control of Papua from the Dutch in 1963, has for a long time fought a separatist movement in the province and faced various allegations of systematic abuse of Papuans.
The Indonesian military has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, while the local population complains that much of the wealth generated in the resource-rich province flows back to Jakarta while West Papuans remain poor.
After the meetings, Bishop said relations between the nations were in very good shape. Relations with Indonesia might have been frosty following the Bali Nine executions, but Bishop said there had been 15 ministerial meetings between the countries since August.
Monday’s meeting focused on national security, including counter-terrorism, deradicalisation and intelligence-sharing, as well as economic ties, she told reporters after the meeting.
Australia and Indonesia were close neighbours and natural partners, Bishop said.
As well as security and economic ties, there were growing links in tourism and student exchange.
“We have shared and common interests across a broad and diverse range of areas,” Bishop said. “There is room for us as two G20 economies to do a great deal more together.”
Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi agreed the relationship between Jakarta and Canberra was in good shape, especially after Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to Jakarta.
The touchy issue of people smuggling and Australia’s boat turnback policy was the subject of a “very frank and honest discussion”, Bishop said.
Marsudi said both nations would continue to cooperate on addressing the root causes of people smuggling.
Ryacudu said real threats facing the region included terrorism, natural disaster, disease, drug smuggling and the “hassle” of refugees.
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  •  Updated Dec 21 2015 at 7:29 PM 


2) Australia plans more defence exchanges with Indonesia

Australia has flagged more defence exchanges with Indonesian officers after agreeing to renew a defence co-operation agreement amid new joint efforts to crack down on a potential terrorist group in the country.
Defence Minister Marise Payne foreshadowed more personnel exchanges to boost the relationship after agreeing well ahead of time to renew and refurbish the existing agreement which expires in 2017.
But Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu injected some tough words into a bilateral meeting in Sydney on Monday telling Australians no change was possible to Indonesia's control of Papua and the refugee issue was not a security threat.
General Ryacudu described the asylum seeker issue, which has caused many recent bilateral tensions, as "not a threat but a bit of a hassle" when listing the important bilateral issues.

This prompted Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to restate the federal government's long-standing position that its refugee policies were focused on saving lives.
General Ryacudu said defence co-operation had produced lots of positive results over 50 years and the co-operation should be extended further but Indonesia did not want its national policies to be disrupted.

PAPUA OFF-LIMITS

He said Papua, where independence advocates draw support from some civil groups in Australia, was part of the united Indonesian republic. "There is no other solution to talk about. This is it."
Ms Bishop, Senator Payne, General Ryacudu and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi were meeting in the third combined defence and foreign ministers meeting following a substantial warming of bilateral ties in the past three months, with 15 different bilateral ministerial visits since August.
Underlining the burst of ministerial meetings, the Sydney meeting coincided with a visit to Jakarta by Attorney-General George Brandis and Justice Minister Michael Keenan.
Ms Bishop and Ms Marsudi said they had met six times this year which they suggested was more than with most other foreign ministerial counterparts. Ms Marsudi said a decision had been taken to focus on areas of co-operation rather than differences. They emphasised that they talk even more via text.
Senator Payne said the defence forces had very strong people-to-people contact and she was committed to continuing this. She said Australia had agreed to renew its defence co-operation agreement with Indonesia and planned more joint exercises in disaster and humanitarian relief. Speaking before the meeting, General Ryacudu fondly recalled his relationship with Australian senior officers forged in the countries' joint peacekeeping operations in Cambodia in the early 1990s. He met former generals John Sanderson and Peter Leahy during the visit.

GIFT FROM GOD

"We are really determined to continue to be friends," General Ryacudu said.
He said Australia's geographic location beside Indonesia was a gift from God and could not be changed.


The defence and foreign ministers discussed rising tensions in the South China Sea over territory but General Ryacudu suggested tensions would ease with better communications among the rival claimants. Ms Bishop said Australia would continue its flyovers in the area in line with international law as it had done in the past.
Australian military co-operation with Indonesia was once controversial because of human rights by some parts of the Indonesian military but the military has now largely withdrawn from a direct role in politics and has developed a close relationship with Australia to counter terrorism.
On Sunday, Indonesian police arrested nine suspected Islamic State supporters who were allegedly preparing terror attacks later this month, possibly on New Year's Eve in Jakarta.
The arrests followed a reported tip-off from the Australian Federal Police underlining how regions appear to be back on a stable footing after a fast escalation of ministerial exchanges over the past three months.
Ms Marsudi cautioned about jumping to conclusions about the arrests but welcomed co-operation with Australia in general over counter-terrorism.
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3) Novanto scandal not new, says Papuan church leader
Updated at 4:42 pm on 21 December 2015


A West Papuan church leader says Indonesian lawmakers enriching themselves at the cost of Papua resources is not new.
The comment from the chairman of the Kingmi Church, Benny Giay follows the resignation of Indonesia’s parliamentary speaker for allegedly seeking to extort a stake in lucrative mining operations in Papua.
Setya Novanto quit after exposure of a recording of secret talks related to onging negotiations between the government and miner Freeport McMoran over extension of its current contract.
Reverend Giay says despite being customary owners of the resource, Papuans are rarely considered in negotiations over the mine contract.
He says the Novanto scandal merely echoes what President Suharto used to do.
"Jakarta has not changed much: the officials, their mentality, their culture, their orientations. It's very sad that we Papuans will go through our history, in the future, with these kinds of authorities in power."
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1) 2 + 2 Meeting in Sydney Touches on Papua and Indonesian Sovereignty

December 21, 2015, 6:02 pm
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2) RI, Aussie conduct intelligence exchange to thwart terrorism

3) One year on, challenges remain for press in Indonesia  
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http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/2-2-meeting-sydney-touches-papua-indonesian-sovereignty/

1) 2 + 2 Meeting in Sydney Touches on Papua and Indonesian Sovereignty
By : Erin Cook | on 2:10 PM December 21, 2015
Jakarta. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has used a "2 + 2" bilateral meeting in Australia as an opportunity to warn other countries to not become involved in the long-running Papua independence campaign and to respect the sovereignty of Indonesia.
Ryamizard was quizzed on the issue on Monday in Sydney after reports that international NGOs were forced to close Papua-based offices.
“There are countries that are getting involved in the issue of Papua,” he said in an address to Australian media, without pointing to specific countries.
“The unitary Republic of Indonesia extends from Sabang [on the western tip of Sumatra] to Papua. There is no other solution, that’s the way it is,” he said.
Ryamizard was joined in Sydney by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to meet with their Australian counterparts, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister Marise Payne, to discuss security issues and potential investment. 
Papua was addressed during the meeting and Bishop told media that Australia respects the sovereignty of Indonesia unconditionally.
"On the issue of Papua, yes, that was part of our discussions. We had a general discussion about regional issues, about Pacific issues and Australia restated as we have done on many occasions, publicly and privately, our unconditional support and respect for Indonesia's sovereignty in this regard," she said, as reported by AAP.
Five days ago, Retno dan Ryamizard also held a 2+2 meeting with their Japanese counterpart to discuss the same issue.


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2) RI, Aussie conduct intelligence exchange to thwart terrorism

Senin, 21 Desember 2015 23:41 WIB | 529 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian State Intelligence Board (BIN) has conducted an intelligence exchange program with Australia as part of efforts to thwart terrorism in Indonesia, the boards chairman, Sutiyoso said.

"I visited Australia some time ago to agree to the cooperation to thwart terrorism which is a common enemy to all of us," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs here on Monday.

He made the remarks at a press conference held following a meeting with Australian Attorney General George Brandis to discuss security issues this year-end.

Under the program, state intelligence bodies of the two countries can learn from one another and exchange knowledge to improve each others intelligence, he said.

"Hopefully, the program will be able to complement each others shortcomings," he said.

The meeting between the Australian attorney general and Indonesian officials discussed a wide range of issues including counter-terrorism, cyber security and intelligence cooperation.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Pandjaitan, said the meeting is the first of its kind.  

. "Similar meetings will be held regularly. Next year, we will be invited to such a meeting in Australia," Luhut said at a press conference following the meeting. 

Also present at the meeting were Indonesian National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso, Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Board (BNPT) Saud Usman Nasution, Head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) Muhammad Yusuf, and Head of the Strategic Intelligence Board (BAIS) Major General M Erwin Syafitri.

Earlier, Haiti said the police have just arrested nine suspected terrorists in the five districts of Cilacap, Tasikmalaya, Sukoharjo, Mojokerto and Gresik.

"Some of them are former members of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and are linked to the ISIS," he said.(*)




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3) One year on, challenges remain for press in Indonesia  
"Change does not come overnight," President Joko Widodo's right-hand man, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, told an international delegation of 10 media and freedom of expression groups that visited Indonesia last month.
During the week-long trip organized by local press freedom group the Alliance of Independent Journalists, the delegation met with journalists as well as members of civil society and the government to follow up on issues raised during its first mission one year ago. At the heart of the delegation's concerns were media restrictions in Papua, restrictive laws that hamper free expression, and reports of violence against journalists. Today, the delegation published its findings and recommendations.
More than six months have passed since the president's historic announcement to immediately lift restrictions on international journalists entering Papua, the country's easternmost region that has been virtually off-limits to the international press for about 50 years. Yet the process for obtaining access to the region continues to be marred by obstacles and confusion, the delegation found. Accounts from journalists with whom the delegation met pointed to non-compliance from some authorities including high-ranking officials in the Widodo administration and members of the police and military. "There are changes since Jokowi's announcement but the question is about authority," said Victor Mambor, head of the Alliance of Independent Journalists' Papua chapter, referring to the president as he is popularly known. "His influence is limited in Papua."
Many international journalists trying to gain access to Papua have reported facing surveillance, orders that they be accompanied by minders for the duration of their stay, and bureaucratic burdens of providing details on sources and fixers, potentially putting them at risk, local journalists with whom the delegation met, said.
In May, Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, the then-coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, defended these practices. "We aren't spying on [journalists]. We're simply monitoring their activities," he said, according to the Jakarta Post.
The extent of these challenges was apparent on the eve of my arrival, when the Jakarta Post reported on how three Papuans had been questioned in connection with French journalist Marie Dhumieres' reporting in the region in October. According to Human Rights Watch, they were detained for 10 hours.

Before Widodo announced an end to restrictions, journalists needed permission from an array of government offices to report in Papua. Permission was seldom granted: some were outright denied journalist visas and others were left in visa limbo, CPJ research shows. Journalists who tried to circumvent official channels by entering the country on a tourist visa have been arrested or deported.

Panjaitan, the current coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, acknowledged that challengesremain. In a meeting at his office in Jakarta, he said the Widodo administration was committed to ensuring access to Papua for the international press.
CPJ joins an international press freedom delegation in Indonesia, that met Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, center. (Sumit Galhotra/CPJ)
While in the provincial capital, Jayapura, I was among members of the delegation who met with Fransiscus Mote, spokesman for the Papuan governor's office. Mote said the governor's administration was committed to ensuring access for international journalists in the restive region and added that journalists did not need additional approval from local authorities. He said the governor planned to issue a special decree in Papua based on Widodo's announcement. "We hope that all institutions under the president, including the police and military, will follow," he said. Mote added that he planned to educate civil servants in his region on how to interact with journalists.
Requests by the delegation to meet with high-ranking Papuan police and military officials, to discuss challenges for the press, were declined.
Local journalists reporting in the province, especially ethnic Papuans, told the delegation they also face difficulties. Given the sensitive nature of reporting in the region, violence and intimidation remained a routine risk for journalists. This fear has given way to self-censorship for many, many of the journalists told us.
Those with whom the delegation met, including Mambor, claimed intelligence agents were embedded in local media outlets. Aryo Wisanggeni, a member of the Alliance of Independent Journalists who has reported in Papua, said low salaries left some journalists vulnerable to paid offers to act as informers for intelligence agencies.
Journalists across the archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, continue to work in an atmosphere of threats and violence, the delegation found. While CPJ has not recorded a work-related journalist killing in Indonesia since 2012, attacks continue with impunity. During a visit to Makassar in South Sulawesi province, Ambon-based press freedom advocate Insany Syahbarwati said that while the number of attacks had decreased since the delegation's visit last year, the attacks had become "more serious in nature."
Frequently police were responsible for attacks on the media across the country, according to members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists.
Police representatives in Makassar and Papua declined requests to meet with the delegation. 
Press freedom in Indonesia has come a long way since the days of Suharto's 32-year reign. However, the country's record continues to be marred by the impunity in murders of journalists, including that of Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, also known as Udin, killed almost two decades ago. Arfi Bambani, secretary-general of the Alliance of Independent Journalists, told the delegation, "The reason we push on Udin's case is we hope resolution to his case can serve as a precedent for other cases." Panjaitan told the delegation he would review the list of unresolved journalist killings.
Change does not have to come overnight. But if the Indonesian government is committed to press freedom, as its rhetoric suggests, it needs to take greater strides in tackling the problems journalists working there face.

The full list of observations of recommendations can be found here.
[Reporting from Jayapura, Makassar, and Jakarta]

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1) “EXPEL FREEPORT, SAVE PAPUA,” STUDENTS DEMAND

December 21, 2015, 11:14 pm
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2) Indonesia, Australia Agree to Battle Terrorism
3) Indonesia, Australia Mull Regional Maritime Cooperation
4) MERAUKE ARCHBISHOP QUESTIONS DEVELOPMENT TARGET FOR INDIGENOUS PAPUANS
5) OMBUDSMAN: PUBLIC SERVICES STANDARDS IN PAPUA AND PAPUA BARAT LOW
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1) “EXPEL FREEPORT, SAVE PAPUA,” STUDENTS DEMAND

Des 17, 2015



At Least 50 Papuan Students From Timika Held A Peaceful Rally In Front Of Papua Parliament Office In Jayapura On Last Week – Jubi

Carrying banners and pamphlets “Expel Freeport, Save Papua”, they demanded PT. Freeport Indonesia fulfill their obligations to the customary landowners in gold and copper mining areas, including the tenureship payment amounted to Rp 400 trillion.
If not, the Freeport’s contract should not be extended for third time and this American company should check out of Papua, the protestors said.
Protest Coordinator Robert Natikime said in his speech that since the first contract, Freeport has not brought benefits to the landowners and communities around its mine are still living in poverty.
“When the first contract was signed in 1967, Freeport’s representative Forbes Wilson fooled our grandparents. He promised a lot of things but nothing been materialized. The third contract could not be executed if it wasn’t involved the landowners and Freeport must pay penalty on tenureship,” he said.
He said Freeport comes not to welfare the landowners in general and Papua in particular. But it presents to destroy the customary landowners to take control on their natural richness.
“Papua Legislative Council to immediately form a Special Committee on Freeport’s Contract. Freeport is responsible to the entire human rights violations occurred in Papua generally and in particular in Mimika since it’s been operated in 1967. Freeport’s Headquarters must be in Papua, instead of Jakarta,” he said.
The students were met with the Chairman of Papua Legislative Council, Yunus Wonda; the Chairman of Commission I of Papua Legislative Council, Elvis Tabuni, Papua legislators Laurenzus Kadepa, Kusmanto and Wilhelmus Pigai.
“We have not been able to determine the next step if we don’t know where we stand. We are waiting for Freeport’s respond. Sometimes ago the Papua Provincial Government proposed 17 points. It should be followed up first befire the new contract. The 17 points are to facilitate the interest of indigenous Papuans, in particular seven tribes of landowners,” said Wonda in front of protesters.
After the rally, Papua legislator Laurenzus Kadepa told Freeport to not only give a promise, but it has to have commitment to build the human resources of local community, besides paying compensation Rp 400 trillion to the landowners.
Now, two mountains at hundreds meters of height of Cartenz, Erstberg (1967-1987) and Grasberg (1988-2041), have damaged. While the law land of Amungsa Land (Mimika) is continuously containing the mining waste or tailing. But the polemic on Freeport’s contract and shares is continuously happened in Jakarta.
Ertsberg has been transformed into a lake named Wilson Lake after Forbes Wilson, the expedition leader of Freeport 1960 with the late Amungme leader Mozes Kilangin whose name given to the Timika International Mozes Kilangin Airport.
Forbes Wilson didn’t deny the role of Amungme leader in Freeport’s expedition along Amungme people to guarantee the expedition run smoothly and safety without the escort of the Dutch Army. The local people were simply tackling the security of Dutch and American expedition team for more than a month in April 1960.
Forbers Wilson wrote in his book “The Conquest of Copper Montain” confessed that Mozes Kilangin was a navigator as well as good negotiator and also kept monitor and escort him during the climb expedition to Erstberg.
If he was still alive, what would he said about the renegotiation of Freeport’s contract to extend their exploitation of copper, gold and silver mining at the Grasberg and Ertsberg in Papua until 2041.
All parties in Jakarta seem not paying attention and care about the Papuans, especially Kamoro and Amungme people. It’s similar with Freeport that doesn’t care about it at all since they have been operated in this land and after being expelled from Cuba when managing the sculpture mining. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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TUESDAY, 22 DECEMBER, 2015 | 13:38 WIB
2) Indonesia, Australia Agree to Battle Terrorism

TEMPO.CO, Sydney - Indonesia and Australia have agreed to run a comprehensive strategy to fight against extremism and terrorism, as a result of 2+2 Forum meeting in di Sydney, Australia, and bilateral meeting in Jakarta. The two nations agreed to empower national capacity in the attempt to battle terrorism.
 
“This is to anticipate the growing of radicalism and terrorism trend across state border,” said Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi. Indonesia in the meeting emphasized the importance of combining military, religious, and social-cultural approach in battling terrorism.
 
The 2+2 also saw a memorandum of understanding between the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Indonesia and the Department of Foreign Affair and Trade (DFAT) Australia. The MOU covers intelligent cooperation and improving inter-institution capacity.
 
Terrosism and extremism issues have been the center of the attention due to the recent tragic events happen all around the world including in Indonesia and Australia. The bilateral efforts to be reinforced include inteligent sharing, technical collaboration, and cyber security.
Both parties also agree on strengthening cooperation in education and training, information and analysis exchange, as well as technology capability through Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC).

NATALIA SANTI
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TUESDAY, 22 DECEMBER, 2015 | 09:28 WIB
3) Indonesia, Australia Mull Regional Maritime Cooperation  
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TEMPO.CO, Sydney- Indonesia and Australia mulled possible regional maritime cooperation through bilateral collaboration during a meeting between foreign and defense ministers (2+2 dialogue) in Sydney, Australia, on December 21.
 
“The 2+2 meeting between Indonesia-Australia will hopefully bring forth regional maritime cooperation,” said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. The dialogue was also attended by Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu as well as Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister Marise Payne.
 
Two-plus-two dialogue is a bilateral mechanism involving Foreign and Defense Ministers to discuss strategic issues bilaterally. The meeting was focused on strengthening maritime cooperation that is expected to enhance regional cooperation, such as in East Asia Summit.
 
The maritime cooperation wil be focusing to improve sustainable maritime development, maritime security, connectivity, technology cooperation and handling of transnational crimes, such as illegal, undocumented and unreported fishing.
 
The meeting also discussed maritime cooperation in IORA. As the chairman of IORA for 2015-2017, the ministers agreed to support Indonesia in promoting maritime cooperation in IORA, including through creating IORA concord.
 
Besides maritime issue, the 2+2 meeting also discussed various strategic issues, such as eradicating extremism and terrorism, regional security and stability that includes the South China Sea and irregular migrant. 
NATALIA SANTI
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4) MERAUKE ARCHBISHOP QUESTIONS DEVELOPMENT TARGET FOR INDIGENOUS PAPUANS
Des 18, 2015
Merauke, Jubi – Merauke Archbishop Mgr Nicolaus Adi Seputra urged the local government to have definite and clear targets in building the capacity of indigenous Papuans in the villages.
“Frankly, I am concerned about the indigenous Papuans’ life. Therefore, as ministry in the Southern Papua, I hope the local government have a real work target,” he said on last week.
He said he hoped if the target in number was achieved, people could see what have been done for indigenous Papuans for the next 25 years. Target, according to him, is not just a concept, but must be realized in practice.
“I take an example, in the next five years, how many Papuan doctors can be produced, as well as scholars in other sectors. At least there are results,” he said.
Another target needs to be achieved is infrastructure. For example in the next five years, 1000 kilometers of qualified asphalt roads for 50 years. So within a year, the road construction will be 200 kilometers.
Meanwhile Merauke Regent Romanus Mbaraka said within five years of his administration, twenties Marind youth have been sent for medical faculty. Next year, there are some would complete their studies and returned to devote themselves in this region.
In addition, the regent said ten Marind youth have been sent to Germany to continue their study.
“My target was actually to encourage the indigenous Papuans to have school since I was elected in 2011,” he said. (Frans L Kobun/rom)
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5) OMBUDSMAN: PUBLIC SERVICES STANDARDS IN PAPUA AND PAPUA BARAT LOW
Des 18, 2015
Jakarta, Jubi – The Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia said based on their latest study on 22 ministries, four have lowest standards of public service and are categorized as red.
The four ministries are the Ministry of Defense (score 54.3), the Ministry of Religious Affairs (51.95), the Ministry of Social Affairs (50.5) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (49.5), reported the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia launched in Jakarta on last week.
Meanwhile six ministries that scored high standards of public service are the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Of the 15 institutions assessed, three are categorized in the red zone namely the National Narcotics Agency, the National Professional Certification Agency and Research and Applied Technology Agency.
Three others are considered to meet a compliance of high standards of public services (green zone) namely the Investment Coordination Board, Central Bureau of Statistics and the Policy Institute of Government’s Good and Service Procurement. While nine institutions were considered to meet a compliance of medium standard of public services.
For provincial level, there are 12 regions categories into lowest standard of public services, namely Papua, Papua Barat, Sulawesi Tenggara, Maluku, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, Jambi, Bengkulu, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Banten, Sulawesi Barat, Maluku Utara and Gorontolo. And three regions are categorized into high score that are Sulawesi Selatan, Jawa Timur and Kalimantan Selatan, while 18 provinces have medium scores.
Meanwhile for regional level, of 64 regencies, three regencies have the high scores for public services standard that are Kubu Raya, Deli Serdang and Tanah Laut. As many as 39 regencies have the lowest scores including Lombok Utara, Sigi, Mamuju, Boalemo, Majene, Maluku Tengah and Biak Numfor. Meanwhile 12 regencies have medium scores that are including Karangasem, Lahat, Gianyar, Aceh Tengah, Majalengka and Badung.
There are three municipalities to meet compliance of high standard of public service of 50 municipalities, namely Kota Pontianak, Kota Lubuk Linggau and Kota Yogyakarta. Meanwhile 19 municipalities are categorized into medium and 28 have low score.
The Head of Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, Danang Girindrawardana in Jakarta on Wednesday (16/12/2015) said this result is a portrait of compliance in the public service that must be addressed to be improved by the government.
“President must take this as a serious concern,” he said.
Meanwhile the compliance of the public service standard has been mandated in the Law 25/2009 about Public Service. (*/rom)
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1) SPECIAL AUTONOMY FUND-SHARING MUST BE ADJUSTED WITH INDIGENOUS POPULATION

December 23, 2015, 12:36 am
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2) PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 2.6 TRILLION FOR ECONOMIC SECTOR

3) JOKOWI CHEATED BY PAPUA OFFICIALS ALL THE TIME, SAYS CHURCH LEADERS

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1) SPECIAL AUTONOMY FUND-SHARING MUST BE ADJUSTED WITH INDIGENOUS POPULATION
Des 19, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Emus Gwijangge said the Papua Special Autonomy Fund sharing scheme must fit the number of indigenous population in the customary areas in Papua.
He said the policy of Papua Governor Lukas Enembe to give 80% of Special Autonomy Fund to regencies/municipality is correct. However, it should be adjusted with the number of indigenous populations located in five customary areas.
“For example, there are 10 regencies located into Meepago customary area, Lapago covers six regencies, Mamta has four regencies, and Anim Ha has four hours. The most population of indigenous Papuans live in Meepago customary area,” Gwijangge told Jubi on last week.

According to him, the customary areas with the less indigenous Papua are Anim Ha and Mamta. He said most population in Anim Ha is migrants while the Special Autonomy fund is reserved to indigenous Papuans.
“So I think its portion should not be flat. I prefer if the fund sharing is according to the number of indigenous population in each customary area or regency. In addition, the difficulty of access must be considered. For example the regency located in Lapago area, the inter Sub-district access could only reached by small plane,” he said.
Further he said he would convey this issue in the Papua Regional Budget Plenary Meeting 2016 through the review of fraction. He also asked the regional/municipal parliaments to play their control and supervision roles to avoid the budget has been used by the officials.
“The use of the Special Autonomy Fund must be fully optimized. Until now people are still complaining, although the budget has been transferred to regency/municipality. Do not scarify the people. If it was misused, better to identify the number of indigenous Papuans and the budget should be delivered per household,” he said.
Budget Committee and Consultative Body of the Papua Legislative Council, the expenditures of special autonomy fund at regional level was highlighted in the meeting of the Budget Committee and Consultative Body of the Papua Legislative Council.
The Chairman of Papua Legislative Council, Yunus Wonda said the governor’s policy was correct, but the regional leaders were not well function.
“The governor’s instruction is clear. The priority of 80% of budget is allocated for education, health services and people centered economic. But up to now, most of regencies in Papua have failed to improve the health services, education and people centered economic,” Wonda said a few days ago.
He reminded the regents/majors to not only prioritize the infrastructure development from 80% allocation budget. He said the budget for infrastructure is sufficient; it’s not only allocated from regional budget, provincial budget but also from national budget. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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2) PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 2.6 TRILLION FOR ECONOMIC SECTOR
Des 21, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Provincial Government has allocated Rp 2.64 trillion for 2016 to optimize the production of agriculture, plantations, animal husbandry, fishery and forestry.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said in Jayapura on last week the money is intened to improve regional food security and sovereignty as well as to provide the sufficient supplies of food and people’s nutrition.
“Provincial Government would also encourage the availability of food supplies and to improve the agriculture production on local resources basis,” he said on last week.
Enembe said the capacity of customary people in forestry resources management and community logging business development must also be improved.
“This budget allocation for economic sector is also devoted of small and medium industries to the utilization of resources and guidance in strengthening the network of industrial cluster,” he said.
He explained for the economic policy of Papua Province in 2016 continues to encourage the quality of economic growth, to maintain the stability of the prices of community and development supply needs.
“Education and skills training for job seekers, preparation of ready labor force and creative economic development on local wisdom basis are also allocated from this budget,” he said.
He added this allocation for economic sector is also mandated in the Law No 21/2001 about Special Autonomy for the Papua Province and Special Regional Regulation No. 25/2013 about the Sharing Fund 
and Special Autonomy Fund Management. (*/rom)
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3) JOKOWI CHEATED BY PAPUA OFFICIALS ALL THE TIME, SAYS CHURCH LEADERS


Des 21, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Church leaders said President Joko Widodo’s plan to visit Papua at the end of this year wouldn’t yield a positive impact on Papua, even more so if he’s only scheduled to meet with the officials just like his last visit.
The president of GIDI, Dorman Wandikbo, said if Jokowi wanted to resolve the root of problems in Papua, he shouldn’t meet with Papuan officials, but with church leaders.
“The government in Papua is cheating on them as well as those in Jakarta, they are also cheating on us. Because of this behavior, the problem would never been solved. If Jokowi wanted to know about the reality occurred in Papua, he should meet us. Poor him, he comes to Papua for the third times but only meet those certain people. It’s the same,” Dorman Wandikbo when answering the Jubi’s query at the press conference at the Kingmi Synod Office in Jayapura City on Friday (19/12/2015).
According to him, every time the president came to Papua, the church leaders who are considered being critic had never been invited. If there are religious, community and customary leaders came in the meeting, it was only selected people.
“Why? Because if we came, we would reveal what was really happening in Papua. Those who came are already been set up. It’s hard to invite us. It’s just waste of time if coming to Papua without resolution. Many interests are involved. Coming to Papua is also for certain interest. The Indonesian Government has failed to build the indigenous Papuan,” he said.
The Chairman of Kingmi Church Synod, the Rev. Benny Giay similarly said meeting with Jokowi is like throwing salts to the sea. The situation in Papua would never be changed.
“I wonder if he was able or not to understand what happens on the ground. Perhaps the problem is the information never reached him, in particular the Paniai case. We can help Jokowi if he needs data,” Giay said.
The Rev. Socratez Sofian Yoman from Papua Baptist Church said from year to year, the case in Papua would never been resolved, for example, the murder case of Papua leader, Theyis Eluay. The perpetrators got their promotion instead.
“Jokowi’s visit to Papua would resolve the problems in Papua. He needs not to come to Papua, but he needs to indicate his seriousness to resolve the problem in Papua. The State is not capable to build the indigenous Papuan,” Yoman said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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Seasons Greetings Selamat Hari Natal dan Selamat tahun baru

December 23, 2015, 11:07 am
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Seasons Greetings
                                             Selamat Hari Natal dan Selamat tahun baru
                                                                       Joe & Anne
                                                                   AWPA (Sydney)

                                                             In National Gallery Singapore
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1) Indonesia’s Freeport Scandal

December 23, 2015, 11:02 pm
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2) Sport: West Papua Warriors in it to win it

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http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/24168/indonesias-freeport-scandal/

1) Indonesia’s Freeport Scandal

Posted On 24 Dec 2015
By : 
0 Comments
Tag: , , , 
The Garsberg mine operated by PT Freeport Indonesia. (Photo source: Kompas/Agus Susanto)
Setting up an informal deal before approaching top decision-makers is not unheard of in Indonesia’s money politics. 

Perspective

In Indonesia’s highly competitive money politics, a large stake in Freeport is the ultimate prize for the successful political party and faction to gain slush funds. The Freeport scandal can best be understood as a contest between two political gangs.


Indonesia has been rocked by extraordinary revelations about top-level negotiations with one of the world’s most profitable mining companies, Freeport-McMoRan, which operates in the high mountains of West Papua province. A leaked recording of an informal meeting has exposed the then chair of Indonesia’s national parliament, Setya Novanto, and oil tycoon Riza Chalid attempting to secure by gift a $US4 billion ($6.1bn), 20 per cent stake in Freeport’s mines, plus a proposed hydro-electric power plant.
The scandal, denounced as the worst to hit Indonesia, has incited demands for a thorough public investigation. At the heart of the row is Freeport’s desire to quickly secure an extension of its contract — which expires in 2021 — for control of one of the biggest gold and copper mines in the world. With most of its global gold production coming from Indonesian mines — containing reserves estimated to be worth at least $US40bn — Freeport-McMoRan has deployed such powerful allies as former deputy head of national intelligence Maroef Sjamsoeddin as local executive director to help Freeport navigate through Indonesia’s corrupt politico-business environment and negotiate contract renewal.
In Indonesia’s highly competitive money politics, a large stake in Freeport is the ultimate prize for the successful political party and faction to gain slush funds. The Freeport scandal can best be understood as a contest between two political gangs. Vice-President Jusuf Kalla’s faction, which includes Energy Minister Sudirman Said, has been courting Freeport in a competition against the faction of Aburizal Bakrie — chairman of political party Golkar — and his ally Novanto. The contest over Freeport has also been exacerbated by conflict over control of Indonesia’s oil imports between Ari Soemarno, the former head of state oil company Pertamina, who is close to Sudirman, and Riza, who is linked to Novanto.
In October, Energy Minister Sudirman gave Freeport an official “assurance” for long-term investments in Indonesia. However, the 2014 mining rule prohibiting negotiations and contract renewal prior to 2019 constituted a stumbling block for Sudirman, who needed to revise it before Kalla’s faction could benefit. Bakrie’s faction also engaged in the contest — partly because of Bakrie’s corporate woes and partly to maintain his leadership of Golkar, which holds significant political sway over parliament. Novanto collaborated with Riza to redefine the terms of negotiation with Freeport. However, Maroef, also closely aligned to the Vice-President, covertly recorded the meeting with Novanto and Riza on June 8 in Jakarta and handed it over to Kalla’s faction. The latter held on to the audio recording until it was politically expedient for release.
Setting up an informal deal before approaching top decision-makers is not unheard of in Indonesia’s money politics. Nevertheless, with Kalla’s endorsement, Sudirman then lodged an official grievance about Novanto’s conduct with the parliament’s ethical standards tribunal.
In the recording, Riza explained his formidable track record in money politics and how he brokered a temporary truce between the two opposing political coalitions. The negotiators also emphasised that, through Co-ordinating Minister of Politics, Law and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, access to President Joko Widodo could help them organise Freeport’s contract renewal and, for a successful deal, fair distribution of the Freeport spoils needed to be given to key players: Riza and Novanto wanted a stake in a new power plant and thought it was reasonable to organise a stake in Freeport Indonesia for Luhut and Kalla to make sure everybody was happy. Big egos and contested terms of negotiation, however, led to deal exposure.
The scandal has undermined the negotiated peace between Indonesia’s opposing political coalitions at the national level. The row has a way to play out. With a weak President unable to manage elite factionalism, Kalla’s supporters, benefiting from mounting media scrutiny and public discontent against their opponents, have taken the first scalp.
To avoid an official breach in parliamentary ethical standards, Novanto was forced to resign as the national parliament’s chairman on December 16. Criminal investigations are unlikely to bring down any powerful figures, but heightened economic nationalism may mean that Freeport must concede a greater level of royalties and ownership to the Indonesian government and the strongest elite faction than previously anticipated.
 
This article was originally published by The Australian and entitled ‘Mining millions and corrupt politicians in Indonesia scandal’

About 
Jeremy Mulholland is executive director of Investindo International and researcher in International Marketing at La Trobe University. (jeremypm@hotmail.com)



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2) Sport: West Papua Warriors in it to win it
Updated at 11:50 am today

The West Papua Warriors rugby league team. Photo: Facebook / West Papua Warriors

A rugby league team formed in Papua New Guinea to raise awareness about the on-going human rights abuses in West Papua, say they won't be taking a backward step on the field.
The West Papua Warriors is made up of players from PNG's Digicel Cup domestic competition and also features two players from Indonesia's West Papua province.
The Warriors will take on the Philippines development side in Sydney in February.
Team captain Tala Kami says the team was formed to champion a cause but they're also in it to win it.
"Everybody in the team they're competitive rugby league players and everybody wants to win. Yes we do want to promote the cause, yes we do want to promote the issue but we also understand that at the end of the day press and media and people love winners. People like teams that win and you're always going to get noticed if you play well and you win games so I think winning is definitely important but it doesn't overshadow the bigger picture, which is promoting West Papua".
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1) AGAIN, PAPUA CITIZEN SHOT DEAD Person TNI

December 24, 2015, 10:52 am
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2) President Jokowi scheduled to visit Papua
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A google translate of two articles. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic. 
original bahasa link above articles


1) AGAIN, PAPUA CITIZEN SHOT DEAD Person TNI
Jubi admin Dec 21, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi / Reuters - Marvel Doga (22), were reportedly killed after being hit unscrupulous members of TNI disperse angry residents in the office of one of the oil palm companies operating in Arso, Keerom, Sunday (20/12) at around 22:00 CET ,
Kasdam XVII Cenderawasih Brigadier General Herman Asaribab told Antara on Monday, admitted, from the reports received revealed that the incident began when demonstrations marred by the destruction of one of the offices of oil companies operating in Arso.
As a result, the company asks for help officers at a nearby military post to about 10 soldiers to the location and attempt to appease the masses are mostly drunk due to alcohol.
"The situation had subsided, but around 21:00 CEST back came a group of people carrying sharp weapons traditionally drunk," said Brig Asaribab.
Group of citizens, he said, tried to attack the soldiers, causing members menggeluarkan warning shot that the victim's feet.
Victims, Marsel Doga Arso was taken to hospital, but due to hemorrhage resulting in fatalities.
"We deeply regret the occurrence of such cases," said Brig Asaribab.
When asked who the shooter, Kasdam admits not knowing exactly who the culprit because it is still under investigation by the Military Police Military Command XVII / Cenderawasih.
"It is not known with certainty who the perpetrators of the shooting because it is still under investigation," added Asaribab. (*)
Editor: Victor Mambor
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2) President Jokowi scheduled to visit Papua
Thursday, December 24, 2015 5:56 pm

 In the schedule, the President Joko Widodo going to Papua at the end of this month, around December 29, 2015, "
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Presidential Special Staff, Lenis Kogoya said Joko Widodo President and his entourage are scheduled to visit Papua at the end of the month to see a number of development and meet with stakeholders.

"In the schedule, the President Joko Widodo going to Papua at the end of this month, around December 29th 2015," he said while in Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday.

According to him, the arrival of President Jokowi to Papua will inaugurate the pilot house for indigenous Papuans in Kampung Harapan, Jayapura district, then visit the mama-mama Market Youtefa and will visit Merauke.

"The president planned to Papua inaugurated the pilot house and visit the mama-mama Papuans traders in Market Youtefa," he said.

However, he said, on that occasion, the former Mayor of Solo, it will accept the aspirations of the traditional leaders, indigenous entrepreneurs mama-mama Papua and Papua, which essentially aspirations for the acceleration of development in Papua.

"If the market for mama-mama Papua in Jayapura city center I'm striving to meet with the governor (Luke Enembe), because the construction of the market could be ascertained because the funds are ready," he said.

Regarding the release of political prisoners or political prisoners by President Joko Widodo, the current visit each day, Lenis Kogoya who is also Chairman of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples (LMA) Papua, said she had filed.

"Since the release of five prisoners some time ago just is not got the coaching, so it had to be fought. If the names are there anyway, but I have to ask," he said.
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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DFAT reply to AWPA letter

December 25, 2015, 1:27 pm
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1) President to Kick Off Development Projects in Year-End Papua Trip

December 26, 2015, 12:49 pm
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2) Indonesia yet to See Freedom of Expression: Kontras
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1) President to Kick Off Development Projects in Year-End Papua Trip
By : Jakarta Globe | on 7:37 PM December 25, 2015

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo is scheduled to inaugurate a number of development projects in Papua during his year-end visit to Indonesia’s easternmost region.
The president will be in Papua and West Papua from Dec. 29 to 31, after attending the national Christmas celebration in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Dec. 28.
In Wamena, the seat of Papua’s Jayawijaya district, the president will inaugurate a new office building for the local government, under construction since 2013 at a total cost of Rp 150 billion ($11 million), according to district secretary Yohanes Walilo, as quoted by Antara on Friday.
Joko will also kick off a project to expand Wamena’s airport, which will allow it to accommodate larger aircraft like the Boeing 737. The project is being funded by the central government.
In Merauke, Indonesia’s easternmost city, on the border with Papua New Guinea, Joko is scheduled to attend the inauguration of a 10,000-hectare plantation.
Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian, the military commander for Papua, told Antara separately that Joko would spend New Year’s Eve in Waisai, the seat of West Papua’s Raja Ampat district, a world-renowned diving and marine tourism site.


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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2015/12/26/055730827/INDONESIA-YET-TO-SEE-FREEDOM-OF-EXPRESSION-KONTRAS

SATURDAY, 26 DECEMBER, 2015 | 17:38 WIB
2) Indonesia yet to See Freedom of Expression: Kontras

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said that the state had misused laws on the freedom of expression and the liberty of association and assembly.
“The laws and policies that guarantee those rights have been used to control public’s freedom of expression,” Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar at his office on Saturday, December 26, 2015.    
Over the last year, Kontras recorded 238 incidents violations related to freedom of expression. Kontras revealed that police had dominated the list of the violations with 85 cases, followed by public officials with 49 cases, non-governmental organizations with 31 cases, military with 17 cases and universities with 5 cases. West Java has been the region with the highest number of violations (41 cases).
According to Haris, police had conducted demonstration arbitrary arrests, persecution, bans on media coverage, and bans on hijab. Meanwhile, public officials were involved in bans on activities, media, and websites on behalf of radicalism eradication efforts.
In addition, Kontras also highlighted an article on libel against the President that was planned to be included in the Criminal Code revision. Haris said that the policy did not clearly define the libel against the President.
“It also violates the rights to express opinion, input and criticism in a democratic country,” Haris added.
The data, collected by Kontras, was in line with reports published by two International human rights institutions, namely Freedom House and World Justice Project. Freedom House ranked Indonesia as “partly free”.
 
EGI ADYATAMA
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1) Three Officers Killed, Rifles Stolen in Attack on Papua Police Precinct

December 28, 2015, 12:26 am
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2) Three officers dead in  attack on Papua police  station 

3) Three police officers shot dead by separatists in Papua

4) 3 Police Personnel Killed at Sinak Attack
5) View Point: Hasn’t the  circus left town yet?
6) Freeport Promises Transparency over Contract Extension

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1) Three Officers Killed, Rifles Stolen in Attack on Papua Police Precinct
By : Farouk Arnaz | on 9:37 AM December 28, 2015
Jakarta. Three police officers in the restive province of Papua were killed by suspected separatists on Sunday evening after armed men attacked their precinct, the National Police confirmed.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the Sinak subdistrict precinct in Papua's Puncak district was attacked by a barrage of gunfire at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday.
Three police officers manning the station were killed in the incident and another officer wounded, the four-star general continued.
"The  shots came from the back of the police precinct," Badrodin said at his office on Monday.
Several assailants then broke in to the headquarters' armory, stealing seven assault riffles and a crate of ammunition.
They fled after dozens of soldiers from a nearby military station arrived as back-up.
Badrodin identified the killed officers as First Brig. Ridho, Second Brig. Arman and Second Brig. Ilham. The fourth officer, First Brig. Dimara was shot in the arm and is now being treated for his injury.
"We are conducting an investigation [to identify the assailants]," the general said, adding that communication with the remote precinct is difficult.
The attack came ahead of President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua, which has seen low level insurgency against Indonesian security officials since Indonesia annexed the resource-rich province in the 1960s.
Joko is scheduled to travel to Merauke – on the province's border with Papua New Guinea – on Tuesday and Wamena in the central highland area on Wednesday, before traveling to neighboring West Papua province.
As of Monday morning there has not been any changes to the president's planned visit, said Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Patrige Renwarin.


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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/28/three-officers-dead-attack-papua-police-station.html

2) Three officers dead in  attack on Papua police  station -

A group of armed men attacked Sinak Police subprecinct in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday night, killing three police officers. Meanwhile, an aircraft carrying Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw was reportedly shot at on Monday.
The Twin Otter plane, owned by Trigana Air, was returning to Jayawijaya regency from Puncak.    
As well as killing the three police officers – First Brig. Ridho, Second Brig. Arman and Second Brig. Ilham --, the attackers also stole weapons from the Sinak Police subprecinct.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti confirmed the attack, saying that the police were confident of the identities of the attackers, and were currently hunting for them.
“Given the area in which the incident took place, we can be fairly sure of who the attackers were,” Badrodin said as reported by kompas.com on Monday,
Paulus, meanwhile, told Antara news agency that the attack had occurred at 8:45 p.m.local time, and that a number of other officers had sustained gunshot wounds.
According to Paulus, the attackers made off with seven weapons and various kinds of ammunition.
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Suharsono denied that the aircraft carrying Paulus had been hit, but confirmed that the plane’s passengers had heard shots.
A number of police officers have fallen victim to shootings by unknown armed groups in Papua in recent years. (bbn)(+) - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/28/three-officers-dead-attack-papua-police-station.html#sthash.LEfNQTWC.dpuf

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102222/three-police-officers-shot-dead-by-separatists-in-papua

3) Three police officers shot dead by separatists in Papua

Senin, 28 Desember 2015 12:25 WIB | 388 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News)- Three Indonesian police officers were shot dead, and two injured when a group of separatists attacked Sinak police office in Puncak District, Papua Province, here, Sunday evening.

"Its true, the attack happened on Sunday evening at around 8.45 p.m. Central Indonesian Standard Time (WIT), killing three officers and injuring two others. Seven guns were stolen," Papua Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Waterpauw told ANTARA, here, Monday.

The attackers stole two AK-47 assault rifles, two SS1 rifles, three Mauser rifles, and one crate of ammunition.

The Papua police chief deployed two squads of mobile brigade police officers to Sinak following the attack.(*)


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MONDAY, 28 DECEMBER, 2015 | 11:38 WIB
4) 3 Police Personnel Killed at Sinak Attack

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta- Sinak Police Office in Puncak District, Papua, have been attacked by an armed group called Lekagak Tenggamati with shooting from the back of the office on Sunday evening, December 27. 
 
National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti confirmed the attack. “Yes, it was done by Lekagak,” he told Tempo on Monday, December 28. Badrodin says the attack frequently occur in the area.
 
The shooting occurred at 8:45pm killing three police personnel; First Brigadier Ridho, Second Brigadier Arman, and Second Brigadier Ilham, and injuring at lest two others. 
 
The material loss are including two AK-47, 3 mosers, two Ss1, and a crate of ammunition.
 
Badrodin said a search by army battalion and police is being conducted. Sinak District is an isolated area; there’s no road access to the area except by small planes.
 
Lekagak group has a force of 40 people with 15 firearms. The distance between Sinak District and Wamena takes about two-days walking.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI





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5) View Point: Hasn’t the  circus left town yet?
Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta | Opinion | Sun, December 27 2015, 3:50 PM - 





Welcome to the circus at the House of Representatives. The dome-shape DPR/MPR building in the Senayan district has of late been turned into a circus arena, courtesy of elected politicians and sponsored by PT Freeport Indonesia, the giant American gold mining company with a highly profitable concession in Papua. 

The hearing of the House’s ethics council of the House of Representatives to look into alleged ethical violations by then House speaker Setya Novanto turned into a public spectacle that dwarfed the Cirque de Soleil, said to be the best circus show on Earth, at least in terms of audience and entertainment. 

Almost the whole nation was glued to their TV boxes or had turned to their gadgets to follow the ethics hearings that went on for almost four weeks and were mostly broadcast live. There were plenty of laughs too as the Senayan clowns and some invited guests took turns at center stage. 

The chief attraction undoubtedly was the tightrope over which those connected with the Freeport scandal had to walk.

First to go was Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, and he was followed by Freeport CEO Maroef Sjamsuddin, Setya and finally the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan. 

A fourth person, businessman Muhammad Reza Chalid, was on the bill, but he never came. The audience should get some of their money back for being short-changed.

The hearing centered around Setya’s three separate meetings with Maroef, also attended by Reza, during which they discussed Freeport’s request to extend its lucrative contract to operate in Papua beyond the current lease that ends in 2021. Sensing something was inappropriate, Maroef secretly recorded their conversation and then shared it with Sudirman, who later reported Setya to the ethics council and relinquished the recording as evidence.

Among the four made to walk the tightrope, only Setya lost his balance, but he never even reached the safety net. The House’s deputy speakers Fadli Zon and Fahri Hamzah did their acrobatic acts from the trapeze to rescue their colleague each time he fell. 

Just as it became clear that the ethics council would vote to declare that Setya had committed a serious violation, he tendered his resignation as House speaker. He quickly bounced back thanks to the trampoline below and got himself the powerful job as head of the Golkar faction. 

The four-week hearing ended without a decision one way or another: a complete waste of time.

This was a political circus filled by clowns. There were no wild animals to entertain us, not even real monkeys. Looking at the politicians’ behavior, Darwin was wrong about the evolution theory. Humans can be much dumber animals.

There were sideshows in the circus just as attractive or entertaining, particularly from TV networks running endless commentary involving other clowns. 

The ethics council and the entire House became the targets of public ridicule. It did not help that the council members had insisted on being addressed as “honorable” throughout the hearing, when clearly all they did was to dishonor the House’s entire reputation.

Neither did it help that the scandal broke out shortly after the police busted the ring behind mama minta pulsa (mama wants phone credit), a massive scam to con people into sending money by way of telephone credits.

The media quickly dubbed the Freeport scandal papa minta saham (papa wants shares), a reference to Setya’s proposal to Freeport to give up some shares to facilitate the negotiations.

Some in the audience who were clamoring for blood were disappointed. Nobody loses in this scandal.

The show is not over yet. Now some in the House want to start another inquiry into why the family of Vice President Jusuf Kalla held meetings with Freeport. This could be the next show in the new year. Are we going to see the VP walking the tightrope too? Stay tuned for the latest news.

A smaller circus show has been going on in the meantime in Senayan, over in Commission III, which looked into the scandal involving Pelindo II, the state-owned port operator. Its CEO, Richard Joost Lino, has already been declared a corruption suspect, but the commission is going after bigger fish.

Now we know clowning is a profession restricted to men only, but women can be just as good. Rieke Diah Pitaloka is now leading the campaign in demanding President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expel State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno from Cabinet over the port scandal, with a stern warning that failing to do so could lead to the President being impeached.

The political circus doesn’t get better than this. Rieke is from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the main party in Jokowi’s governmental coalition. Would she also subject the President to walk the political tightrope? Don’t go away. Stay tuned!

At this rate, the DPR/MPR building could become the permanent site for the circus shows. 

Sure they can be entertaining, but since these elected politicians live off taxpayers’ money, it begs the question: Are we really getting our money’s worth? Are they not overpaid for the clowning job they do? 

When will these political spectacle end so that we can restore the DPR/MPR building to its honorable status and function?

Probably not for a while. 

As American comedian George Carlin said, “Just ‘cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.” 

Sit back and enjoy the circus.
________________________________

The writer is senior editor at The Jakarta Post. - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/27/view-point-hasn-t-circus-left-town-yet.html#sthash.Ew3UEJZO.dpuf

——————————————————————-

SUNDAY, 27 DECEMBER, 2015 | 17:58 WIB
6) Freeport Promises Transparency over Contract Extension

TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - PT Freeport Indonesia president director Maroef Sjamsoeddin promised that his company would improve its transparency in the company’s contract extension.
“I want everything to be transparent in my term of office. So, we don’t have to look back. Let’s find what’s best for the future,” Maroef said in Jayapura on Sunday, December 27, 2015.
Maroef said that Freeport would continue to build good communications with the regulator to find solutions to any issues.
“Freeport is a national asset capitalized by foreign investors. But the asset is in Indonesia, in this case in Papua. So, we must not ignore its existence. It must provide contribution and comply with applicable regulations,” Maroef explained.
Maroef added that Freeport’s management would continue to communicate with central and regional governments.
“The governor has mentioned about divestment issues. This must be discussed to prevent issues from recurring,” Maroef said.
 
ANTARA
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↧

1) Take stern measures against attackers in Papua: VP

December 28, 2015, 11:41 am
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0
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2) Joko’s Visit to Papua Unchanged Despite Attack
3) Shooting incident not related  to Jokowi visit: Religious  leader -
4) Bodies of shooting victims  removed to Jayapura
5) Gunmen kill 3 police in Indonesia’s troubled Papua
6) Attackers Kill 3 Policemen in Indonesia’s Papua Province
7) Joko Widodo to visit Papua
8) Trigana aircraft was not shot at during flight
———————————————————————



1) Take stern measures against attackers in Papua: VP
Senin, 28 Desember 2015 23:07 WIB
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has directed the security agencies to take stern measures against those involved in the attack on the Sinak police precinct in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua.  

"We must uphold the law everywhere in Indonesia. Anyone found guilty must face the strong arm of the law," he said here on Monday.

The vice president said both the military and the police will take strong steps to uphold the law in the area.

He said he was yet to receive a report from the National Police chief regarding the incident.

The attack on the Sinak police precinct came two days before President Joko Widodos scheduled visit to Papua on Tuesday. The visit will continue till the advent of the New Year.

Kalla said the security agencies will step up security during the presidents visit.

A group of unidentified people had attacked the police precinct on Sunday night, killing three police officers and leaving two others injured, Papua Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said.  

The attackers also took away seven firearms of different types and several rounds of ammunition.(*)
———————————————————————————————
2) Joko’s Visit to Papua Unchanged Despite Attack
By : Farouk Arnaz | on 5:12 PM December 28, 2015

Jakarta. President Joko Widodo will not cancel plans to visit the province of Papua after a police station in the restive province was attacked by armed assailants, killing three police officers, a senior government official confirmed on Monday.
“Despite the shooting, which led to the deaths of three police officers, the president has not changed his intentions to celebrate New Year in Papua,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said at the state palace, as quoted by Tempo.
The Indonesian Military [TNI] in Papua, which is handling the security detail of Joko's three-day visit, have deemed the towns Joko plans to visit — Merauke, Wamena and Raja Ampat — safe and secure.
“This [shooting] will be taken into consideration but the president is sure it will be dealt with and has confidence in the TNI's security assessment,” Pramono said.
He added that Joko is further convinced spending New Year's Eve in Papua would prove the government's commitment to developing the resource-rich but severely underdeveloped province.
The Sinak subdistrict police station in Papua's Puncak district was attacked by a barrage of gunfire at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday, police said.
Three police officers manning the station were killed in the incident and another officer wounded. Several assailants then broke in to the headquarters' armory, stealing seven assault riffles and a crate of ammunition.
Police sent a joint team which included 30 officers from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) to Sinak using a Twin Otter airplane operated by Trigana on Monday morning.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Suharsono said the pilot cancelled his landing after hearing what he believed were gunshots. Suharsono said it is not yet known what the pilot heard, but maintained they were not shots being fired.
"The plane eventually landed [in Sinak] and the officers are on the scene," Suharsono said.
The plane returned from Sinak to transport the four victims of the shooting.

The remains of the slain officers — First. Brig. Ridho, Second. Brig. Arman and Second Brig. Ilham — are being taking to the homes of their families in Maluku, Papua and West Papua respectively.
—————————————————————————

3) Shooting incident not related  to Jokowi visit: Religious  leader -


Nethy Dharma Somba, thejakartapost.com, Jayapura | National | Mon, December 28 2015, 9:20 PM -

The recent shooting incident in Sinak, Puncak regency, Papua, in which three police officers were killed, had no connection with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to visit Papua at the end of the year, a religious leader has said.
“The shooting incident was only a sign of the unresolved hierarchical conflict between the Indonesian government and Papua’s indigenous people, especially those who identify as members of the separatist Free Papua Movement [OPM]. The conflicts are ongoing,” said Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator Rev. Neles Tebay on Monday.
He said that violent tactics had been a common response to problems during the 52 years of Papua’s integration with the Republic of Indonesia, but that violence had not been able resolve the problems. Instead, he said, violent tactics had only triggered revenge attacks and created a vicious circle of retribution.
Neles said that more civilians and members of security forces would fall victim to the conflict if the government did not find a proper solution.
“JDP still believes that the violent hierarchical conflict in Papua can be ended peacefully by all stakeholders,” the reverend said.
“Violent hierarchical conflict between the government and OPM members cannot be resolved by simply calling on them to leave their shelters in the forests and return to their home villages to work on development projects. Such appeals have been proven to be ineffective,” he added.
Rev. Neles recalled that in one effort to end the conflict, Indonesian security authorities had air dropped thousands of Bibles to Papuan forest areas with the hope that OPM members would find the Bibles, read them, repent and agree to end their separatist movement. However, the method was not successful.
“Therefore, it’s time for the government and OPM members to seek a realistic solution to end this hierarchical conflict,” said Neles.
He said that the JDP had suggested that the solution be pursued through a dialogue involving government and OPM representatives. 
“In the dialogue, the two parties should not blame and point fingers at each other, but jointly identify core problems and seek solutions that are acceptable to both the government and OPM members,” said Neles. (ebf)
————————————————————————-
4) Bodies of shooting victims  removed to Jayapura
Nethy Dharma Somba, thejakartapost.com, Jayapura | Archipelago | Mon, December 28 2015, 8:21 PM -

Unresolved conflict: Again, an shooting has happened in Papua, in which a group of armed civilians have shot dead three police officers at the Sinak Police station in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday evening. The police are investigating motives of the deadly attack. (Illustration by Kompas/Handining) 


The bodies of three National Police members killed in a shooting at the Sinak Police office in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday evening – First Brig. Ilham, First Brig. Ridho Matdoan and Second Brig. Muhammad Arman Syah – have been flown to Jayapura.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw flew from Jayapura to Sinak to monitor first-hand the scene at Sinak Police station after the attack and the removal of the victims’ bodies to Jayapura on a Dimonim Air aircraft.
The three police officers were shot dead by an armed civilian group in an attack on the Sinak Police station at around 8:35 p.m. local time on Sunday.
It was reported that five Sinak Police officers were watching TV in a guard room when around 25 armed civilians attacked the station and shot them. Two of the five police officers, Second Brig. Ryan and Second Brig. Dumapa, managed to escape the attack. They ran to a nearby Military Sub-District Command (Koramil) post located around 300 meters from the police station and sought help.
Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rudolf Patrick said in Jayapura that a shooting sound was reportedly heard once from an area behind the Sinak Police station before the armed civilian group reportedly broke through the back door of the station.
He further explained that the back door of the station had been closed prior to the incident but it was suspected that DK, a local resident who had been working as a non-permanent staff member at the office for four years, had opened it for the armed civilian group members.
“Our temporary analysis of the incident is that the shooting sound was a cue for DK to open the back door. After the attack, DK disappeared together with the group,” said Rudolf.
He said a forensic team from the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Jayapura would conduct an autopsy on the bodies before they were handed over to their families.
“This is partly to reveal what munitions they used to shoot our members,” said Rudolf.
He said it was suspected that the armed civilian group wanted to kill the police officers at the station to steal weapons.
“Details on the types of weapons and munitions taken during the attack are not yet known,” said Rudolf.
Information obtained by thejakartapost.com mentioned that among the weapons taken away by the armed civilian group were two AK rifles, three Mauser guns and two SS1 rifles as well as one case of munitions.
Meanwhile, Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator Rev. Neles Tebay said the shooting incident was a signal for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to immediately open a dialogue with Papuans, including members of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM).
He admitted that the Indonesian government and security authorities had made various attempts to end conflict in Papua but none of them had been successful at winving the hearts of OPM members. (ebf)———————————————————————-
5) Gunmen kill 3 police in Indonesia’s troubled Papua
By Erol Ersoy - 
 
Security forces investigating which group behind attack during which assault rifles, ammunition were stolen from police station
By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA – Three Indonesian policemen have been killed and two others injured in an attack on their station in eastern Papua province, home to a decades-long insurgency for independence.
The national police declared Monday that it was too early to say whether the gunmen involved in the incident the night before belonged to the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist group.
“It’s too early [to conclude the OPM] are the perpetrators. There are many possibilities. This could be criminal or political motives,” the force’s spokesperson Anton Charliyan said.
“This could be cleared if [those responsible] are arrested. The police cannot guess,” MetroTV broadcast him saying.
During the attack in Puncak regency, the gunmen also seized seven assault rifles and a crate of ammunition.
Papua Regional Police suspect the assailants had criminal motives such as seizing weapons to strengthen their group, rather than the attack being related to President Joko Widodo’s planned visit to Papua to celebrate the New Year. Kompas.com quoted spokesperson Patrige Renwarin as saying, “because even without the arrival of the president, armed criminal groups still carry out attacks against officials and civilians.”
He added that since the attack occurred while officers were watching television and chatting, police suspect that a personnel member at the station had informed the gunmen about their “careless condition.”
Pledging to pursue those responsible, he said, “in our raids, we will try to catch the perpetrators alive or dead.”
Three platoons of troops have been deployed to pursue the groups that may have been involved.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Tjahjo Kumolo told Kompas that he suspected that a small group operating in an area of ​​Sinak district and known as Lekagak Telengge — or Tenggamati – was behind the attack.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe has called on police to be vigilant in “vulnerable areas” where armed groups “threaten the public, and arbitrarily take livestock belonging to the community.”
Papua has been home to a low-level insurgency ever since the former Dutch colony was transferred to Indonesian rule in 1963. Despite its wealth of resources, the province is among the most impoverished and has witnessed the arrest of political prisoners and alleged abuses by security forces over the decades.
In Feb. 2013, seven unarmed military personnel were killed by armed groups in Sinak while trying to unload communications equipment that had arrived by plane.
In May, Indonesian President Joko Widodo pardoned five political prisoners in Papua and announced that foreign journalists would no longer need special permission for visits — which had also been restricted to human rights activists, aid workers and researchers.
After pledging to develop the region, the government of Widodo — who took office in October following a populist campaign — allocated $460 million for infrastructure projects in Papua this year focusing on roads, bridges, irrigation and sanitation.

——————————————————————-
6) Attackers Kill 3 Policemen in Indonesia’s Papua Province


 By ALFIAN KARTONO, ASSOCIATED PRESS JAYAPURA, Indonesia — Dec 28, 2015, 10:50 AM ET

A group of about 15 gunmen attacked a police station in Indonesia's restive Papua province, killing three officers and wounding two others, police said Monday.
Local police spokesman Col. Patrige Renwarin said the assailants attacked the station in Sinak town in the mountainous district of Puncak late Sunday while the victims were watching television.
He said the attackers took away seven assault rifles and a crate of ammunition.
Police are investigating the motive for the attack, which occurred ahead of a planned visit by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to the province.
Jokowi is planning to visit Papua to celebrate the New Year in the province, where a giant U.S.-owned mine run by Phoenix, Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. is located.
In the capital, Jakarta, national police spokesman Maj. Gen. Anton Charliyan said it was too early to say whether the attackers were from separatist groups operating in the region.
A low-level insurgency for independence has continued in the region since it was transferred from Dutch to Indonesian rule in 1963.
In 2013, gunmen killed seven unarmed soldiers in Sinak, about 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) east of Jakarta.
————————————————————————————-

7) Joko Widodo to visit Papua

Updated 3 minutes ago


The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, will today begin a three-day tour of Papua to inaugurate a number of development projects.
According to the Anatara news agency, the president is due to inaugurate a new office building for the local government in Jayawijaya district.
He is also expected to start a project to expand Wamena's airport, which will allow it to accommodate larger aircraft like the Boeing 737.
In Merauke, Indonesia's easternmost city near Papua New Guinea, Jokowi is scheduled to attend the inauguration of a 10,000-hectare plantation.
Officials say Joko will spend New Year’s Eve in Waisai, which is the seat of West Papua's Raja Ampat district and a renowned diving and marine tourism site.
————————————————————————-
8) Trigana aircraft was not shot at during flight
Senin, 28 Desember 2015 15:43 WIB
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Police Headquarters denied on Monday that a Twin Otter aircraft carrying Papua Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw was shot at during its flight to Puncak Jaya District earlier in the day.

"The aircraft was not shot at during flight. The truth is that they heard the sounds of firearms," Chief of the Public Information Division at the National Police Headquarters Senior Commissioner Suharsono noted.

Suharsono said the pilot informed him that the Trigana aircraft was not fired upon. He also remarked that the aircraft was intact. 

Inspector General Waterpauw, accompanied by Puncak Jaya District Head Willem Wandik and some officials of the Papua Provincial Police, left for Sinak in Puncak Jaya aboard a Trigana Twin Otter aircraft to review the security situation in the wake of an attack on the Sinak police precinct on Sunday night.

Three police officers were killed, and two others sustained bullet injuries during the attack.

The attackers also took away seven firearms of AK-47 and SS types belonging to the police. 
————————————
↧

1) MPR Urges Police to Tackle Separatism in Papua

December 28, 2015, 11:29 pm
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2) Freeport Submits Permit Extension, Eyes Future Reform
—————————————————————————

HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2015/12/29/055731442/MPR-URGES-POLICE-TO-TACKLE-SEPARATISM-IN-PAPUA

TUESDAY, 29 DECEMBER, 2015 | 11:00 WIB
1) MPR Urges Police to Tackle Separatism in Papua
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nur Wahid, expressed his concern about gunmen attack in Sinak Police Base in Puncak, Papua, on Sunday.
"Security threat in Indonesia is not limited to radicalism; separatism is also real and it is a threat," said Hidayat Monday, December 28.
 
Therefore, he urged the government to be more proportional in dealing with the threats. "Separatism is also a problem; do not just focusing on radicalism," he said.
 
Hidayat also gave an example that there was an attack a day after President Joko Widodo granted five political prisoners amnesty. "We need to concern about radicalism. However, we need to remember that our police are also the victims of separatism. They were attacked, murdered, and robbed" said Hidayat.
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI

——————————————————————————-

2) Freeport Submits Permit Extension, Eyes Future Reform
By : Rangga Prakoso & Alin Almanar | on 7:35 PM December 28, 2015
Jakarta. Mining giant Freeport Indonesia has submitted its request to extend its permit for concentrate exports, set to expire on Jan. 28.
An Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry regulation stipulates concentrate exports extension requests must be submitted 45 to 30 days before the permit expires.
"We have submitted the extension request," Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said in Jakarta on Monday.
Indonesia reviews concentrate export permits every six months, as part of the much-criticized implementation of a mineral export ban policy that came into effect in January 2014.
The government ties in permit extensions with miners' willingness to develop smelters in an effort to add value to Indonesia's raw minerals in-country.
Freeport Indonesia — which operates Grasberg, one of the biggest copper and gold mines in the world — has committed to investing in a $2.3 billion project to expand the capacity of its joint-venture copper smelter in Gresik, East Java.
The government previously granted a permit to Freeport to export concentrates, valid from July 28 this year until Jan. 28, 2016.
The permit was granted after Freeport reported to the ministry that the Gresik smelter development had reached 11 percent. Riza declined to provide an updated estimate.

Concession saga
Freeport has been embroiled in a major political scandal this month, after the firm's Indonesian chief reported claims to the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said that then-House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto had attempted to extort the mining giant. Setya allegedly requested a stake in its divestment plan, estimated to be worth billions of dollars, in exchange for "high level" lobbying to allow the miner to secure contract extensions before its concession ends in 2021.
US-based parent Freeport McMoRan requested certainty for the 2021 extension, after announcing it plans to spend $15 billion in developing underground mining operations at Grasberg.
A government regulation, however, states concession extensions can only be filed within two years of the original end date — 2019 at the earliest in Freeport's case.
Sudirman last week told the Jakarta Globe that the miner had once told him a business plan of such a large scale "won't be feasible" without certainty of an extension.
Still, he did not disclose if an extension could be granted sooner than 2019.
The government will consider certain parameters, including reviewing the progress of smelter development and the extent of Freeport's commitment to investing in Gresik, Sudirman said.
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