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1) BENNY WENDA RESPONDS TO THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT, “WEST PAPUA WILL NEVER BE PART OF INDONESIA.”

December 29, 2015, 12:22 pm
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2) President Joko Widodo arrives in Papua

3) Resignation of Freeport`s chairman to create new atmosphere: Sudirman

4) Indonesia Loses ‘Connector’ at Freeport-McMoRan
5) Freeport Shares Drop Following Moffet’s Resignation  
6) JOKOWI MUST TAKE CARE OF PAPUA WITH HEART : KOMARUDIN WATUBUN SAYS
7) CHURCH MUST PAY ATTENTION TO PAPUAN EDUCATION, FILEP KARMA SAYS
8) Statement by the Executive-Director of the LP3BH

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1) BENNY WENDA RESPONDS TO THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT, “WEST PAPUA WILL NEVER BE PART OF INDONESIA.”
Des 29, 2015
December 28, 2015

West Papuan Independence Leader Benny Wenda has written this statement in response to the Indonesian government boosting more military ties with Australia and warning countries not to support West Papua
Dear everyone,
On Monday 21st December, the Indonesian Defence and Foreign Ministers met with the Australian Defence and Foreign Ministers in Sydney and warned Australia and other countries to “respect its sovereignty over West Papua”.
Not only that but also they boasted about strengthening military ties with Australia, on the very same day that 22 year old West Papuan Marvel Doga was shot dead by the Indonesian military for protesting against a palm oil company. Such state killings and brutality are always the only ‘Christmas presents’ we West Papuans get from the Indonesian government.
What is there to be proud of for killing youths that challenge the corporations destroying their land?
The Indonesian Defence and Foreign Ministers meeting with the Australian Defence and Foreign Ministers in Sydney
The Indonesian government is clearly very worried about the growing international support for West Papua’s freedom and more evidence of this was witnessed when Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said,
“I would like to close on this point. It is a point that is very troubling for Indonesia, because Indonesia never meddles in the affairs of other countries, and likewise, we don’t want others to meddle in ours, or try and divide us. With regard to Papua, certain countries are meddling, and we don’t like it,”
He went onto say “For us, Papua is [part] of the united Republic of Indonesia. The united Republic of Indonesia extends from Sabang to Papua. There is no other solution, that’s it, that’s the way it is,”
Let me tell the Indonesian Defence Minister now,
West Papua has never been and will never be part of Indonesia.
Indonesia is the problem. Independence for West Papua is the solution.
The Indonesian Defence Minister is an inherent part of this problem because he is responsible for the more than 40,000 Indonesian soldiers illegally occupying West Papua. He has no right to talk about West Papua and can talk about Indonesia from Sabang to the Moluccas because that is where Indonesia’s real borders belong but West Papua is a Melanesian nation that has nothing to do with Indonesia.
Most commentators would agree that the reunification of Melanesian people is something to be praised and in fact the Melanesian nation of Vanuatu has been praised for encouraging Melanesian unification as part of supporting West Provincial Government Allocates 2.6 Trillion for Economic SectorPapua’s freedom.
However, the Indonesian government is also clearly very worried about the reunification of the Melanesian and Pan-Pacific Islander family because having issued a warning to Australia and other countries, Ryacudu then insulted our Melanesian brothers and sisters in Vanuatu and attacked Melanesian sovereignty when he said
“Vanuatu persists in encouraging Melanesian people to reunite. That’s not right, and I disagree with it.”
I response to this, I say
Indonesia has no right to meddle in the internal affairs of Melanesia. We Melanesian Pacific Islanders do not need Indonesia’s permission to reunite.
Melanesian and Pan-Pacific unity flows in every river, whispers up every tree and floats upon every wave of the Pacific Ocean. It surges through our very souls as Melanesian people. We continue to yearn and continue to strive to reunite with wantoks; with all our brothers and sisters so that one day we will be one free family again.
The Indonesian Defence Minister might be warning countries around the world not to support a Free West Papua but let me warn the Indonesian Defence Minister
Through peaceful struggle, we West Papuans are ready to set ourselves free from the oppression of Indonesian rule. Indonesia’s colonialism will come to an end very soon.
This Defence Minister once infamously said that the killers of West Papuan Independence Leader Theys Eluay were “heroes”.
Who are the real criminals in West Papua when military generals like Ryacudu continue to approve of such killings and continue to orchestrate this ongoing genocide which has left over 500,000 West Papuan people dead?
Not only did Ryamizard Ryacudu warn Australia, Vanuatu and other countries over West Papua, he went onto say that 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.
As a West Papuan, a Melanesian and a Pacific Islander I am outraged that such malicious threats and outright lies continue to be blurted out by Indonesian government ministers about the lives of my people and countries that support us.
Indonesia invaded West Papua, invaded East Timor and earlier this year executed Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumuran. They even threatened to go to war with Vanuatu because of its support for West Papua’s freedom.
We West Papuans (living just 250km North of Australia) have been suffering under a secret genocide and the illegal occupation of our country since West Papua was illegally annexed by Indonesia in the 1969 so called Act of Free Choice; (known to West Papuans as the Act of NO Choice.) During the resulting long decades of torture, it is estimated that over 500,000 people (in 3 West Papuans) has died because of this military occupation.
Earlier this month, the Human Rights Commission Komnas HAM has found that human rights violations have increased in West Papua this year, documenting over 700 West Papuans who were persecuted by the Indonesian State in 2015. Only last week on 19thDecember, 23 West Papuans were arrested and locked up just for peacefully demonstrating against the illegal Indonesian occupation.
The Indonesian government is doing all they can to try to stop the truth from coming out of occupied West Papua and Human Rights Watch recently released a 74 Page report detailing how foreign journalists are still being effectively barred from working there. On top of this, a few weeks ago the Indonesian President even ordered all International NGO’s to leave West Papua by the end of 2015, a move obviously proving that the Indonesian government has something to hide.

The Indonesian President Joko Widodo is also planning to visit West Papua before the end of 2015 but he is certainly not welcome. We West Papuans know that such visits are merely publicity stunts attempting to show government care about West Papua whereas actually the Indonesian President is visiting West Papua to further impose Indonesian state control over West Papua. This means more Indonesian soldiers and more deals with multinational corporations like Freeport McMoran that exploit and destroy our ancestral land. We firmly believe that his visit will only bring more trouble in 2016, more bloodshed of West Papuans.
Indonesia’s new ‘civilian President’, Joko Widodo with the Indonesian military
West Papuans are Australia’s closest neighbours and we West Papuans look to Australia as our big brother in the region. Therefore on behalf of my people I appeal to the Australian government not to forge more military ties with this human rights abusing government.
Why deal with a government that is committing genocide against your closest neighbours?
It has been revealed that Australian supplied military helicopters have previously been used to bomb West Papuan villages and so any new military ties between Indonesia and Australia send shivers down our spines. These new military ties terrify West Papuan villagers who do not know if they will be the next victims of this brutal genocide.
The Indonesian government has already failed to convince the world of all their moral, political and legal arguments over their continued occupation of West Papua and the only channel they have left is their so called ‘economic diplomacy’. The world needs to be aware that this is the only tactic the Indonesian government can use now.
Therefore I urge the Australian government and parliament to please look to the suffering of your closest neighbours in West Papua, and help to promote human lives over money from Indonesian “economic diplomacy”.
We desperately need the support of our big brother Australia to please help us against this secret genocide and the ongoing military occupation of our ancestral lands.
Please do continue to support my people, to write to your representatives and tell as many people as possible about West Papua.
Neither the threats of the Indonesian government nor the bullets of the Indonesian military will break the spirit of my people and our resolve to struggle for full freedom through self-determination.
We are certain that one day we will finally be free.
Benny Wenda
West Papuan Independence Leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102248/president-joko-widodo-arrives-in-papua

2) President Joko Widodo arrives in Papua

Selasa, 29 Desember 2015 23:29 WIB | 397 Views
Merauke, Papua (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana arrived at Mopah airport in Merauke, Papua on Tuesday evening to visit Indonesias eastern provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The president and his entourage, including minister of public works and housing Basuki Hadimoeljono, presidential chief of staff Teten Masduki, and presidential communication team member Sukardi Rinakit, left Jakartas Halim Perdanakusumah airport at 13.40pm and arrived at Meraukes airport at 20.20pm aboard the presidential plane.

According to the head of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat, President Joko Widodo will not only visit Merauke, but also Wamena and Sorong, before ending 2015 at Raja Ampat.

After attending an "Indonesias Dreams for 2015-2085" event in Hasanap Sai field in Merauke, the president and his entourage will travel to Wamena by plane, where he will dedicate new terminals at Wamena and Kaimana and meet with the people of Jayawijaya.

On Thursday he will proceed to Sorong and Raja Ampat. Before returning to Jakarta on Friday, January 1, he will visit a local sago factory.

This was the third visit to Papua and West Papua made by the President, following his first visit to the eastern provinces from December 27-29, 2014 and the second visit from May 8-11, 2015.

President Jokowi, as he is also called, has said he believed that by frequently visiting the region, conflicts in Papua would be settled.

"I will often visit Papua," he said at Waringin Sports Stadium in Jayapura on December 27, 2014.

Before visiting Papua, the President had visited several other provinces, including South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara, to inspect infrastructure development in the regions.

The visits are evidence that Indonesia is now leaving Java-centered orientation and turning to an Indonesia-centered vision, as President Jokowi said at the Heroes Day in Surabaya on November 10, 2015. 

"Indonesia is moving towards an Indonesia-centered and not Java-centered vision. Prosperity will not happen only in Java," he said at the time. 

reporting by agus salim
(H-YH/INE/a014)  
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014) 


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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102240/resignation-of-freeports-chairman-to-create-new-atmosphere-sudirman

3) Resignation of Freeport`s chairman to create new atmosphere: Sudirman

Selasa, 29 Desember 2015 19:58 WIB | 453 Views
 Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Energy Minister Sudirman Said expressed hope that the resignation of Freeport McMoran Copper and Gold Inc.s Chairman James R. Moffett would create a new atmosphere.

"A new leader will always bring a new atmosphere and working style, including in his/her management of portfolios and stakeholders in Indonesia," he noted in a written press statement received here on Tuesday.

The minister said he always welcomed changes, and the Indonesian government respected the internal decision of the corporation.

"This is an internal corporate decision of Freeport McMoran. The government is not involved in it," he clarified.

Moffett, who is also the companys founder, is being replaced by Gerald J. Ford who is an independent director of Freeport McMoran.

Moffetts resignation came around when the US mining giant was still negotiating the extension of its mining contract in Papua with the Indonesian government.  

Freeport is seeking an extension of its contract that will expire in 2021.

The company has expressed its readiness to meet several requirements for the extension of the contract that have been submitted by the Indonesian government, including increasing royalties and investing up to US$18 billion for underground mining, infrastructure, and smelter development.

The contract extension issue has been the reason behind the case of the recorded conversations involving House Speaker Setya Novanto who demanded a stake in the company that led to his recent resignation.

On April 4, 1967, PT Freeport Indonesia had signed a working contract for mining in Erstberg in Papua for a period of 30 years until 1997.

In 1991, Freeport obtained an extension of its contract for another 30 years until 2021 following the discovery of the Grasberg mine in 1988.

The 1991 contract carried a clause that allowed a possible extension of the contract after its expiry in 2021 until 2041.

On December 31, 2012, Freeports proven reserves in Papua were recorded at 2.52 billion tons of ores comprising one percent copper, 0.83 grams of gold ore per ton, and 4.24 grams of silver ore per ton.(*)
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4) Indonesia Loses ‘Connector’ at Freeport-McMoRan

James R. Moffett’s departure at mining company could throw wrench in contract talks with government


By SARA SCHONHARDT And  BEN OTTO Dec. 29, 2015 1:31 p.m. ET
For decades, James R. Moffett guided the fortunes of the U.S.’s biggest mining company, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., in the crucial but sometimes tricky Indonesian marketplace.
The sudden resignation of Mr. Moffett as Freeport’s executive chairman, announced Monday, could throw a wrench into negotiations with the Indonesian government over the fate of one of Freeport’s—and Indonesia’s—biggest mines, industry analysts say.
At stake is a contract governing the operation of Freeport’s Grasberg mine, an immense open-pit excavation in the remote eastern-Indonesian province of Papua. Grasberg is one of the world’s biggest producers of gold and copper, and has played a central part in Freeport’s business since 1988, when exploration under the guidance of Mr. Moffett, a geologist and former wildcatter, found the deposits. Grasberg accounted for a sixth of Freeport’s copper and 93% of its gold production in 2014, pulling in $3 billion out of Freeport’s $21.4 billion in global revenue.
Mr. Moffett was “the key connector” between Freeport and Indonesian officials, with relationships and experience built up over decades, said Rangga D. Fadillah, an analyst from business consultancy Bower Group Asia. His resignation “will be a threat for a smooth renegotiation,” Mr. Fadillah said.
A spokesman for Freeport’s Indonesian unit declined to comment on how Mr. Moffett’s departure will affect Freeport’s business and referred questions to company representatives in the U.S., saying headquarters would issue a news release on the matter. A U.S.-based Freeport spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Freeport said Grasberg’s open-pit mineral reserves are falling fast, and it is seeking to renew its contract for 20 more years, so it can start investing in underground mining. Freeport has also agreed to divest itself of more than 10% of its stake in its Indonesian unit, in line with the country’s attempts to take control of more of its natural resources from foreign firms. 
Freeport faces a mid-January deadline to set a price at which the government or state agencies can purchase the stake. Those negotiations have been complicated by revelations—in an audiotape recording by a local Freeport executive—that a prominent Indonesian politician allegedly asked for Freeport shares in exchange for help with the contract renewal, in a meeting with the company earlier this year. The politician denied wrongdoing, and he resigned his post earlier this month as Parliamentary House of Representatives speaker; the matter is under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.
Freeport is also working to satisfy an Indonesian regulation that bans exports of unprocessed minerals unless it can show progress in building refining facilities in Indonesia.
Freeport’s experiences in Indonesia mirror the travails of many mining firms that are trying to rebuild operations while juggling restive investors and tumbling global demand for many of the commodities they produce. In August activist investor Carl Icahnrevealed he had taken an 8.5% stake in Freeport.
In an attempt to recover from a disastrous foray into oil and gas in 2013, Freeport suspended its dividend this month and said it would cut capital spending by billions of dollars in coming years. The company reported a loss of $3.8 billion in the third quarter and has seen its stock slide 70% this year and 16% in the past month.
Mr. Moffett, a 77-year-old Louisiana native, co-founded a predecessor of Freeport in the late 1960s, and frequently flew to Indonesia to oversee discussions with policy makers and other high-level officials, often taking the lead rather than Freeport’s local head.
Known even to the most senior Indonesian officials as “Jim Bob,” Mr. Moffett steered Freeport through decades of political and economic turbulence, including the rule of autocrat Suharto, separatist violence in Papua, where Grasberg is located, economic crises and a bumpy transition toward democracy.
Freeport’s dealings in Indonesia under Mr. Moffett have sparked controversy. The company battled allegations by human-rights groups in the late 1990s that it cooperated with Indonesian security forces in suppressing pro-independence activities in Papua. Freeport denied involvement in any human-rights abuses and has said it invests in community-development programs. 
Freeport’s Grasberg contract expires in 2021, and under Indonesian regulations it isn’t allowed to start the renewal process until 2019. Freeport is pressing for early renewal because it says it needs assurance it can continue operating in Indonesia before putting up the $18 billion investment needed to develop underground operations.
Indonesia has been pushing Freeport for key changes to its current contract, making the company’s continued operations dependent on things like increased royalties, the construction of a multibillion-dollar smelter and a smaller concession area.
Freeport also has significant operations in Peru, Chile and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as natural gas and natural shale gas operations in the U.S., and is reviewing mining operations globally.
—Anita Rachman and Deden Sudrajat contributed to this article.
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TUESDAY, 29 DECEMBER, 2015 | 17:38 WIB
5) Freeport Shares Drop Following Moffet’s Resignation  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Freeport McMoRan (FCX) shares continue to drop in the stock market following the recent resignation of its founder James Moffett. Moffet, also known as Jim Bob, also resigned from his position as the company's council. Moffet made his decision following a recent addition of two new company directors under the pressure from investor Carl Icahn.
Based on Tempo's observation on Bloomberg website, the shares continue to drop. In a previous trading session, the FCX share drops by 0.24 points from US$7.57 to US$7.33. The shares then drop even lower to a level of US$6.85, or 0.72 points lower from its previous value.
Moffet had led Freeport since 1984. Moffet is the founder of McMoran Oil and Gas Co in 1969 and was the one who initiates the acquisition of Freeport Minerals Co. in 1981. Moffet's resignation came just a few months after the company changes the organizational structure of its high-ranking officials.
DESTRIANITA K.
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6) JOKOWI MUST TAKE CARE OF PAPUA WITH HEART : KOMARUDIN WATUBUN SAYS
Des 27, 2015

Jakarta, Jubi – A member of Parliament from PDIP, Komarudin Watubun, said Setya Novanto’s resignation as Chairman of the House of Representatives for ethical violations is a momentum to defend the people of Papua.
“I hope everyone does not just stop at the results of the trial MKD. There is a snowball that must be dismantled to the core, “said Komarudin, in Jakarta on last week.
He continued, during the presence of PT. Freeport in Papua, is only used as a platform of central government’s interests.
“And Papuans become the victims. Shooting continues to occur. Now the people of Papua demand firm steps from President Jokowi, “he added.
Members of Parliament from Papua felt responsible for the policies of President Jokowi in Papua, because he was the first to invite Jokowi in Papua at the end of the legislative election campaign last year.
At that time, he entrusted Papua to Jokowi to not only take care with his mind but also with heart Thus, the Papuan people can avoid any conflict of interests related to the presence of PT. Freeport.
“That should be the entrance for Jokowi to realize his promise,” he stated. (*/ Tina)
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7) CHURCH MUST PAY ATTENTION TO PAPUAN EDUCATION, FILEP KARMA SAYS
Des 28, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Filep Karma urged a number of church institutions in Papua to pay attention to the education of Papuan children. 
Educational institutions should be able to prepare the next generation with better education to face globalization.
Karma stated during the book discussion and writing seminar on Life Stories in the Hall of the College of Theology Walter Post Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua, on Sunday (27/12/2015). “First, the church needs to think about the children’ education institutions,” he said seriously.
He said, many children in Papua are not getting a good education. He cited those imprisoned for criminal cases. In Papua there is no prison for children. Children are punished and sent in an adult prison.
“Secondly, the church must build a rehabilitation institution because dependence on alcohol is very high, “he said.
He added, these children can be used by others to reached their will and it will be a great danger.
Balim Council Secretary Engelbertus Surabut said the government has no attention for native Papuans, so the church must take on the role. The Church is not only preaching, but must be more seriously to build moral education of the Papuans.
“Ora et Labora “ pray and work “must be implemented in Papua. The words of love must be real, if not, the gospel will never be real, “he said. (Mawel Benny/Tina)
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8) Statement by the Executive-Director of the LP3BH
29th December 2015

    If it is indeed true that Ir H. Joko Widodo is about to visit the Land of Papua as Head of State, he wlll be faced with a situation of
Human Rights Abuses committed  by the State Security Forces against the civilian population, in particular against the indigenous Papuan
people. Although it has been claimed that things would improve, they have continued to deteriorate which throws a negative light on a
democratic state all of which can be witnessed by the international community.

    Speaking as a Lawyer and Defender of Basic Human Rights here in the Land of Papua  which became an integral part of the Republic of
Indonesia 52 years ago, I can say that during all this time that up until the end of 2015, the Government of Indonesia has displayed no
political will to resolve the many grave human rights abuses that have occurred against the people of the Land of Papua.

    Since the Act of Free Choice occurred (according the Indonesian version), many people, perhaps hundreds or it could even be thousands
of people, have been the victims of grave human rights abuses.across the whole of the Land of Papua,

    Yet this is simply being ignored even though the facts reveal that this is at the very root of the problem of finding a solution to
the social-political conflict, as was made clear by the Institute of Scholars of Indonesian (LIPI) in its book, Papua Road Map.

    This has happened despite many calls by the Papuan people for a legal resolution of a number of acts of violence all of which were
violations of Basic Human Rights  here in the Land of Papua, as confirmed by the Congress of the Papuan People which was held in
Jayapura in 2000. It was this situation that led to the enactment of Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for the Province of Papua.

    Articles 44 to 46 of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua provide clear legal instructions for procedures, mechanisms and legal steps
that are needed to resolve the many cases of the basic rights violations of the Papuan People by the State.

     This is also stipulated in Law 39/1999 on Basic Human Rights and Law 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts as a sectoral part which has
binding legitimacy.     It is for me a matter of great regret that to this day, not a single case of alleged human rights abuses ever since the Act of Free
Choice was enacted in 1969 has been investigated and analysed so as to be resolved in according with the law.

    The Wasior Case in 2001 very clearly and factually complied with the stipulations of Article 7, Article 8 and Article 9 of Law 26/2000
on Human Rights Courts  meaning that it is still not clear whether this is a matter for KOMNAS HAM (Commission for Basic Human Rights) or
the Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia.

   This is also the problem with an incident that occurred when a number of students were shot on Karel Gobay Field, Enarotoli, District
of Paniai on 8 December 2014. There have been no follow-up legal investigations about human rights abuses in order to prove that human
rights violations occurred on that occasion.

    As the Executive Director of the Institute for Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH) Manikwari, I call
upon President Joko Widodo to issue without delay a Presidential Decision (Keppres) which grants full powers  and authority to KOMNAS
HAM, for it to be able to conduct investigations and bring to justice those responsible for grave Human Rights Violations in the Land of
Papua, including the Wasiior Case before the Human Rights Court, in conditions that conform with the principle of upholding the law and
restoring the confidence of the International Community in Indonesia as a state that is truly democratic.

     President Joko Widodo should show respect and pay attention to the issue of grave human rights in the Land of Papua, which appear to
be genocidal which led to the State leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to call for a fact-finding mission to be sent of the Land of
Papua in the near future.

    I fear that the government of Jokowi is dominated by ministers, staff members and political parties which are ultra nationalistic and
will not allow such a fact-finding mission to attend to this matter.

    Such a situation can only lead to political actions being taken by the Papuan people who are now united within the United Liberation
Movement of West Papua.to bring the issue of Papua, in particular the genocidal grave human rights violations, to the attention of the
international community, including  the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as the United Nations.

    Systematic human rights violations have been occurring throughout the Land of Papua. while attention has been growing, in particular
regarding summary executions, torture, severe mal-treatment, detentions and arrests in violation of the law as well as excessive
violations of freedom of expression and actions against pro-democracy activists who have been raising these problems with the State in many
different ways..

     There is a lengthy list of various human rights violations that have been experienced by the indigenous Papuan  people and which have
been committed by members of the security forces, the TNI (Army of Indonesia ) and Polri (Police Force). oll of which have been occurring
continuously for the past 52 years.in the Land of Papua and which have
been getting worse.

    The fact is that not a single step has been taken by anyone to responsibly resolve these matters in accordance with the law, all of
which means that impunity has reigned supreme here in the Land of Papua.

Peace
Yan Christian Warinussy, Executive Director of the LP3BH in the Land of Papua.
[Translated by Carmel Budiardjo, Recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, 1995]
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1) Joint team on the hunt for Papua police killers

December 29, 2015, 11:54 pm
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2) Police, TNI to Secure Jokowi`s Visit in Papua
3) LEKHAKA TELENGGEN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SINAK POLICE ATTACK

4) TASK FORCE SENT TO SINAK AFTER THREE OFFICERS KILLED IN ATTACK ON POLICE STATION
5) GOVERNOR : PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL STAFF WOULD NOT ASK FOR CASH TO REGIONS

6) President Jokowi plants “capsule of dreams” in Papua

7) LBH Urges Jokowi to Open Dialogue with the Papuan
8) Jokowi to Celebrate New Year in Raja Ampat, Papua


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1) Joint team on the hunt  for Papua police killers

thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | Archipelago | Wed, December 30 2015, 12:47 PM - 
The Papua Police have set up a joint team comprising police and military personnel to pursue perpetrators of an armed attack that killed three police officers at the Sinak Police headquarters in Puncak regency, Papua.
“A joint team comprising 50 Mobile Brigade [Brimob] and detective unit personnel has been dispatched to investigate and pursue the shooting perpetrators. Directly supported by commanders of military district commands, the Indonesian Military has also deployed personnel to search for the attackers and prevent such incidents from reocurring,” Papua Police spokesman Patrige Renwarin said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.
Starting their investigation into the Sinak shooting shortly after the incident occurred, Patrige said the joint team had not as yet discovered the whereabouts of the attackers.
“At the site of the attack, the police investigation team found one weapon and a large stockpile of munitions left under stairs at the Sinak Police office building. The weapon belongs to the police office; the armed group apparently didn’t see it,” said Patrige.
He added that the police had taken anticipatory measures by increasing the number of on-guard personnel.
As reported earlier, a number of armed civilians attacked the Sinak Police office in Puncak regency, Papua, on Sunday evening. Three police members, namely First Brig.Ridho, Second Brig.Arman and Second Brig.Ilham, were killed and weapons and munitions were taken. (ebf)
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2015/12/30/055731761/POLICE-TNI-TO-SECURE-JOKOWIS-VISIT-IN-PAPUA
WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER, 2015 | 08:52 WIB
2) Police, TNI to Secure Jokowi`s Visit in Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti works together with Indonesian Armed Force (TNI) Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo for the security of President Joko Widodo’s working visit in Papua.
 
"We’ll begin to tighten security in Wamena with TNI Commander," said Badrodin Tuesday, December 29.
 
"We’ve also secure places President to visit," he added.
 
Meanwhile, National Police Deputy Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan said that he had added special guards near Puncak Jaya district where the attack to police personnel took place on Sunday (27/12).
 
Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) will also work together to help the security.
 
"We’ll be ready, we’ve prepared everything for the worst, including the tight security in the locations where the regional election was held," he said.
 
President Joko Widodo with the First Lady Iriana, on Tuesday at 8.30pm local time arrived in Merauke to start the working visit in Papua for four days as well as to visit Sorong and Wamena. The President also plans to celebrate New Year on January 1, 2016 with the Papuan at Raja Ampat, West Papua.
ANTARA

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3) LEKHAKA TELENGGEN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SINAK POLICE ATTACK
Des 29, 2015
Sinak, JUBI — Lekhaka Telenggen (Leka Telenggen), the chief of the rebel group in Puncak Jaya, said the shootings that killed three policemen in Sinak were carried out by his members.
“I am responsible for this incident. The members and I are cautious in our headquarters to anticipate the counterattack,” Lekhaka told Jubi by phone on Monday (28/12/2015).
According to him, his men attacked the Sinak Police Station on Sunday (27/12/2015) at around 23:00. It killed three police officers, namely Second Brigadier Rasyid (32), Second Brigadier Armansyah (37) and Second Brigadier Ilham (37) and wounded two other officers.
“We also took seven weapons: two AK 47, two SS1 and three Mousers and an ammunition box,” said Lekakha.

Papua Police Deploy Special Forces to Sinai to Back Up Local Officers

Lekhaka Telenggen is often accused as actor behind armed violence in Puncak and Puncak Jaya regencies. In January 2014, he was blamed for the shooting on Battalion Infantry Rider 751 in motorcade led by First Lieutenant Infantry Alafa at Pintu, Mulia Puncak Jaya. He was also blamed for the attack that killed two Mobile Brigade personnel at Illaga, the capital of Puncak Regency in early December 2014.
His name is often associated with Tengamati Telenggen who touted as his son. Both are often associated with West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-PB) under Goliat Tabuni. However, it is difficult to confirm both are members of TPN-PB.
Although they had those who claimed the attack on Sinak Police Station, the Indonesian Police is still doing investigation on the motive behind the attack that killed three police officers. “The motive is still under investigation,” the Indonesian Police Spokesperson, Inspector General Anton Charliyan told reporter in his office in Jakarta on Monday (28/12/2015).
He explained until now the investigators have not found the evidence related to the shooting perpetrators, so it is too early to say the perpetrators are part of separatist group. “There might have some possibilities, whether it has crime or political motive. It would be revealed once the perpetrators were arrested. The Police could not just assume,” he explained.
Related to the security on the scene, he explained the Indonesian Police Headquarters has deployed their personnel towards Sinak Police Station to investigate the perpetrators as well as the motive of attack. “Team from Headquarters has deployed for back-up,” he added.

Police Expected Be Professional

The attack on Sinak Police Station is feared affecting the civilians in Sinak. The armed conflicts occurred for several times in Puncak and Puncak Jaya regencies were ended with the raids by the security forces.
“The Police should be professional to appoint the perpetrators. There are many groups who support violence in Papua, therefore civilians should not be a target,” Papua legislator from Commission I, Laurens Kadepa said.
According to him, Indonesia, especially Papua, is not yet secured after the presidential election. Although Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla won the election, still there are those who tried to obstruct their mission and vision as the President and Vice President of Indonesia.
“The Police must do the raids to pursue the perpetrators,” said Ruben Magay, another member of Commission I.
In Sinak, further he said, the raids have been conducted for several times because of the armed conflict. The civilians are always becoming the victims. They might move to other places due to the raid by the security forces.
Magay expected the Police could act professional in pursuing the perpetrators on Sinak Police Station attack. The Police, he said, must learn from their previous experience, which they could measure how many personnel is required to pursue the perpetrators.
As politician, both Kadepa and Magay said they are not competent to make conclusion whether the attack was connected with the Jokowi’s plan visit to Papua. (Hengky Yeimo/rom)

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4) TASK FORCE SENT TO SINAK AFTER THREE OFFICERS KILLED IN ATTACK ON POLICE STATION
Des 29, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Police deployed a Special Force and three platoons of Mobile Brigade to hunt for a rebel group that attacked Sinak Police Station in Puncak Regency, killing three officers.
Papua Police Spokesperson Senior Police Commissioner Patrige Renwarin said three platoons of Mobile Brigade from Timika, Jayapura and Puncak Jaya along with Papua Police Special Force were deployed to the scene to look for the perpetrators “dead or alive.”
The rebel group has an estimated 25 members.

“But we are not certain how many weapons and bullets were taken. We are still expecting the result of scene investigation by team identification,” Renwarin told on Monday.
He said the team has dispatched to the location on Monday morning (28/12/2015). The local Police are also waiting for the investigation result on the scene and local witnesses to confirm the attackers. But he confirmed the attack has not connection with the President Joko Widodo’s visit to Papua in the next few days.
The body of victims would be arrived in Jayapura today around 14:00 Papua time for autopsy at Bhayangkara Police Hospital, Jayapura Municipality before taken to their hometown in Sorong, Tual and Jayapura Municipality.
“The autopsy aims to classify the projectile prototype to identify the perpetrators’ weapon,” he said.
The incident was occurred when five police officers were at their guardian post watching TV. They might be less vigilant at that time because the entire room was already closed. At the same time, one of additional personnel identified as DK who has worked at the local police station about four years ago, quietly opened the back door. The attackers then came through the back door and directly approached the officers and opened fire.
“The first shot hit the Second Brigadier Rian’s hand. He tried to escape through the Chief’s room. He jumped from the window and ran to the Military Sub-district Command (Koramil). The Second Brigadier Dumafa also ran away and had crashed fifteen people standing in front of him. But he managed to escape to Koramil,” he said.
While three officers, said Renwarin, could not make it because they were trapped. The attackers shot them down on the scene. The initial information received by Papua Police said the dead victims are Second Brigadier Ilham, First Brigadier Muhamad Rasyid Ridho Matdoan and Second Brigadier Muhamad Armansyah.
“The initial analysis revealed there is connection between the additional personnel and the rebel group. He also ran away,” he added.
Separately, the Chairman of Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) Papua, the Rev. Lipius Biniluk said he regretted the incident. Moreover it was occurred in Christmas occasion, which is a sacred day for Christians. “I hope the Police could arrest the perpetrators to find out their motive behind the attack. But they must be keen for doing so. Don’t let unrelated people becoming victims,” he said by phone. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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5) GOVERNOR : PRESIDENT’S SPECIAL STAFF WOULD NOT ASK FOR CASH TO REGIONS
Des 29, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – A day before Jokowi’s visit to Papua, many people allegedly would take benefit such as asking for cash and so on.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe told in Jayapura on Monday (28/11/2015) that the president’s visit might be used by some culprits to request money from the government offices through proposals.
“So, now I declare there are no special staff or expert staff or whatsoever to come and say they are preparing things and asking for this or that. If so, it’s a personal not representing the institution,” said Enembe.

Therefore, he appealed the Papuan people to be aware on such scamming modus, because if it happened, it would certainly create new situation in Papua, which is not conducive.
“People should know about this, if there are those who come asking for this and that, it’s not right. Furthermore, I have received report from several office heads about certain proposals. It’s just not right. The president’s special staff would not act like that; go to the regencies and regional government offices for collecting money by giving the reason of the president’s visit. It’s not true,” he said.
According to the governor, the purpose of Jokowi’s visit to Merauke is to launch the time capsule. He would take Hercules to Wamena to launch the Wamena Airport and government office. He would hold a public meeting at Lapangan Pendidikan. Then, at 14:00 Papua time, he will continue to travel to Sorong and Raja Ampat, West Papua Province.
“Perhaps, the president wants to spend the New Year eve in Raja Ampat. This is a tentative schedule, we don’t know any changes yet,” said Enembe.
When asked about security matter, Enembe said the military would handle it during the visit to Merauke, Wamena, Sorong and also Raja Ampat. “About the rumor that I won’t come to welcome the president, it’s not true. I would definitely welcome him because he is our president. So, both provincial and regional government officials would welcome him,” he said. (Alexander Loen/rom)
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6) President Jokowi plants “capsule of dreams” in Papua

Rabu, 30 Desember 2015 13:35 WIB 

Merauke, Papua (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to plant a "Capsule of Dreams for 2085" in Hasanap Sai field in Merauke District, Papua, on Wednesday.

The canister containing the documents of Indonesias dreams for the 2015 to 2085 period would be planted after being carried 24,089 kilometers across the countrys 34 provinces since September 22, 2015, that have been collected from the easternmost to the westernmost points of the country, according to Nick Nurachman, the executive coordinator of the event.

The time capsule would be planted permanently at the Time Capsule of Indonesia Dreams for 2015 to 2085 Monument.

Earlier, in 2015, President Jokowi launched a "Lets Work" national campaign from Indonesias westernmost zero kilometer point in Sabang, Aceh, to emphasize the importance of commitment and hard work to optimize the countrys potentials.

Men from Indonesias creative younger generation hailed the call and organized a "Time Capsule Expedition," a unique idea in history to collect the penned dreams of the public from across the countrys provinces as an initial step to motivate the nation to forge ahead.

This is also part of the "Lets Work" national campaign launched to mark the 70th anniversary of Indonesias independence.

Abdee Negara, one of the initiators and musician of Slank group band, affirmed that a dream is an important element in life. 

"To be able to work with high spirit, we must harbor dreams. This expedition is a mission to gather and integrate the dreams of all the people of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke and unite them in a common dream to encourage the countrys younger generation to work and fight to fulfill their dreams, which are Indonesias dreams," he affirmed.

Jay Wijayanto, who is also the coordinator of the activity, remarked that President Jokowi had received and studied the penned dreams of 238 people from across 34 provinces in the country. 

President Jokowi will also document his dreams and hopes, which will be part of the Time Capsule Monument of Indonesian Dreams 2015 to 2085, he noted.

The time capsule is expected to inspire every individual and family in Indonesia to dream as high as the sky for the glory and welfare of the nation.

A national committee, regional committees, the community, mass organizations, community figures, school students, and regional governments across the country are part of the expedition.

The expedition, in its 90-day journey, has received a warm welcome on arrival in each province, thereby demonstrating the peoples enthusiasm to entrust their dreams, which will be made public in 2085.
(Uu.INE/KR-BSR/O001) 
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WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER, 2015 | 10:48 WIB
7) LBH Urges Jokowi to Open Dialogue with the Papuan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Jakarta and Human Rights Violation Victims Solidarity (SKP-HAM) of Papua has asked President Joko Widodo to open a dialogue with the Papuan. Director of LBH Jakarta, Alghiffari Aqsa, urged the dialogue, following the bloody attack on Sinak Police, last Sunday. 
 
Alghiffari said that violence is a fundamental issue in Papua. "Jokowi needs to admit that there is a problem in Papua," he said Tuesday, December 29.
 
Coordinator of SKP-HAM of Papua, Peneas Lokbere, said that Jokowi must announce cease fire in Papua. "This is important. Enforcing violence to face violence will only result in revenge. It is the cycle in Papua," said Peneas.
 
Previously on Sunday, three police officers were killed and two others injured as gunmen stormed Sinak Police Station.
 
ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI
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WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER, 2015 | 10:28 WIB
8) Jokowi to Celebrate New Year in Raja Ampat, Papua
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo has arrived in Merauke, Papua, today, as he plans to spend New Year’s Eve in the far East. In Papua, President Jokowi is set to visit Wamena, Sorong, and celebrate the New Year’s Eve in Raja Ampat.
 
"In Wamena, the president will inaugurate Wamena Airport and Kaimana Airport," said Bey Machmudin from the presidential office Tuesday, December 29.
 
President Jokowi is set to return to Jakarta on January 1, 2016.
 
Bey said that it is the third time that the President visits Papua and West Papua. “[Jokowi] will often visit Papua, in a bid to resolve the prolonged conflict,” he said. ‎Jokowi’s visit is also meant as a change from the Java-centric approach to nationwide approach.
 
FAIZ NASHRILLAH‎
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1) Police, TNI urged to catch bandits behind fatal shootings

December 30, 2015, 11:46 am
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2) Government open to holding dialog with anyone: President Jokowi
3) Article by the Executive Director of the LP3BH
4) It’s time to turn our  hopes into reality, says  Jokowi -
5) Jokowi’s time capsule  praised
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1) Police, TNI urged to catch  bandits behind fatal shootings 

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Wed, December 30 2015, 3:09 PM - 
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe is expecting the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police to capture the perpetrators who shot and killed three police officers at the Sinak Police station in Puncak, Papua.

“This is an armed crime. I hope the TNI and police are able to arrest the perpetrators,” Enembe emphasized on Tuesday.

Besides killing TNI and police officers, armed criminals, added Lukas, often intimidated residents, seized crops and livestock as well as abducting girls. “They are bandits who must be dealt with sternly,” he said.

Enembe also hoped that those TNI and police personnel performing their duties in the area would remain cautious because armed civilian groups were still present.

Like Enembe, Puncak Regent Willem Wandik is also expecting the TNI and police to pursue the perpetrators of the Sunday shooting and promptly bring them to justice.

According to Wandik, the group that attacked, shot and killed three members of the police force at the Sinak Police station had been led by Alegagak Murib and Kalenak Murib and assisted by the Aleka Telenggen group based in Yambi, Puncak Jaya regency.

The Alegagak group, based in Ilaga, is believed to have collaborated with a person identified as DK, who has been working as an aide at the Sinak Police station for four years, to attack the police station and seize firearms.

Wandik said the group had also attacked police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members in Ilaga in December 2014 as they were securing a Christmas service. 

The firearms seized on that occasion were used in the attack on the Sinak Police station.

The criminal group roaming Puncak regency and surrounding areas, said Wandik, was very disturbing to the development process because they threatened residents and caused unrest. 

“For every single firearm, approximately 30 people follow behind, now they have many firearms so just imagine the number of followers,” said Wandik.

“How can we develop the region if the groups continue to disturb security. We have planned development, but we are confused by these criminal acts,” Wandik said in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Residents in Sinak, added Wandik, also condemned the shooting and have said they would help security forces to fight the bandits.

“Now, residents are backed by the TNI and police they have initiated plans to resist the unlawful group,” said Wandik.

The bodies of the three police officers shot and killed by the armed civilian group at the Sinak Police station have been handed over to their families. 

Another incident also took place in Sinak on Feb. 21, 2013, when seven TNI personnel and four civilians were shot and killed.

The TNI soldiers had been heading to the Ilaga airfield to pick up telecommunication equipment when they were attacked by an armed group. 


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2) Government open to holding dialog with anyone: President Jokowi
Rabu, 30 Desember 2015 17:47 WIB 
Wamena, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia government is open to holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development, including in Papua, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated here on Wednesday. 

"From the onset, I have no problem in holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development," the head of state remarked after dedicating and inspecting the district government offices in Jayawijaya.

He said dialog had also been initiated to settle the problems in Aceh.

While referring to groups conducting violence, the president said he had ordered security agencies to take firm action.

In the context of dividing the Papua province, the president said he had received inputs from various parties on the matter. 

"I have to discuss with various parties first, including with the governor here (about it)," he noted.

On the issue of limited supply of electricity and internet services, the president remarked that similar complaints had also been received from other regions.

"This is our task. We must build a power plant, and it takes three to four years to realize it," he affirmed.

The head of state remarked that by undertaking frequent visits to Papua, he would be able to gain a better understanding of the problems being faced by the people in the region, such as limited infrastructure that had caused the prices of commodities, such as cement, rice, and fuel oils to increase.

"With adequate infrastructure, it is hoped that the prices of cement and fuel oils would drop by 50 percent from the current rates," he emphasized.

He remarked that the extension of the runway at the Wamena Airport would make it possible for bigger aircraft to land and help to boost the regions economy.

"The facilities at Merauke Port also need to be upgraded along with increasing the number of cranes and extending the pier. The work on these facilities will all be completed next year," he affirmed.

The president said if the infrastructure such as the roads and ports are good, the economy in Papua would grow faster, while the distribution of logistics as well as the flow of goods and passengers would improve.

(Reporting by Agus Salim/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

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No Respect for the Legal Profession

3) Article by the Executive Director of the LP3BH

    Tomorrow is 31st December, New Year's Eve. It is also the 34th anniversary of the enactment of the Criminal Code, (KUHAP).

    KUHAP was enacted to establish a number of principles regarding dealing with criminal behaviour here in Indonesia, in which Judge,
Prosecutor, the Police and Lawyers/Legal Consultants, all of which are acknowledged as part of a system to uphold the law.

    It was also the first time that a process of pre-trial was established in order to sift through the material  and, where
necessary, to make corrections when certain matters such as actions by the police or the prosecutor when an individual was arrested and held
in custody or  with regarded to anything that may have been confiscated.

     I have been practising as a lawyer here for 22 years and I have to say that throughout that period I have experienced many things as i
assist those who are being charged. Many of the things that I have experienced many are not in accord with established practice on the
part of the investigating agencies or even in some cases of the judges.

    As a result, lawyers or consultants are confronted with a number of difficulties in our relations with the prosecutor which result in
many problems such as delays in meeting our client which should have been possible from the very beginning. We have been prevented from
meeting our client by Brimob members .

     There are also problems regarding the nature of the arrest and detention when those who are being charged were held by several
different agencies and were unable to meet our client while he is alone as stipulated in KUHAP,.by members of Brimob

     Take for example what I experienced together with other lawyers in our team in the case of Klaibin and his colleagues from Sorong in
2014. It was extremely difficult because of the discriminatory treatment by the former Police Chief in Sorong and his superiors who
charged our client with makar (treason) as stipulated in Articles 102, 106, 108 and 110 of the Criminal Code

   We also experienced the same problem after being appointed to defend Alexander Nekenem, Maikel Aso, Yoram Magai and Narko  Murib who
were jointly charged  with unlawful activities according Article 160 of KUHAP but had already been found guilty and sentenced to one and a
half years each.    When we asked for a meeting with Alexander Nekenem and his colleagues who were being held at the headquarters of Brimob, 
West Papua, the right of the lawyers from the LP3BH-Manokwari to meet them was disputed

     I should explain that  a senior member of the Police Force in Manokwari refused to allow us  to  meet our clients after one of the
group was said to  have escaped. We believe that  the refusal to allow us to meet our client was
because at that time, he was not in a fit state because his face was injured as a result of the way he had been treated  by those who were
holding him.

    In my opinion, all of this is the result of a lack of understanding by the security forces with regard to what is stipulated
in KUHAP.   In my opinion, it is necessary to revise and reform KUHAP which was enacted 34 years ago in order to ensure that we as lawyers are 
treated in the same way as every one within the system, that our work should be respected by members of the security forces as well as by
the government, including those in charge in the Land of Papua.

   This is why we are stressing need for the legal profession to be respected (Officium Nobile) and should not be just an extra part in
ensuring that the context of the law is upheld and that all the human beings who are involved should be enssured that they have full
protection as human beings , which is an essential part of KUHAP.

 Yan Christian Warinussy.

translated by Carmel Budiardjo


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4) It’s time to turn our  hopes into reality, says  Jokowi - 
Nethy Dharma Somba, thejakartapost.com, Merauke, Papua | National | Wed, December 30 2015, 5:23 PM 

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said that the dreams and hopes of young generations and all of the country’s people that had been written and kept in a time capsule in Merauke, Papua, would never be realized if people did not strive to translate them into reality.
“It’s time for us to turn these hopes into reality,” said Jokowi in Merauke, the easternmost Indonesia territory, on Wednesday.
The time capsule, which was launched at kilometer zero in Sabang, Aceh, in October, traveled across 187 cities and 34 provinces before it arrived in Merauke, Papua. The time capsule will be opened in 2085, or 70 years from now.
President Jokowi wrote seven hopes on a piece of paper that was then put inside the time capsule. Two elementary school students from Merauke, Louis Ferdinand and Laher Fabiola, read out the seven hopes written on the paper before they, together with Jokowi, put the paper inside the capsule in a ceremony on Wednesday. The time capsule was then placed in a location marked with a monument at Hasanabsai field.
The seven points written down by the President comprised his hopes that Indonesia could have human resources that surpassed the intelligence levels in other nations; for an Indonesian society that upheld pluralism and adopted cultural values and that was pious and honorable; that Indonesia could become a center of education, technology and world civilization; and that Indonesia would have government agencies and a society that were free from corruption. 
The three other hopes were that Indonesia would have infrastructure built evenly across the regions; that Indonesia would be independent and become an influential power in the Asia Pacific; and that Indonesia could become a barometer of international economic growth.
The placing of the time capsule at Hasanabsai field in Merauke was the start of a string of activities President Jokowi will carry out during his visit to Papua. In Merauke, the President also inaugurated the start of the construction of the Arafura Ocean fishing quay in Merauke, which will be 380 meters long and cost approximately Rp 700 billion (US$50.7 million). Construction will start in 2016 with initial funding of Rp 200 billion.
From Merauke, President Jokowi continued his working visit to Wamena in Jayawijaya regency, where he inaugurated Wamena Airport and Jayawijaya regency’s autonomous agency building.
Before he flies to West Papua on Thursday, President Jokowi is scheduled to observe the construction activities of roads, which will connect regencies in central and southern Papua, in Kenyam, the capital of Nduga regency.
In West Papua, President Jokowi will visit Sorong and mark New Year’s Eve in Raja Ampat regency.
“The President will witness the first sun rising in Indonesia in 2016 in Raja Ampat, West Papua,” said Kodam XVII/Cendrawasih commander Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian. (ebf)
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5) Jokowi’s time capsule  praised
Nethy Dharma Somba, thejakartapost.com, Merauke, Papua | National | Wed, December 30 2015, 9:39 PM 

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe has praised President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s time capsule, which contains his dreams and hopes for the people of Indonesia, saying that what was listed as the dreams of Indonesian youths, including those in Papua, must come true by 2085, the year the capsule would be opened.
“We hope that before 2085, all areas across Papua, including West Papua, are connected by highways,” Enembe said while accompanying President Jokowi during his visit to Papua on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Papua Legislative Council Speaker Yunus Wonda appreciated President Jokowi’s attention toward Papua. The President, he said, had visited Papua twice this year and paid close attention to infrastructure development in the area.
“We hope Cabinet members of Pak Jokowi’s administration can understand what the President expects in the development in Papua,” said Wonda.
Hundreds of residents warmly welcomed the President with the traditional dances of indigenous tribes in southern Papua when he arrived at the Hasanabsai field in Merauke on Wednesday. After the welcoming ceremony, the President took the opportunity to take selfies with Merauke residents who had waited for him along the road. 
The time capsule, which was launched at kilometer zero in Sabang, Aceh, in October, traveled across 187 cities and 34 provinces before arriving in Merauke, Papua. The time capsule will be opened in 2085, 70 years from now. 
President Jokowi wrote seven hopes on a piece of paper that was then put inside the time capsule. Two elementary school students from Merauke, Louis Ferdinand and Laher Fabiola, read out the seven hopes written on the paper before they, together with Jokowi, put the paper inside the capsule in a ceremony on Wednesday. The time capsule was then placed in a location marked with a monument at Hasanabsai field. (ebf)
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1) Jokowi’s willingness to dialogue should be followed up

December 31, 2015, 11:40 am
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2) President Jokowi Must Announce Truce

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1) Jokowi’s willingness to dialogue should be followed up

Statement by the Executive Director of the LP3BH
31st December, 2015

     During his visit to Wamena, District of Jayawijaya, Province of Papua, President Ir. H. Joko Widodo of Indonesia said that the
government of Indonesia is prepared to enter into dialogue with anyone who is involved in armed struggle in Papua (Land of Papua) as long as
it is within the context of advancing development in the territory of Papua.

    The President also said that his forces have been instructed to take firm action against anyone who is involved in illegal actions.
'The government is prepared to dialogue with anyone. No problem.'

     In my opinion, there should be a wise and positive response from all sides, in particular from those who have been involved in the
armed struggle, to President Joko Widodo’s willingness to enter into dialogue in West Papua.

     According to what I understand, those who are conducting armed violence in the Land of Papua are clearly the TNI (Indonesian Army),
Polri (Police Force), the TNP-OPM and groups that have been identified as Criminal Armed Gangs (KKB) which, according to the Chief of Police
in Papua, Irgen Pol. Drs Paulus Waterpauw are struggling for Papuan independence.

    It is extremely important for the above-mentioned persons and institutions to be involved in dialogue with the Government of
Indonesia so that we can know  what they each want and how they intend to do, what methods or formula they can use to explain and answer for
the armed force that they have continued to conduct.

      Apart from all this, various other elements in towns across the Land of Papua as well as those in the Papuan diaspora should account
for the armed violence they have been conducting up to the present time..

     Apart from all this, there are other elements in the towns of the Land of Papua  and abroad who are united in the United Liberation
Movement for West Papua  (ULMWP) which should  be involved. Yet others who should be involved in the dialogue are the National Committee for
West Papua (KNPB) and the State of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB) as well as the Papua Presidium Council.(PDP).

    Leaders of the various churches  as well members of fhe Muslin community, representatives of culture, social groups, youth and
women’s representatives  that have already been involved in Public Consultations in the past and tne Papua Peace Network (JDP) should be
involved in the dialogue. Not forgetting those who have been victims and targets of armed violence throughout the territory of the Land of
Papua. None of these should be excluded.

   I would therefore like to make a concrete proposal to President Jokowi, namely that he should without delay issue a presidential
decree (Keppres) to set up an institute at ministerial level  under the President  to work for this dialogue to be started as soon as
possible.

    The President should also appoint an expert at staff level as the Special Presidential Delegate to Resolve the Violent Political and
Armed Conflict in the Land of Papua.

    Every step that the President can take to bring about a dialogue between all forces is extremely important  to ensure that this is a
comprehensive movement of high integrity in resolving the conflict at the national, regional and international level which would be
acceptable to all those who have been involved in this conflict.

    All these matters are very important and pressing and should be handled with care and wisdom by the President in order to ensure that
the Land of Papua becomes a land of peace which would hopefully continue to be part of the United State of the Republic of Indonesia,
bearing mind that this whole question of dialogue has become a regional and international issue for the States of the Melanesian
Islands, the Pacific and the World.
Peace
Yan Christian Warinussy, Executive Director of the LP3BH and Defender
of Human Rights in the Land of Papua, Recipient of the John Humphrey
Freedom Award, 2005, Co-ordinator of the National Human Rights
Commission, for Peace and Justice

Translated by Carmel Budiardjo, Recipient of the Right Livelihood, 1995





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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
http://suarapapua.com//read/2015/12/31/3061/presiden-jokowi-harus-umumkan-gencatan-senjata

2) President Jokowi Must Announce Truce
JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com --- In addition to collect pledges to resolve cases of human rights violations in Enarotali Paniai December 8, 2014 and plans to build a permanent market Mama-mama Papua in Jayapura and other appointments, the President of Joko Widodo also asked to declare a ceasefire.

Paniyai Traditional Council Chairman, John NR Gobai said it was related to the President's visit to Papua Jokowi at the end of 2015 in order to weigh, not merely ceremonial beragendakan.

According to him, the visit of President Jokowi this time there must be benefits for the people of Papua. One of them, said John, Head of State of Indonesia was asked to immediately stop shooting action between military / police and the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPN-PB), which often sacrificing civilians in Papua.

"President Jokowi to Papua should announce a ceasefire for both sides. It's important to get out of the crisis in Papua that has not ended until now, "John said in a press release received by the editorial suarapapua.com, Thursday (31/12/2015).

He described the experience so far Papua is always covered with the blood of God's people. Droplets of blood were shed due to violence, including state violence through the apparatus.

"If violence met with violence will only give birth to resentment, and revenge will be led to the violence. That cycle of violence that had occurred in Papua, "he explained.

The solution, said John, President Jokowi can take the policy to a ceasefire between the two sides. "Moreover, the current President in Papua, a ceasefire must be declared to be done in order to prevent continued bloodshed in Papua," he said.

John also states, TPN / OPM is not a terrorist. He said, "Those people who also have an organ, whether recognized or not, but they were soldiers. Therefore, need to be viewed and positioned as a party need to talk to. "

Author of numerous books on Papua's indigenous peoples say, the opposite group is also part of the actual citizens should not be regarded as troublemakers without any particular approach. "Stigma is the way Indonesian terrorists seek sympathy of the world," John assess.

As a human being, please John, groups labeled as terrorists, vandals and others that stigma should talk to, not directly faced with the weapon.

"The proof Sutiyoso can talk with GT. Well, that needs to be done now is a ceasefire, "said board Papua Traditional Council (DAP) is.

Of several events during this shoot each other, allegedly as a reciprocal action that actually adds to increasingly tense situation.

Previously, the Papua Police said it would pursue the perpetrators of the attack police Sinak, Puncak, Sunday (12/27/2015). The assault happened at around 20:15 CET, killing Bripda Rashid (32), Bribda Armansyah (37), and Bripda Ilham (37) and two others injured. Some weapons reportedly seized the attackers.

Papua Police swiftly to form a joint team of police and military to pursue the perpetrators. However, according to the head of Papua Police spokesman Sr. (Pol) Patrige warin, Tuesday (12/29/2015), the team has not been successful and is still going the extra mile.

Timsus Papua Police Mobile Brigade platoon reinforced three each from Jayapura, Timika and Puncak Jaya, said warin, currently existing in the Sinak to pursue and arrest the perpetrators of life or death.

The pursuit operations, according to members of the DPRP, Laurenzus Kadepa, must be measured so as not to impact the civil society in Sinak and surrounding areas.

"People should not be targeted civilian when police chased the attackers Sinak. The security forces must act professionally, "said Kadepa.

The day after the attack police Sinak, Lekhaka Telenggen (Leka Telenggen) who claim to be leaders of TPN-PB in the Peak expressed readiness responsibility for the incident.

"I'm ready to be responsible in this event. I and the members were misgivings in our headquarters in anticipation of a counterattack, "said Telenggen, reported tabloidjubi.com, edition of Monday (28/12/2015).

Puncak Jaya Puncak and often occurs shooting. Telenggen Lekhaka name is often associated as the culprit. For instance there is the initiating event in January 2014, he was accused of shooting at the motorcade of Company E Rider Battalion 751 led by First Lieutenant in Door Wind Alafa, Mulia, Puncak Jaya.

Telenggen also accused of firing two members of Brimob in Ilaga, the capital of the Peak District, beginning December 2014.

MARY
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1) VFWPA responds to Indonesian outburst

December 31, 2015, 7:03 pm
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2) Indonesian Defense Minister targets Vanuatu at press conference

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http://dailypost.vu/news/vfwpa-responds-to-indonesian-outburst/article_7a7282cf-2bdd-5a3a-ad70-c98b9357b302.html

1) VFWPA responds to Indonesian outburst



                                                                          Pastor Allen Nafuki
Posted: Friday, January 1, 2016 12:00 am
By Godwin Ligo | 0 comments
“Christian churches are the conscience of the nation, and therefore have the duty to be the voice of the voiceless and must continue to stand in solidarity with our Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua who are still under oppression, and are still living in the current environment which can only be described as one of institutionalized enslavement and suppression of human rights.
“Indonesian Government must stop state killings and human rights abuses and brutality in West Papua,” said Pastor Allen Nafuki, who is the Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) and Unification Committee.
He was responding to an article in the Daily Post on December 24, 2015 which the Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu targeted Vanuatu at a press conference in relation to the West Papua issue.
The 64-year-old retired army general, Ryacudu, reminded “other countries” to refrain from encouraging separatist movements in resource-rich Papua, hinting that serious consequences would entail if Indonesia’s position were ignored.
“For us, Papua is still part of the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic. That’s non-negotiable. [The area] from Aceh to Papua is the jurisdiction of Indonesia. There’s no two ways about it. I hope that’s understood,” the Defense Minister said at a press briefing.
The Jakarta Post reported that during his stint as Army chief Ryacudu became notorious for cracking down on separatist movements in Aceh and Papua.
Ryacudu later said his remarks were directed at Vanuatu.
Meanwhile Nafuki stated: “The Office of the Vanuatu Free West Papua wishes to make these comments as a form of response on behalf of the Christian churches, the chiefs, women, youth, civil societies and the people of Vanuatu.
“Vanuatu foreign policy on self-determination for countries which are still colonized remained the same.
“In many ways our foreign policy continues to promote United Nation General Assembly Resolution as stipulated in Article 2 of 1514 Decolonization Resolution (XV) of 14th December 1960, which states clearly that: ‘Every nation has the right to determine their own fate, and based on this right they are free to choose their political status and also free to continue their development in the fields of economic, social and culture’.
“Therefore all the countries that are the members of the United Nations including the United Nations, especially the Decolonization Committee, are under the obligation to observe and strictly implement this resolution.
“For this reason the continued existence of any form of colonialism certainly impedes the social, cultural and economic development of dependent peoples, such as the West Papua and certainly militates against the United Nations’ ideal of universal peace.
“The Christian churches as the conscience of the nations, and therefore have the duty to be the voice of the voiceless, must continue to stand in solidarity with our Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua.
“Regardless of what the world may say about the West Papua issue, Vanuatu will continue to support the self-determination for West Papua, and through God’s power and wisdom, West Papua will become a free nation, because self-determination is a human rights issue,” a statement from Nafuki as Chairman Vanuatu Free West Papua Association and Unification Committee said.
Nafuki made the statement on December 30, 2015.
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2) Indonesian Defense Minister targets Vanuatu at press conference
Posted: Friday, December 25, 2015 12:00 am
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu surprised his Australian hosts — and his own colleagues — on Monday with a blunt warning against any attempts to support the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the country’s easternmost territory.
The former Army chief issued the warning during a joint press conference alongside Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and their respective Australian counterparts, Marise Payne and Julie Bishop.
Without entering into specifics, Ryamizard reminded “other countries” to refrain from encouraging separatist movements in resource-rich Papua, hinting that serious consequences would entail if Indonesia’s position were ignored.
The 64-year-old retired army general, who during his stint as Army chief became notorious for cracking down on separatist movements in Aceh and Papua, appeared to have weighed his comments carefully.
An Australian journalist attempted to ascertain whether Ryamizard was implying that Indonesia suspected its neighbor Australia of interference in Papua, but he would not be drawn. Members of the Australian Green Party, commonly known as the Greens, are vocal supporters of Papuan independence from Indonesia.
“I would like to close on this point. It is a point that is very troubling for Indonesia, because Indonesia never meddles in the affairs of other countries, and likewise, we don’t want others to meddle in ours, or try and divide us. With regard to Papua, certain countries are meddling, and we don’t like it,” Ryamizard told the press briefing.
“For us, Papua is still part of the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic. That’s non-negotiable. [The area] from Aceh to Papua is the jurisdiction of Indonesia. There’s no two ways about it. I hope that’s understood,” he went on.
Bishop and Payne subsequently faced questions from reporters as to whether Papua had been a topic of discussion during their meeting with Ryamizard and Retno.
“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 in her answer.
Retno, meanwhile, told the press briefing that the Indonesian government appreciated Australia’s “bold” and “strong” position on the issue of Papua.
“On Papua, we appreciate very much [the Australian stance]. The position is very bold and it is a strong position of Australia to unconditionally respect the territorial integrity of Indonesia,” Retno said in response to Bishop’s statement.
Later on Monday, Ryamizard clarified his comments, insisting he had not meant to attack Australia and pointing out that his counterpart Payne had emphasized Australia’s respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty.
His remarks, he said, had been an expression of regret directed at Vanuatu, a Pacific nation that openly supports Papuan separatist movements.
“Vanuatu persists in encouraging Melanesian people to reunite. That’s not right, and I disagree with it. This is a unitary nation,” the defense minister said.
The Jakarta Post
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1) President Celebrates New Year`s Eve in Papua

December 31, 2015, 10:15 pm
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2) Jokowi sees in New Year  in Raja Ampat
3) Papua to Have Proper Roads by 2018: Jokowi
4) Australians warned of possible Bali and wider Indonesia terror threat over New Year’s break 
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/01/01/055732278/PRESIDENT-CELEBRATES-NEW-YEARS-EVE-IN-PAPUA
FRIDAY, 01 JANUARY, 2016 | 07:12 WIB
1) President Celebrates New Year`s Eve in Papua

TEMPO.CO, Rajaampat, Papua - President Joko Widodo attended "a people`s party" to celebrate New Year`s Eve in the Rajaampat district of West Papua province on Thursday evening.
The event was held at the Waisai beach and highlighted by top singers, such as Edo Kondologit, who is originally from Papua.
The President was accompanied by First Lady Iriana, who arrived at the location at around 22:20 pm East Indonesia Time.
President Widodo wore a white shirt and shook hands with a number of people, who attended the event upon arrival.
The Presidents Chief of Staff, Teten Masduki, the Presidents communication team member, Sukardi Rinakit and West Papua Governor, Abraham Octavianus Atururi also attended the event.
A number of people expressed their happiness at seeing President Widodo in Rajaampat.
"There is attention from the head of state to the Indonesian eastern region," Winda, who specially came from Manokwari to the location to celebrate New Years Eve, said.
She hoped conditions in 2016 would be better than in 2015.
President Widodo and First Lady Iriana arrived at the Mopah airport in Merauke, Papua on Tuesday evening to visit Indonesias eastern provinces of Papua and West Papua.
The President and his entourage, including the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basuki Hadimoeljono, the Presidents Chief of Staff, Teten Masduki, and Presidents communication team member, Sukardi Rinakit, left Jakartas Halim Perdanakusumah airport at 13:40 pm and arrived at Merauke airport at 20:20 pm aboard the presidential plane.After attending the "Indonesias Dreams for 2015-2085" event at the Hasanap Sai field in Merauke, the President and his entourage traveled to Wamena by plane, where he dedicated new terminals at Wamena and Kaimana and met with the people of Jayawijaya.He then proceeded to Sorong and then Raja Ampat. This was the President's third visit to Papua and West Papua, following his first visit to the eastern provinces on December 27 to 29, 2014 and the second visit on May 8 to 11, 2015.President Jokowi, as he is also called, has said he believed that by frequently visiting the region, conflicts in Papua would be settled."I will visit Papua often," he said at the Waringin Sports Stadium in Jayapura.Before visiting Papua, the President had also visited several other provinces, including South Sulawesi, East Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara, to inspect infrastructure development in these regions.The visits are evidence that Indonesia is now leaving a Java-centered orientation and turning to an Indonesia-centered vision, as President Jokowi had also remarked on Heroes Day in Surabaya on November 10."Indonesia is moving towards an Indonesia-centered and not Java-centered vision. Prosperity will take place, but not only in Java," he had said at the time.President Widodo and his entourage are scheduled to return to Jakarta on Friday, January 1, 2016.
 ANTARA
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2) Jokowi sees in New Year  in Raja Ampat
hejakartapost.com, Jakarta | Readers Forum | Fri, January 01 2016, 10:22 AM - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo witnessed the first sunrise of 2016 at the Waiwo Beach dock in Raja Ampat, West Papua, on Friday.
Antara news agency reported that Jokowi walked out onto the dock at about 6:15 a.m. local time before the sun had completely risen.
Seeing the beauty of Raja Ampat, Jokowi said that he wanted more tourists to visit Indonesia.
Wearing a white shirt and sarong without sandals, he sat on the dock and fed the fish below.
West Papua Governor Abraham Oktavianus Ataruri, Raja Ampat Regent Markus Wanma and several other officials accompanied him.
Jokowi and First Lady Iriana arrived in Papua on Tuesday. The First Family planned to see in the new year in the country's easternmost province.
Jokowi also inaugurated several projects in Papua and installed a time capsule in Merauke that contained dreams for the country from 2015 to 2085.
Prior to New Year's Eve, Jokowi visited a grouper fish farm in Raja Ampat on Thursday afternoon.
The local administration pioneered a grouper fish farm by providing spawn for local fishermen. Raja Ampat regency hopes to export the fish to China and Hong Kong. (rin)
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FRIDAY, 01 JANUARY, 2016 | 11:22 WIB
3) Papua to Have Proper Roads by 2018: Jokowi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that all regencies in Papua would have proper land transportation channels by 2018.
“The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry must complete the construction of a road connecting Wamena to Nduga by 2016,” Jokowi said when inspecting the Nduga-Wamena road construction in Nduga Regency on Thursday, December 31, 2015.
Earlier on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, Jokowi held a meeting with Papua Governor and Nduga Regent to discuss the road construction in Nduga.
“A large port will also be constructed to accommodate up to 300 GT ships. Therefore all necessities can be distributed and prices can be cheaper,” Jokowi added.
In response to a question whether the infrastructure could change Nduga Regency’s security status, Jokowi said that the only way to change the situation in Nduga was to improve the welfare.
Accompanying Jokowi in his work visit to Papupa were First Lady Iriana Widodo, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, Presidential chief of staf Teten Masduki, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and Presidential special staff Lenis Kogoya.
 ANTARA


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4) Australians warned of possible Bali and wider Indonesia terror threat over New Year’s break 
2:44pm January 1, 2016
Australians spending their New Year's holidays on Bali and other Indonesian islands have been urged to exercise caution in the wake of intelligence suggesting a heightened terror threat. 
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued the warning on New Year's Eve, after receiving information from the US Government about possible security threats at "popular tourist beaches on Lombok, such as Senggigi, surrounding the New Year's celebrations”.
DFAT officials have warned travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia due to the high threat of a terrorist attack. 
Australians in Bali on Christmas and New Year holidays should be particularly vigilant due to an increased risk, DFAT said. 
"Terrorists have previously targeted nightclubs, bars, restaurants, international hotels, airports and places of worship in Bali, Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia," DFAT said on the smartraveller website. 
People should reconsider their need to travel to the Central Sulawesi, Papua and West Papua provinces, DFAT advised. 
The warning came as German officials evacuated two Munich train stations due to intelligence suggesting a suicide attack, and followed Belgian officials cancelling New Year’s Eve celebrations in Brussels. 
© ninemsn 2016
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Punks for West Papua will be releasing their film on West Papua in mid January.

January 1, 2016, 1:25 am
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Hi All,

Punks for West Papua will be releasing their film on West Papua in mid January. Many people ask how can they  help West Papua. A simple way  is to download the video when released ($10). The funds raised are being generously donated to the West Papuan umbrella organisation , The ULMWP by the P4WP. In a series of nation wide gigs the Punks have already raised over $6000 for the ULMWP. 
When available the film can be downloaded at
But further notice will follow

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P4WP press release

The genocide of the West Papuan people at the hands of the Indonesian military, is one of the saddest yet rarely told stories of modern  times.
Right on Australia's doorstep, West Papua is a land of untold riches and in 1969 was hijacked with a violent and rigged vote by Indonesia.
With the support of Australia, the USA and the United Nations, the Indonesian Military have slaughtered nearly half a million indigenous West Papuans in the years since, all in the name of a mountain of gold.

All of this kept secret by a ban on journalists and foreign aid from entering West Papua.
Thus the cry of the West Papuans has gone unheard for nearly 50 years.
But Australian Punk is loud, Very loud.
Punks for West Papua is an Australia wide movement, and the brain child of Jody Bartolo.
Jody and his band 'Diggers with Attitude' spearhead Punks for West Papua with the aim to raise money and awareness for the Free West Papua cause.
A midnight text message to film maker and friend, Ash Brennan, started the wheels in motion for a small video think piece at the original Punks for West Papua benefit show at Sydney's Town & Country Hotel.
But Jody and the Australian punk rock community would turn this event into a no holes barred Australia wide benefit, involving over 50 bands in 7 cities around the country. Making Punks for West Papua the biggest, and no doubt, loudest punk rock showcase in the nations history. 
The film grew with it. The P4WP film crew travelled around the country, interviewing all the main players of the movement, plus interviews with two time Nobel peace prize nominee, Benny Wenda, journalist Hugh Lunn who was in West Papua for the 1969 vote, rock journalist Stuart Coupe and United Liberation Movement for West Papua leader, Rex Rumikiek.
Narrated by Basia Bonkowski, Punks for West Papua is a factual story of how the United Nations betrayed the people of West Papua and how one man's selfless gesture inspired a history making movement to help strangers in a foreign land.
This film is recommended viewing for not just fans of punk rock but for anybody who believes in justice.

Punks for West Papua is due for release early January. Available for download for $10.00 with funds going the United Liberation Movement for West Papua 

A Hired Gun TV / Yatte Yattah films production for 
Stand up and be Counted


Anthony Ash Brennan
Hired Gun TV Productions
TV - FILM - DIGITAL CONTENT - ROCK N ROLL
PO Box 3298
Tamarama. NSW
Australia 2026
+61402343513
ash@hiredguntv.com
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1) Armed groups stole 32 firearms from police

January 1, 2016, 11:21 am
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2) President: Papua’s Rail-Link to Start from Sorong  
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102294/armed-groups-stole-32-firearms-from-police

1) Armed groups stole 32 firearms from police

Jumat, 1 Januari 2016 21:03 WIB | 400 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Armed groups in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua have stolen 32 firearms of different types from the police in 2014 and 2015, a senior police officer stated.

The firearms included 10 AKs, 15 SS 1s, and five pistols, Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw stated on Friday.

Most of the weapons were taken away from police officers stationed in the provinces hinterland, he remarked.

While the number of attacks on police posts has declined, the number of firearms stolen by armed groups was on the rise, he pointed out.

Late last year, a group of unidentified people attacked the Sinak police precinct in the province, killing three police officers and leaving two others injured.  

The attackers also took away seven firearms of different types and several rounds of ammunition.(*)

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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/01/01/055732414/PRESIDENT-PAPUAS-RAIL-LINK-TO-START-FROM-SORONG

FRIDAY, 01 JANUARY, 2016 | 20:20 WIB
2) President: Papua’s Rail-Link to Start from Sorong  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-President Joko Widodo said on Friday, January 1, 2016, that the construction of the Papuan rail is likely to begin from Sorong in West Papua, later on in the year.
"We had just officiated a rail-link in Sulawesi, and this year its' Papua's turn," said President Jokowi - as he is known - at a meet-and-greet with local residents of Kais District in South Sorong, West Papua.
The President said that although he had said that the feasibility study for Papua's rail-link will be done within a year, it turns out that the study will take more than one year to complete. "That said, this is a minor hurdle - as long as we can build a rail-link in Papua," he said. "The project is likely to begin in Sorong, so I hope other areas won't get too jealous."
Furthermore, President Jokowi also reiterated his Administration's target of connecting all areas across Papua by 2018, through the construction of roads. "Hopefully, we could commence all of these projects - including the rail-link - sometime in 2016," he said.
President Joko Widodo had spent the last four days touring Papua - starting from Merauke, Wamena, Nduga, Timika, Rajaampat, and Sorong. "The more I visit Papua, the more I realise that Papua is indeed a little slice of heaven on earth," he said.
In the visit to Sorong, President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Widodo also visited a sago production planed owned by state forestry firm PT Perhutani in Kais District, South Sorong, where he toured and saw the way sago is processed into food, which he hopes would bring benefits for local residents.
ANTARA
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Summary of events in West Papua for December 2015

January 2, 2016, 2:55 am
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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088                                                   



                Happy New Year/ Selamat Tahun Baru to all our supporters




                     Summary of events in West Papua for December 2015



West Papuan National Flag Day

In the lead up to the 54th anniversary of West Papuan National flag day (the Morning Star flag was flown officially for the first time on the 1st of December in 1961), the security forces intimidated civilians and civil society groups in West Papua hoping to create fear in any groups that might be preparing to celebrate the 1st December.17 people were arrested in Nabire on the 28 November 
while preparing an area for a rally on Dec 1st.  On the 30thNovember the military intimidated residents who live in the district Aifat Aimas. The presence of military in the Aimas district caused fear in the local people with some residents leaving.


Yapen Island

We are continuously told by governments how the human rights situation in West Papua is improving. However, (just one year after the Paniai massacre) as villagers were peacefully commemorating the 54th Anniversary of West Papua National Day the Indonesian security forces arrived and opened fire at the villagers. 2 were shot dead, 2 more tortured to death and 8 others injured. Full report at http://freewestpapua.org/2015/12/18/2-west-papuans-shot-dead-2-more-tortured-to-death-and-8-others-injured-in-yapen-massacre/

In Jakarta at least 306 Papuan students were arrested by the Police.


                                     Student were detained at Polda Metro Jaya – Jubi  (2 Dec.)

Despite the rally being legitimate and peaceful the police claimed it was illegal and that they had acted to maintain public order. Hundreds of AMP (Papua Students Alliance) members and approximately 400 police were involved in the clashes after the police tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas.The Jakarta Post reported that before the clash the AMP had planned to stage a two-part rally, to deliver four demands to the government.According to AMP spokesman Abby Douw, the rally members called for the government to hold a referendum on independence for Papua. They also demanded the government shut down all multinational corporations that cause environmental damage to Papuan land.  In addition, they wanted the government to recall all military forces from Papua, as well as disbanding all “politicized” government institutions such as the Special Unit for the Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B).However, the first stage of the rally erupted in violence after the police forced the students to disperse, according to Muhamad Isnur, a lawyer from the JakartaLegal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) who gave legal counsel to the AMP during the rally.


The clash also prompted a strong protest from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) after the organization received a report that the police had assaulted and intimidated two foreign journalists from Australia’s ABC and Al-Jazeera. According to a press release from the AJI, the police beat the ABC’s Archicco Guiliano and grabbed a mobile phone belonging to Al-Jazeera’s Stephanie Vaessen because they were recording the authorities dispersing the rally. The AJI said the police had ordered the journalists to delete the recordings.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/01/aji-condemns-vicious-police-assault-reporters-covering-rall.html

The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) also has expressed concern over frequent incidences of violence against journalists, including the incident on Tuesday during the AMP rally at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

"During the past two months, there have been at least three cases of camera seizure and the erasing of photos by policemen," said Ade Wahyudin of LBH Pers' research and networking division during a media conference in Jakarta on Wednesday 2 December. Wahyudin also said that Article 18, paragraph 1 of Law No. 40/ 1999 on the press stipulated that anyone who intentionally prevented journalists from doing their job could face a two-year prison term or be fined Rp 500 million (US$36,224). Wahyudin said his institution therefore demanded that National Police chief. Gen. Badrodin Haiti instruct the Jakarta Police chief and the Papua Police chief to investigate police officers who prevented journalists from doing their job. He also called on the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to conduct an independent investigation and announce its results to the public.




We are all aware how much the West Papuan people have suffered under Indonesian rule.  However in the past year the West Papuan people have also had many victories in their struggle for self-determination. From the formation of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in Vanuatu in December 2014 to ULMWP’s achievement of gaining observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Another victory is West Papua is back on the agenda at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and hopefully Jakarta will accept a request from the PIF leaders for a fact-finding mission to West Papua. West Papua has been raised at the UN by various Pacific leaders and awareness throughout the Pacific has increased dramatically through the lobbying of governments in the region by West Papuan representatives, civil society organisations and church groups.  In fact, civil society organizations’ in the Pacific have committed to enthusiastically take up the fight for the people of West Papua. The issue is also being raised around the world by solidarity groups and individuals too numerous to mention. Photos of the raising of the Morning Star on the 1st December from around the world indicate the support the West Papuan people have in their struggle.

http://freewestpapua.org/2015/12/07/photos-from-the-global-flag-raising/
Sydney flag raising at 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.853607768071281.1073741839.507721779326550&type=3
The Australian Greens also moved a Senate motion marking the 54th Anniversary of the raising of the Morning Star flag  (although denied).




Australia hosted the third Australia-Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers Dialogue in Sydney

Australia hosted the third Australia-Indonesia Foreign and Defence Ministers 2+2 Dialogue in Sydney on Monday, Dec. 21. Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu used the 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 (Jakarta Globe 21/12). 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. 

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that later on Ryamizard clarified his comments, insisting he had not meant to attack Australia and pointing out that his counterpart Payne had emphasized Australia’s respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty. His remarks, he said, had been an expression of regret directed at Vanuatu, a Pacific nation that openly supports Papuan separatist movements. “Vanuatu persists in encouraging Melanesian people to reunite. That’s not right, and I disagree with it. This is a unitary nation,” the defense minister said. Pastor Allen Nafuki, who is the Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) and Unification Committee said in the Daily Post (1 Jan) “Christian churches are the conscience of the nation, and therefore have the duty to be the voice of the voiceless and must continue to stand in solidarity with our Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua who are still under oppression, and are still living in the current environment which can only be described as one of institutionalized enslavement and suppression of human rights. “Indonesian Government must stop state killings and human rights abuses and brutality in West Papua,” said Pastor Allen Nafuki.



Amnesty International and KontraS wrote to the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Affairs concerning the Paniai incident which occurred on the 8 December 2014 “In this letter to the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Affairs, Amnesty International and KontraS (the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence) write with regards to the use of force by the Indonesian security forces that led to the death of four individuals and injuries to 17 others in Paniai, Papua province, almost a year ago. The organisations urge the Minister to take the lead to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and victims and their families provided with full reparation”.Amnesty International and KontraS called on the Minister to undertake the following steps as a matter of priority:

Take steps to ensure that Komnas HAM’s are provided with the necessary funds to complete its 
investigations and ensure that the findings of all investigations are made public; 


-Ensure that, if sufficient admissible evidence exists that members of the security are responsible 
for arbitrary or abusive use of force, including persons with command responsibility, they are prosecuted in civilian courts in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards, without recourse to the death penalty; 


-If violations are found to have been committed, ensure that victims, including families of those killed in such circumstances, are provided with full and effective reparation and steps must be taken to provide victims and witnesses adequate protection; 


-Conduct a thorough review of police or other law enforcement officials’ tactics and the use of force and firearms during arrest, with a view to ensuring that they meet international standards, in particular the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. 


https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa21/3010/2015/en/


News in brief


Three Officers Killed, Rifles Stolen in Attack on Papua Police Precinct

A group of armed men attacked the Sinak Police station, in Puncak Regency on Sunday 27 December, killing three personnel. The armed group also took a number of firearms and ammunition from the police station. According to reports the group that attacked the police station was led by Alegagak Murib and Kalenak Murib and assisted by the Aleka Telenggen group based in Yambi, Puncak Jaya regency. The Jakarta Post reported (30 Dec.) that the Papua Police have set up a joint team comprising police and military personnel to pursue perpetrators of the attack.  “A joint team comprising 50 Mobile Brigade [Brimob] and detective unit personnel has been dispatched to investigate and pursue the shooting perpetrators. Directly supported by commanders of military district commands, the Indonesian Military has also deployed personnel to search for the attackers and prevent such incidents from reocurring,” Papua Police spokesman Patrige Renwarin said.



TNI Officer Killed by Armed Civilian Group in Papua

The Jakarta Globe reported (1/12) that a TNI officer was shot on 30 November in Namuni Kampong. The military claim the shooting was by an armed Papuan civilian group known as Cosmas Makabori. Three officers were traveling by boat and came under attack immediately after disembarking. The surviving officers claimed they were surrounded by about 20 armed civilians who opened fire.





Four KNPB Activists Jailed for Opinions

Victor Mambor Jubi Dec 02, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi –A lawyer for four activists of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Manokwari region, said the jail sentence of 1 year 6 months for them was too harsh because they simply expressed different views.

“Alexander Nekenem, Othen Gombo, Nopinus Humawak, Yoram Magay were convicted because of different views,” said lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy in a written statement received by Jubi in Jayapura on Monday (11/30/2015).

According to the Papuan human rights lawyer from the Institute for Research, Study and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH) Manokwari, on Nov. 27, as the legal team received a copy of verdict number: 107 / Pid.B / 2015 / PN.Mnk on behalf of Alexander Dekenem et al. The letter stated that the defendants were sentenced to prison, each for one year and six months, with their time in custody deducted. Prosecutor Irna Indira Ruth sought two years imprisonment for them.

That ruling, the Warinussy is still waiting for an official copy of the decision of the Registrar Court of Manokwari, in order to learn the basic consideration of the judges who had declared the four defendants were found guilty so that sentenced them. According to the Secretary of the Regional Parliament, Rafael Natkime, the verdict will never confine their ideology.

“Be in Jail is one of the highest sacrifices for fighters,” he said.

He said four KNPB activists were detained on May 20, 2015 during a peaceful demonstration in Manokwari with three agendas, first, demanding the state to immediately open access to foreign journalists in Papua, according to a statement the president of Joko Widodo, second was to immediately open the democratic space for the people of West Papua. And the last was to support the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as representatives of Papuans in Melanesian Spread head Group (MSG). (Mawel Benny/ Tina)




Islands in focus: Stray bullet hits civilian in Wamena

The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Sat, November 28 2015

JAYAPURA: A member of the military police in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, is under investigation for allegedly shooting an 18-year-old student at an areca nut-eating party at the house of a local resident early on Friday.

The member, identified only as Pvt. FAN of the military police sub-detachment (Subdenpomdam) XVII – Wamena, allegedly took out his pistol and aimed at wood located some 5 meters away from him. Allegedly under influence of alcohol, he shot at the wood but the bullet passed through the wood and hit student Paskalis Marey on the back part of his waist.

“The victim is being treated at the Marthen Indey Hospital. He is conscious,” spokesperson for the Military Regional Command XVII/Cenderawasih, Col. Teguh Rahardjo, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Teguh, however, denied that FAN was drunk and blamed the incident on the soldier’s negligence. He also said FAN was currently detained at the local military police (Pomdam) headquarters in Wamena.






HIV/AIDS CASES IN MANOKWARI ON THE RISE

Victor Mambor Des 07, 2015

Manokwari, Jubi – The number of HIV / AIDS cases in Manokwari, West Papua Province, continues to increase from year to year, said Program Manager Health Care Association of Manokwari Denny Nepa.“Manokwari Department of Health recorded, from 2002 to 2015 the HIV-Aids cases continues to increase, between eight to164 cases per year,” said Denny in Manokwari on last week. This year, HIV / AIDS cases in Manokwari reached 1,183 cases, an increase of 113 cases from last year’s 1,070 cases.“Of the 1,183 cases, 628 cases of which have been positively identified as AIDS,” he said. He further said this cases like an iceberg phenomenon with a number ratio of 1: 100, in which the cases have a tendency to pass the virus to 100 people. “If the current number is1,183 cases, how many thousands of people who may have been infected, and it is they who have not been identified,” he said. He also mentioned that until now the profession housewife is still ranked first from other professions with 325 cases where 179 of which are already suffering from AIDS, and the rest is HIV. He added, this cases also are experienced by children under one year to 14 years. As many as 15 children infected, six of them living with HIV and the other nine are already infected with AIDS.“23 children, aged one to four years old are living with HIV- Aids, 16 of whom are already infected with AIDS. While, eight children aged 5 to 14 years old have infected with AIDS,” he said. This case is also experienced by a group of Civil Servants, members of the military and police, commercial sex workers (CSW), the private sector, labor, and student. “There are 150 civil servants infected, seven military, eight police,154 commercial sex workers, 75 private employees, 70 workers, 37 students, 40 college students and other 317 cases,” said Denny. “If all the people in Manokwari willing to check up, surely we will find how high incidence of HIV / AIDS in this region,” he said again. (*/ Tina)






3,000 Papuans to get PNG citizenship

Papua New Guinea's deputy chief migration officer says processes are underway to grant citizenship to about 3,000 West Papuan refugees. Esther Gaegamin says there are about 3,000 West Papuan refugees in camps in the Western Province, near the Indonesian border, that have been registered with the government. She says most of them are qualified for PNG citizenship and her office has commenced a registration and naturalisation project with them. Ms Gaegamin told the newspaper, The National, that some of the West Papuans have been in PNG for decades and it's appropriate that they are given a home and legal rights. RNZI 14 Dec 2015





PAPUA FACES BIG CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE EDUCATION, SAYS THE GOVERNORVictor Mambor 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)






Government open to holding dialog with anyone: President Jokowi

Rabu, 30 Desember 2015 17:47 WIB 

Wamena, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia government is open to holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development, including in Papua, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated here on Wednesday. 

 "From the onset, I have no problem in holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development," the head of state remarked after dedicating and inspecting the district government offices in Jayawijaya. He said dialog had also been initiated to settle the problems in Aceh. While referring to groups conducting violence, the president said he had ordered security agencies to take firm action. In the context of dividing the Papua province, the president said he had received inputs from various parties on the matter.  "I have to discuss with various parties first, including with the governor here (about it)," he noted. On the issue of limited supply of electricity and internet services, the president remarked that similar complaints had also been received from other regions. "This is our task. We must build a power plant, and it takes three to four years to realize it," he affirmed. The head of state remarked that by undertaking frequent visits to Papua, he would be able to gain a better understanding of the problems being faced by the people in the region, such as limited infrastructure that had caused the prices of commodities, such as cement, rice, and fuel oils to increase. "With adequate infrastructure, it is hoped that the prices of cement and fuel oils would drop by 50 percent from the current rates," he emphasized. He remarked that the extension of the runway at the Wamena Airport would make it possible for bigger aircraft to land and help to boost the regions economy. "The facilities at Merauke Port also need to be upgraded along with increasing the number of cranes and extending the pier. The work on these facilities will all be completed next year," he affirmed. The president said if the infrastructure such as the roads and ports are good, the economy in Papua would grow faster, while the distribution of logistics as well as the flow of goods and passengers would improve. (Reporting by Agus Salim/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)







Indonesian President visits West Papua

The Indonesian president Joko Widodo spent the end of year on a 3-day tour of West Papua. He promised major infrastructure plans for Papua during his tour saying by 2018 all regencies will have proper roads.



RIGHTS GROUP CRITICIZES JOKO WIDODO’S POOR HUMAN RIGHTS PERFORMANCE Victor Mambor Des 11, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Human rights activists said President Joko Widodo has not been able to resolve cases of human rights violations in Papua a year after he took officer. Acts of violence by security forces are still happening in Papua, said the Coordinator of Solidarity for the Victims of Human Rights Violation in Papua (SKP HAM Papua), Penehas Lokbere.SKP HAM Papua said it recorded 11 incidents of violence that occurred after Jokowi assumed office, killing ten people and injuring 39.

Security forces arrested at least 268 people, Lokbere said during peace rally to commemorate the International Human Rights Day in front of the Papua’s Parliament office, Jayapura City on Thursday (10/12/2015).


In front of hundreds of crowd, Lokbere revealed the list of violence that occurred in Papua since November 2014:

1.  1 December 2015, shooting incident occurred in Serui, 1 dead, 1 in critical condition at hospital, up date condition of 2 victims has not clarified yet.

2.  8 October 2015, dissolution over peace rally in front of the Catholic Church Gembala Baik Abepura held by SKP HAM Papua. 18 were arrested.

3.  09 October 2015, three KNPB activists were arrested in Sentani.

4.  28 September 2015, shooting incident occurred in Mimika, 1 dead, 2 injured.

5.  28 August 2015, shooting incident occurred in Mimika, 1 dead, 4 injured.

6.  17 July 2015, shooting incident occurred in Tolikara, 1 dead, 11 injured.

7.  25 June 2015, shooting incident occurred in Dogiyai, 1 dead, 1 in critical condition.

8.  22 June 2015, 14 members of Student Independent Forum were arrested in Jayapura.

9.  28 May 2015, 47 KNPB members were arrested in Jayapura.

10. 21 May 2015, dissolution over peace rally in Biak, 25 arrested.

11. 20 May 2015, KNPB activists were arrested in Biak.

12. 30 April to 1 May 2015, the arrest against 178 Pro-Democracy activists.

13. 14 April 2015, the arrest against 4 delegations of Papua Independent Committee.

14. 08 March 2015, shooting incident occurred in Yahukimo, 1 dead, 5 injured and 11 arrested.

15. 08 December 2015, shooing incident occurred in Paniai, 5 dead (4 high school students and 1 civilian), 17 injured.

16. 19 November 2014, the arrest against 8 KNPB activists in Nabire.


“The data shows that the Jokowi’s government is still carrying the security approach in tackling the situation in Papua. It indicates the new ruler is making the same mistake of former SBY’s administration for a decade. The promise to build the peace dialogue between Jakarta and Papua and to realize the Peace Papua is nonsense that merely used as the polish imagery tool,” said Lokbere.

With many actors involving in security situation in Papua, instead of protecting the civilians, the fact is they used their power and improper discretion excessively.

In order to materialize peace dialogue that he promised during the presidential election campaign, Jokowi’s Government must take a promptly action in tackling the violence and human rights violation issues given those could not only resolved through a promise but clear instruction towards the State’s instrument to act.


Pastor of St. John and Peter Parish of Jayapura Diocese, Father Paulus Tumayong read the joint statement before hundreds of crowd and parliament’s members. “We are from Solidarity for the Victims of Human Rights Violation in Papua (consisting of SKPKC Franciscan Papua, BUK-Papua, KontraS Papua, FIM, FPP, AMPTPI, PMKRI, GMKI, Catholic Youth, SEMA STFT Fajar Timur, BEM USTJ, BEM Uncen, Gempar, KPKC Kingmi Papua, KPKC GKI, and Marinus Yaung (Academician of Cenderawasih University Papua), urge the President of the Republic of Indonesia to fulfill his promise to Papuans as stated in the National Christmas Celebration event on 27 December 2014 at Mandala Stadium, Jayapura to solve the human rights violation case occurred in Paniai, 8 December 2014. The President of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately instruct the National Human Rights Commission to endorse the Human Rights Investigation Team to lead the legal process against the shooting perpetrators in Paniai,” said Father Tumayong getting applause from the crowd.

He said the Indonesian Government must immediately open the space of democracy for Papuans and open the access for international media to come in Papua. “Papua Legislative Council to escort the Ad Hoc team that already formed on 15 October 2015 to work in revealing the shooting perpetrators in Paniai on 8 December 2014,” he said. He further said the parliament also must immediately invite the Papua Police Chief and Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander to conduct an official evaluation on the security situation in Papua and to terminate the impunity of security forces who commit the human rights violation in Papua. (Abeth You/rom)




Armed groups stole 32 firearms from police

Jumat, 1 Januari 2016 

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Armed groups in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua have stolen 32 firearms of different types from the police in 2014 and 2015, a senior police officer stated. The firearms included 10 AKs, 15 SS 1s, and five pistols, Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw stated on Friday. Most of the weapons were taken away from police officers stationed in the provinces hinterland, he remarked. While the number of attacks on police posts has declined, the number of firearms stolen by armed groups was on the rise, he pointed out. Late last year, a group of unidentified people attacked the Sinak police precinct in the province, killing three police officers and leaving two others injured.   The attackers also took away seven firearms of different types and several rounds of ammunition.(*)





Papuan children's deaths due to virus and bacteria

Researchers say respiratory bacteria and a mosquito-borne virus caused the death of dozens of children in Indonesia's Papua region last month.


The Papua Health Office announced in November that 41 children died in Nduga regency from an unidentified disease. The Jakarta Post reports tests on samples taken from the victims showed that the respiratory bacteria, pneumococcus, and Japanese encephalitis were spreading in the area. Health authorities sent teams of doctors, nurses and researchers to investigate the deaths of the children, who were mostly under the age of two. The researchers say the Japanese encephalitis virus could be transferred from humans to animals or vice versa. People have been urged to keep their neighbourhoods clean to prevent mosquitos from breeding. RNZI 16 December




Opinion pieces/reports/books/press releases etc.



Punks for West Papua will be releasing their film on West Papua in mid January. Many people ask how can they help West Papua. A simple way is to download the video when released ($10). The funds raised are being generously donated to the West Papuan umbrella organisation, The ULMWP by the P4WP. In a series of nation wide gigs the Punks have already raised over $6000 for the ULMWP. When available the film can be downloaded at

  punks4westpapua.comBut further info will follow



New book. Merdeka & the Morning Star: Civil Resistance in West Papua: (Peace and Conflict Series) AUTHOR: MACLEOD, JASON

 https://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780702253768/civil-resistance-west-papua-peace-and-conflict-series


DFAT reply to AWPA letter

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/dfat-reply-to-awpa-letter.html



Indonesia’s Freeport saga

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/12/22/indonesias-freeport-saga/


ICP Releases New Human Rights Report 2015

http://www.humanrightspapua.org/hrreport/2015



Human Rights Watch Report 

Something to Hide? Indonesia’s Restrictions on Media Freedom and Rights Monitoring in Papua

https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/11/10/something-hide/indonesias-restrictions-media-freedom-and-rights-monitoring-papua




Merauke District Council and Indigenous People’s Association take issue with military working on one-million hectare rice estate

https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=1328



















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1) Plenty of Bullets Seized, but No Arrests Yet in Papua Shooting

January 2, 2016, 11:47 am
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2) Indonesia’s biggest sago  mill kicks off operations - 
3) Construction on Long-Delayed Papua Railway to Start This Year: Joko
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1) Plenty of Bullets Seized, but No Arrests Yet in Papua Shooting
By : Farouk Arnaz | on 8:10 PM January 02, 2016


The gunmen who attacked a police station in Papua on Dec. 27 have been identified as a militant group affiliated with the Free Papua Organization, pictured above. (AFP Photo/Banjir Ambarita)

Jakarta. Police say they have identified two suspected members of the group that attacked a police station in Papua’s Puncak district on Dec. 27, killing three officers and wounding one.
Gen. Badrodin Haiti, the National Police chief, named the suspects as Kalenak Murib and Iris Murib. It is not clear whether the individuals are related; Murib is a common clan name in Puncak district.
Badrodin told the Jakarta Globe on Saturday that a joint team of police and military personnel had raided the two men’s homes in Sinak subdistrict and seized a large stash of ammunition, some of it stolen from the Sinak police station that was attacked last Sunday.

The haul included 150 rounds of ammunition for an AK-47 assault rifle; 239 rounds for a Pindad SS1, the standard Indonesian police and military issue assault rifle; and 82 rounds for an M14 rifle. Police also seized seven firearms, but Badrodin did not say what kind they were. It is believed the houses’ occupants had fled prior to the raids.
Puncak and the neighboring district of Puncak Jaya in the Papuan hinterland are hotbeds of the province’s long-running separatist insurgency, with police identifying six clan-based groups as being responsible for much of the armed attacks against security forces in the two districts.
In Puncak, they include the Murib Military, based in Sinak and Gomeh subdistricts, as well as a group led by Titus Murib in Kepala Air subdistrict and a third led by Peni Murib in Muara subdistrict.
A fourth group, the one alleged to be responsible for the attack on the Sinak police station, is led by Kalenak Murib and Alex Gagak Murib, and based out of Ilaga, the Puncak district seat, according to district chief Puncak Willem Wandik.
The group has also been blamed for a similar attack on a group police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel in December 2014. The weapons seized by the perpetrators in that earlier incident are believed to have been used in the recent attack, authorities say.
Police allege that the groups are all affiliated to varying degrees with the Free Papua Organization, or OPM, which has for decades waged a low-level war for independence from Indonesian rule.

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2) Indonesia’s biggest sago  mill kicks off operations - 
Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Archipelago | Sat, January 02 2016, 3:19 PM - 
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo opened the largest sago mill in Indonesia on Friday. The mill, operated by state-owned forestry firm Perum Perhutani,is expected to boost sago production for both domestic needs and export.

The mill, located in Kais, West Papua, officially started operations on Jan. 1, Antara news agency reported on Friday.

Perum Perhutani president director Mustoha Iskandar said that Papua had considerable potential for natural sago production. A good quality Papuan sago raja can produce 900 kilograms of sago from one branch, he said.

Built at a construction cost of Rp 150 billion, the mill will employ 40 local workers to work in the factory and around 600 people to supply sago logs.

The company expects the venture to accrue an income of Rp 100 billion per year. It is also hoped that the mill will boost the local economy. 

The factory will produce 25 percent of its full capacity during the first year of operation, 50 percent during its second year and is expected to produce to full capacity during its third year.

The processed sago from the mill will be distributed by Perhutani to Papua, Jakarta, Cirebon, Semarang, Surabaya and Medan.

Meanwhile, Mustoha said that the firm also aimed to export sago products to Japan, Korea, Thailand and China.

Jokowi expressed hope that the plant would benefit the surrounding area and improve the local economy. 

The firm will pay Rp 9,000 per log to locals who supply to the sago mill.

In this way, Kais locals will no longer have to send their products to the Sorong market in Sorong, West Papua. The journey to Sorong often takes up to a week on a traditional boat.

Gunarto, project chief of the management unit at Perum Perhutani, told kompas.com on Thursday that the mill stands on five hectares of land while the sago tree forest stands in a 16,000 hectare concession, making it the biggest in the country.

He explained that the construction of the mill started in 2013.

“We will have a full production rate in 2017,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Initially, the factory will produce 100 tons of sago per day but is expected to produce 30,000 tons of product within one year.

National demand for starch (sago essence) reached around 5 million tons per year, while the country’s sago industry has been able to supply only 3.5 million tons annually, leaving a great opportunity for Perhutani.

The island of Papua has the largest sago palm forests in the world, reaching 2.5 million ha.

Perhutani said it currently had a license for 15,000 ha of sago palm forest in Papua and it would partner with local farmers to add to production quantity, he said.

Perhutani would invest Rp 112 billion (US$9.3 million) in the factory, with 30 percent coming from bank loans, while the remaining 70 percent is said to be sourced from internal cash.

Perhutani, previously known only for its timber products, has reported a rising contribution from its non-timber products.

Non-timber products currently account for 53 percent of Perhutani’s revenue, a surge of only 25 percent in the period from 2005 to 2009. 
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3) Construction on Long-Delayed Papua Railway to Start This Year: Joko
By : Dion Bisara | on 5:20 PM January 02, 2016
Jakarta.  The Indonesian government is set to start a 400-kilometer railway project connecting the West Papua cities of Sorong and Manokwari by end of this year, as part of its wider effort to link the underdeveloped province's districts with roads and railway by 2018.
Speaking at a meeting with residents of Kais district in West Papua on Friday, President Joko Widodo revealed: "We just started construction on a railway network in Sulawesi. This year, it's Papua's turn."
"I ask for your blessing so [the central government] can start drawing up plans for the railway [connecting Sorong and Manokwari] as soon as possible," Joko said as quoted by Antaranews.com.
Joko remarks could mean mounting pressure on Transport Minister Ignatius Jonan, who said in September that Papua's railway tracks would start construction in 2017 at the soonest.
The project, which is estimated to cost Rp 10 trillion ($722 million), will be financed through the state budget.
The government initially planned to start the project in 2015, but more time was needed to complete the feasibility study, Joko said.
The president spent four days in Indonesia's easternmost province over the New Year holiday with the aim of listening to its people's aspirations and observing first-hand Papua's development amid security risks from separatists.
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1) DID INDONESIA STRUCK A DEAL WITH THE US TO GET WEST PAPUA?

January 3, 2016, 11:59 am
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2) WHAT JOKOWI PROMISED TO WEST PAPUAN DURING HIS LAST VISIT? WHAT JOKOWI PROMISED TO WEST PAPUAN DURING HIS LAST VISIT?
3) Papua To Build Rice Warehouse in Merauke
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1) DID INDONESIA STRUCK A DEAL WITH THE US TO GET WEST PAPUA?


                                                   Freeport mining area in Timika – energytoday.com


Jayapura, Jubi – On November 2015 Indonesian politics was scandalised by a leaked secretly-recorded meeting between the head of the parliament and a representative from Freeport-McMoRan, a US gold and copper mining company that have a mining concession in West Papua. The meeting was related to the expiry of Freeport’s concession contract in 2021 and the head of parliament’s attempt to get some shares in the renewal of the huge contract, which was unethical not to mention illegal. It was disgraceful and it reignited the nationalistic debate whether Freeport even should be allowed to extend their concession contract beyond 2021, and instead plenty of Indonesian people believe that after decades of exploitation the mine should finally be given back to Indonesia.
Then it got me into a research mode, where I found some odd timeline about West Papua and Freeport, and discovered that “to give back” Freeport-controlled mine to Indonesia might not necessarily be an accurate expression, perhaps as misleading as to “unite back” the two Korean countries (there’s never been 1 country called Korea, only kingdoms before the peninsula was annexed by Japan).
So the timeline goes like this: Indonesia unilaterally claimed independence on 17 August 1945, while the Dutch acknowledged Indonesia’s independence from them only on 27 December 1949 but still occupies West Papua (then called Netherlands New Guinea). In 1960 Freeport geologist confirmed the Dutch discovery of a large above-ground gold and copper deposits in West Papua. On 1 December 1961 West Papua declared itself independent from the Dutch. In 1962 Indonesia began to launch a military operation to incorporate West Papua back into Indonesia (the argument goes, on 28 October 1928 Youth Declaration to fight for Indonesian independence, a youth representative from West Papua was present), however Indonesia was claiming to annex West Papua from the colonial Netherlands and not invading a recently-independent country.


Then US president John F. Kennedy (JFK) interfere [with the official reason] to restore peace. And from 15 August 1962, following the New York Agreement (which was drafted by JFK’s brother Robert Kennedy whom was the special envoy for West Papua), United Nations forms United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) to act as a caretaker and prepare for an “Act of Free Choice” for West Papua in 1969, which is basically a referendum.
This is where it gets weird. Between 1962 and 1969 a lot of things happened: JFK was assassinated on 22 November 1963, while Indonesian president Soekarno was technically toppled in 1965 on a manipulative coup led by CIA-backed general Soeharto whom then officially became president on 12 March 1967. The 1st order of business by the new president Soeharto? He signed a concession deal with Freeport a month later on April 1967 to allow Freeport extract the gold and copper mine in West Papua, even though West Papua wasn’t officially a part of Indonesia yet. Note that a year earlier in 1966 Freeport formed Freeport Indonesia Inc, a subsidiary to negotiate a contract with the Indonesia government (not the Dutch government nor the independent West Papua government) to develop the Ertsberg mine, and the negotiation in 1967 was conducted under the guidance of Henry Kissinger (whom later joins Freeport’s board). On 5 June 1968 Robert Kennedy, like his brother before him, was assassinated. And in 1969 when the referendum was conducted, out of 815,906 population at the time only 1026 selected elders were eligible to vote, and some argued that they were under pressure to vote for joining Indonesia.

So this got me thinking, was West Papua the main reason CIA staged a coup on president Soekarno, to smooth the road for Freeport’s presence in there? And as a result, did CIA-backed president Soeharto struck a deal with the US on West Papua, where Indonesia gets the land but the US gets the natural resources underneath it? Despite the fact that West Papua has been a part of Indonesia for more than 4 decades now, it is still disconnected from the rest of the archipelago, with the news about the activities and history in West Papua are almost unknown until this day, as media access to West Papua have always been severely restricted. Even to visit West Papua, according to researcher at Human Rights Watch Andreas Harsono, an official permission would require signatures from 18 separate ministries and security agencies. The question is, what are they hiding?
Somewhere in the middle of these occurrences, the Free West Papua movement emerged, with Benny Wenda leading the movement for independence from exile in the United Kingdom. However, if history is any indication, the Free West Papua movement is arguably futile, because if ever they get their independence power will only shift from corrupt officials in Indonesia to corrupt officials in independent West Papua, while the majority of ordinary citizens remain relatively poor, deliberately under-educated and perhaps even oppressed. This is what have happened in a lot of post-colonial African countries and in countries with abundant natural resources, from Timor Leste to Guatemala to Nigeria. But if independence is not the answer, then what is? To his credit, compared to his predecessors, the new Indonesian president Jokowi has made a greater attention and effort to look after West Papua, including an effort to make the contract renegotiation with Freeport more beneficial for the local West Papuans. However, the results from these efforts remain to be seen and for now the big question remains, will they be significantly matter in the long run for the people of West Papua?
Obviously there are more questions than answers at this point, questions that are probably will never be truly answered.
The island of Papua is the 2nd largest island in the world after Greenland, and Indonesia officially owns half of it. The area covers around 40 million hectares of land (about 5 times the size of “main island” Java) with 3.5 to 4 million population live there (1.5 million of whom are native Papuans). Meanwhile, Freeport McMoRan controls 90.64% stake of Freeport Indonesia, where their current concession the Grasberg mine (multiple times bigger than the original Ertsberg mine, which was largely depleted in mid 1980s) span more than 2.5 kilometres in width, sit 4270 metres above sea level, and it is considered as the largest known deposit of gold and the 3rd largest deposit of copper in the world. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with 700,000 tons of rock are moved every single day, and with 6 billion tons of industrial waste expected to be produced in total. As at the current contract, which will be expired in 2021, Freeport pays 1% loyalty on gold to the Indonesian government, and 3.5% royalty on copper. It is also worth noting that Freeport has been the largest provider of jobs, infrastructure, technology, education and services in West Papua, contributing up to 45.4% of the GDP in the Papua province.
Further readings:
John Pilger on West Papua [New Statesman / John Pilger]
The history of Netherlands New Guinea [Peter Van Der Heijden]
The story of Free West Papua movement [Open Democracy / Hugh Brody]
Documents on Indonesia’s 1969 takeover of West Papua [The National Security Archive / Edited by Brad Simpson]
JFK, Indonesia, CIA & Freeport Sulphur [The Secret Truth / lisa Pease]
West Papua: a history of exploitation [Al Jazeera English / N.A.J. Taylor]
West Papua: in need of media coverage and international intention [Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]
The Indonesian government appoints Freeport lobbyist as presidential staff [Tempo / Inge Klara Safitri]
Freeport McMoRan’s positive economic impacts to Indonesia and enterprise development [3BL Media]
Enhancing the competitiveness of the Papua region [The Jakarta Post / Mamay Sukaesih]
Conversation Between Kennedy and Sukarno on West Papua Issue (former West New Guinea) [Tabloid Jubi / Victor Mambor]
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HTTP://TABLOIDJUBI.COM/ENG/WHAT-JOKOWI-PROMISED-TO-WEST-PAPUAN-DURING-HIS-LAST-VISIT/
2) WHAT JOKOWI PROMISED TO WEST PAPUAN DURING HIS LAST VISIT? WHAT JOKOWI PROMISED TO WEST PAPUAN DURING HIS LAST VISIT?

Jan 02, 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – During his last visit on Tuesday – Friday (29 December 2015-1 January 2016), President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurates some infrastructures project in Papua and West Papua province. He had visited a number of districts in Papua including Merauke, Wamena, Nduga, Timika, Rajaampat and Sorong during his stay for four days in the region.
After inaugurates Merauke Port, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) dedicated the new passenger terminals at Wamena and Kaimana airports.
“The geographical conditions are challenging that must be responded quickly to accelerate infrastructure development (in the region), including roads, bridges, and airports as well as the means of transportation, especially air transportation,” President Jokowi stated during the ceremony attended by Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan and Minister of Public Works Basuki Hadimoeljono.
President Jokowi, First Lady Iriana Widodo, and their entourage arrived in Wamena on Wednesday afternoon. The inauguration of the Wamena and Kaimana airports in Wamena, which the villagers in Papua had long awaited, especially people living in the hilly areas, continued despite a shooting incident at the Sinak police precinct in the district several days ago.
Jokowi noted that the geographical conditions in the region must not become obstacles in carrying out development in Kaimana and Wamena. According to President Jokowi, the new terminal at the Wamena airport is better than those in Java.
He affirmed that airports and seaports are needed to support connectivity between districts, provinces, and islands.
“In view of this, during the next five years, we will focus on infrastructure development to ease transportation of passengers and goods,” Jokowi remarked.
“Difficulties faced in carrying out infrastructure development in Papua must not pose a hindrance since if it is always used as a pretext, then no infrastructure development will ever be carried out in the province. I believe every problem has a solution, including in the efforts to develop Papua,” he said.
President Jokowi stated that the Wamena and Kaimana airports are strategically located as they are gateways connecting Papuas central hilly regions to the other parts of Indonesia.
At present, Wamena airport has a terminal capable of accommodating 282 passengers and a 2,175-meter-long runway. It will be the second busiest airport in Papua.
President Jokowi has urged the Ministry of Transportation and regional governments to work in tandem to improve services.

“Synergy is the key to improving the quality of services offered to the public in Papua,” he affirmed.
He noted that Papuans had long awaited the availability of better public services.
On the occasion, President Jokowi not only called for better services but also urged to pay attention to the condition of aircraft operating in the region.
“There must not be any compromise with regard to the safety of passengers and flights, especially as the region has a hilly terrain,” he added.

Indonesia`s Biggest Sago Factory Begins Operations

Indonesias state-owned forestry company PT Perhutani has set up the biggest sago factory in the country in Kais, West Papua, and it began operations on Friday (1/1/2016).
President Joko Widodo inspected the factory on Friday and expressed hope that it would have a positive impact on the environment along with the regions economy.
The companys president director, Mustoha Iskandar, stated that natural sago has huge potential in Papua.
The company has invested Rp150 billion on the factory that would employ 40 locals and involve 600 farmers to supply the raw materials.
Currently, the price of sago in Java is Rp6,800 per kilogram, and its demand is expected to increase, he noted.
He remarked that the production from the factory would be distributed to Papua, Jakarta, Medan, Cirebon, Semarang, and Surabaya, while exports will be made to Japan, Korea, Thailand, and China.
Papua has the potential to produce eight million tons of sago from naturally grown trees.
With the factory becoming operational, the villagers of Kais would no longer have to visit Sorong, which could take a week by boat to reach, in order to sell their sago trunks as they could now supply them to the factory at a price of Rp nine thousand per trunk.

Railway Construction to Start this Year in Papua

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the government will likely start construction of railway track in Papua from Sorong this year.
“Yesterday I just opened new railway track in Sulawesi. Papua will follow,” the president told the local people in a meeting in the Kais district of Sorong Selatan regency.
Earlier the president hoped the process of feasibility study of the project would be wrapped up in a year, but apparently more time is needed.
“It does not matter. What is important is the track would be built as expected. Most likely work would start from Sorong,” the president said.
He pledged that all regencies in Papua would be connected with railway track in 2018.

Open to Holding Dialog with Anyone

The Indonesia government is open to holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development, including in Papua, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated here on Wednesday.
“From the onset, I have no problem in holding a dialog with anyone in the context of development,” the head of state remarked after dedicating and inspecting the district government offices in Jayawijaya.
He said dialog had also been initiated to settle the problems in Aceh.
While referring to groups conducting violence, the president said he had ordered security agencies to take firm action.
In the context of dividing the Papua province, the president said he had received inputs from various parties on the matter.
“I have to discuss with various parties first, including with the governor here (about it),” he noted.
On the issue of limited supply of electricity and internet services, the president remarked that similar complaints had also been received from other regions.
“This is our task. We must build a power plant, and it takes three to four years to realize it,” he affirmed.
The head of state remarked that by undertaking frequent visits to Papua, he would be able to gain a better understanding of the problems being faced by the people in the region, such as limited infrastructure that had caused the prices of commodities, such as cement, rice, and fuel oils to increase.
“With adequate infrastructure, it is hoped that the prices of cement and fuel oils would drop by 50 percent from the current rates,” he emphasized.
He remarked that the extension of the runway at the Wamena Airport would make it possible for bigger aircraft to land and help to boost the regions economy.
“The facilities at Merauke Port also need to be upgraded along with increasing the number of cranes and extending the pier. The work on these facilities will all be completed next year,” he affirmed.
The president said if the infrastructure such as the roads and ports are good, the economy in Papua would grow faster, while the distribution of logistics as well as the flow of goods and passengers would improve. (*)
Source : ANTARA
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/01/03/055732635/PAPUA-TO-BUILD-RICE-WAREHOUSE-IN-MERAUKE
SUNDAY, 03 JANUARY, 2016 | 15:26 WIB
3) Papua To Build Rice Warehouse in Merauke

TEMPO.CO, Jayapura-Papua provincial government plans to build a rice warehouse in Merauke regency to support food logistics in the region.
“We will build a rice warehouse in Kurik district with a capacity of 5,000 tons,” head of food plants and horticulture office Semuel Siriwa in Jayapura, on Sunday, January 3.
He said the warehouse will be lent to the Papua regional division of the logistics bureau (Bulog) that has been actively buying farmers harvest in Merauke.
So far, Siriwa said limited warehouse capacity was one of the constraints of Bulog from buying farmers products in Merauke.
He added that the provincial government plans to buy a boat to distribute Merauke rice to all other areas in Papua.
“This means, rice from the south can be distributed to the north,” said Siriwa.
ANTARA
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1) Success with Din Minimi, BIN to Approach Papua

January 4, 2016, 12:43 am
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2) Papua to Have 7 Airports Next Years
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/01/04/055732732/SUCCESS-WITH-DIN-MINIMI-BIN-TO-APPROACH-PAPUA

MONDAY, 04 JANUARY, 2016 | 07:12 WIB
1) Success with Din Minimi, BIN to Approach Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Sutiyoso, said that he will offer the amnesty like that to Din Minimi for other radical groups such as Santoso and Free Papuan Movement. "If they want to get it, please surrender," he said Friday, January 1. "If peace is possible, why not."
Sutiyoso said that he will make the same approach to Papua and Poso. He will try to make a soft approach before proceeding with hard approach.
He also said that President Jokowi has approved the amnesty offer.
"President has granted [the amnesty]," he said. "No way I can make a move myself. Life is at stake."
 DEWI SUCI RAHAYU
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MONDAY, 04 JANUARY, 2016 | 10:54 WIB
2) Papua to Have 7 Airports Next Years
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia targets to build four new airports in 2017 and three new airports in 2016 in Papua. “The airport in Papua is priority as the road construction is a problem,” said Director General of Air Transportation, Agus Santoso on Sunday, January 3.
Agus said that the government is adding more airports in Indonesia, especially in the remote areas. Currently, Indonesia has 54 airports.
The new airports are expected to start the operations by October 2017.
On December, President Joko Widodo has just inaugurated two new airports in Papua, namely Wamena and Kaimana Airports. Moreover, Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong is close to a completion, meaning that it will be ready on February.
 
ALI HIDAYAT
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1) Railways can solve Papua`s transportation problems

January 4, 2016, 12:37 pm
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2) Stunning Raja Ampat to be proposed as touristic province

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102325/railways-can-solve-papuas-transportation-problems

1) Railways can solve Papua`s transportation problems

Senin, 4 Januari 2016 18:50 WIB | 450 Views
Pewarta: Otniel Tamindael

Map of transportation in Papua. (kemenhub.go.id)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Railways are considered to be the most economical and efficient means to solve the transportation problems in Indonesias easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The people in the two provinces have, for several years, relied on sea and air transport, and they now need overland transportation, such as train service for them to travel from one district to another.

Railway systems are the backbone of transportation globally as they provide fast, high capacity, safe, and punctual transportation with good environmental performance and energy efficiency.

In light of this, the people of Papua and West Papua have expressed hope that the plan to build a railway system there would be implemented immediately.

Karlos Dorowe, a West Papua youth leader, remarked in Sorong on Monday that the railway project could be realized during the administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

"We hope the railway line, which has been planned since a long time, would be realized during the present government of President Jokowi and Vice President Kalla," Dorowe stated.

He noted that the local community had long awaited the implementation of the railway project.

Dorowe affirmed that railways offer the right solution to solving the transportation problems in Papua and West Papua, which have so far relied solely on sea and air transport that are much more expensive, and only a few people from the high-income group could afford air transport.

"Land transportation facility is very limited to the urban areas. There are no roads connecting one district to another in the province," he pointed out.

He stated that the local people strongly supported the governments plan to build a rail transport facility to link Sorong in the western end to the West Papua provincial city of Manokwari.

According to Dorowe, the railway transport facility would help to boost the provinces economy.

"We are confident that both President Jokowi and Vice President Kalla would pay special attention to the development in West Papua," he affirmed.

West Papua Transportation and Communication Department spokesman Bambang Heriawan Soesanto said in Manokwari early in December 2015 that the master plan of a railway project in the province was expected to be completed immediately.

"The railway system should be available soon as this program is important for large-scale economic development in West Papua," Soesanto remarked.

He stated that the consulting and technical teams from the West Papua Department of Transportation and Communication had been on the field to survey, assess, and seek inputs on the districts and cities that will be covered by the railway network.

Soesanto stated that the construction of a railway network in West Papua is a great program with a long-term vision.

He believes that the existence of a railway network in West Papua will be able to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the distribution of mining, agricultural, and plantation commodities to support the regional economy.

"With the existence of a railway network, oil, gas, minerals, coal, and agricultural and other natural resources can be distributed more quickly and at relatively low costs," he pointed out.

He expressed hope that the people and all public elements in the area would support the railway network, which has been launched by the central government.

President Joko Widodo has indicated that construction of the project would start in 2016.

"The government would likely start construction of railway track in Papua from Sorong in 2016," the president said during a visit to Sorong on the eve of the new year.

He pledged that all districts in West Papua would be connected with railway tracks in 2018.

"I hope the feasibility study of the project would be wrapped up in the last quarter of 2015 and work would start to build the facility in 2016," Jokowi said some time ago last September.

Development of the railway transport facility in Papua is aimed at underscoring that the government wants to bring prosperity to all regions in the country.

"We do not want to hear people saying that the government is interested only in developing Java," Jokowi said when inaugurating the ground breaking ceremony of the LRT Indonesia at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah last September.

Besides railway project in Papua, the central government also expected that the construction work of Trans Kalimantan railway line would be completed in 2020.

"The construction of the railway line connecting all regions of Kalimantan is part of the central governments program and is funded by the state budget. We in the region are only facilitating and supporting its implementation," Mahmud Syamsul Hadi, a spokesman of the East Kalimantan transportation office, stated in Samarinda, recently.

Currently, the feasibility study is ongoing, and the environmental impact assessment will be carried out in 2016.

A feasibility study is being conducted on the 89-kilometer-long Balikpapan-Samarinda line.

The actual construction work will be carried out from 2018 until 2020, with funding allocated from the state budget through a multi-year pattern.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR)
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102299/stunning-raja-ampat-to-be-proposed-as-touristic-province

2) Stunning Raja Ampat to be proposed as touristic province

Sabtu, 2 Januari 2016 05:50 WIB | 888 Views
Pewarta: Fardah

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The stunning natural beauty of Raja Ampat isles located in the northwestern tip of the Indonesian province of West Papua, has started to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Lured by this beauty of Raja Ampat, President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana spent the last day of 2015 and the first day of 2016 there. 

They preferred to spend their time in the lap of nature, free from the cacophony of the city and pollution as they welcomed the new year.  

On the New Years Eve, Jokowi, as the president is popularly called, accompanied by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Head of the Presidential Office Staff Teten Masduki and West Papua Governor Abraham Octavianus Atururi, was on the Waisai beach, Raja Ampat District.

The next morning, Jokowi and Iriana visited Pianemu Bay in the same district to enjoy the amazing natural scenery that combines crystal-clear sea waters and hundreds of isles as well as hills covered by green vegetation and virgin forests.

The head of state and his entourage departed from Waiwo Pier in Waisai Sub-district aboard a speedboat on a 1.5 hour long ride.

After arriving in Pianemu, Jokowi scaled 300 steps to reach a hilltop to witness the string of green isles scattered across the bays clear waters.

Raja Ampat, which literally means "Four Kings," is located in the Coral Triangle, the heart of the worlds coral reef biodiversity. 

The seas around Raja Ampat Isles are home to the richest varieties of species in the world, including 75 percent of all known coral species.

The Raja Ampat archipelago encompasses 15 thousand square miles of land and sea. There are around 1.8 thousand isles in Raja Ampat District.

Its four major islands --- Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and Misool --- shelter a vast array of terrestrial species and valuable forests.

The region includes the Pacifics most important Leatherback Turtle nesting site, the Nature Conservancy writes on its website.

Offshore reefs protect some 1,427 species of fish and more than 550 species of coral.

Some of these reefs have proven to be particularly resilient, and include coral-building resources that help sustain the entire Coral Triangle.

The central government has designated Raja Ampat as one of Indonesias new 10 top tourist destinations, apart from the most famous Bali Island.

President Jokowi expressed his optimism that Indonesia would be able to achieve the target of attracting 20 million tourists by 2019.  

He compared Indonesia to some neighboring countries having lesser tourist attractions but which could attract 24 million to 27 million tourists annually.

In 2013, Indonesia received 8.8 million tourists, and the number increased to 9.4 million in 2014. The government set a target of attracting 12 million tourists in 2015. 

"We have 10 top tourist destinations. So under no circumstances is it possible that the target of achieving 20 million would be missed," President Jokowi said while enjoying his stay in Raja Ampat, on January 1, 2016.

"That is easy. Raja Ampat and Labuhan Bajo, with their Komodo dragons, are already well known. Their nature is unique, and while the forests there are not that vast, the vegetation is unique. Which country in the world has Komodo (but Indonesia)?" he pointed out.

He affirmed that airports, piers, and ships were needed to access Raja Ampat and Labuhan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Ships are needed to access islands, otherwise the costs would be very high, he added.

However, Jokowi noted that a quota should be set on the number of tourists allowed to visit in order to protect the forests and seas from damage. 

Considering the unexploited potential of Raja Ampat, the West Papua Provincial administration has planned to propose that the district may change its status and become a separate province that will be specially designated for tourism in Indonesia.

The West Papua Provincial administration will submit a proposal in this regard to the central government, Deputy Governor of West Papua Irene Manibui said recently. 

The idea to turn it into a special tourism province was discussed by the West Papua authorities with members of the Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Sorong, West Papua, recently.

The legislators advised the West Papua authorities to submit the proposal to the Central Government.

They suggested that the Raja Ampat Islands District be developed into a new autonomous region with a special status.

"Like Batam Authorities, Kepra (Raja Ampat Islands) can be specially designed as a touristic province," the deputy governor stated.

The proposed tourism province will comprise 615 big and small islands, currently within the territories of the West Papua administration.

The West Papua authorities will also propose establishment of a new Southwest Papua province, the Manokwari municipality and some other districts.

She hoped that the government will realize 10 new autonomous regions in West Papua in early 2016 or by mid-year.(*)
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Punks for West Papua

January 4, 2016, 2:08 pm
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1) PRESIDENT WIDODO’S PAPUA VISIT SHOULD NOT BE MERELY CEREMONIAL

January 4, 2016, 11:59 pm
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2) PRESS RELEASE : THE INDONESIAN POLICE AND MILITARY CAN NOT JUSTIFY THEIR PRESENCE IN WEST PAPUA

3) DAW MEEPAGO : WE WILL IDENTIFY CUSTOMARY FOREST BOUNDARIES

4) ’Soft Approach’ in Din Case Should Be Upheld in Papua, Experts Say
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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/president-widodos-papua-visit-should-not-be-merely-ceremonial/

1) PRESIDENT WIDODO’S PAPUA VISIT SHOULD NOT BE MERELY CEREMONIAL
Jan 04, 2016
By Theo van den Broek



                                                                Theo van den Broek – Jubi


Jayapura, Jubi – President Joko Widodo visited Papua, once again. His attention to Papua is admirable and should be appreciated. Some activities are on his agenda. His visit to Merauke was a kind of symbolic by planting the ‘time capsule’ containing his long-term visions (expected to be realized in 2085).
There are seven points that reflect his ideal image. Mostly, his hopes are related to the social-economy issues (human resources development, technology education center, equal infrastructure, world economic growth barometer, influential and independent State) and two are related to socio-cultural (upholding the pluralism, cultural, religious and ethic values; citizens and State apparatuses are corruption free). Those aspects are certainly very important and thankfully it becomes a core and a policy’s platform to be executed by the president.

For Papuans, hearing these, the seven points contains the meaning and hope. We also realized these seven points were revealed in the midst of a reality of violence occurred in Papua. In fact, before the president’s visit, the cruel violence was occurred in Sinak. It impress the pattern of violence in Papua is still becoming a chosen way by several parties to resolve the problem.
Along with this background, perhaps people in Papua are actually hoped another expectation could be included in the president’s sequence of hope, such as the expectation for Papuans to live in peaceful and free of violence, as well as to change the security approach to dialogue approach as the only dignified way in resolving the problem, despites how hard it is; it was certain that intended dialogue is much more wider than development dialogue sought by the president up to day.
Such a hope has become one of the highest ranks of wishes of Papuans, therefore it needs to be regretful that this aspect has less attention by the president when he filled the ‘time capsule’
Furthermore, the recent president’s visit could not be separated from his previous visits. So, it’s not exaggeration if then he was questioned about the resolution of several human right violations in Papua, including the severe human rights violation that was occurred in Enarotali on 8 December 2014.
The president’s commitment on this case has been said for several times, but the revelation of the case was still left by. We hope in his recent visit, he could give a clear point towards the settlement of Paniai Case (8 December 2014). The president’s visit would add value if the earlier commitment could be realized; if not, we are worried his visit would be categoried as such a ceremonial event. (*/rom)

Writer is former Director of SKP Keuskupan Jayapura




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2) PRESS RELEASE : THE INDONESIAN POLICE AND MILITARY CAN NOT JUSTIFY THEIR PRESENCE IN WEST PAPUA
Statement – For Immediate Release
Jan 04, 2016
Press Contact Email: office@bennywenda.org
Dear everyone,
As the New Year dawns and the suffering people of West Papua look to the future with renewed hope for liberation, the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo set his feet down in West Papua in an attempt to legitimise the continued Indonesian military occupation of the country. Neither he nor the Indonesian police or military are welcome in West Papua as we West Papuans know that they are only there to continue to oppress us and exploit our natural resources.

The Indonesian government is doing all they can to try and draw attention away from the increasing human rights abuses in occupied West Papua. They do not want the world to find out about the ongoing genocide which has resulted in the deaths of over 500,000 West Papuan people. Such brutal killings have continued unabated ever since Indonesia illegally annexed West Papua in what we West Papuans refer to as the Act of NO Choice in 1969.
As part of this attention shifting, earlier this week the Head of the Indonesian Police, Badrodin Haiti childishly blamed myself for the recent deaths of 3 Indonesian policemen in West Papua which obviously I had nothing to do with whatsoever. I completely refute the ridiculous allegation which is just the latest in the surge of outright lies and propaganda being spread by the Indonesian government in an attempt to direct the blame for violence in West Papua away from the perpetrators.
The Indonesian police know very well that not only do I live 9000 miles away in exile in the United Kingdom, but also that I am an entirely peaceful Independence Leader.
As a peaceful leader and a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, I have always advocated an entirely peaceful solution for West Papua whereby all West Papuans will be able to peacefully fulfil our fundamental right to self-determination through an Independence referendum.
Despite these facts, the Indonesian Head of the Police, Badrodin Haiti alleges that “Benny Wenda’s group” was directly response for the deaths of these Indonesian police officers, even though he knows that I have never taken part in any violence whatsoever and I do not control any group which does.
I seriously doubt that the Indonesian Police Chief genuinely believes that I am responsible for the deaths of these policemen but if he does then he is seriously deluded. I suggest he checks the real facts and gets properly educated. This finger pointing attitude is so unprofessional for a Police Chief it is almost laughable. He should be deeply ashamed for deliberately scapegoating peaceful leaders while his own police officers get away with impunity after killing West Papuan people in cold blood.
The Indonesian military and police have had a long history of trying to draw attention away from their human rights atrocities and this latest allegation is just the same old story being repeated over and over again. I remember clearly how the Indonesian government tried to silence the campaign by imposing an Interpol “Red Notice” on me in 2011 which was later dropped by Interpol themselves who deemed it “predominately political in nature”.
Why is it that after more than one year the Indonesian authorities are still unable to find any perpetrators of the massacre of West Papuan schoolchildren in Paniai, yet within 24 hours they immediately placed the blame on myself for deaths of Indonesian policemen?
Time and time again, West Papuans are massacred by the Indonesian authorities but the perpetrators never face justice.
Has there been any justice after the Paniai massacre? No.
Has there been any justice after the 2 West Papuan boys were shot in Timika on 28th September? No.
Has there been any justice after the 4 West Papuans were shot and tortured to death in Yapen on 1st December? No.
The list goes on and on.
Papuan lives do not matter to the Indonesian government but when Indonesian authorities die, West Papuans are blamed immediately. In fact, in retaliation 50 Indonesian military and police personnel have already been dispatched to the area where these 3 Indonesian policemen were reported dead.
On top of being blamed by the Head of the Indonesian Police, I was also been threatened by the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN). According to CNN, the Indonesian Intelligence Agency declared it will implement a “soft approach” against Benny Wenda but “if he refuses to cooperate” then “another method is prepared”. They said ‘this method is secret and cannot be disclosed.’
I know that these threats are meant to scare me but I refuse to be intimidated by the Indonesian authorities who occupy my country, kill my people and then try to force me to “cooperate” with their schemes.
After being arrested and tortured in West Papua for peacefully leading my people, I escaped and was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom in 2003 where I now reside in exile.
What sort of methods is the Indonesian Intelligence Agency going to impose on me to try and force me to “cooperate”?
Is the Indonesian Government threatening to interfere with British law and prosecute me on false charges once again? Or will this “other method” involve sending Indonesian soldiers to come and kill me in the United Kingdom?
If the Indonesian Intelligence Agency want me to “cooperate” then they should let my people to exercise our fundamental right to self-determination in a peaceful Independence referendum as promised to us in 1962.
Neither I nor my people will be intimidated by the threats of these human rights abusing Indonesian authorities which feel they can bully their way around the world demanding that West Papuans who have been already granted political asylum are illegally extradited to be locked up and tortured again by the Indonesian authorities.
I therefore hope very much that despite the ongoing barring of foreign media by the Indonesian government, CNN and other media around the world will continue to report on the truth about occupied West Papua. I also hope that the Indonesian police and intelligence services will stop their childish finger pointing and threats towards entirely peaceful people.
This week, the world entered into a New Year, 2016. It is another year in which we West Papuans will continue to intensify our actions to peacefully struggle for the freedom of our people though exercising our fundamental right to self-determination.
We West Papuans will not be provoked or intimidated. We will continue our peaceful struggle until West Papua is finally free and Independent at last.
Papua Merdeka – Free West Papua
Benny Wenda
West Papuan Independence Leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua
www.bennywenda.org
www.freewestpapua.org
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3) DAW MEEPAGO : WE WILL IDENTIFY CUSTOMARY FOREST BOUNDARIES

Jan 04, 2016

Nabire, Jubi – The coordinator of the Meepago Customary Council, Okto Marco Pekei, said illegal logging and pollution by mining companies are the main contributors to enviromental destruction in Papua.
According to him, illegal logging is difficult to control because it is carried out by the local people; meanwhile such destruction by the companies was often associated with the Environmental Impact Assessment.
“Deforestation in Meepago customary area could affect the relations between the forest and people, because it is the source of life for the indigenous Papuans in general and the local people of Meepago in particular,” he told through text message to Jubi on Saturday (2/1/2016).
Therefore, he collaborated with the Regional Customary Council (DAD) to identify the border area and forest tenureship.
The Chairman of Wolani, Mee and Moni Customary People Development Institute (LPMA SWAMEMO), Thobias Bagubau said based on the collected data from 2003-2015, about 50 hectares of customary forests in surrounding Degeuwo illegal mining area have been destructed. Therefore it formed a security team in attempting to safe the remaining customary forest.
“In the future, we will make coordination with the Regional Customary Council (DAD) and Meepago Customary Council (DAW) as well to discuss on customary forest sustainability. Currently we do not start the meeting yet, but few days ago I provided them some data to be reviewed. DAW and DAD to work together to defend the people’s interest by enforcing this customary forest issue,” he said.(Hengky Yeimo/rom)
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4) ’Soft Approach’ in Din Case Should Be Upheld in Papua, Experts Say
By : Alin Almanar | on 8:32 PM January 04, 2016

Jakarta. Months-long talks by Indonesia's spy officials with Aceh's rebel leader that culminated in his surrender showed “what a soft approach can do” in dealing with militant groups in conflict areas, experts have said.
Nurdin Ismail, known as Din Minimi, turned himself in last week to authorities alongside 30 of his men after State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso personally approached him.
Din's group, allegedly responsible for a string of attacks throughout 2015 against police officers and soldiers in its East Aceh district stronghold, also gave up 15 assault rifles and a sack of ammunition.
This showed “the fruitfulness of a dialogic approach," Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, a senior researcher with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said over the weekend.
BIN's moves were an antithesis to repressive measures usually taken by security personnel against militant groups, she said.
“There has been no proof that repressive approaches have reduced [violence]," she said.
As such, Jaleswari added, peaceful dialogue should be put forward to resolve security issues in other conflict areas.
In the far eastern province of Papua, the Free Papua Organization (OPM) has for decades mounted a low-level insurgency, complaining that the central government has given the resource-rich region an unfair share of the state's wealth after it became part of Indonesia in 1969.
“Sutiyoso should also go to Papua,” said Arbi Sanit, a political observer with the University of Indonesia.
He called for a peaceful dialogue to resolve conflicts in the restive region, with foreign parties as mediators and witness. Dialog between Jakarta and Papua has been a long-lasting government future goal for years.
“Putting dialogue forward in such areas is not an easy process, but we should move on with it,” Jaleswari said. “Din Minimi's case is an entry point.”
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1) Sutiyoso`s approach could be replicated in Papua: observer

January 5, 2016, 12:31 pm
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2) Local Residents Cut Down Forests in Papua
3) Govt to take ‘soft approach’  in Papua
4) Papua has highest number  of election disputes: Constitutional  Court - 

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102345/sutiyosos-approach-could-be-replicated-in-papua-observer

1) Sutiyoso`s approach could be replicated in Papua: observer

Selasa, 5 Januari 2016 15:34 WIB | 653 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The approach adopted by State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutiyoso to handle the Din Minimi-led armed rebel group in Aceh could be implemented in Papua, University of Indonesias political observer, Arbi Sanit, stated here, Tuesday.  

"This is the first time that the state is adopting a peaceful approach and dialog to counter separatism in the country," he pointed out.

The repressive approach earlier adopted by security forces has proven to be wrong and ineffective in solving conflicts.

On the other hand, the action taken by the BIN chief tends to be more political and considered to be a win-win solution as it provides space and opportunity to the opponent to engage in a dialog.

Moreover, the BIN, as the representative of the state, also provides what is needed by the rebel group.

"As long as they do not ask for something that could harm the countrys integrity, I think it will be wise to fulfill it," Sanit stated.

Peaceful approach and dialog should be adopted against separatist groups in Papua who have threatened the countrys security and integrity for years.

"I hope Sutiyoso also goes to Papua and finds a solution to the conflict there," Sanit affirmed.

In the process of delivering a peaceful solution, he suggested the government to involve international bodies as witnesses and mediators.

Specifically in Papua, Sanit has urged the government to involve a party that could represent the US government as the United States is concerned about the security situation in Papua in connection with its mining company, Freeport.

(Reporting by Indriani)

EDITED BY INE .
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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/01/04/206732931/LOCAL-RESIDENTS-CUT-DOWN-FORESTS-IN-PAPUA
MONDAY, 04 JANUARY, 2016 | 18:18 WIB
2) Local Residents Cut Down Forests in Papua
                             Logs being stacked on the side of the road between Wamena and Tolikara, Papua. TEMPO/Maria Rita
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - During a road trip from Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, to Karubaga District, Tolikara Regency in Papua, Tempo witnessed how local residents cut down forests and sold timbers and wood illegally on the side of the road. One meter cubic of timber is sold for Rp. 5.2 million.
Most of these woods and timbers were bought also by local residents. Expensive bricks and cement had urged residents to shift to using woods as their primary building material. In Papua, one sack of cement could cost up to one million Rupiah.
Tempo even witnessed first-hand how Nico Hisage, the 39 years-old driver of the double-cabin pickup truck that transported the Tempo team, acted as one of the illegal wood fencers.
"Madam, you must accompany me to pickup wood on the edge of the forest. Because you’re the only one I had transported from Tolikara, so we can use the flatbed," Nico said.
As the truck pulled up on the side of the road alongside a pile of wood, Nico jumped down and shouted. Minutes later, a man came and help Nico load the wood onto the truck. "That’s everything, take all of it," the man said.
MARIA RITA
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3) Govt to take ‘soft approach’  in Papua
Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Headlines | Tue, January 05 2016, 6:14 PM -
The government said on Monday that it would prioritize a soft approach in addressing separatism, including by engaging in negotiation and dialogue, as well as the possibility of granting clemency and unconditional release to political prisoners. However, it added that it may still take a hard approach if met with resistance.

The instruction to use a soft approach was issued by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during a plenary Cabinet meeting on Monday.

“A soft approach will always be the priority of the government, since we believe that a soft approach is better than other means,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said after the meeting at the State Palace.

Pramono added the government would implement a similar mechanism to that used in handling the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), including the chance of granting amnesty and unconditional release, as stated in a 2005 presidential decree.

“The pattern used for resolving [issues related to] GAM, in line with Presidential Decree No. 22/2005 [on amnesty and unconditional release for GAM members], will be implemented in various regions,” Pramono said.

“However, if it is not possible because there are differences in terms of [political] views, including an intention to separate from the country, then the government will keep using a hard approach,” Pramono added.

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said the President had indeed made the call to adopt the soft approach used in handling the GAM issue to settle separatism in other areas, including Papua, adding that Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan had been tasked with assessing whether granting amnesty was possible.

“Such a pattern was able to solve violence in Aceh,” Badrodin said. “However, if it is used to no avail and [a person] still carries out violence, stern action will be needed.”

In May, during his second visit to Papua, Jokowi said the release of political prisoners incarcerated in Jayapura was only the beginning.

At the time, Jokowi granted clemency to five prisoners as part of efforts to foster peace in the restive province.

“There will be a follow-up by granting clemency or amnesty to other [political prisoners] in other regions,” the President said, referring to around 90 political prisoners incarcerated nationwide.

Jokowi has also called on security personnel to promote dialogue with Papuan people in order to build mutual trust, saying he wanted to change the repressive security approach of the past to a development and welfare approach.

The move sparked mixed responses from activists, with some expressing doubt over how Jokowi’s administration would follow up. 

Budi Hernawan, a research fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), criticized the government for using a security-oriented approach in Papua instead of a social approach.

According to Budi, building mutual trust was indeed the key to addressing the Papua issue.

“Mutual trust is essential. Papuan people want to have dialogue with the central government. However, the two sides interpret dialogue differently,” he said on Sunday, adding that Papuans wanted a way to freely voice their aspirations, including political aspirations, where they could also discuss past human rights abuse cases in Papua.

According to Budi, assigning the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister to handle issues in Papua instead of the coordinating human development and culture minister or coordinating economic minister showed the government was still taking a security-oriented approach.


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4) Papua has highest number  of election disputes: Constitutional  Court - 
thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | National | Tue, January 05 2016, 9:13 PM - 
Papua has lodged the most regional head election dispute claims with the Constitutional Court, a court official has said.
“The highest number of requests for the handling of disputes on the results of gubernatorial, regental and mayoral elections on Dec.9, 2015, is from Papua, which reaches 16,” court spokesperson Budi Ahmad Johari said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He further said that North Sumatra ranked second with 15 disputes. Meanwhile, Yogyakarta was the only region not to dispute its election results.
“Yogyakarta held three regional head elections but it lodged no election dispute,” said Budi.
After the simultaneous Dec. 9 regional elections, the court accepted election dispute claims until Dec. 26 and received 147 requests from132 regions.
One hundred and twenty-eight disputes were submitted by regent and deputy regent candidate pairs, followed by 11 submitted by mayor and deputy mayor candidate pairs, six by governor and deputy governor candidate pairs and one by observers of a regional election with only one candidate pair in Tasikmalaya regency. The one remaining election dispute, namely in Boven Digoel regency, Papua, was also not lodged by a regional head candidate pair.
Election dispute claims were lodged by governor and deputy candidate pairs in Bengkulu, Central Sulawesi, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Riau Islands and West Sumatra. (ebf)

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1) PRESS RELEASE : WHEN IT COMES TO WEST PAPUA, WHO ARE THE REAL LIARS?

January 6, 2016, 11:10 am
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2) 25 FISHERMEN FROM SURIGAO, PHILIPPINE, JAILED IN SORONG
3) Railway Train in Papua to Reduce Cost of Goods: Official  
4) Brothers in arms forge lifelong international bonds
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1) PRESS RELEASE : WHEN IT COMES TO WEST PAPUA, WHO ARE THE REAL LIARS?
Jan 06, 2016



                                                              Benny Wenda – bennywenda.org

Statement – For Immediate Release
Press Contact Email: office@bennywenda.org
Dear everyone,
Last week I was wrongly accused by the Head of the Indonesian Police, Badrodin Haiti of organising an attack of Indonesian policemen in West Papua. I was also threatened by Sutiyoso, the Head of the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) that they would use ‘other methods’ if I ‘refused to cooperate’ with them.
Following these warnings, I published a Press Release rejecting the ridiculous accusation and questioning what sorts of secret “other methods” the Indonesian Intelligence Agency would use to try and stop me.
Following the publication of this Press Release, the Head of the Indonesian Police has at last shamefully admitted that I am not responsible for the attack of Indonesian policemen in West Papua. In fact, he claimed that he had ‘never mentioned the name of Benny Wenda’, despite the fact that CNN reported the exact time and place where he accused me. (On 28th December 2015, at the House of the Governor of East Nusa Tenggara in Kupang, the Police Chief said of the police shooting in Sinak “It is still done by the same group, namely Benny Wenda’s group,“).
Now the world can see that when confronted with the truth and with facts, the Indonesian police cannot defend their stance on West Papua. If the Head of the Indonesian Police blame me for this attack in Sinak then he isan outright liar. Why did he accuse me for something I did not do and then later claim he never mentioned my name? If the Head of the Indonesian Police is allowed to lie like this in public, what are the other hundreds of police officers in West Papua allowed to get away with? We West Papuans continue to witness the brutal murder of our people at the hands of the Indonesian police and military, just because we stand up for our rights to self-­‐determination and Independence.
The Human Rights Commission Komnas HAM found that in 2015 more than 700 West Papuans were been persecuted through being arrested, beaten, and tortured. How many Indonesian officers were brought to justice for the human rights abuses against these more than 700 West Papuans?
Once again I question, why is it that after more than one year the Indonesian authorities are still unable to find any perpetrators of the massacre of West Papuan school children in Paniai, yet within 24 hours they immediately placed the blame on myself for deaths of Indonesian policemen?
The Head of the Indonesian Intelligence Agency, Sutiyoso also responded to my Press Release and suggested once again that dark methods were going to be implemented against me. When questioned by CNN about what other methods would be used if the ‘soft approach’ fails, he laughed and said ‘you already know’.
I know that the Indonesian Intelligence and the Indonesian Security Forces are responsible for the assassination and murder of many West Papuan leaders. So is the Head of the Indonesian Intelligence confirming that he is going to try and kill me too? I am not scared of any methods the Indonesian intelligence will use against me. They cannot stop me campaigning for my people’s fundamental right to self-­‐determination and Independence.
My life is for this struggle and I will continue to campaign for my people’s freedom until West Papua is finally Independent. I feel that the Head of the Indonesian Intelligence, Sutiyoso is very childish and behaving in a very ignorant and immature manner. He should be ashamed of laughing and making light of the situation in occupied West Papua where over 500,000 innocent West Papuans have been killed by the Indonesian Security Forces.
In fact the Indonesian military has just announced that it plans to fill the Headquarters of its new Military Command in West, Papua with 5000 Indonesian soldiers.
West Papua is the most militarised zone in the South Pacific with about 50,000 Indonesian soldiers already stationed in West Papua. Last year The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill called on Indonesia to fulfil the promise of its former president to reduce troops stationed in West Papua. What kind of promise is this if more troops keep coming and 5000 more are now expected to fill up the new military command?
Therefore I question, when it comes to West Papua who are the real liars? Neither the Indonesian Police, the Indonesian Intelligence, nor the Indonesian government can hide from the truth about West Papua. West Papua was supposed to be a free Melanesian nation but is now under illegal Indonesian occupation, and has been ever since the illegal Act of No Choice in 1969. Rather than being a free and fair Independence referendum for all West Papuans as promised by the United Nations, the Act of No Choice involved just 1,026 handpicked West Papuans forced to vote for integration with Indonesia.
They were told that if they did not vote for Indonesia, their lounges would be torn out and they would be killed. Therefore my people still have the right to our UN promised Independence referendum and no Indonesian government will ever be democratic in the eyes of the world until they let the people of West  Papua to freely determine their own future in an Independence referendum.
We, West Papuans are not animals to be butchered by the Indonesian security forces. We are human beings and proud to be Melanesian West Papuans. We will keep up our struggle until our motherland of West Papua is finally free and Independentfor us and for our children and grandchildren.
Benny Wenda
West Papuan Independence Leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
www.bennywenda.org
www.freewestpapua.org
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2) 25 FISHERMEN FROM SURIGAO, PHILIPPINE, JAILED IN SORONG
Jan 06, 2016

Surigao City, Jubi/MindaNews – Twenty-five fishermen from this city are now languishing in jail in Indonesia due to illegal fishing, according to two barangay chairmen.
Josselyn Mantilla, of Barangay Sabang, said Tuesday that 15 of the 25 are her constituents. The remaining 10 are from Barangay San Juan, said barangay chairman Monina Caluna.
Mantilla said the fishermen, all aboard MB RGJ Fishing, left Surigao on Nov. 25. The boat’s operator, listed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-Caraga as Gemma V. Navarro of Barangay Togbongon here, reportedly has no permit to fish in Indonesian waters.
Mantilla said she was informed of the fishermen’s condition by the wives, who sought any help they could get to sustain their daily needs. She said the fishermen were caught Dec. 7 by patrolling coast guards off Indonesia. A
uthorities reportedly detained the fishermen, who also lacked travel documents, in Sorong City of West Papua province.
The fishermen, who are now detained at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Sorong, are Rodrigo T. Puno, captain of the boat; Jarewel R. Perjesa, machinist; and crew members Cristobal T. Ilagan, Romeo A. Edradan, Edgar T. Gecozo, Ronald D. Buniel, Richard T. Cabero, Ruel C. Astronomo, Junnie A. Calundre, Joseph A. Calundre, Teresito S. Macabasag, Ronel J. Escultor, Roel D. Cabating, Alan B. Gucela, Jaime M. Govalanie, Homer C. Etac, Mansueto M. Abrao, Teodoro C. Dayagro Jr., Rolly D. Cabating, Rolando D. Bornea, Leopoldo C. Dadivas Jr., Efren C. Escultor, Nelson A. Arsaga, Jose R. Perjes and Max B. Gucela.
Mantilla said the boat captain and machinist are in shackles to ensure they could not escape.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region, PNP-Maritime 13, the Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA-13 have no reports yet on the incident which checked by MindaNews as of press time. Geoffrey Gervo, station commander of the Coast Guard here, said they are still checking the documents of the boat.
“We are checking documents if they sought clearance to us before they sailed,” he said.
Caluna said they got wind of the fishermen’s plight after several of their relatives sought her office’s assistance. She said she referred the case to Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr., who shelled out money for the fishermen’s fare on their way home. Caluna said Romarate sought the intervention of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through its consulate in Indonesia, for the repatriation of the jailed fishermen.
She said she issued certificates that the fishermen were indigents so their families could get help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. MindaNews sent an email inquiry to Charles C. Jose, spokesperson of the DFA, as well as to the Philippine Consulate in Manado, Indonesia on Wednesday morning, but there was nor response yet as of this writing. (*)
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WEDNESDAY, 06 JANUARY, 2016 | 12:28 WIB
3) Railway Train in Papua to Reduce Cost of Goods: Official  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The development of Indonesia's railway network and the Trans Papua land road will help bring down the price of goods in the country's eastern region by up to 50 percent, an official has stated.
Director of transportation affairs of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Bambang Prihartono made the remarks here on Tuesday, adding that the planned development of land transport network would reduce logistic costs amounting to three percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In the meantime, the development of sea transportation will reduce logistic costs amounting to four percent of the GDP.
Prihartono further said that the Ministry of Transportation is trying to complete a feasibility study for the Papua railway train project.
In addition to the ongoing feasibility study, the Ministry of Transportation has decided upon the first route, the Sorong-Manokwari stretch.
"We are awaiting another feasibility study which will be handled by the Public Works Ministry," Prihartono noted.
According to the director of the transportation ministry, Papua has the highest logistic costs.
"Once the railway line and the Trans Papua land road are built, we estimate that the price of cement will decrease from Rp1 million to Rp500,000 per sack," he added.
 
ANTARA
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4) Brothers in arms forge lifelong international bonds
THE AUSTRALIANJANUARY 5, 2016 12:00AM
Brendan Nicholson  Defence Editor Canberra
John Sanderson well remembers trudging through the jungle in northern Cambodia in 1993 with a young Indonesian battalion commander trying to find feared Khmer Rouge fighters.

At the time, Lieutenant General Sanderson was the Australian officer in command of 16,000 peacekeepers from 34 countries sent to rescue Cambodia from the carnage of the Pol Pot years as the military component of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
The then Lieutenant Colonel Ryamizard Ryacudu commanded an Indonesian battalion that was a key part of that force.
They were tough and dangerous times long remembered by both officers.
The shared experience was also crucial to the establishment of a network of professional relationships which have, in times of tension, provided Australia with effective channels into regional capitals as geographically diverse as Jakarta and Beijing.
Sanderson went on to become chief of the Australian Army and later governor of Western Australia and Ryamizard rose to the rank of general and became Indonesia’s Defence Minister.
When Ryamizard and his colleague, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, came to Sydney for talks with their Australian counterparts, Marise Payne and Julie Bishop just before Christmas, the Indonesia Defence Minister said he wanted to catch up with the retired Sanderson and another former army commander, retired Lieutenant General Peter Leahy.
They had dinner in Sydney and discussed at length Cam­bodia and the current relationship between their two nations.
Payne noted the importance in international relations of what she called the people-to-people links — close friendships that grew out of professional relationships.
The three men are part of a largely below-the-radar process of military diplomacy.
Members of alumni groups made up mainly of former military and police personnel and diplomats who have kept in close contact since working or studying together as young officers have provided a highly effective back channel to keep open communications between Canberra and Jakarta at times of tension between the two governments.
That was the case during the row over claims that an Aus­tralian spy agency had monitored the phone calls of senior Indonesians including then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife, tensions over asylum-seeker policies and anger over the executions of Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
At one point, the now Professor Leahy was chosen by Tony Abbott to carry a letter to the ­Indonesian government.
It’s part of a very effective exercise in military diplomacy that runs separate to but in parallel with more formal links between intelligence agencies.
The Australian reported a year ago that despite tensions between Jakarta and Canberra, a decision had been made that Australia would inform Indonesia immediately if its intelligence agencies uncovered evidence of terrorist threats in that country.
Tensions at the top would not interfere when lives were at stake.
Australian agencies have provided crucial intelligence to their Indonesian counterparts since the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. That information has led to the arrests of significant numbers of terrorist suspects.
Much of that intelligence has come from comprehensive surveillance carried out for decades by the Australian Signals Directorate, formerly the Defence Signals Directorate, over a vast part of the region using a network of bases shared with the US and from the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing network involving the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Indonesian officials have told Australian counterparts that given the heightened security tensions in the region, they were keen to become a “sixth pair of eyes”.
A key alumni group is Ikahan Alumni Pertahanan Indonesia-Australia, which has many hundreds of members.
Close and confidential contact is maintained by a “senior advisory group’’ of former generals and their equivalents in the two ­nations’ navies and air forces.
Members of the group meet regularly in Australia and Indonesia to talk on matters of mutual concern. They can pass on mess­ages to Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin or his equivalent, the Panglima, commanding general of the Indonesian armed forces, the TNI.
This process has created throughout the region and far beyond it links that can be crucial in providing help quickly in an emergency or defusing a crisis.
In March 2011, when Japan was devastated by a tsunami that killed thousands and devastated a huge area that included the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the then Air Marshal Binskin sent a text to his counterpart there asking if the ADF could help.
Over many years, Binskin had built up a strong personal contact with Shigeru Iwasaki, who now heads the Japan Self Defence Forces. General Iwasaki had replied that help would indeed be appreciated, and two RAAF C-17 transport aircraft were dispatched. They flew in a search-and-rescue team, and rushed a water cannon to Fukushima to help cool reactors.
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1) West Papua activist questions credibility of Indonesia’s head of police

January 6, 2016, 11:32 pm
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2) Papua’s time bomb

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1) West Papua activist questions credibility of Indonesia’s head of police
Updated at 2:16 pm today
A prominent West Papua independence activist has questioned the credibility of the head of Indonesia's police over claims made against him that were later retracted.
Last week, Badrodin Haiti was reported by media of accusing Benny Wenda, who lives in exile in Britain, of organising an attack against Indonesian police officers in West Papua.
Mr Wenda denied the claims, and Mr Haiti later said he never metioned Mr Wenda's name or suggested he was responsible for organising the shooting of a police officer in Senak.
In a statement, Mr Wenda says Mr Haiti has been caught lying, which he suggests raises questions about what statements other police and military officials in West Papua are able to get away with.
He also says he was indirectly threatened by the head of the country's intelligence agency, Sutiyoso, who told media that 'dark methods' would be used against him if he refused to cooperate.

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http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2016/01/07/papuas-time-bomb/

2) Papua’s time bomb

BY 
YULIA INDRI SARI, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
 – 7 JANUARY 2016POSTED IN: INDONESIA, INDONESIAN POLITICS

Land politics, clan rivalry and fear in a troubled region.
As I entered the villager’s house in coastal Papua and removed my shoes, I was told to bring them in inside – otherwise the Orang Wamena (mountain clan) would steal them.
Noticing the ruins of a house nearby, I asked what the story was; Orang Wamena was the reply.
During my 10 months of fieldwork in the small village inside Jayapura district in Indonesia’s Papua region, I heard Orang Wamena, Orang Wamena, time and time again. These words were often uttered whenever anything went wrong or something bad happened.
So feared are they, that I was warned not to mess or deal with the group.
Alongside the existing decades of cleavage between migrants and indigenous people in the region, sits the longstanding cleavage between Indonesia Papua’s coastal and the mountain clan.
So bad is the current situation, that when Papua independence activist Filep Karma was released from 11 years in jail (for waving a flag) by Indonesia authorities last month, one of the first things he noted was the acute tensions between the two groups. He described them as a “time bomb.”
“If Papua succeeded and the Indonesians went home, there would already be a time bomb that may go off any time. I don’t want that to happen,” he said.
In Indonesia’s Papua region there is a common stereotype about the mountain clan that is often projected when interacting with coastal villagers. The latter often express discomfort living and interacting with the mountain clan.
The reason is primarily based on the view that the mountain clan often solve problems with violence. This stereotype is not uncommon and it is generally held by coastal clan.
For example, ‘Ibu X’, a villager from a coastal clan who works as a health promoter told me that the mountain clan would do anything for money, including fighting. Surprisingly for me, this lady was too scared to interact with Orang Wamena.
I once asked her once if she was willing to accompany me to visit some of the mountain clan. She shook her head and advised me not to meet them.
Another villager told me that Orang Wamena are easily provoked and are not capable of considering the risks and consequences of their violent actions. Furthermore, he explained that they are troublemakers who, culturally, love war.
Those who felt least comfortable with the presence of Wamena even stated that it was the time for local government to ban their arrival in the village. They stated that Orang Wamena do not have the right to be a recipient of any village development program. They feared that if they were given access to such programs, more mountain clan members would come to the village.
In the village where I was based, the Orang Wamena live separately and isolated from the coastal clan housings. Based on my interviews with their leader in the village, the Orang Wamena came from various regions in the central mountainous  regions — not only Wamena (the capital of Jayawijaya), but also from Lanny Jaya, Intan Jaya and Puncak Jaya.
The mountain first settled in the village between 1982 and 1983 to study religion at the local College of Theology. A large majority of them work as students at the college.
Some of the students’ extended family or clan members, who are supporting their education, have joined them. After completing their education, most groups stay the village and only a few return to their hometown, especially if they are accepted to work as civil servants.
A lack of development – economic, health, education and infrastructure – in the highland regions, where most of the poor native Papuans live, is one of the reasons they decide to stay in the coastal area.
In the village where I lived, the mountain clan mainly work in agriculture, a role that uses the skill sets they have mastered living in the mountain regions. They plant various types of vegetables, fruits and cash crops.
They work hard, particularly the women, usually walking through the hills in the morning and then selling their produce at market in the late afternoon.
Besides farming, some small groups of Orang Wamena, usually male, also raise pigs and ducks, and work as construction labourers.
The leader of the mountain clan also feels unease that the Orang Wamena are always blamed for any violence that occurs in the village. According to him, the coastal leaders also contribute to this violence.
So what is actually happening?
The conflict between the mountain and coastal clans can be traced in part to land politics. In the past, when a member of the mountain clan arrived in the coastal area and requested land, this was usually granted with the provision that they would support the coastal land owner during elections or any potential conflict situations.
The traditional leaders who have rented their land usually used an informal oral agreement. Coastal land owners feel that the mountain clan are physically strong and aggressive, and thus they are feared by the coastal group.
They felt safe because they now had the protection in the form of the mountain clan ‘army’ if there was any conflict. On one occasion, when a land owner nominated for village chief, the support he received from the mountain clan contributed to his victory.
But not all coastal leaders rented out their land under the provision of political mobilisation and conflict resolution. One leader I spoke with proposed specific requirements to lease his land. The first requirement was not to conduct assaults or violence.  The second condition, was to not grow long-term crops. This particular leader even gave a statement to portray how some of the mountain clan were just victims, being used as a tool by some coastal clan leaders.
When Filep Karma voiced his concerns that the racism that occurred between Papuans will be a time bomb he was right. Clan unity is essential for Papuans, if they are to successfully fight for their human rights.  While acknowledging that the conflict between Papuans and Indonesia’s central government needs to be resolved, there also should be an effort to promote more dialogue to resolve conflict between Papuans.
Yulia (Indri) Sari is a PhD candidate at the Crawford School of Public Policy, the Australian National University. 
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1) Hundreds of Papuans hide in the woods after the death of TNI officer

January 7, 2016, 12:04 pm
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2) PRESIDENT WIDODO DID NOT DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION DURING PAPUA’S VISIT
3) RAILWAY IN PAPUA COULD REDUCE PRICES BY 50 PERCENT, SAYS DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT
4) PAPUA NEEDS POLITICAL DIALOGUE : REV. SOCRATEZ YOMAN
5) Sinak community declares  its opposition to OPM
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1) Hundreds of Papuans hide  in the woods after the  death of TNI officer 
Nethy Dharma Somba, thejakartapost.com, Jayapura | Archipelago | Thu, January 07 2016, 7:01 PM - 
Indonesian soldiers patrol the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border area during the simultaneous regional elections on Dec. 9, 2015 in Keerom regency, Papua. The elections saw an increase of security activities to prevent any security disturbances during the historic event. (Antara/Indrayadi) - 

Hundreds of villagers in Mamberamo Raya in Papua have fled into the woods to live as they fear the Indonesian Military (TNI) will blame them for the death of an officer last year, a regional lawmaker said on Thursday.
A member of the Papuan House of Representatives (DPRP) Tan Wei Long said that at least 120 families from three villages -- Namunaweja, Anggreso and Kasonaweja all in Mamberamo Raya regency -- had fled into the forest in early December. The villagers were afraid of being arrested after the murder of Maj. John De Fretes by a group of people suspected of being part of an armed group in Namunaweja village in Mamberamo Tengah subdistrict on Nov. 30, 2015.
"They are afraid of being arrested for involvement in the criminal act. It [the murder] was carried out by rogue individuals, but they are scared of being dragged into the case so they ran away into the woods," he said in Jayapura on Thursday.
During the DPRP's recess, Tan visited Memberamo Raya to meet with local officials, religious and community leaders as well as local security officers to discuss ways to persuade the 120 families to return to their village.
"All parties have agreed to use the persuasive approach with the people hiding in the forest," he said.
Separately, Papua's Indonesian Christian Church’s (GKI) Rev. Albert Yoku urged the local government and security officers to find a solution soon considering that the villagers had been living in rough conditions in the forest for more than a month.
"The forest in Mamberamo Raya is not suitable for humans to live in. There are many leeches and not much food in the forest. They could starve," he said.
Yoku also urged that a persuasive approach be used to convince the villagers to return to their homes. He said that if the government did not take immediate action, it would cause other problems such as health issues and the children skipping school.
He suggested that the authorities search the forest carefully as the villagers were spread out in several locations in the forest.
Maj. John was shot dead by an armed group in late November after he visited Namunaweja upon hearing that a military wing of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) led by Cosmos Makabori had approached local villagers. He was accompanied by subordinates Lance Corp. Affan and Lance Corp. Simon Sopacua to meet with the villagers. However, as they arrived in Namunaweja, they were suddenly attacked by a group of people. John, who was also a local pastor, was tortured and shot with his own pistol by a member of the group while the two officers managed to escape.
Police have not identified the perpetrator.
After his death, the TNI promoted him to lieutenant colonel and covered the education costs of two of his children. (rin)(+)

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2) PRESIDENT WIDODO DID NOT DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION DURING PAPUA’S VISIT
Jan 07, 2016
Wamena, Jubi – President Joko Widodo’s visit to Papua in late December 2015 failed to address the issue of human rights violations, rights activist and religious leader Pastor Jhon Djonga said.
Djonga, the religious leader in the Papua Central Highlands, said the president’s visit on 30 December failed to live up to his promise during his previous visit for campaigning in Papua to tackle rifgts issues.
“He talked about the development and infrastructure issues as promised and it was discussed during his visit in Wamena and other locations. I highly appreciate that he was very eager to build and develop Papua, but a little disappointed because he didn’t address the human right violations that occurred in Papua,” Father Djonga told reporters in Wamena on Tuesday (5/1/2015).
He said Widodo did not address many related issues of human rights violation during his visit to Papua, such as the unstable prices of goods that people experienced in the Central Highland, a number of mortality among people including children because of disease, the national program that is not suitable for Papuans, as well as the business opportunity that not taking sides to Papuans.
“Arbitrarily violence by security forces, Papuans arrested and accused as separatist, democratic space shut down, intimidation towards journalists, Tolikara case that only resulted suspects from citizens while the shooting perpetrators never been investigated, Paniai case that was drowned and many cases could not be answered by president,” he said.
Therefore he and other human rights activists urged the President Widodo to enforce the relevant minister to work hard to resolve the existing human rights cases, and the government to guarantee no longer human rights violation, to resolve the human rights violation cases impartially, to guarantee the freedom of press to make coverage, to guarantee people to express their voice, to investigate the cases of human rights violation thoroughly and to ensure all law enforcement and security operations could be transparent and accountable in its implementation.
“Hopefully people’s aspirations on human rights issues could be answered by Mr. President because if not him, to whom people could talk about this injustice,” he said.
Meanwhile, during in Wamena, the President Joko Widodo observed the road construction in Kenyam Village, Nduga Regency, which is one of the most isolated regions in Papua.
Besides being isolated, the road connecting Nduga and Wamena is located in the red zone or categorized as high-risk security area. The road construction is expected to improve this region. “Therefore, the road access is a must. The distribution of goods should be done and the prices must be cheaper,” Jokowi as cited from the release issued by Presidential Communication Team on Thursday, 31 December 2015. Widodo is targeting the road could be completed next year.
According to him, the conflict resolution in the isolated area is not always done through security approach, but regional development could be alternative solution, he said. “All roads in Papua should be connected in 2018,” he said.
In addition to road facility in Nduga Regency, the government also would build a large seaport in Mumugu. The construction of seaport is expected to ensure the distribution of logistics and goods in that area to be better. (Islami/dominggus/rom)
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3) RAILWAY IN PAPUA COULD REDUCE PRICES BY 50 PERCENT, SAYS DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT


Jan 07, 2016

Jakarta, Jubi – Director of Transports of State Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS Bambang Prihartono said railway and Trans Papua highway can reduce the prices of goods in the eastern Indonesia region by up to 50 percent.
He said in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/1/2015) that at national level, the development plan on land transport infrastructure would reduce three percent of logistics costs of Gross Domestic Product, while marine transports infrastructure could reduce four percent of GDP’s logistics costs. Papua is one of regions that contribute highest logistics costs, mostly due to poor access of land transports infrastructure.
Through the construction of two land transports infrastructure, namely railway and highway, BAPPENAS estimates its contribution in reducing the price of goods will up to 50 percent.
“Papua has the highest logistics costs. Based on the macro calculation, we estimate in Papua, the price of cement that currently at 1 million rupiahs could be reduced to 500,000 rupiahs,” he said.
He said that the Ministry of Transportation is still working to complete a feasibility study on train for Papua. This on going study will produce a master plan on train transportation in Papua. During this process, Bambang said, the Ministry of Transportation has set a first route that is Sorong-Manokwari.
“For the next route, we are still waiting the result of the study once it is completed, including its investment costs,” he said.
Bambang said Sorong-Manokwari route was designated because of the demand and the capacity to build train transportation in both cities are relatively high. The next route would be determined later based on the same criteria. Further, he said the Ministry of Transportation is also considering the spatial development plan of railway to not coincide with protected forest areas in Papua.
According to him, the feasibility study does take a long time to prevent contact with the protected forest areas and because of such constraints of Papua land surface dominated by mountainous land.
“So, it’s not easy, because there are many technical aspects needs to be corrected,” he said.
The train will function as passenger train and cargo train.
In addition of railway construction, the calculation of the price reduction up to 50 percent is also taking account the benefits of the construction of Trans Papua highway along 4,300 kilometers, which is targeted to be completed in 2018.
“In addition, the contribution of basic infrastructure development from Special Allocated Budget for Public Infrastructure could increase the reduction of the price of goods in Papua, he said. (*/rom)
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4) PAPUA NEEDS POLITICAL DIALOGUE : REV. SOCRATEZ YOMAN
Jan 07, 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – The chairman of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in Papua, Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman,  condemned recent violence, including the shooting of four civilians in Serui on 1 December, a man in Keerom on 20 December and the killings of police officers in Sinak on 26 December 2015.
“The Church is very concerned about these acts of violence. They are misbehavior, acts of terrorists, criminal and barbaric. We must condemn it. They must stop this barbaric act,” he said at Papua Baptist Synod Office in Abepura, Jayapura City, Papua on last week.
He said the shooting during the month of December has become common since the murder of Kelly Kwalik in Timika on 16 December 2009 that following by the murder of Hubertus Mabel in Wamena on 16 December 2012 and the murder of four high school students in Paniai on 8 December 2014, and the recent shooting incidents during December 2015.

“Security personnel opened fire without any particular reasons. It was said the victims were shot when trying to fight the officers or the officers did to protect themselves for being attacked. Or for a political reason, the victims were accused of a part of the Free Papua Movement (OPM),” he said.
Even if the authorities have a reason, Yoman said, anyone could not justify for murder for what any reason. “The death of human is the authority of God or because of being old,” said this Papuan figure who has written 15 books of Papuan history and struggle.
There are two purposes, said Yoman, in the two last years. The murders were occurred before the president’s visit to Papua. The murder over four high school students in Paniai was occurred before the President Joko Widodo’s visit to Papua to attend the National Christmas Event in Jayapura on 27 December 2014 and ahead his visit to Merauke, Wamena and Raja Ampat in 2015.
From here, he said, it clearly indicated a project of security management. He firmly said the state apparatus clearly take profit behind the reason of security and personnel deployment. “If not manage such situation, there is no project. So where would they take money?” said Yoman. The shooting, he said, was part of intelligent operations.
He said, the State wants to provoke reaction and justify Papuans and stigmatize Papuans as criminal, separatist and cruel after the counterattack along December.
“They want to say, ‘look the riots in Papua ahead the Christmas. They (security forces) want Papuans to give their reaction for give them a reaction in turn. They want the conflict grow bigger, but the murder could be done during December to eliminate any reactions,” he said.
Actually, the murder is no more that a mechanism or process to destroy the Melanesian ethnic in Papua, because the State want to take over the land and natural resources in Papua. “The State does not need the Papuans,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Solidarity for Human Rights Violation Victims Papua, Peneas Lokbere said the State’s violence that was occurred during December 2015 could not be separated from State’s previous violence. “The State is still judging Papuans as separatist, criminal in order to justify the murder perpetrated by state apparatus,” he said.
Lokbere further said it is made Papuans never proud to be part of Indonesia. Papuans are not comfort and enjoy their life as part of Indonesia since the forced integration in 1969.
“Papuans are not considered important and valuable, therefore they could shot them as they like. It is clearer that mostly those who shot the civilians never take on legal process seriously,” he said while citing the shooting of four high school students in Paniai 2014 that was occurred in front of eyewitnesses in the midday.
No wonder if the Rev. Yoman said a political dialogue is required because there is no other way to solve the problems in Papua. The problems in Papua are very complex; it was not only about the economic welfare, money, regional extension and infrastructure development, “Papuans do not need any of it. Papuans needs a political dialogue approach. Papuans and the Indonesian Government must sit together and be equal in a dialogue facilitated by a neutral third party,” he said.
He said, the third party could be a state, non-state (churches, NGOs and regional organizations) and a public figure. “Melanesian Spearhead Group and Pacific Island Forum could be a mediator of dialogue,” he said. (Mawel Benny/rom)
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5) Sinak community declares  its opposition to OPM
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Thu, January 07 2016, 3:07 PM -

The community in Sinak district has declared its opposition to the presence of the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), a Papuan separatist group, and will impose customary sanctions against residents who are found accommodating or harboring the rebels.

The declaration was made, according to Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, because the community in Sinak are tired of disturbances, especially the attack and murder of security personnel.

“The community there strongly object to the group’s presence and will not allow members to enter their villages. Residents are now guarding their villages and helping authorities to locate and capture the perpetrators who shot and killed three members of the Sinak District Police,” Paulus said on Wednesday. 

First approved by tribal chief Daibenus Murib and religious leader Zakarias Tabuni and witnessed by Sinyo and Sinak District Military Command chief First Let. Yusuf Rumi, the declaration letter was handed to Waterpauw by the 12 village chiefs and Sinak District Police Second Insp. Sinyo R. Walean.

“If any of the residents of the 12 villages in Sinak district are found to be harboring, providing food or providing the TPN/OPM rebels with a place to stay, we, on behalf of the residents of the 12 villages, will impose customary fines,” reads part of the declaration statement.

The Sinak District Police station was attacked by 25 members of the armed civilian group on Dec. 26, 2015. Three police officers were killed while two others were injured. The group also managed to seize seven firearms and a box of ammunition. 

Waterpauw was in Sinak on Tuesday to provide support to the security personnel who have been conducting the manhunt and providing food aid to local residents.

The manhunt, added Paulus, was being conducted in order to accelerate the capture of the armed civilian group. 

He said that the Papua Police will cooperate with Cenderawasih Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Hinsa to develop a strategy for the manhunt.

Paulus has asked for community-wide support to help capture members of the group who have caused unrest among residents and disturbed development in Sinak. 

“Residents don’t have to lift arrows against the group, but simply guard the area and report their presence to authorities,” he said. 

Papua legislative speaker Yunus Wonda expressed a similar stance, asking that the community cease to show support for the armed group. 

Papua People’s Assembly chairman Matius Murib expressed a similar sentiment, saying that the actions taken by the criminal group had not made the people of Papua prosperous but instead interrupted development and thus reinforced poverty. 

“People have long yearned for development, but the group continues to create disturbances. How can people benefit from development, like other people, if such security disturbance continues?” said Murib.

Murib urged the community to work together with the authorities to expel the group from their region. 

“Just provide the authorities with information. Residents don’t have to fight because information is adequate. The security personnel will face the rebels,” said Murib. 
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1) Vanuatu - standing above the rest

January 8, 2016, 12:21 pm
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2) Jakarta’s change of strategy towards West Papuan separatists
3) Murderers, Rapist Stage Papua Prison Break
4) Indonesian-Australian ties,  a view from the Top-End - 
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1) Vanuatu - standing above the rest
Published in 2016 January
ONE of the Pacific’s smaller island states, Vanuatu stands taller than the larger nations with its consistent, principled stand on social justice, parliamentary democracy and corruption. Where other countries have fallen short, Vanuatu has punched well above its weight, holding its leaders to account and going beyond its borders to call on foreign leaders act justly.
For more than 30 years – since independence and the leadership of Father Walter Lini – this former condominium has called for self-determination in West Papua. Its parliamentarians have marched in the streets to show Jakarta their displeasure over the failure of successive Indonesian governments to address human rights abuses carried out on Papuans by members of the security forces.
Papuan dissidents have been welcomed with open arms and the people of Vanuatu have embraced their cause in the name of Melanesian solidarity. The same cannot be said of its larger neighbours and Melanesian brothers – Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Despite having greater influence with Indonesia, Fiji and PNG have chosen to acquiesce to diplomatic overtures and turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in Papua. They have taken the convenient step of labelling systematic genocide and arbitrary arrest as internal matters.

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2) Jakarta’s change of strategy towards West Papuan separatists
7:29 pm GMT+12, 04/01/2016, Indonesia





By Ned Talbot 
In the middle of last month, in a surprising move by Indonesian authorities, high-profile West Papuan separatist leader Filep Karma was released after more than a decade behind bars.
Karma has been sentenced to 15 years in jail following a peaceful ceremony in West Papua’s provincial capital Jayapura, in which he raised the Morning Star flag, a symbol of the pro-independence movement. Human rights groups and representatives from the United Nations condemned his detention and designated Karma a prisoner of conscience.
The decision to release Karma four years early represents a substantive change in Jakarta’s political strategy towards the unsettled region.
Since West Papua’s transfer to Indonesia in 1969, West Papuans have been engaged in a long and bloody insurgency to establish an independent state. The Free Papua Movement grew rapidly in the late 1970s with fighters joining its ranks in all major provinces of West Papua. Small-scale hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian patrols were favored by the movement’s leaders, together with targeted attacks on Indonesian and foreign mining companies. These attacks prompted a retaliation effort by Indonesian military forces, with official estimates putting the death toll among West Papuan separatists at more than 100,000.
In an attempt to highlight the movement overseas, separatists soon adopted a more peaceful strategy of non-violence and a strong emphasis on diplomacy in lieu of an internal violent struggle. These changes had a major impact on support from human rights groups and foreign governments, and made it difficult for the Indonesian government to justify the use of force against peaceful protesters.
President Joko Widodo’s approach is starkly different from that of his predecessors. In his first move as president, Widodo lifted a 40-year ban on foreign journalists travelling to the region. He also appears to be taking a more conciliatory approach to the Free Papua Movement by seeking to regain their trust, addressing issues of inequality, underdevelopment, corruption and violence. The effort appears to be having an impact on international perceptions.
Widodo’s apparent emphasis on peacefully resolving the problem in West Papua places considerable pressure on West Papuan independence leaders, whose reliance on the violations of human rights has largely formed the basis of support for an independent state. A more conciliatory and approachable Jakarta is likely to be an effective handbrake on support for the independence campaign.
Respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty also comes amid strategic maneuvering within the South Pacific community, in which a number of Melanesian nations recently threw their support behind Indonesia’s sovereignty in West Papua at the 20th Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in June 2015.
Widodo’s peaceful strategy towards West Papua therefore appears to be an extremely effective tool in destabilizing support for the Free Papua Movement, at least in terms of foreign government and civil society support. A strong and effective independence movement will likely have to change tack if it is to continue to raise awareness and support for the political campaign.
Ned Talbot is a postgraduate university student currently completing the Juris Doctor at the University of New South Wales. He recently completed an undergraduate honors thesis in 2014 on the independence movement in West Papua. 


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3) Murderers, Rapist Stage Papua Prison Break
By : Robert Isidorus | on 9:59 PM January 08, 2016
Jayapura. Police in Papua province are on the hunt for 13 inmates who broke out of Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura on Friday, reportedly using machetes to threaten guards.
The escapees include four convicted murderers – three of whom were serving life sentences – and a rapist. The rapist and one of the murderers were scheduled to have been released this week.
The jailbreak began shortly before 11 a.m., when two of the inmates left their cell block and enter a guard station. When asked by guards to produce their visitor ID cards, they began shouting, prompting the 11 other inmates to storm the guard station wielding machetes and pipes.
The five guards on duty then duly hid beneath their desks while the inmates fled. The guards phoned for backup eight minutes later.
Police have since identified the escapees. In a strange twist, however, it was revealed that two of them – Feli Tabuni, convicted of rape, and Jefran Efrain Oagay, convicted of assault and murder – were to have been released on Friday and Saturday, respectively. It is not known why they decided to break out of jail just as they were about to be freed.
There has been no clarification from the prison about where the inmates obtained the weapons that they used to threaten the guards.
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4) Indonesian-Australian ties,  a view from the Top-End - 
Andre Omer Siregar, Darwin | Opinion | Thu, January 07 2016, 4:49 PM - 
Indonesian-Australian relations have always been close, especially for those living in Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), or the Top-End as they call it. Not only is Darwin close in geographic proximity to Indonesia — being 370 kilometers to Saumlaki, Maluku, or 2.5 hours to Bali, as compared to four hours to Sydney — but it bears close historic ties since Makassar sailors traded with the Yirrkala aboriginal tribe in East Arnhem Land in the 17th century.

To retrace the close ties, the staff of the Indonesian Consulate in Darwin and I visited the Yirrkala community near Nhulunbuy, about an hour’s flight north of Darwin, to attend the Suara Indonesia Dance Group performance by Murtala and Alfina O’Sullivan from Sydney, Dedy Amijaya from Ponorogo, East Java and Rosealee Pearson from East Arnhem Land.

After receiving a traditional Yirrkala welcoming dance and witnessing indigenous children perform Indonesian dances, I was approached by a 71-year-old Yirrkala elder named Dhuwarrwarr Marlika who was also partly from Makassar in South Sulawesi. She reached out for my hand and whispered gently, “Welcome home!” This was a great surprise not only to me, but also to all guests, as she recited a message from her father about the lovely tales of friendship, dance and family between the Yirrkala and the Macassans. Her father died two decades ago. Now Dhuwarrwarr spends much time painting on bark wood, depicting several themes about the Bugis Phinisi boats and fishermen that had been part of the rich history that Australia and Indonesia possessed because of the close proximity of the two countries. Since then, much more cooperation has been established, particularly from Darwin, including in the fields of boats, beef and Bali.

With beef or the live cattle trade, most bilateral trade goes through the NT. In 2014, it provided 386,000 of the 750,000 cattle exported to Indonesia. For the past four years the Northern Australia Cattlemen’s Association, along with the Indonesian-Australian Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector, provided a nine-week cattle management training program for 54 Indonesian undergraduate pastoral students.

Through the NT government, East Kalimantan province is working on the Sapi Sawit project, a scheme to raise cattle on oil palm plantations. Just recently, four riverine buffalo were gifted for continued research. As beef demand in Asia grows, Indonesia and Australia will need to investigate how they can be stronger mutual partners in cattle cooperation.

Regarding boats, the issue of people smuggling, the trafficking in persons from the Middle East and Asia into Australia, will continue to be a challenge for both governments, as significant numbers continue to make the journey to Darwin. Criminal syndicates are too eager to target poor fishermen, especially in East Nusa Tenggara, by offering vast amounts of money for a quick trip across the seas, despite the dangers.

For tourism, many Northern Territorians choose to fly to Bali as opposed to flying down south.  These strong people-to-people relations have allowed for many exchange students from eastern Indonesia and the NT and also to better engage business communities and for the promotion of human resource development.

The re-emerging Asian region also emphasizes the important position Darwin holds, especially since Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned the importance of three cities for shipping, namely Hong Kong, Singapore and Darwin. The US “pivot” to Asia and Japan’s interest in liquid natural gas in this region also make it important for Indonesia and Australia to play a leading role in regional stability.

The NT government is playing an active role in several subregional forums including the trilateral Australia-Indonesia-Timor Leste cooperation and the recent Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area-Northern Territory network.

The recent meeting between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Jakarta brought about a promising atmosphere for new bilateral relations. A diplomacy of proximity between Indonesia and Australia could forge new ideas and cooperation for the coming years.

As Jakarta develops Indonesia’s eastern region and Canberra develops the northern part of Australia (through its new White Paper and the appointment of Federal Minister on Northern Australia Josh Frydenberg) and the keen interest of PM Turnbull then there is a real opportunity for businesses, development stakeholders and the people in this region to embrace their roles as actors in regional stability and development.

Albeit for proximity, Indonesians and Australians are very different in culture, history and perhaps outlook. But both peoples do have a strong desire to be together. As Indonesian Ambassador Nadjib Riphat stated, “God did not make Indonesia and Australia as neighbors only to argue, but as a blessing.”

The meeting of foreign ministers Retno LP Marsudi and Julie Bishop in Sydney on Dec. 21 provided an opportunity to chart a new path in bilateral relations, especially one that attends to the aspirations and hopes of both peoples.

This meeting could explore how Indonesia and Australia prepare themselves for the new Asian century. It might even chart a new course so Indonesia and Australia are not seen by the media merely as odd neighbors, but as truly genuine partners. I think this time the latter will prevail.
______________________________
The writer is Indonesia’s Consul in Darwin, Northern Territory. The views expressed are his own.
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‘Pay day every day’ may become Shangri-La Group, BPOs’ secret to happy employees

‘Pay day every day’ may become Shangri-La Group, BPOs’ secret to happy employees

April 25, 2024, 5:51 am
Nonprofit donates custom home in this East Bay city for Marine injured in...

Nonprofit donates custom home in this East Bay city for Marine injured in...

April 23, 2024, 7:00 am
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo...

New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo...

April 22, 2024, 6:00 am
Ukraine bans military from online gambling amid addiction concerns

Ukraine bans military from online gambling amid addiction concerns

April 22, 2024, 5:17 am
ಮಂಡ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸುಮಲತಾ ದೂರ; ಹೆಚ್‌ಡಿಕೆ ಪರ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕ್ಕಿಳಿಯದ ಸಂಸದೆ –ಬರ್ತಾರೆ ನೋಡೋಣ ಎಂದ...

ಮಂಡ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸುಮಲತಾ ದೂರ; ಹೆಚ್‌ಡಿಕೆ ಪರ ಪ್ರಚಾರಕ್ಕಿಳಿಯದ ಸಂಸದೆ –ಬರ್ತಾರೆ ನೋಡೋಣ ಎಂದ...

April 20, 2024, 8:08 pm
OCBC Bank Singapore Offers Up to 2.8% p.a. Fixed Deposit Promotion from 21...

OCBC Bank Singapore Offers Up to 2.8% p.a. Fixed Deposit Promotion from 21...

April 20, 2024, 12:38 pm
National Poetry Month 2024: Maxine Starr

National Poetry Month 2024: Maxine Starr

April 19, 2024, 9:56 am
Vegan Chicken Pot Pie

Vegan Chicken Pot Pie

April 19, 2024, 9:18 am
Firefox UX: On Purpose: Collectively Defining Our Team’s Mission Statement

Firefox UX: On Purpose: Collectively Defining Our Team’s Mission Statement

April 19, 2024, 7:03 am
New $4.5 million East Bay trail path will connect bicyclists, pedestrians to...

New $4.5 million East Bay trail path will connect bicyclists, pedestrians to...

April 18, 2024, 11:05 am