2) LAWMAKER WARNS INDONESIA TO NOT UNDERESTIMATE PAPUA ISSUE AT MSG FORUM
3) PT NABIRE BARU TO LEAVE YERESIAM CUSTOMARY LAND
4) SEVEN CHILDREN DIE OF MEASLES AT KIMAAM SUB-DISTRICT
5) HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ON STRIKE
6) MINING ACTIVITY IN TEMBAGAPURA TO CONTINUE EVEN WITHOUT FREEPORT : MINISTER SUDIRMAN SAID
7) PAPUA RESIDENTS TO BE ALERTED ON EXTREME WEATHER
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1) FORMATION OF PAPUA BARAT DAYA PROVINCE IS STILL PENDING
Ilustration – Jub
Sorong, Jubi – The Formation Of Papua Barat Daya Province Under New Autonomous Regions (DOB) Is Awaiting A Government Regulation In Accordance To Law No. 23/2014 On Regional Administration.
Papua Barat legislator from Maybrat Regency, Jhon Asmuruf, said on Monday (25/1/2016) in Sorong that the new proposed province along with Maybrat Sau Regency have been discussed and approved by the Indonesian House Representatives and the Regional Representative Council.
The next process, he said, has been submitted to the Ministry of Domestic Affairs to form a regulation because the split of region or DOB formation should be referred to the existing regulation, that is the Law No. 23/2014 on Regional Administrative.
He said the process of DOB formation has undergone the preparation phase for three years that determined by Government Regulation. If it declared eligible, the proposal of new region submitted to Indonesian House Representative and Regional Representative Council to set into an autonomous region in accordance to the law.
“Sorong Raya residents living in Sorong Municipality, Sorong Regency, Sorong Selatan Regency, Maybrat Regency and Raja Ampat Regency are expecting Papua Barat Daya Province could be realized soon, therefore the development of infrastructure, economic growth and community welfare could be materialized immediately,” he said.
Further the politician from Hanura Party asked to all society components in Sorong Raya region to support the formation of Papua Barat Daya Province that is still on going process.
“There should be no disagreement that even leading to conflict among community therefore the formation process of DOP Papua Barat Daya Province could run smoothly and could be realized soon,” he said. The formation of Papua Barat Daya Province, he further said, is the people’s aspiration to shorten the distance of government’s services to the people because the area is widespread. (*/rom)
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2) LAWMAKER WARNS INDONESIA TO NOT UNDERESTIMATE PAPUA ISSUE AT MSG FORUM
Jakarta, Jubi – Legislator Tantowi Yahya reminded the Indonesian Government to not underestimate the Papua issue and it has always been a burning topic among the Pacific countries under the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
“They (Pacific countries) have a desire to redo the referendum,” said Tantowi, a member of House of Representatives Commission I, during a discussion held Wednesday (27/1/2016) by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences titled “Following Up on President Jokowi’s Policy for Papua as Land of Peace”.
“They even formed a fact-finding team on human rights violation in Papua. The relation between Indonesia with the MSG countries such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu is good, but there’s movement that cannot be underestimated. That is the movement to support the Freedom Papua,” said Tantowi.
Major General Yoedhi Swastono, another speaker at the seminar, said the MSG is more likely to discuss social problems and Melanesian culture, including Papua.
“ULMWP is the Indonesian-Melanesian representative abroad. Internally it was declared on 6 October 2015 in Ambon. The Indonesian-Melanesian brotherhood has been established by five governors of Papua, Papua Barat, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara,” he said in this forum.
He said the Indonesian-Melanesian Brotherhood is the cultural organization under supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. “So, it is not right if talking about Papua diaspora abroad only representing the Papuan community group,” he said,
But Tantowi disagreed, saying MSG is not the cultural forum but political forum. In every agendas set by the Pacific countries, it always put the human rights violations issue in Papua as topic of discussion.
According to him, the internationalized of Papua issues is very frightened. Now the result is started to see that more countries now give support to Papua to split from the Republic of Indonesia.
Within the last three years, he continued, he visited to Pacific countries for several times and conduct several secret meetings with Free Papua activists abroad.
“We see there is a change in desire. Previous they wanted the Indonesian Government to solve the problems of poverty, undeveloped and injustice. But now they finally found out that those issues are not marketable to be sold to the international community. Like or dislike it got the result, including the support from many countries who want Papua to be separated from Indonesia,” he said.
He also said the political riot that recently occurred in Indonesia has become an opportunity for Free Papua activists to conduct diplomatic movement. He said do not think the Free Papua activists to not pay attention on the Indonesian political riot. Now the Papua issue in the international community cannot be blocked.
“The Papua’s issue could not be solved only by the government, the coordination between ministries and government’s institutions is also weak. Besides both government and legislative council have different opinion on Papua problems. The government considered the problems are still about poverty, social gap, underdeveloped and injustice. While we see there is a shift of struggle sounded by Free Papua activists,” he added.
Meanwhile Latifah Anum Siregar said if the Indonesian Government wants to create a dialogue, it should integrate the stakeholders’ point of view. There shouldn’t be a different point of view. “Many parties also should be involved and those appointed by the president to manage Papua should be clear. Do not let one ministry come up with its agenda overlap with other ministries’ agenda,” said Siregar.
In the same place, Victor Mambor added that the question is now whether indigenous Papuans is really a concern of the Indonesian Government in Papua. Which one the most important, indigenous Papuans or the land of Papua with all natural resources included?
During the time when the indigenous Papuans were being shot, killed, or so on, Indonesia was very slow in give response; even it seems careless.
“But when it happened in other places, its response was fast and every parties cared. For instance, the Paniai case, the incident was occurred in the midday, witnessed by hundreds of people, there is evidence of bullet chasing, but the perpetrators have not yet revealed until now. It might be not the people, indigenous Papuans that it wants, but our land and natural resources,” said Mambor.
Regarding to discussion raised by MSG countries members on Papua, he said, since 2010-2015 he had the opportunities to cover a number of MSG meeting. Papua issue did not appear from somewhere. He even considered that the issue discussed by MSG in 2015 was beyond compare to 2013.
“In that year it was clear that MSG stated it recognized the self-determination of West Papua and there were human rights violations. This issue would be raised all the time,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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3) PT NABIRE BARU TO LEAVE YERESIAM CUSTOMARY LAND
Jayapura, Jubi – Activists urged the oil palm company PT Nabire Baru to vacate the land of indigenous tribe Yeresiam Gua because it threatens the existence of the customary community who depend on forest and land.
“PT Nabire Baru should leave the customary land Yeresiam,” said Melianus Duwitau, the Student Independent Forum activist in a speech to support Yeresiam Tribe to sue the Decree No. 140/2008 about Business Permit issued for PT. Nabire Baru at Jayapura District Court on Tuesday (26/1/2016).
Duwitau said the company has violated against the right of customary community. It invaded, stole and destroyed the forest that is the resources of local economic. This invasion made people losing their forest and land for livelihood.
“The Company does not only destroy the nature, but also indirectly kill the local people. People could not sustain their life. Furthermore, it conducted the physical action by security forces. Not just stealing but also killing,” he said.
Duwitau asked the customary people to be united to reject and expel PT Nabire Baru. “The Company does not care whether people live or die. It only thinks about profit. We should expel the company like this,” he said.
Nauren Ikinia, Independent Forum activist, represented Yeresiam women said the company’s act to not respect the community rights has become a bad history. The local community would be destroyed because of the company system that only thinks about profit.
“We don’t want to be killed by capitalism. We do not want someday people said in this place (Papua) there were dark skinned and curly haired people,” she firmly rejected PT Nabire Baru to operate in Customary Land of Yerisiam Tribe. (Mawel Benny/rom)
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4) SEVEN CHILDREN DIE OF MEASLES AT KIMAAM SUB-DISTRICT
Merauke, Jubi – Seven children have died of measles in five villages of Kimaam Sub-district, Merauke Regency this month.
The five villages are Kimaam, Mambum, Kiworo, Woner and Deka.
“They died because of measles,” a medic from Kimaam, Herman Kaimbe told Jubi at the Merauke Commission A Office on Monday (25/1/2016).
Thirty children were infected with rubeola or red measles but seven of those children could not be saved. Meanwhile the rest could be treated and on recovery process.
“We have treated and gave them medicines,” he revealed.
He admitted the medical workers including doctors and nurses were on duty and they worked together in providing health assistance.
“We did our best to help those children. But seven couldn’t be helped,” he said.
Merauke Health Office Chief Stevanus Osok when contacted by phone said he has not received any report about the seven children who died of measles.
“I am now out of Merauke. I will firstly check to my staff,” he said. (Frans L. Kobun/rom)
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5) HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ON STRIKE
Sorong, Jubi – Dozens of high school teachers working for SMA Negeri I Sorong Municipality, Papua Barat Province, went on strike on Tuesday to protest against the principal and the treasurer, accusing them of not being transparent in managing school funds.
Only pupils who are on national test preparation class conducted the learning activity while other pupils just walked down through the school’s yard.
The 11th grade pupil Yunus (16 years old) whom reporter met at the school’s yard admitted they didn’t learn today because the teachers didn’t come.
“We don’t know what is really matter but today many teachers do not come and we have information that they are on the strike,” he said on Monday (25/1/2016)
According to a school staff, the number of teachers of SMA Negeri 1 Sorong Municipality is 40 but only 8 teachers were coming for teaching.
A teacher Abdul Manan when contacted said the teachers are on strike to protest against the principal and treasurer who are considered not being transparent in managing the school’s fund.
“We have made a written statement and submitted to the Education Office Chief and Commission A of Sorong Municipal Legislative Council proposing the principal and treasurer of SMA Negeri 1 to be replaced,” he said.
Sorong Municipal Education Office Chief, Dra. Hermin confirmed the education office would take action to solve the problem at that school; therefore the learning process would not be disturbed. (*/rom)
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6) MINING ACTIVITY IN TEMBAGAPURA TO CONTINUE EVEN WITHOUT FREEPORT : MINISTER SUDIRMAN SAID
Jakarta, Jubi – Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said said mining activities at Freeport Indonesia’s site located in Mimika, Papua should continue although even if Freeport had left due to the termination of its contract.
“Being extended or not, the management of mining in Mimika must be continued by anyone,” Said said in the Indonesian House Representatives Compound in Jakarta on last week. The statement was to answer the question from a Council’s member at Working Meeting of Commission VII of the Indonesian House Representative with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to discuss about whether the Freeport Indonesia’s Contract of Work should be extended or not.
Concerning to the pressure to terminate the Freeport’s contract, Sudirman Said said it could not be done immediately due to a lot of losses that might be incurred since, according to him, 92 percent of Mimika Regional Revenue originated from the mining sector.
“Additionally, 37 percent of our mining revenue is from there, besides there are thousands of workers work on mining sector and support about 30,000 households,” he said.
Related to the process of Freeport’s shares divestment amounted USD 1.7 billion which is currently in the evaluation phase of the bid price, he asserted the government would not respond any assumptions that rise and may interfere the evaluation process. “The Government would not respond it because currently it is also in the evaluation process, while we are in the ministry only to hold the right time,” he said.
About the evaluation team, he said the ministry would not form their own team, but only wait the result of the evaluation team by the Ministry of State Owned Enterprise. Nevertheless he still believes the price, which resulted from the evaluation, is the proper price although he expects the lowest price.
“Certainly we want the lowest price, but later the team should decide the best price. And for the team, the Ministry of State Owned Enterprise has appointed valuator and we would only observe from the distance to avoid the overlap,” he said.
Earlier, the Ministry of State Owned Enterprise Rini M Soemarno revealed the ministry has appointed two securities companies to conduct a review against the offer of Freeport’s shares divestment. Those companies are PT Mandiri Sekuritas (Persero) and PT Danareksa (Persero). Sudirman explained the obligation to divest that up to 30 % has been arranged in the Regional Regulation No. 77 2014, Article 97 Paragraph (1d).
Meanwhile, the obligation of 20 percent offer must be done for a year since a regulation was issued in accordance to Article 112D Paragraph (2a). Related to the offer of Freeport’s shares divestment, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through Directorate General of Mineral and Coal Resources has set a pricing team. (*/rom)
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7) PAPUA RESIDENTS TO BE ALERTED ON EXTREME WEATHER
Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura Municipal residents were alerted on extreme weather that has occurred since the beginning of the year because of the potential to cause flooding and landslides.
The head of Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Papua Province, Didi Agus Prihatno on Saturday (23/1/2016) in Jayapura said the potential of disaster in Papua area is very high; furthermore the level of rainfall is moderate to heavy and sometimes windy.
“People should be aware and alert, they have no longer wait the government’s alert,” he said.
Specifically in Jayapura City, Didi said, Jayapura Municipal BPBD has conducted series of attempts to reduce the disaster risk, either through physical construction as well as awareness and capacity building in facing the threat of disaster (disaster mitigation).
According to him, some flooding points in Jayapura City have been repaired, so that the heavy rain that fell over Jayapura City last night did not cause flooding. “The rain was heavy overnight, but no flooding in Jayapura City,” said Didi.
He added though Jayapura Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency often provided information on weather in printed and electronic media, regional/municipal BPBD of Papua Province is expected to prepare and help people in case of disaster.
“It’s including to immediately coordinate with related stakeholders in term of providing prompt response towards disaster if it’s occurred,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Papua Social and Housing Office, Ribka Haluk, said the natural disasters such as flooding and landslide are often occurred in the remote areas in Papua, thus the regional governments, in particular the governments of Papua Highland areas, need to anticipate the risks through formation of disaster alerted villages.
“I ask regents to establish the disaster alerted villages,” said Haluk. (Alexander Loen/rom)
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