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1) Can Jokowi assuage Papuan woes?

June 1, 2016, 2:33 am
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2) Indonesia: Police Block Pro-Papuan Independence Rallies, Detain Protesters

3) Freeport Acts as State within State, says Parliament Chairman Deputy

4) Police Still Discriminate Against Papuans, Activist Says

5) Jakarta’s Stand on West Papua Questioned

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1) Can Jokowi assuage Papuan woes?

Devina Heriyanto The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, June 1 2016 | 12:39 pm



Papuans hold a rally on Tuesday demanding that the Indonesian government accommodate their aspiration for self-determination. (JP/Exclusive)

Papua is apparently special for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. During his presidential campaign, Jokowi pledged to bring about justice for past human rights violations in the restive region. While previous government administrations have been accused of ignoring Papua’s problems and of being solely interested in the region’s wealth of natural resources, Jokowi has visited the easternmost region four times since he took office to ensure that development projects, such as airports and rice estates, are being properly implemented.
Jokowi has also pledged to step up efforts to develop the region and has asked the military and the police to put an end to the cycle of violence there by adopting a softer approach.
However, doubts still linger over whether the President can ensure that central and local bureaucrats implement his commitments to the region, which, despite its abundant natural resources, remains one of the poorest in the nation.
Violence is a common occurrence in Papua, and most cases go unresolved.  A recent study by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences ( LIPI ) predicts that violence will continue to dog Papua unless the government takes immediate steps to better coordinate its security forces in the region and to involve native communities in policy-making.
The latest flare-up of violence in early May, involving the arrests of more than 1,000 Papuan protesters by the police, underlines the serious doubts as to whether President Jokowi’s administration has all it takes to get to the root of Papua’s arch problems. 
 
May 31, 2016
More than 300 Papuans are arrested in cities including Wamena, Sentani and Manado, according to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute ( LBH Jakarta ), after the West Papua National Committee organizes a rally calling for the release of political prisoners and support for West Papua self-determination.
 
May 20, 2016
A rights activist named Robert Jitmau is hit by a car. Robert had fought for Mama-Mama Market for 13 years. Representatives from the National Commission on Human Rights in Papua ( Komnas HAM Papua ) demand a thorough investigation into his death.
 
May 2, 2016
More than 1,600 activists are detained following a proreferendum group rally in various cities in Indonesia. According to LBH Jakarta, 1,449 activists were detained in Jayapura, 118 in Merauke, 45 in Semarang, 42 in Makassar, 29 in Fakfak, 27 in Sorong and 14 others in Wamenaon Monday. Taking previous arrests in Merauke ( April 25 ), Jayapura ( April 30 ), Wamena and Merauke ( May 1 ) into account, 1,839 Papua activists have been detained since April.
 
March 15, 2016
An armed group shoots dead four employees of PT Modern constructing a highway connecting Sinak district, Puncak regency and Mulia district in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua.
 
Feb 3, 2016
Police confiscate hundreds of rounds of ammunition, firearms and explosives on a raid in two houses in Jayapura regency. The Free Papua Movement ( OPM ) denies ownership of these weapons and accuses the authorities of planting the arms.
 
Dec 27, 2015
A group of armed men attack Sinak Police station in Puncak regency, Papua, killing three police officers. It is reported that five Sinak Police officers were watching TV in a guardroom when around 25 armed civilians attacked the station.
 
Dec 1, 2015
Clashes break out between the Jakarta Police and the Papua Students Alliance ( AMP ) at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta during a rally demanding independence for West Papua. Hundreds of AMP members and 400 police officers are involved in the clashes after the police try to disperse the crowd using tear gas. The incident prompts a strong protest from the Alliance of Independent Journalists ( AJI ), which accuses the police of assaulting and intimidating two foreign journalists from Australia's ABC and Al-Jazeera.
 
November 30, 2015
A soldier is murdered by a group of people suspected of being part of an armed group in Namunaweja village in Mamberamo Tengah subdistrict. Maj. John De Fretes is shot dead by an armed group after visiting Namunaweja upon hearing that a military wing of the separatist Free Papua Movement ( OPM ) led by Cosmos Makabori had approached local villagers.
 
November 6, 2015
West Papua National Committee ( KNPB ) deputy chairman Agus Kossay and two other Papuans, Bano Kalaka and Nodi Hilka, are interrogated in connection with the arrival of French journalist Marie Dhumieres in Papua on Oct. 1.
 
August 27, 2015
 
August 23, 2015
 
May 28, 2015
Police in Jayapura arrest 47 people for gathering for a rally in support of Papua joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group ( MSG ), ending in a clash with security personnel. A police spokesperson states the protesters had no permit for the rally and were calling for independence from Indonesia, accusing them of contravening Article 160 of the Criminal Code on provocation.
 
Dec 8, 2014
A shooting in Enarotali in Paniai regency is the first conflict in Papua under Jokowi’s presidency.  Four civilians are reportedly shot and killed by a joint police and military force while 22 others are injured after a peaceful demonstration. Paniai Customary Council chief John Gobay accuses security officers of treating civilians as if they were members of the OPM.

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2) Indonesia: Police Block Pro-Papuan Independence Rallies, Detain Protesters
Victor Mambor 2016-05-31 - Jayapura


Demonstrators give pro-independence speeches in a housing complex after police prevented them from heading 
to the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) in Waena, Jayapura, May 31, 2016.  Victor 
Mambor/BenarNews


After officers broke up demonstrations and detained scores of protesters, police in eastern Indonesia’s Papua and West Papua provinces said Tuesday they would prevent pro-independence activists from rallying again.
“Their aspiration is for Papua independence. [W]e told them that we will never accommodate that kind of aspiration,” Jeremias Rontini, the superintendent of police in the Papuan capital Jayapura, told BenarNews, adding that his officers would block locals from holding future rallies for independence from Indonesia.
Laurenzus Kadepa, a local lawmaker and member of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) who attended peaceful rallies organized in the region by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), said demonstrators should be allowed to voice their support for Papuan independence.
On Tuesday, police reportedly prevented a crowd from marching from a local housing complex to the DPRP.
“Police should know that DPRP belongs to the people, a home for everybody without exception,” Laurenzus told BenarNews.
As many as 336 demonstrators were detained in Sentani and Wamena – two towns in Papua – as well as in Manado, in North Sulawesi province, while demonstrating in favor of the release of political prisoners in Papua, the Associated Press reported.
A low-level secessionist movement has simmered in Papua and West Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost provinces, which are among its poorest and least developed and which became part of Indonesia in 1969.
On May 2, some 1,700 supporters of the West Papua National Committee were arrested while taking part in pro-independence rallies at several locations in Papua. They were released after being questioned by police.
These demonstrations were broken up although Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had pledged to solve human rights abuses allegedly carried out in the region by the Indonesian security services and to bring prosperity to the people of Papua.
Since he took office in October 2014, Jokowi has made multiple visits to Papua and ordered the release of some political prisoners.
Blocked
According to Ones Suhuniap, the general secretary of the KNPB, police on Tuesday arrested some of its members for planning peaceful demonstrations to support the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
“Police blocked us in a housing complex in Waena. There were five military trucks and three military patrol cars. Also, there were 15 police trucks and five police cars. Around 100 police and mobile brigade blocked our way to demonstrate,” Ones told BenarNews.
Police arrested 33 KNPB members in Sentani, a town near Jayapura, before the rally began, he said.
“Around 61 people were arrested in Wamena. Some of them were arrested yesterday, when they distributed fliers informing about the rally,” Ones said.
In Jakarta, the director of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute claimed that police had denied organizers of the KNPB rallied permits for staging them.
“Police’s decision not to give permit for a peaceful rally is uncommon. This proves that police or government discriminate against Papuans,” Alghiffari Aqsa told BenarNews, adding that Indonesia’s constitution guaranteed the right of people to associate, to organize and to express opinions.
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3) Freeport Acts as State within State, says Parliament Chairman Deputy
31May 2016
Jakarta, Jubi – First Chairman Deputy of Papua Legislative Council Edoardus Kaiza accused PT. Freeport Indonesia of showing off its power by violating the local government’s regulations, in particular regarding tax.
“Freeport seems to act like it was a state. States are not allowed within in the Republic of Indonesia. United States of America can’t exist in here. All this time it seems it acts as if it were a state,” said Kaize when meeting with Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Indonesian Parliament Office last week.
According to him, one of evidences showed how arrogant the Freeport is when the Papua Provincial Government charged the company for water surface tax, it took it by suing the local government.
“Freeport should have good intention, it’s funny if it charge the government. The government provided permit for it to conduct the mining operation in the territory of the Republic Indonesia, in particular in Papua. Instead of paying the taxes, it charged or filed a legal action towards the government,” he said.
According to him, Freeport was not only sued the Papua Provincial Government but also the Indonesian Government. Papua is part of the Republic Indonesia; it couldn’t be separated. Therefore the Central Government couldn’t let it happened to the Papua Provincial Government.
“The Central Government shouldn’t remain silence but should provide intervention until the Court. If it not, it means the Central Government has done ignorance. We asked to the Comission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives to provide support towards the Papua Provincial Government related to the case of government against Freeport,” he said.
Meanwhile the member of Special Committee on Freeport who also the Chairman of Asset and Revenue Working Committee of the Commission III of the Papua Legislative Council Carolus Kelen Bolly said it was described in the Freeport’s argument in the trial at the Tax Court, either visually or document based, the mining company was more referred to the Contract of Work. That’s their legal base.
“If the Contract of Work was used as reference, it means the legal order in this country would be corrupted. Is this Contract of Work more legitimated than the Law? The reference used by the Provincial Government to charge the water surface taxes is the Tax Law and Regional Regulation on Tax Legislation. The amount of outstanding taxes is high enough. Based on the count by the Regional Income and Revenue Office, it is more than Rp 1 trillion. Whether now we are on the right side or wrong side,” said Bolly.
Meanwhile, the representative of Directorate General of Taxation of the Indonesian Ministry of Finance David during the meeting with the Special Committee on Freeport said Freeport might file a lawsuit because the water surface tax was not included in the Contract of Work.
“Regarding to the lawsuit, the Contract of Work should be reviewed first. Usually the officials at the mining sector considered the Contract of Work as lex specialist. Even the law is weak upon this Contract of Work. I don’t know about this case yet. Perhaps the issue of water surface tax came after the Contract of Work. And when it was billed, they sued it because it was not included in the Contract of Work,” said David. (*/rom)
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4) Police Still Discriminate Against Papuans, Activist Says

31 May 2016


Jayapura, Jubi – The police’s decision to often not issue a permit for peaceful demonstrations in Papua and arrest protesters is evidence that the Government are biased against Papuan people, said the director of Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, Alghiffari Aqsa SH.
When asked by Jubi on Monday (30/5/2016) to response the legal status of series of peace demonstration on self-determination and support for ULMWP in Papua, he asserted as long as these aspirations were conducted peacefully, the Police and Indonesian Government must respect it.
He explained the Police’s refusal to issue STTP (letter of permit) was not common in other regions (in Indonesia) and was a discriminatory act.
According to him, it violated Article 13 Paragraph (1) of Law No. 9 1998 about the Freedom of Expression in the Public. It is also against the Indonesian Constitution of Article 28 E Paragraph (2) and (3) which states that everyone has the right to gather, express aspirations and opinions.
Further, in Human Rights Law Article 25 Paragraph 19 of the Law No. 12 Year 20015 that ratifying the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights is also protect the right of freedom expression and gathering. He lamented that what was applied in other places just not worked in Papua. According to him, it could be an indication of denial over Papuans as the Indonesian citizens.
On Friday (27/5/2016), the Central West Papua National Committee (KNPB) accepted a letter from the Police state it would not issued the permit regarding to a notice of peace rally on 31 May. In the letter, the Police asked KNPB about the compliance of statute and structure of organization as requirement for demonstration.
Aqsa said this request is overreacted to ban the freedom of expression in Papua. At other regions, the Police never asked for it. “It’s only happened in Papua,” he said. He further explained that according to Article 17 of Indonesian Police Regulation No. 7 Year 2012 states the Police oblige to file the identity and statute of organization but it is not a requirement to obtain the permit. “It is an obligation for the Police to make documentation, but it is not the obligation of protesters. Furthermore the Article 17 said the statute of organization need to be file if “available”,” he said.
He added the Police oblige to issue the permit because according to the Law the demonstration requires a notice not a permit. Even in Paragraph 14 of Police Regulation, it is said the Police still need to issue the permit even for the action that potentially disturbed the safety and order with a note said the action was not suggested.
In the letter signed by Director of Intelligent and Security of Papua Police Alfred S.IK, it said that KNOB and ULMWP are illegal and against the Republic of Indonesia. In fact both ULMWP and Indonesia are the members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) that means though they have a different status, but their existence is equally admitted in the official forum of the Southern Pacific.
In response this, Aqsa said the action taken by KNPB to give notification to the Police about their planning should be respected because the problem is not about the protesters. What is happening now is the protesters have followed the procedure in accordance to the Law No 9 Year 1998 but they were banned by the Police.
“The Police could say the rally was illegal, but it is occurred because of the intention of the Police,” he said. “In my opinion, the demonstration remains legal because the Constitution and Law 9/1999 is ultimate than the procedural obstacle by the Police,” he said. He also added that accordance to the Article 6 No 9/1998 the Police oblige to maintain the integrity and unity of the nation in expressing their aspiration, but it could not become a reference rejecting to issue the permit. “Expressing the aspiration was not happened yet, how come it could be charged by Law?” he said.
Closing his phone conversation, Alghiffari Aqsa said the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute as part of Papua Itu Kita (Papua is Us movement) give supports and respect towards the peace demonstration held by Papuan people. He expected it could be run peacefully and protesters to not being provoked by the Police and documenting their actions or arrest conducted by the Police and invite media to cover it so that the public could recognize about the arbitrariness if it was occurred.
Meanwhile, from this morning until noon, the Police have arrest dozens of KNPB activists when distributing the pamphlets about peace demonstration on 31 May. The Police arrested 25 activists in Sentani at around 09:00 in the morning and 26 activists in Jayapura at around 13:40. (*/rom)
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5) Jakarta’s Stand on West Papua Questioned

30 May 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia’s insistence that West Papua is strictly an internal matter is being tested in the wider Melanesian region.
This comes amid criticism by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) chairman that Indonesia has rebuffed requests for a dialogue over concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua, Radio New Zealand reports.
MSG chair Manasseh Sogavare claimed Jakarta failed to respond to requests by the MSG and the Pacific Islands Forum for a dialogue about the situation in Papua.
Sogavare, who is also the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, suggested Indonesia joined the MSG for the purpose of protecting its own interests, rather than discussing Papua. This drew a sharp rebuke from Jakarta.

Indonesia’s director general for Asia, Pacific and Africa, Desra Percaya, said Sogavare’s claims violated the MSG’s basic principles of sovereignty and non-interference.
In a responding statement, the MSG Chair’s Special Envoy on West Papua, Rex Horoi, said Sogavare sought to remind Jakarta that one of the overarching principles of the MSG is about decolonisation of Melanesia.
“This is a fundamental principle that binds the Melanesian countries and all MSG members together,” Horoi said. “In this principle, MSG stands for its defence and promotion of independence as the inalienable right of indigenous peoples of Melanesia.”
Atmadji Sumarkidjo is the special assistant to Indonesia’s Co-ordinating Minister of Politics, Legal and Security, Luhut Pandjaitan, who he said was very clear about Papua on his recent Pacific regional tour.
“We like to have a good relationship with those countries. But we stated also that the problem of West Papua is our own problem. We don’t want to compromise our sovereignty on Papua. This was clearly stated during our visit to respective countries in the South Pacific.”
Atmadji denies suggestions that Jakarta is not open to communication regarding Papua.
“Two weeks ago we had a meeting in our office here to settle down human rights problems in Papua,” he said.
“And we invite the ambassador from Papua New Guinea, from Fiji and Vanuatu to also be present at the meeting so that they can fully watch and hear what really happens and how we solve our problem openly.”
But the United Liberation Movement for West Papua  is concerned that some Pacific governments are being misled by Jakarta.
Its spokesman Benny Wenda says extensive ground reports from Papua indicate ongoing rights abuses against Papuans.
Like Indonesia, the Liberation Movement is part of the MSG and is seeking full membership.
Wenda says West Papuans believe the MSG is an ideal forum for addressing their grievances under Indonesia because long-running calls for meaningful dialogue with Jakarta have come to little.
“Since we declared at the  Papuan People’s Congress  in 2000, West Papua always request dialogue, but it’s nearly a decade now and I don’t think Indonesia intends to engage in dialogue.
“But they want to rather  wipe out the entire Papuan population and trying to get control over our resources.”
The membership bids are due to be deliberated on at an upcoming MSG leaders summit in Port Moresby within the next month.
MSG chair Sogavare has since reiterated his offer to the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to discuss matters of common interest within the space provided by the MSG. (*)
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Letter in Vanuatu Daily Post

June 1, 2016, 2:37 am
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Letter in Vanuatu Daily Post

http://dailypost.vu/opinion/letters_to_editor/re-protecting-human-rights-in-papua/article_13e350f0-5eec-5964-ab5a-f83b3e5b34fe.html#.V06lVNkntmw.facebook

Vanuatu Daily Post

Re: Protecting human rights in Papua

Posted: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 8:00 am
Dear Editor,
The question that Sade Bimantara from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra should be asking himself is why, after 53 years of Indonesian rule, are the West Papuan people still marching in the streets and risking arrest and torture at the hands of the Indonesian security forces?
One has only to look at the banners that people are carrying in the peaceful rallies they hold, “We want a referendum”, ”Let us freedom” and “We never accept Indonesia in West Papua” (just a few examples) to realise why. They indicate a total failure by Jakarta to win over the West Papuan people.
It’s true that Indonesia has improved greatly since the fall of Suharto but there has been no improvement in West Papua. On the 2 May up to 1,800 people were arrested in peaceful rallies that were called to show support for the bid by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and to support the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) who were meeting at the Houses of Parliament in London to discuss the issue.
Although the majority of activists were eventually released, during the arrests in Jayapura a large number of activists were taken to the Mobile brigade (BRIMOB) headquarters and made to remove their shirts and put in a field in the extremely hot midday sun.
The local media also reported that seven activists were tortured. This is just one recent example of the oppression of the West Papuan people.
Sade Bimantara needs a reminder from The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states,
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Article 19)
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (Article 20)
It should be remembered that all aspects of society in West Papua are committed to a peaceful way forward including the OPM.
Mr Bimantara mentioned incidents of armed clashes between the Indonesian security forces and armed groups but does not mention the fact that over 100,000 West Papuans have died since Indonesia took over administration of the territory.
The Pacific Islands Forum leaders are interested in undertaking a fact finding mission to West Papua.
If the Indonesian Government has nothing to fear it should welcome such a mission.
Joe Collins
Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
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1) Qvs? Opposition Out Of Order

June 1, 2016, 2:48 pm
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2) ’Punks For West Papua’ Documentary Road Trip 2016 Wraps Up

3) Lectures at Uncen to be Suspended

4) Government to Develop Air Bridge for Papua

5) Everyone Stakeholders Should be Open-Minded on Otsus Plus, says Regional Secretary

6) The Situation of Papua Was Blurred by KNPB and OPM

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Http://Fijisun.com.fj/2016/06/01/Qvs-Opposition-Out-Of-Order/

1) QVS? Opposition Out Of Order

Fiji Sun Online June 01 14:18 2016  By Nemani Delaibatiki 

Yesterday in Parliament, Opposition MPs came out with all kinds of ridiculous responses in questioning why the Indonesians and not others are rebuilding Queen Victoria School.
Roko Tupou Draunidalo said: “How much of these 20 pieces of silver helped to seal your Government’s mouth on the issue of genocide in West Papua; and why has the Government not sought assistance from other Governments like the British government if it required or Commonwealth countries to build a school named after Queen Victoria.”
As Education Minister Mahendra Reddy said all the foreign governments were given opportunities to choose QVS in the Adopt a School programme. Only Indonesia chose QVS.
The issue about West Papua and claims of human rights abuse by the Indonesian military has been around since the 1960s. Since then Indonesia has gone through political reforms and is a thriving democracy. Indonesia today is not the Indonesia of the 1960s. Fiji enjoys diplomatic relations with Indonesia and they are engaged in a number of bilateral technical projects. A Fijian mission headed by Ratu Seremaia Tui Cavuilati is based in Jakarta.
We should be grateful to the Indonesian government for committing more than $8 million towards rebuilding the Cyclone Winston damaged school into a modern complex.
Opposition MP Semesa Karavaki asked why Indonesia was chosen ahead of Australia and New Zealand to rebuild QVS.
Mr Reddy said Australia gave its own list of schools it wanted to adopt,  same as New Zealand and Japan.
“We don’t dictate which schools they adopt,” he said.
What is wrong with going with countries which are willing to help us recover quickly from Cyclone Winston?
Why do some people have problems with something new, some brilliant ideas? The Adopt a School and Adopt a Village programmes are excellent ideas.
Some seemed to be programmed to say “no”, “can’t”, “won’t work”, “can’t be done” and “not allowed.”
QVS has needed a facelift for a long time. Cyclone Winston did the school a favour. It helped bring the Indonesians to Matavatucou to do the long overdue refurbishment.
There is no justification for the Opposition to question the Indonesians.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday 1st June 2016
 
 
2) ’PUNKS FOR WEST PAPUA’ DOCUMENTARY ROAD TRIP 2016 WRAPS UP

The ‘Punks For West Papua’ Documentary Road Trip wrapped up on Sunday with hundreds of people around the country attending screenings in Sydney, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Lismore and Byron Bay. 

All proceeds from the screenings went directly to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua with the funds raised being immediately used on airfares for ULMWP members to get to the next MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group) meeting, and helped West Papuan filmmaker Wensii get to Geneva to present his case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission using his footage that was included in ‘Punks For West Papua’.

More screenings will be announced leading up to the International Punks For West Papua Day on June 25 with benefit gigs in several locations around the world, and a New Zealand Documentary Road Trip is in the works for later in the year.

Filmmaker Ash Brennan said “I want to personally thank everyone who attended, and as the Leader of the West Papuan Liberation Movement Benny Wenda said at one of the screenings - everyone who attended is a part of history. These screenings have had a direct impact on the West Papuan campaign and their bid for self-determination and have inspired more people to do their part for raising awareness of the genocide in West Papua. To all the punks, all the politicians, all the Australian indigenous action groups, the media that plugged our shows and general public who wanted to find out more about West Papua and donate to their cause; Thank you”. 

http://www.punks4westpapua.com/

For further info, please contact:
DEBORAH GANN – PUBLICIST
RESERVOIR PR+MGMT AUSTRALIA
T: 0481 264 077
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3) Lectures at Uncen to be Suspended
1 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Rector of the University of Cenderawasih Jayapura Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka said classes on the campus would be suspended until security could be restored.
“However, as the rector, I am sure that this situation would be safe and in order. I also guarantee that my colleagues would perform their duty properly. What they have done is for the solidarity as well as for their safety as lecturers,” he said on Tuesday (31/5/2016).
He also declared that all lecturers of the university actually have the high willingness and commitment to teaching, but then 628 lecturers and 321 administration staffs finally decided to do a strike following the violence towards some lecturers by some students during the demonstration.
“There is disappointment among lecturers due to the incident yesterday. In fact, I said they have willingness and commitment for teaching and lecturing the students,” said Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka at the University of Cenderawasih Auditorium to reporter on last weekend. According to him, he always said to the students to not barring the campus that harm their selves at the end.
“Do not often ban the campus. Lectures have willingness to educate all students at this university,” he said. He further said this solidarity movement by lectures was following the beating incident towards some lecturers as well as stone throwing over a lecture of the Faculty of Teaching and Pedagogy who should take the medical treatment in Bandung because his eye injury couldn’t be handled in Papua.
“It’s unbelievable! They did it to their own father,” said Sahuleka.
Regarding to the guard by the Police, he said the Campus Authority does not sign the MoU with Papua Police but they agreed to secure the situation in this campus ahead to SBMPTN (Student Selection) on Tuesday (31/5/2016).
“Therefore we asked the Police to guard the situation until 3 June 2016,” he said.
When asked about the request of protesters about local selection for students, he asserted that he often repeated to the protesters that the University of Cenderawasih would always put the indigenous Papuan students as priority. “Furthermore in this local selection, we certainly prioritize the indigenous Papuan students, and I have proved it in 2015. How could they exaggerate it and turn it to be like this. Papuan students to get the University of Cenderawasih is my priority,” he said.
Meanwhile the Third Rector Assistant Martinus Salosa said the threat on SBMPTN is the national threat since it is the national activity.
“Their request to extend the SBMPTN registration refers to what rule? It couldn’t, because it’s already closed there (at national level). But take it easy, there is a local test. That’s our authority,” he said.
Since 23 to 27 May 2016, dozens of student from SM3P (Student Solidarity for Papua Education) of the University of Cenderawasih held the demonstration at the University of Cenderawasih Auditorium in Jayapura City. They urged the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education to prioritize the indigenous Papuans in the registration of new students for the period of 2016/2017.
Samuel Wamsiwor in his oration said the Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education and the University of Cenderawasih to immediately change the registration method of SMNPTN and SBMPTN, because not all students mastering the information and communication technology while both SMNPTN and SBMPTN should be accessed online.
“Our friends at the remote and coastal areas in Papua do not know how to use the online registration. It is difficult to access the internet for them at the remote area,” he said. (Abeth You/rom)
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4) Government to Develop Air Bridge for Papua

So far, flights managed by the Transport Ministry to remote areas have failed to lower commodity prices.
Efforts to develop Indonesia’s eastern region have been stepped up through the development of infrastructure. The sea toll roads are the first step towards broadening access to Maluku, Papua, and surrounding areas. When that backbone is in place, the government plans to develop air transport in the area for the routine delivery of logistics to Papua’s remote areas.
Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli calls this the air bridge program. This infrastructure would make use of the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI AU) Hercules aircraft to fly to remote areas in Papua. This program is a continuation of the sea toll road program.
“We will design this air bridge,” Rizal said in his office on Monday, 30 May 2016. “We will also provide subsidies to lower tariffs and commodity prices.” (Read: Sea Toll Road Lowers Cost of Staples in Eastern Indonesia).
On the same occasion, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Ridwan Djamaluddin said the ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Transport on this air bridge program. So far, flights managed by the Transport Ministry to remote areas have failed to lower commodity prices.
Therefore, this is a multi-modal concept that incorporates sea, land and air transport. The air bridge concept, added Ridwan, will be perfected this year so the government will be able to include this program in next year’s budget. (Read: Trio Pelindo to Build and Manage Five Ports).
He has calculated that if the air bridge program goes ahead, the price of a sack of cement in Papua’s rural areas could fall by up to IDR 500,000. “We have also spoken with the Indonesian Airforce to get a cost estimate,” said Ridwan.
Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan spoke about this concept at the start of this year. He said there are several inaccessible remote areas in Papua, such as Yahukimo, Nduga, and Wamena. There are also other areas in Papua that have no access to roads and ports.
This limited access makes it difficult to transport goods to remote areas. As a result, goods in these areas are more expensive. “So, the solution is to create a scheduled air transport system. If the costs are subsidized, prices in remote areas will fall,” said Jonan (Read: (President: Indonesia’s Future is in the East).
Jonan previously announced that the ministry had allocated IDR 5.4 trillion for the transport sector in Maluku and Papua. Throughout this year, the government will focus on subsidizing land transport and flights to remote areas, financing the development Babang Port facilities, and continuing the leveling of the runway at Babulah Ternate Airport.
The government also plans to improve roads in Jayapura city, develop Depapre Port facilities, and pave the runway at Nabire Airport. The funds will also be used to extend the runway at Mindiptana Airport and pave the runway at Dekai-Yahukimo Airport as part of the program to develop the transport sector in Maluku and Papua.
Jonan also hopes to create a common understanding of the Transport Development Program between national and provincial governments. Earlier this year, he held a meeting with all of Indonesia’s governors, to gather their input to develop a work program and indicative ceilings for the 2017 state budget.

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5) Everyone Stakeholders Should be Open-Minded on Otsus Plus, says Regional Secretary
31 May 2016
Jakarta, Jubi – Papua Provincial Secretary Hery Dosinaen urged all parties in the central and regional governments to be open-minded and consider that the Special Autonomy Law was born due to two factors: politics and errors that led to governance overlapping.
“There are about seventy articles regulated in the Special Autonomy Law are also included in other regulations, therefore it has no legitimacy due to pressure from other regulations,” said Dosinaen in Jakarta on Monday (30/5/2016).
In depth review, said Dosinaen, the Special Autonomy Law is merely accommodating the nomenclature changes that are actually not significant in the governance. “It makes the authority of local government have become faded upon the central government; for example in managing the natural resources which are in conflict with other sectorial regulations,” he said.
Therefore, Dosinaen added, the Special Autonomy Plus could result a legitimated and transparent regulation towards good governance in the Land of Papua, from Papua to Papua Barat, since it was drafted under direct instruction of the former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono towards Papua Governor. “However, this effort was obstructed because everyone in each ministry and institution doesn’t see this thoroughly, “ said Dosinaen.
But on the other hand, he gave highly appreciation to the Legislative Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives for taking this aspiration and ready to make endorsement over the Special Autonomy Plus Bill to be on schedule of Prolegnas 2016 (National Legislative Program).
“It is very unfortunate that last year it became a conflict because both of related ministry and institution did not understand it thoroughly. Does it represent an exceptional fear or other things, we don’t know. But clearly, all of this was done for the benefit and welfare of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Papua People’s Assembly Timotius Murib before the Legislative Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives repeated that the Special Autonomy Plus is not talk about referendum and politic. “The bill is entirely speaking about how to increase the welfare of Papuan people,” said Murib. Further, he asserted that the Legislative Body should able to endorse the Special Autonomy Law Plus to be on schedule of the Proglegnas for evaluation.
Although the evaluation should be done, but it has never been implemented after 14 years of the implementation of Special Autonomy Law. Thus people need a new resolution related to this matter. “The Special Autonomy Law Plus was drafted by talented Papuans, that it is expected to provide the authority for the welfare of the Papuan people,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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6) The Situation of Papua Was Blurred by KNPB and OPM
27 May 2016 By Soedibyo
The Education Program in Papua should be able to make the Papuan Youth as the Indonesian.
Introduction
The armed unit of the Freedom Movement of Papua (OPM) now has been relatively controlled by the Government Security Forces, Their power is relatively decreasing, however the political activities of the youth in the city of Papua through various new mass organization opposing the integration of Papua to the Republic of Indonesia is detected to increase.
The new illegal mass organization has been   detected appearing recently and called themselves  The National Committee of West Papua (KNPB). Apparently its political battle cry is described by them as in line with the human right issue and democracy namely “the Referendum of Papua”.
It likely the appearance of KNPB in Papua is  suggested by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (WLMWP) under Beny Wenda a relatively young Papuan, the political activist of the Freedom Movement of Papua internationally, living in London with the battle cry  “The Referendum of Papua is the
way for the solution of Papuan dispute”.
The establishment of KNPB in West Papua, is covering the Province of West Papua and the Province of Papua) it is clearly the effort of  ULMWP to mobilize  young and educated Papuan to launch the campaign of demanding the Referendum of Papua whether or not the Papuan to decide integrating Papua as a part of the Republic of Indonesia or it is an independent country.
This political issue is clearly against the Referendum of Papua supervised by the United Nations in 1969 that resulted the decision of Papuan People that Papua is a part of the Republic of Indonesia. Accordingly being the illegal organization, KNPB is not allowed to exist and making the political movement in Papua opposing the status of Papua as a part of Indonesian country.
Assessment
The threat of the Freedom Movement of Papua likely has changed its character from the battle in the jungle and the hill moves to the city and town through the political activities. The changing of the generation likely becomes the main factor of the changing situation. The new generation of Papua being mostly educated and might be intellectual generation definitely does not like the struggle as the armed combatant.
Incidentally now one intellectual Papuan youth Beny Wenda who escaped from the Police detention in Papua now he is living in London launching internationally international struggle all around the world looking for the support of his political struggle to hold under the United Nation a Referendum to give democratically the Papuan people to give their political choice whether they want permanently under The Republic of Indonesia or to stand independently as the freedom nation in Papua.
Apparently as the Melanesian political cadre of Papua Beny Wenda is supported by all the countries of Melanesian racial in the Southern Pacific, namely PNG, Solomon, Vanuatu and Fiji.
There is Melanesian Solidarity Group abbreviated as MSG established by those four Melanesian Countries who meet regularly and Beny Wenda is allowed to come as the Observer but politically Beny Wenda’s political interest is supported by those four Melanesian States.
Domestically the political impact of the political activity of Bedny Wenda through the Umnited Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) has been sound attractively and also likely Berny Wenda is asking the young generation to establish the so called The National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) in both The Province of Papua and in the Province of West Papua.
Observing this situation it is clearly the Government of Indonesia has to change the development program of Papua totally, it is clear that the aspect of education for the new generation of Papuan people it is very vital and urgently to be reformed. The Education Program in Papua should be able to make the Papuan Youth as the Indonesian.
Conclusion
The armed threat of the Freedom Movement of Papua (OPM) will be likely decreasing, because the Power of OPM is decreasing. Young Generation of Papuan people being educated and intellectual generation they are not attracted to become the armed combatant in the jungle or on the hill.
The issue on human right and democracy is sound attractive among the educated and intellectual community abroad and also domestically. In line with the character of the struggle of Beny Wenda internationally young generation in Papua are responding the suggestion of Beny Wenda to young educated generation in Papua to establish the KNPB in the Province of West Papua and The Province of Papua.
It is likely the political activity and concurrently also the political threat coming from those young educated generation of Papua will increase spectacularly. Unluckily the existence of various NGO affiliating to the issue of Human right and democracy the existence of KNPB could be supported by those NGO.
The changing policy acted by President Jokowi  likely should be seriously supported by all the Ministries of the Cabinet. The Government has been offering to solve the problem of Papua through dialogue, it is likely the Government should have the comprehensive concept that could be offered to the Papuan people if the dialogue is conducted.
The appearance of the activities of KNPB should be described as the indication of the threat with the new character is emerging in Papua. However the possible Papuan Youth action on May 31, 2016 should be handled  perfectly by the Police to avoid the rise of hostility between the Papuan Youth and the Police. The plan of mass rallies will be held on May 31, 2016 by KNPB is murkied and blurred the situation of Papua. Besides that, KNPB, ULMWP, PNWP ets are Papuan’s society common enemies. KNPB and their gang’s must be repelled from Papua’s land. (*)
The author is a security and politic observer focusing on Papua’s problem.
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1) Indonesian troop build-up in West Papua troubles PNG MPs

June 2, 2016, 2:42 am
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2) Action Demo BARA Homeland, One Woman Beating Victim
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1) Indonesian troop build-up in West Papua troubles PNG MPs
By PMC Editor -  June 2, 2016
By Freddy Mou in Port Moresby
Oro Govenor Gary Juffa ... Indonesia's continuous build-up of military presence should concern Papua New Guinea. Image: PNG Parliament
More than 45,000 Indonesian soldiers have been moved to Wamena in the Highlands of West Papua region of Indonesia, which shares a common border with Papua New Guinea, the PNG Parliament has been told.
The movement of soldiers have raised concerns from PNG parliamentarians about why soldiers have been moved there.
Oro Governor Garry Juffa raised this in Parliament yesterday, asking the Defence Minister Fabian Pok whether he was aware of the movement.
“The continuous build-up of military presence in that province should concern Papua New Guinea. Yet we don’t seem to have any knowledge of what is going on there,” says Juffa.
However, Pok in response told Parliament that Indonesia had been a good friend of PNG and those movements must not be seen as a threat to PNG people.
He said PNG must be considered a lucky country in a sense that PNG shared common borders with two of the “most powerful countries”, Indonesia and Australia.
Pok said he had had meetings frequently with defence ministers from both countries and had never seen them as enemies but as friends.
He said it was Indonesia’s “internal problems” that moved the military personnel closer to the border.
“We really don’t have issues with Indonesia regarding security at the border.”
Freddy Mou is news editor of Loop PNG.
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.. Original bahasa link at

2) Action Demo BARA Homeland, One Woman Beating Victim



Massa BARA Homeland at Trikora field, getting into the Parliament Office - Jubi



Jayapura, Jubi - Hundreds mob calling itself the People's Front Defenders of the Homeland (BARA NKRI), Thursday (06/02/2016) gathered at Trikora field for a demonstration of heading the Office of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP). Massa will be joined by a mass of Keerom, Skow, Muara Tami, Koya, Kota Jayapura and Sentani.

Massa had gathered at Trikora field since 0900. The shops around Sentani and Abepura looked closed down by its owner.

A few days earlier, the Homeland BARA contents had distributed leaflets urging residents Jayapura to participate in the demonstration on June 2 this. This leaflet among others contain a call to create a sense of peace in Jayapura and maintain the integrity of the Republic.

A Citizen Was Beaten

A villager had been beaten at Trikora field when the mass action of the Homeland Defender's Office to prepare the march towards the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP).

"I just ask haya, demo dong this for what it is. Suddenly there were at me. From the field came right up some people also wanted to hit. Fortunately there are police, "said Mama Hendrika Kowenik, the Jubi in front of the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Cenderawasih University (Uncen).

He added that the people who beat him also interesting clothes and hair.

Mama Hendrika admitted not only he was beaten. A man who ride with him also had been beaten. The man then ran to see many people coming toward him.

Hendrika encountered Jubi Mama was crying in front of the CCC is also claimed he had to be taken away by police for safekeeping in police Abe. But somehow, he is revealed in front of FKM.

"Dorang just between me from Trikora field FKM Uncen up front alone," said Mama Hendrika. (*)
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1) Indonesia’s brutal crackdown in West Papua highlights our need for self-determination

June 2, 2016, 2:07 pm
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2) Regional human rights forum seeks to develop Pacific solutions

3) PNG Parliament debate border incursions by Indonesia
4) Military Commander: Govt will Not Apologise to 1965 Victims
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/benny-wenda/indonesias-brutal-crackdo_b_10244572.html
1) Indonesia’s brutal crackdown in West Papua highlights our need for self-determination
06/02/2016 02:57 pm ET

Over the past few days, around 600 West Papuan people have been reportedly arrested simply for peacefully demonstrating to call upon the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Summit to support West Papuan self-determination.

The Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Summit being held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is bringing together heads of state and other government representatives from around Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. We West Papuans are making our plea to the ACP as a cry for help because we are being brutally suppressed and silenced under Indonesian military occupation and colonialism.







West Papuan elders hold up a message calling for the Africa Caribbean Pacific summit to support their calls for self-determination. May 31st 2016.

Across much of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific; colonialism has ended but in West Papua we continue to endure the horrors of colonialism and genocide with over half a million West Papuan people estimated to have been killed ever since West Papua was first occupied by Indonesia in 1963, and later illegally annexed after the fraudulent Act of NO Choice. Therefore we are calling on our Africa Caribbean and Pacific family to please support us in solidarity with our ongoing struggle against this brutal colonialism, racism and genocide.


West Papuans in Jayapura call for the Africa Caribbean Pacific summit to support West Papuan self-determination. 31st May 2016.
 
This week there were rallies held across West Papua as well as in several Indonesian cities as the people of West Papua took to the streets in our thousands to peacefully call for the ACP to support our fundamental right to self-determination as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) does. Demonstrations were held in many cities including: Port Numbay/Jayapura, Biak, Fakfak, Gorontalo, Jakarta, Manokwari, Nabire, Sorong, Timika, Wamena and Yahukimo

 
 
West Papuans in the highland town of Wamena send a message appealing for help to the international community. May 31st 2016.

 
However the Indonesian government is becoming increasingly scared of increasing international support for the people of West Papua and in an attempt to hide the real situation in West Papua, the Indonesian police arrested hundreds of people simply for joining these peaceful demonstrations.

There are unconfirmed reports that 469 people were arrested in Port Numbay/Jayapura, 112 people arrested in Wamena, 7 people arrested in Manado, 6 people arrested in Gorontalo and 3 people arrested in Yahukimo.

Those who were arrested in Manado as well as 70 of those arrested in Wamena are still believed to be behind bars and are still at risk of being tortured like so many other West Papuan political prisoners.

 
West Papuan political prisoners being held in a prison in Manokwari held up placards calling for international help. 31st May 2016

 
 
Therefore on behalf of my people I appeal to all human rights groups, the Africa Caribbean Pacific Group of States and the world to please join us in calling for their immediate release.

It is not a crime to to peacefully call for international support for ones’ fundamental rights. We West Papuans risk our extinction as a people in the next few decades if this illegal occupation and terrible genocide continues.

Please help to support the people of West Papua in our peaceful struggle for self-determination. We West Papuans desperately want and desperately need to be free like other members of the Africa Caribbean Pacific Group of States.

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Benny Wenda is West Papua’s independence leader, International Spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and founder of the Free West Papua Campaign. He has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and lives in exile in the UK.

Follow Benny Wenda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bennywenda


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http://www.kuam.com/story/32119784/2016/06/02/regional-human-rights-forum-seeks-to-develop-pacific-solutions

2) Regional human rights forum seeks to develop Pacific solutions

Posted: Jun 02, 2016 4:55 PM AESTUpdated: Jun 02, 2016 4:55 PM AEST
By Ken Quintanilla










The Festival of Pacific Arts isn't just about showcasing our culture, but also shedding the light on issues affecting our brothers and sisters throughout the Pacific.

It's a perfect fit with the event called "the Olympics of culture". Julian Aguon said, "A lot of times there's an assumption maybe that human rights otherwise would not be relevant to a festival like this but actually in our opinion, human rights work is so important because it protects the space for culture and arts to flourish."
And today for the first time in any FestPac, an entire panel was dedicated in defense of human rights issues facing the people of Pacific. Aguon, an attorney, is behind the human rights law firm Blue Ocean Law and together with Westcare Pacific Islands hosted the Pacific Region Forum at the Latte of Freedom. Self-determination is just one human right issue affecting Guam...but we're not alone.
"In West Papua, there's a live self-determination struggle, but it also has other human rights issues and violations occurring there right now - there's actual genocide, there's mass extrajudicial killings, prolonged arbitrary detention torture, these are major human rights violations that Indonesia is committing upon the people of West Papua, who are incidentally fighting for their self-determination," he said.
The human rights issues facing the Pacific, however, goes even deeper as deep sea mining and extractive industries pose a threat to our culture. Joey Tau is from Papua New Guinea and is the media and campaigns officer from the Pacific Network On Globalisation.
"We have people who in our coastal communities who have for generations have lived and survived in our lovely big ocean and it's a new form of mining and the science behind it and the impacts are yet to be known, yet people have very little information about it, and it's more likely our coastal communities may be transformed or moved and displacement of people," they said.
And for Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner from the Marshall Islands, she says not just homes but entire cultures could be lost if climate change and the rising sea levels aren't addressed, as well. "I'm going to be speaking about climate justice and how climate justice is basically a human rights issue because these are people who we are talking about who could potentially lose their islands and lose thousands of years of culture and be displaced, so it's basically a human survival."
And while climate change puts the Marshall Islands and other low lying atolls at risk of "being swallowed by the ocean" very soon, she says this is a Pacific-wide issue.
"What I love about FestPac is it's an opportunity to share dances, share weaving, culture, but having this panel brings it to light these issues that are just as part of our Pacific communities, these are issues that are important to us to consider," she said.
After today's forum a human rights report will be launched.
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http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=464963167574f6d42243b98dfad36d
3) PNG Parliament debate border incursions by Indonesia

6:18 pm GMT+12, 01/06/2016, Papua New Guinea


Border incursions and the Indonesian military buildup near the PNG-Indonesia border caused heated debate on the floor of Parliament Wednesday.
 
Vanimo-Green Belden Namah described Defence Minister Fabian Pok as a person with an intelligence problem from the border because of the poor responses he provided to questions on national security.
 
Northern Governor Gary Juffa said during Question Time that Indonesia has 4500 troops in West Papua and Wamena, moved there recently. He said the continuous military buildup and border incursions should worry the Papua New Guinea Government but they have not.
 
He said there was a plan to build border guard posts along the 760km land border but nothing has been done.
 
Dr Pok said the Government has a cordial relationship with Indonesia and Australia as its neighbours and that there is no need for panic. There is no threat, he added.
 
He said the inclusions by Indonesian soldiers are provocative actions in pursuit of the suspected OPM rebels on the other side of the border. “We really do not have an issue and that there is no real threat on our border. I don’t really treat the movement of soldiers as a threat,” he said.
 
Dr Pok said there are no border markers to indicate that the border and Indonesian soldiers have crossed over without knowing they had crossed in Papua New Guinea territory.  
 
However, Namah, a former captain in the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, said in a supplementary question that the Minister seemed friendly with his rhetoric but while encouraging friendliness, the issue is serious because it threatened sovereignty and national security.
 
“The important thing is to protect our sovereignty but your intelligence is a big problem,” he said.

SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS


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http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/06/02/055776272/Military-Commander-Govt-will-Not-Apologize-to-1965-Victims

THURSDAY, 02 JUNE, 2016 | 17:30 WIB
4) Military Commander: Govt will Not Apologise to 1965 Victims

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-In response to a question related to recommendations to be made in the anti-communist symposium, Indonesian Military commander Gatot Nurmantyo said that the government would not issue an apology to victims of the 1965 tragedy.
“Which government that will apologize? I must warn you not to say that the government will apologize,” Gatot said when attending the anti-communist symposium held at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
Gatot claimed that the government’s decision not to issue an apology has been final.
“There will be no apology. That’s just a rumor spread by government’s traitor. [President] Joko Widodo will never issue [an apology],” Gatot added.
Gatot refused to comment on the consolidation of recommendations made in the anti-communist symposium and in the previous one titled “Dissecting the 1965 Tragedy” held in April 2016.
Anti-communist symposium organizing committee chief Lt. Gen. (ret.) Kiki Syahnakri hopes that he can hold a dialogue to discuss recommendations made in the national symposium on the 1965 Tragedy. Kiki said that recommendations made in the symposium that he held would be handed over to the government by National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) governor Agus Widjojo.
YOHANES PASKALIS
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↧

1) Pro-Government Protesters Demand Disbandment of Free West Papua Organisation KNPB

June 3, 2016, 1:32 am
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2) Mongabay Series: Indonesian Forests, Indonesian Palm Oil
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1) Pro-Government Protesters Demand Disbandment of Free West Papua Organisation KNPB
By : Robert Isidorus | on 11:27 AM June 03, 2016


A pro-government group who calls themselves the 'Defenders of the Republik of Indonesia' burns a West Papua flag during a demonstration in Abepura on Thursday (02/06). (Antara Photo/Olha Mulalinda)



Jakarta. Thousands of protesters gathered at the Trikora Field in Abepura, Papua, Thursday (02/06), demanding the disbandment of West Papua National Committee (KNPB), an arm of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), arguing that both organizations contravene state ideology Pancasila and are illegal under Indonesia's 1945 Constitution.
The protesters—who called themselves Defenders of the Indonesian Republic and numbered around 15,000—marched to the local parliament house on Thursday.
“There should be no "December 1," [the anniversary of the Free Papua Movement, or OPM] there is only "May 1," the day of our integration [with Indonesia]. We should unite to develop West Papua. We don't want KNPB here,” Umar, the deputy chairman of the organization, said.
The organization also called on the British government to arrest UK-based West Papua freedom activist Benny Wenda and extradite him to Indonesia.
Umar claimed his group was sincere in its intention. “There is no ulterior motive [behind the protest]. We are here because we care about West Papua,” Umar said.
Vendors at the Yotefa Market—the city's main trading spot—had closed up shops earlier in the day after receiving letters and flyers about the rally.

Although the market itself was open, only a few people were seen conducting their business as normal. “Not only the sellers, but the buyers also didn't turn up today,” said Marten Sremsrem, a security officer.
In the flyers, the pro-government group called on all Indonesians to rally in support of the government, saying “Let us take a moment to help create a better economic climate in the long run. Let us honor our brothers. Voice your support for the Republic of Indonesia.”

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Article includes photos/maps                        

https://news.mongabay.com/2016/06/indonesias-salim-group-linked-to-secret-palm-oil-concessions-in-papua/

2) Mongabay Series: Indonesian Forests, Indonesian Palm Oil
            

 Indonesia’s Salim Group linked to ‘secret’ palm oil concessions in West Papua
3rd June 2016 / Daniel Pye

 The conglomerate appears to be concealing its involvement in the heavily forested region through offshore mechanisms. 
New research by awas MIFEE links the Salim Group to four plantation firms in Indonesia's West Papua province. The concessions span 117,000 hectares of forest and grassland and are home to indigenous tribes. The Salim Group has yet to respond to the findings.

 
 One of Indonesia’s largest conglomerates, the Salim Group, has likely acquired four palm oil concessions in West Papua using a complex network of shared directorships and offshore companies, new research suggests.
Online watchdog awas MIFEE reported in May it had uncovered evidence that the four plantations — PT Rimbun Sawit Papua, PT Subur Karunia Raya, PT Bintuni Agro Prima Perkasa and PT Menara Wasior — were under the Salim Group’s control after discovering directorship and shareholding links that are not declared in the Salim Group’s stock exchange filings.

The organization said the use of shell companies and offshore mechanisms appeared to be an attempt to distance the Salim Group from association with contentious projects and maintain a veneer of responsibility while quietly flouting its own sustainability guidelines, which include a ban on converting ecologically important High Conservation Value areas.

Deeds for the four concessionaires obtained by awas MIFEE show the firms all share addresses associated with the Salim Group, while many of their directors have previously worked for the conglomerate, which was founded by the late Liem Sioe Liong, also known as Sudono Salim, a prominent beneficiary of General Suharto’s decades-long New Order regime.

Despite the links with the Salim Group, the four companies have not been registered as subsidiaries of Indofood Agri Resources (IndoAgri), the company’s agribusiness division and a listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange, or indeed any other publicly traded Salim Group firm, the research shows.

IndoAgri is the third-largest private producer of crude palm oil and while other major producers, such as Wilmar and Sinar Mas, have cancelled expansion plans in heavily forested Papua, no such pledges have been made by the Salim Group.


“The Salim Group appears to have reacted to this challenge by picking and choosing which of its plantation assets [it integrates] into its publicly listed businesses, and carefully shielding the more problematic concessions behind layers of shell companies and offshore firms,” the organization reports.

Selwyn Moran of awas MIFEE said it was only in the last five years that Papua had become a frontier region for palm oil expansion, endangering vulnerable ecosystems, many of which had not yet been surveyed by ecologists.

“There are also serious concerns for the indigenous people of Papua. In most, if not all existing palm oil plantations, local indigenous communities living nearby have complained that the plantations have brought them no benefit,” he said, “and instead they have lost the forest they depended on for their subsistence — the sago palms which are their staple food, the animals they hunt, and other forest products which they sell.”

Despite being less exposed to international supply chains than its competitors, IndoAgri has attempted to placate critics of its practices by joining the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and publishing regular sustainability reports, which awas MIFEE said was evidence of “greenwashing.”


But the evidence suggests the conglomerate continues to invest in plantations in the Papua region, Moran said.

Satellite images taken in February of the Rimbun Sawit Papua concession in Fakfak district show roads have been constructed in much of the southwest of the plot, while a recruitment firm has been hired to source some 1,200 migrant workers from Java. Apparent shell companies — PT Palmandiri Plantation and PT Sawit Timur Nusantara — registered to known Salim Group addresses in Jakarta bought a majority stake in the company in 2011.

“Apart from the direct habitat loss, an influx of people to the area as workers would also put stress on the surrounding forest, as more people would go hunting wildlife such as cassowaries, song birds and forest marsupials like cuscus,” said Moran.

 
n the Kebar Valley, about 100 kilometers west of Manokwari city, Bintuni Agro Prima Perkasa was granted a permit for 19,369 hectares in September 2014 after it was bought out in July of that year by PT Cahaya Agro Pratama, which also has a significant stake in Rimbun Sawit Papua, while several of its directors have links to other Salim Group enterprises.

North of Bintuni town, Subur Karunia Raya holds a permit to develop 38,700 hectares of what was once state forest land, where work was reportedly started late last year. A Salim Group-linked company holds almost all of the shares, the remainder being owned by its director, Rapman Hutabarat, who is also on the board of Rimbun Sawit Papua. Several other directors and commissioners hold positions at other Salim Group-linked firms.

Of the four plantations, the 28,280-hectare concession held by Menara Wasior is to date the most noteworthy for the outspoken opposition of the local Mairasi and Miere tribes of Teluk Wondama district. The memory of a bloody 2001 assault on the local communities by security forces working for two logging companies has left many traumatized and, along with ongoing confrontations with loggers, has contributed to widespread opposition to the plans. The firm, as with the others, is registered to the same address as a company that has numerous Salim Group-linked directors on its board.

Edi Suryanto, a Salim Group representative, referred questions to Muhammad Waras, sustainability manager for PT Salim Ivomas Pratama, the Salim Group’s palm oil arm. At the time of writing Waras had not responded to requests for comment.

Jago Wadley, senior forest campaigner at the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), said the links presented in awas MIFEE’s research had highlighted the “fundamental risks” to the sustainability policies of Salim Group customers such as Wilmar and Golden Agri Resources, which have pledged to eliminate deforestation and rights abuses from their supply chains.


“Companies that violate the policies of their customers risk losing their customers. EIA urges progressive palm oil buyers to send a clear message to palm oil barons that they will no longer tolerate mass deforestation and land grabbing where such practices undermine their own corporate reputations and customer base,” he said.

Moran of awas MIFEE said the Salim Group’s apparent interests in West Papua were not uncommon.

“Across Indonesia, palm oil companies have been guilty of bulldozing community lands just as they have flattened biodiverse forests. People, biodiversity, and the global climate are often the victims. Papua is no different. Responsible buyers are seeking to distance their supply chains from such outcomes, while some of the palm oil barons that supply them seek to continue business-as-usual expansion.”

Except for Menara Wasior, the Salim Group-linked concessions have all obtained permission to develop the land from the forestry ministry, which has promised to audit existing licenses in the wake of last year’s fire and haze crisis, after which President Joko Widodo declared a moratorium on new palm oil permits.

“If the government does review permits for plantations which have not yet started planting, it must also conduct a full review of active plantations,” said Moran.

“It should recognize that the way permits have been allocated in recent years, characterized by a lack of transparency, frequent irregularities, inadequate social and environmental impact assessments and a failure to allow local indigenous communities to freely decide the future of their ancestral land, have meant that several existing plantations are subject to ongoing disputes which are continuing to seriously affect those local communities.”

Article published by Philip Jacobson on 2016-06-03.

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1) West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag artists pressured to paint over mural in Darwin CBD

June 4, 2016, 1:53 am
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2) Papua Police Arrest Suspected Separatist Leader
3) West Papua Groundswell not Dampened By PNG Refusal of Entry: PIANGO
4) Councillor Suspects Attempts to Stir up Trouble in Jayapura

5) Stop Exploiting Bird of Paradise as Trophies, Councillor Says

6) Maternal and Child Health Becomes Parliament’s Concern

7) One Killed, Three Injured in Papua Heli Crash

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-04/pressure-to-paint-over-west-papuan-flag-mural-in-darwin-cbd/7477968

1) West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag artists pressured to paint over mural in Darwin CBD



The artists who painted a mural depicting the West Papuan “ Morning Star" flag on a wall in Darwin's CBD has been asked by the property owners to paint over it as a "matter of urgency" following the application of "external pressures".

In an email obtained by the ABC, an employee for Randazzo Properties told a representative from the artist group that the owners of the wall wanted the mural to be painted over this weekend and had contacted the neighbouring property owner to allow access.
"Due to some external pressures I have been asked to see the wall painted out as a matter of urgency and have started putting things in place," the Randazzo Properties employee stated in the email.
Activists from Australians for a Free West Papua told the ABC they had been told by the same Randazzo Properties employee that the "external pressure" was the Indonesian consulate in Darwin.
The Indonesian Consul in Darwin, Andre Siregar, said while he had not been in contact with the wall's owner, he had written to the Northern Territory Government in August 2015 to register his opposition to the depiction of the West Papuan flag.
Mr Siregar said he acknowledged "freedom of expression" in Australia, but that the mural's close physical proximity to both the office of the Indonesian Consulate and to Parliament House had raised questions from visiting Indonesian officials over the level of support in Australia for the West Papuan Independence movement.
Mr Siregar said he believed there were about "two people" in Darwin who supported the West Papuan Independence movement.

Artists defiant as they apply anti-graffiti paint to mural

One of the mural's artists, June Mills, said that the wall had been used by different artists over the years with a variety of messages.
As a Larrakia elder, Ms Mills said the mural had been designed to show solidarity between the people of West Papua and Aboriginal people.
"This mural has been painted out of respect and love and solidarity with the West Papuan people," Ms Mills said.
"People cannot raise the West Papuan flag in West Papua — they are killed, or if not killed, jailed, or severely punished in some form.
"So we've painted the flag here, in solidarity with the Aboriginal flag — we are both recognising the struggle, and the real issue is they want that gone, because they don't want the message out, they're suppressing the information about what is happening in West Papua."
Ms Mills said the mural was first painted in June 2015, and she believed the sudden urgency around the removal of the mural was due to an upcoming conference hosted by Charles Darwin University.
The Understanding Indonesia conference will host academics, researchers, teachers, and students of different disciplines to discuss new information and recent developments concerning Indonesia.
The ABC has contacted Randazzo Properties for comment.
On Saturday afternoon a group of activists had assembled at the mural to protest its removal.

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http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/papua-police-arrest-suspected-separatist-leader/

2) Papua Police Arrest Suspected Separatist Leader
By : Farouk Arnaz | on 10:26 AM June 02, 2016
Jakarta. The alleged leader of a Papuan armed separatist group has been arrested after sustaining a shot to the leg, a police spokesman said on Wednesday (01/06).
Fourty-year-old Kelenak Telenggen was arrested earlier on Tuesday in a rented room in Wamena. He is facing accusations of leading a string of attacks on security officers and civilians over the past two years,
"He was shot after resisting and attempting to escape," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said in Jakarta.
Police will soon bring the alleged Free Papua Organization (OPM) leader, who has been receiving treatment at Wamena Hospital, to headquarters in Jayapura for questioning.
Kelenak was allegedly involved in the March shootings in Sinak, Puncak district, where four construction workers were killed. Three months earlier, he allegedly led attacks against Sinak Police headquarters, where three officers were killed and another suffered gunshot wounds.
His involvements is also suspected in a December shooting at Ilaha, Puncak district, which killed two members of the Papua Police's mobile brigade.


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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/west-papua-groundswell-not-dampened-by-png-refusal-of-entry-piango/

3) West Papua Groundswell not Dampened By PNG Refusal of Entry: PIANGO

4 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) Executive Director, Ms Emele Duituturaga was shocked to learn that Papua New Guinea (PNG) had not allowed West Papuan campaigner, Octovianus Mote to enter the country last Sunday (29 May, 2016).
Ms Duituturaga was on her way back to Fiji from the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul, where she had presented the West Papua Fact Finding Mission report to top UN Officials, when she learnt the Secretary-General of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) had not been granted entry into PNG.
“Sadly, this situation manifests the emerging new approach of Melanesian diplomacy but it will not dampen the spirits of those who continue to call and work for West Papua’s self-determination,” said Ms Duituturaga.
Ms Duituturaga said she was happy to note that despite the refusal of entry by PNG Immigration, Mote was treated respectfully during the situation.
“Octo (Mote) reported that he was treated very respectfully as a ‘wantok’ during the situation by immigration officials until he left PNG,” she added.
“Although this is the second time a ULMWP leader has been refused entry into PNG – the first being Benny Wenda in 2015 – I doubt it will stem the groundswell of West Papua support sweeping across the Pacific and the world right now,” Ms Duituturaga said.
Mr Mote had travelled to Papua New Guinea as a guest of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu government.
“I was invited to assist both delegations with various resolutions they planned to table at the African
Caribbean Pacific meeting of the European Union which is being held in Port Moresby.” said Mr Mote
He said no reason was given as to why he was refused permission to enter the country. He was not presented with any written explanation, he was just told it was an ‘order from the top’. Although he was seeking clarification about why he was denied entry he accept this decision of the sovereign nation of Papua New Guinea.
“I would like to express my thanks to the MSG countries for their ongoing support of West Papua.  I look forward to the forthcoming MSG Leaders’ Summit to clarify all matters relating to ULMWP’s application for full membership,” Mr Mote said.
Mr Mote also expressed his gratitude to the people of PNG for their support and looked forward to clarifying the official position of PNG on West Papua with government leaders. (*)
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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/councilor-suspects-attempts-to-stir-up-trouble-in-jayapura/

4) Councillor Suspects Attempts to Stir up Trouble in Jayapura
3 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan councilor Orwan Tolli Wone said recent events suggested that there were attempts to stir unrest between the communities.
Wone, who is the Chairman Deputy of Commission I of Papua Legislative Council for Political, Legal and Human Rights Affairs, said the emergence of many opposite groups was deliberately created to pit one group against another, not only between Papuans and non-Papuan but between indigenous Papuans as well.
“I think this situation was deliberately created. But I don’t know who’s behind this and what is his purpose; whether it is politic, investment, position or anything else,” said Owan by phone to Jubi on Thursday (2/6/2016).
However, according to him who’s politician from Democrat Party, there is possibility that the current dynamic was connected to the local political situation in Papua, which is not only including the simultaneous regional head election in 2017 but also ahead to the Papua Governor Election in 2018.
“This is a political year in Papua. This situation could have connection with the local political situation in Papua. But it’s only my assuming,” he said.
He warned the Papuan people to not easily being provoked by any parties who deliberately want to divide the people.
“People should be smart and do not want to become a tool for the benefit of certain culprit or group. Do not want to be pitted and victimized for certain party,” he said.
Commission I member of Papua Legislative Council Laurenzus Kadepa similarly said the people to not easily be provoked by this current situation.
“People should not be provoked with this condition. To those who deliberately create the crash among the people should be immediately aware. Do not make Papua like Poso, Ternate and Ambon to be involved in conflict because of ethnic, religion and race issues,” said Kadepa. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/stop-exploiting-bird-of-paradise-as-trophies-councilor-says/

5) Stop Exploiting Bird of Paradise as Trophies, Councillor Says

2 June 2016


Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of Papua Legislative Council Yunus Wonda warned Papuan people and others against  exploiting the bird of paradise (cenderawasih in local dialect) as a trophy or head accessories for guests and officials who visit to Papua.
He said now the existence of bird-of-paradise, which is an endemic bird of Papua, is on the brink of extinction.
People kept killing the bird for accessories. People cannot just ignore this situation; all stakeholders should be involved in preventing the bird from extinction.

“Soon cenderawasih would be extinct if we don’t have efforts to protect it. By giving a headdress made by cenderawasih feather for guests including the officials during their visit to Papua is to show that we are unconsciously supporting its extinction,” Yunus Wonda told Jubi in Jayapura City on Wednesday (1/6/2016).
According to him, a method should be applied by the government to minimize the hunting over cenderawasih is by holding headdress competition using fake cenderawasih feather as souvenir for the guests and officials who visit to Papua. “The government should take actions to prevent cenderawasih from extinction. Please no longer use the real cenderawasih for headdress or souvenir for guests and officials,” he said.
He is concerned if no concrete efforts taken to protect the cenderewasih bird, the Papuan next generation would no longer know or see what the endemic bird of Papua look like. “Do not let it remains its name. If so, what else can we proud of? During the time how many cenderawasih birds have been killed for accessories,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/maternal-and-child-health-becomes-parliaments-concern/

6) Maternal and Child Health Becomes Parliament’s Concern


2 June 2016

Jayapura, Jubi –  Maternal and Child Health Program should be a concern to all, said the Second Deputy Chairman of the Papua Legislative Council, Fernando Yansen Tinal.
In a hearing with the Papua Accelerated Health Development Unit (UP2KP) and Department of Population and Family Planning (BKKBN), the councilor said many things need to be improved in the area of maternal and infant health.
“Therefore, the result of this discussion would be our reference at the parliament, especially at the Commission V, in making regulations as well as to review what kind of regulations are running or not working,” he said to reporter on Wednesday (1/6/2016) in Jayapura.
He added the Maternal and Child Health Program is aimed to improve the availability and affordability of qualified health services for the entire community in nutrition program as well as maternal and child health program.
In addition, he said, in this discussion, the councilor obtained feedbacks on administration, financing as well as socialization of heath program conducted at the remote areas.
“We also discussed about the extraordinary occasions such as Nduga case and diarrhea cases at some areas. These problems actually could be prevented earlier but because of the unpreparedness of medical workers in terms of both quality and quantity prolonged it,” he said.
At the same place, the Executive Director of Papua Accelerated Health Development Unit (UP2KP) of Papua Province Agus Raprap said the discussion about the maternal and child program is not separated from the program released by the Papua Governor on thousand days of life. “So few days before the baby is born, we are doing intervention including the pre-delivery until delivery process with expectation the child would grow healthy,” he said. (Roy Ratumakin/rom)
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http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/one-killed-three-injured-papua-heli-crash/
7) One Killed, Three Injured in Papua Heli Crash

By : Jakarta Globe | on 2:46 PM June 04, 2016

Jakarta. One person was killed and three others injured after a helicopter crashed on Saturday morning (04/06) in a mining area in Paniai district, Papua, a police official said.
The Amur Aviation Indonesia-owned Bell 206 L4 helicopter, crashed in Degeuwo, Bogobaida subdistrict, around an hour after departing from Nabire district.
The pilot, Sr. Comr. (ret.) Kasmana, was found dead while the three passengers, Asmar, Ajo and Darwis, were slightly injured, Paniai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonard Nabu said.
The body of the pilot has been evacuated to Nabire while the three passengers have been receiving treatment at Nabire Hospital, Leonard added.
The helicopter was hauling 314 kilograms in goods.
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1) Kaiburse Natives Ready to Open 50 Hectares of Paddy Farm

June 4, 2016, 2:27 pm
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2) Sogavare and O’Neill Talk on West Papua Issu in MSG

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1) Kaiburse Natives Ready to Open 50 Hectares of Paddy Farm

1 June 2016
Merauke, Jubi – Residents of Kaiburse Village, Malind Sub-district of Merauke Regency are ready opening 50 hectares of area for paddy planting, which planned to be done within this year.
The Secretary of Customary Law Institution (LMA) Marind Kaiburse, Paulus Samsakai told Jubi on Monday (31/5/2016) that during the time the local people who mostly indigenous Papuans have opened the land for paddy farming, but on the small scale.
“I have met with the Head of Merauke Plantation and Horticulture Office Bambang Dwiatmoki related to the plan of land opening and responded positively. People expected they could implement it within this year,” he said.
There is no problem with the planting area, he said, because the local people already prepared it. However, he said people expected the government to provide the equipment to help them in soil preparation including the provision of paddy seeds.
“We have agreed to work together with some migrants in this village who were former transmigration program to prepare about 50 hectares of planting area, since they had experience and certainly could assist the local people in the future,” he said.
Councilor of Merauke Legislative Council Moses Kaibu, when asked about this issue, said if it comes from people’s aspiration, in particular indigenous Papuans, the government must respond quicklu. “Yes, what was certainly expected is mentoring provision for them, including how to prepare the soil and seeds to planting and maintaining process. From here, the local people would learn about how to plant and care for good paddy growing,” he said. (Ans K/rom)
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2) Sogavare and O’Neill Talk on West Papua Issu in MSG

3 June 2016


Jayapura, Jubi – Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare held a bilateral meeting with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill after his arrival in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Monday (30/5/2016) for the 8th ACP Heads of State and Government Summit.
During the meeting at the Airways Hotel, Hon Sogavare and Hon O’Neill discussed range of issues of mutual interest between Solomon Islands and PNG.
On direct bilateral cooperation programs between the two countries, the PNG Prime Minister thanked his Solomon Islands counterpart and Honiara for continuing to support the PNG Government on issues of mutual interest at the regional and international level and also for continuing to encourage trade between the two countries.
Prime Minister O’Neill highlighted that the number of PNG companies operating in Solomon Islands is continuing to increase and he is excited about this growing rate of PNG investment in Solomon Islands.
He also expressed the desire of the PNG Government to pursue border arrangements with Solomon Islands that will ensure free movement of people of close cultural ties across the border between the two countries.

On the issue of the appointment of the new MSG Director-General, Prime Minister O’Neill told Prime Minister Sogavare, as the MSG Chair, that Port Moresby has not objected to the appointment of the new Director-General, Mr Amena Yauvoli, but would like to see the appointment endorsed by the MSG leaders during their Special Summit which is expected to take place sometimes this June.
Prime Minister O’Neill said he is looking forward for the next MSG Leaders’ Summit.
On the issue of West Papua, the PNG Prime Minister has expressed his desire to see that a regional delegation, preferably endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum, visit Indonesia to assess allegations of human rights violations in West Papua, adding that the Indonesian Government has already invited a PNG delegation to visit Indonesia for the same reason lately.

However, he said due to security issues affecting both PNG and Indonesia, especially border incursions, the PNG Government will always be mindful of how it deals with this issue with Indonesia.
In response, Prime Minister Sogavare thanked his PNG counterpart for the opportunity of this bilateral meeting before the ACP Heads of State and Government Summit proper and expressed satisfaction at the position of the PNG Government on many issues affecting both countries.
Prime Minister Sogavare expressed to Prime Minister O’Neill that as the Chair of MSG, he understands the various issues affecting the position of Papua New Guinea on the issue of West Papua.
Nevertheless, he said it is his desire to see that a Pacific regional delegation is deployed to West Papua on a fact-finding mission in the immediate future to assess the allegations of human rights abuses that continue to emerge from West Papua.

Prime Minister Sogavare told Prime Minister O’Neill that as the MSG Chair, he will continue to seek international attention on the allegations of serious human rights violations in West Papua.
It is expected that Prime Minister Sogavare will also be using the opportunity of the ACP Heads of State and Government Summit in Port Moresby to rally for an ACP Coalition for West Papua.
Over 500 delegates including 13 prime ministers, four vice-presidents, one deputy prime minister, one speaker of parliament, 14 ministers, 16 ambassadors from the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of nations are attending the 8thACP Heads of State and Government Summit. (Victor Mambor)
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ALHR-Concerns raised about alleged external pressure to remove Darwin mural depicting West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag

June 5, 2016, 2:39 pm
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Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR)
  PO Box A147, Sydney South NSW 1235 

MEDIA RELEASEFor immediate release – 6 June 2016

Concerns raised about alleged external pressure to remove Darwin mural depicting West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag
One of Australia’s leading human rights organisations has spoken out in support of the retention of a mural in Darwin’s CBD that depicts the West Papuan "Morning Star" flag. The "Morning Star" flag is a defining symbol of the West Papuan independence movement, which calls for West Papuan independence from Indonesia.
Benedict Coyne President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) said, “ALHR is concerned by media reports alleging that the property owners have asked the artists to paint over the mural as a "matter of urgency" following the application of external pressures."

“The media has also reported that, while the Indonesian Consul in Darwin, Mr Andre Siregar, denies contacting the wall owner, he wrote to the Northern Territory Government in August 2015 to register his opposition to the depiction of the flag. Mr Siregar is also reported to have said that he believed there were about "two people" in Darwin who supported the West Papuan independence movement.”
Mr Coyne went on to say, “ALHR is concerned by allegations of any attempts to use external pressures to limit the rights of freedom of speech and expression in Australia. These rights are essential to a healthy and vibrant democracy.”
“It should be remembered that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate for things like referendums and independence as long as that advocacy does not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or 
violence.” 

“If residents of the Northern Territory wish to draw attention to the plight of West Papuans who are engaged in a struggle for self-determination and do so in accordance with Australian laws, there should be no external pressure to silence them.”
ALHR NT Convenor Monique Hurley said, “Attempts to apply any pressure to remove the mural are particularly troubling given that Indonesian authorities continue to restrict access by foreign journalists and human rights monitors to Indonesia’s easternmost provinces of Papua. This has hampered the independence movement’s ability to expose human rights violations alleged to have been perpetrated by Indonesia.”

Mr Coyne said “ALHR calls on President Joko Widodo to take immediate steps to end Indonesian security forces’ increasing attacks on freedom of expression in the country’s Papuan region. Whilst Indonesia has the right to maintain public order on its territory, it must ensure that any restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly do not go further than what is permitted under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Indonesia is a State party.” 
Media Contact:
ALHR was established in 1993 and is a national network of Australian solicitors, barristers, academics, judicial officers and law students who practise and promote international human rights law in Australia. ALHR has active and engaged National, State and Territory committees and a secretariat at La Trobe University Law School in Melbourne. Through advocacy, media engagement, education, networking, research and training, ALHR promotes, practices and protects universally accepted standards of human rights throughout Australia and overseas 
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Background story


PHOTO: The mural depicting the West Papuan 'Morning Star' flag was painted in June 2015. (ABC News: Stephanie Zillman)

West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag artists pressured to paint over mural in Darwin CBD

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-04/pressure-to-paint-over-west-papuan-flag-mural-in-darwin-cbd/7477968

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Summary of events in West Papua for May 2016

June 6, 2016, 3:51 am
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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088




         Summary of events in West Papua for May – (6 June 2016)





More arrests at peaceful rallies


                                 KNPB action today (Tuesday, 05.31.2016) to provide support to ULMWP - Jubi / IST

If the month began with the mass arrests of over 1800 people in West Papua on the 2 May (covered in April update), it ended with approximately 500 people arrested in the days leading up to and on the 31 May.  According to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), more than 300 Papuans were arrested after the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) organized rallies on Tuesday the 31 May calling for the release political prisoners and to show support for the ULMWP to be granted full membership at the MSG. The activists were also calling on the leaders of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) who were meeting in PNG for the 8th Summit of the ACP to support the right of the people of West Papua to self-determination.The intimidation of KNPB activists started on Saturday when 50 were arrested in Sentani and Jayapura. Although they were released the mobile phones of a number of activists were confiscated. On Monday 30 May local media (Jubi) reported three members of KNPB in Yahukimo and 21 people in Wamena were arrested for distributing leaflets about the rallies to be held on the 31 May. The arrests show yet again there is no freedom of opinion or expression allowed in West Papua. AWPA release at

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/media-release-acp-and-msg-leaders.html

On the 2 June protestors calling themselves the Defenders of the Indonesian Republicgathered at the Trikora Field in Abepura demanding the disbandment of West Papua National Committee (KNPB). The protesters also said there should be no  celebrations’allowed on "December 1 (West Papua National flag day)  and we don't want KNPB here. ” These pro Indonesian groups should be a cause of great concern as one can only remember the havoc caused by pro Indonesia militia  groups in East Timor.



Benny Wenda tours Australia

Benny Wenda’s  FWPC Australian speaking tour 'Breaking the Silence' took him to Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Benny spoke at a large number of events, met his supporters and politicians from various parties.



F
From FWPC Sydney Facebook

































Photos of Benny’s visit to Sydney at
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/photos-of-benny-wendas-visit-to-sydney.html




MSG chair urges UN intervention in West Papua

The chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Manasseh Sogavare, says the regional body is pushing for an urgent intervention by the United Nations in West Papua.Mr Sogavare, who is the prime minister of Solomon Islands, has also declared his country's support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's bid to be a full member of the MSG.Mr Sogavare has just been in Port Vila where he met with his Vanuatu counterpart Charlot Salwai whose proposal to give the Liberation Movement full membership at the MSG is to be discussed at an upcoming MSG leaders summit in Papua New Guinea.While in Vila, the MSG chair met with visiting representatives of the Liberation Movement which has strong support in Indonesia's Papua region. Since the West Papuans were granted observer status in the MSG last year, Mr Sogavare said the situation in Indonesia's Papua region had become more tense, leaving the indigenous people on the "brink of extinction".This comes after Indonesia's leading human rights organisation said that since the new government came to power in late 2014, abuses in Papua were as rampant as they were under previous governments RNZI report at

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/303794/msg-chair-urges-un-intervention-in-west-papua
Prime Minister Sogavare said that the granting of full membership status to the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMP) in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is justifiable as Indonesia had sought membership of the regional bloc to only protect its own interest other than engage in dialogue about the serious human rights issues in West Papua. The PM”s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Jakarta where the Director General for Asia, Pacific and Africa, Desra Percaya, said Mr Sogavare's claims were not based on reality.

He also said Mr Sogavare's statements violated the basic principles of sovereignty and non-interference, as contained in the MSG Establishing Agreement. However the MSG Chair's Special Envoy on West Papua, Rex Stephen Horoi, said the chair would like to remind Jakarta that one of the key overarching principles of the group is the principle of decolonisation of Melanesia.

"This is a fundamental principle that binds the Melanesian countries and all MSG members together," he said. "In this principle, MSG stands for its defense and promotion of independence as the inalienable right of indigenous peoples of Melanesia." Mr Sogavare also sought to remind Jakatra that the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was also a part of the MSG, with observer status.

He claimed the refusal of Indonesia's government so far to discuss West Papua with him showcases Jakarta's intention of not engaging in dialogue about the serious allegations of human rights issues.

The MSG chair has reiterated his offer to the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, to discuss matters of common interest within the space provided by the MSG.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/304725/msg-chair-reminds-jakarta-about-decolonisation

The Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit which was scheduled to take place in Port Moresby has been postponed again. Although no firm date it may now be held at the end of June




Moves to remove Indonesia from MSG

Vanuatu will seek Indonesia's removal from the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). This is despite the tactical rescheduling of the meeting for a second time.

 Charlot Salwai - Vanuatu's Prime Minister - is expected to lead the bid to remove Indonesia with the support of his Solomon Islands counterpart, Mannasseh Sogavare. The revelation comes after Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said his government was concerned about human rights abuses in West Papua. O'Neill said he had expressed PNG's concerns directly to Indonesia's President Joko Widodo. O'Neill made the comment on FM100's radio talk back show while responding to questions from the public about West Papua.

 “We are equally concerned about what is happening in West Papua,” he said.

 “We have expressed that directly to the highest authority including the President this year particularly the human rights issue and for autonomy.”

 O'Neill said he had written, as chair of the Pacific Islands Forum to President Widodo asking for a regional fact-finding team of leaders to visit West Papua to talk directly with the people themselves. “The response we received from Indonesia is they welcome such a dialogue and appreciative of our desire for West Papua have some more autonomy, whether that will be self-determination or not is something that can be worked on towards,” he said. The MSG Leaders Meeting has been postponed to a later date. (SOURCE: ISLANDS BUSINESS/PERCENTSPina News 26/05/2016 Fiji)



Reverend Socratez Yoman visits NZ

The chairman of the Papuan Baptist Church Alliance, Reverend Socratez Yoman says abuses against West Papuans by Indonesian security forces have not abated since his last visit to New Zealand ten years ago.



                                                       Photo RNZ
According to him, transmigration and Indonesian government policy have steadily left the Papua region's indigenous people marginalised demographically, culturally and economically. Reverend Socratez told Johnny Blades that despite the new president Joko Widodo vowing to help Papuans, the Indonesian state is distrusted. “Their character they never change and also their attitude never changes. They change their clothes their heart never changes. Papuans are undermined, they ignore Papuans. This is our direct experience, our daily experience. West Papua is dominated by migrants by Indonesians. A lot of military in Papua, they are removing, a genocide of local people. This is a humanitarian problem, as long as the Indonesian government continues to commit human rights abuses this is a humanitarian problem this is a global issue, a global concern. My concern is my people, the owners of the land how come they are treated like animals”. Socratez Yoman  Full transcript & Audio at

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201800467/west-papuan-plight-a-humanitarian-issue,-says-church-leader




Declaration for an Internationally Supervised Vote in West Papua - Westminster UK. May 3rd 2016

Video at   https://vimeo.com/166197514

An historic step on the road to freedom for West Papua was made in London today. At a meeting of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua in the Houses of Parliament, a new declaration was signed calling for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua.

Delegates came from around the world to attend this historic meeting on West Papua’s future. The meeting was briefed by parliamentarians, lawyers and academics, all of whom discussed and affirmed the West Papuan people’s fundamental right to self-determination. The declaration reads as follows:

We the undersigned Members of Parliament, being members of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua: I. Declare that continued human rights violations in West Papua are unacceptable. II. Warn that without international action the West Papuan people risk extinction. III. Reiterate the right of the people of West Papua to genuine self-determination. IV. Declare the 1969 ‘Act of Free Choice’ to be a gross violation of this principle. V. Call for an internationally supervised vote on self- determination in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions 1514 and 1541 (XV). Palace of Westminster, London, the 3rd of May, 2016….




Jakarta turns to Britain to explain Papua situation

(RNZI 16 May) An Indonesian government delegation has travelled to Britain to talk about West Papua to local MPs and church leaders. The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Luhut Pandjaitan, led the delegation. Its visit was organised hastily following the highly-publicised International Parliamentarians for West Papua summit in London two weeks ago which resulted in a call for an internationally supervised vote on West Papuan self-determination. Following the summit and its airing of concerns over ongoing human rights abuses against West Papuans, Jakarta has been anxious to explain its side of the story about Papua. To that effect, Mr Luhut's delegation met with a member of both the House of Lords and IPWP, Lord Harries, to talk about conditions in Papua.


Its not just to the UK that Jakarta has been sending delegations to counter the growing support for West Papua. Indonesia is considering strengthen its ties with South Pacific countries by appointing a special envoy to the region with a portfolio including West Papua. Indonesia sent a delegation to Fiji and PNG to strengthen bilateral relations with the countries in the South Pacific region.Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that Indonesia will be consistently present in the South Pacific by sending ministers to the 16 countries in the region."To Prime Minister Josaia Bainimarama and foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola I have conveyed that we will be consistently present in the region," he said during his visit to Fiji (Antara News 31 March).  This effort by Jakarta to






West Papuan leader’s barred entry ordered from the “top"

RNZI 30 May 2016

The secretary-general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says he was given no explanation why he was barred from entering Papua New Guinea.

Secretary general Octo Mote was travelling to Port Moresby to assist the Vanuatu and Solomon Islands governments in their representations on West Papua at the African, Carribean and Pacific summit this week.




The Secretary-General of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Octo Mote. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins

He had also been preparing for an upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting to deliberate on the Liberation Movement's bid for full MSG membership.

Mr Mote, who has a US passport, said that the two immigration officers who disallowed his entry were respectful but gave no explanation.

"These two gentlemen were just saying this is the order from high top. So I really don't know why they stop me there. I've been in and out so many times to Papua New Guinea, and I'm possessing all the legal process which is on-arrival visa."




West Papua report given to Ban ki Moon at Humanitarian Summit

25/05/2016,

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has been presented with the West Papua Fact Finding Mission Report titled "We Will Lose Everything" by PIANGO’s executive director, Emele Duituturaga. Duituturaga presented the report to Ban Ki Moon during day two of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. The report was received by the assistant Secretary General. Duituturaga who captured the handing over in a photograph said she was privileged to have had a brief exchange with Ban at the end of the summit. The handover comes after Duituturaga addressed the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) plenary on day one calling for United Nations intervention on human rights violations in West Papua. “PIANGO strongly advocates human-rights based approaches and we commit to upholding norms that safeguard humanity, specifically in relation to speaking out on violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws,” she said http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=199021449657465e2adfcf9e34a8bb




John Anari spoke at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

John Anari from the West Papua Liberation Organisation (WPLO) spoke at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the UN Economic & Social Council, and asked to put West Papua on the agenda of the Trusteeship Council, an action to get it to begin its duty promote the “self government or independence” of West Papua, such as putting West Papua on the list of the Decolonisation Committee.

UN Charter article 85 part 2: 

"The Trusteeship Council, operating under the authority of the General Assembly shall assist the General Assembly in carrying out these functions."

Please consider contacting the Economic & Social Council or its members asking them to respect the rule of law by putting the issue of West Papua, General Assembly resolution 1752, on the agenda of the Trusteeship Council……………..


http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/2016/Docs-updates/Statemen_Anari.pdf




West Papuan 'Morning Star' flag artists pressured to paint over mural in Darwin CBD

The artists who painted a mural depicting the West Papuan "Morning Star" flag on a wall in Darwin's CBD have been asked by the property owners to paint over it as a "matter of urgency" following the application of "external pressures".



PHOTO: The mural depicting the West Papuan 'Morning Star' flag was painted in June 2015. (ABC News: Stephanie Zillman)

In an email obtained by the ABC, an employee for Randazzo Properties told a representative from the artist group that the owners of the wall wanted the mural to be painted over this weekend and had contacted the neighbouring property owner to allow access. "Due to some external pressures I have been asked to see the wall painted out as a matter of urgency and have started putting things in place," the Randazzo Properties employee stated in the email.

Activists from Australians for a Free West Papua told the ABC they had been told by the same Randazzo Properties employee that the "external pressure" was the Indonesian consulate in Darwin………..
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-04/pressure-to-paint-over-west-papuan-flag-mural-in-darwin-cbd/7477968

One of Australia’s leading human rights organisations has spoken out in support of the retention of a mural in Darwin’s CBD that depicts the West Papuan "Morning Star" flag. The "Morning Star" flag is a defining symbol of the West Papuan independence movement, which calls for West Papuan independence from Indonesia.

Benedict Coyne President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) said, “ALHR is concerned by media reports alleging that the property owners have asked the artists to paint over the mural as a "matter of urgency" following the application of external pressures."


“The media has also reported that, while the Indonesian Consul in Darwin, Mr Andre Siregar, denies contacting the wall owner, he wrote to the Northern Territory Government in August 2015 to register his opposition to the depiction of the flag. Mr Siregar is also reported to have said that he believed there were about "two people" in Darwin who supported the West Papuan independence movement.”

Mr Coyne went on to say, “ALHR is concerned by allegations of any attempts to use external pressures to limit the rights of freedom of speech and expression in Australia. These rights are essential to a healthy and vibrant democracy.”

“It should be remembered that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate for things like referendums and independence as long as that advocacy does not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.” ………………

https://alhr.org.au/concerns-raised-alleged-external-pressure-remove-darwin-mural-depicting-west-papuan-morning-star-flag/



Freeport Owes Ten Trillion in Debt to Papua Government

Jubi 26 May 2016

Denpasar, Jubi – Head of Papua Energy and Mineral Resource Office Bangun Manurung said PT. Freeport Indonesia has failed to pay the water surface tax amouting to about Rp 10 trillion.

He said Freeport should have paid for the use of water surface since the signing of its second contract of work in 1991 to present. “What we asked is clear; it is very confirmed and clear. We are optimistic that the Tax Court would agree with us and could see this clearly. In my opinion the government’s credibility is tested,” he said after attending the meeting with the Special Committee on Freeport Issue of Papua Legislative Council that held in Nusa Dua-Kuta, Bali on last week. According to him, Freeport’s annual obligation to the local government is Rp 400 billion. If this amount was counted since 1991, the total amount would reach more than Rp 10 trillion,

“It should be Rp 10 trillion, but based on the tax legislation, it’s only counted for the last five years. So, it would approximately Rp 2.7 trillion. I am not sure whether our claim since 1991 would be counted or not. Well, about the legal aspect we don’t know. But we prepared all technical materials,” he said on Wednesday (25/5/2016). Though he had no idea about why Freeport filed a legal notice against Papua Provincial Government related to tax payment, he thought it is an obligation for Freeport to pay the water surface tax.

“If not, we have not considered yet for further solution. Regarding to the committee’s advise to Papua Provincial Government to present an expert, it’s a good idea. We will see the progress in the court. It’s very good to strengthen the bargain position of Papua Provincial Government whether it is related to the contract of work or regional regulation,” he said.

Meanwhile the First Deputy Chairman of Papua Legislative Council Edoardus Kaize said Freeport’s legal notice against Papua Provincial Government was not make sense, because it was filed when Papua Provincial Government demanded its rights. “Freeport should have a good ethics. It’s ridiculous if it filed a charge against the government. This company gets a permit from the government to conduct the mining operation in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, in particular Papua. Because of it did not run its obligation properly or did not want to pay its debts, then filed the legal notice against the government,” said Kaize.

According to him, instead of filing a charge, Freeport should fulfill its obligation by paying its debts of more than Rp 2.7 trillion to Papua Provincial Government.

“What it should pay is not for debts from decades. It is only for certain period. Freeport should not make it a problem to file a charge against the government,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)




Indonesian troop build-up in West Papua troubles PNG MPs

By PMC Editor -  June 2, 2016 By Freddy Mou in Port Moresby

More than 45,000 Indonesian soldiers have been moved to Wamena in the Highlands of West Papua region of Indonesia, which shares a common border with Papua New Guinea, the PNG Parliament has been told. The movement of soldiers have raised concerns from PNG parliamentarians about why soldiers have been moved there. Bro Governor Garry Juffa raised this in Parliament yesterday, asking the Defence Minister Fabian Pok whether he was aware of the movement. “The continuous build-up of military presence in that province should concern Papua New Guinea. Yet we don’t seem to have any knowledge of what is going on there,” says Juffa. However, Pok in response told Parliament that Indonesia had been a good friend of PNG and those movements must not be seen as a threat to PNG people. He said PNG must be considered a lucky country in a sense that PNG shared common borders with two of the “most powerful countries”, Indonesia and Australia. Pok said he had had meetings frequently with defence ministers from both countries and had never seen them as enemies but as friends. He said it was Indonesia’s “internal problems” that moved the military personnel closer to the border. “We really don’t have issues with Indonesia regarding security at the border.” Freddy Mou is news editor of Loop PNG.







Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.


AWPA’s response to opinion piece by spokesperson from Indonesian embassy Canberra. Re: Protecting human rights in Papua

http://dailypost.vu/opinion/letters_to_editor/re-protecting-human-rights-in-papua/article_13e350f0-5eec-5964-ab5a-f83b3e5b34fe.html#.V06lVNkntmw.facebook



Can Jokowi assuage Papuan woes?

http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2016/06/01/can-jokowi-assuage-papuan-woes.html



Mongabay Series: Indonesian Forests, Indonesian Palm Oil

https://news.mongabay.com/2016/06/indonesias-salim-group-linked-to-secret-palm-oil-concessions-in-papua/



Indigenous people and activists demonstrate against oil palm expansion in Sorong   https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=1413




Brimob and how the Yerisiam Gua people’s sago groves were cleared.

https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=1409



Indonesian crackdown on West Papuan independence protest

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/world/2016/05/14/indonesian-crackdown-west-papuan-independence-protest/14631480003240




GUEST BLOG: Maire Leadbetter – Jose Ramo-Horta cheerleader for Indonesia’s rule in West Papua

http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/05/18/guest-blog-maire-leadbeater-jose-ramo-horta-cheerleader-for-indonesias-rule-in-west-papua/




Match words with action on Papua abuses

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/05/19/match-words-with-action-papua-abuses.html



FAREWELL YET AGAIN TO ANOTHER PAPUAN LEADER

http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/bahasa/englishedition/133991-robert-jitmau-papua-death








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1) Artist asked to remove separatist Papuan flag mural in Darwin

June 6, 2016, 3:27 pm
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2) Indonesian consul says he’s unaware of ‘pressure’ to paint over West Papua mural

3) Papua Governor to be Assertive to Maintain Security

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/06/artist-asked-to-remove-separatist-papuan-flag-mural-in-darwin-indonesia-accused-of-applying-pressure.html

1) Artist asked to remove separatist Papuan flag mural in Darwin

Liza Josephine The Jakarta Post  Jakarta | Mon, June 6 2016 | 07:55 pm

An artist who painted the Free Papua Movement flag on the wall of a building in Darwin, Australia, has reportedly been asked by the building owner to erase the mural. The request was allegedly made due to "external pressures”.

Randazzo Properties ( RP ), the owner of the building, expects the mural to be removed from the wall this week, Kompas.com reported, citing a written statement as quoted from AustraliaPlus, on Monday. RP is said to have contacted the owners of buildings located in proximity to the wall to request access so that the mural can be removed.

“Due to external pressure, I have requested that the mural be removed as soon as possible [...],” a Randazzo Properties employee wrote in an email.


Free West Papua activists in Australia admitted that they had been informed of the mural removal request made by RP. The activists allege that the “external party” mentioned by RP was the Indonesian Consulate General in Darwin.

The Indonesian Consul in Darwin, Andre Siregar, claims not to have had any contact with the owner of the building in question. However, the consul admitted that in August 2015 he had written a letter to the Northern Territory government voicing objection to the separatist mural.

While claiming to respect freedom of expression in Australia, Andre considered that physically, the mural was located in close proximity to both the Indonesian Consulate General and Australian Parliament buildings, potentially raising questions regarding the level of Australian support for the Free Papuan Movement among Indonesian officials who visited the country.


Andre said there were two people in Darwin who support the Free Papuan Movement, including the mural artist, Juni Mills.

Mills claims that the wall has been used by different artists to convey various messages for years, adding that the mural was designed to show solidarity between Papuans and Indigenous Australians.

“This mural shows respect, love and solidarity for West Papuan people,” said Mills.

“People cannot raise the West Papua flag in West Papua. They will be killed or imprisoned or punished,” said the artist. “So we painted the flag here as a form of solidarity [...] We acknowledge their struggle,” she said.

The main problem, Mills further said, was that the Indonesian government did not want the struggle of the Free Papuan Movement to spread abroad. “They want to block information on anything that has occurred in West Papua,” said Mills. The artist said the mural was painted in June 2015.

Mills believed that the order to remove the mural was related to a conference to be held soon at the Charles Darwin University.

The Indonesian conference will invite academics, researches, lecturers and students of different disciplines to discuss the latest information on developments in Indonesia. 

On the issue of the mural, RP executives have not yet provided a statement. Several activists gathered at the location of the mural on Saturday to protest the removal request. ( elf )

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/06/indonesian-consul-says-hes-unaware-of-pressure-to-paint-over-west-papua-mural

2) Indonesian consul says he’s unaware of ‘pressure’ to paint over West Papua mural

Australian Associated Press Monday 6 June 2016 17.01 AEST

Artists’ group says it has been told to paint over ‘show of solidarity’ between Indigenous Australians and West Papuans

Indonesia’s consul in Darwin has denied awareness of any “external pressure” put on the owners of a building housing a mural supporting West Papua to paint it over.

Andre Siregar on Monday tweeted “I am unaware of any external pressure. Good neighbours & friends are always open to discussions”.


His comments came in response to news over the weekend that an employee from Randazzo Properties emailed the artists’ group that painted the mural in the central business district to say that “due to some external pressures I have been asked to see the wall painted out as a matter of urgency”.

Cindy Watson, an activist with the Free West Papua movement in the Northern Territory, said the employee had said the Indonesian consulate was driving the pressure.

The mural was agreed upon and painted last June, and depicts one hand reaching from the Aboriginal flag towards another hand from beneath the West Papuan Morning Star flag, which is associated with the independence movement.

“This is a show of solidarity between Aboriginal people and West Papua people; now what part do they [the Indonesian government] play in that?” artist and Larrakia elder June Mills said.

“That’s just bullying tactics, that’s sticking their nose in where it’s not required ... if they’re finding that mural offensive or in your face that’s because its bringing to people’s attention the plight.”

Siregar told the ABC he had written to the NT government in August registering his opposition to the mural and said its proximity to the consulate and to Parliament House had raised questions from visiting Indonesian officials over support in Australia for the West Papuan independence movement.

“I think the Indonesian government are feeling they’re under pressure and they’re trying to pressure either the [NT] government or the property owners because the Morning Star is something they’re actually more afraid of than they’d like to give it credit for,” Watson said.

“What it implies is that they’re more worried about West Papua than people realise.”


Media and human rights access to West Papua is still strictly controlled by the Indonesian government and activist groups are concerned human rights violations are going unreported in the province.

Benedict Coyne, the president of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, said it was concerned by the reports of external pressure being applied to paint over the mural.

“ALHR is concerned by allegations of any attempts to use external pressures to limit the rights of freedom of speech and expression in Australia,” Coyne said. “These rights are essential to a healthy and vibrant democracy. 

“It should be remembered that the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate for things like referendums and independence as long as that advocacy does not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

“If residents of the Northern Territory wish to draw attention to the plight of West Papuans who are engaged in a struggle for self-determination and do so in accordance with Australian laws, there should be no external pressure to silence them.”

No one at Randazzo Properties was available to comment on Monday afternoon and it’s not yet clear when the mural might be removed or papered over.


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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papua-governor-to-be-assertive-to-maintain-security/

3) Papua Governor to be Assertive to Maintain Security

4 June 2016

Sentani, Jubi – Demonstrations by local organizations and community groups are leading to national disintegration, said Second Deputy Chairman of the Jayapura Regional Legislative Council.

In a statement, Second Deputy Chairman Kornelis Yanuaring urged the local government to take assertive action against these demonstrations, saying they have been disruptive to many parties.

“Local governments should not just stay and let this problem to persist. An assertive action should be taken to overcome this problem because it has victimized many things, both lives, prosperity and other public facilities,” Yanuaring told Jubi at the Jayapura Regional Parliament’s Secretary Office on Thursday (2/6/2016).


He also said the local government should make coordination with the Regional Heads Communication Forum because the forum is an instrument which is able to formulate and find solution to keep the Jayapura Regency safe and secured.

“Indonesian Military, Police, District Attorney, Court as well as Regional Legislative Council are included into the Regional Heads Communication Forum. This forum could be applied to solve the problem that soon or later could disturb the national integrity and unity,” he asserted.

At separated place, Jayapura Regent Matius Awoitau said the Papua Provincial Government should take an assertive action as well to counteract this situation.

“What was currently happened is people conduct demonstration on their purpose, it means, as local government, we could do nothing. The Provincial Government should also take an assertive action to prevent people in doing demonstration as soon as possible,” said the regent. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
↧

1) West Papua flag mural in Darwin remains intact despite criticism from Indonesian Consul

June 7, 2016, 1:47 am
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2) Letter to Hon Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs

3) Clarification on West Papua report to UN sec-gen
4) Foreign Fractions Are Behind Free Papua Issue, Councillor Says
5) Parliament Conduct FGD on Violence Against Women and Children

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-07/jakarta-does-not-like-west-papua-flag-mural/7484178


1) West Papua flag mural in Darwin remains intact despite criticism from Indonesian Consul

By Stephanie Zillman Updated about an hour ago

The Indonesian Consul to Darwin Andre Siregar has denied he pressured the owner of a wall to paint over a mural which features the West Papuan flag, but said he had reported its existence to Jakarta.
"It is something that we respect, we have to respect, but please note that it, itself is offensive to us," Mr Siregar said.
Mr Siregar said as the Indonesian Government's representative in Darwin he had conveyed Indonesia's position on West Papua.
"Of course that is a flag of a separatist group - they want West Papua to be their own country," Mr Siregar said.
"They ignore the 2.5 million Papuans who have gone to the election and voted, and the 3.9 million Papuans that live there.
"So as the government representative in Darwin I have conveyed this situation to the NT Government, [and] we don't want them to be ill-informed."
Mr Siregar told the ABC he was the last to find about the "external pressure" and urgency to remove the mural.
"I guess I found out last, that someone feels pressured, and someone wants their walls clean, someone had to choose someone to blame," Mr Siregar said.
Mr Siregar said the building's owner - Carlo Randazzo, the honorary Vice-Consul to Italy - had contacted him about the issue last week.
"He just said 'we're going to clean it up', I said 'it's your wall, it's your wall' - and he just gave me some updates regarding where it's been with those people who have painted on it.
"I've also casually spoken to Peter Styles about this, and he as the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, would take note of that. But again I have not really followed up on this discussion," Mr Siregar said.

Issue flared after 'external pressure'

The issue of the large depiction of the West Papuan flag in the city's centre flared after the artists who painted it in June 2015, were told to paint over it by an employee of Randazzo Properties.
The email to the artists cited "external pressures" as the reason for the sudden, urgent removal of the mural.
The mural itself also depicts the Aboriginal flag, and was painted as a symbol of solidarity between the two groups.
Mr Siregar said the Indonesian Consulate respected freedom of expression in Australia, and he had explained to visiting Indonesian officials the West Papuan flag mural did not necessarily reflect the position of Australians.
"Now after eight months there are many Territorians who also came to me and asked me 'what's with that flag?'," Mr Siregar claimed.
Mr Siregar also said Indonesia was working at improving its human rights record.
"If there's some concerns about human rights, as a developing country we're all striving to make sure there's no more human rights violations, even if there were violations, we are committed to rectifying those mistakes."

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2) Letter to Hon Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs

West Papua Action Auckland and West Papua Action Canterbury, 

Box 68419, Auckland


7 June 2016

Media  Information:  The New Zealand Government must address the issue of escalating political repression in West Papua. In the last month over two thousand people have been arrested merely for taking part in peaceful protest action.  

We believe New Zealand can no longer justify standing aside or making bland general statements  as has been past practice. These mass arrests are a shocking breach of the right of the people of West Papua to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. New Zealand must not  ignore the ominous developments taking place in our Pacific neighbourhood. 

 Below is a letter sent off yesterday to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Maire Leadbeater 027 4 436-957 and Brian Turner  021 129 4305


Hon Murray McCully,

Minister of Foreign Affairs,    Parliament Buildings Wellington.                                                                                                                                                                     

Fax 04 817 6510

Dear Murray McCully,

West Papua Action Auckland and West Papua Action Canterbury  are  compelled to write to you concerning the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua,   particularly the latest arrests of peaceful demonstrators and the further al escalation of intimidation and threats to those who want to express their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

In your responses to our earlier appeals you have commented that ‘the New Zealand Government does not condone the use of violence by any party in Papua, and we condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur.’

While this is an important statement,  we believe that the  present circumstances require a  more specific response.  As we read the current situation, the Indonesian security forces are using a variety of methods all aimed at the same outcome: closing down the democratic space for anyone to express support for any alternative future for West Papua. It is also apparent that the latest repressive moves have not deterred West Papuan people from peaceful activism.

As you know earlier in May there were large demonstrations held in parallel with meetings about West Papua in London and Vanuatu. Arrests across the territory at this time were estimated to be as high as 1800.   At the end of the month another large series of rallies were held with similar themes: participants asked for the ULMWP to be given full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and called for the release of political prisoners. A conference of the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States) was taking place at the same time in Papua New Guinea.  Once again hundreds of young demonstrators were arrested; some at the rallies and others prior to the event as they handed out leaflets promoting the action.

There is another development which we find deeply disturbing and that is the staging of a counter pro-Indonesian rally in the capital, Jayapura.  There were no security force restrictions placed on this  demonstration organised by a new group called itself the People’s Front Defenders of the Homeland  (BARA NKRI). This group  called for an end to support for independence, and according to reports also stated that the West Papuan people no longer own their land.  We understand that the leaders of the rally were, with one exception, migrants from other parts of Indonesia. At the rally a Morning Star flag was burned.

We believe that there is a very strong likelihood that this rally was orchestrated by Indonesian authorities, but whatever the case it indicates a state of high tension in West Papua. It is also ominously reminiscent of similar organised rallies which took place in East Timor in the last years of Indonesian occupation there.

Mr McCully, we urge you to speak out on behalf of the New Zealand Government about the recent blatant abuses of the rights to freedom of speech and assembly in West Papua.   This is our responsibility as a neighbour and an upholder of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the United Nations Charter.

Yours sincerely,
Maire Leadbeater

Brian Turner

For West Papua Action Auckland and West Papua Action Canterbury


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3) Clarification on West Papua report to UN sec-gen
15 minutes ago

The office of the United Nations Secretary-General denies that he met with a representative of West Papua at the World Humanitarian Summit.
Following the Istanbul summit a fortnight ago, there have been regional media reports that Ban Ki Moon was given a West Papua fact-finding mission report titled "We Will Lose Everything".
A spokesman for Mr Ban, Stephane Dujarric has given clarification.
"Contrary to some media accounts, there was no meeting between the Secretary-General and any West Papua representative in Istanbul," he said.
"We also have no record of any documents being officially handed over to the Secretary-General."
However, the executive director of the Pacific Islands for Non-Governmental Organizations confirmed she met unofficially with Ban Ki Moon at one of the roundtable meetings, and presented his assistant with the report.
Emele Duituturaga said she hoped that Mr Ban would pay attention to Papua.
"The Pacific is calling for it. Not just in the Pacific. There are meetings of parliamentarians in the United Kingdom. It's now become a world issue," she said.
"It's very heartening to see Ban Ki Moon denounce violations in other parts of the world, and it's just a matter of time. He needs to pay attention to the issue of West Papua and send an independent fact-finding mission so that we can all establish what's really going on."
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4) Foreign Fractions Are Behind Free Papua Issue, Councillor Says
6 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Third Deputy Chairman of Papua Legislative Council, Yanni suggested that outsiders or foreign countries were behind calls for Papuan independence.
Further she warned about the game played by foreign parties by providing support to organizations voicing independence for Papua.
“Papua has natural resources abundantly. I am not sure if these foreign fractions were sincere in helping that organization. It must have other intention behind it. To theses foreign fractions we must be alert,” said Yanni on Saturday (4/6/2016).

According to her, many often mentioned in media social that several countries in Europe, Pacific and America endorse Papua’s separation from Indonesia.
“I am also sure it is connected with Freeport. The more criticism over Freeport, the more we undermine and disturb Freeport, the more disturbance we got in Papua because Freeport was established through a political deal,” she said.
She said there is a scenario played behind the existence of organization undermining the integrity of Indonesia. Therefore she reminded people for not being easily provoked and stay united.
“If people is united, we would not easily be compromised. I am sure there are foreign fractions behind all of these. Everyone wants a peaceful Papua. It’s our responsibility,” she said.
Meanwhile in his oration, Deputy Chairman of Bara NKRI Kumar said the Act of Free Choice (Pepera) is final. The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia or death is clear! Do not let such culprits for taking benefit and popularity from the world “freedom”.
“The security force was decisive. Only few people or groups expressed the voice of freedom. Indonesia has been independent since long time ago,” said Kumar.
Further he said no more distinction of ethnic, race and religion. But how all levels of society could live in peace on this land. The security force must be assertive towards few people or groups who express the voice of independence. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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5) Parliament Conduct FGD on Violence Against Women and Children
6 June 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legislative Council held a focus group discussion on the issue of violence against women and children with related stakeholders including the community leaders at Jayapura Municipality, Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency, Papua Police representative and other related offices at a hotel in Jayapura City, Saturday (4/6/2016).
“We think this is an important moment and the result of meeting as well as inputs collected during this FGD would become references of the relevant commission as well as related offices in Papua Provincial Government. In the future, we could include it in the regulation once it need to be revised,” said Tinal during the break.
According to him, inputs and feedbacks collected through the FGD could also become an evaluation, in particular regarding to mother and child protection or something needs to be improved or revised concerning to mother and child protection.

“This is to reduce the number of violence cases against mothers or women and children. Women are fundamental foundation in the society, meanwhile children are next generation that must obtain protection and well protected whether through Regional Regulation or another,” he said.
Through the FGD, he said the parliament found that the violence against women and children in Papua is still very high; it’s not only occurred in the urban areas but in the remote areas as well.
“Therefore it needs protection, to protect a family from violence and to create a happy family,” he said.
At the same place, the Heat of Papua Provincial Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency Anike Rawar said until no the number of violence against women and children in Papua is relatively high. But the agency has not get the accurate data yet.
“I am not certain about the exact number, but the cases are increased. In order to minimize the number, we could not go without the community’s supports,” he said.
According to her, the agency will keep the coordination with both municipal and regional governments and socialize the program related to the issue of violence against women and children. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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PIANGO hopes UN sec-gem will act on West Papua

June 7, 2016, 1:39 pm
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PIANGO hopes UN sec-gem will act on West Papua

5:04 am today
The executive director of the Pacific Islands for Non-Governmental Organizations hopes that the United Nations Secretary-General will act on growing concern about ongonig rights violations in West Papua.
  • Listen duration3:12
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1) West Papuan conflict on Late Night Live

June 8, 2016, 1:23 pm
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2) Papua to Host International Conference on Ecotourism

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1) West Papuan conflict on Late Night Live

with Phillip Adams on RN
Wednesday 8th June


Summary


The free West Papua movement hopes to see a UN resolution within two years to enable a vote on independence.
IMAGE: JUNI KRISWANTO/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgQk7AA2O7?play=true

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HTTP://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2016/06/08/199777762/PAPUA-TO-HOST-INTERNATIONAL-CONFERENCE-ON-ECOTOURISM
WEDNESDAY, 08 JUNE, 2016 | 06:42 WIB
2) Papua to Host International Conference on Ecotourism

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua provincial government will host an international conference on biodiversity, ecotourism and the creative economy from September 7 to September 10, 2016 in Papua, which is well-known as the home of the Bird of Paradise.
Head of Papua Provinces Environmental Management Agency Noak Kapisa said on Tuesday that the conference is aimed at evaluating the potential of biodiversity and ecotourism in Papua.
"In addition, the conference is also aimed at promoting ecosystem services and culture as assets of ecotourism, as well as driving the creative economy based upon biodiversity and ecotourism to support the welfare of the indigenous people of Papua," he stated.
According to Noak, through the conference Papua will display its advances in promoting a sustainable economy.
"The potential of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Papua is the basis for the development of increased prosperity for Papua natives (OAP)," he emphasized.
He added that Papuas potential needs to be assessed, managed and packaged in order to be promoted through creative economic development and ecotourism to maintain the dignity and quality of life for the local people.
"It is also meant to eradicate poverty, ignorance, backwardness, isolation, marginalization, injustice and death," he said.
He added that the right policy is required for the development of Papua, so that there will be no missteps in the development process of Papua, which would be detrimental in the future.
The international conference of biodiversity and ecotourism was planned to be carried out with seminars and exhibitions which would be located at the office of Papua`s governor and Cenderawasih Gymnasium.
 ANTARA
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Indonesia, Australia agree to enhance intelligence, counterterrorism cooperation

June 9, 2016, 2:39 am
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Indonesia, Australia agree to enhance intelligence, counterterrorism cooperation
Marguerite Afra Sapiie The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Thu, June 9 2016 | 10:49 am
Jakarta and Canberra have agreed to enhance counterterrorism cooperation following a meeting in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.
The "Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Council on Law and Security" is a follow-up to the first meeting of the same name held in December 2015 in Indonesia, where delegations from both countries discussed ways they could coordinate to address international security threats.
Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the head of Indonesian delegation, said the meeting was fruitful, particularly in addressing terrorism threats and capacity enhancement for specific programs.
"The meeting is important for both countries to assess the gainful achievements over the year [of cooperation]," Luhut said in a statement.
As in the previous year, a number of security and law issues such counterterrorism measures, cyber security, and intelligence sharing operations were the focus of the meeting.
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, National Counterterrorism Agency ( BNPT ) chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian and the Law and Human Rights Ministry's director general of immigration, Ronny F. Sompie, were among the Indonesian delegation.
At the meeting Luhut shared Indonesia's success in mapping the global terrorist group Islamic State’s ( IS ) movements in Southeast Asia, where the group intends to establish a caliphate.
Information sharing with Australia regarding the matter was ongoing, Luhut said, adding that he was optimistic about the capability of both countries to tackle the issue.
Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the enhancement of cooperation was important as Indonesia and Australia faced the same threats from the Middle East-based terrorist groups that had also attacked their allies abroad.
"This [cooperation] is also our chance to learn about law enforcement as well as intelligence sharing, and we will continue to collaborate," Keenan said.
Meanwhile, Australian Attorney-General Senator George Brandis, who chaired the country's delegation alongside Keenan, asserted that both countries were committed to combating terrorism financing, deradicalization, as well as cyber security.
In addition, taking the cooperation to the next level would serve both Jakarta and Canberra's interests in improving measures to prevent terror attacks in their own territories, Brandis said.
In relation to a transfer of funds from Australia to Indonesia allegedly used to finance terrorist groups, Luhut said officials of both governments were now in the process of investigating the matter.
Both delegations said the second meeting had once again resulted in concrete outcomes. ( dmr )


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1) Factions Attempt to “Sabotage” Government in Papua, says Councillor

June 9, 2016, 2:17 pm
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2) Governor and Council Speaker Accused of Orchestrating Protests

3) Papuans Become Minority at the Faculty of Medicine Uncen

4) Freeport Tax Payment Needed to Support National Games in Papua
5) REI Papua Marks 5,500 Units of Houses in 2016
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1) Factions Attempt to “Sabotage” Government in Papua, says Councillor
8 June 2016



                                            Demosntration held by Bara NKRI on Abepura – Roy Ratumakin

Jayapura, Jubi – Deputy Chairman of the Commission I of the Papua Legislative Council for Government, Political, Legal and Human Rights Affairs, Orwan Tolli Wone warned of the rise of many civil organizations in Papua recently.
He said those organizations have political interests and were established to counter other organizations seen opposed to the Indonesian government.

He also said there appeared to be an attempt to ‘disrupt’ the government in Papua under the administration of Governor Lukas Enembe and Vice Governor Klemen Tinal.
“I think there is a faction who wants stir up the situation in Papua, looking for attention. It might want to disturb the government in Papua. It was stirred; has political interest. It wasn’t sincere. It has particular motive. The groups might be also established to counter other Papuan struggle organization, such as West Papua National Committee (KNPB),” said Tolli Wone on last weekend.
He said he wouldn’t question it when those organizations were existed for long time but it came lately coincidently with the moment of political year of Papua, ahead to simultaneously Regional Heads Election at municipal and regional levels in 2017 and Governor election in 2018.
“This is Papuan political year. People do not easily be provoked. Keep maintain the unitary and security. There are those who would only create the horizontal conflict among Papuan people,” he said.
If it was to maintain the unitary of the Republic Indonesia and people’s security, the civil organizations were needless. People could do it individually. In addition, the Military and Police are there to ensure the public security and safety as well as the unitary of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Military and Police are to maintain the unitary of the Republic of Indonesia, while those organizations are recently came. It’s different with the existing organizations, although it was opposite to the country, such as KNPB. It has already existed and rooted among the people in the entire regencies/municipalities in Papua,” he said.
However, he added, KNPB was restricted in doing demonstration since it’s considered as illegal and against Pancasila, thought the Indonesian Law admits that every citizens have rights to express their aspiration into public according to the procedure. “There are the Law Number 9/1998 on expressing the aspiration in the public and the Indonesian Police Regulation Number 7/2012 on service procedure in securing of freedom expression in the public. The regulations are clear but violated for long time. Meanwhile other organizations were permitted. It is discrimination,” he added.
Meanwhile the Commission I member Laurenzus Kadepa said some particular fractions might want to create the conflict situation in Papua on purpose. “There are certain culprits attempting to create conflict among the people. It is not only between Papuans and non-Papuans but also between the indigenous Papuans,” told Kadepa. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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2) Governor and Council Speaker Accused of Orchestrating Protests
9 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe and the Chairman of the Papua Legislative Council Yunus Wonda have been accused of orchestrating recent demonstrations.
The accusations were made by the alleged attackers of Mrs. Henderika Kowenip, who was hurt during a recent protest.

First Deputy of Regional Leadership Council of Democrat Party Papua (DPD PD Papua), Corolus Bolly, said he strongly condemned the attack against Kowenip, Coordinator Deputy of DPD PD Papua, on Thursday (2/6/2016) at around 09:00 Papua time near to Trikora Square, Abepura.
Kowenip suffered bruises and wounds on her back and face.
“Public Hospital Dok II Jayapura whom conducted medical examination will further explain about Mrs. Kowenip’s health condition,” Corolus Bolly through a release on last week to Jubi in Jayapura.
Bolly said he asked both Papua Police and Jayapura Municipal Police to immediately investigate and arrest the perpetrators. “We really want the perpetrators would be punished on their crime in accordance to the Law,” he said.
Regarding to accusations levelled by Kowenip’s attackers against Enembe and Wonda, Bolly asserted as leaders, both persons must present among their people without disrespecting their ethnicity, religion, race or particular groups.
“As regional leaders, it is their obligation to pay attention, facilitate and serve all interest and dynamic of people living in the entire regions of Papua Province by continuing to keep stability and peace in people’s life.
Second Deputy Chairman of DPD PD Papua, Habel Rumbiak, similarly said about dynamic of politic that was occurred recently. He said both Lukas Enembe and Yunus Wonda always appealed to people to respect the Indonesian law and not being anarchy in doing demonstrations.
“People should respect any differences on political view. It shouldn’t become an instrument to divide and create conflict between one and another groups that at the end would lead to separation,” he said,
He added together we should maintain the unitary and integrity as well as lead to separation,” he said.
He added together we should maintain the unitary and integrity as well as stability, security and peace to create a conducive situation in working. “All of these are to materialize the movement towards Stand up, Independent and Prosperous Papua,” he said. (Alexander Loen/rom)
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3) Papuans Become Minority at the Faculty of Medicine Uncen


9 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura, Jubi – The enrollment of indigenous Papuan students at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cenderawasih (Uncen) has decreased in recent years, a student leader said.
Non-Papuan students currently dominate the faculty that was initially built to increase the number of indigenous doctors to be placed in remote areas.
“Furthermore, the university is currently implementing the online system for new student recruitment. It makes the opportunity of Papuan students is getting smaller,” Benyamin Lagowan, Chairman of Student Executive Body of the Faculty of Medicine (BEM FK), told Jubi on Wednesday (8/6/2016).
He explained based on data collected by BEM FK in 2016, since 2003 to 2015, the number of students at the Faculty of Medicine iwas 1,968, consisting of 1,035 non-Papuans and 889 Papuans.
“It is not including the number of indigenous students who resigned due to their inability to adapt; change their major study or encounter economic constraints,” he said.
Lagowan explained at the beginning this faculty was prioritized for indigenous Papuans with the percentage of 67:33, but since 2008 the situation has reversed. Even in recruitment in 2012, the percentage of Papuans and non-Papuans reached to 32:68 percent.
“The explosion of students was occurred between 2007 and 2014. It was assumed the number of students at the faculty was averaged 150 students for each year,” he said.
Based on the existing data analysis, Lagowan lamented with the change of policy on the student enrolment at the Faculty of Medicine, because at the beginning, the faculty is aimed to prepare and promote the indigenous Papuans, particularly to fulfill the gap of medical specialists at the outer, remote and farthest areas at Papua Province.
“We are from BEM FK urge the Rector of the University of Cenderawasih to prioritize the indigenous Papuans in student recruitment through SBMPTN program and local selection that would be held in June according to its initial purpose of its establishment, namely to reach percentage of 80 percent for indigenous Papuans and 20 percent for non-Papuans,” he said.
Some times ago, the Rector of the University of Cenderawasih, Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka asserted he have repeatedly confirmed to the protesters that the university authorities would continue to maintain and prioritize the indigenous Papuans. “Moreover in the local selection, we must prioritize the indigenous Papuans, and I have proved it since 2015. The issue is currently being exaggerated like this. The indigenous Papuans becomes the students of Uncen is my priority,” he asserted. (Abeth You/rom)
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4) Freeport Tax Payment Needed to Support National Games in Papua
9 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – The 22nd National Sports Week to be hosted by Papua in 2020 will require massive funding, including from intensified tax revenue collection and regional incomes.
One such important source of tax revenue is Freeport, said the Chairman of Hanura Fraction of the Papua Legislative Council who also the Chairman of Special Committee on Freeport Case, Yan Permenas Mandenas.
Mandenas said the local government would possibly apply intensified regional tax collection in order to support this event.

“We think the intensified of Freeport taxes is the important case to support the implementation of the sports event, particular the water surface taxes,” said Permenas on few days ago.
According to him, the capacity of regional fiscal is not able to support Papua in making preparation as the host of event. Therefore, both Papua Provincial Government and Papua Legislative Council considered finding the existing budget resources to support this preparation.
“Therefore, starting from now it is necessary to improve the budget intensity or tax revenue from the mining sector, in particular Freeport, it can be very helpful. We do not want to only relying on the National and Regional Budgets, but also the Regional Income (PAD),” he said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Commission V of Papua Legislative Council for Sports Affairs, Nason Uti, said Papua needs about IDR 10 trillion and 360 million to construct and renovate the sports venue. “We keep trying to propose the budget assistance to the Central Government, whether through related commission at the Indonesian House of Representatives and related ministries as well,” said Uti.
According to him, Freeport has covered the amounted IDR 300 billion in provision of Mimika Sport Center. This location would become a sport venue during the National Sports Week in Papua. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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5) REI Papua Marks 5,500 Units of Houses in 2016
9 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Regional Executive Council of Real Estate Indonesia (DPD REI) is seeking to build 5,500 houses in 2016, mostly the subsidized ones.
“We are targeting for 5,500 units, in which 4,600 units are subsidized houses through House Financing Facility Program (FLPP), the Chairwoman of DPD REI Papua Nelly Suryani said in Jayapura on Wednesday (8/6/2016).
She said until the end of May 2016, REI Papua was only able realizing 26 percent of their target. “From January to May 2016, we have built 1,200 units of houses,” she said.
However, she admitted they would encounter several obstacles in pursuing the target, including the consumers’ purchasing power that predicted to be reduced by mid-year.
“Another factor that potentially affected the target achievement is school and religious holidays, in which the low-income community would more prioritize their needs at that time to cause the reduction of market absorption,” she said.
She said, the Central Government’s Policy that want facilitating various types of investment have not been positively responded by the local government that hampering the process of development.
“At regional level, many have not yet recognized about the simplification of permit, they still use the old local regulation,” she said.
Further, she said the lack of electricity supplies is also affecting the housing construction; since the Electricity State Company in Jayapura is currently struggling with power deficit making many houses constructed by REI have not yet to get the electricity supplies. (*/rom)
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In Canberra, the Coordinating Minister for Politics group protested

June 9, 2016, 4:31 pm
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic. Original bahasa link at
http://tabloidjubi.com/2016/06/09/di-canberra-rombongan-menko-polhukam-didemo/

In Canberra, the Coordinating Minister for Politics group protested




Indonesian student at ANU, Canberra joined supporters of the Free Papua while doing demonstration against Papuan human rights team formed by Coordinating Minister for Politics - Jubi

Jayapura, Jubi - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security (Coordinating Minister for Politics) Luhut B. Panjaitan along romobongannya greeted by protests at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra by a group of supporters of the Free Papua Movement.

Legal and Security Affairs is scheduled to speak in the forum "Solving Security Sssues in Indonesia" on Thursday (06.09.2016) at ANU greeted by about eight supporters of the Free Papua with posters and chants rejecting the team formed by the Coordinating Minister for Politics for solving Rights Man in Papua. In addition to supporting Papua Merdeka, a number of Indonesian students in the university seemed to join the demonstrators.

"We reject this Luhut formation team, we want a fact-finding mission recommended by the Pacific Islands Forum who come to Papua. And Indonesia, must communicate with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to resolve the Papua issue, “explains Ronny Kareni, one of the supporters of the Free Papua movement in Canberra.


In this demonstration, attended by Rex Rumakiek, one of the five negotiators agreed by ULMWP.

"ULMWP is representative and legitimate institutions to represent the people and the people of Papua," said Rex Rumakiek.




Demonstrations supporting the Free Papua movement in front of ANU, Canberra refused HAM Papua problem solving team formed the Coordinating Minister for Politics - Jubi

Coordinating Minister for Politics, according Kareni, because in the demo by supporters of Papua Merdeka, opted out of the room through another door.

In the group's Coordinating Minister for Politics, appears also the National Police, Gen. Badrodin Haiti, Head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), Irjenpol Tito Karnavian and Papua Police Chief, Paul Irjenpol Waterpauw. Also in this group, three men participated Papua, Lien Maloali, Matius Murib and Marinus Yaung. (*)
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Papua is Not Indonesia’s Palestine

June 10, 2016, 2:34 am
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/muhammad-zulfikar-rakhmat/papua-is-not-indonesias-p_b_10358228.html
Papua is Not Indonesia’s Palestine
 06/09/2016 03:52 pm ET
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat Ph.D researcher and freelance journalist
Last month, the Free Papua Movement held a meeting in London, attended by a number of lawyers, parliamentarians, and activists. In the main, the meeting discussed the land of Papua, which the delegates believe has been occupied illegally by the Indonesian government since it took over from the Dutch in 1963.


However, this is not a new concern. The same contention has been voiced repeatedly by the Free Papua Movement. Moreover, it has become the subject of much debate by many parties. Some even believe that the issue of Papua is identical to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. Recently, the Free Papua Movement’s main figure, Benny Wenda, published an article questioning Indonesia’s support of Palestine, but not West Papua. Nonetheless, by exploring the historical, social, economics, and political contexts of the Papuan issue, three main reasons can be identified as to why equating the issue of Papua with that of Palestine is absurd.


First, the recognition of Papua as part of Indonesia is not determined by illegal occupation or violence against civilians. The acknowledgement was achieved through the referendum Act of Free Choice, known as Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat (PEPERA). This process was accepted by the United Nations with Resolution 2504 in 1969, in which 82 member states agreed, 30 abstained and zero disagreed.

History demonstrates that the tension that occurred at that time was actually between the Indonesian government and the Dutch colonialists, who were adamant to leave Papua. Jakarta even received support from the local populations of Papua, and it was reported that they cooperated to end Dutch occupation.


Second, since becoming part of Indonesia, every Papuan is afforded the same rights as any other citizen of the country. Every five years, Papuans democratically elect their leaders and heads of the regions. In fact, following the reform in 1998, Papua was granted a Special Autonomy status; whereby 70 percent of oil and gas royalties are directed towards the well-being of Papuan people. This fact highlights the difference between Papua and Palestine.


Third, unlike Israel’s inhumane occupation of Palestine, whereby social institutions such as schools are frequently attacked, the government in Jakarta exerts efforts to develop human resources in Papua. Currently, the education in Papua, from elementary to high school, can be enjoyed for free. Through the Secondary Education Affirmation Program (ADEM), Indonesia offers scholarships to outstanding students in Papua to continue their studies in high-rank schools. Up to 2015, ADEM has sent 1047 students to various regions to attend better schools. Furthermore, scholarships are available for high school graduates to continue to university, known as ADIK. It is reported that 434 students received ADIK last year.

In addition, the government offers graduate-level scholarships through the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP). These are allocated to the largest number of students in Papua and West Papua; as many as 163 individuals, compared with other regions. Besides education, the government is also pouring resources into Papua’s infrastructure development. For example, a 4,325-kilometre Trans-Papua Highway is currently under construction. A railway and a power plant are also being developed.


Undeniably, these three reasons demonstrate that the political, social, and economic circumstances of Papuan issue cannot be equated with what is currently taking place between Israel and Palestine. However, it also cannot be denied that the development in Papua is facing challenges. Data from the UN reveals that the biggest obstacle faced by Papuans today is the lack of human resources. Gender inequality, especially the lack of women’s rights to poverty and high dropout rates, remains an acute issue. In the health domain, maternal and infant mortality rates remain relatively high. Even the number of HIV-affected individuals in Papua is fifteen times higher than the national average. Unfortunately, these social predicaments are often untouched and covered by security issues. Instead of resolving the development and social issues, the government is divided between issues of security and violence.

Until today, at least three factors make Papua identical in terms of violence. First, the existence of movements that call constantly for Papua’s independence; indeed, a reported 166 cases of violence have involved the Free Papua Movement. 

Second, the social conflicts related to mining activities in Freeport have exploited Papua’s natural resources for many years. The continuously rampant shootings and violence are associated largely with illegal mining in Freeport’s gold mining residues or tiling. The third reason is the violence linked with political tensions during elections. A study reveals that the level of violence as a result of elections in Papua is one of the highest in Indonesia. The democratic elections for the heads of regions have not been able to produce leaders with honesty and integrity. In recent years, eight regional heads have been suspected of corruption. This certainly causes a crisis of public confidence towards the government, which results in violence between candidates’ supporters and oppositions.


With all of Papua’s complex problems, it is important to understand the real conditions. What is needed now is for all parties to work together to develop Papua and to stop spreading provocations that could potentially ignite violence.

Simultaneously, the Indonesian government must create a more holistic development approach that emphasises indigenous Papuans. There is a need to think about long-term efforts for the natural resources to be managed by local populations and be used for the prosperity of the people.

But there is no need for alarm, because since Papua returned to the bosom of Indonesia, Papuans have already gained their independence. This is significantly different from the situation in Palestine.

This article is co-authored with Media Wahyudi Askar, a Ph.D scholar at the University of Manchester and the President of Indonesian Student Association in the UK. He is also a contributing writer of a book on Papua.
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Media release-More KNPB activists arrested in West Papua

June 10, 2016, 3:31 pm
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Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)



Media release- 11 June 2016

 More KNPB activists arrested in West Papua

Local media (suarapapua.com ) has  reported the arrests of up to 31 KNPB activists in Jayapura on Friday the 10 June. Those arrested were simply handing out leaflets informing the public about an upcoming rally to be held on the 15 June.
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “ in the past month  the security forces have cracked down  on a number of peaceful rallies in West Papua. On the 2 May over 1800 people were arrested and approximately 500 people were arrested in the days leading up to and on the 31 May “.  These  arrests go against the principles laid down in the  Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states,

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Article 19)
Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (Article 20)
Joe Collins of AWPA said, “Hopefully the security forces will allow any rallies that take place on the 15 June to go ahead peacefully without more mass arrests as in the past.”
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A google translate of article below. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic. 
Original bahasa link at

http://suarapapua.com/2016/06/10/polisi-tangkap-31-aktivis-knpb-port-numbay-saat-bagi-selebaran-kota-jayapura/

Police Arrest 31 Activists KNPB For Flyers Port Numbly Currently in Jayapura


JAYAPURA, SUARAPAPUA.com- West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Center reported this morning police from Jayapura City Police have arrested 31 activists KNPB and securing dozens of activists in Jayapura Mapolresta while distributing leaflets action will be held on 15 June in nationally throughout Papua.

Spokesman of the National KNPB Centre, bazookas saurapapua.com Logo to say, on this day, Friday, June 10, 2016, 31 activists have been arrested KNPB Port Numbay around Polimak, Kota Jayapura while leaflets call for action to be held on 15 June in Papua.

"Today 30s KNPB activists have been arrested by the police and they were in Jayapura Police. It's funny, because we do not commit crimes but continued to be arrested. This means that the country is already restless and uneasy with the awareness of the Papuan people to self-determination so as to use the apparatus to catch abysmally, "said bazookas to suarapapua.com, Friday (10/06/2016) in Jayapura.

Bazooka requested that the police should not be bebasakan 30s KNPB activists were arrested today. If the police say committed the crime KNPB please arrested and prosecuted. Because KNPB will never be a step backwards for the rights of self-determination for the people of Papua.

"We ask the Indonesian Police should not be freed KNPB activists were arrested, wearing only appropriate punishment Negara Indonesia 1945 Indonesian and colonial laws," he said.

Meanwhile, related to the arrest of dozens of activists KNPB, Laurenzus Kadepa, members of the House of Representatives (DPR) Papua to the media said, he had received information that there are dozens of KNPB activists have been arrested and detained at the Jayapura Police.

Kadepa requested that the police did not forward the old ways. Because each of arrests of activists nor Mr KNPB students and human rights activists in Papua makes Papua into conflict zones and dangerous.

"I've heard the info arrest of dozens of activists KNPB time for flyers in Jayapuara. I hope the police stop making as if in Papua there masala. So the police stop the ancient ways. Respect democracy prevailing in this country, "he said.

According Kadepa, police and state considers oraganisasi KNPB is dangerous, criminals, vandals and terrorists should not be given space to express yourself. KNPB was Papuans, they have the right to expression and the rights they are guaranteed by the constitution in force in Indonesia.

"As if this KNPB dangerous, criminals, vandals, or terrorists. people in KNPB also human, just like any other human being worthy to live free. Unconsciously, the police are mengambat demokarasi space in Papua, "he said.

Until this news was broadcast, Jayapura police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Tober Marison saurapapua.com H. Sirait confirmed via cell phone about the arrests of dozens of aktivs KNPB Port Numbay has not responded.

31 activists KNPB Yang was arrested and detained at the Police Jayapura is, Calvin Wenda (Chairman KNPB Port Numbay), Jimy Poroai (chairman I KNPB Port Numbay), Regi Wenda (secretary KNPB Port Numbay), Kesman wenda (Secretary II KNPB Port Numbay), Anis Kogoya (Chairman militant KNPB Port Numbay), Saugas Goo (chief commissioner diplomacy KNPB Port Numbay), Hosea Yeimo (chairman Commissariat Piplop KNPB Port Numbay), Ocha Wetipo, Simon Boma, Arnos Bahabol, Wesko Wenda, Oncel Balingga, Jason Bahabol, Alex Pigai, Abet Yeimo, Samuel Madai, Novi Wenda, Opince Yeimo, Frengki Pigai, Dominic Dimi, Semi Molama, Laskar Sama, Kobabe, Yan Degey, Pebian Fouw, wadai kegiye, Prengki Pigai, Walo Wanimbo, Donny Dogomo and Bernat Haeo.

Announcers: Arnold Belau
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1) Airlines serving remote areas in Papua to get incentives

June 11, 2016, 2:31 pm
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2) Torture-Tainted Countertenor Unit to Face Stricter Supervision from House, Civil Groups
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1) Airlines serving remote areas in Papua to get incentives
Nether Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post
Jayapura | Fri, June 10 2016 | 06:55 am
Sandwiched between high mountains and deep valleys, many villages in Papua are isolated. Thus, it is difficult for residents to connect with the outer world by land. 

The only option left for them is to use air transportation services. However, there is a limited number of airline operators that are willing to serve remote areas in the province. Consequently, air passenger tickets are expensive and so are the fees for logistics, making the prices of goods in remote parts of Papua among the highest in the country.

In a bid to encourage airline operators to maintain their services in the province, the Papua administration is considering giving them incentives. For a start, the administration will allocate Rp 80 billion (US$ 6.02 million) in subsidies for flights serving the province’s remote areas. 

Papua Transportation Agency head Djuli Mambaya said on Thursday that Governor Lukas Enembe launched the subsidy program at the Sentani airport in Jayapura on Wednesday. The subsidy is to be handed out to 12 airline operators serving remote areas in the province.

Djuli said the local administration hoped the subsidy would make airline companies more willing to serve remote areas in the province so that people in those remote areas could enjoy the fruits of development.

“With routine flights serving those villages, isolation can be minimized,” Djuli said.

He added that there were 386 airstrips in Papua, most of which were built by missionaries, where small-sized aircraft could land to reach people in isolated villages.

“The governor wants every Papuan, including those living in very remote areas, to see and feel the local administration’s attention,” he said.

The Rp 80 billion fund will be included in the province’s amended budget to be deliberated on around September 2016. The distribution of the fund will be regulated in a bylaw.

“A bylaw on the distribution of the flight subsidy fund will be issued,” said Djuli, adding that people whose regions were recipients of the subsidy would be required to pay for only 30 percent of the ticket price.

The 12 companies to receive the subsidy include AMA, MAF, Susi Air, Cenderawasih Air, Dimonim Air, Alda Air, Trigana Air, Jayasi, Tariku, Kembu Air, Alfatrans Dirgantara and Adventist Aviation.

The president director of PT AMA (Associated Mission Aviation), Djarot, appreciated the governor’s initiative, saying that his company had never received such a subsidy from the Papuan administration. 

“It’s a very good plan to smooth out services to hinterland areas,” Djarot said.

Djarot said his company had worked with the Yalimo regency administration to transport rice for the poor and with the Bintuni and Arfak administrations in West Papua to transport passengers to hinterland areas.

“Subsidies from regional administrations are very important to smooth out air transportation because most of the regions in Papua can only be reached through the air,” Djarot said.
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2) Torture-Tainted Countertenor Unit to Face Stricter Supervision from House, Civil Groups
By : Alin Almanar | on 1:22 PM June 11, 2016
Jakarta. A planned unit overseeing counterterrorism operations, which activists have said are rife with rights abuses, will likely comprise representatives from all the party factions at the House of Representatives, as well as several members of civil society groups, a lawmaker said.
Calls by activists for the formation of an oversight team, tasked with supervising the National Police's Densus 88, have grown over the past months amid the deliberation of the government-proposed antiterrorism bill.
Revisions to the 2003 antiterrorism law will likely lead to the establishment of the unit, but details on its work mechanisms have yet to be deliberated for the time being, said Hanafi Rais, deputy chairman of the House's special committee for the bill.
"The formation could resemble that of the intelligence oversight team," Hanafi said recently.

Based on the 2011 intelligence law, the House in late January formed a unit tasked with overseeing the work of state intelligence officials.
The team, whose meetings are held behind closed doors, work in cases where there are allegations of violations such as arbitrary arrests or detentions.
The unit is comprised of 14 members of House's Commission I, which oversees defense and intelligence, and are authorized with bringing people ranging from officials to experts in for investigation into such violations.
"The counterterrorism oversight team could involve those inside as well as outside the House," said the National Mandate Party (PAN) politician. "What is certain is that there will likely be such a unit."
Plans for the establishment of the team come in response to growing concerns from activists that torture against alleged terrorists has been rampant in custody of Densus 88, which is currently being supervised by the National Police's internal affairs unit.
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