“We urge the Indonesian Government to open space for democracy in Papua as
 promised,” the Secretary General of GempaR, Samuel Wamsiwor told Jubi in Abepura
 last week.

He said Papua is the most isolated conflict area towards democracy and foreign journalists
in the world. And the silencing of democracy is not a fiction; because the Indonesian
 Government neatly covered the access of factual information occurred in Papua for the
 last decade. “Papuan people continue to be slaughtered and killed for no apparent reason
with different stigma. In addition, the space for human right activists in Papua is sealed.
They’re even being hunted like animal. And today we ask the government, patting the
chest Indonesian said it has the space for democracy, but where is it?” Womsiwor said.

They also asked the government to immediately open the access to foreign journalists to
freely make the reportage in Papua to look closer on Papua and to reveal the state’s crime
 against Papuan people.

Meanwhile, youth representative, Philipus said Papuans today miss a real and open
democracy to express their aspiration without any pressure from nobody. “We really
missed and expected the openness of democracy and free access to foreign journalists
 in Papua. If Indonesia is a democratic state, thus it must open the space for democracy,”
 he said.

So far, GempaR observed what was happening in Papua is the authoritarian process.
It’s basically the same with what had occurred in the new order regime that is the silencing
 of the media access and of voice of humanity. For this reason, GempaR asked the
 government to immediately open the space for democracy in Papua. (Arnold Belau/rom)

The Papua Police Spokesperson Senior Commissionaire Patrige Renwarin said four
suspects, namely LM, OB, DF and MES, are delegation members of Papua Independent
 Committee (KIP) while AE is considered as The Police Chief of Federal Republic of
West Papua (NRFPB).

“This case is under process to complete the documents and examine the witnesses.
So, the investigators are still searching other evidences. Initially, AE was the only suspect,
but after further investigation, the police named four KIP members as suspects referring to
 questions and evidences. While the other two were released because not prove to questions
 and evidences. While the other two were released because not proven,” Renwarin told
Jubi last week.

Earlier, Eni Tan who claimed as liaison of KIP and Indonesian Government said KIP would
 do their efforts to release their four members. “They are not part of NRFPB that accused by
 the Papua Police as traitors. We just held a meeting with Minister of Defense Ryamizard
Ryacudu. Why after the meeting, they were arrested? Is the meeting regarded as an act of
treason?” Tan told reporters few days ago.

Even KIP would take the police officers to the pre-court if they were not release their four
members. She further revealed she and four KIP members held a private meeting with the
 Minister of Defense in order to discuss about dialogue between the Government of
Indonesia and Papua. “We went to Jakarta by the verbal request of Minister of
 Defense,” she said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

“Foreign languages become more important to master as global communication tool,” said
 Governor Lukas Enembe through the First Assistant for Papua Administrative, Doren
Wakerkwa, when opening the English and Indonesian Debate Competition for High
School Student of Papua in Jayapura last week.

Furthermore, the governor thought demands on global knowledge competencies are
behind the reason why we should be expert in English or other foreign languages. ‘This
debate event is a regular event to train students in practicing their negotiation and
argumentation skills, thus this policy could be appropriate and bring a positive impact to
the Papuan community in the future,” he said.

In the current reform era, further said Enembe, it gives a great hope of change towards a
more democratic, transparent and accountable governance as well as a realization of
freedom of expression. Thus, the reform movement is expected to encourage the mental
change of nation, both leaders and people, to become a nation that embracing and
upholding the values of truth, justice, honesty, responsibility, and fraternity in materialising
 the government’s goal of Risen, Independent and Prosperous Papua.

“I must tell to the participants to compete well and be supportive. While to those who win
 this competition, they should well prepare to represent Papua in the National event in May
2015,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Papua Education and Cultural Office, Elias Wonda said English
 is a world language, which currently becomes daily communication tool connecting people
in the world of education and work. (Alexander Loen/rom)