1) MAC ARTHUR MONUMENT SITE THREATENED BY LANDSLIDE

2) VP Jusuf Kalla Opens Indonesian Diaspora Global Summit

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HTTP://TABLOIDJUBI.COM/ENG/MAC-ARTHUR-MONUMENT-SITE-THREATENED-LANDSLIDE/

1) MAC ARTHUR MONUMENT SITE THREATENED BY LANDSLIDE

AdminAug 21, 2017

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan archaeologist, Hari Suroto believes that Mac Arthur Monument site located in Cycloop Nature Reserve area, Sentani Jayapura District, is threatened by landslide due to mining category C activity not far from the location.

“This mining activity takes place in a mountain or hill in Hawaii, precisely in front of Hotel Sentani Indah, Sentani District, Jayapura District,” said Hari Suroto, in Jayapura, Friday (August 18).

Mac Arthur’s monument, he said, was built by US soldiers as a sign that the Mount Ifar, had been the headquarters of the World War II allies under General Douglas Mac Arthur during the Pacific War.

“From this place General Mac Arthur carries out a frog jump strategy, planning attacks on Japan through Sarmi, Biak, Morotai, and the Philippines,” he said.

According to him, Mac Arthur monument is an archaeological site protected by Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage.

“Currently the Mac Arthur Monument site is managed by the Provincial Office of Culture of Papua and still in one Regional Regiment Kodam (Rindam) XVII / Cendrawasih, as a place to train new soldiers,” he said.

Related to C mining activity, all stakeholders must sit together in an effort to rescue Mac Arthur Monument site from landslide. “C excavation activities are taking place every day, if this is not stopped, of course Mount Ifar will be eroded.” The category c mining is sand and stone mining type.

“It is transported from Hawaii to hoard the extension of Sentani Airport runway and a number of other developments,” he said. (*)

 

Source: Antara

Editor: Zely Ariane

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HTTPS://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2017/08/21/055901717/VP-JUSUF-KALLA-OPENS-INDONESIAN-DIASPORA-GLOBAL-SUMMIT

MONDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2017 | 13:44 WIB

2) VP Jusuf Kalla Opens Indonesian Diaspora Global Summit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla opened the Indonesian Diaspora Global Summit in Jakarta today.

VP Jusuf Kalla attended the event with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Education and Culture Minister Muhajir Efendi, National Development Planning Head Bambang Brodjonegoro and Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri.

The Indonesian Global Diaspora Summit is held by the Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN) and the Indonesian Diaspora Business Council (IDBC) for the first time after three IDN Congresses.

IDN Global Summit coordinator Edward Wanandi said that the event is aimed at exchanging ideas among Indonesian diaspora and the national stakeholders.

“We also want to hear from the government on what the Indonesian people need so that we can participate more in the development of Indonesia because sometimes what we thought important were not really needed by the people,” he said.

The Indonesian Diaspora Global Summit raises three major topics: education and health in Papua and West Papua, contribution of diaspora to energy saving with advanced technology and protection of Indonesian global diaspora.

ANTARA

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1) Police identify perpetrators of shooting incident in PT Freeport

2) Freeport Indonesia copper mine access to resume after clashes

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/112327/police-identify-perpetrators-of-shooting-incident-in-pt-freeport

1) Police identify perpetrators of shooting incident in PT Freeport

7 hours ago | 565 Views

Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - Head of Papua Regional Police, Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar, said that his side has identified the perpetrators of shooting against a vehicle belongs to PT Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura District on last Thursday.  

"We have identified the armed group. The police have checked the scene and investigated the case," Amar said here on Sunday.

According to Amar, the perpetrators owned firearms and presumed to be involved in several acts of terror.

The police have got data of the perpetrators and discovered that they are hiding in hilly areas around Mile 60 and Mile 68 and at Kali Kabur region.

The police will conduct further investigation relating to the detention of perpetrators, Amar said.

He added the vehicles of PT Freeport Indonesia can operate normally in the area of the scene.

The shooting incident which occurred at Mile 60 area on last Thursday has caused damage in a car belongs to PTFI and also injured a personnel of Mobile Brigade unit. (*)

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http://www.straitstimes.com/business/freeport-indonesia-copper-mine-access-to-resume-after-clashes

2) Freeport Indonesia copper mine access to resume after clashes

PUBLISHED

3 HOURS AGO

Papuanese earlier rallied against Freeport in Timika on March 20, 2017, halting production for about a week.PHOTO: AFP

TIMIKA, Indonesia (REUTERS) - Limited access to the giant Grasberg copper mine in eastern Indonesia is expected to resume on Monday (Aug 21), its operator said, after hundreds of former workers blockaded the site and clashed with police.

Trouble erupted at the mine, which is operated by the Indonesian unit of Freeport McMoRan Inc, during a demonstration over employment terms on Saturday afternoon.

Three former workers were injured after police fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the blockade, according to a union official representing the ex-workers.

Freeport said at least four contractors were also injured.

Buildings, vehicles and motorbikes belonging to the company and its employees were also torched in the incident in the province of Papua, Freeport said, and access to the world's second-largest copper mine was restricted due to safety concerns.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama praised local authorities on Sunday for "restoring security control" but also continued to advise workers to avoid travelling to the area. “The Main Supply Route also has been cleared, and bus and cargo convoys will resume on a limited basis Monday," Pratama said in an emailed 

Following export restrictions related to a permit dispute, Freeport Indonesia, which employs more than 32,000 staff and contractors, laid off about 3,000 workers earlier this year. This prompted a strike and high levels of absenteeism.

Freeport has denied that there is a "formal strike", and deemed that approximately 3,000 full-time and 1,000 contract employees who were absent had "voluntarily resigned", but could reapply for positions as contractors.

Arizona-based Freeport, the world's biggest publicly-traded copper miner, has repeatedly said it has acted on labour issues in accordance with Indonesian law and its labour contract.

Tensions around Grasberg could hamper Indonesia's efforts to calm Papua, where a low-level insurgency has simmered for decades. The mine is a major source of revenue for the local economy, but its social and environmental effects also remain sources of friction. "If indeed we won't be employed again, they must be clear about our rights (and) what we will receive," one former worker told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Tri Puspital, a union official representing the estimated 5,000 former workers involved in the near four-month dispute told Reuters his team had not yet made plans to demonstrate again. "We're still waiting."

IndustriALL Global Union, a federation of labour unions, has criticised Freeport's handling of the matter, saying it treated"fired" workers "inhumanely and with contempt", and urged the company to reinstate staff and contractors.

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1) Fired workers protest against U.S.-owned mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc.

2) Mass employees of Freeport fueled Terminal Culverts

3) Freeport employees are still blockaded on Jalan Timika-Tembagapura

4) OTK seized the weapons of Lanny Jaya Polres

5) French Polynesia votes to become full member of Forum

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http://timesofoman.com/article/115314/World/Asia/Fired-workers-protest-against-US-owned-miner-Freeport-Indonesia

1) Fired workers protest against U.S.-owned mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc.

August 19, 2017 | 6:07 PM

 

by Reuters

Police talk with protesting workers of the Indonesian unit of the U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc during a labour dispute in Timika, Papua, Indonesia on August 19, 2017. Photo - Reuters

Eastern province of Papua: Hundreds of workers laid off by Freeport Indonesia blocked routes and set trucks on fire near the company’s mines in the eastern province of Papua on Saturday, company officials said.

The Indonesian unit of U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc. has been embroiled in a labour dispute since May, when around 5,000 workers went on strike to protest against mass layoffs.

Freeport says the layoffs were triggered by unexpected revisions earlier this year in government rules on taxes and royalties.

The protests by the ex-workers, who were demanding their jobs back, prompted police personnel to secure the area.

A spokesman for the company said the protests have not had an impact on operations, although employee access to worksites was being affected.

"Some of our employee convoys have been cancelled and we will not be scheduling further convoys until the situation is conducive again. We have urged our workers to avoid this area until further notice," said Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama.

The company is a major source of employment and livelihoods in the impoverished eastern-most province of Indonesia.

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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.

Original bahasa link at

http://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-8874-massa-karyawan-freeport-bakar-terminal-goronggorong.html

2) Mass employees of Freeport fueled Terminal Culverts

Papua No. 1 News Portal I Jubi,

                                                Illustration, action demonstration of PT Freeport Indonesia employees in Timika - IST

Timika, Jubi / Antara - Thousands of employees on strike damaged and burned PT Freeport Indonesia's facility in Terminal Gorong-gorong, Timika, Saturday (19/08/2017) night.

The destruction and burning of the Timika Culvert Terminal facility was triggered by the forced mass dissolution of employees by a strike on PT Freeport's main road linking Amamapare-Timika-Tembagapura Port, near Check Point 28.

The pressed masses then ran for safety on the old Freeport Street and part of the embankment road to the Employee Bus Terminal in the Timika Gorong.

"The employees burned the Terminal Office of Culvert There were no buses on fire," said one of the Mimika Police officers met at the Timika Gorong-terminal Terminal Terminal.

White smoke is seen rising high around the location.

After destroying and burning the Freeport facility at Culvert Terminal, the mass of striking employees walked and then spread to a number of points in Timika City.

They targeted a number of labor supply companies' offices to PT Freeport and Freeport subcontractors who for the last few months recruited new workers.

Some of the suppliers are PT Petrosea, PT Maipagela, and PT Buma Intinaker.

But the destruction and burning action at the PT Petrosea Office was foiled by the apparatus.

Until Saturday night, patrol cars of TNI and Police officers continued to patrol around Timika City. (

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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.

Original bahasa link at

http://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-8873-karyawan-freeport-masih-blokade-jalan-timikatembagapura.html

3) Freeport employees are still blockaded on Jalan Timika-Tembagapura

Sabtu, 19 Agustus 2017 — 21:42

Papua No. 1 News Portal I Jubi,

Timika, Jubi / Antara - Thousands of employees of PT Freeport Indonesia and its subcontractors who have been on strike in Timika and their wives until Saturday night (19/08/2017) are still blockading the main road linking Timika to Tembagapura, not far from Check Point 28.

Appealed by Mimika Police Chief, AKBP Victor Dean Mackbon, along with Mimika DPRD Chairman, Elminus Mom, to strike the employees immediately back to their homes and immediately empty the access road Freeport is not ignored by the masses.

Although Mimika Police Chief threatened to forcibly dissolve, but the masses insisted not to leave the site.

"We do not want to move out of here, please have the DPRD and the security apparatus present the management of PT Freeport in this place We have been five months suffering from not receiving salary for being fired unilaterally by the company We ask Freeport to resolve this issue right now," .

Mimika DPRD chairperson, Elminus Mom, told the masses to deliver the local council immediately to write to PT Freeport's management to resolve the strike problem of thousands of employees who have been in place since April and May.

"We have to have a basis for calling Freeport and tonight we will write to Freeport, and if they do not come, there will be security forces who can force them," said Elminus.

While waiting for the negotiation process with PT Freeport management, Elminus invites employees to strike back home. But the request was firmly rejected by the mass of striking employees.

Elminus asks employees to strike not to extend Freeport's destructive and arson activities and maintain security in order not to have their actions ridden by other parties.

While Mimika Police Chief Victor Mackbon threatened to forcibly disperse anarchist acts committed by striking employees.

"I have given up till 17.30 to the brothers to leave this place.Better brothers back home, but there are representatives of the brothers who will meet with the management of Freeport facilitated by Mimika DPRD," advised Mimika Police Chief.

But the appeal was instantly rejected by striking employees.

"No. We stay here, we do not want to be deceived again, for months we have been treated unfairly, why the government and the authorities do not see our suffering as the people but only care about Freeport's interests," the employees shouted.

Until Saturday night at around 19:00 WIT, the masses still occupy the main axis road of Amamapare Port-Timika-Tembagapura not far from Check Point 28 Timika it.

Earlier, on Saturday afternoon at around 14.20 WIT, a mass of strike employees stormed the security post at Check Point 28, next to Mozes Kilangin Airport Timika.

Massa burned a Toyota LWB car behind Check Point 28 security post and damaged the postal facility.

The masses continued to move to the Freeport shaft road linking the Amamapare-Timika-Tembagapura Port and damaging two container trailer truck and water tank trucks and a heavy equipment.

As a result of the burning, thick black smoke soared in that location.

Not only that, the masses cut down trees by the roadside to close the access road.

A number of employed employee motorcycles parked not far from Check Point 28 security post were also damaged and burned by the masses.

Until Saturday night, strike employees continue to arrive to Check Point 28 and the axis road port of Amamapare-Timika-Tembagapura.

At that location, strike employees set up tents.

In order to prevent anarchist action from continuing the strike, hundreds of Brimob and TNI members on alert around the site were equipped with baracuda and panzer vehicles. (*)

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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.

Original bahasa link at

http://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-8872-otk-rampas-senjata-anggota-polres-lanny-jaya.html

4) OTK seized the weapons of Lanny Jaya Polres

Papua No. 1 News Portal I Jubi,

Jayapura, Jubi / Antara - Unknown person (OTK) seized firearms belonging to Police Lanny, Bripda Ronald Thomas, while in Ibele Village, Jayawijaya Regency, Saturday (19/08/2017).

From the data collected in the field, before taking the firearms of the revolver type, the perpetrator first stabbed the victim while in a long bridge connecting the Trans Wamena-Kimbim road segment.

The incident that happened to Bripda Ronald happened at around 14.30 WIT and currently the victim is still being treated at RSUD Wamena.

Head of Papua Police Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Kamal, when confirmed the incident confirmed the incident but has not received a full report.

"I am still waiting for the full report from the Polres," said Head of Public Relations of Papua Police Kombes Kamal. (*)

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337530/french-polynesia-votes-to-become-full-member-of-forum

5) French Polynesia votes to become full member of Forum

9:48 am on 19 August 2017

French Polynesia's assembly has voted in favour of the territory becoming a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum.

The vote was 47 in favour, with ten members abstaining.

An extraordinary sitting of the assembly was called to advance the formal steps for the territory to join the Forum which needs to be co-ordinated with France as it represents French Polynesia internationally.

The pro-independence opposition, which declined to vote, expressed surprise that Paris authorises French Polynesia to join the Forum while never ceding to it powers in terms of foreign affairs and security.

An opposition politician Richared Tuheiava says his side cannot approve French interests to encroach on French Polynesia's interests.

Mr Tuheiava also expressed his dismay at France continuing to ignore the UN-mandated decolonisation process.

After years of lobbying, the French Pacific territories were admitted as full members last year without the Forum explaining the change and nature of the accession criteria.

Full membership was first suggested by the French president Jacques Chirac in 2003 - seven years after France stopped testing its nuclear weapons in the Pacific.

The next Forum summit will be held in Samoa next month.

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1) Papua to build prison for women, children

2) Police probe shooting at Freeport

3) Members of Free Papua Organization return to fold

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/18/papua-to-build-prison-for-women-children.html

1) Papua to build prison for women, children

Jakarta | Fri, August 18, 2017 | 04:36 pm

In celebration: Inmates sing and dance after receiving Independence Day sentence remissions at the Class II B Sorong Penitentiary in Sorong city, West Papua, on Aug.17. (Antara/Olha Mulalinda)

The Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Papua office has developed plans to build a penitentiary for women and children in Keerom regency.

“We have received the greenlight from the Keerom administration. We were provided with 5 hectares of land, the certificate of which will be finalized today [Friday],” head of the Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Papua office, Abner Banosro, said in Jayapura as quoted by Antara news agency.  

“We will submit the land certificate from the Keerom administration to the ministry, so that we can receive the funds to [build the penitentiary],” he went on.

Abner said his office would approach ministry officials in Jakarta to request for funds from the State Budget this year.

“Both construction and operation of the women and children’s penitentiary will start in 2018,” he added.

For the time being, his office is entrusting juvenile inmates with the Class II A Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura city.

“For female prisoners, we have temporarily placed them in the Doyo Baru Narcotics Prison in Sentani, Jayapura,” he said. (yon/ebf)

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/08/18/police-probe-shooting-at-freeport.html

2) Police probe shooting at Freeport

Jakarta | Fri, August 18, 2017 | 05:31 pm

The Mimika Police in Papua are investigating a shooting incident, which affected a long-wheel base (LWB) vehicle at gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia’s mining area in Tembagapura district, on Thursday.

A member of the National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) was injured in the incident.

Mimika Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Dean Mackbon said the vehicle driven by Nikson Moningka was shot by an unidentified person as it passed Mile 60 in Tembagapura district, at around 1 p.m. local time on Thursday.

“We have examined the incident site and are investigating further,” said Victor as quoted by Antara.

He confirmed there were no fatalities from the attack. The police were also inventorying material losses caused by the incident.

Victor said the shooting at Mile 60, on a road connecting Timika to Tembagapura, had caused damage to the vehicle’s engine. Both rear tires were deflated while a Brimob personnel suffered injuries from shards of glass from the broken windows of the vehicle.  

Nikson was escorting a trailer truck passing from the lowlands to the Freeport mining area in the highlands when the incident occurred.

When he arrived at Mile 66, in an area called Hidden Valley, Nikson received a report that a surveillance vehicle belonging to marine fleet and port facility operator Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia had suffered damage at around Mile 58.

Nikson decided to return to Mile 58 to pick up the two Brimob personnel operating the vehicle. When passing Mile 60, Nikson’s vehicle was suddenly shot from the left side of the road. (yon/ebf)

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(Note. Another report about OPM members given up and returning to the Indonesian fold. Many of the reports in the past have been just propaganda stories).

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/112309/members-of-free-papua-organization-return-to-fold

3) Members of Free Papua Organization return to fold

20 hours ago | 853 Views

Serui, W Papua (ANTARA News) - Seventy-seven members of separatist group Free Papua Organizations (OPM) have returned to the countrys fold on Thursday, submitting 32 firearms.

They read their statement of allegiance, signed by their chief Kris Sineri, in the presence of local military, police, and administration officials.

In the statement, they pledged allegiance to the Unitary State of Indonesia, their support to the state ideology "Pancasila," and their refutation to anti-development groups, who have so far acted under the pretext of Papua independence struggle, making them common enemies, as well as stopping their armed actions and providing support to the development of Yapen Island district.

They also promised to appeal to their fellows who are still in the jungle, to come out and return to the countrys fold, and sought security assurance for them.

After reading the declaration, Sineri, who was the commander of South Yapen group, handed over a revolver and separatist Morning Star flag he had kept in his bag.

The chief of Biak Military resort 173, Brigadier General I Nyoman Chantiyasa, after receiving their weapons, appealed to them to ask their relatives to go down to participate in the development of the region.

"We will develop the eastern area and support it as we are all brothers. We are all Indonesians," he stated.

He called on former OPM members to stop the conflict and unite to develop Yapen so that people will be able to live in peace and not be afraid.(*)

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INDONESIA: Serious violations of human rights in Papua should be investigated

http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-099-2017

INDONESIA: Serious violations of human rights in Papua should be investigated

August 17, 2017

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urges the Indonesian Authorities to ensure that cases of human rights violations that occurred in Papua must be investigated properly, under fair trial principles and the Rule of Law. In the last two months, the AHRC has documented and reported some three cases of serious human rights violations, as follows: #1. Ruthless shooting and violence committed by the Paniai Police Mobile Brigade in South Tigi District, Deiyai Regency, resulting in the death of one indigenous Papuan; #2. Cruel assault of 15-year-old Albert Nawipa, an indigenous Papuan teenager; #3. The torture of Mr. Niko Hisage, an indigenous Papuan. He was assaulted by Army personnel from the sub-district military command of Wamena city.

In addition, the AHRC very recently documented and reported the case of arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr. Yanto Waine, a member of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB). He was illegally detained in the Nabire Police Station (Polres Nabire) after distributing statements on the street. Besides this case, the AHRC also notes the forced dissolution and arbitrary arrest of 29 Papuan student activists. They were brought to the Yogyakarta Police Station after conducting a peaceful protest. They were denouncing the New York agreement concerning the legitimacy of the 1969 Referendum in Papua. It resulted in Papua’s becoming part of the Republic of Indonesia until the present day. There were 32 student activists in Jakarta and 46 student activists in Semarang who were also arrested for holding peaceful protests. Despite the fact that they have been released without criminal charges laid on them, the illegal arrest and forced dissolution had the following effect. It caused trauma by breaching the Rule of Law and the Principles of Democracy. Indonesia, in its Constitution, has recognized democracy and the freedom of opinion.

The AHRC has learned about and monitored the criminal justice system in Indonesia, in this case, Papua. To put it simply, it does not really function. Human right cases and even alleged gross violations of human rights such as the Paniai case remain unaddressed. On the contrary, the Government under President Joko Widodo is mainly concerned about infrastructure and economic development in the country. Local indigenous Papuans, on many occasions, have questioned this limited development focus. Does this development increase the living standard of the ordinary Papuan, or does it foster the expansion of multi-national corporations and mining exploitation in Papua?

So far, the Government does not have a strong policy of human rights protection in Papua. It tends to simplify problems. An example would be the statement by Mr.Wiranto the Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law and Security (Menkopolhukam). After a vicious shooting by the Police in Deiyai Regency, and without proper investigation, he stated through the Media, that the case was not one of a violation of human rights. Of course, this kind of utterance undermines the legal standing of victims seeking justice and redress. In the Papua, Deiyai Regency shooting incident, the Police used lethal force. They attacked indigenous Papuans, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to at least ten other indigenous Papuans.

Massive and frequent human rights violations in Papua are caused by the security approach used. The Government had been reluctant to evaluate and audit the present Security Forces in Papua. The AHRC also learned that since Papua had been divided into two Provinces namely West Papua and Papua, the number of security forces increased due to the development of new military offices and facilities. Media and public access to Papua is still difficult, especially in remote areas. President Widodo had declared that the international media were allowed to enter Papua but, in fact it is very difficult to obtain the required permit. This matter had become a serious concern of the World Press Freedom Day Conference, held in Indonesia recently. Many journalists who attended the event questioned the Police concerning press freedom in Papua. Lack of journalistic access to Papua is worsening the human rights situation in Papua.

Therefore, the AHRC calls on the Government and Law Enforcement Agencies to seriously and promptly investigate the cases of human rights violations which took place in Papua. The Government should not hide behind the focus of infrastructure and economic development. Infrastructure and economic development will be nothing without law enforcement and justice. It is clear that Papua is waiting for justice, waiting for a serious Indonesian Government to take on the pending human rights cases guaranteeing human rights protection for Indigenous Papuans.

On August 17, 2017 Indonesia is celebrating 72 years of independence from Dutch colonialism. The Government should reflect that 72 years is more than enough to ensure that the State / the Government is present at ground level to protect its citizens, including indigenous Papuans. In order to protect human rights, law enforcement must be carried out, legal certainty should be presented, impunity must go, and no further recurrences of the same crimes.

Document Type :

Statement

1) Flash floods hit Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations

2) 100 ARREST IN INDONESIAN CITIES MARK NEW YORK AGREEMENT ON PAPUA

3) French Polynesia takes further step towards Forum membership

4) French police plan security around New Caledonia referendum

5) PUSH FOR A VOTE ON PAPUA

6) Living the high life: The secretive Korowai tribe who live above the forest in treehouses… and didn’t know other people existed until the 1970s

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-freeport-idUSKCN1AW0CD

1) Flash floods hit Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations

AUGUST 16, 2017 / 4:04 PM / 2 DAYS AGO

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Flash floods have left one worker missing and caused extensive damage to a power plant at U.S.-owned miner Freeport Indonesia's operations in the eastern-most province of Papua, company officials said on Wednesday. 

Mining operations were continuing as normal, but power and water outages were expected in the coming days, the Indonesian unit of U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc. said in a statement. 

"One person remains unaccounted for after flash floods that occurred late Tuesday destroyed roads, bridges, water lines and most of the plant that supplies power to Tembagapura and Hidden Valley," the company said, warning employees to keep travel to a minimum. 

"Due to the extensive damage, (power and water) outages may occur until at least tomorrow," it added. 

Spokesman Riza Pratama said the main processing mill may also be affected if damage to infrastructure meant storage tanks filled up before repairs can be made. 

Freeport, which operates what are among the world's largest gold and copper mines, is also grappling with a labor dispute that has let to intermittent disruptions to output. 

Around 5,000 workers have been on strike since May, protesting against mass layoffs that Freeport says were triggered by unexpected revisions earlier this year in government rules on taxes and royalties. 

The government of Southeast Asia's biggest economy, in an effort to eke out more revenues from its natural resource sector, has also demanded that Freeport divest a 51-percent stake and relinquish arbitration rights. 

Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Richard Pullin

 

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/100-arrest-indonesian-cities-mark-new-york-agreement-papua/

2) 100 ARREST IN INDONESIAN CITIES MARK NEW YORK AGREEMENT ON PAPUA

AdminAug 17, 2017

                                          Protestors detained by police, Yogyakarta 15 August 2017 – RNZI/Supplied

Jayapura Jubi – At least 100 people from Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian’s Front for West Papua (FRI West Papua) were arrested in Yogyakarta, Semarang and Jakarta during the anniversary to protest 55 years of New York Agreement.

The protest actions by AMP and FRI West Papua were conducted in several cities in Java Island such as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Malang, Semarang, Bandung, and also in Ternate City, North Maluku.

All the action in the cities of Java was thwarted and dissolved by various pro-Indonesia Unity (NKRI) mass organizations and local police officers. According the official facebook account of AMP, there were injured victims from those detained includes some accompanying lawyers.

In Semarang it was reported that 47 people were taken to Semarang Resort Police Station, even included two lawyers from Semarang Legal Aid Institute (PBH) who then gave legal assistance for the protest.

According to Hupla Sobolim who monitored the action in Semarang Tuesday (August 15), explained that the police had blocked their rally even before arriving at the meeting point at Diponegoro Statue.

“Dozens action participants were intercepted by the police and asked us to dismiss for reasons of no permission. But in fact we have sent the letter of notification, but the police rejected to issue the permit,” he said.

The same thing was experienced by dozens of action participants in other cities in Java. The police dispersed the crowd for not having permission to take to the streets, while the organizers had sent a notice.

The police also threatened for the protest should not be held since there are counter-organizations which against the demands of Papuans. And the police choose to let the counter-organization to conduct their act instead of pro Papuan protest action.

Hupla went on to say that he saw the protest coordinator, Januarius Adii, while given speech, suddenly dragged by the police and forced him into the police car. “His dreadlocked hair is pulled by the police,” he said.

“In addition, the police also pulled one of the lawyers from LBH Semarang, Rizky Putra Edry. Both (Janus and Rizky) were transported into a police truck,” said Hupla.

The protest participants require both to be released and demanded to stay on the road. “Finally, all the masses were pushed into police trucks,” Hupla said, explaining that the police were also transporting Nico Andi Wauran, another LBH Semarang lawyer, and was forced to squat as he was being held by police.

The police took 17 posters and 1 banner from the action.

While in Yogyakarta, 29 people were also arrested without having held the action. Since early in the morning, the police and Jogja Rembug (Katon Paksi), a local pro NKRI organization has been gathered  at the action point and watch for the crowd to come.

“At 10 am two police cars, 3 police trucks, 10 police motorbikes, 1 water cannon, and more than 100 police and 30 Jogja Rembug (Katon Paksi) mass organizations are on guard,” according to a chronology received by Jubi from Emanuel Gobay, a LBH Yogyakarta lawyer, Tuesday (August 15).

The Paksi Kator also marched in front of AMP and FRI West Papua crowd while chanted, “Separatist, hit, hit, hit, communist, beat, beat, beat. NKRI harga mati (NKRI is a death price or no negotiation for NKRI)”.

But dozens of people from AMP and FRI West Papua try to push through their action. It was then they were herded into a police truck again.

At 6 PM local time, they were finally released. “FRI West Papua and AMP of Yogyakarta City, amounted to 29 people, all have been released,” said Emanuel to Jubi.

In Jakarta, 24 people were still detained at Jakarta Metropolitan Police. There are five victims of injuries. They were all released later of the evening at about 9.30 PM local time.

While in Malang, the action was also dissolved. One man claimed to have sustained a head injury after being punched by a civillian militia member after he shouted “merdeka”, a common cry for Papuan freedom

Approximately 30 participants gathered at Gajayana Stadium since the morning. They were intercepted by pro NKRI mass organizations such as Pemuda Pancasila, GM FKPPI and some religious mass organizations with religious attributes such of turban, white cap and Muslim long clothing while holding a red and white flag. They shouted a slogan of NKRI is a death price.

The New York Agreement signed on August 15, 1962 between the Netherlands and Indonesia related to the fate of West New Guinea. The agreement was deemed not to represent indigenous Papuans because it did not involve representatives of West New Guinea.

It is said as the US-brokered deal under which the Netherlands agreed to transfer control of West Papua to Indonesia, pending a UN-administered plebiscite.

The agreement then paved the way for 1969’s Act of Free Choice which gave Indonesia control of the former Dutch New Guinea. Many Papuans say the process was undemocratic and a betrayal.(*)

 

Source: tabloidjubi.com

Editor: Zely Ariane

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337453/french-polynesia-takes-further-step-towards-forum-membership

3) French Polynesia takes further step towards Forum membership

34 minutes ago

An extraordinary sitting of French Polynesia's assembly has been called today to advance the formal steps for the territory to become a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Last year's Forum summit admitted French Polynesia and New Caledonia as full members but the documents for the proper accession have yet to be finalised.

Radio 1 reported that the assembly in Tahiti was now due to vote on the accession document after it was approved by the French foreign ministry earlier this year.

It also reported that a French version of the text then needed to be submitted to the Forum.

For the full membership to become effective, it said a formal agreement needed to be signed between the Forum secretariat and the French government, which represents French Polynesia internationally.

Radio 1 reported that an assembly committee had raised questions about the Forum's attitude towards next year's independence referendum in New Caledonia.

After years of lobbying, the two territories were admitted as full members last year without the Forum explaining the change and nature of the accession criteria.

Full membership was first suggested by the French president Jacques Chirac in 2003 - seven years after France stopped testing its nuclear weapons in the Pacific.

The next Forum summit will be held in Samoa next month.

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/337397/french-police-plan-security-around-new-caledonia-referendum

4) French police plan security around New Caledonia referendum

10:16 pm on 17 August 2017

Preparations are being made in France to ensure security for next year's planned independence referendum in New Caledonia.

This was confirmed by the new head of the armed police, or gendarmerie, in New Caledonia General Christophe Marietti.

In an interview with Noumea's daily newspaper Les Nouvelles caledoniennes, the commander said a committee had been set up within national police headquarters to follow developments in New Caledonia and to deploy reinforcements if necessary.

He said it was vital both for the French High Commission, which is responsible for public safety, and for the police that the democratic process was not disturbed by security problems.

General Marietti said since his arrival in Noumea earlier this month he had held talks with political leaders in a bid to avoid security being politicised at the time of the referendum, which is tentatively due to be held in November next year.

He said his immediate priority was improving road safety, while noting the public was mostly concerned about the incidence of burglaries and car thefts.

He said the latest road fatality was a 70-year-old woman driver who died under the influence of alcohol without wearing a seat belt.

New Caledonia is the fourth French overseas territory whose armed police is now led by a general, which General Marietti said was due to the trend that French police overseas are more exposed to attacks than in mainland France.

Extra forces were sent to New Caledonia at the start of the year after bouts of unrest last year.

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/push-vote-papua/

5) PUSH FOR A VOTE ON PAPUA

AdminAug 17, 2017

Jayapura, Jubi – This weekend (August 5 and 6) the protracted elections in Papua New Guinea (PNG) finally came up with a winner. Peter O’Neill’s People’s National Congress (tainted with accusations of corruption) won, but with a reduced majority.

The ABC commented that the average Australian knew more about “what Donald Trump had for breakfast” than they did about their neighbour PNG — partly due to the number of ABC journalists covering PNG being slashed from six to one.

Pre-European contact, the Sultan of Tidore in the Moluccas included the western “bird’s head” end of New Guinea in his sultanate, collecting a tribute of tortoiseshell and bird of paradise feathers, which were then traded all the way to China and Europe.

The first recorded European contact was in 1528, when a Spanish ship kidnapped three men from Manus Island and took them to the Philippines. One year later the ship passed Manus Island again and the three islanders jumped overboard and swam for shore.

In 1494 the world’s maritime trade had been divided between the Portuguese and the Spanish by the Tordesilla Line along the 321st meridian, dividing South America. In 1529, the circle was closed at the anti-meridian on the 141st meridian — the north/south line that divides Papua New Guinea from Papua in Indonesia to this day.

Before World War I, PNG was divided into German New Guinea to the north and British Papua in the south. Administered as one by Australia from 1914 until independence in 1975 and with a population of 7.1 million PNG qualifies as a millisphere. Another option is to combine the various tribes and languages into the one millisphere of “Papua” covering the entire island (total population 11.5 million).

The previously Dutch territory, once known as Irian Jaya, now the Indonesian provinces of Papua (3.5m) and West Papua (0.9m), could equally qualify as a millisphere. Before annexation by Indonesia in 1969 Papua/W Papua was almost entirely Melanesian, now, because of migration, the population is almost half Indonesian/Malay, colonising the lowlands for palm oil, while the Papuans are still the majority in the highlands.

Indonesia claims to have 11 million Melanesians, counting the Melanesian/Malay inhabitants, the Moluccas and East Nusa Tenggara, and there are another million Melanesian/Polynesians in the millisphere of Te Moananui (covering the Pacific) giving a total nearing 20 million.

The Melanesian Spearhead was formed in 1986 by Fiji, PNG, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Kanaks of New Caledonia to create a united Melanesian voice. The Melanesian Spearhead has a headquarters funded by China in Port Vila (Vanuatu) and it calls for a “free West Papua”, a position endorsed by New Zealand Maori and Australian Aboriginals.

Because half of all “Melanesians” are Indonesian, Indonesia has applied to join the Melanesian Spearhead and has appointed Tantowi Yahya as its ambassador to New Zealand and the Pacific.

The son of a plastic recycler from Sumatra, Tantowi rose to become a TV presenter and country music singer before turning to politics. His job, he says, is to correct the “misperception” about the Indonesian presence in Papua.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand this month, a small group of MPs from National, Labour, the Maori Party and the Greens signed a declaration calling for “an internationally supervised self-determination vote in Papua”.

The Free Papua Movement was formed in 1963. “We do not want modern life! We refuse any kinds of development: religious groups, aid agencies and government organisations. Just leave us alone!” they said at the time.

On YouTube you can find Anything Can Be Burnt, a video by Radio NZ’s Johnny Blades and Koroi Hawkins about their trip across the border from PNG into Indonesia’s Papua province, to report on the campaign for Papuan independence. “You should go to the highlands,” Johnny told me, “the gardens there are amazing.”

Agriculture is said to have started simultaneously in Asia, Europe and the Papuan highlands, where gardening is still practiced in the old way. Melanesians are differentiated by altitude, and their true homeland is in the New Guinea highlands — on both sides of the 141st meridian.(*)

Written by Fred Frederikse, a self-directed student of geography and traveler.

 

Source: nzherald.co.nz

Editor    : Zely Ariane

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6) Living the high life: The secretive Korowai tribe who live above the forest in treehouses… and didn’t know other people existed until the 1970s

• The Korowai people live high above the forest floor in West Papua in Indonesia in an incredibly remote area
• It is estimated the Korowai population is around 3,000 people with some tribes now living in regular villages 
• The Korowai are hunter-gatherers and are known to be excellent fishermen with their improvised weapons
• Anthropologists believe claims of cannibalism might be exaggerated to support the tourism industry  

By DARREN BOYLE FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 21:07 +10:00, 17 August 2017 | UPDATED: 22:05 +10:00, 17 August 2017

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4799012/The-secretive-Korowai-tribe-live-tree-houses.html