Monday, March 18, 2024

1) SW Papua urges indigenous people to protect sustainability of forests


2) Prabowo, Gibran score landslide victory in South Papua  


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1) SW Papua urges indigenous people to protect sustainability of forests 
 March 18, 2024 16:33 GMT+700

Sorong, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - The Southwest Papua Provincial Government called on all indigenous people to protect forests to realize sustainable development in the region.

Head of the province's Environment, Forestry, and Land Office Julian Kelly Kambu remarked here on Monday that sustainable development can be realized if only forests and their cleanliness are maintained.

"The minister of environment and forestry said that there must be more social interaction and communication with the indigenous people's agencies as well as with stakeholders and the government to build environmentally sustainable development," Kambu affirmed.

At the local 41st Forester Service Day commemoration, he stated that the indigenous people's agencies are considered to be development partners in implementing environmentally sustainable development by protecting forest areas for the next generation.

The forest environment must kept clean, safe, and comfortable, so that businesses can run and communities are empowered, he stressed.

In order to support sustainable development from an environmental perspective, his side has disseminated information to development partners and businesses.

He emphasized that businesses should be run in a sustainable, tiered, and structured manner so as to develop mutual understanding.

"(This is) so that our common understanding of sustainable development can be achieved and forest areas can be maintained fully. This is part of what we do," he stressed.

He stated that in Southwest Papua, there are already the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Center (PSKL), Climate Change Control (PPI), and some development partners, such as FORCLIME.

"It is our capital and strength to synergize with all indigenous partners to develop and maintain forests (and to determine) which ones we need to protect and the ones we need to develop," he remarked. 

Related news: Ministry of Industry prepares EIP concept to spur sustainability
Related news: Nusantara City designed according to green economy principles: OIKN
Related news: Preserving the sustainability of Papuan staple sago

Translator: Yuvensius B, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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2) Prabowo, Gibran score landslide victory in South Papua  

March 15, 2024 22:56 GMT+700


Jakarta (ANTARA) - Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka have scored a landslide victory in South Papua with 162,852 valid votes, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced at a plenary meeting here on Friday.

Meanwhile, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD polled 110,003 votes, and Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar received 41,906 votes. The total number of voters going to polling stations was recorded at 320,386.

According to a member of the KPU-South Papua Office, Theresia Mahuze, who attended the KPU's plenary meeting, the total number of registered voters in the province's final voter list (DPT) was 367,269.

Of the number, only 306,486 registered voters went to polling stations on Election Day (February 14, 2024), she informed.

In addition to them, at least 2,471 voters registered in the additional voter list and 11,429 voters registered in the special voter list (DPK) also cast their votes on Election Day.

Indonesians have given their mandate. At least 1.7 million voters living abroad cast their votes for the General Elections before February 14, while more than 203 million voters residing in Indonesia flocked to polling stations on Election Day.

Voters living outside Indonesia cast their ballot at 828 polling stations through 1,580 mobile voting boxes and 651 postal services, while Indonesian residents voted at 820,161 polling stations.

On Election Day, polling stations at 84 electoral districts in 38 provinces remained open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time.

ANTARA reported earlier that the public will need to be patient to learn the legitimate results of the 2024 elections, as the outcome of the manual vote count will be announced by the KPU by March 20 at the latest.

No doubt, Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and their political coalitions are awaiting the moment of truth, too.

In the meantime, several pollsters' quick counts, broadcast on the country's national TV stations, have revealed favorable results for the Prabowo-Gibran pair.

After the official result of the KPU's final manual vote count is out, the winning candidate pair will need to wait for the presidential inauguration, which is scheduled to take place on October 20, 2024.

Related news: KPU targets completing recapitulation of domestic votes on March 18
Related news: Prabowo-Gibran pair secures majority of valid votes in East Java: KPU


Translator: Narda MS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

1) Awyu Tribe appeal cassation over environmental permit legal battles

 


2) Two students still detained for alleged aircraft shooting in Dekai 

3) Petronas secures first deepwater Indonesia E&P concession 



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https://en.jubi.id/awyu-tribe-appeal-cassation-over-environmental-permit-legal-battles/

1) Awyu Tribe appeal cassation over environmental permit legal battles   

News Desk - PTUN Lawsuit Awyu Community

 15 March 2024




The Awyu Tribe community, accompanied by the Coalition Team to Save Papua's Indigenous Forests, filed an appeal to the Supreme Court through the Jayapura Administrative Court in Jayapura City, Papua Province, on Thursday (3/14/2024). - Jubi/Theo Kelen


Jayapura, Jubi – The indigenous community of the Awyu Tribe has filed a cassation against the decision of the Manado State Administrative High Court which rejected their appeal regarding their lawsuit against the environmental feasibility permit issued by the Papua Department of Investment and One-Stop Service for PT Indo Asiana Lestari.

The cassation was lodged through the Jayapura City State Administrative Court (PTUN Jayapura) on Thursday (14/3/2024). This was conveyed by a member of the Coalition to Save Papua’s Customary Forests, acting as legal counsel for the Awyu Tribe, lawyer Emanuel Gobay.

“We have just registered the cassation. This means we have gone through several stages in the PTUN Jayapura, including the appeal, and now the cassation stage,” said Gobay.

The permit contested by the Awyu Tribe encompasses plans for a 36,096.4-hectare oil palm plantation in Mandobo District and Fofi District, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua Province. The Awyu Tribe said the permit was issued without their knowledge.

On November 2, 2023, the panel of judges led by Merna Cinthia along with judges Yusup Klemen and Donny Poja declared the lawsuit legally groundless and dismissed it. On November 22, 2023, the legal counsel for the Awyu Tribe filed an appeal with the Manado State Administrative High Court.

On February 29, 2024, the Manado State Administrative High Court rejected the appeal because the plaintiff’s application had expired or exceeded ninety days since the disputed object’s decision letter was known. The High Court also stated that the request for suspension of the disputed object’s execution was rejected.

Emanuel Gobay stated on Thursday that they had submitted various required documents for the cassation. Gobay criticized the Manado State Administrative High Court for rejecting the appeal of the Awyu Tribe on the grounds of exceeding the time limit. Gobay stated that the appeal memorandum submitted through the PTUN Jayapura was accepted and processed.

“It is strange when the PTUN Jayapura accepts it and the PTTUN Manado rejects it just because of time. I need to emphasize that this does not get into the substance of the case. The question is, why did not the judges of the PTTUN Manado want to get into the substance of the case?” Gobay asked.

According to Gobay, none of the panel of judges of the Manado State Administrative High Court who examined and adjudicated the appeal of the Awyu Tribe were licensed environmental judges. Gobay said the Awyu indigenous community was very disappointed with the High Court’s decision.

“After we investigated, it turns out that none of the three judges examining the case were licensed environmental judges. There needs to be an evaluation at the Supreme Court level because of these non-environmental judges examining environmental cases,” he said.

Gobay stated that the appeal decision had an impact on the livelihoods of the Awyu Tribe’s indigenous community. He hoped that the Supreme Court examining the cassation request of the Awyu Tribe would deliver a fair decision. (*)


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2) Two students still detained for alleged aircraft shooting in Dekai   
News Desk - Armed Conflict In Papua 
15 March 2024

Jayapura, Jubi – Two students arrested in Kali Brasa, Dekai DistrictYahukimo Regency on February 22, 2024 and have yet to be released by the police as of today. The two teenagers, MH and BGE, have been made suspects in the case of aircraft shooting.

MH and BGE were apprehended by security forces on suspicion of being members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). They were captured in Kali Brasa during a security raid related to the Wings Air aircraft shooting in Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency, which occurred on February 17.

Chairman of the Yahukimo Church Fellowship (PGGY) Rev. Atias Matuan, stated on Sunday (10/3/2024) that MH and BGE have not been released. “Since they were arrested by the police on February 22, they have not been released and have not returned home until now. At that time, three people went to the garden. After harvesting bananas, they returned. Upon arriving at Kali Brasa, one person, named Elly Giban, was shot, while the two students, MH and BGE, were arrested and have not returned home,” said Matuan.

Matuan said he and several religious figures had met with the Yahukimo Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heru Hidayanto to clarify the whereabouts of MH and BGE. They requested the police to immediately release MH and BGE. Later, Matuan received reports that the police had not yet released MH and BGE.

Human Rights Activist in Papua, Yones Douw, also attempted to locate MH and BGE. According to him, the two youths are still detained by the police. “I have checked in Yahukimo, and they said they have not been released,” he said.

On Thursday (14/3/2024), Jubi contacted Heru Hidayanto via WhatsApp messaging service. Heru asked Jubi to inquire about the matter to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Yahukimo Police, Second Insp. Tantu Usman.

When contacted via WhatsApp messaging service on Thursday, Tantu Usman confirmed that MH and BGE are still detained by the police. According to Tantu, MH and BGE have been designated as suspects in the aircraft shooting case.

“MH and BGE have been named suspects and charged for allegedly violating Article 479 F letter a jo Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, and are currently detained at the Papua Police Headquarters in Jayapura City,” said Usman.

Usman stated that MH and BGE have been detained at the Papua Police Headquarters since February 29, 2024. Earlier, on February 27, the Antara News Agency quoted the statement of the Cartenz Peace Operations Coordinator Sr. Comr. Faizal Ramadhani, who mentioned that MH and BGE had been released. In the news reports by various media outlets, Faizal stated that the allegation of the two students being involved in the TPNPB network was not proven, so they were released.

Faizal’s statement is supported with the statement of the TPNPB Ndugama Darakma Battalion Commander, Nabeanus Gerebea, on February 24. Gerebea stated that MH and BGE were ordinary civilians who were arrested while crossing Kali Brasa.

“They are not members of the TPNPB. They are purely civilians and have no knowledge of the TPNPB. They were arrested while crossing Kali Brasa to Dekai. They were arrested and tortured,” said Gerebea. (*)



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3) Petronas secures first deepwater Indonesia E&P concession 

March 15, 2024

Offshore staff

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has awarded Petronas subsidiary PC North Madura II the Bobara working area offshore West Papua, under the Indonesia Petroleum Bid Round 2023.

It is Petronas’ first venture into deepwater exploration in Indonesia.

The company will operate Bobara with 100% equity; the working area covers about 8,400 sq km. 

Commitment for the first three years include G&G studies, and 3D seismic data acquisition and processing.

Last year the company signed a sale and purchase agreement for the Masela working area, and it already operates the Ketapang, North Madura II and North Ketapang production sharing contracts (PSCs) offshore East Java, with further (non-operated) interests in seven PSCs offshore and onshore in the Natuna Sea, Sumatra, East Java, and East Indonesia.

03.14.2024


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1) End of an era: Closure of sacred Ertsberg mine leaves legacy of environmental concerns


2) Indigenous Papuans in South Papua protest on alleged electoral irregularities 

3) Papuan democracy monitor highlights lack of political understanding in 2024 elections   
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1) End of an era: Closure of sacred Ertsberg mine leaves legacy of environmental concerns 
News Desk - Ertsberg Mine 14 March 2024







The Ertsberg mountain of your history is now a hole and Wilson Lake - Jubi/Grasberg George A Mealey


Jayapura, Jubi – In March 1973, then President of Indonesia Soeharto, accompanied by the Governor of Irian Jaya Frans Kaisiepo and the Director of Freeport Minerals, officially inaugurated the Ertsberg mine for the first time. This mountain was excavated for copper concentrate to be exported from Nemangkawi abroad.

The mining material, in the form of concentrate, was conveyed from Nemangkawi through pipes to the Port Side harbor and transported by ships to foreign destinations for export. The Amungme people themselves refer to Ertsberg Mountain as Yelsegel-Ongopsegel because of its gleaming appearance, akin to the shining feathers of a Bird of Paradise.

“Mountain birds still exist in Nemangkawi until now because for the Amungme people, ‘Yelsegel-Ongopsegel’ or Ertsberg is a sacred place for our people since ancient times. It is believed that the spirits of our ancestors would stop there before ascending to eternal heaven,” said John Magal, Chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Organization of the Amungme Tribe (Lemasa), to Jubi in Timika, last week.

According to John Magal, when the first bore penetrated the sacred mountain, elders recounted that there was a great light emanating from Ertsberg towards the east of Nemangkawi. “They (the elders) recounted that the spirits of our ancestors had left the sacred mountain,” he said.

“The sacred mountain, by the end of 1972, had all roads built, cable cars smoothly operating, and pipeline routes well installed. In December 1972, the first 10,000 tons of Ertsberg ore were successfully shipped to Japan. The mine was operating smoothly and proudly,” wrote George A Mealey in his book titled Grasberg: Mining the richest and most remote deposit of copper and gold in the world, in the mountains of Irian Jaya, Indonesia.

Furthermore, Mealey, who is also the Mine Development Manager of Freeport, wrote that three months later, President Soeharto arrived, and with a jeep, he drove up to the “copper town” he named Tembagapura and inaugurated the mine. “Unexpectedly, he also renamed West Irian Province to Irian Jaya Province,” Mealey wrote in his book on page 106 of the 384-page book.

He acknowledged that despite growing up in Alaska, USA, to him, the mountains in Irian Jaya were the steepest mountains he has ever seen, and even more impressive is that there was copper mineralization everywhere.

At that time there were no policies regarding Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Freeport’s EIA was only conducted in 1997 after the Erstberg mine ended in the 1980s and closed in 1988. In practice, the Erstberg mine operated from December 1972 to 1988 until the copper concentrate dwindled and it was finally closed.

The second mine at Mount Grasberg, or what the Amungme people call Tenogoma or grassy mountain, began exporting concentrate in 1988, and since then, the first EIA was conducted in 1997.

Grasberg to underground mining

Since the Ertsberg mine began to decline from the 1980s until it closed in 1988, Freeport began digging the second mountain, Grasberg, also known as Tenogoma, for open-pit mining.

“I began describing Grasberg to financial advisors as a ‘porphyry copper-gold deposit,’ where copper and gold production could be expected, and possibly silver too. I noted that the geological structure of Grasberg resembled that of Ok Tedi, a porphyry copper-gold deposit being mined in Papua New Guinea. The Freeport team also visited there. Ok Tedi received widespread publicity at the time because of its rich surface gold capping deposit,” Mealey wrote in his book.

Thus, Mealey continued, Grasberg is referred to as a “potential porphyry deposit.” It is said that Grasberg is the world’s largest gold reserve and the third-largest copper reserve. “Grasberg is the most significant mineral reserve discovery of this century,” said George A Mealey.

Now, the Indonesian government’s downstream program has built a smelter plant in Gresik, and practically all mining minerals from the Central Papua Mountains are excavated in underground mines and transported by ship to Surabaya and Gresik.

Antara News mentions that Phase II of the Gresik Smelter is still being pursued to be completed by May 2024. The operation of the Freeport Gresik Smelter will enhance Indonesia’s downstream efforts. As a result, there is added value that the country and all aspects involved can benefit from.

Now, after the closure of the Ertsberg mine, what remains is a mountain with a hole thousands of meters high. The former excavation is now a hollowed lake named Lake Wilson. The name is given to commemorate Freeport’s 1960 expedition leader, Forbes Wilson. (*)


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2) Indigenous Papuans in South Papua protest on alleged electoral irregularities 
News Desk - Election 2024 14 March 2024

Merauke, Jubi – Thousands of indigenous Papuans in South Papua Provincetook to the streets at Brawijaya-Libra Circle Park in Merauke Regency on Tuesday (3/13/2024). They believed their political rights were undermined during the 2024 General Election, particularly regarding the legislative vote count held in four districts in the region.

They carried dozens of banners expressing their demands and protests regarding the conduct of the 2024 election. They gathered and delivered speeches at Brawijaya Circle Park despite the rain, under tight security surveillance.

Various speakers took turns voicing the aspirations of the indigenous communities of South Papua, all of which were related to their political rights. One of the speakers, also a South Papuan activist, Victoria Diana Gebze, stated during her speech that the indigenous people of South Papua took to the streets to protest because there were irregularities in the 2024 election process.

“We, the indigenous people of South Papua, have sincere hearts and high tolerance to accept anyone from the archipelago who comes to this land to live together in harmony. We want peace, and we do not want to resort to protests like this but our political rights are not respected,” she said.

Gebze also urged the Acting Governor of South Papua, Apolo Safanpo, as the political leader in the region, to listen to and address the aspirations of the indigenous people of South Papua regarding the elections.

“Furthermore, we urge the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the General Election Commission (KPU) as the organizers of the 2024 elections to be accountable for the indigenous Papuan candidates whose votes went missing during the vote tallying process. Also, the reports of vote-buying that have been filed with Bawaslu,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Communication Forum for Indigenous Papuan Candidates, Robert Kaiba, expressed that they observed a flawed system, one that deviated from the election process itself. There were violations that occurred before the election process and during the vote tallying in various polling stations in several districts that did not reflect a fair democratic process.

“There were violations, such as alleged vote-buying in Jagebob District, vote-buying in Bupul, and irregularities in the electoral process in Kimaam. These have been reported to Bawaslu but there has been no follow-up or communication to us regarding the handling of these issues,” said Robert Kaiba.

Kaiba added that initially, they protested to the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Merauke Regency and the South Papua People’s Assembly (MRPS), but the outcomes of their efforts did not meet their expectations.

“Therefore, we take to the streets to protest and demand that high-ranking regional officials, including the governor, regents, MRPS chairman, Bawaslu, and KPU, come and talk to all of us,” he concluded. (*)


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3) Papuan democracy monitor highlights lack of political understanding in 2024 elections   
News Desk - Election Monitoring 14 March 2024

Jayapura, Jubi – The Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP), conducting independent monitoring during the 2024 elections, concluded that the political understanding among election participants, electoral organizers, and the public was severely lacking during the implementation of the 2024 elections in the Papua and Mountainous Papua provinces.

“No wonder that honest, safe, and peaceful democracy did not materialize in the voting process, as there was a complete absence of election awareness campaigns directed at the public,” said Antoni Ibra, the Coordinator of the Independent Election Monitoring Team from ALDP, speaking to Jubi in Jayapura City, Papua, on Monday (11/3/2024).

Antoni Ibra explained that this conclusion was based on the monitoring results starting from February 11, covering the logistics distribution phase, voting process, vote tallying at polling stations (TPS), and district plenary sessions.

The lack of understanding could even be considered fatal. For instance, there were legislative candidates in Nduga Regency who did not know which political party they represented. This indicates a lack of political education for the candidates.

“These political parties also nominated legislative candidates without providing any political education, so today we see communities fighting just to support a particular candidate. The candidates might not care about community conflicts, all they care about is advancing to the Regional Representative Council (DPRD),” he said.

“One candidate for the DPRD in Nduga Regency admitted that her votes were taken away, and she did not know where they went. When asked which party she belonged to, she admitted she did not know, only knowing that she was a candidate,” Ibra recounted a conversation with one female candidate from Nduga.

A similar situation, though not identical, occurred with lower-level election organizers. For example, how to use the Recount Information System (Sirekap), continued Ibra.. In Jayawijaya Regency for one, there were still election workers (KPPS members) who could not fill out Sirekap.

“And they are not only in the Mountainous Papua. Even in Jayapura City, in the Wahno Sub-district [of Abepura District], KPPS members could not fill out Sirekap, so the community had to help them,” he said.

According to Ibra, these examples highlight the fact that election awareness campaigns to build public understanding, which should have been conducted one year before the elections, did not occur. He suggested that there should have been at least three rounds of campaigns involving the Regional Apparatus Coordination Agency (Kesbangpol), the General Election Commission (KPU), and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu).

“The public also needs to have political understanding. To achieve a clean and democratic election process, awareness campaigns involving the public are crucial. It is no surprise that today there are many conflicts, battles, and fraud in the elections. This is all due to the lack of awareness campaigns,” he said.

All of these serve as important notes for election organizers to improve and intensify awareness campaigns and build political understanding among the public, Ibra concluded. The same applies to election participants because, according to Ibra, democratic elections can only be realized if the public has received adequate political education, enabling them to have the capacity and maturity to engage in politics. (*)


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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

AWPA Update No 2/2024

 

AWPA West Papua Update No 2/2024 

 Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) 

AWPA Update No 2/2024  
(13  March 2024)



Armed clashes have continued between the TPNBP and the Indonesian security forces during the past months with causalities occurring on both sides.  In response to these incidents the Indonesian security forces  undertake sweeping operations which can result in local people being arrested , killed and tortured. Houses and villages have also be destroyed in the sweeping operations.

 




Rights commission asked to seriously investigate recent violence in Papua

Kompas.com – March 4, 2024

Sabrina Asril, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is asking the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to be serious in investigating the recent violence that has occurred in PapuaKontras Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya said this is important in order to stop a repeat of the violence. "[We're asking] Komnas HAM to immediately conduct an independent and impartial investigation into all alleged acts of violence, torture and alleged human rights violations that have occurred in Papua", said Arya during a press conference at the Kontras office in Kwitang, Central Jakarta, on Monday March 4. The call was made following several incidents of violence in Papua over the last two months that has claimed four lives.


Kontras noted that there were seven incidents of violence between January and February resulting in 10 people being injured and four others dying.

This adds the list of victims of violence in Papua. In 2023, Kontras recorded 49 incidents of violence with 67 people injured and 41 killed. "These acts of violence included shootings, torture and arbitrary arrests", he added.

Arya also said that the number of cases of violence in Papua is directly proportional to the application of a military approach by the government. Yet, said Arya, this policy of resolving conflicts is still one of the factors continuing to the recurrence of violence in the land of Papua. "We project that incidents such as this will continue to be repeated in the land of Papua if the government does not conduct a review and evaluation of the security approach and military operations that are currently being pursued in the land of Papua", he said. 

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Komnas HAM Diminta Serius Investigasi Kekerasan di Papua Sampai Tuntas".]

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2024/03/04/20085621/komnas-ham-diminta-serius-investigasi-kekerasan-di-papua-sampai-tuntas





West Papuan Mini- Film Festival 


The West Papuan Mini- Film Festival is coming  to Australia in April.

The Jubi TV Documentary Program has released five new films about West Papua.

The festival will be launched by the West Papua Project at the UNI of Wollongong. It will then travel to Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide Hobart and Melbourne.

Program may vary slightly in different cities but all details, times etc.  can be found on the festival FB page at. for Sydney event RSVP:  seosamh20@hotmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556749645267






Tensions rise as TPNPB alleges TNI of civilian shootings in Intan Jaya    

Jubi News Desk - Armed Conflict In Papua

5 March 2024

 

Nabire, Jubi – The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) accuses the Indonesian Military (TNI), namely the Infantry Battalion 330 division, of shooting three civilians in Sugapa District’s Titigi Village, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province.

The shootings occurred on two separate occasions. The first incident took place on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, around 10:25 p.m. local time. Two civilians were shot, namely Selli Maiseni (17), who was wounded in the arm, and Makelon Hagisimijau (15), who was shot in the thigh.  The second incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when a civilian named Nelson Sani (16) was shot in the left arm, piercing through the abdomen, resulting in his death. This occurred during an exchange of fire between joint security forces and the TPNPB.

 

“We allege that the three were shot by the TNI’s Infantry Battalion 330, tasked with securing the elections, claiming civilian lives,” said TPNPB leader of the Kodap VIII Intan Jaya, Yosua Maiseni, to Jubi on Sunday (3/3/2024). Yosua Maiseni reported that Selli Maiseni (17) and Makelon Hagisimijau (15) were shot while on their way to observe the vote counting for the Indonesian Legislative and Presidential elections in Titigi. They were shot en route. Yosua stated that before the incident, the two youths had participated in the elections. However, without valid reasons, they were allegedly shot by the TNI. “Hence, all members of the Infantry Battalion 330 throughout Intan Jaya should be immediately withdrawn to Jakarta. The TNI has carried out numerous shootings against civilians in Intan Jaya, from school-aged children to the elderly. Some were fatally shot, while others are still alive to this day, like Mainus Bagubau, who was shot in Jalai Village in 2020, among many other cases,” he said. Yosua questioned why the TNI took over the police’s function during the elections in Intan Jaya, leading to shootings of Selli Maiseni and Mikalon Yoani. “They (TNI) didn’t come to secure the elections but to kill civilians who know nothing,” he said.

 

Sugapa District Head Misael Sondegau confirmed the shooting of three civilians in Intan Jaya. “It’s true that two civilians named Makelon Hagisimijau (15) and Selli Maiseni (17) were shot. They were shot while on their way from Watapa to Titigi. Currently, they are being treated by their families in Watapa,” he said. However, Sondegau stated that he has yet to identify the perpetrator because the incident occurred far from Sugapa. “I cannot confirm the shooter of the two civilians as the location is far from Sugapa,” he said.

Meanwhile, on March 2, chaos erupted during a plenary meeting, and security forces opened fire, hitting one civilian named Nelson Sani. He was shot in Mamba Village, Sugapa District. “Nelson Sani was then taken from Sugapa to Timika. He died on the plane, and his body was transported from Timika to Nabire. Currently, his body is being laid to rest in Nabire,” he said. Sondegau stated that the situation in Intan Jaya is still tense, with the TPNPB and the TNI on high alert.


TNI denies

XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Head of Information Lt. Col. Inf Candra Kurniawan denied information stating that TNI soldiers allegedly shot two civilians in Sugapa. “The news is a hoax deliberately spread by the TPNPB and its sympathizers to defame the security forces,” said Chandra. Chandra stated that there were no shootings or exchanges of fire in Sugapa District on Wednesday. “So, it was intentionally spread by the TPNPB and its sympathizers amid the ongoing General Elections,” he said. (*)




Komnas HAM Papua calls for caution in conflict-prone Papua amid recent escalations 

Jubi News Desk - Papua Conflict 3 March 2024

 

Jayapura, Jubi – Head of the Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) Frits Ramandey emphasizes that Papua should be seen as a region prone to conflict rather than one in constant conflict. In areas prone to conflict, police discretion is exercised in handling conflict escalation. Ramandey explains that Papua falls into the category of regions prone to conflict because conflicts in Papua occur sporadically or unevenly. For example, conflicts are more likely to happen in Yahukimo, Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Paniai, Dogiyai, and Maybrat rather than the entire region. According to him, areas termed as conflict zones are those with widespread conflicts revolving around specific issues. “When conflicts are widespread, we call them conflict zones. But when they are sporadic, we call them areas prone to conflict,” said Frits Ramandey during an interview at his office in Jayapura City on Thursday (29/2/2024).

 

Ramandey further explains that the category of regions prone to conflict is not solely based on violent movements, such as conflicts between the military/police and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). It also includes violent actions that sometimes occur among indigenous Papuans themselves, such as tribal conflicts.

“Acts of violence, Papuans protesting about labor issues, protesting about Papuan rights in political parties, protesting about land. These happen sporadically, and from the perspective of human rights, they are considered areas prone to conflict,” says Frits.

Regarding the recent arrest of two teenagers in Yahukimo suspected of being associated with the TPNPB, Ramandey views this action as a form of police discretion in handling conflict escalation.

In areas prone to conflict like Yahukimo, Frits continues, individuals around the conflict escalation site can be taken into custody as a precaution or as part of police discretion. However, when individuals are ‘taken into custody’ at the conflict escalation site, security forces must not commit violence against them. “The problem arises when the detained individuals are subjected to violence,” he says. Frits Ramandey appreciates the security forces for releasing the two teenagers from Yahukimo and stating that they are not part of the TPNPB or any armed civilian group. If the two teenagers were subjected to violence or torture while in custody, Frits Ramandey says they have the right to file complaints with the local police, the police’s internal affairs division, or Komnas HAM for legal action. “If they were subjected to violence or torture, they can file complaints with Komnas HAM,” he says. He further states that Komnas HAM requests that the military/police refrain from committing violence and murder, especially in situations when people are defenseless. (*)

 





 

TPNPB commander vows resistance against Indonesian govt agendas   

Jubi News Desk - Papua Conflict

6 March 2024

 


Head of Cartenz Peace Public Relations Task Force, AKBP Bayu Suseno shows a picture of a suspected TPNPB member who was arrested in Puncak Regency, Alenus Tabuni aka Komputer Tabuni. - Doc. Cartenz Peace Public Relations


Jayapura, Jubi – Numbuk Telenggen, the commander of the Third Defense Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Ilaga stated that they will not remain silent following the security forces’ action of apprehending Komputer Tabuni, also known as Alenus Tabuni. Telenggen asserted that they would obstruct and reject the implementation of the Regional Head Elections in November 2024. Telenggen made this statement during a phone call with Jubi on Tuesday (5/3/2024). He admitted that Komputer Tabuni, who was arrested in front of the Ilaga Community Health Center on February 18, 2024, is a member of their group.

“During the Presidential Election and Legislative Election, we did not engage in any activities. However, the security forces arrested Komputer Tabuni in Kago, Ilaga. We need to remind that because of this, the TPNPB will resist all activities of the Indonesian government in Papua, especially in the Puncak Regency,” said Telenggen.


According to Telenggen, Komputer Tabuni is a member of the TPNPB Third Defense Command in Ilaga. “When the police arrested him, he was carrying a pistol,” he said.

Telenggen admitted they had seized SS1 firearms from a member of the Ilaga Airport Air Security Unit Police Post on February 1, 2024. However, Telenggen denied that Jukius Tabuni, who was apprehended by the Cartenz Task Force Cartenz on Saturday (2/3/2024), was a member of the TPNPB.

“I want to emphasize that Jukius is not a member of the TPNPB. Jukius is an ordinary civilian who was arrested and interrogated by the security forces. I heard he has been released due to lack of evidence. My members who seized the weapons were with me. So, soldiers or police should not arbitrarily arrest civilians,” said Telenggen.

Telenggen affirmed that they would disrupt all Indonesian government agendas. “As the operational commander, I need to affirm that we will cancel all Indonesian government activities in Puncak through our actions in the field. We will continue to resist until we expel Indonesia from our homeland,” he said. (*)

 

 



West Papua advocacy group condemns arrest, ‘humiliation’ of two teenagers 

 By APR editor -  February 26, 2024 

 


The two Papuan teens arrested by the Indonesian military - "MH" and "BGS" . . . Australia reaffirms no support for Papuan self- determination. 

Image: Tabloid Jubi

Asia Pacific Report

 

An Australian-based West Papua advocacy group has condemned the arrest and “humiliation” of two teenagers by Indonesian security forces last week.

The head of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations, Kombes Faizal Ramadhani, said in a statement on Friday that the 15-year-olds had been arrested after a clash with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB ) in Kali Brasa on Thursday, February 22.

During the shootout, a TPNPB member named as Otniel Giban (alias Bolong Giban) had been killed.


READ MORE: A BBC report on the arrest in Bahasa Indonesian

A Jubi news report on the incident in West Papua


The Sydney-based Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) today condemned the arrest of the teenagers, only identified by the Indonesian authorities by their initials, MH and BGE and who were initially seized as “suspects” but later described as “witnesses”.

Faizal said that the teenagers had been arrested because they were suspected of being members of the TPNPB group and that they were currently being detained at the Damai Cartenz military post.

However, the TPNPB declared that the two teenagers were not members of the TPNPB and were ordinary civilians. The teenagers were arrested when they were crossing the Brasa River in the Yahukimo Regency.

 

Aircraft shot at
The clash between security forces and the TNPB occurred while the Cartenz Peacekeeping Operation-2024 searched for those responsible for shooting at an aircraft in Yahukimo in which a military member had been wounded.

Meanwhile, also in Jakarta last Friday the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, met with Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto — who is poised to win this month’s Indonesian presidential election.

Marles stressed at a media conference at the Defence Ministry that Australia did not support the Free Papua Movement, saying the country “fully recognise[d] Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty”. “We do not endorse any independence movement,” he told a media conference.

However, in Sydney AWPA’s Joe Collins said in a statement: “I was at first surprised that West Papua even got a mention at the meeting as usually Australia tries to ignore the issue but even our Defence Minister can hardly ignore a media question on it.”

 

‘No support for any independence movements’
An extract from the media conference says:

Subianto: “Thank you very much. I don’t think there is any need for questions. Questions?”

Journalist: “Thank you very much Mr Deputy Prime Minister. Regarding the huge amount of [the] Australian defence budget, how should the Indonesian people see it? Is it going to be a trap or an opportunity for our national interest?

“And my second question is what is Australia’s standpoint regarding the separatist [pro-independence] movement in Papua because there are some voices from Australia concern[ed] about human rights violations?”

Marles: “Thank you for the question. Let me do the second issue first. We, Australia utterly recognise the territorial sovereignty of Indonesia, full stop. And there is no support for any independence movements.

“We support the territorial sovereignty of Indonesia. And that includes those provinces being part of Indonesia. No ifs, no buts. And I want to be very clear about that.”

Collins said there was no shortage of comments during the delegation’s visit to Indonesian around how important the relationship was.

 

“West Papua will remain the elephant in the room in the Australia-Indonesian relationship,” Collins said. “We can expect many hiccups in the relationship over West Papua in the coming years “.

 

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Indonesian election raises concerns for West Papua independence movement

By Kyle Evans

ABC Pacific Beat Broadcast 

The likely electoral victory for Indonesian military strongman Prabowo Subianto has sparked concerns of what his presidency might mean for West Papua.

Subianto has been accused of involvement in the torture and kidnapping of political activists in Papua in 1998.

Credits Kyle Evans, Reporter

Interviewed

Victor Mambour,  Benny Wenda,  Cammi Webb Gannon

Audio.   https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/indonesia-elections/103482852

 


Allegations of civilian abuse and home burning by TNI spark tensions in Ilaga              

Jubi News Desk 7 February 2024

Nabire, Jubi – The Puncak Ilaga Command of The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has accused the Indonesian Military (TNI) of burning civilian homes and assaulting civilians, resulting in one death and two severe injuries.

Puncak Ilanda Commander of the TPNPB, Numbuk Telengen, reported to Jubi in a phone call on Sunday, February 4, 2024, that the TNI was conducting a pursuit operation against TPNPB members who had seized weapons earlier.

Previously, TPNPB members managed to seize weapons at Amenggaru Ilaga Airport. Failed to find TPNPB members, the TNI allegedly tortured three civilians and set fire to civilian homes. “One civilian was tortured and died, while two other civilians who were tortured by security forces are still being treated at home,” TPNPB Spokesperson Sebby Sambom claimed to Jubi in a WhatsApp message on Monday.

Sambom claimed to have received an official report regarding the incident from TPNPBleaders in Ilaga.



Sambom said that the TNI also participated in burning down civilian homes in Kepala Air Kali Ila’s Agayome and Yenggerenok villages. In addition, Sambom said, a pastor named Eriak Waker and his congregation were interrogated and physically abused.

“We consider that the TNI has violated humanitarian law by not pursuing the TPNPB but instead assaulting civilians, pastors, and burning down the people’s houses,” he said.

Previously reported, joint TNI and police forces claimed to have killed one TPNPB member named Warinus Murib in a shootout between them and the TPNPB following the burning incident of the Omukia Health Center in Omukia District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

“In that incident, the security forces also managed to capture two individuals suspected of being part of the TPNPB group with the initials AM and DK, both were injured,” said spokesperson of the Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force Adj. Sr. Comr. Bayu Suseno on Sunday. According to Bayu, in the shooting, joint forces also managed to seize several pieces of evidence belonging to the TPNPB group in the Kepala Air area led by Jacky Murib, such as firearms, Morning Star flags, and ammunition. (*)






TPNPB claims to attack military command in Dekai          

Jubi News Desk - Armed Conflict In Papua 7 February 2024

Nabire, Jubi – Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom has stated that his group is responsible for the attack that occurred on Siep Asso Road, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency on Monday (5/2/2024). In a press release on Tuesday, Sambom stated that they had received an official report from the Yahukimo Commander of the TPNPB, Elkius Kobak, who declared they had attacked on the Military District Command headquarter in Dekai. “Elkius Kobak and his troops are responsible for the attack. The TPNPB’s assault on the military command was carried out on February 5 at 8.40 p.m. Papua Time,” he said. Sambom claimed that there were four fatalities in the attack. “The TPNPB forces managed to kill four people, three TNI members, and one intelligence officer,” he said. The casualty data provided by Sambom differs from the information provided by security forces. On Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Papua Police, Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, stated that the attack resulted in two injured TNI soldiers and one injured civilian. (*)




 

All hopes pinned on peaceful persuasion to free NZ pilot  

Antara News  March 11, 2024 

 

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is continuing efforts to free New Zealander pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage by an armed separatist group in Papua since February 7, 2023. Mehrtens, a pilot from Susi Air, was abducted by the group, led by Egianus Kogoya, shortly after landing in Paro, Nduga district, Papua Pegunungan province. After taking over as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs less than a month ago, Hadi Tjahjanto has moved swiftly to seek ways to free the pilot. On February 21, 2024, one week after his induction as minister, Tjahjanto held a discussion with three leaders from Nduga.

In Jakarta on February 28, Tjahjanto outlined a plan for freeing Mehrtens by using the church approach. The approach has been chosen considering that the majority of people in Papua are Christians and Catholics. Also, it is believed that the government will be able to approach the hostage-takers if it uses this approach. However, the minister has not provided further details regarding the approach.
Several parties have voiced their support for the church approach. They include Tjahjanto's predecessor, Mahfud MD...............................





Human Rights Monitor

Military members alleged of torturing four Papuan students after finding ammunition

Cases / IndonesiaWest Papua / 9 February 2024 

On 1 February 2024, four students from Hitadipa were arrested in the Sugapa District on their way back home from Nabire to participate in the upcoming elections on 14 February 2024. The students, identified as Mr Elpinus Zanambani, Mr Tenius Wonda, Mr Selianus Sondegau, and Mr Denias Imanuel Agimba, were detained by members of the military near the Sugapa airport and reportedly tortured during interrogation. They were then taken to the Sugapa Police Station, where further violence ensued during the inspection of their belongings. One of the students was found to be carrying nine cartridges of ammunition and alcohol in their bag.

The military denied the allegations of torture. According to Lieutenant Colonel Inf Candra Kurniawan, Deputy Head of Information of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih, the arrests were made after the suspects were found with ammunition, alcohol, a net bag with Morning Star motifs, and other items considered evidence. Candra clarified that the young men were apprehended by the Yonif 330/Tri Dharma Task Force personnel at Bilogai Post due to their suspicious behaviour while riding their motorcycles. The suspects were subsequently handed over to the Sugapa Sector Police for further investigation. Candra dismissed circulating allegations of arbitrary arrests, emphasizing that the suspects were being processed according to the law.............

https://humanrightsmonitor.org/case/military-members-alleged-of-torturing-four-papuan-students-after-finding-ammunition/




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Human Rights Monitor

KNPB activists found guilty – Mr Agus Kosay sentenced to 1 year, Mr Beni Murib sentenced to 10 months imprisonment






CasesHuman Rights News / IndonesiaWest Papua / 9 February 2024 

On 1 February 2024, the Jayapura District Court ruled on the case of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Chairman, Mr Agus Kosay, and KNPB Numbay Secretary, Mr Beni Murib (see photos on top and below, source: independent HRDs), finding them guilty of incitement and the persecution of Mr Ones Kobak on 18 August 2023 . Mr Kosay received a sentence of 1 year in prison, while Mr Murib was sentenced to 10 months. The cases, registered under case numbers 449/Pid.B/2023/PN Jap for Kosay and 450/Pid.B/2023/PN Jap for Murib, were heard by a panel of judges led by Mr Zaka Talpatty. Uniformed and plainclothes police officers closely monitored the court session.


During the trial, the panel of judges noted that Mr Agus Kosay was proven to have caused losses to two groups, both in terms of goods and injuries, leading to his conviction for incitement under Article 160 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). The judges sentenced Mr Kosay to 1 year in prison, with the period of detention deducted from the total sentence. Similarly, Beni Murib was found guilty of maltreatment as stipulated in Article 351 KUHP and received a 10-month prison sentence with the same deduction for detention. The judges ordered Mr Kosay and Mr Murib to pay court costs and granted them seven days to file an appeal if they objected to the decision. Previously, the public prosecutor had demanded a sentence of two years imprisonment for Mr Agus Kosay and eight months imprisonment for Mr Beni Murib.


The criminalisation of activists should be viewed with vigilance. It indicates growing restrictions on the freedom of expression, a key element of human rights and democracy. Ultimately, the legal process must adhere to international human rights standards and principles of justice. The prosecution of the KNPB activists raises significant concerns from a human rights perspective. The events leading up to their arrest and legal prosecution are an indicator of the lack of independence of the judiciary in Indonesia and the persistent pattern of criminalization of activists and human rights defenders in West Papua. The KNPB is a Papuan movement organisation promoting the right to self-determination through a referendum. Their members have committed to non-violent protest by organising peaceful demonstrations and political discussions. In the past decade, the Indonesian police have targeted the KNPB as a subversive pro-independence organisation. KNPB members and supporters are criminalised and have become victims of police violence.


Background

More than seventy police officers detained Mr Agus Kossay, KNPB Chairman, Mr Benny Murib, KNPB Secretary in Jayapura, Mr Ruben Wakla, member of the KNPB in the Yahukimo Regency, and Mr Ferry Yelipele on 2 September 2023. The police officers came to Mr Kossay’s residence in the town of Sentani around 9:00 a.m. The four activists were subsequently detained and interrogated at the Jayapura District Police Station in Doyo Baru. Mr Wakla and Mr Yelipele were released on 3 September 2023 at 8:45 pm without charges. The police allegedly carried out the arrests because Mr Kossay had not reacted to the police summons about an argument within different KNPB fractions on 18 August 2023. Mr Kossay had honoured the first police summons but later received a second summons, which he did not attend. The arrests were carried out even though both parties called upon the authorities that the incident should be settled internally and outside of the law. On 31 October 2023, investigators from the Jayapura Police in Papua Province transferred Agus Kosay, Chairman of the West Papua National Coalition (KNPB), and Numbay Beny Murib, KNPB Secretary, to the Jayapura State Prosecutor’s Office. The activists were both named suspects in a case related to incitement on 18 August 2023 in Jayapura Regency, Papua

Mr Agus Kosay and Mr Beni Murib at court, 1 February 2024





TPNPB reportedly damages major road in Intan Jaya       

Jubi News Desk - Armed Conflict In Papua 7 February 2024


Trans Sugapa Road in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, which was damaged by the West Papua National Liberation Army or TPNPB on Sunday (4/2/2024).- Doc. Pendam XVII/Cenderawasih

 

Jayapura, Jubi – The armed group known as the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) reportedly damaged a major road connecting Sugapa District to Hitadipa District in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, on Sunday (4/2/2024). This was stated by the Acting Deputy Head of Information of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command, Lt. Col. Inf Candra Kurniawan, in a written press release on Monday (5/2/2024). “We received information that the TPNPB intentionally disrupted access to the trans road by excavating an approximately 1.5-meter wide and 2-meter deep trench on Mbomogo Village,” said Candra. Candra said the road damage hindered access and disrupted the daily activities of the local community. He stated that the central government and local governments are committed to developing Papua in various sectors, including infrastructure, which is claimed to be well-received among the Papuans.

“This is evident from the high participation of the Papuan community in development, which shows that the Papuan people aspire to live in a more advanced and prosperous society,” said Candra. The escalation of armed conflict in Intan Jaya Regency has been ongoing since the exchange of fire between the TPNPB and joint Indonesia Military (TNI) and police forces on January 19, 2024. In the shootout, a personnel member of the Cartenz Peace Operation named Second Brig. Alfandi Steve Karamoy and five others died, and two were injured. (*)

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Prabowo must resist temptation to apply more force in Papua 

New face of kindness likely to be tested by push for indigenous rights

NikkeiAsia.  Hamish McDonald February 27, 2024 


 

Hamish McDonald is the author of "Demokrasi: Indonesia in the 21st Century."

After what appears to have been a decisive win by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in Indonesia's presidential election, many observers have been speculating about what kind of leader will emerge when he takes over from incumbent Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in October. Will it be the hot-headed army general who allegedly abducted student protesters, instigated anti-Chinese riots and came close to mounting a coup in 1998? Or the 2014 candidate who launched his first presidential campaign riding a white horse surrounded by strapping uniformed men? Or the stirrer of Islamist street-power who railed against foreigners during his second campaign in 2019? Or just the tubby, avuncular figure who seems to have finally won this month at age 72?


Chameleon is the word many analysts have used.

 An early test could come at the far eastern end of Indonesia: the western half of the island of New Guinea, which has been restive under Jakarta's rule since it was handed over by a reluctant Netherlands 60 years ago under American pressure.

Papua is an old stomping ground of the military version of Prabowo. In 1984, he led troops from Kopassus, the army's Special Forces Command, across the border into Papua New Guinea to search for fighters from the Free Papua Movement, known by its Indonesian initials as OPM. In 1996, he led a Kopassus operation to free World Wildlife Fund hostages taken by the OPM. The mission was controversial because soldiers traveled via a white helicopter previously used by Red Cross negotiators.

Enough provocations are happening now to bring this persona of Prabowo's again to the fore. Jokowi's legacy is "a better armed, better resourced, more coordinated pro-independence insurgency; higher civilian casualties; and the failure after a year to secure the release of a New Zealand pilot held hostage by the guerrillas," said the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), a Jakarta-based research group, in a report on Papua earlier this month.

 

Indonesia is still far from winning the hearts and minds of its Papuan citizens.

Early on, soldiers and officials looted what the Dutch left behind. Then Jakarta held an "act of free choice" in which 1,026 handpicked indigenous representatives voted for unification with Indonesia. Although the vote was accepted by the U.N. at the time, it has been regarded as a sham by many historians as well as Papuans. Periodic protests have met harsh military crackdowns. Millions of settlers from other parts of Indonesia have moved into Papua, threatening to swamp the indigenous Melanesian population.

The Papuans have been onlookers to the exploitation of the territory's immense natural wealth: the giant Freeport gold-copper mine, oil fields around the Bird's Head peninsula, a BP natural gas field in Bintuni Bay, hardwood forests logged and replaced with oil palm plantations. Indonesian military men have thrived on fees from security and the opportunity for post-retirement employment.

 

When the authoritarian New Order regime of late President Suharto ended in 1998, many Papuans hoped their dreams of self-determination would finally be realized under liberal-minded Abdurrahman Wahid. But initiatives launched during his brief 2000-2002 presidency were undermined by his successors. Unique among Indonesia's regions, Papua has been exempted from the demokrasi era that followed Suharto's fall. It remains closed to foreign correspondents and U.N. human rights officials without approval from a vetting committee composed of representatives from intelligence, military and government agencies.  Jakarta has tried to draw the Papuans more into national progress through new governmental structures, sharing resource revenue and making the police rather than the military the first responders to unrest.

But mobile phones and social media have penetrated military information controls to reveal protests, security crackdowns and shootings to the world, giving a boost to pro-independence political activists and guerrillas.

"For the last 20 years, the conflict has only grown worse and the last 10 years in particular have seen an escalation of violence, despite huge amounts of money and huge numbers of troops sent in," IPAC said in its report.

 

A year ago, a guerrilla band destroyed a small commercial aircraft at a remote landing strip and took pilot Philip Mehrtens from New Zealand hostage. Jakarta has tried negotiating his release but also has positioned forces for a rescue attempt that IPAC said would certainly result in Mehrtens' death and many civilian casualties.

In a presidential debate in December, the Prabowo of old made an appearance as he promised to "support" Papuans by strengthening the security apparatus in the region.

"We see there is meddling by foreign hands there," he said. "And we see that certain powers always want Indonesia to disintegrate and fracture." The vagueness of his policy platform has left people guessing about his intentions, said Andreas Harsono, Indonesia director for U.S.-based campaign group Human Rights Watch.

"But whatever Prabowo will do, the importance of human rights issues and respect for their land will still be front and center for the indigenous people in West Papua," he said. "If Prabowo wants to have a model on how he should work on West Papua, he could indeed look at Wahid."

 

Jokowi, who initially tried to open Papua to outside scrutiny but was overruled by his nationalist and military supporters, may have some moderating influence over a president to whom he lent his popularity -- and his eldest son as running mate.

But the biggest block of seats in the legislature, and probably the speakership, looks set to go to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, led by Megawati Sukarnoputri. The daughter of founding president Sukarno who won Papua from the Dutch, Sukarnoputri applied military solutions to insurgencies during her own term as president. Her party may not resist if Prabowo seeks to apply forceful methods.

The pilot hostage drama may well be over by the time Prabowo takes charge. But other flashpoints could tempt him into a shock military response to the embarrassment of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the U.S. -- countries that have positioned themselves as friends and supporters of Melanesians amid China's efforts to boost its influence in the Pacific. These partners should quietly suggest patient dialogue and avoidance of armed confrontation where possible as a better approach for the new leader.







Hearing in Dutch Parliament calls for UN visit to West Papua | ULMWP
 Free West Papua Campaign Nederland 

A Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the urgency of a UN visit to West Papua was held in the Dutch Parliament yesterday (28th February). Held in the Parliament of West Papua’s former coloniser, the hearing is the third in a series of ULMWP and IPWP meetings demanding that Indonesia facilitate a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights fact-finding mission immediately. International pressure is mounting on Indonesia to grant the UN access to West Papua. The Brussels Declaration, a new statement calling for a visit and accusing Indonesia of deliberately blocking international oversight, has now been signed by over 55 Parliamentarians from around the world. Over 100 countries have demanded a UN visit, including all member states of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), the European Commission, and individual nations including the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands. At the 2023 annual meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Melanesian leaders demanded that a UN visit take place before the next MSG meeting, scheduled for April 2024. The meeting was addressed by ULMWP President Benny Wenda, ULMWP Prime Minister Edison Waromi (through video link), Honorary Consul of the Vanuatu Embassy Elisabeth van Vliet, ex-MEP and current-MEP candidate Pernando Barrena, and head of the ULMWP EU Mission Oridek Ap. Demonstrations took place across various West Papuan regions in support of the meeting. - UK Parliament meeting in London, October 2023 - EU Parliament meeting in Brussels, January 2024, launching the Brussels Declaration. Any Parliamentarians or diplomats who wish to sign the declaration should contact office@ipwp.org.

youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-Wd6bQLGdY

 

 


Five soldiers named suspects in Jayawijaya police station attack

 News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, March 7, 2024 

 While there were no casualties in the incident, several windows at the police station were broken by stones.   Five Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers have been named suspects in an attack on a police station in Jayawijaya, Papua Highlands.  As part of the investigation, the Region XVII/Cendrawasih Military Police have examined 21 TNI soldiers suspected of being connected to the attack.  "We examined all those who were involved either in directing or carrying out the attack.  Out of the 21 people, five were named suspects and will be prosecuted," said Region XVII/Cenderawasih Military Commander Maj. Gen. Izak Pengemanan in Jayapura on Tuesday.  Izak confirmed that authorities had detained the five suspects.  Even so, he affirmed that the attack by TNI Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 756/WMAS was a violation of the code of conduct. 

 

"[The attack did not represent the TNI’s] esprit de corps. The Indonesian Military has never recognized the spirit in that way. The spirit is the soul of the unit to establish a good reputation and the unit’s passion. Therefore, such an incident is a violation," he said.  The Jayawijaya police station was attacked by several TNI soldiers on Saturday at around 8:10 p.m. local time, causing damage to the station.  While there were no casualties in the incident, several windows at the police station were broken by stones.  Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius D. Fakhiri had ordered Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Heri Wibowo to repair the damage caused by the attack. "So, it's all right. I have asked the Police Chief to fix it. Later, the [other] issues will be taken over by the Pangdam," said Mathius.

 

 

 

Police to recruit 10 thousand personnel to be assigned in Papua  

March 3, 2024 

 Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Assistant to the National Police (Polri) Chief, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo, stated that his side will recruit 10 thousand people to be assigned in the four provinces in Papua. The recruitment of 10 thousand personnel will be carried out from 2024 to 2028, Prasetyo said here on Sunday.According to him, the Polri will recruit two thousand people in April this year. The new recruits will be educated at the State Police School (SPN) in Java. Prasetyo hoped that the regional police chiefs in Papua could be active in disseminating information for the new recruits. He said that those who will be recruited are Indigenous Papuans and those who were born and raised in Papua.


They will be educated for five months in SPNs in Java, and after their education, they will be temporarily assigned to the regions for adjustment before being returned for duty in Papua. Prasetyo said he is committed to accepting indigenous Papuans to minimize the transfer of Polri members from outside Papua to Papua.
He explained that the two thousand personnel will include 150 paramedics, especially doctors. The medical personnel recruitment will be carried out in collaboration with Cenderawasih University (Uncen). Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri, said that due to the expansive region, the number of local police stations is limited. Some areas even only have two stations, such as the Nduga Police and the Puncak Police. "Hopefully, the increasing number of police members can expand services to the community," Fakhiri said. The territory of the Papua Regional Police includes Papua, Highland Papua, Central Papua, and South Papua.

Related news: Papua police search for attackers of Wing Air plane in Wamena
Related news: More personnel of Cartenz Task Force, Brimob deployed to Sugapa
Related news: Operation Cartenz's Peace prioritizes persuasive measures: Police
Translator: Evarukdijati, Kenzu Editor: Azis Kurmala





PNG and Indonesian defence deal

In 2010,  PNG and Indonesia signed a defence cooperation deal where  they agreed to share military intelligence, give logistical support and coordinate security operations.

After nearly 14 years of signing PNG has ratified the  pact with Indonesia.

An opinion piece on what it means for West Papua by Ali Mirin in the Asia Pacific Report  https://asiapacificreport.nz/2024/03/11/question-for-png-foreign-minister-tkatchenko-what-does-the-defence-pact-mean-for-west-papua/and  and the Green Left. https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/what-will-indonesia-png-defence-pact-mean-west-papua


 




Opinion pieces/media releases/reports etc.



Philip Mehrtens: One Year in Captivity

https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/02/07/philip-mehrtens-one-year-in-captivity/

 

 

New Zealander Pilot’s Fate Unclear as Insurgents Launch Offensive in West Papua 

https://jamestown.org/program/new-zealander-pilots-fate-unclear-as-insurgents-launch-offensive-in-west-papua/?fbclid=IwAR3qojt4sCPkjslh9vJAkzvO6bQs8OMYBW8hmvvnWqxiS9gqMZy2N2hC8xA#



New Zealand pilot kidnapped a year ago in West Papua will be freed, rebel group says

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/07/kidnapped-nz-pilot-phillip-mehrtens-release-west-papua

 

 

Wenda accuses Indonesia of more human rights atrocities in Papua 
https://asiapacificreport.nz/2024/02/16/wenda-accuses-indonesia-of-more-human-rights-atrocities-in-papua/


 

Wenda calls for Dutch support over UN visit, slams Prabowo presidency 

https://asiapacificreport.nz/2024/03/05/wenda-calls-for-dutch-support-over-un-visit-slams-prabowo-presidency/

 


Winter is coming’: activists’ fears as Prabowo Subianto likely wins Indonesia election

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/15/indonesia-presidential-election-results-prabowo-subianto-likely-victory

 

 Prabowo Subianto’s human rights abuses in Timor-Leste

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2024/03/01/chasing-prabowo-timor-leste


 

Prabowo's military record in public spotlight again after being made 4-star general

https://www.indoleft.org/news/2024-02-28/prabowos-military-record-in-public-spotlight-again-after-being-made-4-star-general.html



What does a Prabowo Subianto presidency mean for Australia's relationship with Indonesia?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-17/what-does-prabowo-subianto-presidency-australia-indonesia/103475714



Press Release: London Exchange to be taken to High Court for trading in 'dirty metals' in unprecedented legal action.   https://www.tapol.org/news/press-release-london-exchange-be-taken-high-court-trading-dirty-metals-unprecedented-legal



AWPA condemns the arrest  and the humiliation of two West Papuan teenagers by the Indonesian security forces

https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2024/02/australia-west-papua-association-sydney.html



Previous update. 

https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com/2024/02/awpa-west-papua-update-no-12024.html


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