Friday, June 14, 2013

1) Trade, extradition and West Papua on agenda for PNG-Indonesia talks



1) Trade, extradition and West Papua on agenda for PNG-Indonesia talks

2) PNG, Indonesia to discuss human rights

3) Freeport Indonesia Workers Call Off Strike, Continue Maintenance

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-14/an-png-pm-prepares-for-indonesia-talks/4753584

1) Trade, extradition and West Papua on agenda for PNG-Indonesia talks

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill says trade, border issues and an extradition treaty will be on the agenda for this weekend's trip to Indonesia.
Mr O'Neill says the trip will mark a historic deepening of bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries.
He says trade will be a key focus, with a comprehensive partnership agreement covering economic links.
"We want to encourage further strengthening of the trade and investment opportunities between the two countries," he said.

"[We want] to further develop the economic opportunities along the border area, and further strengthen the management of the border issues between the two countries."
Border issues include people from Indonesia's West Papua province seeking shelter in PNG, and ongoing reports of human rights abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua.
Mr O'Neill says PNG's policy is that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but he looks forward to discussing the border issues.
"We are encouraged by the invitation by the Indonesian Government, through the president, for the first time in its history asking Papua New Guinea to help in some of those issues in West Papua," he said.
"We have taken up that invitation and we are going to positively discuss many of those issues...with the president and the Indonesian Government officials."
Mr O'Neill says PNG's cabinet has agreed on an extradition treaty with Indonesia that will be discussed during the trip.
The discussion comes in the wake of the case Indonesian citizen, Joko Chandra, who fled to PNG and was made a citizen, despite it being illegal to hold dual citizenship.
Mr O'Neill says he and Indonesia's president have not discussed that specific case, which will be up to the courts to rule on.
"The ministerial committee's decision is final - Joko remains a citizen of Papua New Guinea until the courts decide whether that citizenship is valid or not," he said
"But of course if the president and the Indonesian officials bring up the issues, now the extradition issues are now going to be assigned between the two countries, we will process any of those issues, including this particular case in accordance with that treaty."
Peter O'Neill said many ministers will be on hand to sign agreements and more than 100 business people will also join the delegation.
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http://news.msn.co.nz/worldnews/8674352/png-indonesia-to-discuss-human-rights




2) PNG, Indonesia to discuss human rights

19:53 Thu Jun 13 2013
AAP



Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill will discuss an extradition treaty and human rights with Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on the weekend.
Mr O'Neill will lead a 100-strong delegation of business leaders and government officials on a three-day visit to Jakarta in a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the neighbouring countries.
At a press conference in Port Moresby on Thursday, Mr O'Neill said he was concerned about reports of human rights abuses in West Papua, "but as I've said we have a policy that the issue of West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia".
"We are encouraged by the invitation by the Indonesian government, through its president and for the first time in history, asking PNG to help with some of those issues on the ground in West Papua.
"We are going to positively discuss many of those issues, including those reports of human rights abuses, with the president and the Indonesian government."
Indonesia has been criticised for its brutal suppression of West Papua's independence movement.
PNG's growing social media communities are frequently used as platforms for West Papua Independence supporters, who post graphic images of human rights abuses reportedly committed by Indonesia.
Earlier this year PNG sent a taskforce to investigate reports of clashes between PNG traders and villagers and Indonesian troops.
Affirming the strong relationship between PNG and Indonesia, Mr O'Neill said both nations would strengthen police ties and announced cabinet approval for an extradition treaty with Indonesia.
PNG's national airliner, Air Niugini, is expected to make its first flights to Jakarta in August.
Mr O'Neill said opening routes to Port Moresby with Indonesian airline Garuda will also be on the agenda.
PNG and Indonesia are both expected to send delegations to the 19th Melanesia Spearhead Group Leader's summit in New Caledonia next week.
On the agenda at this year's meeting in New Caledonia is a decision on whether to admit West Papua to the MSG.
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3) Freeport Indonesia Workers Call Off Strike, Continue Maintenance

PT Freeport Indonesia workers called off a strike planned for today that would have halted maintenance at the world’s biggest copper mine, after the company suspended officials held responsible for an accident, according to a union official.
Workers will continue maintenance as normal at the Grasberg deposit, where output has stopped since the tunnel collapse on May 14 that killed 28 people, Virgo Solossa, an official at the All Indonesian Workers Union, said by phone Friday.
The continued maintenance means Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. will be able to restart production and resume shipments more quickly once it gets approval from the government, which has said the mine will stay shut until after a probe is completed. Investigators will report the results to the energy ministry by early next week, Ridho Wattimena, head of an independent team, said by phone yesterday.
An official at Freeport Indonesia did not comment today when asked whether it had suspended the managers the union holds responsible for the accident.
Daisy Primayanti, its vice president of corporate communications, confirmed in a phone text message that the union had canceled the strike.
Freeport on June 12 declared force majeure on shipments from the mine, a clause that allows it to miss obligations because of circumstances beyond its control.
It said the shutdown is cutting copper output by 1,361 tons a day, equal to 2.9 percent of average daily global production in 2013.
The stoppage has buoyed benchmark copper prices, which rose as much as 1.3 percent to $7,141.75 a metric ton today on the London Metal Exchange before trading at $7,087.
Smelters in Indonesia and Japan have said they are looking for alternative ore supply because of the shutdown.
Bloomberg


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