Wednesday, February 18, 2015

1) Jokowi’s Papuan Promises Ring Hollow to Those on the Ground

2) Papua smelting plan causes  fear of copper supply shortage 
3) Papua Police Report False, KNPB Says
4) Papua Police Slow to Uncover Paniai Prepetrators
5) Merauke Traders Disappointed as Dialogue Postponed
‪6) Moni Tribal Chief Rejects Private Companies in His Area

7) Councillor Warns Mimika Government against Issuing New Mining Regulation

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1) Jokowi’s Papuan Promises Ring Hollow to Those on the Ground
Self-Determination: Independence movement advocates are divided over how best to focus energies, with some seeing incremental change as preferential and others demanding an immediate independence referendum
By Eva Corlett on 11:00 pm Feb 17, 2015
Tags: Joko WidodoPapua

This handout photo taken on Dec. 27, 2014 and released by the Presidential Palace on Dec. 28 shows President Joko Widodo, center, and First Lady Iriana, center second from right, arriving in Jayapura, Papua, as they are welcomed by Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe. left, and his wife Yewuce, right. (AFP Photo/Rusman/Presidential Palace)

Jakarta. Papuans and human rights advocates are concerned that President Joko Widodo’s visits and campaign promises to the province are merely ceremonial rather than indicative of real change for Papua.
Joko’s inaction so far toward fulfilling his campaign promises to Papua has raised doubts among Papuans and activists over whether Papuan issues will be addressed or redressed at all under his leadership.
His populist ideals were originally heralded as a new hope for Papuans, who for nearly 50 years have lived under Indonesian governance and are often exposed to arbitrarily administered rule of law by armed forces and government officials.
The government frequently arrests and jails Papuan protesters for peacefully advocating independence or other political change, with currently more than 60 Papuan activists in prison on charges of “treason,” says Human Rights Watch.
Benny Wenda, the exiled leader of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), told the Jakarta Globe that West Papuans “do not trust Jokowi, nor his false promises.”
“We have seen many presidents come and go, all promising much for our people but only delivering more killings, oppression and Indonesian migrants. Under Jokowi, we have seen the massacre of West Papuan children and further burning of villages,” Benny said, referring to the president by his nickname.
Joko’s lack of movement signals an administration that is continuing the legacy of former governments, following in their failure to address Papua’s multitude of grievances including brutality and impunity of the armed forces, freedom of expression restrictions, and the diminishing of land, civil and human rights.
Numerous promises were made to the Papuans during the lead-up to, and immediately after, Joko’s inauguration.
Some of his pre-election proposals included opening the province to foreign media and providing health care and education funding cards to residents to address lagging development.
The latter has been implemented but there is little evidence to suggest policy measures or directives are being implemented to fulfill media access and transparency, said Andreas Harsono, HRW’s Indonesia researcher.
Joko needs to end the isolation through releasing the stranglehold on foreign media access to Papua, he added.
It is difficult to see how the government could be monitored in Papua without transparency, openness to foreign media and the formation of a safe working environment for local journalists, Andreas said.
He added that the government should immediately release Papuans such as Areki Wanimbo, who is currently in custody for assisting two French foreign journalists at his home.
Two French journalists, Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois, were sentenced to two-and-a-half months’ imprisonment for using a tourist visa rather than a journalist visa to go to Papua.
Wanimbo, alongside two local journalists, was initially charged with attempting to procure ammunition from the journalists. However, the police found no evidence, Andreas said.
He added: “Wanimbo is now facing trial for treason in Wamena with the only evidence being a letter that Wanimbo co-signed, asking for donations to help Papuan delegates to attend a conference in Vanuatu.”
Latifah Anum Siregar, Wanimbo’s lawyer and the head of the Alliance for Democracy in Papua, cited the Paniai shooting, in which security forces shot dead five unarmed protesters and injured 17, including school-aged children, as another example of Joko’s inaction.
“During Christmas celebrations in Jayapura [on Dec. 27], Joko said the Paniai shootings should be immediately solved, but to date there has [been] no further investigation into the case … as if the case has disappeared,” she said.
Latifah questioned what the outcome would be for previous cases of injustice, when current cases were responded to in this manner.
“Especially knowing that Jokowi is supported by military leaders such as [Defense Minister] Ryamizard Ryacudu or [former intelligence chief] Hendropriyono, who were involved in wrongdoings in Papua in the past,” she said.
Ryamizard has also been linked to past human rights abuses in East Timor.

Some students from Papua in Bandung demonstrate against the shooting in Papua, on Dec. 10, 2014. (Antara Photo/Agus Bebeng)

The people of Papua are counting on Joko to do the right thing, Latifah said.
“After winning the presidential election, Joko has been visited by and visited the representatives of Papuan communities,” she said.
“At the beginning of his rule, there was an idea of transmigration, of forming a new regional military command, of constructing a headquarters for the police’s Mobile Brigade in Papua, and of starting dialogues with Free Papua Organization [OPM] leaders.”
But the military policy was slammed by Papua, with the seemingly Java-centric proposals surrounding transmigration and subdivision of the provinces also met with alarm.
Transmigration is not new to Papua. Indonesian migrants are shuffled from heavily populated islands such as Java and Sumatra into Papua to fill primarily trade-related roles.
But it has proved economically, culturally and politically destabilizing for indigenous Papuan people.
Latifah has raised concern about the motives of Joko’s administration over his campaign comments that he only wanted to show support for Papuans.
“What is the most interesting thing in Papua for the government? It’s Papua’s natural resources, its marine biodiversity, its abundance of wood-producing trees, its mines, Freeport,” she said.
But Latifah added that Joko had stated in past campaign speeches that problems in Papua were not restricted to education, health, economy and infrastructure, but that the government never truly listened to the people of Papua.
“Developing Papua should start with changing the government’s point of view,” she said.
But while some are keen to see change elicited incrementally into Papua, Benny and many pro-independence advocates will not be satisfied until full independence is achieved.
“The reason that we West Papuans are still suffering now is because our country was illegally taken by Indonesia in 1969 without the agreement of the West Papuan people,” Benny said.
“We are still demanding our UN-guaranteed referendum on independence for all Papuans, to fulfill our self-determination.
“Therefore, the only way Jokowi can actually help West Papuans is by giving us this referendum and in doing so, help to fulfill our right to self-determination.
“West Papua cannot be free within Indonesia.”


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2) Papua smelting plan causes  fear of copper supply shortage 
Raras Cahyafitri and Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Jayapura | Business | Wed, February 18 2015, 7:25 AM -
Following the government’s decision to support the development of a copper smelter in Papua, concerns are rising over the total availability of copper concentrate.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s director general for mineral and coal, R. Sukhyar, said the construction of the Papua smelter might cause a supply problem for other smelters to be built in the country.

He said that Freeport Indonesia, as the main copper producer, would have to provide a supply for both the Papua plant and for its own in Gresik, East Java. As a consequence, with the current production levels the country’s other smelters would suffer from a shortage.

 “We will need to see the current total production and the future planned production. What’s clear is that a supply for the Papua smelter of 900,000 tons is a must while other possible smelter developments will have to be adjusted,” Sukhyar said Monday evening.

He said that his office would arrange a meeting with Freeport Indonesia, PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara and PT Gorontalo Minerals and several other companies that have previously expressed plans to build smelters.

The meeting, according to Sukhyar, will discuss the balance of concentrate supply and the planned smelter developments.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said stated Tuesday that the government would support cooperation between the local administration and a Chinese investor to develop a copper smelter in the resource rich province.

Under the new plan, the copper smelter will process and refine copper concentrate produced by Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US-based Freeport-McMoRan Inc.

The Papua governor initially expected that the planned smelter would be developed by Freeport Indonesia, which is also operating the Grasberg mining site located in the province. However, Freeport Indonesia said that it has opted to develop a new smelter in Gresik, East Java, as part of its commitment to comply with the 2009 Mining Law requiring mining firms to process and refine minerals in domestic smelters.

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said the planned smelter would have the capacity to process 900,000 tons of copper concentrate. He added that the local administration would team up with the China Nonferrous Metals Co. to build the smelter.

He said the smelter development itself will need around US$1 billion in investments.

Freeport currently produces up to 2 million tons of copper concentrate per year. Following a planned full implementation of a ban on mineral ore exports, the government is only allowing copper concentrate to be sent overseas until 2017. Therefore, a new facility must be built to process the concentrate.

After a prolonged negotiation, Freeport agreed to build a new smelter in Gresik, near the location of an existing smelter operated by Smelting Gresik.

The new Gresik smelter, whose development is estimated to cost around $2.3 billion, is designed to have a total capacity for processing 2 million tons of copper concentrate per year. The smelter will be the second smelter in Gresik processing Freeport’s copper concentrate .

The existing smelter, PT Smelting, is jointly owned by Freeport and several other companies.
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3) Papua Police Report False, KNPB Says


Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) denied reports that 14 of its members have been detained by police in the port of Nabire, Papua.
“The information is not true. The truth is just one of our members was arrested for carrying materials for political education on national and international developments, ” Bazooka Logo, KNPB spokesperson, said in Waena on Monday (16/02/2015).
He said the news that cited the Papua police was aimed to deceive the public.
“Police said fourteen people were arrested is false. Actually they are now at the secretariat of KNPB, Nabire. And today KNPB Nabire is mediating fourteen people to face the police station to ask their members freed, ” logo .
Furthermore he said, the news published in one local newspaper which was confirmed by the Papua regional police spokeswoman was also not true.
“ This arrest was unreasonable. If KPNB do the anarchists, police can arrest. If Indonesia arrests us because we speak Papua independence, it means this country bans our right to speak. Remember, it has been guaranteed by the constitution in this country, “he explained.“Kami
Ones Suhuniap, when contacted by Jubi via cell phone from Nabire confirmed that one person was detained at the police station of Nabire. And on this day, Monday (02/16/2015) KNPB Nabire region went to the police station and ask to be released.
Meanwhile, on Sunday (15/02/2015) Police Commissioner Patriage Renwarin to reporters in Jayapura, said police in Nabire have secured fourteen members of KNPB from Sorong and Fakkfak region. (Arnold Belau/Tina)
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4) Papua Police Slow to Uncover Paniai Prepetrators

Jayapura, Jubi – A student group said the Papua Police have been slow in  finding the perpetrators of the shootings in Paniai which four students were killed on December 8, 2014.
Several church organizations, National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia and Papua Police have conducted an investigation and Papua Police have promised to reveal the perpetrators only until now it has not been revealed, said Dani Yogi from the Independent Student Forum (FIM).
“We asked the police to immediately uncover the perpetrators. Police, in its statement said that it will reveal the culprit if the fourth buried body was dug up. Police, please do not shift the issue and have to show your professionalism,” Dani told reporters in Abepura.
“It is the job of the police to find the perpetrators, but why does the police chief want to bargain with civil society,” chairman of the FIM, Meleanus Duwitau added.
Therefore, Independent Student Forum demanded the investigation team to conduct the process of in-depth investigation in Paniai. Then, military/police should be more welcoming to the investigation team to conduct the investigation.
Meanwhile, members of Investigation Team, Laurenzus Kadepa said Papua Police’s statement on exhumations of the fourth body for an autopsy to ascertain the type of ammunition was not the solution.
“Digging back the bodies of the victims were not the solution. It will only worsen the situation. We appreciate the efforts of police and army reveal the case, but the victim’s family sincerely hope the perpetrator soon revealed,” Laurenzus Kadepa said to Jubi on Friday (02/13/2015). (Arnold Belau/Tina)
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5) Merauke Traders Disappointed as Dialogue Postponed

Merauke, Jubi – Hundreds of Papuan women traders at Wamanggu and Mapah markets were disappointed as they failed to meet members of the Merauke Legislative Council (DPRD) and the government.
 
The women traders gathered in front of DPRP’s office for promised dialogue on Monday (16/02/2015), but some delegates went ahead with the meeting led by chairman of Merauke DPRD, Kanizia Mekiuw and arguments ensued between the councillors.
The chairman of Commission B, Francis Firifefa, requested that the meeting to be postponed until the related agency attended.
“I think we have to delay until tomorrow because the local government needs to be part of the meeting,” he said.
Another legislative member, Moses Kaibu actually requested that the meeting be continued, because there would be various agendas that must be executed tomorrow.
 
“We as representatives of the people, want to hear and know what the problem is happening as it is part of our responsibility,” he added.
 
Separately, chairman of the Advocacy Institute for Women in Merauke, Beatrix Gebze, on behalf of Papuan women traders expressed their disappointment by the absence of government. In fact, the letter has been sent to the legislative a while ago.
 
She explained that it has provided guidance for the traders since the last two years and found a lot of problems such as about the sales and prices between Papuans and non -Papuans. Other problem is the difficulty of transportation as a result they cannot come early to the market. When arriving on the market, there are many traders who have been in the location.
“This is just one or two issues that we lay out. There are still many things to be discussed and need to find the solution,” she said. (Frans L Kobun/Tina)
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6) Moni Tribal Chief Rejects Private Companies in His Area

Jayapura, Jubi – Intan Jaya Moni Tribal Chief Agustinus Somau said he was will not allow any private company to operate in his customary area if there is no agreement with the community.
He said he had received information that a company is planning to operate Intan Jaya to manage the Cartenz tourism.
“Freeport’s underground mining has crossed the Intan Jaya’s territorial. People refused to accept this because there is no agreement between us until now,” Agustinus Somau said in Jayapura on Monday (16/2/2015).
He further said any private companies should talk and make agreement with the local community before starting their operations within his customary area.
“Moni tribe has never conducted the customary conference. The governor, minister, regent and parliament shouldn’t take their own policy. The customary community has their own organization. Until now the Moni tribe has not received any compensation from Freeport. So, please don’t bring a new company to our customary land,” he said.
He also said the customary community has been fooled all the time. Until now the indigenous people are still living in poverty and marginalized although the allocation of natural resources sharing is set by Law.
“Please solve the tenure right problem with the customary community at first. Even the Local Government of Intan Jaya has never sit together with the customary community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Intan Jaya native Yafet M similarly said do not provoke people with things that possibly disturbed the tranquility of Intan Jaya residents. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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7) Councillor Warns Mimika Government against Issuing New Mining Regulation

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legislative Council’s Commission I member, Mathea Mamoyau urged the Mimika government to avoid a new polemic by issuing a new regulation on public mining.
“Do not solve the conflict by making a new one. It will raise another problem,” Mamoyau said on Monday (16/2/2015).
“The local government shouldn’t talk nonsense about the regulation. They should understand who’s actually behind it. Do not talk about regulation while the local parliament has not yet inaugurated,” she said.
She said he ad asked the regent and local Police Chief as well as the local Military Commander to review this course because he worried it would raise a conflict among the people. As Mimika native, he said he knew exactly about the condition in the area.
“Many tribes involved in mining activity out there. They are not only living at Timika City, but also at the mining location. It looks unimportant, but it should be considered seriously. It needs a lot of times and efforts. I take this as a failure plan to be,” she said.
Earlier, the Mimika Regional Secretary Wilhelmus Haurissa said the determination of mining location should be regulated in the Regional Regulation and it was the Local Parliament’s authority.
“But although the legislature election has been done since 13 March last year, the Mimika Legislative Council was still in dispute. There are community groups who still refuse the election result,” Haurissa said at that moment. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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