Wednesday, September 9, 2015

1) Pacific Apologize to Papua for Being Long Time Silent

2) PIF not forum to discuss West Papua – Indonesia 
3) West Papua convoy takes to city streets
4) KNPB DECLARES SUPPORT FOR PIF

5) PNG reluctant to offend Indonesia over Papua


6) Trans-Papua highway construction  continues

7) Government to construct mass transportation infrastructure in Sulawesi, Papua


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1) Pacific Apologize to Papua for Being Long Time Silent
 
Jayapura, Jubi – Back to 1965, the sixth conference of the South Pacific Commission (SPC) was supposed to be conducted in Hollandia (currently Jayapura). The silent witness still remains. The government of the Netherlands built the Papua Parliament Building in order to facilitate the conference that never materialized.
At that time, West Papua was under the status of dispute and was awaiting the implementation of People’s Vote of 1969. Starting at that time, relations between Papua and Pacific countries were seemingly disconnected.
“Since the 70s, relations between Papua and the Pacific were disconnected. Since then, we know nothing about what was happening in West Papua, though it was part of South Pacific Commission,” the Director Executive of Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) Emele Duituturaga told Jubi on Monday (7/9/2015).
She added the present of social media recently has assisted the civil society at Pacific obtaining access to what was happening in West Papua. Social media provided information about violence happened in West Papua, in spite of development during the disconnection of West Papua and Pacific. “Mainstream media and social media are enable us to obtain direct information from West Papua about the violence and human right violations, and made us able to confirm it. For that reason, we could push the investigation team to concern on human right violations,” she said.
Following the cancelation of the sixth conference of South Pacific Commission in Jayapura, West Papua had no access to Pacific. Its relation with Pacific in every field was disconnected as it turned to Jakarta. Similar thing was applied for the people of Pacific. Every occasions happened in West Papua were skipped from their attention. Violence, murder, land dispute, to “murder” of Papua indigenous culture are just skipped out of Pacific. People of Pacific are silent.
But within the last five years, the solidarity of Pacific for Papua was raising. As Duituturaga mentioned it, this solidarity is raising to follow the present of social media in Pacific. “Pacific can not be silent anymore, in particular the civil society. The civil society in Pacific has obligation to enforce their government to pay attention on what was happening in West Papua,” she said.
The civil society in Pacific, she further said, agreed to push the Pacific leaders who will be participated in the Pacific Islands Forum in Port Moresby to speak about the West Papua issue, in addition of climate change in this week. “We enforce two points towards the Pacific leaders, namely the climate change and the allegation on human right violations in West Papua,” she said.
Further this Fijian woman said the civil society in Pacific expressed their apology for being so long in silence on the suffering of their brothers in West Papua.
“In the Pacific’s Civil Society Organizations meeting held in Port Moresby on last 1 – 3 September, we conveyed our apology to the people of Papua for our silent and not caring for long time and gave no response towards the suffering of our brothers in West Papua,” she said. She further added two recommendations from the meeting would be submitted in the Regional Forum of Civil Society Organization that would be held in Port Moresby by Monday (7/9/2015).
Meanwhile, other Civil Society group leader in Pacific, Pefi Kingi QSM representing the Pacificwin-Vagahau Niue Trust, said the civil society in Pacific agreed to push the Pacific countries leaders who participated in PIF to send an investigation team consisting of PIF delegation, civil society groups and church leaders to West Papua. Further the meeting of Pacific civil society groups also agreed to enforce West Papua to be returned in the UN Decolonization List as an important step for the liberation of West Papua. “We will remind the Pacific leaders that Pacific is not free until the West Papua obtain its freedom,” said this Maori woman.
Separately, the Secretary General of PIF, Dame Meg Taylor said the voice of civil society has become the main priority of the Secretariat of Pacific Islands Forum. The voice of civil society, she said, is very important to develop the regional policy, in particular to supply information towards the leaders of PIF country members.
“I am the main supporter of civil society, and I believe that a strong and vibrant civil is very important to our region,” Taylor said when opened the Regional Forum of Pacific Civil Society Organizations in Port Moresby on Monday (7/9/2015). Meg Taylor believes this forum is very important as it provides space towards civil society to give feedback on several key issues that would be submitted to Pacific leaders in the Pacific Islands Forum. (Victor Mambor/rom)
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2) PIF not forum to discuss West Papua – Indonesia  
Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir says the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Summit (PIF) is not the place to discuss West Papua issues.
A West Papua Human Right issue is a key priority agenda currently being discussed at the summit.
Leaders are being asked to make a response on Human Rights issues in West Papua
In an interview with regional journalist, Fachir says it is irrelevant to the main objective and the purpose of the establishment of the PIF.
He says Indonesia is a democratic country and that they have the most detailed provision for human Rights.
“We have a Human rights Commission and a mechanism to deal with human right issues,” Fachir added.
Fachir has also made it known to leaders that the forum is not the place to discuss West Papua issues.
He declined to say whether his government would accept any resolution on West Papua by the PIF leaders.
When asked by reporters on killings of West Papuan on social media he replied it cannot be verified as it is on social media.
Fachir says the circulations on social media of pictures of West Papuan being brutally killed are politically motivated.
Indonesia is a dialogue partner to the Pacific island  forum countries.
     
Author: 
Joy Kisselpar

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Sep 9 2015
3) West Papua convoy takes to city streets

The PNG Union for Free West Papua and supporters of the Free West Papua movement are convoying around the streets of Port Moresby.
The vehicle convoy which started at Jack Pidik Park and proceeded along Waigani Drive through to the Sir John Guise stadium has stopped in front of the Kina Mart shopping mall area.
The Union leaders are speaking to members of the public who are gathered there about their cause and the issue of human rights exploitation that has powered their cause.
Union leader Kenn Mondiai says that the movement is growing and that the cause to free their Melanesian brothers and sisters is taking a regional and global stance.
The convoy made up of supporters from different walks of life have been chanting “Free West Papua” and actively waving their Morning Star flags and cheering.
Meantime, Mondiai says that there will also be a joint statement released soon about the collective efforts of regional support groups as well as their response to the positive outcomes of the recent PIF meet.
Tags: 
Author: 
Julianna Waeda


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4) KNPB DECLARES SUPPORT FOR PIF
 
Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Papua Students, Youth and People Movement (GempaR) and other KNPB supporters held a peaceful rally in front of the gate of the Cenderawasih University in Jayapura City, Papua on Monday (7/9/2015) to express support for the Pacific Islands Forum conference being held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
During the rally, KNPB declared four political statements: first, free West Papua to safe the Pacific people from colonialism and capitalism. Second, free West Papua to save the Pacific people from global warming. Third, the people of Papua need assistance from Pacific people from genocide threat and forth, urge the United Nations to send a special team to investigate the political status of Papua and West Papua provinces.
“We highly support the Pacific Islands Forum for accepting West Papua through the United Liberation Movement for West Papua as an observer to take an active role in talking and solving the problems within this region together,” the General Chairman BPP-KNPB, Victor Yeimo, said.
In the same place, the Operation Unit Chief of Jayapura Municipal Police Commissionaire Police Heru Hidayanto said the demonstration was running peacefully. “Although there’s a plan to do long march earlier, but it’s not realized. They only did the rally on location,” he said.
“For security purpose, we deployed 60 personnel of Jayapura Municipal Police, 30 personnel of Mobile Brigade and 60 personnel of Papua Police. We expected that under our personnel’s guard, they could run the rally in order and peace, because actually the police do not want the clash happened,” he said. (Munir/rom)

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/283753/png-reluctant-to-offend-indonesia-over-papua


5) PNG reluctant to offend Indonesia over Papua

Updated at 8:02 pm on 9 September 2015

The Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister says his country will not do anything to endanger the good relationship it has with Indonesia when it comes to West Papua.
The situation in the Indonesian region is one of the five agenda items at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in Port Moresby and there have been calls for a fact-finding mission to the province.
The plenary meetings have also been marked by protesters outside the venue calling for more action in West Papua.
Rimbink Pato says he acknowledges the call for a forum mission and it will be discussed but PNG is looking at other methods.
"Our strongest recommendation will be to work alongside Indonesia. Indonesia has just been made an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group which is a sub-regional body and that is a starting point, and should there be some issues we will be looking to work through that and work together with Indonesia."
Mr Pato's comment comes after his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully said he did not support a fact-finding mission to the Indonesian region by the Forum.
“I haven't seen a role for a fact-finding mission but I think a healthy discussion about this matter amongst leaders will be useful and I think that Papua New Guinea and the chair will bring a good sense of balance and judgement to that discussion."
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6) Trans-Papua highway construction  continues
thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | Archipelago | Wed, September 09 2015, 2:56 PM - 
The Papua and West Papua Highway Center is currently completing the construction of a 4,325 kilometer trans-Papua highway to accelerate development in the provinces.
"Of the 4,325 kilometers, around 827 kilometers pass through wild forests," said head of Papua and West Papua Highway Center Oesman Marbun on Wednesday as quoted by tempo.co
He added that they still need around Rp 15 trillion (US$1.05 billion) to construct the section of the highway going through the forest.
"We have until 2018 to construct the 827 kilometer road. From the current trans-Papua highway project, there are some roads that have been increased, some hardened and some asphalted," said Oesman.
The trans-Papua highway is set to connect strategic areas such as Manokwari, Sorong, Wondama and Enarotali in Pania, Nabire, Bioga, Sugapa, Ilaga and Mulia in Puncak Jaya, Sinak and Karubaga in Tolikara as well as Ilu, Jayapura and Elelim. The project will also include underpass roads, which will connect areas like Habema, Wamena, Paro, Mapenduma, Kenyam and Oksibil in Bintang Mountains, Dekai in Yahukimo and Iwur, Tanah Merah, Merauke and Waropko.
According to Oesman, one of the challenges is dealing with the locals' customary land rights. Regarding the issue, the regional government's help is needed, especially at the construction site. 
“The regional government has been very helpful in negotiating the land compensation process,” said Oesman. (kes)(++++)
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/100403/government-to-construct-mass-transportation-infrastructure-in-sulawesi-papua

7) Government to construct mass transportation infrastructure in Sulawesi, Papua

Rabu, 9 September 2015 19:18 WIB | 562 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Mass transportation infrastructure will be constructed in Sulawesi and Papua following completion in Greater Jakarta, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Mass transportation infrastructure is not solely being constructed on Java Island, President Jokowi stated after officiating a groundbreaking of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) in East Jakarta, Wednesday.

"By the end of this month, the development of a railway line will begin in Sulawesi. The groundbreaking was initially scheduled to be held in August, but I will officiate it only after the construction work has reached at least five to seven kilometers long," he noted.

The construction work must be carried out seriously, he emphasized.

A railway line will be built in Papua, he stated.

"Feasibility study for the railway construction plan in Papua is now underway and is expected to be completed in December this year. So, we will start the development work next year," he remarked.

The president expressed the need to elaborate on the plans as he did not want to give an impression that infrastructure construction work is only being carried out on Java Island.

The government will, in stages, construct mass transportation infrastructure across the country, he remarked.

"Everybody must help to make the infrastructure development projects a success. No mass transportation project should be delayed. It has to begin and be completed soon," Jokowi affirmed.(*)


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