Tuesday, September 15, 2015

1) TNI asks for PNG’s help to free RI hostages

2) Indonesia condemns abduction on Papua border
3) The meaning of “recognition” Sovereignty PIF in Indonesia
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1) TNI asks for PNG’s help  to free RI hostages
Nethy Dharma Somba and Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Jakarta | Headlines | Tue, September 15 2015, 6:09 PM -

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has requested help from Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) military to secure the release of two Indonesians who have been taken hostage by a criminal group operating in the border area between the two countries. 

“We appreciate PNG’s efforts to release our people from the armed group. We also hope that the hostages will be released in a good condition. Now, we are still waiting for the [negotiation] process by our representatives in PNG,” spokesperson for regional military command (Kodam) XVII/Cenderawasih, Lt. Col. Teguh Pujo Rahardjo, told The Jakarta Post on Monday night.

The two Indonesians, identified as Sudirman, 28, and Badar, 30, are timber workers in Skofro hamlet, Keerom regency, Papua.

The criminal group has been holding them hostage since Wednesday, asking in return for the release of two people who are being detained by the Keerom Police in relation to a marijuana case. 

According to Teguh, the TNI would extend the deadline until Tuesday afternoon so the criminals had time to negotiate and release the two Indonesians.

“We will help the PNG military and police if they ask for our assistance. However, we hope the negotiation runs smoothly so we don’t need [to use] any violence to [secure the] release of our people,” Teguh said, adding that the TNI was standing by near the border for progress on the case.

Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih co-mmander Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian has asked the PNG military for assistance in freeing the Indonesians.

It was reported earlier that a shooting occurred in Skofro, about an hour’s drive from PNG. The perpetrators, an unidentified armed group, targeted four woodcutters, including Sudirman and Badar.

One of the woodcutters, 38 year-old Kuba Marmahu, was shot in the head, while another escaped. 

The armed group, which claimed to be part of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), then took Sudirman and Badar into PNG territory.

Kuba is currently being treated at Bhayangkara Hospital in Jayapura.

According to Elmar Lubis, the Indonesian Consul in Vanimo, PNG, the Indonesian government received confirmation from the PNG military regarding the incident on Wednesday.

Elmar said that Sudirman and Badar were in good condition and efforts to release them were still ongoing. He also made a request to the PNG military to prioritize the safety of the Indonesians.

The Papua Police revealed Monday that they had sent three community leaders to PNG to help with the negotiations.

“They will find information on the two Indonesians now in PNG. They will also negotiate with the armed group to repatriate our people to Indonesia,” Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said in Jayapura on Monday.

Paulus said he would hold a meeting with PNG authorities in Vanimo to discuss further action on the release of the two Indonesians.

According to Paulus, based on his communications with Elmar, the two Indonesians were being held in PNG’s Skouwtiau hamlet.

TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Endang Sodik said that PNG authorities had met with the group to negotiate about the hostages.

“The group demanded to exchange the hostages with their two comrades who are detained at the Keerom Police station due to drug possession,” Sodik said in Jakarta.

The police and the TNI claimed that the group was part of the OPM under Jeffry Pagawak.

“Jeffry’s group is a new criminal group that creates terror in Jayapura and Keerom,” Paulus said.

The group has reportedly carried out several terrorist acts in Papua, including attacking a police office in 2012.

It was reported that Jeffry has been on the police’s wanted persons list since 2006.
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2) Indonesia condemns abduction on Papua border

Selasa, 15 September 2015 15:18 WIB | 676 Views
Doha, Qatar (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has condemned the abduction of two Indonesian citizens in the area bordering Papua Province and Papua New Guinea.

The Indonesian government is trying to free the hostages, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated here on Tuesday.

"The Indonesian government is still communicating and cooperating with the Papua New Guinea authority in an effort to facilitate the release of the hostages. According to information, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill is monitoring the effort," Retno remarked.

Retno noted that her institution is coordinating with the Foreign Ministry of Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian Military Commander over the efforts to secure the release of the Indonesians.

The minister affirmed that the two countries have agreed to cooperate on freeing the hostages.

The Indonesian government has also lauded the concern shown by the Papua New Guinea authority in handling the issue.

Additionally, the Indonesian consular in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, has met the special envoy of the prime minister of Papua New Guinea.

Earlier, on Saturday, the Indonesian consulate in Vanimo, the capital of Sandaun province, Papua New Guinea, reported that two Indonesian citizens, identified as Sudirman (28) and Badar (30), had been kidnapped by unidentified individuals from the village of Skoutio in Sandaun province.

The Indonesians were kidnapped by armed men last Wednesday while conducting logging operations in Skopro in East Arso sub-district in Kerom district, Papua, which borders Papua New Guinea, and can be reached by undertaking a three-hour walk from Skoutio.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan noted last Monday that the kidnapping incident in Papua New Guinea was not a political issue.

According to Luhut, the Indonesian government and Papua New Guinea authority are still negotiating with the armed men to release the hostages.

"To date, there was no talk about a ransom or an operation to free the hostages. The Indonesian and Papua New Guinea governments are still conducting negotiations, so let us just wait for the results," he affirmed.(*)
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A google translate of article in suarapapua.com. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic. 
Original bahasa link at

3) The meaning of “recognition” Sovereignty PIF in Indonesia
By: Editor | Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 23:54 pm | Viewed: 5 times
By: Victor F. Yeimo *

"As the members of our United Nations recognized Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua, but the United Nations also recognizes their right (West Papua) to self-determination and human rights violations".
 
Prime Minister Menasseh Sogavare, when responding reaction of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia who refuses intervention Pacific Islands Forum (Pacific Islands Forum / PIF) on the issue of West Papua (source: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz).

In another statement on human rights, responding to Indonesia that does not want human rights issues discussed by PIF, Sogavare also stated: "If a UN member states committed crimes against humanity against the people, it is no longer the domestic affairs of the country, but it is an issue that should be discussed by the UN . "

Menasseh statement Sogavare, who is also chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is the answer for the people of West Papua and Indonesia colonial rulers over 'debate' the meeting of PIF. A statement of the Melanesian leaders who managed to bring in West Papua became an observer at MSG this should be the basis of our judgment in responding the PIF.

First, recognition and award PIF Basis for Indonesia's sovereignty over Papua province (not a nation of Papua) is part of maintaining the ethics and principles of independence, sovereignty and equality of states to peaceful coexistence.

Recognition that does not mean eliminating the commitment of the countries of Melanesia and the Pacific to appreciate and fight for the right of self-determination in accordance charters and covenants of the UN, which is also the basis communique decision MSG in Noumea, 2013.
 
In accordance with that, Menasseh Sogavare in the end of this year, or early next year will hold a meeting to bring the issue of West Papua to the United Nations Committee of 24 (the UN Decolonization Committee).

Second, Decision PIF leaders to send a fact-finding team to West Papua is not a form of foreign intervention as it is being addressed by the authorities kolonila Indonesia. However, it is an obligation for member states of the UN, including the PIF which is a regional organization of the United Nations in accordance with the UN covenants.

That the colonial rulers of Indonesia through the Indonesian law and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is not successfully protect and prosecute almost all cases of human rights violations that occurred in the region of West Papua are claimed as part of Indonesian territory. The UN and its organizations should send a fact-finding team, for a variety of meetings and the results of the UN Human Rights Commission to prove the findings of human rights violations that continue to occur in West Papua.

Third, the PIF Leaders within two points of communiqué was also agreed that it would be menyelesaian root of the problems West Papua peacefully. PNG Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill as Chairman of PIF are given the responsibility to consult with the Jakarta says it is the first step to do a lot of things coming together Indonesia.

Peter O'Neil from the beginning a very cautious and diplomatic in dealing with the issue of West Papua because, in my opinion, he wants Papua to be resolved without disturbing the stability of the Pacific region. He considers the nature of Indonesian brutality of the colonial rulers who always puts the militaristic ways in resolving the issue of West Papua.

Fourth, the Papuan struggle for self-determination has become the struggle of the people of Melanesia and the Pacific. Whatever the decision and the interests of politicians Melanesia and the Pacific it will not remove the support and the strong insistence of the people of Melanesia and the Pacific continued strong and turbulent.

Thus, the people of West Papua have to react to it as part of the ongoing progress of the struggle abroad on the unity of the struggle of the people of Papua. We must judge this as a diplomatic war is being fought across the Pacific diplomacy strength colonial Indonesia full of engineering and bribery.

* The author is Chairman of the KNPB and Work Team ULMWP.

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