Tuesday, September 6, 2016

1) West Papua petition tabled in NZ parliament


2) 47th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting Begins Tomorrow in the Federated States of Micronesia
3) Govt shifts to anthropological approach in developing Papua
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1) West Papua petition tabled in NZ parliament
5:23 pm today 
A petition has been tabled in New Zealand's parliament calling on the government to make a number of representations on the plight of West Papuans.
The public petition, which garnered 1367 signatures, was handed over to a group of Labour and Greens MPs today before being tabled in the chamber.
Pala Molisa and Tere Harrison present a petition on West Papua to New Zealand MPs Marama Davidson, Lousia Wall, Catherine Delahunty and Su'a William Sio, outside the country's parliament. 6 September 2016. Photo: Supplied
It calls on the parliament to urge the New Zealand Government to address the ongoing human rights situation in West Papua by taking a series of actions.
These include publicly advocating for the Indonesian government to uphold the rights of the indigenous people of Papua region, or West Papua, to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
It also calls for Indonesia to be condemned for the arrest and intimidation of thousands of peaceful protestors in West Papua in the last two years, as well as the for "state sanctioned torture and killing of West Papuans".
Furthermore, the petition urges New Zealand to support the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression for a visit to West Papua; and to implore the the Pacific Island Forum to also support this stand and advocate for Papua at the UN.
The petition is expected to be sent to Foreign Affairs Select Committee for consideration.
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2) 47th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting Begins Tomorrow in the Federated States of Micronesia
Increasing the economic returns of regional fisheries, and responding to the effects of climate change and disaster risk management are two priority issues that Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum will discuss at their 47th Meeting in Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia tomorrow.
Other key issues identified for Leaders to consider under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism include implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, upholding human rights in West Papua, reducing the burden of cervical cancer, coordinating regional information and communications technology, trade integration, and a framework to support the rights of persons with disabilities.
Leaders from the Smaller Island States (SIS) of the Forum meet first on Wednesday 7th September. Their focus will be on an implementation plan for the recently endorsed SIS Strategy. The Strategy highlights 5 key areas – climate change finance, air and sea transport, marine, mobility, and health - that, due to the unique circumstances and vulnerabilities of the SIS, require specific attention. 
On Thursday 8th September six representatives of Civil Society from across the region will breakfast with the Forum Troika (Leaders of Papua New Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia and Samoa) to put forward their perspective on the regional agenda. Thursday will also see Pacific Leaders of the African Caribbean Pacific (PACP) grouping meet to discuss future perspectives of the ACP group and post-Cotonou arrangements, current programming of the Pacific Regional Indicative Program under the 11thEuropean Development Fund and other trade and PACP related matters.
The official opening of the 47th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting takes place on Thursday evening in KoloniaPohnpei. It is followed by the full Leaders Plenary Session with Associate Members and Observers on the 9th September and a dialogue with private sector representatives. The Leaders Retreat will be held on 10th September.  On Sunday the 11th, the Forum’s dialogue partners will meet with Leaders for the Post Forum Dialogue which provides an opportunity to align development support behind the Forum’s policy priorities. 
Follow #FSMPIF2016 on social media for updates across the week.
Inquiries can be addressed to: media@forumsec.org


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3) Govt shifts to anthropological approach in developing Papua
Anton Hermansyah The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Mon, September 5 2016 | 09:10 pm
The government has changed its approach in developing Papua from administration-based development to anthropological-based development.
The development, while also tapping into economic potential, is to be carried out in accordance to the culture of seven areas comprising Mamta, Saireri, Ha Anim, La Pago, Mee Pago, Bomberai and Domberai. Areas like Mamta and La Pago will be focused on plantations.
"The Southern region like Ha Anim, which includes Merauke where many homesteaders reside, will be focused on rice farms," Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry's director general for the development of specific areas, Suprayoga Hadi, told The Jakarta Post on Monday in his office.
He added, the changes in the development approach intend to minimize conflict among Papuan tribes while also improving the welfare of the Papuan people.
By clustering the regions based on cultural similarities, the government expects the development of local resources to be better optimized.
"The groupings based on cultural dimensions were actually used by the Dutch colonial government in 1934. We need to learn why Papuan people during the colonial era lived in relative peace," Suprayoga said. (ags)

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