Wednesday, May 30, 2018

1) Activists: Indonesian Counterterrorism Law Threatens Civil Liberties



2) INDONESIA: Summary executions recurring with impunity

3) Sport: Wan Papua Warriors target London Nines
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1) Activists: Indonesian Counterterrorism Law Threatens Civil Liberties

May 30, 2018 2:38 PM Krithika Varagur

Human rights activists in Indonesia are raising concerns about a revised counterterrorism law they say may restrict freedoms of expression and association.
In the wake of several shocking terrorist attacks in East Java and Riau this month, including two suicide bombings carried out by families, Indonesia's House of Representatives unanimously passed a revised counterterrorism law that would allow police to more broadly prosecute suspected terrorists and terrorist activity.
The revisions were originally proposed after a terrorist attack in Jakarta in January 2016, but floundered for two years until this month, when they were quickly passed after the Surabaya bombings. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was under pressure to pass the revisions after the attacks and threatened to issue a presidential decree if the House did not act promptly.

The new law allows police to hold suspects for up to 221 days in detention before they are brought to court, allows the military to join police in counterterrorism operations, and expands the definition of terrorism along broad lines that may criminalize activist groups.
"We mainly have concerns with [the] articles that expand the definition of terrorism to include any kind of violence," said Papang Hidayat of Amnesty International Indonesia, as well as those that allow for prolonged detention. "In Indonesia, we still have a flawed criminal procedures court, inherited from Dutch colonial rule, which does not recognize rights like habeas corpus. Nor is torture considered a criminal act. So, the revised law raises major human rights concerns."
Civil liberties
The revised law passed after three days of discussion, according to Andreas Harsono, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Jakarta. "The last three days were only used to argue about the definition of terrorism," he said.
The language in the law's Article 1.2 broadens the definition to include "violence or threat of violence which creates or intends to create an atmosphere of terror or widespread fear, creating multiple casualties and/or resulting in damage or destruction of vital strategic objects, the environment, a public facility, or an international facility with ideological, political or security disturbance motive."
Harsono said this could be used to target the peaceful activism of indigenous groups, environmentalists, and religious or political organizations.
One potential target of the revised law is Papuan activists, from the two contested easternmost provinces of Indonesia, Papua and West Papua, where the Indonesian government has been embroiled in a conflict with indigenous inhabitants for over five decades.
"There are two areas in Papua where criminals are tried against the state … Jayapura and Timika," said Harsono. "Thus, if you attack a point in Freeport [the world's largest gold mine, which is located in Papua] or a police officer in Freeport, you might technically be branded a terrorist."
Many countries have had to strike a balance between privacy and security in devising their counterterrorism laws, including the United States, which controversially expanded government surveillance with the Patriot Act after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Mitigating the impact
"The revised law was definitely a response to the recent attacks in Surabaya," Hidayat said.
Amnesty International Indonesia has written an open letter to the parliament with its concerns.
He is particularly worried about the growing role of the Indonesian military in counterterrorism operations.
"The Indonesian military has no accountability," he said. "They can only be tried in their [internal] tribunal system."
The move to involve the military in counterterrorism — in Article 43 of the revised law — came just days after the Joint Special Operations Command, a domestic counterterrorism squad, was revived. Per the revised law, military involvement would require both a request from the police and the president's approval.
"The involvement of the military must be limited going forward," Hidayat said. "But this can only be done by presidential decree."
It is unlikely that Jokowi will roll back any provisions so soon after the revisions were pushed through, particularly since he is standing for re-election next year and national security will be a major policy issue.
The law was passed "in an effort to protect the entire nation and all the blood of Indonesia," Muhammad Syafii, chairman of the Special Committee for the Revision of Terrorism Law, said last week.
Officials in Indonesia's House of Representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
Activists say the revised law could also further curb freedom of expression in Indonesia, which already has punitive blasphemy and defamation laws. Its Article 1.4 defines the threat of violence as "speech, writing, picture, symbol or body language, with or without electronic or non-electronic form which could create widespread fear."
Indonesian citizens can be arrested for Facebook posts, and blasphemy chargeshave a 100 percent conviction rate.
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2) INDONESIA: Summary executions recurring with impunity

ALRC-CWS-38-002-2018
May 25, 2018
A Written Submission to the 38th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council by the Asian Legal Resource Centre
INDONESIA: Summary executions recurring while perpetrators enjoy impunity
The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to inform the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the situation of extrajudicial executions (summary executions) in Indonesia.
Despite being a state party to key international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Indonesia has yet to fully recognize the right to life and protection for all people from summary execution.
The right to life is also enshrined in the Indonesian Constitution (UUD 1945) and Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. The enforcement of such laws however, is Indonesia’s failing. In fact, law enforcement agencies and security forces in Indonesia are themselves guilty of summary executions. In the case of Mr. La Gode for instance, a resident of Taliabu Island, North Moluccas province, police officers arrested him for stealing cassava. Subsequently, Gode was transferred to the military post of Satgas 732/Banua for further examination. He was tortured in detention, and subsequently died from his injuries, particularly to his back and lateral parts of his body.
The ALRC’s sister organization, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) also documented the case of Gerri Goo, an indigenous Papuan who died after being shot by law enforcement agencies in Moanemani, Degiyai regency. Gerri was shot during a joint sweeping operation by the Moanemani police officers and the police mobile brigade (Brimob). Geri was hospitalized for 33 days, and he finally passed away on 9 May 2018.
In the past, particular under the regime of Suharto, summary executions occurred massively, and remains unpunished until present. Thousands, perhaps even one million people have been victims of summary execution during the 1965-1966 massacre, the mysterious shooting (Penembakan Misterius - Petrus) of 1981-1983, the Tanjung Priok case of 1984, the Talangsari case of 1989, the military operation and emergency period in Aceh from 1989-1998 and 2003, the 1998 May tragedy, the student shooting in Trisakti and Semanggi in 1998-1999, the case of Wasior and Wamena Papua 2001 and 2003, and various cases occurring in Papua, such as the cases of Puncak Jaya 1977-1978, as well as the Abepura case of 2000. Despite the Abepura case being prosecuted in the Makassar district court in 2005, the court failed to find evidence and finally released all the perpetrators. The government has also failed to address various recent cases of summary executions, such as the Paniai case, and the brutal attack and murder of Vijay Pauspaus in Sanggeng Manokwari Barat.
The recurrence of extrajudicial executions in Indonesia is largely due to the impunity enjoyed by the offenders, especially if they are part of the police or military institutions. For instance in the death of La Gode, the Sula Police Station prefers to internally discipline the police officers who had illegally arrested and transferred La Gode to the Military Post of Task Force (Satgas) 732/Buana. The internal ethic mechanism conducted on 31 March 2018 at the Sula Police Station ruled that:
1. Police Chief Brigadier Zaenuddin Ahmad was to get 21 days detention, one year suspension of rank, promotion and educational training. 
2. Police Brigadier Harifin Idu was to get 21 days detention, two years suspension of rank, promotion, annulment of his current position in Police Administration and one year suspension of his regular salary. 
3. Police Brigadier Mardin was to be punished with 21 days detention with six months suspension of educational training.
Extrajudicial execution committed by the police is also caused due to the lack of commitment by the government to implement internal police regulations on human rights. The Internal Police Regulation No. 8 of 2009 on the Implementation of Human Rights Principles and Standards in the Discharge of Duties of the Indonesian National Police, and the Standard Operational Procedures like the SOP No 1/X/ 2010 on Countermeasures on Anarchy, and SOP No 14 of 2012 on the Investigation Management of Crimes have all remained on paper thus far.
In view of the above situation, the ALRC requests the UN Human Rights Council to undertake studies to assess the root causes of extrajudicial executions in Indonesia. The Council should not merely work with the Indonesian government, but should also work and support the Indonesian civil society at large in dealing with recurrence and massive extrajudicial executions in Indonesia.
The Council should put pressures on the government of Indonesia so that the State officially invites and cooperates with the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions.
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3) Sport: Wan Papua Warriors target London Nines
11:14 am on 30 May 2018 


The Wan Papua Warriors want to take their message to the world at the London Rugby League Nines in July.
Formerly known as the West Papua Warriors, the team was formed to raise awareness about the on-going human rights abuses in the Indonesian province.
Team captain Tala Kami said the UK has a large Papua New Guinea and West Papuan population and, after playing at events in PNG and Australia, they see playing in London as a big opportunity.
"So the last time we played was in January last year at Cabramatta (in Sydney) and it's been over a year now," he said.
"We've just been looking for tournaments where we can play and raise the profile as much as we can internationally so London was obviously an opportunity to get to a place we've never been before and raise some awareness there."
"There's a large Papua New Guinean community in England, in London, and also a very strong West Papuan community in England including Benny Wenda, who is the face of West Papuan freedom campaign so he's well aware of us coming and him and his family are very excited as well," Kami said.

Tala Kami said organisers of the London Nines have no issue with their political stance.
"When we first contacted with them they didn't really know the story - they just saw us as another rugby league team, which was fine," he said.
"As they've done their research a little bit more they actually really embraced it and have been using our team and our message as one of the sort of flagship advertising points of this current tournament so no problems whatsoever, they've been very welcoming.”

The Wan Papua Warriors are fundraising to help pay for their trip but Tala Kami said they've already been offered free accommodation in London.
He said a lot of players in England are keen to be involved so only a few players will travel from PNG and they've mastered the art of low-bidget travelling
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

1) Solomon Islands delegation visit to West Papua is ‘a visitation by robbers’.

2) One wounded in riot following village fund dispute in Tolikara

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1) Solomon Islands delegation visit to West Papua is ‘a visitation by robbers’.
Published 10 hours ago on 29 May 2018 
By admin
 Jacob Rumbiak (right) – Island Sun

Jayapura, Jubi – United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) spokesperson Jacob Rumbiak has described the recent seven-person delegation from Solomon Islands to West Papua as ‘a visitation by robbers’.
The recent delegation visit to West Papua had included the PMO Chief of Staff John Usuramo, Special Envoy to West Papua Rence Sore, Chairman of FSII Wilfred Luiramo, DSE chairman Inia Barry, Lawrence Makili, Gloreta Anderson and Lilly Chekana.
Speaking during his meeting with SICA General Secretary Holmes Saeve Monday, Rumbiak said a summary of Chekana’s account of their trip given by Holmes highlighting that the West Papuan people are not united is ‘very misleading’.

“I bring voice from inside West Papua as the delegation that recently visited West Papua was like robbers. They came and hid and never met with the people struggling for their right.
“I think they are blind and they do not know what we already have set up.”
He said ULMWP is the answer to their report as they have a Federal Republic of West Papua, a 14 political organisation affiliating with the Federal Republic, six organisations affiliating with West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, six affiliating with the National Parliament of West Papua being 26 West Papuan organisations already inside.
And the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is a West Papua national political body.
“When someone says we are not united, that is misleading, said Rumbiak.
“They say how can they meet with West Papua, they do not have a leader, no political body and they do not have any agenda. We have an agenda, we have a political body, we have leadership member, adjective, we have a legislative leader and member, judicial leader and member, we got Bureau Officers working inside and Diplomats outside, and the support from the whole region of West Papua including churches (7 religions). They recommended support.
“The movement of West Papua is based on the advice from the Melanesian leaders.”
On meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last week, Rumbiak said the group should have involved Fiji and Papua New Guinea before visiting independently and should not have allowed the trip to be funded by Indonesia. They should have went and stayed on the ground with the people of West Papua.
The ULMWP spokesperson’s recent visit to Honiara was to meet with the DPM, SICA and organisers of the Melanesian Arts Festival and to reiterate that the recent seven-person delegation from Solomon Islands was done with Indonesian Government incentive for its own interest.
Rumbiak gave a detailed description of the group’s visit to the SICA General Secretary, questioning why the group did not visit and call into various civil and interest groups within West Papua.
Rumbiak described how the protestors went to welcome the Solomon Islands delegates but were instead arrested.
He showed videos of the documentaries about the atrocities in WP and a protestor who was arrested during the group’s stay there.
SOURCE: Island Suns

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/115908/one-wounded-in-riot-following-village-fund-dispute-in-tolikara

2) One wounded in riot following village fund dispute in Tolikara

Reporter:  
Jayapura, Papua, (ANTARA News) - A riot broke out during a funding disbursement under the village fund program in Tolikara District of Papua Province on Monday afternoon, leading to a civilian and 10 policemen being injured.
The dispute in Biuk Hamlet of Karubaga Sub-district was triggered due to the dualism of leaders of the hamlet, Head of Tolikara Resort Police Senior Commissioner Adjunct Mada informed Antara here on Tuesday.
The riot that erupted at 4 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time was widespread after some people provoked the situation, calling on others to ambush the police.
The police fired a warning shot that caused injury to a civilian.
The wounded civilian was taken to the Wamena Regional Hospital for treatment, Mada stated.
Meanwhile, 10 police officers suffered from bruises as a result of the clash.
The distribution of funding under the village fund program was delayed due to the riot. The local administration plans to continue the distribution on Wednesday (May 30).
Tolikara District, with an area of 14,564 square kilometers, is located in central Papua Province.
The region has 45 sub-districts and 541 hamlets, with Karubaga as the capital city.
 Editor: Otniel Tamindael
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Monday, May 28, 2018

1) Questions over new Indonesian terror law's implications for Papua


2) Hotel Occupancy in Papua Decreases 50 Percent During Ramadan
3) Gasoline prices hit IDR 20 thousand per litre in Papua
4) The village fund absorption is still below 23 percent

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1) Questions over new Indonesian terror law's implications for Papua
From 3:04 pm today 

A human rights advocate says it may be possible that armed Papuan groups could be implicated in Indonesia's new anti-terror laws.

Indonesia's parliament last week passed tough new anti-terrorism measures following this month's suicide bombings in Surabaya.
The laws allow police to detain suspects for longer and prosecute those linked to militant groups.

Andreas Harsono of Human Rights Watch Indonesia says the government started to revise its counterterrorism law in 2016 after Islamic State-linked bomb attacks in Jakarta.


TRANSCRIPT

ANDREAS HARSONO: But the draft law remained idle until the Surabaya attacks in May 2018, when three Islamic State families of suicide bombers, attacked three Christian churches and the police headquarters, using their own children, as young as eight years old, in the attacks. It shocked the public in Indonesia. It was probably the first suicide attack in the world where father and mother bombers detonating their own children. President Jokowi went to Surabaya, saying that he will issue a presidential decree on counter-terrorism if the parliament does not finish the bill. The media coverage and the public shock put a lot of pressures on the parliament to deliberate the bill, spending less than a week to pass it.
JOHNNY BLADES: Are there concerns among the public or rights groups over particular aspects of the new laws?
AH: In 2017, rights groups were worried to see the draft included a part called the "Guantanamo Article," in a reference to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the US government has arbitrarily detained hundreds of people since 2002, virtually all without charge. It also included an article that could deprive a convicted terrorist of his or her Indonesian nationality. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, protested those articles. The Indonesian parliament finally scraped those two controversial articles. But Article 6 of the law still criminalizes violence or threats of violence against "the environment" without providing any definition or clarification as to the meaning of "the environment." It also opens a possibility that the Indonesian military is to be involved in counter-terrorism operations. It might create some confusion with the police's law enforcement work. It's especially problematic in intelligence gathering. The military involvement might be justified if Indonesian terrorists could stage an attack like what the jihadists had down in Marawi, the Philippines.
JB: How might the laws affect Papua?
AH: If we look at the definition of terrorism in the Counter-Terrorism Law, it's unlikely to include various armed groups in Papua to be a part of terrorism. In Papua, most violence from these indigenous groups are launched against police and military officers. A terrorism act is per definition targeted against with mass destructions and creating fear. The Papuans obviously do not do that. But this law does not provide definition of what it claims to be other targets of terrorism such as environment, public accommodations or international facilities. It might open possibilities that the armed groups in Papua could be defined as "terrorist groups" because of these other targets.
JB: So, could the evolving definition of "terrorist" implicate more groups in Papua?
AH: The counter-terrorism law is very clear that it's targeted against groups only with arms which include explosives, chemical, biological, micro-organism, nuclear, or radioactive component. It does not include political groups, such as the various Papua separatist groups, which campaign for independence using non-violence method. The law obviously also does not include traditional arms like machete, arrows and bows.


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2) Hotel Occupancy in Papua Decreases 50 Percent During Ramadan

TEMPO.COJakarta- The board of Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Papua Province revealed the hotel occupancy rate during Ramadan 1439H decreased by 50 percent.
"Before Ramadan, the average occupancy reached 70 percent, but during Ramadan, it became 50 percent because many of government activities were postponed," said Chairman of PHRI Papua Sahri Hasan in Jayapura, Sunday, May 27.
He explained the decrease is not necessarily followed by a decrease in income. Because, at the moment of Ramadan, many parties, both government, state-owned enterprises, and private, hold the break-fasting together at the hotel.
According to him, the hotel occupancy rate will improve after Ramadan because government activities are believed to return to normal. He claimed the decrease is not only occurred in Papua but almost throughout Indonesia.
It always happens every Ramadan and the hotel parties anticipate by making promos of break-fasting together, and special for this year, there will be the 2018 World Cup momentum. Sahril added that every moment of the World Cup organizing is usually always used by the hotel management to create a watching together event because the demand is quite a lot and it can increase the revenue.
He reminded the hotel management who want to hold a watching together event to ask for the permission to the parties who hold the commercial license and also to the security apparatus.
ANTARA


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3) Gasoline prices hit IDR 20 thousand per litre in Papua
Published
  
on
 


Yahukimo, Jubi– Yahukimo solidarity team for development and tribal chiefs are going to investigate the fuel distribution from Timika to the gas depot (APMS) in Yahukimo due to a crisis of fuel in Yahukimo.
Team leader Napius Yalak explains the depot only operates for three to four days a month and the fuel stocks run out immediately when it opens. So he suspects a culprit plays around with the supplies.

“I conveyed to the relevant agency that people in Yahukimo cannot have gasoline and diesel as it should. What is the problem? Is it financial constraints or deliberately saving?” told him last week in Dekai. 
According to him, fuel can also be bought in some gas retails. However, it is expensive. “My car is almost running out of gas, but I have pay IDR 20 thousand for a litre.” 
He thought the high price of gasoline is very detrimental for low-income communities, so it needs serious attention. “We will take firm action on this matter because this is detrimental for people’s finance. We will also ask for compensation on this.”
Meanwhile, Head of APMS Dekai Lamalaha said they have restricted fuel for 35 kilolitres each for motorbikes, cars or even those who come with jerry-cans, but the number of demand is high, so the fuel availability is not sufficient. 
“We are overwhelmed. Moreover, 80% of the vehicles are without the police numbers. So it is difficult to ensure whether the local people got their quota or not. If we mark the vehicle, they will erase it. If we paint it, they scold us,” he explained. Another obstacle, continued Lamahala, is the length of time needed to get the fuel supplies. 
“It takes 12 days to ship the fuel to Dekai from Makassar. Then it needs a day to dock and four days to load the fuel and next two days to unload the fuel from the ship. Hopefully, the fuel price in Dekai remains stable this month,” he said. 
“The gasoline that goes to Dekai takes 12 days because the big ship is on the way from Makassar. Next, break a day and load four days ago until here unload two more days. Hopefully this month the fuel price in Dekai may be stable, “he said. (*)
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4) The village fund absorption is still below 23 percent

Published
  
on
 


Jayapura, Jubi –As per May 24th, the distribution and absorption rates of the village fund in 2018 has increased to 29,9 percent or Rp 294,504 billion from Rp 984,842 billion.
The Head of Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) Syarwan said only five districts in Papua reached a hundred percent. Two of them have currently completed the second phase of disbursement in 2018.

“Mamberamo Raya and Lanny Jaya already passed the second stage and completed the first stage in 2017,” he told to Jubi on Thursday (24/5/2018).
He regretted that some districts which did not use or distribute the funding to the account of the head of villages in their areas. “There are three stages of disbursement; it only needs the local regulation to liquid the funding,” he said.
Furthermore, he said the government should upload its report to the Online Application Monitoring System of State Treasury and Budget (OMSPAN).
Meanwhile, the Head of the Regional Treasury and Financial Asset Agency Adolf Siahaya said Jayapura Municipality had a Budget for Village Expenditure (APBKam), which need the regulation of previous SPJ (report) and approved APBKam. “Until now, the APBKam has not approved, so it could not disburse yet,” he said.
He also admitted the disbursement of the village fund for Jayapura Municipality in 2017 was late. “Indeed, the disbursement is quite late because the disbursement of Phase II should be in December 2017. Besides DPMK (Village and Community Empowerment Office) is doing field monitoring,” he said.
The Chairman of Commission III of the Papua House of Representatives, Carolus Bolly, asserted that each regional head is responsible for maximising the absorption of the village fund. “It is their authority to encourage the absorption of a fund in their districts,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Sindung Sukoco
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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Friday, May 25, 2018

1) What is the most attractive thing to see in FDS 2018?


2) The exclusion of indigenous rights in Papua autonomy era
3) Health workers are on demand in Papua
4) Indonesia targets deal with Rio Tinto in June
5) Back to the future in Southeast Asia
6) Jayawijaya Plane Skids Off Runway at Wamena Airport
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1) What is the most attractive thing to see in FDS 2018?
Published
  
on
 


Illustration of traditional Papuan dance – Jubi / Engel Wally
Sentani, Jubi –Jayapura Regent Mathius Awoitauw stated traditional food produced from sago and cultural performances would be the two most attractive things to see in Lake Sentani Festival (FDS) 2018.
Furthermore, he said location, where the festival takes place, must be set attractively to avoid an impression of a night fair event or a regular traditional market.
Those who will be directly involved in performances at the FDS, such as dancers, must wear cultural costumes. They are not allowed to wear anything else on stage,” he said.
The Second Vice Chairman of Jayapura House of Representatives Kornels Yanuaring said the FDS, which is an annual government agenda, should have a positive impact on the local community.
Visitors should acquire clear information about this event; what would perform in this festival. So, we could see their interest on the event, and it could be an indicator of the income for the local community,” he said. (*)
 Reporter: Engel Wally
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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2) The exclusion of indigenous rights in Papua autonomy era
Published
  
on
 

Nabire, Jubi – After nearly a week, the Forestry Region VI Nabire (KCDK) Agency finally operates after the Head of KCDK Region IV Office open it since it was barred by former staff members of Nabire Forestry Agency due to the inauguration of officials and new structure in this agency by the Acting Papua Governor.
They thought the appointment of non-Papuans in the office structure is against the Law No. 21, 2001 on special autonomy, which mandates a priority should award to indigenous Papuan, particularly Nabire native. It moreover considers neglecting former civil servants of Nabire Forestry Office whose office currently merge into the provincial forestry office.
KCDK Region VI Nabire Agency was as a result of the enactment of the Law No 23, 2014 on the Regional Government and the Government Regulation No. 18, 2016 on the regional apparatus.
According to these two regulations, staff and authorities of the Regional Forestry Office transferred to the provincial office. Papua Province then opened a branch office in the district as an extension of the Provincial Forestry Office. However, the new office structure does not accommodate the former staff.
A former staff member of Nabire Forestry Office Tenni Sembor said Acting Papua Governor should refer to the Law No.21, 2001 on Papua Special Autonomy before a decision to appoint the head office and establish a new structure of KCDK Region VI Nabire. He must prioritise Nabire natives as mandated in the law. He moreover explained that none of the officers in the new structure come from Nabire District, which is the Saireri customary area, and its natives are the owner of the land tenure right in Nabire Municipality.
So we think this humiliates the rights of indigenous Papuans, in particular, the customary people in Nabire, whereas the Special Autonomy Law is the basis of protection and alignment towards the rights and local wisdom of Papua indigenous people,” said Sembor on Tuesday (5/22/2018).
Another former staff member of Nabire Forestry Office Marthinus Taa thought it is very unfair because, in this special autonomy era, none of the Nabire natives gets a position in the new structure. “While the agency is to manage forests in Nabire which associated with the customary rights of indigenous peoples,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Customary Consultative Council (BMA) of Wate tribe of Nabire District Yohanes Wanaha expressed his concern on the inauguration. He asked Acting Governor and Papua Provincial Office to reconsider the inauguration occurred on Monday 2018.
This is an insult to the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in this land. The Special Autonomy Law is still ongoing, but for decades, the government hardly accommodates our rights as indigenous peoples,” he said. (*)
 Reporter: Titus Ruban
Editor: Pipit Maizier


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3) Health workers are on demand in Papua
Published
  
on
 

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Accelerating Health Development Unit (UP2KP) admitted Papua Province still need more permanent health workers said UP2KP team to a legislator of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Electoral District of Papua. They asked the legislator to enforce a quota of health workers in civil servant recruitment in 2018.
We observe that Papua needs permanent health workers for more effective and efficient health services,” said the First Director of UP2KP Agus Raprap in the press release to Jubi on Sunday (20/5/2018).
He said many health problems such as exceptional condition (KLB) and outbreaks of diseases in Papua, in particular in remote areas, were occurred due to a crisis of health workers.
A member of the Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Electoral District of Papua Roberth Rouw said he is ready to view the input on the health workers recruitment for Papua. He moreover said that health is the most critical sector of human development resources.
I will learn the data related to the human resources demand (in the health sector). I will give it to the Minister of State Apparatus, but UP2KP should also provide data because this is very important to show a specific map about the existing of health workers in Papua and the number of health workers from outside of Papua that we need,” he said.
According to him, the lack of health workers in Papua becomes a very concerning issue. He agrees with the result of the monitoring and evaluation conducted by UP2KP which reveal that many health facilities in Papua, especially in districts, do not have permanent health personnel. (*)
 Reporter: Roy Ratumakin
Editor: Pipit Maizier


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4) Indonesia targets deal with Rio Tinto in June
News Desk The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Fri, May 25, 2018| 01:37 pm


State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno has said the government is aiming at concluding its negotiations with Rio Tinto on the purchase of the latter’s interests in Papua’s Grasberg mine -- the world’s largest gold and second-largest copper mine.
She, however, was reluctant to talk about the negotiation involving state-owned mining company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum), as a representative of the government and Freeport McMoran, the parent company of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), and Rio Tinto.
“If we have signed the agreement, we will reveal it. God willing, the negotiation will be concluded in June,” said Rini in Jakarta on Thursday as reported by tribunnews.com.
Previously, London-based Rio Tinto confirmed it was discussing the sale with Inalum and Freeport McMoran. Rio Tinto said it noted reports of the potential purchase by Inalum of Rio Tinto's entire interest in the Grasberg mine for US$3.5 billion.
Rini also declined to comment about the price of Rio Tinto’s participating interests in mining, saying that it was under negotiation.
“No, we cannot reveal it. […] We are in the process of [document] finalization before we sign the agreement,” she stressed.
The government has appointed Inalum to buy PTFI’s shares, in line with a law that requires foreign mining companies to divest 51 percent of their shares to Indonesian entities.
Freeport McMoran and Rio Tinto established an unincorporated joint venture in 1995, which gave the latter control of 40 percent up to 2022 in certain assets and future production above specific levels in one of the blocks at Grasberg. (bbn) 

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SBS
5) Back to the future in Southeast Asia
Updated
It's been 20 years since the late Indonesian dictator Suharto was forced to resign amid deadly student protests and the country's worst economic crisis.
Updated
Updated 3 days ago
Former southeast Asian dictators are back in vogue at the moment.
At 92, Mahathir Mohamad became the world's oldest elected leader with a surprise win in the Malaysian elections, ousting Najib Razak from power a fortnight ago.
The pair were once allies but clashed over a graft scandal concerning allegations $6 billion was siphoned from a state fund including $932 million funnelled into Najib's bank account. Najib denies any wrongdoing.
 
Mahathir had a reputation as an authoritarian ruler during a previous stint in power between 1981-2003.
He's now considered a beacon of hope for democratic reform and anti-corruption after joining an alliance with opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim, who has been pardoned and released from jail, for what many consider a politically motivated sodomy conviction.
There's a lot riding on how the unlikely partners will navigate Malaysia's political transition and a power handover as well as potential legal action against Najib.
If a similar journey in neighbouring Indonesia is anything to go by, the road ahead is unlikely to be smooth.
This week, on May 21, marked 20 years since the late Indonesian dictator Suharto was forced to resign amid deadly student protests and the country's worst economic crisis.
During 32 years in power, he amassed up to $47 billion through corruption and later avoided prosecution because doctors declared him medically unfit to face trial.
His three daughters and three sons built vast commercial empires from nepotism and government patronage.
Former Australian ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said the past two decades had seen Indonesia become a democratic leader in southeast Asia, with genuine elections, a much freer press and active civil society.
"Indonesia is not a perfect democracy by any means," Farmer told AAP.
The explosion of conservative Islam since 1998 is shaping Indonesia's democracy before the 2019 presidential elections.
For decades Suharto's rule had banned most expressions of Islam and generally kept a lid on extremists.
But religious tensions are on the rise, exemplified by a family of suicide bombers targeting Christian churches in the second largest city Surabaya last week and the jailing in 2017 of Jakarta's former Christian governor known as Ahok on blasphemy charges.
While democracy had allowed people to exercise their rights to freedom of religious expression, at the other end of the spectrum there is a growth of extremist sentiment, Farmer said.
This includes instances of Islamic vigilantes cracking down on promiscuity and homosexual behaviour and some groups trying to stop shop assistants wearing Santa hats at shopping malls in the lead up to Christmas.
Deakin University professor Damien Kingsbury said repression from the Suharto days had largely lifted.
"While economic conditions aren't necessarily wonderful, people are now free to talk about it, complain about it and protest," he told AAP, adding that the range of media coverage is much broader than 20 years ago.
Suharto had centralised corruption so everyone knew their place in the pecking order, Kingsbury said, but since his political demise corruption hadn't diminished - it had just spread out.
"There's no longer this pyramid with the king at the top, it's really a much flatter structure," he said.
Farmer acknowledged that in some quarters in Indonesia there was still nostalgia for "strong man" leadership and the "good old days" when rice was heavily subsidised for the poor.
There are some frustrations Indonesia's economy is not living up to its potential and the rupiah has recently weakened.
A PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts Indonesia to be the fifth largest economy in the world by 2030.
Farmer believes that estimate is "a bit far-fetched" because of shortages of basic elements such as energy and infrastructure investment have been a handbrake on economic growth.
Kingsbury said there was a perception in Indonesia the presidency of Joko Widodo had not lived up to high expectations.
"He's probably not a shoe-in for re-election," Kingsbury said.
Widodo, a former governor of Jakarta and furniture businessman, was the first Indonesian president not to have hailed from the political elite.
Suharto's youngest son Tommy - a former racing car driver, who served four years in jail for ordering the murder of a supreme court judge - has announced he's running for president.
"I have done my term and according to the laws I now have the same rights as anyone else. I have the right to vote and the right to be elected," Tommy told Al Jazeera TV.
Farmer said the Suharto name has drawbacks linked to some of the excesses of the past - human rights violations and the army's role in disappearances.
"(Tommy) has a history of shady business accomplices and dealings, so I personally wouldn't rate him highly as a prospect for high office," Farmer said.
Kingsbury predicts an even tighter presidential poll next year compared to 2014 when Widodo netted 53 per cent of votes to ex-general Prabowo Subianto's 47 per cent.
Subianto, Suharto's son-in-law, polled well despite a chequered history of alleged human rights abuses in East Timor and Papua.
Former army chief Gatot Nurmantyo, who briefly suspended military ties with Australia last year, is emerging as a potential dark horse candidate.
Kingsbury said written into Indonesia's DNA was a "militaristic and authoritarian tendency".
"There's a theory that countries tend to reflect the stamp that was put on them at the time that they achieve independence," he said.
"The simple fact that (Gatot and Subianto are likely to be) competitive shows that many Indonesians see that as a viable alternative to a more liberal model," Kingsbury said.
Even after 20 years of democracy, it can be hard to shake off the past.
Source: AAP
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6) Jayawijaya Plane Skids Off Runway at Wamena Airport
TEMPO.COJakarta- Jayawijaya Dirgantara Air cargo plane bearing flight number PK-JRM skidded off the runway while landing at Wamena Airport, Papua, on Thursday, May 24, at 14:08 local time.
The plane, which was carrying rice and cement, slips on the airport's runway 15.
Papua Police’s spokesman Sr. Comr. Ahmad Kamal has confirmed the incident and and said there was no casualty. 
The report suggested the airliner slipped off the runway strip as its left engine was detached and fell off. The plane then landed on the left side of the runway. 
“There was no casualty in the incident and the airport's operation resumes as usual because the aircraft’s position is on the outside of the runway,” said Kamal.
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