Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 208
AWPA update. May 2011
A snapshot of events for May
On the 1st May 1963 the UN transferred the administration of West New Guinea to Indonesia and from the moment Indonesia took over from the UN the oppression of the West Papuan people began. 48 years later the oppression continues and so does the struggle of the West Papuan people for self-determination. On the 2 May thousands of people marched in peaceful rallies in towns around West Papua to mark the handover from the UN to Indonesian control. The demonstrators were calling for a new referendum on independence. Although the demonstrators had official permission there was a strong police and military presence and reports of incidents of intimidation. Police in Wamena arrested a few days before six activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) because they were distributing leaflets regarding the rallies. Photos of the rally in Jayapura can be seen in a photo story in newmatilda.com at http://newmatilda.com/2011/05/05/west-papua-photo-story
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Australian aid
A press release from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta said Australia was committed to reducing poverty in Papua and West Papua, The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Greg Moriarty witnessed a signing, between Papua Governor, Mr. Barnabas Suebu, and West Papua Governor, Mr. Abraham O. Atururi, for a new Australian government-funded program to improve health, education and infrastructure in the two provinces. Australia will provide an estimated A$17 million in development assistance to the provinces in 2010-11 http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR11_038.html
In another press release from the embassy it stated that the Australian Government would provide an estimated A$558.1 million (Rp. 5,15 trillion) in official development assistance to Indonesia in 2011-12. This is an increase of A$100 million (Rp. 923 billion) compared to the 2010-11 Budget.” The increase in aid funding demonstrates Australia’s long-term commitment to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development in Indonesia,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Greg Moriarty. http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR11_041.html
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Women’s voices
Scant attention to women's opinions in Papua
JUBI, 19 May 2011
Hagas Aksamina Madai, a member of Commission E of the Papuan legislative assembly, the DPRP, has criticised the government for failing to show any interest in or concern for Papuan women. She was speaking during a discussion held by Papuan women students on 'Perspectives for Papuan women regarding Papuan women's involvement in political issues. She gave as an example the lack of government attention towards the construction of markets where women can function. 'All they have done is to establish some temporary markets for us,' she said. 'And moreover these markets have failed to take account of our needs.' This had resulted in Papuan women traders being compelled to go back to the old market places in front of Gelael and the Ampera market even though these are far from adequate and have resulted in women traders suffering losses in their business activities. She said that what the government should be doing is first of all to consult the local people about what they need 'In my opinion, before going ahead with anything, the government should get together with the local community to ask them what they think they need.' (From Tapol)
In its Spring Quarterly Cultural Survival has an article on the suffering of West Papuan women “Papuan women have been suffering terrible violence both outside and inside their homes for the past 40 years, and for most of that time, they’ve suffered in silence. But now a group of women has launched their own truth commission to give support to the victims and to pressure the government to change its behavior”. http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/papua-new-guinea/reckoning and in an article in the Wall Street Journal “Jakarta's Dismal Record in Papua “ Audryne Karma who is the eldest daughter of West Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma, writes about his case. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576340793292830806.html
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HIV/AIDS
A number of media reports raised concerns about the increase of HIV/AIDS in West Papua. Health statistics for West Papua vary but the West Papuan people have one of the poorest health standards in the archipelago although West Papua is rich in natural resources.
HIV/AIDS Infections Jump Sharply in Papua
Banjir Ambarita | Jakarta Globe May 06, 2011
Jayapura. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua and West Papua has jumped by more than 30 percent to over 17,000 in just four months, an official said on Thursday. Kostan Karma, head of the Papua AIDS Prevention Commission (KPA), said the spike in infections was very worrying, and blamed it on the prevalence of unprotected sex. He said the latest data from the provincial health office showed there were 7,098 people with the virus in Papua in December, and 10,000 in West Papua. “But back in August 2010, there were only 5,000 in Papua and 8,000 in West Papua,” he said. “The KPA is trying hard to campaign about HIV/AIDS prevention, but we just can’t seem to keep the numbers down.” Kostan said that of the 38 towns and districts in the two provinces, Mimika in Papua, home to the world’s biggest copper and gold mine, had shown the highest increase and overall number of infections. However, he did not give any figures. The KPA also blamed the proliferation of new districts over the past 10 years as a factor for the spread of the virus. “What’s happened is that there’s been more money spreading around, which encourages people to break with the traditional way of life and adopt a more modern lifestyle, including sexual promiscuity,” Kostan said. “What we’re trying to do is get churches to spread the message to get people to stop having casual sex, or if they must, to at least use a condom.” He said that if the number of people living with the virus rose to 1 percent of the population of both provinces which the 2010 census put at 2.8 million the KPA would begin imposing mandatory testing for all new mothers in the region. He said the measure would at least help identify the number of infected newborns, so they could get early treatment.
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Mimika allocates Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS program
May 26 2011
Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - The local government of Mimika district, Papua, has allocated Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS handling program in the region, an AIDS Commission official said. Chief National AIDS Commission (PPA) for Mimika Erens Meokbun said here on Thursday that the AIDS handling program in Mimika was still focused guidance, officials` training, inventory of new cases and counseling of HIV/AIDS carriers. He said that the HIV/AIDS allocation for the HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika this year was down if compared with previous years` allocations which reached about Rp3 billions. "In the previous three years, the funds allocation for HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika amounted to Rp3 billion each year," he said. The number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Mimika is the highest one among those in other districts in Papua province. He said that the high cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Mimika was among other things fueled by the flow of migration into the district from neighboring districts and rural areas in Papua. Data at Mimika KPA office indicated that up to December 2010, the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers was recorded at 2,463 cases, of whom 1,262 men and 1,195 weer female carriers. In 2010, there were additional 407 HIV/AIDS cases, of whom nine have died.
(Uu.A014/HAJM) Editor: Priyambodo RH
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Indonesia Elected to UN Rights Panel Despite Concerns
Indonesia was among 15 nations elected on Friday to the UN Human Rights Council, despite a human rights watchdog earlier stating the country had questionable qualifications for membership. In a General Assembly vote, Indonesia was elected along with India, the Philippines, and Kuwait, on a clean or uncontested, slate of Asian nations for three-year council terms. Unfortunately, some of the worst violators of human rights get elected” to the body, Hillel Neur, the head of UN Watch said at UN headquarters on Thursday, on the eve of the vote. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/indonesia/indonesia-elected-to-un-rights-panel-despite-concerns/442307
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From Tapol
Papuan killed by six members of the security forces
JUBI, 16 May 2011
According to information from the Justice and Peace Secretariat of the Kingmi Church, Papua, a man called Derek Adii who had just completed his application for appointment as a civil servant in the sub-district of Deiyai, was maltreated by six members of the armed forces in the Nabire port area on Saturday 14 May. He was beaten and stabbed and died as a result. According to the SKP report, the victim was attacked as he was boarding the ship, KM Labobar, when a neighbour of the victim from Manokwari pulled out a bayonet and struck the victim in the forehead, and then went on to throw his body into the sea. 'Six people were involved in the attack, all members of the Indonesian army, and after stabbing him, they threw his body into the sea,' said Yones Douw, SKP co-ordinator of SKP in Nabire. The incident started when the 26-year old man asked members of the army at the Nabire port to help organise the passengers as they were boarding the KM Labobar. In response to the request, the victim was subjected to maltreatment; he was stabbed with bayonets and died on the spot. Several people nearby, angered by the attack, started to protest but they were dispersed by the security forces. The brother of the victim, Martinus Adii, who lives in Amban, Manokwari was shocked when he heard of the death of his brother and demanded information about the killing of his brother. 'What wrong did my brother do that led to his being killed? Are you human beings or not? Why were his words responded to by an act of violence?' Martinus said that members of the family were planning to return to Manokwari after gathering together the victims application papers to become a member of the civil service. In protest against the incident, hundreds of students and members of the public, armed with tradional weapons such as arrows, choppers and spears, occupied the port of Manokwari on Sunday afternoon. They vented their anger by smashing the windows of the waiting room in the harbour, but fortunately, this action calmed down after members of the security forces took control of the situation.
Translated by TAPOLNumerous problems in Papua since OTSUS was enacted
JUBI. 15 May 2011
Since the enactment of OTSUS, the special autonomy law for Papua, a pile of problems have hit Papua. There has been no decline in the number of problems; on the contrary, they have steadily increased. Many buildings have been constructed that are of no benefit to the indigenous population. Take for instance the construction of commercial premises and the fate of Papuan businesspeople. 'These buildings are for other people,' said Olga Helena Hamadi, Director of the Commission for Disappearances and the Victims of violence, KontraS, on Saturday. As for the demands for permanent business premises for Papuan businessmen, they are still struggling for this to happen. Their future is still very much in the air. The kind of premises they have been calling for have not been built by the government. The premises that have been built do not last long even though they have been calling for this since 2004., she said. OTSUS makes provision for a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation to be set up but all that has happened since OTSUS has been the creation of a National Human Rights Commission which means that human rights violations, acts of violence and shootings are only dealt with by the Komnas HAM. The result is that many cases have got stuck, some of which got no farther than a court hearing. There has been no follow-up. Furthermore, there has been no proper accounting for OTSUS funds. No procedures are in place to control the use of these funds. There is no accountability because no procedures have been put in place.
She said that all these things point to the failure of OTSUS, which has failed because no procedures have been put in place. She said that she was making these clarifications because of a previous news report that OTSUS had not failed.. 'We dont agree that OTSUS has not been a failure, because since the enactment of OSUS, a number of problems have emerged.'
Translated by TAPOL
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Military, police asked to secure West Papua investment
From News Reports: Timika, May 18: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the military and police to guarantee the security of investment in West Papua as part of efforts to accelerate economic development, reports the Antara news agency. Tranquility and comfort were crucial to the growth of private business and investment in West Papua, the news agency quotes special aide for regional development and autonomy, Velix V. Wanggai as saying. “The President has always encouraged the implementation of a master plan for expansion and acceleration of the Indonesian economy,” said the aide. “Papua is one of the socio-economic corridors besides Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Kalimanta.” The news agency reports that National Defence Forces Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono and National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo have visited Timika. Their purpose was discuss security and stability in Mimika district, especially at the Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Corporation’s Grasberg gold and copper mine. (The Southeast Asian Times)
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Freeport pays $678m to government
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | 05/26/2011 8
PT Freeport Indonesia, the Indonesian unit of US mining firm Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc., reported that it has paid US$678 million to the government in financial obligations for its first-quarter operations. The payment was comprised of $346 million in corporate income tax; $165 million in employee income tax, regional tax and other levies; $51 million in royalties. The remaining$117 million was the government’s share of dividends. The first-quarter payment brought the total payments made by Freeport during its operations from 1992 to March 2011 to $12.1 billion, comprised of $7.3 billion in corporate income tax, $2.3 billion in employee income tax, regional tax and other levies, $1.2 in royalties and $1.2 billion in dividends. For the full year of 2010 the company’s financial obligations to the government reached $1.9 billion, comprised of $1.2 billion in corporate income tax; $308 million in employee income tax, regional tax and other taxes; $185 million in royalties and $169 million in dividends. The company’s annual contributions to the government, according to a 2010 study conducted by the University of Indonesia’s Institute of Economic and Social Research, were estimated at 1.59 percent of GDP. The company, which operates the Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua, also made other contributions to the government, such as infrastructure investment for the province, and contributed 1.59 percent to GDP. Earlier on May 5, another gold and copper producer PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) announced that it had paid Rp 1.36 trillion to the Indonesian government in the first quarter of 2011 to fulfill its financial obligations for tax, non-tax and royalty payments. (drs)
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/31/bp-finalizes-study-new-lng-train.html
BP finalizes study for new LNG train
Rangga D. Fadillah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta 05/31/2011
Oil and gas giant BP is waiting for certainty over its gas reserves to go ahead with its plan to build a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at the Tangguh LNG plant in Papua, upstream oil and gas regulator BPMigas said. “The company is currently in the final phase of studying the reserves at the Tangguh gas field to check whether it can supply gas to the planned train,” BPMigas spokesperson Gde Pradnyana told reporters via text message on Monday. He continued that the construction of the train could only be started after the company ensured that the gas reserves would be sufficient to supply the planned train and there were certain purchasing contracts with buyers.
The planned train will have a total production capacity of 3.8 million tons per annum.
Tangguh is a massive gas project located in the Bintuni Bay area in West Papua with total proven gas reserves of 14.4 trillion cubic feet. The Tangguh LNG plant consists of two production units, each with capacity of 3.8 million tons of LNG per year. BP started the first production unit, Train 1, in February 2009 and the second, Train 2, in July 2009. BP is the operator of the Tangguh field, holding a 37.16 percent stake in the project. Other partners are MI Berau B.V. (16.3 percent), China-based CNOOC (13.9 percent), Nippon Oil Exploration (Berau) (12.23 percent), KG Berau/KG Wiriagar (10 percent), LNG Japan Corporation (7.35 percent) and Australia-based Talisman (3.06 percent). BPMigas says that the Tangguh gas field has been the fourth largest contributor to national gas production. The agency expects the field will produce 879.57 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in 2011, up from the previous target of 859.16 mmscfd.
BP announced that it will invest around US$10 billion over the next ten years to crank up production at the Tangguh LNG plant and explore the country’s coal-bed methane (CBM) potentials, according to a report from Bloomberg. BP chief executive officer Bob Dudley affirmed his company’s commitment to continuously invest in Indonesia after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh on Friday. “Our focus in investment is Tangguh in Papua, which we know we handle with great care as that’s already a very large project for BP,” he said. The company, which has operated in Indonesia for more than 35 years, reported that as of today, it has invested around $7 billion. Dudley said that the company would develop CBM blocks in Kalimantan. The company had signed four CBM production sharing contracts (PSC) in the Barito basin. The $5 billion Tangguh project, which shipped its first LNG cargoes in 2009, has multi-year contracts to supply 2.6 million tons a year to China, 1.15 million tons a year to South Korea and an agreement to supply as much as 3.7 million tons a year to Sempra Energy, Bloomberg says. Indonesia is currently the world’s third largest LNG exporter after Qatar and Malaysia.
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Press releases/reports/opinion pieces etc.
Indonesian Colonisation, Resource Plunder and West Papuan Grievances
David Adam Stott
The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol 9, Issue 12 No 1, March 21, 2011.
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Managing Papuan Expectations
After Handing Back Special Autonomy
A paper by Budi Hernawan Issues Paper 16 May 2011
cigj.anu.edu.au
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Amnesty International Annual Report 2011
Indonesia
The security forces tortured and otherwise ill-treated detainees, and used excessive force against protesters, sometimes leading to death. No adequate accountability mechanisms were in place to ensure justice or act as an effective deterrent against police abuses. The criminal justice system remained unable to address ongoing impunity for current and past human rights violations. Restrictions on freedom of expression were severe in areas such as Papua and Maluku. Religious minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups faced violent attacks and discrimination. The maternal mortality ratio remained among the highest in the East Asia and Pacific region. No one was executed during the year………………….
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