1) Indonesian military respects human rights in Papua

1) Indonesian military respects human rights in Papua

2) Australia working towards Papua solution

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Comment. No mention of the attack  on the village of Honai Lama or that the security forces have been targeting peaceful activists including members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) or the killing Mako Tabuni, deputy chairman of the KNPB.

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/83433/indonesian-military-respects-human-rights-in-papua

1) Indonesian military respects human rights in Papua

Sun, July 15 2012 21:03 | 67 Views

Jinan, China (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian military (TNI) has always respected and implemented human rights principles in carrying out its main duties in Papua.

"TNI is not careless, and we keep being procedural in carrying out our duties anywhere including in Papua," army commander`s operations assistant Major General Dedi Kusnadi Thamim said to ANTARA here on Sunday.

Met after attending the closing of a joint exercise between the Indonesian army`s special force Kopassus and China`s People`s Liberation Army special force he said TNI has always respected human rights principles in Papua.

"We will never act cruelly on civilians. But we also will never stay idle if an armed group attacks us. We cannot stay idle towards them. Can we just stay idle if they shoot us?," he said.

According to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) 22 violent cases has so far been recorded to have happened in the eastern region leaving several deaths.

"The government must seriously settle the problem to provide a sense of peace for the people. The big number of violent cases that has happened has made the performance and professionalism of security forces being scrutinized," Komnas commissioner Ridha Saleh said in Jakarta.

Without peace, he said, it would be impossible for the government to carry out development programs in Papua and therefore Komnas HAM has asked the government to show its seriousness to immediately hold a dialog involving all parties concerned in the central administration and Papua.

"The government must really be present to give a sense of peace before they carry out the agenda for change in Papua. If the government cannot protect or maintain security it will be impossible for it to be able to carry out development efforts in Papua," he said.

Ridha expressed concern over violent and shooting incidents that have happened in Papua and in view of that Komnas HAM had urged the security forces to investigate the cases thoroughly.

A Komnas HAM representative in Papua, Frits Ramandey meanwhile has said that the death of Sawiyatami village head Yohanes Janufrom or Yanafrom (30) on July 1 could be categorized as a human rights violation.

"It is categorized as a human rights violation because a life has been taken. Whether he has been shot by an OPM (separatist group) member or a TNI member the case must be investigated to find its truth," he said.
(T.R018/Uu.H-YH/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-07-15/australia-working-towards-papua-solution/980202

2) Australia working towards Papua solution

Updated 15 July 2012, 17:22 AEST

Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr says he is quietly working with Indonesia on the issue of human rights in the troubled province of Papua.

Trouble has flared in the region in the past few months, with soldiers accused of killing a separatist leader while trying to arrest him, and of going on a violent rampage in a small village.

Senator Carr, who is currently on a four-day visit to Indonesia, says human rights standards would be better maintained if the justice system was stronger.

"A fair and transparent court process when Indonesian laws are breached,

"And the Indonesian foreign minister accepted that in our first meeting back in March in my first days as foreign minister. And I recognise his sincerity and that of his President," said Senator Carr.

It is the senator's first visit to the strategically important country, and he says he plans to build on the good work done by previous governments.

He says he wants to levitate the relationship beyond constant themes such as people smuggling.

He spent yesterday inspecting projects that had benefitted from Australian aid money, and says this visit is about working on an important relationship and keeping it in good repair.

Bob Carr meets with his Indonesian ministerial counterpart on Monday.

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