Monday, October 8, 2012

1) Indonesia lacks direction on Papua, says academic


---------------------------------------------------------

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=71407

RNZI Posted at 16:49 on 08 October, 2012 UTC
An academic who focuses on Papua says Indonesia’s government lacks a clear sense of direction in how it wants to deal with the ongoing security problem in troubled Papua region.
The comment from Richard Chauvel from the School of Social Sciences at Melbourne’s Victoria University comes as members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives voice support for any military offensive against Papuan separatists.
Dr Chauvel says there’s been little momentum achieved on the government’s stated aim late last year to have peaceful dialogue with Papuans.
He says the heavy presence of the military in Papua is complicating resolution of broader political, historical and human rights issues.
“Those types of restrictions of human rights people, journalists, academics, is clearly becoming less effective and one’s tempted to ask the question, whether from the Indonesian national point of view it’s really counter-productive.”
Dr Richard Chauvel
------------------------------------------------
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=71397

RNZI Posted at 01:39 on 08 October, 2012 UTC
Indonesia’s House of Representatives has urged the government to take concrete actions to stem the burgeoning support for the separatist movement in Papua.
The Jakarta Post reports that the House Commission overseeing defence has also pushed the government and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to endorse any efforts by the Indonesian Military, or TNI, to deal with Papuan separatists.
The deputy chairman of the first Commission says the TNI has a legal mandate to conduct military operations against separatists.
Tubagus Hasanuddin says the House wouldn’t hesitate to give support for any TNI offensive against the separatist movement in Papua in order to keep the region integrated with Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the government denies that tension is escalating in Papua.
The Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi claims the government can maintain peace in Papua while conducting a constructive dialogue with the Papuan community.
-----------------------------------------------------------


http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/indonesia-to-develop-key-airports-in-papua-west-papua/548972
3) Indonesia to Develop Key Airports in Papua, West Papua
October 08, 2012


Indonesia's Transportation Ministry is planning to develop a number of key airports in the restive regions of Papua and West Papua, while leaving the development of smaller airstrips to local governments, an official said on Monday. 

"We are according special attention to Papua because it has a lot of airports and some of the larger ones we have already dealt with," said Bambang Tjahjono, the ministry's director for airports.

Bambang said that one of the priorities was to develop the Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika, because its operation supports the distribution of economic goods to the inland communities. 

"What is clear is that the Timika airport is one of our priorities," Bambang said according to state news agency Antara. 

He said the airport still had a "special" status since it was built and owned by the huge gold and copper mine operated by the local subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport MacMoRan. 

He said a memorandum of agreement had yet to be signed between PT Freeport Indonesia, the Transportation Ministry and the Mimika district government to change the status of the airport into a general one. "The draft is with us and we are still studying it. If it is agreed upon, there will certainly be some financial support [from the central government]," Bambang said. 

He said that once the agreement is signed, the government will build various public facilites such as passenger terminals and aprons in areas around the current airport already cleared and purchased by the Mimika government. 

The Mimika government is alloting Rp 1.5 billion for soil compacting work for the area where the apron would be built. It is also building a new access road from Kwamki Baru. 

Bambang said the airport in Timika has seen a continuous increase in passengers over the the past few years and added that the government was also asking the state oil and gas company Pertamina to invest in Timika so as to assure an adequate supply of fuel there. 

Another airport to receive priority is the Sentani airport of Jayapura, which will see its runway expanded to 3,000 meters and is currently construction its taxiways. 

Also due for expansion is the airport for Sorong in West Papua. "We have already signed the MoU with the Sorong mayor so that the local government can immediately fence the [expansion] area to keep livestock out," he said. Once fenced, the government will then expand the length of the runway, he said, according to Antara. 

The MoU also includes the construction of a new alternative airport for Sorong, to be built in Segun. 

The other airports to be developed include the ones in Kaimana, in Wamena, in Manokwari and in Merauke. A new airport will also be built in Wagete baru, Deiyai district.  
-------------------------------------------------------------


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.