1) Indonesia tank deal raises moral questions
2) US Government Gives $2.8 Million for Papua Education
3) New Papua interim Gov brings hope for Papuans
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MILITARY
1) Indonesia tank deal raises moral questions
With Indonesia set to invest in a major tank deal with German suppliers, concerns over human rights abuses refuse to go away. There are also questions as to whether the archipelago nation needs such equipment.
The Indonesian foreign ministry has announced that the country's armed forces will buy 103 Leopard and 50 smaller Marder tanks from Germany. The orders were placed with the company Rheinmetall in Dusseldorf, Germany.
"The tanks will be delivered in stages - at the end of 2012, in 2013 and in the first half of 2014," Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Syamsuddin told journalists in Jakarta.
The deal is thought to be worth some 210 million euros (270 US dollars). The Indonesian Defense Ministry has said it will buy 40 Leopard 2A4 vehicles and 63 Leopard Revolution tanks.
A contract was due to be signed between Jakarta and Rheinmetall on Wednesday. The deal coincides with Rheinmetall's participation in an Indonesian military trade fair, the Indo Defense Expo and Forum, from November 7 to 12.
Syamsuddin made the announcement, saying the tanks would come in stages
Previously, the defense ministry had named the armaments company Krauss Maffei Wegmann in Munich as its supplier - something the firm had denied.
Despite those denials, the news was enough to trigger a storm of protest. Human rights organizations have sharply criticized the fact that the tanks are being procured from Germany. Valeska Ebeling of the rights group Survival International explained that her organization had strong concerns about the human rights situation in Indonesia - particularly in the region of West Papua. Survival International claims the indigenous people of the resource rich area have been suppressed since 1963.
"The German tanks could be used against by the government against its own people," said Ebeling. "We want Germany to address the issue of responsibility and human rights with Indonesia."
The opposition in Jakarta is also unhappy. Indonesian parliament representative and member of the defense commission, Helmi Fauzi, explained to DW that the Leopard tanks were not appropriate for Indonesia, being too heavy for the country's road system. In addition, he claimed, the Indonesian navy did not have ships suitable for carrying the tanks.
"Indonesia needs many more light and small tanks," explained Fauzi, who is a member of the largest opposition party the PDI-P. But while the defense commission initially saw a heated debate about the tank deal, Fauzi said, the majority were eventually in favor.
Rheinmetall is due to exhibit its wares at a military trade fair in Indonesia
He said they were persuaded by the obsolescence of the army's existing equipment.
'A matter of status'
According to security experts, the Indonesian army was keen to buy heavy battle tanks because neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore already possessed such weapons. For the army, the possession of such weapons was important, even if only for prestige.
The Indonesian human rights organization Imparsial criticized the project. Poengky Indarti, the group's executive director, described it as a pure waste of money adding that any deal should be based on objective rather than political criteria. Transparency, said Indarti, remained paramount to prevent corruption.
Dutch rejection, change of plan
The deal is also for a number of light German "Marder" tanks
Originally, Indonesia had planned to buy used Leopard tanks from the Dutch army. However, the Dutch parliament rejected the deal earlier this year over concerns about human rights abuses. An Indonesian army spokesperson said that there were other possibilities - namely Germany.
Opponents of the weapons deal are now relying on the German government.
"Even if the weapons deal is not negotiated directly with the German government, but with a company instead, the government still needs to give its permission," stressed Survival International's Ebeling, hoping the government would carefully consider the situation of human rights in Indonesia.
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2) US Government Gives $2.8 Million for Papua Education
Banjir Ambarita | November 06, 2012
Banjir Ambarita | November 06, 2012
Jayapura. The US government has provided a $2.8 million grant for education and $1.5 million in funding for environmental conservation in Papua.
In a meeting with Papua Education Office head James Madouw on Monday, US Ambassador Scot Marciel discussed a new school program that would affect more than 32,000 students in 355 schools across six districts in the province.
“A Papua-specific curriculum will help inspire Papuan children to learn and will also reflect the profound respect we have for Papua’s rich culture,” the ambassador said in a statement.
The $2.8 million grant from the US government is aimed at helping the provincial education office refine, print and distribute the new curriculum, as well as conduct training for teachers.
The United States Agency for International Development is partnering with the Yayasan Kristen Wamena Teacher Training Institute to develop curricula in math and Bahasa Indonesia for first- and second-grade students that are adapted to local culture and meet national standards.
The provincial administration will use the curriculum in remote areas. Five highland districts and other organizations that work in non-formal or parallel education systems will adopt the curriculum.
Marciel also discussed other US initiatives in health, environment, economic development and governance during his visit to Jayapura. The United States is providing $1.5 million to reduce deforestation, preserve biodiversity and increase income for Papuans by promoting sustainable management of the Cyclops Mountains.
USAID will partner with local governments, businesses and communities to promote renewable biomass energy as an alternative to cutting down trees to be converted to charcoal. The program will plant trees and rehabilitate areas that are essential to the health of the Cyclops mountain range and provide water supply for Jayapura.
In addition, the program will convene forums in local communities to educate citizens, local governments, the private sector and NGOs on strategies to improve the management of natural resources.
The USAID program in the Cyclops Mountains is expected to help Papua fulfill its commitment and contribute to REDD+, a global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
The US Embassy noted that Washington saw Papua as “an integral part of Indonesia and supports progress toward increased economic opportunity and development of local political and civil institutions.”
The resource-rich province has for decades been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency blamed on the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
However, Yunus Wonda, a deputy speaker of the provincial legislature, said that building on the system of special autonomy that the province enjoyed from Jakarta was the only way forward.
Yunus, speaking after his meeting with Marciel, said the ambassador had expressed an interest in the impact of Papua’s autonomy on development in the province, as well as ways in which the US government could help to further that development.
“He asked about our special autonomy specifically with regard to educational and health care developments,” Yunus said.
He added that Marciel also asked about the problems that forced the gubernatorial election planned there for two years ago to remain in limbo.
“We had to explain that the dispute was now before the Supreme Court,” he said.
The legislators called on the US government to help push for dialogue between officials in Papua and Jakarta on boosting development in the province.
“In the Papua-Jakarta dialogues we don’t want to be either ‘Papuan independence or bust!’ or ‘Indonesian integration or bust!’ ” Yunus said. “We just want to find a way to use the special autonomy to further our development.”
In a meeting with Papua Education Office head James Madouw on Monday, US Ambassador Scot Marciel discussed a new school program that would affect more than 32,000 students in 355 schools across six districts in the province.
“A Papua-specific curriculum will help inspire Papuan children to learn and will also reflect the profound respect we have for Papua’s rich culture,” the ambassador said in a statement.
The $2.8 million grant from the US government is aimed at helping the provincial education office refine, print and distribute the new curriculum, as well as conduct training for teachers.
The United States Agency for International Development is partnering with the Yayasan Kristen Wamena Teacher Training Institute to develop curricula in math and Bahasa Indonesia for first- and second-grade students that are adapted to local culture and meet national standards.
The provincial administration will use the curriculum in remote areas. Five highland districts and other organizations that work in non-formal or parallel education systems will adopt the curriculum.
Marciel also discussed other US initiatives in health, environment, economic development and governance during his visit to Jayapura. The United States is providing $1.5 million to reduce deforestation, preserve biodiversity and increase income for Papuans by promoting sustainable management of the Cyclops Mountains.
USAID will partner with local governments, businesses and communities to promote renewable biomass energy as an alternative to cutting down trees to be converted to charcoal. The program will plant trees and rehabilitate areas that are essential to the health of the Cyclops mountain range and provide water supply for Jayapura.
In addition, the program will convene forums in local communities to educate citizens, local governments, the private sector and NGOs on strategies to improve the management of natural resources.
The USAID program in the Cyclops Mountains is expected to help Papua fulfill its commitment and contribute to REDD+, a global initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
The US Embassy noted that Washington saw Papua as “an integral part of Indonesia and supports progress toward increased economic opportunity and development of local political and civil institutions.”
The resource-rich province has for decades been the scene of a low-level separatist insurgency blamed on the Free Papua Organization (OPM).
However, Yunus Wonda, a deputy speaker of the provincial legislature, said that building on the system of special autonomy that the province enjoyed from Jakarta was the only way forward.
Yunus, speaking after his meeting with Marciel, said the ambassador had expressed an interest in the impact of Papua’s autonomy on development in the province, as well as ways in which the US government could help to further that development.
“He asked about our special autonomy specifically with regard to educational and health care developments,” Yunus said.
He added that Marciel also asked about the problems that forced the gubernatorial election planned there for two years ago to remain in limbo.
“We had to explain that the dispute was now before the Supreme Court,” he said.
The legislators called on the US government to help push for dialogue between officials in Papua and Jakarta on boosting development in the province.
“In the Papua-Jakarta dialogues we don’t want to be either ‘Papuan independence or bust!’ or ‘Indonesian integration or bust!’ ” Yunus said. “We just want to find a way to use the special autonomy to further our development.”
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Europe
06.11.2012
Jakarta (dpa) - Indonesia on Tuesday dismissed concerns voiced by human rights groups over its purchase of more than 150 tanks from Germany.
The Defence Ministry confirmed that it has purchased 100 Leopard battle tanks, 50 lighter Marder tanks and several supporting vehicles from German defence company Rheinmetall AG.
Deputy Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said delivery was expected to start this year.
The deal was opposed by human rights groups in Indonesia and the German Green party, who argued that the military was still committing human rights violations in the Papua region, the scene of a low-level separatist conflict.
"Who says it‘s one of the conditions?" Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Bambang Hartawan, when asked if Indonesia had assured the German government that the tanks would not be used against its own people.
"Indonesia is a sovereign and civilized nation," he said.
Hartawan said the tank purchase was part of the government drive to modernize its under-equipped military.
"We need to upgrade our defence capabilities like other countries have done, in terms of human resources and equipment," he said.
Hartawan cast doubt on a planned signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Defence Ministry and Rheinmetall on Wednesday.
"It‘s not fixed yet," he said. "It‘s still being deliberated and let‘s hope it will go smoothly."
The ministry said earlier that the deal had been completed and that the subsequent agreement would only be related to future maintenance and a transfer of technology.
Hartawan said an MBT Revolution, which is an upgraded Leopard A24, and a Marder had arrived in Indonesia to be displayed at the exhibition.
The Indonesian Coalition of Civil Society has urged the government to cancel the tank purchase.
"The coalition has a reason to be concerned that, given the government‘s poor track record on human rights in Papua, that the MBT Leopard could be used as a tool of repression," it said.
Poengky Indarti, executive director of the human rights group Imparsial, said there were also questions on whether battle tanks like the Leopard were needed or even suited to Indonesia‘s geography as an archipelago.
"The government said it would place tanks in border areas. The question is does the Leopard answer the need for border security?" she said.
"Biggest threat in borders areas like Kalimantan and Papua are people, goods and weapons smuggling," she said.
The military was accused of gross human rights violations under the rule of autocratic president Suharto.
Activists said that despite a series of reforms following Suharto‘s downfall in 1998, there has been little accountability for past and recent abuses committed in Papua.
The government has allocated a defence budget of 156 trillion rupiah (16.4 billion dollars) for the 2011-14 period, allowing it buy hardware such as modern fighter aircraft, submarines and tanks.
Unlike neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia does not have main battle tanks. The Indonesian military has for years relied on ageing French-made AMX-13 and British-made Scorpions light tanks.
The country‘s main weapons company, PT Pindad has developed and produced the Anoa armoured personnel carrier and the government hopes it would eventually be capable of making tanks similar to the Leopard in cooperation with Germany. dpa apa tlo Author: Ahmad Pathoni
The Defence Ministry confirmed that it has purchased 100 Leopard battle tanks, 50 lighter Marder tanks and several supporting vehicles from German defence company Rheinmetall AG.
Deputy Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said delivery was expected to start this year.
The deal was opposed by human rights groups in Indonesia and the German Green party, who argued that the military was still committing human rights violations in the Papua region, the scene of a low-level separatist conflict.
"Who says it‘s one of the conditions?" Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Bambang Hartawan, when asked if Indonesia had assured the German government that the tanks would not be used against its own people.
"Indonesia is a sovereign and civilized nation," he said.
Hartawan said the tank purchase was part of the government drive to modernize its under-equipped military.
"We need to upgrade our defence capabilities like other countries have done, in terms of human resources and equipment," he said.
Hartawan cast doubt on a planned signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Defence Ministry and Rheinmetall on Wednesday.
"It‘s not fixed yet," he said. "It‘s still being deliberated and let‘s hope it will go smoothly."
The ministry said earlier that the deal had been completed and that the subsequent agreement would only be related to future maintenance and a transfer of technology.
Hartawan said an MBT Revolution, which is an upgraded Leopard A24, and a Marder had arrived in Indonesia to be displayed at the exhibition.
The Indonesian Coalition of Civil Society has urged the government to cancel the tank purchase.
"The coalition has a reason to be concerned that, given the government‘s poor track record on human rights in Papua, that the MBT Leopard could be used as a tool of repression," it said.
Poengky Indarti, executive director of the human rights group Imparsial, said there were also questions on whether battle tanks like the Leopard were needed or even suited to Indonesia‘s geography as an archipelago.
"The government said it would place tanks in border areas. The question is does the Leopard answer the need for border security?" she said.
"Biggest threat in borders areas like Kalimantan and Papua are people, goods and weapons smuggling," she said.
The military was accused of gross human rights violations under the rule of autocratic president Suharto.
Activists said that despite a series of reforms following Suharto‘s downfall in 1998, there has been little accountability for past and recent abuses committed in Papua.
The government has allocated a defence budget of 156 trillion rupiah (16.4 billion dollars) for the 2011-14 period, allowing it buy hardware such as modern fighter aircraft, submarines and tanks.
Unlike neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia does not have main battle tanks. The Indonesian military has for years relied on ageing French-made AMX-13 and British-made Scorpions light tanks.
The country‘s main weapons company, PT Pindad has developed and produced the Anoa armoured personnel carrier and the government hopes it would eventually be capable of making tanks similar to the Leopard in cooperation with Germany. dpa apa tlo Author: Ahmad Pathoni
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