1) KNPB marks 4th anniversary amid tight security

1) KNPB marks 4th anniversary amid tight security

2) The TNI guiding territorial principles  in occupied Papua

3) Police get serious about addressing graft in Papua

4) Editorial: Killing democracy softly

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

From Tapol

1) KNPB marks 4th anniversary amid tight security

Bintang Papua, 20 November 2012

Sentani: The KNPB (National Committee for West Papua) marked the fourth anniversary of its founding with a communal worship gathering at which prayers were said. on Monday 19 November.

According to this paper's observations of the event, it was attended by around one hundred members and sympathisers co-ordinated  by Yosua Kalakmabe. Also attending the gathering was Victor Yeimo, the chairman of the KNPB. The police chief of Jayapura, Royeke Harry Langie, was present as well as the deputy bupati of Jayapura.

Addressing the gathering, the Rev. Leo  said that the issue of Papua  cannot be solved by the Indonesian government. There were also tributes paid to the late Mako Tabuni [killed by Densus88 troops in June this year].

After prayers were said, the gathering dispersed peacefully.

In anticipation of the gathering, security forces including members of the Jayapura police force backed by members of TNI, the Indonesian army from battalion 751 were stationed along the road from Stakin Sentani.

Interviewed by Bintang Papua, the Jayapura police chief Royeke Langie said that it was the responsibility of the police to ensure security  in order to prevent any untoward events happening that might be in violation of the law.

'We had a force of three hundred men patrolling all the roads  leading to the area to be ready in anticipation of possible eventualities, in accordance with data from our intel and the possible committal of criminal acts stationed at ten points along the route where we were able to watch the event and look out for members.'

He also said that they were anxious to prevent any activities that might be in violation of the law, in  co-ordination with local people and with the TNI.

'If anyone wants to say prayers, please go ahead but everything beyond  that should be avoided; no one should be allowed to take advantage of the event in any way.'

He also said that all civil society organisations were  obliged to report their intentions to hold a public event but nothing further should be done in the name of the organisation apart from saying prayers together.

[Translated by TAPOL]

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

2) The TNI guiding territorial principles  in occupied Papua

JUBI, 20 November

Jayapura: Lieut.Colonel  Rano Tilaar, the chief of staff of PWY regiment 172, said that the territorial command units are dedicated to the following three principles, territorial command,  social communication and community service [kerja bakti].

'Defending an area must certainly involve the local people. Separatism will never flourish if the local community is aware of these problems,' he said.

Territorial guidance of any area must be implemented in co-ordination  with local institutions such as the police in order to ensure safety and security as well as an orderly situation within the population. The local government apparatus is responsible for the welfare of the population while the TNI is responsible for defence. [Defence again whom or what is not explained.]

As regards ensuring close proximity with the local people, the security forces must be able to communicate with people and to acknowledge that within Papuan society, there are three social pillars, the church, the indigenous groups and the community in general.

'There are many kinds of associations among the Papuan people, all of which play a role in social communication, down to the most remote areas.,' he said.

As regards serving the community, this can be done through the health services. There are projects for communal services with the local administrations and the available funds can be used by local human resources.

'But such activities,' he said, 'should be blended with wisdom embedded in local communities.'

[Translated by TAPOL]

[COMMENT: Such words of wisdom from territorial commanders in West Papua have been part of the vocabulary of the occupying military forces ever since West Papua fell under comprehensive military control in the mid 1960s. They clearly fly in the face of the way the Papuan people regard their basic rights,above all their right to self-determination that was annihilated with the fraudulent Act of No Choice in 1969. TAPOL]

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

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/21/police-get-serious-about-addressing-graft-papua.html

3) Police get serious about addressing graft in Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Wed, November 21 2012, 10:33 AM

Papua Police are determined to seriously tackle rampant corruption practice in the Papau and West Papua provinces.

On Tuesday, Papua Police’s directorate of special crimes questioned Maybrat Regent Bernard Sagrim on his capacity as a witness in the alleged Rp 3 billion (US$310 million) corruption case.

Accompanied by his lawyer Petrus Ohoitimur, Sagrim was interrogated with 40 questions from 9 a.m. local time.

Director of Papua Police’s special crimes Sr. Comr. Setyo Budiyanto explained that the misused funds were taken from grants amounting to Rp 15 billion awarded to West Papua province and Sorong Regency.

“After being audited by the Development Finance Controller [BPKP], it was found out Rp 3 billion of the funds was unaccounted for,” Setyo said, adding that the funds were initially intended to finance the government management in Maybrat, which had just been separated from Sorong regency in 2009.

Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian has instructed all police forces covering Papua and West Papua to get serious in their dealings with corrupt cases by November and December this year.

In response to his commitment to eradicate corruption in Papua, the National Police headquarters has provided Rp 2.8 billion (US$311,000) in funds and personnel backup to conduct joint investigations.

In 2011, Papua Police were able to uncover 28 graft cases and returned Rp 5.3 billion in lost funds to the state, and as of October this year, they handled 37 corrupt cases and saved Rp 120 billion of funds.

The redistribution of wealth has failed to materialize in Papua as most of the major funds channeled by the central government to Indonesia’s easternmost provinces have been wasted — or embezzled by the local elites — as is evident by the fact that Papua and West Papua remain the most disadvantaged regions.

In connection with the alleged fund misuse in Maybrat, the Papua Police have named Sepran Souw, a member of staff at the Maybrat regency.

“Sepran has been charged under Article 2 and 3 of Law No. 31/1999, which has been renews with Law No. 20/2001 on corruption with maximum jail sentence of 20 years,” Setyo said.

Setyo said further that the Papua Police had actually planned to question the Maybrat regent for a long time, but the plan was hindered by the fact that they had to ask for permission from the President. However, the limitation was already omitted after the Judicial Court issued a verdict that there is no need for all law enforcers to ask for permission from the President any longer. “This will speed up the investigation,” he added.

Sagrim went to the Papua Police headquarters in Jayapura to meet his summons.

His lawyer Petrus denied his client had any involvement in the graft case.

“The graft case has nothing to do with my client because each official has his or her own responsibility. Even though one of my client’s subordinates had been named as a suspect, his responsibility should not necessarily be burdened to his superior,” he said.

Petrus said that his client had cooperated with the police by meeting the summons. “My client was questioned as a witness,” he added.

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

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/11/21/editorial-killing-democracy-softly.html

3) Editorial: Killing democracy softly

The Jakarta Post | Editorial | Wed, November 21 2012, 10:02 AM

A- A A+

It comes as no surprise that the government’s push for a national security bill has been met with challenges from many quarters, including House of Representatives politicians and, in particular, human rights groups that deem the bill as a setback for democracy.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the major opposition force at the House, has vowed to block any move to pass the bill as it did, albeit in vain, in the past when it came to a draft law that split the nation.

But, with the public’s confidence in politicians waning due to their vested interests, those concerned about freedom and other individual rights need to rely on themselves in mounting pressure to force the government to overhaul the bill, or perhaps drop it altogether.

First and foremost, the bill aims to protect the nation from all forms of security threats in a way that endangers the people of the nation themselves. Not only will the bill, through involvement of the military and State Intelligence Agency, undermine the roles of the police as security actor, but it is also feared to justify extra-judicial arrest, abduction and perhaps the killing of government critics or political enemies under the pretext of national security.

Worse, security threats are defined in the bill so broadly that they include labor strikes, moral decadence, poverty and public disobedience of law, which are prone to multiple interpretations.

The bill is also vulnerable to abuse of power by the ruling government as it entrusts the President with the sole decision-making power to formulate national security threats upon consultation with the National Security Council and take action to deal with them, including the deployment of troops.

Civil society groups have been quick to smell the government’s attempt to revive the old authoritarian rule that disrespected human rights, given the fact that the bill fails to make a reference to articles in the Constitution on citizens’ basic freedoms.

The House returned the bill to the government last month after hearing grievances from 12 civil society groups, hoping that the government would revise the draft so as not to threaten human rights and civil rights.

Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin then held a series of talks with the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar Party and National Mandate Party (PAN) to convince House politicians that the bill was neither a menace to democracy nor a political tool to help the ruling government hold on to power post the 2014 elections, but a bridge of the existing 13 laws related to security and defense. Opposition to the bill, he said, was too early as deliberation at the House had not started yet.

Criticism may not change the government’s mind due to the fact that prominent democracies in the world like the US enforce such draconian laws to protect their citizens. The US enacted the Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism Act, known by its acronym as US PATRIOT Act, shortly after the 9/11 al-Qaeda terror attacks in 2001.

But, comparing the US back then and Indonesia today looks inappropriate. Terrorism has emerged as a real threat for the Americans and their faith in democracy and liberty, and therefore it has united the nation.

Democracy is blossoming here in Indonesia, but has not yet taken root to be frank, as evidenced in the rampant practices of tyranny by the majority. The bill on national security, as it is, will precipitate the killing of democracy — softly or brutally.