1) Editorial: Newer deal for Papua

2) ELSHAM reveals that acts of violence  have increased in West Papua

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/12/20/editorial-newer-deal-papua.html

1) Editorial: Newer deal for Papua

The Jakarta Post | Editorial | Thu, December 20 2012, 10:09 AM

Since 2007, when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched the new deal for Papua, the government has initiated numerous measures to improve the welfare of people in the natural resource-rich but long-neglected province.

The recent issuance of Presidential Decree No. 84/2012, which requires state and private companies doing construction projects to involve Papuan businesspeople in procurement of goods and services needed, is the latest of Jakarta’s moves to show its commitment to Papuan development.

Previous initiatives included scholarships for Papuan students to enroll in 32 state universities across the country, infrastructure projects to bring remote areas out of isolation and agriculture projects to enhance food security. The government’s intentions to empower the local population are also evident in its approval of a regional bylaw that restricts regional elections to candidates with Papuan blood only.

These pro-Papua policies have complemented the special autonomy status awarded to the provinces of Papua and West Papua that has resulted in the transfer of Rp 30 trillion (US$3.12 billion) in special autonomy funds over the last 12 years to improve the lives of Papuans.

The government expressed its seriousness in winning the hearts and minds of the Papuan people with the formation of the Special Unit of Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B), which answers to the President, last year. Apart from dealing with policy matters, the new working unit has approached groups known for their critical views of the government and even separatist leanings.

Given the frequent reports of violence and aspirations for independence in Papua, however, it seems the government’s hard work has yet to pay dividends and is perhaps doomed to fail. Like it or not, resentment of Jakarta, which is still alive despite the government’s efforts, is a fact that the government has to accept.

The government may claim that the poverty rate in Papua and West Papua is declining, but the fact that the two remain the poorest provinces in the country, barely reflective of contributions the exploitation of their natural resources make to state revenue.

A huge amount of money did pour into Papua, but whether it really reached the people remains an unanswered question. The Supreme Audit Agency found Rp 3.34 trillion of special autonomy funds had been misused between 2002 and 2010, while the education and health standards of the local people have hardly improved as the lion’s share of the regional budgets went to the bureaucracy.

The government’s resettlement policy — transmigration — represents a potential time bomb in Papua if not handled with care. With migrant populations set to exceed the number of native people, Papuans will find a longer and more difficult path in closing the gap with the rest of the nation.

A newer and fairer deal is what Papuans need now

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from tapol

2) ELSHAM reveals that acts of violence  have increased in West Papua

Bintang Papua, 20 December 2012

Jayapura: The human rights organisation ELSHAM believes that the level of violence and conflict in West Papua has increased significantly since August last year. It reports a number of incidents when many lives were lost but the government. did not do anything in response.

ELSHAM spokesperson Paul Mambrasar said that these days, everywhere in Papua you can hear people saying 'Christmas means Peace' but, sad to say, this is no more than a slogan.

There have been so many killings, acts of intimidation while joint operations by the Indonesian army (TNI) and the police (Polri) continue to occur. There seems to be no end to the violation of human rights in Papua. He said: 'Papuan people are still being killed and intimidated and the security forces  do so much to spread fear among the people.'

Operation Aman Matoa 1 in 2011 which was aimed at combating armed criminal gangs in Puncak Jaya, was carried out on the orders of the chief of police on 27 August 2011. During this operation, two Papuans were killed, SalmonYogi, 20 years old and Yustinus, 30 years old. Four people were injured during armed conflicts, Melkias Yeimo, 35, Yohanis Yogi, 25, Yulian Kudiai, 22 and Paskalis Kudiai, 21.  There was damage to property during armed conflict  in Eduda when 78 homes were torched by Satgas Ops; eight primary schools and 2 lower secondary schools were unable to function.. A number of churches  were not able to hold religious services while a number of weapons such as knives, cleavers and arrows were confiscated.

As a result of people fleeing their homes, 37 people died including 13 infants, seven children and seventeen adults.

Communities in Komopa, Keneugida, Bibida, East Paniai and Kebo  who fled their land  suffered many losses  because they were unable  to tend their gardens and were compelled to kill a number of animals such as cows, pigs and chickens. After they returned to their kampungs, they were confronted with a serious lack of food. Members of Satgas Ops had removed their fences and used them as firewood.

The security forces are still continuing to commit acts of violence such as the following: (a) police assault against Persipura supporters at the Mandala Stadium on 13 May 2012 when 18 people were unable to breath because tear gas bombs had been fired while 6 people were   arrested.  An incident on 15 May 2012 when police opened fire  in Degeuwo as a result of which one person died and three were injured.

An incident on 6 June 2012  when members of Battalion 756 fired on people in Honai Lama, Wamena  as a result of which one person died and 14 people were seriously injured.

Arbitrary arrests by the police when ten people were taken into custody in Serui while they were celebrating the International Day for Indigenous People on 9 August 2012.

The dispersal of a  KNPB demonstration in front of the Papuan State University  campus  on 23 October 2012 in Manokwari. Fifteen people were arrested by the police of whom nine were tortured and two suffered gunshot injuries.

There have also been a number of shootings by the police against pro-democracy activists who are members of the KNPB. Mako Tabuni, 34, was shot  dead on 14 June 2012, clear evidence of the actions of the security forces against civilians. There was a similar action on 16 December 2012 when Hubertus Mabel, 30, chairman of KNPB in Baliem  was shot dead.

In addition, there have been a number of killings by 'unidentified people' in 2011 and 2012.

During the period from 5 July to 6 September 2011, the security forces shot thirteen people and wounded at least 32 others,  Meanwhile, during 2012, shootings by unidentified people  have killed 35 people and traumatised two others.

There have been internal movements of people in Keerom from July to November 2012, something to which little attention has been paid by the government. ELSHAM in collaboration with the Keerom Catholic Church was able to help 38 people who had fled to return home and settle down.

The absence of any attention from the government to all these incidents  suggests that  West Papua is far from enjoying Special Autonomy  but has become a 'Daerah Operasi Khusus' (Special Operations Area), very similar to what happened from 1970 - 2000. The perpetrators of all these acts of violence have enjoyed impunity; no one has been charged, tried and convicted .

The fact that Papua is closed to international humanitarian organisations, foreign journalists and outside investigators is what is justifying this marked increase in acts of violence by the security forces in Papua. Elite units such as the anti-terror Detachment 88 have spread terror among pro-democracy activisits in Papua, said Paul Mambrasar.

In view  of the serious social and political circumstances experienced by the Papuan people, ELSHAM urges the government to allow access to international organisations and foreign journalists to enable them to investigate the human rights situation in Papua.

Secondly, the police should make public information about the mysterious shootings that have been occurring in Papua for a very long time.

Thirdly, the government and anti-government groups should enter into dialogue as the way to put an end to all the violence and conflict.

And fourthly, the army and police should respect  the many universal principles of human rights  which have been ratified by the government of the Republic of Indonesia.

[Slightly abridged translation by TAPOL]

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