1) Call to pull special forces out of Papua
--------------------------------------
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/02/27/call-pull-special-forces-out-papua.html
1) Call to pull special forces out of Papua
-------------------------------------------
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/02/27/squaring-vicious-circle-violence-papua.html
2) Squaring the vicious circle of violence in Papua
A member of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has officially apologized to the Indonesian Military (TNI) for a controversial remark he made about the recent killing of eight military officers in Puncak Jaya, Papua.
“The moment I picked to say it was inappropriate because the Indonesian Military was in mourning,” Komnas HAM member Natalius Pigai said on Wednesday. “Therefore, I directly apologize.”
In a recent discussion at the parliament building, Natalius had said that the death of the eight military officers in Papua was not a human rights violation. He blamed the military’s lack of preparedness as one of the contributing factors to the incident.
He said that there were 16,000 military officers in Papua, including 200 intelligence officers, while the number of separatists is only estimated at 1,000 people.
“So, the rest of them were sleeping and hanging out. It’s no wonder they got shot,” Natalius said.
The remark upset lawmakers and military families, who said he was wrong to criticize the officers.
“Natalius has discredited the military officers who passed away. Natalius’s statement has hurt the families of the officers who died in the line of duty. Natalius’s statement could also be used as an argument to dishonorably discharge him from being a Komnas HAM commissioner,” Khatibul Umam Wiranu, a member of Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, said on Tuesday.
The TNI and Komnas HAM conducted a closed door meeting on Wednesday at military headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, to discuss Natalius’ controversial comment.
Spokesman of TNI Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said that TNI has accepted the apology.
“TNI has accepted the apology of Komnas HAM commissioner Natalius Pigai,” Iskandar said. “The apology is accepted as his statement was said in an inappropriate moment.”
“The moment I picked to say it was inappropriate because the Indonesian Military was in mourning,” Komnas HAM member Natalius Pigai said on Wednesday. “Therefore, I directly apologize.”
In a recent discussion at the parliament building, Natalius had said that the death of the eight military officers in Papua was not a human rights violation. He blamed the military’s lack of preparedness as one of the contributing factors to the incident.
He said that there were 16,000 military officers in Papua, including 200 intelligence officers, while the number of separatists is only estimated at 1,000 people.
“So, the rest of them were sleeping and hanging out. It’s no wonder they got shot,” Natalius said.
The remark upset lawmakers and military families, who said he was wrong to criticize the officers.
“Natalius has discredited the military officers who passed away. Natalius’s statement has hurt the families of the officers who died in the line of duty. Natalius’s statement could also be used as an argument to dishonorably discharge him from being a Komnas HAM commissioner,” Khatibul Umam Wiranu, a member of Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, said on Tuesday.
The TNI and Komnas HAM conducted a closed door meeting on Wednesday at military headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, to discuss Natalius’ controversial comment.
Spokesman of TNI Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said that TNI has accepted the apology.
“TNI has accepted the apology of Komnas HAM commissioner Natalius Pigai,” Iskandar said. “The apology is accepted as his statement was said in an inappropriate moment.”
---------------------------------------------
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-soldiers-are-human-too/574148
Yanto Soegiarto | February 27, 2013
In memory of those who have died in the line of duty, veteran American soldier Barry Sadler wrote a song in 1966 with very touching lyrics: “Back at home a young wife waits, her green beret has met his fate.” But that was in the United States, where fallen soldiers are properly honored.
Today in Indonesia, the nation is in mourning, especially the wives and bereaved families of eight Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers who were killed in Puncak Jaya, Papua, last week.
Outraged people have responded to insensitive remarks made by National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Natalius Pigai, who declared it natural for soldiers to be shot as there were too many of them just sitting around and sleeping.
He added that there were no violations of human rights since both sides in the conflict were armed.
Natalius, who is of Papuan descent, has publicly apologized for his remarks but reasoned that he was misinterpreted for criticizing the national leadership for sending too many soldiers to Papua.
Wives of Indonesian soldiers on duty in Papua have blasted Natalius for his remarks.
Meanwhile offended Indonesian voices have filled the airwaves.
On social media, millions tweeted “soldiers are humans too” copying the lyrics of Indonesian musical group Seurius’s song “Rocker Juga Manusia” (“Rockers Are Humans Too”): “They don’t realize how hurt we are. We also have a heart, feelings and can’t be likened to a sharp dagger.”
On Twitter and Facebook, commentators have said the shooting of the eight TNI soldiers was the worst example of the administration’s struggle to maintain security and order: “Arrest them, don’t ever compromise with separatists”; “Doing nothing will only give them strength”; “What is the nationality of Komnas HAM, Indonesian or foreign?”; “The president, as the supreme commander of the Indonesian military, must be responsible and immediately act.”
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a retired four-star general, adopts a very cautious stance when it comes to the Papuan problem fearing human rights accusations from abroad.
Coordinating Security Minister Djoko Suyanto condemned the brutal incident and suspected the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) was behind the shootings. But he too is seen as not doing enough.
Neta S. Pane, of the Indonesian Police Watch and a former journalist with vast knowledge of police and military issues, said that the first things that Yudhoyono should do is fire the military and police commanders in Papua and evaluate the performance of the national military commander and the police chief for failure in dealing with separatists fighting a low-level insurgency.
“The death of eight soldiers within a day is very shameful for the nation and the people. The SBY administration should build a proper security system for the conflict-prone regions of Papua, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra and Lampung,” he said.
The current special autonomy program that last year provided Rp 3.38 trillion ($266 million) for the Papua province and Rp 1.64 trillion for West Papua does not seem to have worked.
Despite the funding, Papuans are still poverty-stricken while many local officials are suspected of corruption.
An anonymous Papua veteran explained the government’s approach is Jakarta-centric and fails to understand Papuan culture.
“The Papuan character is different. Jakarta must be aware that the young Papuans who went abroad 10 years ago by now have completed their studies and will return to fight for a free Papua.”
This incident and the reactions to it serve as a reminder to Indonesia.
If it still wants Papua to be part of the country it’s important to weed out separatism at its core and implement effective welfare policies.
Yanto Soegiarto is the managing editor of Globe Asia, a sister publication of the Jakarta Globe.
Today in Indonesia, the nation is in mourning, especially the wives and bereaved families of eight Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers who were killed in Puncak Jaya, Papua, last week.
Outraged people have responded to insensitive remarks made by National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) commissioner Natalius Pigai, who declared it natural for soldiers to be shot as there were too many of them just sitting around and sleeping.
He added that there were no violations of human rights since both sides in the conflict were armed.
Natalius, who is of Papuan descent, has publicly apologized for his remarks but reasoned that he was misinterpreted for criticizing the national leadership for sending too many soldiers to Papua.
Wives of Indonesian soldiers on duty in Papua have blasted Natalius for his remarks.
Meanwhile offended Indonesian voices have filled the airwaves.
On social media, millions tweeted “soldiers are humans too” copying the lyrics of Indonesian musical group Seurius’s song “Rocker Juga Manusia” (“Rockers Are Humans Too”): “They don’t realize how hurt we are. We also have a heart, feelings and can’t be likened to a sharp dagger.”
On Twitter and Facebook, commentators have said the shooting of the eight TNI soldiers was the worst example of the administration’s struggle to maintain security and order: “Arrest them, don’t ever compromise with separatists”; “Doing nothing will only give them strength”; “What is the nationality of Komnas HAM, Indonesian or foreign?”; “The president, as the supreme commander of the Indonesian military, must be responsible and immediately act.”
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a retired four-star general, adopts a very cautious stance when it comes to the Papuan problem fearing human rights accusations from abroad.
Coordinating Security Minister Djoko Suyanto condemned the brutal incident and suspected the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) was behind the shootings. But he too is seen as not doing enough.
Neta S. Pane, of the Indonesian Police Watch and a former journalist with vast knowledge of police and military issues, said that the first things that Yudhoyono should do is fire the military and police commanders in Papua and evaluate the performance of the national military commander and the police chief for failure in dealing with separatists fighting a low-level insurgency.
“The death of eight soldiers within a day is very shameful for the nation and the people. The SBY administration should build a proper security system for the conflict-prone regions of Papua, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra and Lampung,” he said.
The current special autonomy program that last year provided Rp 3.38 trillion ($266 million) for the Papua province and Rp 1.64 trillion for West Papua does not seem to have worked.
Despite the funding, Papuans are still poverty-stricken while many local officials are suspected of corruption.
An anonymous Papua veteran explained the government’s approach is Jakarta-centric and fails to understand Papuan culture.
“The Papuan character is different. Jakarta must be aware that the young Papuans who went abroad 10 years ago by now have completed their studies and will return to fight for a free Papua.”
This incident and the reactions to it serve as a reminder to Indonesia.
If it still wants Papua to be part of the country it’s important to weed out separatism at its core and implement effective welfare policies.
Yanto Soegiarto is the managing editor of Globe Asia, a sister publication of the Jakarta Globe.
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-02-26/vanuatu-expm-demands-refusal-of-indonesian-gifts/1094014
5) Vanuatu ex-PM demands refusal of Indonesian gifts
Updated 27 February 2013, 6:36 AEST
Vanuatu opposition MP and former prime minister, Barack Sope, has demanded the country's government refuse to accept a gift of police uniforms from Indonesia's government.
The gift was made by Indonesia's new ambassador to Vanuatu, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, as he presented his credentials to President Iolu Johnson Abil.
Vanuatu has long been a refuge for many from the Indonesian Province of West Papua.
Mr Sope told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the gift is an effort by Indonesia to exert influence and change the Ni-Van position on the Province.
"A lot of blood has been shed in West Papua and it's the military of Indonesia that does it," he said.
"How can Indonesia help Melanesians in Vanuatu and other places when they're also killing them - killing Melanesians in West Papua. We cannot accept that.
"They have to sort out the human rights situation, they have to sort out the colonial situation in West Papua, which they haven't, they refuse to.
"What we're doing in Vanuatu is hypocritical. We say one thing and we do others."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.