Monday, September 2, 2013

1) TNI to Build New Roads in Papua


1) TNI to Build New Roads in Papua
2) Papua's largest sports  center to be built in Timika 
3)  OPM Responsible
4) Freedom of Expression is Continuing to  Deteriorate in Papua
5) People of Woboyu Traumatised by Gunshots / Continuing Opposition to Plantations.
6) Press Release - Starvation and poverty in Indonesia: civil society organisations appeal for suspension of MIFEE project in Papua pending redress for local communitie
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http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2013/09/03/055509679/TNI-to-Build-New-Roads-in-Papua
TUESDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER, 2013 | 02:02 WIB
1) TNI to Build New Roads in Papua
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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government is set to build 14 roads in Papua and West Papua, one of Indonesia's less developed and most isolated provinces. The project is based on Presidential Regulation No. 40/2013. The Ministry of Defense said it will deploy The National Army's Combat Engineers Battalion to construct 1,520 kilometers of new roads.
The total funds required for the project is estimated to reach Rp425 billion (US$38.67 million). The House of Representatives (DPR) is currently in the process of discussing the massive infrastructure project's budget.
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro asserted that the troops are set to be deployed, gearing up to open Papua's harsh terrain to construct the roads.
 WAYAN AGUS PURNOMO
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/09/02/papuas-largest-sport-center-be-built-timika.html
2) Papua's largest sports  center to be built in Timika 
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Mon, September 02 2013, 5:05 PM
Papua will soon have the biggest and most complete sports center in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency. Named the Mimika Sports Complex, the construction of the facility was launched by Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in Timika on Monday.
The sports complex will be built within 18 months on a 12.5-hectare plot of land belonging to the Mimika regency administration at a cost of about US$25 million. All of the costs will be borne by copper-mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.
The construction of the sports complex, according to Lukas, will help his provincial administration prepare itself to host of the National Sports Games (PON) in 2020, when various sports competitions will be held.
President director of PT Freeport Indonesia M. Rozik said that the construction of the sports facility was not only designed to support the hosting of PON 2020, but also to help improve sports performances in Papua, which is well known for its sporting achievement.
"The construction of the Mimika Sports Complex shows PT Freeport Indonesia's support for the development of sporting activities in Papua," Rozik said.
The sports complex will be equipped with an indoor stadium for basketball and badminton with a capacity of 4,000 spectators, offices and other business facilities.
It will also have an eight-lane athletic facility capable of accommodating 950 people. "This will be the second international standard athletic facility after Madya Stadium in Jakarta," he added.



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A google translate of article in Bintang papua. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic. Original bahasa at

http://bintangpapua.com/index.php/lain-lain/k2-information/halaman-utama/item/8096-opm-mengaku-bertanggung-jawab

Monday, September 2, 2013 06:23
3) Claiming OPM Responsible

A Death on TNI members in Tingginambut

Jayapura - TPN / OPM through the Secretary General , Anton Tabuni , the National Liberation Army ( TPN ) - Free Papua Movement ( OPM ) claimed responsibility for the death of a military member who was shot in the District Tinngineri , Tingginambut , Puncak Jaya , Saturday ( 31/8 ) ago .
When contacted Bintang Papua , Sunday ( 1/9 ) yesterday , Anton also claimed that , the gunfire began Indonesian authorities , " Yeah right sir , we shoot because they shoot us first , and it looks like they want to attack us have a headquarters , so yah want how , "said Tabuni .
Anton also confirmed that , whatsoever regarding sovereignty and land rights , it will be maintained until whenever . " We just want to keep and defend our land , this is our territory , and we maintain it , we want a sovereign , because we are an official organization , so that there would be any risks we face , we never fear and trembling , " he said .

 Meanwhile Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr Head ( Pol ) I Gede Sumerta Jaya , S.IK. , when dikonfirimasi via phone on Sunday ( 1/9 ) confirmed pihakya has received reports of the death of a member of Task Force 753 Infantry Battalion named Private First Class Andre , after contact action between members of the military weapons and armed civilian groups in Tingginambut district , Puncak Jaya , Saturday ( 31/8 ) at around 14:30 CEST .
" We deeply regret the presence of this incident, when members of the military who served there in order to promote the welfare of the people there and encourage development that is being intensified by the regent of Puncak Jaya , " said Head .
The chronology of events , according to Head , on Saturday ( 31/8 ) at around 14:30 CET on Tingginambut district , Puncak Jaya regency had skirmishes between members of the military with paramilitary groups . In fact , when members of the military are implementing measures that help polisionil policing duties to secure the supply lines and track needs of the community development process , resulting memperlacar 1 TNI An autumn exposed to fire . Private First Class Andre . Alleged perpetrator of a group that is always annoying and that always makes restless local community .
Asked the motive , said Head , they want to disrupt the process of development and welfare of the people who essentially want to make people suffer even more in Puncak Jaya , due to this incident will hamper the process of distributing the needs of the community and hinder the process of distribution to development . Because this condition will make the prices more and more people can not afford , which supply the materials were going to trauma and fear to the area . This time the victim was evacuated to Jayapura . ( Bom/mdc/don/l03 )




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4) Freedom of Expression is Continuing to  Deteriorate in Papua
Statement by Senior Human Rights Lawyer, Yan Christian Warinussy.

The lack of Freedom of Expression and the freedom to give voice to one's opinions in the Land of Papua has continued to deteriorate in the Land of Papua in the past ten years as a result of the repressive measures taken structurally and systematically by the Indonesian Government.

This has taken the form of repressive actions by the security forces  which have resulted in many casualties among the civilian population.

This was the case when the security forces (POLRI and TNI) took action on the occasion of the closing Session of he Third Papuan People's Congress in October 2011 in Jayapura, as well as the case when the security forces attacked peaceful demonstrators on 6 June 2011  in the vicinity of the Water Tower in Biak.

As regards structural measures, the Indonesian Government has made use of certain legal provisions to restrict the space availabe  to the civilian population in the Land of Papua when they seek to give expression to their opinions about the lack of justice which they experience as a result of developmental activities .

This is the case when the security forces use Government Regulation 77/2011 regarding the use of regional attributes and symbols which prohibits the use of the Morning Star flag by Papuan people with such things as the noken (string bags) and other traditional objects.

In addition, there is the use of Articles 106, 108 and 110 of the Criminal Code to punish  anyone involved in peaceful demonstrations which are held to draw attention to the lack of social justice which is currently being experienced by the civilian population in the Land of Papua.

One example is the Aimas Case on 30 August 2013 when Isak Kalaibana and six colleagues, all of them civilians, were charged under the Treason Law at a court in Sorong, or the press conference held by the leadership of DAP (Papuan Customary Council)  in Sorong in August 2013. Apolos Sewa and his colleagues were subjected to interrogation non-stop for twelve hours, without being accompanied by lawyers and were ordered to report themselves to the authorities.

Another case was the abuse perpetrated by two police women  from Fak Fak police command against three women members  of the Mbaham Mata Clan on 15 August 2013.

All these cases are a reflection of the lack of freedom of expression in the Land of Papua which is heavily relied on by the Indonesian Government, structurally as well as systematically.

Such things happen because of the lack of information available about the situation in the Land of Papua because for many years, foreign journalists have been unable to go to Papua  as a way of getting to know the actual situation which prevails there.

As a senior Human Rights Lawyer in the Land of Papua, I call on the Indonesian Government to seriously take account of the human rights situation in Papua  and to recognise that if this situation is allowed to continue, it will lead to a greater awareness  by the international community  and sympathy from abroad pressing for a just and dignified solution  which is in accordance with universal standards of law, democracy and basic human rights.

[Translated by TAPOL]
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https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=542

5) People of Woboyu Traumatised by Gunshots / Continuing Opposition to Plantations.

By ADMIN | Published: SEPTEMBER 2, 2013
On 29th September, Romanus Mbaraka, the Bupati or Regency Leader of Merauke, travelled to Kampung Wambi in Okaba District, to try to convince local people that plantation development did not necessarily have to be a bad thing. Hundreds of people from surrounding villages came to hear him speak. A local journalist with tabloidjubi.com also travelled to the event, and took the opportunity to speak to administrative and customary leaders from neighbouring villages about the fear caused by a shooting incident two months previously, and also about the ongoing opposition to all investment plans.

The People of Woboyu Traumatised by Gunshots

The people of Kampung Woboyu until now still feel traumatised by two gunshots which were fired into the air by someone believed to be a member of the security forces.
The shooting incident occurred in July.Nikodemus Kahol, the customary chief in Woboyu told tabloidjubi.com that the two shots were fired at around 11pm at night. At the time, the villagers were very scared and traumatised and feelings of fear still linger until the present day.
When asked why the shooting might have occurred, Kahol claimed that at the time there was a delegation from a company that was collecting data about the people, claiming that they would provide aid. However the people were not certain what the company meant when they talked about aid. The company was not collecting data about all of the people in the area, only some of them.
That caused a commotion amongst the people, Kahol continued, and so two shots were fired into the air. “To tell the truth we were shocked and started to panic when we heard the shots. People went to hide in their houses”, he said.
Questionned separately, Suprayogi, the chief of police for Okaba district, said that he would visit the village in the near future. “We will go there to find out whether there really were shots fired, as we have been told by local people,” he said.

The People of Okaba, Ngguti and Tubang oppose investment.

In general, people in villages around Okaba Ngguti and Tubang districts oppose plans for investment in in the area. This opposition is in consideration of the fact that forest habitat will be lost.
That was the message of Kampung Wambi’s village head, Kristoforus Basik-Basik when taboidjubi.com spoke to him. In his opinion, in this wide carpet of forest is a diverse ecosystem, starting with tree kangaroos, wild pigs, deer and other animals.
Therefore if the forest is destroyed, the ecosystem it supports will also be lost.
“We have unanimous agreement to oppose any company, wherever they might come from, that comes and wants to invest. The reason is because the people are bound to suffer a great loss if the forest is cut down. I’ll repeat that once more, we do not want our forest habitat destroyed just like that”, he said.
The Customary Chief of Wambi, Wilhelmus Kaize added that the ancestors have reminded us that the land cannot be surrenderred to anyone, and that includes investors. It is better to continue to safeguard it and take care of it. Because a lot of wildlife can be found there.
Merauke’s Bupati (Regency Leader), Romanus Mbaraka said that if the people refuse to accept the presence of corporate investors, then the government should never force the issue. “We will grow in our own way. However, these corporate investors are part of national government policy. I hope that village leaders can help the people to understand correctly. So they do not misinterpret the situation”, he requested.
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http://www.forestpeoples.org/topics/un-human-rights-system/news/2013/08/press-release-starvation-and-poverty-indonesia-civil-soci

6) Press Release - Starvation and poverty in Indonesia: civil society organisations appeal for suspension of MIFEE project in Papua pending redress for local communities

29 August, 2013
PRESS INFORMATION: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2 September 2013
The village of Zanegi in Merauke Regency of Papua Province, Indonesia, lies desolate and silent, in contrast to the rumble and drone of bulldozers and chain-saws in the distance. At the end of a row of humble wooden houses, thirty-one year old Yosefa, an indigenous Malind mother of three, crouches beside her hearth, raking the embers of a dying fire, whilst rocking to sleep her three-year old infant. The child is emaciated and hollow-eyed. Gaunt and lethargic from severe malnutrition herself, Yosefa wipes beads of sweat off her feverish forehead, and tells the story of a dying village:
Before the company, there was little illness. We would eat sago and walk the forest all day without being weary. Now, the sago dies and the earth is dry. The rivers are dark and oily, and the fish drunk on pollution. Our children are dying because our sacred mother land has been ripped away from us. Soon, the Malind people themselves will cease to exist. When the forest disappears, the Malind will disappear.
The Indonesian government has issued an industrial timber plantation licence for use on the Zanegi community’s customary lands to timber company PT Selaras Inti Semesta, a subsidiary of the Medco Group, whose concession extends over 169,400 ha, and which is one of over 80 companies operating as part of the government-sponsored Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) agro-industrial mega-project. The MIFEE project was formally launched in 2010 by Minister of Agriculture Suswono and today covers an estimated 2.5 million hectares, more than half of the 4.5 million hectare area of Merauke. However, instead of the promised social development and economic aid, the people of Zanegi today live in abject and unprecedented poverty, with scarcely sufficient land to hunt and gather to meet their daily needs.
Sophie Chao, Project Officer at UK-based international human rights organisation Forest Peoples Programme, visited Zanegi in May 2013 and reports:
Disease and undernourishment are rampant; in 2013 alone, five infants have died from malnutrition. Generalised emaciation, water-related skin infections, infant and child lethargy and bloated stomachs are all flagrant evidence of the severe food insecurity faced by the community as a result of the loss of their customary lands and livelihoods to incoming investors.
On 25 July 2013, in anticipation of the 83rd Session of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (which started 12 August and ended 30 August 2013), 26 Indonesian and international organisations and the Forest Peoples Programme, submitted a report to the Committee requesting its consideration of the situation of the Malind and other indigenous peoples of Merauke, under the Committee’s urgent action and early warning procedures (EW/UA procedures).  A first submission, two years ago (31 July 2011) led the Committee to adopt a communication under its EW/UA procedures with the Government of Indonesia on 2 September 2011.  
But despite the concerns and recommendations made by the Committee and asecond submission on the situation of the Malind and other indigenous peoples made on 6 February 2012,  Indonesia failed to take any corrective action and the situation continues to deteriorate. There has been no discernible change in policy or practice with respect to the MIFEE project, and there has been continued disregard for the internationally guaranteed rights of the indigenous Malind people, notably under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Papua Special Autonomy Law, intended to correct serious inequality and human rights violations as well as to refocus the self-determination aspirations expressed by the majority of indigenous Papuans, remains largely ineffective, mostly as a result of the lack of requisite implementing laws and action.
The signatories to the July 2013 submission to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, call on the Committee to urge Indonesia to immediately suspend any part of the MIFEE project that may threaten the cultural survival of the affected peoples and to provide immediate support to indigenous communities deprived of their means of subsistence, which must be designed with their full participation and consent. The submission also urges Indonesia to, as soon as possible, enact and implement with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples, the Draft Law on the Recognition and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the Indonesian National Parliament on 16 December 2011. It further recommends that Indonesia requests, or accepts requests, for on-site visits from the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Right to Food, and on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, to assist with compliance with its international obligations, including in relation to the rights of indigenous peoples in Papua.
Across Merauke Regency, indigenous Malind communities like that of Zanegi are being lured into ceding vast extents of their lands to palm oil, sugarcane, timber and other companies to develop large-scale plantations. Consent, where sought, is obtained through coercion, deceit, misinformation and the purposeful manipulation and fragmentation of the Malind’s customary community collective decision-making processes and representative institutions. Agustinus Karlo Lumban Raja, Head of the Environment and Policy Initiative Department of Indonesian NGO Sawit Watch, notes:
The proliferation and intensification of horizontal social conflicts over customary land boundaries testifies to the vulnerability of indigenous Malind people whose customary lands are being targeted and developed by the private sector without adequate and fully representative prior consultation with the various clans and tribes who lay claims to these lands. 
Terms of compensation are unilaterally imposed rather than negotiated, at rates of less than 0.86 USD per hectare per year per clan. Without exception, interactions between the company and the communities are held in the constant presence of the military and armed forces, such that freedom of expression is restricted and objections to the proposed developments stifled. Even religion has not been spared in this unrestrained land grab, with company representatives passing themselves off as priests to encourage community members to cooperate and give up their lands. 
But development is also sorely needed in the villages of Merauke Regency, as Yosefa explains:
It is not that we reject development. Rather, we do not want to be observers to our own development. In some ways, the companies can help us. In practice, however, they trample on our basic rights.
Franky YL Samperante, Executive Director of Indonesian NGO Pusaka, notes:
Land development based on large-scale forest conversion and the import of skilled labour will not benefit the indigenous Malid people. Rather, they will be become alienated from their lands, resources and customary livelihoods and become impoverished labourers. The very existence of this people is at risk. It is imperative that the government suspend further development of the MIFEE project and give due recognition and respect to the customary knowledge, values and rights of the Malind people.
The tragedy of Zanegi has spread through word of mouth to neighbouring villages. They are also being approached by companies seeking to develop their customary lands. As the elders congregate under bivouacs after a collective hunt in the forest to discuss the future of their community, the story of the dying village often surfaces as a vivid and ominous reminder of the consequences of surrendering land. In Baad village, sugarcane company PT Anugrah Rejeki Nusantara, a subsidiary of Singapore-based multi-conglomerate Wilmar Group, is seeking to develop a plantation. Sosom clan chief in Baad village, Kasimirus Kaize, cautions:
We want to accept the company’s offer, but then we see the experience of other villages, such as Zanegi, who have given away their land to companies and have got even poorer than ever before. So we are careful now. Of course, we feel sorry for Zanegi, but in some ways, we are grateful for Zanegi because from their experience we have learned a lot. It makes us think carefully about our own decisions. Our ancestors did not give us our land for us to sell it to companies. To sell it is to kill ourselves. If we start selling the land, we might as well not have children or grand-children anymore, as they will have nowhere to live.
With the first signs of the build-up towards the Presidential Elections in 2014, there is hope that the political momentum will swing towards bringing long-awaited justice and remedy to the indigenous peoples and local communities of Merauke. On the other hand, the momentum could also eclipse those concerns in the eyes of an already unresponsive government. In this volatile context, the submission of civil society organisations to the CERD Committee seeks to raise the voices of the thousands of indigenous Malind whose livelihoods and very existences are threatened by the MIFEE project. But for many mothers like Yosefa, it is already too late. The infant she brought to the world has died quietly in her arms, and the Malind are one life fewer than they were at the break of dawn.
Note for Editors:
Contact persons for interviews:
Sophie Chao, Project Officer, Forest Peoples Programme, Tel: +62 81295 165111, E-Mail: sophie@forestpeoples.org 
Franky YL Samperante, Executive Director, Pusaka, Tel: +62 81317 286019, E-Mail: angkytm@gmail.com 
Agustinus Karlo Lumban Raja, Head of Environment and Policy Initiative Department, Sawit Watch, Tel: +62 81385 991983, E-Mail:carlo@sawitwatch.or.id 
Adriana Sri Adhiati, Down to Earth, Tel: +49 7642 6809995,adhiek@gn.apc.org 
Sources cited:

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