Tuesday, December 31, 2013

1) PRD and KNPB office at Timika Officially Opened


1) PRD and KNPB office at Timika Officially Opened
2) Year 2013, there were eleven prominent security cases in West Papua
3) Flooding and land slides hit Jayapura
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A google translate of article in Majalah Selangkah. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
http://majalahselangkah.com/content/kantor-prd-dan-knpb-resmi-dibuka-di-timika


1) PRD and KNPB office at Timika Officially Opened
 Author : Matthew Badii | Wednesday, January 1, 2014 11:58 Viewed : 135 Comments : 1
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When the opening of two offices in Timika . Photo : Methu .

Timika , MAJALAHSELANGKAH - Regional Office of the People's Parliament ( PRD ) and the people of West Papua National Committee ( KNPB ) Mimika region was officially opened on the road Siri Dam Gardens , Timika , Papua , on Tuesday ( 31/12/2013 ) yesterday .

Secretary KNPB center , said in his speech Suhuniap Ones PRD and KNPB office comes closer to the people in order to accommodate the political aspirations of Papua as well as to raise awareness of the people of Papua .

" With the opening of the PRD and KNPB office then all the political aspirations of Papuan independence accommodated and we are ready to raise the awareness to the people of Papua . Keep in mind, too, struggle KNPB and PRD are not criminals and vandals movement security ( GPK ) but struggle with dignity , " said general secretary KNPB .

He said , in addition to accommodate the aspirations of the people , the opening of a second office in order to channel the aspirations masyarakyat to the Indonesian government and the international community that the people of Papua are ready and want to set their own nasipnya .

On that occasion , Ones who attended as a representative of the central KNPB said the same office will be open throughout the land of Papua , as well as the office of an independent Papua opened abroad in order to build awareness of the international civil masyarak .

In addition , the Chairman of the Mimika region KNPB Steven Itlay claimed the establishment of the PRD and KNPB office will answer the political status of Papua, which has not received the recognition of the State of Indonesia .

" We struggled to self-determination struggle like other nations in the world come true, " said Itlay before Mimika people who attended the inauguration .

He said , future aspirations of the Papuan people will still be mediated PRD and KNPB to fight for Papuan self-esteem .

In that attended the inauguration of Regional Representatives ( PRD ) over the Papua was carried the theme " we Must End " while the sub theme reads " Through the development of regional folk parliamentary office ( PRD ) and the West Papua National Committee ( KNPB ) Mimika region we end the suffering of the people towards Free Papua " .

This event begins with a brief worship led by Rev. Henock Bagau , Mth . ( MS / Mateus Badii )

Editor : Matthew Ch . Auwe
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2) Year 2013, there were eleven prominent security cases in West Papua

Posted by  on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 · Leave a Comment 
Jayapura, 1/1 (Jubi) – Head of Papua Police, Inspector General of Police Tito Karnavian said, during the year 2013, there were eleven prominent cases related to Security and Public Order.
“There were eleven prominent cases during the Year 2013. Such as attacks carried by unidentified peoples fifteen cases and assault in the area of ​​PT Freeport Indonesia, eleven cases, “said Tito Karnavian to reporters on Tuesday (31/12) night.
Eleven prominent cases are :
1. Tribal warfare, 3 cases;
2. Shooting in the area of ​​PT. Freeport Indonesia, 11 cases;
3. Mass attacks against members of the police, 6 cases;
4. Attacks by Armed Civilian/The National Liberation Army of Free West Papua Movement, 15 cases;
5. Deprivation against foreigners, 1 case;
6. Plane crash, 0 cases;
7. Protests against Special Autonomy Law, 3 cases;
8. Possession of illegal weapons , 4 cases;
9. Shootings by police, 3 cases;
10. Anarchist demo, 3 cases;
11. Raising of the Morning Star, 5 cases.
In addition, Papua Police had eleven operation carried out in the year 2013.
Eleven of these operations include Operasi Mantap Praja II,  Operasi Mantap Praja III, Operasi Sahabar Matoa, Operasi Simpatik Matoa, Operasi Dian, Operasi Patuh Matoa, Operasi Zebra Matoa, Operasi Lilin Matoa dan Operasi Aman Matoa III.
“To eradicate corruption, from ten activities with 122 existing cases in police report, the State suffered a loss of Rp. 58,166,994,730, – but money returned to the state Rp. 15,066,951,566, – , ” said Tito Karnavian.
Papua Police have predict public order and security situation (Sitkamtibmas) for 2014 will still be dominated by mass demonstrations relating to the Legislative and Presidential Elections. (Jubi/Aprila Wayar/Victor Mambor)


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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/92025/flooding-and-land-slides-hit-jayapura

3) Flooding and land slides hit Jayapura

Tue, December 31 2013 20:43 | 349 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Heavy rain has triggered flooding and landslides in Jayapura and nearby areas leaving two local people killed on Tuesday. 

The two people Undari (23) and Elisabeth Lunnisai were killed when their rented house was hit by a landslide in the ASMI Hamadi area in the city of Jayapura.

Their bodies have been moved to the Al Hamadi hospital. 

The road of Entrop, in the district of South Jayapura was submerged 50 centimeters below the flood water paralyzing traffic. 

"The flood water is too deep and the current was strong causing tens of motor vehicles trapped in a traffic jam," a woman said. (*)
Editor: Heru
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Monday, December 30, 2013

1) Agreed autopsied corpse Dany Kogoya


1) Agreed autopsied corpse Dany Kogoya
2) Manokwari ‘calm’ after  resident clash  
3) Police chief : 100 % Military / Police Not Involved
4) Project empowering Papuan women
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A google translate of article in Bintang Papua. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

Monday, December 30, 2013 07:58
1) Agreed autopsied corpse Dany Kogoya
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- The body of Dany Kogoya Jayapura , one - a pentolanOPM who died in Vanimo , Papua New Guinea ( PNG ) on December 15, 2013 and , now still disemayankan in Vanimo Hospital awaiting autopsy . Because the cause of death is still mysterious Dany Kogoya .
Thus phrased Human Rights Defenders and the Director of Papua Matthew Baptist Voice Murib via Press Release to Bintang Papua on Sunday ( 29/12 ) .
 As known earlier , Dany Kogoya Jayapura City police officers arrested and Papua Police at a hotel in the area Entrop , District of South Jayapura on 2 September 2012 ago , after allegedly involved in acts of violence and persecution in the Red Mountain Rise , Nafri , Abepura District , Jayapura City August 1, 2011 ago . The action resulted in 4warga killed and 7 seriously injured , one of the only members of the military .
  
DikatakanMatius Murib , according to the results of negotiations with the victim's family , the Indonesian Consulate , government civilians and security in Vanimo , on 20-22 December 2013 , among others : First , to support the process of medical autopsy to prove the cause of death .
Second , the process pemakamanakan made ​​after an autopsy , after the Christmas holiday .
Third , agreed to maintain the security situation along
Fourth , to all parties immediately asked to contribute to the handling of this case , not to get the impression of " process omission " .
MenurutMatius Murib , it will continue to mediate this case , to achieve the goal " though equally delicious between PNG and Indonesia , as well as primarily fulfilling our sense of justice and peace , especially for the families of the victims .
" May the spirit of peace of Christmas 2023 and New Year 2014 makes us more thoughtful attention to human rights and respect for all human beings , " said Mathius Murib . ( mdc/don/l03 )




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2) Manokwari ‘calm’ after  resident clash  

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Mon, December 30 2013, 10:09 PM

The situation in Manokwari, the capital of West Papua, is calm once again after a clash between residents occurred on Sunday, but many kiosks and stores have not yet resumed their activities.
“The situation has calmed down and no more clashes have occurred. Many security officers remain on guard,” Anis, a Manokwari resident, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
However, most Manokwari people are still afraid to return to their activities despite the situation being relatively quiet.
“Markets are not yet open to the public. Kiosks and stores nearby the incident site last night have not yet resumed their normal activities. This is really disrupting the activities of those who want to go shopping,” Yan Christian Warinussy, a legal expert from Manokwari, told the Post.
As earlier reported, a clash between Manokwari residents erupted in Sanggeng Market at 10:30 p.m. local time on Sunday. The incident began when a local resident, reportedly drunk, asked Zainuddin, a kiosk owner in the market, to give him some money. He insisted on entering the kiosk even though he had already been given the money, inciting a clash between residents.
Two people – La Amin and Yansen Maryen – died in the clash.
“La Amin died after he was tortured by a group of people who were allegedly drunk. He was taken to the Navy Hospital [RSAL] but did not survive,” said Papua Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Pudjo Sulistio. Meanwhile, Yansen’s body was found near Sanggeng Market after security officers broke up the fight.
Yan said the police must take tough action and bring the perpetrators to justice. “The perpetrators must be held responsible. There must be a tough action taken against those who took the lives of others,” he said. (ebf)
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A google translate of article in Bintang Papua. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

Monday, December 30, 2013 07:53
3) Police chief : 100 % Military / Police Not Involved

Shooting in Freeport

Jayapura - Papua Police Chief Insp Gen Tito Karnavian claims , members of the military and police were not involved in the shootings that occurred in the area of PT Freeport , including Freeport Trailer convoy shootings .
"It has been detected , 100 percent no member military and police were involved in a series of shootings at the Freeport area occurred in recent years, '' said Police Chief told reporters a few days ago .
According to him , in addition to ensure there are no members of the military and police involvement in a series of shootings , it also has been able to identify the perpetrator . '' We have detected the shooter in the Freeport area , there are two groups, namely those groups up and down , '' he said .
 From the identification results , up police chief , above the group who often act in Mile 71-68 is YAW leadership . " They are joined by the miners and shooting action for economic motives , '' he said .
While the group is always under the action at mile 38-41 , is the group leader Tony Kwalik Johni Bald based in Kali Coffee . '' The original name is Johni Bald Johni Beanal members there are about 10 people and they are always berasi at Mile 41 , '' he said .

Their motives do a series of shootings , police chief continued , is still mysterious . '' It is not certain what they see themselves doing the shooting motive , '' for short .
In any staged shooting , Johni group Beanal using M16 type firearms . '' Their weapons of M16 , in every action they very calculating both the target and the ammunition logistics , obtaining shot on target in seconds for efficient bullet . After the action they ran away into the woods , '' he said .
Regarding ammunition owned by the group , the police chief did not argue , it is likely derived from local police officers . '' Maybe they could find a bullet from the officer , '' he concluded .
To be sure , he added , the safeguarding of vehicles passing through the Freeport area to be improved . '' We also restrict the escort vehicle checkpoints at both the Brimob and the TNI , '' he said .
Police chief said it had formed a team to pursue the perpetrators . " We 've been the form teams to pursue offenders into the woods , but the difficulty of the terrain into one of the obstacles , '' he added .
However, it remains persuasive measures put forward , by calling for the perpetrators to stop the action . '' Our persuasive step , establish communication with a number of parties to ask the group to stop the action , '' he said .
Responding police chief claims that there is no involvement of the military and police in a series of shootings , the Impartial Observer NGO Human Rights said , if the Papua Police have been able to identify groups that resort to violence in the Freeport area was John Beanal group and Tony Kwalik , then the investigation should be carried out . '' Do not let the perpetrators of violence again . Police must immediately conduct an examination of the witnesses , determine the status of suspects and arresting the perpetrators , in order not to repeat their crimes again , '' said Dierktur EXECUTIVE Impartial Poengki Indarti meallui short message on Sunday, December 29 .
In an effort to arrest , do not use a method that can be deadly . " The most important thing is respecting the presumption of innocence and respect the rights of suspects , in order to be processed in a fair law , '' he added .

Military / Police Must Give Sense of Security Firm
Meanwhile, Chairman of GKI Klasis Reverend Willem Itaar Jayapura , S.Th. , when found in Kamkey dikediamannya , Abepura , Saturday ( 28/12 ) criticized a series of shootings in the area of PT Freeport , especially what happened in the Christmas feast .
Affirmed , in particular convey it to the military / police and the government , both the Provincial Government and the Government of Papua Mimika firmness must provide security to anyone in the Freeport area .

Former Chairman of the Mimika Commission said , as people who love peace in Papua, it is very annoyed with the various events that make people insecure , their lives disrupted , even taking the life of various events in the Land of Papua . " We have a Christian faith , it is not pleasing to God . For God wills not the events that make other people feel afraid and anxious , even taking the life of others for the sake of the interests and power , let alone manipulate anything , " said Willem Itaar .
Stated , the Bible writes , this kind of events would give a picture of how the world was always insecure , due to human behavior that does not respect God's creation , both natural as well as others because those concerned are also not afraid of God .
" Is the man he called religious people or people that do not believe him as a person and not religious . Though all men who he had to give a sense of security to everyone , "said Willem Itaar , which in 1997 and 2006 to provide services for the management and employees of Freeport in Tembagapura , Kuala Kencana and Timika .
Therefore , said Willem Itaar , if there are groups of Strangers ( OTK ) he was the Papuans , the Christians , because it urges Christians teach that love thy neighbor as we love God so that things which interfere with the safety and ultimately disrupt togetherness would eliminate the lives of people . " It's not good for God because God wills not human beings kill each other , " he said .
It is said , let's together pleasing , soothing , with a good heart we celebrate Christmas , leaving in 2013 and entered the year 2014 with all the good with the love of God , with God's Shalom and God really is the King of Peace living in the heart of life our families and the entire work .

" Lord Jesus Christ as what is conveyed by the gospel of John because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son . How much God loved the world he gave up a single child , sesungguhya he himself came into the world to reconcile our neighbors in the world , "said Willem Itaar .
In connection with the shooting at the PT Freeport , further Willem Itaar , his experience and feel the situation and conditions in Timika . Timika often anonymized Every Sunday a mess . But really Timika not like it , because it actually Timika one -on-one laid a good area if he is one -on-one fairly safe area .
Willem Itaar said parties always create chaos in Freeport is because a group of people whose interests he makes an engineered life to get that life .
" There are groups that want something power continues to engineer something to gain power . There are also things that make other people feel afraid so that the groups can be as easy -access and easy as doing something in Timika , "explained Willem Itaar .
Beber Willem Itaar , security at the Freeport area supported military / police and multi-layered system . There are forces that are specific state preserve wealth . Freeport feed for this country and to the world that he should be kept because it is a country's wealth and the people who come to work and earn a living . From the Freeport security forces guarded layered with a sophistication - designed and technological sophistication can access and view any corner of the mine . But why could not see the man under the tree . Moreover, shootings continue in the same area . The troops who were there where .

" In the same place the events continue to occur . Surprisingly they did not just shoot cars directed to humans . So strange , "said Willem Itaar .
It is said , the community around the Freeport area disgruntled because their rights undermined . When in fact there are approaches to the Freeport community through organizations such as the Institute of Indigenous Amungme ( LEMASA ) , Institute of Indigenous Comoros ( LEMASKO ) and the Institute for the Development of Indigenous Peoples Comoros ( LPMAK ) formed for the welfare of the local community , but why not never is content .
" There are institutions on behalf of the community of the outcome of their lives so I think Freeport has been quite remarkable given the access and impact for a life , " said Willem Itaar .
As proclaimed , shooting at the PT Freeport area following Friday ( 27/12 ) at around 13:30 CET shooting incident had occurred at Mile 41 as for the trailer that was shot among others . No trailer . Stomach 02 XXX , subject to the right of the door glass . Trailer 02-0868 kenakaca right door . AC Blower 02-0956 kenapada trailer . 02-1014 trailer hit the right door . 02-0896 trailer hit the right door . 02 - 1097kenapada Trailer Trailer 02-0826 Engine hood contact hood above the right front tire . Human casualties nil . The entire trailer continued traveling to Mile 50 . ( Mdc/jir/don/l03 )


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A project from one of the world’s most isolated places is helping to empower women across Indonesia.
By 
Shanti Benjamin
 
UPDATED YESTERDAY 5:41 PM
The remote village of Jagara deep in Indonesia’s eastern-most province could be among the least developed places on earth.
The mountainous region in Papua is only accessible by air and is not often visited by outsiders.
While Indonesia as a whole may be experiencing economic growth, parts of Papua and West Papua provinces are lagging behind. In these remote areas around 40 per cent of households live below the poverty line - double the national average.
Despite looking like a tropical paradise, women living in the region have little say over their lives and families. 
"It was our traditional practice that the men were the ones making the decisions," Magda Wetapo says. "We didn't question it because it was our tradition. If we tried to change these traditional practices we knew something bad would happen to us, like we would get sick. So we accepted it."
But a new UN project says it is trying to break down those barriers and change the future for Papuan women. In Magda's village, the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) say they are teaching women how to grow vegetables.
It's part of a wider program run by the IFAD. IFAD say communities are asked to define their own problems and come up with solutions. They are then given training and can access grants to make their ideas become reality.
IFAD say one of the big problems for Magda's village was how to increase their income. It took some time to convince the male leaders that women could earn that money.
"Before the project, we were still living in a traditional way. Women lived under the control of men," Esalek Lani, traditional village leader, says.  "But when the project came to us, women got a chance to earn money and we are thankful for this."
After the vegetables are harvested women take the long trek to the markets where they sell their produce. Magda says the program has quadrupled her income and she now wants to save to send her son to university.
"I feel proud because our lives have changed so much and I'm very happy," she says
Papuan's often work alone. But this program encouraged the formation of groups to work together and for the first time women formed a group free from male dominance. It became a place where they could arrange training, elect their leaders and design their own budgets.
Ron Hartman is the Indonesian programme manager for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. He says the project works because it uses local solutions rather than imposing foreign concepts onto local problems.
"Papua itself is quite a challenging environment. It's very remote. Culturally, it is very different to other parts of Indonesia. The difference this project I think has made is that it's been tailored specifically for Papua, West Papua and the populations therein," he said.
"It's different in terms of the community development approach. It uses the social structures that are actually on the ground rather than transposing something from outside on them, but the main point is that it really buys into the potentials and supports the potentials they have in agriculture which is so important for their livelihoods."
IFAD say the pilot project is running in 410 villages in Papua and the Indonesia government is considering replicating it across the country.

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

1) 650 troops to be sent to West Papuan -PNG border area


1)  650 troops to be sent to West Papuan -PNG border area

2) West Papua Searches Far for Rights

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A google translate of article in Majalah Selangkah. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

1) Keep Border Papua New Guinea , 650 personnel will be Shipped to Papua
 Author : Admin MS | Sunday, December 29, 2013 17:41 Read: 385 Comments : 3



The Regional Military Personnel Mulawarman . Photo : kodam - mulawarman.mil.id
Banjarbaru , STEP MAGAZINE - Mulawarman military command to prepare 650 troops to be sent to Papua in order mengmankan border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea during the nine months . Reportedly they will begin to charge at the end of February 2014.
Quoted rimanews.com , the personnel will be on duty at the border of Papua New Guinea is equipped with dozens of photos of high-ranking Free Papua Movement ( OPM ) . The goal is that they get to know anyone who deserves to be wary when they are on duty in the region .
" Although the vulnerability has decreased , but we must remain alert , " said regional commander ( Regional Commander ) , Major General Dick Wainal Usman , on the sidelines of preparation Indonesian Unit Security Officer - Papua New Guinea , at the Headquarters Command Battalion 623/Bhakti Wira main , River Ulin , Banjarbaru City , South Kalimantan , on Friday ( 12/27/2013 ) then .
Before deployment to Papua , the personnel from Infantry Battalion 600/Raider 623/BWU and it should do the exercises pratugas for three weeks . Pratugas is focused on the preparation of combat and ambush theory .
In addition , it is also equipped personnel socializing skills to approach the local community .
Pangdam also stressed the danger of malaria . He asks medics to prepare all purposes in order before stepping Papua soldiers already provided high immunity against malaria .
" Malaria is a challenge for you . If exposed to it , we can not work . Moreover, tropical malaria , " he said . ( M2/rimanews.com/Ist./MS )

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Independent European Daily Express

2) West Papua Searches Far for Rights

Sunday, December 29, 2013 - 08:12Inter Press Service

SYDNEY, Dic 29 (IPS) - The indigenous struggle for liberation in West Papua on the western half of the island of New Guinea in the south-west Pacific, with the loss of thousands of lives, is far from ending. But, despite political uncertainties, a united coalition of pro-independence leaders has reignited hope of freedom by galvanising the support of a Pacific Islands inter-governmental organisation.
Indigenous Melanesian resistance to Indonesian governance of West Papua dates back to a United Nations supervised Act of Free Choice on independence in 1969 that was criticised as fraudulent after less than one percent of the population was selected to vote. That resulted in a vote for Indonesian integration.
In April this year the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), representing 29 pro-independence organisations, applied for membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The inter-governmental group comprises the Melanesian states of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of New Caledonia with headquarters in Port Vila, Vanuatu.[pullquote]3[/pullquote]
“Support within the Melanesian region is vital to building a strong foundation for gaining international support and recognition,” Dr John Ondawame, WPNCL’s Vice-Chairman in Vanuatu told IPS. “The struggle of the people of West Papua is no longer an internal Indonesian issue.”
The West Papuan coalition was, for the first time, invited as official guest to the Melanesian leaders’ summit held in Noumea, New Caledonia, in June. Indonesia, which has MSG observer status, was also present.
During an address to the summit, Ondawame called on the Melanesian group to support the re-inscription of West Papua onto the United Nations decolonisation list and send a fact-finding mission to the Indonesian provinces to investigate human rights abuses.
The meeting ended with Melanesian leaders endorsing the “inalienable rights of the people of West Papua towards self-determination” and efforts to raise concerns about atrocities with the Indonesian government.
It was announced that a foreign ministers’ visit to the Indonesian provinces would take place within six months ahead of a decision on West Papua’s membership of the MSG. But, although Indonesia invited Melanesian leaders to Jakarta to be briefed about developments in West Papua, an MSG-led visit to the disputed territories has not taken place.
An MSG Secretariat spokesperson in Vanuatu advised IPS that “dates for the mission to Indonesia are still being discussed,” and members are keen for it to occur in early 2014.
Ondawame added that “so far Jakarta has not provided any invitation letter for the team to visit the respective territories.”
Indonesia has long claimed that West Papua is an internal matter, but the suffering of its indigenous population is stirring growing solidarity amongst Melanesians in the Pacific Islands.
In 2001, the Indonesian government responded to grievances by granting special autonomy to the provinces of Papua and West Papua, and increasing funding to the region, which amounted to more than 190 million dollars last year. It recently appointed a government unit to address infrastructure, public service and social issues.
However, West Papuans still suffer severe socio-economic hardship and have few freedoms. Twenty-seven percent of people in Papua and 31 percent in West Papua live in poverty, compared to 13 percent in East Java and 3.7 percent in Jakarta.
The Indonesian military controls civilian life and is regularly accused of killings, brutality, corruption and involvement in drug smuggling and illegal logging activities. Last year Amnesty International reported that 90 political activists were imprisoned for peaceful political activities and “security forces faced persistent allegations of human rights violations, including torture.”
“West Papua’s struggle for independence is not just West Papua’s struggle, but Melanesia’s struggle, and the people of Melanesia must take ownership,” said Fred Mambrasar of the civil society group, Melanesian United Front in Papua New Guinea.
Up to 500,000 West Papuan lives were lost in the past 50 years due to Indonesian military and government policies in the territory, according to a University of Sydney report.
During the past six months public demonstrations in support of West Papua have increased across the region. A concerned group of indigenous people from Australia and West Papua sailed to West Papua in September in a Freedom Flotilla that was a symbolic voyage to the shores of the Indonesian province to highlight issues of freedom and justice.
In Papua New Guinea, the Melanesian United Front launched a campaign and petition to boost public pressure, and urban demonstrations were supported by Port Moresby’s Governor, Powes Parkop. A letter of international solidarity signed by 98 international and Pacific non-governmental organisations was sent to the MSG in October.
Politically West Papuans see hope in the MSG’s promotion of decolonisation elsewhere in the region, such as in East Timor, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, and the resolute support of Vanuatu’s leadership in recent years.
In September, Moana Carcasses, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, called on the United Nations General Assembly to “rectify some historical errors” and appoint a special representative to investigate human rights abuses and political issues in the beleaguered territory.
But the Melanesian United Front’s Patrick Kaiku is concerned that “observer states, such as Indonesia, which wield significant diplomatic resources and experience, will dictate the terms of West Papuan membership in the MSG if they are allowed to exert their influence.”
“The independence of the MSG must be maintained,” he asserted.
Papua New Guinea, an influential Melanesian state with observer status at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has substantial trade ties with Indonesia, and also security concerns about its shared land border. In June its leaders accepted an invitation to business talks in Jakarta instead of attending the MSG Leaders summit. Solomon Islands leaders were briefed separately by the Indonesian government on developments in West Papua during a bilateral visit in August.
However, Ondawame is confident his coalition has “won the diplomatic battle in the region” and that an unstoppable political momentum has begun. He remains adamant that the MSG holds the key to progressing political dialogue and addressing a human rights crisis that many believe has been met with silence from the international community for too long.
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