1) NO REINFORCEMENTS AHEAD OF ELECTIONS:
MILITARY CHIEF
2) Sail
Raja Ampat expected to boost Indonesian marine tourism
3) In Indonesia, Big Moves
to Protect Big Fish
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1) NO REINFORCEMENTS AHEAD OF ELECTIONS: MILITARY CHIEF
Jayapura, 27/3 (Jubi) – Regional Military Commander Major General Christian Zembua said he had enough personnel to safeguard the upcoming election in Papua and West Papua province and will not send additional troops to the districts.
“No additional troops. We have 15,000 soldiers spread in all districts of Papua and West Papua who are ready to help provide security during the elections. However, we do hope it will run peacefully and there will be no violence. People please do not be provoked by irresponsible people. Everyone must help make the election a success,” Zebua said on Thursday (27/3).
He also said he would punish soldiers who use military symbols to support political parties or candidates during the campaign period for the legislative and presidential elections.
“Army personnel should be neutral. They must not take sides. Those who are involved will be dealt with appropriately. Active military personnel should not be involved in the elections,” he said. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
“Army personnel should be neutral. They must not take sides. Those who are involved will be dealt with appropriately. Active military personnel should not be involved in the elections,” he said. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
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2) Sail Raja Ampat expected to boost Indonesian marine tourism
Fri, March 28 2014 16:54 | 792 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias international marine event Sail Raja Ampat, to be officially kicked off by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Raja Ampat, West Papua on June 21, is expected to help boost the countrys tourism.
The event was particularly expected to promote tourism in West Papua and accelerate the tourism development in the province, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Cicip Sutardjo commented in a statement here on Friday.
Raja Ampat has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world that could attract many foreign tourists, he explained.
The government will organize Sail Raja Ampat 2014 with the aim to accelerate the development and improve the welfare of the people in West Papua.
"The international sail event has become a model for the development acceleration program on islands and in remote areas," he elaborated.
The minister believed that Sail Raja Ampat will become an effective way to promote Papua and surrounding areas as a favorite destination for domestic and international tourists.
The theme of Sail Raja Ampat is "Developing Marine, Taking Raja Ampat to World Tourism Fora."
Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono stated the objective of organizing Sail Raja Ampat is to accelerate the regional development, improve infrastructure, and stimulate investment in the host region.
"In Raja Ampat, there is a geo park which is more beautiful than the one in Halong Bay Vietnam," Minister Agung Laksono pointed out.
Sail Raja Ampat is to be organized on June 21, almost coinciding with Sentani Festival, which is held annually in Papua on June 19.
Since 2009, Indonesia has organized the annual Sail Indonesia five times - Sail Bunaken 2009, Sail Banda 2010, Sail Wakatobi- Belitong 2011, Sail Morotai 2012 and Sail Komodo 2013.
Sail Raja Ampat is expected to have participation from, among other places, Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Thailand, The Philippines, and the United States.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR)
The event was particularly expected to promote tourism in West Papua and accelerate the tourism development in the province, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sharif Cicip Sutardjo commented in a statement here on Friday.
Raja Ampat has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world that could attract many foreign tourists, he explained.
The government will organize Sail Raja Ampat 2014 with the aim to accelerate the development and improve the welfare of the people in West Papua.
"The international sail event has become a model for the development acceleration program on islands and in remote areas," he elaborated.
The minister believed that Sail Raja Ampat will become an effective way to promote Papua and surrounding areas as a favorite destination for domestic and international tourists.
The theme of Sail Raja Ampat is "Developing Marine, Taking Raja Ampat to World Tourism Fora."
Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono stated the objective of organizing Sail Raja Ampat is to accelerate the regional development, improve infrastructure, and stimulate investment in the host region.
"In Raja Ampat, there is a geo park which is more beautiful than the one in Halong Bay Vietnam," Minister Agung Laksono pointed out.
Sail Raja Ampat is to be organized on June 21, almost coinciding with Sentani Festival, which is held annually in Papua on June 19.
Since 2009, Indonesia has organized the annual Sail Indonesia five times - Sail Bunaken 2009, Sail Banda 2010, Sail Wakatobi- Belitong 2011, Sail Morotai 2012 and Sail Komodo 2013.
Sail Raja Ampat is expected to have participation from, among other places, Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Thailand, The Philippines, and the United States.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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3) In Indonesia, Big Moves to Protect Big Fish
JAKARTA—Indonesia recently enshrined the world’s largest manta ray sanctuary within its 2.3-million square mile border, but conservationists and environmentally-minded dive resorts say they’ve long been leading their own initiatives to protect the threatened marine creatures.
Papua Diving, which has two resorts in Kri Island, part of the Raja Ampat island cluster in far-flung eastern Indonesia, says it keeps a close watch on manta sites and reports any activity that could harm the marine life to authorities.
Its dive guides and boat crew are former fishermen who once used dynamite to kill their catch but have become what marketing manager Steve Brumby calls “passionate about conservation” since learning of the damage it does to the marine ecosystem.
The Indonesian government outlawed bomb fishing in 1980, but it remains in use particularly in remote areas where there is little monitoring by marine authorities.
Papua Diving also collects donations and hands over 10% of its profits each year to various conservation organizations and a local marine park protection fund. In 1993 it established the Raja Ampat Research and Conservation Center, an initiative for introducing conservation and community related projects in Raja Ampat.
Nearby Misool Eco Resort has also been promoting conservation by trying to steer legislation. In October 2010 its founder, Andrew Miners, started a petition to make the marine area around Raja Ampat a manta and shark sanctuary. It garnered more than 8,000 signatures and helped bring the need for conservation to the attention of local lawmakers. In late 2010, the district administration passed a regulation that bans the fishing of sharks, mantas, dugongs and other aquarium fish.
Mr. Miners says his resort is also involved in a reef restoration project that involves several different methods for restoring reefs that have been damaged and supports an active team of marine park rangers – all of them from the surrounding community – to prevent manta and shark fishing.
Indonesia’s Institute of Science estimates that roughly 17,000 reef and oceanic manta rays are currently live in the waters surrounding Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago.
One of the world’s largest fish, manta rays can span seven meters from wingtip to wingtip. They are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in part because their habitats often overlap with fisheries.
In Indonesia, they are often found off the islands around Bali, as well as the islands of Komodo, Sangalaki in Borneo and Raja Ampat.
“They’re elegant, sophisticated, and very beautiful,” says Raditya Kosasih, a 27-year-old member of a diver community called Banyu Biru Explorers.
Mr. Kosasih has gone diving with mantas seven times – in Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat – and says he is still “stunned” when he sees the giant sea rays.
The Indonesian government is currently working to better develop manta tourism since passing an environmental regulation earlier this year that bans manta fishing within the country’s exclusive economic zone. Officials say the regulation is an attempt to cash in on a creature capable of drawing thousands of marine tourists to the country.
It also comes as demand grows for manta gills, often sold for a high price as dried food to Chinese buyers who consider them a cure for various illnesses, ranging from chicken pox to cancer.
The government regulation will help prevent commercial fishermen from targeting the mantas, but alternative livelihoods are also needed to ensure local seafarers give up the trade, say conservationists.
Mr. Brumby says he’s already seen the benefits from increased tourism related to manta protection. Papua Diving employs more than 20 locals, while Misool provides jobs for more than 115 community residents.
“As the reefs around our resort are protected, the number of fish, sharks and mantas increases,” said Mr. Miners. “This, of course, means guests are very happy, and more people want to visit the resort.”
Many local dive shop owners also say they support the government’s new regulation and hope the government is tough in cracking down on violators.
“If the mantas are gone, our livelihoods would be threatened,” said Romi, from the Waiwo Dive Resort in Raja Ampat.
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