1) Papua call for UN to revisit former Dutch colony's plight

1) Papua call for UN to revisit former Dutch colony's plight

2) Fresh OPM clash

3) SAD, BALINESE CRAFTSMEN ARE TAKING CONTROL ON THE ASMAT CRAVINGS ASMAT

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/241318/papua-call-for-un-to-revisit-former-dutch-colony's-plight

1) Papua call for UN to revisit former Dutch colony's plight

Updated at 2:14 pm today

West Papuan separatists say they want the United Nations to revisit their case, claiming they were denied their rights in the 1969 Act of Free Choice.

The UN-sponsored vote by a selection of chiefs is widely decried as a sham that allowed Indonesia to annex the former Dutch colony.

Last weekend, rebels who crossed into Papua New Guinea hoisted the United Nations flag alongside West Papua's banned Morning Star flag.

Stanley Iko from the Free West Papua Campaign says West Papua's people feel as if they are fighting this battle alone.

The United Nations is going to come in and help the West Papuans. You know, everywhere in the world if there are gunshots or a massacre or somebody has been murdered, around the world people get up from their seats and jump up and down and you know, start making a lot of noise. In West Papua, nothing. Nothing of that sort. The reason why they hoisted the UN flag is because they want them to come in now and have a look at their case of West Papua.

Stanley Iko from the Free West Papua Campaign.

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http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/5081/fresh-opm-clash/

2) Fresh OPM clash

Thu 10 Apr 2014

VANIMO, Papua New Guinea --- The Indonesian military and OPM elements have engaged in another shootout on the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border, forcing the closure of a primary school and restrictions on traditional border crossers.

According to intelligence sources on the ground the gun battle lasted for about 30 minutes Wednesday between 8 to 9am before the OPM (Operasi Papua Merdeka) withdrew to the nearby jungle. There are also unconfirmed reports of a skirmish between the two sides at Taimi River, some 10 kilometres west of the border and not far from an Indonesian military Forward Base.

The PNG Government has beefed up the strength of a PNG Defence Force unit at its Wutung border post – in response to the clashes – with another section arriving from the Vanimo Forward Base recently, said the intelligence sources.

Ian Jinga, the National Security Advisory Council director general, confirmed the clashes in an interview with the Post-Courier yesterday and said the PNG Government is aware of the situation and the border clashes.

A team comprising officers from the PNG Foreign Affairs Department, PNG Customs, PNG Immigration Authority, PNGDF, the Royal PNG Constabulary, National Intelligence Organisation and the NSAC is currently on the ground in Vanimo to investigate reports of border incursions, establish the facts and then report back to the Government on a course of action.

“That team will establish the facts and then report to NSAC and then the NSAC will take appropriate measures to deal with the issue. Already the Secretary for Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia to communicate a diplomatic note expressing our serious concerns on the incidences of border incursions and the possible spillover effects of what had transpired over the weekend,” he said.

When asked if there were any fatalities on the PNG side of the border, he said no Papua New Guinean lives were lost so far and properties were not damaged. Classes at the Wutung Primary School were suspended for the day and will resume today, said the intelligence sources.

The fighting coincides with a global protest by pro-West Papua sympathisers on the eve of Indonesia’s national legislative elections, which were held yesterday. The protest in West Papua led to the lowering of the Indonesian flag and the raising of the West Papuan pro-independence movement’s Morning Star flag last weekend, which also triggered a gun battle.

The closure of the border to traditional border crossers is beginning to affect the Wutung community as it is running short of food because their gardens are on the Indonesian side of the border.

The PNGDF and PNG Government officials have stopped the villagers from visiting their gardens, which has compelled the villagers recently to appeal to members of the OPM to leave their area so they can access their food gardens.

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http://tabloidjubi.com/en/?p=1968

3) SAD, BALINESE CRAFTSMEN ARE TAKING CONTROL ON THE ASMAT CRAVINGS ASMAT

Asmat Craft (IST)

Jayapura, 7/4 (Jubi) – The Asmat carvings which is known with its complexity details and high artistic values are currently able to easily imitated by the Balinese craftsmen, whereas earlier it could only done by the Asmat people.

“It wasn’t surprise if we found the Asmat carvings in Bali or elsewhere. It might be made in Province Bali and produced by the Balinese craftsmen,” a tourism observer in Papua, Mian Simanjuntak told to tabloidjubi.com on Monday (7/4).

He hoped the local government could give a serious attention towards the Papuan artists as well as their works, so that the potential and richness of art and culture could be well improved and be strength of Papuans.
“I see a lot of leaders in Papua didn’t count on the art works of Papuan artists and tourism as well. In fact, all the elements were contained within tourism, started from art, culture, economic, aesthetics and other values. If those elements could be well understood, it would give a huge impact to the development in Papua,” he said.

The Head Section of Tourism Promotion of Tourism and Creative Economic Department of Province Papua, Fidella Rettob admitted the Balinese craftsmen could imitate the Asmat carvings and sell it. It is now her concern.
“Many factors have inhibited the tourism growth in Papua, either it’s about security or budget. I think if every sectors have been serious and thought the art, culture and tourism are important, the tourism in Papua should be better,” she told tabloidjubi.com in her office on Monday (7/4).(Albert/Jubi/rom)