2) PNG's O'Neill and Widodo discuss ties
4) Ecumenical Churches Forum in Papua to Request Administrative Court
Guarantee
5) Department of Education to Incorporate Local Languages in Curriculum
6) Jayapura Education Office Installs Free Wifi for Schools
7) Department of Tourism Supports Reopening of International
Flights in Biak
8) West Papua: Journalists to face trial
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1) French journalists tried for violating visas in Papua
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Tue, October 21 2014, 10:07 AM
Prosecutor Sukanda told the trial, which was presided over by judge Martinus Bala, that the defendants were charged with violating Article 122 of Law No. 8/2011 on immigration, which carries a five-year sentence if found guilty, and Article 55 of the Criminal Code.
“They planned to combine their news coverage for a documentary film that would be aired by one of the television stations in Paris,” said Sukanda.
He said that Bourrat, born in Jerusalem on July 15, 1975, had entered Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, on July 3, using a French passport with a tourist visa that expired on July 15.
Dandois, born in Caen, France, on June 10, 1974, had entered the country via Soekarno-Hatta on July 28 using a French passport with a tourist visa on arrival, he said.
Both defendants met in Sorong, Papua and on Aug. 3 they headed to Jayapura, staying at the Swiss Belhotel.
According to Sukanda, on Aug. 4, without journalist visas, the defendants had carried out journalistic activities in Doyo, Jayapura regency, and had interviewed West Papua politician Forkorus Yaboisembut and an armed civilian group in Papua, with the intention of learning more about the socio-cultural history of the region and why the armed civilian group had risen up against the government.
On Aug. 5, the defendants had left for Wamena in Jayawijaya. On Aug. 6 they met witness Areki Wanimbo and planned to cover an activity in Lanny Jaya regency and the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival on Aug. 7, but they were apprehended in Wamena on Aug. 6.
“The defendants are fully aware that they are not allowed to use a tourist visa to carry out journalistic activities in Indonesia, but should use a journalistic permit after receiving clearance from the Indonesian government, coordinated by the Foreign Ministry,” Sukanda pointed out.
The defendants’ lawyer, Aristo MA Pangaribuan, said the indictment was unclear and inaccurate as it stated his clients had carried out journalistic activities, but the prosecutor had failed to explain what was meant by journalistic activities based on Ministerial Decree No. 42/2009, which outlines guidelines on obtaining permits for foreign broadcasting institutions.
“He [the prosecutor] failed to analyze three elements in the journalistic definition in the indictment, so it was inaccurate and unclear,” Aristo said.
“The definition of journalism is an activity that includes, seeking, obtaining, possessing, storing, processing and delivering information in the form of text, sound, images, sounds and images, as well as data and charts and other forms, to be presented by the broadcast media, ‘’ he explained.
Aristo appealed to the presiding judge to overrule the indictment for the sake of justice.
The trial of the two French citizens will be held daily until the ruling is handed down on Oct. 25.
“It will be better if the trial is carried out continuously, so it will be settled quickly, as the defendants are foreigners and security considerations are required, especially as they have been detained in Jayapura for more than two months,” said Aristo.
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2) PNG's O'Neill and Widodo discuss ties
Updated at 10:26 am on 21 October 2014
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is due to discuss links with Indonesia's new president in Jakarta this morning.
Mr O'Neill was among country leaders who attended the inauguration of the president Joko Widodo yesterday.
Mr O'Neill says PNG highly values its relationship with Indonesia.
The leaders are due to discuss the economy, trade and investment, border development and PNG's hosting of APEC in 2018.
Papua New Guinea shares a 760 kilometre border with Indonesia's Papuan provinces.
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3) Optimism over Indonesian ties
Source:
The National, Tuesday October 21st, 2014
O’Neill said this on Sunday before flying to Jakarta, to attend the inauguration of the newly-elected president of the country Joko Widodo.
He was accompanied by senior Cabinet Ministers Rimbink Pato (Foreign Affairs and Immigration) and Ben Micah (State Enterprises).
O’Neill said his government aimed to work closely with the Indonesian government in order to address issues of mutual concern. “Papua New Guinea highly values its relationship with Indonesia,” O’Neill said.
He said diplomatic relationship with Indonesia was formalised soon after the country gained independence in 1975.
“Like his predecessor, I look forward to working closely with President Widodo during his tenure in office to further strengthen and enhance our existing relations,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill’s itinerary in Indonesia included paying a courtesy call on the president today before returning for Parliament sitting. During the bilateral meeting, both leaders will discuss PNG’s economic situation, trade and investment relations, border development and administration, development and technical cooperation and other regional and international issues.
O’Neill will discuss Indonesia’s support for PNG’s hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in 2018.
“Indonesia remains a great supporter of PNG’s intention to host this major regional event in 2018,” he said.
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4) Ecumenical Churches Forum in Papua to Request Administrative Court Guarantee
Jayapura, Jubi – The Forum of Ecumenical Churches of Papua has requested a guarantee from the State Administrative Court that lawyer Gustaf Kawer will not be arrested in a case that revolves around harassment against public officials.
“We came to ask for a guarantee in which the administrative court has promised to prepare a letter of warranty that the lawyer Gustaf Kawer will not be arrested,” Dr. Rev. Benny Giay told reporters after the meeting, (18/10).
Kawer and his family have been under pressure, sparking concerns among the church.
“Therefore, we want this issue to be ended soon. We also have conducted intensive talks with Gustaf Kawer to agree on several things,” he added.
In the same place, Rev Jemima Krey, chairman deputy of the Papua Chirstian Church Synod said, Kawer has been willing to come to the administrative court and reconciled amicably where he also promised to pull out all the reports to various parties in Jakarta and Papua.
“We are concerned if this case has not been revoked yet,” she said.
Therefore, she hopes that the administrative court would give a written guarantee to assure that he will not be detained. (Aprila Wayar)
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5) Department of Education to Incorporate Local Languages in Curriculum
Jayapura, Jubi -The Department of Education and Culture of Papua is ready to incorporate local languages in the curriculum.
” Principally, Department of Education with Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and partners are ready to execute it. All the books have been prepared,” head of Education and Culture of Papua, Elias Wonda told Jubi in Jayapura, Papua on Monday (20 /10).
Wonda explained, the local language content will initially be implemented in the first three years of elementary school, and would later be extended in boarding schools.
“We will start this program at particular schools and hopefully, it will be executed next year,” he said.
“We will start this program at particular schools and hopefully, it will be executed next year,” he said.
Teachers will be recruited from each region, he said.
“For example, If the teacher is from Sentani, he/she has to teach by the Sentani language. So, we will be looking for teachers based on their respective areas,” Wonda explained.
“For example, If the teacher is from Sentani, he/she has to teach by the Sentani language. So, we will be looking for teachers based on their respective areas,” Wonda explained.
The head of education in Jayapura, Robert J. Betaubun, said the city was ready to implement the policy.
“Jayapura is actually ready as it has the Port Numbay dictionary , as well as the preparation of planning for learning,” Robert J. Betaubun added.
“Jayapura is actually ready as it has the Port Numbay dictionary , as well as the preparation of planning for learning,” Robert J. Betaubun added.
Bataubun did not say how many native language teachers will be recruited for the implementation of the local curriculum. (Alexander Loen/Tina)
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6) Jayapura Education Office Installs Free Wifi for Schools
Jayapura, Jubi- The Jayapura Municipality Department of Education in partnership with Telkom has installed free Wifi for 100 schools since last year.
“This is our attempt to access data through our website. Therefore, any progress of education at schools can be submitted to the Department of Education and distributed to department’s divisions,” department head Robert J Betaubun told Jubi on Monday (20/10).
Besides the data processing or IT, the Department of Education will continue to expand its website so that parents can monitor the students’ progress.
“And we encourage almost all schools to have the facility such as Wifi. Even Telkom has installed the connection in school areas to assist the school authorities in monitoring the progress of their students through our website,” he said.
“And we encourage almost all schools to have the facility such as Wifi. Even Telkom has installed the connection in school areas to assist the school authorities in monitoring the progress of their students through our website,” he said.
Betaubun said Telkom has installed the direct connection in several areas in Jayapura Municality, such as near the SMK 5 (Vocational High School) and SMA 4 (High School).
Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tommy Mano said because of the improvement of online system in Jayapura Municipality, his administration is planning to include IT development in their working plan for 2015.
“We are trying to install the online system in sub-district and village administratives, including in the offices of the Employment Body, Regional Revenue Body, Integrated Public Service Body (BPPTSP) and Finance Office,” Mano said. “So public could monitor and do the payment directly,” he said. (Sindung Sukoco/rom)
“We are trying to install the online system in sub-district and village administratives, including in the offices of the Employment Body, Regional Revenue Body, Integrated Public Service Body (BPPTSP) and Finance Office,” Mano said. “So public could monitor and do the payment directly,” he said. (Sindung Sukoco/rom)
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7) Department of Tourism Supports Reopening of International Flights in Biak
Jayapura, Jubi – The Department of Tourism and Creative Economics said it strongly supports the Papuan provincial government’s plans to reopen international flights to and from Frans Kaisepo Airport in Biak.
“Basically, we support it since there are many potential tourism places , such as Padaido Island, Goa Japan (Japan Cave), and so on,” the department’s head, David Pagawak, told reporters in Jayapura on Sunday (19/10).
Governor Lukas Enembe has spent a lot of money to compensate for the customary rights of land around the airfield, so the local regents could build fencees for airport security.
“Biak could be the entrance of foreign tourists, as well as the entrance of the economy,” he added.
Earlier, the Provincial Government through the Department of Transportation Papua attempted to reopen the international airline route through the airport Frans Kaisiepo, Biak. This plan is being discussed with the head of the local branch of the I Angkasapura.
“We also had a meeting with Biak Numfor government regarding the completion of the airport land issue,” head of the Papua Provincial Transport Department, Yusuf Yambi Yabdi confirmed.
In the 1996-1998 period, Garuda Airways opened the route Jakarta – Denpasar – Biak – Honolulu – Los Anggeles commute. However the, international flight routes across the Pacific Ocean was stalled because of economic crisis.
“The plan, which is being explored is the Biak – Thailand – Japan – China and South Korea. It could alsobe Biak – Australia. These routes is what will be discussed with the operator. Because of this choice so there must be a lot of operators, used to be only one routes to Honolulu – USA, “Yambe Yabdi explained. (Alexander Loen)
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8) West Papua: Journalists to face trial
Monday, October 20, 2014
Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, two French journalists arrested by Indonesian authorities on August 6 while reporting on West Papua's independence movement, will face trial on October 20, AFP reported on October 14.
Despite a petition signed by more than 8800 people, the journalists will go on trial in a local court of West Papua for “abusive use of entry visas”.
Most journalists reporting on the conflict between West Papua and Indonesia have worked on tourist visas since 1969, as the area has been militarised in response to the independence movement. On the rare occasion that the visas are granted, state officials accompany the journalists during their investigation.
Indonesian authorities usually release journalists arrested for working on tourist visas within a few days. But in the case of Dandois and Bourrat, the government considered charging them for “subversion” because they had met with an independence leader in the district of Lanny Jaya. Five activists had been killed in the district a week earlier during a confrontation with the army.
Indigenous leader Areki Wanimbo was also arrested and charged with “rebellion” for supporting the journalists' activities on the island. The French journalists face up to US$40,000 in fines and up to five years in prison for “violation of immigration rights”.
Since a referendum imposed by the United Nations in 1969, Indonesia, a former Dutch colony, has claimed sovereignty over West Papua. Yet the referendum took place under the control of the Indonesian army, and had a 1% participation rate.
Since then, the human rights situation has caused widespread concern. Despite the obstacles to media coverage or investigation on the ground, NGOs have repeatedly denounced the repression of Indonesian security forces against the West Papuans and the killing of independence fighters.
The Indonesian government has also begun to implement a colonisation policy in West Papua ― which houses the biggest gold mine in the world ― similar to Israel in the Palestinian territories. This involves encouraging Indonesians to populate the territory by building artificial towns with hospitals and schools. These “transmigrants” are estimated to be the majority now.
[Reprinted from TeleSUR English. Sign a petition calling for the journalists to be released.]
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