Tuesday, October 14, 2014

1) Seven Tribal Representatives Threaten to Shut Freeport



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http://tabloidjubi.com/en/?p=3078


1) Seven Tribal Representatives Threaten to Shut Freeport



Jayapura, Jubi – Seven tribal customary rights owners, Damal, Komoro, Amungme, Dani, Mee, Moni and Nduga threatened to shut down Freeport McMoran in Mimika, Papua if the company failed to meet their demands, secretary, Degey Manase said.
Manase  said  the deadline for the company to respond to the demands is by next week. If not, the seven tribal representatives facilitated by Mimika Regent, will fly to New Orleans to meet Richard C. Adkerson, the shares owner of company.
“The second option, we will shut the entire mining activities. We are ready to die for our natural resources. All this time we feel that we have been cheated on and fooled. Our rights, employees and seven tribal communities are not appreciated,” he  said via phone to the Jubi on Monday (13/10). Degey Manase said, it will continue to fight for their demands.
“We are demanding the company to form Seven Tribal Empowerment Department in order to empower seven tribal communities, then develop their competence,” he said. He hopes that their rights are protected.
Earlier, thousands of workers from seven tribes blocked access to the main roads leading to a Freeport mine area on Wednesday ( 8/10).
Mimika Regent, Eltinus Omaleng confirmed that the employees and the seven tribes have made the demands since four years ago.
“The chief of PT. Freeport, Rozik Sucipto has promised it, but still it has not been accommodated. Therefore, the demands should be taken seriously,” Eltinus said at that time. (Arjuna Pademme/Tina)
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Note. It has been reported that all demonstrators have been released including those  arrested in Merauke.


http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2014/10/indonesia-bans-west-papua-rallies-for-imprisoned-journalists-29-arrested/

2) Indonesia bans West Papua rallies for imprisoned journalists, 29 arrested


Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch
The Indonesian government has banned West Papuan activist groups from holding a rally in West Papua to demand that French journalists Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat be released by the Indonesian authorities.
Tabloid Jubi newspaper reported that the police refused to grant permission for this peaceful demonstration yesterday, but that West Papuan activists were determined to go ahead.
The SuaraPapua news website and Radio NZ International reported that 29 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested after the protest was forcibly disbanded by the Indonesian police yesterday.
The Indonesian government still bans all foreign journalists from entering West Papua. Bourrat and Dandois were arrested in West Papua on August 6 simply for reporting on the situation. They now face a potential five-year jail sentence just for doing their duty as journalists.
The Free West Papua Campaign said:
The Indonesian government is still systematically trying to cover up their atrocities in West Papua by banning all foreign media. They do not want the world to know the truth because they know that when it is exposed, the international community will help to support the West Papuan people and their struggle for self-determination.
By holding this protest, West Papuans will pressurise the Indonesian government to stop hiding the truth in West Papua and to let journalists have access so that the world will finally know what is really happening there.
Please do remember the West Papuan people, as well as Thomas and Valentine in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow as West Papuans will risk their lives to help to bring freedom to journalists who are giving the Papuan people a voice.
Australia’s West Papua Association has written to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, asking her to make sure that the Indonesian authorities do not crack down on the West Papuan protesters.
‘Crackdown’ concerns
Joe Collins said: “AWPA is concerned that there may be a crackdown on any rallies that are held by the civil society groups as the police have refused to give a permit to allow the rallies to go ahead. They police claim that the organisations are not correctly registered in West Papua and demonstrators may use the symbol of the Morning Star flag on banners or posters which is banned by Indonesia. In the past year the security forces have regularly cracked down on peaceful demonstrators in the territory beating and arresting many.”
The international campaign to free Dandois and Bourrat reported that a petition to the Indonesian government had attracted more than 7000 signatures.
The campaign for freedom for West Papua has gained momentum with the government of Papua New Guinea recognising an historic first ever West Papuan Cultural Day held at the weekend in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The event was organised by West Papuan UPNG Students and featured on Papua New Guinea’s national EMTV news.
The governor of Port Moresby, Powes Parkop and Minister for Tourism and Culture, Boka Kondra, spoke out in favour of freedom for West Papua.

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