Thursday, April 9, 2015

1) Vanuatu says Indonesian aid has no bearing on Papua issue

2) Climate change and West Papua big issues for regional reps
3) Students Urge Human Rights Commission to Form Inquiry
4) Papua Legislative Council Chairman Accuses Jakarta Complicity in Timber Theft
5) State Must Own Up to Mistakes Over Papua, says Papuan Councillor
6) Jayapura Regency to Build First Cement Plant in Papua

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/270765/vanuatu-says-indonesian-aid-has-no-bearing-on-papua-issue

1) Vanuatu says Indonesian aid has no bearing on Papua issue

Updated at 1:56 pm today

The Vanuatu government says the Indonesian government's relief assistance will have no bearing on the West Papuan bid to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group
Vanuatu's Foreign Affairs Minister Sato Kilman says he personally received the aid relief donations from a delegation from Indonesia on Tuesday.
Mr Kilman was Prime Minister of Vanuatu in 2012 when the government controversially forged a co-operation agreement with Jakarta, although subsequent configurations of government have stepped back from closer links.
Howerer, the Foreign Minister says at this stage, Vanuatu will welcome assistance from any country.
"In my view it had nothing to do with the West Papuan issue, Vanuatu has diplomatic relations with Jakarta and this is a humanitarian issue and whoever has the heart to be able to give and donate to Vanuatu to help this reconstruction. It's a welcoming thing for Vanuatu."
Vanuatu Foreign Minister Sato Kilman.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua's bid for membership will be considered at the MSG leaders summit in Solomon Islands later this year.
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2) Climate change and West Papua big issues for regional reps

Updated at 1:56 pm today


One of the representatives on the Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism says the issue of West Papua could be on the table when the newly-formed group meets next week.
Lopeti Senituli is one of eight representatives appointed by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to look at identifying and assessing regional initiatives for their consideration.
Mr Senituli says there are a couple of pressing issues he expects to be on the table.
"The impact of climate change through the incidents of more violent tropical cyclones. I would assume that that would be a priority issue for the Pacific region. There's the possibility of perhaps the issue of West Papua being also an issue that leaders might consider an important one."
The full line-up on the Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism is: Melanesia - Leonard Louma (Papua New Guinea), Micronesia - Gustav Aitaro (Palau), Polynesia - Lopeti Senituli (Tonga), Australia/New Zealand - John Davidson (Australia), Smaller Island States - Teresa Manarangi-Trott (Cook Islands), Civil Society - William Kostka (Federated States of Mironesia), Private Sector - Peter Kiely (NZ), Chair - Dame Meg Taylor (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat).
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3) Students Urge Human Rights Commission to Form Inquiry

Jayapura, Jubi – At least 150 students and youths rallied in front of the National Human Rights Commission Papua Representative Office on Tuesday (7/4/2015) urging it to set up a team to investigate the shooting dead of four students in December.
Protester Agus Kadepa said the Paniai case constituted a severe human right violation. In addition, he said there are many cases in Papua were not resolved yet, such as the murder of Theys Eluay and Mako Tabuni, and the latest Yahukimo case.
“We asked the Indonesian Human Right Commission to immediately form the KPP HAM. They shouldn’t wait. The Paniai Case has observed the element of human right violation in accordance to the Law No.39/1999 and Law No.26/2000 stated nine categories of severe human right violation, including torture and enforced disappearance,” he said.
According to him, and for justice, the commission’s plenary must result the formation of KPP HAM. Elsham (Human Right Non-Governmental Organization), churches, and students will help to provide information on this case if the KPP HAM was established.
Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of National Human Right Commission Papua Representative Office, Frits Ramadei said the commission office was appreciated for the suggestion and input. He said the human right enforcement is not only the responsibility of Human Right Commission, but it is the struggle and responsibility of entire parties.
“National Human Right Commission is the institution by Law. So many teams have been formed and worked in field in resolving the Paniai case. Papua Representative Office has issued a conclusion and recommendation that the Paniai case is suspected containing the human right violation,” he said.
Separately, the Papua Legislative Council’s Commission I member for Legal, Politics and Human Right, Laurenzus Kadepa said the National Human Right Commission Papua Representative Office must follow up the students’ voice to the Indonesian Human Right Commission as a pressure for them taking the appropriate actions in resolving the Paniai case.
“This is to bring justice to the victims and their families. Don’t let it be ended without solution. It’s about the humanity and justice. The Paniai case must be the entrance to resolve similar cases in Papua,” Kadepa said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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4) Papua Legislative Council Chairman Accuses Jakarta Complicity in Timber Theft

Sentani, Jubi – The Papua provincial government launched a reforestation program called ‘Planting Jayapura’ to rehabilitate forest lost to logging.
The head of the Papua Forest Agency, Jayapura Regional Government officials, students and Nature Preserve Community participated in the event by planting a thousand trees of 20 species on one-hectare land.
“Papua is currently listed as the owner of the world’s third largest forest. Thus, this action will be enough to guarantee the future lives of the Papuan community,” said the Papua Legislative Council Chairman Yunus Wonda in Sentani on Tuesday (7/4/2015) during the event.
He further said illegal logging in Papua involved the central government through certain companies.
“As the Chairman, I firmly said to the central government to stop illegal logging in Papua,” Wonda said.
He also said the oil palm plantation must be reduced because it damaged land and forest. “I also need to say to the regional leaders for not easily accepting the investors’ offers to grow the oil palm trees,” he firmly said. Meanwhile in the same place, the Jayapura Regent Matius Awotau said the Jayapura Regency is still continuing to support the environmental rehabilitations.
“It is on line with the Children Friendly Village Program. The open green spaces are needed in realizing the children friendly regency. Therefore, the trees plantation must keep doing in the future,” he said.
In connection to illegal logging, last week the Papua Forestry Office found several timber companies in Papua indicated transporting logs from the forest to outside of Papua. “Instead of woods, they also transported the logs to outside of Papua,” said the Papua Forestry Chief Yan Yap Ormusera in Jayapura, Papua.
In fact, since 2013, the Papua Governor has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Siti Nurbaya to revoke the permit of 13 companies who hold the business permit on Timber Forest Product on Natural Forest in Papua. But the ministry only revoked the permit of PT. Merauke Rayon Jaya, however the company then sued its revocation and won. According to Ormusera, illegal logging has been usually happening in Nabire, Sarmi, Keerom and Jayapura. Few times ago, the authorities detained four containers of wood belong to PT. IJP in Jayapura. And the timber company PT. SUM in Nabire also shut by the Police while the Police detained nine trucks transporting logs in Keerom and now is under the police’s investigation.(Engelberth Wally/rom
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5) State Must Own Up to Mistakes Over Papua, says Papuan Councillor

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legislative Council’s Commission I member Laurenzus Kadepa said the State should have courage to own up to its past mistakes in Papua and make amends.
“The State must dare admit its mistakes in the past and promised not to repeat it if it wants Papua to be still part of the Republic of Indonesia. It must change its approach and commit to human development in Papua. It should not focus only on infrastructure,” Kadepa told Jubi on Tuesday (7/4/2015).
According to him, although they are the landowners but during the time, Papuans are always becoming an object. This country seems have no intention to develop the Papuan human resources, while Papuans also have the same right to other citizens.
“The State should no longer use the military approach in Papua, and it would better reduce the military in Papua. Now the number of Papuans is reduced. Papua would be just a dream, if Indonesia doesn’t change its approaching method,” he said.
Meanwhile, another Commission I member Tan Wie Long similarly said it is time for the State to admit its mistake and apologize to Papuans and not make the same mistakes in the future. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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6) Jayapura Regency to Build First Cement Plant in Papua

Sentani, Jubi – PT Semen Indonesia Tbk and Jayapura regency agreed to work together to build a cement factory in Jayapura, which will be the first such plant in Papua.
Construction of the 150-million-dollar plant is due to start in January 2016 with a production capacity of about 1 million tonnes per year and expected to be completed within three years.
The construction and financing of the plant is coordinated by PT Semen Indonesia Tbk, while Jayapura regency is to help in socializing and talking with local people whose location will be used for the development of the industry.
The cooperation was held in the event of Launching Activities PT Semen Indonesia Tbk with Jayapura regency last week.
PT Semen Indonesia was represented by Director of Business Development and Business Strategy, Rizkan Chandra and Suparni serves as Managing Director while. Jayapura regency was represented by Jayapura Regent Mathius Awoitauw.
“It’s like a match between Jayapura and Indonesia Cement. They have the skills and desire to develop the cement industry in Papua as it can be efficiency of distribution costs and the anticipated increase in cement consumption and export opportunities to PNG. We Jayapura residents want a variety of strategic industries that require cement easily so Jayapura economies would grow more rapidly. When the industry is built, the economy could grow stronger, the quality of life of the people is increasing, “Mathius Awoitauw conveyed, at a press conference at the VIP Room Regent Office on Thursday (02/04/2015).
Meanwhile, Rizkan Chandra said he was grateful for PT Semen Indonesia plans to build an integrated cement plant in Jayapura and welcomed by the Regent and his staff. “It’s a step forward for the people of Papua in Jayapura and generally,” he said.(Engelberth Wally/ Tina)

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