1) Aid Arrives for Hail and Snow Victims in Papua
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Aid consisting of around 15 tons of rice, 300 blankets, 600 boxes of instant noodles, 600 packets of food produces and 600 packets of children's food have been dispatched to hail victims in the province of Papua.
The aid was symbolically handed over by Social Minister, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, to Timika's Head of Social Agency, Ribka, at the VIP waiting room at Timika's Mozes Kilangin Airport on Tuesday.
The Minister was initially scheduled to fly out to Lani Jaya to ensure that logistics are adequately distributed to those affected in the area. However, her plan had to be abandoned due to bad weather in the area. It is known that the Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yambise, was also scheduled to join.
Khofifah's entourage was also supposed to fly out to Tolikara, to meet with the victims of the Tolikara Riots on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
The persistent snow and hail in the Regencies of Nduga, Lani Jaya, and Puncak, has caused harvests to fail - as a result, 21,600 families across 21 villages in six districts are facing the threat of starvation.
The cold weather has also caused livestocks to perish, in addition to causing harm to the health of scores of residents. According to information received by the Lani Jaya Health Agency, 11 has succumbed to the cold - consisting of five infants, two children, and four adults.
The distribution of aid has thus far impeded by the rough terrain of the affected area - which is located at 2,700 metres above sea level.
ANTARA
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2) Editorial: Tolikara Incident Shows We Can’t Take Pluralism for Granted
By Jakarta Globe on 03:37 pm Jul 21, 2015
Tags: Conflict, history, Papua unrest, pluralism, Tolikara incident
One of the main foundations of modern Indonesia was the awareness that the nation could only survive if it would accept, respect and accommodate differences. Therefore the primary – of not sole — task of the country’s elite and all of its people is to protect and nurture this spirit of tolerance and make sure that generation after generation will inherit this way of life.
Our founding fathers have sacrificed their egos, narrow-minded ideals and goals to allow the establishment of a pluralist nation, which we call Indonesia. This former colony could have easily been turned into an Islamic state if the nation’s Muslim leaders — who formed an overwhelming majority — had insisted on doing so.
Just a few months before the proclamation of independence on Aug. 17, 1945, there was broad agreement that Islam would be the foundation of the new nation-state. But after long discussion and protests from Christian leaders, who threatened to quit their support for the nation, it was ultimately agreed that Indonesia would be a secular state.
Building a pluralist nation, however, remains work in progress. We can’t take peace for granted and we have to have a solid strategy to maintain it.
On the national level, Muslims form the overwhelming majority, but minorities everywhere need to be protected if necessary. Unfortunately, sectarian violence and attacks in recent years have suggested our strategy needs amendment.
Differences of interest at the local level can create clashes between Indonesians of various ethnicities or religions. Fortunately small-scale clashes have over the years remained largely isolated — as long as no outsiders try to fan the flames of conflict. Indeed, conflicts have become political tools for those who seek power.
The history of sectarian conflict in Indonesia is a story of local elites and those in Jakarta playing roles in minor clashes and seeking escalation when they can benefit. We know this from deadly conflicts in Ambon, Poso, Aceh and Kalimantan. Instead of working to contain the clash, elite players take advantage in an effort to gain influence and popularity.
That’s why we call on Jakarta’s elites to stay away from last week’s incident in Tolikara, Papua. The alleged attack on a congregation of Muslims should remind us that a peaceful, pluralist society cannot be taken for granted. We all have a role to play, but de-escalation should be the primary concern.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Aid consisting of around 15 tons of rice, 300 blankets, 600 boxes of instant noodles, 600 packets of food produces and 600 packets of children's food have been dispatched to hail victims in the province of Papua.
The aid was symbolically handed over by Social Minister, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, to Timika's Head of Social Agency, Ribka, at the VIP waiting room at Timika's Mozes Kilangin Airport on Tuesday.
The Minister was initially scheduled to fly out to Lani Jaya to ensure that logistics are adequately distributed to those affected in the area. However, her plan had to be abandoned due to bad weather in the area. It is known that the Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yambise, was also scheduled to join.
Khofifah's entourage was also supposed to fly out to Tolikara, to meet with the victims of the Tolikara Riots on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
The persistent snow and hail in the Regencies of Nduga, Lani Jaya, and Puncak, has caused harvests to fail - as a result, 21,600 families across 21 villages in six districts are facing the threat of starvation.
The cold weather has also caused livestocks to perish, in addition to causing harm to the health of scores of residents. According to information received by the Lani Jaya Health Agency, 11 has succumbed to the cold - consisting of five infants, two children, and four adults.
The distribution of aid has thus far impeded by the rough terrain of the affected area - which is located at 2,700 metres above sea level.
ANTARA
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2) Editorial: Tolikara Incident Shows We Can’t Take Pluralism for Granted
By Jakarta Globe on 03:37 pm Jul 21, 2015
Tags: Conflict, history, Papua unrest, pluralism, Tolikara incident
One of the main foundations of modern Indonesia was the awareness that the nation could only survive if it would accept, respect and accommodate differences. Therefore the primary – of not sole — task of the country’s elite and all of its people is to protect and nurture this spirit of tolerance and make sure that generation after generation will inherit this way of life.
Our founding fathers have sacrificed their egos, narrow-minded ideals and goals to allow the establishment of a pluralist nation, which we call Indonesia. This former colony could have easily been turned into an Islamic state if the nation’s Muslim leaders — who formed an overwhelming majority — had insisted on doing so.
Just a few months before the proclamation of independence on Aug. 17, 1945, there was broad agreement that Islam would be the foundation of the new nation-state. But after long discussion and protests from Christian leaders, who threatened to quit their support for the nation, it was ultimately agreed that Indonesia would be a secular state.
Building a pluralist nation, however, remains work in progress. We can’t take peace for granted and we have to have a solid strategy to maintain it.
On the national level, Muslims form the overwhelming majority, but minorities everywhere need to be protected if necessary. Unfortunately, sectarian violence and attacks in recent years have suggested our strategy needs amendment.
Differences of interest at the local level can create clashes between Indonesians of various ethnicities or religions. Fortunately small-scale clashes have over the years remained largely isolated — as long as no outsiders try to fan the flames of conflict. Indeed, conflicts have become political tools for those who seek power.
The history of sectarian conflict in Indonesia is a story of local elites and those in Jakarta playing roles in minor clashes and seeking escalation when they can benefit. We know this from deadly conflicts in Ambon, Poso, Aceh and Kalimantan. Instead of working to contain the clash, elite players take advantage in an effort to gain influence and popularity.
That’s why we call on Jakarta’s elites to stay away from last week’s incident in Tolikara, Papua. The alleged attack on a congregation of Muslims should remind us that a peaceful, pluralist society cannot be taken for granted. We all have a role to play, but de-escalation should be the primary concern.
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Note: In article the suggestion “ The strongest opinion so far came from Fahmi Habsyi, Executive Director of the Trisakti Evaluation Centre (Pusaka Trisakti), who believed that what happened in Tolikara was purely an intelligence operation”.
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/21680/who-orchestrated-the-tolikara-incident/
3) Who Orchestrated the Tolikara Incident?
Posted On 21 Jul 2015By : Felix Utama Kosasih
CommentsTag: Conflict, Indonesia, Papua, Perspective, Tolikara
Jayapura, GIVnews.com – Amid the festivities surrounding the Eid al-Fitr celebration in Indonesia, the peace and happiness characteristic of the holiday was broken by an attack in Tolikara, a regency in the island of Papua.
Six houses, eleven kiosks, and a mushala (small mosque) were burned, and a man was shot dead. The conflict started when several people from the GIDI (Gereja Injili di Indonesia), a Christian church denomination, confronted the Muslims who were conducting their Eid prayers. GIDI claimed the sound amplifiers used by the mushala was disturbing a nation-wide seminar held by the church at the same time. By this point, different versions of the story are told by the differing parties. GIDI says its members burned only the kiosks after one man was shot dead by the police guarding the Eid prayers, but the fire later spread to the mushala as well. Another version of the event maintains that not only did the GIDI people burned the mushala, they also threw stones at the mushala.
Then, there is also rumors of a letter issued by GIDI, numbered 90/SP/GIDI-WT/VII/2015. The letter forbids the Eid prayers in its entirety, plus banning the building of any houses of worship in Tolikara, including churches not affiliated to GIDI. It was signed by Pastor Nayus Wenda, Chairman of GIDI Tolikara. The selfish ruling has been slammed by representatives of all religions in Indonesia, as no one should be allowed to prevent anyone from exercising his religious beliefs.
External Influence?
All these uncertainties, combined with the loss of life and the fact that this unfortunate incident occurred on the usually highly tolerant Papua, has sparked the theory that the entire conflict was orchestrated by someone outside Papua. This perpetrator is believed to aim for chaos by causing sectarian conflicts in Papua, a region which has only recently started to improve its relationship with Jakarta, under the support and leadership of President Widodo.
The strongest opinion so far came from Fahmi Habsyi, Executive Director of the Trisakti Evaluation Center (Pusaka Trisakti), who believed that what happened in Tolikara was purely an intelligence operation. Habsyi trusts that the Papuan people are tolerant and very polite, and thus the incident cannot be seen on its own. He also thinks that the attack may be related to Widodo’s policy of accelerating development in Papua.
“The sequence [of events] must be seen from several one-sided actions which have demanded a referendum on Papua… Someone is trying to create trouble, and also offers the solution through another motive and aim for a compromise. This is a classic style. Hopefully [President Widodo] can see it. Do not underestimate the incident. Remember the riot in Ambon 1999, it was sparked by a mere fight in a terminal. What happened in Papua is more serious than that,” explained Habsyi to Berita Satu.
Habsyi’s sentiment is echoed by Laode Ida, Chairman of the Presidium of East Indonesia Association (PPIT). “Violence towards a religious group is not the character of Papuans. The Papua people are not like that. They are tolerant and respectful of other people’s religious freedom. We strongly believe there are groups who come from outside Papua and then spread a provocative propaganda.” Ida also demanded the government to mediate a formal reconciliation process in Tolikara to prevent a cycle of revenge, as reported by Kompas.
The possibility of an outsider whispering to the GIDI congregation has not escaped the attention of General Badrodin Haiti, head of the National Police. “Someone deliberately set the riot. However, we can’t confirm yet the existence of a foreign power in the incident. But there are several people from out of the region who were involved in the riot. We are still looking for the intellectual actor.”
Meanwhile, state leaders and religious elders alike have called for restraint and peace among all elements in society. In Papua, 15 Christian and Muslim leaders have conducted a meeting and issued a joint apology on the attack. Furthermore, they also requested the law-enforcing authorities to completely investigate the incident and punish the perpetrators in full accordance to the law.
“We regret the burning of mushala and the attack on Muslims in Tolikara, which caused the loss of life in Eid al-Fitr celebrations. In regard of this event, we also push the authorities to immediately solve the problem completely and professionally by processing the actors according to the law. We also ask the people not to be provoked by false issues [spread by] irresponsible people. [We ask] security officals to immediately calm down the situation through strict acts, but without violence, to identify the perpetrator and the cause, so that riots would not expand and repeat itself,” said Pastor Herman Saud in the leaders’ joint statement.
Other than the 15 elders, pleas for calm have also been voiced by President Widodo, VP Kalla, the Minister for Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, National Police General Badrodin Haiti, and various religious organizations including the Muhammadiyah, PGI (Indonesian Council of Churches), KWI (Indonesian Conference of Churches’ Representatives), and MUI (Indonesian Council of Ulema).
In such a time of great celebration of victory for the Muslim people, it is such a shame that several people saw fit to spread violence and hatred. What they did was a great mistake, and they deserve a just punishment. Nevertheless, revenge acts and more riots will not solve anything, neither will it rebuild the burned houses, kiosks, and mushala. Let us spread love and compassion instead, and pray together for a more tolerant and peaceful Indonesia.
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