1) Tolikara, BIN: Foreign Involvement Possible
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the State Intelligence Agency, Sutiyoso, claimed that there were several parties of interest that made use of Tolikara incident to attack government and its institutions. He said it is possible that the attack came from foreign parties.
"Police are still investigating. Foreign involvement is possible," he said on Wednesday July 22.
Sutiyoso claimed that BIN had warned local authorities that conflict was imminent on July 11, a week before the attack. He underlined that BIN has carried out its task by informing local authorities.
Moreover, Chief of Police General Badrodin Haiti said that the police have interrogated 37 witnesses. He said that they already have some names as suspect. "I will give you the names when we have detained the suspects," he said.
As for current measures, Badrodin said that police are securing Tolikara, as well as clearing the sites. "This takes time. Police now also help secure the refugee center," he said.
ANANDA TERESIA
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2) Muslim and GIDI in Tolikara Reconcile in Traditional Papua Way
TEMPO.CO, Jayapura - Religious leaders, both Muslim and Evangelical Churches in Indonesia (GIDI) made peace in the yard of the local military command, Karubaga City, Tolikara on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
According to Tolikara Regent Usman G. Wanimbo, peace is characterized by the typical central Papua mountainous region indigenous tribes shaking of hands.
The handshake is by both pinching each other’s middle finger and index finger then pulling it to make a snapping sound. After the handshake, they then hug each other.
The peace ceremony begins with an apology for the incident that occurred Tolikara by the Chairman of the GIDI Tolikara, Nayus Wenda, and GIDI Tolikara Secretary, Marthen Jingga.
Then, greeted by one Muslim leader, Ali Mukhtar, who requested that the other Muslims in the area of ​​Papua or the Indonesian region do not make any disturbing statements.
"Currently the situation is conducive and economic activity has resumed. The incident occurred just two hours, after which it finished with no continuity," said Tolikara Regent Usman G. Wanimbo, to reporters when met when visiting shooting victims at regional hospital at Dok 2, Wednesday night.
According to Usman, the institute has conducted reconciliation and healing around 12pm that same day. "From the peace ceremony, the two sides agreed to apologize to each other and agree to develop the region and secure Tolikara together," he said.
Usman added that the displaced stay at a former regent's office where houses and kiosks will later be rebuilt.
Before the ceremony of peace, the process started with voluntary work together in cleaning the debris after the fire.
CUNDING LEVI
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/23/islands-focus-three-nabbed-killing-reverend-papua.html
3) Islands in focus: Three nabbed for killing reverend in Papua -
Police arrested three men over the killing of Rev. Fredi Lasamahu and resident Simon Lukete at the Organda housing complex in the Padang Bulan area, early Wednesday morning.
“They were arrested at an oil palm plantation in East Arso, some 80 kilometers from Jayapura. [The men arrested] were among the attackers who entered the housing complex,” Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jermian Rontini said.
Rontini said the men, identified only as JH, JH and JU, along with two other suspects, DH and EK, who were arrested earlier in Sentani, attacked the housing complex on June 8.
After the attackers left the complex, residents found Fredi and Simon dead. The attackers also destroyed 10 houses and set a motorcycle alight.
The suspects were reportedly angry after the residents of the housing complex increased security patrols as police had earlier arrested one of the suspects’ friends for stealing. -
“They were arrested at an oil palm plantation in East Arso, some 80 kilometers from Jayapura. [The men arrested] were among the attackers who entered the housing complex,” Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jermian Rontini said.
Rontini said the men, identified only as JH, JH and JU, along with two other suspects, DH and EK, who were arrested earlier in Sentani, attacked the housing complex on June 8.
After the attackers left the complex, residents found Fredi and Simon dead. The attackers also destroyed 10 houses and set a motorcycle alight.
The suspects were reportedly angry after the residents of the housing complex increased security patrols as police had earlier arrested one of the suspects’ friends for stealing. -
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4) Long Storage for the Mega Rice Project in Merauke
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The program to develop 10,000 hectares of irrigation rice fields in Merauke, Papua began. "Merauke is a swamp area. So we develop a long storage to hold water so that it can be pumped for irrigation," said Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Hadimuljono Basuki.
The project is one form of infrastructure development for Papua and West Papua. The development of 10 thousand hectares of rice fields in Merauke is the work program of the Ministry of Agriculture expected to be completed later this year.
Basuki admitted, before the plan of developing 10 thousand hectares of rice fields in Merauke, the ministry has built long storage in transmigration settlements. With the 10 thousand hectares of new rice fields program in Merauke, long storage building will be directed to irrigate the future new rice fields.
In addition to building long storage, said Basuki, they will also connect the Trans Papua national road. Basuki targeted the connection to be completed in 2018. The total funds needed to connect the road along the 4,325 kilometers it as much as Rp 12.533 trillion.
The total road currently not connected is about 827 kilometers. “That is during the 2016-2018 period. But if you look at our annual budget now, you can [start developing],” Basuki said in a statement on Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
For next year, said Basuki, the government allocates Rp 6 trillion for Papua and Rp 4 trillion for West Papua. The money is not only for connecting Trans Papua, but also to build a number of bridges and other infrastructure.
KHAIRUL ANAM
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5) Tolikara Regent May Receive Sanction
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democratic Party spokesman Ruhut Sitompul said his party will leave all legal process to the authorities, including possible sanctions to Tolikara Regent, a Democratic Party cadre.
“We respect the law,” Sitompul said when contacted on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
Tolikara Regent Usman Wanimbo was deemed negligent on the Tolikara incident. A group of people believed to be members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) went to Baitul Mustaqin Mosque in Tolikara when Muslims were performing an Eid prayer on Friday. They protested the use of a loudspeaker during the prayer, stating that it was disturbing an event their church was holding at the same time.
According to the chairman of the Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions in Indonesia, Roni Mandang, there was chaos after police officers fired shots at them, which led to the torching of kiosks. Flames from these fires spread to the Islamic house of prayer, once it was known that a person had been shot dead.
It was later confirmed that one person was killed and 11 others were wounded in the incident.
Previously, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo said there was no regulation against building religious prayer houses. Usman said the local regulation was passed by local parliament in 2013.
Tjahjo said the regulation would have not been valid if only passed by the local parliament. It should instead be legalized by the Ministry of Home Affairs after agreed by the Head of Region and local parliament.
However, archive of the regulation has not been found. Ruhut cited possibility of provocations to create rift between religious groups.
DEWI SUCI RAHAYU
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6) Eid Mubarak Becomes Reason for Public Hospital Neglecting Five Shooting Victims for Surgery
Jayapura, Jubi – On their fifth day at Dok 2 Jayapura Public Hospital, six shooting victims in Tolikara incident on Friday, 17 July 2015 are still waiting for surgery to remove bullet from their body. The hospital said the doctors are currently on public holiday due to Eid Fitr.
The Head of Medicine Distribution at Tolikara Health Office, Rony Wenda who accompanied the victims from Tolikara to Jayapura said after their fifth day at hospital (Tuesday, 21/7/2015), the hospital has not arranged the surgery schedule for the six young men from Tolikara.
Wenda who is also paramedic stated his disappointed over the public hospital services that according to him is unreasonable and breaking its promise to put the human life in first rank.
“I am very disappointed with the slowness of hospital’s services in handling the shooting victims. Up today, there’s no doctor came to examine them and even the surgery schedule has not arranged yet. They said ‘we are on public holiday, doctor will do the surgery soon after the holiday,” said paramedic Wenda to Jubi at Dok 2 Jayapura Public Hospital on Tuesday (21/7/2015).
“The hospital’s staffer said it’s holiday…is it logic? While there are sick people need emergency help, but they were simply neglected because of holiday. It is now the fifth day, and tomorrow it would be the sixth but we have no confirmation yet, what about them (the victims)?” he said.
Wenda and his two colleagues accompanied seven shooting victims of Tolikara incident on Friday last week at Dok 2 Public Hospital. Since they arrived at the hospital, the six victims are still placed at men surgery’s room, while one of seven victims, Endi Wanimbo (15) died during the travel from Tolikara to Wamena. He was buried in Wamena on 18 July 2015.
Until now, five of six men are still waiting the confirmation on their surgery schedule. They are Keratas Togolom who’ve been shot on right tight, Erandinus Yikwa got shot on left tight, Perenus Wanimbo hit by bullet on left foot-sole, Amatem Wenda was shot on left hand and Yulianus Lambe was shot on left tight. Meanwhile Yetimbuluk Yikwa is confirmed not able to get surgery because the bullet penetrated the bottom and hit the penis and injured the nerves. However, the 35 years old man is currently only need the regular treatment. “Thank God, we are so glad that the bullet is gone without surgery although doctor said he could not take any surgery. But perhaps he moved a lot, so when he went to bath room the bullet came over,” said Wenda. Yetimbuluk Yikwa is not able to speak.
When Jubi visit the victims at Men Surgery’s Room of Dok II Public Hospital, Yulianus Lambe who is studying at Cenderawasih University expected the bullet in his left tight could be immediately taken and he could go home to meet his family soon. “I hope the doctor could take away the bullet. It’s fortunate the nurses gave medicine through infus so it’s not hurt me, it’s just like bitten by ant,” he said.
Separately, the Head of Papua Health Office, dr. Aloysius Giay admitted the medical staffs at this government hospital were negligence in doing their main task. He said he would immediately coordinate with related parties in handling this case.
“It shouldn’t be happened. I hope the staffs at Dok 2 (Hospital) make coordination soon. There are some medical colleagues at Marthen Indey Hospital, Bhayangkara Hospital, Navy Hospital and so on to help,” Giay said on the same day.
“It shouldn’t be happened. I hope the staffs at Dok 2 (Hospital) make coordination soon. There are some medical colleagues at Marthen Indey Hospital, Bhayangkara Hospital, Navy Hospital and so on to help,” Giay said on the same day.
Giay said in every public holiday related to religious day celebration, there is schedule arranged the day off for doctors who celebrate the day according to their faith. However, the doctors who are on holiday have obligation to give disposition to their colleagues who are working on that day. “The hospital should not lack of doctors on holiday,” he said. (Yuliana Lantipo/rom)
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7) A noble cause in Melanesian Spearhead Group
Benyamin Carnadi, Jakarta | Opinion | Thu, July 23 2015, 6:50 AM -
The 20th Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit, which took place in Honiara, the Solomon Islands, from June 24 to 26, has made its decision on the crucial issue of Papuan representation in the group. The MSG approved Indonesia’s application to become an associate member, as a country that contains five Melanesian provinces, including Papua. On the other hand, the MSG declined the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s (ULMWP) bid to become a full member of the group, and instead granted them with observer status as an NGO that represents the Melanesian diaspora.
Some have commented that the MSG granting Indonesia a higher level of representation than Papua is reflective of the different approaches by MSG leaders to the issue in general.
Some have also assumed that the decision was because of MSG leaders’ desire for the issue to be seen from a wider perspective.
First, we should note a shift in the nature of the MSG from a regional organization that “voices the liberty of all Melanesians against the tentacles of Western colonization” to a regional bloc that promotes and accelerates development in the Pacific region. This change has been evident from the first MSG Free Trade Agreement (MSG-FTA) signed in 1993.
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[...] Indonesia will continue to support MSG members to have a stronger and more positive engagement with the wider international community.
The agreement was formed to boost trade cooperation and liberalization in order to improve the economic and social well-being of member nations. Since then, economic cooperation has become the most visible focus of the group.
Since its entrance to the MSG in 2011, Indonesia has called for a stronger economic cooperation within the MSG. Since day one, Indonesia has brought to the table a sense of “we-feeling”, a feeling of confidence that Indonesia and the MSG can and will grow together through the exploration of new opportunities.
Indonesia’s membership will not only connect people in MSG member nations with the 11 million Melanesian Indonesians, but it will also provide access to the rest of some 250 million Indonesians as a potential market. It will also be a gateway to enter the larger ASEAN market of 600 million people.
Second, MSG leaders have made it clear that they respect Indonesia’s authority regarding issues of Papuan sovereignty. The Agreement Establishing the Melanesian Spearhead Group states that “the MSG respects the principles of international law governing relations between nations, including the principles of sovereignty, equality of independence of all states and non-interference in the domestic affairs of states.”
This was further reaffirmed in the joint statement by Indonesia and the MSG in 2014. Thus, in line with these noble principles, MSG leaders have affirmed their belief that Indonesian sovereignty over Papua shall not be questioned.
In addressing the issue of Papua and its people, the MSG chooses to engage with Indonesia in a positive and constructive manner.
Furthermore, the MSG is convinced that the best way to improve the lives of all Melanesians in Indonesia — not just Melanesians in Papua — is to work closely with the Indonesian government.
In his statement, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill said, “the ULMWP will be given observer status as a development partner representing the welfare of Melanesian people living abroad.”
Prime Minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, further reiterated that the MSG simply could not give the ULMWP the status it desired without compromising a fundamental principal that NGOs cannot have the same status as governments in the organization.
According to the participatory rights and obligations of observers, the ULMWP will have no voting rights or decision-making powers in the MSG.
It is not allowed to do any “political bargaining” within the MSG. It is also required to respect and protect the interests of the MSG and act in accordance with the spirit of the agreement.
This means that ULMWP is expected to support MSG programs and activities; and Indonesia is expected to improve the well-being of Melanesians in Papua.
Third, associate membership will bring Indonesia closer to the MSG.
As an associate member, Indonesia will play a greater role in decision-making processes of the MSG. A role that Indonesia should not waste, but should instead utilize for the betterment of all its citizens. Indonesia will add value to the organization, broaden relations between member nations, assist in working together to address common challenges and deepen economic ties and development within the framework of the MSG.
With its rich experiences as one of the founding members of ASEAN, Indonesia will surely help to increase the MSG’s image as a reputable organization that will earn it more respect in the region.
With its connections and strengths, Indonesia will continue to support MSG members to have a stronger and more positive engagement with the wider international community.
Indonesia is committed to cooperation with MSG partners to address common challenges, including climate changes and natural disasters. Indonesia stood side by side with Vanuatu and assisted with post-Typhoon Pam recovery efforts. It is estimated that Indonesia and the MSG will be able to quadruple the two way trade of US$260 million in the years to come.
Indonesia will also continue to provide technical cooperation for MSG members. Indonesia, so far, has convened no fewer than 130 technical cooperation programs, involving 583 Melanesian participants of MSG. There is much to be done.
MSG leaders now realize that Indonesia is not only the neighbor next door, but also a brother that shares the same hopes and aspirations with the people of the MSG.
The leaders believe that Melanesian Indonesians in the five provinces will be a tremendous asset in boosting regional ties.
With Indonesia’s associate membership in the MSG, Indonesia has become an inseparable part of the Melanesian family.
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The writer is director of Asia-Pacific and Africa interregional cooperation at the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta. The views expressed are his own. -
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Police Examined 37 in Tolikara Case
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Head of Criminal Investigation Commissioner General Budi Waseso said on Thursday, July 23, 2015, they had increase the number of witnesses examined in relation to the unrest in Karubaga, Tolikara, Papua.
“[On Wednesday] we examined 32 people, then increased the number to 37 witnesses," said Budi Waseso at the National Police Headquarters, Thursday.
All of the witnesses, said Budi, were allegedly associated with the incidence of violence that occurred on the morning of Eid. "Everyone [that are examined are] that are associated with those suspected of being involved in that activity," he said.
A group of people believed to be members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) went to Baitul Mustaqin Mosque in Tolikara when Muslims were performing an Eid prayer on Friday. They protested the use of a loudspeaker during the prayer, stating that it was disturbing an event their church was holding at the same time.
According to the chairman of the Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions in Indonesia, Roni Mandang, there was chaos after police officers fired shots at them, which led to the torching of kiosks. Flames from these fires spread to the Islamic house of prayer, once it was known that a person had been shot dead.
It was later confirmed that one person was killed and 11 others were wounded in the incident.
MITRA TARIGAN
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