2) Dozens of Police Besiege KNPB Office in Sentani
3) Papua Legislator Urges Police to Take Action over Church Burning in Aceh
4) Haze crisis spreads with hot spots found in Papua
5) Catholic Priests Released after Being Stuck in Police Truck for One Hour
6) Rights Group Condemns Police’s “Brutal and Arrogant Acts”
——————————————————————————————————————-
1) Papua Legislator Cast Doubts OPM Commander’s Reported Resignation
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Laurenzus Kadepa cast doubts on reports that a commander of West Papua Liberation Army/Papua Free Movement (OPM), Goliath Tabuni, has laid down arms and become a timber businessman.
He questioned the accuracy of the reports about Tabuni, who is based in Tinggi Nambut, Puncak Jaya Regency, saying that the desire for independence is not something that could be easily abandoned.
As the OPM Commander, Tabuni would not accept offers easily.
“I am not sure that Goliat Tabuni has come down. Because the ideology is priceless,” Kadepa said on Tuesday (13/10/2015).
“I am not sure that Goliat Tabuni has come down. Because the ideology is priceless,” Kadepa said on Tuesday (13/10/2015).
He also had other reason that some times ago the Papua Police has named Goliath Tabuni in the wanted list. Even the Inspector General Yotje Mende who acted as Papua Police Chief at that time said although Tabuni was surrender himself, he would still facing the legal process. “So, I doubt it. However, if this is true, I hope there is no more shooting incident happened in Puncak Jaya in the future,” he said.
Kadepa, who’s the member of Commission I of the Papua Legislative Council for Politic, Legal and Human Right Affairs, further said the story of Keli Kwalikm the OPM Commander in Mimika is the lesson learned. At that time, the security forces shot dead Keli Kwalik, someone who accused being responsible on several acts of shooting in Mimika region. But after his dead, the shooting still continues to happen in that region.
“It means there are those who play the game, and Keli Kwalik was only become the scapegoat. Now, Goliath Tabuni was reportedly step down. But is that guarantee for there is no more shooting? However, the steps taken by Puncak Jaya Regent Henock Ibo to ensure the security of his territorial should be appreciated,” he said.
“It means there are those who play the game, and Keli Kwalik was only become the scapegoat. Now, Goliath Tabuni was reportedly step down. But is that guarantee for there is no more shooting? However, the steps taken by Puncak Jaya Regent Henock Ibo to ensure the security of his territorial should be appreciated,” he said.
Earlier, in a number of media coverage, Goliath Tabuni was reported to change his way of life to a businessman of timber. Puncak Jaya Regent Henock Ibo said the local government has donated a chainsaw and fuels for him. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
—————————————————————————————————-
2) Dozens of Police Besiege KNPB Office in Sentani
Semarang, Jubi – Dozens of police officers reportedly surrounded the secretariat of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Sentani on Tuesday (13/10/2015), while the Chairman of KNPB Sentani Region, Allen Halitopo, said the police only made up an alibi.
“Yesterday, the Police were coming full-equipped. They accused the KNPB organizing an activity, while we didn’t,” Halitopo told Jubi by phone on Wednesday (14/10/2015). According to them, the Police have watched the secretariat since midday and leaved the scene at night. He further said the Police are deliberately looking for an alibi to trap the KNPB that until now is still consistent to mediate the aspirations and needs of Papuans.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Central KNPB, Victor F Yeimo confirmed the incident to Jubi. “That’s right. The Police were surrounded the secretariat of KNPB Region. We still don’t know what’s their intention,” he said.
Until this news was written down, reporter was not able to get some information and from the Jayapura Police Chief to confirm the incident. (Arnold Belau/rom)
——————————————————————————————————-
3) Papua Legislator Urges Police to Take Action over Church Burning in Aceh
Jayapura, Jubi – The Chairwoman of Commission V of the Papua Legislative Council, Yakoba Lokbere, urged the Police to take stern action over the burning of the Church GKPPD Mandumpang Resort Keras, Suro Sub-district, Aceh Singkil Regency, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province on Tuesday (13/10/2015).
Lokbere stated the incident shouldn’t be happened in Indonesia, which engaged with Pancasila (State’s Philosophy), particularly the first principle and the slogan Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unite in Diversity).
“We must uphold the mutual respect among the interfaith community. So why should our Christian brothers in Aceh become the victims to see their church was burned by some irresponsible people?” Lokbere told Jubi in Jayapura City on Wednesday (14/10/2015).
“We must uphold the mutual respect among the interfaith community. So why should our Christian brothers in Aceh become the victims to see their church was burned by some irresponsible people?” Lokbere told Jubi in Jayapura City on Wednesday (14/10/2015).
Further, she said the Indonesian Constitution clearly says that citizens have the right to have religion according to their faith. The burning of the house of worship is certainly violating the Indonesian Law. “I remind people for not giving a negative respect on Tolikara case, because it had been settled very well. All religious leaders have also agreed to solve this case with the kinship of the Muslim and Christian communities,” she said.
She added she is very concern about the incident happened in Aceh. Thus, she expected the Police would take a prompt action to immediately arrest the perpetrators and prosecute them in accordance to the Law. According to her, both regions (Papua and Aceh) are the regions with the Special Autonomy Law, which should be maintained without hurting the people who live there.
“I appeal to the people of Papua not to be provoked by this case. Let the Police to handle this. Do not only point at Tolikara but the similar case happened at Singkil must also get the same attention. The Police should observe this case smartly,” she said.
“I appeal to the people of Papua not to be provoked by this case. Let the Police to handle this. Do not only point at Tolikara but the similar case happened at Singkil must also get the same attention. The Police should observe this case smartly,” she said.
As reported by merdeka.com, the Indonesian Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti explained about the chronology of mass dispute in Gunung Meriah Sub-district, Aceh Singkil Region. He said the incident which caused the burning of the church and killed two residents and wounded four people as well was triggered by the demolition of houses of worships that considered have no permit.
“It connected with the case of 21 churches that have no construction permit, so the local youngsters were intended to discipline it,” Badrodin said at his official resident in Jakarta on Tuesday (13/10/2015).
“It connected with the case of 21 churches that have no construction permit, so the local youngsters were intended to discipline it,” Badrodin said at his official resident in Jakarta on Tuesday (13/10/2015).
Before it’s executed, Haiti said the local government and religious leaders agreed the demolition would be conducted after 19 October 2014. But, some local residents have taken prompt action by burning out a church. “It seems local residents didn’t admit acknowledge those who represent them at the meeting,” he said. (Roy Ratumakin/rom
—————————————————————————————————————-
4) Haze crisis spreads with hot spots found in Papua
The intensity of smoke produced by peatland and forest fires has remained at alarming levels in many parts of the country, reaching as far as Papua, which usually does not suffer from forest fires.
In Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, the operator of Kualanamu International Airport reported that thick haze in several regions in Sumatra had affected at least eight flights scheduled to depart on Saturday from the province’s biggest airport.
“Four flights have been cancelled and four others have been delayed due to thick haze that has been blanketing the destination cities,” Kualanamu duty manager Jasirin said on Saturday.
Visibility at the airport, meanwhile, was recorded at 1,000 meters on Saturday, 500 meters below the normal level.
The four cancelled flights, according to Jasirin, were operated by Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Lion Air and Wings Air. The Garuda flight was initially scheduled to leave Kualanamu for Lhokseumawe, Aceh, while the one operated by Wings was supposed to fly to Sibolga, North Sumatra. The two flights operated by Citilink and Lion Air were scheduled to fly to Batam, Riau Islands.
Due to the disruptions, Kualanamu’s departure hall was packed with stranded airline passengers by Saturday afternoon.
Many regions in Indonesia, including Riau, Jambi, North Sumatra, South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan, have been struggling for the past several months to anticipate the impacts of smoke produced by both man-made and natural land and forest fires.
On Friday, the Health Ministry
reported that the haze crisis had caused more than 425,000 people in the worst-affected provinces to suffer from acute respiratory infections. The disaster, meanwhile, has also been exacerbated by this year’s long dry season triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon, and has recently spread eastward.
In Papua, local authorities have since Thursday closed Mozes Kilangin International Airport in Timika, Mimika regency, due to thick haze that has severely reduced visibility in the area.
“The visibility has dropped from 500 meters on Friday to only 400 meters today [Saturday],” Mimika Transportation, Communications and Information Agency head John Rettob said, adding that he suspected the haze came from land and forest fires in the southern part of Papua.
Earlier on Friday, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) Region V Jayapura office reported that it had detected 104 hot spots in southern areas, with 92 spotted in Merauke regency and the remaining 12 in Mappi regency.
Local residents have also expressed disappointment on the worsening air pollution.
“Timika has become dark due to the haze, even though we have been switching on lights in the afternoon,” said Saldi, a local resident.
In South Sulawesi, the Maros Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) on Saturday reported that it had deployed personnel to extinguish fires that had been spotted in some parts of Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park in Cenrana district.
Maros BPBD head Sayuti said the fires had initially come from a neighboring educational forest, which belongs to Hasanuddin University (Unhas) and has been recently burned by fires.
“Although we managed to put out fires in the Unhas forest, they spread to some parts of the nearby conservation forest since yesterday [Friday],” Sayuti said.
A recent study, meanwhile, has revealed the catastrophic impact of forest fires in Indonesia, catapulting the country’s CO2 emissions over Germany’s total annual emissions.
The study, done by VU University Amsterdam, showed that land and forest fires in Indonesia this year had released an estimated one billion metric tons, or a gigaton, of carbon dioxide as of Wednesday.
“Fire emissions are already higher than Germany’s total CO2 emissions, and the fire season is not over yet,” said Guido van der Werf, a researcher at the university who keeps a database that tracks global emissions from wildfires.
Furthermore, since September, daily emissions from Indonesia’s fires exceeded daily emissions from the entire US economy, which is 20 times larger than Indonesia’s, on 26 days, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).
——————————————————————————
5) Catholic Priests Released after Being Stuck in Police Truck for One Hour
Jayapura, Jubi – The Police released six Catholic seminarians arrested during a demonstration demanding the settlement of the shootings of four students in Paniai on 8 December 2014.
They were released after an hour and half being stuck in the Police truck in front of Abepura Police Station with other protesters.
“We’ve been released after an hour and half inside that truck,” Bruder Yulianus Pawika OFM said in the press conference organized by Solidarity for Papua Human Right Violation’s Victims, Independent Student Forum, USTJ Student Executive Body, Garda P, GMKI and Paniai Regional Customary Council at KontraS Papua Office, Padang Bulan, Abepura, Jayapura City on last week.
“We’ve been released after an hour and half inside that truck,” Bruder Yulianus Pawika OFM said in the press conference organized by Solidarity for Papua Human Right Violation’s Victims, Independent Student Forum, USTJ Student Executive Body, Garda P, GMKI and Paniai Regional Customary Council at KontraS Papua Office, Padang Bulan, Abepura, Jayapura City on last week.
Pawika said there are 18 seminarians and monks involved in the protest. According to him, their involvement has no political intention but the call of conscience on humanity of Papuans who continue to be slaughtered. “We get involved because of feeling compelled. Franciscan existed in Papua since 1936. It came because of Papuans, the humans, not because of State or others. So when we saw humans were killed, beaten, we are very upset,” he seriously said.
Related to the arrest, Pawika said he couldn’t accept the Police’s act for being arrogant. The Police didn’t communicate with the protesters. They came with their truck close to the protesters without thinking they might hit them. “The Police almost hit us. Yesterday the protesters almost died. Couldn’t we just talk?” he said.
Represeting Augustinian Order, Fr. Florentinus Sedik OSA, who also involved in the protest, said their involvement in the protest was a call to remind the government who doesn’t care about the shooting victims’ right.
“We came down because the humanity value of shooting victims might be forgotten,” he seriously said.
“We came down because the humanity value of shooting victims might be forgotten,” he seriously said.
He said their involvement was of life reflection in the abbey. Monastic life is full of rules and prayer but it would never safe the human’s life that continues to be scarified. “To whom we do pray? Young people were killed easily; Papuans would disappear in twenty years. Even God would never allow the life of human would dismiss by force. We have obligation to speak about it,” he said. (Mawel Benny/rom)
6) Rights Group Condemns Police’s “Brutal and Arrogant Acts”
Jayapura, Jubi – A human rights group condemned Jayapura Municipality Police for mishandling a peace protest to demand justice over the Paniai Case, 8 December 2014.
“We regretted that in the forced dissolution of peace demonstration, there are numbers of students, activists, youths, and seminarians had been arrested, tortured and dumped into the Police’s truck to be brought to the Abepura Police Station,” said Solidarity for Papua Human Right Violation Victims (SKP-HAM).
“The Police also acted arrogantly and violently to the pressmen (reporters from Jubi, Cepos) who wanted to cover the demonstration,” the Coordinator of SKP-HAM Papua, Paneas Lobber said in KontraS Papua Office on Friday (09/10).
The observer on International Affairs from Cenderawasih University, Marinus Yaung said the rally held on last Thursday (08/10/2015) was not against the Law of the Republic of Indonesia, so the Police could not disperse it with easy. “We are still asking and demanding the President Joko Widodo to fulfill his promise on resolution of Paniai Case when he came to Papua on National Christmas event last year. Thus, the Police must know and understand the flow of the rally,” he said.
In order to respond the action of forced dissolution, SKP-HAM made statements as follows: (1) the demonstration on Thursday (08/10) have been conducted in a peaceful, in which the mass did not delivery speeches of separatism and did not conduct anarchy, thus it couldn’t be forcedly dispersed by the Police; (2) The act of forced dissolution by the Police is a cruel act that stain the value of humanity and makes people no longer dare to express their opinion and voice the truth in public though it’s guaranteed by Indonesian Constitution; (3) Condemns the forced dissolution by the Police because it does not respect the freedom of gathering, the freedom of expression and the freedom to voice aspirations that guaranteed by the principles of democracy; (4) Demands the responsibility and professionalism of the Police officers in tackling the peace demonstrations; (5) Asks the Papua Police Chief to dismiss the Jayapura Municipal Police Deputy Chief Albertus Adreana who had been careless and anarchy in tackling the peace demonstration by SKP-HAM. (Abeth You/rom)
——————————————————————————
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.