2) Signs of strong support for Liberation Movement in Papua
3) Govt Denies Opening of OPM Office in Wamena
4) Police investigate attempt to open separatist office in Papua
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1) Papua Police Detain 2 People for Setting Up OPM Office in Wamena
By : Robert Isidorus & Alin Almanar | on 9:47 PM February 18, 2016
Jayapura/Jakarta. Police in Papua have detained two people deemed "mainly responsible" for allegedly establishing an office for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) in Wamena, a police official said.
The Free Papua Organization (OPM) announced the "secret" establishment on Monday of the office, which it said was "aimed at seeking international support for Papuan independence," and "initiated by the Melanesian community."
Police have since taken down the signage on the Wamena office and arrested two people identified only as M.H. and E.W., Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said late on Wednesday (17/02).
"They are the brains behind this," the police chief said. It is alleged that the initials M.H. refer to Markus Haluk, leader of the ULMWP.
"They are being questioned to establish who installed the signage outside the offices. If they are proved to have established an organization that tends to run contrary to the state's vision, they will be prosecuted," Paulus said.
He added that Monday's event was actually an official announcement of the establishment of the Papua Customary Council (DAP).
"It was just an installation of signage [outside the office] by those who wanted to take advantage of the moment. They used the event for propaganda purposes," he said. "Thus there was no ULMWP office."
In his response to the police's action to remove the signage, Markus Haluk, once a chairman of the Central Highlands Papuan Student Association, said: "The name sign may be brought down, but ULMWP will never stop."
The Jakarta Globe has tried to contact Markus by phone but he was not immediately available for comment on Thursday. "I'm a bit busy, please contact me later," Markus said.
The Indonesian government earlier denied the OPM's claims of the opening an office in Wamena, saying there was "no such 'supported' establishment."
The OPM has mounted a low-level insurgency for decades in the far-eastern province of Papua, claiming that the central government has given the resource-rich region an unfairly low share of the state's wealth after becoming part of Indonesia in 1969.
Ever since, the OPM has pleaded for international support from the Melanesian community in the South Pacific.
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2) Signs of strong support for Liberation Movement in Papua
RNZI Updated at 8:01 am today
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has opened its new office in Wamena, Indonesia. Photo: ULMWP
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says the opening of its new office in Wamena reflects its strong support among the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region.
The Movement, which was last year granted observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group, this week opened an office in the Highlands of Papua province, a building shaped as a circular traditional Melanesian house.
Thousands of Papuans attended the opening which, according to Markus Haluk, a ULMWP official in Papua, serves as an answer to the Indonesian claim that the Movement is only made up of Papuans living outside the region.
The Movement's secretary general Octo Mote said the ULMWP is everywhere in Papua, in all seven of the Papuan customary regions.
Under the Movement, all the major pro-independence Papuan political groups have united to advance their cause and campaign against alleged human rights abuses in their homeland by Indonesian state and security forces.
Following the opening, Mr Mote condemned the move by local Indonesian authorities to subsequently demand the removal of the ULMWP plate in front of the building.
The authorities summoned the Movement's local organisers, concerned about the display of symbols or slogans that could be not in accordance with the principles of the unitary state of Indonesia.
Mr Haluk said they removed the sign but that the Movement's functions will carry on regardless.
Meanwhile, the MSG chairman and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has welcomed the opening of the office, saying the “ULMWP's presence in West Papua is strategically important."
Another office of the Movement had been the target of Indonesian harassment in July last year, when three ULMWP local representatives for the West Papuan region of Fakfak faced charges regarding their local secretariat.
Indonesian authorities at the time said the ULMWP was considered an illegal organisation due to activities considered rebellion under Indonesian law. The three Movement executives were charged with causing public unrest.
Octo Mote said that it was disappointing that the Indonesian system was still using laws directly inherited from the Dutch colonial era, to enable police and government officials to disrupt ceremonies and meetings, and violate the West Papuans' right to freedom of expression and their right to gather peacefully.
Secretary General Mote said he expected that other ULMWP offices would be opened in other towns of West Papua.
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http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/govt-denies-opening-opm-office-wamena/
3) Govt Denies Opening of OPM Office in Wamena
By : Jakarta Globe | on 10:12 AM February 18, 2016
Jakarta/Jayapura. The Free Papua Organization, or OPM, has announced the set up of an office in Wamena, Papua, in an effort to find international support for Papuan independence, a claim which the central government has denied according to local media.
The secret establishment on Monday of the office for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) was initiated by Solomon Island Prime Minister Manasye Sovagare, Sebby Sambom, spokesman for OPM, said.
"The leader of the Melanesian Spearhead Group [MSG] hopes that the presence of the Wamena office will strengthen international support for Papuan independence."
The ULMWP had earlier established offices in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila and Solomon Island's Honiara.
"This is proof of MSG's support for our struggle," Sebby said.
But the Indonesian government has denied the OPM's claims, with presidential spokesman Johan Budi saying the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs found "no such 'supported' establishment."
OPM media outlet tabloidjubi.com reported that the name sign of the ULMWP office in Wamena has been taken down by local police, hours after the official announcement.
"The name sign may be brought down but ULMWP will never stop," Markus Haluk, a ULMWP leader, said.
Jakarta-based rights group Imparsial said ULMWP's representative offices are legitimate as the Indonesian government consider them a representation of Papuan people living overseas.
"I think it's better for the government to embrace them to make peace in the land of Papua," Imparsial Director Poengky Indarti told the Jakarta Globe.
The OPM has mounted a low-level insurgency for decades in the far eastern province of Papua, complaining the central government has given resource-rich region and unfairly low share of the state's wealth after becoming part of Indonesia in 1969.
Ever since, the OPM has pleaded for international support from the Melanesian community in the South Pacific.
The ULMWP had earlier established offices in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila and Solomon Island's Honiara.
"This is proof of MSG's support for our struggle," Sebby said.
But the Indonesian government has denied the OPM's claims, with presidential spokesman Johan Budi saying the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs found "no such 'supported' establishment."
OPM media outlet tabloidjubi.com reported that the name sign of the ULMWP office in Wamena has been taken down by local police, hours after the official announcement.
"The name sign may be brought down but ULMWP will never stop," Markus Haluk, a ULMWP leader, said.
Jakarta-based rights group Imparsial said ULMWP's representative offices are legitimate as the Indonesian government consider them a representation of Papuan people living overseas.
"I think it's better for the government to embrace them to make peace in the land of Papua," Imparsial Director Poengky Indarti told the Jakarta Globe.
The OPM has mounted a low-level insurgency for decades in the far eastern province of Papua, complaining the central government has given resource-rich region and unfairly low share of the state's wealth after becoming part of Indonesia in 1969.
Ever since, the OPM has pleaded for international support from the Melanesian community in the South Pacific.
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/103202/police-investigate-attempt-to-open-separatist-office-in-papua
4) Police investigate attempt to open separatist office in Papua
Kamis, 18 Februari 2016 14:35 WIB | 665 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Jayawijaya Resort Police officers are questioning three witnesses on the alleged attempt to open an office of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (UMLWP) in Wamena, Papua, on Tuesday.
Papua Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw stated here on Thursday that the three individuals were being questioned as witnesses related to an attempt to open the UMLWP office in Wamena.
The UMLWP is a forum of a group of separatists who are trying to secede from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Therefore, the authorities have banned their existence and will seek clarification from the coordinators MH and EW over the alleged attempt to open the UMLWP office, Waterpauw stressed.
Waterpauw said he had received reports that no inauguration ceremony was held for the UMLWP office in Wamena on Tuesday, and only a nameplate was installed beside the office of the Papua Customary Council (DAP) in Wamena.
"Earlier, on Monday (Feb. 15), the new office of the DAP in Jalan Trikora Maplima, Wamena, Jayawijaya District, was inaugurated as its old office was razed by fires in 2014," Waterpauw remarked.
He said the event was used by the separatists to install a nameplate of the UMLWP office.
"There was no ceremonial event held in that case and was not attended by five thousand people contrary to what was disseminated through social media networks. After negotiations, the nameplate was finally removed and was confiscated by the Jayawijaya police in Wamena," the Papua Police chief explained.
In the meantime, President Joko Widodo, through his special staff for communication Johan Budi, denied rumors that the Free Papua Movement had opened a representative office in Wamena, Papua Province.
"I have confirmed it to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs and have found that the rumors regarding the establishment of a representative office of the Free Papua Movement (reportedly with the support of several countries) are not true," Johan stated at the State Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Johan, the office of the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs is now coordinating with the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) to implement a persuasive approach.
The presidential spokesman expressed hope that the rumors would not trigger chaos in Papua.
He affirmed that the government disagreed with the separatist movement opening a representative office on behalf of a certain group.
"What is sure is that no representative office of the Free Papua Movement has been opened. There is no such a thing," Johan clarified.
Earlier, rumors were circulating about the Free Papua Movement having opened its representative office in Wamena, Jayawijaya District, Papua.
The movement is supported by several countries in the Melanesian region and has established an office in Vanuatu.
Moreover, ten former members of the Free Papua Movement returned to embrace the NKRI and met Papua Regional Police Chief Brig. Gen. Rudolf A. Rojak who was accompanied by Puncak Jaya District head Hanock Ibo.
The government is now continuing to develop Papua to improve the local economy and welfare of the people. The development of the Sorong-Manokwari railway route is one of the initiatives being taken.(*)
Papua Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw stated here on Thursday that the three individuals were being questioned as witnesses related to an attempt to open the UMLWP office in Wamena.
The UMLWP is a forum of a group of separatists who are trying to secede from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Therefore, the authorities have banned their existence and will seek clarification from the coordinators MH and EW over the alleged attempt to open the UMLWP office, Waterpauw stressed.
Waterpauw said he had received reports that no inauguration ceremony was held for the UMLWP office in Wamena on Tuesday, and only a nameplate was installed beside the office of the Papua Customary Council (DAP) in Wamena.
"Earlier, on Monday (Feb. 15), the new office of the DAP in Jalan Trikora Maplima, Wamena, Jayawijaya District, was inaugurated as its old office was razed by fires in 2014," Waterpauw remarked.
He said the event was used by the separatists to install a nameplate of the UMLWP office.
"There was no ceremonial event held in that case and was not attended by five thousand people contrary to what was disseminated through social media networks. After negotiations, the nameplate was finally removed and was confiscated by the Jayawijaya police in Wamena," the Papua Police chief explained.
In the meantime, President Joko Widodo, through his special staff for communication Johan Budi, denied rumors that the Free Papua Movement had opened a representative office in Wamena, Papua Province.
"I have confirmed it to the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs and have found that the rumors regarding the establishment of a representative office of the Free Papua Movement (reportedly with the support of several countries) are not true," Johan stated at the State Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Johan, the office of the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs is now coordinating with the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) to implement a persuasive approach.
The presidential spokesman expressed hope that the rumors would not trigger chaos in Papua.
He affirmed that the government disagreed with the separatist movement opening a representative office on behalf of a certain group.
"What is sure is that no representative office of the Free Papua Movement has been opened. There is no such a thing," Johan clarified.
Earlier, rumors were circulating about the Free Papua Movement having opened its representative office in Wamena, Jayawijaya District, Papua.
The movement is supported by several countries in the Melanesian region and has established an office in Vanuatu.
Moreover, ten former members of the Free Papua Movement returned to embrace the NKRI and met Papua Regional Police Chief Brig. Gen. Rudolf A. Rojak who was accompanied by Puncak Jaya District head Hanock Ibo.
The government is now continuing to develop Papua to improve the local economy and welfare of the people. The development of the Sorong-Manokwari railway route is one of the initiatives being taken.(*)
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