2) PAP : Only Two Options – Special Autonomy Law Changes or Special Autonomy Plus
3) Solomon PM to pursue West Papua issue
4) Nine Cross-border Stations to be Completed This Year
5) MRP Members Worry about Tenure to be Ended, says Councillor
6) From water bowl to prayer, Jayapura welcomes solar eclipse
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Wednesday, 9 March 2016
1) Help us fight for independence - West Papua calls on Ghana
The people of West Papua in a Campaign
The people of West Papua are sending desperate calls on government officials and leaders of Ghana to assist them in their bid to join the United Nations.
Nobel peace prize nominee and Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Chief Benny Wenda joined Ghanaians to mark Ghana's 59th independence anniversary on 6th March, 2016.
During his stay, he interacted with prominent people in the country, including Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe, former head of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), and former presidents Kufuor and Rawlings.
Reverend Deegbe prayed for the people of West Papua and Chief Benny Wenda for his visit to Ghana. "God made people and wants people everywhere to be free". He also promised to raise the issue of West Papua at an upcoming church meetings in the USA.
Rev Deegbe who is a Senior Pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church served the CCG as General Secretary from July 2003 until April 2013.
In a meeting with former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former AU Chair, the former president pledged support for the liberation of the people of West Papua. "It is important that humanity should be central to everything. As a human being you are entitled to humanity.
In due course humanity will prevail and you will be free." "The whole world will support you. Not even Indonesia can stop it" "Ghana was once a colony for 100 years, Nkrumah was our liberator, he was a pan africanist and you see yourselves as Africans. What you are doing is the right way.
The photos of your people bear witness to a true leader of your people. Some of our paramount chiefs wear feathers. The same but eagle feathers. Despite the distances between our places we are the same. Clearly you are not Indonesian."
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has also pledged his support to fight for the independence of the West Papuans. He said "we are honoured to fight for your people. We share a similar history."
"It is no surprise to me that you had support from Ghana at the UN in 1969 and that we accepted West Papuan refugees in the 1980's. West Africa has seen slavery, colonial struggles and independence"
"Chief you find yourself in a very painful situation. I suggest that you contact and lobby every congressman, senator and parliamentarian. The European Commission, the AU and all organisations. Keep knocking and knock again, don't let them sleep"
"We will contribute by reminding them who is still colonised"
"Keep fighting"
Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana made the statements when he met with Chief Benny Wenda, spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and Nobel Peace prize nominee.
All across Africa and around the world people are finding out about Indonesia's Genocide and illegal colonisation of West Papua. West Papua has a legal right to self determination, de colonisation and independence.
West Papua is the western half of the Melanesian island of New Guinea, in the Pacific Ocean, bordering the independent nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG). It lies just 200km north of Australia and the indigenous Melanesian people have lived there for over 40,000 years.
West Papua was colonised by the Dutch in 1898 and always administered as “Dutch New Guinea” separate from their “Dutch East Indies” which is now Indonesia. With the promise of independence on 1st December 1970 and on 1st December 1961, the West Papuan national flag was raised with the beginnings of a democratically elected government formed, announcing a 9 year period of peaceful transition towards independence.
Politics before Papuans But within months the dream was dead. The newly independent state of Indonesia wanted access to West Papua's vast wealth and the military promptly invaded West Papua. Conflict broke out between the Netherlands, Indonesia and the indigenous population regarding control of the territory.
Due to US' fear that failing to appease Indonesia could result in the spread of South East Asian communism, the US government intervened and engineered an agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands, which in 1962 gave control of West Papua to the United Nations and one year later transferred control to Indonesia.
The Papuans were never consulted and after a sham referendum in 1969 with 1026 people handpicked Papuans being forced to vote for Indonesian sovereignty, West Papua officially became part of Indonesia.
The military occupation and secret genocide The West Papuan people never accepted Indonesia in their country and ever since 1963, have resisted Indonesian rule, first with bows and arrows and what little guns they could and then with peaceful civil resistance.
The people of West Papua have regularly organise mass protests for self determination and independence and continue to appeal to the international community from speaking out through media to diplomatic pleas by exiled Papuans.
Through a vast wealth of natural resources, like the largest goldmine on Earth (Grasberg), West Papua has become Indonesia’s largest GDP contributor, and with the prospect of an independent West Papua looking with international support, Indonesia does not want Papuans telling the outside world the truth.
Not only has the Indonesian government banned all foreign journalists and human rights groups from West Papua but the Indonesian military and police also systematically target any West Papuans campaigning for independence and brands them as “separatists” and “terrorists”.
Nobel peace prize nominee and Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Chief Benny Wenda joined Ghanaians to mark Ghana's 59th independence anniversary on 6th March, 2016.
During his stay, he interacted with prominent people in the country, including Reverend Dr Fred Deegbe, former head of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), and former presidents Kufuor and Rawlings.
Reverend Deegbe prayed for the people of West Papua and Chief Benny Wenda for his visit to Ghana. "God made people and wants people everywhere to be free". He also promised to raise the issue of West Papua at an upcoming church meetings in the USA.
Rev Deegbe who is a Senior Pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church served the CCG as General Secretary from July 2003 until April 2013.
In a meeting with former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former AU Chair, the former president pledged support for the liberation of the people of West Papua. "It is important that humanity should be central to everything. As a human being you are entitled to humanity.
In due course humanity will prevail and you will be free." "The whole world will support you. Not even Indonesia can stop it" "Ghana was once a colony for 100 years, Nkrumah was our liberator, he was a pan africanist and you see yourselves as Africans. What you are doing is the right way.
The photos of your people bear witness to a true leader of your people. Some of our paramount chiefs wear feathers. The same but eagle feathers. Despite the distances between our places we are the same. Clearly you are not Indonesian."
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has also pledged his support to fight for the independence of the West Papuans. He said "we are honoured to fight for your people. We share a similar history."
"It is no surprise to me that you had support from Ghana at the UN in 1969 and that we accepted West Papuan refugees in the 1980's. West Africa has seen slavery, colonial struggles and independence"
"Chief you find yourself in a very painful situation. I suggest that you contact and lobby every congressman, senator and parliamentarian. The European Commission, the AU and all organisations. Keep knocking and knock again, don't let them sleep"
"We will contribute by reminding them who is still colonised"
"Keep fighting"
Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana made the statements when he met with Chief Benny Wenda, spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and Nobel Peace prize nominee.
All across Africa and around the world people are finding out about Indonesia's Genocide and illegal colonisation of West Papua. West Papua has a legal right to self determination, de colonisation and independence.
West Papua is the western half of the Melanesian island of New Guinea, in the Pacific Ocean, bordering the independent nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG). It lies just 200km north of Australia and the indigenous Melanesian people have lived there for over 40,000 years.
West Papua was colonised by the Dutch in 1898 and always administered as “Dutch New Guinea” separate from their “Dutch East Indies” which is now Indonesia. With the promise of independence on 1st December 1970 and on 1st December 1961, the West Papuan national flag was raised with the beginnings of a democratically elected government formed, announcing a 9 year period of peaceful transition towards independence.
Politics before Papuans But within months the dream was dead. The newly independent state of Indonesia wanted access to West Papua's vast wealth and the military promptly invaded West Papua. Conflict broke out between the Netherlands, Indonesia and the indigenous population regarding control of the territory.
Due to US' fear that failing to appease Indonesia could result in the spread of South East Asian communism, the US government intervened and engineered an agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands, which in 1962 gave control of West Papua to the United Nations and one year later transferred control to Indonesia.
The Papuans were never consulted and after a sham referendum in 1969 with 1026 people handpicked Papuans being forced to vote for Indonesian sovereignty, West Papua officially became part of Indonesia.
The military occupation and secret genocide The West Papuan people never accepted Indonesia in their country and ever since 1963, have resisted Indonesian rule, first with bows and arrows and what little guns they could and then with peaceful civil resistance.
The people of West Papua have regularly organise mass protests for self determination and independence and continue to appeal to the international community from speaking out through media to diplomatic pleas by exiled Papuans.
Through a vast wealth of natural resources, like the largest goldmine on Earth (Grasberg), West Papua has become Indonesia’s largest GDP contributor, and with the prospect of an independent West Papua looking with international support, Indonesia does not want Papuans telling the outside world the truth.
Not only has the Indonesian government banned all foreign journalists and human rights groups from West Papua but the Indonesian military and police also systematically target any West Papuans campaigning for independence and brands them as “separatists” and “terrorists”.
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2) PAP : Only Two Options – Special Autonomy Law Changes or Special Autonomy Plus
7 March 2016
Dozens of members of the Papua Customary Youth (Pemuda Adat Papua/PAP) left for Jakarta last week to hold a rally in front of the Presidential Palace – Jubi
Sentani, Jubi – Dozens of members of the Papua Customary Youth (Pemuda Adat Papua/PAP) left for Jakarta last week to hold a rally in front of the Presidential Palace.
Their main goal is to urge the central government to close mining activities run by PT. Freeport Indonesia in Timika and to replace the Special Autonomy Law 2001 that has been implemented for 15 years in Papua.
PAP Chairman Decky Ovide said a change in the the Special Autonomy Law 2001 in Papua is one of important points to be expressed to the Central Government. “After a long reflection, we understand that the Special Autonomy Law has not given any impact to the Papuans’ prosperity,” he told Jubi by phone on Saturday (5/3/2016).
He explained the Special Autonomy Law must be entirely redrafted, because it wasn’t well implemented. “Where did the money go? It’s not clear,” he said.
Every paragraphs and articles of the Special Autonomy Law, he continued, must be reviewed. Promised free education and health services have not been yet implemented as well as the economic and infrastructure development. Everything was not running well until now,” he said.
He continued the protest was to urge the Central Government to agree conducting evaluation on the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law in Papua, including the expenditure report of received fund.
“We give three months for the Central Government to evaluate the Special Autonomy Law. They must involve the Provincial Government and Papuan community leaders. There are only two solutions for Papua, that are to reconstruct the Special Autonomy Law or to negotiate the Special Autonomy Plus,” he said.
PAP request is almost similar with the statement of Papua Governor some times ago to resume the Special Autonomy fund to the Central Government, which made some parties assuming he was involved with the rally.
“I am not involved with the protest asking the shut down of Freeport or resuming the Special Autonomy fund. It is not my business as the governor,” said Papua Governor Lukas Enembe. (Engel Wally/rom)
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Fiji News
3) Solomon PM to pursue West Papua issue
06:18 Today
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has brought up the issue of human rights violations during a meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Sogavare was in Suva yesterday and held talks with Bainimarama as well as Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
He says the situation in West Papua remains an issue for Melanesian countrie.
“It’s a transnational issue and is not something that you can shy away from. All right thinking people on planet earth should be able to express concern when a race is actively prosecuted.”
The Fijian government has confirmed it recognises Indonesia’s sovereignty over West Papua.
Sogavare and Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola also held talks on common issues both regionally and internationally.
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4) Nine Cross-border Stations to be Completed This Year
6 March 2016
Jakarta, Jubi – The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing plans to build nine cross-border posts to be completed at the end of this year.
Director of Construction Planning Management of the Directorate General of the Human Settlements of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Adjar Prajudi, said in Jakarta on Saturday (5/3/2016) that the nine stations are PLBN Motaain, Motamasin, Oepoli and Wini in East Nusa Tenggara, PLBN Aruk, Naga Badau and Entikongdi in West Kalimantan, and PLBN Skouw and Waris in Papua.
“PLBN in Motaain will be finished around October 2016 and others will be completed in December,” he said.
Of the nine stations, the construction of two big stations, Entikong and Motaain started in 2015, while five stations started to be built at the beginning of the year, and the remaining two namely Oupoli and Waris are still under pre-design stages.
He said in the future, people or goods crossing the border station would be controlled and strictly checked using the scanner.
These nine stations were actually existed, but it considers not feasible as cross-border stations therefore the old stations were destroyed to rebuild the new one.
Based on the data of the Directorate General of Human Settlement as per 1 March 2016, the progress of construction on PLBN Entikong has reached 44.52 percent, Montaain is 49.12 percent, Aruk is 0.09 percent, Nanga Badau 0.39 percent, Motamasin 3.17 percent, Wini 10.88 percent and Skouw 6 percent.
Director of Housing Area Development of Directorate General of Human Settlement of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Rina Farida, said the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing not only to build the cross-border stations but also to develop the infrastructure of settlement in the station area.
“We also develop the infrastructure of settlement at the border area, it’s not the road only but also including the drainage, waste management, and drinking water,” he said.
The infrastructure development would encourage the local economic development and community income. The development of border area is including the built of cross-border stations is the materialization of Nawacita (nine goals) of the administration of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to develop Indonesia from periphery area. (*/rom)
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5) MRP Members Worry about Tenure to be Ended, says Councillor
7 March 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan councilor Emus Gwijangge said the members of Papua People’s Assembly (MRP) were ‘worried’ their tenure would expire.
It was indicated by their request to Papua Legislative Council to suspense the ratification of Special Regulation Plan (Raperdasus) on the electing procedure of the members of Papua People’s Assembly for next five years, he said.
“It seems they are fear among MRP members. What is it about? It seems they are afraid their tenure would be ended. We will with the Chairman of Papua Legislative Council discuss the ratification of Raperdasus. We will convey our decision after that; whether it would be suspended or what,” Gwijangge who’s also member of Legislation Body of Papua Legislative Council on Saturday (5/3/2016).
Last week, MRP Chairman Timotius Murid and Deputy Chairman Honfi Simbiak and some MRP representatives held meeting with Chairman of Legislation Body of Papua Legislative Council and other councilors to discuss the possibility to suspense the ratification of Raperdasus on the electing procedure of MRP members. MRP also handed the decree No. 2/MRP/2016 about recommendation of suspension to discuss and ratify the Rapperdasus on the electing procedure of MRP members.
“MRP has met us, but we must still wait the Chairman of Papua Legislative Council. We will talk later with the Councilor Body. The decision is up to them. But based on the proper rule and mechanism, Papua Legislative Council couldn’t wait. Perdasus still must be ratified. The period of current members is only one month left,” he said.
He said at the end of the last year, the Papua Legislative Council endorsed the MRP Raperdasus along with some non-regional budget Raperdasus. But at that time, MRP asked for suspension due to its members were in reses period.
After meeting the Legislative Body on Thursday (3/3/2016), MRP Chairman Timotius Murib said the purpose they met the councilors is to discuss about some agenda as well as to identify many issues that should be compiled in Perdasus. But he didn’t mention about the conversation related to MRP request to suspense the ratification of Raperdasus on the electing procedure of MRP members.
“We agreed about some Perdasus that must be provided and discussed with the expert team. I think it was an advance step taken by Papua Legislative Council. Before drafting a Perdasus, Papua Legislative Council invite Papua People’s Assembly and other relevant institutions including General Election Committee related to simultaneously Regional Election in 2017,” said Murib at that time. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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6) From water bowl to prayer, Jayapura welcomes solar eclipse
Thousands of Jayapura residents in Papua flocked to Bhayangkara hill to view the solar eclipse on Wednesday, while their children enjoyed its reflection in water bowls.
The residents started flocking to the TVRI television station courtyard in Bhayangkara subdistrict at 7 a.m. Each resident was allowed to observe the rare natural phenomenon through two telescopes provided by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for 20 seconds.
Most of the children opted to enjoy the solar eclipse through water bowls as suggested by their teachers.
“My teacher said that this [method] was a safer way to view the solar eclipse,” said Andrea, an elementary school student.
Experts have warned that children should not be allowed to observe the eclipse directly as doing so may result in a condition called solar eclipse retinopathy.
Meanwhile, Muslims carried out solar eclipse prayers at several mosques. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to witness this phenomenon and it has made me aware of the greatness of God, therefore we need to say grace,” said Nunung after joining the prayer.
Jayapura did not witness a complete eclipse, but it experienced the longest. The eclipse in Jayapua lasted for 2 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds, starting at 8:53 a.m., local time, and reaching its peak at 10:17 a.m, according to Danan Permana, the BMKG’s Angkasapura station head
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