1) Help Us Fight for Independence – West Papua Calls on Ghana

2) Ministry of State Enterprise Cause Neglecting of Permanent Market for Papua Women Traders

3) Papua Civil Servants Support Governor to Return Special Autonomy

4) Musicians’ tour to West Papua effective

5) Papua Women Traders Consider Bank Irritated

6) Michael Manufandu Is Ready for Freeport CEO

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/help-us-fight-for-independence-west-papua-calls-on-ghana/

1) Help Us Fight for Independence – West Papua Calls on Ghana

11 March 2016

                                                   Benny Wenda met former President of Ghana John Kufuor – Supplied

Jayapura, Jubi – 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

                                                 Benny Wenda met former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings – Jubi

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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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/ministry-of-state-enterprise-cause-neglecting-of-permanent-market-for-papua-women-traders/

2) Ministry of State Enterprise Cause Neglecting of Permanent Market for Papua Women Traders

14 March 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan Traders Solidarity (Solpap) plans to meet the Indonesian President Joko Widodo concerning to permanent market development plan for Papuan women traders that has not materialized up to now.

Solpap Secretary Robert Jitmau said the meeting between Solpap and the Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representative and the representative of the Ministry of State Enterprise to discuss about the plan of land transfer between Perum Damri (Bus State Enterprise) and Papua Provincial Government as location of permanent market for indigenous Papuan traders has not resulted any decisions.

“Commission VI said it must be seriously discussed with related stakeholders. Don’t make it just like a Pelindo case. If there is no certainty, we will attempt to meet the president. I have sent a short message to some presidential staffs asking them to facilitate the meeting with the president in order to discuss this matter. If not we will send a legal notice to sue him,” Robert Jitmau told Jubi by phone on Saturday (12/3/2016).

He conveyed the Ministry of State Enterprise’s representative said in the meeting that the president was actually not informed yet about the plan of land transfer. “The ministry representative admitted the president has not yet acknowledged about the land transfer, so I assume there are those who want to take benefit in making the development of Papua traders market as a project,” he said.

Papua councilor Natan Pahabol who attended the meeting similarly said he couldn’t meet the Minister of State Enterprise due to her mission out of town. “I departed to Jakarta with the representatives of Papua Provincial Government and Solpap. But during the time, the Commission VI said they have not yet informed about this issue. They said to hear about the plan of Papua traders market development for the first time was just right now at the meeting,” said Pahabol.

Further he said the Commission VI promised to invite the executive director and the board of directors of Central Damri to check the preparation of land transfers process in Jayapura. About the government’s asset, he continued, the commission said it was regulated by regulation; therefore there is no reason for the ministry to hold the permit of land transfer, except it was prohibited by law.

“The Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives said everything could be done if it has already met the criteria,” he said.

Concerning to the meeting result, he also questioned some letters submitted by Papua Provincial Government that have not responded by the Ministry of State Enterprise. He thought it’s the ministry’s fault to not convey it to the president.

He was also assuming the Ministry of State Enterprise does not know about this problem as well. This issue was restricted for the ministry staffs only. “Now all the process needs the serious concern of the president to take a decision. He must not give the promises only. If the president has not taken any decision by delegating the Ministry of State Enterprise to arrange the transfer of Damri office, the Central Government might be not longer to build Papua,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papua-civil-servants-support-governor-to-resume-special-autonomy/

3) Papua Civil Servants Support Governor to Return Special Autonomy

14 March 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Civil Servants Solidarity expressed support towards Papua Governor and Vice Governor to return the Special Autonomy to the Central Government.

The crowd showed their support by signing the 10 meters of white cloth after the regular morning assembly held in the yard of the Papua Governor Office.

“We support the governor to return the Special Autonomy to the Central Government,” said Yesaya Waromi in Jayapura on last week.

In response the act, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe admitted to conduct a thorough evaluation on Special Autonomy fund in the Working Meeting with the regents and mayor of Papua Region on 29 March 2016.

“Well, they expressed the aspiration, so we just took it. But obviously we will conduct an evaluation in the next Working Meeting,” said Enembe on Saturday (12/3/2015).

The governor said the evaluation over the expenditure of the 80 percent allocated Special Autonomy fund for regional/municipal governments is aimed to identify whether those allocated budgets were appropriately used to prosper the people of Papua.

“We will ask the regents whether it was enough or not. Whether these allocated funds were appropriate for community prosperity or not, we’ll ask,” he said.

Enembe said comparing to this current situation, Papua in fifty years ago was totally different, for instance the problem of education is extremely change.

“So everyone understands about the current situation in Papua. How could Aceh get Rp 7 trillion of the Special Autonomy fund, while Papua and Papua Barat only got Rp 7 trillion, it’s not fair,” he said.

He added how could the government allocated the same budget for Aceh and Papua while the level of difficulty between both regions is totally different. While the Central Government always mention about the amount delivered to Papua.

“Many things are not fair, so we’ll find solution for Papua Province but the Central Government give no response,” Enembe. (Alexander Loen/rom)

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http://www.solomonstarnews.com/features/local-entertainment/9868-musicians-tour-to-west-papua-effective

4) Musicians’ tour to West Papua effective

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Published: 15 March 2016

LOCAL musicians representing their various boy bands have successfully completed a tour to the contentious West Papua region, in Indonesia on a twelve days outing.

The visit was part of an arrangement made with promoters in West Papua to have the boys perform their hit songs to their Melanesian family.

Those in the team included, Dehvande and Taina Gee of Onetox, Evin Rush of DMP, and Sean Rii from the popular Dezine.

Speaking to the Solomon Star in a recent interview, Evin said the tour was a success.

“We performed at Waeropen and then Jayapura.

“The 12 days tour was a success and it is good to come over here and share the music we love with the people here,” Evin said.

It was understood that, the Solomon Islands music is making big impact to the Melanesian people of West Papua.

The recent tour by the artists has put smiles on the faces of the people there and some positive feedbacks were also received.  This has made them want to have more artists from the Solomon Islands touring their region.

Meanwhile, the boys flew off to Bali yesterday and then to Brisbane, before returning to Honiara late this week.

By RONALD TOITO’ONA

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/papua-women-traders-consider-bank-irritated/

5) Papua Women Traders Consider Bank Irritated

11 March 2016

Wamena, Jubi – To ask the certainty on the business grant promised by the local government, Papuan women traders of Potikelek Market came to Jayawijaya Cooperation and Industry Office in Wamena on last week.

Traders Coordinator Elesabet Lokobal said to Jubi on Thursday (10/3/2015), the women traders in Potikelek Market said the business grant was actually provided this year after statement by Jayawijaya Legislative Council in their reses time in the early of 2016.

Therefore, Lokobal who represented other women questioned about the existence of the grant and how to process the installment and who would get it.

n response, the Secretary of Jayawijaya Cooperation and Industry Office Karel Tuhupuring who accepted dozens of Papua women traders at his office said it was a promise of the local government but just could be realized in 2016, which the amount is Rp 1 billion and would be distributed in near future.
He also explained the Cooperation and Industry Office is in charge and these funds are already under the custody of regional treasurer and later would be distributed by Bank Papua.

He also asked the Papua women traders to immediately provide any related administrative requirement concerning to the distribution of funds as bank loan instead of direct grant.

Papua women traders in response the answer said they refuse the bank’s involvement in term of grants distribution because they think it would displease them. As because of the Cooperation and Industry Office could not guarantee whether the money would distributed as grant or bank loan, the protesters returned to Jayawijaya Regent Office to protest and voice their aspiration to Jayawijaya Regional Secretary Yohanes Walilo.

After hearing their aspiration, Walilo said based on the regent’s guidance, the fund has already provided by Jayawijaya Regional Government for women traders at Potikelek Market through the bank. But if they do not comfort with the bank, the local government agreed to distribute it as direct grant. “We will give it in cash but it’s not for free. They are still be listed by the Cooperation and Industry Office and they oblige to provide clarified data, such as how long they run the business and what kind of business they own. And the requirements are still remain. It must be run, although not through the mechanism of bank loan. Thus we expect the women traders to provide any requirements,” said the Regional Secretary. (Islami/rom)

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/michael-manufandu-is-ready-for-freeport-ceo/

6) Michael Manufandu Is Ready for Freeport CEO

12 March 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Former Jayapura Mayor Michael Manufandu stated his readiness to become PT Freeport Indonesia CEO if nominated and considered to meet the qualification required by shareholders.

If they think I am qualified…yes, please, but if not, don’t,” Manufandu who was also former Indonesian Ambassador for Columbia told reporter related the question on the issue of PT Freeport Indonesia CEO must be indigenous Papuan.

“If the government gives good appraisal and trust over me, I am ready,” he said on Friday (11/3/2016).

Further Manufandu who’s also a senior advisor of President Joko Widodo on Papua issue said being a CEO of the largest gold mining company in Indonesia should not only have professionalism or experiences in the field practiced, but also the ability of high technological and managerial.

“Have the extensive knowledge as well, understand the economy including mine,” said Manufandu.
Earlier, two weeks ago, Papua Youth Council held peace rally in front of Papua Governor Office demanding the Provincial Government that PT Freeport Indonesia CEO must be indigenous Papuan.

Cenderawasih University Rector Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka also said it was time for the American base company to give credence to indigenous Papuan to occupy the vacant position after the resignation of former CEO Mar’oef Sjamsudin.

“I said it is the time for the indigenous Papuans to take a lead on Freeport because they have the good capacity, quality and integrity,” he said. (*/rom)

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