Australia West Papua Association
(Sydney)
PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088
Summary of events in West Papua for February (–6 March) 2016
ULMWP opens office in Wamena
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
opened an office in Wamena on the 15 February. A number of the human rights
defenders and peaceful activists who attended the opening have been threatened
by members of the security forces. A Catholic priest, Father John Djonga
faces possible treason charges simply because he led a prayer service on the
15th to inaugurate the office building of the Papuan Customary Council,
where a banner of the ULMWP was unveiled. Father Djonga has maintained that his
presence at the ceremony to open a community service building was purely
pastoral. Uncan news (4 March) reported that the police may question Father
John Djonga for a second time on treason charges. Father Djonga appeared at the
police station in the district's capital on Feb. 26 after consulting with
Franciscan Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura. Accompanied by a lawyer, he
answered 55 questions from two police officers during the four-hour meeting.
Police have said they may call on Father Djonga for further questioning. In a protest on the 2nd March dozens
of young Catholics in West Papua protested in the provincial capital Manokwari demanding
that police to stop harassing Father John Djonga.
Installation nameplate ULMWP office in Wamena by one announcer U
LMWP, Edison Waromi - Jubi / Victor Mambor
People who had gathered to attend the inauguration
of the office ULMWP - Jubi / Victor Mambor
The Coordinating Political, Legal and Security
Affairs Minister, Luhut Pandjaitan has also told the ULMWP to leave the country
as it could pose a threat to the country’s territorial integrity. The
Jayawijaya Resort Police have questioned a number of activists who attended the
opening. The security forces are trying to tarnish the ULMWP
representatives as separatists. These threats raise grave concerns for
their security as human rights defenders and peaceful activists are regularly
arrested because of accusations that they are so-called separatists. A number
of NGO organisations have raised concerns at the intimidation of Father Djonga
and the other activists by the police. It has been reported at least 7 people
have been questioned because of their involvement in the opening ceremony. AWPA
wrote to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop concerning the matter. Letter at http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/media-release-concern-for-human-rights.html
This is not the first time that representatives of the
ULMWP have been targeted by the security forces. In July 2015 the ULMWP
Secretariat in Fakfak was raided by the Indonesian military and police just
because the people of Fakfak were celebrating West Papua being granted observer
status at the MSG. According to information received from local activists
nearly 100 people were brought to the police station including the elderly and
women and children. They were interrogated about the ULMWP and many of their
personal belongings were stolen by the police.
The ULMWP was granted observer status at the MSG Summit
held in the Solomon Islands in June 2015. Although Jakarta has tried to
discredit the ULMWP by stating the ULMWP only represents West Papuans living
abroad, the opening of ULMWP offices in FakFak and Wamena proves otherwise.
A representative of the ULMWP has also called
for an open discussion on Papua's issues with President Joko Widodo’s
administration. Markus Haluk called on the government to hold an open
discussion on Papua, including about current and past human rights, since an
equal discussion between Papuans and the government has not taken place
in more than 50 years (Jakarta Globe 4 March). Rather than starting an open discussion with
stakeholders in Papua, the government under Joko’s leadership has maintained a
repressive approach by placing the military face Papuans, said Markus.
According to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), around 700 Papuans
were detained, tortured and killed during Joko’s first year.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) released an urgent
action dated 11 February regarding updated information on the police
investigation process in relation to the Tolikara case “Indonesia: Police yet
to show progress in the Tolikara case investigation”.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received
updated information regarding the police investigation process in relation to
the Tolikara case. A total of 11 people became victim to the violence on 17
July 2015 in Tolikara Regency, Papua Province. However, so far there has been
no notable outcome to the investigation undertaken by the police. Likewise
there appears to be no serious effort undertaken by the government to solve and
prevent recurrence of conflict in the future. And, this is despite the
initiative taken by representatives of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia
(GIDI) and the Muslim community, namely Nahdatul Ulama (NU).
The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) also released
an urgent appeal concerning the Health Crisis in Nduga Regency where at least
51 children and 3 adults died due to Pertussis (whooping cough) in the
districts Mbua, Dal and Mbulmu Yalma, Nduga Regency, Papua Province, Indonesia
since November 2015. Appeal published on the17
February at
Police Maltreat a 23 Year Old Man in Manokwari
Statement by the Executive Director of the LP3BH 21
February 2016
On Saturday 20th February, Bertho Rumbas (23 years old)
was severly beaten by two police officers in violation of Law/39 on Human Rights. One of the two police officers was Brigpol
Fredi Kaiway who is on regular duty with Polsek Anggi in the Regency of
the Arak Mountains.
Jordan Rumadas, the father of Bertho Rumadas and another
member of his family were very distressed by what had happened to Bertho
Rumbas, so they visited the home of the Chief of Police
in Manokwari, where they met AKBP Johny Eduard Isir, to inform him that
they were extremely unhappy about what had happened because he had defended
the actions of the perpetrators of this treatment by his subordinate officers
who had acted with such brutality. They then visited the home
of the Executive Director of the LP3BH, Yan Christian Warinussy in
Swafen-Manokwari on Saturday evening. They told Yan Christian Warinussy that
Bertho Rumbas had been beaten, kicked and dragged behind the Manokwari
Plain and then taken to Mapolres Manokwari. After the young man had been
thrown into a cell, other police officers entered his cell and started
threatening him, using their rifle butts and saying that they were acting on
the orders of Brigpol Erol Wanma and Brigpol Agus Marani. As a
result of all this, Bertho Rumbas was seriously wounded and his left
leg is believed to have been fractured. The LP3BH sent a report to the
Chief of Police of West Papua, a copy of which has been sent by SMS to the
Chief of Police in Jakarta. Furthermore, the report of the incident has
been sent to the National Human Rights Commission and to several
ambassadors in Jakarta as well as to NGOs in London and the UN Human Rights Council
in Geneva. Berthol Rumadas has not been visited by anyone to
examine his physical condition, as is required by law. Nor is it known
what Bertho Rumbas will be accused of, nor has there has been any contact with
any member of his family.as required is by law and other regulations.
Yan Christian Warinussy, Executive Director of the
Institute of
Research, Anaysis and Development of Legal Aid, Recipient
of the John
Humphreys Freedom Award 2005.Canada.Translated by Carmel
Budiardjo, Recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, 1995.
In
brief
The National, Friday February 26th, 2016
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill is continuing dialogue with
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the issue of West Papua.“As Prime Minister
of Papua New Guinea, and as current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I am
maintaining ongoing dialogue with the Government of Indonesia and with
President Joko Widodo,” he said. “We will continue this dialogue in a
respectful manner with a focus on building mutual understanding in relation to
the safety and security of our millions of Melanesian brothers and sisters
across our border.” He said this after a meeting with Solomon Prime Minister
Manasseh Sogavare in Port Moresby where the issue was discussed. Sogavare is
visiting in his capacity as the chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
O’Neill said PNG remained a strong supporter of the work of the MSG Secretariat
located in Vanuatu. “The work of MSG has to stay relevant for the people of the
region,” O’Neill said. They also discussed the disaster in Fiji following
Cyclone Winston. “The disaster from the cyclone in Fiji was widespread, and the
region expresses its sympathies for the unfortunate loss of life,” he said. “MSG,
as well as the Pacific Islands’ Forum, and individual countries look to
requests for assistance that will come from Fiji in the recovery phase of the
disaster. “For PNG, we will deliver any support direct to where it is needed,
as has been the process with drought relief in PNG, instead of sending this
through bureaucratic channels.”
Indonesia snubs MSG chair
The Solomon Star paper (22 Feb.) reported that the
Indonesia president Joko Widodo had turned down Prime Minister Manasseh
Sogavare’s request for a meeting to discuss the West Papua issue. Sogavare
revealed this in Noumea during a meeting with officials of the Front de
Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialist (FLNKS). The prime minister is on a
13-day tour of Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) capitals as chair of MSG. FLNKS
is a member of MSG. “My current trip to MSG capitals should have concluded in
Jakarta,” Sogavare told his FLNKS counterparts. This was to discuss the
possibility of arranging a meeting between Indonesia and members of the United
Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), who want independence for West
Papua. But Sogavare said: “The Indonesian president has indicated he was not
interested in discussing the issue of West Papua. “The decision by the
Indonesian president raises a lot of questions as to why it ever wanted to be
an associated member of the MSG when he does not want to cooperate in
addressing issues of concern to the MSG.
Papuan protesters
want local control of Freeport mine
Benny Mawel, Jayapura, 19 Feb. 2016
Papuan protesters call for local control of the Freeport-McMoran copper mine during a Feb. 18 protest outside the governor's office in Jayapura, Indonesia. (Photo by Benny Mawel)
Protesting tribal youths in Papua urged the Indonesian
government to seize operations of the U.S.-based PT Freeport McMoRan copper
mining company and install a Papuan as the company's head. "Other people
from Indonesia and the U.S. gain benefits, but the Papuan people only receive
the leftovers," Decky Ofide of the National Papuan Youths, who organized
the Feb. 18 protest, said in a speech outside the governor's office in
Jayapura, the provincial capital. About 300 people participated in the protest.
He said the central government should take concrete steps to give more
opportunities to local people in managing the company, which has operated in
the province since 1967.
Freeport’s former president Maroef Syamsuddin resigned
last month following an extortion
scandal involving House Speaker Setya Novanto, who allegedly asked for shares
in the company, an action leading to a probe by the parliament's ethical
commission. "The vacant post of president director must be given to a
Papuan. The Papuan people must manage the company," Ofide said.
Father John Djonga, a human rights activist in the
region, noted that the Papuan people have seen little benefit from the billions
of dollars reaped from the mine.
"If the company says that the Papuan people aren't
capable of managing the company, so what has the company been doing for more
than 50 years? Well, we can say that the company steals from the Papuan
people," he told ucanews.com.
Papuans would not stage protests if the company
benefitted them ... so now the company must respond to the Papuan people's
aspirations," he said.
Freeport-McMoRan obtained its first contract to operate
in the region in April 1967, two years before Papua was annexed by Indonesia
following a controversial 1969 referendum. The second contract was given in
December 1991. In 2014, the company obtained its third contract,
which will expire in 2021. Freeport-McMoRan's mining operations have drawn
frequent criticism
for various environmental, human rights and workplace safety abuses. Benefits
the company promised to local indigenous communities have never fully
materialized, leading to frequent protests and clashes between local residents
and security forces.
Numerous Trans-Papua road sections prone to landslides
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Numerous sections of the
Trans-Papua road in Papua and West Papua are prone to landslides during the
rainy season, according to spokesman of the Jayapura transportation office
Oesman Marbun."Several sections of the Trans-Papua road are prone to
landslides during the rainy season, and therefore, we have appealed to the head
of the working unit to ready heavy equipment on these roads to anticipate
disasters," Marbun remarked here on Monday.He pointed out that the
disaster-prone locations are the sections of Nabire to Enarotali,
Wamenta-Karubaga-Mulia, and Wamena to Elelim in Papua; and Sorong to Klamono,
and Manokwari to Kebar in West Papua.Marbun acknowledged that these road
sections were prone to disaster, but the authority has anticipated it by
stationing heavy equipment there. He said that there was a landslide at the
Wamena-Tolikara section recently, but the debris has been cleared, and it is
now open for traffic. (Antara news Senin, 29 Februari )
Vatican`s Foreign Minister Lauds Indonesia`s Religious
Tolerance
Vatican’s Foreign Minister Mgr. Paul Richard Galagher has
conveyed his appreciation toward Indonesian people tolerance, despite minor
incidents of intolerance. The message was conveyed by Foreign Minister Paul
Richard Galagher to the new Indonesian Ambassador to The Holy See, Antonius
Agus Sriyono at the office of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, said Third
Secretary of Indonesian Ambassador to Vatican, Sturmius Teofanus Bate, on
Thursday, as reported by Antara (26 Feb.). With regard to Papua, The Holy See’s
policy has not changed as it continues to recognize Indonesia’s sovereignty
over Papua. However, Mgr. Galagher hoped that the Indonesian Government could
give more attention to the issues of freedom of political activity, prosperity
and respect to human rights. Ambassador Sriyono explained that the Indonesian
Government has thus far given huge attention to Papua’s development through,
among others, granting of special autonomy, infrastructure development and
improving education in Papua. Pope Francis plans to visit Indonesia in July
2017 to attend the Asian Youth Day organized by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese
Semarang, Central Java, an official has said.
Papua`s economy grows 7.97 percent far above national
average
Rabu, 2 Maret 2016
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Papua, one of the
countrys most backward and impoverished provinces recorded a strong economic
growth of 7.97 percent in 2015. The growth recorded by Papua was well above the
countrys economic growth of 4.79 percent in 2015, head of the representative
office of Bank Indonesia for Papua Joko Supratikto said here on Wednesday. In
the last quarter of 2015, the economy of the province grew 14.08 percent driven
by net exports that surged 252.65 percent, Joko said. He said consumption that grew 5.87 percent on
religious and New Year celebrations, also contributed to jacking up the
economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2015. In addition, the investment
sector that grew 7.41 percent on government projects also contributed
considerably to the economic growth, Joko
said the economy of Papua is expected to expand in 2016 driven by brisker
mining industry. "Estimate by Bank
Indonesia puts Papuas economic growth at 8.59-9.59 percent in 2016," he
said.
Joko quoted reports by mining companies, that Papua
exported 1.2 million ounces of gold and 744 million pounds of copper in 2015. The
exports bare predicted to rise to 1.8 million ounces of gold and 1.8 billion
pounds of copper in concentrate. U.S.
mining company PT Freeport Indonesia, the countrys largest copper and gold
producer, has large copper and gold mines in Papua. (*)
Special Autonomy Fund and Authority Issue Trigger
Conflict of Papua and Central Government
Jayapura, Jubi/BenarNews – Since the Special Autonomy Law
was ratified in 2001 on the land of Papua – both Papua and Papua Barat
provinces – the Central Govenrment has delivered Rp 42 trillion to both
regions. However the development has not been marked on this land. This
year, Papua set 11,756 trillion in its Regional Budget. For the last four
years, during the period of 2012-2015, Papua has set the respectively amount of
7.3 trillion, 8.184 trillion and 13.26 trillion rupiahs in Regional Budget.
However, Papua Provincial Government considered the amount of funds was not
enough while the Central Government blamed the Provincial Government not
capable to manage the fund properly. Consequently the recriminations feared to
raise new conflict between Papua and the Central Government.
“In 2002-2015, the
funds (for Papua) was nearly Rp53 trillion, special autonomy fund was Rp42
trillion and infrastructure funding was Rp 12 trillion. So, where were those
funds go?” said the Minister of Politic, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut B.
Pandjaitan. He conveyed the statement during the meeting to discuss Papua and
Papua Barat Special Autonomy Fund with the Commission I of the Indonesian House
of Representative in Jakarta few times ago. He said the amount of funds
delivered to Papua and Papua Barat was not in small amount, but until now good
quality infrastructure has not been seen in Papua. His statement has made the
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe furious; because it seems blaming the local
authority is not capable. Because of this accusation, he also thought better to
return the fund to the Central Government. Because, Enembe said, the Special
Autonomy Fund is too small and do not give benefit to the development in Papua.
Even the fund has profited as a political commodity by the Central Government
to intimidate both provincial and regional/municipal (Victor Mambor Jubi)
49 Children Suffer
Dengue in Merauke
Merauke, Jubi – Merauke Health Office chief
Steven’s Osok said the number of patients with dengue fever from January-February
reached 49, mostly children. There are 17 cases in January while 32 cases in February
occurred in some villages with details as follows: 6 children in Maro, 6
children in Mandala, 1 patient in Karang Indah, 3 patients in Seringgu, 2
patients in Banpel, 2 patients in Sakai, 6 patients in Rimba Jaya, 5 patients
in Kelapa Lima, 2 patients in SP and 2 patients in Tanah Miring, 5 patients in
Rawa Sari, 1 patient in Kurik, 7 patients in Kumbe, 2 patients in Padang
Raharja and 1 patient in Semangga Jaya. Those patients, he said, were treated
at Merauke Public Hospital and a private hospital, Bunda Hardpan and the Navy
Hospital. “They are mostly treated at Merauke Public Hospital,” Osok told Jubi
on Monday (22/2/2016). Most are already undergoing treatment and recovery, so
they can go home. But some are also on recovery treat. “So far none are
reportedly died of dengue fever,” he said. Further Osok said the regional
health office has repeatedly warned people to keep their environment clean.
Dirty environment and puddles would be places for mosquitoes to hide. Merauske
Sub-district Chief Hasan Matdoan has instructed the village chiefs to mobile
residents to clean their environment considering many children have being
treated at hospital due to dengue outbreaks. (Frans L Kobun/rom)
Nine Die of Malaria in Yahukimo Regency
Jayapura, Jubi – Nine Yahukimo residents have died
of malaria because of poor health services, ineffectiveness of mobile clinics
and the closing of the health services including hospital and community health
centre, said the chief of Papua Health Development Acceleration Unit (UP2KP)
Yahukimo Region told reporters on last week in Jayapura. “In December 2015, four died
of malaria, then five died of malaria in January 2016,” he said. He said
initially it was occurred due to lacking of medical staffs in this region. “It
was also an impact of the strike conducted by midwives and nurses. At that time
30 doctors who deployed the hospital were out of office,” he said. The strike
has been occurred since Tuesday (12/1/2016). No job placement for medical
staffs in respective community health centres in Yahukimo, all doctors were
appointed in Yahukimo General Public Hospital. “It’s all the same with the
nurses. They do not support the services in the health centres but only being
centered in Yahukimo Public Hospital, while the hospital is currently dominated
by temporarily employees or contract workers,” he said. Along with these cases,
UP2KP Yahukimo Region expected the hospital has the integrated health services
pact with Yahukimo natives to avoid the unexpected cases leading to the death.
“UP2KP is ready to push the better health services according to its task and
responsibility and also to support the regent’s priority program,” he said. The
priority program of elected regent Abok Busub and Julianus Helukka is to
optimizing the medical services at regional, sub-district and rural levels in
particular to provide the health facility and circulation of medicine supplies,
medical staffs placement and the increment of allowance. “In order to improve
the community health services, we will provide a special flight subsidy for
health. We will work with several aviation services and flight subsided members
in health sector to assist patient who needs medical referral to get
transportation,” he said. (Roy
Ratumakin/rom)
Opinion
pieces/ urgent actions/ press
releases etc.
Run it straight
Set in a rugby league clubrooms, 'Run It Straight' tells the story of a Maori community who open their hearts and minds to the story of West Papua.
The Mahuzes, film about plantations in Merauke, now with English subtitles
Punks For West Papua event shirt DVD for sale
An open letter to the people of West Papua
Dr Budi Hernawan – Pacific’s solidarity for Papua
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