Saturday, April 30, 2016

1) Lawyer Reveals Attractive Business on Indonesia – PNG Border

2) Activists Urge Jakarta to Involve Victims in Addressing Human Rights Cases in Papua.
3) Provincial Government Encourage Local Farmer to Grow Coffee and Cacao
———————————————————————————-

1) Lawyer Reveals Attractive Business on Indonesia – PNG Border
28 April 2016
Merauke, Jubi – The trial in a sea cucumber smuggling case will present the accused NF with the agenda of plea reading by defence lawyers.
The trial led by Judge Syors Mambrasar, SH was held in the court of Merauke State Court on Wednesday (27/4/2016) and opened for public. Attended in the court is also the General Prosecutor.
Guntur Ohoiwutun and other members of  the defense team said the case against NF has connection with the business between Indonesia and PNG, which is during the time always connected with security issue and separatist group.

But, he continued, it was because the border area had potencies of economic profits which is being used by certain culprits on behalf of security and border issues.
“Traditional crosser were always becoming a problem, because among them there are some who have connection with PNG, but being used by some culprits who are not part of the customary law people. And the impact is the arrest. The evidence is that until today there are Indonesian citizens as traditional crosser have not known their existence,” he said.
Further he said it must be admitted that the natural resources in PNG is very rich, including fishes, deer and other sea commodities, due to lack of exploitation.
With its natural resources, PNG is attractive for people to do business in the border area for huge profit. Therefore many people do many ways and efforts to cross the border without legal travel document or export-import document. Smuggling was ignored; even it had caused loss for the country.
During the time, said Guntur, the defendant who conducted trade business by buying see cucumber and fish maw at PNG has certified health document for fishes from this country, but due to competition of business, he must become a suspect.
In this trial, Guntur also asked to the judges releasing the defendant because he is not guilty referring to the new fisheries law. In addition, he also asked the judges to resume the defendant and rehabilitate his name.
Judge Syors Mambrasar SH said after the hearing of defense note by the lawyer, the next agenda is the charge by the General Prosecutor.  “Herewith I closed the trial and to the Prosecutor to prepare the material in the next trial on next week. And the defendant is expected to attend the trial,” he said. (Ans K/rom)
—————————————————————-

2) Activists Urge Jakarta to Involve Victims in Addressing Human Rights Cases in Papua.
29 April 2016
Jayapura, Jubi/BenarNews – Papuans reacted coolly to the central government’s plans to resolve alleged human rights violations in Papua, saying that they doubted that  the victims would be involved.
“If the government has their own interpretation on human rights violations in Papua, it would be better for Papuans to solve their own problems according to their customs,” said Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, a few days ago.
He said he was disappointed because according to him, most central government officials were merely revealing the interpretation on the definition of human rights violations of their own during a meeting attended by the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesian Police Chief, Military Commander and government officials of Papua and Papua Barat provinces as well as the human rights activists in Jakarta on Thursday last week
Attempts to settle human rights cases in Papua were revived after Luhut visited Papua in February. At that time he mentioned the government has been recording the sixteen cases of human rights violations in Papua. Then followed by Papua Police to initiate a limited discussion with the Civil Society Organizations, representatives of church and university and human rights defenders to make documentation on human rights on 15, 18 and 19 April 2016. But most of CSO activists and human rights defenders refused to attend the meeting.
Involvement of Victims
Human rights lawyer  and John Humphrey Freedom Award 2005 winner Yan Christian Warinusi questioned the purpose of the meeting.
“It is not in line with the legal and human rights logics if Papua Police as well as Cenderawasih VII Regional Military Command, who have been accused of being perpetrators, are now busy collecting data on human rights violations in Papua,” he said to BeritaBenar on Wednesday, 27 April 2016.
Some human rights activists in Papua who interviewed in the same day also said the similar statement. Coordinator of Bersatu Untuk Kebenaran (BUK/Unite for Truth) Peneas Lokbere who organized the human rights victims in Papua since 2003 also questioned the government’s concern to solve the human rights cases.
“Is it to prove the seriousness of government in resolving the human rights cases or is it the State’s alibi to clean its hand over the conflict in Papua? Who would get benefit with this agenda? We don’t want being trapped,” he said.
Lokbere stressed the settlement of human rights cases in Papua could not ignore the victims. According to him, in every process of human rights settlement, the rights of victims should be considered as main priority.
Three Cases
Secretary of Human Rights Commission Papua Representative Office, Frits Ramandey said the three days meeting has recommended three cases to be solved by the government within this year, namely Wasior, Wamena and Paniai cases.
Based on data issued by the  coalition for Papua human rights violation, Wasir case was triggered by the deaths of five Mobile Brigade personnel and a resident in 2001, while perpetrators took away six guns. In chasing the perpetrators, four residents were killed, 39 were tortured and five was missing.
While Wamena bloody cases was started from the robbery of district military arsenal in 2003. Two military personnel were killed, and a number of local residents were killed in the sweeping and chasing of perpetrators.
And the last case of Pania was occurred in December 2014 which killed four teenagers and dozens of civilians were injured. “Wamena and Wasior cases have taken to the Attorney General, while the ad hoc team for Paniai case was already formed. During the three days meeting we endorsed the three cases to be solved by the government before we move to talk about another case,” said Ramandey.
Yap Thiam Hien 2009 winner Pastor John Jonga admitted the government has done a positive effort, but he didn’t agree with the method. “The time is too short. It could be more serious. The human rights issues in Papua could not be solved within one or two days by merely one or two groups,” he said.
“It should be questioned whether the State did it for showing to the world that Indonesia is currently fighting, protecting and respecting the human rights in Papua,” he added.
Indonesian Human Rights commissionaire Otto Nur Abdullah thought what was done by the government is a positive thing. According to him, it was a breakthrough done by the government because it involved many parties. “We just need to follow the government’s intention. It could be like buying a problem. At the end, the party who could determine whether it is the human rights violation or not is the Human Rights Commission,” he said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
—————————————————————-
3) Provincial Government Encourage Local Farmer to Grow Coffee and Cacao
28 April 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Provincial Government continue to encourage the local farmers to cultivate coffee and cacao to anticipate market demand for the commodities.
Assistant for Economic and People Welfare Elia Loupatty told reporters in Jayapura on Wednesday (27/4/2016) that currently the price of cacao was at Rp 29,000 per kilogram and road access in Mamta region is already established.
“It is the opportunity for farmers to improve their production, moreover the prices of both cacao and coffee beans at the market are increasing and market demand has been increased,” he said.

To develop these two commodities, said Loupatty, Mamta region is very strategic for cacao plantation, while Papua highland area is very good for coffee. “Coffee beans from the highland area have a unique taste, and the farmer started to expand the plantation area,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Papua Plantation Office John Nahumury said to increase the production of cacao beans in Papua, the provincial government has developed a center of cacao plantation in several regencies, namely Sarmi, Keerom, Nabire and Yapen.
“It is expected the development of the center of cacao plantation could improve the production in Papua,” he said.
In addition to endorse the expansion of plantation areas, said Nahumury, the Plantation Office also encouraged the development of cacao plantation maintenance, because he said the impact of Asean Economic Community would affect to Papua. “We cannot restrict the product to come to Papua, therefore we must be prepared from the beginning,” he said. (*/rom)

Friday, April 29, 2016

Media release-AWPA condemns the arrest of 41 KNPB activists in Jayapura


Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)



Media release 30 April 2016
AWPA condemns the arrest of 41 KNPB activists in Jayapura 
The Australia West Papua Association condemns the arrest of 41 KNPB activists in Jayapura on Friday 29 April, reported by surapapua.com. The activists were arrested simply because they were handing out leaflets informing people of a rally to be held on the 2nd May. The purpose of the rally was to  commemorate and protest  the tragic betrayal of West Papua by the international community when  West Papua was handed over by United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) to  Indonesian administration on the 1st of May 1963, 53 years ago. The KNPB also called on people to show support for the meeting of the International  Parliamentarians for West Papua in London. 
Joe Collins of AWPA said “ hopefully those arrested will be released and the security forces will not interfere with any peaceful rallies that take place on the 2 May. It should be remembered on the 1 May last year up to  270 people were arrested. The arrests of activists on Friday the 29 April are obviously an attempt by the security forces to  intimidate local people into not taking part in any rallies called”.
“Joe Collins said , hopefully the international community is beginning to realise that  if West Papuans are continuing to protest after 53 years of Indonesian administration, willing to face arrest and torture, then their cries of help to the international community should be heeded. A good start would be for the PIF countries to continue to press Jakarta to allow a PIF fact finding mission to West Papua”.
ends

1) Trust Needed in Human Rights Settlement in Papua

2) After Meeting with Luhut, Papua Governor Expresses Disappointment
3) MSG Summit Postponed
4) West Papua to Have Its Own Bullet Train Network

5) Marap Indigenous Group claim back three oil palm plantation divisions in Arso.

———————————————————————————-
1) Trust Needed in Human Rights Settlement in Papua
27 April 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan on Monday (25/4/2016) led a coordination meeting on alleged human rights violations in Papua and Papua Barat provinces.
The meeting was held at the meeting room of the Political Ministry’s office and attended by Indonesian Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw and Papua Barat Police Chief Brigadier General Royke Lumawa and Papua human right defenders
In response to the efforts to resolve the human rights issues in Papua, the awardee of the international award for human rights from Canada, John Humphrey Freedom Award 2015, Yan Warinusi said a resolution to gross human rights violations and contradiction of history and construction of political identity between Papua and Jakarta should become urgent issues, and should be a concern and responsibility of President Joko Widodo and his administration to resolve it

Trust Building
“It is very important step that should be taken by President Widodo to restore public trust as well as the international community who continue to highlight human rights violations in Papua which cannot be solved for decades in accordance with Indonesian law,” said Warinusi.
He further said trust building is an absolute condition that should be created in this settlement process. Therefore, President Jokowi must issue a written instruction to the National Human Rights Commission and Indonesian General Attorney to immediately execute their task in accordance with the Law. For example, towards some cases that occurred before the Law No. 39 Year 199 about human rights and the Law No. 26 Year 2000 about human rights court, therefore the mechanism is clear that is should be taken to the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court, which needs the investigation of human rights violations from National Human Rights and Indonesian General Attorney for legal action. Meanwhile towards the human rights violations occurred after year 2000, such as Wasior 2001, Wamena 2003 and Enarotali-Paniai of 8 December 2014, it needs enforcement and assurance towards President Widodo to provide the widest access for the National Human Rights and Indonesian General Attorney to optimally work in revealing and taking the human rights violation suspects to the trial before an independent and impartial human rights court.
It is not only be terminated until the court, but in the future the Indonesian Government must be able to give a legal assurance towards a clear political policy to stop the (severe) human rights violations perpetrated by State through security personnel (both Police and Military).
“It could be applied by enforcing the elimination of security/military operations that enable the mobilization of security personnel (Police and Military) in the massive number, either it was part of open or closed security operations,” said Yan Warinusi.
This trust building issue becomes a concern of civil society group who involved in the process of documentation on human rights violations in Papua. The government must show good intention to solve the human right violations in Papua.
“Coalition for human right violations gives recommendation that three cases of Wasior, Wamena and Paniai should be settled by the government in 2016. It is to build a trust. If the government could solve these three cases, we can move to another cases,” said Frits Ramandey about the recommendation by Coalition for Human Rights Violations in Papua towards the government through the Coordination Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
Neutral Party in NeedSeparately, Papua human right defender Pastor John Jonga thought the settlement of the human rights issue in Papua needs a neutral party, because it is not wise to involve the parties such as security forces who have been accused of being perpetrators of human rights violations.
“I wonder and think it is funny because the perpetrators are mostly them (security personnel). But there might be an awareness from the Minister or Papua Police Chief considered to human right violations during the time,” Pastor Djonga told Jubi on Tuesday (26/4/2016).
He also criticizes the process as unserious process. Because to settle the human rights violations in Papua that was occurred since 1960s to 2016 could not merely done through one or two days discussion. The State must be more serious to explore the human rights violations issues from the highland to the coastal area, from the sea to the mountains and from any situations and conditions in Papua.
Djonga further said Papua is a big island, so it’s not easy to solve the violations occurred for decades, it could not easy and fast to explore the human rights violations from the sixties only with three days discussion, it is considered as carelessly work.
“I thought the discussion is positive, but the time is too short and it should be more serious. For me, the reason of State conducted this event was to show to the world that the Indonesian Government was fighting, protected and respected the human rights in Papua,” he said.
He also highlighted the human rights activists who involved in the meeting, that on his point of view, they should be capable to provide feedback instead of conducting a meeting or exploring the human rights violations in Papua. In addition, the Central Government also need to appoint a neutral person who can be trusted by any parties to resolve the human rights issues in Papua, because the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs have harmed the Papuan people.
Political Approach and Human Rights Trial
After the coordination meeting on the alleged human rights violations in Papua and Papua Barat provinces led by the Minister Pandjaitan on Monday, Coalition for human rights violations member Matius Murib who involved in the meeting said the coalition currently endorses the government to urge the Indonesian Human Rights Commission to settle the cases of Mapenduma 1996 and Biak 1998 through political approach at the Indonesian House of Representative.
“Wasior 2001 and Wamena 2003 as well as Paniai 2014 must be settled through Human Rights Trial in 2016. The government has showed good intention and being open, so the human rights defenders should be unite and mutually gather the facts and data for advocacy,” said Murib.
Papua Police Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw confirmed that three alleged human rights cases to be recommended are Wasior 2001, Wamena 2003 and Paniai 2014.
“Although these cases have been recommended but until now the team is still not completing the data because it might not possible to take this case to the trial,” said Chief Waterpauw.
He further admitted the team led by the Chief of National Human Rights Commission Papua Representative is still in Jakarta and completing the supporting documents. According to him, three cases were recommended because of sufficient data and further the National Human Rights Commission has formed the ad hoc team, so it becomes priority to be followed up.
However, the Indonesian Police Chief Badrodin Haiti told reporters that Wamena and Wasior cases would be solved through political approach, because both cases were occurred before the authorization of the Law on Human Rights Trial, namely the Law No. 26 Year 2001.
“It settlement would be executed by the government and Indonesian House of Representative. Currently, the Indonesian Human Rights Commission is handling the investigation on the two cases while the Indonesian General Attorney would conduct the charge. The two cases with 12 human rights violations would become priorities to be solved,” said the chief. (Victor Mambor/rom)
———————————————————————
2) After Meeting with Luhut, Papua Governor Expresses Disappointment
26 April 2016 

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe expressed his disappointment after a meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan to discuss alleged human rights violations in Papua.
On Thursday evening (21/4/2016), Papua Governor along with Papua Police Chief, Chairman of Papua Legislative Council, Cenderawasih Military Commander, Chairman of Papua People’s Assembly, Human Rights Commission Representative Papua and Coalition for Human Rights Violation in Papua held a closed meeting with Luhut at his office on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jakarta Pusat.
The meeting is aimed to follow up the recommendation resulted from the Focus Group Discussion on Documentation of Alleged Human Rights Violations in Papua that held from 15 to 19 April 2016 at a hotel in Jayapura City and attended by group of civil society who concern on human rights violations in Papua.

“The state should not be involved in solving the human rights issues in Papua, instead it should leave it to Papua to be solved by Customary Law. It remains to be debated,” Governor Enembe briefly said after the meeting with the minister.
Separately, human rights activist Theo Hesegem who also participated in the meeting, said the settlement of human rights violations in Papua was not easy.
“We cannot solve the problem just by gathering and talking, then suddenly it is done. In this case, the victims should become a priority,” said Hesegem on Monday (25/4/2016).
He also stressed that all cases suspected as human rights violations had political background, therefore it couldn’t be separated with the political issues.
Papuan people’s trust towards the Central Government also should be confirmed before talking about human rights resolution in Papua.
“Wasior and Wamena cases already took to the Attorney General from more than a decade, but the State seems have no intention to solve it. It was stopped without any particularly reason. We only knew that the Attorney General returned the files to the Human Rights Commission by reason of lack of evidence. On the other hand, the Human Rights Violations said the investigation has been done and the Attorney General was responsible with the lack of evidence,” said lawyer and human rights defender Anum Siregar during the FGD break in Jayapura.
She requested the government to show good intention by solving the first three cases as priority.
“Wasior and Wamena cases were already investigated, it should be first settled until the human rights court. Then the Paniai case occurred in last 2014 to be settled because the ad hoc team has been formed. If these cases were solved, then we are ready to talk about another cases,” said Anum Siregar.
Legal and Security Affairs, in a meeting at his office Thursday night, said President Joko Widodo has been providing direction is quite clear. The government, said Menkopolhukam seriously intend to reconcile once atasdugaan investigate human rights violations that have occurred.
The Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Panjaitan, in the meeting held at his office at that Thursday night, said President Joko Widodo has been providing a clear direction related to this issue. The government, said the minister, seriously intend to reconcile as well as to investigate the alleged human rights violations occurred in Papua.
“If the government was proven to conduct violation in the past, so the current leaders in this country would not hesitate to apologize to the victims,” said the minister.
He also emphasized that this effort is not for blaming. According to him, President Widodo has given advice to punish those who found guilty but it must have evidences. He said there would be a team led by Governor of National Defense Institute Agus Widjojo to run the investigation and reconciliation.
“If there are new founding in the investigation, we would not close the next step,” he said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
——————————————-

3) MSG Summit Postponed
Posted: Friday, April 29, 2016 8:00 am
By Jane Joshua and Len Garae | 0 comments
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Special Leaders Summit scheduled to be held in Port Vila next week has been postponed to a date yet to be confirmed.
Daily Post understands the MSG Special Leaders Summit will no longer be held from May 3-5 as initially planned and provisional dates (subject to change) may be May 30 to June 3, 2016 depending on the availability and commitments of the Leaders.
This will be a blow to Vanuatu’s Free West Papua Association organized public march today, which was planned to happen on the brink of the MSG Leaders’ Summit but will strengthen the support and determination nationwide.
On Tuesday, Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told the Fiji Sun that he won’t be attending the MSG meeting in Port Vila as he would be attending the Queen’s birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle in London with Fiji’s Military Forces Band.
PM Bainimarama who said the appointment of Fijian diplomat Amena Yauvoli as MSG Director General would be discussed in the upcoming MSG Leaders’ meet also noted that Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea have questioned the system used to appoint Mr. Yauvoli.
He further indicated that Fiji’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Inoke Kubuabola as likely to represent Fiji in the MSG meeting.
In 2015 then Prime Minister Sato Kilman did not attend the MSG Leaders’ Summit in Honiara, Solomon Islands due to political developments and sent an envoy in his absence.
Nevertheless, the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has frankly confirmed its intention to see Indonesia out of the MSG and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) gain full membership into MSG.
The process of the appointment of the new MSG DG has also come under scrutiny, an issue raised by PM Salwai and this week Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill wrote to the chair of the MSG, Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare saying the process of consensus through the MSG Leaders Summit by all members must be completed before such appointments can be announced.
Vanuatu Free West Papua Committee members Lai Sakita and Jacob Kintor are calling on “all real men, women and youths” to come out of their facebook comfort zones, to join the public march in Port Vila this morning, to demand the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders to give full membership of MSG to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), and terminate Indonesia from the Sub Regional Organisation.
The march starts at Fung Kuei car park opposite Anchor Inn, along the Lini Highway to the MSG Secretariat at Independence Park this morning.
All marchers are asked to gather at the car park at 7.30am.
“The aim of the peaceful march is to show our civil society organisation support for the unification of the Melanesian countries of Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, including the non-self-governing territories of Kanaky and West Papua and to call for MSG to upgrade West Papua bid to full member,” the invitation from the West Papua Office explains.
The two members made the call on behalf of the Chairman, Pastor Allan Nafuki, for all responsible people of Port Vila from throughout Vanuatu and round Efate, to join the march from Fung Kuei car park to the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat, to hand over a public petition to the MSG Leaders.
The petition which is signed by thousands of people, demands MSG to do what is right and make the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) a full member of MSG.
Indonesia has been granted Associate Membership of MSG, an act which the marchers see as a mockery to Vanuatu’s traditional stand for freedom for West Papua. The marchers want to see Indonesia’s Associate Membership cancelled.
Sakita says expressing one’s firm support for West Papuans’ Right and Freedom is one thing but real people are those who come out to stand up for what they believe in.
“While we appreciate your brave words of support for West Papua on fb, we want all of you to prove what you say by coming out to join in this peaceful march to confirm you mean business for the people of West Papua,” Sakita says.
The committee says they are considering means to make sure only local media personnel and those that they know, are allowed to take pictures.
They expect the event will be of significant interests to “strangers” as well, who they advise, should think twice before snapping pictures of the march.

——————————————————
4) West Papua to Have Its Own Bullet Train Network
By : Jakarta Globe | on 10:24 AM April 29, 2016
Jakarta. West Papua will have its own bullet train network, a high-speed railway line capable of running express trains at a maximum speed of up to 250 kilometers per hour, Hermanto Dwi Atmoko, Director General of Railways, said on Thursday (28/04).
Trains used on the network will be capable of carrying larger loads, similar to those intended for use in Sulawesi and Kalimantan, and run faster than trains in Java and Sumatera.
Hermanto said, after a meeting with West Papua Deputy Governor Irene Manibuy, that the first and second phase of the development will take place between 2016 and 2019.
“First the regional government will have to clear the land, test the routes, assess the environmental impact and look for recommendations from all regional leaders in the area,” Hermanto said.
All in all, West Papua’s railway development will be done in three phases. The total length of the railway track from Manokwari to Sorong will be 390 kilometers. The project is expected to start this year.

—————————————————————————



https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=1390

5) Marap Indigenous Group claim back three oil palm plantation divisions in Arso.

Indigenous land owners from the Marap people in Arso have used customary law to take back oil palm land owned by PT PN II as part of its Arso plantation, specifically the Core III, Core IV and Core V divisions. The action took place at Yamara village PIR 3, Manem sub-district, Keerom Regency, on Wednesday 27th April.
Maickel Fatagur, the head of the Fatagur clan which holds customary land rights, alongside other clans such as the Wabiager and Gumis clans, said that they will no longer hold any kind of meetings with the company. That is because they have used customary law to take back the land PTPN was using.
“We’e used customary law to take the land back. That means now there will be no more meetings with the company. The land now belongs to us. We invite PTPN II Arso to take back its oil palm and we will take back our land. That’s all”, Fatagur made clear to the Manager of PTPN II’s Arso plantation on Wednesday at Tami in Manem District, in Keerom.
According to Maickel, PTPN II has operated the Arso plantation on the Fatagur clan’s land, and that of its sub-clans, for around 30 years, but the local community, who hold the customary land rights, have never felt economically secure
“All these years attention has never been paid to the wellbeing of the community who hold the customary land rights on the land used by PTPN II Arso at the three locations in question, Core III, Core IV and Core V, which amount to 1300 hectares”, said Fatagur.
Dominika Tafor, the secretary of the Boda Student Association (Himpunan Mahasiswa Boda) in Keerom who is also an indigenous member of the Marap ethnic group, said that she was supporting the action taken by local indigenous people.
“We strongly support the action which the Marap community of Workwama village are taking today. We support it, because for so many years the company has not paid attention to the fate of the community. They only come to destroy”, she said.
When the indigenous people arrived at the plantation office in Tami, PTPN II’s Arso plantation manager, Hilarius Manurung, recieved them and said that he would take their wishes on board and pass them on to the Keerom local government.
“Since we’re a state owned company, we can only listen to all aspirations and complaints and pass them on to the local government for further action. There’s not much we can do. What we can do is to follow up all these complaints from the community,” said Manurung.
Suarapapua.com observed that security forces from the Keerom police headquarters were present, 11 armed policemen in a Dalmas truck, ready to police the Marap people’s action.
The action started from Workwama village at 9-00 am and travelled by truck the 6km to the plantation areas Core III – Core V, bringing a banner which read “we don’t need oil palm, we only need forest #savehutanpapua #savehutankeerom for our grandchildren”
As a symbol, the indigenous people brought soil from the three oil palm locations and taro yams from their gardens, placing them in a noken string bag made from forest palm frond midribs, and using traditional rituals took them to PTPN II’s office located in the plantation administration centre in Tami.
 HARUN RUMBARAR

Thursday, April 28, 2016

1) Pacific leaders head to UK for West Papua meeting

2) MSG leaders summit postponed
—————————————————————————————————

1) Pacific leaders head to UK for West Papua meeting
12:34 pm today

Several Pacific leaders are headed for London to participate in the International Parliamentarians for West Papua meeting at Westminster.
The IPWP is a cross-party global network of politicians who support self-determination for West Papuans, the indigenous people of Indonesia's Papua region.
The two-day meeting next week will also be attended by representatives of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and several heads of government, including the Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva.
This comes as a public march in support of West Papuan self-determination was this morning held in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.
Vanuatu is to be represented at the London meeting by its Minister for Lands, the Port Vila MP Ralph Regenvanu.

Mr Regenvanu said there was much to discuss as the political climate over West Papua has changed significantly over the last year.
In 2015, the Liberation Movement achieved observer membership in the Pacific sub-regional organisation, the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Mr Regenvanu said this reflected growing international support for the West Papuan people to realise their rightful aspirations for a genuine process of self-determination.
The London meeting will be discussing a strategy to bring about an internationally supervised vote in West Papua by the end of the decade.
In addition to this meeting, there will also be a Conference in Oxford held the day before, next Monday, titled 'The Day of Betrayal', which will revisit the Act of Free Choice from an academic, legal and human rights perspective.
The Act of Free Choice was the United Nations-sanctioned referendum by which Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, however the vote is widely considered as having been stage-managed.
West Papuans claim they were not consulted about the referendum process.

Public support for West Papua

Although some regional governments such as Papua New Guinea and Fiji express strong support for Indonesian territorial control of West Papua, public support for West Papuan independence is steadily growing.
Vanuatu's Free West Papua Association organised a public march towards the MSG secretariat this morning in the country's capital Port Vila.
The march was supposed to coincide with the beginning of a special MSG leaders summit in Port Vila where the group was to appoint a new director-general.
However the summit has now been postponed amid a fallout over Fiji's selection of one if its diplomats as the new MSG director-general.
Before the postponement, Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama announced he would skip the summit because he instead planned to travel to Britain to attend the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations.
Nonetheless hundreds of peaceful demonstrators this morning in Port Vila delivered a petition signed by thousands asking the MSG to grant full membership in the MSG to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

They also want the MSG to cancel the associate membership of Indonesia, as proposed by the government of Vanuatu.
The Daily Post quotes Vanuatu Free West Papua Committee member Lai Sakita as saying Indonesia's involvement in the MSG is a mockery to Vanuatu's traditional stand for freedom for West Papua.
Earlier, Mr Sakita called on the many supporters of West Papuan self-determination to come out from behind their computers and personal devices.
"While we appreciate your brave words of support for West Papua on Facebook, we want all of you to prove what you say by coming out to join in this peaceful march to confirm you mean business for the people of West Papua," he said.
————————————————————-

2) MSG leaders summit postponed

3:44 pm today


The Melanesian Spearhead Group Special Leaders Summit scheduled to be held in Port Vila next week has been postponed.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reports that a date is yet to be confirmed, although provisional dates are from May 30 to June 3, depending on the availability and commitments of the Leaders.
The MSG summit had been expected to formalise the appointment of a new director-general for the sub-regional grouping's Port Vila-based secretariat.
However two MSG members, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, have objected to the anouncement by the MSG chair, Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, that the Fiji diplomat Amena Yauvoli had been selected for the role.
Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama subsequently announced he would miss the summit to instead attend the Queen's birthday celebrations in Britain.

The summit was also expected to focus on discussion about West Papua.
While the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was last year granted observer status in the MSG, Indonesia has been lobbying the full members of the group to be granted full membership status.
Jakarta recently claimed to have the backing of Fiji and PNG's governments for full membership.
However Vanuatu's government, led by Charlot Salwai, is pushing for Indonesia's current associate membership status in the group to be cancelled.
It is also backing a bid for the Liberation Movement to be elevated to full membership status.

This morning hundreds of ni-Vanuatu, and some West Papuan representatives, participated in a march to the MSG secretariat in Port Vila.
They delivered a petition signed by thousands asking the MSG to grant full membership to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Photos of march in Vanuatu


An inspiring march in Port Vila today, Friday 29 April. The march went from the Fung Kuei car park along the Lini Highway up to the MSG Secretariat where greeted by staff and speeches were made.
Solidarity groups from the region also took part.



















































Monday, April 25, 2016

1) Security minister opens meeting on human rights in Papua


2) ANZAC Day Message 2016

——————————————————————————————


http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/104366/security-minister-opens-meeting-on-human-rights-in-papua

1) Security minister opens meeting on human rights in Papua

Senin, 25 April 2016 19:01 WIB | 527 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Panjaitan opened a coordination meeting related to cases of alleged human rights violations in Papua and West Papua here on Monday.

The meeting was held at the Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs office and was attended by National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, West Papua Police Chief Brig. Gen. Royke Lumawa, and numerous human rights activities.

Panjaitan opened the meeting, which was then led by National Police Chief Badrodin Haiti.

The security minister thereafter informed the newsmen that it was the third meeting being held to discuss alleged human right violations in Papua and West Papua.

While opening a national symposium on the 1965 tragedy here last Monday, the minister also expressed President Joko Widodos wish to resolve all human rights cases.

Panjaitan affirmed that the government was committed to settling cases of gross human rights violations, including the one related to the 1965 tragedy.(*)





————————————————————-

2) ANZAC Day Message 2016

APRIL 24, 2016
Dear friends,
Today, on ANZAC Day we remember the incredible commitment of our brave ANZAC heroes who fought and died alongside one another, 
helping to keep our region Independent and free.