1) SOLOMON ISLANDS IN SUPPORT OF GLOBAL VOTE FOR WEST PAPUA INDEPENDENCE

2) Indonesia ‘recognises communal rights’ of 9 indigenous groups in Papua

3) 12 Missing as Passenger Boat Sinks off Papua Coast

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http://theislandsun.com/solomon-islands-support-global-vote-west-papua-independence/

1) SOLOMON ISLANDS IN SUPPORT OF GLOBAL VOTE FOR WEST PAPUA INDEPENDENCE

BY ERNEST TA’ASI | June 27, 2016

THE SOLOMON Islands government is in support for an international supervised vote on the independence of West Papua.

THE SOLOMON Islands government is in support for an international supervised vote on the independence of West Papua.

Solomon Islands representative Barret Salato gave the country’s support before the UN Human Rights Council for the vote proposal that was made by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua Forum in London last month.

“We strongly endorsed the final declaration of this International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) Forum which took place in London on 3 May which calls for an internationally supervised vote on the independence of West Papua,” Salato said in his statement over the situation of West Papua.

The London declaration has been endorsed by cross regional parliamentarians from 15 UN member states.

Barret Salato spoke of the brutal oppression faced by West Papuans.

He said the Solomon Islands government is regularly updated on the violation of human rights against West Papuans.

“The Solomon Islands government receives regular reports of cases of arbitrary arrests, summary execution, torture, ill-treatment, restriction of freedom of expression, assembly and association, committed mainly by the Indonesian police,” Salato said.

He said on 2 May alone, 2,109 indigenous Melanesian West Papuans were arrested for participating in peaceful demonstrations in several cities in West Papua and some Indonesian cities.

“The demonstrations were held in support of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the commemoration of 1 May 1963 as Indonesia’s annexation of West Papua and to support the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting.

“During the arrest, some of them experienced torture and ill treatment from the Indonesian security forces,” he added.

“The Solomon Islands notes the recent outcomes of the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead group that was held last week in Fiji (14-17TH June 2016) where both Representatives of Indonesia and the ULMWP sat as MSG members during the deliberation.

“This outcome envisages to establish a safe space for constructive engagement with all parties with a view to addressing the concerns of the MSG members about the recent developments in West Papua.

“In this regard, the Foreign Ministers further agreed to establish a Committee of High Level Representatives of the MSG members to accompany and facilitate this constructive engagement.

“We also welcome the initiative of the MSG to work closely with the Indonesian government to visit the Melanesian Provinces of Indonesia at a later date. This important visit would allow for a clear, objective and independent view by the members of the MSG leaders and ministers.”

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http://asiapacificreport.nz/2016/06/28/indonesia-recognises-communal-rights-of-nine-indigenous-groups-in-papua/

2) Indonesia ‘recognises communal rights’ of 9 indigenous groups in Papua

By Yeremia Sukoyo in Jakarta

By PMC Editor - 

  

June 28, 2016

Indonesia’s Minister of Land and Spatial Planning Ferry Mursyidan Baldan has declared the government’s recognition of communal rights of nine indigenous communities in Papua.

The declaration was held at the closing of the  9th Sentani Lake Festival at the province’s Khalkhote region in East Sentani last week.

“We want to affirm how Jayapura becomes the living space for indigenous communities. No more actions against the living and cultural spaces of indigenous communities,” Ferry said.

The state had supported available space for Papua’s indigenous communities so no more people are evicted or forced from their native land, Ferry said.

“On behalf of the country, we affirm that in all Papuan regions, the entire space, mountain, beaches and others are owned by Papua’s indigenous communities. Whoever wishes to take benefits, to develop, should recognise the presence of indigenous communities within.”

“There should no longer be the elimination of indigenous communities’ rights,” Ferry said.

Daniel Toto, head of Jayapura’s indigenous communities, has called on the central government to strengthen the practical presence of indigenous communities.

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http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/12-missing-passenger-boat-sinks-off-papua-coast/

3) 12 Missing as Passenger Boat Sinks off Papua Coast

Biak, Papua. At least 12 people are missing after a passenger boat sunk off in Biak district waters in Papua before dawn on Monday (27/06), police said.

Biak Numfor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hadi Wahyudi said the boat, which was carrying 13 passengers, sunk due to bad weather and high waves between Rani and Numfor islands.

“A victim has been rescued to East Numfor Police office while 12 others are still being searched by the team,” Hadi told reporters in Biak, as reported by Antara news agency.

The rescued victim was identified as Firwanmus Yendife.
A joint team of police, transportation agency as well as search and rescue agency have been deployed since 5 a.m. to evacuate the 12 missing victims.
As of 11 p.m. local time, the team is yet to locate and rescue the missing victims.