1) Jokowi fails to bring peace to restive Papua

2) Papua launches safe food and drug campaign

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/jokowi-fails-to-bring-peace-to-restive-papua.html

1) Jokowi fails to bring peace to restive Papua

Moses Ompusunggu The Jakarta Post

Jakarta | Fri, October 14 2016 | 08:04 am

Children playing outside the classroom during a break in Jayapura, West Papua.(shutterstock.com/Katiekk)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been trying to fast-track infrastructure and economic development in Papua over the last two years, but little has been achieved to prevent human rights abuses from taking place in the country’s easternmost region.

Soon after he took office, Jokowi made an oath that he would not let Papuans continue to suffer as a result of the long-standing “Javacentric” paradigm of development. Thus, basic infrastructure such as roads and railways are being constructed in the resource-rich region.

But, at the same time, the number of reported human rights abuses in Papua continues to increase. This has underscored Jokowi’s hesitancy to promote peace on the island, hurting Papuans who have put their faith in him, the human rights group Setara Institute said Thursday.

Setara Institute data shows that 45 human rights abuse cases were reported in the first nine months of the year, ranging from murders and arrests of activists to torture carried out by Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) personnel. The number is a steep increase from the 16 rights abuse cases recorded last year.

“Jokowi’s biggest failure is that he simply thinks improving Papua can be done through economic and infrastructure development. The problem in Papua is not only about prosperity but also the dignity of its people, which can be realized by treating them equally, not promoting violence,” Setara vice chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos told a press briefing.

The Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI) has mapped out four major problems that have caused long-standing conflict in Papua, namely the state’s failure to bring prosperity to the region, the discrimination toward and marginalization of native Papuans, state-promoted violence and different interpretations regarding Papua’s integration into Indonesia.

Regarding the findings, LIPI has also broached the idea of a peaceful and inclusive dialogue to resolve conflict in Papua.

The dialogue is expected to involve all stakeholders, including native Papuans, migrants, government institutions, as well as separatist groups such as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

Setara Institute’s National Council secretary Benny Soesetyo said Jokowi had more than enough poltical capital to expedite peace talks in Papua, but still lacked the political will to do so.

Benny said Jokowi’s main source of political capital was that he had gained the trust of many Papuans; he went to Papua on his campaign trail and 70 percent of Papuans voted for him during the presidential election. “Also, Jokowi has been successful in consolidating power to support his government. This provides the impetus for the President to initiate peaceful dialogue,” Benny said.

Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator Neles Tebay, who was also present at the briefing, said the government had to resolve the problems identified by LIPI in a holistic manner, and not prioritize one above any other.

“As long as the government fails to deal with all the four problems, conflict will continue in Papua and international voices will raise their concerns about Indonesia’s approach to the region, especially in regard to the settlement of human rights cases,” Neles said.

During the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, seven Pacific countries expressed their concern over continuing human rights abuses in Papua, calling on the body to take concrete measures to address the matter and on Indonesia to resolve the problem.

Indonesia, however, has strongly rejected those countries’ claims, saying that their criticism is politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the ULMWP and Indonesia have both tried to garner support from members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), who will meet in December to decide whether to grant either ULMWP or Indonesia membership in the group. According to Neles, three of the five members, namely the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) were seemingly in favor of ULMWP being granted membership.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/papua-launches-safe-food-and-drug-campaign.html

2) Papua launches safe food and drug campaign

Nether Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post

Jayapura, Papua | Fri, October 14 2016 | 11:15 am

Hamrful products -- Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) head Penny K. Lukito (right) and Jayapura regional secretary Heri Dosinaen (third from left) destroy illegal and harmful food and drugs in a ceremony in Jayapura, Papua, on Oct.12.(JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)

The Jayapura Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BBPOM) officially launched the Papuan Safe Food and Drug Care Movement marked with destroying Rp 2.1 billion (US$161,024.43) worth of harmful and illegal food and drug products in a ceremony in Jayapura, Papua, on Wednesday. 

Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) head Penny K. Lukito said the movement aimed to boost cross-sector cooperation to optimize the monitoring of food and drug distributions in areas across Papua.

“Law violations in the field of food and drug are crimes against humanity. To limit the movement of the perpetrators, there should be comprehensive monitoring involving government and local administrations, business players and all society members,” said Penny.

The harmful and illegal food and drugs destroyed in the event were confiscated during market operations in 29 regencies and municipalities across Papua over the past year. They comprise 220,111 pieces of expired and illegally distributed traditional medicines, cosmetics, health supplements and food, totaling 3,401 different items.

“The types of violations we found during the operations include illegal distributions of drugs, chemically-tainted drugs, expired cosmetics and expired foods,” said BBPOM Jayapura head Hans Kakerisa.

He said his agency handled 20 cases in which the perpetrators were considered of allegedly participating in light crimes. Meanwhile, five cases underwent full legal processing. “The Jayapura Prosecutors’ Office has handled the cases.”

Kakerisa said nine counterfeit drugs were discovered in three regencies this past year. “We cannot yet detail the names of the drugs, but one thing I can assure you, those drugs have not been redistributed.” (ebf)