Wednesday, October 5, 2016

1) Minister Address Human Rights Violation in Papua


2) Activists Criticise Indonesia’s Response to Papua Human Rights Abuses at UN General Assembly
3) Island focus: Papuans hand over 59 guns to military
4) Indonesia “shocked” at Pacific Islands stance on West Papua
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WEDNESDAY, 05 OCTOBER, 2016 | 20:02 WIB
1) Minister Address Human Rights Violation in Papua
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 that the government is committed to addressing alleged human rights violation in Papua.
According to Wiranto, the government is not giving promises to the people in Papua and West Papua, since it is a mandate for the government "to address all allegations of [human rights] violations, whether in Papua or anywhere in the country."
Wiranto viewed that the investigation into the allegation of human rights violations would not be easy. The Ministry, Wiranto added, must coordinate with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to look into testimonial from witnesses and evidences.
"Most of the violations occurred a long time ago. Some were in the 90s and in early 2000s. The point is we are committed to addressing these violations, but there are processes to go through," Wiranto added.
Wiranto confirmed that he is planning a non-judiciary mechanism to settle human rights violations that occurred in the past. According to Wiranto, the mechanism is in line with traditional customs in Indonesia, by which horizontal conflicts are settled.
"The judiciary mechanism is about winning and losing at court, but a non-judiciary mechanism promotes win-win solutions, because it involves discussion," Wiranto explained.
Wiranto revealed that the Indonesian government had settled 11 cases of human rights violations in Papua, including those in Biak Numfor in 1998 and the Paniai incident in 2014. The case settlements involved several institutions, such as the National Police, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Papua Police, Komnas HAM, the Attorney General's Office, the Papuan Cultural Communities, and human rights activists.
In this case, Komnas HAM was specifically authorized to conduct investigations into heavy human rights violation cases, such as the Wasior case (2001), the Wamena case (2003), the Paniai case (December 2014), and the Biak incident (July 1998).
YOHANES PASKALIS
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2) Activists Criticise Indonesia’s Response to Papua Human Rights Abuses at UN General Assembly
By : Alin Almanar | on 6:46 PM October 05, 2016
Jakarta. Activists have criticized Indonesia's weak diplomacy efforts at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept.13-26, where member states from the Pacific voiced concerns over the country's human rights record in Papua.
At the conference, leaders from Pacific countries - Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu — urged for a resolution to human rights abuse cases in Papua.
Reiterating its commitment to upholding human rights, Indonesia dismissed the allegations, saying they were based on a lack of understanding on the current developments in Papua.
According to Ray Rangkuti, executive director of the Indonesian Civil Society Circle, or Lima, the government's response was nothing more than mere "rhetoric."
"Explain to what extent the revelations by the countries are true. If there are human rights abuses, explain what has been done to resolve them," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/10).
Responding to calls by the Pacific nations for self-determination in Papua, Indonesia said they were politically motivated and accused the countries of undermining its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"The response did not answer the substance of the criticism. It did not explain what has been done over the situation in Papua," Ray said.
Saying Indonesia's response was only based on "arrogance," human rights advocate and Catholic priest Benny Susetyo urged the government to improve its diplomacy efforts.
"We should not undermine such countries. Persuasion should be put forward instead. We should build constructive dialogue with them," he said.
"If we could not embrace the countries, Papua could break free."
Activists have long raised concerns over allegations of rampant human rights abuses in the province, where the Free Papua Movement, or OPM, has mounted an insurgency for decades.
It has complained that the central government has given the resource-rich region an unfair share of state wealth after Papua became part of Indonesia in 1969.
The OPM has since pleaded for international support from the Melanesian community in the Pacific.
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3) Island focus: Papuans hand over 59 guns to military
Jayapura | Wed, October 5 2016 | 08:28 am
The XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command in Jayapura has collected 59 firearms in the January to September period from civilians who voluntarily relinquished their guns.

The people relinquished their firearms after the military and the police force took a soft approach by appealing to community leaders.

“The firearms were handed over without violence,” XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian said on Wednesday.

Fifteen of the surrendered firearms were guns registered to Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police personnel forcefully taken by armed groups. The remaining 44 guns were handmade.
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Matangi Tonga Online
4) Indonesia “shocked” at Pacific Islands stance on West Papua

Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - 15:05.  Updated on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - 15:11.  Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An Indonesian diplomat said that Indonesia is “shocked” at six Pacific Islands governments, including Tonga, for accusing Indonesia of human rights violations in West Papua. Nara Masista Rakhmatia during a speech at the 1st Session of the General Assembly of the UN in New York on 24 September 2016 also accused PM 'Akilisi Pohiva and other Pacific leaders of using the General Assembly to advance their domestic agendas and some “to divert attention from political and social problems at home.”
Rakhmatia was responding to earlier speeches at the General Assembly made by PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva, President Baron Waqa (Nauru), PMManasseh Sogavare (Solomon Islands), PM Charlot Salwai (Vanuatu), President Hilda Heine (Marshall Islands) and PM Enele Sopoaga (Tuvalu).
In his speech PM Pohiva stated “The UN has a duty to follow up this West Papua case and take necessary action to stop these brutal and inhuman activities. We leaders must rise to higher moral order beyond interests and be guided by what is fair and suitable to all.”
Nauruan President Baron Waqa stated “Nauru is deeply concerned regarding the situation in West Papua including the alleged human rights abuses.”
Tuvaluan PM Enele Sopoaga stated “The UN must act on this issue and find a workable solution to give autonomy to the Indigenous Peoples of West Papua.”
Shocked
Rakhmatia responded in an irritated tone, stating “Indonesia is shocked to hear that at this important stage where leaders gather at this August body…They clearly reflect an unfortunate lack of understanding of the history, current situation and progressive development in Indonesia including in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.”
“These countries are using the General Assembly to advance their domestic agenda and for some countries to divert attention from political and social problems at home. The same countries are also using false and fabricated information as the basis of their statement” she added.
“We have a saying in our Asia-Pacific region when one points the index finger to others the thumb finger automatically points to one’s own face”.
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