2) Komnas HAM RI Have No repressive apparatus on December 1 in Papua
3) Villages may soon see the light
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1) Support grows for Papua referendum
Moses Ompusunggu and Marguerite Afra Sapiie
Jakarta | Wed, November 30 2016 | 08:42 am
Amid what has been perceived as government inaction over injustice in Papua, civil society organizations have rallied to support residents in the country’s easternmost region to exercise their right to self-determination through a referendum.
The groups, which have formed an alliance called the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-West Papua), said on Tuesday that a referendum would serve to end the “practice of colonization and militarism” in the restive region.
Announcing a plan to rally on Dec. 1, which is seen by West Papua liberation proponents as the province’s national day, FRI-West Papua spokesperson Surya Anta said the need for a referendum was a consequence of abuses carried out by the government that have resulted in a persistent lack of welfare in the region.
“It’s not possible for West Papuans to live normally if manipulation and deceit of history still persist, racial discrimination is deeply entrenched in every aspect of their lives, the slow-motion genocide continues systematically and extortion of natural wealth destroys their livelihoods and culture,” Surya told a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) in Central Jakarta.
The group claimed that West Papua “never became a legitimate part of Indonesia”, taking into account what happened in Papuans’ act of free choice (Pepera), a referendum in 1969 that it claimed was “flawed”.
The group said only 1,022 individuals, less than 0.2 percent of the Papuan population at that time, were involved in Pepera, emphasizing that the participants had been put “under pressure” to express their consent to integrate with Indonesia.
Some 200 protesters from various organizations across the country, including those advocating for West Papua’s liberation, were due to join the Dec. 1 rally in Jakarta and several regions, Surya said. Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP) chairman Jefry Wenda confirmed to The Jakarta Post that his organization would partake in the demonstration.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said he had yet to be informed about the planned rally, adding that if it was meant to support a referendum for Papua, it could arose suspicion about a separatist movement. “It may violate Article 6, point (e) of the 1998 Freedom of Speech Law,” Boy said, referring to a provision stipulating that any protester is obliged and is responsible to maintain the unity and solidity of the nation when participating in a rally.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has played down the issue of a referendum, saying the government would answer the call with sustainable development efforts in Papua and West Papua.
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
2) Komnas HAM RI Have No repressive apparatus on December 1 in Papua
JAYAPURA,
SUARAPAPUA.com- Komnas HAM Representatives requested the repressive security forces are not facing dated December 1, 2016 against the people of Papua to commemorate the birth of embryonic republic of West Papua are 55th in Papua.
"Komnas HAM asked the authorities do not take action criminalization, arrests, persecution, torture and killing of activists and the people of Papua. Party apparatus as minimal as possible to avoid the potential for human rights violations amid Indonesia was reassuring the international community about the prospects for peace in the land of Papua, "pleaded Natalius Pigai to
suarapapua.com not long ago from Jakarta.
Pigai said Manokwari new cases last month occurred just be counter-productive to the Government's efforts to improve the human rights situation in Papua. Even Tim Monitoring Commission recommended to the plenary session of the Commission to decide investigating gross human rights violations of Law No. 26 of 2000 in Manokwari.
According hemar Pigai, by looking at the escalation of human rights violations in Papua deteriorating shows Jokowi Government has no goodwill to stop human rights violations in Papua.
"At this time when the world more open and information is easily accessible course various incidents of human rights violations in Papua will be recognized and highlighted with ease, then the relevant date of December 1 we ask that all parties, both groups celebrating and also the security forces remain engaged in corridors human rights, namely freedom of expression is certainly respected by all parties and order that people will be maintained, "said Pigai.
For that Komnas HAM, Pigai said, would monitor developments and the situation prior to and during dated December 1, 2016.
Announcers: Arnold Belau
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3) Villages may soon see the light
Fedina S. Sundaryani and Viriya P. Singgih
Jakarta | Wed, November 30, 2016 | 07:21 am
The government will soon issue a new rule to electrify 2,500 remote villages with the help of the private sector that may need billions of dollars for the cause.
These affected villages are part of the total 12,659 villages across the country that it aims to electrify with renewable energy sources under the Indonesia Terang (Bright Indonesia) program, the umbrella program of the development plan involving the private sector.
The rule will allow private companies, provincial administration-owned companies and cooperatives to set up off-grid power plant projects in remote villages, 2,376 of which are located in Papua and West Papua.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s electricity development program director, Alihuddin Sitompul, said the regulation had been signed by Minister Ignasius Jonan and was being processed at the Law and Human Rights Ministry.
“The government hopes to encourage the private sector and provincial-administration owned companies to enter the small-scale electricity business. With a maximum capacity of 50 megawatts [MW], investors can act as mini versions of [state-owned electricity firm] PLN,” Alihuddin said during a seminar held on Tuesday.
PLN is currently the sole electricity off-taker in the country. However, with the impending regulation, private investors will be able to sell their electricity directly to residents without having to go through PLN.
Private investors will also be requested to focus on procuring electricity through a hybrid power system, supported by both renewable energy sources and conventional fossil fuel sources.
A hybrid power system combines two or more modes of electricity production, usually involving at least one renewable energy source to ensure the village can maintain power 24 hours a day.
Alihuddin was upbeat that the private sector and provincial administration-owned companies would be interested in the projects as the government would offer subsidies as an incentive. However, he declined to disclose any details.
Even though Indonesia recorded an electrification rate of 88 percent last December, it was attributed to heavy concentration on Java, while eastern regions have remained in the dark.
Lack of electricity in the regions has been mostly blamed on poor infrastructure, which also contributes to high transportation costs.
The ministry previously said the development of electricity infrastructure in Papua and West Papua would require Rp 156.02 billion (US$11.64 million) and annual operating fees of Rp 191.9 billion.
Previously, PLN corporate planning director Nicke Widyawati said the company had expressed its interest to the government in leading projects that could be interconnected into its existing network and was already assessing locations in Papua.
The ministry has remained quiet about whether the impending ministerial regulation would also involve PLN.
The private sector, meanwhile, has expressed its readiness to take part in the remote village electrification program.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) deputy head for bioenergy and water power Jaya Wahono said that the business group was trying to submit funding proposals worth $8 billion to various international groups, including World Bank financing arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to meet the electricity procurement plan.
The massive fund could help provide 300 kilowatts of electricity to one village, where each house could get at least 450 watts of electricity.
“That way, the government can boost the economic growth in remote areas. People in coastal villages, for instance, can use the electricity to build cold storages for their fishery products,” Jaya said.
Kadin has formed a partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce to explore business opportunities available to European companies, which are expected to invest in and transfer their technological knowledge to Indonesia
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