2) Pacific Islands Forum: at a glance
3) Fatal shooting a military response to Papua fishing dispute
4) Family planning in Lebak makes significant progress
5) Freeport still in charge of Grasberg mine after divestment
6) EDITORIAL: Shaky deal with Freeport
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1) West Papua advocacy groups urge Forum action
5:28 pm today
West Papua advocacy groups based in Australia and New Zealand have urged the Pacific Islands Forum to act decisively on Papua.
Representatives of the Forum’s 18 members are gathering for their annual leaders summit in Apia this week
Maire Leadbeater presents her petition urging the government to address the ongoing human rights situation in West Papua. Photo: RNZ / Daniela Maoate - Cox
Two years ago Forum leaders agreed to send a fact finding mission to Papua to investigate ongoing allegations of human rights abuses by Indonesian security forces.
Indonesia's government, however, has not agreed to a mission.
Both the Australia West Papua Association and New Zealand's West Papua Action Auckland group want the Forum to press Jakarta more on the matter.
The two groups cite recent moves by seven Pacific Island nations to raise the issue of human rights in West Papua at the UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council.
Vanuatu, Nauru, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau have called for the UN to take account of the evidence of widespread human rights violations and conduct
a systematic investigation with recommendations for actions.
The two advocacy groups have called on the Forum to support the seven Pacific nations call at the UN to investigate and report on the alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.
The Forum, they said, should establish a regional Fact Finding Team to conduct a Human Rights Assessment in West Papua.
Vanuatu's Justice Mnister Ronald Warsal addresses the 34th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the human rights situation in West Papua. Photo: webtv.un.org
In its open letter to Forum leaders, the Association said it was encouraged that the leaders previously agreed the issue of West Papua should remain on their agenda. But it suggested the issue should not be left to drift just because Jakarta was unhappy about the idea of a fact-finding mission.
"The Indonesian President has said that West Papua is now open and the authorities are saying that the human rights situation is improving. If this is the case why not allow a PIF fact-finding mission to the territory?" said the open letter.
There was also a call for the re-inscription of West Papua with the UN Committee on Decolonisation.
"The Special Committee on decolonization visited New Caledonia in March 2014 and AWPA urges the PIF leaders to ask the Committee to also visit West Papua on a fact finding mission to investigate how the West Papuan people have fared under Indonesian rule," said the Association.
West Papua Action Auckland said that the Forum had "turned away from addressing self-determination for West Papua, despite the fact that the people of West Papua were denied any say in the matter when Indonesia took over the territory in the 1960s".
Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Port Moresby in 2015 (pictured) and in Pohnpei in 2016 raised concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua. Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka’uta
The issue of West Papua was raised in Port Vila in July at the 14th Pacific Regional Meeting of the African Carribean and Pacific Group's Joint Parliamentary Assembly with the European Union.
As host, Vanuatu introduced the item on West Papua, which was supported by Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, and, "on purely humanitarian grounds", by Papua New Guinea.
The communiqué stated that "members called for the immediate halt to the brutal and senseless killings of the indigenous people of West Papua and referred the matter to the next JPA meetings".
Meanwhile, both Papua advocacy groups urged Forum leaders to give West Papua official status within the organisation, saying there were already many non-self governing territories and organisations that have this.
"The Forum should grant observer or associate status to the representatives of the West Papuan people, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua," said West Papua Action Auckland.
“This would put the Forum in a strong position to mediate dialogue between the ULMWP and Jakarta.”
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http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/09/04/pacific-islands-forum-glance
2) Pacific Islands Forum: at a glance
Source: AAP 4 HOURS AGO
Political leaders from Pacific Island nations are gathering in Samoa to debate responses to issues including climate change, trade and global conflict.
What is the Pacific Islands Forum?
* The forum was founded in 1971 and brings together political leaders from 16 states and two territories including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Fiji.
* It also includes much smaller Pacific nations including Niue, Tuvalu and Kiribati.
* Organisations including the World Bank and the United Nations observe the forum, as do neighbours including Guam, American Samoa and Timor Leste.
Why is it important?
* The forum is an important opportunity for leaders from small island states to voice their ambitions and concerns at the same table as much larger and more powerful neighbours.
* It allows countries to debate and develop regional strategies to tackle issues including climate change, trade and development, regional security and economic growth.
What's on the agenda?
* Maximising incomes from industries including tourism, fisheries and deep-sea mining, and governing how finances are spent.
* Addressing climate change and disaster risks by ensuring development is sustainable and resilient.
* Tackling rising sea levels, especially in light of President Donald Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
* Responding to shifts in global power, conflict and international relations, as China rises and America refocuses its attentions.
* Acting on rising poverty and inequality, food security and the depletion of natural resources.
* Nuclear waste issues in the North Pacific, ongoing conflict in West Papua, and freedom and fairness in regional political elections.
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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338652/fatal-shooting-a-military-response-to-papua-fishing-dispute
3) Fatal shooting a military response to Papua fishing dispute
1:12 pm today
An investigation into a fatal incident on Papua's south coast last month found an Indonesian military officer used gunfire to respond to a melee in a fishing dispute.
The incident on 9 August left one West Papuan dead and three other people injured, according to an investigative report by the Timika Diocese Justice and Peace Secretariat.
Tensions had been brewing in Mimika regency's Port Pomako over a dispute between indigenous fishermen and better-equipped migrants from other parts of Indonesia who were dominating the catch.
In the months leading up to the incident, indigenous fishermen made representations to local authorities on their grievances, and talks had been held on finding a solution in the form of a permit-based system.
However, indigenous fishermen had been excluded from the latest talks and raised issue when a group of migrant fisherman returned to fishing despite the matter being unresolved.
Some of the migrants' boats were apprehended by the indigenous group before the matter ended up in discussions outside the local police station.
According to the Timika Diocese report, a melee broke out when one of the migrant fishers' leaders, a municipal policeman, assaulted one of the indigenous people.
In response to the fracas, a member of the intelligence unit of Military Command, Chief Brigadier Yusuf Salasar, began shooting from the police post.
A Papuan, Theodorus Camtar, was fatally shot and two other citizens were injured by the gunfire.
The indigenous fishermen became angry and searched for the shooter. As they did so, facilities both inside and outside the police post were destroyed.
Another member of the military intelligence unit was stabbed.
When the situation was finally brought under control, police evacuated Theodorus Camtar's body and the other victims to the Mimika General Regional Hospital.
The newspaper Tabloid Jubi reported last month that the head of the local Cendrawasih Military Command, George Elnadus Supit, subsequently apologised to the families of victims in the incident.
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/112487/family-planning-in-lebak-makes-significant-progress
4) Family planning in Lebak makes significant progress
18 hours ago
Pewarta: Otniel Tamindael
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The family planning program through the presence of Family Planning Villages, better known as Kampung KB, in Lebak District, Banten Province, has made a significant progress in improving the welfare of the local community.
Indonesia has launched the Kampung KB as part of its efforts to revitalize the national family planning program that will help improve the health of its citizens.
Family planning program in Indonesia has become a role model for many developing countries after it succeeded in reducing total fertility rates and population growth.
In the past several years, the countrys family planning program did not see any significant progress, and needed to be revitalized through the Kampung KB program.
According to Lebak Department of Population Control, Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection (DP2KB-P3A) Chief Muzakir Hakiki Atim, Kampung KB is believed able to generate community participation in realizing village development towards prosperity.
Muzakir remarked in Lebak on Sunday that the local government encouraged the Kampung KB to be the locomotive of development agents in the villages with the aim of overcoming poverty and unemployment.
Moreover, Lebak District still bears the backward areas so it needs hard work to catch up with it.
But Muzakir said the presence of Kampung KB in 28 villages from 28 sub-districts in Lebak is really capable of prospering the community.
According to him, the success of the Kampung KB is inseparable from the high public participation to support the empowerment of various fields of development, such as economic, social, education, health and culture.
Currently, he said, community economic actors in Kampung KB grow with the small and medium business actors (SMEs) in producing various foods, bamboo handicrafts, and even metal industry production.
"We appreciate the presence of Kampung KB in Lebak, because based on the results of field evaluation, the program is capable of prospering the local community," Muzakir said.
Further, he noted that the local government as a public servant, will of course work hard through the work unit of the local area to encourage the welfare of Kampung KB community in Lebak, Banten Province.
In addition, the Indonesian easternmost province of Papua has also made a significant progress with family planning program with an increasing number of Kampung KB in a number of districts.
According to Papua National Demography and Family Planning Office (BKKBN) spokesman Charles Brabar, the number of Kampung KB in Papua continues to grow in line with the Nawacita Program of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to build Indonesia from the rural areas.
Charles remarked in Biak, Papua, on Tuesday, that until the end of August 2017, there have been 29 Kampung KB in almost all districts in the province of Papua.
The presence of the family planning villages in some districts in Papua, according to Charles, has provided an understanding for both the pregnant women and those who have just given birth to regularly check their health at the health integrated service posts, or Posyandu.
Kampung KB is a miniscule part of guiding demographic changes in a progressive fashion. Family planning and family development programs must involve all elements in the National Demography and Family Planning Agency.
Through the Kampung KB, the government wants to enhance public awareness about the importance of family planning as its benefits extend beyond just a womans health to her entire well-being and prosperity.
When couples choose to have smaller families, it also ensures that they will enough means to provide for them and build a more prosperous future not only for themselves, but for the entire nation.
Accordingly, all villages need to have Kampung KB to support the success of family planning program. This will result in a better quality of life and will also help underprivileged families.
"Kampung KB is designed to be a model of integrated development pertaining to the population, and will be implemented at the micro level," BKKBN Head Surya Chandra Surapaty said some time ago.
The family planning program is expected to further improve the welfare of the community and to break the chain of poverty.
According to him, the family planning will also result in people paying more attention to aspects such as the ideal age for marriage, ideal distance between child births, the number of children, expenses required for education and health of the entire family.
Moreover, some years down the lane, Indonesia will be able to reap the demographic bonus, a condition where it will have more people in the productive bracket than unproductive citizens, such as the elderly and children.
Of course, even a demographic bonus can turn into a disaster unless it is properly controlled with good planning.
The transmigration program, long out of the spotlight, needs to be revived.
Transmigration is important for Indonesia as the country has a high rate of population explosion.
Transmigration is proven to have made a considerable contribution to the economic growth in various areas that were not too well populated.
On the other hand, demographic bonus can lead to better economic development and progress in the fields of agriculture and industry.
The government and the younger generation must be prepared for the demographic bonus that Indonesia is predicted to witness after 2020.(*)
Indonesia has launched the Kampung KB as part of its efforts to revitalize the national family planning program that will help improve the health of its citizens.
Family planning program in Indonesia has become a role model for many developing countries after it succeeded in reducing total fertility rates and population growth.
In the past several years, the countrys family planning program did not see any significant progress, and needed to be revitalized through the Kampung KB program.
According to Lebak Department of Population Control, Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection (DP2KB-P3A) Chief Muzakir Hakiki Atim, Kampung KB is believed able to generate community participation in realizing village development towards prosperity.
Muzakir remarked in Lebak on Sunday that the local government encouraged the Kampung KB to be the locomotive of development agents in the villages with the aim of overcoming poverty and unemployment.
Moreover, Lebak District still bears the backward areas so it needs hard work to catch up with it.
But Muzakir said the presence of Kampung KB in 28 villages from 28 sub-districts in Lebak is really capable of prospering the community.
According to him, the success of the Kampung KB is inseparable from the high public participation to support the empowerment of various fields of development, such as economic, social, education, health and culture.
Currently, he said, community economic actors in Kampung KB grow with the small and medium business actors (SMEs) in producing various foods, bamboo handicrafts, and even metal industry production.
"We appreciate the presence of Kampung KB in Lebak, because based on the results of field evaluation, the program is capable of prospering the local community," Muzakir said.
Further, he noted that the local government as a public servant, will of course work hard through the work unit of the local area to encourage the welfare of Kampung KB community in Lebak, Banten Province.
In addition, the Indonesian easternmost province of Papua has also made a significant progress with family planning program with an increasing number of Kampung KB in a number of districts.
According to Papua National Demography and Family Planning Office (BKKBN) spokesman Charles Brabar, the number of Kampung KB in Papua continues to grow in line with the Nawacita Program of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to build Indonesia from the rural areas.
Charles remarked in Biak, Papua, on Tuesday, that until the end of August 2017, there have been 29 Kampung KB in almost all districts in the province of Papua.
The presence of the family planning villages in some districts in Papua, according to Charles, has provided an understanding for both the pregnant women and those who have just given birth to regularly check their health at the health integrated service posts, or Posyandu.
Kampung KB is a miniscule part of guiding demographic changes in a progressive fashion. Family planning and family development programs must involve all elements in the National Demography and Family Planning Agency.
Through the Kampung KB, the government wants to enhance public awareness about the importance of family planning as its benefits extend beyond just a womans health to her entire well-being and prosperity.
When couples choose to have smaller families, it also ensures that they will enough means to provide for them and build a more prosperous future not only for themselves, but for the entire nation.
Accordingly, all villages need to have Kampung KB to support the success of family planning program. This will result in a better quality of life and will also help underprivileged families.
"Kampung KB is designed to be a model of integrated development pertaining to the population, and will be implemented at the micro level," BKKBN Head Surya Chandra Surapaty said some time ago.
The family planning program is expected to further improve the welfare of the community and to break the chain of poverty.
According to him, the family planning will also result in people paying more attention to aspects such as the ideal age for marriage, ideal distance between child births, the number of children, expenses required for education and health of the entire family.
Moreover, some years down the lane, Indonesia will be able to reap the demographic bonus, a condition where it will have more people in the productive bracket than unproductive citizens, such as the elderly and children.
Of course, even a demographic bonus can turn into a disaster unless it is properly controlled with good planning.
The transmigration program, long out of the spotlight, needs to be revived.
Transmigration is important for Indonesia as the country has a high rate of population explosion.
Transmigration is proven to have made a considerable contribution to the economic growth in various areas that were not too well populated.
On the other hand, demographic bonus can lead to better economic development and progress in the fields of agriculture and industry.
The government and the younger generation must be prepared for the demographic bonus that Indonesia is predicted to witness after 2020.(*)
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/09/04/freeport-still-in-charge-of-grasberg-mine-after-divestment.html
5) Freeport still in charge of Grasberg mine after divestment
Jakarta | Mon, September 4, 2017 | 01:51 pm
Freeport McMoran (FCX) has stated that it still controls Grasberg mine in Papau, even after the company divested 51 percent of its shares in its subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia, as required by Indonesian law.
“FCX will continue to take control over the operation and management of PTFI,” said FCX in its statement last week.
Freeport McMoran CEO Richard Adkerson said his company would concentrate in underground mining next year because of the depletion of reserves resulting from its open mining activities.
Read also: Shaky deal with Freeport
In early the 1980s, the company mined 800,000 to 1 million tons of copper concentrates per day. Currently, it produces 100,000 tons of copper concentrates. The company said the underground mining needed an investment of US$20 billion.
Meanwhile, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s mineral and coal director general, Gatot Ariyono, confirmed that Freeport would become main operator of the Grasberg mine because Indonesia needed to gradually learn about underground mining.
“It is very technical. We cannot immediately take over,” said Bambang over the weekend as reported by tempo.co.
The divestment agreement with PT Freeport Indonesia was announced by Adkerson during a joint press conference with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on Aug. 29.
The company also agreed to convert its contract of work (CoW) into a special mining permit (IUPK), build a smelter within the next five years and increase its contribution to state revenue from its Grasberg mine in Papua. (bbn)
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2017/09/04/editorial-shaky-deal-with-freeport.html
6) EDITORIAL: Shaky deal with Freeport
Jakarta | Mon, September 4, 2017 | 07:45 am
The agreement in principle between the government and Freeport-McMoRan last week requiring the American company to increase Indonesian ownership in its gold and copper mining subsidiary PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) in Papua from the current 9.36 percent to 51 percent by no means reflects significant progress in resolving once and for all the dispute over FI.
As “the devil is in the details,” the most difficult issues related to the valuation of the FI shares and the time frame for the divestment have yet to be negotiated. Yet this provisional deal has secured Freeport a license to operate the world’s largest gold and copper mine until 2041.
We don’t think the divestment deal will scare off other mining investors. Nor is it a sign of rising resource nationalism in the country, as several foreign analysts have observed. It instead allows FI to resume copper concentrate exports and gives it fiscal and legal certainty for the next 24 years to recoup the estimated US$20 billion in additional investment needed to expand the mine and shift much of the mining work underground.
Freeport’s commitment to divest is a pledge to no longer play games with Indonesian law. It is simply a long-delayed enforcement of the law for FI, which has operated the giant mine since 1973, generating more than 95 percent of Freeport’s consolidated gold sales and more than a quarter of its revenues.
FI’s contract of work (CoW), which was extended in 1991 by 20 years to 2021, required Freeport to divest at least 51 percent of its shares by 2011.
But this stipulation has never been enforced for various reasons, including the government’s inability and other national interests to finance the acquisition and disagreement on the share valuation.
The absence of clear-cut rules on the divestment time frame and the seemingly different opinions regarding the method of valuation could see negotiations on the divestment details drag on for years. Freeport has insisted that the shares be priced based on fair market value. Earlier reports put Freeport’s estimate of the value of the 41 percent divestment at $6.6 billion, which apparently takes into account the mine’s gold and copper reserves.
But the government valued the 41 percent equity at only $2.46 billion, arguing that the divestment price should not include the value of the reserves that will still be in the ground after the end of the contract in 2041. The share value should be based entirely on the value of the business, which also depends on gold and copper prices.
This argument makes a lot of sense, because after 2041, the whole mine will be returned to the government, and all the remaining reserves or deposits certainly will belong to the government as the owner.
Hopefully, the technical details for implementing the provisional agreement will be completed before the end of 2018. Otherwise inordinate nationalistic sentiment that will likely rise in the run-up to the April 2019 presidential and legislative elections will overshadow the negotiations.
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