AWPA Sydney : Summary of events in West Papua for August -11 Sept. 2017

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

Summary of events in West Papua for August -11 Sept. 2017

Pacific Islands Forum

The 48th Pacific Islands Forum was held from 4-8 September in Apia, Samoa. In a series of meetings starting with the Smaller Islands States Leaders Meeting on the 4 September, it ended with the Forum Leaders Retreat on the 8 September. The theme of this years meeting “The Blue Pacific – Our Sea of Islands”.

Leading up to the Forum, CSOs in the region called on the PIF leaders to continue to press Jakarta to allow a fact finding mission to West Papua. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338676/west-papua-advocacy-groups-urge-forum-action

A not very strong mention of West Papua in the official communiqué. At best it got a mention.

d) West Papua (Papua)

37. Leaders recognised the constructive engagement by the Forum countries with Indonesia with respect to elections and human rights in West Papua and Papua and to continue a dialogue in an open and constructive manner.

48th Pacific Islands Forum Communique

http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=3785313559b5c753f26b3ace194251

However, leading up to and during the Forum, it was encouraging to see a lot of media attention on the issue of West Papua thanks to the ongoing awareness raising by the people of the region.

Nauru will host the next forum in 2018

Leaders also unanimously reappointed Dame Meg Taylor as Secretary General for a second, three-year term.

Rally-raising awareness

Local people gathered outside the venue 48th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, to raise awareness about the plight of West Papua and its people. Protest organiser Jerome Mika said the protest was to ensure Pacific leaders did not ignore the issue of West Papua.

West Papua independence movement protest campaign in Samoa. Photo: RNZI/ Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338787/west-papua-protest-at-forum-summit-in-apia

RNZI reported that police disbanded the morning protest but demonstrators held another protest in the afternoon.

Police at the Pacific Leaders Forum Photo: RNZI/ Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Civil society dialogues with Forum leaders described as historic

The president of the Pacific Islands Association of Non Governmental Organisations Sarah Thompson said the talks yesterday were historic because of the way civil society groups were approached about the issues they were keen to address.The theme of this year's summit "Blue Pacific", non communicable diseases, seabed mining, peace and security and gay rights were discussed with leaders. Sarah Thompson says it was the first time civil society and forum leaders were able to meet face to face. "I think every year it's getting better and certainly we have already some ideas and thoughts and how we can expand that for next year. "You might have heard the president of Nauru say we are going to do this next year and that is a true indication that the idea of CSO (civil society organisation) dialogue with the leaders will be institutionalised within the Pacific Islands Forum and that in itself is encouraging," she said.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338866/civil-society-dialogues-with-forum-leaders-described-as-historic

Indonesia protests

Indonesia's Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand, Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit of approval to stage the action. At least 30 local people supporting the West Papua independence movement took part in a peaceful protest this week in front of the hotel where the Pacific Island Forum leaders summit is held in Samoa. A member of Mr Yahya's delegation also accused one senior journalist of asking provoking questions in support of the West Papua issue. The Ambassador said the reporter's questions were based on outdated information. West Papua was one of the issues raised by the civil society delegation in this week's Forum leaders meeting. But Ambassador Yahya said the issue of Papua was not on the agenda at this Forum meeting. "First it will not bring any relevant issues which connects to the agenda and the second, it's kind of, in our perspective talking about Papua in this conference is not in place because from the begining there is no agenda as such that will be concerning the issue of Papua," he said. Meanwhile, Indonesian foreign affairs official Franzalbert Joku accused the Pacific Island countries, Australia and New Zealand of failing to help West Papuans when they needed help. (RNZI 8 Sept.).

Human rights abuses no longer happening in West Papua says Indonesian delegate

07 September 2017 Posted in: Pacific Radio News,

An Indonesian official says human rights abuses are no longer happening in West Papua like they used to. Franzalbert Joku from the Ministry for Political, Judicial and Security in Indonesia is at the 48th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Samoa.

“I’m saying it’s not happening to the scale like in the 60s, 70s, 80s and even as late as the 90s.” “On the issue of Papua independence and human rights abuses allegations, we don’t think the forum is the appropriate place to address these issues."

Franzalbert Joku (right). Photo/ PRN.

Protesters gathered outside the Aggie Grey’s Sheraton Hotel in Samoa yesterday to address the leaders and delegates attending the forum. Samoan senior solicitor Unasa Iuni Sapolu says it’s time for the Pacific nations to have a collective voice on West Papua. “This is something the Pacific Forum should stand up for. At least half a million people have been murdered. There is genocide, there’s a holocaust in the West Pacific and what do we do? We sit back and have a holiday on public moneys.” However Joku says things have changed.

“It’s no longer the Indonesia or Papua that we have known before," he says. “Come to Papua and have a look for yourselves.” http://radio531pi.com/blog/human-rights-abuses-no-longer-happening-in-west-papua-says-indonesian-delegate

Historic swim delivers Free West Papua petition across Lake Geneva to the United Nations

September 3, 2017

On 28th August at 08:30 in the morning, at the far shores of Lake Geneva, 6 swimmers departed across a 69km journey that lasted over 28 hours. With them, they symbolically carried both the West Papuan People’s Petition and the Global Petition in solidarity with the people of West Papua.

These are petitions calling on the United Nations to do what is right. To right the wrongs of past injustices. They call for the restoration of West Papua’s fundamental rights, including the fundamental right to self-determination.

They are petitions people around the world have given their mind, body and soul to. Petitions which speak to us all in our common humanity. They read:

“We call on you to urgently address the human rights situation in West Papua and to review the UN’s involvement in the administration of West Papua that led to its unlawful annexation by Indonesia ‐- and the human rights abuse that continues today. We call upon you to: – appoint a Special Representative to investigate the human rights situation in West Papua; – put West Papua back on the Decolonisation Committee agenda and ensure their right to self‐determination ‐- denied to them in 1969 -‐ is respected by holding an Internationally Supervised Vote (in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions 1514 and 1541 (XV)).”............................

https://www.freewestpapua.org/2017/09/03/historic-swim-delivers-free-west-papua-petition-across-lake-geneva-to-the-united-nations/

Thousands rally in Deiyai over fatal shooting

Nethy Darma Somba The Jakarta Post

Jayapura | Mon, August 21, 2017

Thousands of people rally in Deiyai, Papua, on Monday to demand the perpetrator of a recent fatal shooting be brought to justice. (Courtesy of/Abeth Amoye You)

Thousands of people rallied in Deiyai, Papua on Monday to demand the perpetrator of a recent fatal shooting in the regency be brought to justice. They also want contractor firm PT Putra Dewa Paniai and the police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel to be forced out from the Mee Pago indigenous area. Yulianus Pigai, 28, was found dead with several gunshot wounds when Brimob personnel tried to disperse a crowd that had destroyed the construction camp of the firm in Tigi district, Deiyai regency, on Aug. 1. "Thousands of people marched to the Deiyai Legislative Council over the incident on Aug. 1," Catholic priest Santon Tekege told The Jakarta Post.

During the rally, the demonstrators also performed traditional dances while others carried signs and banners slamming the incident. They also called on the Papua Police to remove all Brimob personnel from the Mee Pago indigenous area, which covers Nabire, Paniai, Deiyai, Dogiyai and Intan Jaya regencies.

Residents of Deiyai, Papua take part in the rally on Monday. They demanded that the perpetrator of a recent fatal shooting be brought to justice. (Courtesy of/Abeth Amoye You)

Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar has dismissed Tigi Police chief First. Insp. Maing Raini and replaced him with First Insp. Ferry Mervin Mehue. A number of Brimob personnel have also been investigated over the fatal shooting. Rallies protesting the shooting also took place in Jakarta, Bandung and Gorontalo. (bbs)

RNZ undeterred by Indonesian protest over Papua coverageRNZI 17 August 2017
New Zealand's public broadcaster says a protest in Indonesia won't deter it from covering West Papua.

Protest against RNZ coverage of West Papua, outside the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta. Photo: Supplied
Last week about twenty people protested about RNZ Pacific's coverage of West Papua in a demonstration outside the New Zealand embassy in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Among placards on display were messages accusing RNZ of being manipulated by Papuan separatist interests in its coverage. One placard called for bilateral relations between Indonesia and New Zealand to be cut. RNZ's chief executive Paul Thompson said the broadcaster was surprised by the protest against its on-going coverage of West Papua. He said he had received no complaints about RNZ Pacific coverage which had been fair, accurate, and independent. According to Mr Thompson, RNZ would continue to assiduously report on issues in the region.

Protesting the New York Agreement
Up to 100 people from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Indonesian’s Front for West Papua (FRI West Papua) were arrested in Yogyakarta, Semarang and Jakarta during the anniversary to protest 55 years of New York Agreement. On the 15 August in 1962 an agreement was signed between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning West New Guinea. The Agreement did contain certain guarantees for the population of the territory, including detailed provisions regarding the exercise of the right of self-determination . Although a so called act of free choice did take place In 1969, Indonesia chose only 1025 electors (one representative for approximately every 700 Papuans) to vote in the UN sanctioned election. Under coercion the electors voted to integrate with Indonesia. The West Papuan people call this, the act of no free choice. It should be remembered that Australia was also involved in the betrayal.

Protest in Support of Papuan Independence Ends in Clashes, Arrests

Jakarta Globe 16 August 2017

A march in support of Papuan independence in Central Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon (15/08) ended with the arrest of several protesters and allegations of police brutality. (JG Photo/Dames Alexander Sinaga)

By : Dames Alexander Sinaga | August 16, 2017

Jakarta. A march in support of Papuan independence in Central Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon (15/08) ended with the arrest of several protesters and allegations of police brutality. "This protest is simultaneously taking place in 11 cities across Indonesia," Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) activist Frans Nawipa told the Jakarta Globe during the event. He alleged that protesters at similar actions in other cities were assaulted by police.

Frans said the 1969 Act of Free Choice (Pepera) was invalid and urged the government to hold a new independence referendum for all Papuans. Pepera refers to a series of eight regional assemblies from July to August 1969, on which the government bases its assertion that the people of Papua decided to relinquish their sovereignty in favor of Indonesian citizenship. Protesters were planning to march from the busy Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace, but police prevented them from doing so. "We are conducting peaceful resistance; we don't want any violence. We have a permit to hold the protest, why wouldn't you let us through?" one of the protesters told police.

Police officers try to prevent protesters from marching to the State Palace from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (15/08). (JG Photo/Dames Alexander Sinaga)

A senior police officer tried to negotiate with the protesters to remain at the starting point, but they refused to comply, resulting in clashes and subsequent arrests. One protester said police refused to allow them to march to the State Palace because of the preparations currently underway for Independence Day. The protestors also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Indonesian government over high levels of poverty among the people of Papua, despite the region's abundant
natural resources

Papua’s development not only about infrastructure: JDP leader

Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post

Jayapura, Papua | Thu, August 24, 2017

Prioritizing only infrastructure will not be enough in developing Papua and must be balanced with the empowerment of its human resources, a Papuan community leader has said. Papua Peace Network (JDP) coordinator and Catholic priest Neles Tebay said that without skilled human resources, the Papuan people would only become “spectators” of various economic achievements happening in their own home. “We appreciate the infrastructure development initiated by the President [Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo]. We also feel he has given a lot of attention to Papua. It is only President Jokowi who has visited Papua twice a year, something that was never done by our previous presidents,” Neles said in Jayapura meeting with Jokowi along with 12 other Papuan leaders. Neles said infrastructure development had connected several areas that had long been isolated, making it much easier for residents to carry out their daily activities and visit each other. The improved connectivity has also attracted visitors to Papua, filling job opportunities available in the region as they have more skills and expertise. “In some areas, locals can only watch economic activities happening in [other] villages, because they don’t have access to ongoing development or cannot get involved because they don’t have skills. They are alienated from activities in their kampung,” Neles said. “If this continues, the government’s efforts to develop Papua will be fruitless […] This is what President Jokowi must pay attention to,” he added. (ebf)

Signs that Jakarta is entering West Papua dialogue process
RNZI 5 September 2017 There are signs of a significant peace dialogue opening up between Indonesia's government and West Papuans. Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua. Terms of reference for the dialogue are not known yet, but the Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest, Dr Neles Tebay, taking on a mediator role. One of the participants at the meeting, Yan Christian Warinussy of the Papua-based Institute of Research, Investigation and Development of Legal Aid, said it was unclear what the next step would be. "Because after we meet with Jokowi (President Joko Widodo) three weeks ago, we not see what next step to take the peaceful dialogue (forward) after we talked with Jokowi. That is the problem, I think." The dialogue between Indonesia's government and West Papuans is unlikely to include the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Mr Warinussy indicated that Jakarta was reluctant to have talks with the Liberation Movement which broadly represents all West Papuans and is chiefly interested in the territory gaining independence. "They (ULMWP) not like to make dialogue about development, economic development, social, cultural development and also infrastructure. But they'd like dialogue with Indonesia about self-determination and about human rights." According to Mr Warinussy, the Liberation Movement's aim reflected the general aspiration of West Papuans. "The majority of the people in West Papua, they'd like to get independence," he said, suggesting that was the leading topic that West Papuans would wish to have dialogue with Jakarta about. The Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest and coordinator of the Papua Peace Network, Dr Neles Tebay, taking on a mediator role.

West Papuan Liberation Movement dismisses Jakarta dialogue

RNZI 6 September 2017

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says it's not interested in one-on-one dialogue with Indonesia's government. Various Papuan civil society, church and customary leaders met with Indonesia's president Joko Widodo last month about establishing dialogue over problems in Papua. The Jakarta meeting agreed on the Catholic priest, Neles Tebay taking on a mediator role. However so far the Liberation Movement has not been included in the dialogue process.

Its secretary-general Octo Mote said Jakarta's offer of dialogue appeared to be timed for good publicity ahead of meetings of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders and the UN General Assembly. "It's too late. The world knows that we tried for the negotiations with Indonesia for years. We are only interested when internationally-mediated negotiation (happens), not dialogue. Internationally-mediated negotiation." Terms of reference for the dialogue have not been confirmed yet, but those at last month's meeting indicated President Widodo wanted to advance talks about economic and social development in Papua.

Jakarta overture to Papua questioned

Although the Papuans at the Jakarta meeting had been pressing for dialogue on issues of human rights abuses in Papua among other problems, the term "sectoral" has been used to describe the matters up for discussion.

According to Mr Mote, it is unclear what the Indonesian goal of dialogue about "sectoral" matters refers to. He said the Liberation Movement's mandate as a representative body for West Papuans was to campaign for independence, and that this would not change. "We don't pay attention to any dialogue (between Jakarta and Papuans). Our focus is getting the members of the countries at the UN to put West Papua back on the UN agenda," Mr Mote explained. "So if Indonesian government wants to do dialogue about development issues, just go ahead. They can do it."

The Liberation Movement is recognised by the Melanesian Spearhead Group which is an international collective whose full members are Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks movement. Mr Mote said that in accepting the Liberation Movement and granting it observer status, the MSG had taken up a role as a vehicle for the West Papua self-determination and human rights issues to be addressed at the international level. "So they created a forum where this kind of communication can be taking place," he said. However, according to Mr Mote, Indonesia has rebuffed efforts by the MSG chairman Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands to confront the Papuans' core grievances. "That means Indonesia closed this kind of communication," said the Liberation Movement secretary-general who is currently in Samoa to attend the Pacific Islands Forum annual summit. The government of Indonesia, which has associate member status in the MSG, said it was working hard to improve living conditions in Papua region through economic development. Indonesia said the incorporation of Papua into the republic was final, and its security forces take a firm line in disallowing expressions of Papuan independence aspirations.

Pacific church endorses self-determination in region
RNZI 17 August 2017 Pacific churches have come out in support of West Papuan self-determination while endorsing the referenda planned for New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea's Bougainville. In a statement, the Pacific Conference of Churches said it supported calls from Pacific Island countries’ for a United Nations investigation of Indonesia's human rights abuses in West Papua. It said it also supported the struggle of the people of New Caledonia in their pursuit of self-determination and urged the signatories to the Noumea Accord to proceed with the referendum planned for next year. The conference also encouraged churches to promote the leadership of women and urged law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of women and children.

Human Rights Watch calls for more international scrutiny of West Papua

RNZI 14 August 2017Human Rights Watch in Indonesia is calling for more international scrutiny of the country's Papuan provinces. The organisation's Jakarta based researcher, Andreas Harsono made the call following an announcement last week that no more than five Papuan political prisoners remained behind bars in Papua and West Papua, down from 37 in 2016. Mr Harsono said while the release of political prisoners was a positive step, more needed to be done to address serious human rights abuses committed by Indonesian security forces in the Papuan regions. He said a UN special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression should be allowed to visit West Papua. "That is something that can help. And of course international journalists, international NGOs, international monitors, they can help. We are not there to meddle, to be involved in domestic politics in West Papua. We are there just to help both sides to get the truth," said Mr Harsono. He said international media coverage was particularly needed given Indonesian journalists relied heavily on state information for their reporting and some had even been known to work as informants for security authorities.

He said Papuan journalists were doing some good work but they were afraid to talk about sensitive issues for fear of being assaulted or harassed. But in a statement, the Indonesian government said it strongly condemned reports that it did not allow international media access to its Papuan regions.It said following President Jokowi's declaration in 2015 that Indonesia would open West Papua to international media, it had received 32 requests for journalistic visits to Papua and only four had been declined. It said similarly in 2016, only four out of 19 requests were declined because of administrative matters. It said based on these facts it was highly irrelevant and irresponsible for any party to doubt that freedom of expression and freedom of the press existed in Indonesia.

Fired workers protest against U.S.-owned mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc.August 19, 2017 | 6:07 PM by Reuters

Police talk with protesting workers of the Indonesian unit of the U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc during a labour dispute in Timika, Papua, Indonesia on August 19, 2017. Photo - Reuters

Eastern province of Papua: Hundreds of workers laid off by Freeport Indonesia blocked routes and set trucks on fire near the company’s mines in the eastern province of Papua on Saturday, company officials said. The Indonesian unit of U.S. mining giant Freeport McMoran Inc. has been embroiled in a labour dispute since May, when around 5,000 workers went on strike to protest against mass layoffs. Freeport says the layoffs were triggered by unexpected revisions earlier this year in government rules on taxes and royalties. The protests by the ex-workers, who were demanding their jobs back, prompted police personnel to secure the area. A spokesman for the company said the protests have not had an impact on operations, although employee access to worksites was being affected.
"Some of our employee convoys have been cancelled and we will not be scheduling further convoys until the situation is conducive again. We have urged our workers to avoid this area until further notice," said Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama. The company is a major source of employment and livelihoods in the impoverished eastern-most province of Indonesia.
http://timesofoman.com/article/115314/World/Asia/Fired-workers-protest-against-US-owned-miner-Freeport-Indonesia

Police probe shooting at FreeportJakarta | Fri, August 18, 2017 Jakarta Post
The Mimika Police in Papua are investigating a shooting incident, which affected a long-wheel base (LWB) vehicle at gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia’s mining area in Tembagapura district, on Thursday. A member of the National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) was injured in the incident. Mimika Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Dean Mackbon said the vehicle driven by Nikson Moningka was shot by an unidentified person as it passed Mile 60 in Tembagapura district, at around 1 p.m. local time on Thursday. “We have examined the incident site and are investigating further,” said Victor as quoted by Antara. He confirmed there were no fatalities from the attack. The police were also inventorying material losses caused by the incident. Victor said the shooting at Mile 60, on a road connecting Timika to Tembagapura, had caused damage to the vehicle’s engine. Both rear tires were deflated while a Brimob personnel suffered injuries from shards of glass from the broken windows of the vehicle. Nikson was escorting a trailer truck passing from the lowlands to the Freeport mining area in the highlands when the incident occurred. When he arrived at Mile 66, in an area called Hidden Valley, Nikson received a report that a surveillance vehicle belonging to marine fleet and port facility operator Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia had suffered damage at around Mile 58. Nikson decided to return to Mile 58 to pick up the two Brimob personnel operating the vehicle. When passing Mile 60, Nikson’s vehicle was suddenly shot from the left side of the road. (yon/ebf

Police identify perpetrators of shooting incident in PT Freeport
20 August 2017Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - Head of Papua Regional Police, Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar, said that his side has identified the perpetrators of shooting against a vehicle belongs to PT Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura District on last Thursday. "We have identified the armed group. The police have checked the scene and investigated the case," Amar said here on Sunday. According to Amar, the perpetrators owned firearms and presumed to be involved in several acts of terror. The police have got data of the perpetrators and discovered that they are hiding in hilly areas around Mile 60 and Mile 68 and at Kali Kabur region. The police will conduct further investigation relating to the detention of perpetrators, Amar said. He added the vehicles of PT Freeport Indonesia can operate normally in the area of the scene. The shooting incident which occurred at Mile 60 area on last Thursday has caused damage in a car belongs to PTFI and also injured a personnel of Mobile Brigade unit. (*)

Freeport agrees to 51% divestment, other terms: CEO

Fedina S. Sundaryani The Jakarta Post Tue, August 29, 2017

Gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has finally agreed to divest 51 percent of its shares and to other terms related to its contractual extension, after a long tug-of-war negotiation with the Indonesian government. Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of US mining giant Freeport McMoRan, also agreed to convert its contract of work (CoW) into a Special Mining License (IUPK), build a smelter within the next five years and increase its contribution to state revenues from its Grasberg mine in Papua, announced a government-Freeport joint press conference on Tuesday. In return, Freeport’s contract, originally set to expire in 2021, will be extended to 2041 under the new terms. Freeport McMoRan CEO Richard Adkerson said the compromise with the government was essential for the firm because although the open mine reserves were depleting, his company had seen large potential in its underground mine. PTFI plans to invest US$20 billion over the next two decades, with $17 billion to be invested by 2031, he added. “To reach our objectives meant that we have to be willing to cooperate and build a smelter and divest 51 percent. We are working cooperatively with the government to achieve the objectives,” Adkerson said during the press conference. “We have agreed to increase Indonesian ownership from 9.36 percent to 51 percent over time in a way that compensates the fair market value. We still have work to do to reach the compromise,” he said. (bbn)

EDITORIAL: Shaky deal with Freeport

Jakarta | Mon, September 4, 2017

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.

KIWI WORKERS STAND WITH WEST PAPUA

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Huia Welton - Media Releases

Unions representing 320,000 Kiwi workers have strongly endorsed the right of the people of West Papua to self-determination. The call comes as Pacific Island heads of state meet in Apia for the annual Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting.

Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands are seeking to re-list West Papua with the UN Decolonisation Committee at its vote later this month. NZCTU Secretary Sam Huggard said that West Papuans must have the right to self-determination. “The 1962 New York Agreement has never been implemented. It gave the right for the people of West Papua to determine their future. Instead they have lived under Indonesian government repression.” “Last Thursday, the national council of affiliates of the NZCTU voted to add their weight to growing international calls for self-determination for West Papua. It follows the signing in 2016 by 11 Members of the New Zealand Parliament from 4 different parties of a declaration in support of independence for West Papua that other Parliamentarians globally have signed. The whole world is watching.” “We call on other Pacific Island heads of state to join the 7 countries pushing to re-list West Papua with the UN Decolonisation Committee,” Sam Huggard said.

The NZCTU motion reads:

THAT the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi declares its support for the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua, and urge all governments including New Zealand to support an independent and internationally supervised vote.

Opinion pieces/reports/press releases etc.

INDONESIA: Stop unlawful deprivation of liberty against Indigenous Papuans
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-105-2017

’A Tragic, Forgotten Place.’ Poverty and Death in Indonesia's Land of Gold
http://time.com/4880190/papua-poverty-shootings-justice-paniai

INDONESIA: Serious violations of human rights in Papua should be investigated
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/ahrc-news/AHRC-STM-099-2017

Korindo strikes back against NGO campaign.

https://awasmifee.potager.org/?p=1527

Meet the S. Korean Companies Destroying Indonesia’s Virgin Rainforest
http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/photos-beyond-pacific-west-papua-on.html

‘Take action’ over West Papua plea to Pacific Forum leadershttps://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/08/31/take-action-over-west-papua-plea-to-pacific-forum-leaders/

WEST PAPUA: AWPA urges Pacific Forum leaders to continue support

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-awpa-urges-pacific-forum-leaders-continue-support-9987

Photos.Beyond the Pacific: West Papua on the World Stage

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2017/09/photos-beyond-pacific-west-papua-on.html