2) Indonesian minister condemned by Papuan Liberation Movement
3) Liberation Movement to remain voice of West Papuans - Wenda
4) Indonesia to grab Rio Tinto stake in Grasberg mine
5) Gov't Must Step Up Focus on Human Rights: Amnesty International
6) Russian military personnel arrive in Biak for navigation exercises
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1) FIRST UNITED LIBERATION MOVEMENT FOR WEST PAPUA (ULMWP) LEADERS’ SUMMIT COMMUNIQUE
1. The 1st United Liberation Movement for West Papua Leaders Summit was held in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 27 November to 3 December.
2. The Official Opening of the Summit was held at the Malvatuamuri Council of Chiefs’ Nakamal Complex, in Saralana. HE. Hon. Mr. Charlot Salwai MP, Prime Minister of Vanuatu made the opening remarks accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, the Hon. Mr. Joe Natuman MP. Also present was Minister of Lands, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, MP., Parliamentary Secretary/Special Envoy for West Papua to the Prime Minister, Hon. Jonny Koanapo, MP and Hon. Andrew Napuat, MP. The Opening Ceremony included the raising of the Vanuatu National Flag followed by the raising of the Morning Star Flag and West Papua National anthem “Hai Tanahku Papua”, which was sung by all Papuan leaders, delegation and support groups. A traditional ceremony of welcome dance was performed by the youths from Malakula. The Leaders then convened for the plenary at the Chief Nakamal building.
3. The Summit was chaired by the ULMWP Council Committee:
Mr. Andy Ayamiseba, Chairman of West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL), Mr. Buchtar Tabuni, Chairman of National Parliament of West Papua (NPWP) and Mr. Edison Waromi, Prime Minister of the Federated Government of West Papua (NRFPB).
4. Leaders in attendance included the representative of the WPNCL, NPWP, NRFPB, The National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPN-PB), Military Council of the National Liberation Army (DM-TPNPB), Army of the Republic of West Papua (TRWP), the Customary Council of West Papua (DAP), West Papua Liberation Organisation (WPLO) and Alliance of Papuan Students (AMP).
5. The representatives of Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Port Vila, Tongoa Shepherds Women Association, Australia West Papua Association (AWPA), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Australia, International Academic for West Papua-Australia, as Observers to the Summit and addressed the meeting.
6. Leaders also welcomed the Special Guest to the First ULMWP Leaders Summit. The Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak Socialiste (FLNKS), representative of MSG and Solomon Island to addressed the meeting.
7. Leaders considered and approved the Rules and Procedures of the First ULMWP Leaders’ Summit 2017.
8. The Leaders also noted that there were requests to the Council Committee to further develop procedures and criteria to assess non-affiliated Papuan resistance group applications for ULMWP membership to be considered.
9. The Leaders also noted that the UN-based MSG Ambassadors, Vanuatu Ambassador. Solomon Island Ambassador would be requested to be involved in consultations with the Decolonization Committee (C24) on the issue of West Papua regarding the West Papua Petition on self-determination toward political independence.
10 Leaders agreed to continue work with, develop and maintain the relationship with the 8 (Eight) Pacific Coalition for West Papua, MSG, PIF, ACP, CARRICOM, ACP-EU, and all West Papua support groups regarding the issue of West Papua right to self-determination toward political independence.
11. Leaders noted an update on the situation in West Papua and recognized that the human rights situation is becoming worse there, the Papuans and the Indonesians who support the human rights and the self-determination of West Papua were arrested and tortured.
12. As required by the Rules and Procedures, the Secretary General presented the Secretariat’s 2014-2017 Report to the Leaders for their consideration and approval.
13. The Leaders considered and received the following:
(I) Report by the ULMWP Secretary General on the Secretariat’s Activities for the First Period of Work (2014-2017) included the Report from the ULMWP Liaison Team from West Papua; (II) Report by the ULMWP Working Committee (Ad Hoc Committee); (III) Draft of the Amendment of the By-Laws of the organization; (IV) Draft of the Regulation of the organization; (V) Draft of the Rules and Procedure of Finance; (VI) Draft of the Ethical Code of the organization; and (VII) Draft of the Job Descriptions
14. Leaders considered and subsequently adopted the Secretary General’s Report.
14. Leaders considered and subsequently adopted the Secretary General’s Report.
15. Leaders considered, discussed and approved the following:
(I) Report by the ULMWP Secretary General on the Secretariat’s Activities for the First Period of Work (2014-2017) included the Report from the ULMWP Liaison Team from West Papua; (II) Report by the ULMWP Working Committee (Ad Hoc Committee); (III) Draft of the Amendment of the By-Laws of the organization;
(IV) Draft of the Regulation of the organization; (V) Draft of the Rules and Procedure of Finance (VI) Draft of the Ethical Code of the organization (VII) Draft of the Job Descriptions
16. As required by the By-Laws and the Rules of Procedures Leaders nominated and elected the new structure of the Executive Committee of the ULMWP Leadership for the second period of the Work Term 2018-2021.
Leaders appointed are as follows:
Chair: Benny Wenda
Deputy Chair: Octovianus Mote
Secretary: Rex Rumakiek
Spokesperson: Jacob Rumbiak
Treasurer: Paula Makabory
Member: Oridek Ap
Deputy Chair: Octovianus Mote
Secretary: Rex Rumakiek
Spokesperson: Jacob Rumbiak
Treasurer: Paula Makabory
Member: Oridek Ap
17. The 1 December celebrations and the Official Handing Over Ceremony of ULMWP Building commenced with a rally and march attended by ULMWP leadership, delegates from West Papua and solidarity groups from Vanuatu, Kanaky, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the United Kingdom. The march concluded at the new ULMWP Head Office in Anabrou where the Handing Over Ceremony was held. Opening remarks were made by West Papua Unification Committee, Pastor Allen Nafuki, followed by Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu, the Hon. Mr. Joe Natuman MP and HE. Hon. Mr. Charlot Salwai MP, Prime Minister of Vanuatu. Also in attendance was Minister of Lands, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, MP., Parliamentary Secretary/Special Envoy for West Papua to the Prime Minister, Hon. Johnny Koanapo, MP and Hon. Andrew Napuat, MP. The flags of Vanuatu and West Papua flew together and the National anthem “Hai Tanahku Papua” was sung by all Papuan leaders and delegation. Minister for Lands, Mr. Regenvanu handed over the keys to the building to ULMWP Chairman, Benny Wenda and Deputy Chair, Octovianus Mote. The building was officially opened by Prime Minister of Vanuatu. Mr. Salwai. After a tour of the building, the West Papuan delegation provided gifts to the Vanuatu government that were received in a traditional Melanesian ceremony of thanks by the National Council of Chiefs. ULMWP Chairman, Benny Wenda, addressed the delegates about the success of the Summit, the renewed commitment to unity and the growing strength in the movement inside West Papua as well as the international solidarity campaign. Pastor Peter Ranbel offered a Closing Prayer, which was followed by a Kava Ceremony with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister as the traditional sealing of the Official Handing Over Ceremony.
December 5, 2017
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10:05 pm on 5 December 2017
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has condemned an Indonesian government call for its members to be arrested.
The pro-independence Movement has just concluded a summit in Vanuatu, where the UK-based activist Benny Wenda was elected its new chairman.
However Indonesia's Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu called for members of the Liberation Movement who are based in Indonesian-ruled Papua to be arrested upon their return.
The Movement's Pacific regional diplomat Akouboo Douw has described the minister's call as abusive.
He says the Movement has every right to hold its meeting in Vanuatu, where it has official business as part of its role in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Mr Douw says the West Papuans' meeting was not against the Indonesian constitution or its Pancasila state philosophy.
"It is not going to be big disaster for your nation but also Indonesia has to respect the ULMWP as an entity of the MSG," said Mr Douw.
He has urged Australia and New Zealand to monitor the Papua-based Liberation Movement's members when they return home lest they be arrested by Indonesia.
While the Movement has observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Indonesia's government is opposed to it representing Papuans internationally, as well as its pro-independence activities.
According to Mr Douw, Jakarta should realise that the independent Melanesian member countries in the MSG, including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu, support the right to self-determination for all Melanesians.
Meanwhile, he thanked Vanuatu's government for donating a building in Port Vila to the Liberation Movement for use as its international headquarters.
Mr Douw said that West Papuans have rights to come and go, and that Vanuatu is a free Melanesian country which Papuans consider like a home.
Meanwhile, the independent Papua newspaper Tabloid Jubi reported that dozens of Papuans were arrested for publicly marking the anniversary of the first Papuan declaration of independence.
Last Friday was 56 years since the Papua nationalist flag was first officially flown in the former Dutch New Guinea, shortly before Indonesia took control of the territory.
The Morning Star flag was subsequently banned.
Each year on 1 December there are demonstrations in cities around the wider Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand, where Morning Star flags are flown to mark the anniversary.
The demonstrations in the towns and cities of West Ppapua and Papua provinces tend not to feature the flag raising, and typically result in arrests by Indonesian police.
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3) Liberation Movement to remain voice of West Papuans - Wenda
3 minutes ago
The new head of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, says the organisation's agenda will not change.
Mr Wenda has replaced Octo Mote, its former secretary-general, at the head of the premier organisation pursuing Papuan independence from Indonesia.
The change in leadership came in Vanuatu where the Movement last week held its first major summit since its inception three years ago.
Members of the organisation's executive dismissed suggestions that there was a power struggle within the Movement. The move to a chairmanship structure, they said, reflected the co-operative nature of the organisation so that no one group or individual should dominate.
"We operate on a power-sharing basis, so that's why it's very important to maintain the unity and agenda. That's what the executive council has given us the mandate to continue," said Mr Wenda.
The chairmanship will be rotational, with Mr Mote to be deputy chairman. Mr Wenda said the Movement's new leadership structure would not affect the self-determination push.
"Now we have new leadership so we really need the people - the people back home in West Papua, and in the Pacific - we need you to be our voice, and to maintain the unity to campaign for our right to self-determination. We hope that Pacific leaders will continue to support our right to self-determination."
Benny Wenda has thanked Vanuatu's government for donating a building in Port Vila for the Liberation Movement to use as an international headquarters.
"The government officially handed over the key, and this is a key step for the Movement itself," he said, paying tribute to Vanuatu's ongoing support for Papuan self-determination aspirations.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu has called for members of the Liberation Movement who are based in Indonesian-ruled Papua to be arrested upon their return home.
However the Movement's Pacific regional diplomat Akouboo Douw described the minister's call as abusive, saying his organisation had every right to hold its meeting in Vanuatu, where it has official business as part of its role in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
According to Mr Wenda, the United Liberation Movement's goal was not about dismantling the Indonesian republic.
Mr Wenda said he was not bothered that he has previously been branded a criminal and a fugitive by Indonesia's government which is opposed to the Movement representing Papuans.
"Indonesia will look at it that way, but we are fighting for our right to self-determination. We are fighting, not destroying the Indonesian unitary state of the republic," he explained.
"But West Papua... Indonesia is illegally occupying it. That is the problem, that's the issue."
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4) Indonesia to grab Rio Tinto stake in Grasberg mine
After pumping billions into Grasberg copper-gold mine in Indonesia for almost 25 years, Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO) might finally be about to see a decent return as the country’s government said Tuesday it plans to acquire the miner’s 40% stake in the coveted operation.
The move comes as Grasberg’s operator, US-based Freeport McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), agreed in August to divest 51% of PT Freeport Indonesia to the country’s government. But until today, it wasn’t clear what would happen to Rio’s interest in the mine.
The Southeast Asian nation, which will complete the acquisition of Freeport’s stake in Grasberg by February 2018, intends to purchase Rio’s stake as well, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Under a joint venture formed with Freeport in 1995, Rio is entitled to a 40% share of production when certain output levels are hit.
Rio’s deal with Freeport was struck in 1995 and entitles it to a 40% share of production when certain output levels are hit. But as a result of strikes and other disruptions and as the open pit at Grasberg nears the end of its life, the Melbourne-based miner hasn’t seen any benefit since 2014.
Under the agreement between the Phoenix, Arizona-based miner and Indonesia, Grasberg will see an investment of as much as $20 billion through 2031 to further develop the mine, including the construction of a smelter. After 2021 Rio would get the 40% share on all production.
But authorities had told Freeport, which under the divestment framework retains operational control until 2041, that it would prefer the joint venture with Rio be over ahead of the stake stale, something Freeport had so far rejected.
Rio has held talks with Indonesian groups, including state-owned PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, known as Inalum, about a possible exit from its interest in Grasberg, sources familiar with the matter said in October.
Rio’s chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques publicly questioned Grasberg's place in the group’s future back in February. He followed in June with a remark about Grasberg being a world-class copper deposit, which might not be a world-class mining investment.
The mine is the world’s second-largest copper mine and fourth largest gold operation.
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5) Gov't Must Step Up Focus on Human Rights: Amnesty International
By : Sheany | on 3:20 PM December 05, 2017
Jakarta. With its official launch in the country set for Thursday (07/12), Amnesty International Indonesia emphasized the need for the government to step up focus on human rights issues and warned that neglecting human right violations can impede the country’s growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday, chairman of the board for Amnesty International Indonesia, Todung Mulya Lubis, said that despite progress in democracy, political life and the economy, Indonesia still needs to pay more attention to human rights issues.
"There’s still plenty that must be done to resolve past human rights violations […] Indonesia won’t have smooth progress if those remain unresolved, it will always obstruct the way," Todung said.
The London-based organization hopes to push Indonesia to be a global player in upholding human rights with its local chapter.
"Amnesty International Indonesia wants to urge Indonesia to take a global role in the human rights movement. That’s one of our dreams," Monica Tanuhandaru, one of the board members, said.
She emphasized that economic development in Asia, Southeast Asia and Indonesia will be "meaningless without justice of human rights."
However, as the world bears witness to changing political dynamics across the globe, it is no longer solely the role of the government to ensure protection of human rights. Rather, it should be the product of a collective act from all members of society.
"[The] state is becoming weaker and weaker. Efforts to uphold and protect human rights must be done by civil society, but this doesn’t mean that we deny the existence of the state," Todung expressed.
Amnesty International Indonesia hopes to "unite all human rights movements that are present in Indonesia," especially as it aims to urge the government to resolve human rights violations.
For decades, the Indonesian government has provided little clarity on how it will address past human rights violations, including violations allegedly committed in 1965 and 1998, as well as those resulting from past conflicts in Papua, West Papua and East Timor.
Promises that these violations will be duly addressed was popular among candidates during the country’s last presidential campaigns, but real commitments to human rights from the current administration seem to have been overridden by priorities on other aspects, such as the economy and infrastructure development.
Sidarto Danusubroto, a member of the Presidential Advisory Board (Wantimpres), said that telling the truth in Indonesia is "not a simple process" and will likely require a long time.
While the government has programs for human rights, it is facing "economic issues" that must be resolved, he said.
"I’m afraid that if the government also has to resolve past human rights violations, current programs for the economy will weaken," Sidarto defended.
Countries like South Africa and Chile, Sidarto said, have "built their memories of human rights" through museums.
He reflected on the importance of these countries being able "to admit their dark past without the need to hide," and expressed his hopes that Indonesia will eventually get there.
"I hope, one day, we’ll get there – where we don’t have to be ashamed to speak of our dark past," Sidarto said.
Amnesty International Indonesia will launch its #JoinForces initiative on December 7, coinciding with the 517th Kamisan – a silent protest in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta – as a form of solidarity to the protesters who have been demanding that the Indonesian government solve past cases of human rights abuses, which was initiated by friends and family members of 1998 student activist victims, every Thursday afternoon for the past 10 years.
The organization will also host simultaneous events across Indonesia between December 7 and 10, including in Bandung (West Java), Solo (Central Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi).
The initiative is focused on combating growing "scapegoat" politics and the rise of negative populism that the organization said has "undermined the basic rights of minority groups."
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6) Russian military personnel arrive in Biak for navigation exercises
Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post
Jayapura, Papua | Tue, December 5, 2017 | 05:45 pm
Two Russian Ilyushin-76 strategic airlifters carrying 81 military personnel arrived at Frans Kaisiepo Airport in Biak regency, Papua on Monday and early Tuesday for navigation exercises as well as sightseeing in Indonesia’s easternmost province.
Manuhua Biak Airport spokesperson First Lieutenant Putukade Wempy said the military personnel would be in Biak from Dec. 4 to 9.
"They will only stay in Biak. They won't go anywhere else,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Besides the two planes that have already arrived, Wempy said they expected two Tupelov TU-95 bomber planes. When they arrived, there would be a total of 110 Russian military personnel in Biak.
Manuhua Biak Air commander Col. Fajar Adriyanto told reporters that the arrival of the planes was part of a collaboration between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and its Russian counterpart that included choosing Biak as the exercise location.
"The planes fly directly from Russia for 12 hours, and this will be the first time they have flown near the equator," said Fajar. "They usually fly in temperatures of minus 37 degrees, now they will fly in plus 37 degrees. So it will really be a 100% change."
The Russian planes are not equipped with radar, ammunition, or cameras as the navigation exercises would only consist of checking the accuracy of long-distance flying over the seas, he said.
"The exercises have no other purpose. Their arrival will also promote Biak as a tourist destination, Fajar added” (kmt/rin)
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