1) Govt Launches Community Health Care Program for Asmat Tribe
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following all out efforts involving several ministries, police and military, among others, measles outbreak and malnutrition problem in remote Asmat District in Papua Province, have finally been overcome.
Since the plague affected Asmat in September 2017, a total of 71 people, mostly children, had died due to malnutrition and measles outbreaks.
Based on data received from Asmat Humanitarian Task Force, until Jan. 30, there were still 26 inpatients in Asmat in which 19 people of them were treated in Asmat Regional Hospital, and seven patients were treated in the Hall of Indonesia Protestant Church of Asmat due to malnutrition.
Earlier, a total of 47 people had been treated in the church in which 40 people of them have returned home.
Health Minister Nila Moeloek on Jan. 31, 2018, said as many as 13,300 children in Asmat District, Papua Province have been vaccinated as an effort to control the epidemic of measles.
Not all sub-districts in Asmat District, however, get the vaccination due to difficult terrain.
The ministry has alternately deployed medical personnel and delivering aid packages every 10 days to handle measles and malnutrition in Asmat.
The medical personnel provided assistance in hospitals and church halls, Moeloek revealed.
"Some people have returned to their homes. However, if they do not get any health supervision from medical institutions, there could be recurrence of the disease," she explained.
The emergency situation has been considered overcome and now the Government is focusing on long-term community health care and improvement program in Asmat.
"We have reported to the President that we are now entering a stage of community health care and development there, because we have overcome the plague through an emergency response," Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham said after accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in a meeting with Seto Mulyadi, chairman of the Institute for the Protection of Indonesian Children (LPAI), at the Presidential Palace, in Jakarta, on Feb 5, 2018.
Minister Marham planned to visit Makassar, South Sulawesi, to discuss cooperation with the University of Hasanudin in community health care and improvement in Asmat. The university will send a team of doctors to Asmat.
The minister believes that the problem solving in Asmat District must be integrated, cross-sectoral, comprehensive, and sustainable.
A number of ministries should work together to solve the problems of infrastructure, environment, education, health and others in the area.
Besides, the problem handling should be based on cultural and regional characteristics, he added.
"The involvement of Indonesian National Military and Police relates to humanitarian operation. All people who help solve the Asmat`s problems are heroes because we work together," he said.
Papua Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar had earlier revealed that the number of people suffering from malnutrition in Asmat District of Papua had reached betweem 10 and 15 thousand.
He cited various factors that had contributed to cases of malnutrition in the district including its remote location; lack of access to nutritious food and health and transportation facilities; as well as low economic level.
"Some rivers depend on tidal waters, which makes it difficult for boats to pass through them at any time to distribute food," he explained.
Amar remarked that the community health centers (Puskesmas) in Asmat lack basic facilities, such as paramedics and medical doctors to head the center.
He called on the Police Headquarters` Health and Medical Center to send its physicians to health centers in Asmat.
"The young doctors program and internship in Papua is expected to fill the vacant posts, especially for the Puskesmas head," he pointed out.
According to the police chief, two to three thousand vials of measles vaccine are needed.
"For backup, we need some two thousand to three thousand vials of vaccines, so that we can continue to inoculate the kids in the near future," he remarked.
The Papua police and Cendrawasih military regional command will establish a health task force to map out areas that are prone to the diseases and visit the areas to address the problem.
"In some areas, we will trace it. We have information on the epidemics in some other areas, such as in the Bintang Mountains," he revealed.
The National Defense Forces (TNI) deployed several ships to provide transportation access to assist the TNI medical personnel operating in Asmat District.
The Indonesian military has considered the deployment of KRI Yos Sudarso as a hospital ship to help tackle measles epidemic and malnutrition in Asmat district of Papua, according to TNI Chief Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.
The Military Chief, while visiting Asmat, ordered the integrated health task force to continue its services in Asmat until the next 270 days.
Hadi explained that the team has treated more than 600 children, who suffered from measles and malnutrition, during its humanitarian operation in Asmat.
It has given measles vaccine for 13,336 villagers, mostly toddlers, in 224 villages. The number of patients in Asmat hospital has dwindled.
Meanwhile, the central government has coordinated with the House of Representatives (DPR) to handle health problems in the hinterland areas of Asmat District.
"The health factor is not the only cause of malnutrition. There are many other downstream issues that trigger the problem," Minister Moeloek said in a hearing with the Parliament in Jakarta, recently.
Moeloek held a consultation meeting with the members and leaders of Commission VIII, IX, and X of DPR RI.
She explained that the health factor contributed to 20 percent of malnutrition and measles cases in Asmat. Meanwhile, other factors such as environment cleanliness, socio-cultural factors, and genetic factors contribute to 40, 30, and 10 percent of the cases, respectively.
ANTARA
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http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22637&LangID=E
2) UN Human Rights Chief ends visit to Indonesia – Full statement
JAKARTA / GENEVA (7 February 2018) – UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today closed his official visits to Indonesia from
5 to 7 February.
“There are some dark clouds on the horizon but I am encouraged by the
positive momentum and hope the common sense and strong tradition of
tolerance of the Indonesian people will prevail over populism and political
opportunism,” Zeid said in a statement at a press conference.
During his mission, Zeid met in Jakarta with President Joko Widodo and
held discussions with top officials, Indonesia’s national human rights
institutions and civil society representatives working on human rights
issues, as well as religious leaders.
The UN Human Rights Chief also took part at the Jakarta Conversation,
a Regional Human Rights Conference marking the 70th Year of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 25th Year of the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action.
See below the full statement read by the High Commissioner at the
press conference.
Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein today closed his official visits to Indonesia from
5 to 7 February.
“There are some dark clouds on the horizon but I am encouraged by the
positive momentum and hope the common sense and strong tradition of
tolerance of the Indonesian people will prevail over populism and political
opportunism,” Zeid said in a statement at a press conference.
During his mission, Zeid met in Jakarta with President Joko Widodo and
held discussions with top officials, Indonesia’s national human rights
institutions and civil society representatives working on human rights
issues, as well as religious leaders.
The UN Human Rights Chief also took part at the Jakarta Conversation,
a Regional Human Rights Conference marking the 70th Year of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 25th Year of the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action.
See below the full statement read by the High Commissioner at the
press conference.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact
In Geneva: Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9711 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466 / ethrossell@ohchr.org).
Travelling with the High Commissioner: Ravina Shamdasani (+41 79 201 0115 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org)
This year, 2018, is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70thanniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanri
Opening remarks by UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein at a press conference during his mission to Indonesia
Jakarta, 7 February 2018
I would like to begin by thanking President Joko Widodo and the Government of Indonesia for inviting us to visit this remarkable, diverse country. Inviting us is, in itself, a testament to how seriously a State takes its human rights obligations. It demonstrates an openness to constructive dialogue and the willingness to collaborate to ensure the promotion and protection of the human rights of all. All countries have human rights obligations and many have achieved a great deal but all, without exception, have human rights challenges to grapple with.
During my visit, I have listened attentively to voices from across Indonesian society. I had the honour of meeting President Widodo and several other high-level officials, national human rights institutions and civil society members working on a wide range of issues in this vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.
I am also grateful to the robust and dynamic representatives of civil society, some of whom travelled long distances to share their experiences and raise their voices in defence of their rights and those of their communities.
The farmer who spoke about her rights to land and her fear of dispossession due to extractive industries. The father from Papua whose son was shot. The wife of a human rights defender who was poisoned in 2004 but the authors of his murder remain at large. The minority worshippers who want their place to pray. The mother who, 20 years after she lost a child during the 1998 violence in Yogyakarta, still pines for him. The elderly woman who is fighting for justice 53 years after she was imprisoned and stigmatised as a “communist” during the 1965 tragedy. And the lawyer who has seen up close the judicial injustice that is the death penalty. They all asked me to help amplify their voices, and I thank them for their tenacity and grit and salute their courage.
I have raised in my meetings with the Government all of the situations they highlighted and will share with you in a moment my observations and recommendations.
But first, let us take stock of the achievements of the people of Indonesia. Indonesia has come a long way in a short time. Having emerged from more than 300 years of colonial occupation, followed by decades of restricted civil liberties, Indonesia has, since 1998, managed to transition to democracy and couple it with strong economic growth. Today, Indonesia is one of the most progressive States in the region on human rights. Its active engagement regarding the plight of the Rohingya Muslims is commendable and much needed.
The Government has embraced the Sustainable Development Goals, incorporating them into its National Human Rights Action Plan. Indonesia also has made considerable progress on the realisation of the right to health, expanding universal health coverage. And it has provided the space and resources for Komnas Ham and Komnas Perempuan to be strong, independent national human rights institutions. I encourage the Government to ensure that the important recommendations made by these institutions are implemented.
There are two important pieces of draft legislation that have been introduced to parliament that recognise and protect the rights of indigenous people and provide essential protection for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. I urge parliament to pass these important bills.
Indonesia has enjoyed continuous economic growth for several years and has a wealth of natural and human resources. However not all Indonesians have benefited from the dividends. The true measure of development and economic growth should be its impact on the most vulnerable, those who have the least to begin with. The President has taken many positive steps towards social equity. Nevertheless, gaps remain in the protection of the economic and social rights of Indonesians. Severe malnutrition has been reported in remote areas of the country, including in the highlands of Papua, and many still struggle with poverty and preventable diseases.
Civil society actors have told us how, from the islands of Sumatra to Papua, mining and logging by large corporations have been a source of serious human rights violations against farmers, workers and indigenous communities. By and large, these projects are approved and implemented without meaningful consultation with the local communities. Land grabbing, environmental degradation, contamination of water supplies and resulting health hazards have ensued. Having lost control over their natural resources to corporations that wield enormous power, people spoke to me about their great frustration. There is a clear need for inclusive dialogue and consultation and such projects must not be undertaken without the free, fair and informed consent of the affected communities. Civil society estimates suggest that some 200 land rights and environmental defenders were facing criminal charges as of August last year.
As I said at the Jakarta Conversation regional human rights conference on Monday, development can certainly bring with it access to fundamental services and goods that vastly improve many people's well-being. But if they cannot voice their concerns and participate in decisions, the resulting development may not increase their welfare. I urge the Government of Indonesia and the corporations involved in the extraction of natural resources, plantations and large-scale fisheries, to abide by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by ensuring that business activities are not carried out in violation of people’s rights.
I also appeal to the Government to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, in particular those advocating on land and environmental issues, and to see to it that they are not penalised or prosecuted for their exercise of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
I am also concerned about increasing reports of the excessive use of force by security forces, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions in Papua.
I am greatly concerned about the discussions around revisions to the penal code.
These discussions betray strains of intolerance seemingly alien to Indonesian culture that have made inroads here. The extremist views playing out in the political arena are deeply worrying, accompanied as they are by rising levels of incitement to discrimination, hatred or violence in various parts of the country, including Aceh.
At a time when it is consolidating its democratic gains, we urge Indonesians to move forward – not backwards – on human rights and resist attempts to introduce new forms of discrimination in law. Because these proposed amendments will in effect criminalise large sections of the poor and marginalised, they are inherently discriminatory. LGBTI Indonesians already face increasing stigma, threats and intimidation. The hateful rhetoric against this community that is being cultivated seemingly for cynical political purposes will only deepen their suffering and create unnecessary divisions.
Moreover, should the penal code be revised with some of the more discriminatory provisions, it will seriously impede the Government’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and would run counter to its international human rights obligations. In a similar vein, I have also expressed to the Government my concerns about the implementation of the ill-defined blasphemy law, which has been used to convict members of minority religious or faith groups.
If we expect not to be discriminated against on the basis of our religious beliefs, colour, race or gender, if Muslim societies expect others to fight against Islamophobia, we should be prepared to end discrimination at home too. Islamophobia is wrong. Discrimination on the basis of religious beliefs and colour is wrong. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other status is wrong.
My Office last year brought together a diverse group of religious scholars and other faith-based and civil society actors in Beirut who articulated a “Faith for Rights” framework to set out the role of “Faith” in standing up for “Rights”. This Faith for Rights Declaration draws upon the common commitment in all religions and beliefs to “upholding the dignity and the equal worth of all human beings”, mirroring Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It affirms that “violence in the name of religion defeats its basic foundations, mercy and compassion” and sets out the responsibilities of religious communities, their leaders and followers to ensure that no one is subjected to discrimination by anyone.
The imperative to uphold the dignity of all human beings is also crucial in dealing with the difficult issues of drug-related crimes. Drugs can destroy individual lives, entire families and communities, but shooting dead suspected drug offenders is not the way to tackle this problem. Everyone has the right to a fair judicial process. All allegations of excessive, even lethal, use of force against suspected drug offenders also must be investigated. No judiciary is mistake-free and research shows that capital punishment is ineffective as a deterrent as well as being disproportionately applied against already disadvantaged communities. I have urged the Government to halt the use of the death penalty against those convicted of drug offences. Human rights jurisprudence has repeatedly affirmed that drug-related crimes do not fall within the category of most serious offences.
I would also like to urge the Indonesian Government to take steps towards accountability for the gross human rights violations of the past. This is a delicate but crucial undertaking.
Almost all countries have an extremely difficult time dealing with the darkest periods of their respective pasts, but it must be done. As one senior official told me, Indonesia is still stuck in 1965 – unable to reckon with the terrible events that took place then, including the killings of at least 500,000 people accused of being communists, and the detention of many more. But this country can move on – through truth-telling, reconciliation, investigations and prosecutions. The national human rights institution, Komnas Ham, has highlighted nine key cases of gross rights violations between 1965 and 2003 that need to be resolved. I urge the Attorney-General to tackle these cases, in particular by bringing the perpetrators to justice and affording victims long-overdue redress as a matter of priority.
When my predecessor as High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, visited Indonesia in 2012, she said she saw a country that showed great promise in transforming itself into a vibrant democracy. In many ways, Indonesia is living up to this promise. But of course all States are fragile and all of them works in progress. This country is no exception. There are some dark clouds on the horizon but I am encouraged by the positive momentum and hope the common sense and strong tradition of tolerance of the Indonesian people will prevail over populism and political opportunism.
I hope that during this 70th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Indonesia will go from strength to strength in advancing the rights of its people. I also hope my visit has set the stage for strengthened cooperation between my Office and the Government and people of Indonesia. In the course of our discussions over the past two days, the Government of Indonesia invited us to visit Papua and we will send a mission soon. I thank the Government for its invitation.
My representative in the UN Human Rights Regional Office in Bangkok will continue to build upon our partnership to do what we can to assist Indonesia in consolidating and furthering its human rights gains.
Thank you.****
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https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/indonesia/bahasa/englishedition/195477-un-rights-chief-indonesia-stop-lgbt-crackdown
3) UN rights chief to Indonesia: Stop LGBT crackdown
Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein: 'At a time when it is consolidating its democratic gains, we urge Indonesians to move forward - not backwards - on human rights'
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia must clamp down on rising intolerance against the LGBT community, the UN human rights chief warned Wednesday, February 7, as the persecuted minority face a wave of arrests and parliament moves to ban gay sex.
Government officials, religious hardliners and influential Islamic groups have lined up to make anti-LGBT statements in public recently, while police have used a tough anti-pornography law to criminalize members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
"The hateful rhetoric against this community that is being cultivated seemingly for cynical political purposes will only deepen their suffering and create unnecessary divisions," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein told a press conference in Jakarta, as he wrapped up a 3-day visit.
Since the fall of dictator Suharto in the late 1990s, Indonesia has become one of the region's most progressive on human rights, he added.
"Indonesia has since 1998 managed to transition to democracy and couple it with strong economic growth," he said.
"At a time when it is consolidating its democratic gains, we urge Indonesians to move forward - not backwards - on human rights."
His remarks come amid a crackdown on the small LGBT community in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Parliament is set to pass a sweeping amendment to its penal code that could make same-sex relations and sex outside marriage illegal.
Rights groups have slammed the proposed amendments, saying they amount to an unprecedented invasion of privacy.
"Any discriminatory provisions need to be removed," the rights chief said.
He said he raised the issue of LGBT discrimination with senior officials, including President Joko Widodo, after a spate of recent attacks against the community.
Last month, Google pulled one of the world’s largest gay dating apps from the Indonesian version of its online store in response to government demands.
Homosexuality and gay sex are legal in Indonesia – except in conservative Aceh province, which is ruled by Islamic law – but same-sex relationships are widely frowned upon and public displays of affection between gay couples almost unheard of.
In Aceh, police forcibly cut the hair of a group of transgender women recently and made them wear male clothing, sparking protests from rights groups.
The rights chief also said he discussed allegations of abuses in Papua, indigenous rights and the protection of minority religious groups. – Rappler.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/114528/papuan-represents-indonesia-at-child-conference-in-sweden
4) Papuan represents Indonesia at child conference in Sweden
Reporter: antara 9 hours ago
Wamena, Papua (ANTARA News) - A young Papuan from Wamena, Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, will represent Indonesia at a child conference in Sweden from Feb 9 to 18, 2018.
The First Assistant of Jayawijaya District Secretary, Wusono Wamono, stated here on Tuesday that 16-year-old Kristian Kogoya, who will be participating in the event, will gain and share information on the rights and protective measures on violence against children to his friends in Indonesia.
"This is the second time he will represent Papua and Indonesia at the international event. We hope he would share the knowledge gained from the event with other children," he remarked.
Kogoya will be accompanied by Kaleb Robinson Lau from non-profit organization Wahana Visi Indonesia of Papua. Kogoya noted that the child conference is an endeavor to end violence against children.
"UNICEF, the Swedish government, We Protect Alliance, and World Vision organizations invite Kogoya to represent Papuan and Indonesian children at the conference in Sweden, which will discuss the 2030 agenda to end violence against children," Robinson revealed.
Earlier, Kogoya had spoken on children issues at the International Forum held at the 8th Milestone in Ottawa, Canada, in October 2017.
"In Sweden, he will speak on cases that involve children," he concluded.
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B003)
The First Assistant of Jayawijaya District Secretary, Wusono Wamono, stated here on Tuesday that 16-year-old Kristian Kogoya, who will be participating in the event, will gain and share information on the rights and protective measures on violence against children to his friends in Indonesia.
"This is the second time he will represent Papua and Indonesia at the international event. We hope he would share the knowledge gained from the event with other children," he remarked.
Kogoya will be accompanied by Kaleb Robinson Lau from non-profit organization Wahana Visi Indonesia of Papua. Kogoya noted that the child conference is an endeavor to end violence against children.
"UNICEF, the Swedish government, We Protect Alliance, and World Vision organizations invite Kogoya to represent Papuan and Indonesian children at the conference in Sweden, which will discuss the 2030 agenda to end violence against children," Robinson revealed.
Earlier, Kogoya had spoken on children issues at the International Forum held at the 8th Milestone in Ottawa, Canada, in October 2017.
"In Sweden, he will speak on cases that involve children," he concluded.
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B003)
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