2) Lesson learned from Asmat
3) ULMWP for MSG full membership
4) Dutch-born Franciscan bishop dies aged 96 in Papua
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1) INDONESIA: The Visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Should Bring Changes
February 8, 2018
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply appreciates the visit to the Republic of Indonesia of Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It took place between 4 to 7 February 2018. As a regional human rights organization in Asia, we work closely with our partners and various civil society groups in Indonesia. We expect that your visit will bring changes and enhance the protection, fulfilment and promotion of human rights in Indonesia. The AHRC is also thankful that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is willing to send a mission to visit Papua and the West Papua Provinces to learn and see further human rights situations on the ground. We welcome this progressive diplomacy. Accountability is urgently needed. The AHRC has already described and highlighted the human rights situation in Indonesian, including PAPUA in our Open Letter on submission on criminal justice reform and human rights.
The AHRC is grateful to the Indonesian Government for giving and providing open access to the large civil society (human rights groups), victims and the families of victims of various human rights cases. There was direct dialog and communication with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein during his visit in Indonesia. We note that Government openness is an important milestone, which should be immediately followed up with a concrete policy and program on the enhancement of human rights standards in Indonesia.
Therefore, we do hope that the Government of Indonesia is not merely interpreting the visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as normative and ordinary diplomacy. The Government should knowingly consider that human rights must be incorporated and included in every Government policy, particularly those related to national development. It is common knowledge that since President Joko Widodo’s inauguration in October 2014, development of infrastructure and the economy is his major concern. In the last two years, massive infrastructure developments such as roads, ports and airports have been constructed in various provinces of Indonesia, including Papua. Under President Joko Widodo, the Government issued Presidential Decree No. 3, 2016 regarding strategic projects. This encompasses the following: 52 railway projects, 19 train projects, 17 airport projects, 13 port projects, 10 clean water projects and 60 reservoirs.
Ensuring that human rights are included in the Policy of Development is very important, as development will be nothing without human rights. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated this in his opening remarks:
"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."
However, to date, we have not seen the Government incorporating human rights in its Policy on development and economic investment. There are instances of human rights violations which occurred while the Government was pushing these massive developmental projects: 1# Development of New Yogyakarta International Airport in Kulon Progo Regency; the development of the Airport continues despite lack of an environmental permit and with rampant violence (for further chronology: AHRC-UAC-202-2017); 2# Development of the West Java International Airport (BIJB) in Kertajati, West Java Province. Ten villages in Kertajati sub-district had been effectively dispossessed to facilitate the development of the West Java International Airport. (For further chronology: AHRC-UAC-148-2016); 3# Development of Geothermal Power Plant (PLTPB) conducted by the Sejahtera Alam Energy Company which operates in Slamet Mountain, Central Java Province. Despite massive protests from environmental activists and local communities and demands to protect the environment in Slamet Mountain, the Government, in particular the Police, did not address the matter. The Police forcibly dispersed a peaceful protest, arresting 24 protesters (for further chronology: AHRC-UAC-195-2017).
All the above-mentioned examples are just a few cases of human rights violations that occurred under President Joko Widodo’s administration. We do believe that the examples are representative enough. They explain the form and the pattern of widespread human rights violations due to a lack of human rights standards within Government Policy on development and investment.
In addition, the AHRC also received information that land conflict is still dominating a number of human rights violations in Indonesia. We take as reference the data of the Indigenous People's Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), a national human rights organization. In 2017 the number of land conflict cases was 659 and resulted in 261 indigenous people being criminalized.
To enhance its stance, the Government should re-evaluate its policy priorities on human rights cases which remain unaddressed until now. Past human rights abuses which took place under former dictator Suharto remain unresolved. Consider the 1965-1966 Massacre. Although there has been some information related to the case, such as the US Embassy Document on the alleged involvement of the Indonesian Army, it has not been ultimately taken into consideration. Religious intolerance needs to be recognized and resolved. Minority religions and beliefs must be treated equally. The investigation into the murder of Munir Said Thalib, a prominent human rights activist, poisoned by an agent of the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) remains at a standstill. Included must be current development in the human rights situation in Aceh and other Provinces. They must be the main priority that the Government deals with.
Therefore, the AHRC is calling for the Indonesian Government to open access to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, especially his special, mission visit to Papua. We should like to emphasize that President Widodo’s administration critically implement recommendations of the latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of 2017. Government needs to review all of its regulations, both local and national. They must ensure that the regulations are not in violation of International Human Rights Standards. Indonesia is a state party to key international human rights Treaties. Government should be acutely aware that human rights are part of their obligation within the Duty of Care for their citizens. It is mandatory that Government fulfils this duty. Human Rights should not be treated simply as a tool of diplomacy to protect the image of Indonesia in the international forum of relationships.
Document Type :
Statement
Document ID :
AHRC-STM-011-2018
Countries :
Issues :
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2) Lesson learned from Asmat
Reporter: Rahmad Nasution 5 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Asmat, a district in the Indonesian province of Papua, has caught local and foreign media attention over the past few weeks.
But, this time, the world`s print and electronic media attention has nothing to do with Asmat tribe`s excellent works of wood carvings or other cultural heritage.
Instead, the media organizations have turned their attention to the district, which has be described by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011, after a measles outbreak and cases of malnutrition that had caused the deaths of at least 71 children.
Due to the negativity of this human tragedy, several media do not just provide their readers and audience with news and feature stories that they quote from news wire services.
They also deploy their own journalists to the district to enable them to see the real conditions and to gather information from various sources on the ground. The media play their role in meeting the people`s rights to know about this devastating reality.
As a result of emergency response and hard work of the local and central governments, along with various related parties, the extraordinary incident of the measles epidemic status in the district has been lifted.
However, the central government`s endeavors to deal with the malnutrition problem continued, in which the Indonesian Health Ministry pledged to continue its community-based nutrition program called "Family Nutrition Improvement Program" there.
This devastating reality is indeed a wake-up call for all related parties within the government bodies and the Asmat tribe members. For the district and provincial governments, this human tragedy has revealed that the huge amount of the special autonomy funds, which the central government has been disbursing to them over these past years, remain unable to make Papuan people prosperous and create a high human development index.
The fact that the ill-fated residents of Asmat District face serious health problems, as indicated by the recent measles outbreak and malnutrition cases, may not only be triggered by their unhealthy habits but also by the shortage of paramedics and medical doctors. Therefore, this human tragedy is indeed a lesson learned for Indonesia.
Both local and central governments must be able to ensure that such a tragedy will never recur in the district, whose areas are spread from the sub-districts of Agats, Atsj, Akat, Fayit, Pantai Kasuari, and Sawa Erma to the sub-districts of Suator, Kolf Brasa, Unir Sirau, and Suru-suru.
As recently suggested by Social Affairs Minister, Idrus Marham, a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable solution needs to be sought to root out all factors that have triggered the extraordinary outbreaks of measles and malnutrition.
The significance of this integrated, comprehensive, and sustainable solution is obvious by considering other challenges that have contributed to the occurrence of this tragedy, including the remote location; lack of access to nutritious food and health and transportation facilities; as well as low economic level of the indigenous people.
For a short-term solution, the government`s family nutrition improvement program and presence of police and military doctors as well as a team of resident doctors, who have been deployed by the Hasanuddin University, for instance, to assist the needy in the district, are indispensable.
However, this effort is far from enough if it is not followed up by deploying sufficient number of full-time doctors and medical specialists in the community health centers in all sub-districts all over Asmat District.
As part of the Indonesian citizens, the Asmat people`s misery is shared by their fellow countrymen living far away from Papua Province. The University of Indonesia`s (UI) Student Executive Board (BEM UI) Chairman Zaadit Taqwa has shown his concerns over the deaths of malnourished children in Asmat District.
Apart from the fact that his controversial way of showing his concerns, by blowing a whistle and raising a yellow book in front of President Joko Widodo attending a commemorative event to mark UI`s 68th anniversary, has triggered pro and con views, the message is clear: the Asmat people are not left alone.
This human tragedy is expected to raise the awareness of local leaders and elites of the Papuan people about the dire need of working together for the sake of improving the welfare of their people.
Nicolaas Jouwe, a well-respected Papuan figure who left the Netherlands for residing in Indonesia after tens of years of his struggle for an independent Papua, has ever uttered: "One thing that I wish is working together with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the governor of Papua, and the people of Papua to increase the development of Papua Province and prosperity of its people." (Jouwe, 2012: xvi).
(T.R013/INE)
(T.R013/A/KR-BSR/A014)
But, this time, the world`s print and electronic media attention has nothing to do with Asmat tribe`s excellent works of wood carvings or other cultural heritage.
Instead, the media organizations have turned their attention to the district, which has be described by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011, after a measles outbreak and cases of malnutrition that had caused the deaths of at least 71 children.
Due to the negativity of this human tragedy, several media do not just provide their readers and audience with news and feature stories that they quote from news wire services.
They also deploy their own journalists to the district to enable them to see the real conditions and to gather information from various sources on the ground. The media play their role in meeting the people`s rights to know about this devastating reality.
As a result of emergency response and hard work of the local and central governments, along with various related parties, the extraordinary incident of the measles epidemic status in the district has been lifted.
However, the central government`s endeavors to deal with the malnutrition problem continued, in which the Indonesian Health Ministry pledged to continue its community-based nutrition program called "Family Nutrition Improvement Program" there.
This devastating reality is indeed a wake-up call for all related parties within the government bodies and the Asmat tribe members. For the district and provincial governments, this human tragedy has revealed that the huge amount of the special autonomy funds, which the central government has been disbursing to them over these past years, remain unable to make Papuan people prosperous and create a high human development index.
The fact that the ill-fated residents of Asmat District face serious health problems, as indicated by the recent measles outbreak and malnutrition cases, may not only be triggered by their unhealthy habits but also by the shortage of paramedics and medical doctors. Therefore, this human tragedy is indeed a lesson learned for Indonesia.
Both local and central governments must be able to ensure that such a tragedy will never recur in the district, whose areas are spread from the sub-districts of Agats, Atsj, Akat, Fayit, Pantai Kasuari, and Sawa Erma to the sub-districts of Suator, Kolf Brasa, Unir Sirau, and Suru-suru.
As recently suggested by Social Affairs Minister, Idrus Marham, a comprehensive, integrated, and sustainable solution needs to be sought to root out all factors that have triggered the extraordinary outbreaks of measles and malnutrition.
The significance of this integrated, comprehensive, and sustainable solution is obvious by considering other challenges that have contributed to the occurrence of this tragedy, including the remote location; lack of access to nutritious food and health and transportation facilities; as well as low economic level of the indigenous people.
For a short-term solution, the government`s family nutrition improvement program and presence of police and military doctors as well as a team of resident doctors, who have been deployed by the Hasanuddin University, for instance, to assist the needy in the district, are indispensable.
However, this effort is far from enough if it is not followed up by deploying sufficient number of full-time doctors and medical specialists in the community health centers in all sub-districts all over Asmat District.
As part of the Indonesian citizens, the Asmat people`s misery is shared by their fellow countrymen living far away from Papua Province. The University of Indonesia`s (UI) Student Executive Board (BEM UI) Chairman Zaadit Taqwa has shown his concerns over the deaths of malnourished children in Asmat District.
Apart from the fact that his controversial way of showing his concerns, by blowing a whistle and raising a yellow book in front of President Joko Widodo attending a commemorative event to mark UI`s 68th anniversary, has triggered pro and con views, the message is clear: the Asmat people are not left alone.
This human tragedy is expected to raise the awareness of local leaders and elites of the Papuan people about the dire need of working together for the sake of improving the welfare of their people.
Nicolaas Jouwe, a well-respected Papuan figure who left the Netherlands for residing in Indonesia after tens of years of his struggle for an independent Papua, has ever uttered: "One thing that I wish is working together with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the governor of Papua, and the people of Papua to increase the development of Papua Province and prosperity of its people." (Jouwe, 2012: xvi).
(T.R013/INE)
(T.R013/A/KR-BSR/A014)
-----------------------------------------
3) ULMWP for MSG full membership
- By Len Garae
“Indonesia said, ‘The Papuans are our citizens but they are your people’, referring to their rightful place in Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)."
Paula Makabory of ULMWP makes the statement at the end of their weeklong meeting in Port Vila last Sunday.
She alleges Indonesia’s statement is clear that Jakarta recognizes West Papua’s rightful place in MSG.
With the count down now on towards the opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, next week, the confidence is also rising among Leaders of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua that all Melanesian member countries are now more than ready to vote West Papua to full membership of MSG.
Paula Makabory says, "The MSG nakamal is the right place to sort out our problems so West Papua must be accepted into this nakamal to sort out its problems”.
Makabory also touches on the current land development on the border with Papua New Guinea for palm oil and children reportedly dying in large numbers of measles. “The urgent focus now is for Melanesian leaders to recognise and act decisively to safeguard the right for Papuans to live on their own land in their own country," she says.
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4) Dutch-born Franciscan bishop dies aged 96 in Papua
Outspoken human rights champion was said to be suffering from cancer
Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta Indonesia February 8, 2018
A Franciscan bishop emeritus from the Netherlands known as a vocal defender of human rightspassed away in Papua province, Indonesia on Feb. 7 at the age of 96.
Bishop Herman Ferdinandus Maria Munninghoff of Jayapura was treated for a month at a hospice in his native Netherlands recently. He was said to be suffering from cancer.
Special Masses were held for Franciscan communities on Feb. 8 in the capital of the Indonesian province he served.
Bishop Emeritus Munninghoff was born in Woerden in the central Netherlands on Nov. 30, 1921.
He was ordained a priest in 1953 and installed as the bishop of Jayapura in 1972 — a role he inhabited until 1997.
Prior to being appointed bishop he served as secretary to the first bishop of Jayapura, Rudolf Joseph Manfred Staverman OFM.
Father Gabriel Ngga leads the Franciscans in Jayapura said he visited the bishop at the hospice two weeks ago.
"When I asked him if he was being well taken care of, he said: 'I am happy to stay here. All the staff are good. But I can feel my death is imminent,'" he said.
Father Ngga said the Papuan people would remember him fondly.
"He was an outspoken bishop who often spoke out about human rights violations in the region," he said.
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