Monday, March 19, 2018

1) Small West Papua protest during Jokowi visit to NZ parliament


2) Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits Pukeahu National War Memorial
3) PM Jacinda Ardern to talk trade with Indonesian President Joko Widodo

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/352869/small-west-papua-protest-during-jokowi-visit-to-nz-parliament

1) Small West Papua protest during Jokowi visit to NZ parliament

6:43 pm today 
Indonesia's president was greeted by protestors calling for West Papuan independence when he arrived at New Zealand's parliament this afternoon.





A sing-off on the steps of the New Zealand parliament between protestors and Indonesians during president Joko Widodo's visit to Wellington. 19 March 2018 Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Johnny Blades
But the protestors were vying for airspace with a group of Indonesians who were there to cheer Joko Widodo in his flying visit.
It turned into a sing-off on the steps of New Zealand's parliament.

Video footage
Dozens of Indonesians, buoyed on by a handful of officials, singing nationalist themes with great vigour as they awaited their president, known as Jokowi.
Alongside them, outnumbered but not diminished, around twenty people calling for an end to human rights abuses in West Papua.
Things became rowdy, but as the official Indonesian motorcade arrived, the protestors barely had time to make their point as Jokowi stepped out of his car and disappeared up the steps to parliament.

Indonesia's president Joko Widodo disappearing up the steps and into parliament, as his foreign minister Retno Marsudi waves out. 19 March 2018 Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Johnny Blades
Today he has met with New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern and other leading officials.
Papua was not expected to feature in discussions and, at the Indonesian government's behest, media opportunities to ask Jokowi questions were kept to a bare minimum.
Photo: Pool / Marty Melville

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2) Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits Pukeahu National War Memorial
By: Derek Cheng 19 Mar, 2018 12:16pm
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been officially welcomed to New Zealand and has given a light-hearted speech, joking about New Zealanders' love of coffee and its sheep.
Widodo had lunch with dignitaries including Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in which he gave a speech thanking them for the warm welcome and joking about "coffee diplomacy".
He said he noticed New Zealanders' love of coffee during his brief time in Wellington.
"Indonesia needs to export more coffee to New Zealand. Indonesia is one of the top coffee producers in the world," he said, before going through a number of regional coffees produced in Indonesia.
"Each of these coffees have a unique taste ... Don't forget, when you drink coffee, drink Indonesian coffee."
He also quipped: "I am very happy to visit this beautiful country with all its sheep."
Reddy said she was honoured to welcome Widodo and his delegation.
"Indonesia is one of New Zealand's oldest and closest partners in South East Asia. This year we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations."
Earlier Widodo paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the Pukeahu National War Memorial, where a lone protester was heard repeatedly yelling "Free West Papua".
Ardern has been urged to raise the issue of West Papua, which had been fighting for independence from Indonesia, in her bilateral meeting with Widodo this afternoon.
"West Papuan people have been seeking freedom from repressive military rule. The loss of life is estimated to be at least 100,000," West Papua Action Auckland said in a statement.
"Our Melanesian neighbours in West Papua are suffering grievously and must not be overlooked for the sake of 'good relations', or markets for our goods."
Widodo and his wife, Iriana Joko Widodo, were greeted at Pukeahu by Defence Minister Ron Mark, former chief of navy Rear Admiral David Ledson, Chief of Army Major General Peter Kelly and Air Vice-Marshall Robin Klitscher.
Widodo laid a wreath on the sanctuary steps in the Hall of Memories.
A minute's silence was held, following a reading of the Ode of Remembrance.
Widodo, his wife and Mark then laid a fern on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
Widodo is the head of the country with the world's largest Muslim population, and the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). It is a major market for New Zealand meat, dairy and agriculture exports, with total two-way goods trade of $1.76 billion in 2017.
He arrived in Wellington last night to a rousing welcome from local Indonesians, after attending an Asean meeting in Australia at the weekend. It is his first visit to New Zealand, and he is accompanied by his wife, ministers and a business delegation.
The delegation was officially welcomed to New Zealand in a ceremony at Government House in Wellington this morning. He was met on the grounds by kaumatua Professor Piri Sciascia and kuia Hiria Hape, before accepting the wero (challenge) from the NZ Defence Force Maori Cultural Group.
This was followed by a rousing haka from 50 students from Wellington College, led by students Geordie Bean and Sean Howe.
Reddy then greeted the delegation and accompanied them as they met students from Scots College Preparatory School and Newlands College, and then inspected the 100-strong tri-service Guard of Honour.
Members of the diplomatic corps were also on hand to meet Widodo and his delegation.
Widodo first met Ardern at the East Asia Summit last year and will have a bilateral meeting with her this afternoon.
It is customary for visiting heads of state to hold a press conference after meeting with the Prime Minister, but it is understood Widodo requested that no press conference be held.
It will mean he will not be opened up to questions from media, including about West Papua.
Widodo is also meeting with Opposition leader Simon Bridges.
Trade is expected to be high on the agenda; a booming population and consumer class make Indonesia an important market for New Zealand.
New Zealand and Indonesia have free trade through New Zealand's trade agreement with Asean, but in 2013 New Zealand took Indonesia to the World Trade Organisation over 18 agricultural trade barriers.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the barriers are estimated to have cost the New Zealand beef sector up to $1b, and have also affected horticultural exports.
Indonesia appealed a decision in New Zealand's favour in 2016, and the WTO upheld its ruling in November last year that the 18 barriers were inconsistent with global trade rules.
Trade Minister David Parker said at the time of the ruling that it would open the way for further export growth to Indonesia.​

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3) PM Jacinda Ardern to talk trade with Indonesian President Joko Widodo
By: Derek Cheng 18 Mar, 2018 3:35pm
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will welcome Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia, in Wellington tomorrow to celebrate 60 years of NZ-Indonesia relations and discuss trade - but he is expected to be shielded from questions from the media.
Meanwhile West Papua Action Auckland is calling for Ardern to raise human rights issues with Widodo over the Indonesian province that has been fighting for independence for decades.
Widodo is the head of the world's largest Muslim country and the largest economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). It is a major market for New Zealand meat, dairy and agriculture exports, with total two-way goods trade of NZ$1.76 billion in 2017.
This will be Widodo's first visit to New Zealand, and he will accompanied by his wife, ministers and a business delegation.

It is customary for visiting heads of state to hold a press conference after meeting with the Prime Minister, but it is understood Widodo requested that no press conference be held.
It will mean he will not be opened up to questions from media, including about West Papua.
In a statement, West Papua Action Auckland urged Ardern to raise human rights and the "suffering of the people of Indonesian-ruled West Papua" with Widodo.
"West Papuan people have been seeking freedom from repressive military rule. The loss of life is estimated to be at least 100,000.
"Our Melanesian neighbours in West Papua are suffering grievously and must not be overlooked for the sake of 'good relations', or markets for our goods."
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, who met with Ardern on Tuesday, also did not hold a press conference with Ardern.
Widodo has been at an Asean meeting in Australia and first met Ardern at the East Asia Summit last year.
He will be welcomed at Government House on Monday before having lunch with Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.
He will then meet with Ardern, and afterwards with Opposition leader Simon Bridges.
Trade is expected to be high on the agenda; a booming population and consumer class make Indonesia an important market for New Zealand.
New Zealand and Indonesia have free trade through New Zealand's trade agreement with Asean, but in 2013 New Zealand took Indonesia to the World Trade Organisation over 18 agricultural trade barriers.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the barriers are estimated to have cost the New Zealand beef sector up to a billion dollars, and have also affected horticultural exports.
Indonesia appealed a decision in New Zealand's favour in 2016, and the WTO upheld its ruling in November last year that the 18 barriers were inconsistent with global trade rules.
Trade Minister David Parker said at the time of the ruling that it would open the way for further export growth to Indonesia.

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