2) Economic, Social and Cultural Issues Attract the United Nations, National Commission for Human Rights Says
3) Papuan women traders disappointed not meeting Jokowi
4) Papuan Film Festival II Sets Theme on Indigenous People
5) Government Put Rice on Priority Rather than Papuan Local Food
6) Regent’s House Burns Down, Form of Public Resentment, says Legislator
7) Solidarity for PNG earthquake collects Rp 40 million
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1) Papuan students in Australia ask Military to release Waa villagers
Araminus Omaleng, Samson Omabak and Felix Degei; Papuan students from Kampung Waa studying in Autralia. – IST
Paniai, Jubi – Students from Kampung Waa, Tembagapura Sub-district, who are currently studying in Australia request the Indonesian Military and Police officers to release the arrested villagers. They argued that those people are civilians and have no connection with the separatist movement.
“The Waa villagers who have been captured by the Indonesian Military since April 1st are ordinary people,” Felix Degei, a student studying in Australia, told Jubi on Thursday (14/3/2018).
Degei, who is also an alumnus of the University of Cenderewasih, stated that the military must also declare that a 45-year-old civil servant, the late Timothy Ombak; a 10-year-old Heri Banal; and a 9-year-old Iron Omabak are innocent civilians who are victims of military operations.
Another student Araminus Omaleng said the military should make both oral and written announcement stating that Waa villagers can do their daily activities without any suspicion.
“Kampung Waa is the ancestral land of the Amungme people. Therefore, the military has to stop threatening the local community,” he said.
Moreover, he asked PT. Freeport Indonesia and Indonesian Military to be responsible for providing compensation to all facilities that have been damaged and burned in the military operations.
Kampung Waa comprises four villages located near the mining area of PT. Freeport Indonesia in Tembagapura Sub-district, Papua. (*)
Reporter: Abeth You
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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2) Economic, Social and Cultural Issues Attract the United Nations, National Commission for Human Rights Says
Demonstration at the Papua parliament office urged the government to resolve human rights issues in Papua – Jubi / Arjuna.
Jayapura, Jubi – Chief Papua Representative Office of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Frits Ramandey, said that human rights issues in Papua are not only about violence but economic, social, cultural and political as well. Further, he said these issues are more considerate than a violence-related human rights issue.
“Just like the problems of poverty, health, and education, the economic, social and cultural issues tend to attract the attention of the United Nations more than the violence-related human rights issues, because this illustrates a series of government’s vulnerability, omission and negligence. Therefore, it needs an intervention,” he told Jubi on Saturday (14/4/2018). Moreover, he said, the violence-related human rights issue is relatively easy to turn into the issue of crimes.
Regarding the visit of the UN Envoy to Indonesia, he also wants to ensure that several reports submitted by Komnas HAM, local partner agencies and NGOs who always get opportunities to deliver a comparison report obtained the same attention from the UN. “The UN is obliged to ensure it: making an integrated effort,” he said.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Mr Hilal Elver, has been in Indonesia from April 9th to April 18th, 2018. During the meeting with Mr Elver on April 9th, 2018, the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman conveyed that the Government of Indonesia determined for not being dictated by the European Union because Indonesia has a standard in the agricultural industry. Further, he called on the UN to react to the black campaign on oil palm plantations in Indonesia that rose by member states of the European Union. The UN is expected to merely not seeing this issue from the side of deforestation, but also from the community welfare.
On April 10th, 2018, Mr Elver visited Komnas HAM office to find out more information about the fulfillment of the right to food in Indonesia. Komnas HAM Vice Chairman, Ms Sandrayati Moniaga said from the aspect of health access, the Commission highlights the case of malnutrition and child mortality in Asmat District, Papua, since September 2017. Komnas HAM views that this case was emerged because of some factors, including poor health facilities, culture and poor sanitation,” said Moniaga. While in term of food access, she said the factors are including stagnant food production, small-scale farm ownership, the extent of land conversion, and population growth. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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3) Papuan women traders disappointed not meeting Jokowi
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan women traders on the second and third floors of ‘Pasar Mama-Mama Papua (the traditional market for Papuan women)’ in Jayapura City were disappointed not meeting the Indonesian President Joko Widodo during his visit to this local market.
Mrs Nelly Pekey, a ‘noken’ seller, was upset because the president and the first lady only visited and went around the first floor. “We don’t expect Mr President to buy our products. We only want to meet him face-to-face and shake his hand, because it can make us happy and motivated,” she said on Friday (13/4/2018).
We even left our children at home for the entire day for a chance meeting and thanking him, she added. She was also upset her goods such as vegetables, fish and raw chickens damaged because buyers were not allowed to come during the president’s visit.
The Chairwoman of Papua Gemstone Association, Doliana Yakadewa said she and other traders from the first to third floors have been waiting for the president since the morning to 16:00 Papua time. “(the market) is only for a President Jokowi’s visit. Not eat, drink or sale is allowed because the market has sterilised since the morning. So buyers are not allowed to come buying our goods,” she said. (*)
Reporter: Aguz Pabika
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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4) Papuan Film Festival II Sets Theme on Indigenous People
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan Voices sets the theme on ‘Indigenous People in the midst of modernisation’ in Papuan Film Festival II. This theme is to clarify the current situation of indigenous Papuans in the midst of progressive development and investment in the land of Papua.
“We select this theme as a response to the current situation occurred in Papua,” said the Chairman Committee of Papuan Film Festival II, Harun Rumbrar in a press conference held on Tuesday (17/4/2018).
The film festival will be held in Jayapura City from August 7 to August 9, 2018, with the same agenda as the previous event. “We will also conduct Papuan Voices Conference and evaluate our program,” he added.
He also mentioned that such theme in Papuan Film Festival is aimed to introduce the life of Papuan indigenous community as well as to promote public awareness of their problems. Moreover, this film festival is also to encourage and support young and skilful filmmakers in producing and distributing documentary films. “It is also an event to strengthen the filmmakers’ networks in Papua,” he said.
Documentary films received from contestants are mostly on the issues of Papuan forest and the life of indigenous Papuans.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Committee of Papuan Film Festival II, Bernard Koten said Papuan Voices already run their program in four districts, namely Merauke, Wamena, Sorong and Raja Ampat. It would continue its program to Keerom and Saireri (Biak).
“To promote this event, we do some publications on mass media, social media, banner, and leaflets,” said Koten (*)
Reporter: Hengky Yeimo
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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5) Government Put Rice on Priority Rather than Papuan Local Food
Jayapura, Jubi – Anthropology lecturer at the University of Cendrawasih, Jack Morin said that the government’s investment and programs are some factors in eliminating Papuan staple food.
According to him, the distribution of Rastra (rice for poor), village funds and other development programs affect the activity of indigenous Papuans in rural areas. As a result, people are less concerned about the existence of their local food. Moreover, oil palm plantations, mining areas, and other business investment have affected the availability of agriculture lands; he told Jubi on Wednesday (18/4/2018).
It is worrying, he added, this condition would lead to the problem of food security. The government has an important role to ensure that local food continues to be dominant in the community because it has everything: power, money and knowledge. With human resources it has, the government should be able to maintain the existence of local food in each region.
“It is necessary to encourage both governor and regents to be aware concerning this matter,” he said. However, he also reminds the community to be aware of their land and the potential of their local food. “Do not be consumed by investment or government’s policy; people should maintain the sustainability of local food,” he said.
The Head of Agricultural and Horticultural Agency of Papua Province, Semuel Siriwa said the Papua Provincial Government concern about local food development. It already stipulates a policy requiring all government agencies to serve local food in meetings or events. He said this governor’s instruction is part of government’s efforts to develop food security.
“This instruction should be implemented by all government agencies. Economically, it will increase income, as well as the stability of local food security. If it occurs, farmers will be more motivated because the market is ready,” said Siriwa
The Head of the Food Security and Coordination Agency for Provincial Representative Office of Papua, Roberth Eddy Purwoko said his office would further improve local food development programs, ranging from home-scale plantation such as a home garden that can provide sustainable food. “Local food would certainly reduce demands on food supplies from other regions,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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6) Regent’s House Burns Down, Form of Public Resentment, says Legislator
Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Golkar faction of the Papua House of Representatives, Ignatius W Mimin said that people’s action in burning the private house of the Regent of Pegunungan Bintang (Pegubin), Costan Otekma, on Thursday (12/4/2018) was a spontaneous act and a form of public resentment against the regent.
He further said people told him that the masses did not only burn the Regent’s house but also blocked the regent’s office, the local parliament’s office and the airport as well. “This act disturbed the local government’s activities. Currently, people ask for a new regent. The central and provincial governments must answer this question,” said Mimin on Thursday (12/4/2018).
As long as this question is still in the queue, he said, the masses are going to block the regent’s office. Therefore, he met the Papua Police Deputy to report this incident. Moreover, he reminded the regent to not running away from his responsibility. The regent should meet and talk to the people asking for their aspiration. “As a native Pegubin, I won’t remain silent. There is a story behind this act; why has it happened in the second year of the current government; during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of Pegunungan Bintang District,” he said.
He also encouraged the police for not only investigating the perpetrators but also finding the reasons behind it. “It should not be the police, but the provincial government also need to look down. I don’t want my district government stuck,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of Papua Police, Senior Police Commissionaire A.M. Kamal said the act of masses allegedly happened because people were disappointed when finding there was no food served during the celebration of the 15th regional anniversary.
“People might also be angry because there wasn’t a door prize event as promised,” said Kamal. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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7) Solidarity for PNG earthquake collects Rp 40 million
Jayapura, Jubi – West Papua Solidarity for the victims of the earthquake in Papua New Guinea collected Rp 40 million and 520 thousand during fundraising held from March 15 to April 15, 2018. Donators are individual, churches, mosques as well as other interfaith organisations. Despite cash, people also donate their wearable clothes, stated the Coordinator Samuel Awom in a press conference held at the Taburia Dormitory in Padang Bulan on Tuesday (17/4/18).
“This collected money will be sent directly to our friends in Vanimo.” The fundraising held in any part of Jayapura City, including Jayapura, Abepura, Sentani and Youtefa traditional market.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Kris Dogopia said this was an act of humanitarian solidarity without any political interests.
“We want to give a good example to Papuan people of helping others because solidarity is universal. And this is purely solidarity for humanity,” said Dogopia. (*)
Reporter: Aguz Pabika
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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