1) Indonesian universities crack down on Morning Star use

2) Nauru welcomes media group to Pacific Islands Forum

3) New Australian prime minister eager to maintain close ties with Indonesia

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365267/indonesian-universities-crack-down-on-morning-star-use

1) Indonesian universities crack down on Morning Star use

11:05 am on 30 August 2018 

Four West Papuan students were arrested on Tuesday for showing the Morning Star flag, as Indonesian universities crack down on pro-independence displays.

Antara News reported the students in Jayapura were carrying bags on campus displaying the symbol.

The four students at STIKOM Muhammadiyah university were arrested for a few hours before being released later on Tuesday.

The arrests come two weeks after two students from Cenderahwasih University in Jayapura were arrested for wearing bracelets bearing the Morning Star and singing Papua Merdeka, a song promoting independence for the region.

After that incident, the university's director signed an agreement that Morning Star symbols could not be brought on campus.

Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman said Tuesday's arrests were likely "inspired" by a growing opposition to the use of the Morning Star at universities.

An Indonesian police officer tries to remove a West Papuan pro-independence "Morning Star" flag from a demonstrator during a protest by mostly university students from Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on April 3, 2017. A low-level insurgency has simmered for decades in resource-rich Papua, with Jakarta keeping a tight grip on the region through a heavy military and police presence.  Photo: AFP PHOTO / GOH CHAI HIN

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/pacific/365432/nauru-welcomes-media-group-to-pacific-islands-forum

2) Nauru welcomes media group to Pacific Islands Forum

7:56 am today 

The Nauru President has welcomed members of the media to the Pacific Islands Forum by reminding them that it is important for them to be reliable in the age of social media.

Baron Waqa addressed the Pacific Islands News Association's Pre-Forum Media Workshop.

Mr Waqa said he hoped the workshop would add value and guide patricpants in writing news that would inform and educate people on the forum meeting.

He said a journalist's job is of extreme importance in today's media environment.

"As gatekeepers, you ultimately mould and conduct what is being published to the masses, ultimately shaping their views and opinions of the world whether fact or gossip," Mr Waqa said.

"With the fast developing world of social media and wanna-be journalists, the lines that distinguish real journalism and baseless or fake news become blurred."

The Nauru government has come under heavy criticism from international media groups for their decision to ban Australia's public broadcaster, the ABC, from entering the country to cover the Forum meeting.

Nauru said the ban was due to the ABC's blatant interference in Nauru's domestic politics prior to the 2016 election and the harassment of its president.

Earlier Pacific Islands News Association, or PINA, which is made up of most media bodies in the Pacific, said it wanted Nauru to rescind the decision.

PINA president Kora Nou said the Forum summit makes decisions that directly impact on the people of the Pacific, so it was imperative that Nauru, the ABC and the Forum try and resolve the matter.

Mr Nou had also appealed to journalists to exercise responsibility in their coverage.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/118072/new-australian-prime-minister-eager-to-maintain-close-ties-with-indonesia

3) New Australian prime minister eager to maintain close ties with Indonesia

Reporter: Antara  12 hours ago

Bogor, W Java, (ANTARA News) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stressed that he will maintain his country`s close ties with Indonesia, just as his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, did.

"We have had excellent relations, including people-to-people contact. Both countries want to encourage the states and people to have closer relations," he said here on Friday.

Morrison said Indonesia is Australia`s important working partner in the region and the world.

"We have also taken a big step in economic relations today by ensuring Australia and Indonesia realize the existing economic opportunities. Of course, the Indonesian economy is important not only for Australia but the region and the world as well," he said.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Prime Minister Morrison also witnessed the signing of a joint declaration on the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA) by Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukito and Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham.

On the occasion, Birmingham also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Indonesian Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and Chief of the Indonesian Creative Economic Board Triawan Munaf.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Indonesian Cyber and State Code Djoko Setiadi signed an MoU with Ambassador for Cyber Affairs at the Australian Foreign Ministry Tobias Feakin.

"We want to work together to promote the economies of the two countries. It is an honor for me to stand here in the first week of my term of office to show how close the relations between Australia and Indonesia are," Morrison said.

Indonesia is the first country visited by Morrison since he assumed the post of Australian prime minister last Friday (August 24), after Turnbull resigned from the parliament.

Morrison was formerly finance minister during the Turnbull government and minister of immigration and border security during the Tony Abbott government.


Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia
Editing by Suharto
  

Editor: Suharto

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1) PIANGO calls on Pacific leaders to take West Papua case to UN

2) Police say detained Polish man to face trial in Papua

3) The Pacific can no longer turn a blind eye to West Papua, envoy

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http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=17308011325b88b6d37077d65414a1

1) PIANGO calls on Pacific leaders to take West Papua case to UN

10:32 pm GMT+12, 30/08/2018, Nauru

The Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO) is calling on the Pacific Island Forum Leaders to support Vanuatu to take the issue of West Papua to the United Nations.

With membership in Pacific Forum Countries and Territories, PIANGO continues to be concerned with ongoing violations of the human rights of ethnic Melanesians in Indonesia’s Papua provinces.

PIANGO Executive Director Emele Duituturaga said that the issue of West Papua has been on the Leaders Agenda without evident progress. PIANGO had previously raised its concerns on this issue in 2016 and 2017but the situation has not improved.

According to The report the International Coalition on Papua Human Rights Update for the fourth quarter of 2017 confirmthat human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings continue.

Duituturaga said that in PIANGO’s submission to Pacific Leaders through the Forum Specialist Sub-regional Committee of Regionalism in February this year, PIANGOcalled for;

*A  UN Special Rapporteur on West Papua to investigate continued human rights violations;

*Support for a UN General Assembly Resolution to include West Papua on the UN Decolonisation List; and

*Scrutiny of development cooperation with Indonesia and participation in the Pacific Island Forum.

PIANGO commends the Government and People of Vanuatu for their continued efforts for West Papua  and joins them in calling on Pacific Forum Leaders’ to not give up on West Papua but to heed their moral duty as Pacific neighbours and relatives to halt these violations immediately.

The issue of West Papua will be on the agenda of CSO roundtable meetings jointly organised by PIANGO and its National Affiliate - Nauru Islands Association of Non-Government Organisation (NIANGO),  to precede next week’s PIF Leaders CSO Dialogue under the theme .“Rethinking and Reshaping a Free and Secure Blue Pacific”.

The Roundtablefor national and local CSOs is underway in Nauru today.

A regional CSO Roundtable will take place next Monday 3 September in Nauru.

The Forum Leaders-CSO Dialogue will take place on Tuesday 4 September - a closed session between Pacific Islands Forum Leaders and selected civil society representatives.

PIANGO has been actively campaigned over the past years for the inclusion of civil society voices and representation in regional policy and decision making which has been adopted with the Framework for Pacific Regionalism.

SOURCE: PIANGO/PACNEWS

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https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/police-say-detained-polish-man-to-face-trial-in-papua-20180831-p5013l.html

2) Police say detained Polish man to face trial in Papua

31 August 2018 — 6:05pm

Jakarta: Police say a Polish man detained in Indonesia's troubled Papua region on suspicion of links to separatists will be tried there instead of being deported.

Jakub Fabian Skrzypski, 39, described by police as a journalist, was arrested several days ago in Wamena, the capital of the mountainous district of Jayawijaya, following the arrests of five Papuans who had a quantity of ammunition.

Papua police spokesman Ahmad Mustofa Kamal said on Friday that Skrzypski would be charged with involvement in a treasonous plot.

Indonesia restricts foreign journalists from entering its two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, where a pro-independence insurgency has simmered for decades.

AP

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018660580/the-pacific-can-no-longer-turn-a-blind-eye-to-west-papua-envoy

3) The Pacific can no longer turn a blind eye to West Papua, envoy

From Dateline Pacific, 3:04 pm today 

Vanuatu's newly appointed special envoy for West Papua, Lora Lini, says the West Papua issue is something the Pacific region can no longer turn a blind eye on.

Vanuatu is to ask next week's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nauru to support its plans to ask the UN General Assembly to inscribe West Papua on its decolonisation list.

Ms Lini told Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor about her new role.

Listen duration 3′ :35″

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1) INDONESIA: Arbitrary arrest and detention in Papua

Media releases

1) INDONESIA: Arbitrary arrest and detention in Papua

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00130/indonesia-arbitrary-arrest-and-detention-in-papua.htm

2) Call on Pacific Leaders to support Vanuatu’s West Papua stan

https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00127/call-on-pacific-leaders-to-support-vanuatu-s-west-papua-stan.htm

3) PM Morrison heads to Indonesia but not the PIF

https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1808/S00128/pm-morrison-heads-to-indonesia-but-not-the-pif.htm

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Media Release - PM Morrison heads to Indonesia but not the PIF

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) 

Media Release 30 August 2018

PM Morrison heads to Indonesia but not the PIF

Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads to Indonesia today on his first overseas trip as leader to conclude a trade deal between the two countries.

Joe Collins of AWPA said “although we can expect the usual backslapping about our special relationship there is no doubt that the human rights situation in West Papua will not be mentioned”. 

Its also disappointing that PM Morrison will not be attending the 49th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Nauru next week, sending the New Foreign Minister, Senator Marise Payne instead.

AWPA has written to Foreign Minster Payne urging her and the PIF Leaders to continue to raise concern about the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian Government and to continue to press Jakarta to allow a PIF fact-finding mission to the territory as was suggested at the 46th PIF meeting in Port Moresby”. 

AWPA also urges Sen. Payne to support a draft resolution which Vanuatu will submit to the PIF calling for West Papuans’ right of self-determination, to be presented at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, in September 2019.
Ends

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1) Polish Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying To Film Papuan Armed Groups

2) Indonesia: running mates spark controversy

3) Too early to judge new Aust regime approach to Pacific - Batley

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http://indonesiaexpat.biz/news/polish-man-arrested-filming-papuan-armed-groups/

1) Polish Man Arrested After Allegedly Trying To Film Papuan Armed Groups

Indonesia Expat Aug 29, 2018

A Polish citizen is currently in custody with police in Papua over his alleged attempt to film what the Indonesian Military (TNI) claims was a planned “ammunition trade” between two armed groups in the restive province.

The Pole, identified only as JF, 39, was arrested on his way to the location of the handover at Habema Lake in Jayawijaya last Friday, according to the police.

172/PWY Military Command commander Col. Inf. J. Binsar P. Sianipar told reporters on Wednesday that his personnel had found indications that he was linked to an armed group.

“He had communicated with the armed group, and that day he was going to Habema Lake to cover the sale of hundreds of rounds of ammunition,” he said, adding that the suspect had been planning to expose the event to the world.

Binsar said JF had come to Indonesia on a tourist visa and had visited Raja Ampat in West Papua. “It is reprehensible that [he] entered Indonesia using a tourist visa but is also engaging in another activity—building relations with armed groups.”

Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yan Piet Reba told The Jakarta Post that the ammunition transaction was between an armed group operating in Wamena and another group from Puncak Jaya.

“JF was planning to go to Habema Lake, where representatives of the armed group from Puncak Jaya were waiting to buy the ammunition,” he said.

Police have questioned four people linked to the case.

“Three people have been sent to the Papua Police, one is a Polish national and the other two are locals,” Yan Piet said.

Source: Jakarta Post

Photo courtesy of freewestpapuaindonesia.com

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https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/indonesia-running-mates-spark-controversy

2) Indonesia: running mates spark controversy

BY Greta Nabbs-Keller

28 August 2018 06:00 AEDT

The confirmation by President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo’s of conservative Islamic cleric Ma’ruf Amin as running mate for the April 2019 presidential contest evoked disappointment among constituencies in Indonesia committed to democracy and pluralism.

Interpreted as a forced compromise, a Jokowi-Ma’ruf ticket certainly acts as a buffer against conservative Islamic opposition, but it by no means guarantees Jokowi an election victory. Economic issues above religious ones are likely to be a key point of vulnerability for Jokowi in the presidential campaign. 

Ma’ruf’s record of sowing division and intolerance in his capacity as Chair of the Council of Indonesian Ulema (MUI) has caused concern among non-Muslim segments of Indonesia’s population and more liberal political circles, concerned about their country’s increasingly divisive politics. Critics of Jokowi’s decision have pointed to Ma’ruf’s propensity to legitimise violence and discrimination against minorities and political opponents as leader of MUI, an increasingly obscurantist, national body of Islamic scholars.

Ma’ruf stems from Indonesia’s largest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdhlatul Ulama, whose former leader and Indonesia’s fourth president, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), was a respected a champion of pluralism and democratic ideals. Ma’ruf, however, strays far from Gus Dur’s enlightened traditions.

Under Ma’ruf’s leadership MUI has issued fatwas against Muslim minority sects Ahmadiyah and Shia, which have served to sanction violence and discrimination against them. Similarly, an October 2016 MUI fatwa declaring that incumbent ethnic Chinese Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahjaja (Ahok) Purnama had insulted the Quran, was a legitimating factor in the mobilisation of sectarian and racially-charged Islamic opposition against him.

Ma’ruf’s previous actions have been rightly interpreted as the triumph of conservative Islamic values over Indonesia’s pluralist and democratic norms. But in a pragmatic sense Ma’ruf’s confirmation undoubtedly adds to Jokowi’s legitimacy in the eyes of conservative Muslim constituents. It also affords Jokowi somewhat of a bulwark against Islamic-based opposition used to such devastating effect against Ahok, Jakarta’s former governor. Many will recall in both the 2014 presidential election and to a lesser extent, in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, how doubt was sown about Jokowi’s ethnicity and religion by opportunistic and radical opponents.

Meanwhile, confirmation from the challenger Prabowo Subianto that incumbent deputy Jakarta governor, Sandiaga Uno, would run as his vice presidential candidate also caused consternation, not least for Partai Demokrat (PD) chair, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). SBY was understood to have clinched a deal for his son, 40 year old former Army Major, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to run with Prabowo in return for PD joining Prabowo’s Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra)-led opposition coalition. 

Shock within PD ranks was followed by allegations that Uno, one of Indonesia’s wealthiest men, had used his considerable largesse to secure the vice presidential ticket. Uno had allegedly paid considerable sums to the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) to remain in, and to the National Mandate Party (PAN) to switch, to, the opposition coalition. PAN, the political vehicle of Indonesia’s second largest Islamic mass organisation, Muhammadiyah, had until 10 August been part of Jokowi’s governing coalition.

Uno’s joint Sumatran and Sulawesi ancestry means he appeals to a voter base beyond Java, but undoubtedly Uno’s main political utility for Prabowo is his wealth. Uno is understood to be one of the key financiers behind Gerindra’s-coordinated opposition to Ahok during the 2016-2017 Jakarta gubernatorial contest.In the months leading up to the vice presidential announcement there was speculation that Prabowo would not run again due to denuded campaign resources. The 2019 election will be Prabowo’s fourth attempt at the presidency and in securing Uno, Prabowo significantly boosts his campaign coffers. 

The wily political veteran has also managed to retain PD in his coalition despite SBY’s deep disappointment with the decision. No doubt, AHY has been promised political rewards in a key cabinet post, following in his father’s footsteps. With 10.19% of the national vote in the 2014 legislative elections, PD’s entry into the opposition coalition along with PAN at 7.59%, strengthens Prabowo’s chances.

Unless Indonesia’s economy significantly improves, Jokowi’s incumbency gives the rival Prabowo-Uno ticket the natural advantage on economic issues. Indonesia’s economic prospects over the next eight months to the April 2019 first run-off are far from certain, particularly given recent developments in emerging markets. Turkey’s currency slide has buffeted the Rupiah and the uncertainty of Trump’s “trade wars” still have a way to play out on global economies, including Indonesia’s. 

Jokowi’s ambitious infrastructure agenda, moreover, lends him vulnerable to Prabowo’s strident economic nationalism and anti-Chinese inclinations. Prabowo understands that many Indonesians are uneasy about perceived Chinese dominance over the economy, expressed in negative sentiment toward Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese and in Beijing’s generous investment in Indonesia’s infrastructure projects.

Moreover, resentment toward Chinese workers in particular, is becoming more apparent, fanned by perceptions of a “flood” of illegal Chinese labour and online fearmongering. If Indonesia's economy slides, it will boost Prabowo’s chances with an electorate suspicious about foreign control and erosion of economic sovereignty. 

Disappointing for some, the vice presidential picks are insightful in what they reveal about Indonesia’s contemporary politics. Indonesia’s secular-based parties must now edge to the religious right in order to become more electable; a significant shift over the last 20 years, where it was previously the conservative Islamic parties forced to the centre. The presidential-vice presidential tickets also illustrate how the distribution of largesse determines elite coalition formation and senior political appointment. Another disappointment for those who hoped that democratisation would diminish rent-seeking behaviour and instil greater integrity within Indonesia’s political and institutions. 

But in the end, Jokowi’s fate may be contingent upon external factors largely outside the cauldron of Indonesia’s domestic politics. For despite growing Islamic conservatism, Indonesia’s voters, like many others around the world, are usually impelled by economic considerations above religious ones.

Notwithstanding unanticipated shocks and disjuncture, the economy will continue to be Jokowi’s key point of political vulnerability despite high personal approval ratings. Expect another dirty campaign based on a populist narrative of economic nationalism and anti-Chinese sentiment.

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/365252/too-early-to-judge-new-aust-regime-approach-to-pacific-batley

3) Too early to judge new Aust regime approach to Pacific - Batley

about 1 hour ago 

A commentator on Pacific issues says it's disappointing but not surprising that Australia's new prime minister won't be attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru.

Australia's incoming Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne, will be attending the Forum instead of Scott Morrison - as her first international engagement.

Former diplomat turned academic, James Batley, says it's not unexpected that Mr Morrison isn't going and he thinks other Forum members will be understanding.

"For a brand new prime minister, I think there's a lot of pressing domestic concerns and I have to say I'm just not surprised that he's taken that decision and there's plenty of precedent for this - it's a rare forum meeting when all the leaders are able to turn up."

Mr Batley, who is part of Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs, also said it's too early to say whether the government's decision to drop the role of International Development and Pacific Minister had any real significance.

As part of Scott Morrison's reshuffle, the portfolio no longer had a minister and has instead been given what's called an 'assistant minister' - also known as a parliamentary secretary.

Australia's Labor Party called the move a downgrade, saying it sends a signal to Pacific nations about how little Australia cares about the region.

However Mr Batley warned against reading too much into the change of position.

"What really counts in that position is firstly the personality of the minister or the assistant minister, how well they interact with Pacific Islanders, but also, and really importantly, how much freedom they're given by the Foreign Minister," he said.

Mr Batley said he suspected there might be a bit of "political mischief making on the part of the Opposition" by saying the move represented a downgrade.

"In formal terms, yes it does, but really I think the assistant minister will speak with all the authority of the Australian government.

"It's going to depend on what level of decision making the Foreign Minister allows her to make, and how she actually performs in the field."

The new assistant minister for International Development and the Pacific is Anne Ruston.

She will report to incoming Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne.

Mr Batley said Ms Payne had a long-standing interest in foreign affairs issues.

"She's not starting from scratch. I think she'll bring a real interest, a personal interest, to the portfolio."

Whereas, Mr Batley said the vast amount of Ms Ruston's experience had been in domestic portfolios.

"She's been in Parliament for half a dozen years now from South Australia, but she has represented Australia at a couple of meetings at the Forum Fisheries Agency, but really you would have to say that she is pretty much starting from scratch when it comes to I think both the Pacific and the aid programme."

Ms Ruston told ABC Adelaide she had "no idea" why she had been given the role, but said it was a "very exciting new challenge”.

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1) Man and his child arrest posting video on Facebook is overwhelmed, says the legislator

2) SAGU Foundation and Curtin University Australia alumni organize ‘sharing and caring event’ at school

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/man-and-his-child-arrest-posting-video-on-facebook-is-overwhelmed-says-the-legislator/

1) Man and his child arrest posting video on Facebook is overwhelmed, says the legislator

Published

 2 days ago 

on

 27 August 2018

By

 admin

                                                            The Illustration of a demonstration. -Jubi / Doc

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan legislator Laurenzus Kadepa considers the arrest of a man AY, who posted a ‘Free Papua’ video on his Facebook account, and his child SY by Mimika Police are overwhelmed.

“It’s exaggerated. If this continuously occurs, it means the state is really silencing the democracy in Papua,” Kadepa told Jubi by phone on Saturday (08/25/2018).

According to him, this arrest is not a proper solution. Indonesia must change its approach to the Papuans.

Meanwhile, a human right activist Theo Hesegam said he is very concerned about the violence that unceasingly occurs in Papua, as it has taken hundreds of people’s lives.

“Up to now, the number of victims is still growing whether the Indonesian military of Papuan liberation army cause it. In the conflict involved both sides, civilians always become a victim. “The victims are not only indigenous Papuans but also non-Papuans,” he said.

Referring to this situation, he suggests the Indonesian Government should have a solution to end the violence in Papua. (*)

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizier

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/sagu-foundation-and-curtin-university-australia-alumni-organize-sharing-and-caring-event-at-school/

2) SAGU Foundation and Curtin University Australia alumni organize ‘sharing and caring event’ at school

Published

 11 hours ago 

on

 28 August 2018

By

 admin

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of SAGU Foundation Tisha Rumbewas said the ‘sharing and caring event’ in SMAN 3 Jayapura is a collaboration between the Curtin University Alumni and her foundation for sharing experience on study abroad.

“We are very pleased with this activity because in recent years a passion for Papuan children to study abroad has increased. This indicates a positive improvement of education in Papua,” she told Jubi on Friday (08/24/2018).

In the event, she also invited the IALF Global from Bali to deliver the material in a session, while a Curtin University alumnus Patrisia Rumaseray gave a presentation about the lecture activities abroad to the students.

“Don’t be shy about learning English. I always love learning English, so I went to high school abroad. I am sure that you can also go abroad later,” said Rumaseray who graduated from Paulus Junior High School Abepura. (*)

 

Reporter: Hengky Yeimo

Editor: Pipit Maizer

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