Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)
Summary of events in West Papua (8 October to 11 November 2018)
KNPB holds Congress
Jubi reported (2ndNovember) that the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) held its Second Congress between the 23-25 October 2018. The new elected KNPB Chairman Agus Kossay said, as the national representation of West Papuans, the KNPB would continue to fight for the right of the Papuan people to self-determination through a referendum.
“All participants of the Congress who consist of central and regional leaders and consulate members decide to fight for one political goal via a referendum as a peaceful and democratic solution, that is the independence of the West Papuan nation,” he told reporters on Tuesday (30/10/2018). To achieve this goal, said Kossay, KNPB calls on all West Papuans to participate in the National Civil Strike as a national agenda of Papua. “Yesterday we decided to put off our microphone, but today we will reuse it against the colonialism,” said Kosay.
West Papua National Committee calls for general strike
RNZ Pacific 1 Nov.2018
After electing a new leader, the West Papua National Committee, or KNPB, has called for a general strike of all Papuan workers.
The pro-independence KNPB has just concluded its second congress in Jayapura, attended by hundreds of its representatives across Indonesian-ruled Papua region. The congress was held in a secure location the suburb of Waena, amidst pressures from hundreds of police who tried to prevent the event proceeding. A new KNPB executive was inaugurated, with Agus Kossay elected the new chairman, replacing Victor Yeimo . Now the KNPB's international spokesman, Mr Yeimo said it was time for Papuans to take civil action to press their demands for a legitimate self-determination process. "So we want them to stop all the activity in West Papua, from economic activity, from political activity. What we want now in West papua is Indonesia should accept our demand for a referendum in West Papua. So it is time for people of West Papua to stop all activity of colonialism and capitalism in West Papua.”
Indonesian police were out in force in an attempt to prevent the KNPB congress proceeding, October 2018. Photo: Supplied
After the congress, the KNPB issed a declaration announcing the call for a general strike.
Mr Yeimo said a date for the strike would be announced later, when the call for civil action had been widely disseminated around Papua region. The declaration reaffirmed the KNPB's recognition of the West Papua Liberation Army, or TPNPB, as the "only" military force representing West Papuans. The KNPB has also reaffirmed its support for "diplomatic unity" within the United Liberation Movement for West Papua as the lead "coordinating" body in international fora. Meanwhile, Mr Yeimo said he was happy for the change in leadership in the KNPB."This organisation does not belong to Victor Yeimo or only one," he said. "We have collective leadership within KNPB." He said everyone in the KNPB remained committed to campaigning peacefully for an independent West Papua. "That is why we choose a national strike as a peaceful agenda," Mr Yeimo explained. "So people power can go down the road. This is the big agenda in West Papua, for all people in West Papua, whether people who work for Indonesia, or who work for capitalism or colonialism, this is the time for them to realise and let us be together to strike to choose and go for our future.”
There have been a number of shooting incidents between the Indonesian security forces and the OPM in the highlands in the past months. The Indonesian security forces are conducting military operations “sweeps” to find those responsible. These sweeps usually result in human rights abuses against the civilian population in the areas of operations. Many reports have pointed out the security forces have great difficulty distinguishing between what the term separatists and the general public. It is not uncommon during these operations for houses, food gardens and livestock to be destroyed leaving the local people traumatized and in fear for their lives.
Victor Yeimo posted the below report on facebook.
“Purom Wenda, commander of TPN-PB (West Papua National Liberation Army) Lanny Jaya said that they have been in shooting standoff with Indonesian police and military since 2 November until now. Dozens of their cars entered Balingga. There is a lot of villagers taking refuge into the jungle because they are too scared of the security forces. They are going hungry in the jungle because there is no food. They are the same liberation army as the one in Nduga early this year, and the one in Tembagapura last year. They are all the same, they are the freedom fighters for the national liberation army, they all want to be free from colonial Indonesia.
They have lost two members. Another two are also quite severely injured. Two of their weapons and a bag of ammunition were taken by the Indonesian security forces. They hope to be free from Indonesia. Their struggle in the jungle has been going for decades. Countless people have died for this struggle. Indonesia said that they have given special autonomy, infrastructure, and other excuses. They do not want all that. They only want freedom.”
A number of RNZ Pacific reports on the situation below.
Fears for civilians as West Papuan conflict rages
RNZ Pacific 9 Nov 2018 Johnny Blades
Humanitarian concerns are growing for West Papuans caught in the middle of conflict between Indonesia's military forces and pro-independence fighters in Papua province.
The West Papua Liberation Army Photo: Supplied
After the Liberation Army declared war on the Indonesian state in January, hostilities between the pro-independence guerrilla force and Indonesian military and police have escalated in recent months. There has been a series of deadly gunfire exchanges in the Highlands regencies of Puncak Jaya, Nduga, Timika and Lanny Jaya. The Red Cross in Indonesia's Papua province said many traumatised Highlands villagers caught up in the fighting had been displaced by the ongoing armed conflict. A Red Cross representative in the Highlands, Nelson Wonda, said thousands of Papuans have fled from their villages to the bush after fighting last month. He said many of these people don't have enough food, but they feared returning to their homes and food gardens due to the risk of getting caught up in the fighting. According to the Red Cross, seven Papuans were killed in Puncak Jaya last month by the Indonesian military. Indonesia's military disputed the figure, saying five died in that particular exchange. However, Mr Wonda said that the Indonesian military killed villagers' pigs and burnt many of their houses. He said the Red Cross had erected 60 tents for people unable to return home. He added that the Red Cross was deeply concerned for the wellbeing of the displaced communities, and called on the military and police forces to withdraw from this area to allow the Papuans to return home.
Lanny Jaya violence
The West Papua Liberation Army killed a taxi driver in the Highlands because it's understood they believed he was an Indonesian intelligence agent. The killing last week in Lanny Jaya regency sparked the latest round of fighting between the Army and Indonesian security forces in Papua's rugged interior. A spokesman for Indonesia's military in Papua, Colonel Inf Muhammad Aidi, said the death of the driver prompted the military's response which resulted in the deaths of two Liberation Army members, and injuries to others. The commander of the Liberation Army in Lanny Jaya regency, Purom Wenda, said his forces killed the motorbike taxi driver after receiving information that he was an intelligence officer spying on them.
Members of the Indonesian Army in Papua. Photo: AFP
Mr Wenda said his forces remained in a shooting stand-off with Indonesian police and military which started a week ago. Colonel Aidi accused the Liberation Army of luring the Indonesian security forces into a trap. "This separatist group which has bases in remote jungle around Papua's centre mountain area, has long record doing crimes in Papua," he added. "In last few months they've killed three civilians, injured a young boy with chopping knife, killed a taxibike in Ilaga, shot a civilian flight in and killed two army soldiers in Mulia." The Indonesian military has also accused the Liberation Army of burning Hospitals and school buildings in the Banti Kompleks area.
Nduga unrest
Late last month, Indonesian media reported that a group of 15 school teachers and medical workers were held hostages by the Liberation Army in Nduga for two weeks. One female teacher was also reportedly raped and hospitalised after her release. But Akouboo Amatus Douw, an Australia-based Liberation Army spokesperson, said reports of hostage taking and rape were false.
He said the Liberation Army held a meeting in Mapenduma earlier this month where teachers and medical workers suspected of working for the Indonesian military were "kept quiet". However the Army has admitted responsibility for deaths of three people after gunmen targeted an aircraft transporting Indonesian paramilitary police at the airport of Nduga regency. At least one of the people killed, another Liberation Army spokesman said, had assisted Indonesia's security forces in operations against Papuans.
Meanwhile, Colonel Aidi denied that Indonesia was deploying a build-up of troops in Papua's Highlands in the last week. Responding to reports of dozens of heavily armed troops arriving in Wamena and other Highlands centres, he indicated it was simply part of a routine rotation of troops.
But with the conflict showing little sign of settling down, Mr Wenda echoed concerns about the welfare of Papuan villagers who had taken refuge in the jungle to escape the fighting. "Countless people have died for this struggle," he said. "Indonesia said that they have given us special autonomy, infrastructure, and other excuses. We do not want all that. We only want freedom."
West Papua Liberation Army leader at large in Highlands
RNZ Pacific 9 October 2018
The commander of the West Papua Liberation Army remains at large in the mountains of Puncak Jaya and is reportedly being pursued by Indonesia's military.
Human rights advocates in Papua province said seven people were killed last week by Indonesian security forces hunting down the commander, Goliat Tabuni, and his men. Such operations have intensified this year after the Liberation Army declared war on the Indonesian state in January. An Australia-based spokesman for the Liberation Army-associated Free West Papua Movement, Akouboo Amatus Douw, said after last week's surprise attack at Tabuni's stronghold in Tingginambut, Commander Tabuni fled into the bush. "At the moment he is still in the bush, and also about thousands civillians also fled to the bush. So we don't know how many people been killed by Indonesian military forces, because it's very far and very remote area," he said. The latest reports indicated that Indonesian forces were still in the Tinginambut area, attacking suspected Liberation Army members, which Mr Douwsaid was causing more displacement of villagers not linked to the conflict. "We believe that because of the civilians, with mum and babies and kids also together with the group, it means it's a real emergency situation in terms of how they can get food or water.”
Police deploy to Papua village after hostage taking
RNZ Pacific 29 October 2018
Police in Papua will deploy to a village where 15 people were reportedly taken hostage by the West Papua Liberation Army and later released.
Local media report the group of school teachers and medical workers were held as hostages in Nduga district for two weeks earlier this month. Antara News reports all 15 civilians held in Mapenduma village were released on October 17 and flown out of Nduga. One female teacher was reportedly raped by members of the armed group and hospitalised after her release. Akouboo Amatus Douw, a Liberation Army spokesperson, said reports of hostage taking and rape were false. He said the Liberation Army held a meeting in Mapenduma earlier this month where teachers and medical workers suspected of working for the Indonesian military were "kept quiet". Mr Douw said this was only for a few hours and denied it amounted to hostage taking. Around 100 school children in Mapenduma could no longer access education after the incident, said Papua police chief Inspector General Martuani Sormin. The Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, said teachers working in Papua should have an understanding of the culture there. "Don't just send the teacher carelessly, eventually it will be like this," he said on Friday in the provincial capital of Jayapura. Mr Enembe said there were no witnesses to the alleged rape and reports around it were unclear.
Two Liberation Army members killed in latest Papua fighting
RNZ Pacific 5 November 2018
Two more West Papua Liberation Army members have been killed in hostilities with Indonesia's military in the Highlands of Papua province.The latest fighting on Saturday was in Lanny Jaya regency, where troops from Indonesia's military, or TNI, exchanged gunfire with the Liberation Army in rugged terrain. A TNI spokesman in West Papua, Colonel Inf Muhammad Aidi, said the deaths stemmed from an earlier alleged killing of a local civilian by the Liberation Army. He said that as Indonesian security forces tried to evacuate the man's body, dozens of Liberation Army fighters opened fire on them from nearby hills. Colonel Aidi said the TNI responded by sending a team to attack the Papuan fighters, two of whom were shot dead, while most of them retreated to the bush.
A Liberation Army spokesman, Akouboo Amatas Douw, has accused the TNI and police of numerous indiscriminate attacks on Papuan communities in the Highlands region this year. The Australia-based spokesman said the international community should pay attention to the conflict in Papua, especially since Indonesia took up a seat at the UN Security Council. He has accused the TNI of "cruelty", "barbaric" actions and killing innocent civilians from villages in remote Highlands regions around Puncak Jaya, Nduga, Timika and Lanny Jaya.
"Even uncounted thousands civilians were displaced until today no one care about their lives," Mr Douw said. "The 56 years of Indonesian occupation in West Papua resulted systematic genocide, massive human rights and humanitarian crisis by their military operation at large." But Colonel Aidi, who along with other Indonesian authorities refers to the Liberation Army as "separatists", said that they had lured the TNI into a trap. "This separatist group which has bases in remote jungle around Papua's centre mountain area, has long record doing crimes in Papua," he added. "In last few months they've killed three civilians, injured a young boy with chopping knife, killed a taxibike in Ilaga, shot a civilian flight in and killed two army soldiers in Mulia", Colonel Aidi explained. He said the TNI would continue to assist police in their pursuit of the West Papua Liberation Army whose Highlands commander declared war on the Indonesian state in January.
ULMWP statement on the escalating violence in West Papua
Urgent statement on increasing violence in West Papua from Chairman of the ULMWP Benny Wenda 14th October 2018
Over this past month there has been a severe escalation in violence across West Papua with many Papuans believed to have been killed or injured. As the Indonesian military and police continue their joint operations in Puncak Jaya, it is reported that land and air attacks have killed at least 7 West Papuan people including children and a pregnant woman.ULMWP has received first-hand reports about people in the area being deeply traumatised by the military operations. People are reporting they are too scared to travel outside, and they have stopped tending their gardens and visiting nearby relatives and neighbours. There are reports of houses being burned down, hit and run attacks, and many becoming displaced as refugees fleeing the conflict. Civilians are traumatised and terrified saying that they are being hunted by the Indonesian Security Forces....................
full statement at https://www.ulmwp.org/urgent-statement-on-increasing-violence-in-west-papua-from-chair-of-the-ulmwp-benny-wendaSpecial report on BP
New Matilda sent British journalist Michael Gillard on a special investigation on the BP operation in West Papua. Unlike Freeport, the BP operation in West Papua (to a certain extent) has been under the radar of civil society organisations.
Wooden shacks in Bintuni on the north shore of the bay. (IMAGE: Michael Gillard)
The special report at
Wooden shacks in Bintuni on the north shore of the bay. (IMAGE: Michael Gillard)
The special report at
In its response BP said,
Tangguh LNG has been operating successfully since 2009 – we’re proud of our operations, track record, and relationships with the local communities. As in all our activities across the world, the safety of our operations and employees at Tangguh LNG is our top priority. BP’s policies are clear in supporting the rights of individuals as set out in the UN’s International Bill of Human Rights. BP is also a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and these have been incorporated in full into Tangguh’s security arrangements.
response at https://newmatilda.com/2018/11/05/bp-responds-accusations-human-rights-abuses-west-papua/
Tangguh LNG has been operating successfully since 2009 – we’re proud of our operations, track record, and relationships with the local communities. As in all our activities across the world, the safety of our operations and employees at Tangguh LNG is our top priority. BP’s policies are clear in supporting the rights of individuals as set out in the UN’s International Bill of Human Rights. BP is also a signatory to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and these have been incorporated in full into Tangguh’s security arrangements.
BP’s Tangguh base in Babo, Bintuni Bay, West Papua (IMAGE: BP Indonesia)
response at https://newmatilda.com/2018/11/05/bp-responds-accusations-human-rights-abuses-west-papua/
The Greens leader Richard Di Natale also added his voice to growing calls across the international community for BP to rethink its involvement in a gas-mining operation in occupied West Papua, as Indonesia continues to face accusations of grave human rights abuses.
Ironic, Papuan human right issues to discuss in Jakarta
Published 9 hours ago on
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Discussion of human rights issues in Tanah Papua must hold in Papua, illustration – Jubi/doc
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Provincial Government express its objection to a meeting on the alleged human rights violations in Papua that planned to be held in Jakarta by the central government on 9 November 2018. “We disagree if this event will take place in Jakarta. Therefore, we’ll send a letter to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights with a copy to President Joko Widodo,” Papua Regional Secretary Hery Dosinaen told reporters in Jayapura on Tuesday afternoon (6/11/2018).He maintained that because these problems occurred in Papua, therefore it needs to be settled in Papua and it must also involve the Papuan House of Representatives, Papua People’s Assembly and all stakeholders in the regional level.“Everyone sit together discussing the problems (of human rights violations). We can’t talk about it in Jakarta. Let’s come and talk about it in Papua,” he said.He said that the draft of governor regulation about how to handle the alleged human rights violations in Papua proposed by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights for discussion on 9 November created without involving either the provincial government and Papuan people.
However, the draft delegates the provincial government to establish a team to handle the alleged human rights violations occurred in Papua and only focus on the violations occurred in Wamena in 2003 and Paniai in 2014. It seems to disregard the fact that human rights violations in Papua have not only happened in Wamena and Paniai. “If we only follow the central government’s plan, it has a potential to create a new conflict in public in Papua,” said Dosinaen.
Moreover, he said, “The ironic thing is all expenditures related to human rights violations in Papua to be charged to the Special Autonomy Fund. We don’t want it happened. Therefore, we hope the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights can give more attention and stand beside Papua and its people concerning the handling of alleged human rights violation on this land.” The Head Office of National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Papua Frits Ramandey said there are no concrete measures taken by the Indonesian Government to solve the human rights issues in Papua. There is an impression that the relevant government institutions only maintain their ego.
According to him, President Widodo has stated his commitment to resolving the human rights issues in Papua. However, the technical agencies such as the Ministry of Politics, Law and Defense, General Attorney Office, Police, Military and National Human Rights Commission have not yet worked closely to solve this issue. “Each party still holds on their authority. This then becomes an obstacle to solving the human rights cases in Indonesia in general, and Papua in particular,” said Ramandey. Furthermore, he said this is not the only obstacle to the settlement of human right issues in Indonesia, but also the Law No. 39 of 1999 and Law No. 26 of 2000 concerning the Human Rights Court, especially they address about limited authority. (*) Reporter: Alexander LoenEditor: Pipit Maizier
Light at end of tunnel for West Papua
Vanuatu Daily Post By Len Garae Oct 11, 2018
Pastor Nafuki sees light at end of tunnel for West Papua By Len Garae
“Let me assure the worldthat I can see the light at the end of the dark tunnel, that now the whole world knows more about West Papua than ever before so this is sure confidence for me which reflects the faith of the population of Vanuatu. “Indonesia can say whatever it wants to say but I am confident to say that West Papua is getting closer and closer and closer to its destiny for our Great God to give them their birthright and He is choosing us one by one to proclaim it to the world”. This is the first interview with the President of the Civil Society Organisations, Presbyterian Church Pastor Allan Nafuki, that support the longstanding struggle for freedom of the Melanesian people of West Papua.
“My first message is that Vanuatu’s support for West Papua has not changed; chiefs, grandparents, fathers, mothers, young people and children’s support have not changed. Our mandate is to help West Papua to achieve self-determination and freedom”, he says. “It is the mandate of our Government to continue to lobby with other friendly countries to support the struggle of the people of West Papua to gain their freedom. “This is to secure enough support by other countries to help us to put the demand of West Papua before the Committee of 24.
“We have so far 70 countries round the world that has aligned with Vanuatu to support our stand towards West Papua, and we need 30 more.
“In the Pacific we have small countries including Tuvalu, Micronesia and Tonga even though our brothers of Fiji, PNG do not support us and Solomons are 50-50 and so we have seven or eight countries in the Pacific that support our stand plus some Caribbean and African countries”. Asked if the 70 countries are members of the UN, Pastor Nafuki says these are the countries that recognise and support the West Papua Issue. “We are lobbying for 30 more to arrive at the required 100 countries in order to push the West Papua issue to another level. “We thank God for our people including MPs Johnny Koanapo and Ralph Regenvanu and civil society organization of which I am Chairman. “With only 30 more countries to join the list, I am confident of a light at the end of the tunnel that by 2019, we will have enough numbers to push West Papua through the Committee of 24”, he says. “The Vanuatu Government is also committed to making sure that 100 countries will be supporting West Papua in the not too distant future”. Lobbying is now in progress with the 24 member countries of the Committee to support the West Papua Issue.
“When Vanuatu raised the West Papua Issue at the UN, thousands of West Papuans marched in support of what Vanuatu was doing”, he said.
An emergency meeting was held at the West Papua House at four o’clock yesterday afternoon in Port Vila for Vanuatu Free West Papua Association to be briefed on the latest situation on West Papua. Asked to comment on the Indonesian representative’s address at the UN, the Chairman said there was nothing new in it – only the same repetition since day one except Indonesia’s tightening of its security in the bush. However in the same way the West Papua Liberation Army has also tightened its security dividing the men and women and children into groups to move quickly. “For security reasons, only Indonesia’s side releases information while West Papua remains silent but we and United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) know what is happening in West Papua”, he says. Our appeal to West Papuans is to remain vigilant to make sure that different factions within West Papua must always stand united to make sure that individual factions do not break the solidarity of the people of West Papua. “Let us all stand together to go forward in unity to achieve the goal through our prayers for God to continue to bless the people of West Papua. This is our faith and hope in Vanuatu for the people of West Papua”, he concludes.
Polish tourist’s case submitted to Attorney Office
JUBI Published 21 hours ago on 6 November 2018
By pr9c6tr3_juben
JF when going to Wamena Prison from Jayawijaya District Attorney Office-Jubi / Islami
Wamena, Jubi– Papua Regional Police hand over the case of a Polish tourist Jakup Fabian Skrzypski (JF) who arrested a few months ago to Jayawijaya District Attorney on Friday (02/11/2018) because all documents and evidence are considered complete. “So, the four suspects are handed over, two arrested in Wamena, including JF, and others arrested in Yalimo,” said Adjunct Police Commissionaire Lintong Simanjuntak, the Chief of Violence and Crime Division of the Directorate of Crime Investigation of Papua Regional Police.
By flight Trigana Air, JF and three other persons (SM, SA and IW) departed from Jayapura to Wamena and immediately transferred to Jayawijaya District Attorney Office for re-examination.
The four have now officially detainees of District Attorney. They sent two defendants to the House of Correction Class B Wamena, while the rest placed in the police custody in Jayawijaya Police Headquarter. Adjunct Commissionaire Simanjuntak, who accompanied the four defendants from Jayapura to Wamena, said although Papua Police investigates this case of alleged treason, the trial would be conducted in Wamena because the incident occurred in Wamena.
“The investigation conducted by Papua Regional Police in collaboration with Papua District Attorney Office, and it has been at P21 phase or a stage which both suspects and evidence are submitted to Jayawijaya District Attorney Office to use in the Wamena District Court,” he said in the House of Correction Wamena. Furthermore, he admitted that during the investigation, the police assisted by the Foreign Ministry has communicated with the Polish Ambassador in Jakarta. So, all procedures have done appropriately. Meanwhile, the Chief of State’s Defense and Public Security of the Papua District Attorney Adrianus Irham Tamana said the trial would conduct before twenty days of detention. “The trial before twenty days of detention will be handed over to the court. Currently, they are still under our custody,” he said.
An Objection
Meanwhile, the suspects’ legal advisor Latifah Anum Siregar said the public prosecutor’s team objected if the detainees placed in the jail of Police Headquarter due to prison overcapacity. “Does this transfer create a problem of overcapacity? What about their access and rights? Can it be fulfilled or not?” questioned Siregar. Also, she revealed that during the detention in Papua Regional Police, the detention room had already been overcapacity, with 50 people occupied the space of 25. Moreover, they must share the toilet for bathing, washing dishes and so on. “The reason of security must be compared with humanitarian purpose. Do not apply this reason to ignore humanity. Instead, it becomes overreacted because my clients have to get access to lawyers, religious leaders and this shouldn’t be restricted,” she said.
Furthermore, she revealed that from the beginning her client JF had rejected all allegations against him through the police had the evidence. She also thinks the legal process of four suspects was made difficult, for instance, they were arrested in Wamena but brought to Jayapura for investigation and transferred to Wamena for trial. “A file related to JF is about Simon Magal who arrested in Timika. We need to clarify this, as well as its legal process. However, it seems the police made it complicated,” she said. Moreover, she hopes that the attorney office can accelerate the trial, and her legal team will see what evidence used in the court. “Our client refuse all charges, including the photographs showing him holding the weapon, and trained using the weapon because all conducted in his country where the use of the weapon is legal. “We’ll see the evidence in the trial,” she said. (*) Reporter: Islami Adisubrata Editor: Pipit Maizier
Indonesia targets closure of Freeport deal in December -official
17 October 2018 Reuters
JAKARTA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Indonesia's state-owned miner Inalum is looking to finalize a $3.85 deal for majority control of the local unit of global mining giant Freeport McMoRan Inc in December, a company official said on Wednesday.
The deal, in which Inalum will control a 51.23 percent stake in PT Freeport Indonesia, is expected to end more than nine years of wrangling between Freeport and Indonesia over ownership rights to Grasberg, the world's second-biggest copper mine. However, the planned transactions are still subject to the issue of environmental recommendations and a special mining permit (IUPK) by the Indonesian government, Inalum Chief Executive Budi Gunadi Sadikin told parliament. "(Freeport Indonesia) is continuing to lead discussions with the Environment and Forestry Ministry," Sadikin said. "We hope this can be completed as quickly as possible."
A 2017 report by Indonesia's Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) referred to an estimate that Freeport's decades-long operations at the mine in Indonesia's remote easternmost province of Papua had caused environmental damage worth $13.25 billion. That damage, it said, was largely a result of tailings from the mine that had extended beyond previously agreed limits and which had polluted coastal areas. In April, in follow-up action to the audit, the environment minister issued two decrees that gave Freeport six months to overhaul the management of tailings from Grasberg. One of the decrees said Freeport would be barred from any activities in areas that lack environmental permits.
These matters have complicated the issue of a new mining permit for Grasberg, which would be held by Inalum. Freeport Indonesia Executive Director Tony Wenas said his company was fully compliant with Indonesian environmental impact rules. Freeport hoped "in the near future the Environment and Forestry Ministry issues a policy" related to Grasberg, he said. "We are discussing several options," Wenas said, referring to the possibility of reducing tailings sediment, methods for tailings removal and expansion of mangrove wetlands, among other options. Last month, Freeport and its Grasberg mining partner Rio Tinto struck a binding accord to sell a majority stake in Grasberg to Inalum.
At that time, Sadikin said the transactions would be concluded in November. (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini Writing by Fergus Jensen; editing by David Evans)
Police say no to awareness by West Papua group
POST-COURIER-5 November 7, 2018 BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A GROUP called the “West Papua Interest Association” has been stopped from carrying out any awareness in the Kiunga-Tabubil area. PNG police confirmed a letter was received from the association, however due to the sensitivity of the issue they would be discussing and the type of awareness they are carrying out they were asked to not carry out their awareness. In the letter sighted by this newspaper, the team of 200 men and women would be arriving and coming in from Oksibil Star Mountain Regency of West Papua. From the 200 men and women, 50 were security forces with their identification such as a recognised ID cards and the sets of uniforms and another 150 men and women representing each district. The letter signed by Kare Kotanon Urupkulin, who is the international border coordinator, and stamped, is supported by Geoff Mecky Uropkulin, who is the team representative. The aim of the association is to carry out human rights violation awareness for one week in Kiunga.
A GROUP called the “West Papua Interest Association” has been stopped from carrying out any awareness in the Kiunga-Tabubil area. PNG police confirmed a letter was received from the association, however due to the sensitivity of the issue they would be discussing and the type of awareness they are carrying out they were asked to not carry out their awareness. In the letter sighted by this newspaper, the team of 200 men and women would be arriving and coming in from Oksibil Star Mountain Regency of West Papua. From the 200 men and women, 50 were security forces with their identification such as a recognised ID cards and the sets of uniforms and another 150 men and women representing each district. The letter signed by Kare Kotanon Urupkulin, who is the international border coordinator, and stamped, is supported by Geoff Mecky Uropkulin, who is the team representative. The aim of the association is to carry out human rights violation awareness for one week in Kiunga.
PNG’s border commander, Samson Kua said while he understood their rights to host an awareness of their continued efforts for freedom, he said it would not be appropriate to stage the awareness at a time the country was ready to deliver APEC in two weeks. He added that they did not want any disruptions experienced at the borders of the country. Mr Kua said the security of the country was imperative and important to maintain. “We have to also protect this country and ensure that the security of everyone in Western Province is protected. “I have already explained the reasons to the association and I hope they will adhere to what I have told them already,” Mr Kua said. “This country is hosting an important event in APEC, and I have stressed to the association that no awareness will be carried out. “I do not want any disruptions to the efforts of the Joint Security Taskforce along the borders. “Failure to adhere to the directives given will see the arrest of those who continue to disregard the directive that has been set,” Mr Kua said.
Referendum in New Caledonia (Kanaky)
A referendum on independence was held in New Caledonia on the 4thNovember. The result, 56.4% voted to remain with France and 43.6% in favour of independence. The French were hoping for a huge show of support to remain with France but the close vote is also a victory for the Kanaks and indicates Independence is still very much on the agenda. Another referendum will be held in two years.
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
Is Indonesia Australia’s ‘most important’ security partner?
Real-time plantation map aims to throttle deforestation in Papua
In West Papua’s Arfak Mountains, local leaders plot ecotourism boom
https://news.mongabay.com/2018/11/in-west-papuas-arfak-mountains-local-leaders-plot-ecotourism-boom/
Ancient tribe on the brink of being wiped out by Christian missionaries
Saving One of the Last Biodiversity Hot Spots
Rebel music: the protest songs of New Caledonia’s independence referendum
https://theconversation.com/rebel-music-the-protest-songs-of-new-caledonias-independence-
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