Thursday, February 28, 2019

1) Papuans plan to boycott Indonesian elections, say activists


2) Freeport Copper Production Predicted to Drop to 41mn Tons
3) WCC mission criticises Papua rights violations in plea for ‘openness’

4) Let’s Tell A Story: Initiative puts Papua in the spotlight
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1) Papuans plan to boycott Indonesian elections, say activists
Published 4 hours ago on 28 February 2019 
By pr9c6tr3_juben
Papua, Jubi – West Papuan people will not take part in Indonesia’s 2019 presidential and legislative elections, say the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP).
This is because they accuse the Indonesian government of illegal political practices in Papua, of failing to uphold the rights of the Papuan people and because both presidential candidates have a bad track record on Papua.
“Indonesia is a state which since the declaration of the Trikora operation on December 19, 1961, has conducted illegal political activities in the territory”, said FRI-WP spokesperson Surya Anta at the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) offices in Central Jakarta last week.
“Because of this we are taking a position and declaring that we will not take part in the 2019 presidential or legislative elections,” he said.
Anta explained that what they mean by the territory of West Papua was an area extending from Numbai to Merauke, Raja Ampat to Baliem and Biak Island to Adi Island.
The groups also believe that the contestants in the 2019 election on April 17 are the same as those in previous elections where candidates are only interested in gathering votes from the Papuan people.
However, there has been no effort by the legislative, presidential or vice-presidential candidates to uphold the rights of the West Papuan people, they say.
Maintaining colonialism
Speaking in the same vein, Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) national collective secretary-general Samsi Mahmud said that the Papuan people were not interested in the 2019 elections.
Aside from Indonesia’s illegal political activities, according to Mahmud none of the political parties are articulating the wishes of the Papuan people and the elections are only aimed at maintaining the practice of colonialism.
“[The elections] are a tool for the colonial government to put local power holders in place to safeguard their interests”, said Mahmud.
AMP member Erepul Sama said there was no difference between the two presidential candidates, incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, particularly in their handling of human rights violations.
“Prabowo himself has a bad track record in Papua such as the Mapenduma incident. But this doesn’t mean that Jokowi is any better”, said Sama.
“Jokowi has allowed human rights violations to occur again and again, for example in the bloody Paniai case which has still not been resolved”, he added.
Aside from declaring that they will not take part in the 2019 elections, the FRP-WP and the AMP made three other demands: West Papuans be given the right to self-determination, All organic and non-organic troops be withdrawn from Papua, and Journalists be given free access to Papua.
Background
Operation Trikora was declared by Indonesian founding President Sukarno in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on December 19, 1961.
It was an Indonesian military operation aimed at harassing and forcing the Dutch out of Netherlands New Guinea in 1961-62 rather than one intended to suppress a nascent independence movement.
The Mapenduma operation was a botched rescue operation in the remote Mapenduma area of West Papua led by then Kopassus commander Prabowo Subianto in 1996 to secure the release of World Wildlife Fund researches taken hostage by the Free Papua Movement.
The attempt ended in a military attack on Geselema village resulting in the death of up to eight civilians.
On December 8, 2014, barely two months after Widodo was sworn in as president, five students were killed and 17 others seriously injured when police and military opened fire on a group of protesters and local residents in the town of Enarotali, Paniai regency.
Shortly after the incident, Widodo personally pledged to resolve the case but four years into his presidency no one has been held accountable for the shootings. (pmc.aut.ac.nz/CNN Indonesia)
 
Source: Pasific Media Centre
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2) Freeport Copper Production Predicted to Drop to 41mn Tons

Translator: Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
   Editor: Petir Garda Bhwana 
28 February 2019 07:49 WIB
TEMPO.COJakarta - The mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia or PTFI predicted its copper production will be at around 41 million tons this year, drastically dropped when compared to last year’s 178,100 tons daily.
PTFI president director Tony Wenas explained that the declining production was in line with the transition process from an open pit into an underground mining operation. He predicted the production would be relatively the same and would not see a significant increase until next year.
However, the poor condition, Tony added, would go better in 2021. “The production in 2021 will raise up to 60 million tons copper per year, and in 2022, we will return to a normal production level,” said Tony Wednesday, February 27.
Throughout 2018, PTFI’s copper sales reached 1.13 billion pounds with the production at 1.16 billion pounds. As for gold, the sales amounted to 2.37 million ounces with the production at 2.42 million ounces.
CEO Freeport-McMoRan Inc., one of PTFI shareholders, Richard C. Adkerson said that the open pit mining operation in Grasberg would complete in the first semester of 2019. The company also further developed its production in underground mining during the shift.
Richard expressed optimism that the gold and copper mining company could achieve the set target on Freeport`s underground mining operation, which was daily producing over 200,000 tons of gold and copper ore.
BISNIS
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3) WCC mission criticises Papua rights violations in plea for ‘openness’
  
A special mission from the World Council of Churches has criticised the ongoing human rights violations by Indonesian security forces in the West Papua region after its five-day visit to Indonesia last week and has called for “more openness” by the authorities.
It is also said Papuan people seemed to be “systemically marginalised” and urged more dialogue without conditions.
The ecumenical delegation coordinated by the WCC visited Indonesia on February 15-22, including the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) – where increasing violence and discrimination against indigenous Papuan people was recently highlighted in a joint statement by five UN human rights mandate-holders.
The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to express solidarity and encourage member churches and related organisations in their efforts for justice and peace in Indonesia.
While in Papua and Papua Barat, the delegation members met local church leaders, victims of human rights violations and conflict, traditional leaders, the governors of both provinces and other local government representatives, and Indonesian military and police officials in Jayapura, Manokwari, Merauke and Wamena.
“Access to the Papua region has been severely restricted in the past,” said WCC director for international affairs Peter Prove.
“We greatly appreciate the fact that Indonesian authorities enabled our delegation’s visit to take place, and we hope that this will be the beginning of more openness and increased access for others to the territory and its people.”
Severe problems
However, members of the delegation were alarmed to hear from almost all the Papuans they met of the severity of the problems they continue to face.
Dr Jochen Motte, deputy general secretary of United Evangelical Mission, said: “As somebody who had the opportunity to be part of the WCC team visit in 1999, it was sad to realise that the issues mentioned in the report at that time today are almost the same and that the Special Autonomy Status … could not meet the expectations of the Papuan people and bring an end to discrimination and human rights violations.”
The Special Autonomy Law was enacted in 2001 as a basis for Papuans to play a role in determining their own political, social, cultural and economic development within the Republic of Indonesia.
But almost all Papuans the delegation members encountered – including local government officials – considered Special Autonomy a failure, and that its most important elements had not been implemented.
The delegation was concerned to learn that due to migration and demographic shifts, indigenous Papuans now form a minority in their own land.
Landgrabbing, environmental degradation and accelerating destruction of the forest and river resources upon which Papuans’ livelihoods traditionally depended were frequent complaints heard by the delegation.
According to Papuan counterparts the prevailing development model in the territory “is for others, not for us”.
‘Systemically marginalised’
Dr Emily Welty, vice-moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, said: “Papuan people seem to be systemically marginalised and excluded in all areas of life.”
In Wamena and Jayapura, delegation members met internally-displaced people who had fled from conflict and Indonesian military and police operations in the Nduga region following an incident on 2 December 2018 in which 21 road construction workers were reported killed by an armed group.
The total number of IDPs is unknown, but many are thought to be still taking refuge in the forest without support.
Bishop Abednego Keshomshahara of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania said: “It was painful to see so many child victims of this violence who fear to return home because of the presence of military and police who should be the ones protecting them in their villages and schools.”
During the visit to Papua the delegation received a joint appeal from the leaders of four churches in Papua – the GKI-TP, the KINGMI Church in Tanah Papua, the Evangelical Church in Tanah Papua (GIDI), and the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua – calling for international ecumenical support for a comprehensive political dialogue for the resolution of the situation in Papua.
Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, said: “It is clear that dialogue without preconditions is the only path forward in such a situation as we encountered in Papua.”
Organised as part of the WCC’s “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace”, the visit focused on issues concerning religious freedom and inter-religious harmony in Indonesia, and the human rights situation in Papua.
Bomb attacks
The delegation was hosted by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) and the Evangelical Christian Church in Tanah Papua (GKI-TP).
Delegation members also visited churches and their Muslim community partners in Surabaya, where suicide bomb attacks took place in May 2018, and welcomed the “extraordinary inter-communal and inter-religious solidarity” they observed.
However, in a meeting with Minister for Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, delegation members also expressed concern over still high numbers of prosecutions under Indonesia’s blasphemy law, and the ways in which the 2006 Religious Harmony Law is used to marginalise religious minorities





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4) Let’s Tell A Story: Initiative puts Papua in the spotlight

JOSA LUKMAN THE JAKARTA POST

Jakarta  /  Thu, February 28, 2019 


While most people are familiar with Indonesia’s picturesque destinations – think Bali and Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara – Papua rarely comes up in conversation.
In reality, Papua, as frequent travelers can attest, has some of the country’s most scenic views and unique culture, such as pristine waters and the rich marine diversity of Raja Ampat in West Papua.
In an effort to encourage conversation, and to foster recognition of Papua, nonprofit organization EcoNusa launched an initiative called MaCe Papua, highlighting Papuan stories.
MaCe – short for Mari Cerita (Let’s Tell a Story) – comes in the form of a monthly discussion that highlights various topics, from local Papuan languages to culinary adventures.
For its initial discussion on Wednesday, EcoNusa brought in homegrown Papuan talents, inviting singer Michael Jakarimilena, author Raden Lukman and activist Lisa Duwiry.
Lisa has been active in championing social issues surrounding Papua. One of her first initiatives was to participate in a book drive called Buku Untuk Papua (Books for Papua).
“At first I was a volunteer, and at that time Twitter was abuzz with all sorts of social initiatives, but then I noticed there was next to nothing for the people of Papua,” she said. “I looked around and I finally found Buku Untuk Papua founder Dayu Rifanto.”
The book initiative grew over time to include free classes and a crowdfunding drive for a library.
After taking a break from the initiative and finding herself still wanting to do something for the Papuan people, Lisa started #UntukKorowai after finding a story on Facebook about a Korowai child named Puti Hatil in need of medical assistance.
“Initially, I went just to help spread the word around, but eventually it got bigger through celebrities and influencers highlighting the issue. We eventually managed to raise around Rp 136 million (US$9,697) to pay for a teaching assistant for the village as well as medical supplies.”
Lisa believes that growth and progress for Papua should not be limited to infrastructure and natural resources, as it should also include the people.
“The people of Papua are brilliant, and imagine if we can harness that potential. Indonesia will be immensely rich if we can involve Papua more in our development.”

Michael, known for his stint in the first season of Indonesian Idol, was born and raised in Jayapura, leaving his hometown to study in Surabaya in 2001 before making it to Jakarta three years later for the singing competition.
Throughout his singing career, which has taken him to numerous places, both at home and internationally, Michael often sings songs about Papua and asks his audience whether they have been to Papua as a way to introduce the region.
“I always say to them, ‘Papua is more beautiful than the stories I tell you’. Papuan children, with all of their disadvantages, venture out into the world to gather knowledge and to know their brothers and sisters from across the country.
“I make a point of saying, ‘If you’re Indonesian, visit Papua to get to know your Papuan brothers and sisters’,” Michael said, describing Papua as Indonesia’s “paradise on earth”.
Michael is aware many Papuan children often dream of being either a civil servant for financial stability or a soccer player for the fame and glory.
He himself once dreamed of being a player for Persipura, a soccer club based in Jayapura.
“It is every Papuan boy’s dream to play for Persipura, because the club’s vision is to bring glory to God and to bring honor to the Papuan people. When you see a player out on the field, you’ll see that he doesn’t play for himself, but he plays for his family and friends, carrying their hopes and dreams.”
Meanwhile, Raden, who was born in the Papuan city of Sorong, said that even though his father is from Banten and his mother from Jakarta, he reserved a special place in his heart for Papua.
His love for Papua is manifested in his book Ku Kenalkan Papuaku (Introducing My Papua), which he wrote to provide a different perspective on Papua for those who have never stepped foot there.
Raden, who recently graduated from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, said he intended to return to Sorong to become a city planner, using his knowledge to improve his hometown.
“For me, Papua is not only built by material things. What we need is for people to put their hearts into it. I always tell my friends that the sun rises in the east, and because of that, hope also comes from the east. This means that we are people with hope in our hearts,” he said.
“Whenever my Papuan friends say we’re not experienced enough, I always reply that what we can offer is the future.” (ste)
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Tuesday, February 26, 2019

1) Enembe – the Papuan traditional chief Indonesia regards as ‘dangerous’


2) Indonesia is the future. We’ve got to start paying attention

3) ‘Not a big deal’ claim police, reject UN call for snake probe
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1) Enembe – the Papuan traditional chief Indonesia regards as ‘dangerous’
   27, 2019




Governor Lukas Enembe ... faces Indonesian ignorance of the significant role of Papuan tribal leaders. Image: West Papua Today


By Yamin Kogoya in Canberra
In the days leading up to Christmas, 16 Indonesian construction workers were killed in Nduga by the West Papuan National Liberation Army.
Lukas Enembe, Governor of Papua, declared through media: “I am asking President Jokowi to withdraw all the troops in Nduga.”
In response, Colonel Muhammad Aidi, the military spokesman in Papua, said: “If governor Lukas Enembe supports the Free Papua Movement struggle and rejects the national strategic programme policy, he has violated state law and should be prosecuted.”
December is a sacred month for Papuans. The first day of the month is when Papuans throughout Indonesia commemorate their national day – the day when the banned independence flag was freely flown alongside the Dutch flag.
And on 25 December, the majority Christian Papuans celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Unfortunately, December is also full of tragedy.
During this month many Papuans in the Indonesian archipelago face brutality, arrest and imprisonment by Indonesian security forces. And on 1 December 2018, more than 300 Papuan students and Indonesian sympathisers were arrested.
Workers killed
A few days later, WPNLA militants killed the Indonesian construction workers in Nduga.
Predictably, this led to further hatred, racism and demonisation of Papuans by Indonesia’s military, police and media. Indonesian media outlet DetikNews reported: “Chase the criminal group in Papua and catch them dead or alive.”.
It was a comment designed to break the spirit of the Papuan people, who are rightly terrified of the Indonesian military, police and their bullets.
But they are just as terrified of the dehumanising views and beliefs held by Indonesia’s ruling elite, whose hatred towards Papuans has blinded them to the fact that these people are citizens.
The Indonesian security forces have accused Governor Lukas Enembe of corruption and of being a pro-independence Papuan sympathiser.
Why a “separatist sympathiser”? Because following the December crisis, the governor asked that the people of Nduga be allowed to celebrate a peaceful Christmas without a heavy military presence in their villages.
As a tribal chief from the Papuan highlands, Lukas Enembe, knows that Christmas is an important day for Papuans. However, the military saw his response as protecting those responsible for shooting the 16 construction workers.
Thus he was accused of violating state law and there were demands for his “execution”.
Ignorance revealed
The allegations showed Indonesia’s ignorance of the significant role that Papuan tribal leaders (chiefs) play in their communities. It’s also important to note that these accusations were unfounded.
Meanwhile, the governor continues to face threats from Indonesian security forces even as he, along with other Papuan leaders, continue to ask President Joko Widodo i to withdraw the military presence from Nduga.
Governor Enembe says that the Nduga communities have been traumatised by decades of indiscriminate military operations. The villages have been bombed, people have been killed, many have fled, others are missing and the terror continues.
As the tribal chief and governor, Lukas Enembe has every right to express his opinion on the welfare of Indonesian citizens under his care.
But, ignoring his request for withdrawal, the military and police continue to threaten and intimidate him and their own Papuan people.
So why is Governor Enembe seen as a threat to Indonesia’s elite?
As the saying goes, “a Papuan hero loved by Papuans is more dangerous than a Papuan hero loved by Indonesia.”
Honest, humble
Enembe is dangerous to Indonesia because he is consistent, honest, humble – and he is loved by Papuans.
When he was elected governor in 2013, he gained the trust of his indigenous Papuan people. To demonstrate this further, Papuans re-elected him for a second term in 2018.
He tells the truth of the real hardships faced by Papuans under the yoke of Indonesian military rule.
Telling the truth in West Papua, or anywhere in Indonesia, is increasingly becoming an act of treason. This governor has fallen victim to this reasoning and this is what makes the authorities consider him to be a dangerous person in Indonesia.
Even after 60 years, Indonesian security forces do not understand Papuan customs and cultural values.
In Enembe’s first term in office, his achievements were many and he emerged as a generous leader who was able to touch ordinary lives and bring everything into public view.
He is a typical Melanesian “big man”, whose job is to look after his people, feed them, guide them and lead them.
Education, empowerment
It must be said that Lukas Enembe has done nothing against the Indonesian government. To the contrary, he takes care of the Indonesian citizens in Papua and wants them to be educated, empowered, hardworking, and self-reliant.
It is such attributes that make him dangerous to the Indonesian military, police and nationalist groups. Indonesian leaders are typically paranoid and hostile towards brave and smart Papuan leaders, who are immediately seen as a threat.
Clever leaders are a nightmare for the Indonesian military regime. It is a paranoid outlook that needs to change.
Indonesia must understand that the world is changing rapidly and, if it is to compete in the global markets, technology and science, it needs clever and truthful leaders. Enembe will not be intimidated by threats and bullets and these things will not create a great Indonesia.
In fact, Governor Lukas Enembe is the embodiment of Indonesian state values. But if Indonesian security forces continue to see him as a threat, the direction of this great nation will be lost.
It is this truth that makes Enembe the most misunderstood and dangerous governor in Indonesia.
Yamin Kogoya is a West Papuan academic who has a Masters of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development from the Australian National University. From the Lani tribe in the Papuan Highlands, he is currently living in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
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2) Indonesia is the future. We’ve got to start paying attention

Jordan King | Guest writer Opinion
New Zealand is underprepared for Indonesia’s rapid economic growth, and our nearest Asian neighbour is a potential close friend, writes Jordan King
Ask a New Zealander to discuss Indonesia and you may get a response about Bali, Bintangs, or perhaps West Papua or The Act of Killing. Or you might get no response at all. This is not unusual nor a condition specific to Aotearoa. Describing the nation’s global visibility Elizabeth Pisani, author of Indonesia Etc, quotes one Indonesia businessman who calls his country “the biggest invisible thing on the planet” for its lack of global cut through.
The exact number of islands which constitute Indonesia differs depending on whether you draw your measure at high or low tide: somewhere near 17,000 is the consensus. The nation is the world’s fourth most populous and is the third largest democracy. It is the largest Muslim majority country. Many economists predict Indonesia will be the world’s fourth largest economy in 2050.Geopolitics in our region are getting more complex, we need more close friends in Asia. A rising regional power with a nascent democracy and a comparatively free press is an ideal candidate.
The starting point for building a deep friendship is for New Zealand society to become intrigued about Indonesian politics and society. Muldoon’s mercantilist epithet – “our foreign policy is Trade” – must be banished. If you possess even a modicum of interest about the wider world there is much to find fascinating about Indonesia. Consider the upcoming general election to be held on 17 April. Vying to hold together and lead a nation of 240 million spread across 6000 inhabited island are two candidates. The incumbent Joko Widodo or ‘Jokowi’ the former governor of Jakarta and the challenger, former commando and Suharto-era general Prabowo Subianto.
This is their second fight, having first competed in the 2014 election. In that campaign Jokowi was characterised as ‘Obama-like’, promising to challenge Jakarta’s comfortable elite in the interests of the people. A key ingredient in Jokowi’s political marketing is his outsider status – the son of furniture makers in central Java he is the first President without an elite military, bureaucratic, or moneyed background. By contrast, Prabowo’s former father-in-law was the late General Suharto who ruled the nation for 31 years. Prabowo is pinning his hopes on Jokowi’s patchy economic performance.
Jokowi promised an annual economic growth rate of seven percent, however the reality has been closer to five. Average incomes in Indonesia significantly trail those of neighbouring Thailand and Malaysia. Many Indonesians do not feel significantly better off than they did four years ago. A falling rupiah and increasing cost of basic staples means there is currency in Prabowo’s pocketbook campaign strategy. Unless something extraordinary comes to pass this is unlikely to sink Jokowi. Indonesians appear satisfied overall with progress on health and education, and are comfortable with the current security situation. Inflation remains under control, and a flurry of badly needed infrastructure projects (15 airports, 24 ports, thousands of miles of new rail and road projects) are at least under way though there is always a low hum of consternation regarding corruption and the eye-watering price tag (US$355 billion) of these works. How do you make Auckland appear a beacon of organised and efficient transport planning? Spend three hours in Jakarta traffic attempting to reach Soekarno–Hatta Airport before your flight closes.
Another aspect of the election speaks to Indonesia’s remarkable demographic picture. Around 55% of enrolled voters on election day will be millennials. Indonesia has a young population with half of its 240 million citizens under 30. The average age in New Zealand is around 38 and rising. Growth predictions have Indonesia tracking for 300 million by 2035. There is significant pressure on policymakers to generate sustainable job growth and public services to produce work and wellbeing; spreading that growth beyond Java presents another challenge.
This trajectory obviously means the Indonesian market for services, technology and consumer goods is on the make. Internet figures are indicative. Uptake has doubled since 2014 driven in large part by urban millennials with newly affordable smartphones. Indonesia is now one of the biggest users of Twitter and Facebook. While our diplomats are very skilled I suspect Indonesian social media exuberance is behind the 244,000 Facebook ‘likes’ for the New Zealand Embassy Jakarta page.
From a social perspective, Indonesia is less conservative than is often portrayed. You will find bespectacled hipsters in Jakarta or Yogyakarta serving single-origin coldbrew as good as anything in Wellington. My preconceptions of Indonesia were excised when I became trapped in a moshpit of hijab wearing punk rockers in Bandung. For it turns out Indonesia has a vast underground punk scene – even Jokowi is a fan. Despite political and religious movements seeking to reshape and monopolise public morality, AUT researcher Sharyn Davies relates a general openness on sex and sexuality. Indonesia has a significant cultural history of gender fluidity and diversity.
How then to strengthen our relationship with Indonesia?
Three propositions come to mind. With more than 300 million speakers, Bahasa Indonesia is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. Yet no New Zealand university offers an Indonesian language major at undergraduate level. All but one of Australia’s top ‘Group of Eight’ universities offer Indonesian language, society and culture programmes. If we value a closer relationship this must change. While much rides on New Zealanders becoming more ‘Asia engaged’ in general we need specialists immersed in the linguistic, political, historic as well as commercial nuances of Indonesia. We cannot produce specialists without building and sustaining spaces in our institutions to do so. AUT’s Indonesia Centre, a public outreach partnership with the Indonesian government, is a laudable step forward but a strong commitment to expanding linguistic and research capacities in our university system needs to come from our government.
The second proposition relates the media and the public sphere. We have existing programmes, through the Asia New Zealand Foundation, which provide established journalists and students with opportunities to visit Indonesia. The Foundation has also established the Asia Media Centre to journalists for access information and expertise on Asia and Asian peoples. Such programmes are vital. What we need, however, is for our large broadcasters – particularly our state-owned institutions – to produce greater amounts of content. Certainly on Indonesia, but to educate and inform on Asia in general. Again, such a project requires consistent institutional commitment and resourcing. Our SOE model, particularly with respect to television broadcasting constrains rather than enables such a commitment. Other nationally important imperatives – like building a cosmopolitan understanding of Asia need to be valued as much as commercial imperatives. Having lost Asia Downunder on TVNZ in 2011 and Asian Report on Radio New Zealand in 2013 we’ve gone backwards.
The last proposition is about increasing flows of people, particularly in pursuit of education but also of public servants, technical experts, sports groups, and artists. A stronger friendship requires greater flows in both directions. On the education front a tension exists between the logic of New Zealand’s education export market and a more cooperative, assistive way forward. We should tread carefully, tempering an interest in attracting fee-paying students by providing opportunities for Indonesians to study in New Zealand with support through greater provision of scholarships. Particularly Indonesians with established careers in public administration, civil society leadership, and business who are seeking postgraduate training and will go on to lead in their field. Like any friendship fond memories, new knowledge and shared experience produces enduring warmth and goodwill.  It is time for New Zealand to put in the effort. It will doubtless be worth it.
Jordan King is a PhD Candidate at the University of Auckland and a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network
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3) ‘Not a big deal’ claim police, reject UN call for snake probe
Published 6 hours ago on 27 February 2019 
By pr9c6tr3_juben

Papua, Jubi – Papua Regional Police public information head Assistant Superintendent Suryadi Diaz is asking all parties not to dramatise or make a big issue out of the use of a snake during an interrogation by police.
The statement was made in response to calls by United Nations human rights experts for an investigation into the use of the snake.
“The problem’s already been resolved, so there’s no need to make a big deal out of it anymore,” Diaz told CNN Indonesia.
Diaz said the investigation conducted by the Papua Regional Police Professionalism and Security Affairs Division (Propam) into the case had already been completed.
“Propam has already dealt with the case, so it’s resolved,” he said.
Nevertheless, Diaz did not explain the results of the investigation or what sanctions would be given to the officers involved.
Speaking to journalists earlier, however, Diaz said there were several sanctions that could be applied including a written reprehend, a maximum one-year postponement of education, a postponement in regular wage increases, a postponement of one promotional period or a transfer and demotion.
Heaviest sanction
In addition to this, the heaviest sanction that can be given to officers who violate discipline is to be released from their posts or be assigned to a specific location for a maximum of 21 days.
Several UN human rights experts have urged Indonesia to investigate allegations of violence by the police and military in Papua related to the use of the snake during an interrogation.
“We urge the Indonesian government to take firm measures to prevent the excessive use of force by police and military officials involved in law enforcement in Papua,” read a statement by the UN experts.
“We are also deeply concerned about what appears to be a culture of impunity and general lack of investigations into allegations of human rights violations in Papua,” they said in the statement.
The experts, who are made up of UN special rapporteurs, also said that Papuans had been treated in “cruel, inhuman and degrading” ways.
Jayawijaya District Police Chief Deputy Senior Commissioner Tonny Ananda Swadaya claimed that it was the police officers’ own initiative to conduct the interrogation into the theft using a python.
According to Swadaya, however, it was just trick used during the interrogation so that the perpetrator would confess to their crimes. He also asserted that the snake used to frighten the suspect was a pet snake that was not poisonous and tame.
“This ended up going viral on social media, it’s been blown out of proportion in other parts of the country. Here [in Papua] the public is supportive. A tame snake, non-poisonous, it didn’t bite [the suspect] and after being given the snake, the thief admitted to the crime,” said Swadaya. (pmc.aut.ac.nz/CNN Indonesia)
 Source: Pasific Media Centre
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Monday, February 25, 2019

1) Merdeka - Papua cries for freedom


2) World Council of Churches shows solidarity with West Papua following visit

3) KNPB activists assaulted and arrested for wearing Morning Star logo
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1) Merdeka - Papua cries for freedom
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Church leaders raise concern over human rights
 
JAKARTA. Continued serious human rights violations and a progressing marginalization of indigenous Papuans has been observed by an international delegation of 27 representatives of the World Council of Churches who visited Indonesia between February 13 – 22.  The members urged the Government of  Indonesia to take firm action to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable those who have committed human rights violations in the past.
 
As a part of the “Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace”  the delegation was hosted by the PGI (Communion of Churches in Indonesia) and by the GKI (Protestant Church in Papua) and met representatives of churches, civil society and government in Jakarta, Java and in the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat. Parts of the delegation visited churches and communities of other religions in Surabaya, and met with authorities, churches and civil society representatives in Port Numbay, Merauke, Wamena  and Manokwari.
 
The delegation is very grateful for the access granted to them after the last visit in 1999 and hopes that this marks the opening of the region to the international community, including the announced  access for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 
 
“We were overwhelmed by the suffering of the victims and civil society representatives we met”, said Peter Prove,  Director for International Affairs of the WCC.  “We heard from indigenous Papuans who face discrimination in the education and health care sector. They suffer from land-grabbing and are denied access to their own forest. In remote regions particularly, the lack of adequate access to public services leaves people with a sense of being second class citizens in their own traditional land”, Prove continued. The group was affected by the ongoing destruction of the environment as a result of the exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
 
The delegation met with survivors of the Nduga armed conflict where a military response to the killing of construction workers has affected the civilian population in the area. Hundreds had fled the region.
 
“The displaced persons of these combat zones fear to return because of intimidation by security forces”, Prove stressed. “The protection of these people must be ensured.” The delegation is deeply concerned that the political conflict relating to the region continues to be a source of armed violence causing the death and suffering of civilians. 
 
In a pastoral appeal by church leaders of the two Papuan provinces, the WCC was requested to call for a mediated conflict resolution process. “Papuans requested that Indonesia holds a dialogue with the ULMWP“, Peter Prove explained and underlined: “A peaceful dialogue between the parties in conflict should commence as soon as possible. The approach of a mediated dialogue has proven to be an effective conflict resolution measure in other cases like the one in Aceh.”
 
The participants of the pilgrim team visit were shocked and deeply disturbed that the massive human rights violations since 1969 remain unresolved. None of the cases of gross violations of human rights has effectively been brought to justice. Many appear not to have been documented yet by the National Human Rights Commission.
 
The WCC pilgrimage took place in cooperation with the Pacific Conference of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the United Evangelical Mission and was accompanied by Roman Catholic partner organizations. In 1961 the Netherlands granted independence to the people of West Papua as it gave up control of  the Dutch East Indies. The Morning Start flag was raised on December 1 but Indonesia, after an initial failed invasion, coerced the United Nations to hold a staged referendum in which 1000 select Papuans voted for affiliation with Indonesia. The move was supported by the United States and Australia who had strategic interests in Papua.

A short history
 In 1961 the Netherlands granted independence to the people of West Papua as it gave up control of  the Dutch East Indies. The Morning Start flag was raised on December 1 but Indonesia, after an initial failed invasion, coerced the United Nations to hold a staged referendum in which 1000 select Papuans voted for affiliation with Indonesia. The move was supported by the United States and Australia who had strategic interests in Papua.  After years of human rights abuse at the hands of Indonesian security forces and a separatist war staged by Papuan freedom fighters, a new battle has emerged. Indonesia has started to move thousands of non-Papuans into the territory in an attempt to create a new ethnic base. The act has been termed modern-day genocide by human rights groups.

Pacific church stand
The  churches of Papua were instrumental in the formation of the PCC. After Indonesian annexation in 1968 the Papuan churches became Asian-focussed. This changed in 2013 after the PCC and its members lobbied for an act of self-determination in West Papua and its inscription in the UN Decolonisation list. After a visit to West Papua by PCC Moderator, Reverend Dr Tevita Havea, in 2014 two Papuan churches - the Gereja Kristen Injil di Tannah Papua and the KINGMI church - rejoined the Pacific fold. The PCC continues to call for West Papuans to be allowed to choose freely their political future.

A region united
PACIFIC church leaders have rallied around the PCC call for self-determination in West Papua. This has led to the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu calling at the United Nations for decolonisation. A PCC initiative also saw the formation of a coalition of Papuan freedom groups to form the United Front for the Liberation of West Papua in 2015.

Police seize Papua flag
In November 2015 PCC staff raised the Morning Star flag in Suva, Fiji to commemorated West Papuan independence. The flag was visible to people in the Indonesian Embassy who rang the Fiji Prime Minister's Office to complain. Minutes later police arrived at the PCC Secretariat and seized the flag. The action came on a day when youth activists held peaceful protests and a church service in solidarity with West Papua's people. 
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2) World Council of Churches shows solidarity with West Papua following visit

February 25, 2019 in Human Rights

This month, the World Council of Churches sent a delegation to West Papua in solidarity with the West Papuan people and to help understand the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. The WCC travelled across West Papua, including to the Nduga region where thousands of internally displaced refugees from ongoing Indonesian military operations met them. One West Papuan stated, “Mr. Church Council Help Us. We want to be independent. We have travelled by foot, risking lives. Many congregations are victims.”
Following the visit, the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) released a statement calling for all those who have committed human rights violations to be held accountable and affirmed their call for West Papua’s self-determination and decolonisation.
The WCC also released a statement raising their deep concerns on the ongoing human rights crisis and calling for the fundamental rights of the West Papuan people to be respected. 
An ecumenical delegation coordinated by the World Council of Churches (WCC) visited Indonesia on 15-22 February, including the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat – where increasing violence and discrimination against indigenous Papuan people was recently highlighted in a joint statement by five UN human rights mandate-holders.
The purpose of the ecumenical delegation’s visit was to express solidarity and encourage member churches and related organizations in their efforts for justice and peace in Indonesia. Organized as part of the WCC’s ‘Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace’, the visit focused on issues concerning religious freedom and inter-religious harmony in Indonesia, and the human rights situation in Papua. The delegation was hosted by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) and the Evangelical Christian Church in Tanah Papua (GKI-TP).
Delegation members visited churches and their Muslim community partners in Surabaya, where suicide bomb attacks took place in May 2018, and welcomed the extraordinary inter-communal and inter-religious solidarity they observed in that context. However, in a meeting with Minister for Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin delegation members also expressed concern over still high numbers of prosecutions under Indonesia’s blasphemy law, and the ways in which the 2006 Religious Harmony Law is used to marginalize religious minorities
During their visit to the provinces of Papua and Papua Barat, delegation members met local church leaders, victims of human rights violations and conflict, traditional leaders, the governors of both provinces and other local government representatives, and Indonesian military and police officials in Jayapura, Manokwari, Merauke and Wamena. “Access to the Papua region has been severely restricted in the past,” noted WCC Director for International Affairs Peter Prove. “We greatly appreciate the fact that Indonesian authorities enabled our delegation’s visit to take place, and we hope that this will be the beginning of more openness and increased access for others to the territory and its people.”
Nevertheless, members of the delegation were alarmed to hear from almost all the Papuans they met of the severity of the problems they continue to face. Dr Jochen Motte, Deputy General Secretary of United Evangelical Mission said, “as somebody who had the opportunity to be part of the WCC team visit in 1999, it was sad to realize that the issues mentioned in the report at that time today are almost the same and that the Special Autonomy Status …could not meet the expectations of the Papuan people and bring an end to discrimination and human rights violations.” The Special Autonomy Law was enacted in 2001 as a basis for Papuans to play a role in determining their own political, social, cultural and economic development within the Republic of Indonesia, but almost all Papuans the delegation members encountered – including local government officials – considered Special Autonomy a failure, and that its most important elements had not been implemented.
The delegation was concerned to learn that due to migration and demographic shifts, indigenous Papuans now form a minority in their own land. Landgrabbing, environmental degradation and accelerating destruction of the forest and river resources upon which Papuans’ livelihoods traditionally depended were frequent complaints heard by the delegation. According to Papuan counterparts the prevailing development model in the territory “is for others, not for us.” Indeed, Dr Emily Welty, vice moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, observed: “Papuan people seem to be systemically marginalized and excluded in all areas of life.”
In Wamena and Jayapura, delegation members met internally-displaced people who had fled from conflict and Indonesian military and police operations in the Nduga region following an incident on 2 December 2018 in which 21 road construction workers were reported killed by an armed group. The total number of IDPs is unknown, but many are thought to be still taking refuge in the forest without support. Bishop Abednego Keshomshahara of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania said, “it was painful to see so many child victims of this violence who fear to return home because of the presence of military and police who should be the ones protecting them in their villages and schools.”
During the visit to Papua the delegation received a joint appeal from the leaders of four churches in Papua – the GKI-TP, the KINGMI Church in Tanah Papua, the Evangelical Church in Tanah Papua (GIDI), and the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua – calling for international ecumenical support for a comprehensive political dialogue for the resolution of the situation in Papua. “It is clear,” said Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, “that dialogue without preconditions is the only path forward in such a situation as we encountered in Papua.”
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via reg.westpapua list

3) KNPB activists assaulted and arrested for wearing Morning Star logo

Tabloid JUBI - February 25, 2019

Edho Sinaga, Jayapura -- A child and nine West Papua National Committee (KNPB) activists in Merauke were arrested by the Merauke district police on Saturday February 23.

Five-year-old Martina Yawon was arrested as he was walking with nine KNPB members who were wearing the Morning Star (BK) flag logo on their shirts.

Merauke KNPB activist Almasu and regional chairperson Marius Kapeng said that the incident left Martina frightened and traumatised after witnessing the others being assaulted and arrested.

"We had come from the [KNPB} secretariat then gone to the New Market, where they sell areca, we ate areca as we were returning home via Jl. Brawijaya, still wearing shirts with the BK and KNPB logos. But around 50 meters from there's a Kopassus [army Special Forces] mess. Apparently they were already watching us and we were stopped by three Kopassus officers riding a white Ranger car", Kapeng told Jubi on Monday February 25.

According to Kapeng, the Kopassus members tried to force him and his companions to remove the shirts with the Morning Star symbol. Because they refused, several of them were abused then taken to the district police (Polres) station where they were again forced to remove the shirts.

"We were detained because we refused to take off the shirts, one of our friends was throttled and slapped in the face by one of the Kopassus officers. Several minutes later they contacted the Marauke Polres and three patrol vehicles arrived and took us away to Polres. We were forced to write down our names and our clothing was taken, after that we were sent home", said Kapeng.

Responding to the incident, KNBP Merauke chairperson Manuel Metemko said he deplored the arrest and abuse of the activists especially because it was done in front of an infant. According to Metemko, Indonesian security personnel cannot just arrest people for what they are wearing.

"We are protected by the 1945 Constitution Article 28 and Law Number 39/1999 on Human Rights. So the actions by security forces were excessive. This kind of pattern needs to change so it doesn't happen again", said Metemko.

Metemko said that freedom of opinion and expression does not exist at all in Papua. Yet, the activists did not raise the Morning Star flag, they only wore shirts with the logo. He questioned what was wrong with wearing such clothing.

"There's no democracy in the land of Papua. Security forces intimidate us. Security forces intimidate Papuan people there. We want police to be professional in carrying out their duties", he said.

Jubi attempted to confirm the incident with Merauke district police chief Assistant Superintendent Bahara Marpaung but as of posting this article there has been no response to the SMS message sent by Jubi.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aktivis KNPB di Merauke dianiaya aparat keamanan di depan Balita".]

Source: https://www.jubi.co.id/aktivis-knpb-di-merauke-dianiaya-aparat-keamanan-di-depan-balita/
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INDOLEFT News service

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