Saturday, August 31, 2019

1) Papua Unrest; Police Name 30 Suspects

2) Attacks on West Papuan protestors condemned by rights group

3) Riau Islands police elite unit's 252 members deployed to Papua

4) Five companies of North Maluku's police personnel ready for deployment

5) Government must better protect Papuan women to avert separatism: Kabes
6) Feminist calls to enforce law against liquor sellers in Papua
7) Jokowi to hold meeting with Papua's eminent figures: Moeldoko
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1) Papua Unrest; Police Name 30 Suspects
31 August 2019 20:27 WIB
Translator: Laila Afifa   Editor: Laila Afifa 


Riot police officers fire tear gas during a protest in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia, August 29, 2019. The region has been racked by civil unrest for two weeks over perceived racial and ethnic discrimination. Some protesters are also demanding an independence vote - a move ruled out by te security minister on Thursday. Antara Foto/Indrayadi TH
TEMPO.COJakarta - Papua regional police have named 30 people as suspects of the rallies that turned into riots in Jayapura City and Deiyai Regency.
"Based on the intensive and comprehensive investigation, the investigators found 30 suspects in the incident," said Police Chief of Public Information Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo when contacted on August 31.
The suspects are allegedly the rioters in the Deiyai and Jayapura incident. They are suspected to have harmed public facilities and took provocative measures.
The police are still searching for the individuals involved in the death of a military (TNI) member and two civilians in the riot in Deiyai Regency.
Dedi explained the suspect naming was based on the instruction of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to not tolerate the rioters.
"Because they carried out acts of rioting, arson, persecution, robbery that disturbed the community."
ANDITA RAHMA

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2) Attacks on West Papuan protestors condemned by rights group
An Australia-based human rights group has condemned the fatal shooting of West Papuan protesters by Indonesian security forces this week.





RNZI 7:13 pm on 31 August 2019 
This comes amid widespread protests in cities and towns across Papua region which began almost two weeks ago as anti-racism rallies but have developed into the biggest West Papuan pro-independence demonstrations seen in decades.

Reports filtering out from Deiyai regency have described a large public rally being met with a heavy handed response by Indonesian security forces.
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said at least two Papuan protestors and an Indonesian soldier were killed in a bloody clash in the regency on Wednesday. However, activists and local media reports claim up to seven protestors died in Deiyai.
A spokesperson for the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, Paula Makabory, has called on the Indonesian president Joko Widodo to stand his security forces down in Indonesia's eastern provinces.
"They are the perpetrators who triggered this conflict at a peaceful demonstration," she said.
Ms Makabory said security forces ridiculed Melanesian locals, calling them "monkeys" before firing on them with tear gas.
When some locals responded with traditional bows and arrows, she explained, the Indonesian military responded with gunfire and killed civilians.
The incident in Deiyei is part of a broader pattern of violence, according to an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Melbourne's Deakin University, Dr Eben Kirksey, who said he had found evidence of 29 extrajudicial killings in the regency in 2018 by Indonesian security forces over the past two decades.
"The United Nations has requested access to West Papua to investigate this long history of killings," Dr Kirksey said.
"The Indonesian government should stop stone walling and grant access to UN Special Rapporteurs."
More than 2,000 extra security forces have been deployed since the beginning of West Papuan uprising 12 days ago.
The government has blocked internet across Papua in what it claims is a necessary anti-disinformation measure. But it is struggling to stop thousands of Papuans taking to the streets to voice their independence aspirations.
In recent days Papua's capital Jayapura has experienced a second wave of large protests which lapsed into rioting by elements of the large crowd involving the burning of the Papuan People's Assembly complex and other buildings.
Papuans also occupied the provincial governor's buildings, with some activists claiming the protestors were trying to shelter from public mobs trying to attack them.
According to Al Jazeera, at least one person has been killed as police fired rubber bullets after residents in Jayapura attacked Papuan protestors.
The residents included owners of kiosks and restaurants who were angry at the protesters and blocked roads to impede the demonstration, as Jayapura descended further into unrest.
One group of residents stopped a car carrying six Papuans from the highlands, dragged them out of the car, before assaulting and stabbing them with machetes and knives.
"West Papua must be opened up to outside world," said Ms Makabory.
She said the remote mountainous region of Deiyai, Paniai, Puncak Jaya and Nduga regencies, should be accessed for independent investigation by the UN Human Rights Commissioner and "especially the UN Special Rapporteurs on Torture and Extra Judicial Killings".
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3) Riau Islands police elite unit's 252 members deployed to Papua
8 hours ago

Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - Some 252 personnel of the Riau Islands Police's mobile brigade (Brimob) unit were deployed to Papua and West Papua, Saturday, to join their colleagues earlier dispatched there to help restore law and order.

Apart from offering assistance in the law enforcement mission, the dispatched personnel will also become involved in renovating public infrastructure and facilities that rioters in the provinces had scorched and vandalized, Riau Islands Police spokesman Sen. Coms S. Erlangga stated.

They also joined the humanitarian and health services in line with President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi’s) instructions following rioting in Jayapura, Papua Province’s capital city, on Thursday (Aug 29).

Deputy Chief of Riau Islands Province Brig. Gen. Yan Fitri Halimansyah and Commander of the Riau Islands Province's Brimob Unit Sen. Com. Guruh Arif Darmawan bore direct witness to the deployment of 252 Brimob personnel on early Saturday.

"Let us pray for the good health and safety of all personnel, and our prayers also go out to our brothers and sisters in Papua. May they help maintain the condition to remain conducive," he stated.

A circle of violence broke out in several parts of Papua and West Papua in the aftermath of the Surabaya incident that had triggered public anger among native Papuans.

Over this past week, native Papuans in several parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua held demonstrations protesting alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16.

On August 19, several thousand people in Manokwari, West Papua Province, and Jayapura, Papua Province, had protested to voice their discontent over alleged racist action against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

During the rally in Manokwari, a local parliamentary building was set on fire. The demonstrators also torched tires in several parts of the city and main streets.

Related news: Restore security and order in Papua: President

However, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian stated that normalcy was restored in Manokwari. He also ordered the police chiefs of Papua and West Papua to adopt security measures and avoid the use of excessive force.

On August 29, the indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, again staged protests, venting their anger over the alleged racist slurs against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, but their rally then turned violent.

The brutal demonstrators went on a rampage, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings. The office of ANTARA, Indonesia's national news agency, in the city was also intentionally damaged by the demonstrators on Thursday.

On August 28, a circle of violence also broke out in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura. It ended with the death of an army soldier and two civilians.

As a reaction to the Surabaya incident, on August 22, leaders of several ethnic community-based organizations held a meeting in Biak Numfor District. They deplored the incident that had triggered public ire, expressing their complete rejection of all forms of racism and intolerance against indigenous Papuans. Related news: Jokowi to hold meeting with Papua's eminent figures: Moeldoko

Related news: Feminist calls to enforce law against liquor sellers in Papua

Related news: Government must better protect Papuan women to avert separatism: Kabes


EDITED BY INE
 
Reporter: Yuniati JN, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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4) Five companies of North Maluku's police personnel ready for deployment
9 hours ago

Ternate, N Maluku (ANTARA) - North Maluku’s Police placed five companies of mobile brigade personnel on standby as a precautionary measure over an order to deploy them to Papua and West Papua to fortify endeavors to restore law and order.

Last week, some 100 mobile brigade personnel from North Maluku had been dispatched to Papua, and five more companies had been placed on standby, Deputy Chief of the North Maluku Police Senior Commissioner Lukas Akbar Abriari stated here on Saturday.

Abriari noted that the additional mobile brigade personnel would have been deployed if the National Police had officially instructed it, he noted, adding that the central government will solve the problems in Papua and West Papua.

Hence, he called on the people of North Maluku Province to not be misled by issues concerning the condition in Papua and West Papua.

On August 15, the East Nusa Tenggara provincial police had dispatched 100 members of its mobile brigade (Brimob) unit to Papua Province to assist in the law enforcement efforts against armed rebels.

The Brimob personnel will remain stationed in several sub-districts of this easternmost province until December 15, 2019.

Armed Papuan separatists have repeatedly launched deadly attacks and killings over the past years.

On August 12, First Brigadier Hedar was kidnapped and shot dead by an armed group in Usir Village, near Mudidok Village in Puncak District.

The circle of violence continued unabated in the aftermath of the Surabaya incident that had triggered public ire in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

In the course of this past week, native Papuans in various parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua held demonstrations, protesting alleged racist slurs against Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16.

On August 19, several thousand people in Manokwari, West Papua Province, and Jayapura, Papua Province, had protested to voice their discontent over alleged racist action against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

During the rally in Manokwari, a local parliamentary building was set on fire. The demonstrators also torched tires in several parts of the city and main streets.

However, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian stated that normalcy was restored in Manokwari. He also ordered the police chiefs of Papua and West Papua to adopt security measures and avoid the use of excessive force.

On August 29, the indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, again staged protests, expressing their ire over the alleged racist slurs against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, but their rally took a violent turn.

The brutal demonstrators went on a rampage, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings. The office of ANTARA, Indonesia's national news agency, in the city was also intentionally damaged by the demonstrators on Thursday.

Related news: Restore security and order in Papua: President

On August 28, a spate of violence also erupted in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura, resulting in the deaths of an army soldier and two civilians.

In response to the Surabaya incident, on August 22, leaders of several ethnic community-based organizations held a meeting in Biak Numfor District. They deplored the incident that had triggered public ire, expressing their complete rejection of all forms of racism and intolerance against indigenous Papuans. 
Related news: Jokowi to hold meeting with Papua's eminent figures: Moeldoko

Related news: Feminist calls to enforce law against liquor sellers in Papua

Related news: Government must better protect Papuan women to avert separatism: Kabes


EDITED BY INE
Reporter: Abdul Fatah, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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5) Government must better protect Papuan women to avert separatism: Kabes

13 hours ago

Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - Leading Papuan feminist appealed to the Mimika district government to better care for native Papuans to protect them from being affected by people propagating the ideology of separatism against the Republic of Indonesia.

"The special autonomy funds that the central government has granted to Papua are the result of the Papuan people's struggle," Chairperson of the Papuan Women's Solidarity (SPP)-Mimika Chapter Ros Namsa Kabes stated here on Saturday.

However, Kabes questioned where the money would go following the transfer of special autonomy funds to the regional government. Hence, she warned that the money should not be misused but instead be channeled to empower the indigenous Papuans.

Kabes drew attention to the living condition of Papuan housewives.  

"Every day, 'mama-mama' (mothers) in Papua go to local markets for selling goods amid the heat and rainy days while being pregnant or holding children and by sitting on ground," Kabes stated.

"Do the local government officials have the heart to see them like this while driving their cars and passing them by?" Kabes noted.

Taking into account the native Papuan women's fate, she urged those with authority in local governments to not misuse the allocated special autonomy funds for self-enrichment.

In its place, the special autonomy funds must be utilized in the most favorable manner to empower the indigenous Papuans through good quality of education, health services, and empowerment programs.

"The special autonomy funds must not be allocated to erect buildings and infrastructure facilities. Again, the money must be optimally used for empowering the native Papuans, so that they do not demand independence," she noted.

Kabes also highlighted the civil servant recruitment policies that remain favorable for non-native Papuans.

"In the Mimika district administration, for instance, almost all strategic structural positions there are dominated by the non-native Papuans; not those from the Amungme and Kamoro ethnic groups," she remarked.

In best handling this condition, the Mimika district government should send the children of Amungme and Kamoro ethnic groups to receive good-quality education, so that they become well-educated and are able to get promoted to take up strategic positions, she stated.

Related news: Restore security and order in Papua: President

Over this past week, native Papuans in several parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua held demonstrations protesting alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16.

On August 29, the indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, again staged protests, expressing their ire over the alleged racist slurs against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, but their rally took a violent turn.

The brutal demonstrators went berserk, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings. The office of ANTARA, Indonesia's national news agency, in the city was also intentionally damaged by the demonstrators on Thursday.

On August 28, a circle of violence also broke out in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura. It ended with the death of an army soldier and two civilians.

On August 19, several thousand people in Manokwari, West Papua Province, and Jayapura, Papua Province, had protested to voice their discontent over alleged racist action against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

Related news: Melanesia Solidarity rejects Papuan referendum

During the rally in Manokwari, a local parliamentary building was set on fire. The demonstrators also torched tires in several parts of the city and main streets.

However, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian stated that normalcy was restored in Manokwari. He also ordered the police chiefs of Papua and West Papua to adopt security measures and avoid the use of excessive force.

In response to the Surabaya incident, on August 22, leaders of several ethnic community-based organizations held a meeting in Biak Numfor District. They deplored the incident that had triggered a public ire, expressing their complete rejection of all forms of racism and intolerance against indigenous Papuans.

EDITED BY INE

Related news: Papua police chief asks businessmen to resume activities

Related news: President Jokowi leads limited meeting on Papua

Reporter: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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6) Feminist calls to enforce law against liquor sellers in Papua
 10 hours ago

Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - Chairperson of the Papuan Women's Solidarity (SPP) - Mimika Chapter Ros Namsa Kabes urged the Mimika district government and local police to enforce legal sanctions against those selling alcohol to save Papuan children.

Speaking in connection with efforts to empower the native Papuan people, Kabes stated here on Saturday that law enforcement was deemed crucial since people in an inebriated state were often found on the roadsides of Timika, the capital city of Mimika District, Papua Province.

For protecting the native Papuan merchants at traditional markets, Kabes also urged the district government and legislative body to issue regulations that will safeguard the interests of sellers of varied traditional goods, including areca nuts and sago.

"Please protect the areca nut and sago sellers from indigenous Papuan communities. Do not let the non-native Papuans also sell the same goods since locals cannot compete with them. If this can well be managed, Papuans do not want to do negative things," she explained.

With these affirmative protection initiatives, the district government is concerned about the fate of "mama-mama" (mothers) in Papua, as they give birth to members of the future Papuan generation, Kabes noted.

"These Papuan mothers must feel that they also belong to the important parts of this country," she affirmed.

With better government care, the native Papuans can be protected from being affected by people propagating the ideology of separatism against the Republic of Indonesia, she added.

Over this past week, native Papuans in several parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua held demonstrations protesting alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16.

The protests were also staged by groups of Papuan students in cities, including Jakarta, Medan, and Lampung.

In their rally in Jakarta on Wednesday, tens of Papuan students and youth echoed their demand for Indonesia to allow Papuan people to conduct a referendum to end what they termed acts of "racism and discrimination" against Papuans.

Echoing the agenda of separatism, they focused their demonstration in front of the Indonesian Army Headquarters and near the State Palace in Central Jakarta.

On August 29, the indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, again staged protests, expressing their ire over the alleged racist slurs against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, East Java, on August 16, but their rally took a violent turn.

The brutal demonstrators went berserk, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings. The office of ANTARA, Indonesia's national news agency, in the city was also intentionally damaged by the demonstrators on Thursday.

On August 28, a circle of violence also broke out in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura. It ended with the death of an army soldier and two civilians.

On August 19, several thousand people in Manokwari, West Papua Province, and Jayapura, Papua Province, had protested to voice their discontent over alleged racist action against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

During the rally in Manokwari, a local parliamentary building was set on fire. The demonstrators also torched tires in several parts of the city and main streets.

However, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian stated that normalcy was restored in Manokwari. He also ordered the police chiefs of Papua and West Papua to adopt security measures and avoid the use of excessive force.

In response to the Surabaya incident, on August 22, leaders of several ethnic community-based organizations held a meeting in Biak Numfor District. They deplored the incident that had triggered a public ire, expressing their complete rejection of all forms of racism and intolerance against indigenous Papuans. Related news: Government must better protect Papuan women to avert separatism: Kabes

Related news: Restore security and order in Papua: President

Related news: Melanesia Solidarity rejects Papuan referendum


EDITED BY INE
 
Reporter: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf

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7) Jokowi to hold meeting with Papua's eminent figures: Moeldoko

10 hours ago

Belitung, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA) - Presidential Staff Chief retired general Moeldoko confirmed President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will shortly meet Papua’s prominent figures to handle the rioting that had broken out in Indonesia's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua.

"(This is) because Mr Jokowi is very close to prominent figures of (Papuan) youth and religious and traditional communities. Hence, certainly, (they) will meet," Moeldoko had noted in Tanjung Pandan, Belitung, here on Saturday.

Papua’s condition is showing signs of recovery following tactical measures adopted by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) commander and Indonesian Police (Polri) chief, he stated.

He called on one and all to not become incited and remain calm.

Moeldoko believes that emotional reactions will give rise to new-fangled problems and make the perpetrators behind the rioting happy, he stated.

Moeldoko backed several parties harboring expectations of the authorities take more stern actions.

However, Moeldoko has appealed to all to not become emotional, as it would also result in wastage of energy.

"For the TNI/Polri, firm action is not difficult, but controlling emotion is quite challenging, so that everything is in order," he added.  

Reporter: Kasmono, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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