2) Questions raised over bodies found in West Papua
3) Transport Ministry to Build 4 Airports in West Papua
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1) Papuan pro-referendum leader Benny Wenda awaits talks with Jokowi
News Desk The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Mon, October 14, 2019 / 11:44 am
Defiance: A member of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) holds a Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag as he stands in front of dozens of police officers during a recent rally at the State Palace, Central Jakarta. In the rally, AMP members protested against racism, urged the government to unblock internet access in Papua and West Papua and demanded a referendum on Papuan independence. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) chairman Benny Wenda has called on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to make good on his claim that he is willing to meet with pro-referendum Papuan leaders.
I hope that #Indonesia's President @jokowi is willing to sit down with me to discuss the future of #WestPapua.
Please see below statement, including conditions that must be met before the ULMWP can agree to a meeting. ulmwp.org/ulmwp-chairman…
Please see below statement, including conditions that must be met before the ULMWP can agree to a meeting. ulmwp.org/ulmwp-chairman…
“I hope that Indonesia's President Jokowi is willing to sit down with me to discuss the future of West Papua,” Benny tweeted on Sunday night.
Earlier this month, Jokowi said he was willing to meet with pro-referendum groups in the wake of a deadly riot in Wamena, Papua, which itself was a continuation of ongoing protests and rioting that have gripped the region since mid-August.
“There's no problem [in meeting pro-referendum Papuan leaders]. I will meet anyone who wants to meet me," Jokowi told reporters at the time.
In a statement on the ULMWP website linked in his tweet, Benny said that he had yet to receive any official letter about a meeting and listed several conditions for “a sincere meeting to take place”.
The conditions include putting a referendum on Papuan self-determination on the agenda, third-party mediation, the withdrawal of additional police and military personnel from the region and the release of Papuan activists who were arrested in the wake of the protests.
“In order for us to believe that this has changed, Indonesia must show good faith and agree to our preconditions,” he said in the statement. “Our will to achieve a democratic referendum, to uphold our right to self-determination, has never been stronger.”
Benny, a Papuan independence activist, has lived in the United Kingdom since being granted asylum there in 2003, after he was accused of masterminding an attack on an Abepura Police station, a charge that he denies.
On a number of occasions since protests first broke out in August, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto have accused Benny of being a “provocateur” and “conspiring” to create unrest in the country’s easternmost provinces.
Wiranto has also repeatedly said that a self-determination referendum for Papua is not an option. (kmt)
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2) Questions raised over bodies found in West Papua
1:26 pm today
Five bodies have been found in the highlands of Indonesia's West Papua, with residents alleging them to be victims of a military attack.
Papuan news outlet Tabloid Jubi reports the bodies were found on Thursday in a village in Nduga regency, where violence has flared since last year.
A youth leader from the regency, Samuel Tabuni, is quoted as saying the victims, two of whom were teenagers, were shot by Indonesia's military.
Military spokesperson, Eko Daryanto, told Tabloid Jubi he had not received a report of the shooting.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said the government would review Papua's special autonomy laws to improve conditions for Papuans, the state-news agency Antara reported.
That comes after a request from Papuan leaders who met with the president in Jakarta last month.
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3) Transport Ministry to Build 4 Airports in West Papua
Translator: Dewi Elvia Muthiariny
Editor: Petir Garda Bhwana
14 October 2019 10:22 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government through Transportation Ministry planned to build and develop four airports in West Papua in a bid to speed up connectivity, viz. Rendani Airport in Manokwari, Siboru Airport in Fakfak, Raja Ampat Airport, and Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the project coordination was still afoot with regional administrations. “We coordinate with West Papua administration as there are several issues on land must be solved,” said Budi Karya in a written statement, Monday, Oct. 14.
Budi Karya reiterated that the construction of Fakfak Airport was expected to begin this year after the completion of the land acquisition. The ministry then would begin the cut and fill process in 2020, while the airport would operate in 2023.
Meanwhile, the land clearing for airport projects in Rendani of Manokwari would start in 2020. “We will finish it in 2021,” said Budi Karya, adding that the process has reached 25 percent to date.
As for airport in Raja Ampat, the minister targeted to complete the land acquisition at the year’s end, hoping the 1,525-meter airport would run for operational starting 2020.
“For Sorong Airport, we only have to equip the facilities and extend the runway,” Budi Karya said.
Budi Karya mentioned that the discussion on the construction and development of airport projects was established in a coordination meeting attended by West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan, officials of the Ministry of Public House and Working or PUPR, officials of the Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning, regents, transportation stakeholders, and transportation agencies across the province.
In addition to the airport project, Budi Karya talked about the development of ports in Sorong. “We will make an improvement. What we do aims to quicken the connectivity,” he said.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
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