2) Papua police chief warns his men against arms trafficking
3) Papuan regent found dead in Jakarta hotel
4) Pacific predictions: 2020
5) Wilem Walilo prosecuted one year sentence for carrying a sharp weapon to feed pigs
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1) Police strengthen forces in five newly formed police precincts in restive Papua
News Desk The Jakarta Post
Members of the Indonesian Mobile Brigade head to Nduga, where 31 construction workers were believed to have been shot dead, from Wamena on Dec. 4, 2018. (AFP/Anyong)
Jakarta / Mon, January 13, 2020 / 04:53 pm
The police are reinforcing five newly formed regional police units in five regencies of the restive Papua province, which has been rocked by unrest over the past few months.
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said that officials were ready to be placed at five new police precincts in Puncak, Intan Jaya, Deiyai, Yalimo and Nduga, and that their respective chiefs had been inaugurated in the capital, Jayapura.
“We are transferring personnel to the new police precincts, [however] we are not yet able to assign all of them at once, most likely only about 30 percent of them now. That is good enough,” Paulus said as quoted by Antara on Monday.
The five regencies have seen outbreaks of violence, sometimes involving armed assailants.
In Nduga on Saturday, an officer of the police’s Mobile Brigade was shot in the thigh by a person the police claimed was member of an armed criminal group (KKB) operating in the area.
Paulus said that following the incident, the situation had returned to relative normalcy.
“Indeed, one of our officers was shot on his left thigh while chasing KKB members who carried out attacks around the Kenyam Airport complex on Saturday. But overall, it has been relatively under control,” Paulus said.
Clashes and fatal shootouts between security personnel and armed assailants have also been reported in the other regencies. Two military officers and a policeman were killed in Intan Jaya in December while on security duty as the district prepared for Christmas celebrations.
Paulus hoped that the presence of the five new police precincts would strengthen communication and guidance and would help local communities in the areas.
“I advise the people in the five areas to accept and build harmonious communication with our personnel who will be serving in these areas,” he said.
Paulus said the police would gradually establish a headquarters for the five new precincts and would continue to equip personnel so that their duties at the district level would run optimally.
In the meantime, the police would ask the local administrations to lend building and housing facilities to be used as temporary dormitories and barracks by police personnel serving in the areas, he said. (syk)
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2) Papua police chief warns his men against arms trafficking
4 hours ago
Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw warned his men against getting involved in arms trafficking activities with the armed criminal groups in Papua Province and said he would take stern action against them. "There will be no pardon for those getting involved in arms trafficking activities. We are definitely sacking them. They will also be brought to court," he told journalists in Timika, the capital of Mimika District, Papua Province, Monday.
He believes that a majority of police officers, posted in the Indonesian province of Papua, are highly dedicated, loyal, and reliable. However, there would likely be one or two who misbehave, Waterpauw said.
Investigators from the Indonesian police and military in Mimika District, Papua Province, are still probing the mystery behind 60 bullets and two active grenade launcher modules (GLMs), found at a dumpsite in Iwaka Subdistrict.
The ammunition and GLMs that were discovered on December 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020 along with
household garbage at the dumpsite belonged to the military and police, Mimika Police Chief I Gusti Era Adhinata revealed.
The joint team of investigators were attempting to trace the origins of the ammunition and GLMs and uncover the identity of the person or persons who could have taken them out of the weapon storage facility, he said, adding that the investigators had grilled several witnesses.
One of the witnesses who had been questioned was the driver of the garbage truck who might have carried the ammunition and GLMs along with the household waste, to the Iwaka dumpsite, he said.
The weaponry, packed in a plastic bag, was first discovered by Hendra, a 17-year-old operator of a backhoe at the dumpsite on December 31, 2019.
The weaponry was carried by a Mimika District Government-owned garbage truck with license plate DS 9593 MA, according to Darjo, Hendra's colleague.
Ten bullets were found on December 31, 2019 while 50 others along with two GLMs were discovered on January 1, 2020. The weaponry had been handed over to the Papua Police headquarters' Battalion B of Mobile Brigade Unit.
Meanwhile, the case of selling and purchasing 600 bullets involving three civilians is being handled by the Timika District Court's panel of judges while two army personnel who were involved in the case are being tried at a military tribunal in Jayapura.
Amid this case, the security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to the acts of deadly violence by notorious Papuan separatists.
The rebels were engaged in repeated exchanges of fire with the Indonesian military and police personnel. The rebels also launched deadly attacks on civilians over the past years and killed a number of them.
The Papua Police recorded that from early January to December 28, 2019, a total of 23 shooting and criminal cases involving the armed Papuan groups had claimed the lives of 10 members of the Indonesian police and military as well as 10 civilians.
The armed Papuan criminals committed such criminal acts in the administrative areas of the districts of Puncak Jaya, Jayawijaya, Mimika, and Paniai in 2019, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw remarked on December 28, 2019.
Related news: Timika police probing case of bullets, GLMs found at a dumpsite
Related news: Sorong police's probe ongoing into airport's attackers
He believes that a majority of police officers, posted in the Indonesian province of Papua, are highly dedicated, loyal, and reliable. However, there would likely be one or two who misbehave, Waterpauw said.
Investigators from the Indonesian police and military in Mimika District, Papua Province, are still probing the mystery behind 60 bullets and two active grenade launcher modules (GLMs), found at a dumpsite in Iwaka Subdistrict.
The ammunition and GLMs that were discovered on December 31, 2019 and January 1, 2020 along with
household garbage at the dumpsite belonged to the military and police, Mimika Police Chief I Gusti Era Adhinata revealed.
The joint team of investigators were attempting to trace the origins of the ammunition and GLMs and uncover the identity of the person or persons who could have taken them out of the weapon storage facility, he said, adding that the investigators had grilled several witnesses.
One of the witnesses who had been questioned was the driver of the garbage truck who might have carried the ammunition and GLMs along with the household waste, to the Iwaka dumpsite, he said.
The weaponry, packed in a plastic bag, was first discovered by Hendra, a 17-year-old operator of a backhoe at the dumpsite on December 31, 2019.
The weaponry was carried by a Mimika District Government-owned garbage truck with license plate DS 9593 MA, according to Darjo, Hendra's colleague.
Ten bullets were found on December 31, 2019 while 50 others along with two GLMs were discovered on January 1, 2020. The weaponry had been handed over to the Papua Police headquarters' Battalion B of Mobile Brigade Unit.
Meanwhile, the case of selling and purchasing 600 bullets involving three civilians is being handled by the Timika District Court's panel of judges while two army personnel who were involved in the case are being tried at a military tribunal in Jayapura.
Amid this case, the security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to the acts of deadly violence by notorious Papuan separatists.
The rebels were engaged in repeated exchanges of fire with the Indonesian military and police personnel. The rebels also launched deadly attacks on civilians over the past years and killed a number of them.
The Papua Police recorded that from early January to December 28, 2019, a total of 23 shooting and criminal cases involving the armed Papuan groups had claimed the lives of 10 members of the Indonesian police and military as well as 10 civilians.
The armed Papuan criminals committed such criminal acts in the administrative areas of the districts of Puncak Jaya, Jayawijaya, Mimika, and Paniai in 2019, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw remarked on December 28, 2019.
Related news: Timika police probing case of bullets, GLMs found at a dumpsite
Related news: Sorong police's probe ongoing into airport's attackers
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3) Papuan regent found dead in Jakarta hotel
News Desk The Jakarta Pos
Jakarta / Mon, January 13, 2020 / 05:59 pm
Benediktus Tambonop, the regent of Boven Digoel, Papua, was found dead in his hotel room in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Monday morning.
The 44-year-old Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician was in the capital to attend the party's national working meeting.
Central Jakarta police chief Sr. Comr. Heru Novianto said that Benediktus's body was found at around 5 a.m. on Monday morning and that the regent was suspected to have died of illness.
"We found medicine in his hotel room," Heru said, as quoted by tribunnews.com. "We will provide more information when the investigation is concluded."
Papua regional secretary Hery Dosinaen confirmed the news and expressed his surprise at hearing of Benediktus' passing.
"We received a phone call from the Home Affairs Ministry one hour ago that the deceased was brought to a hospital for an autopsy," Hery said on Monday, as quoted by Antara News Agency.
"As for the administration of Boven Digoel regency, it will continue according the prevailing regulations," he said. "What's clear is that for now [Benediktus] will be replaced by the deputy regent."
Hery added that the provincial administration was still waiting for the autopsy results and would later arrange for the body to be sent back to Papua. (kmt)
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4) Pacific predictions: 2020
January 14, 2020 Add Comment by Tess Newton Cain 6 min read
As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, there is much to anticipate in the Pacific islands region.
Elections and domestic politics
A number of countries in the region will have elections during 2020: Kiribati, Niue, Palau and Vanuatu. The lingering discontent in Kiribati surrounding last year’s switch in diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China may have an adverse impact on the incumbent government. In Vanuatu, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabismasmas can point to having served a full parliamentary term as Prime Minister as a reason why he should remain in the top job but that may not be enough. The current premier of Niue, Sir Toke Talagi, has been suffering from ill health recently casting doubt on whether he will contest this year. Meanwhile, there have been calls for more young people to stand for parliament in that country.
Elsewhere in the region, some of what happened on the political scene in 2019 will continue to play out. In Marshall Islands, the Niitjela (Parliament) met last week and elected David Kabua as the new President further to last year’s elections. In the immediate aftermath of Solomon Islands’ switch from Taiwan to China last year there were indications that Prime Minister Sogavare might face a motion of no confidence. Whilst that did not eventuate in 2019, it remains on the cards for this year. In Papua New Guinea, this year will be crunch time for the Marape/Stevens government. The grace period that protects them from a challenge by way of a motion of no confidence comes to an end in late 2020 and there are already whispers of this paving a comeback for Peter O’Neill who was ousted from the PM’s seat in the middle of last year.
There will also be elections in New Zealand, which will be closely watched given that country’s closeness to the Pacific islands region, and the centrality of the Pacific Reset to the Ardern/Peters government’s policy platform. The incumbent, Jacinda Ardern, was named Islands Business’ ‘Pacific Person of the Year’ for 2019.
There are also significant elections taking place at sub-national level. In Vanuatu, the SANMA provincial elections taking place this month will be closely watched to see if they cast any light on what we can expect in the general elections in March. In Bougainville, there will be elections for President and government of the autonomous region. These elections will be heavily influenced by the results of last year’s referendum on independence. However, there is currently some debate as to whether constitutional arrangements should be modified to allow the current President, John Momis, to run for another term. If this is what is to happen, the elections may need to be delayed.
Geopolitics
The last couple of years has seen a proliferation of policies, programs and photo opportunities as established and emerging Pacific partners seek to (re)establish their influence in the region. This is expected to continue through 2020, including by way of high-level visits to the region. For example, President Emmanuel Macron will visit French Polynesia in April. This is significant given France’s displeasure at the territory having been reinscribed onto the UN’s Decolonisation List.
The impacts of Solomon Islands and Kiribati switching their diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China will continue to be felt during 2020. We have already seen some developments with the visit of President Maamau of Kiribati to Beijing where he met with President Xi Jinping and signed up to the Belt and Road Initiative. Whilst the Taiwanese government has expressed confidence of the continuing relationship with Marshall Islands, Taipei will be watching President Kabua’s early movements closely and has already announced a high-level visit to Majuro to help keep this relationship on track. Taiwan now has four allies in the region (Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu) and will continue to expend diplomatic and political capital to avoid losing any of them during 2020.
Independence and self-determination
Work will begin on the negotiations between the Bougainville and Papua New Guinea governments further to the result of last year’s referendum which saw 97.7% of those who voted opt for independence. This will have to be ratified by the Parliament of PNG, under the terms of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Positions on the future of Bougainville vary among PNG parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Marape’s suggestion of ‘economic independence’. Moreover, that agreement does not provide a timeline for how long this process should take. There will need to be a lot of work done around managing community expectations and keeping the flow of information moving in order to avoid frustration.
In New Caledonia, the second of a possible three referendums on independence from France will be held on 6 September. In 2018, the result was much closer than many had predicted with 43.6% voting in favour of independence, exceeding the 30% that some had been predicting.
After some considerable delay, the people of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia will hold an independence referendum in March.
The question of self-determination for West Papua and addressing issues of alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian state will loom large during 2020, particularly during the meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Vanuatu. At last year’s meeting of Pacific Islands Forum leaders Vanuatu lobbied successfully for the issue of West Papua to be given more prominence in the final communiqué than had been the case in the preceding couple of years. This includes a strong signal from leaders that they expect the government of Indonesia to facilitate a visit to the region by Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in order for her office to report to leaders when they meet this year in Port Vila.
Meanwhile, in a region dominated by relatively young countries, Fiji will mark its 50th anniversary of becoming independent this year and Vanuatu its 40th.
Pacific regionalism
We have already seen a change of leadership at the oldest of the region’s peak bodies, the Pacific Community (SPC). Dr Colin Tukuitonga was replaced as Director-General by Dr Stuart Minchin late last year. The meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders to be held in Vanuatu in August will be Dame Meg Taylor’s last as Secretary-General. By convention, it is Micronesia’s turn to nominate the person to take on this position. The front runner is Gerald Zackios, the current ambassador of Marshall Islands to the United States.
There will be ongoing work to further develop and embed the ‘Blue Pacific’ as a unifying narrative that speaks to the needs and aspirations of all members. However, this will take place in a context where there are multiple pressures on national governments, in domestic as well as foreign policy spheres. Divergences of approach when it comes to climate policy will continue to be a significant fault line at the meeting of PIF leaders. Vanuatu, the 2020 host, has already made it clear that the primary focus for that meeting will be climate change.
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5) Wilem Walilo prosecuted one year sentence for carrying a sharp weapon to feed pigs
Published 12 hours ago on 13 January 2020 By Admin1
Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura District Court resumed a trial against Wilem Walilo who suspects involved in the mass rampage of 29 August 2019 on Wednesday (08/01/20). The public prosecutor charged him with one year sentence for possessing a sharp weapon ‘badik’ which the purpose of feeding his pigs.
In the trial chaired by Judge Maria Sitanggang with other panel members Abdul Gafur Bunguin and Muliayan, public prosecutor Ismail Nahumarury asked the panel of judges to state the defendant Wilem Walilo was found guilty of carrying a sharp weapon.
“Wilem Walilo is guilty of carrying out a sharp weapon as stipulated in Article 2 verse (1) of the Emergency Law No.12 of 1951. Therefore, the defendant must sentence one year, which reduced with his current detention time,” said Ismail while reading the statement.
Walilo is a civil servant who arrested on 30 August 2019 for carrying a sharp weapon ‘badik’ holding between his waist on his way to feed his pigs. When passing in front of the Papua Governor Office to APO, he passed by the crowd of students. Therefore, he turned his motorcycle to the upper road Dok V Atas. On his way to APO, the police arrested him after finding he was carrying a sharp weapon.
A member of the Advocate Team for Papuans, Sugeng Teguh Santoso as his legal advisor, questioned the public prosecutor’s charge. He asserted that Article 2 verse (2) of the Emergency Law No. 12 of 1951 clearly states that carrying sharp weapons for agricultural affairs, domestic work, or other legitimate purposes cannot be considered a crime.
Sugeng further said his client could get a sentence if the Court can prove his guilty of carrying weapons to commit a crime instead of working. “In Walilo’s case, he brought ‘badik’ for working. We think the court must release him because it already found out that the reason he carried the weapon was for feeding his pigs,” Sugeng said.
Also, stated Sugeng, his client actually protected Buton people living nearby his house during the mass riot in Jayapura on 29 August 2019. “He could not feed the pigs that day. So, the next day on 30 August 2019, he left his house to feed the pigs, but the police arrested him in a sweeping on the road,” he said.
In the meantime, the Chief panel of judges Maria Sitanggang said the trial against Walilo would resume on 15 January 2020. “A hearing to hear responses from legal advisers on the charge aimed by the public prosecutor,” Sitangang said. (*)
Reporter: Hengky Yeimo
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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