2) Papuan tribes ask military to enlist their children after giving up land
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(8 photos in article)
1) Standoff after two Papuan men refuse to remove their penis gourds and put on some pants at the start of their treason trial in Indonesia
- Two Papuan activists decry Jakarta court's order to wear trousers as racist
- One activist, Ambrosius Mulait, said the outfit was part of his identity
- It is the second time the Papuan native garb has led to trial delays
By AFP PUBLISHED: 02:52 AEDT, 21 January 2020 | UPDATED: 04:48 AEDT, 21 January 2020
Two Papuan activists on trial for treason in Indonesia's capital decried what they described as 'racism' after the court on Monday ordered them to remove traditional penis gourds.
The Jakarta hearing descended into a standoff as the panel refused to proceed until the men put on pants - the second time their native garb led to delays in the trial of six activists.
After several hours of negotiations, the pair - also wearing Papuan headgear with their faces painted and the words 'monkey' scrawled on their bodies - grudgingly agreed to put on trousers.
The panel inside the Jakarta court refused to proceed until the two men - pictured above in their traditional guard - put on a pair of pants
The pair's refusal to wear trousers saw a trial of six total activists at a court in Jakarta delayed for a second time
One activist, Ambrosius Mulait, said the outfit was part of his identity and it was racist to expect him to dress otherwise.
'We have been the victims of racism outside the court and now we have fallen victim to racism inside the court,' he said.
Papua has seen several spasms of violence in recent months, including deadly unrest partly linked to a fresh push for independence and racism against Papuans, who have been called monkeys and other slurs.
Ethnically Melanesian, most Papuans are Christians who have few cultural links to Muslim-majority Indonesia.
The half-dozen defendants were arrested in August after participating in a demonstration at the presidential palace in Jakarta where Papua's Morning Star flag was raised.
The flag, a symbol of independence, is illegal in Indonesia.
Last month, Indonesia's supreme court increased the jail term for a Polish man convicted over links to separatist guerrillas in Papua.
Jakarta is deeply sensitive about its easternmost region, where a low-level insurgency has simmered for years.
A former Dutch colony, Papua came under Indonesian control in the 1960s after a self-determination vote widely viewed as a sham.
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2) Papuan tribes ask military to enlist their children after giving up land
Benny Mawel The Jakarta Post
300,000 / Mon, January 20, 2020 / 06:09 pm
Four tribes in Keerom regency, Papua, have handed over 10 hectares of land to the Indonesian Military (TNI), paving the way for the construction of a new headquarters for the area’s military command post (Korem).
Aside from receiving financial compensation, the tribes also asked the military to prioritize their children in enlistment.
The heads of the Keret Tafior, Kiryar, Kyawoy and Girbes tribes officially gave parts of their land in Yummua village, West Arso district, to the area’s Korem commander, Col. Binsar P. Sianipar, during a ceremony on Jan. 16.
Keerom Customary Council chairman Servo Tuamis said the tribes had agreed to give up the land last year but the necessary paperwork was only signed recently.
The Keerom administration agreed to compensate Rp 2 billion (US$146,399) for the 10-ha land. As the tribes feel that the number is too small, they have demanded another form of compensation.
“As we were born here in Keerom, we demanded the military to enlist our children as their personnel. The council will give them recommendations on being enlisted in the military,” Servo said.
He claimed the military had agreed to grant the request, as long as the recommended people were healthy and did not consume any narcotics and alcoholic beverages.
Korem commander Binsar appreciated the indigenous tribes for handing over their land to the force.
“We will take care of this land and use it for the residents of Keerom. We will help the regency to become an economic center, which will later improve residents’ welfare,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Naome Kwambre, the daughter of the former Keerom Customary Council chairman, lambasted the handover.
“As part of the younger generation [of tribe members], I deplore the handover of the land because it should be our source of livelihood for generations to come,” Naome said. (kuk)
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