AWPA update
First the Indonesian constitution, which states that Papua is a legitimate part of Indonesia.
Although there were efforts and steps taken by the central government to the regions in handling the Nduga refugee problem, it was actually considered not to solve the problem, even there was a refusal from refugees in Jayawijaya for help from the central government. On August 8, 2019, the Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yambise, had the opportunity to visit Nduga refugees in the Weneroma Church compound while bringing aid, but was refused by the community and they only requested that the president immediately withdraw the security forces or military from Nduga. The Nduga refugee volunteer team, Wednesday (4/12/2019), also held a service at the Kingmi Church of the Weneroma congregation, Elekma, Jayawijaya, to commemorate the Nduga conflict year, 4 December 2018 - 4 December 2019. Nduga refugee volunteer team, Dolia Ubruangge said, from the data known to the volunteer team there were 238 civilians who died due to three factors such as being hit by the authorities, being sick in the refugees to starvation while hiding in the middle of the wilderness. "In fact not only 238 people, refugee victims are known to be more than that, because the victims who have data on us those who died in Wamena and Kuyawage, where it was obtained after residents reported to the volunteer team," Dolia Ubruangge said. According to him, there were also some refugees who died and their families did not report to the volunteer team or the Nduga humanitarian team, so it was not included in the data.
Informative workshop on West Papua was held at the Students of Sustainability (SoS) 2020 Conference
University of Sydney - Cumberlands Campus. 16 January 2020
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Upcoming Events
New book. The Road: Uprising in West Papua By John Martinkus Release date: 16 Mar 2020
Dates of PIF
Vanuatu begins preparations towards hosting of Pacific Islands Forum
Vanuatu has already begun preparations for hosting the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting, which will be held in early August, hard on the heels of this year’s independence anniversary on July 30th.
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
Indonesia and Australia at a 'strategic turning point' as relationship reaches 70-year milestone https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/indonesia-australia-reaches-70-years-diplomatic-relations/11825010
Summary of events in West Papua (Dec. 16 Dec. - 20 Jan. 2020)
A snapshot of events
Jakarta Six trial postponed after defendants insists on wearing penis gourds CNN Indonesia – January 13, 2020
Dano Tabuni and Ambrosius Mulait wearing penis gourds in court – January 6, 2020 (Tirto
Jakarta – The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court has postponed a hearing scheduled to hear a rebottle by the prosecution against a demurrer by the lawyers representing Surya Anta and five other Papua activists indicted on charges of treason and criminal conspiracy. The postponement was made because two of the defendants, namely Ambrosius Mulait and Dano Tabuni, insisted on wearing a koteka (penis gourd) during the hearing. At the previous hearing last week, the judges appealed to the two defendants not to wear a koteka at the next hearing. Before deciding to postpone the hearing, there were negotiations between the panel of judges, the public prosecutor and the team of lawyers representing the defendants.
“The hearing is postponed until Monday the 20th (January), to give an opportunity to the public prosecutor to read out his response [to the demurrer]”, said presiding judge Agustinus Setya Wahyu Triwiranto during the hearing on Monday January 13.
The panel of judges asked that for the hearing scheduled for next week the defendants not wear koteka. “It’s not that we don’t respect you. [But] next week, for clothing, like the preliminary hearing [please] were short trousers [instead], that’s allowed. Wear headdresses, short trousers, that’s allowed”, said one of the judges. Responding to the judge’s statement, one of the defendants, Dano Tabuni, declared that he had long been wearing a koteka.
“I’ve long been wearing a koteka, I never wear any other clothing at all. I can’t be forced to wear that. I feel that when we appear before these hearings, it is more dignified and respectful (to wear a koteka), and we respect the judges that have come to this hearing”, he said.
During a hearing on Monday January 6 which was scheduled to hear the defendants’ demurrer, the judges also expressed their objections to Tabuni and Mulait wearing koteka. Meanwhile the other four defendants wore white shirts. Despite this the hearing went ahead.
“The judges asked me to wear trousers. My chest can be left bare but don’t wear a koteka again at the next hearing because it’s the court’s rules he said”, said Tabuni following the hearing on January 6.
Earlier in reading out the demurrer, the defendant’s legal team said that the prosecution’s charges were imprecise, unclear and incomplete because they failed to explain the meaning of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) which Anta and his colleagues are being charged with.
“There was not one sentence in the indictment which explains the meaning of makar or a benchmark of [what constitutes] an act of makar, so this has created confusion on the part of the defendants, their lawyers and the public over the prosecutor’s charges”, lawyer Tigor Hutapea said in reading out the demurrer. According to Hutapea, the prosecutor should also include Article 87 of the Criminal Procedural Code (KUHAP) which states that the benchmark for an act of makar is when there is concrete intent prior to the act being committed. In the incitement however, the prosecutor failed to explain this. “Thus we request that the panel of judges declare that the public prosecutor’s charges be dropped for the sake of the law because it does not include the stipulations included in Article 87 of the KUHAP”, he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Hakim Tunda Sidang karena Aktivis Papua Berkeras Pakai Koteka”.]
Lawyers assert Jakarta Six criminalised for excursing their freedom of expression
Tempo – January 7, 2020
Court reprimands Papua defendant for wearing penis gourd – January 6, 2020 (Kompas)
M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – One of the lawyers representing six Papua activists being tried for treason, Annisa Rizky, says that her clients are being criminalised for excursing their freedom of expression.
Because, according to Rizky, the six Papua activists were expressing an opinion in public with good intent, not committing makar (treason, subversion, rebellion). “The team of lawyers has concluded that what has happened is the criminalisation of the defendants for peacefully expressing themselves which is guaranteed under the law”, said Rizky when reading out a demurrer at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday January 6.
Rizky explained that the term makar in Article 106 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) is a translation of the Dutch term aanslag. According to legal experts, she continued, the meaning of aanslag is an attack.
The other article which regulates the issue of makar, according to the lawyers, is Article 87 of the KUHP. In this article it states that makar is an action which from the start is committed with the intent to attack the territorial state or the administration as referred to under Article 53 of the KUHP.
The contents of this article however are different from what the defendants did and the indictment against the six. The fact is, said Rizky, the defendants were simply expressing an opinion in public peacefully and with good intent.
“But in the indictment and case dossiers there is no reference to a violent attack or attempt at a violent attack against the government, state officials, civil society or other public facilities”, she explained. Rizky continued saying that the defendants also followed regulations as embodies under Law Number 9/1998 on Freedom of Expressing an Opinion in Public. One element of this was that they submitted a written notification with the Metro Jaya regional police intelligence and security division on the planned demonstration. Moreover, she continued, on the day that they conveyed their opinion, the police watching over the rally did not attempt to break up the demonstration.
She again asserted that the defendants did not damage any public facilities, commit violence or any other crime during the demonstration. Earlier, the six Papuan activists were indicted on charges based on two alternative articles. First, Article 106 of the KUHP in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 of the KUHP which regulate the issue of makar. Second, Article 110 Paragraph 1 of the KUHP on criminal conspiracy. The six Papuan activists are being tried in three different groups. The First group of defendants comprises Paulus Suryanta Ginting (Surya Anta), Charles Kossay, Ambrosius Mulait and Isay Wenda.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Eksepsi 6 Aktivis Papua, Tudingan Makar Dinilai Kriminalisasi”.]
Source: https://metro.tempo.co/read/1291917/eksepsi-6-aktivis-papua-tudingan-makar-dinilai-kriminalisasi/
Mass-destruction suspects remind public about Indonesian anti-racism law
Published 10 January 2020
By
Anti-racism activists who named suspects of violence and vandalism in a protest held on 29 August 2019 do a campaign against racism in the court’s detention room on Monday (1/6/2020). – SPC
Jayapura, Jubi – Some activists accused of the alleged mass-destruction in the late August 2019 resumed their trial at the Jayapura District Court on Monday (6/1/2020). They then posed for a picture in the court’s detention room by holding a carton with a caption read “I not Monkey, PSL 9 UU No. 40/2008” calling for resistance to the practice of racism against indigenous Papuans.
This violence and vandalism case was the first trial at the Jayapura District Court since the Christmas and New Year break. In a press release received by Jubi, the Coalition for Law and Human Rights Enforcement of Papua, as legal advisor team, stated that police officers have guarded around the court since early morning, but it did not affect the activists. They remained calm, and instead, did a campaign against all practice of racism against indigenous Papuans in their own way. In the detention room, they took a picture while holding a carton reads “I not Monkey, PSL 9 UU No 40/2008”.
By doing this, it seemed that they wanted to remind the public that Indonesia has Law No. 40/2008 on the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination. The activists who are currently named suspects of violence and vandalism case wanted to remind the public that the protest led to mass-rampage in Jayapura City on 29 August 2019 was not a single non-causal incident. It was a reaction to counter a series of persecutions and racism taunts against Papuan students at Kamasan III Dormitory, Surabaya, on 16 and 17 August 2019 by some military culprits and local mobs. However, the protest then turned into a mass rampage in which some anti-racism activists then criminalised and accused to involve in the alleged violence and vandalism case. Now, the suspects just wanted to remind us about the root that has grounded tens of thousands of Jayapura residents to protest on 29 August 2019. Article 9 of the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination states that ‘Every citizen has right to receive equal treatment in obtaining civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights disregard to their race and ethnicity”.
As the activists’ legal councillor team, the Coalition for Law and Human Rights Enforcement of Papua hopes this message can be a notice for both attorney and panel of judges in the trial to objectively view the issue of anti-racism acts in Jayapura. “Hopefully, the message [of anti-racism] becomes a notice for the attorney and judges to see the anti-racism acts clearly, therefore [the Jayapura District Court] would not get into the scenario of criminalisation towards the activists,” stated the coalition in the press release.
The coalition further emphasised that racism is a common enemy of every human. “Let us stop racism because it is a common enemy of every human of diverse backgrounds on the Earth,” wrote the Coalition for Law and Human Rights Enforcement of Papua in the release. (*)
Reporter: Angela Flassy Editor: Aryo Wisanggeni G.
ULMWP Chair: New Year’s message to the people of West Papua
January 2, 2020 in Statement
Last year was both terrible and good for the people of West Papua. We continued to suffer incredible repression at the hands of Indonesia, including racism, killing and torture. Indonesia, however, cannot hide what it is doing any more. In August 2019, 18 countries in the Pacific Islands Forum passed a motion on West Papua, calling for the UN High Commissioner to be allowed in. In December 2019, 79 countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) did the same. The eyes of these countries, nearly a majority of the UN General Assembly members, are now fixed on what is happening in West Papua. Thank you to the Pacific Island Forum leaders and government and people of Vanuatu for your support in passing these resolutions. Indonesia cannot deny what is happening in West Papua now.
Our solidarity networks played a very important role in these victories. Thank you to all of you across the world who supported us. This year please continue to help our struggle in all the ways you have done already, whether you are a musician or artist, sportsperson or ordinary person. Please continue to push your government to support the right to self-determination for the people of West Papua. Your work is crucial. To my people back home in West Papua I want to send you this message: you are not alone. Even though you have been facing discrimination, violence and imprisonment for 58 years, your time will come. You have sacrificed so much, from the elders in the bush to those in the refugee camps to those in exile. Wherever you are, know with confidence that your cry for justice will not be ignored any longer. The world is finding out about our struggle, and 79 countries are listening. Let’s unite under our national motto: one people, one soul, one spirit. Always remember this motto. With our strength in unity, 2020 will be a good year for us all. Let’s keep positive and continue to fight to peacefully liberate our country.
To the Indonesian government, I call on you to withdraw your military from West Papua. What has become of your moral obligations, as a member of the United Nations General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the Melanesian Spearhead Group? You have a moral duty not to chase and kill civilians, women and children, in West Papua. This is what you are doing in Nduga, in Puncak Jaya and Intan Jaya. It is time now for Indonesia to come to the table. Our position is clear. We have issued our six demands. Once these just and reasonable demands are granted, we are willing to meet with President Jokowi.
To the people and leaders of Indonesia: instead of sending thousands more military and police to our country, let’s use this new year and new decade to find a peaceful solution. You are one of the biggest democracies in the world. In New Caledonia, the French government is allowing the Kanak people to exercise their right to self-determination. The Papua New Guinean government is allowing the people of Bougainville to exercise their right to self-determination. Indonesia must follow the example of these Pacific leaders. When we are a free and peaceful neighbour to Indonesia, you will be proud that you eventually chose to follow the path of justice and freedom.
You cannot solve this issue internally, or through the use of violence. You can only solve this through an internationally-supervised referendum on independence. In 2020, let us come together and address the root causes of this issue for the good of ourselves and the future generations in West Papua and Indonesia.
Happy New Year to all.
Benny Wenda Chairman
United Liberation Movement for West Papua
United Liberation Movement for West Papua
Security chief Mahfud reiterates no chance of referendum for Papua
CNN Indonesia – December 17, 2019
Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD says that Indonesia is entitled to take any and all measures to hold on to Papua. He said this in relation to demands for a referendum on self-determination for Papua in the name of international law.
Mahfud said that there is no possibility of a referendum for Papua. This is based on two legal foundations.
First the Indonesian constitution, which states that Papua is a legitimate part of Indonesia.
Second, international law, namely United Nations General Assembly Resolution Number 2405 in 1969 which officially declared that Papua is part of the Indonesian Republic. “And based on the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) all countries that have sovereign rights over a territory are allowed to take any and all measures to maintain their sovereignty over that territory or area by all means at their disposal”, said Mahfud during an event titled Papua Development Conference at the JW Marriot Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday December 17. From here he said that any efforts to separate Papua from Indonesia must be seen as opposition to the legitimate government.
“Papua is a legitimate part of the Indonesian Republic. So, the assumption at this seminar is how we think, that developing Papua is developing Indonesia”, said Mahfud when he was speaking as a representatives of President Joko Widodo.
The government will only give the green light to plans to add new regions to Papua and West Papua provinces. The decision, he said, would be made by Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian. “There is a possibility of it in the near future, it will continue to be discussed. The possibility of yes or not well the Mendagri will of course determine this”, said Mahfud.
Nevertheless, Mahfud believes that the proposal is still immature and still needs to be evaluated. “It’s still in the inventory process. The proposal is still not mature. It’s still in its infancy and will continue to be discussed”, said Mahfud.
Earlier this year, United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Chairperson Benny Wenda stated that he was prepared to meet with President Widodo to discuss Papua. The Papua separatist figure however presented a number of preconditions which had to be met first. One of them was the meeting must discuss the “long-held demand of the West Papuan people to hold an independence referendum or an act of self-determination”. (jps/arh)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Mahfud Sebut RI Boleh Ambil Semua Langkah Pertahankan Papua”.]
Two Indonesian soldiers killed in separatist attack in Papua
ABC News Posted 18 Dec 2019, 9:08pm
Two Indonesian soldiers have been shot dead in Indonesia's eastern-most province of Papua, ambushed by separatist rebels while transporting goods to a village in a remote area. Papua has suffered a simmering conflict for decades, led by a mostly poorly armed and fractured separatist movement.
Key points:
The separatist movement has been in conflict with Indonesian soldiers in Papua for a decade
Indonesian soldiers have since been guarding the village to ensure resident security
A military spokesman said 10 separatist rebels ambushed the group of soldiers, killing two
Muhammad Aidi, intelligence assistant for Indonesia's special forces unit, said the rebels attacked when soldiers and local residents were transporting goods for year-end celebrations from a helicopter pad to Kulapa village in Intan Jaya regency. "Around 150 metres from the outskirts of the village, suddenly 10 members of an armed separatist group with various weapons attacked," Mr Aidi said in a statement, adding the bodies of the two soldiers remained at the location. He said the rough terrain, bad weather and poor communications in the area were hampering the evacuation of the victims. Soldiers have been guarding the village to ensure the security of residents.
A former Dutch colony, resource-rich Papua was incorporated into Indonesia after a controversial UN-backed referendum in 1969. The region has since endured decades of mostly low-level separatist conflict. After a spike in protests and civil unrest in August, Indonesia sent about 6,000 additional military and police personnel to the region. Reuters
Another soldier killed in gunfight with rebels in Indonesia's Papua
Source: Xinhua 2019-12-20 Editor: zh
JAKARTA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- One soldier was killed and three others were injured in an exchange of fire with a band of rebels the government called as "the criminal armed group" in Indonesia's eastern most province of Papua, local media reported Friday. The gunfight occurred in Ugimba of Intan Jaya district on Thursday, leaving the soldier named M Ramadhan dead and three other soldiers, Arif Aria, Ari Budiarta and Gunawan, wounded, according to the report by Antara news agency. All the victims have been evacuated to Timika town in the province. On Tuesday, two soldiers were gunned down in an attack launched by the separatists group while transporting goods in the district. The separatist Free Papua Movement has sought an independent trough guerrilla wars since decades ago. Their targets include soldiers, police personnel and civilians.
Solidarity with those affected by bush fires
JANUARY 13, 2020
This statement was written by West Papuan Independence Leader Benny Wenda and originally published here. “I and everyone at the Free West Papua Campaign send our solidarity and thoughts to all our supporters in Australia who have been affected by the bush fires. We are praying for you and for everyone affected by these fires. “Our supporters in Australia have stood in solidarity with us West Papuans for years and have been some of our strongest allies internationally. To see your homes being burned and your air filled with smoke has made our hearts ache. We suffer the destruction of our forests everyday in Indonesian-occupied West Papua – we have experienced your pain. We are praying that the fires finish and that no one else is harmed in any way.” Benny Wenda & everyone at the Free West Papua Campaign
Africa Caribbean Pacific group seeks action on Papua rights abuses
16 December 2019
Vanuatu was represented at the ACP 2019 Summit in Kenya by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Regenvanu (centre) Ambassador to the ACP, John H Licht (right), accompanied by the Chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda. Photo: Supplied
The 79 member states of the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group are seeking international action over human rights abuses in West Papua. A resolution was passed by the group at its 9th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government, calling for urgent attention to be paid to the rights situation in Indonesia-ruled Papua region. The resolution supports and adds significant diplomatic weight to a resolution passed by the Pacific Islands Forum in August this year.
Among other things, ACP states called for an international mission to visit Papua and provide an evidence-based, informed report on the human rights situation there. This report should be submitted to the Pacific Forum in time for its next annual leaders summit in July next year, they said. The ACP resolution, of which Vanuatu was a key driver, seeks for the Papua human rights situation to be a standing item on the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In August, Pacific countries called on Indonesia to allow the UN Human Rights Commissioner's office access to Papua region. Indonesia's government said it had extended an invitation to the UN Commissioner's office, and that discussions on the matter were ongoing. But Pacific Island countries voiced concern that the invitation had not materialised in a visit, despite the Commissioner's office having sought access to Papua for years.
The ACP's resolution, which was endorsed unanimously by all ACP members at the summit that concluded at the weekend in Kenya, calls on all concerned parties to: a) Conduct a mission to West Papua and provide an evidence-based, informed report on the human rights situation before the next meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2020;
b) Allow international media access to West Papua to provide ind-ependent coverage on the human rights situation ahead of the next meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in July 2020;
c) Work together to address the root causes of the conflict in West Papua by peaceful means, and protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in West Papua; and
d) Seek to include the human rights situation in West Papua as a standing item on the agenda of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Indonesia's government has previously warned Pacific Island countries not to interfere in issues relating to West Papua, referrring to it as a domestic matter.
But the administration of Joko Widodo continues to face criticism from international human rights groups over ongoing arrests of West Papuan expressing their independence aspirations. Widespread pro-independence and anti-racism protests which broke out across the Papuan provinces in August and September prompted an increased security forces deloyment to the region by Indonesia. Amid the security crackdown, and blocking of internet, some of the protests descended into violent unrest,which left dozens of people dead.
Papua police chief warns his men against arms trafficking
Antara News 13th January 2020
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw (ANTARA/Evarianus Supar)
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. Reporter: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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. Reporter: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Police investigate firearms trafficking from Lumajang to Papua
Jubi. 17 January 2020 By Admin1
Surabaya, Jubi – The Regional Police of East Java admitted their investigation on illegal firearms trafficking from Lumajang, East Java to insurgent groups in Papua. The investigation, he continued, is still ongoing. He said the police also concern about this finding because insurgent groups used to have high calibre weapons. “Especially high calibre firearms. If 4.5 calibre riffles might not be high, but we need vigilant with above 6.5 or 9 calibre weapons. Some regional police offices have agreed to follow up this issue,” he said. Previously, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paul Waterpauw suspected the distribution of firearms and ammunition in his territory were from international and domestic dealings.
“Indeed, we have information that those firearms not only come from domestic sellers but also from abroad. There are indications that it comes through the border area, and from the Philippines via North Maluku, Sorong, West Papua Province into Papua. This route what we are tracking now,” he said in Timika on Monday (13/1) as quoted from Antara. Further, he stated that he also received information about firearms assembled in Lumajang, East Java, had distributed to Papua. The similar issue had once been revealed by some police officers from the East Java Regional Police some time ago. (*) Reporter: Jean Bisay Editor: Pipit Maizer
Military locate base of armed criminal group operating in Papua's Intan Jaya
News Desk The Jakarta Post Jakarta January 17, 2020
The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Thursday that it discovered one of the bases of an armed criminal group (KKB) that has been active in Intan Jaya regency of Papua. Cendrawasih Military Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Dax Sianturi said the soldiers found the group's base in a village in Tigi district on Tuesday. "We fired two shots; the first one was believed to have hit a member of the group, who afterwards was brought by his friends to a honai [traditional hut]," Dax said as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. Soldiers found about 20 firearms in a traditional house in a Tigi village, which they estimated to be home to some 70 members of the armed group, Dax said. Upon discovery, alleged members of the armed group immediately fled the village into the forest. However, the soldiers decided not to run after them, he added. "Right now, we are on standby to anticipate any retaliation from the KKB," Dax said. Intan Jaya is one of the regencies in the country's easternmost province that has repeatedly experienced outbreaks of violence. Last month, two military officers were killed in the regency during a shootout with armed assailants while on security duty as the district prepared for Christmas celebrations. According to the Cendrawasih Military Command, the armed criminal group operating in Intan Jaya consists of two smaller groups, with one led by Lekagak Teleggen and the other by Militer Murib. Both groups previously had their bases in Puncak regency and it is still unknown why they relocated to Intan Jaya. Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said he believed the firearms used by the group originated from Lumajang, East Java.
TPNPB-OPM KOMNAS Press Release As of January 11, 2020
A report on facebook
TPNPBNEWS: The War against the Occupation of the Indonesian Republic's Colonial Government Security Forces throughout the territory of West Papua is the "War of National Liberation" Only to reclaim West Papua's independence, namely the State Embryo Manifesto on 1 December 1961 and the Proclamation on 1 July 1971.
Today Saturday 11 January 2020 at 11:00 AM Papua Time, the Management of the TPNPB-OPM KOMNAS Headquarters has received a telephone directly from the Commander of KODAP III Ndugama Bridgen Egianus Kogeya that morning at 6:54 Ndugama Time, West Papua National Liberation Army Troops led by Bridgen Egianus Kogeya, carried out an attack on Keneyam Airport, which is in the capital of Nduga Regency.
In his report Bridgen Egianus Kogeya had reported that the Papuan National Liberation Army had shot two Brimob members, and had fired more bullets at the Brimob Post.
And it is possible that there were injuries, but what was certain were two Brimob members whom we managed to shoot. Bridgen Egianus Kogeya also reported that the West Papua National Liberation Army troops were still fighting in Keneyam, the capital city of Nduga Regency, Papua Province.
And it is possible that there were injuries, but what was certain were two Brimob members whom we managed to shoot. Bridgen Egianus Kogeya also reported that the West Papua National Liberation Army troops were still fighting in Keneyam, the capital city of Nduga Regency, Papua Province.
Bridgen Egianus Kogeya also added that we would not be afraid of air strikes by the security forces of the Colonial Government of the Republic of Indonesia, but we would continue to take the Resistance.
Another report by a spokesperson for KODAP III Ndugama “Perek Jelas Kogeya” that they had taken the first position at the Brimob Post, then the first 2 people who came out of the Mobile Brigade Post were shot dead on the spot. After we had withdrawn from the Mobile Brigade Post and then we heard that there was a retaliatory shot, after that we had taken control of Keneyam Airport. Meanwhile Commander of Kodap III Ndugama Egianus Kogeya said that I had been surrounded by the Capital City of Nduga Regency from 1 December 2019, and to this day on 11 January 2020, we have begun the War, and also we are the West Papua National Liberation Army. in the capital city of Nduga Regency, which is in Keneyam until it destroys the City.
Another report by a spokesperson for KODAP III Ndugama “Perek Jelas Kogeya” that they had taken the first position at the Brimob Post, then the first 2 people who came out of the Mobile Brigade Post were shot dead on the spot. After we had withdrawn from the Mobile Brigade Post and then we heard that there was a retaliatory shot, after that we had taken control of Keneyam Airport. Meanwhile Commander of Kodap III Ndugama Egianus Kogeya said that I had been surrounded by the Capital City of Nduga Regency from 1 December 2019, and to this day on 11 January 2020, we have begun the War, and also we are the West Papua National Liberation Army. in the capital city of Nduga Regency, which is in Keneyam until it destroys the City.
According to the young Commander that from 9 January 2020 he got information that President Jokowi through his men wanted to launch a rocket from the air to the TPNPB-OPM Headquarters, so I and my Troops would not back down and according to the invitation of the President of Indonesia, this morning I and the Troops I came to the Indonesian Security Forces Posts in the capital city of Nduga-Papua district. While the TPNPB News crew managed to interview residents in the capital city of Keneyam and they said that all the people were panicked about this incident. They also reported that the police helicopter just landed to evacuate the shooting victims, and this is a serious war.
And also information from the public that the drone is still spinning since morning at 7:00 until this afternoon is still in the air, in Keneyam. Such is the Direct Report from Ndugama, which has been reported directly by the spokesperson of KODAP III TPNPB Ndugama “Perek Jelas Kogeya” from Keneyam airport, capital of Nduga Regency, West Papua.
This report may be issued from the Management of the TPNPB-OPM KOMNAS Headquarters on 11 January 2020 to be known by all parties, and the TPNPB-OPM Headquarters is responsible for this Report. Thank you for the good cooperation.And forwarded to all journalists around the world, and also delivered to human rights workers around the world by TPNPB Spokesperson Mr. Sebby Sambom.
One year Nduga refugee was neglected
December 29, 2019 12:26 am Reporter: Islami Adisubrata
Nduga refugee children when returning to school in a makeshift school rebuilt by a team of volunteers in mid-August 2019 in the courtyard of the Weneroma Church. -Jubi / Islamic
By: Islami Adisubrata (End of year reflection in Lapago)
YEARS have happened or conflict in Nduga, starting from 4 December 2018 until 4 December 2019. Until now the people of Nduga who chose to flee out of their villages are still neglected. The evacuation was triggered due to the killing of PT. Istaka Karya by the TPN-PB group on December 2, 2018 in the vicinity of Puncak Kabo, Yigi District, after the conflict, the conflict spread to 11 other districts. As the incident happened, civilians who did not know anything had to become victims of the conflict, they had fled to evacuate outside Nduga, due to fear and trauma from military operations. Evacuating is the only choice for the 11 districts in Nduga. They went outside areas such as Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, the capital city of Nduga, to Mimika. Various problems also arose after the community chose to get out of their villages, ranging from the pain experienced by both adults and children to result in death.
The education of Nduga children also becomes a problem, where many displaced children must be accommodated in emergency schools created by volunteers, especially in Jayawijaya. Although initially going well, but entering the 2019-2020 school year emergency schools that were established were no longer in use because the conditions had begun to deteriorate. Although on August 19, 2019 the volunteer team re-opened a school for Nduga children who sought refuge in the Kingmi Church yard of the Weneroma congregation, Ilekma, Jayawijaya Regency, but it did not last long due to the lack of support from the local government.
Even in early August 2019, the solidarity team cared for the Nduga conflict, which consisted of elements of the church and human rights observers and other institutions, released the latest data on civil society victims who died in the post-conflict conflict in Nduga since December 2018. Theo Hesegem as a human rights observer and Executive Director of the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation said that the victims died from 4 December 2018 until the end of July 2019 there were 182 people both adults and children. "This data is from the Kingmi church classists in Nduga, MRP representatives from Nduga, Jayawijaya coordinator representatives, the Nduga humanitarian team and involved all refugees by verifying victim data," he said, while holding a press conference at the Kingmi Church yard in the Weneroma congregation, Ilekma, Regency Jayawijaya, Thursday (1/8/2019).
From the data, detailed female victims died 21 people, 69 male children, 21 female victims, 20 male children, 14 female toddlers, 12 male toddlers, 8 male babies people, 17 baby girls died with a total of 182 people. "182 of these people died in the refugee data including those in Wamena, Timika, Paro, and other places. This data is accurate, because we also have evidence such as photographs, information from which village, which district, where to be buried, everything is clear. Except for those who died in the conflict area, there were indeed no photographs, but for those who died in the refugee camp there were some photos and others we will try to take back the photos, "said Theo Hesegem.
According to him, of the 182 people they died as a result of physical violence carried out by joint TNI-Polri apparatus, some were burned alive at home, died in the forest due to hunger, children were indicated to have died of cold, sickness and hunger. The solidarity team concerned about the Nduga conflict expressed their concern for the 17 victims in Puncak Kabo, Yigi District, Nduga.
Representative of the Papua People's Assembly (MRP) in the Nduga region, Luis Maday, said that this matter needs to be considered and seen in a humanitarian manner. Data on the victims who died in the hands of the team are accurate and reliable data. "The data on the victims in our hands with 182 people is accurate, we who are carrying out this data collection are ready to take responsibility," Maday said at the time.
Refugees feel forgotten
Dolia Ubruangge said, a year of Nduga conflict Nduga refugees still felt ignored or felt forgotten by the central, provincial and district governments. He hopes that in the future the government can pay attention to the handling of these refugees, and the government should not only look at it from one side of its politics, but must look at it from its humanity side, where for one year there has been no handling from the government and assistance received only from churches or solidarity other society. Another Nduga refugee volunteer team, Arim Tabuni, admitted that this service was held to remember the events in Nduga that had and had taken place, and for this year the people in 11 districts affected by the conflict had not returned to their respective villages. He also mentioned President Joko Widodo's promise that military operations would only last for three months, but until now there are still military operations in the Nduga region.
On World Human Rights Day, 10 December 2019, a number of human rights observers in the Central Mountains of Papua warned him by lighting candles as a sign of mourning in front of the Wio Silimo Monument. They recalled cases of human rights violations in Papua specifically the events of 23 September 2019 in Wamena and the Nduga case. According to activists, human rights violations are not only about murder cases, but public services that do not work well such as in education and health, including human rights violations. "Let's now build Papua with a sense of humanity and by prioritizing the approach of cultural values, brotherhood, economics and most importantly the approach to political issues must be resolved politically as well," said Father Jhon Djonga, one of the human rights activists in Papua. He also assessed the Nduga problem as allowed by the state, where the number of victims killed in the conflict when combined between Nduga's native civil society plus bridge and road workers killed, reached 255 people and that must be taken seriously. (*) Editor: Kristianto Galuwo
Supreme Court raises prison term for Polish man over treason, link with Papuan rebels
News Desk The Jakarta Post Jakarta December 18, 2019
The Supreme Court has increased the prison sentence of Jakub Fabian Skrzypski, a Polish national and reportedly the first foreigner convicted of treason in Indonesia, to seven years in prison for his role in assisting a separatist group in Papua. The sentence given by the country’s highest court is two years longer than the five-year sentence handed down in May by the Wamena District Court in Papua, which found Skrzypski guilty of treason for his involvement in a plot to overthrow the Indonesian government and making contact with a rebel group in Papua. “The Supreme Court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, while the Wamena District Court [sentenced him to] only five years,” the district court’s crime unit head, Richarda Arsenius, said as quoted by Antara.
In response to the matter, Papua’s Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Comr. Suheriadi said they coordinated closely with the Jayawijaya Prosecutor’s Office to follow up on the Supreme Court’s verdict. “Now that the final decision has been made, the prosecutor’s office has the authority to execute the verdict by relocating [Skrzypski] from the detention center at the Jayawijaya Police headquarters to Wamena prison,” he said. “If [Skrzypski’s] lawyer, family or [the Polish] consulate would like to relocate him, they must send an official letter to the Law and Human Rights Regional Office.” Throughout his stay at the detention center, Skrzypski reportedly never encountered health problems because he was examined on a daily basis by health officers at the police’s medical center.
Skrzypski was arrested at Habema Lake in Jayawijaya in August last year, according to the police. The 39-year-old was found with documents and video detailing the Papuan struggle for independence. He and his lawyer, Latifah Anum Siregar – who previously said his client was the first foreigner convicted of treason – denied all wrongdoing while the prosecutors accused him of having met with leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM). Latifah said the Supreme Court’s verdict was “too heavy”. She and Skrzypski are currently discussing the next steps, including the possibility of filing a judicial review to challenge the top court’s ruling, which means it must find evidence of legal flaws made by the court. "Skrzypski has rejected the accusations from the beginning," Latifah said as quoted by the AFP. The European Parliament described the Polish man as a political prisoner and called for his transfer back to his home country. The country’s easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua have long been dealing with the separatist movement, which the Indonesian government routinely blames as being as the actor behind various cases of violent unrest in the restive region. (vla)
Ending Violence in Papua
Tempo.co 1 January 2020
Ambrosius Mulait, a pro-Papuan activist who was arrested on suspicion of treason, reacts at the courtroom before his trial at Central Jakarta District Court in Jakarta, December 19, 2019. The peaceful protest of about 100 people had been held outside the presidential palace and military headquarters on Aug. 28 and followed a period of unrest in Papua. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - THE government should prioritize dialog instead of using a security approach in seeking solution to the Papuan problem. Deployment of soldiers and police in the past year has proven ineffective. Security apparatus have not been able to quell armed groups from disrupting the peace. Meanwhile, the number of civilian victims continues to climb.
The case of the death of Hendrik Lokbere shows just how appalling the situation is in Papua. The adjutant of the Vice Regent of Nduga, Wentius Nimiangge, died of mysterious gunshots on Friday night, December 20. Three days later, Wentius announced his resignation from his post.
The incident should be a harsh slap in the face to central government for failing to guarantee safety in the regency. The government had deployed personnel from the Indonesian National Army and the Indonesian Police to Nduga since last year to hunt down armed criminal groups. Prior, the group calling itself the West Papua National Liberation Army had attacked workers from PT Istaka Karya, the contractor company building the bridge in the Yigi District. Scores of workers died as a result of the attack. A number of perpetrators from the incident have been apprehended and are being legally processed. Yet, the security situation in Nduga Regency still did not calm down. And it’s not only Nduga, Other regencies, such as Intan Jaya, are in the disruption. In mid-December, two soldiers from the National Army in Hitadipa District died from attacks by an armed group. Two months prior, three motorcycle taxi drivers also died from gunshots by the same group. Officials from central government should not exacerbate the situation by making arbitrary statements that could cause more distress to the Papuan community. Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Mahfud Md., for instance, stated that a security approach has become even more imperative to dress down the separatist movement in Papua.
This mule-headed stance of central government is incongruous considering how the security operation has obviously been a dismal failure and has in fact disrupted civilian life. In Nduga alone, 45 thousand residents have relocated since last year. The Papuan People’s Assembly revealed another 4,000 people relocated to Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, and Asmat. The local government’s humanitarian team claimed that 182 of the displaced died, while the Ministry of Social Affairs announced 53 had died. Data discrepancy shows up even more how the local government is not functioning as it should. The government should change strategies to put a lid on the Papuan issue. This can be begun by solving several core issues which so far have been ignored, including violation of human rights, discrimination, and racism. Amnesty International Indonesia noted 69 cases of suspected murders outside the law by security forces in Papua between 2010- 2018, with 95 victims. Of these victims, 85 were indigenous Papuans.
Without an effort to put the lid on the cases from the past and to comprehend the wishes of the Papuan people, the government will continue to repeat its same mistakes. The security approach will only open new wounds for the Papuan people. The government would do better to try the dialog route — a proven method for success in the solution of the Aceh problem. If the government is absolutely serious and sincere, inevitably peace will surely come about.
Government to prioritize holistic development for Papua
Antara News 17th December 2019
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government aspires to persistently build Papua and West Papua in a holistic manner in the next five years through involvement of ministries, agencies, and institutions to expedite integrated development. "If all agencies are moving on their own programs, it would not be beneficial. We are now optimistic of everything being integrated, although they are utilizing their own budgets," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated at a conference on Papua's Development held in Jakarta, Tuesday.
He noted that the Ministry of National Development Planning and the National Planning Agency (Bappenas) had in place a division specifically dedicated to Papua, with the similar applying to the Coordinating Ministry of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. He is upbeat about both divisions working under an ”umbrella” to heighten coordination to expedite the development program in Papua and West Papua. He affirmed that in the next five years, the government had prepared development agendas for both Papua and West Papua that did not solely center around physical infrastructure, but one that also strives to realize public welfare. Such agendas encompass the development of human resources in line with the local potentials and wisdom in the scope of global challenges, infrastructure development, and regulatory and bureaucratic reforms.
He also highlighted economic transformation that taps into the available natural resources, with support of Papua's quality human resources, and integrated development. "Papua's development is not merely infrastructure but also in terms of the quality of human resources and improving the quality of native Papuan human resources through education," Mahfud stated. In a bid to accelerate development and ensure welfare for the Papuans and West Papuans, Mahfud has appealed to Bappenas to focus on holistic transformation and formulate new models to ensure implementation of all programs for development of both areas. Related news: Bappenas composes policy centering on swifter development in Papua (EDITED BY INE Reporter: Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna/Ari Editor: Suharto)
He noted that the Ministry of National Development Planning and the National Planning Agency (Bappenas) had in place a division specifically dedicated to Papua, with the similar applying to the Coordinating Ministry of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. He is upbeat about both divisions working under an ”umbrella” to heighten coordination to expedite the development program in Papua and West Papua. He affirmed that in the next five years, the government had prepared development agendas for both Papua and West Papua that did not solely center around physical infrastructure, but one that also strives to realize public welfare. Such agendas encompass the development of human resources in line with the local potentials and wisdom in the scope of global challenges, infrastructure development, and regulatory and bureaucratic reforms.
He also highlighted economic transformation that taps into the available natural resources, with support of Papua's quality human resources, and integrated development. "Papua's development is not merely infrastructure but also in terms of the quality of human resources and improving the quality of native Papuan human resources through education," Mahfud stated. In a bid to accelerate development and ensure welfare for the Papuans and West Papuans, Mahfud has appealed to Bappenas to focus on holistic transformation and formulate new models to ensure implementation of all programs for development of both areas. Related news: Bappenas composes policy centering on swifter development in Papua (EDITED BY INE Reporter: Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna/Ari Editor: Suharto)
Social approach needed to settle Papua conflict: Kalla
Antara News19th December 2019
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The government should focus on social approach in resolving the conflict in Papua, former Vice President Jusuf Kalla believes. "There still needs to be social efforts and better education," he said in a press conference after receiving the Hamengku Buwono IX Award at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University, Thursday. President Joko Widodo has made various efforts to build Papua, also known as 'Bumi Cenderawasih', he said. However, he believed there is still a need to resolve social problems in order to ensure that Papuans can fully enjoy the positive impact of development in their everyday lives. Until now, the development in Papua had often been seen as inadequate, but he believed the progress has been extraordinary, he further said. "In reality, the development has been extraordinary, which means there are social problems that we need to pay attention to in regards to Papua," he said.
Conflicts happen in all parts of the world and each one is different from the other, he further said. Despite that, conflicts need to be resolved with dignity, he added. Kalla received the 2019 Hamengku Buwono IX Award in the summit of the 70th Anniversary of the University of Gadjah Mada for his services in the social field through concrete contributions in increasing the people's capabilities and welfare, as well as his role in prosperity and peace. (INE)
Reporter: Luqman Hakim/Aria Cindyara Editor: Azis Kurmala
Conflicts happen in all parts of the world and each one is different from the other, he further said. Despite that, conflicts need to be resolved with dignity, he added. Kalla received the 2019 Hamengku Buwono IX Award in the summit of the 70th Anniversary of the University of Gadjah Mada for his services in the social field through concrete contributions in increasing the people's capabilities and welfare, as well as his role in prosperity and peace. (INE)
Reporter: Luqman Hakim/Aria Cindyara Editor: Azis Kurmala
Sorong police's probe ongoing into airport's attackers
Antara news 3rd January 2020
Sorong, W Papua (ANTARA) - The Sorong police in West Papua are investigating the case of vandalism and attack on Domine Eduard Osok Airport during a riot in August 2019, its Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. Mariochristy P. S. Siregar stated. Police investigators continue to focus efforts to trace those allegedly responsible for assaulting and vandalizing the airport's terminal facilities, while individuals involved in other violent acts had faced questioning, Siregar remarked in Sorong City on Friday. "We have been handling 11 suspects in the August rioting case. In the near future, their case will have been submitted to the Sorong city prosecutor’s office to be processed at the district court," he noted. Papua and West Papua have come under the radar of both the Indonesian and foreign media after a spate of violence broke out in several parts of these two Indonesian provinces in August and September 2019 in the upshot of the Surabaya incident and fake news.
On August 28, violence had erupted in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura, resulting in the deaths of an army soldier and two civilians.
The indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura again held protests on August 29, as they vented their ire over the alleged racist behavior against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, but their rally then turned violent. On September 23, a deadly riot had erupted in Wamena, the capital city of Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, killing 33 civilians, including a senior medical doctor, who had served the native Papuans for 15 years. In response to this recent Wamena rioting, a Papuan priest appealed to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to hold dialog with the representatives of all Papuan community groups to find solutions to crucial problems in the province. The Papuan people are keen to hold a discussion in tune with the spirit of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, as the central government had done in Aceh Province, Esmon Welilo, a priest and concurrently chairman of the Interreligious Harmony Forum (FKUB), stated. "We are optimistic that the dialog would be held during his second leadership term," he remarked. President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin officially took their oaths of office on October 20, 2019, and the issues of Papua have become one of the serious challenges that the Jokowi-Amin administration should immediately address. Proper handling is the need of the hour since a circle of violence is still unbreakable there, and an ongoing endeavor to internationalize it is quite apparent.
Attempts to internationalize the issues of Papua, especially human rights abuses and calls for self-determination, are not merely made by non-state actors but also state actors, as revealed by what Vanuatu has often done at the UN General Assembly. The circle of violence, chiefly triggered and sponsored by notorious armed Papuan separatists through their ongoing campaigns of killing innocent civilians and members of Indonesian military and police, has yet to end. Reporter: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution Editor: Sri Haryati
On August 28, violence had erupted in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura, resulting in the deaths of an army soldier and two civilians.
The indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura again held protests on August 29, as they vented their ire over the alleged racist behavior against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, but their rally then turned violent. On September 23, a deadly riot had erupted in Wamena, the capital city of Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, killing 33 civilians, including a senior medical doctor, who had served the native Papuans for 15 years. In response to this recent Wamena rioting, a Papuan priest appealed to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to hold dialog with the representatives of all Papuan community groups to find solutions to crucial problems in the province. The Papuan people are keen to hold a discussion in tune with the spirit of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, as the central government had done in Aceh Province, Esmon Welilo, a priest and concurrently chairman of the Interreligious Harmony Forum (FKUB), stated. "We are optimistic that the dialog would be held during his second leadership term," he remarked. President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin officially took their oaths of office on October 20, 2019, and the issues of Papua have become one of the serious challenges that the Jokowi-Amin administration should immediately address. Proper handling is the need of the hour since a circle of violence is still unbreakable there, and an ongoing endeavor to internationalize it is quite apparent.
Attempts to internationalize the issues of Papua, especially human rights abuses and calls for self-determination, are not merely made by non-state actors but also state actors, as revealed by what Vanuatu has often done at the UN General Assembly. The circle of violence, chiefly triggered and sponsored by notorious armed Papuan separatists through their ongoing campaigns of killing innocent civilians and members of Indonesian military and police, has yet to end. Reporter: Ernes BK, Rahmad Nasution Editor: Sri Haryati
Police strengthen forces in five newly formed police precincts in restive Papua
News Desk The Jakarta Post Jakarta January 13, 2020
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)
Indonesia authorities arrest suspected ISIS terror cell in Papua
The New Daily Dec 18
Indonesian police have swooped on group of ISIS-inspired suspected terrorists, accusing them of planning an operation in the province of Papua.
The arrest was a “pre-emptive strike” by the anti-terrorism squad earlier this month in several locations in Papua, National Police spokesman Asep Adi Saputra said in Jakarta on Wednesday. The suspects have been transferred to Jakarta for questioning. They were suspected of having links to the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which has carried out a series of attacks in Indonesia. Police said the arrests were made after officers conducted surveillance of meetings between the suspects, as well as training and preparation for suspected attacks. “Their target and their plan is currently being investigated,” Saputra said. Separately, Papua police chief Paulus Waterpauw said on Tuesday the suspects were part of JAD networks on the Indonesian island of Sumatra that had moved to Jayapura, the provincial capital of Papua.
He said the arrests prompted police in Papau to heighten security in the area, especially before the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Indonesia is predominantly Muslim but some areas, particularly in the east, including Papua, have Christian majorities. Papua has suffered a simmering conflict led by a mostly poorly armed and fractured separatist movement for decades, though not the type of sectarian or religious conflict in some other parts of Indonesia. Two Indonesian soldiers were shot dead in Papua, ambushed by separatist rebels while transporting goods to a village in a remote area, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.-AAP
Informative workshop on West Papua was held at the Students of Sustainability (SoS) 2020 Conference
University of Sydney - Cumberlands Campus. 16 January 2020
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Upcoming Events
TALOI HAVINI: RECLAMATION
AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAINVILLE/AUSTRALIA
Artspace presents Reclamation, the first Australian solo exhibition of new work from artist Taloi Havini. Havini’s work responds to the history and culture of her birthplace, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, and navigates a history of environmental destruction and civil war.....
https://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/events/taloi-havini
Yabun Festival
The largest one day gathering and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia, held annually on 26th of January upon the traditional lands of the Gadigal people in Sydney at Victoria Park. Established in 2001, Yabun (meaning ‘music to a beat’ in Gadigal language) is a free event that features live music, a bustling stalls market, panel discussions and community forums on Aboriginal issues, children’s activities, and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural performances. Yabun Festival welcomes everyone to join us in this one of a kind event which honours the survival of the world’s oldest living culture. The Festival opens at 10am and closes at 7pm To download this years poster for printing in A3 size click here.
Invasion Day 2020 Warrang (Sydney)
Hosted by FIRE Fighting In Resistance Equally
JAN 26
New book. The Road: Uprising in West Papua By John Martinkus Release date: 16 Mar 2020
Dates of PIF
Vanuatu begins preparations towards hosting of Pacific Islands Forum
Vanuatu Daily PostJan 18, 2020
Vanuatu has already begun preparations for hosting the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting, which will be held in early August, hard on the heels of this year’s independence anniversary on July 30th.
It will be the second time Vanuatu has hosted the Forum, with the previous occasion being in 2010. This year’s hosting of the region’s premiere event from the 4th to 7th of August is particularly significant given it coincides with Vanuatu’s celebration of 40 years of independence.
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In 1980, as the country prepared to declare political independence from Great Britain and France, it was at the behest of a budding regional institution – then known as the South Pacific Forum.
What we now know as PIF was only a year away from marking its first decade of establishment, when Fr. Walter Lini and others successfully navigated Vanuatu’s transition to political self-determination – the last Pacific country to do so in. the 20th century.
This year’s event will be centred around the theme: “One Blue Pacific – Investing in a shared climate resilient future founded on human dignity and wellbeing”.
Vanuatu believes that with the climate crisis being the single greatest threat to securing the shared future of the Blue Pacific, it is incumbent on all PIF members to accelerate action towards achieving zero carbon emissions, and addressing the devastating loss and damage already being experienced within the region.
Why “One Blue Pacific?” Vanuatu is firmly of the view that while “Oceans” are on the frontline of the devastating consequences of the climate emergency, they are also a key part of the solutions required to ensure the region remains resilient and sustainable going into the future.
As host, Vanuatu will seek to build on the agreements made in the Boe Declaration, the Kainaki II Declaration, the UN SG’s Climate Action Summit and UNFCCC negotiations, and mandate the development of effective, time-bound, collective commitments that can be transparently measured and tracked within our region.
Vanuatu is calling on leaders, national delegations, civil society, the private sector, academia, donors and dialogue partners to “come to Port Vila ready to make transformative, people-focused and tangible commitments to address the existential climate change threat to our shared future”.
The other key themes of PIF2020 will be investing in human dignity as well as investing in a shared approach to sustainable wellbeing – central to the economy. Vanuatu’s Chairman of the Advisory Committee for PIF who is also Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu says, “Ensuring human dignity through respect for basic human rights, gender empowerment and self-determination has long been at the heart of the existence of the Forum.
“Vanuatu fully recognises this. It is one of the reasons we are fully supportive of the inaugural PIF Women Leader’s Summit.
“We invite everyone to support this initiative to empower Pacific women leaders,” says Regenvanu.
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
From the ocean to the east, it looks like Australia's Pacific policy is all at sea
Indonesia and Australia at a 'strategic turning point' as relationship reaches 70-year milestone https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-04/indonesia-australia-reaches-70-years-diplomatic-relations/11825010
Why many Indonesians are fed up with pro-Papuan activists in Australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-19/many-indonesians-insulted-by-pro-papuan-activists-in-australia/11788420
Pacific predictions: 2020
Human Rights Update West Papua –January 2020
What’s at stake in West Papua
Pacific predictions: 2020
Human Rights Update West Papua –January 2020
Internet shutdowns could cost ASEAN dearly
Indonesia’s “Pacific elevation”: Elevating what and who?
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/indonesias-pacific-elevation-elevating-what-and-who/?fbclid=IwAR3n6RmorwudoGHxj8h3WelQek5sC3SWc3dMPYPIw-QN37vjAYm4TdlKwl4
The challenge for Jokowi 2.0: How to revitalise the economy
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/01/12/the-challenge-for-jokowi-2-0-how-to-revitalise-the-economy
Human Rights Watch Country report Indonesia Events of 2019
Full Report WORLD REPORT 2020
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