AWPA update
Summary of events in West Papua (16 Feb- 8 March 2020)
A snapshot of events
Shootings incidents
There have been a number of shootings incidents in West Papua in the past few weeks. On Tuesday the 18 February two civilians were killed in a joint military operation at Yoparu Village of Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jayapura Regency. Two Papuan women were also injured and are under medical treatment. The military public relations chief of Cenderawasih Military Command claimed a victim killed on Tuesday was an insurgent group member.
On the 26 February three people were injured, including a member of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), in an exchange of fire between security forces and an armed group in Nduga. Two civilians who were injured in the shooting on Wednesday (Feb 26) have been treated at Kenyam Hospital, while the wounded policeman was evacuated to Jakarta from Timika, Waterpauw said. According to the police, the armed group had attacked a military post in Koteka village.
On Friday the 28 February there was a clash between the security forces and a group of Papuans led by Joni Botak in Jipabera, Tembagapura Subdistrict, in Mimika District. A Police Constable from the mobile brigade unit, was wounded in the gunfight and died of his injuries early Saturday.
Media reports on the incidents below. The
The TPNPB reported that they destroyed a bridge on the road from Tembagapura to Opitawak on the 4 March and on Thursday 5 March, a shootout between the TPNPB and the Indonesian Security Forces took place at the TNI Post in Opitawak Village In this attack, the TPNPB reported that there were 5 members of the Indonesian Security Forces were killed and a number injured.
The photo shown at War Conflict areas in Tembagapura, West Papua, (pic TPNPB)
Press Release by the Central Headquarters of West Papua National Liberation Army on March 6th, 2020.
Villagers flee to escape shootings in Indonesia's Papua
StarTribune -By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press MARCH 7, 2020
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A weeklong shootout between security forces and a rebel group near the world's largest gold mine in Indonesia's easternmost Papua region has caused nearly 2,000 villagers to flee, officials said Saturday. The clashes, which began Feb. 29 near the Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua province, have killed a police officer and injured three others, Papua police chief Paulus Waterpau said. Rebels in Papua have been fighting a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region that was a former Dutch colony. Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was seen as a sham by many.
The mine, which is nearly half owned by U.S. Freeport-McMoRan and is run by PT Freeport Indonesia, is seen by separatists as a symbol of Indonesian rule and it has been frequent target for rebels. Waterpau said attackers believed to be members of the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, ambushed a police patrol from a hill on Feb. 29, killing one officer and injuring two others. In a second attack, gunmen shot at a police car on Tuesday, injuring another officer, he said. The attacks occurred in the mining town of Tembagapura in Papua, where the rebels have been fighting a low-level insurgency for independence. A local disaster mitigation agency chief, Yosias Lossu, said buses owned by PT Freeport Indonesia evacuated a group of 258 villagers from Banti and Kali Kabur villages on Friday. Another 699 people, mostly women and children, were evacuated early Saturday. He said about 800 villagers from Longsoran, Batu Besar and Kimbeli villages were evacuated to a police headquarters in Tembagapura on Friday. "Most women and children are scared and feel intimidated by gunfire near their villages," Lossu said. A National Liberation Army of West Papua commander, Lekagak Telenggen, said in a statement released Saturday that they are responsible for the attacks in Tembagapura. "We will keep fighting until PT Freeport Indonesia stops operating and closes," Telenggen said.
A photo in Antara News claiming to be of some of the villagers who fled
In a statement the WPNLA said the people were fleeing because of fear of the Indonesian military and not from the WPNLA.
Armed conflict surges in Papua's Mimika regency
RNZI 4 March 2020
Reports from West Papua indicate more deadly armed conflict in Mimika regency. The West Papua National Liberation Army claims responsibility for a series of attacks on security forces in the Indonesian-controlled territory since last week. A Liberation Army spokesman said its guerilla forces in Tembagapura shot dead an Indonesian soldier at the weekend. He also said the fighters attacked a police vehicle on Monday, injuring up to eight personnel, in Tembagapura on the road to the Freeport gold and copper mine. The Liberation Army, which is targeting the mine operations in its war on the Indonesian state, claims a Papuan civilian was last week shot dead by Indonesian military in a gold-panning area of a local river. Papua's Police Chief Paulus Waterpauw said his forces were looking to arrest the Liberation Army's forces in Mimika, and its chief commanders in Papua. A week ago, the Liberation Army also claimed it killed two Indonesian soldiers in neighbouring Nduga regency. Violent exchanges between the Papuan forces and Indonesian joint military and police personnel have intensified in Nduga since late 2018 when the Liberation Army massacred at least 17 road construction workers.
Two civilians reportedly killed in Sugapa
Jubi 25 February 2020 By Admin
Jayapura, Jubi – Two civilians reportedly killed in a joint military operation at Yoparu Village of Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jayapura Regency on Tuesday (18/2/2020). The report also informs two Papuan women have been injured during the gun conflict and currently are under medical treatment.
However, no release so far made by the security forces related to the report.
Jubi resource confirms two victims in this military ambush are Kayus Sani and Meky who shot in their houses on Tuesday dawn. The joint police and military forces arrived at Yoparu Village on Tuesday at around 3 a.m. Papua time, he says. “Kayus was shot dead in his house. They (the joint security forces) entered the house and shot him on the chest and fingers. They also did the same thing to Meky, entering his house and shooting him dead in his house,” he says. A report further informs that residents took the bodies of Kayus and Meky to a local church on Tuesday, but no information about their funeral yet. Meanwhile, two indigenous women were also reportedly injured in the same operation. Elepina Sani, Meky’s mother, was shot in her hand, and currently got treatment in Yoparu Village, while a bullet hit Malopina in her leg. She is referred to Timika on Tuesday for further treatment. Until the article published, no confirmation from both military or police about the incident so far received by Jubi. Jubi has attempted to contact Papua Police Chief Paulus Waterpauw on Whatsapp at 20.26 Papua time for clarification, but no reply so far. (*) Reporter: Hengky Yeimo Editor: Pipit Maizier
Military spokesperson says victims of military operation in Sugapa are members of insurgent group
Jubi 25 February 2020
Jayapura, Jubi – Colonel Eko Daryanto, the military public relations chief of Cenderawasih Military Command, says a victim killed on Tuesday (18/2/2020) in the armed conflict in Yaparo Village of Sugapa Sub-district, Intan Jaya Regency was an insurgent group member. He also claims that a boy killed in the same shooting location shot by the armed group. Colonel Daryanto’s clarification is opposite to a witness’ statement cited by Jubi on Tuesday. Jubi resource told that both victims Kayus Sani and Meky Tipagau are civilians. He also informed two women had wounded during the attack.
As cited by Antara News Agency, Eko Daryanto states that the joint enforcement troop had involved in a gun conflict with an insurgent group in Sugapa on Tuesday at 7.20 Papua time when they saw two insurgent members carrying two guns. “They involved in a gun conflict while chasing those insurgents, but this armed group made to escape to the cliffs and bushes ahead to Ugimba,” says the colonel in Jayapura on Wednesday (19/2/2020). Moreover, according to him, the troop later found Meky Tipogau’s body when checking the location after the conflict. He declares the victim Tipogau was shot by the military while carrying a weapon, but his friend was able to run away with his gun. Also, during the operation, the joint military troop seized a laptop, a cellular phone and two assembled guns, a facsimile machine, a bow and arrows. Eko further states that during the armed conflict on Tuesday, the insurgent group shot the joint military forces randomly. “Their fire hit 14 years old girls named Kina Sani who shot in her left sole,” says Eko.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Jubi published an article saying two civilians reportedly killed in Sugapa. According to Jubi source, the victims Kayus Sani and Meky Tipogau shot by the security forces in their houses. He stated that the shooting incident happened in the Tuesday early morning in Yoparu Village, Sugapa Subdistrict. Jubi also reported that two women had injured during the armed conflict in the same location. Elepina Sani, Meky Tipogau’s mother, was shot in her hand, and now treated by locals in Yoparu Village. Meanwhile, Malopina Sani who shot in her leg referred to Timika for further medical treatment on Tuesday. (*) Reporter: Aryo Wisanggeni G Editor: Pipit Maizier
Three wounded in exchange of fire in Nduga, Papua
Antara News 27 february 2020
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Three people were injured, including a member of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), in an exchange of fire between security forces and an armed group in Nduga, Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen Paulus Waterpauw confirmed here on Thursday. Two civilians who were injured in the shooting on Wednesday (Feb 26) have been treated at Kenyam Hospital, while the wounded policeman was evacuated to Jakarta from Timika, Waterpauw said.
According to the police, the armed group had attacked a military post in Koteka village. Waterpauw noted that the shooting has confirmed the authority's decision not to withdraw security personnel from the district. The Indonesian Military and Police stationed its personnel in Nduga district following the assault against construction workers of state-owned construction firm PT Istaka Karya in December 2018 that killed 17 workers, while the fate of four other workers is still unclear. The security personnel are guarding the construction of a bridge in the region, he said. The workers are building a road that will provide access to the hilly area in Kali-Yigi-kali Urak in Nduga. Responding to the demand to withdraw the security personnel, Waterpauw said, the armed group is still creating trouble in the region and attacking security personnel. "Do not politicize the existence of the Indonesian military and police in Nduga, because the security personnel are also among the victims of the attack," he stressed.
Reporter: Evarukdijati, Sri Haryati Editor: Fardah Assegaf
According to the police, the armed group had attacked a military post in Koteka village. Waterpauw noted that the shooting has confirmed the authority's decision not to withdraw security personnel from the district. The Indonesian Military and Police stationed its personnel in Nduga district following the assault against construction workers of state-owned construction firm PT Istaka Karya in December 2018 that killed 17 workers, while the fate of four other workers is still unclear. The security personnel are guarding the construction of a bridge in the region, he said. The workers are building a road that will provide access to the hilly area in Kali-Yigi-kali Urak in Nduga. Responding to the demand to withdraw the security personnel, Waterpauw said, the armed group is still creating trouble in the region and attacking security personnel. "Do not politicize the existence of the Indonesian military and police in Nduga, because the security personnel are also among the victims of the attack," he stressed.
Reporter: Evarukdijati, Sri Haryati Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Joni Botak led Papuans who killed policeman
Antara News 1st March 2020
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Joni Botak led a group of Papuan criminals involved in a two-hour gunfight with Indonesian security personnel in Jipabera, Tembagapura Subdistrict, in Mimika District, Friday, February 28, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said. Police Constable Doni Priyanto, of the mobile brigade unit, who was wounded in the gunfight died of his injuries early Saturday, Waterpauw told ANTARA in Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, Saturday. The policeman who belonged to Jakarta's Kelapa Dua Mobile Brigade Division had been evacuated to Timika, the capital of Mimika District. His body would be airlifted to Jakarta for burial, Waterpauw said.
The Joni Botak-led armed group which operated around the Kali Kabur area of Tembagapura Subdistrict might have also been responsible for the abduction of three contract teachers, according to Waterpauw. The law enforcement efforts to crush these notorious criminals would continue until they surrendered, he added. The security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to 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 have also launched deadly attacks on civilians over the past years and killed a number of them.
The Joni Botak-led armed group which operated around the Kali Kabur area of Tembagapura Subdistrict might have also been responsible for the abduction of three contract teachers, according to Waterpauw. The law enforcement efforts to crush these notorious criminals would continue until they surrendered, he added. The security situation in Papua remains vulnerable to 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 have also launched deadly attacks on civilians over the past years and killed a number of them.
From early January to December 28, 2019, a total of 23 shooting and criminal cases involving the Papuan groups had claimed the lives of 10 members of the Indonesian police and military as well as 10 civilians, the Papua Police recorded. The Papuan criminals committed such acts in the administrative areas of the districts of Puncak Jaya, Jayawijaya, Mimika, and Paniai in 2019, Waterpauw said on December 28, 2019. Apart from the endeavors of the central and provincial governments to persuade the rebels to end their acts of violence and return to their families to resume a normal life, the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has officially declared war against Indonesia. The implication of this OPM's declaration that its spokesman Jeffrey Bomanak made in Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea (PNG), on January 31, 2019, has prolonged the circle of violence. Reporter: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution Editor: Mulyo Sunyoto
Indonesia: Priest Says Child Among 2 Killed in Alleged Papua Firefight
Victor Mambor Jayapura, Indonesia 2020-02-20
Security forces shot dead an elementary school student during an alleged firefight in Papua that killed two people dead and injured two others, a local Catholic leader said Thursday, in the latest violence in Indonesia’s troubled easternmost province. However, the Indonesian military said the slain boy was an 18-year-old separatist rebel, when he was killed in a clash with soldiers earlier this week. Melki Tipagau, 12, and Kayus Sani, 51, were allegedly shot and killed by security forces in Galunggama, a village in Intan Jaya regency, said Father Yustinus Rahangiar, a member of the Catholic deanery overseeing the Monis, the largest tribe in the area. “The boy was diminutive, small. I’m not sure he could carry a weapon,” said Yustinus, who visited the boy’s home.
“He (Melki) was in sixth grade, age 11 or 12 years. If people say this child is 18 years old, that must be wrong. I am sure because he was my disciple,” the priest told BenarNews. Two women identified as Heletina Sani and Kalopina Sani were injured in Tuesday’s incident, he said. Yustinus said the killing of a child would create an atmosphere of fear among local youths.
A list of pupils at the YPPK Bilogai Elementary School seen by BenarNews included the name Melki Tipagau, born Feb.14, 2008. School Principal Stefanus Sondegau said Melki was a 6th-grade student there. “In the last few months many children from Galunggama have not come to the school because of an unfavorable security situation,” Stefanus said. But Col. Eko Daryanto, spokesman for the military’s 17th regional command Cenderawasih, which oversees Papua province, said Melki Tipagau was a member of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist group and 18 years old. He said Melki was killed during clashes between rebels and a joint team of soldiers and police, and that a teenage girl was wounded by a ricocheted bullet fired by OPM members. “The person killed was an 18-year-old OPM member and the wounded is 14 years,” Eko told BenarNews by telephone Thursday.
In a statement a day earlier, Eko said Melki’s body was found with a gun after the firefight in Galunggama. He did not say what kind of gun it was.
“Some time after the gunfight, the joint team carried out a search of the scene and found some evidence including a male corpse (18 years old) by the name of Melki Tipagau, of the Moni tribe, who was killed during the firefight and carrying a gun,” Eko said. Eko said the military had received information from a tribal chief that Melki had joined the separatist group. Other evidence found at the scene included a laptop, a cellphone, a handy talky, two homemade guns, a facsimile machine, a bow and several arrows, he said. Sebby Sambom, spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of OPM, disputed the military’s account, saying all the casualties were civilians. “The real story is that Indonesian security forces shot dead and wounded native Papuan civilians,” Sambom said in a statement Wednesday. The statement identified the casualties as Yoparu village head Kayus Sani, Melki, his mother Heletina Sani, 31, and Malopina Sani, 11. Violence has been on the rise in Intan Jaya since December, after Jakarta deployed more security forces in the area.
On Dec. 12, suspected rebels shot dead two government soldiers, while a resident was killed and two others were wounded by security forces last month.
The uptick in armed violence has prompted the Papuan Indigenous Council to call on the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to form a fact-finding team to investigate. On Monday, a panel set up by Komnas HAM concluded in a report that Indonesian soldiers had shot and killed four Papuan high schoolers during anti-Jakarta protests in Paniai regency in December 2014. Komnas labeled the killings as “a gross violation of human rights,” and the panel that investigated the incident said it was part of a pattern of “widespread or systematic crimes against a civilian population.”
In a report published in July 2018, London-based rights group Amnesty International said that Indonesian security forces had “unlawfully killed at least 95 people” in Papua and West Papua provinces in eight years since 2010. It said a majority of the perpetrators had not been held to account for the killings and most of the victims were activists and protesters.“Papua is one of Indonesia’s black holes for human rights. This is a region where security forces have for years been allowed to kill women, men and children, with no prospects of being held to account,” Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia’s executive director, said at the time. The Papua region was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-administered ballot known as the Act of Free Choice. Many Papuans and rights groups said the vote was a sham because it involved only 1,000 people. Separatists have fought for independence for the mainly Melanesian region since the Dutch ceded the territory to the United Nations in 1962 and to Indonesia the next year. Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta contributed to this report.
The ICP has also reported on the incident Intan Jaya
https://www.humanrightspapua.org/news/32-2020/544-joint-security-forces-kill-indigenous-community-leader-and-minor-during-military-raid-in-intan-jaya https://www.humanrightspapua.org/news/32-2020/544-joint-security-forces-kill-indigenous-community-leader-and-minor-during-military-raid-in-intan-jaya
Unrest throughout August and September 2019 results in 59 fatalities
The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) reported that there were 59 deaths in the anti-racism riots that occurred in August and September last year.
From ICP report
The unrest due to Papua-wide anti-racism riots between late August and late September marks one of the most significant events throughout 2019. The ICP has put together a list of victims who died during the series of violent incidents. Outbreaks of ethnic violence between Papuans and non-Papuans as well as violent security force crackdowns on demonstrations resulted in a total number of 59 civilian fatalities within a period of less than one month. While the situation in West Papua has temporarily calmed down, the potential risk of further outbreaks of violence continues to exist as the root causes of the conflict remain unaddressed. The Indonesian Government has not taken meaningful steps to counter the marginalisation of indigenous Papuans, tackle racist notions among Indonesian security forces and civil society or enter into dialogue with the independence movement to settle the political conflict in West Papua.
The trials after the unrests have failed to bring justice for most victims and their families. Mild sentences for perpetrators, prosecution of Papuan protesters as well as the criminalisation of political activists and human rights defenders have nourished existing anger among many indigenous Papuans. In solidarity with the victims and their relatives, the ICP demands Indonesian authorities to conduct independent, impartial and effective investigations into all of the following cases. All perpetrators should be brought to justice at civilian courts through fair and transparent trials. The following table lists the names of those who have lost their lives during the outbreaks of violence:
It is sad news to hear of the death of Andy Ayamiseba. Condolences to his family and friends.
Long time Papuan activist passes on
Vanuatu Daily Post Feb 24, 2020
As Vanuatu was commemorating Lini Day to remember one of Vanuatu's founding fathers, late Walter Lini, news circulated about the passing of another advocate for freedom for the Melanesians in the the Indonesian-ruled Papua or West Papua, the other half of Papua New Guinea. Originally from Papua but a longtime resident of Port Vila, Andy Ayamiseba, was staunch in his stand to see Papua be given political freedom by Indonesia.
He was one of those that was instrumental behind the setting up of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) as a body and establishment of its secretariat in Port Vila. Ayamiseba was the manager of the Black Brothers, the band from Papua that sought refuge in Vanuatu in the 1980s and became the most popular band in Vanuatu in the post-independence era of the country. Andy Ayamiseba is the second Papuan to have passed on in Vanuatu amid the sacrifice and support for a free Papua. The first to have passed on in Vanuatu was Dr John Ondowame, who came later to Vanuatu after Ayamiseba.
A ULMWP Statement on the Passing of Andy Ayamiseba
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) is deeply saddened by the news that Andy Ayamiseba, long-standing fighter for West Papua’s freedom, has passed away in Canberra, Australia.
Regenvanu tells how Australia, PNG, Fiji agreed to Resolution on West Papua
Vanuatu Daily Post By Len Garae Mar 7, 2020
In the ACP Meeting in Togo in December of 2018, Vanuatu had the opportunity to meet the countries of Africa and the Caribbean to check if they still adopted the same position after many African countries had either voted against or abstained in the United Nations vote regarding Indonesia’s continuing control over West Papua. “We went back to them in Togo to find out if they still adopted the same position on West Papua, and many of them confirmed that their stand had not changed. They (African countries) always said, ‘You have our support but you countries in the Pacific must take the lead. We cannot force ourselves in if not every one of you support the resolution’, said outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Ralph Regenvanu. “In the South Pacific Forum we have countries that support Indonesia like Papua New Guinea under its leadership at the time, and Fiji that said, ‘We cannot talk about the Independence of West Papua at this time because we cannot support it’.
“This is why we changed our strategy to start talking about allegations serious human right violations in West Papua. For instance Indonesia does not allow anyone including journalists to enter West Papua to see and report on the situation on the ground. This was how we convinced other countries to support us.“This is how we convinced PIF member countries including PNG, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia to agree to our resolution. “This is how we have progressed by pushing the language of human rights at the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Suva in June of last year by passing a resolution that the Human Rights Commissioner must visit West Papua to carry out an independent assessment on the human rights situation on the ground and report back to the PIF Leaders when they meet here in Vanuatu this year in the first week of August from 3rd to 7th. “We tabled the resolution and it was passed for the first time as Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji could not argue against human rights violations. “ULMWP claimed massive human rights violations while Indonesia denied all the allegations. This resolution was passed by Foreign Ministers and went on to be passed by the Leaders. “We were fortunate that the Prime Minister of Tonga at the time, Akilisi Pohiva (who passed away after that meeting) said we Leaders should be ashamed for not supporting West Papua. Other Leaders including the Prime Minister of Samoa also spoke critically against Indonesia and the PIF was united in its call for the Human Rights Commissioner to visit West Papua and report back to PIF in Port Vila this year. “We have taken this West Papua Resolution to ACP which comprises all former colonies of the European Union totaling 79 countries.
“In 2018 when we tried to push the resolution through, out of 79 countries only Papua New Guinea did not support the resolution, which explained why the 79 countries did not adopt the resolution. This explained why we had to go back to ensure our Melanesian neighbor country PNG did not object. We went back to PIF and when PNG adopted the resolution against human rights issues then it could not change its mind at ACP because it had already agreed at PIF in Tuvalu including the Prime Ministers if Australia and Fiji.
No one could go against the resolution and we pushed it through. The Resolution is for the Human Rights Commissioner to visit West Papua in the first week of August. Failing the arrival of the Commissioner’s Report in August, the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs said Vanuatu would escalate the process by applying Plan B which would be for Vanuatu to go to the UN to talk about “Decolonization”. “At present we are still lobbying with the Human Rights Office in Geneva through Ambassador Sumbe Antas to ask them when the Commissioner would go to West Papua after the world community of ACP has mandated him to go”. After having said that, the Minister stressed that all this would have to be picked up by the new Government which ever that is going to be. The Minister appealed to all political parties and all elected Members of Parliament to make sure that they all sing the same tune on West Papua by adopting the same stand first uttered by the late Father Walter Lini that Vanuatu would not be totally free until all of Melanesia is free of colonial rule.
Wenda presents ULMWP Report
Vanuatu Daily Post By Len Garae 4 March
President of ULMWP Benny Wenda (left) presents ULMWP Report to President of VFWPC, Pastor Alain Nafuki
The President of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Benny Wenda, is confident that the new Vanuatu Government will pick up from where the Charlot Salwai Government has stopped and continue with Vanuatu’s traditional commitment to support the struggle for the freedom for the people of West Papua. The President of ULMWP made his statement on his latest visit to present the Government and VANGO representatives on the latest progress report on the achievements of his organisation. He is optimistic the new Government will also present the West Papua case at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The first ever Chairman of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Committee of 2004, Ralph Regenvanu and outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, is appealing to all current political parties and groupings to maintain Vanuatu’s traditional commitment of supporting the people of West Papua to gain their Independence from Indonesia. The former Chairman spoke up at a special meeting at Owen Hall to allow the current President of ULMWP, Benny Wenda, to update the Government, VFWP
Chairman, Pastor Alain Nafuki and his representatives on the current achievements of ULMWP on behalf of the people of West Papua. “I salute the Vanuatu Government and people of Vanuatu and the Vanuatu Free West Papua Committee for your unwavering support for the freedom of the people of West Papua from colonial rule,” Wenda said. “While we celebrate Lini Day (on February 28), our hearts also cry for the passing of our dear brother and friend, Andy Ayamiseba who coincidently also passed away at 3.30pm on the same day. “But while we mourn for Andy’s death as well as Dr. Ondawame who passed away over a year ago, we along with the people of Vanuatu will continue to fight for the freedom of our people of West Papua”. Wenda who is also West Papua’s Global Campaigner who is based in London, confirmed that the purpose of his latest arrival was to update ULMWP and the Vanuatu Government on the achievements of his organisation for West Papua. In Mr Regenvanu’s presence, Wenda thanked him and the Government for the country’s unwavering stand on the position of West Papua from the Melanesian Spearhead Group and Pacific Islands Forum to the latest successful breakthrough at Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) with unanimous support by all 87 member countries. “In the presence of the caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador John Licht, the adoption of West Papua by ACP brought tears to my eyes”, said the President of ULMWP.
“The Government has been pushing the West Papua Struggle very hard from the Pacific to London to Brussels through its Diplomats and has confirmed a commitment not shown by any other country for which I am truly grateful.
“Vanuatu is a small country compared to Indonesia which has abundant resources but their resources come from West Papua anyway. “I always compare Vanuatu and Indonesia as David fighting Goliath and so may I ask all of you present to applaud you Minister (Regenvanu) for your staunch support for West Papua”. Looking back to Vanuatu’s initiative to unite the different factions of West Papua at the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs’ Nakamal for the first time ever in November of 2014, Wenda said, “The people of West Papua never dreamed that they would be united to fight as one until they were united in 2014. “At the time, I remember then Prime Minister Joe Natuman say, ‘If you declare (yourselves), Indonesia may come and bomb (you), let them come and bomb in this land but we stand with God”, he recalled.
Wenda confirmed that three main factions in West Papua have now become united through ULMWP and focus on the freedom of their people.
Speaking via the support of power-point pictures, Wenda showed the picture of 700 tortured West Papua students in Jakarta. “In the last two years in Dunga in the Highlands where I come from, Indonesian soldiers killed 38 women, 110 children and 95 men in an operation which caused 400,000 internal refugees including 57 political prisoners”, he explained. “This is a big riot after Indonesia called West Papuans as monkeys and asked them to go home. In other words, if Indonesia called West Papuans monkeys then it also means all of Melanesia is populated by monkeys”. Five political parties debated West Papua in the House of Common for the first time. Three military factions in West Papua have been united for the first time under ULMWP and are now called West Papua Army. “After lobbying PIF for the last 19 years, it was an emotional atmosphere for me as the Regional Organisation including Australia and New Zealand supported West Papua”, he said. “We have already submitted our application and we hope the Vanuatu Government will support our application request for full membership”. Wenda presented last year’s Progress Report to the Chairman of VFWPC, Pastor Alain Nafuki. In his response, Pastor Nafuki congratulated the President of ULMWP for the report on its achievements saying it has been able to achieve for much in so short a period of time for the advancement of the people of West Papua.
School made a security post disturbs learning activities
Published on 18 February 2020 By Admin1
Sentani, Jubi – A local parliament member of Lanny Jaya Girmin Wenda urges military and police to withdraw their troops from Popome Elementary School in Mokoni subdistrict. “They made school as a security post that affecting school activities (stop enrol). This is very detrimental for the next generation,” said Wenda in his written statement received by Jubi on Wednesday (02/12/2020). The Indonesian security forces have occupied the school since the shooting incident over a motorcycle taxi driver happened in November last year. It assumed the local government permitted them to make school a security post. Concerning this, he further states it was a mistake as it disturbs the progress of education in Papua. Moreover, the current situation in the local area is very conducive following the traditional peace procession conducted by the local community in Balingga subdistrict .“I am very concerned about this. The school just commenced in 2014, and now, they must stop their learning activities,” said Wenda.
According to him, the school applying as a security post was a unilateral act because of the local community as the customary landowner has never included in this arrangement. “The community gave up their land for school construction. If you want to build a police and military post on this land, you have to go through meetings involve village and subdistrict communities to propose to the local parliament,” explained Wenda. Similarly, Titus Yikwa, the Chairman of the Alliance for Papua Baptist Churches (PGBP) also calls for military and police to stop using the school as their security post. According to him, the presence of both military and police troops has disturbed the peace of local people, especially children. “Children (elementary pupils) see them (the security forces) wearing camouflage and holding arms run away instantly. Even some get injured (because of falling while running). They are very scared (of them),” said Yukawa. (*) Reporter: Yance Wenda Editor: Pipit Maizier
Yalimo’s students reject military posts built in two subdistricts
Jubi1 March 2020 By Admin1
Yalimo’s students during the press conference rejecting the military posts in Abenaho and Apahapsili subdistricts. – Jubi/Piter Lokon
Jayapura, Jubi – Yalimo Students Association in Indonesia (HMKY) states their rejection towards the military plan to build new posts in Abenaho and Apahapsili subdistricts located in Yalimo Regency. Concerning the plan, HMKY Chairman John West Wandik says Yalimo residents always respect the importance of family, harmonious, religious and cultural virtues. In regards to this plan, he is worried that it might create a conflict between civilians and the military.
“We can see that in many regional towns in Papuan mountainous area as well as other regions in Papua where military and police come to maintain security and stability, even build their military command posts, there are conflicts between military and civilians. So, it’s enough. Let it occur in other regions, not in Yalimo. Here, we do not need any support from the military. But they can build a post in the capital of Yalimo Regency, Elelim,” said Wandik in the press conference held in Jayapura on Wednesday (26/2/2020). If it was the local government who asked for the military to build their posts in every Yalimo’s subdistricts, it means the government wants to create new conflict, he says.
“Referring to the incidents of the past few years, when the military through the program of the military-goes-to village came to Apahapsili in 2002 while we were in elementary school, we have seen that the people’s life never been changed better,” he said. Meanwhile, a local figure Mothis Yohame said people also decline the military posts proposal in five subdistricts because it regards to raise a new conflict. So far, he observes that many disputes occurred due to the military’s presence in the community. “We have never faced any security issue in Yalimo from the past until today. Everything runs very well. Therefore, we firmly refuse the military posts to build,” said Yohame. Meanwhile, the military spokesperson deputy Lieutenant Colonel Dax Sianture when confirmed by Jubi says he does not know about the plan and will check it with the local authority for verification. “Okay, I need to check this information first to find out whether we have plan to build new post or not. So, I cannot give any comments now,” he says. (*) Reporter: Piter Lokon Editor: Pipit Maizier
Uncen students held a protest demanding authority to release Papuan political prisoners
Jubi 4 March 2020 By Admin1
Hundreds of students of the University of Cenderawasih held a protest demanding the government to release seven Papuan political prisoners who are currently on trial at Balikpapan District Court, Kalimantan Timur. -Jubi/Hengky Yeimo
Jayapura, Jubi – Hundreds of students of the University of Cenderawasih held a protest in Jayapura, Papua on Monday (2/3/2020). They urge the authority to release seven political prisoners who are currently on trial at Balikpapan District Court. They also ask President Joko Widodo to follow up a report handed by lawyer Veronika Koman about 57 Papuan political prisoners and 243 dead civilians in Nduga, Papua, following the incident of the murder of PT Istaka Karya workers on 2 December 2018. Wearing their university jackets, they called for the release of seven Papuan political prisoners. Buchtar Tabuni, Agus Kossay, Steven Itlay, Alexander Gobay, Feri Bom Kombo, Hengky Hilapork and Irwanus Uropmabin are the political prisoners who currently undergo their trial in Balikpapan. The protesters held posters and banners “Immediately Free Seven Political Prisoners in Kalimantan” and “Seven Prisoners of Racism Victims to Immediately Send Home to the Motherland West Papua.”
The chairman of the Executive Board of Uncen Law School Yops Itlay, in his oration in front of the demonstrators, said the authority must release and send the seven political prisoners home immediately. He further stated that the case of seven political prisoners should take in Papua, instead forcedly took to Kalimantan Timur for the trial. In his speech, Itlay emphasised that the seven political prisoners are the victims of racism incident occurred in Surabaya on 16 August 2019. He considered the trial against the seven political prisoners and other Papuans involved in an anti-racism rally in Papua is not fair as it accused them as perpetrators (of riot). “We are victims, but they pointed us as perpetrators. Today we held our protest because we are not animals. We are just like them, human beings created by God,” he spoke in front of the university gate in Waena, Jayapura.
In a statement read by Yops Itlay, the protesters also asked President Joko Widodo to immediately taking action on the report handed by lawyer Veronika Koman about the current 57 Papuan political prisoners and 243 civilians who died in Nduga, Papua. “The president of the Republic Indonesia to immediately taking action the report handed by human rights lawyer Veronika Koman about 57 political prisoners and 243 civilians died in Nduga, Papua, since December 2018,” read Itlay. Furthermore, the protesters asked the Papuan Governor, Papuan House of Representatives and Papuan People’s Assembly to immediately taking a concrete step to repatriate Papuan students who are victims of racism and free the seven Papuan political prisoners. “[Authority] must immediately free the seven political prisoners, as well as Surya Anta and other Papuan friends in Jakarta,” said Yops Itlay. Moreover, he said prosecutors and judges as part of the law enforcement apparatus should act impartially and respect the law. “The prosecutor’s office and the court must refer to law and justice, respect people’s equal rights before the law. If they do not listen to us, we students are ready to boycott PON (National Sport Event) 2020 in Papua,” he said. Meanwhile, representing Uncen, the Vice-Rector III Yonatan Waromi who accompanied his students in the rally appreciated this peaceful demonstration. “This is a part of democracy that should maintain on the campus. We would support the freedom of expression on campus because students are the social control to the society,” said Waromi. (*) Reporter: Hengky Yeimo Editor: Pipit Maizier
Legal counsel Warinussy: We refute the prosecutor’s indictment and will submit an exception
Published on 17 February 2020 By Admin1
Manokwari, Jubi – The legal counsel of three students who respectively arrested following the anti-racism protest in Manokwari on 3 September 2019 said he is ready to submit an exception against the public prosecutor’s indictment in the inaugural trial session held at the Manokwari District Court on Thursday (13/2/2020). The three students took to the court after their involvement as orators and negotiators in a rally to protest the racism against Papuans at Gunung Salju Amban, Manokwari, on 3 September 2019, which attended by hundreds of protestors. In the indictment, the prosecutor declared that the three defendants had said provocatives and resistance words against the police who were on duty securing the demonstration. As the results of their provocative words, the protest mob had moved to fight the police by throwing water mineral bottles and stones to the police, causing injuries to the police.
Meanwhile, Yan Christian Warinussy as the legal counsel team chief said his clients Erik Aliknoe, Pende Mirin and Yunus Aliknoe had not been able to accept the prosecutor’s indictment. Regarding this, his team will submit an exception in the next hearing session. “We ask for a week to study the indictment as well as to prepare an exception,” said Warinussy. On the other hand, Benoni A Kombado in the indictment stated that the three defendants had violated the public speech as regulated in article 106 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with article 55 paragraph 1 to 1e of the Criminal Code. On the request by the legal counsel of the three defendants, the Chair Judge Sonny L.B. Loemurry suspended the trial and said it would be resumed on Thursday, 20 February 2020 with the agenda of hearing the exception by the legal counsel on the prosecutor’s indictment. (*)
Reporter: Hans Kapisa Editor: Pipit Maizier
Sayang Mandabayan charged with treason, legal counsellor applying an exception
Published on 17 February 2020 By Admin1
Manokwari, Jubi – The Public Prosecutor of the Manokwari District Attorney accused Sayang Mandabayan with treason article 106 in conjunction with article 53 of the Indonesian Criminal Code in the indictment reading at the Manokwari District Court on Thursday (13/02/2020). In the indictment, the public prosecutor from the Manowari District Attorney General Benoni A. Kambado indicted the defendant Sayang Mandabayan participating as an orator in the anti-racism protest in Sorong City on 19 August 2019 which ended in chaos. Furthermore, he appointed that with the same intention, the defendant left for Manokwari on 3 September 2019 to attend the similar protest on the same day. However, the police and airport security officers arrested her and seized her luggage at Rendani Airport, Manokwari. The public prosecutor also mentioned in the indictment that, with her own initiative, Mandabayan had prepared 1,496 miniatures of morning star flag made by paper and stick, 4 pieces of white t-shirts with monkey images and 3 reams of printed song lyrics ‘Dari Ombak Besar’ and ‘Hai Tanahku Papua’.
Meanwhile, Mandabayan’s legal counsel Metuzalak Awom said he would file an objection against the indictment, given that the location of the trial and the place of detention against his clients are under the jurisdiction of Manokwari. “We will submit an exception because of the facts mentioned in the indictment were not match with the locus (place) of the incident,” he told Jubi on Thursday (13/2/2020) in Manokwari. Furthermore, he considered there was an attempt of criminalisation against his client by connecting the incident in Sorong with the arrest of Mandabayan at Rendani Manokwari Airport. “Whether it would be accepted or not, our exception would clearly be an early indication to the prosecutor’s indictment before we are going into the substantive matter,” he said. In the meantime, the panel judges chair Faisal Kossah approved the request of Mandabayan’s attorney to conduct an exception. “We suspend the hearing until next week on 20 February 2020 with the agenda of hearing the exception by the legal counsellor on the prosecutor’s indictment,” concluded Faisal. (*) Reporter: Hans Kapisa Editor: Pipit Maizier
Indonesia military to blame for 2014 Papua killings: Rights commission
News Desk Jakarta February 17, 2020
Indonesia's military shot dead four students in the country's restive Papua region during 2014 protests and carried out "gross human rights violations", a commission investigating the uprising concluded Monday.
Komnas HAM issued its findings five years after the high-school students were gunned down in Paniai, a central area of insurgency-wracked Papua province, which shares a border with independent Papua New Guinea. "This incident constitutes crimes against humanity," the commission's chief investigator Muhammad Choirul Anam told AFP in a statement Monday. The military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Komnas HAM said it had forwarded its dossier on the unrest to the country's attorney general for possible prosecution. The probe was hampered by long delays due to attempts by unnamed individuals to hide evidence, the human rights commission said.
'Torture' Rank-and-file soldiers and their superiors should shoulder the blame for the deaths of the students, aged 17 and 18, as well as "torturing" another 21 demonstrating Papuans, it said, without elaborating. The protests were sparked by the alleged beatings of other Papuan youths by the army. Security forces eventually opened fire on a crowd after demonstrators threw stones at a military office. The commission interviewed two dozen witnesses, analysed documents and visited the scene to determine whether the military was involved in the deaths. So far no-one has been charged.
Father Demands Justice for Son Killed by Indonesian Troops in Papua Protests
Victor Mambor Jayapura, Indonesia 2020-02-18
The father of a high school student who was one of four protesters killed by soldiers in Indonesia’s troubled Papua province in 2014 demanded justice for his son, a day after the National Commission on Human Rights ruled the shooting “a gross violation.” Alpius Gobai, Yulian Yeimo, and Alpius Youw – all 17 – and fellow student Simon Degei, 18 were shot and killed during anti-Jakarta protests in Paniai regency on Dec. 8, 2014. Violence erupted in Enarotali, the regency’s capital, after two soldiers who had been challenged by local teenagers the previous day for reckless driving allegedly attacked the youths, seriously injuring one of them. “We want the perpetrators to be tried and punished according to the law. My child is dead and he won’t come back, but the culprits must be tried,” Obet Gobai, the father of Alpius, told BenarNews on Tuesday.
He was speaking from Paniai, through a relative who interpreted for him. Obet does not speak Indonesian but said the shootings occurred in broad daylight and were witnessed by many people.
On Monday, more than five years after the killings, a team set up by the national commission known as Komnas HAM – an independent body – concluded that soldiers were responsible for the incident. “By acclamation, we decided that it was a gross violation of human rights,” Komnas HAM Chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik said in the statement. Team leader M. Choirul Anam said the Paniai incident met criteria necessary for a gross human rights violation, saying it was part of a pattern of “widespread or systematic crimes directed against a civilian population.” The team questioned 26 witnesses, inspected the scene of the shootings in Enarotali, examined documents and consulted experts during its investigation, the commission said. The team also found indications of “obstruction of justice” in the aftermath of the shootings, Choirul said.
It submitted a report on the investigation to the Attorney General’s Office on Feb. 11. Meanwhile, human rights activists called on Indonesian leader Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to act on the report. “We urge the president to take concrete steps following Komnas HAM’s investigation into the Paniai incident and to order the attorney general to immediately conduct an investigation,” Yati Andriani, coordinator for the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), told BenarNews.
Yati said the report could be the first step in efforts to heal the wounds of the Papuan people. She also called on Jokowi to start a dialogue with Papuans and end what she called “the militaristic approach.” John Gobay, secretary of the Papuan Customary Council, urged the government to establish a human rights court in Papua where the Paniai case could be tried.
“The Papuan public must be able to see the judicial process with their own eyes. If a human rights court is established in Papua, it will be easier for witnesses to testify,” Gobay said.
Chief of staff: ‘No structural of systematic attacks’
In Jakarta, presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko challenged the Komnas report. The Paniai incident was not a gross human rights violation, he insisted, adding there were no orders for soldiers to shoot. “Paniai was a sudden event. It must be seen in that context because there were no structural or systematic attacks,” Moeldoko said on Monday. Moeldoko, who commanded the Indonesian military at the time of the shooting, said soldiers were responding to an attack by the crowd. “Don’t make an inaccurate conclusion,” Moeldoko said.
AI speaks out on Papua
On Tuesday, the director of the Indonesian chapter of Amnesty International said the Paniai case was one of many attacks allegedly conducted by the military in Papua. “According to a 2018 Amnesty report, the Paniai case was only one of a total of 69 extra-judicial killings that occurred from 2008 to early 2018,” Usman Hamid said. Meanwhile, Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, said he had not seen the report. “I have not received the letter. I just read about it in the news. Why should I make statements to the media?” Mahfud told reporters at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Tuesday. In a report released a year after the shootings, Amnesty and KontraS said the Paniai case was “not an isolated incident but speaks to a culture of impunity that continues to exist in the Papua region.” “Previous administrations have also turned a blind eye to human rights violations carried out by security forces, including unlawful killings, excessive use of force, and torture and other ill-treatment, which is evident from investigations that have been delayed, dropped, or their findings buried, leaving victims and their families without access to truth, justice and reparations,” the groups said. The Papua region, which makes up the Indonesian half of New Guinea island, is home to a separatist insurgency that has simmered for decades. The region was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969, after a U.N.-administered ballot known as the Act of Free Choice. Many Papuans and rights groups said the vote was a sham because it involved only 1,000 people. Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta contributed to this report.
AGO to return ‘incomplete’ investigation on Paniai killings to Komnas HAM
Kompas.com – March 6, 2020
Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Ali Mukartono (centre) – March 3, 2020 (Kompas
Devina Halim, Jakarta – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) will soon return the investigation dossier on the Paniai incident in Papua to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM). Earlier, the AGO stated that the Komnas HAM investigation into the incident had failed to meet the formal and material requirements to be declared a gross human rights violation. “As has already been conveyed, there are still formal and material shortcomings. The [AGO’s] team is currently drafting [a report] on the shortcomings, later it will be returned [to Komnas HAM]”, said Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Ali Mukartono at the AGO complex in South Jakarta on Friday March 6. Mukartono however did not provide details on what would be returned immediately.
According to Mukartono, after the AGO’s team which conducted the study has drafted the guidelines on the shortcomings that need to be addressed by Komnas HAM the dossier will immediately be returned to Komnas HAM.
“After the team has made its report it will be completed, later I will definitely do this”, he said. Mukartono was reluctant to reveal in detail what exactly was lacking in the Komnas HAM investigation. “I’m not allowed to reveal the material. It’s for the consumption of Komnas HAM investigators”, he said.
Earlier on February 11, Komnas HAM submitted the investigation dossier on the incident with the AGO. Komnas HAM itself has already declared that the Paniai incident on December 7-8 2014 was a gross human rights violation. This assessment was reached during a Komnas HAM special plenary meeting on February 3. The special plenary meeting decision was based on the results of an investigation by an ad hoc team which had been working for five years between 2015 and 2020. During the Paniai incident, violence against the civilian population resulted in the death of four people aged between 17-18 years who died as a result of being shot and stabbed. Twenty-one others were injured.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Kejaksaan Agung akan Kembalikan Berkas Paniai ke Komnas HAM”.]
MPR speaker backs extension of autonomy funds for Papua, West Papua
8 hours ago
Wamena, Papua (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said he urges the government and House of Representatives (DPR) to extend the special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua Provinces, which will end in 2021. "With the government and House's political decision, I hope that the provision of the granted special autonomy funds can be extended," he told journalists, on the sidelines of his visit to Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, on Tuesday. However, Soesatyo recalled that the uses of the autonomy funds, which have been granted to Papua Province over for the past 18 years and to West Papua Province for 13 years, should be more effectively directed to improve the welfare of the people. He highlighted the importance of more effective uses of the funds for improving social prosperity, education, and health of the general public in the two provinces.
The total amount of special autonomy funds that the central government has provided to Papua and West Papua since 2012 has reached Rp126.99 trillion. Therefore, their uses need to be optimized for the sake of the public, he said. Evaluating the uses of these funds is needed, but it is not for the purpose of looking for mistakes. Instead, the evaluation is aimed at how to make their uses more effective in bringing prosperity to the residents of Papua and West Papua.
More importantly, peace needs to be preserved and prevented from being disrupted by notorious armed Papuan criminals, who might threaten the safety and security of the people in the two provinces. In dealing with these security issues, Bambang Soesatyo suggested that armed Papuan criminals be approached, not only law enforcement, but also through intensive discussions by involving all parties, including local officials and religious figures. Referring to Indonesia's 2019 human development index, the scores of Papua and West Papua were recorded at 64.7 and 60.84, respectively, which remains lower than those of other Indonesian provinces.
In the case of human resources development, during his second term, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pledged to focus on improving the quality of Indonesia's human resources, amid fierce competition among nations in the digital era. His seriousness is obvious, as revealed in the government's statement on the bill on the state budget for the 2020 fiscal year and its financial note, which he delivered to the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on August 16, 2019. The President believes that the power of the improved quality of human resources would enable Indonesia to act upon its vision to become a developed country, Jokowi said. However, in terms of innovation, Indonesia has yet to participate in global innovation networks.
Reporter: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution Editor: Sri Haryati
The total amount of special autonomy funds that the central government has provided to Papua and West Papua since 2012 has reached Rp126.99 trillion. Therefore, their uses need to be optimized for the sake of the public, he said. Evaluating the uses of these funds is needed, but it is not for the purpose of looking for mistakes. Instead, the evaluation is aimed at how to make their uses more effective in bringing prosperity to the residents of Papua and West Papua.
More importantly, peace needs to be preserved and prevented from being disrupted by notorious armed Papuan criminals, who might threaten the safety and security of the people in the two provinces. In dealing with these security issues, Bambang Soesatyo suggested that armed Papuan criminals be approached, not only law enforcement, but also through intensive discussions by involving all parties, including local officials and religious figures. Referring to Indonesia's 2019 human development index, the scores of Papua and West Papua were recorded at 64.7 and 60.84, respectively, which remains lower than those of other Indonesian provinces.
In the case of human resources development, during his second term, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pledged to focus on improving the quality of Indonesia's human resources, amid fierce competition among nations in the digital era. His seriousness is obvious, as revealed in the government's statement on the bill on the state budget for the 2020 fiscal year and its financial note, which he delivered to the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on August 16, 2019. The President believes that the power of the improved quality of human resources would enable Indonesia to act upon its vision to become a developed country, Jokowi said. However, in terms of innovation, Indonesia has yet to participate in global innovation networks.
Reporter: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution Editor: Sri Haryati
Shame on you Australia for your ignorance: Parkop
Post Courier PNG February 24, 2020 BY FRANK RAI
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has lashed out at the Australian government for being tight-lipped and ignorant on the West Papua issue in Indonesia. In a rally in Port Moresby last Friday, the governor openly blasted Australia for being deliberately silent on the West Papua issue when innocent civilians were being terrorised by a neighbouring government (Indonesia) in the region. “Shame on you Australia, shame on you for being silent when men, women and children are being (allegedly) slaughtered right under your nose in West Papua. Australia, being a developed country and tagged as the leader in the Pacific and Oceania region – what can you do for our Melanesian brothers and sisters who are being literally tortured, killed and suppressed right next door in West Papua,” Governor Parkop told the rally.
During the launching of the Free West Papua Campaign 2020 at the Jack Pidik Park, the governor vehemently uttered that the Australian government should be ashamed for doing nothing for the region.
In the presence of a packed crowd, police and both local and international media, the governor bluntly told the Australian government of why it was so afraid of Indonesia and tight-lipped on human rights issues that were getting out of hand in the region. “The human rights issue in West Papua concerns the government of Indonesia. The government is literally torturing, terrorising and suppressing innocent civilians who want to express their rights to freedom of choice. “Simple practical example is that those in West Papua are banned from flying the ‘Morning Star Flag,’ host rallies or conduct public gatherings. A woman was caught by the police with 1500 small flags and automatically arrested and charged with treason two weeks ago,” Governor Parkop said. He said human rights abuse was happening right next door to Australia and Papua New Guinea, however both governments were ‘afraid’ even to raise concern at the United Nations or other appropriate international conventions. Mr Parkop further urged the Australian government to vouch for the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission to visit West Papua and carry out preliminary investigations on the human rights abuse that was being reported daily. He also challenged the Papua New Guinea government to take a bold stand on the West Papua issue, citing ancestral, traditional and customary connections between PNG and West Papua.
During the launching of the Free West Papua Campaign 2020 at the Jack Pidik Park, the governor vehemently uttered that the Australian government should be ashamed for doing nothing for the region.
In the presence of a packed crowd, police and both local and international media, the governor bluntly told the Australian government of why it was so afraid of Indonesia and tight-lipped on human rights issues that were getting out of hand in the region. “The human rights issue in West Papua concerns the government of Indonesia. The government is literally torturing, terrorising and suppressing innocent civilians who want to express their rights to freedom of choice. “Simple practical example is that those in West Papua are banned from flying the ‘Morning Star Flag,’ host rallies or conduct public gatherings. A woman was caught by the police with 1500 small flags and automatically arrested and charged with treason two weeks ago,” Governor Parkop said. He said human rights abuse was happening right next door to Australia and Papua New Guinea, however both governments were ‘afraid’ even to raise concern at the United Nations or other appropriate international conventions. Mr Parkop further urged the Australian government to vouch for the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission to visit West Papua and carry out preliminary investigations on the human rights abuse that was being reported daily. He also challenged the Papua New Guinea government to take a bold stand on the West Papua issue, citing ancestral, traditional and customary connections between PNG and West Papua.
Parkop to establish Free West Papua secretariat in Port Moresby
RNZI 27 February 2020
The governor of Papua New Guinea's National Capital District, Powes Parkop. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
The governor of Papua New Guinea's capital says a Free West Papua Campaign secretariat will be established in his city. Powes Parkop made the announcement in Port Moresby in his latest move to raise awareness about human rights issues in PNG's neighbouring Indonesian-ruled territory of West Papua. Mr Parkop accuses regional governments, including Australia, of turning a blind eye to gross human rights abuses in West Papua. EMTV reports he is using PNG's capital as a hub to lobby support for West Papuan independence aspirations, and is petitioning the UN to address the situation in Papua.
Meanwhile, the Catholic church in Papua New Guinea has reported a new influx of West Papuan asylum seekers into Western Province. The Catholic Diocese in Kiunga is looking after 133 people who have crossed the border, claiming to have fled from the Indonesian military in West Papua, according to The National.
Kiunga Diocese's Father Gilles Cote said the asylum seekers were being housed in a temporary camp on church land. He said the Kiunga public was helping care for them with food, water, clothing and other humanitarian needs. The group reportedly arrived last month having walked for around 400km over mountainous terrain from Nduga regency in Indonesian-administrated Papua province. Nduga is the focus of ongoing armed conflict between Indonesia's military and the West Papua Liberation Army, which massacred at least 16 Indonesian road construction workers in the regency in late 2018. PNG's Department of Provincial and Local Level Government, along with officials from Immigrations and Foreign Affairs, are processing the West Papuans to determine their refugee status. Those who do not meet the political refugee status will be advised to return to their home. While those who are identified as political refugees will be transported to Western province's East Awin Camp, a gazetted area for West Papuan refugees.
Signs of influx of West Papuans into PNG
From Dateline Pacific, 5:02 am on 17 February 2020
There are signs of a fresh influx of West Papuans into Papua New Guinea amid a protracted conflict across the border. The porous land border has long been easily traversable for people fleeing Indonesian rule on the western half of New Guinea. But provincial and church authorities in PNG provinces abutting the border with Indonesia are anticipating a new wave of displaced people from West Papua. Johnny Blades reports.
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Since 2018, there's been a surge of violent exchanges between the West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesian security forces in Papua province.
Thousands of West Papuans have been displaced from the conflict's epicentre in the Highlands region of the Indonesian-ruled province. Additionally, according to Amnesty International Indonesia's Usman Hamid, Papuans are being criminalised for peacefully expressing their opinion. "Last year, due to racial slurs in Surabaya (that) triggered massive demonstrations across Papua and also some demonstrations in Jakarta, it led to the arrest and detention of more student activists and also political activists charged with treason. And there are at least 57 (arrested and detained) that we can verify last year. And this is maybe the highest number in terms of political prisoners or prisoners of conscience under (Indonesian president) Joko Widodo's administration."
In the wake of the protests, hundreds of West Papuans studying in Java returned home to Papua over security fears. But some of the students say they're being targeted by security forces there. Displaced from their homes, a number of them end up in the jungles of New Guinea, moving across the border to PNG, including into Vanimo electorate. A secretary for Vanimo's MP Belden Namah, Bonny Kaiyo, says the students are seeking asylum in regional countries "They're the ones that are leading the demonstration... mainly led by the students from Wamena to do awareness and so they're the ones who are in all the demonstrations, they're on the frontline of the struggle." Mr Kaiyo says he knows of a group of about 50 students want help getting out of West Papua permanently.
"They want to settle in Australia, New Zealand or the countries in the MSG and the Pacific islands Forum. I think they don't want to go to America or Europe,. They want to stay in the region." Vanimo landowner Dorothy Tekwie confirms some of those displaced by West Papua's recent surge in conflict have fled across the border and ended up in her village. "The numbers in the camps on the PNG side have increased. On my own particular land the number of young people, young men I've never seen before... there is an influx of people coming in, and they feel they are able to slide back in again." The main land access point between Indonesia and PNG is at the Wutung border post on New Guinea's north coast.
A busy terminus for people travelling between the West Papuan capital Jayapura and PNG's Sepik region, Wutung is tightly guarded by Indonesian military forces on the lookout for Papuans who campaign for independence.
Henry Samosir, an information, social and cultural affairs officer from Indonesia's consulate in Vanimo town, 40 minutes drive from the border, says he hasn't seen evidence of a recent influx. But he admits that the nature of the porous nature of the border means it is possible for people to move back and forth undetected. "Since our border with PNG, you can imagine, it's almost 800km and people they are free to do whatever they like and sometimes nobody can see what they are doing." Many Papuans cross the border further south in the rugged mountainous central region, ending up in places like Kiunga in PNG's Western Province. Ms Tekwie says those who end up in PNG are generally able to blend in easily, being fellow Melanesians "I don't know how they get through, but these are mountain people, they walk and live off the land; they know how to hunt; so if it's getting too much on the other side, they just move over here. After all, this is just one island. There is no brick or cement border mark fencing from one end to another, it's just open forest." There's an estimated 10,000 West Papuan refugees residing in PNG. While they may blend in, most of them do not have citizenship, leaving them marginalised from land and public services. In both PNG's Western and West Sepik provinces, the Catholic church often plays a role in caring for Papuan refugees.
The Bishop of Vanimo Francis Meli recalls one West Papuan couple with health problems who his diocese helped. "The diocese of Vanimo, we actually paid fares for them to go to Port Moresby, assuming that they will get treatment there because Vanimo said the case was complicated and difficult, so Moresby would be able to do that." When he was in Moresby recently, the bishop caught up with the pair. "They are struggling to stay in Moresby. Because their status was not very clear, the government would not even allow them to go to the hospital to get treatment." West Papuans are part of a record number of displaced people around the world, approaching 71 million as of last year. Amnesty International Indonesia has urged Jakarta to allow an impartial investigation into the number of internally displaced people affected by conflict in West Papua. The concern is that, left unchecked, the numbers of displaced will swell, and the spillover impacts will grow for PNG.
Six defendants of anti-racism protest in Jayapura sentenced to six months jail
Jubi Published 25 February 2020
Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura District Court found guilty six defendants involved in a mass riot following the anti-racism protests in Papua on 29 August 2019. The panel of judges gave them six months sentence, reduced by the defendants’ detention period. Therefore, the defendants would able to release soon after being sentence since the end of August 2019. However, their legal counsel team says to challenge the verdict because they believe that their clients are not guilty.
The six defendants Yan Peter Suramaja, Dolfin, Vinsen Dogopia, Jorgen Aipui, Valerio Yaas, Peter Meraudje, are found guilty in the trial chaired by Judge Alexander Jacob Tetelepta, with the panel members Roberto Naibaho and Korneles Waroi. The public prosecutor charged them with different articles. Yan Peter Suramaja charged with Emergency Article, while Dolfin accused Article 160 of the criminal code on the incitement against the government. Meanwhile, Vinsen Dogopie charged with Article 170 of the criminal code about conducting violence against people and properties. The other three defendants Jorgen Aipui, Valerio Yaas, and Peter Merauje indicted with Article 365 of the criminal code about theft with violence. In responding to the court’s verdict, lawyer Frederika Korain confirms that her clients would release soon if they accept the verdict because they have been in the detention since the end of August 2029. “Following the court’s verdict, their days in the detention will end soon. But we will consider this and discuss with their family to challenge not guilty,” Korain says on Thursday.
In the meantime, lawyer Relika Tambunan who is also a member of defendants’ legal counsel declares the court finding does not meet the expectation of the Advocate Team for Indigenous Papuans, as the trial was not able to approve the public prosecutor’s indictment. “There is no strong evidence to accuse them. Indeed, the trial cannot prove that our clients are guilty or commit crime as charged to them. We have time to reconsider before challenge for not guilty,” said Tambunan. (*) Reporter: Hengky Yeimo Editor: Aryo Wisanggeni G
Gov't to Renew Presidential Instruction on Papua
Jakarta Globe BY :DIANA MARISKA FEBRUARY 26, 2020
Jakarta. Indonesia's chief security minister has confirmed the renewal of a presidential instruction, or Inpres, to authorize further development in Papua – the country's easternmost region – under a single government command. "The renewed presidential instruction will be more comprehensive in its handling of Papua," the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud M.D., said in Jakarta on Tuesday. Previously, state agencies have their own development team in Papua – and each of them has their own system and chain of command "The National Development Planning Agency [Bappenas] has a team that focuses mainly on economic development and social welfare. And here [in my ministry], we have a team taking care of security ans defense. We will merge all of them under one command. We don't want to give the impression one particular approach, be it security or military, is being preferred," Mahfud said. Bappenas chairman Suharso Monoarfa will soon take command of all development programs in Papua. "Everything will be under the control of a single team led by the head of Bappenas," Mahfud said. The new presidential instruction will replace the old one issued in 2017 on the acceleration of development in Papua and West Papua..
Threats to Indonesian Sovereignty Mahfud said separatist movement in Papua remains one of the biggest threats to Indonesia's sovereignty. "[In] Papua, as you know, we still have separatist movements, even though we treat them as armed civilian groups [Kelompok Sipil Bersenjata, or KSB]," Mahfud said. Aside from separatism in Papua, Mahfud said another signicant threat to Indonesian sovereignty is China's one-sided claim over parts of the country's territory in the North Natuna Sea. "China claims they have historic rights over the area. But according to international law, Indonesia has been granted sovereign rights over it through the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS] in 1982. That's why we must strengthen our presence there," Mahfud said.
Indonesia to evaluate special funds for Papua: Why $7.4bn since 2002 hasn't solved problem
Asmiati Malik Jakarta February 22, 2020
The Indonesian government plans to evaluate the efficacy of special funds for Papua. These funds have been disbursed to the easternmost region for nearly two decades. The funds, paid since 2002 to support Papua’s development, have failed to grow the region’s economy. Up to 2020, the government has allocated US$7.4 billion, equivalent to more than half of Papua’s gross domestic product in 2019.
Papua Special Autonomy Fund 2002 - 2020
illustration
In 2019 Papua also received US$4.6 billion in funds to develop villages in the region and US$1.9 billion for infrastructure development. Despite massive financial assistance, Papua’s economic growth remains stunted. The latest data from Statistics Indonesia show Papua’s economy contracted by minus 15.75% in the last quarter of 2019. Its GDP growth slumped from 7.37% in 2018 to minus 13.63% in the first quarter of 2019. Many reportshave questioned the efficacy of the special funds as they don’t resolve Papua’s complicated problems, which are entwined with political and social issues.
The root of the problems
To understand those issues, we need to understand the nature of politics and development approaches to Papua. Suharto’s administration treated Papua differently from other regions in Indonesia. His centralised and authoritarian model of government used a militaristic approach to exploit and seize indigenous people’s land. Under Suharto, Papuans were trapped in poverty while the government exploited their natural resources. This unfair treatment lasted for decades, creating anger and provoking separatist movements.
After Suharto’s rule ended in 1998, the government passed a law in 2001 to guarantee the political, economic and cultural rights of Papuans to manage their region. The law also instructed the allocation of the special autonomy funds.
But this law, which aimed to protect the people’s rights, turned into government lip service. Papuans feel the formulation of the law is too elitist and centralised. The deliberation process involved only elites and intellectual groups from Jakarta and Papua. This kind of treatment maintains the sense of unfairness and exclusion felt by Papuans since Suharto’s era. The feeling of being excluded generates distrust among the public and continues to provoke separatist movements, just as happened under Suharto’s regime.
Corruption
Rampant corruption practices due to poor human resources and lack of transparency in local administrations only make things worse.
Many corrupt elites misuse the special autonomy fund for their own political interests. In 2017, a survey measuring the integrity of local government officials put Papua at the bottom of the list. The survey shows Papuan officials are more prone to misuse their power than officials in other provinces. Poor budget management and control will only make financial aid feed corrupt governments. It has happened in African countries such as Nigeria, Congo and Uganda. In the end, the government’s financial assistance has not yet solved Papua’s economic and social problems.
We still find higher rates of malnutrition in the region. The latest research in 2019 shows Papua is among the regions with the highest stunting rate in Indonesia. Papua’s high unemployment rates also hurt its economy. The latest data indicate that almost 10% of the province’s 4.2 million population is jobless. Unskilled and uneducated people dominate its labour market, contributing to a vicious cycle of poverty. People who are living under the poverty line will not be able to provide nutritious food to their children. And children who are living in these circumstances can’t maximise their potential due to lower cognitive capacities. As they reach a productive age, this will influence their productivity.
All of these factors trap Papua into low productivity and income, slow economic growth, and higher dependency on financial assistance.
Short-term solutions
We can’t argue for the government to stop disbursing the funds for Papua immediately, as that would have economic repercussions, including higher inflation rates, for the already impoverished region. While the government evaluates Papua’s special funds, it should work to ensure local staff are empowered and the rule of law upheld. The government should also provide a stringent and transparent system of monitoring the budget allocation to avoid any misuse. Apart from that, the central government should focus on building trust with local people. One of the ways is to send Papuan scholars abroad to get an education in the best universities, in the hope they can contribute to educating their communities when they return with approaches deemed suitable for Papuan contexts.
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Asmiati Malik, Adjunct assistant professor, Universitas Bakrie
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
MPR speaker backs extension of autonomy funds for Papua, West Papua
Antara News 3 March
Wamena, Papua (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said he urges the government and House of Representatives (DPR) to extend the special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua Provinces, which will end in 2021. "With the government and House's political decision, I hope that the provision of the granted special autonomy funds can be extended," he told journalists, on the sidelines of his visit to Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, on Tuesday. However, Soesatyo recalled that the uses of the autonomy funds, which have been granted to Papua Province over for the past 18 years and to West Papua Province for 13 years, should be more effectively directed to improve the welfare of the people. He highlighted the importance of more effective uses of the funds for improving social prosperity, education, and health of the general public in the two provinces.The total amount of special autonomy funds that the central government has provided to Papua and West Papua since 2012 has reached Rp126.99 trillion. Therefore, their uses need to be optimized for the sake of the public, he said. Evaluating the uses of these funds is needed, but it is not for the purpose of looking for mistakes. Instead, the evaluation is aimed at how to make their uses more effective in bringing prosperity to the residents of Papua and West Papua.
More importantly, peace needs to be preserved and prevented from being disrupted by notorious armed Papuan criminals, who might threaten the safety and security of the people in the two provinces. In dealing with these security issues, Bambang Soesatyo suggested that armed Papuan criminals be approached, not only law enforcement, but also through intensive discussions by involving all parties, including local officials and religious figures. Referring to Indonesia's 2019 human development index, the scores of Papua and West Papua were recorded at 64.7 and 60.84, respectively, which remains lower than those of other Indonesian provinces.
In the case of human resources development, during his second term, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) pledged to focus on improving the quality of Indonesia's human resources, amid fierce competition among nations in the digital era.
His seriousness is obvious, as revealed in the government's statement on the bill on the state budget for the 2020 fiscal year and its financial note, which he delivered to the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on August 16, 2019. The President believes that the power of the improved quality of human resources would enable Indonesia to act upon its vision to become a developed country, Jokowi said. However, in terms of innovation, Indonesia has yet to participate in global innovation networks. Reporter: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/03/07/illridewithyou-west-papua-three-women-who-speak-out/
#I’llridewithyou, West Papua – three women who speak out
By Pacific Media Watch - March 7, 2020
Speaking out on West Papua ... risky, you could end up in jail, or worse. Image: Belinda Lopez/ABCPacific Media Watch
After the 2014 Lindt cafe bombing in Sydney, the social media hashtag #illridewithyou went viral in solidarity.
At the same time, three women in Jakarta were trying to work out how to make people care about terrible events in remote West Papua– a highly sensitive topic in Indonesia. This is the story of what happened to the women who decided to speak out. Featured on Earshot with Miyuki Jokiranta at the ABC’s Radio National.
Report: Belinda Lopez
Guests:
Veronica Koman – Human rights lawyer Zely Ariane – Activist Dorkas Kossay – West Papuan student activist
Guests:
Veronica Koman – Human rights lawyer Zely Ariane – Activist Dorkas Kossay – West Papuan student activist
Opinion pieces/reports/media releases etc.
Just out
Just out
Oil Under Troubled Water
Australia's Timor Sea Intrigue By: Bernard Collaery
South Korea’s POSCO vows zero deforestation in Papua palm oil operation
https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/south-korea-posco-indonesia-zero-deforestation-papua-ndpe/
Indonesia’s point man for palm oil says no more plantations in Papua
by Hans Nicholas Jong on 2 March 2020
Activists skeptical of win as court orders Papua plantation maps published
by Hans Nicholas Jong on 28 February 2020
Press Release: New report names top British companies responsible for toxic mining legacies
Indonesia Cracks Down on West Papuan Protest Movement
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