Tuesday, July 28, 2020

1) Filep Karma: No more Special Autonomy, we want self-determination for Papua


2) Human rights violations in Indonesia hardly to bring to the International Court
3) Indigenous priests call for a referendum for Papua
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1) Filep Karma: No more Special Autonomy, we want self-determination for Papua
Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1




Former political prisoner Filep Karma gave a speech in the signing of Papuan People’s Petition held in front of the Papuan Customary Council Office in Jayapura City on Wednesday (22/7/2020). – Jubi/Hengky Yeimo

Jayapura, Jubi – Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma said the Papuan people do not want the extension of the Special Autonomy policy. Independence of Papua is what people want now.
“We are already independent, free. If the Papuan people said the Special Autonomy had failed, it means they want freedom,” said Karma in his speech during the signing of a petition by Papuan civil society movement in Papuan Customary Council Office in Jayapura City on Wednesday (22/7/2020).
The distribution of the Special Autonomy Fund in Papua was equal with two per cent of the Regional Allocated Budget as stipulated in Article 34 (3) of Special Autonomy Law 2001. The termination of the policy in 2021 has raised a discourse to evaluate the implementation of the policy and to revise the regulation.
Tempo.co launched the statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian who expected the revision on the Special Autonomy for Papua could be immediately discussed and authorised within this year. Karnavian told the statement in the hearing with the Commission II of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on 22 January 2020. By contrast, many stakeholders in Papua declined the proposal by the central government to extend the implementation of the policy.

Regarding the central government’s proposal, Filep Karma claimed that the Special Autonomy policy was to respond to the people’s demand for the independence of Papua. The Government of Indonesia offered this policy as a solution to prevent the Papuan independence. However, after 19 years of the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law, it failed to fulfil the Papuan people’s expectation.
“Special Autonomy has no sequence. It happened once, then finished. So, now [we] talk about freedom, not the Special Autonomy. Special Autonomy was the best offer by the state (Indonesia), and we believe it already failed. It means there would be no other chapters. The only thing left is people’s desire for independence. Give back the rights of self-determination to the people,” said Karma.
Karma said Indonesia could get their independence despite their citizens being illiterate at that time. But they can. Today, many Papuan people have obtained the titles of doctors and professors. So, it is time for Papuans to govern and lead themselves.
“This colonial said we were stupid, not capable, so on and so forth. But it’s their thought. We have learned enough; we have many intellectuals among Papuans,” he said.
Therefore, he asked Papuans to not be fooled by the offer they brought through the Special Autonomy that is useless for Papuans. ‘This nation will stand and lead themselves as told by Izaak Samuel Kijne’,” said Karma
In the meantime, Victor Yeimo, the spokesperson of Papuan People Petition movement, said the movement aims to decline the extension of the implementation of the Special Autonomy policy and demand self-determination for Papua. “This petition was purely raised from the people’s aspiration. It wasn’t exploitation by a few people who have a bargain with Jakarta (the central government),” he said.
Yeimo said the Papuan People’s Petition is a consolidation tool of Papuan people in declining the Special Autonomy policy. “It unites us in a consolidation that the conflict between Papua and Indonesia could not be solved during the Special Autonomy policy phase I, and it would not be solved in phase II either. The democratic solution for this, gives the rights for people to determine their lives,” said Yeimo.
The petition has circulated among 29 civil organisations in Papua. 
They are Komite Nasional Papua Barat, Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua, Gerakan Mahasiswa Pemuda Rakyat Papua, Gerakan Rakyat Demokratik Papua, Solidaritas Nasional Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Papua Barat, Forum Independen Mahasiswa West Papua, West Papua National Authority, Front Nasional Mahasiswa Pemuda Papua, Solidaritas Perempuan Melanesia Papua Barat, Masyarakat Adat Independen, Asosiasi Pedagang Asli Papua, Komunitas Peduli Lingkungan, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara Sorong, BABEOSER BIKAR, Green Papua, Dewan Adat Papua, Pelajar Mahasiswa dan Pemuda Yahukimo di Jayapura, Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pegunungan Tengah Papua se-Indonesia, Ikatan Mahasiswa Kaimana di Jayapura, Asosiasi Mahasiswa Pemuda dan Pelajar Papua Barat, Komunitas Mahasiswa Independen Kabupaten Intan Jaya, West Papua Interest Association/West Papua Indigenous People, Solidaritas Anak Yalimo, Forum Komunikasi Pemuda Pelajar Mahasiswa Se- Kawasan Teluk Ampimoi, Himpunan Pelajar Mahasiswa Kwiyawagi Bersatu se-Indonesia di Jayapura, Himpunan Mahasiswa Kabupaten Yalimo se-Indonesia, Komunitas Mahasiswa dan Pelajar Aplim-Apom Kabupaten Pegunungan Bintang Se Jawa, Bali, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, dan Sumatera, Solidaritas Rakyat Untuk West Papua, Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua, and Front Rakyat Maubere Untuk West Papua. (*)
 
Reporter: Hengky Yeimo
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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2) Human rights violations in Indonesia hardly to bring to the International Court

Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1





Makassar, Jubi – Beka Ulung Hapsara, a commissioner of KOMNAS HAM RI (National Human Right Commissioner, said that the settlement of severe human rights violation cases in Indonesia, including those that occurred in Papua, are hard to bring to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Hapsara told in a discussion held online on 20 July 2020.
It occurred because the Government of Indonesia has not ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, he explained.

“To solve the severe human rights violations cases at the International Court is rather difficult. There is an alternative, but it takes a longer time. The point is Indonesia has not ratified the statute yet that constrains us to do this mechanism,” said Hapsara.
Furthermore, Hapsara said KOMNAS HAM already categorised three incidents that occurred in Papua and West Papua provinces as the severe human rights violations, and the cases are still open.

The three cases are Wamena Incident of 4 April 2003, Wasior Incident of 13 June 2001 and Paniai Incident of 8 December 2014. Because of these three cases occurred after 2000. Therefore, according to Law 26 of 2000, the settlement of human rights violations must be solved at the Human Rights Court.
“However, impunity will be possible to occur,” he said.
A human rights advocate in Papua Iwan Niode said the settlement of human rights violation cases at the Human Rights Court would mean nothing if perpetrators are free of all the charges at the end.
He took an example of the Abepura Incident. Two police officers who were responsible for the incident were found not guilty by the Human Right Court in Makassar, South Sulawesi in November 2005.
“So, what is the Human Rights Court for, If at the end, it would release the perpetrators from the charges? What does the human right trial mean if it only creates impunity for the perpetrators?” said Niode.
Therefore, Niode said KOMNAS HAM needs to evaluate their long time attempt in resolving human rights cases in Papua through the judicial process. Given the fact that it is not their first time effort to bring such cases to the Human Rights Court. However, none of these cases were resolved. He took the Wamena case that occurred in 2004 as an example.
“I involved in the investigation over the Wamena case at that time. But over the time the case has never been solved. It only ended in the discussion process,” he said. (*)
 
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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3) Indigenous priests call for a referendum for Papua

Published 1 day ago on 27 July 2020 By Admin1




Indigenous priests from five Catholic Dioceses across the Papua regions in the press conference held at the Kondius Pastoral Residence, Abepura on Tuesday (21/7/2020). -Jubi/Hengky Yeimo

Jayapura, Jubi – Fifty-seven indigenous priests under the coordination of the Rev. Jhon Alberto Bunay asked the Government of Indonesia to conduct a referendum in West Papua. They said the government should not be afraid to do that because it would bring benefits to Indonesia.
“The Government of Indonesia can take a position and make the best decision to Papua, which their people are still Indonesian citizens and by law, the territory is under the Indonesian authorities,” said Bunay in reading their statement at the Kondius Pastoral Residence in Abepura on Tuesday (21/7/2020).

Furthermore, Bunay said the Government of Indonesia should make a spectacular and prestigious political decision to allow a referendum held in Papua and accept its outcome.
“We thought the referendum for West Papua would entirely help the arrangement of Papua after the great political decision,” he said.

Therefore, on behalf of the group members, Bunay asked the Government of Indonesia to not further take natural resources in Papua into account regarding the referendum.
“If the majority of Papuans choose for the independence of Papua, Indonesia should accept it. Nevertheless, Indonesia should stand with Papua to bring Papua as a leader of Melanesia to achieve the golden era of the Pacific. There would be no more tears and blood pouring on the land of Papua like it had when they were with Indonesia,” he said.
Moreover, Bunay said that after independence, Papua would maintain its friendship and partnership with Indonesia. Both nations will work together and turn to be a new power in the global community.
“Both Indonesia and Papua should have a mutual understanding and respect the humanitarian values on the land of Papua. Therefore, there would be no more oppression or massacre occurring in the future,” he said.
In this sense, Bunay said the Indonesian government and citizens must recognise and respect indigenous Papuans’ dignity as the landowners.
“Therefore, Papuans should lead their own land. Give a free choice on the hand of Papuans, and over their relationship with Indonesia,” he said.
Earlier, the founder and member of Papuan Church Council, the Rev Dr Socrates S Yoman stated his rejection of the Special Autonomy policy and asked for a referendum.
“As an indigenous, I thought the Special Autonomy Policy in Papua failed. As a church representative, I believe that people trusted me to declare that the Special Autonomy policy was a failure. As a member of the Papuan Church Council, I conclude that the Special Autonomy policy is dead. Please conduct a dialogue with the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP),” he said.
Yoman further said that Papuan people knew that the Government of Indonesia once negotiated with the leaders of the Freedom Aceh Movement (GAM). If the Indonesian Government does not discriminate against Papuans, they should also want to sit with the ULMWP as the representative of Papuans.
“If the negotiation has never been done, it means the Indonesian Government has been discriminative against Papuans. They could negotiate with GAM in Helsinki to solve the conflict with Aceh. It should be applied for Papua as well,” said Yoman.
Moreover, Yoman said the Papuan Church Council thought the Indonesian Government is worried to have a dialogue with the ULMWP. He said the Indonesian Government should be more open minded to meet the ULMWP. They should be open to asking the third party to mediate their negotiation.
“If Indonesia is a democratic state, they have to show their courage. They should treat Papua as equal as their treat to Aceh, which allows the GAM flag to raise, the establishment of the local party. Do not think that Papuans have a lower position, so they refuse to negotiate. We, the churches in Papua, suggest that negotiation with the ULMWP is a must” said Yoman. (*)
 
Reporter: Hengky Yeimo
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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