2) Indonesian soldiers offer rice harvesting assistance to Papuan farmers
3) 139 villages on Jayapura preparing 700 hectares farmland during Covid-19 pandemic
4) West Papua scores lowest democracy index, free expression declines
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1) Student in Ternate charged with treason over Papua protest
News Desk August 6, 2020 7:36 pm
Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia’s public Khairun University on Ternate Island should reinstate four students who were expelled after taking part in a peaceful protest, Human Rights Watch said today.
A civil lawsuit brought by the four students, challenging their dismissal after the December 2019 protests, is underway in Ambon. On July 13, 2020, the Ternate police charged one of the four, Arbi M. Nur, with “treason” and “public provocation.” The Indonesian government should investigate the matter, as well as the alleged excessive use of force by police against students.
“Khairun University should support academic freedom and free expression, not expel students peacefully expressing their views,” said Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Khairun University should let the students return to their studies this semester and ensure a university environment that promotes free expression.”
On December 2, 2019, the four student activists – Fahrul Abdullah W. Bone, Fahyudi Kabir, and Ikra S. Alkatiri, in addition to Nur – participated in a protest with about 50 students over human rights abuses in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua. The students said that the Indonesian government should release Papuan political prisoners and grant Papuans self-determination.
The police immediately came to the protest site, outside the Muhammadiyah University campus in Ternate, and dispersed the students, arresting 10, including the four activists from Khairun University and Asri Abukhair, a Muhammadiyah University student.
Ternate is the biggest city in North Maluku province, a neighboring archipelago to West Papua province. Many residents from the North Maluku province travel and stay in West Papua and Papua provinces. Papuan students also often study in Ternate.
An amateur video showed the police forcibly dispersing the protest, with some officers beating the students. The police had questioned the arrested students aggressively, threatening and using violence at the Ternate police station, the students and media reports said.
Arbi Nur told Human Rights Watch that the police officers beat them on their backs, their heads, and legs. The students were released on December 3, after 27 hours in custody.
On December 12, Husen Alting, the rector of the Khairun University, signed a decree to dismiss the four students, stating that they had “tarnished the good name of the university, breached the ethics of being a student, and threatened national security.” There was no investigation or hearing at which the students could present their version of events.
In a media interview on December 26, Syawal Abdulajit, a deputy to Alting, accused the four students of “siding with” the armed group, the Free Papua Movement (Organisasi Papua Merdeka, OPM), without providing any evidence. Abdulajit mentioned Nur by name, saying that the university had reported his case to the National Police and the Education Ministry.
A dean at the private Muhammadiyah University warned Abukhair that he could face expulsion if he took part in such protests, but no further action was apparently taken.
The four students did not officially receive the dismissal letters until March. They filed a lawsuit challenging their dismissal against the university rector on April 6 at the administrative court in Ambon, the capital of the Maluku Islands province.
Because North Maluku province does not have an administrative court, any citizen who wants to bring a lawsuit against any government office in North Maluku needs to file it in Ambon, 600 kilometers south of Ternate. Ambon incurs the costs for transportation and accommodation. The students received pro bono legal assistance from the Ansor Legal Aid Institute (LBH Ansor) in Ambon. The students rented a house in Ambon to monitor the civil court case.
Nur faces up to 20 years in prison on the treason charge and 6 years for the public provocation charge. He has not been arrested because he is in Ambon.
Indonesian authorities should drop the charges against Nur, which violate the right to freedom of expression. They should also drop the charges against peaceful Papuan and Maluku activists now detained in several cities including Ambon, Fakfak, Wamena, Sorong, and Jayapura.
“The Ternate police should drop the charges against Arbi Nur,” Harsono said. “He did nothing wrong in peacefully protesting about political prisoners or self-determination in Papua.” (*)
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2) Indonesian soldiers offer rice harvesting assistance to Papuan farmers
14 hours ago
Merauke, Papua (ANTARA) - Personnel of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force from the 125/Simbisa Infantry Battalion lent a helping hand to native Papuan farmers in Kondo Village, Neukenjerai Sub-district, Merauke District, Papua Province, to harvest rice.
On Thursday, under the command of the task force's post commander, Second Lieutenant Purwanta, seven soldiers were dispatched to help native Papuan farmers -- Yakop Maiwa and Doce Sanggra -- harvest rice, the task force's commander, Lt Col Anjuanda Pardosi, stated.
The soldiers' voluntary involvement in the villagers' rice harvesting process is focused on supporting the government's food security program, especially near the Indonesia-PNG border areas, and to maintain sound communication and social ties with the local people, he expounded.
"Food security is one of the important aspects for ensuring our country's stability. Hence, solid cooperation from the entire nation is indispensable," he stated.
Pardosi believes that the soldiers assisting in the rice harvesting process was expected to encourage local farmers to boost production of the commodity.
Maiwa expressed gratitude to the soldiers for their assistance that enabled him to complete the rice harvesting process sooner than before.
Indonesia has yet to achieve food security, which by definition is related to "food availability, food access, and food utilization" (USAID 1995 in FAO) despite a steady rise in its population.
Instead of feeding its people the rice that is produced by its own farmers, the central government has repeatedly imported rice over the past years to meet the people's demands.
This condition has, indeed, posed a grave challenge and does not bode well with Indonesia's status as one of the world's top agricultural countries.
Indonesia would be better off not importing rice from countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, on a permanent basis. This is since rice imports would potentially disadvantage local farmers and threaten its national security in the long term.
On April 21, 2020, President Widodo had urged officials to make a precise assessment of Indonesia's rice stocks.
The president's directive came close on the heels of the FAO of the United Nations' warning of the COVID-19 pandemic triggering a global food crisis.
The Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged Indonesian farmers to implement an integrated farming method to aid in enhancing the profitable usage of their farmland to support the government's efforts to transform Indonesia into a food barn.
Related news: Papua's Kurik health center closed after resident contracted COVID-19
Related news: More armed Papuan rebels declare allegiance to Motherland
EDITED BY INE
On Thursday, under the command of the task force's post commander, Second Lieutenant Purwanta, seven soldiers were dispatched to help native Papuan farmers -- Yakop Maiwa and Doce Sanggra -- harvest rice, the task force's commander, Lt Col Anjuanda Pardosi, stated.
The soldiers' voluntary involvement in the villagers' rice harvesting process is focused on supporting the government's food security program, especially near the Indonesia-PNG border areas, and to maintain sound communication and social ties with the local people, he expounded.
"Food security is one of the important aspects for ensuring our country's stability. Hence, solid cooperation from the entire nation is indispensable," he stated.
Pardosi believes that the soldiers assisting in the rice harvesting process was expected to encourage local farmers to boost production of the commodity.
Maiwa expressed gratitude to the soldiers for their assistance that enabled him to complete the rice harvesting process sooner than before.
Indonesia has yet to achieve food security, which by definition is related to "food availability, food access, and food utilization" (USAID 1995 in FAO) despite a steady rise in its population.
Instead of feeding its people the rice that is produced by its own farmers, the central government has repeatedly imported rice over the past years to meet the people's demands.
This condition has, indeed, posed a grave challenge and does not bode well with Indonesia's status as one of the world's top agricultural countries.
Indonesia would be better off not importing rice from countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, on a permanent basis. This is since rice imports would potentially disadvantage local farmers and threaten its national security in the long term.
On April 21, 2020, President Widodo had urged officials to make a precise assessment of Indonesia's rice stocks.
The president's directive came close on the heels of the FAO of the United Nations' warning of the COVID-19 pandemic triggering a global food crisis.
The Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged Indonesian farmers to implement an integrated farming method to aid in enhancing the profitable usage of their farmland to support the government's efforts to transform Indonesia into a food barn.
Related news: Papua's Kurik health center closed after resident contracted COVID-19
Related news: More armed Papuan rebels declare allegiance to Motherland
EDITED BY INE
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3) 139 villages on Jayapura preparing 700 hectares farmland during Covid-19 pandemic
News Desk August 7, 2020 6:35 am
Sentani, Jubi – Jayapura’s district government in Papua bolstered its food security program amid the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to fulfill the food requirements of residents in five sub-districts and 139 villages by preparing farmland spanning 700 hectares.
“Local food crops will be planted in those 700 hectares of farmland to boost the residents’ economy,” Head of the Rural People’s Economic Empowerment Unit in Jayapura District Elisa Yarusabra remarked here on Thursday (6/8/2020).
The district government has worked alongside local communities to realize its food security program by offering financial aid to the tune of Rp100 million to every village, he noted, adding that the government had allotted a budget of Rp14 billion for the program.
Yarusabra stated that the district government’s food crops and horticulture office had provided agricultural advisors to assist local farmers in villages.
Despite a steady rise in Indonesia’s population, the country had yet to achieve food security, which by definition is related to “food availability, food access, and food utilization” (USAID 1995 in FAO).
Instead of feeding its people the rice produced by its own farmers, the central government has repeatedly imported rice over the past years to meet the public’s requirements.
This condition has, indeed, posed a grave challenge and does not bode well with Indonesia’s status as one of the world’s top agricultural countries.
Indonesia would be better off not importing rice from countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, on a permanent basis since it would potentially disadvantage local farmers and threaten its national security in the long term.
On April 21, 2020, President Widodo had called on officials to make a precise assessment of Indonesia’s rice stocks.
The president’s directive came on the back of the FAO of the United Nations’ warning of the COVID-19 pandemic triggering a global food crisis.
To enable the Indonesian farmers to optimize the profitable uses of their farmland for supporting the government’s efforts to make the country a food barn, the Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged them to implement an integrated farming method. (*)
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4) West Papua scores lowest democracy index, free expression declines
By PMC Editor - August 6, 2020
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
Indonesia’s West Papua province has again been recorded as having the worst democracy index in the republic, reports CNN Indonesia.
This year (2019), the West Papuan Democracy Index (IDI) was 57.62, even dropping lower from 2018 when it was 58.29 points.
Based on data from the National Statistics Agency (BPS), West Papua has the lowest score and is in last position – below South-East Sulawesi with a score of 65.21 points.
[Pacific Media Centre editor: West Papua in the Pacific is generally taken to mean the combined mainly Melanesian region of two provinces – Papua and West Papua.]
Following next is Papua province with a score of 62.25 points, North Sumatra with 67.65 points, West Sumatra with 67.69 points, Maluku with 68.22 points, West Java with 69.0 points and Jambi province with 69.76 points.
The BPS Democracy Index categorises the level of democracy as being good, moderate and poor. A Democracy Index score under 60 is classified as a poor democracy while a score of 60-80 represents a moderate democracy and a score above 80 is a good democracy.
Among all 32 provinces in Indonesia, West Papua was the only province with a poor Democracy Index.
BPS head Kecuk Suhariyanto said that there were seven provinces in Indonesia that were categorised as good.
Two provinces improve
“In 2018 there were only five provinces, in 2019 there are seven provinces with a category of good. From five there have been two additions making seven, namely Riau Islands and Central Kalimantan provinces,” he said during an online press conference.
“In 2018 there were only five provinces, in 2019 there are seven provinces with a category of good. From five there have been two additions making seven, namely Riau Islands and Central Kalimantan provinces,” he said during an online press conference.
Suhariyanto said Jakarta was the top rated province with a score of 88.29 points followed by North Kalimantan Utara with 83.45 points and Riau Islands with 81.64 points.
This is followed by Bali with 81.38 points, Central Kalimantan with 81.16 points, East Nusa Tenggara with 81,02 points and Yogyakarta Special Province with 80,67 points.
Nationally, Indonesia’s Democracy Index rose slightly to 74.92 in 2019. Last year in 2018 it was recorded at 72.39 points. As a whole, Indonesia’s democratic score is still categorised as moderate.
Nevertheless, looking at this in detail there are six indicators which still rated poorly in the index.
Namely threats of or the use of violence by the public which obstructs freedom of expression with a score of 57.35 points followed by the percentage of women elected as members of provincial parliaments (DPRD) with a score of 58.63 points.
This is followed by violent demonstrations or labour strikes with a score of 34.91 points, regional regulations imitated by DPRDs with a score of 46.16 points, DPRD recommendations to the executive with 16.70 points and finally efforts to provide budgetary information by regional government with a score of 53.43 points.
The Democracy Index is assessed based on three main aspects, namely civil freedoms, political rights and democratic institutions. Each of these three aspects has 11 variables and 28 indicators which are used to make an assessment.
Decline in civil freedomsAlthough there was a 4.92 point increase in political rights and a 4.48 point increase in democratic institutions, there was a 1.26 decline in civil freedoms. The score for civil freedoms based on the IDI for this year stood at 77.20 points.
“The index for civil freedoms in 2019 was 77.20. A slight decline compared with the position in 2018 and its respective category is moderately [democratic]”, said Suhariyanto.
Civil freedoms were assessed using four variables with freedom of assembly and freedom of association scoring 78.03 points, a decline of 4,32 points compared with 2018.
Freedom of expression, which stood at 84.29 points, declined by 1.88 points, freedom of belief scored 83.03 points, rising by 0.17 points compared with 2018 and freedom from discrimination scored 92.35 points, rising by 0.58.
If looked at in detail, there was a step back in the indicators which covered threats of or the use of violence by government agencies which obstruct freedom of expression, assembly and association, and the threat of or use of violence by social organisations related to religious teachings.
Next, actions or statements by government officials which were discriminative in terms of gender, ethnicity or other vulnerable groups and or which restricted the freedom to worship.
Meanwhile improvements were found in the indicators covering the threat of or use of violence by the public which obstructed freedom of expression, assembly and association and or on the grounds of gender, ethnicity or other vulnerable groups.
Discriminatory regulations
There were also improvements in written regulations which restrict freedom of worship and religion and or which discriminate against gender, ethnicity or other vulnerable groups.
There were also improvements in written regulations which restrict freedom of worship and religion and or which discriminate against gender, ethnicity or other vulnerable groups.
In the aspect of political rights, two variables were assessed. The breakdown was the right to vote and be elected which scored 79.27 points, rising by 3,5 points, public participation in decision making and government supervision which scored 56.72, rising 2.44 points.
Although this was still categorised as poor.
In terms of democratic institutions, five variables were assessed. The breakdown was free and fair elections which scored 85.75 points, declining by 9.73 points followed by the role of regional parliaments (DPRD) with a score of 61.74, a rise of 2.82 points.
Then the role of the political parties which scored 80.62 points, a decline of 1.48 points followed by the role of regional government bureaucracy which scored 62.58 points, a rise of 6.84 points and the role of an independent judiciary which scored 93.66 points, a rise of
2.94 points.
2.94 points.
This abridged translation by James Balowski of IndoLeft News is based on two articles by CNN Indonesia published on August 3. The original title of the first article was “Indeks Demokrasi Papua Barat Paling Buruk, Jakarta Terbaik”. The title of the second article was “Kebebasan Sipil Turun, Indeks Demokrasi Indonesia Naik.”
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