2) Veronica Koman: ‘War in West Papua is escalating’
3) Revitalising Moanemani coffee in Meepago, Papua
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1) Demonstration and road blockage end after Freeport admit protesters’ demand
News Desk September 1, 2020 7:57 pm
Jayapura, Jubi – Freeport Indonesia workers ended their protest to the corporation on Friday (28/8/2020) after FI management agreed to admit their request. The protesters later dismantled the blockage they installed in the road connecting Tembagapura and Freeport mining area since Tuesday to normally operate as usual.
A protester contacted by Jubi, TM, told FI management and Mimika Regional Government agreed to admit the protesters’ demand. “They had complied with our demand, so the blockage was already opened this afternoon,” he told Jubi on Friday evening.
According to him, FI management agreed to provide buses to transport off-duty employees starting Friday at 3 pm local time. The corporation will also provide compensation for those who still work during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Freeport management will pay compensation on 31 August 2020,” said TM on WhatsApp.
Earlier, on Thursday (27/8/2020), FI management invited Frans Pigome from Freeport McMoran, Freeport holding company based in Phoenix, USA. Pigome was previously the Chairman of Tongoi Papua, the trade union who mobilised Freeport Indonesia workers on strike in 2007.
“Yesterday he came to meet us. We declined him because his offer was not much different from the management,” said TM.
The demonstration and road blockage ended after FI management admitted the protesters’ demand regarding the transportation to commute off-duty employees from their duty station to Timika, and the compensation for those who keep working during the pandemic.
“The first bus convoy has been provided as usual for Freeport Indonesia workers to transport them to Timika and Tembagapura. We are just waiting for Monday. We express our gratitude to all parties who helped us in seeking justice, that in the end, the rights of employees can be fulfilled,” he said.
In the meantime, Riza Pratama, the Vice President Corporate Communication of Freeport Indonesia, confirmed to Jubi that the road blockage had opened since Friday. “No more blockage,” said Riza to reply Jubi on WhatsApp.(*)
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2) Veronica Koman: ‘War in West Papua is escalating’
Susan Price September 1, 2020
Issue 1279 West Papua
August marked one year since the racist attacks on West Papuan students in Surabaya that sparked a new West Papuan uprising. More than 100,000 people rose up against the racist violence and for West Papuan self-determination. In addition to several rallies in Jakarta, Papuans demonstrated across 40 cities.
Scores of students and human rights activists were detained. According to research released in February by the interfaith group Human Rights and Peace for Papua, 59 civilians were killed between August and September alone.
Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman has played a critical role in documenting human rights abuses against West Papuans and sharing information from inside West Papua. This was recognised by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), which awarded Koman the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award last year.
Koman was accused of “inciting” the riots that followed the racist attacks. The Indonesian police issued an international arrest warrant for her and sought Australian government assistance in forcing her to return to face trial. The Indonesian government is continuing from afar to try and disrupt her efforts to alert the international community to the brutality of the Indonesian occupation.
Green Left spoke to Koman on August 21 about the significance of the protests last year, the escalating conflict in West Papua and the prospects for independence.
Koman said the protests were “very significant, partly because of the involvement of Indonesians, but also [because] it helped to create more ‘negritude’ among West Papuans. Negritude is the pride of having Black identity.
“Previously, due to the ethnocide by Indonesia, their colonialism often makes West Papuans embarrassed about their identity. Because they are Black, they are different to the Malay Indonesians.
“They are brainwashed to think … that being Black is worse. During the uprising many West Papuans expressed more pride in negritude, their ethnicity and identity.”
Papuan 'spring'
The incident that sparked the uprising was the release of a video of Indonesians taunting West Papuan students outside their accommodation in Surabaya on August 17 last year – Indonesia’s national day. The students were called “monkeys” – a racist slur.
“But then the movement, the uprising reclaimed the monkey as their resistance symbol,” said Koman. “During that time also there was lots of pride in saying ‘We are Black, we are Melanesian, we are not Indonesian’.
“And the uprising was also significant because the last ‘Spring’ [uprising] in West Papua was in 2000 – so it’s been 20 years since the last Spring.”
Koman explained that since the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) was established in late 2016, Indonesian students have been protesting together with West Papuan students on West Papuan commemorative days, but that “during the uprising, the involvement was even bigger”.
“We also had the first Indonesian ever to be charged with treason over the West Papuan self-determination cause – Surya Anta.” Surya Anta Ginting is the national spokesperson for FRI-WP.
“Indonesians were among those arrested in several cities in West Papua and, for example, in Manokwari.”
The number of Indonesians who know what is happening in West Papua is still a minority of the population, said Koman, “but our numbers are getting larger”.
Indonesia has continued to arrest, charge and jail activists in connection with the West Papuan cause. This number escalated during the protests last year.
Political prisoners
“During the uprising, there were 1013 arrests, resulting in 113 political prisoners, including Surya Anta,” said Koman. “He is free now.”
Koman told GL that twenty-two political prisoners were charged with treason, which carries a sentence of 20 years under Indonesia’s Criminal Code and which can be doubled for mobilising others to commit treason. An international campaign has been waged in support of those detained in the protests.
“The majority of these political prisoners are out,” said Koman.
“I think that our international and national campaign to free all the political prisoners worked, but I can still see the racism playing out. Indonesia just cannot free West Papuans.
“During the treason trials, the list of evidence [against the activists] was very weak … For example, the notorious Balikpapan 7 trials, the list of evidence cited by the judges included Bluetooth speakers, belts, USB chargers, phone chargers and laptops.
“It was just very ridiculous to find someone guilty of treason over that evidence. Yet, Indonesian courts must still find West Papuans guilty.
“But … I think that because of our campaign their sentences have been relatively low. That’s why the majority of them are free now, but 11 remain behind bars today.”
Armed conflict escalating
The Indonesian government implemented an extreme crackdown on West Papua during the uprising. The internet was blocked, access by journalists into West Papua was prevented, and about 10,000 additional Indonesian security personnel were deployed. There were also reports of disappearances and extrajudicial killings in West Papua.
While the security forces have since been withdrawn back across the border, Koman explained that the situation on the ground is still fragile, given the escalation in armed conflict between West Papuan independence forces and Indonesian soldiers.
“The extra thousands of security personnel from the uprising were … sent back to Indonesia in January. I think they were waiting for the West Papuan national day to pass, which was on December 1.
“During the crackdown there were fully-armed paramilitary police patrolling everywhere, including the residential areas, inside universities, [conducting] random raids once every few nights at students’ dormitories in the capital of West Papua [Manokwari].
“There was simply no room to breathe.
But, right now … extra security personnel – more soldiers especially – are being deployed to West Papua [in] these past two months, for new military operations, especially in the Tembagapura area, near the Freeport mine.
“So the war between the Indonesian army and the West Papuan national liberation army is escalating – despite the pandemic.”
“The West Papuan national liberation army is getting more active. The conflict in West Papua has escalated into armed conflict.
“That’s one of many other reasons why West Papua should be under international scrutiny and the international community has to pay more attention, because international humanitarian law should be applying in West Papua, because of the intensifying war.”
Self determination
West Papua’s “special autonomy” status is to be reviewed by the Indonesian House of Representatives, in the lead up to the expiration of the Special Autonomy Fund next year.
“The law needs to be revised in order to extend the funds for special autonomy from Jakarta. And during the revision of that law, that is the chance for West Papuans to reject or terminate the law,” said Koman.
One point eight million Papuans have already signed a United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) petition demanding an independence referendum.
“There has been massive rejection by West Papuans on the ground,” said Koman.
In response to the Indonesian government’s announcement in July, Koman said that a coalition among civil society groups called Papuan People’s Petition (Petisi Rakyat Papua) is calling for an end to special autonomy. The coalition has launched its own petition calling for referendum of West Papuans to determine their own fate,
“I can see why,” said Koman. “Because the special autonomy has been used by Indonesia to whitewash colonialism.”
Koman is not optimistic that Indonesia will permit West Papuan independence at this current juncture, however.
“I don’t see that Jakarta will be a firm friend for West Papuans.”
Koman added that 100,000 people rising up and the escalating violence last year did, however, pressure Joko Widodo’s government to act on the West Papuans’ demands.
“Jokowi and two of the main public officials in Jakarta back then actually opened room for dialogue with pro-referendum groups. But then, due to one thing and another – to cut a long story short – it evaporated.
“But the uprising has successfully pressured Jakarta to think of other options. But, unfortunately, it has not [been] realised yet.”
Koman threatened with arrest, charges
While Koman is safe for now in Australia, the Indonesian government is trying to force her back to Indonesia, where she will face immediate arrest. Their latest strategy is to demand she return her student scholarship, for failing to return to Indonesia.
“In November last year, not long after the Indonesia’s Chief Security Minister went back to Indonesia after visiting Australia to attend a security-themed conference and to talk about West Papua, the minister suddenly brought up my issue to the media,” said Koman.
“He said that he would use the state scholarship to pressure me back to Indonesia and that I might be charged with additional separatism-related charges — which means maybe treason.”
“The Ministry of Finance is now demanding I return the state scholarship for failing to return to Indonesia.
“Well, I don’t return to Indonesia as I will be arrested right when I touch Indonesian soil – I am on the national police “Wanted” list. So basically, the government is penalising me for refusing to return to face arrest.
“This is despite support from more than a dozen national NGOs including Amnesty International, [who] say that this is financial punishment by the government for my West Papua work.
“I cannot see how the Ministry of Finance will back down, because if they back down, it means that they would undermine the efforts by the national police, security ministry, foreign ministry, and the law ministry in attacking me.
“So this is like a collaboration of state institutions to further punish me and I think they want me to suffer so badly to deter other Indonesians from showing public support for West Papua.”
A crowd-funding campaign has been launched by West Papuans in Australia to help raise money to allow Koman to continue her work, and West Papuans at home are also mobilising to collect funds.
“It is very heart-warming to see how West Papuans on the ground on their own initiative, (because West Papuans are in worse conditions than me) they have tried to show solidarity by collecting donations for me at traffic lights or [setting up] an emergency post in the middle of the town.
“But they were forcibly dispersed by police. I was trying to think: ‘What would be the legal basis for that?’ Then I remembered that – yes – the police hate me.”
[To donate to the crowd-funding campaign to support Veronica Koman's work, visit: https://chuffed.org/project/veronica-koman.]
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3) Revitalising Moanemani coffee in Meepago, Papua
News Desk September 1, 2020 8:06 pm
Nabire, Jubi – Yayasan Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (Yapkema) continue to encourage coffee farmers in Meepago region to intensify their production through a revitalisation program supported by the Village Community Empowerment Agency (BPMK) of Paniai Regency.
The revitalisation program called ‘Gerakan Menanam Kopi/Coffee Planting Movement’ has involved at least 2,090 local farmers from 209 villages to participate in a series of training on coffee planting, maintaining, harvesting and processing.
Director Yapkema Hanok Herison Pigai said he wants local farmers to continue to grow coffee in Meepago. According to him, local farmers can develop their business in coffee, from cultivating crops to producing coffee beans.
“The coffee market continues to grow either at local or national levels. Emerging cafés in every corner in Nabire, for instance, is evidence. That’s why we encourage local production,” he told Jubi at his café on Wednesday (12/8/2020).
There are at least ten cafés established in Nabire City, known as the ‘City of Gold’.
Previously, the Meepago Region was famous for having a distinctive “Moanemani” coffee in the 1990s. Moanemani is the capital city of Dogiyai. At that time its coffee production was booming to break the local market. Unfortunately, because its distribution depended on air transportation only, it cannot be sustained. High shipping cost is the reason.
“Moanemani coffee cannot be sustained due to spending discrepancy between expenditure and income, and it has been happening for more than 20 years. It is obviously detrimental for local farmers. So, the main issue is the strategy of marketing,” said Pigai.
As such, many farmers then neglected their coffee plantation. Some even alternate their soil to plan another promising crop.
But the current situation has changed. Coffee becomes a new idol. Its market potential continues to extend, from local, national to international. The demand for coffee continues to grow, and the number of coffee lovers has continually increased.
“For that reason, Yapkema encourages revitalising coffee production in the Meepago region because we see business opportunities,” said Pigai.
Moreover, these opportunities for local farmers are not only limited to harvesting coffee berries, according to Pigai, because coffee read peels can be processed into a tea by separating its peel with bean to sell separately. Another alternative is to open a café selling a local product, et cetera.
“Such opportunities must be taken,” he said.
Pigai is not only talking but implementing what he said by initiating coffee plantation. Within a year, the Enauto Coffee Processing Unit owned by Pigai has produced 4 to 6 tones of coffee beans, while the total production of local farmers in Dogiyai Regency reaches 12 tones a year.
Enauto Café
Pigai does not want the old story of Moanemani coffee to reoccur in Meepago. He tried to anticipate this by expanding the market to accommodate coffee production, in particular local production. Therefore, Pigai, who is also a nationally certified coffee trainer, opened a café named “Enauto” which means “the best” to promote Moanemani coffee.
Local cafés and coffee farmers are expected to introduce and promote to the public, in particular coffee lovers, that Paniai, Deiyai, Dogiay and Nabire regencies are Meepago Region as well as the centre of local coffee production.
“Through these cafés, including Enauto Café, the promotion of local coffee production continues to be carried out to ensure our coffee beans are sold out in the market,” he said.
Therefore, according to Pigai, café become part of a lifestyle of coffee lovers as well as a place to promote the local product to youth. As such, the problem of marketing in the 1990s can be solved.
Currently, Moanemani coffee enthusiasts cannot only taste it in local cafés in Nabire but also in other regions outside of Papua and overseas, such as the USA.
“With great revitalisation campaign of coffee plantation and emerging cafés, it raises promising business opportunities in this sector,” he said.
Enauto Café has operated for almost four months. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the entire world, including Papua, this café is still operating and running well. It’s always busy with visitors, young people and elders.
Apart from being a place for hangout and discussion, Enauto Café is utilised by students for online study as it has an individual room with free Wifi.
“Free Wifi is deliberately provided to accommodate students or pupils in preparing their assignments remotely, therefore, they can enjoy a cup of coffee while doing their assignments,” he said.
According to Pigai, the daily income of Enauto Café is still Rp 500 thousand. It is obviously impacted by the current pandemic situation. However, he is optimistic that it will change after the pandemic is over.
In the meantime, Andreas W. Martani, 53yo, said he enjoys spending time at Enauto Café because its location is strategic. He can stop by twice a day for coffee. What he likes most is the café’s ambience for relaxing after the entire day’s work. He also appreciates Pigai whom he thought started his business not only for profit but also to contribute to the empowerment of indigenous Papuans.
“Pigai is one of the Papuan entrepreneurs who has proved that this is time for indigenous to become masters in their land,” he said.
Business Opportunities
Pigai entered this business because he wanted to change the mindset of Papuan young generation. With an educational background in economics, Pigai had been a secretary of the regent, but he decided to leave his job as a civil servant to start his business.
“I want to change the mindset of young people that becoming a civil servant would have a good future. I want to show them that being a civil servant does not always guarantee to live well and prosper,” he said.
It is because he thought there are many opportunities to grab besides working in the government sector, while the role of government to create job opportunities and strategic space for youth is still limited.
For instance, he thought entrepreneurship or vocational training centres for youth are required in preparing the young generation in starting their business. He also thought the government has not yet developed a strategic program that enables youth to access financial support.
“Access to information on business knowledge needs to create. That’s what I observed happening in Paniai, Dogiyai and Nabire,” he said.
Moreover, according to Pigai, especially for Papuan youth, mainly those who come from the Meepago Region, if they want to become entrepreneurs, they can start a business in coffee. Although coffee is not the only promising business opportunity.
“Papuans have spared land in their hometowns, but keep it untouched,” he said.
Apart from coffee, there are other commodities worth cultivating such as green vegetables and carrots.
“All depend on our intention whether we want to work or wait for a miracle to come from the sky,” he said.
He then took an example of farmers in transmigration areas who have to rent the land for gardening, while indigenous Papuans have their own property.
In the sector of coffee, said Pigai, there are many job opportunities. Besides planting coffee, we can also involve in the product processing, such as to process the red peel into tea or work in the warehouse to measure and store coffee supplies, or become a roaster or a marketer, or to open and manage a small café.
“Those are some opportunities in the coffee business. There are also opportunities in other businesses. Do not be trapped into something that you do not want,” he said.
What he means by the unwanted situation is, he referred to himself when he was a civil servant, getting an order from someone else. While if you have your own business, you are free to tell everyone to do what you want. (*)
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