2) The pandemic, Papua, and a path forward
3) Security personnel challenged to secure Papua's PON National Games
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1) Indonesian intelligence official shot dead in Papua- army statement
By Syndicated Content Apr 25, 2021 7:45 AM
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A senior Indonesian intelligence official was killed by a shot to the head on Sunday during an operation in the country’s easternmost province of Papua, according to a statement by the army.
Brigadier General Putu Dani, who headed operations in the restive region for the country’s intelligence agency (Badan Intelijen Negara), was shot while he was heading to the site of a shoutout with separatists, the military said.
West Papua has been riven by separatist conflict since the former Dutch colony was incorporated into Indonesia, following a controversial United Nations referendum in 1969.
Local media CNN Indonesia reported on Sunday that the area of Papua where the officer was killed, Beoga, has seen increasing levels of violence, including the deaths of a student and a teacher earlier in April.
(Reporting by Fanny Potkin and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; editing by David Evans)
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2) The pandemic, Papua, and a path forward
Nafsiah Mboi, Sarthak Das, and Amita Chebbi Jakarta/Singapore ●
Mon, April 26, 2021
Indonesia recently announced an ambitious plan to vaccinate more than 180 million people across the country in 15 months to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. The accelerated vaccine rollout is a high priority for a country that has reported 1,636,792 confirmed cases and 44,500 deaths as of April 24.
Indonesia has made a similar bold commitment against another public health threat, that of malaria. The goal to eliminate malaria by 2030 was set out by Indonesian policymakers in 2009 and remarkable progress has been made over the last decade. Malaria cases fell by 47 percent in 2019 compared to 2010 and more than half its districts are officially declared malaria free.
Malaria cases are concentrated in the eastern provinces of Papua, West Papua, Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara, with Papua accounting for 86 percent of all cases nationally. The malaria elimination goal is under threat due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 that led to a decline in testing, interrupted bed-net distribution campaigns and created fear among frontline workers providing malaria services to vulnerable communities.
Indonesia’s complex geographical terrain, characterized by 17,000 islands (of which around 6,000 are inhabited) with several remote and hard to reach provinces in the eastern region, make health service delivery particularly challenging.
Papua is among the most challenging areas in Indonesia geographically with its population distributed unevenly, many living in isolated and difficult to reach areas. Health facilities and health care providers are limited, affecting quality malaria services.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that we are only as strong as our weakest link. Until all provinces have the capacity to respond to emergent public health threats, the country remains at risk. If there is any silver lining in COVID-19, it is that it has brought urgent attention on public health preparedness, to reinvigorate the fight against malaria. It is important to bring Papua, West Papua, and other high burden pockets back on track towards malaria control and elimination.
Three factors will be critical: 1. Increased political commitment to the goal of elimination, especially from local government, 2. Greater investments in malaria interventions that will strengthen public health systems, particularly in areas such as surveillance and 3. Ensuring approaches that recognize subnational strategies.
Reaching the last mile of malaria affected communities in the Papua requires strong and lasting political commitment from local government. The national malaria program in Jakarta needs to ensure that adequate political, financial and technical resources are made available to Papua to undertake robust control and elimination activities.
The decentralized system of governance ensures government at all levels – governor, regency heads and mayors – have responsibility for malaria control activities and contribute toward a proportion of the budget for the malaria program. The rapid roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine across the country, including the remote eastern provinces has been made possible due to commitments from the highest levels of government in Indonesia.
COVID-19 is reported to have had an impact on malaria in Asia Pacific, with surveyed facilities in seven countries reporting a fall in malaria diagnoses by 56 percent and in malaria treatment services by 59 percent. The malaria program in Indonesia too needs a shot in the arm with a recommitment from the national level to the goal of elimination and a specific commitment to bring Papua back to a modest level of control over the next three years.
Indonesia has demonstrated increasing financial commitment toward malaria elimination. Domestic funding has become a dominant source of financing for malaria, almost doubling in 2020 compared to 2012. The next three years are a critical phase in Indonesia’s journey towards elimination. Budget needs during this period are estimated to be two and a half times greater than the needs in the previous three-year period.
This increase is largely toward greater investments in strengthening surveillance and reporting systems to ensure aggressive testing, diagnosis and treatment and increasing coverage of bed net distribution through community involvement in Papua.
Domestic contributions from other low-endemic and malaria-free districts are expected to be reasonable due to adequate fiscal capacity. There continues to be, however, a strong need for greater external funding support to provinces like Papua and West Papua to strengthen primary health and surveillance systems, build the infrastructure needed to protect against future outbreaks and pandemics and to ensure we can reach the elimination target.
A critical learning from the significant progress made over the last 10 years on malaria has been the importance of subnational action in a context of increasing decentralized authority. The 2009 Ministerial Decree on malaria elimination spurred action and commitment from provincial, district and municipal leaders, who had the autonomy to develop and implement context-specific malaria interventions.
To make a dent in the malaria burden in Papua and West Papua province, it is imperative that provincial governors take the lead in implementing the malaria program, with support from Jakarta in the form of political, financial and technical resources. Studies have shown that while malaria is geography-dependent, it is also a disease of poverty. Shifting from control to elimination requires not only technical interventions but also social ones. An integrated approach to elimination that brings together health, industry, finance and social affairs, with interventions tailored to the local context, has the best chance of success.
Indonesia is recognized for its strong economic growth and is primed to host the presidency of the Group of 20 Summit in 2022. This is a good opportunity to showcase the progress made across sectors, including health. The investments made in strengthening health systems through the COVID-19 vaccine introduction as well as progress made toward fighting malaria provide a robust foundation for increased regional health security.
Increased attention on the eastern provinces will ensure that the end game of malaria elimination is within reach, increase economic productivity, and build the resilient health system needed in the new age of pandemics.
*** Nafsiah Mboi is a former Indonesian health minister (2012-2014), Sarthak Das and Amita Chebbi are respectively CEO and senior director of Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance.
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3) Security personnel challenged to secure Papua's PON National Games
20 hours ago
Papua Province braces for the convening of PON National Games in October this year in the midst of security threats posed by armed Papuan criminals in several districts.
Over these past four months, Papua has borne the brunt of a string of violent attacks by the armed groups targeting civilians in such districts as Puncak and Intan Jaya.
The armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel, while they unleash acts of terror against civilians to instill a sense of fear among the people.
Among the victims of their acts of terror are motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, and street food vendors. They also attack civilian aircraft.
On January 6, 2021, for instance, some 10 armed Papuans vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak aircraft belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Pagamba Village airstrip.
They continued their campaign of terror by shooting a 32-year-old man at close range in Bilogai Village, Sugapa Sub-district, on February 8, 2021.
The victim, identified by his initials as RNR, sustained gunshot wounds on the face and right shoulder and was taken to the Timika Public Hospital in Mimika District on February 9.
On February 9, 2021, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver.
On April 8, 2021, several armed Papuan rebels reportedly opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, at about 9:30 a.m. local time.
The shooting resulted in the death of a Beoga public elementary school teacher, Oktovianus Rayo.
After killing Rayo, the armed attackers torched three classrooms at the Beoga public senior high school.
On April 9, 2021, armed rebels reportedly shot another teacher, Yonatan Randen, on the chest.
Several villagers tried to save the junior high school teacher and rushed him to the Beoga public health center, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The armed criminals operating in Beoga Sub-district seem unsatisfied with the killings. On April 11, 2021, the armed criminals set ablaze nine classrooms at the Beoga public junior high school.
Four days after burning the school building down, the armed criminals killed Ali Mom, a student of the Ilaga public senior high school in Beoga Sub-district.
In response to the killing of Ali Mom, Elminus Mom, father of this slain senior high school student, was vociferous in castigating the armed criminals, labelling them as terrorists, over the fatal assault on his son.
He demanded that those behind the killing of his son, Ali Mom, be brought to book since the armed Papuan criminals operating in Beoga Sub-district that killed his son had, in fact, committed a crime against humanity.
Elminus lost his son, after he was shot and attacked with machetes. The teenager consequently died in the deadly attack. Elminus asserted that he would continue his fight for justice.
"I will go to Timika (in Mimika District) to voice a demand for justice to the international communities," Elminus remarked, adding that the armed criminals were human rights violators.
He called them terrorists owing to their inhuman actions against innocent civilians in Papua.
"For what and whom they struggle? Is it for freedom or for making innocent civilians fall victim?" he questioned.
The string of armed Papuan criminal groups' deadly attacks on civilians have been so obvious over the past few years but the Indonesian authorities still regard them as criminals instead of terrorists.
Indeed, one day before Ali Mom's death, the armed Papuan criminals again gunned down an ojek driver named Udin in the Eromaga neighborhood of Omikia Sub-district, Puncak District.
Udin suffered grave gunshot wounds on his right chest, and the bullet pierced his back and left cheek.
Apart from the string of these deadly attacks, top brass of Indonesia's National Police highlighted that Papua remains conducive ahead of the province's PON National Games to be convened in October this year.
"The national games will be held as scheduled," National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 20, 2021).
Hartono noted that armed Papuan criminals continue to disrupt law and security in several areas, but the police and army personnel had ably handled their acts of violence.
The security personnel stationed in Papua, including those from the Nemangkawi Task Force, strive to maintain security to ensure that conditions in the province remain conducive, he remarked.
The Indonesian Defence Forces and National Police are readying a security plan to ensure that the Papua PON National Games that will be participated in by selected athletes and officials from all over Indonesia are held as scheduled from Oct 2 to Oct 15, 2021.
The Indonesian police and TNI personnel stationed in Papua will never retreat even a single step in enforcing the law against the notorious armed criminals in their endeavors to make the convening of Papua PON National Games successful.
Related news: Soldiers in Papua join mass prayers for safety of KRI Nanggala-402
Related news: Slain student's father decries armed Papuan criminals as terrorists
Over these past four months, Papua has borne the brunt of a string of violent attacks by the armed groups targeting civilians in such districts as Puncak and Intan Jaya.
The armed groups often employ hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel, while they unleash acts of terror against civilians to instill a sense of fear among the people.
Among the victims of their acts of terror are motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, and street food vendors. They also attack civilian aircraft.
On January 6, 2021, for instance, some 10 armed Papuans vandalized and torched a Quest Kodiak aircraft belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Pagamba Village airstrip.
They continued their campaign of terror by shooting a 32-year-old man at close range in Bilogai Village, Sugapa Sub-district, on February 8, 2021.
The victim, identified by his initials as RNR, sustained gunshot wounds on the face and right shoulder and was taken to the Timika Public Hospital in Mimika District on February 9.
On February 9, 2021, six armed Papuans fatally stabbed a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver.
On April 8, 2021, several armed Papuan rebels reportedly opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, Puncak District, at about 9:30 a.m. local time.
The shooting resulted in the death of a Beoga public elementary school teacher, Oktovianus Rayo.
After killing Rayo, the armed attackers torched three classrooms at the Beoga public senior high school.
On April 9, 2021, armed rebels reportedly shot another teacher, Yonatan Randen, on the chest.
Several villagers tried to save the junior high school teacher and rushed him to the Beoga public health center, but he succumbed to his injuries.
The armed criminals operating in Beoga Sub-district seem unsatisfied with the killings. On April 11, 2021, the armed criminals set ablaze nine classrooms at the Beoga public junior high school.
Four days after burning the school building down, the armed criminals killed Ali Mom, a student of the Ilaga public senior high school in Beoga Sub-district.
In response to the killing of Ali Mom, Elminus Mom, father of this slain senior high school student, was vociferous in castigating the armed criminals, labelling them as terrorists, over the fatal assault on his son.
He demanded that those behind the killing of his son, Ali Mom, be brought to book since the armed Papuan criminals operating in Beoga Sub-district that killed his son had, in fact, committed a crime against humanity.
Elminus lost his son, after he was shot and attacked with machetes. The teenager consequently died in the deadly attack. Elminus asserted that he would continue his fight for justice.
"I will go to Timika (in Mimika District) to voice a demand for justice to the international communities," Elminus remarked, adding that the armed criminals were human rights violators.
He called them terrorists owing to their inhuman actions against innocent civilians in Papua.
"For what and whom they struggle? Is it for freedom or for making innocent civilians fall victim?" he questioned.
The string of armed Papuan criminal groups' deadly attacks on civilians have been so obvious over the past few years but the Indonesian authorities still regard them as criminals instead of terrorists.
Indeed, one day before Ali Mom's death, the armed Papuan criminals again gunned down an ojek driver named Udin in the Eromaga neighborhood of Omikia Sub-district, Puncak District.
Udin suffered grave gunshot wounds on his right chest, and the bullet pierced his back and left cheek.
Apart from the string of these deadly attacks, top brass of Indonesia's National Police highlighted that Papua remains conducive ahead of the province's PON National Games to be convened in October this year.
"The national games will be held as scheduled," National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 20, 2021).
Hartono noted that armed Papuan criminals continue to disrupt law and security in several areas, but the police and army personnel had ably handled their acts of violence.
The security personnel stationed in Papua, including those from the Nemangkawi Task Force, strive to maintain security to ensure that conditions in the province remain conducive, he remarked.
The Indonesian Defence Forces and National Police are readying a security plan to ensure that the Papua PON National Games that will be participated in by selected athletes and officials from all over Indonesia are held as scheduled from Oct 2 to Oct 15, 2021.
The Indonesian police and TNI personnel stationed in Papua will never retreat even a single step in enforcing the law against the notorious armed criminals in their endeavors to make the convening of Papua PON National Games successful.
Related news: Soldiers in Papua join mass prayers for safety of KRI Nanggala-402
Related news: Slain student's father decries armed Papuan criminals as terrorists
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