4) Indonesian Navy vaccinates 1,000 residents in West Papua's Sorong
5) Govt pushes ahead with Papua games preparations despite COVID surge
6) Soldiers in Papua conduct COVID-19 awareness campaign for villagers
7) Indonesian soldiers help villagers renovate church in Papua's Keerom
https://www.ulmwp.org/interim-president-remember-the-biak-massacre
1) Interim President: Remember the Biak Massacre
On July 6, 1998, over 100 peacefully demonstrating West Papuans were murdered by the Indonesian colonial forces in Biak. Many others were wounded and raped. Indonesia may have forgotten, but we are the victims. We still remember.
When bodies started to wash up on the shore, Indonesian state agencies claimed they were killed by a tsunami in PNG. In reality, they were victims of the massacre who had been taken out to sea and dumped overboard by Indonesian soldiers.
A West Papuan woman, Tineke Rumakabu, witnessed many of her people murdered on that day. She was taken to an army camp and raped, along with dozens of other women. According to her testimony given to the Biak Massacre Citizens’ Tribunal, held in Sydney in 2013, she was kidnapped by soldiers after a peaceful flag raising at the water tower that day. Along with many others, she was ‘tortured with weapons’ and sexually abused.
Today, she attempted to lay a flower on the water tower to commemorate what happened to her and so many other West Papuans. Rather than recognise her suffering, she was harassed by Indonesian police officers. This is what the colonial rulers do when we try to remember their crimes.
The Biak Massacre Citizens’ Tribunal was headed by respected jurists, including a former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The Tribunal concluded after five months that ‘a large number’ of Papuans were murdered by Indonesian occupation forces, and that ‘some of the women and girls’ were raped. The Indonesian government, the Tribunal concluded, has tried to ‘downplay the seriousness’ of the massacre.
We need the world to remember this massacre, and the many others – in Wamena, Manokwari, Paniai – that have taken place since the illegal Indonesian invasion. The big powers continue to provide cover for Indonesia’s impunity.
We want to restore peace in West Papua and for all humanity in the region. In order to do that, there must be a recognition of what has been done against my people. The West Papuan churches, MRP, government officials, are all calling for the President of Indonesia to sit down with me and agree a method to solve this conflict: an internationally-supervised referendum on independence.
Benny Wenda
Interim President
ULMWP Provisional Government
https://asiapacificreport.nz/2021/07/06/activists-call-for-peaceful-remembering-of-1998-biak-massacre-in-west-papua/
2) Activists call for peaceful remembering of 1998 Biak massacre in West Papua
“We Have Come To Testify” … survivors give evidence about the 1998 Biak massacre at a “citizens’ tribunal” hearing hosted by the Centre for Peace Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. Video: Wantok Musik
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
Today — July 6 — marks 23 years since the Indonesian security forces massacred scores of people in Biak, West Papua. The victims included women and children who had gathered for a peaceful rally. They were killed at the base of a water tower flying the Morning Star flag of West Papuan independence. Other Papuans were rounded up and later taken out to sea where they were thrown off naval ships and drowned.
No Indonesian security force member has been charged or brought to justice for the human rights abuses committed against peaceful demonstrators.
According to the Papuan Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (Elsham Papua), eight people died, three went missing, four were severely wounded, 33 mildly injured, and 150 people were arrested and persecuted during the Biak massacre.
The report also said 32 bodies were found in Biak water at that time (Tabloid Jubi, July 5 2021)
Joe Collins of the Australia West Papua Association (AWPA) said: “it is tragic that 23 years after the Biak massacre, the West Papuan people continue to be arrested, intimated and killed by the security forces and in fact the situation in West Papua continues to deteriorate with ongoing clashes between the security forces and the OPM.
“It was also reported that a commemoration will be held on the 6th in West Papua.
“Hopefully, the security forces will allow the West Papuan people to commemorate the tragedy of Biak peacefully without interference.”
Komnas HAM Papua head Frits Ramandey said: “I have been contacted by those who will commemorate the Biak massacre [in a rally] on July 6. We demand relevant parties [especially the security forces] to facilitate them.”
Ramandey appealed to Jubi in a phone call on Sunday: “Let the Papuans remember the Biak Massacre.”
- On 2 July 1998, the West Papuan Morning Star flag was raised on top of a water tower near the harbour in Biak. Activists and local people gathered beneath it singing songs and holding traditional dances for four days in a demand for a self-determination referendum. As the rally continued, many more people in the area joined in with numbers reaching up to 500 people. On July 6, the Indonesian security forces attacked the demonstrators, massacring scores of people.
https://www.indoleft.org/news/2021-07-05/islamic-mob-backed-by-police-break-up-discussion-on-papua-independence-proclamation.html
3) Islamic mob backed by police break up discussion on Papua independence proclamation
Suara Papua – July 5, 2021
Jayapura – An Islamic mass organisation (ormas) in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar has forcibly closed down a discussion organised by a solidarity group and Papuan students. The discussion, which was held on Thursday July 1 at the Dogiyai student dormitory in Skarda Empat, was on the proclamation of Papuan independence on July 1, 1971.
The incident began at around 5.05 pm when Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI) Chairperson Zulkifli suddenly barged into the room without taking his shoes off where the discussion was being held and attacked discussion participants.
He was followed by other BMI members who entered the room and dragged the seated participants out one by one.
One of the students participating in the discussion told Suara Papua that participants were assaulted by BMI members and members of the Pancasila Youth group.
"As of 5.15 local time the Papua student dormitory is still surrounded. Many police and intelligence officers also arrived. At around 5.30 pm ormas members were still at the location and constantly on the lookout for Papuan students to assault, meanwhile other ormasmembers shouted at the Papuan students with terms such as 'OPM [Free Papua Organisation] sympathisers, terrorists' and other insults", said the student.
A short time later at around 5.50 pm a plain clothed police officer could be seen interrogating Papuan students and members of the solidarity group.
As of 6 pm ormas members, police officers and TNI (Indonesian military) officers were sill at the location. The police arrived armed with tear gas and rifles.
"At 6.30 pm several plan clothed police were still at the location. Members of the local sectoral police also came to the location. Meanwhile comrade students are still trapped inside the dormitory and not allowed to leave, even members of the solidarity group have not been allowed leave the dormitory".
At 10.30 pm the members of the solidarity group were finally allowed to leave the dormitory but the Papuan students were still detained inside. No arrests by police were reported during the incident.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ormas BMI Membubarkan Diskusi Proklamasi Papua di Makassar".]
Source: https://suarapapua.com/2021/07/05/ormas-bmi-membubarkan-diskusi-proklamasi-papua-di-makassar
Accompanied by several top brass of the Indonesian navy and army, Koarmada III Commander, Rear Admiral Irvansyah, reviewed the vaccination drive for residents aged 18 and above.
Koarmada III initiated the drive for administering the first vaccine dose to Sorong residents following the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff's order to help the nation achieve the target of one million vaccinations per day, Irvansyah said.
Similar mass vaccinations were simultaneously organized in coastal areas across the archipelago on Tuesday, he added.
The targeted residents in Sorong City participated enthusiastically in the program, he said.
"Those on the islands also showed their willingness to get vaccinated," he added.
The organizing committee had set a target of administering the first vaccine dose to one thousand people on Tuesday, he informed.
"If they all cannot have been served today, the vaccination drive will be continued tomorrow," Irvansyah said.
In the future, Koarmada III will collaborate with other agencies to serve residents who are keen to get vaccinated, he added.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially hit the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019 and subsequently spread across the globe, including to nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indonesian government announced the nation's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
Since then, the central and regional governments have striven incessantly to flatten the nation's coronavirus curve by applying healthcare protocols. Emergency public activity restrictions have also been imposed on the islands of Java and Bali from July 3 - July 20, 2021.
As part of efforts to win the fight against COVID-19, the Indonesian government has been conducting a nationwide vaccination program to contain infections since January 13, 2021.
Indonesia recently received 10 million doses of bulk vaccines from China's Sinovac.
As of June 20, 2021, the nation has received 104,728,400 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, comprising 94.5 million Sinovac vaccines, 8.228 million AstraZeneca vaccines, and two million Sinopharm vaccines.
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Despite an alarming resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has forced the government to impose emergency public activity restrictions for 18 days from July 3, 2021 in Java and Bali, preparations for the multi-sport event have continued.
On Tuesday, Commander of the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Maj.Gen. Ignatius Yogo Triyono, visited Timika to review the construction of facilities for the 2021 PON National Games and National Para Games (Peparnas).
Timika, the capital of Mimika district, has been selected as one of the co-hosts for the PON National Games, due to be held from October 2 - October 15 this year, besides Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura and Merauke.
Selected athletes and officials from across Indonesian provinces are scheduled to participate in the national sporting event, which will cover 37 sporting disciplines, including athletics, Tarung derajat or West Javan martial arts, handball, sport climbing, futsal, aeromodelling, and judo.
Shortly after arriving in Timika, Triyono and his entourage headed to the 3/SC Cavalry Detachment headquarters to review the progress of construction of two accommodation facilities for volleyball athletes and officials from participating provinces.
Triyono also reviewed the construction of the athletes village and other supporting facilities to ensure that they would be completed as targeted, operations assistant at the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command, Col. Surya Wibawa Suparman, informed.
Regarding the convening of the PON National Games, the top brass of the National Police have highlighted that the security situation in Papua remains conducive ahead of the country's largest multi-sport events.
"The national games will be held as scheduled," National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono stated last April.
The Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) and National Police are readying a security plan to ensure the Papua PON National Games are held as scheduled, he said.
Armed Papuan groups have continued to disrupt law and security in several areas, but the police and army personnel are ably handling their acts of violence, Hartono added.
Security personnel stationed in Papua, including those from the Nemangkawi Task Force, are striving to maintain security to ensure that conditions in the province remain conducive, he remarked.
Over the past few years, armed Papuan groups have used hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and unleashed acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to create fear among the people.
Related news: Top TNI officer visits Papua to review construction of PON facilities
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The recent targets of their violence have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and even civilian aircraft.
In view of the security risks, Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) III, Lt Gen. Agus Rohman, recently appealed to contingents of athletes and officials from all provinces to coordinate with security agencies during their stay in the province.
This suggestion was put forth as part of security measures in addition to military and police personnel in host cities and districts securing the convening of the multi-sport events, he said.
"We continue to make efforts to ensure that the multi-sport events are convened securely and peacefully," Rohman said in a press statement in June, 2021.
To this end, the Kogabwilhan III has been coordinating with the Papua police and XVII/Cendrawasih Regional Military Command, he informed.
"Our security forces in Timika are strong enough," Rohman affirmed while adding that nine of the 37 sporting disciplines would be contested in the capital of Mimika district.
Meanwhile, Mimika district head Eltinus Omaleng assured that his administrative areas remain safe and secure for all contingents of athletes and officials.
"We guarantee that there will be no (security) problems. This year, Timika will not only become a co-host of the 2021 PON National Games, but it will also host Papua's Kingmi Kemah Injili Church Conference and gospel choir festival," he assured.
Omaleng said he believed that the events would be held in a peaceful manner despite lingering security risks posed by Papuan terrorist groups operating in the Tembagapura sub-district and Kali Kopi neighborhood areas.
To guarantee the security of all contingents of athletes and officials during their stay in Timika, the authorities have made preparations for the deployment of security personnel at the athletes and officials' accommodation complex and sports venues, he informed.
Related news: Contingent to Papua's PON urged to coordinate with security agencies
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In view of this year's multi-sport events, Papua police have also continued to intensify a community-based program called "Binmas Noken" to win over Papuan communities.
The police are working closely with regional administrations as well as religious and community figures to create and promote a peaceful situation before the convening of the events, officials said.
Through the "Binmas Noken" Program, police officers on duty are giving due importance to being heedful to the Papuan communities' requests, requirements, and aspirations, Papua Police chief, Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri, noted in a recent statement.
With athletes and officials from across the archipelago scheduled to participate in the event, Fakhiri urged journalists to serve the public more soft news rather than hard news, especially pertaining to armed violence.
Over the course of the past year, there has been a downward trend in the armed Papuan separatist terrorist groups operating in Mimika district's administrative areas, Mimika police chief, Adjunct Sen. Coms. IGG Era Adhinata, reported recently.
Scores of Papuan separatist terrorists have reunited with their families and communities to build a better future and have pledged allegiance to Indonesia, Adhinata said. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
The soldiers approached the villagers, shared face masks, and spoke to them about the importance of unifying efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, a commanding officer noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here on Monday.
The villagers enthusiastically joined the campaign, Commanding officer of the 315/Garuda Infantry Battalion's task force for safeguarding vulnerable areas in Tsinga Sub-district, Second Lieutenant Heru Prasetyo, remarked.
The villagers willingly received the free face masks from the soldiers since before this public awareness campaign, they were required to comply with the mask-wearing rule, but several of them did not have masks.
During the campaign, the participating soldiers urged the villagers to stay at home if they had nothing necessary to do outdoors to help break the chain of the novel coronavirus disease, he noted.
The army personnel reminded the villagers of the importance of wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining physical distancing, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility for halting the spread of COVID-19, he added.
The COVID-19 pandemic initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019 and subsequently spread across the globe, including to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Indonesian government announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
Since then, the central and regional governments have striven incessantly to flatten the nation's coronavirus curve by applying healthcare protocols and public activity restrictions.
As part of the efforts to win the fight against COVID-19, the Indonesian government has also been conducting a nationwide vaccination program to contain infections since January 13, 2021.
In the midst of the government's ongoing vaccination drives, over the past few weeks, Indonesia has been hit by the second wave of new COVID-19 cases.
The country witnessed a record increase in daily COVID-19 cases on July 3, with 27,913 new infections reported across the country, thereby taking the total tally to 2,256,851.
The COVID-19 Response Task Force noted that with 493 people dying of COVID-19, the death toll had reached 60,027. The number of deaths showed a decline on Saturday as compared to 539 recorded on July 2.
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The personnel involved in the community service belong to the 403 Infantry Battalion/Wirasada Pratista's Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force, the task force's commanding officer, Lt.Col.Ade Pribadi Siregar, informed.
Once the Santa Maria Church is cleaned and renovated, the congregation is expected to be more comfortable while attending Sunday prayer services, he said in a statement released here on Monday.
The church's clean-up and renovation is being led by Somografi security checkpoint commanding officer, 2nd Lt Muhammad Raka Regnata, he informed adding that he hoped locals would feel the benefits of the presence of the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) in their village.
While continuing to uphold unity with their Papuan brothers and sisters, the soldiers will also join efforts to strengthen the practices of interfaith tolerance among community members, he added.
ANTARA has earlier reported on Indonesian soldiers deployed in Papua helping locals through community services involving the provision of staple food, healthcare, mobile library, voluntary teaching, and street clean-up programs.
Last week, in the midst of a COVID-19 resurgence, seven soldiers donated bags of rice to native Papuans in Baidub village, Ulilin sub-district, Merauke district.
"We shared a little bit of what we get with our Papuan brothers and sisters," commanding officer of the 611 Infantry Battalion/Awang Long's Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force, Lt.Col. Albert Frantesca, said.
The rice was distributed to locals by the border security checkpoint's commanding officer, Second Lieutenant (2d Lt) Nyoman, and six soldiers. The donation will hopefully help ease the villagers' burden, Frantesca said.
In February this year, several soldiers from the 756/WMS Infantry Battalion's security task force had offered mobile health services to people residing in Beanekogom village, Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district.
Such health services have routinely been offered as part of the task force's community service initiatives to ensure that locals are in good health, officials said.
The task force's commander, Major Marolop Edison Bala Hutapea, stated that the TNI is mindful of the difficulties faced by local residents and maintains an emotional connect with them.
Sincerity in conducting community services and tending to the needs of local communities would help make the TNI security posts useful to them, he added.
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