2) Vaccination coverage in Papua PON areas surpasses 60 percent
3) Fogging conducted to stop malaria spread during Papua PON: ministry
4) Papua PON torch relay starts in Sorong, West Papua
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1) Indonesia faces scrutiny over Papua
PREMIUM Jakarta ● Tue, September 28 2021
The government faced more international scrutiny of its activities in Papua as the United Nations capped a whirlwind of multilateral diplomatic activities, even as violence continued to simmer in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces.
Indonesia regularly receives criticism for its strategy in relation to separatist groups in Papua, a strategy that relies heavily on a security-based approach and which has raised questions about the government’s commitment to human rights.
Most recently, the nation found itself included on a list of 45 countries cited as being culpable of intimidation and reprisals against human rights defenders seeking to cooperate with the UN, according to an annual report from the UN Secretary General’s Office distributed on Sept. 17.
Between May 2020 and April this year, five individuals seeking to cooperate with UN human rights agencies – Wensislaus Fatubun, Yones Douw, Victor Mambor, Veronica Koman and Victor Yeimo – were “subject to threats, harassment and surveillance by government, non-state and private actors, including business enterprises and local political actors”, the report said.
It included in its appendix an acknowledgement that the government responded in a note sent verbally in connection with the report, affirming Indonesia’s position as of Aug. 12 condemning intimidation and reprisals for cooperating with the UN, including human rights defenders.
However, Jakarta rejected the allegation that Yeimo was arrested for his cooperation with the UN, stating that his case “strictly concerned his alleged involvement in the incitement of mass riots [...] on Aug. 19, 2019, and his advocacy of separatism and secession”.
The report is currently being discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, with Indonesia preparing a response later this week, according to a spokesman from the Foreign Ministry.
Yeimo, 39, a spokesman for the West Papua National Committee, a rebel group, was arrested in May on charges of treason and inciting violence.
He has denied the charges, but his trial has gone ahead despite requests from his lawyer for a delay on medical grounds, said Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, in a statement warning Indonesia last week.
Wenislaus is an adviser for human rights at the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), while Yones is a member of the indigenous Me tribe, who has been investigating, documenting and advocating against alleged human rights violations in Papua for over a decade. Veronika is a human rights lawyer based in Australia, while Mambor is a Papua-based journalist also documenting the conflict in the region.
Diplomatic quarrel
The report was not the only scrutiny Indonesia received during the UN’s most important annual events. Another year and the UN General Assembly saw Indonesia face another barrage of accusations by Vanuatu, whose Prime Minister Bob Loughman Weibur on Saturday urged the international community to address alleged human rights violations in Papua through the appropriate UN-led processes.
Weibur sought to put pressure on the government to allow the UN human rights commissioner to visit Papua and West Papua for an independent assessment of the human rights situation there, But Jakarta rejected his remarks as “false, baseless allegations and a misrepresentation” of the situation in the region.
“Vanuatu deliberately closes its eyes when these armed separatist criminal groups murder nurses, healthcare workers, teachers, construction workers and law enforcement officers,” said Sindy Nur Fitri, a young diplomat at the Indonesian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. Weibur mentioned West Papua – the preferred name for Papua among separatists – alongside French Polynesia and New Caledonia, as territories still struggling for self-determination. The latter two are French overseas territories listed at the UN as non-self-governing territories.
Unlike the other two, West Papua has never been on the list because its integration with Indonesia was legitimized by the UN, even though pro-independence groups continue to campaign to include it on the list.
Deadly fighting
For years, Indonesia has swatted away the criticisms of several small Pacific Island countries – all of which share a cultural affinity with Papua’s Melanesian people – as it looks to project a more benevolent image as a neighbor. However, developments in the restive provinces often run counter to Indonesia’s overseas efforts, as tensions run high between security forces and armed rebels groups. As Indonesia sent yet another junior diplomat to do its bidding at the UN, the fighting continued in Kiwirok district in Papua’s Pegunungan Bintang regency.
A shootout between security forces and armed rebel groups at Kiwirok Police headquarters early on Sunday left a police officer, identified as Second Agent M. Kurniadi Sutio, dead. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The clash follows nearly a dozen incidents occurring in Papua and West Papua this year alone, including the tragic death of nurse Gabriella Meilani on Sept. 13 in a rebel attack on public services in Kiwirok. She was reportedly harassed and killed by the rebel forces. Gabriella was killed after a four-hour gun battle that saw rebels burn down a nearby local community health service, a school and a bank. She was found dead in a ravine that she and nine other health workers fled into as the violence erupted. A soldier was also caught in the line of fire.
The TPNPB went on the offensive as Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel retrieved Gabriella’s body to be sent to Jayapura. A soldier was killed in that attack on Sept. 21. The group has denied allegations that their members killed or harassed medical workers, and called for an independent investigation involving the UN.
After the incident, Kiwirok was reportedly deserted, with most residents fleeing into the forest or other places to hide, for fear the conflict would reignite. Another nurse, Gerald Sokoy, was held for 12 days at the OPM headquarters in Ngalum Kupel before he was released to his family on Saturday.
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2) Vaccination coverage in Papua PON areas surpasses 60 percent
5 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that the overall coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) areas had crossed 60 percent of the vaccination target.
While delivering a virtual press statement via the YouTube channel of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture on Monday afternoon, the health minister noted that in accordance with the regulation, sports competitions might be held in areas that had achieved the 60-percent coverage in terms of administering the first dose of vaccination.
Sadikin noted that the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination had been administered to 406,531 people, or some 62 percent of the total targeted 648,622 vaccination recipients spread across five areas where the XX PON is taking place in Papua.
"The first dose of vaccination has been administered to 253,474 people, or 39 percent (of the target population)," he stated.
The minister noted that vaccination coverage in Merauke District, Jayapura City, and Mimika District had surpassed the 60-percent figure, while vaccination coverage in Jayapura District had, so far, reached 57 percent, whereas vaccination coverage in Keerom District had only reached 54 percent of the target.
"Along with the TNI and Police, we are currently expediting (vaccinations) for Jayapura District and Keerom District to reach 60 percent," he stated.
The minister has ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine supply for the first and second doses had arrived in Papua and was ready to be distributed.
The XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) 2021 will be held on October 2-15, 2021. At least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia are expected to participate in Papua's PON National Games that will feature 37 events.
Related news: Fogging conducted to stop malaria spread during Papua PON: ministry
Related news: Organizing committee limits soccer spectators
Related news: Task Force necessitates stringent health protocol application at PON
While delivering a virtual press statement via the YouTube channel of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture on Monday afternoon, the health minister noted that in accordance with the regulation, sports competitions might be held in areas that had achieved the 60-percent coverage in terms of administering the first dose of vaccination.
Sadikin noted that the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination had been administered to 406,531 people, or some 62 percent of the total targeted 648,622 vaccination recipients spread across five areas where the XX PON is taking place in Papua.
"The first dose of vaccination has been administered to 253,474 people, or 39 percent (of the target population)," he stated.
The minister noted that vaccination coverage in Merauke District, Jayapura City, and Mimika District had surpassed the 60-percent figure, while vaccination coverage in Jayapura District had, so far, reached 57 percent, whereas vaccination coverage in Keerom District had only reached 54 percent of the target.
"Along with the TNI and Police, we are currently expediting (vaccinations) for Jayapura District and Keerom District to reach 60 percent," he stated.
The minister has ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine supply for the first and second doses had arrived in Papua and was ready to be distributed.
The XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) 2021 will be held on October 2-15, 2021. At least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia are expected to participate in Papua's PON National Games that will feature 37 events.
Related news: Fogging conducted to stop malaria spread during Papua PON: ministry
Related news: Organizing committee limits soccer spectators
Related news: Task Force necessitates stringent health protocol application at PON
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3) Fogging conducted to stop malaria spread during Papua PON: ministry
7 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said that fogging is being carried out in areas organizing the XX Papua National Games (PON) to control the spread of malaria.
"In the last two weeks, the Health Ministry has collaborated with the Papua Health Service to carry out fogging activity throughout the venues for PON and also the athletes' residences to stop malaria spread," Minister Sadikin said while delivering a virtual press statement here on Monday.
Meanwhile, director of prevention and control of vector and zoonotic diseases at the Health Ministry, Didik Budijanto, said that malaria, which is caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite, is still confirmed as a highly endemic disease in Papua province.
"As many as 86 percent of the total malaria cases in Indonesia come from Papua province, the rest came from West Papua and Maluku," Budijanto informed.
The four venues for Papua PON—Jayapura City, Jayapura District, Merauke District, and Mimika District, which includes the Mimika administrative area—fall in the malaria red zone, thus anticipatory steps need to be taken to control infections, he explained.
"Fumigation in all athletes' and officials' accommodation, such as hotels and guesthouses, has been made mandatory by the Health Ministry and Papua Health Service," he added.
The Health Ministry has sent vector control personnel to conduct fogging at least once a week at all lodging facilities, especially on walls and locations close to mosquito habitats, Budijanto said.
Furthermore, at every venue that will hold matches from morning to evening, officials will conduct fogging at least once a week, he informed.
"Except for night matches, we will start fogging the venues two until three hours prior to the game," he added.
Related news: Preventing dengue, malaria to avoid double health burden amid corona
Related news: Stakeholders must promote Papua tourism during PON: KONI
Related news: Organizing committee limits soccer spectators
"In the last two weeks, the Health Ministry has collaborated with the Papua Health Service to carry out fogging activity throughout the venues for PON and also the athletes' residences to stop malaria spread," Minister Sadikin said while delivering a virtual press statement here on Monday.
Meanwhile, director of prevention and control of vector and zoonotic diseases at the Health Ministry, Didik Budijanto, said that malaria, which is caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite, is still confirmed as a highly endemic disease in Papua province.
"As many as 86 percent of the total malaria cases in Indonesia come from Papua province, the rest came from West Papua and Maluku," Budijanto informed.
The four venues for Papua PON—Jayapura City, Jayapura District, Merauke District, and Mimika District, which includes the Mimika administrative area—fall in the malaria red zone, thus anticipatory steps need to be taken to control infections, he explained.
"Fumigation in all athletes' and officials' accommodation, such as hotels and guesthouses, has been made mandatory by the Health Ministry and Papua Health Service," he added.
The Health Ministry has sent vector control personnel to conduct fogging at least once a week at all lodging facilities, especially on walls and locations close to mosquito habitats, Budijanto said.
Furthermore, at every venue that will hold matches from morning to evening, officials will conduct fogging at least once a week, he informed.
"Except for night matches, we will start fogging the venues two until three hours prior to the game," he added.
Related news: Preventing dengue, malaria to avoid double health burden amid corona
Related news: Stakeholders must promote Papua tourism during PON: KONI
Related news: Organizing committee limits soccer spectators
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