1) Soldiers in classrooms a lasting legacy in West Papua

2) Talking Indonesia: Papua, food and racism 

3) ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu’s statement at UN

4) Ensuring an orderly, secure and protected Papua games 

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https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/452641/soldiers-in-classrooms-a-lasting-legacy-in-west-papua

1) Soldiers in classrooms a lasting legacy in West Papua

Church leaders warn the presence of Indonesian soldiers in classrooms in West Papua is proving traumatic for children in a region mired in conflict.

3:39 pm on 30 September 2021

Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific Journalist johnny.blades@rnz.co.nz

Indonesian military officer addresses a school class in West Papua, September 2021 Photo: Supplied

Similarly, Indonesian military (TNI) are working on the health front-line, which feeds into mistrust among some Papuan communities, making them reluctant to seek treatment for disease or get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Military involvement on the front-line of basic services in Papua is a concern to local church leaders during a time of crisis due to the pandemic, state crackdown on freedom of expression as well as ongoing armed conflict between West Papuan pro-independence fighters and Indonesian security forces.

Violence flared again this month in West Papua's Maybrat regency where four Indonesian soldiers were killed in an ambush on a military post for which a faction of the West Papua Liberation Army claimed responsibility for. Amid the ensuing military response, thousands of local villagers have been displaced.

Pancasila role

Indonesia's military serves a function of spreading Pancasila, the national ideology, where it is considered lacking, such as in Papua region.

While there are teacher shortages in Papua - particularly in several conflict-affected highlands regencies - it is not unusual for military personnel to deploy to affected districts to step into these roles.

The military has been active in education in Papua and other frontier parts of the republic for several years, according to Indonesian researcher, Hipo Wangge, a PhD student at the Australian National University who has studied the wide-ranging impacts of displacement due to conflict in Papua's central highlands.

"In 2013, the Papuan provincial education agency signed a memorandum of understanding with the Papua provincial command to assign the soldiers to teach in remote areas, particularly highland and mountainous areas," he said.

West Papuan villagers flee their homes due to armed conflict in Maybrat regency, September 2021. Photo: Supplied

Wangge said that the TNI's teaching role was not confined to the central highlands.

Some schools, such as in lowland areas, were relatively supportive of having soldiers in their classrooms, particularly in areas that haven't experienced conflict, he said.

But Wangge observed that in his experience talking to teachers posted to the highlands, students in this region were badly affected.

"Students are cautious in conflict areas, such as Nduga, Puncak, and Yahukimo, and they were traumatic and feared to see the soldiers coming to their schools."

For communities caught in the middle of a conflict, their students can be compromised by the military function in the school system, while the type of education they receive is open to question.

"Teaching is part of a territorial operation, in which the military is involved in non-military primary duties, trying to get support from the locals, garner intelligence information, and absorb national ideology, such as the country's archipelagic concept to people, including the Papuans," Wangge explained.

The military says it is working with regents to help displaced communities be assured of safety and normal services in areas where the Liberation Army has launched attacks. It is also building roads and bridges, more of the infrastructure work which provided a flashpoint for escalation of the highlands conflict three years ago.

Indonesian military personnel in Maybrat regency, West Papua province, 11 September 2021 Photo: Supplied

Militarisation of Papua in itself may only be adding to the cycle of disruption in education and health services.

The President of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of West Papua, Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman, alleges it is by design.

"The military itself creates conflict and teachers run away from their work places and schools without teachers and are replaced by members of the Indonesian army," he said.

"The negative impacts on education and health are dire in the short, medium and long term."

Access via health

Indonesia's military are also on the front-line of healthcare in Papua, deployed ostensibly to help local staff treat patients and in these Covid-19 times, to boost vaccination

Not just in the rural areas, but also Papua's cities such as Jayapura, Manokwari, Wamena, and Merauke, the TNI provides a key logistical link in distributing vaccine supplies and medical equipment.

Before the pandemic, military was already involved in medical treatment of Papuans, which is a concern to locals like Reverend Bernadus Bovitwoss Baru, the director of the Augustinian Justice & Peace Office in West Papua.

"Some of the medical personnel are the members of the state and military intelligence services," he said, adding that TNI participation in health service programmes was increasing.

"Indonesia military is using this moment of conflicts to take care the refugees to help them for health service."

Reverend Bernadus claimed the military role in services was aimed at projecting an image, and getting access to Papuan communities.

"By this method, they can able to identification some of TPNPB-OPM (The West Papua Liberation Army) members as well as them families."

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2) Talking Indonesia: Papua, food and racism 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

 BY ANNISA BETA 

 

Despite the fact that Indonesia’s deforestation rate reached a historic low in 2020, the social, cultural, and ecological wellbeing of people whose livelihoods depend on forests has continued to suffer greatly. The indigenous Marind people in Papua, for example, have seen 1.2 million hectares of their lands and forests targeted for oil palm and timber plantations as part of the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate. This has led not only to food and water insecurity but also fundamental shifts in the food and eating habits of the Marind people. Why is this happening?

Joining Talking Indonesia for a second time is Dr Sophie Chao, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of History, University of Sydney. Dr Annisa Beta chats to Chao about her extensive work with the Marind people and the intersections of race, food, and development in Papua.

Chao has recently published articles on gastrocolonialism and on the political symbolism of the monkeyfrom the perspective of West Papuan indigenous communities. Chao’s first book, In the Shadow of the Palms: More-Than-Human Becomings in West Papua, was awarded the inaugural Duke University Press Scholars of Color First Book Award in June 2021 and is forthcoming with Duke University Press in June 2022. In her first appearance on the podcast in 2019, Chao spoke with Talking Indonesia co-host Dr Jemma Purdey about the violence, displacement, and dispossession experienced by the Marind people.

In 2021, the Talking Indonesia podcast is co-hosted by Dr Annisa Beta, Dr Dave McRae from the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute, Dr Jemma Purdey from Monash University, and Dr Charlotte Setijadi from the Singapore Management University.

Look out for a new Talking Indonesia podcast every fortnight. Catch up on previous episodes here, subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen via your favourite podcasting app.

https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/talking-indonesia-papua-food-and-racism/

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https://www.dailypost.vu/news/ulmwp-welcomes-vanuatu-s-statement-at-un/article_25c0ccd8-c754-5fa8-823d-228a18d5aefc.html

3) ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu’s statement at UN

By Hilaire Bule  Sep 29, 2021

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has saluted Vanuatu’s declaration on human rights violation by Indonesia in West Papuan soil, at the 76th United Nations General Assembly.

Representative of ULMWP, Freddy Waromi, welcomed the statement made by Prime Minister Bob Loughman. He also thanked the Opposition, Vanuatu Christian Council, Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs and people of Vanuatu for their continuous support to the struggle of their Melanesian brothers in West Papua.

Mr. Waromi made specific mention of Vanu’aku Party and the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu for petitioning the government during their recent congress and conference to include the issue of West Papua in Vanuatu’s statement to UN.

Waromi also acknowledged the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, and the Secretary General of UN, António Guterres, for raising the issue of West Papua in their speeches. Waromi said it is the first time for SG Guterres to speak out on the human rights abuses in West Papua.

He applauded Guterres’ speech to ask Indonesia to allow UN’s fact-finding mission in West Papua. Waromi also call on PM Loughman to take the same stand during the Melanesian Spearhead Group Summit which will take place in Port Vila.

He said with PM Loughman as chairman, ULMWP expects that MSG leaders will finally endorse their application to become full member of the Melanesian family.

Waromi said he has resubmitted the ULMWP’s application to the Vanuatu government last week. Their application was already summited during the last MSG summit in Fiji but they were asked to revise the application.

Indonesia's military have been working in health services at sub-district and village levels in West Papua, including for Covid-19 response. September 2021.  Photo: TNI

An Indonesian military commander in Papua, Brigadier General Djoko Andoko, Kasdam XVIII/Kasuari, said soldiers were working hard at village and sub-district levels to deliver better health outcomes for local communities. This included helping local health authorities respond to the pandemic.

Military personnel from a range of positions were working to assist health workers in order to accelerate the rollout of vaccination against Covid-19, he said in West Papua last week.

Indonesian health authorities have achieved a far higher level of vaccination against Covid-19 in West Papua than their counterparts in neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

But given the history of Indonesian military operations in West Papua, many grassroots communities there are against vaccination expressly because they are wary of the TNI involvement in the rollout, which complicates public health efforts to protect Papua from Covid.

"The locals treat their ills in their community, not at the hospital or health clinic, particularly in the central highlands," Wangge said.

"Statistically speaking, the Papuans living in the central highlands have limited access to health services, partly because they are suspicious of government-run health facilities. Some indigenous Papuans still believe that the Indonesian health staff would make their condition worse if they go to the hospital."

The sense of suspicion tracks right back to generations of Papuan kids in the classroom, where Reverend Bernadus said the military was embedded with the aim of indoctrinating Indonesian nationalism

However he said it resulted in trauma for children, having the effect of "creating the feeling of hate and revenge among the children to the Indonesia military, and "creating the sentiment of Papua's nationalism".

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/191961/ensuring-an-orderly-secure-and-protected-papua-games

4) Ensuring an orderly, secure and protected Papua games 

 5 hours ago

Ahead of the opening ceremony of Papua's 20th PON National Games on Saturday, 2nd October, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo conducted his final inspection by visiting several sporting venues in Jayapura City. During his working visit, along with Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali, on Thursday, General Prabowo ensured the multi-sport event would run in an orderly, secure and protected manner.

For the opening ceremony, the organizing committee prepared two spectacular firework displays at the Lukas Enembe Stadium and the Youtefa Bridge.

Despite the fact the event’s opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, 2nd October, many participating athletes have already competed in several events.

As a result, several provinces have won medals. As of Thursday at 09:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), Jakarta still topped the preliminary medal table with 34 medals, with 17 golds, eight silvers and nine bronzes.

The second position was secured by Papua, with a total of 25 medals (13 golds, three silvers and nine bronzes) while the third, fourth and fifth positions were filled by West Java, East Java and Bali.

The Papua games, co-hosted by Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke from 2nd to 15th October, is witnessing the participation of some 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia.

The athletes are competing in 37 events, including Pencak Silat (Indonesia's traditional martial arts), Wushu (China's traditional martial arts), soccer, athletics, swimming, diving, badminton and archery.

The sporting venues inspected by General Prabowo ahead of the official opening ceremony were the tennis court, soccer field and diving pool.

Related news: National Police HQ dispatches 100 vaccinators to XX Papua PON

During his visit, he reviewed the use of the PeduliLindungi surveillance application at the sporting venues, as part of the government's COVID-19 prevention and mitigation efforts. He also reviewed the security details.

Prabowo appealed to the organizing committee of the 20th PON National Games to keep highlighting the importance of complying with health protocols through loudspeakers.

Home Minister Tito Karnavian earlier asked all athletes, officials, organizing committee members and spectators to comply with strict COVID-19 health protocols during the start of the event.

Karnavian's Ministerial Instruction No.46/2021 was announced by the Home Ministry's regional administration management director-general, Safrizal, in a statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Complying with health protocols is key to making the country's biggest multi-sports event successful, Safrizal stressed.

Related news: Vaccination coverage in Papua PON areas surpasses 60 percent

According to the ministerial instruction, all participating athletes, officials, organizing committee members, spectators and locals living near sporting venues must get vaccinated.

They must all take at least the first COVID-19 shot, he said, adding the number of spectators will be restricted and a viewing gathering, locally known as "nonton bareng," has been prohibited.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 during Papua's 20th PON National Games, authorities must ensure that guests, as well as spectators, can show valid PCR or antigen test results.

All guests and visitors will also be required to carry bonafide vaccination certificates, Safrizal stated, adding medical facilities with healthcare workers have been set up in certain areas to serve those in need.

Related news: Papua PON: spectators required to get fully vaccinated

The Home Ministry is, therefore, working with government agencies, such as health offices, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), COVID-19 task force, and the PON National Games organizing committee, he affirmed.

As part of the implementation of the “3M” health protocols, the Home Ministry is intensifying its campaign to encourage people to wear face-masks in cities that will co-host the Games, he further said.

Regarding Papua's security condition, Papua Police Chief Inspector-General Mathius Fakhiri earlier said armed Papuan terrorists' security disturbances would not disrupt the Games.

Therefore, as announced in a statement he made on 14th September, 2021, Fakhiri appealed to participating athletes and officials to not worry, as some 8,000 security personnel would secure the event.

The security situations in four regions co-hosting the PON National Games remain stable, as they are far away from areas frequently disrupted by the armed Papuan separatist terrorists, he added.

Related news: PON: 1,500 military, police personnel to be deployed in Mimika

As well as the Papua police's security guarantee, the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI)-Jakarta office has adopted preventive measures by assigning 20 police officers in Jakarta's contingent.

The involvement of police officers from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police in the contingent aims to protect and secure officials, coaches and 735 athletes competing in Papua.

The KONI-Jakarta Office has also for the assistance of navy personnel at the Indonesian Naval Base (Lantamal) I, XI, and Mimika to protect the contingent, according to KONI-Jakarta Office Head Djamhuron Wibowo.

The office set a target of winning the Papua Games with 171 gold medals, he added.

Papua's 20th PON National Games, which can finally be held after being delayed for one year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, is a milestone in Indonesia's history.

Related news: Armed terrorists' security disturbances will not disrupt PON: Police

By Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto

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