1) President Jokowi shops at Imbi Park Noken Market

 

2) Minister observes construction of six speedboats for Papuans  

3) 194 church leaders in Papua call for end to military operations, peace talks

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/199493/president-jokowi-shops-at-imbi-park-noken-market

1) President Jokowi shops at Imbi Park Noken Market 

 5 hours ago  

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stopped at the Imbi Park Noken Market, Jayapura City, on Saturday to shop for traditional Papuan bags, locally known as noken.

He made the stop before watching matches at the XVI National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) at the Cenderawasih Sports Center, Jayapura City, Papua.

At the market, Jokowi and his entourage bought a number of noken and some Papuan handicrafts, as stated by the Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau in a press release received here on Saturday.

Related news: President Jokowi watches badminton finals before closing XVI Peparnas

Besides the President, several members of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) also bought bags and promptly wore them to the sellers' delight.

After completing a working visit to West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, President Jokowi arrived in Papua on Saturday afternoon to officially close the XVI Papua Peparnas at the Mandala Stadium, Jayapura City.

While visiting the market, he was accompanied by State Secretary Minister Pratikno, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali, as well as Investment Minister/head of Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia.

Related news: West Java athlete secures first swimming gold in Papua Peparnas  

Reporter: Indra Pribadi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/199461/minister-observes-construction-of-six-speedboats-for-papuans

2) Minister observes construction of six speedboats for Papuans  

7 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini observed the construction of six speedboats for Papuans during her visit to the Faculty of Engineering at Cenderawasih University on Friday, November 12.

The speedboat construction work was conducted as a result of a collaboration between Cenderawasih University and the Surabaya November Ten Institute (ITS). It was Rismaharini’s initiative to address access difficulties faced by Papuans, given the varied geographical features comprising mountains, rivers, and seas.

"So far, it takes two days to travel from Mamberamo to Sentani due to the winding (stream) of the river. With this boat, it is hoped that (the journey) will become faster," the minister noted in a statement received here on Saturday.

Rismaharini was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Rector of Cenderawasih University Dr Ir. Apolo Safanpo, and the shipbuilding team. The Director General of Social Empowerment and the Minister's Special Staff was also present along with the minister.

Rismaharini and Muhadjir observed the almost completed boat in the backyard of the campus. Six ships were produced in the initial stages.

"One ship is for picking up the school kids. Thereafter, five units will be managed by the Indonesian Christian Foundation in Papua," the minister elaborated. The boats were built to increase accessibility and boost the economic conditions of the local community. Shipbuilding is also conducted on the basis of request of the public and local leaders.

Papuan leaders, represented by the Chairman of the Papuan Religious Harmony Forum, Father Lipiyus Biniluk, told the social affairs minister that access to water transportation, particularly through rivers, should be improved since it is considered to be the most effective mode in supporting daily activities and the community's economy.

Related news: Social Affairs Ministry builds 10 chicken farms in Asmat, Papua

The minister promptly responded to the request and held a meeting with the Surabaya November Ten Institute leadership. The shipbuilding process involves Cenderawasih University and Papuan youth.

"The goal is for technology transfer to occur, and the Papuan people can master the technology," she remarked.

With the shipbuilding process in its final stages, Rismaharini stated in a light-hearted manner that it was a birthday gift for the Surabaya November Ten Institute and Cenderawasih University, both of which were founded on November 10.

The synergy model for the creation of speedboats will also be implemented in other regions. The next opportunity will be given to other regions in Papua.

Assistance from the Social Affairs Ministry is a continuous project. The minister has vowed to continue to oversee the program until the beneficiaries grew independent.

"The Social Affairs Ministry will not abandon them. We will continue to monitor them. Later, if their fish catch is good, it must be handled through good management. They must then form a cooperative that will also manage basic necessities," she remarked.

Related news: Government commits to accelerating Papua's development: Vice President

Rismaharini ensured that the government, through the Social Affairs Ministry, would assist regions in Papua in accordance with their needs and conditions. For instance, Puncak Jaya will not receive a ship, but instead, assistance will be offered in the form of motorbike with battery power, GESITS.

Chairman of the Papuan Religious Harmony Forum, Father Lipiyus Biniluk, lauded the social affairs minister for her administration's assistance.

"Remote areas in Papua can only be accessed via air or river. Hence, this ship assistance is the right answer," Biniluk affirmed.

Rector of Cenderawasih University Apolo Safanpo also expressed his gratitude to her for being part of the local community's empowerment program. Cenderawasih University ensures its commitment to improving the quality of Papua's human resources.

The social empowerment assistance was symbolically handed over to five institutions, totalling up to Rp29,067,751,030 (USD 2,048,294.09).

The five institutions are the Mega Education Foundation, the Papua Alom Cooperative, the Papua Indonesian Christian Church Class Asmat Worker Board, Cenderawasih University, the Mamberamo Raya Bersinar Cooperative, Jayapura City, Jayapura District, and Keerom District, Papua Province.

Some 539 people received assistance valued at Rp1,006,825,500 (US$70,947.17) under the social rehabilitation program. The aid was in the form of ATENSI assistance, entrepreneurship assistance, accessibility assistance, and basic needs assistance.

The aid was contributed by Balai Wirajaya Makassar, Balai Gau Mabaji Gowa, Balai Toddopuli Makassar, Minaula Kendari Workshop and KP Drugs Workshop Pangurangi Takalar. Thus, the total assistance from the Social Affairs Ministry reached Rp30,074,576,530 (US$2,119,241,26). (

Related news: Transportation ministry ships 428 buses for Papua's PON, Peparnas

Reporter: Devi N S R, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto

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https://www.indoleft.org/news/2021-11-12/194-church-leaders-in-papua-call-for-end-to-military-operations-peace-talks.html

3) 194 church leaders in Papua call for end to military operations, peace talks

Suara Papua – November 12, 2021

Atamus Kepno, Jayapura – One hundred and ninety-four Catholic leaders from across Papua have explicitly called for an end to military operations in Papua. The Pastors hope that dialogue and reconciliation will be the solution to resolve the prolonged conflict in Papua.

Pastor Alberto John Bunai said that the government was ecstatic about the success of the 20th National Games in Papua, but the people were deeply saddened by what was being suffered by God's communities in Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Kiwirok and Maybrat.

"In order to solve the roots of the problem what is needed is dialogue and reconciliation in a dignified manner for the sake of resolving the prolonged conflict in the land of Papua", said Bunai durng a press conference titled a Moral Call by 194 Catholic Pastors on Thursday November 11 at the Bright World of Christ Parish in Waena, Jayapura city, Papua.

It is the church's duty to articulate the cries of God's communities who have no voice, continued Bunai. The government must halt the ongoing military operations which have resulted in the killing of civilians, violence and people being displace in several parts of Papua.

"Stop the military operations. Release the civilians who were wrongly arrested in Maybrat. In Kiwirok hundreds of resident's homes have been bombed by security forces. Rocket fired from the air using helicopters. But several failed to explode. Hundreds of civilians are reported to have fled to Papua New Guinea. There are no estimates yet on the number of deaths and destroyed homes. Many people are sick and have died of hunger in the forests. Right now the people need humanitarian assistance", he said.

"The government should create peace for the sake of humanity, justice, truth and the safety of the indigenous Papuan people", he said.

Pastor Bunai revealed that there have been around 58 ideological and political conflicts between indigenous Papuans and the Indonesian government, conflicts which have triggered armed violence in Papua to this day.

"So the principle role of the Church is as the bearer of peace and upholder of justice, it cannot be silent in the face of these realities, we must speak out for those who have no voice", he said.

According to the church leaders, they are speaking out for the sake of security and peace, not in the political interests of individuals, groups or the like.

"We are speaking out because we long for an atmosphere of security, so that there is peace, justice and harmony in the land of Papua".

They further said that because of the interests of a group of elite involved in gold mining in Papua, indigenous Papuans have become victims of violence and lost their communal land rights.

"Papuans just become victims or become victims in regions because of the exploitation of natural resources without justice or transparency. As we know from the results of research by the YLBHI [Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation], the JATAM [Mining Advocacy Network], ICW [Indonesian Corruption Watch], the Kontras [Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence], the Walhi [Indonesian Forum for the Environment], the Indonesian People's Fraction, Greenpeace Indonesia and the Sajogja Institute", he explained.

Pastor Agustinus Yerwuan took the opportunity to remind people that everyone is created by God in his image and were placed on different parts of the earth including Papua.

"Because of this all those who live in the land of Papua and all related parties must remember this well as religious people and also as people who are concerned about peace and love", said Yerwuan.

The Franciscan pastor hopes that all parties will pray and cooperate to bring an end to the armed conflict in the land of Papua.

"Our hope is for prayers and cooperation between all parties, social elements, including those with interests which often disturb security and peace, the TNI [Indonesian military] and Polri [Indonesian police] as well as the TPNPB [West Papua National Liberation Army] must end the war or reach a ceasefire, then maintain a humanity which is just and civilised in this land of Papua", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ratusan Imam Katolik di Tanah Papua Serukan Perdamaian".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2021/11/12/ratusan-imam-katolik-di-tanah-papua-serukan-perdamaian/

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