1) House presses ahead with Papua redistricting despite protests

2) ‘It raises social conflict’: Civil group asks Jokowi to cancel Papua expansion plan 

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https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2022/06/28/house-presses-ahead-with-papua-redistricting-despite-protests.html

1) House presses ahead with Papua redistricting despite protests 

Nur Janti (The Jakarta Post) 

PREMIUM Jakarta   ●   Wed, June 29, 2022 

Lawmakers have pressed ahead with a plan to create new provinces in resource-rich Papua after securing support from local elites, as politicians aim to pass a set of bills that will lay legal groundwork for the major redistricting before they go into recess early next month. 

On Tuesday, House of Representatives Commission II overseeing home affairs unanimously endorsed three bills to be passed into law at a House plenary session on Thursday. The bills will divide one of the two existing provinces in Papua into four new ones. The second, West Papua province, will be left as it is. In an apparent bid to fast track the deliberations smoothly, lawmakers recently invited some senior Papua administration officials – who also represented Governor Lukas Enembe – and representatives from the provincial-level legislative council (DPRP). 

They won their support for the plan. But critics insist that the invited Papuan elites do not represent voices at the grass roots who have rejected the plan over fears that it will be used as a pretext to tighten government control over Papua. 

The government, meanwhile, has heard concerns about the major redistricting from the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), which represents Papuan indigenous people and opposes the plan.

 But the government later sent a letter to the House to continue the deliberation of the bills. The government's push to form new provinces in Papua intensified after the House passed a new law on Papuan special autonomy last year that bypasses the need for consultation with the MRP or the DPRP in the event of the creation of new administrative regions. 

Read also: House seeks speedy deliberation to establish new provinces in Papua 

The Special Autonomy Law was listed under the initiative of both the government and the House. And late last month, lawmakers decided to list the three bills on the new Papuan provinces as their initiative. 

Protests persist Only hours after the House Commission II endorsement on Tuesday, civil groups including the Papua Legal Aid Institute and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) pleaded with the government to drop the plan. An organization called the Papua Indigenous Council has also demanded the government resolve long ongoing discrimination against Papuans – and alleged human rights abuses – rather than forming new provinces. "This was born out of the ambiguity of opportunist groups of politicians," chairperson Dominikus Sorabut said last week, local news reported. 

Demonstrations against the Jakarta plan have occurred in parts of Papua since March, including in Yahukimo where at least two people were killed when a protest in March turned violent. On Monday, Papuan students in Manado, North Sulawesi held a rally against the same plan, local news reported. 

Read also: Authorities use excessive force against Papuan protesters again: Amnesty 

The MRP, which recently was also invited to one of the House meetings, insisted on rejecting the bills, repeatedly calling on the House to suspend its passing until the Constitutional Court rules on a petition against the autonomy law. "And besides, there is no scientific grounds behind the plan to establish new provinces," chairperson Timotius Murib said last week. Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member Filep Wamafma from West Papua told The Jakarta Post that a majority of indigenous Papuans rejected the plan over fears that it would exacerbate inequality and discrimination against them. 

Filep also questioned the government's readiness to financially support the development of new provinces. 

Read also: Government ‘will respect’ court ruling on Papua's special autonomy 

But House Commission II chairman Ahmad Doli Kurnia from the Golkar Party said on Tuesday that there were no longer significant objections from Papuans after lawmakers promised that most of future positions in public offices in the three new provinces would be filled by indigenous people. "Disagreements are normal in any decision-making process," he added.

He insisted that the process of drafting the three new bills would continue despite the Constitutional Court still reviewing the autonomy law. Meaningful public consultations Experts say policymakers must hold meaningful public consultations accommodating those at the grass roots rejecting the plan, despite it having gained support from Papuan elites – or else conflicts might arise. "People at the grass roots think it will only benefit the Papuan elites because there will be new positions [in the new provinces] that must be filled," National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) researcher Cahyo Pamungkas said. 

Certainly there is a need to provide adequate public services in Papua, such as higher education and health care, Cahyo said, but not necessarily through the formation of new provinces. He accused policymakers of trying to push through the plan without urgency. Papuan expert Arie Ruhyanto of Gadjah Mada University said that having Lukas support Jakarta’s plan would not necessarily reduce opposition at the grass roots. "I think there are a lot of elements that the governor can't control." Amnesty International Indonesia deputy director Wirya Adiwena said the government must map out the consequences of the plan to avoid worsening conflict and discrimination against native Papuans. 

However, the intimidatory atmosphere in Papua due to the government's security approach has made it difficult to hold a meaningful dialogue. "Because the situation is still unsafe in Papua, it seems impossible to hold it. 

It is better to make peace first before carrying out a meaningful public consultation," he said.

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https://en.jubi.id/it-raises-social-conflict-civil-group-asks-jokowi-to-cancel-papua-expansion-plan/

2) ‘It raises social conflict’: Civil group asks Jokowi to cancel Papua expansion plan 

Papua Expansion Raises Social Conflicts - News Desk 29 June 2022

Jayapura, Jubi – The Civil Organizations Solidarity for Papua Land said the Papua expansion plan of forming three new provinces was prone to causing new social conflicts. In a press statement received by Jubi on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the group urged President Joko Widodo to cancel the plan.

The group, consisting of the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), JERAT Papua, KPKC GKI in Papua Land, YALI Papua, PAHAM Papua, Cenderawasih University’s Human Rights and Environment Democracy Student Unit, and AMAN Sorong, stated that the steps taken by the House of Representatives of making three draft bills to establish three New Autonomous Regions (DOB) in Papua had created a crack between the Papuan people who accept and reject the creation of new provinces.

The solidarity noted that various groups with different opinions have expressed their respective aspirations through demonstrations, political lobbying, and even submitting a request for a review of Law No. 2/2021 on the Second Amendment to Law No. 21/2001 on Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus).

These seven civil organizations also noted that the controversy over Papua expansion had led to a number of human rights violations, including the disbandment of protests, as well as police brutality against protesters. However, the central government continued to push for the process of the Papua expansion, and the House used its right of initiative to propose three bills for the expansion.

The Civil Organizations Solidarity for Papua Land worried the expansion plan would raise social conflicts between parties with different opinions regarding the expansion. They said such potential for social conflict had been seen through a wave of demonstrations that continue to be carried out by the Papuan people, both those who reject and support new autonomous regions.

The potential for conflict can also be seen from the polemic on which area will be the new capital province. In addition, rumors about the potential for clashes between groups have also been widely circulated on various messaging services and social media.

“All the facts present have only shown that the establishment of new provinces in Papua has triggered the potential for social conflicts. This seems to have been noticed by the Papua Police as well, as they have urged their personnel to increase vigilance ahead of the House’s plenary session to issue the new Papua provinces laws,” said the group.

The group reminded the government that the New Papua Special Autonomy Law, which is used as the legal basis for the House to propose three Papua expansion bills, was still being reviewed in the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, the House’s proposal of the bills did not take into account public opinion as mandated by Government Regulation No. 78/2007 on Procedures for the Establishment, Abolition, and Merger of Regions.

“It is the most reasonable path if the Central Government stopped the deliberation of the Papua Expansion plan, which has become the source of disagreement among Papuan people. We urged the Indonesian President to immediately cancel the controversial plan to avoid escalation of social conflicts,” said the Civil Organizations Solidarity for Papua Land.

The solidarity urged the House’s Speaker to nullify the Special Committee for Formulation of Papua New Autonomous Region Policy, as well as the National Police Chief and the Papuan Governor to immediately take the necessary steps to prevent social conflict in Papua, by implementing Law No. 7/2012 on Handling Social Conflicts.

The seven civil organizations also urged all Papuan leaders not to engage in activities that could trigger conflicts between groups who agree and disagree with the Papua expansion. “Papuan community leaders are prohibited from being actively involved in fueling the polarization of this issue,” the group said. (*)

Writer: News DeskEditor: News Desk

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1) Megawati’s ‘joke’ exposes the classist and racist views of the political elite

2) Indonesia to Form Three More Provinces in Papua, Becomes Five 

3) Papua expansion has plus and minus: Expert 

4) Indonesian Authorities Clash With Peaceful Protesters In West Papua

5) Deiyai Police adds personnel after shooting in Waghete 

 6) Papua Division Bill Guarantees Affirmative Action For Native Residents   

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https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/megawatis-joke-exposes-the-racist-and-classist-views-of-the-political-elite/

1) Megawati’s ‘joke’ exposes the classist and racist views of the political elite 

BY TAMARA SOUKOTTA

JUNE 28, 2022

 

Megawati Soekarnoputri speaking at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) National Meeting on 21 June. Image from PDI-P/Antara.

Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the long-serving chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of 

Struggle (PDI-P), has been widely criticised for comments she made

 at her party’s 2022 National Meeting on 21 June.

At the event, Megawati told the audience how she had warned her children, including Puan Maharani, not to bring home a meatball soup seller (tukang bakso) as a prospective partner, prompting laughs from members of the audience, including Puan and President Joko Widodo. Megawati then went on to say that she was glad that black West Papuans were starting to intermarry with migrants — like coffee with milk (kopi susu) — therefore becoming more Indonesian.

These disgraceful comments should never have been made. But, in a way, I am glad they were, because they provided a clear view of what political elites really think about the masses, the tukang bakso of the world, and West Papuans.

Implied in Megawati’s comments was the old Javanese concept of bibit bobot bebet – the idea of marrying up to make better connections politically, and at the same time, improving one’s genes (described by Megawati as rekayasa genetika, genetic manipulation).

By using the phrase kopi susu she was implying that the sweetness and whiteness of milk will dilute the bitterness and blackness of coffee. Mixing with transmigrants will supposedly dilute the blackness of West Papuans, making them more Indonesian than they currently are. In fact, she claimed that through “blending”, West Papuans were becoming more Indonesian (the literal translation of her words was “very Indonesian” – Indonesia banget).

Intentionally or not, Megawati was basically describing ethnic replacement and eugenics, with her statement revealing racist colonial ideas about Papua that hide just beneath the surface in the thinking of many in the political elite.

When Megawati’s statements were criticised as racist, some prominent figures came to her defence, brushing off her comments as a light-hearted joke. These responses too, should be called out for what they were: gaslighting – a strategy designed to justify the laughter of the audience and, at the same time, invalidate the emotions triggered in the subjects of the “joke”.

Jokes do not exist in a vacuum, they exist in political and historical spaces that provide context. For Megawati’s statements to trigger laughter in the way they did, her audience would have to share the same understanding of tukang bakso and West Papuans, and the class and racial differences between them and the privileged (and apparently superior) Megawati and Puan.

To be able to laugh along, the audience must associate themselves with Megawati and Puan and hence share their privilege. It is telling that the only people defending Megawati’s joke and claiming critics were too sensitive were also elite members of the majority.

There are many different types of laughter. For example, we might laugh at ourselves when we do something silly. Friends might laugh at each other, too, but this requires both parties to perceive themselves as equals. A third type of laughter common in Indonesia is gallows humour – laughing at a harsh reality as a coping mechanism. One such example is mop Papua, in which Papuans make fun of their experiences of racism and violent encounters with development projects to cope with the grim reality thrust upon them.

Another, more spiteful, kind of laughter involves laughing at “the other”. Megawati and her peers ‘othered’ tukang baksoand West Papuans because of their class and race, respectively. Tukang bakso represent the urban poor and marginalised, the people who work in the informal sector. They are often depicted as villagers who have migrated to the city for a better life. Despite forming the backbone of Indonesia’s economy, workers in the informal sector are still looked down upon by the privileged.

West Papuans, meanwhile, are often depicted simply as savages who need to be saved or erased, depending on how the political winds are blowing.

One of the saddest aspects of Megawati’s “joke” was who was laughing: Megawati, Puan, Jokowi and senior PDI-P members. As children of presidents, Megawati and Puan are both members of the elite, but their party always seeks votes by claiming to represent the little people (wong cilik). Likewise, Jokowi, the current president, likes to present himself as a commoner in his interactions with the people, but is now firmly part of the elite.

Sadder still, these powerful individuals are precisely the people who have the power to do something about the political and economic reality that tukang bakso and West Papuans face. Their laughter seemed to justify, or at least trivialise, the widespread lack of opportunities for decent work that leads many poor people to migrate to urban centres, and themassacres, land grabbing, settler migration, and failure to provide basic health care in Papua.

Hopefully those who made the “joke”, laughed at the joke, defended the joke, sought to normalise the joke, or gaslit the victims of the joke, are offended by being called racist and classist. Hopefully they do not stop at taking offence and feeling anger. Hopefully they sit with their feelings of offence and anger, reflect on why they feel offended, and try to look at the situation from the point of view of the subjects of the joke.

Unfortunately, Megawati’s “joke” suggests it may be a long time before many in the elite really understand that jokes about race and class can never be innocent.

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https://theindonesia.suara.com/news/2022/06/28/193000/indonesia-to-form-three-more-provinces-in-papua-becomes-five

2) Indonesia to Form Three More Provinces in Papua, Becomes Five 

News Tuesday, 28 June 2022 | 19:30

Arfi Bambani

TheIndonesia.id - Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives Junimart Girsang said lawmakers and the government will make a Level I decision concerning the three new autonomous regional bills (RUUs) in Papua this Tuesday afternoon. The Working Committee (Panja) 3 of the Bill for the New Autonomous Region of Papua will set up new territorial boundaries of South PapuaProvince, Central Papua Province, and Papua Mountains Province. These bills will make the island of Papua consists of five provinces, following two existing provinces, Papua and West Papua provinces.

"On Tuesday at 14.00 WIB, the results of the decision will be brought to a Level I decision-making meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Law and Human Rights, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Development Planning," Girsang said in Jakarta, Tuesday, June 28, 2022.

Girsang explained that the Panja of three bills had received and ratified the results of the Formulating Team (Timus) and the Synchronization Team (Timsin) discussions on the three new provinces in Papua he led.

As a follow-up to the ratification said Girsang, Commission II of the House of Representatives and Government will again hold a meeting that begins with discussions related to candidates for civil servants and government honorary staff in the three new provinces in Papua.

House of Representatives will invite the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (Kemenpan RB), the State Civil Service Agency (BKN), and the State Administration Agency (LAN) to give input related to the state civil apparatus and honorary staff.

The territory division of the three new provinces in Papua that has been agreed upon is:
1. South Papua Province with the capital city of Merauke consisting of Merauke Regency, Boven Digoel Regency, Mappi Regency, and Asmat Regency, a total of four districts; 
2. Central Papua Province with Nabire as the capital city consists of Nabire Regency, Puncak Jaya Regency, Paniai Regency, Mimika Regency, Puncak Regency, Dogiyai Regency, Intan Jaya Regency, and Deiyai Regency, a total of eight regencies; and
3. Papua Mountains Province with the capital city Jayawijaya/Wamena consisting of Jayawijaya Regency, Bintang Mountains Regency, Yahukimo Regency, Tolikara Regency, Central Mamberamo Regency, Yalimo Regency, Lanny Jaya Regency, and Nduga Regency, a total of eight regencies.

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https://en.jubi.id/papua-expansion-has-plus-and-minus-expert/

3) Papua expansion has plus and minus: Expert   

Papua Expansion - News Desk 28 June 2022

Jayapura, Jubi – A Politics and Governance lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Arie Ruhyanto said that the Papua expansion has two targets, namely institutional and relational goals. Both of which have positive and negative impacts on the Papuan people.

Through his research, Arie explained that institutionally, the expansion will increase the distribution of development and improve public services. According to him, this will have a positive impact on reducing isolation, improving public services, and developing remote areas.

“It must be admitted that nowadays there are more and more flights in Papua, such as to mountainous areas. Ticket prices are getting cheaper from Timika to Asmat, now you can use large planes, which used to cost Rp 1.5 million, and now only Rp 750,000. The development is there,” he said in the webinar held by the German Papuan Student Association on Saturday, June 26, 2022.

However, Arie stated that the field findings show there were also some downsides from the expansion that has taken place, such as development concentrated only in district capitals and funds not used properly. These things eventually led to development gaps, wherein the quality of public services in remote areas was declining, if not being implemented at all.

“The development is only concentrated in the district capital. The districts outside the capital still see the same situation as before the expansion. Only the capital is advanced. For example, the Ilaga community still relies on clean water sources from rainwater, electricity is still not available for 24 hours. In fact, Ilaga is a district capital for the past fifteen years,” he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the relational goal, Arie said one of the purposes of the expansion was to accommodate demographic politics. According to him, this has a positive impact on Indigenous Papuans because it provides an opportunity for them to have a seat in the government and manage their own regional development funds.

“There have been more state apparatus who are Indigenous Papuans, more Papuan regents. Now almost all regents in Papua are natives, even though the Special Autonomy Law only states the Governor and the Deputy Governor to be Indigenous Papuans,” he said.

However, over time, according to Arie, this relational goal has caused many officials to commit corruption and nepotism, and increased the gap between immigrants and indigenous people, which ends up threatening the population and culture of Indigenous Papuans. (*)

Writer: News DeskEditor: News Desk

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https://theowp.org/indonesian-authorities-clash-with-peaceful-protesters-in-west-papua/

4) Indonesian Authorities Clash With Peaceful Protesters In West Papua

Chris Fitzgerald June 28, 2022 

Clashes have taken place between Indonesian police and protesters in West Papua, adding to ongoing concerns about allegations of police violence.

Younes Douw, a West Papuan human rights activist, claimed that 3000 students and indigenous Papuans participated in the protests. Mr. Douw said that “around 650 students took to the streets today. Added to by the Papuan community of around 2000 people.”

The protests took place in Jayapura, including the areas of Yahukimo, Waena, and Abepura.

While these reports are difficult to confirm because of a lack of media transparency in the region, the Papua Legal Aid Foundation is reporting that at least 20 West Papuans were injured by police last Friday after protesting peacefully against the government’s plan to create new provinces in the region.

The Foundations Chairperson, Emanuel Gobay, has said explained the clashes and explained that “in Sorong, there were 10 people who were injured. In Jayapura 10 people were also injured” and that “the injuries were a consequence of the repressive approach by police against demonstrators when they broke up the rallies.”

However, Indonesian authorities have denied any injuries have occurred. The Assistant Superintendent of Police in Jayapura, Victor Makbon, has claimed that while protests were forcibly broken up because they did not have a permit, no injuries were caused. Mr. Makbon stated, “initially, earlier, there were some who resisted police, so the police had to take firm measures.”

This comes as West Papuans are demanding an independence referendum, not new provinces or increased autonomy.

On April 12, the Indonesian government announced plans to establish three new provinces in West Papua, in addition to the existing two provinces of West Papua and Papua. The government’s aim is to break the two provinces into five administrative regions, including South Papua, Central Papua, and the Papua Central Highlands Province.

There are concerns that this reform will have ramifications on the independence and autonomy of West Papuans. Under existing legislation, the creation of new provinces requires the establishment of government apparatus, including military posts, which threatens to cause increased clashes between authorities and West Papuans.

West Papuan independence has been an issue for some time. Heavy-handed repression under President Suharto was replaced by subsequent governments’ emphasis on economic development and democracy for the region. However, the region remains impoverished, and national corporations exploit its natural resources.

The Indonesian military continues to maintain a strong presence in the region, with human rights abuses committed against West Papuans. Reports continue of villages being attacked and locals arbitrarily detained, tortured, and shot. These abuses have continued to fuel resentment and unrest. Furthermore, West Papuans face long jail sentences of up to 15 years for raising the West Papuan flag.

In a positive development, recent events have caught the international community’s attention. In March, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples released a report criticizing the Indonesian government for ongoing abuses.

The report expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua, including attacks on indigenous Papuans, child killings, disappearances, torture, and mass displacement.

The report rightly calls for urgent access to humanitarian services to provide much-needed aid and support for those abused and displaced and for the Indonesian government to investigate any abuses committed against West Papuans.

It remains to be seen whether the increase in international pressure will have a positive outcome for West Papuans, but it represents a welcome pivot in expressing concern for the rights of the indigenous population. 

Chris Fitzgerald

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https://en.jubi.id/deiyai-police-adds-personnel-after-shooting-in-waghete/

5) Deiyai Police adds personnel after shooting in Waghete 

Shooting In Deiyai - News Desk 28 June 2022

Waghete, Jubi – The Deiyai Police has added personnel from the nearest police resorts, the Paniai Police and Dogiyai

 Police, to improve security following the shooting in Waghete 

that killed a civilian, Muhammad Jainal Als Enal.

Enal, 29 years old, was shot dead on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 9:33 p.m. local time in Deiyai Regional People’s Legislative

 Council (DPRD) office hall, while playing badminton with five colleagues.

 Enal is a non-Papuan resident who was born and raised in Waghete, Deiyai.

The police said they increased large-scale patrols around Deiyai and prepared the personnel in Deiyai Police headquarters. 

“We have also asked for additional personnel from Paniai and 

Dogiyai,” Deiyai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hersoni Saragih said in a phone call with Jubi on Monday, June 27.

In addition, Saragih said, his party was currently talking with local community leaders. “This is to gather information on the

 situation in the area after the shooting, as well as accurate data on the 

incident,” he said, adding that his party also coordinated with the Cartenz Peace Task Force to profile the armed group’s networks 

and bases around Deiyai.

1703/Deiyai Military District Command Intelligence officer Capt. Ind Eko Warsito said the victim was resting after playing 

badminton and sitting on the sofa near the door when an unknown person

 suddenly entered through the front door and immediately fired three shots using a long-barreled weapon, which hit the victim.

“The other badminton players immediately hid and turned off the lights, then the perpetrator fired another series of shots at

 the hall six times,” said Warsito.

After that, Warsito said, the witness immediately called Second Brig. Nanda Saragih, a member of the Deiyai Police 

Intelligence and Security Unit, then told him about the incident.

“The police along with the Pamrahwan Task Force Yonif RK/113 JS came to the scene and conducted a search around the

 Deiyai DPRD office hall but found no one,” he said.

The victim was rushed to the Paniai General Hospital in Madi. However, upon arrival at the hospital the victim could not be

 saved and died. (*)

Writer: News DeskEditor: News Desk

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Https://En.antaranews.com/News/236577/Papua-Division-Bill-Guarantees-Affirmative-Action-For-Native-Residents

 6) Papua Division Bill Guarantees Affirmative Action For Native Residents   

8 Hours Ago 

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Papua Regional Division Bill Will Facilitate Affirmative Action For Papuan Natives

 As Employees Of Local Government Institutions,

 According To An Official Of The Home Affairs Ministry.

"Our Meeting (With The House Of Representatives) Is To Ensure That The Planned Regional Division Of Papua 

Will Provide Opportunities For Papuan 

Natives," The Ministry's Director General Of Politics And Public Administration, Bahtiar, Stated Here On Tuesday.

The ministry had earlier participated in working meetings and hearing meeting sessions with the House of

 Representatives (DPR RI) to deliberate the Papua regional division

 bill that will be the legal basis for the formation of three new provinces in Papua, the official noted.

The government will guarantee that the law will ensure prioritizing Papuan natives to fill state apparatus positions 

in newly-formed provinces in Papua in the future, he remarked.

"There was also a proposal to increase the maximum (employee candidate) age to 50 years, but we will continue 

deliberating the matter," the director general remarked.

Related news: Papua: Home Minister, Governor agree on regional division

Today's meeting agenda focused on articles regarding the management of state apparatus and honorarium-based 

employees that will be employed in the three new Papuan 

provinces, Bahtiar noted while adding that the meeting also deliberates the relevance between the bill and the existing

 state apparatus management.

The new provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, and Papua Pegunungan are expected to offer greater 

opportunities for residents to contribute to regional development and

 benefit from the formation of the new provinces, he remarked.

He said that the meeting also deliberated processes to expedite the recruitment process for vacant state apparatus 

positions to ensure effective and efficient regional 

administration and development.

"The bill, apart from providing the legal basis for the formation of three new provinces, also offers a legal basis 

regarding the placement of state apparatus," Bahtiar remarked. 

Related news: Gov't to focus on welfare to resolve Papua situation: VP

Reporter: Boyke Ledy Watra, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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1) Free Papua Movement Warns Govt against Expansion Plan

 

2) State shows fake human rights concern in Bloody Paniai case, victim’s family says 

3) Filming For The Rights Of The Papuan People And Land

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https://en.tempo.co/read/1606188/free-papua-movement-warns-govt-against-expansion-plan

1) Free Papua Movement Warns Govt against Expansion Plan  

Translator Ricky Mohammad Nugraha 

Editor Markus Wisnu Murti 

27 June 2022 19:29 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), which is the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), in a voice recording Tempo received on Monday, June 27, warned the Indonesian government to halt the Papua provincial expansion plan.  Sambon urged, “We strongly ask Jakarta, the House of Representatives (DPR), and President along with Cabinet members to revoke the Draft Law for the expansion of the provinces.”

OPM argued that the government is overly controlling customary lands owned by indigenous Papuans. He added that the planned provincial expansion would continue to threaten the security of the region, which they claimed was under martial law. He said the expansion plan did not come from Papuans. 

“Martial law means that Jakarta is forcefully taking over our customary lands owned by Papuans,” said Sambon. “God did not create the Papuan lands for Indonesians, not for Jakartans, but for Papuan indigenous people.”

The Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have synchronized three legal aspects in the form of South Papua Province, Central Papua, and Papua Highlands Draft Laws. The idea of expanding Papua Provinces was initially expressed in July last year. 

M FAIZ ZAKI 

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https://en.jubi.id/state-shows-fake-human-rights-concern-in-bloody-paniai-case-victims-family-says/

2) State shows fake human rights concern in Bloody Paniai case, victim’s family says 

Bloody Paniai Trial - News Desk 27 June 2022

Jayapura, Jubi TV – The families of the victims of “Bloody Paniai” expressed their disappointment with the investigation process of the shooting tragedy at Karel Gobay Field on December 8, 2014. This tragedy killed four teenagers and injured 13 other people.

“We, the victim’s family and human rights activists who accompany us, regret that only one suspect has been named in the Bloody Paniai case, namely a retired Indonesian Military (TNI) officer. The perpetrators who are still active in TNI are not named suspects and left alone,” said the victim’s family in a written statement received by Jubi on Saturday, June 26, 2022.

The statement was signed by Yosep Degei (parent of Simon Degei), Yosep Youw (parent of Apius Youw), Obed Gobay (parent of Oktovianus Gobay), Herman Yeimo (parent of Yulianus Yeimo), along with Yermias Kayame, Yohanis Gobay, Naftali Tebay, and Bernard Yogi who represent the injured victims in the 2014 tragedy in Paniai.

The victim’s family rejected the Indonesian Government’s attitude in handling the Bloody Paniai case. The government is considered to be using the Paniai case trial to gain a reputation in the eyes of the international community, and is not actually concerned with human rights violations occurring in the Country.

“We do not acknowledge the Makassar Human Rights Court that tried only one suspect who has been retired from the TNI. It should have been more than one person responsible because the shooting didn’t just happen from one point,” the victim’s family said, adding that trying one suspect who had retired was not at all upholding justice but rather serving the state’s interests, and that was so unfair to victims.

“We reject to acknowledge the Court’s decision because we don’t want it to end up like the previous human rights trial, such as the Bloody Abepura or the murder of Theis Hiyo Eluay,” said the victim’s family.

They said they had provided data, findings, evidence of bullet casings, projectiles, photos of the victims, and even interviews of the injured victims. These data have been submitted to the TNI and police, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), churches, and NGOs, so there should be no saying that the Paniai case data is incomplete.

At the time of the incident, the victim’s family said, several TNI members were inside the military (Koramil) post in the western part of the Karel Gobay Field. The shooting was allegedly carried out from two directions, the Koramil Post and the airport tower east of the Karel Gobay field. Oktovianus and Yulianus were shot from the west, while Simon and Apius got shot from the east. The determination of only one suspect in the case clearly negates the other perpetrators who shot from the other direction.

“In the investigation results by the Papua Police, from 56 witnesses who had been examined, several witnesses admitted they heard gunshots coming from four points, namely the Koramil Post, the Sector Police Headquarters, the Paskhas Post (airport tower), and the Kopassus Post,” the victim’s family said.

In the Bloody Paniai case, the Attorney General has issued the Attorney General’s Order Number: Prin-41/A/Fh.2/05/2022 dated May 23, 2022, and appointed 34 people as the Public Prosecutors Team to resolve this case. However, the team has only determined Infantry Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Isak Sattu the suspect who will be tried by the Ad-Hoc Human Rights Court in Makassar.

Komnas HAM member Amirudin Al Rahab said that in every crime against humanity, there had never been a single perpetrator. He hoped that the Supreme Court could use experienced judges who knew the ins and outs of human rights and violations against human rights.

“The public expects a lot from the court judges to develop human rights violations cases so all parties involved can be tried in the court,” said Amirudin.

In addition, according to him, the Prosecutor can develop why this case only involves one person so that the public can understand this incident.

The Bloody Paniai tragedy began on December 8, 2014, at midnight, when three teenagers stopped a black car, allegedly driven by two TNI members from Enaro to Madi, and asked them to turn on the car’s lights. Feeling offended, the TNI soldiers went to their headquarters in Madi and took several other members back to Togokotu, where the teenagers stopped them.

Two of the teenagers ran but the other one was beaten by TNI members to a pulp. Residents then rushed the injured youth to the hospital.

The next morning, the Paniai residents gathered in the Karel Gobay Field and asked the authorities to take responsibility for the youth who were beaten. But before the discussion was held, the TNI and police shot the residents. Four people died on the spot while 13 others were injured and rushed to hospital. (*)

Writer: News DeskEditor: News Desk

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Global Voices

Https://Globalvoices.org/2022/06/27/Filming-For-The-Rights-Of-The-Papuan-People-And-Land/

3) Filming For The Rights Of The Papuan People And Land

An Interview With Filmmaker Irene Yuliana Fatagur

 Written By WITNESS 

Posted 27 June 2022 4:53 GMT 

This edited article was published on April 21 by WITNESS Asia, an international organization that supports people using video in their fight for human rights. It has been republished on Global Voices under a content partnership agreement.

Since Indonesian forces annexed West Papua in the 1960s, Papuan citizens have faced relentless human rights abuse and environmental damage as Indonesia plunders its resource-rich land. The region is host to the American and British-owned Freeport mine, the largest gold mine in the world, which has effectively poisoned the local river system and reduced a sacred mountain to a crater. Amnesty International estimates that at least 100,000 West Papuans have been killed by the Indonesian military so far, although some studies suggest the number could be higher. 

On top of the exploitation and genocidal acts by authorities, restrictions placed on international journalists in the region and throttling of the internet have made obtaining information on the region extremely difficult. Films such as those produced by West Papuan filmmaker Irene Yuliana Fatagur help highlight environmental, Indigenous campaigns, and land rights issues that may not be visible to the rest of the world. WITNESS Asia interviewed her to get her insight into the Papuan struggle for independence.

WITNESS Asia (WA): Most of your films are about the Keerom Regency, where you are from. Can you begin by telling us more about it?

Irene Yuliana Fatagur (IYF): Within Keerom Regency, only about 30 percent of the population is made up of people who are indigenous to Keerom. The other 60 percent are not Papuans, while the remaining 10 percent consist of people from other parts of Papua.

Oil palm trees were first brought here to Papua, specifically to Keerom, on the instruction of the Indonesian government. At that time, Keerom was categorized as a “red zone” and the Indigenous community was deported to Papua New Guinea, the neighboring country. While they were away, many of their crops were seized and replaced with palm oil trees.

Therefore, the entry of oil palm into the regency did not happen with the customary consent of the Indigenous people. There were many illicit incidents during that period (1983–1997).

WA: What inspired you to get started in filmmaking and how did it happen? 

IYF: I can still see cases of illegal violations of the border area of ​​Keerom. I still see the aftermath of these incidents. I took the plunge into the world of filmmaking because I felt that my world has been ruined and I wished to create awareness among the community.

The current state system is destroying the property of the people and the local customs. There are also systems of giving money to the Indigenous people as a way to bribe them into giving away the remaining land that has not yet been used by the government. Conflict has been created to deceive the Indigenous people and take away the remaining land to be used for oil palm. So, as a native woman in my area, I felt that it was my responsibility to take action.

I cried when I saw the nature around me being destroyed. I felt called to make films about the environment and that motivated me to join the Papuan Voices film community.

I have no background knowledge in films, but I’ve always enjoyed taking photos. At first, there were only five of us who participated in the one-day training. But because of my intentions, I became attracted to the world of filmmaking. Friends in the Papuan Voices community taught me a lot about filming, editing, and how to make good films. It was there that we first went on the ground to make films, and where I made my first film.

WA: How have films helped as a tool for activism and advocacy in West Papua?

IYF: Indigenous people are easily deceived by so-called investors or the government looking to take advantage of them. But films help them quickly understand and be aware of issues, which enables them to protect the nature around them or directly work on the issues they are facing.

As education is not accessible to everyone, the communities in Papua are mostly illiterate. The Indigenous people don’t have access to education, so we advocate through films.

I mostly record videos of “infestations” of oil palm in my area. Because of oil palm plantations today, many Indigenous people do not have a place to grow crops or raise livestock, and so they are forced to depend on the government for their livelihood.

My films, which are situated in the context of the economic needs of the Indigenous people, have been screened and watched by many — within the community, among academics, and also among the activists. Many have also requested for the films to be made as educational tools for the youths. You can also find two of my films on YouTube, “Dari Hutan Kong Hidup” and “Perempuan Di Tanahnya.”

WA: What are some of the challenges you face as a filmmaker, such as safety and security issues?

IYF: So far, I have not been on the receiving end of intimidation, but I have faced some challenges. It is important to carefully approach our sources, and ensure that they are fully aware of what you’re doing. This is because the Papuan people are no longer interested to be used as objects to be published, as many organizations made use of them for their self-interests.

There are also safety and security issues. There was a friend of mine who filmed a large-scale demonstration. Their camera equipment was damaged, destroyed or confiscated, and the data was also seized. This is an example of intimidation by the military. Sometimes, our safety is threatened if we do not destroy the data. They may even come up to your house. They came to my friend’s house, and my friend was so frightened by it that they crossed over to a neighbouring country to stay there and protect themselves for the time being.

WA: How have internet shutdowns and throttling disrupted your work?

IYF: Internet access is unstable here, especially now. In Papua, there are often large-scale demonstrations, and violence carried out by the military. We might get a video recording and intend to upload it, but the internet is suddenly interrupted. As a result, we have to find another way to access the internet to inform the public about what has happened.

Internet connectivity issues happen a lot in Papua, and it disrupts our work. We are silenced, but we will keep storing the videos and make films to tell the story of what had happened.

WA: What is your hope for West Papua, and how can the international community show more solidarity? 

I hope we become one of the lungs of the world that can help all mankind and every living thing which exists on earth.

I hope that the infestation of our lands will be stopped so that we can live in peace. It is due to the effects of encroachment that we in Papua demand for independence. Stop it and give us full rights to manage our nature. Don’t make us stepchildren in our own country. That’s our hope.

And I think that international solidarity for the Papuan community already exists, but it is not strong enough. Not strong enough to actually help us. We have not yet overcome our past troubles and there are still more coming. I thank our friends for their solidarity but I need them to support us even more, so that the country can look directly at us, and not down on us.

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