1) Young Papuan scientists urged to do research to support policymaking

2) Six Indonesian soldiers suspected of killing four Papuans

----------------------

https://en.antaranews.com/news/247953/young-papuan-scientists-urged-to-do-research-to-support-policymaking

1) Young Papuan scientists urged to do research to support policymaking

 23 hours ago

Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) - At least 25 young Papuan scientists from several universities in Papua and West Papua were on Saturday urged to assist local governments in formulating effective policies based on appropriate natural and social research.

"Perhaps in the past, there were policies which were taken in a short time and without (proper) research, thus the policies were changed later since they (the government) got corrections (on the policies based on the research),” Secretary of the West Papua Provincial Regional Research and Development Agency (Balitbangda) Silvya Makabori said here on Saturday.

She made the statement while closing the 2022 Young Papuan Scientist Training, which was initiated by West Papua Provincial Balitbangda and non-profit organization EcoNusa Foundation.

She said she expects research from scientists to become the basis for recommendations before any regional policies are issued.

Young scientists are also expected to generate research that supports development in Papua province, specifically research on mitigating the climate crisis.

The Young Papuan Scientist Training was held from September 1–3, 2022, as part of the West Papua provincial government’s efforts to manage the natural resources in the region, the official informed.

The management of natural resources based on research results is expected to have a positive impact on the community.

"West Papua Provincial Balitbangda cannot do it alone, thus we cooperated with EcoNusa to carry out the training activity," Makabori said.

Head of the EcoNusa Manokwari Office, Novi Hematang, said that the training, which was held for the fourth time, aimed to provide opportunities to young scientists in the provinces of  Papua and West Papua to improve their skills in nature conservation research.

EcoNusa will train the young scientists until the end of December 2022.

There are still many research activities in Papua that are conducted by foreign researchers and Indonesian researchers who are not from Papua, Hematang noted.

This spurred her team and the West Papua Provincial Balitbangda to train young scientists on natural resources, indigenous peoples and local wisdom, as well as biodiversity.

"We expect that they can continue to generate research, which can be used by local governments before issuing policies," she added.

Related news: Scholarships handed to 89 university students in West Papua's Sorong
Related news: Okmin University fuels hopes of human resource development in Papua

Reporter: Rachmat Julaini, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

—————————

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/474131/six-indonesian-soldiers-suspected-of-killing-four-papuans

2) Six Indonesian soldiers suspected of killing four Papuans

 6:20 am today  

Authorities have arrested six Indonesian soldiers suspected of being involved in the killing and mutilation of four Indigenous Papuans in Indonesia's West Papua province.

The bodies of the four victims were discovered on August 26 by residents of Iwaka village, outside the town of Timika, in sacks floating down the Pigapu River.

The authorities claimed the men were insurgents and were allegedly on their way to meet someone in Timika to purchase weapons. The men's families deny this, saying they were carrying money from the village fund to purchase agricultural equipment. What is clear is the money the men were carrying is gone.

The victims were identified as Irian Nirigi, a local village leader, Arnold Lokbere, Atis Tini, and Kelemanus Nirigi.

The killings come at a time of rising tensions between the Indigenous people of Papua and the Indonesian security forces, with incidents of violence becoming increasingly frequent and deadly.

Last month, unidentified persons shot dead nine non-Papuan civilians in Nduga, where the Indonesian government maintains a heavy military presence.

This violence follows a series of anti-racism protests using the hashtag #PapuanLivesMatter, responding in part to President Joko Widodo's contentious move to divide Papua and West Papua into four separate provinces. Activists are raising concerns that the plans will lead to the further militarization of the region, with critics describing it as a ploy to "divide and conquer" the Indigenous Papuans.

President Jokowi, once celebrated for releasing Papuan political prisoners in 2015, leads a government responsible for systemic discrimination against Papuans. This week he is in Timika, in part to visit the Freeport project and surrounding areas, which is the site of the largest gold mine in the world.

It is important that the authorities fairly and appropriately prosecute the soldiers arrested and any others implicated in the killings. But the Indonesian government needs to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Papua by conducting an independent and impartial investigation into the involvement of the security forces more generally in atrocities against Indigenous Papuans, and keeping its promise to invite United Nations human rights monitors to visit the region.

Robbie Newton - Coordinator, Asia

-------------------