1) TNI ready to strike rebels holding NZ pilot, but awaiting govt command

2)  AJI Jayapura condemns threats to kill journalists and burn press office in Sorong 

3) Number of HIV/AIDS and Lost-to-Follow Up patients in Jayawijaya increases   

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https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2023/03/16/tni-ready-to-strike-rebels-holding-nz-pilot-but-awaiting-govt-command.html

1) TNI ready to strike rebels holding NZ pilot, but awaiting govt command

Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta   ●   Thu, March 16, 2023 

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has said it is ready to launch a strike against the West Papuan rebel group holding a New Zealand national hostage but will wait for the command from the government, as negotiations are ongoing. 

Susi Air pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was captured by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), led by Egianus Kogoya, on Feb. 7 after landing in Nduga, Papua Highlands province, along with several Indonesian passengers, who were later released. 

The separatist group, which is linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has demanded that Jakarta recognize Papuan independence in return for Mehrtens’ release and has used the ongoing hostage crisis to internationalize its cause.   

TNI spokesperson Rear Adm. Kisdiyanto said military forces had identified several possible locations where Merhtens could be held. “We cannot ascertain [where Merhtens is being kept among the several hideouts]. 

But through the means at our disposal, whether airplanes or other intelligence, we already know several locations in the region that might be their positions,” Kisdiyanto said on Wednesday, as quoted by Kompas.id. Kisdiyanto said the TNI was ready to launch an attack should the government give the command but that security forces were prioritizing a safer approach. “The TNI, once the government gives the order to execute, can carry that out immediately,” he said. 

“But what’s more important is how [we can ensure] the hostage’s safety.” The military has made a number of similar remarks since the abduction of Mehrtens more than a month ago. 

TNI commander Adm. Yudo Margono had previously turned down an offer of assistance from New Zealand Ambassador Kevin Burnett to assist in the negotiations with the hostage-takers, claiming he was confident the TNI could complete the operation. 

Yudo noted that the TNI considered the hostage issue a law enforcement operation, not a military operation, and would continue to prioritize persuasion and patience to protect civilians living in the area.

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https://en.jubi.id/aji-jayapura-condemns-threats-to-kill-journalists-and-burn-press-office-in-sorong/

2)  AJI Jayapura condemns threats to kill journalists and burn press office in Sorong   

News Desk - Violence Against Journalists 

16 March 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – Violence against the press in Papua continues to occur in early 2023. The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jayapura on Monday, March 13, 2023, received reports of threats to kill journalists and burn the Teropong News media office located on S. Kamundan Street Kilometer 12, Sorong City, Southwest Papua.

AJI Jayapura chair Lucky Ireeuw strongly condemned the death threats and considered it an act that injured press freedom in Papua. Therefore, AJI Jayapura asks the West Papua Police and Sorong Police to find and prosecute the perpetrators.

“AJI Jayapura asks the people to understand the duty of the press to convey facts independently. We also support Teropong News to continue to voice the truth. As the Latin proverb says, ‘Magna est veritas, et praevalebit’, which means there is nothing higher than the truth, and the truth will win,” Ireeuw said in a written release received by Jubi on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

The threat against Teropong News began at around 1 p.m. Papua time with the arrival of two trucks carrying people arriving at the Teropong News office. The mob immediately threatened to burn down the office and kill the employees who were in the office at the time.

The mob demanded Teropong News to remove all news related to illegal logging cases in Sorong Regency. If the demands were not made, they would kill Teropong News journalists they met on the street. After threatening to kill journalists and burn the office, the group immediately left.

Teropong News chief editor Imam Mucholik deeply regretted the incident. He suspected that there was an attempt to incite the people who came to his office. This is because the news related to illegal logging does not attack community activities at all.

Imam explained that Teropong News highlighted timber shelters that were suspected of operating without a license. The managers of these shelters buy wood from the community, sell them as industrial raw material, and send them outside Papua.

In fact, timber shelters that have a Primary Timber Forest Products Industry (IPHHK) business license are prohibited from selling processed wood from the community to the industry. Their license is to sell wood for local needs for people in Sorong and surrounding areas.

“Our legal division will report to the Sorong City Police and ask the police to take firm action against the perpetrators and provocateurs in this action,” said Imam Mucholik.

He said the legal division would also report this incident to the Press Council and other press organizations as this action was considered an act against the law and hampered press freedom.

Meanwhile, head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Sorong City Police First Insp. Arifal Utama said his party was ready to guarantee the safety of all journalists and employees of Teropong News. He also asked Teropong News to immediately report this matter to the Sorong City Police. (*)

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https://en.jubi.id/number-of-hiv-aids-and-lost-to-follow-up-patients-in-jayawijaya-increases/

3) Number of HIV/AIDS and Lost-to-Follow Up patients in Jayawijaya increases   

News Desk - HIV/AIDS Patients 

16 March 2023

Wamena, Jubi – Jayawijaya AIDS Commission (KPA Jayawijaya) Margaretha Wetipo in a press conference on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, said the number of HIV/AIDS patients in Jayawijaya Regency reached 8,386.

“They consist of 4,133 male patients and 4,253 female patients, while the number of Lost to Follow-Up [LFU], or patients who have stopped taking drugs is 2,721 people, namely 1,208 men and 1,513 women,” she said.

She added that previously, LFU only amounted to 1,000 but this day it continues to increase.

“To reduce the high rate of HIV-AIDS in Jayawijaya, it requires not only the work of KPA but all stakeholders including the government, the community, NGOs, and influential figures,” she said.

According to her, KPA Jayawijaya has partnered with five NGOs in Jayawijaya but there had been no tangible manifestation from these collaborations.

“KPA hopes that NGO-partners of KPA can work as much as possible in the field, helping and saving souls with no orientation towards money,” she said.

In facilitating the handling of health services for HIV/AIDS patients, KPA has also collaborated with the BPJS Jayawijaya (Health Care and Social Security Agency) and the Jayawijaya Population and Civil Registry Office, so that patients in Jayawijaya can get health examination services more easily and conveniently.

Wetipo said that in 2023, KPA has carried out several important activities to reduce the HIV-AIDS rate in Jayawijaya Regency, including condom distribution and dissemination in public places such as Jibama Market, Potikelek, and Sinakma Market.

“In addition, KPA has also held meetings with commercial sex workers in Jayawijaya, conducted dissemination [about sexual and reproductive health] at the Asologaima District, Wita-Waya District, and Wadagku District,” he said.

In the future, KPA plans to conduct dissemination at schools in Jayawijaya Regency. “We may as well conduct focused group discussions with important community figures in Jayawijaya, the Jayawijaya Administration and the Mountainous Papua Provincial Government,” she said. (*)

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