Wednesday, April 5, 2023

1) Indonesian govt deemed reluctant to resolve human rights violations in Papua

 


2) Papuan students and people call for an end to violence in Papua 

3) Optimistic of Susi Air pilot's safe release: TNI commander  
4) Indonesia Dismisses Military Option to Free New Zealand Hostage in Papua

5) Human rights begin at home 

6) Indonesian activists face trial after minister’s wrath
7) Defamation Trial Against Indonesian Activists Opens in Jakarta
8) Government prepares two sites for Southwest Papua Province office area  

9) Southwest Papua pursues boosting efforts to improve social harmony  


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https://en.jubi.id/indonesian-govt-deemed-reluctant-to-resolve-human-rights-violations-in-papua/

1) Indonesian govt deemed reluctant to resolve human rights violations in Papua   
News Desk - Human Rights Violations In Papua
 5 April 2023

                                                  Illustration photo. - IST

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua) assesses that the Indonesian government lacks seriousness in resolving past human rights violations. ELSHAM Papua also said that the non-judicial settlement of past rights violations carried out by the state was only meant to fulfil President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s political promises.

Director of ELSHAM Papua Rev. Matheus Adadikam said the government’s lack of seriousness could be seen from the fact that they kept sending Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police troops to Papua, resulting in armed conflict and displacement that were still occurring to this day. According to Adadikam, this shows that the state does not have good faith in resolving human rights violations in Papua.

“ELSHAM Papua questions the state’s commitment to resolve alleged human rights violations in Papua,” Adadikam said in a written statement received by Jubi on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Adadikam also said it had been 20 years since the 2003 Bloody Wamena incident and the victims had yet to receive justice while the perpetrators continued to receive state protection. In fact, according to Adadikam, the 2003 Bloody Wamena involved murder, torture, burning of houses and caused massive displacement.

ELSHAM Papua sees that the formation of the non-judicial settlement team through Presidential Decree No.17/2021 and the Implementation Team for Monitoring the Non-Judicial Settlement of Human Rights Violations (PPHAM) through Presidential Decree No.4/2023 have no impact on resolving human rights violations in Indonesia, especially in Papua, as the non-judicial settlement offered is only in the form of compensation from the state to the victims.

“ELSHAM Papua also sees that the state cannot provide and guarantee a sense of justice to the victims. It is safe to say that we highly doubt the promise to not repeat human rights violations,” he said. (*)

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https://en.jubi.id/papuan-students-and-people-call-for-an-end-to-violence-in-papua/

2) Papuan students and people call for an end to violence in Papua   

News Desk - Violence In Papua 

5 April 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – The Student and People’s Caring for Papua Front  held a free speech at the Mimika student dormitory in Jayapura City on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. They called on all warring parties to stop all forms of violence and find peaceful solutions to resolve problems in Papua.

The free speech began at 9 a.m. Papua time. It was organized by various students from conflict areas in Papua, including from Ndugama, Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, Puncak, Bintang Mountains, Maybrat, and Sorong. The action was guarded by a number of police officers outside the fence of the student dormitory.

The students unfurled banners and pamphlets inscribed with a number of violations against Papuans that have not been resolved to date, such as the 2003 Bloody Wamena case. Each student representative took turns delivering speeches and reading poems of unrest over the conditions of violence in the Land of Papua.

“Today, conflicts occur everywhere. Massive military operations. Papuans being killed and even mutilated,” said Venus Kabak, a student, in his speech.

Kabak assessed that as long as they were part of Indonesia, Papuans would always live in oppression. According to Kabak, the Papuan referendum is the best solution to end all the injustices experienced by Papuans.

“Our parents are dying everywhere. We are continuously grieving. Living in Indonesia is living in hell. An independent Papua is the solution to all the problems that occur in Papua,” he said.

Another orator Malminus Waker said that currently Papua was not at all okay. He said that all Papuans must speak out for the injustices that befall Indigenous Papuans.

The person in charge of the event, Obanus Kogoya, said that the security approach that the Indonesian government continued to apply did not solve the problem and only victimized Indigenous Papuans. He demanded that the Indonesian government stop sending troops to the Land of Papua.

Kogoya said that the government was responsible for all forms of violence against Papuans. Provincial and district governments are also obliged to provide protection for the Papuan people who are displaced due to the armed conflict between the security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

On this basis, Kogoya said his party urged the Indonesian government to open access for the United Nations Human Rights Commission to investigate cases of violence in Papua, as well as negotiates with the TPNPB to stop all violence in Papua.

“The Indonesian government should immediately negotiate with TPNPB without sacrificing civil society,” he said.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/277785/optimistic-of-susi-air-pilots-safe-release-tni-commander

3) Optimistic of Susi Air pilot's safe release: TNI commander  
8 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono has said he is optimistic of the safe release of Susi Air pilot, Captain Philip Mark Mehrtens, who is being held hostage by an armed Papuan criminal group (KKB).

Mehrtens is currently being held by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya.

"By God's willing, I am optimistic," Margono said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

It is hoped that Captain Mehrtens will survive if his release is secured through persuasion, he added. According to him, if a military operation is conducted to rescue the pilot, the KKB would not hesitate to shoot him.

"I have heard conversations saying that the TNI would be accused of killing Captain Mehrtens if we carry out a military scheme to rescue him," he informed.

The rescue of Captain Mehrtens through a military operation would also threaten the safety of the people, he said.

"We can just do military operations because we have the professional soldiers and the equipment but the community will be the victims," he added.

Therefore, he said he would prefer to use persuasion to save the Susi Air pilot, namely by establishing communication with religious and community leaders, as well as the local government.

He informed that community leaders and the acting head of Nduga Sub-district, Namia Gwijangge, have requested the TNI to be patient and refrain from military operations.

"This message came from the community leaders and the acting head of Nduga sub-district. (A) Military operation will bring greater loss to our community," he said.

Margono further said there is no deadline for rescuing Captain Mehrtens. Since the hostage-taking is different from other cases, rescue efforts cannot be carried out in a hurry.

"There is no target for how many days we must rescue him (in). Our target is that Captain Mehrtens is released safely with no harm to our community," he added.

On February 7, 2023, Captain Mehrtens was taken hostage by the KKB after landing a Pilatus Porter aircraft at Paro airport, Nduga Sub-district, Papua Mountains. The KKB also burned down the plane, which belonged to Susi Air. 

Related news: Papuan customary chief pledges to help release New Zealand pilot
Related news: Susi Air pilot held by armed group in good condition: Police


Reporter: Fath Putra M, Resinta S

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-dismisses-military-option-to-free-new-zealand-hostage-in-papua

4) Indonesia Dismisses Military Option to Free New Zealand Hostage in Papua
  April 5, 2023 | 10:01 pm

Jakarta. Indonesian Military Chief General Yudo Margono said on Wednesday he prefers peaceful means to rescue a pilot from New Zealand who has been taken hostage by the separatist group Free Papua Movement, or OPM, for almost two months now.

Yudo said the use of a military operation risks civilian casualties and could be politicized by the rebels.

Philip Mark Mehrtens, a pilot for Indonesian airline Susi Air, was abducted by fighters of the West Papua National Liberation Army, the military wing of the OPM, during an attack at Paro Airport in Nduga Regency in the Indonesian eastern province on February 7.

"We are ready for the rescue task but I will continue with the persuasive power with the help of religious and community leaders and also the local government,” Yudo told reporters at the military headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

“The Nduga regent asked me yesterday to stick to the persuasive approach. We can conduct a military operation and we have professional soldiers capable of doing just that, but it will risk casualties among civilians,” he added.

A military operation may also provide a political benefit to the abductors because if anything happens to the pilot, they can put the blame on the Indonesian Military.

"If I order a military operation, they will – as what I monitored from conversations – say just shoot him and let the military receive the blame," Yudo said without going into details.

A peaceful attempt to rescue the hostage may take a long time but he said that according to the latest photo released by the rebels, the pilot is in good condition.

“It’s not easy to reach the location, no land vehicles can go there. [The rebels] also took days to reach the location,” Yudo said.

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5) Human rights begin at home 
Editorial board (The Jakarta Post)   Jakarta   ●   Wed, April 5, 2023 
Versi Bahasa Indonesia 
Securing Indonesia’s reelection as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for another three years and, more importantly, demonstrating that we are serious as a nation about enacting the council’s long list of recommendations should be top priorities for the government this year. 
As Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a speech at the UNHRC’s recent annual meeting in Geneva, the government must show that it truly intends to contribute to the global effort to end wars and conflicts in countries such as Myanmar, Ukraine and Afghanistan. But it must also prove that human rights activists at home and abroad are wrong to say that Indonesia is seeking another term on the council only to conceal its rampant human rights violations at home. The government must make it clear that it has no intent to abuse the position to deflect criticism.

Indonesia is widely regarded as the world's third-largest democracy, behind India and the United States, but in terms of human rights, we still fail to meet many of the standards set by liberal democracies. At the UNHRC’s annual meeting, which ended on Tuesday, the council adopted Indonesia's fourth cycle Universal Periodic Report (UPR), which addresses the country’s progress in advancing human rights. Of the 269 recommendations submitted, Indonesia supported 205 of them, but 59 of them were simply noted. The government added qualifications to five other recommendations. 
The council recommended that Indonesia ratify and make available international instruments such as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which the country still opposes. Additionally, it called for Indonesia to take stronger action to advance environmental human rights, equality and non-discrimination, the elimination of torture and other forms of cruelty, the administration of justice and fair trials, the freedom of expression and access to information. The council advised the country to address issues of human trafficking, modern-day slavery, social security rights, the right to an adequate standard of living, human rights and poverty, as well as issues of violence against women, discrimination against people with disabilities and the right to health.
Freedom of speech, conscience and religion, as well as human trafficking and modern slavery, are some of the most prominent examples of serious ongoing issues in the country. We continue to struggle to protect religious and racial minorities and eliminate discrimination based on gender. However, Indonesia rejected a proposal on the right to self-determination, which the government likely felt would have provided support for the independence aspirations of Papua. 
Many Papuans do not feel like Indonesian citizens or part of Indonesia. This alienation will keep growing so long as the national and local governments maintain their oppressive and discriminatory policies. There have been requests from within the country for the Foreign Ministry to do more to fend off outside criticism and convince the world of Indonesia’s human rights bona fides. But the truth is that Indonesia's diplomatic efforts to this end will be ineffective as long as human rights violations remain rampant in the country. No matter how skillful or smart our diplomats are, their work will be useless if domestic conditions continue to deteriorate. 
The world won't be persuaded until Indonesia demonstrates real improvement on a number of fundamental issues, including the protection of minorities, the freedom of religion and expression and freedom from state coercion and intimidation. Despite the fact that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, minority religious groups still face difficulties in building their places of worship and practicing their beliefs, as demonstrated by recent incidents in Kulon Progo regency in Yogyakarta and Purwakarta regency in West Java. Indonesia should be able to walk the talk and prove at next year's session that it has made significant progress in implementing the council’s recommendations.
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6) Indonesian activists face trial after minister’s wrath
Libel filed by Minister Luhut Pandjaitan for linking him to a gold mine project, deployment of troops in strife-torn Papua
 By UCA News reporter Published: April 05, 2023 07:59 AM GMT

An Indonesian court has begun the trial of two rights activists accused of defaming a minister, who was allegedly involved in a controversial gold mining project in the strife-torn Papua province.

Haris Azhar, executive director of Lokataru Law and Human Rights Office and Fatia Maulidiyanti, coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, appeared in the East Jakarta District Court for the first time on April 3.

The libel suit against them was filed by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs in the government of President Joko Widodo.

In 2021 Azhar and Maulidiyanti claimed that Pandjaitan and other retired army generals were involved in the Wabu Block mining project in Intan Jaya regency, which is a conflict zone and home to one of the country’s

 largest gold reserves spread over 69,118 hectares.

Pandjaitan filed the defamation suit in March 2022, eight months after rights activists claimed Pandjaitan had shares in one of the mining companies and the military deployment was meant to help the mining project. 

The duo has been charged with defamation and spreading fake news under provisions of the draconian law on information and electronic transactions, said the prosecutor's office.

Members of civil society organizations protested in front of the court as the trial began.
The Civil Society Coalition, which consists of 55 human rights organizations, called the case "bad news for democracy."

The coalition said the activists' actions were "legal and constitutional” and termed their indictment “a form of criminalization.”

Muhammad Isnur, attorney for Azhar and Maulidiyanti, alleged that Pandjaitan, a retired army general, "has enormous influence on the government” and “can control the law enforcement agencies.”

Isnur also criticized the prosecutor's indictment which focused on ensnaring the two activists.

The prosecution deliberately ignored the aspects related to the criticism of mining plans and the deployment of more troops in the violence-hit Papua.

Papua, the easternmost province in Indonesia is plagued by civil unrest since becoming part of the Southeast Asian nation in 1969.

Papuans, who fight for an independent homeland, resist the Indonesian mining project in their mineral-rich land but the government faces it with military force. 

Dimas Arya, who took part in the protest, said they wanted to show the public that “the sentencing of the activists was a symptom of an authoritarian state."

The case began after Azhar in a podcast in August 2021, claimed the minister owned shares of one of the companies involved in the mining project sanctioned by the Indonesian government in February 2020.  

They also presented a report on the link between military deployment and the expansion of mining operations in troubled Papua.

Pandjaitan rejected the findings of the report, and, in turn, sued the activists.

However,  Amnesty International in a 2022 report said there had been an alarming addition of security personnel in Intan Jaya. 

The hike in the number of security forces was “accompanied by an increase in extrajudicial killings, raids and beatings” the Amnesty report said.

It said there were at least 12 suspected extrajudicial killings involving members of the Indonesian security apparatus in Intan Jaya in the 2020-2021 period.

“This number is more than a quarter of the total number of unlawful killings allegedly committed by Indonesian security forces” in Papua in the same period, said Amnesty.

In response to Amnesty's allegations, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe has asked the Ministry of Energy to temporarily halt issuing mining permits.

The attempt to rope in former military officials in the mining project and the deployment of more troops is a kind of warning for us Papuans, Father John Bunai from the Jayapura Diocese's Justice and Peace Secretariat, told UCA News.

Father Bunai said he provided support for Azhar and Maulidiyanti for their courage in voicing problems in Papua.

He said that mining in the Wabu Block in Intan Jaya was opposed by Papuans because of human rights violations.

The proposed new mine will “make the lives of indigenous Papuans even more uncomfortable," Father Bunai observed.

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7) Defamation Trial Against Indonesian Activists Opens in Jakarta

Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti are on trial for defaming the powerful minister Luhut Pandjaitan by accusing him of conflicts of interest in relation to a Papuan mining operation.

By Sebastian Strangio April 05, 2023

Earlier this week, an Indonesian court began a trial against two prominent human rights activists accused of defaming a powerful member of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s cabinet.

Haris Azhar, the executive director of the Lokataru Foundation, which focuses on anti-corruption and human rights, and Fatia Maulidiyanti, the coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, or KontraS, were 

last month charged with defaming Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime and investment affairs, under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions Law.

This followed a defamation complaint filed by Luhut in September 2021 about a YouTube video in which the activists discussed a report stating that military operations in the eastern Papua region were designed in part to protect mining businesses in the area. 

In the video, Fatia alleged that Luhut was a shareholder of one of the companies operating in the region. Luhut denies the claim.

During the opening trial hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Monday, prosecutors described in lachrymose terms how the powerful minister and former general nearly shed tears as he watched the video in which the accusations against him were leveled.


“The witness, Luhut Pandjaitan, shook his head and looked emotional and he told the other witness, Singgih Widyastono, ‘This is too much, the words ‘Luhut does mining in Papua’ are slanderous and false and really hurt my feeling’,” one of the prosecutors 
told the court, according to the Jakarta Globe. If found guilty, Haris and Fatia could face up to six years in prison.

The trial, which has now been adjourned for two weeks, has been criticized as a case of legal overreach that could quash discussion of questions with a clear public interest – such as the business affairs, and potential conflicts of interest, of key public figures.

Luhut is one of the most powerful political figures in Indonesia, a sort of minister-at-large and bureaucratic troubleshooter who has grown to special prominence and power since the beginning of Jokowi’s second term in 2019. In his role as coordinating minister for 

maritime affairs and investment, Luhut now oversees the Ministries of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Tourism, and Energy and Mineral Resources, and has broad remit over anything related to investment.

Watchdog groups have long pointed out that Indonesia’s mining sector is rife with corruption. In a recent article for the University of Melbourne’s Indonesia at Melbourne website, Tata Mustasya argued that whether or not the specific claims made by Haris 

and Fatia are true, “there are plenty of other indications of Luhut having serious conflicts of interests when it comes to mining operations,” especially in connection to the coal mining industry in East Kalimantan.


An extra element of sensitivity also attaches to anything pertaining to Papua. Human rights groups have long maintained that mining operations in Papua have exacerbated the long-running conflict in the region, where separatist insurgents are fighting for

 independence from Jakarta. The conflict has in recent years seen escalating violence, the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, and allegations of torture by extrajudicial killings by Indonesian military personnel.

The opening of the trial was accompanied by civil society protests intended to highlight that the case, underpinned by the lopsided balance of power between Luhut and the two defendants, was designed to tighten the space for dissent and scrutiny of public 

figures, a coalition of civil society groups said in a statement on Monday.

The pair’s defense team is taking a similar line, arguing that the case is “thick with political content.”

“The activities carried out by Fatia and Haris are part of civil society’s efforts to control the work of the government and public officials so that power absolutism does not occur,” lawyer Muhammad Isnur was quoted as saying in Monday’s statement.

STAFF AUTHOR

Sebastian Strangio

Sebastian Strangio is Southeast Asia editor at The Diplomat.
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8) Government prepares two sites for Southwest Papua Province office area  
14 hours ago

Sorong (ANTARA) - The Southwest Papua Provincial Government prepares two locations for the construction site of the new province's office area in Sorong.

Acting Governor of Southwest Papua Muhammad Musa'ad, along with six regents and mayors, on Wednesday, conducted a firsthand inspection of the potential construction site at Kilometer 16 of Sorong City.

"We came here to inspect the location and will report to the center afterwards," Musa'ad said.

He said that the provincial government is targeting two locations to build the new province's office area. The duo locations are Kilometer 16 at Wombik Stadium and Kilometer 18 at Pawibily Monument in the border area between Sorong Regency and Sorong City.

"The central government is the one who will decide (the compatibility of the locations)," he stated.

He also noted that the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) will soon come to conduct a direct feasibility study to assess the locations.

"We will soon initiate the construction process after we get the green light from the central government," he said.

The acting governor expressed optimism that the six regents and mayors along with the people would fully support this program, so that it could run smoothly as planned. 

Related news: Southwest Papua officially becomes Indonesia's 38th province

Related news: Southwest Papua seeks to draw investment in SEZ

Reporter: Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari


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9) Southwest Papua pursues boosting efforts to improve social harmony  
15 hours ago


Sorong, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - The Southwest Papua Provincial Government seeks to bolster its efforts in improving the people's social harmony level, so they would partake in all of the new province's work programs.

The efforts were spotlighted during a discussion in the Southwest Papua Province Regional Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang) that took place in Sorong, Tuesday (April 4).

Pertaining to the efforts, Acting Governor of Southwest Papua Muhammad Musa'ad highlighted four points: social harmony enhancement, governmental suprastructure arrangement, bureaucracy normalization, and the acceleration of an inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.

"It is true that there were four points being discussed during the Musrenbang," Musa'ad affirmed.

In the context of social harmony, the provincial government intends to assure all levels of society in Southwest Papua to take part in every work program initiated by the government, so that it would be effective in supporting the province's development process.

"We are attempting to evoke some kind of sense of belonging in the people's minds. We want to assure them that this province belongs to them," he stated.

At the meeting attended by the province's district heads and mayors, Musa'ad stressed that the four points discussed were essential in supporting the development of Southwest Papua.

"This is a new-born province. With that in mind, the four essential points must soon be put to practice for the sake of the province's development," he affirmed.

Furthermore, Musa'ad expressed hope that all governments, both in districts and cities across the province, would ensure that the work programs would be aligned with the efforts to accelerate development in Southwest Papua.

Related news: Southwest Papua seeks to tackle extreme poverty through Paitua program
Related news: Police reviews establishing police units in four new Papuan provinces
Related news: Ministry provides general allocation funds for West, Southwest Papua
  

Reporter: Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati

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