Thursday, June 22, 2023

1) Indonesia creates new committee on Papua after talks with Vanuatu


2) ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta 
3) Qatari chef visits Papua to observe sago making 
4) Village Fund can help alleviate poverty in Southwest Papua: Ministry 


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1) Indonesia creates new committee on Papua after talks with Vanuatu
12:24 pm on 22 June 2023 

Joint talks between Vanuatu and Indonesia have taken place in Jakarta with West Papua high on the agenda
It comes amidst tensions in the region, and ahead of a state visit next month to Papua New Guinea by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Indonesia's state-owned news agency Antara reports Vice President Ma'ruf Amin met with Vanuatu's Deputy Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Jakarta on Monday.
Vanuatu has strongly supported the separatist push in West Papua for many years and Antara reports the issue of conflict in the province was discussed.
Amin announced a Papua Special Autonomy Development Acceleration Steering Committee had been formed to evaluate development in the Papua region.
"The granting of this special autonomy has been planned for the long term up to 2042," he said.
Amin said Indonesia respects the diversity in West Papua.
"I want to emphasise that the welfare approach will continue to become the main priority by respecting diversity and based on the principles of fairness, equity, and sustainability. The settlement of security issues is also done through a comprehensive approach," he said.
The Vice President said Indonesia is also ready to serve as a gateway for Vanuatu to enter the ASEAN market.
Vanuatu is hoping to forge a technical cooperation agreement as well as establish sister city and provincial partnerships.
At Monday's meeting, Napat stated that his visit to Indonesia is a fundamental step to recover trust and to express eagerness to build sound cooperation between Vanuatu and Indonesia.
Napat also echoed his country's keenness to forge a technical cooperation agreement between both nations as well as to establish sister city and sister province partnership that he said can be started with Papua Province.
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2) ULMWP welcomes Vanuatu leader’s ‘Melanesian way’ vow in Jakarta 
By APR editor -  June 22, 2023

Asia Pacific Report

The pro-independence United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has welcomed Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s comments on West Papua during this week’s 

diplomatic visit to Indonesia.

In a joint press conference with Indonesian Vice-President Ma’ruf Amin, Napat restated his commitment to the “Melanesian way”.

Movement president Benny Wenda has issued a statement saying that hearing those words, “I was reminded of Vanuatu’s founding Father Walter Lini, who said that ‘Vanuatu will not be entirely free 

until all Melanesia is free from colonial rule’ — West Papua and Kanaky included.”

The Melanesian way had been shown in full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) being extended to the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), despite them representing

 a Melanesian people rather than a Melanesian state [New Caledonia], Wenda said.

It has also been demonstrated in Papua New Guinea’s approach to Bougainville, where Prime Minister Marape showed true moral courage by respecting their right to self-determination 

with a 98 percent vote in favour of independence in 2019.

“Vanuatu has always shown the same courage in supporting West Papuan freedom. By referencing the Melanesian way in the joint press conference, Deputy Napat was conveying to Indonesia 

the message Moses gave to Phaoroah: ‘let my people go’,” Wenda said.


“As West Papuans we are also committed to Melanesian values. This is why we have turned to our Melanesian family in seeking full membership of the MSG.

Vanuatu ‘steadfast in support’
“In their role as chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Vanuatu has been steadfast in supporting ULMWP full membership.

“At this crucial hour, we need all Melanesian leaders to show the same commitment, and help bring West Papua home to its Melanesian family.

“Indonesia must respect Vanuatu and other Melanesian nations by allowing the fulfillment of this decades-long dream.”

To resolve the West Papuan issue peacefully in the Melanesian way, the first step was admitting the ULMWP as a full member of the MSG at the forthcoming summit of the group, Wenda said.

The Jakarta Post reports that an earlier meeting between Minister Napat with his Indonesian counterpart Retno LP Marsudi on Friday is being seen in Jakarta as a bid to build a “bridge over the troubled waters of the past”.
During the visit, Vanuatu has announced plans to open an embassy in Jakarta and to hold annual bilateral meetings with Indonesia.
In addition, the two ministers pledged to strengthen cooperation in trade and development, which experts pointed out were part of Indonesia’s larger strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.

Jakarta announces ‘development steering committee’
RNZ Pacific reports that the joint talks between Vanuatu and Indonesia this week had West Papua high on the agenda

The talks have come amid tensions in the region, and ahead of a state visit next month to Papua New Guinea by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia’s state-owned news agency Antara reports Vice-President Amin meeting with Minister Napat in Jakarta on Monday.

Vanuatu has strongly supported the pro-independence push in West Papua for many years and Antara reports the issue of conflict in the Melanesian region was discussed.

Amin announced a Papua Special Autonomy Development Acceleration Steering Committee had been formed to evaluate development in the Papua region.

“The granting of this special autonomy has been planned for the long term up to 2042,” he said.

Amin said Indonesia “respected the diversity” in West Papua.


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3) Qatari chef visits Papua to observe sago making 
 3 hours ago

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - A chef from Qatar, Hassan Al Ibrahim, on Wednesday (June 22) paid a visit to Papua to observe the processing of making sago, the primary ingredient in 
Papua's local food, namely papeda, first-hand.

The visit was a part of the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture activity.

Ibrahim said that he was very happy to get a chance to observe the process of making sago.

Papua is famous for its diversity and its beautiful culture, he added.

The chef said that his visit to Papua to observe sago making proved to be a very valuable experience.

He further said that sago has really good nutrients, making it a substitute for carbohydrates. It is high in fiber and is valuable in Papua, he added

Meanwhile, the founder of Papua Jungle Chef, Charles Toto, expressed his pride over the Qatari chef's visit.

"We are very proud of Chef Ibrahim's visit to Papua, especially since he tried to cut down a sago (palm) tree, then cut it, process it to make sago, and tried (to eat) sago caterpillars," he remarked.

He expressed the hope that similar visits will be arranged so that Papua's local foods can become famous at the global level.  


 Related news: Preserving the sustainability of Papuan staple sago

Related news: Sago can help achieve food self-sufficiency: Expert


Reporter: Qadri Pratiwi, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari

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4) Village Fund can help alleviate poverty in Southwest Papua: Ministry 
 6 hours ago

Sorong, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - The Finance Ministry is pushing for the realization of Village Funds to reduce the poverty rate in Southwest Papua Province by prioritizing the distribution of direct cash assistance (BLT) to villages.

The ministry's Director General of Financial Balances, Adriyanto, in Sorong on Thursday, elaborated on the priorities for using Village Fund to recover the national economy according to the village authority through poverty alleviation and establishment, development, and capacity building of village-owned enterprises management.

A sound level of management of such enterprises is of the essence in the efforts to realize even village economic growth as well as productive business development, he remarked.

"This year, the government prioritizes using the Village Fund for implementing a social protection program in the form of village BLT, with the objective of realizing poverty-free villages," Adriyanto stated.

Adriyanto made the statement online during a workshop on evaluation of financial management and village development in Southwest Papua Province organized by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

In his speech, Adriyanto also affirmed that the BLT program constitutes a crucial instrument in the government's efforts to alleviate poverty and eliminate extreme poverty in villages.

The village BLT program is financed by the Village Fund and targets poor and underprivileged families in villages.

In the 2023 fiscal year, the distribution of village BLT in Southwest Papua had reached 99.89 percent, covering 938 villages, with the budget allocation totaling Rp174 billion (US$11.6 million) and realization of Rp32.5 billion (US$2.1 million).

"The distribution is aimed at boosting the purchasing power of poor residents in villages, so they can afford basic necessities," he pointed out.

The percentage of poor residents in Southwest Papua based on districts as of 2022 can be detailed as follows: 17.32 percent in Raja Ampat District, 18.48 percent in South Sorong District, 27.58 percent in Sorong District, 31.14 percent in Maybrat District, and 32.45 percent in Tambrauw District.

Related news: Village Ministry, IFAD review TEKAD Project in eastern Indonesia
Related news: Ministry pushes lump sum model for village fund use
Related news: Village Fund utilization for Posyandu to prevent stunting: Minister
  

Reporter: Yuvensius Lasa, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati

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