Friday, June 30, 2023

1) Papuan Separatists Demand Rp5 Bln Ransom for Pilot's Release


2) Negotiation main strategy for freeing abducted Susi Air pilot: TNI  
3) Scholarship funding in Papua now managed by local govts: official 
4) Byak Customary Council calls for judicial resolution of rights violations in Papua 
4) Meeting at EU
5) Workshop at Conference
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1) Papuan Separatists Demand Rp5 Bln Ransom for Pilot's Release  
Translator Ricky Mohammad Nugraha 
Editor Mahinda Arkyasa 
30 June 2023 23:15 WIB  

TEMPO.COJakarta - The Papua Police on Friday announced that the armed separatist group under Egianus Kagoya’s leadership had asked for an Rp5 billion ransom for the release of New Zealand Pilot captain Philips Max Mehrtens who had been taken hostage for the past couple of months.  Police only noted this detail now despite the request coming from the separatist group early into the hostage situation. 

“They demanded an Rp5 billion ransom in the early days of the hostage situation,” said the Papua Police spokesperson Grand Commissioner Ignatius Benny on Friday, June 30, 2023. 

The police spokesman said that authorities initially intended to meet the demands by sourcing the huge amount of money from the Papua government’s local budget, however, the separatist group closed its communications with Indonesian authorities. 

“There had been no communication with the Egianus Kogoya-led separatist group,” he explained. 

New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens has been taken hostage by the OPM separatist groups since February 7, 2023, after the Susi Air charter plane he piloted lost contact as he approached the Paro Airport located in the Papua Highlands Province on February. It was only revealed that the plane was attacked and burned by OPM members led by Egianus. 

The plane captained by Philips carried five passengers and took off from the Mozes Kilangan Airports at the Mimika Regency in the Nduga Regency. The five passengers were freed while Philips Max Mehrtens was taken hostage since. 

Egianus Kogoya has threatened other countries to force Indonesia to acknowledge OPM’s independence at the cost of Captain Philip’s livelihood if their requests are not met. Police have opened communication with the separatist group in multiple attempts to free Captain Philips but to no avail. 

M ROSSENO AJI



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2) Negotiation main strategy for freeing abducted Susi Air pilot: TNI  
7 hours ago
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono has affirmed that negotiation will remain the main strategy for freeing Susi Air pilot Mark Mehrtens, who is being held hostage by Papuan separatists.

The New Zealander pilot was abducted by an armed separatist group affiliated with the Free Papua Movement and led by Egianus Kogoya on February 7, 2023. The group also torched the Susi Air Pilatus Porter PC 6 aircraft he was piloting after landing at Paro Airfield, Nduga District, Papua Highlands Province.

At the Police Headquarters here on Friday, Margono said the military believes that violence or an armed approach would not be the best strategy for rescuing Mehrtens. The Indonesian Government also shares the same view, he added.

"Yes, we are keen to avoid armed violence because it will harm the people. Hence, we are persisting on negotiation efforts through religious and public figures," he informed.

He said the instruction to prioritize negotiations has been conveyed to the regional authorities through the Cendrawasih Regional Military Commander and the III Joint Regional Defense Commander.

He also asked residents to be patient while waiting for the negotiation—which is currently being conducted by the acting head of Papua Highlands' Nduga District—to come to fruition.

Earlier, Kogoya had threatened to execute the New Zealander pilot if the Indonesian Government refused to negotiate with his group.

He set July 1, 2023, as the deadline for his demand.

At present, officers from the joint police-military task force are continuing their search mission for the abducted pilot in Nduga District.

On June 16, 2023, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri said his side believes the armed group and Mehrtens are somewhere on the border between Nduga and Lanny Jaya Districts.  

 

Related news: Susi Air plane burning incident: One separatist detained
Related news: Police widen search for Susi Air pilot to Yahukimo, Puncak

 

Reporter: Genta Tenri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution


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3) Scholarship funding in Papua now managed by local govts: official 
 7 hours ago
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The Papua provincial government has stated that the budget for the student scholarship program has been transferred to the district and city governments across Papua starting from January 1, 2023.

Aryoko Rumaropen, the Head of the Papua Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM), stated in Jayapura on Friday that the data on scholarship recipients in each province, district, and city had been validated and received by the acting governors.

"This ensures that the management of special autonomy finances is in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations," he affirmed.

Rumaropen also mentioned that the provincial government has reaffirmed its commitment to the central government regarding the financing of scholarships for Papuan students.

The intention to continue the scholarship program has been expressed to the president and the vice president, who chairs the Steering Board of the Papua Special Autonomy Development Acceleration Agency.

However, there has been a change in the financing mechanism since January 1, 2023. The scholarship fund is now managed by the local governments instead of the provincial government.

"Previously, we settled the arrears of Papua's scholarship program, amounting to Rp122 billion (US$8 million), for the fiscal year 2022," he stated.

The provincial government will report the settlement of arrears to the central government no later than July 10, 2023.

Jeri A. Yudianto, the Head of the Papua Communication and Informatics Office, explained that the payments are now made directly to the universities or the students.

Previously, the management of scholarships was under the purview of the provincial government in accordance with the Special Autonomy Law of 2001.

However, with a regulation change in 2021, the budget is now distributed directly to smaller local governments.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs John Wetipo expressed satisfaction with the provincial government's policy in clearing the scholarship dues.

He said that he and Acting Governor of Papua, Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun, had met with 3,900 students to discuss the outstanding fees.

Related news: Over 3,000 Papuan students get higher education scholarships
Related news: Integrated education method to reduce dropout rate in Papua: official

Reporter: Qadri P, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso


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4) Byak Customary Council calls for judicial resolution of rights violations in Papua   
News Desk - Human Rights Violation In Papua 
30 June 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – Apolos Sroyer, the chairman of the Byak Customary Council or Manfun Kankain Karkara Byak, said addressing human rights violations committed by state officials could not be appropriately resolved through non-judicial means as the government failed to address the underlying issues, namely failure in development, marginalization and discrimination against Indigenous Papuans, state violence, and the historical and political context of the Papua region.

In a phone call with Jubi on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, Sroyer said the government should implement the four recommendations for research put forth by the late Dr. Muridjan and his colleagues from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Furthermore, Sroyer noted that resorting to non-legal measures such as compensation or traditional practices like burning stones (barapen) would be inappropriate in this case. He highlighted that the perpetrators of human rights violations were state officials who targeted indigenous tribes in Papua, engaging in activities ranging from land grabbing to the destruction of local natural resources.

“Customary settlements will not cut it,” he said.


According to information from the official website, President Joko Widodo chaired a Limited Meeting on the Implementation of Non-Judicial Settlement of Gross Human Rights Violations on May 2, 2023 at the Presidential Office in Jakarta.

“The President recently chaired an internal cabinet meeting attended by 19 ministers, the Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Attorney General, the Chief of the National Police, and heads of relevant state institutions to discuss the follow-up actions regarding the recommendations for non-judicial settlement of past gross human rights violations,” Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said in a press statement after the meeting.

Previously, with Presidential Instruction No. 2 of 2023, the President instructed 19 ministers and officials at the ministerial level to take coordinated and integrated steps in implementing the recommendations for non-judicial settlement of past gross human rights violations.


Mahfud clarified that the non-judicial settlement primarily centers around the victims rather than the perpetrators.

“It should be emphasized that this recommendation primarily concerns the victims of past gross human rights violations, not the perpetrators,” Mahfud explained.

Furthermore, in the non-judicial settlement recommendation, the government acknowledges the occurrence of gross human rights violations in Indonesia. Mahfud further expressed the government’s remorse regarding the incidents. (*)



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4) Meeting at EU
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Posted on AWPA FB Page
It was a good meeting in the European Parliament June 29, 2023.
Many Thanks to President Puigdemont.
On πŸ“…, June 29, 2023, MEP Carles Puigdemont host an important discussion on human rights in West Papua at the European Parliament. What can the EU πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί and UN πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡³ do?

























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5) Workshop at Conference




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