Thursday, November 26, 2015

1) Transmigration Program to Create More Problems in Papua, Youth Leader Says



3) Clarification on Case of Toddlers’ Death, Health Office Chief Never on the Scene, says the Nduga Regent

4) Islands in focus: Death  of 41 Papuan children investigated 
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1) Transmigration Program to Create More Problems in Papua, Youth Leader Says
Victor Mambor Nov 25, 2015
Sorong, Jubi – Plans by the Ministry for Disadvantage Regions and Transmigration to launch a massive transmigration program to promote regional accessibility will give rise to more problems in Papua, a youth leader said.
The Chairman of Indonesian Eastern Region Youth Forum (FPKTI), Yanto Ijie, said the influx of migrants from other parts of Indonesia could become a demographic threat for indigenous Papuans.
“The problems in Papua are different from those in other provinces,” he told Jubi through email from Jakarta on Tuesday (24/11/2015).
He said the recognition of basic rights of Papuans that has been regulated in the Law No.21/2001 about Papua Special Autonomy remains an issue that has to be addressed.
“First, the right to political recognition for indigenous Papua. Second, the right to empowerment and welfare and the third, the right on wide access of transportation and communication to the entire land of Papua,” he said.
“Fourth, the right to equal education, fifth, the right on health services to Papuans, and sixth, the right for justice in economic sharing from its natural resources,” he added.
He further said the government obliges to provide security and safety toward Papuans. “There’s a concern among Papuans that mobilization of migrants through transmigration program would give impact towards the depopulation of indigenous Papua,” he said.
Moi (Sorong) youth figure, Klois Yable concerned about the marginalization of indigenous Papua when the massive transmigration program was implemented. According to him, once transmigration program is running, many forests would be cut off; the landtenureship would be handed to the government that might trigger a conflict among people and marginalization of Papuans.
“The State should do the efforts concretely in implementing the Special Autonomy Law as well as in preparing the prevalent grand design system,” he said.
West Java Governor, Ahmad Heryawan, as reported by viva.co.id, on Wednesday (10/2/2015) signed agreement with the West Papua Provincial Government on placement location of trans-migrants.  This agreement was part of agenda in the series of the National Meeting of the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry. West Java is planning to send approximately 700 households each year according to the agreement.
The former Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Muhaimin Iskandar said the migration of population from several regions in Java Island to West Papua Province could drive the regional growth and development which is 5,870,642 hectares of area that is currently potential to become a location of trans-migrants. “This program is part of ten days working program of the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration,” said Muhaimin. (Niko MB)
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Victor Mambor Nov 25, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Authorities have sent a health team after 32 toddlers in Nduga died of acute respiratory infections apparently triggered by the dry season, Nduga health chief Mesak Kogoya said.
This extreme weather also killed pigs, chickens and dogs, he said.
“We received this report from the Head of Nbuwa Puskesmas (public health center) and a team was established to conduct a field mission on 16 November 2015,” Kogoya told Jubi during the break of the Working Meeting of Papua Provincial Health Office and the Launching of book ‘Melawan Badai Kepunahan Gebrakan Papua Sehat Menuju Papua Bangkit Mandiri dan Sejahtera’ held at Cenderawasih University Auditorium on Tuesday (24/11/2015).
He added when team from Nduga and Wamena Health Offices went to the field, they found three toddlers already died.
“Until now there is no update report and I have not yet contact them to up date the progress,” he said.
Here the following report received by Jubi from the Head of Nduga Health Office: Digilmo Church reported five children were died, Imanuel Church reported eight children, Berapngin Church reported four children, Opmo Church reported four children, Dal Church reported three children and Labirik Church reported five children.
He said the deaths happened from 20 October to 11 November, and when he received the report from the Mbuwa Puskesmas Head, he immediately formed a team on 16 November 2016. “The team went itmmediately o the field and found a case of three children died,” he said. He denied the number of children died is forty.
He said he believed they died because of bronchitis pneumonia or shortness of breath.
Earlier several toddlers under two years old were reportedly dead in Mbuwa Sub-district, Nduga Regency. The medical team derived from Wamena said they also were not certain about the cause of death.
“Initially the children got sick, but not too long they died instantly. Until now forty-one children died. The medical team from Wamena has returned from the field but the cause of death has not been founded,” Mbuwa Sub-district Chief Erias Gwijangge told reporter on Tuesday (24/11/2015).
He explained Nduga Regency and surrounding areas were hit by drought season, even shortly exposed by fog due to He explained Nduga Regency and surrounding areas were hit by drought season, briefly exposed to smoke from land fires, and last month it started raining.  In the early weeks of raining, a number of people’s cattle such as pigs, chickens were suddenly dead. “In the past three days we didn’t receive the report on the about the children who died,” he said.
Analyst officer at Puskesmas Wamena City, Yan Huby who joint the team said the team examined the blood sample of local children whether they had malaria but the result was negative. According to him, why did the team assume it was malaria because in 1998 when long drought stroke the Papua Central Highland area including Nduga, malaria plague has caused the death of hundreds of people.
“It was started with flu, fever, diarrhea then passed away. We were only asked to do malaria test, we did a rapid test in sub-district, and then another microscopic test in a laboratory in Wamena. Of 70 blood samples, all are negative malaria,” he said.
Concerning to this case, the Head of Papua Provincial Health Office, Drg. Aloysius Giay when confirmed after opening the Health Office Regional Working Meeting at Cenderawasih University Auditorium on Tuesday (24/11/2015) said he recently received a report three days ago related to incident. “We just received a report three days ago, there had not report at all during the time. Even Nduga Regent whom we confirmed also claimed he had not receive any report yet,” he said and further added he instantly instructed the team of Papua Health Office on field mission.
The team led by Yamamoto Sasarari, the Plague and Disaster Department Chief of Papua Provincial Health Office with the Regional Red Cross Chief Dr. Berry Wopari and a medical doctor, a pediatrician, nurses, laboratory analysts and surveillance staffs.
In the same place, the Head of Nduga Health Office, Mesai Kogoya said those who suffered of sudden dead are toddlers under two years old and origin of two sub-districts in Nduga, namely Mbuwa and Bumul Liama. “In
Mbuwa, there is Puskesmas (community health center) as well as doctor and Barefoot Task Force team (trained health volunteer) of seven, but because of the villages are located far apart, it took two hours at least, the medical staffs could not reach all the villages,” he said.
Meanwhile there is no Puskesmas at Bumul Liama but Pustu (community health sub-center). While Satgas Kaki Telanjang (Barefoot Task Force) is a team formed by UP2KP (Papua Health Development Acceleration Unit), a team of seven members who assist the health services in remote areas that had been unreachable by health services. Mesak explained the victims initially experienced heat, fever, chills, convulsion before died. “No diarrhea. They were only suffered by heat and fever. After get medicine, their temperature dropped to normal but hit by heat fever and convulsions and died,” he said.
Separately, the Plague and Disaster Department Unit of the Papua Provincial Health Office, Yamamoto Sasarari explained according to the clinical description reported by his team, he assumed those toddlers suffered from bronchopneumonia.
“But it is just an assumption. We can ensure it after examination on the ground. From the clinical description, there is also founded no hog cholera,” he explained.
Sasarari said his team received a report that 31 toddlers who died were come from Dolgimo, Opmo, Berapngin and Labirik that all are located in Mbuwa Sub-district. A member of Papua People’s Assembly Luis Madai said the Nduga Regional Government, Papua Provincial Government and the Indonesian Health Ministry must handle the case that occurred since the early of November 2015 immediately.
“This is a catastrophe, and all relevant stakeholders must take a prompt action to handle this incident, whether it was caused by kind of virus or something else, they must find out immediately and give help,” he said. (Roy Ratumakin/Dominggus Mampioper/rom)
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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/clarification-on-case-of-toddlers-death-health-office-chief-never-on-the-scene-says-the-nduga-regent/

3) Clarification on Case of Toddlers’ Death, Health Office Chief Never on the Scene, says the Nduga Regent

Vctor Mambor Nov 26, 2015

Wamena, Jubi – Nduga Regent Yairus Gwijangge said 29 children have died of suspected respiratory infections in Mbua sub-district, not 40 as widely reported by the media recently.

Gwijangge also said the children did not die at nearly the same time and that the Nduga Health Office chief who first revealed the deaths had not been in the area. Gwijangge said he and Jawijaya Police chief visited Mbua to see for themselves the situation on Wednesday (25/11).
“I always monitor through SSB, never heard about the report on the deaths. I have just heard this problem yesterday; even I’ve heard it from the Indonesian Police headquarters instead of my local staffers,” Gwijangge told in the interview held at Jayawijaya Police Headquarters when preparing to go to Mbua Sub-district.
He said he called the local health team and sought clarification about the matter. “I was told fewer than 40 people died. Toddlers indeed died, but the number is about 29,” he said.
Nduga Health Office said 32 children had died in the area within one month, but the regent said the initial number had not been verified.
“The report should be done after monitoring to the field. As the one who’s appointed, the Health Office Chief must go to the ground before disseminating this information. Related to this fact, I could tell he hasn’t come to the scene yet. They are currently attending the provincial working meeting, then the issue merely arose in the province, then grew and shocked us,” he said.
Related to the cause of death, the health team, according to the regent, also came to the scene and took several blood samples but the results came back negative. Thus, he suggested examining whether the local people have violated local customs.
“That’s why I suggested in addition to tackling this case through the health care system, we seek a solution through the custom point of view whether violations have happened leading to the death,” said the regent.
He also said there is a time span between each death occasion.
“It wasn’t two or three children died once in the time, there’s a time span. One died in this week, then another in the next week, and so on,” he explained.
Regarding to lack of definitive information about the number of victims, the regent expected the external parties do not urge the local government, since the local government is planning to run a field visit. Meanwhile the health care team of P2PL, Amat Lokbere confirmed about the toddlers’ death occurred at Mbua Sub-district, Nduga Regency. It started to happen since 20 October 2015.
The toddlers’ death in Mbua is true. The initial symptom was occurred on 13 October when there was a sudden dead chicken, then continue to the pigs. And the toddlers followed to die on 20 October 2015. It was occurred in two days in one place or one was dead in one church. We have sought the cause. The symptoms are including fever, high heat temperature, turn cold briefly and then died,” Lokbere said.
He added at that time the Barefoot Task Force team from province and Puskesmas staffs came to the field and conducted examination but the result was negative.
“We took the test result to Wamena laboratory. Both field examination and laboratory test were negative. The temporary cause of death is currently determined as the acute infectious respiratory,” said Amat Lokbere.
“Based on our data in Mbua Sub-district, there are 29 cases of children and 3 adults, so the total is 32,” said Lokbere.
To check the information related to the death occurred in Mbua Sub-district, Nduga Regional Government along with Jayawijaya Police go to the field on Wednesday (25/11/2015).
“Concerning to this case, I will lead a team to the scene today, along with regional health care team. We will report our investigation to all stakeholders, especially to Papua Police as the coordinator,” said Jayawijaya Police Shemi Ronny Thaba.
Nduga Health Office Chief Mesak Kogoya who’s earlier told the information about the case of toddlers’ death in Mbua, until 21:00 Papua time, Jubi could not contact him for confirmation on the regent’s accusing. (Wesai H/rom)



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4) Islands in focus: Death  of 41 Papuan children investigated - 

The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Wed, November 25 2015, 3:22 PM -

The Papua Health Office has sent a team to Mbuwa district, Nduga regency, Papua, following the deaths of 41 children from an unidentified disease. The team, which is led by the Papua Health Office’s epidemic and disaster section head Yamamoto Sasarari, is comprised of doctors, nurses, lab technicians and surveillance staffers. 

“The team will discover the cause and seek a solution. We should not be suspicious about the children’s deaths, people must go to the field to seek the cause,” said Papua Health office head Aloysius Giay, after opening a working meeting on health in Papua at the Cenderawasih University Hall on Tuesday. 

Giay said he only received a report regarding the incident three days ago. “There was no report at all before that. When we confirmed the matter with the Nduga regent, he even claimed he hadn’t received the report,” said Giay. 

Nduga Health Office head Mesak Kogoya said that the majority of the deceased in the Mbuwa and Bumul Liama districts in Nduga were children below the age of two. -
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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

1) In Remote Indonesia, Don’t Blame the Locals for Conservation Concerns

2) Carbon Emission Reduction Needs Synchronization : BPLH Papua Province

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http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1894178-in-remote-indonesia-dont-blame-the-locals-for-conservation-concerns/

1) In Remote Indonesia, Don’t Blame the Locals for Conservation Concerns

By Arleen Richards, Epoch Times | November 24, 2015 Last Updated: November 24, 2015 6:47 pm



A conservation expert and his team challenged the notion that expert help from the outside is the only way to preserve some of the world’s most valuable and unique ecosystems.
Ecologist Douglas Sheil and his team started on a conservation mission in 2004. Experts in establishing relationships with remote communities, the team was sent to villages of West Papua, Indonesia by Conservation International (CI) to pave the way for the America-based NGO to come in and assess conservation needs.
But after living for a while in two villages in the Mamberamo-Foja region, the team discovered something—villagers already had a protective system in place, and they were conserving the land quite well.
Three years later, he went back and documented what they were doing as a case study, which he and his co-authors recently published.
The study addresses a conflict Sheil has seen before: professional conservation organizations saying they need to protect unique resource-rich lands, and locals not getting credit for already protecting the land and often getting blamed for not doing it right.

Papua Nature Reserve

Papua used to shelter the largest, untouched tropical forest wilderness in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a 2010 study Sheil co-authored. New Guinea, the second largest island on Earth (the west half of which belongs to Indonesia), is home to an estimated 14,000 to 25,000 unknown plant species. Indonesia is one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries.

The Mamberamo lowlands are dissected by meandering rivers, and crocodile infested swamps, Papua, Indonesia. (Courtesy of Douglas Sheil)
In 1991, the Indonesian government declared the region a nature reserve in need of conservation protection, but the military Dictatorship—led by Indonesian president Suharto—wanted to plant oil palm and sold off land after very little consultation, said Sheil in a Skype conversation from Norway. But not in Mamberamo as it was too remote.
“But of course those people were there when the nature reserve was declared and nobody ever asked them their views about declaring it. So in a sense it’s kind of ridiculous,” said Sheil.
Today the land is still a reserve on paper, so technically there shouldn’t be people living there. But the communities do know that, probably due to Sheil’s work, and since no conservation staff has ever moved in, the communities are still the ones managing the land.

Making Friends

In the 1990s, there was uncontrolled logging and widespread forest fires in the region, which severely shattered precious forest ecosystems.
In 2000, after the fall of the Suharto dictatorship, CI wanted to go into the remote Mamberamo-Foja region and visit the sacred mountains to develop a conservation support program.

The organization had initial discussions with a few communities but couldn’t work in the mountains where they thought many special species existed because the locals were distrustful and wouldn’t let them in. 
In 2004, Sheil and his team were hired to help. A professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sheil was working for the non-profit Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) at the time. CIFOR works to help decision-makers and communities determine how best to conserve forests and landscapes.
Sheil had led several expeditions in other countries for CIFOR and was often the spokesperson called on to establish relationships with remote communities.
He went in with a team of 25, which included Papua students to help with building trust. They spent several weeks without running water, sleeping in huts on floors made from loose branches, and many of his team caught malaria despite taking antimalarial medication.
Over time, he said, these naturally kind and generous people warm up to outsiders, and he can genuinely make friends. By the end, they were able to get the permission for CI.

Pattern of Conflict

Sheil explained what happened next: “CI’s team of biologists went in and discovered lots of new species and made a lot of publicity out of that,” he said. He recalled some news articles at the time suggesting that communities would exploit the resources and kill all the birds of paradise for profit. 
These “new” species weren’t new to the local people of course, who were already taking care of the land without outside help.

For these groups of people, their land is very much their identity.


In his experience, forest inhabitants are very much in tune with their land ownership obligations, said Sheil.
“For these groups of people, their land is very much their identity … There’s no question this belongs to their ancestors, this belongs to their great grandchildren,” he said. Douglas Sheil

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Scoring the importance of different elements of the local landscape is one way to assess what matters and why, in Kwerba, Papua, Indonesia. (Courtesy of Douglas Sheil)
At first, Sheil recalled he felt intimidated by the defensive stance of the locals. They didn’t hesitate to tell him how previous people had tricked them.
“The people in Papua don’t really like what’s happening to them,” he said, and since the central government views them as “very primitive” they don’t get much support.
“There’s a huge kind of rift,” he said, between the sophisticated Javanese people and the Papuas “who don’t dress.” This has resulted in a lot of conflict.
Sheil has seen this conflict many times between conservationists and the local people.
“The conservation authorities are like an embattled military trying to protect a certain tract of land or animals from these predatory communities,” he said, recalling experiences in Africa.
The communities “get blamed,” he added.
So Sheil, who had gone in thinking he needed to identify and explore the opportunities for conservation, came out thinking that “the communities themselves are really the primary force that’s maintaining the forest there.”

Study Visit

After his first stay, Sheil wanted to go back and learn more. In 2007, Sheil and colleague Manuel Boissiere took a smaller team to the Mamberamo-Foja region to conduct his own study of on-the-ground environmental monitoring activities that he noted in 2004.
The team selected three communities, which encompassed 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 sq. miles) and studied their threat and resource monitoring tactics.
After group discussions, surveys, and individual interviews, among other methods, the team learned that all of the communities used diverse methods and that autonomous monitoring was an integral part of people’s lives and cultures.

Developing maps with local people is one way to develop a shared understanding of the local landscape and its significance, pictured in Kwerba village, Papua, Indonesia. (Courtesy of Douglas Sheil)
For example, in Metaweja, people shared the responsibility of protecting the territory—paying attention to boundaries with mistrusted communities. Some households camped at strategic locations and the men reported the frequency of their visits to different portions of their territorial boundaries, looking for signs of trouble. The frequency increased according to both accessibility and level of distrust with the neighboring community.
Monitoring is a major theme in resource management and conservation and it requires recognizing and responding to constant changes—something lacking among authorities, the report states. But in the Papua communities, observation and response were closely linked and their monitoring activities were effective at protecting the environment and deterring unregulated exploitation.

New Threats

Despite having a robust system for land stewardship, the local populations now face new threats they are much less prepared to handle, such as government plans for restoring biodiversity and the ongoing development activities.
One plan is to dam the valley where the villages are located, which would flood a lot of the land. Decisions like this are made on a “very high political level” and not always shared with the local people, although land rights issues are now being treated more democratically, said Sheil.
With these threats, the communities’ systems of monitoring are limited.

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At the same time, they haven’t been afraid to protect the land when they need to. In one instance, when he was in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, a company began to cut timber near a series of caves they had agreed to stay away from. The villagers forcibly confiscated the company’s vehicles and heavy machinery. Sheil said they don’t hurt anyone, but the community refused to return the equipment until a penalty was paid.
From Sheil’s perspective, biologists and conservation professionals have long-overlooked local methods of protection. And now, communities can’t identify all the threats due to lack of governmental transparency, which increases the burden on conservation authorities.
For now, the dam project has not gone forward. But there is rapid change in the lowlands with logging and development in neighboring lands and these communities see that.
“People have always had the experience of seeing other communities where it hasn’t gone well,” he said.
Sheil says these communities will give their consent for development that they want, but will reject development that threatens to take over their land. The important thing to note is these kinds of stories occur in other countries through other agencies’ efforts, he said.
“Conservation International was smart to realize they needed the help and trust of local communities and the local government has become much more sensitive to local needs and concerns,” he added.
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Victor Mambor Nov 23, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – The government’s policy and regulation in reducing the carbon emission need to synchronize with related stakeholders, said the head of the Papua Provincial Environmental Management Agency (BPLH), Noak Kapisa.
“The synchronization comprises budget management to support carbon emission reduction activities,” Noak Kapisa said in Jayapura on Sunday (22/11/2015).
In Papua, Kapisa said, the provincial government has determined three regencies, namely Jayapura, Merauke and Jayawijaya, to be pilot areas of carbon emission reduction activities. For that reason, those regencies are expected to become an example of other regencies to commit to similar activities. “
The commitment is for instance for the local government’s policy to support the carbon emission reduction activity,” he said.
He added the good appliance and well manage of peatland areas are highly expected to reduce the elevated carbon emission that recently continues to be a national issue.
Earlier, the Papua Regional Secretary Hery Dosinaen said the Papua Provincial Government committed to support the green house emission reduction. Its concern was indicated through the completion of two strategic planning documents, namely Strategic Action of Green House Gas (RAD GRK) and Provincial Strategic Action Plan on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (SRAP REDD).
“SRAP REDD+ Papua from the forestry and land based sectors is an integral part of the strategic action of green house gas of Papua Province,” Dosinaen said. (Alexander Loen/rom)
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1) Freeport Shut Down and Referendum Execution :


4) Churches and citizens in  Papua reject circumcision -
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General Chairman of the Central West Papua National Committee, Victor Yeimo – Jubi


Victor Mambor Nov 24, 2015
Nabire, Jubi – General Chairman of the Central West Papua National Committee, Victor Yeimo, urged Indonesia and the United States to withdraw from Papua. 
“To Indonesian colonialists and American imperialists, we are Papuans, the nation you’ve occupied and robbed, we convey that we are surprised, disgusted and sick of watching you act like wild animals living in our garden,” Yeimo said on Monday (23/11/2015).
He said the dispute over PT. Freeport Indonesia’s contract extension demonstrates the colonialistic and imperialistic tendencies of the two countries.
No better future is in sight for Papuans under Indonesian rule, he said.
“We only ask for the right of self-determination that have been sabotaged in 1969 by the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia for the presence of Freeport McMoRand in West Papua territorial in 1967,” he said.
He claimed that Freeport was the main reason behind the implementation of Act of Free Choice in 1969  that certainly has violated international law and human rights principles. Therefore, he will keep asking PT. FI to be terminated and exit from Papua.
“Therefore we ask Freeport to stop operating in West Papua until the completion of the political status of West Papua thoroughly, democratically and peacefully according to the appropriated universal principles through referendum,” he said.
He also condemned a number of elites and culprits who talk on behalf of Papua nation to get involved in the political and economic compromise with Indonesia and the United States. “Because, everything related to politic and economy partnership in West Papua territorial is fully in the hands of KNPB as mediator of West Papua’s struggle to fight for their self-determination,” he said.
Earlier, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe claimed the provincial government had never been involved by the central government concerning to contract extension of PT. Freeport Indonesia located in Mimika Regency.
“So, if Freeport or other parties said they have involved the government, what government? Because the Papua Provincial Government is the representative of the central government at regional level,” he said in Jayapura on Monday (16/11/2015). (Abeth You/rom)

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Victor Mambor Nov 24, 2015
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua legislator Laurenzus Kandepa said House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto has tarnished the reputation of the legislature because his alleged attempt to extort Freeport Indonesia over contract extension negotiations, but the mining compnay is no better. 
“Freeport is worst than Novanto who used the president and vice-president’s names concerning to the contract extension with PT. Freeport,” Kadepa said.
“All this time Freeport has never respected the land tenure owners. What it has given to the seven tribes is not comparable to local natural resources it took,” Kadepa told Jubi by phone on Monday (23/11/2015).
According to him, Freeport ignored the voices of the Papuan people, the landowners and local government in Papua.
“Freeport accommodates only the interest of Jakarta while it’s located in Papua. It’s certainly not right,” he said.
Even so, he agreed if Setya Novanto to be prosecuted according to the Law. But, he further said, it doesn’t mean Freeport could think they are fine. “It’s time to abolish mafia. The attitude shown by Freeport Chief in the recording must be appreciated,” he said. According to him, the central government’s officials to not just take benefit from Freeport, while the landowners in Papua never had been considered though its operation area are located in Papua.
“Today the people’s House of Representative means nothing in this country. However we also should question the Freeport’s alibi to record their conversation,” he said.
Setya Novanto himself admitted the publictor Mambor Nov 24, 2015shed recording transcript was his conversation with Freeport Chief, but it is not complete. He regretted it.  “If the transcript is complete, you will find out that Freeport has good intention. Therefore I regret it. My conversation had good intention. I suspect there is certain purpose in distributing the conversation transcript, furthermore it’s not complete,” said Setya Novanto as cited from various online media. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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Victor Mambor Nov 24, 2015

Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan Legislator from Tolikara Electoral area, Orwan Tolli Wone, criticized the trial against two GIDI young members JW and AK related to the incident occurred in Tolikara on 17 July 2015.
Wone, who’s Deputy Chairman of the Commission I of the Papua Representative Council for Politics, Government, Law and Human Rights Affairs, said he suspected there are parties who forced the Tolikara Muslim figure Ustadz Ali Muktar to testify in the trial.
“I assume there are those want to force Ustadz Ali Muktar to testify on the trial. Please stop it. Do not mess up the situation. Ustadz Ali Muktar also knew the problem is over,” said Wone on Monday (23/11/2015).
According to him, Ustadz Ali is certainly do not want to misstep. He knew if he made a mistake, people would have questioned his attitude. “Finally he tried to escape. He is an ustadz (religious teacher), so he won’t do a mistake,” he said.
Further Wone asked the law enforcement in particular the prosecutor to terminate the legal process against JW and AK. He said do not let the situation arising clash among people, while now people in Tolikara are now living in harmony, secured and peaceful. He said stop to play a scenario to charge both suspects with lawsuits. “It’s not too complicated issue. GIDI and Muslim in Tolikara have agreed to reconcile. The local government has been built Mushola (small mosque) and stalls that were burned in the incident. But certain parties want the case taken to the court. I assume there is a political interest behind it,” he said.
He said now the public emphasizes the law enforcement in this case that the law was not executed according to the principle of justice. 11 people were shot and one was died but it has never been investigated.
“They are also Indonesian citizens, are they? But why did it get less attention from the Military Commander, Papua Police Chief and other officials to investigate it. It’s a failure of law enforcement in Papua.  Do not because of law it triggers a friction in the community.  “Because if the trial against both suspects still continue, people would think they are discriminated, especially the shooting victims families,” he added.
Earlier, the trial of Tolikara incident on Tuesday (17/11/2015) was suspended to Thursday (19/11/2015) due to the absence of witnesses including Ustadz Ali Muhktar who was in Java for the family reason. When contacted by Jubi,
Ali Muktar said he would like to come if he was asked to. However, right now he cannot leave his wife who currently under medical treatment. “Yes, if I was asked I will go there (Jayapura), but currently my wife must get a therapy, so I must accompany her,” he said by phone at that time.
According to him he expected the interfaith communities in Tolikara could live peacefully as previous. Related to the request to withdraw his report and release the two young men, he said he also should ask the opinion from other Muslim community in Tolikara. “I really understand if these young men were still in custody, people in Tolikara must feel uncomforted. I want them to be released, their legal process to be terminated, but also must think the Muslim communities in Tolikara. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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4) Churches and citizens in  Papua reject circumcision - 

thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | Archipelago | Wed, November 25 2015, 3:49 PM -
Arguing based on religious belief, citizens and church leaders in Paniai regency, Papua, have rejected a local hospital policy of circumcising boys and men to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Febur Mote, head of the Paniai regional hospital, said on Wednesday that several churches immediately destroyed the invitations flyers they received. He said that the predominantly Christian population of Paniai was against circumcision because they believed that God's creation must not be altered, and because the practice is widely believed to be something done by Muslims and not Christians.
"The Health Office only wanted to promote [circumcision] to prevent HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases," Febur said as quoted by Antara news agency.
The hospital had tried to educate people about the health benefits of circumcision but, as Febur explains, it proved a difficult task to change people’s minds.
Despite the rejections, the hospital will continue to promote circumcision to government agencies (SKPD), churches and schools around Paniai.
“So far, as a result of our efforts, only 67 people have been circumcised. A large portion of the population have rejected it,” he said.
The Papua AIDS Eradication Commission (KPAD) revealed that people infected with AIDS had grown at an alarming rate in Indonesia's eastern-most province, with the disease having affecting 19,000 people since the virus was first detected in Merauke in 1992, KPAD secretary Constant Karma said in July. She further explained that circumcision prevented men from contracting venereal diseases, a stepping stone in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS argued that circumcising men in high-risk AIDS areas could reduce the risk of HIV infection by approximately 60 percent. (liz/rin)(+)

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