Wednesday, March 30, 2016

1) Indonesia to firm up Fiji ties

2) Minister Luhut Pandjaitan visits Fiji
3) INDONESIA will provide up to $USD5million in assistance,  to help in Fiji’s rehabilitation after Tropical Cyclone Winston.
4) Eliminate the “Smoke” ULMWP
5) Activists call on wise  men to solve historic human  rights abuses 
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1) Indonesia to firm up Fiji ties
5:28 pm on 30 March 2016
A senior Indonesian government minister is due in Fiji today in what is seen as a further step by Jakarta to strengthen ties with Melanesian countries.
During his visit, Luhut Pandjaitan, who is the Co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security, is reportedly expected to give five million US dollars in assistance to South Pacific countries.
A senior Indonesian official has told the BBC that the ministerial visit is to suppress the United Liberation Movement for West Papua diplomatically.
An academic says the visit is the political language to show other countries that they cannot interfere in Indonesia's internal affairs, and that the issue of Papua is final.
The Movement has observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which is currently chaired by the Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.
It has also established offices in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, whose prime minister backs the Papuans' right to self-determination.
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2) Minister Luhut Pandjaitan visits Fiji
Kamis, 31 Maret 2016 01:29 WIB

Suva, Fiji (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan and the accompanying delegation arrived at Suva, the capital of Fiji, on Wednesday for a day long visit to the island state in the South Pacific region to improve bilateral relations.

He was accompanied by Djauhari Oratmangun, former ambassador to Russia who is now a special ministerial staff for strategic issues.

Upon arrival at Nausori International airport in Suva after flying for more than six hours from Jayapura, Minister Luhut Panjaitan immediately went to Hotel Grand Pacific and Holiday Inn to spend the night.

Minister Pandjaitan is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister J.V. Bainimarama, flanked by Djauhari Oratmangun, the Indonesian ambassador to Fiji, Papuas deputy governor and Maluku governor.

Minister Pandjaitan and delegation would meet with Fijis Minister of Agricultural, Rural, Maritime Affairs and National Disaster Management.

During the meeting with the minister, Pandjaitan will be flanked by North Maluku governor, deputy head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency, head of East Nusa Tenggara tourism service and first assistant of the West Papua provincial administration.

As part of the agenda, the head of the National Election Commission, Husni Kamil Manik, would sign a memorandum of understanding on election management with his counterpart from the Fiji Elections Office.

Later, the coordinating minister and delegation will be hosted for a lunch by Fijis Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. After the lunch, he and the delegation will leave Suva for Papua New Guinea.

Regarding South Pacific countries position on Indonesias foreign policy, Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in Jayapura, Papua, on Monday that Indonesia is committed to strengthening its bilateral relations with these countries.

"We wish for better relations with countries in the South Pacific," he said.

Luhut Pandjaitan said the visit of the Indonesian delegation to Fiji was aimed at extending financial assistance worth US$5 million to help the victims of the Winston typhoon that hit in February.

"I also bring with me a letter from President Joko Widodo for Prime Minister J.V. Bainimarama," he said.

Besides extending financial funds, Indonesia also sent US$3 million worth of goods and a company of army engineers to help in the reconstruction efforts after the category 5 typhoon, he said. 

Reporting by Rahmad Nasution
T.R013 (H-YH/S012)
EDITED BY INE
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/S012) 
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3) INDONESIA will provide up to $USD5million in assistance,  to help in Fiji’s rehabilitation after Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Islands Business (Facebook)
INDONESIA will provide up to $USD5million in assistance, including a contingent of army engineers to help in Fiji's rehabilitation after Tropical Cyclone Winston.
The deal is expected to be cemented later this week during a visit to Fiji by Indonesia's Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister General Luhut Pandjaitan.
On this visit Pandjiatan - accompanied by two provincial governors of Papua - will meet Fiji's Prime Minister, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama.
While Pandjiatan denied any links between his visit and the rising anti-Indonesian sentiment within Melanesian Spearhead Group countries, he will carry a letter from President Joko Widodo to Bainimarama.
His visit comes on the back of a visit by MSG Chair and Solomon Islands PM Mannaseh Sogovare to Fiji.
Sogovare has promised to pursue West Papua's inclusion in the United Nations Decoloniosation List - the C24.
PNG and Fiji are the two MSG countries which have consistently failed to speak out against Indonesian human rights abuses in the territory it annexed in 1961.


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A google translate of article in Jubi. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at

4) Eliminate the “Smoke” ULMWP
By Neles Tebay





Installation nameplate ULMWP office in Wamena by one announcer ULMWP, Edison Waromi - Jubi / Victor Mambor



VARIOUS media at home and abroad reported the events official opening of West Papua Liberation Movement Unity (The United Liberation Movement for West Papua / ULMWP), 15/2, 2016 in Wamena, Jayawijaya, Papua. With this inauguration, ULMWP now has offices in three places: Country Vanuatu, Solomon Islands State, and Wamena.

Government reaction
The initial reaction of the government is denying the news about the inauguration of the office ULMWP in Wamena. Head of Information Regional Military Command (Kodam) XVII / Cenderawasih, Kol. Inf. Teguh Praise Prog, denied that the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has established an Office ULMWP in Wamena (Rmol.co, 17/2). Cenderawasih announced that there was no evidence of OPM established an office in Wamena (Coverage 6.Com, 17/2). President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, through a spokesman, Johan Budi, also denied reports about the opening of the Office ULMWP in Wamena (Tabloidjubi.com, 17/2).


 
Though denied by the government, it turns out that the police and the Local Government Jayawijaya managed to lose office signboard ULMWP in Wamena (CNNindonesia.com, 16/2). Nameplate reduction action itself, indirectly, have justified their report on the establishment and inauguration of the office ULMWP.

According to the Papua Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Paul Waterpauw (SuluhPapua.com, 18/2), ULMWP prohibited conduct its activities in Indonesia, including in Papua. The prohibition was made because ULMWP activities contrary to positive law and statutory provisions in force in Indonesia. The presence ULMWP organization, according Waterpauw, contrary to the integrity of the Republic.

For the government, any attempt establishment ULMWP office, either by whoever had done and where any place in the Republic of Indonesia, is seen as an act of violation of Indonesian law. For that reason, the establishment of the Office of ULMWP in Wamena categorized as an offense, the police lowered the office signboard.

Subsequently, the police are looking for parties who violate the law. Police have called a number of people as witnesses, among others, Father John Jonga, Engelbertus Surabut, and Bonny Mulait. That said, Markus Haluk and Edison Waromi will be called the police.

According Jayawijaya Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ronny Semmy Thaba, the suspects will be charged with Article 106 of makar (KBR, 3/3). Police categorize establishment ULMWP Office as an act of treason. Thus, the suspects will be brought to court and imprisoned, as was the case over the years, for 10 to 20 years. The application of Article treason, of course, will increase the number of Political Prisoners (Prisoners) Papua.

Discover the fire
The question that needs to be struggled by all the parties is: How can I make ULMWP office was not established for ever, both at home and abroad? To answer this question, we must have a proper understanding of the office opening ULMWP. Note that ULMWP is a political umbrella organization of all the resistance groups Papuans who associate themselves with OPM striving for independence of West Papua. So, ULMWP, by nature, a political organization, not a criminal group. Establishment of the Office of ULMWP a political activity. If ULMWP office establishment in question, then the problem must be viewed from a political rather than a legal standpoint. Carrying cases ULMWP establishment into law, means that efforts are being made to criminalize politics. Obviously, this means never managed to solve the problem of Papua, due to political problems require political solutions.

The application of Article treason would not touch, let alone resolve, the political issues underlying the establishment of the office ULMWP in Wamena. The founders ULMWP office, or everyone who attended the inauguration of the office they may be imprisoned, tortured and even killed. But all of these measures will not solve the political problems that encourage the formation of ULMWP, including the establishment of its representative office.

Activity ULMWP establishment and inauguration of the office in Wamena can be likened like a puff of smoke. Smoke rises because there is a fire. The smoke indicates fire. The smoke would be driven out, driven and aligned to be missing. But all efforts to evict the smoke will be futile, since the smoke would reappear, which produce smoke during the fire has not been extinguished. Thus, the inauguration of the office can ULMWP westernized like a puff of smoke that was indicating that there was a fire smoldering. The decline in office signboard ULMWP, imprisonment or even murder suspects against the suspects, can be carried out but only to eliminate the time the smoke ULMWP. Because, as long as political issues into the smoldering fire ULMWP undiscovered and off, during which the smoke will be billowing ULMWP back. We will continue to be presented news about the opening of the Office ULMWP in various places, both at home and abroad.

The most appropriate way to stop the smoke ULMWP, once and for all, is the path of dialogue. So in fact the government respond to the activities this establishment ULMWP Office to engage in dialogue with ULMWP. Government and OPM represented by ULMWP must meet to identify fire or problems which led to the establishment ULMWP office, and jointly seek a political solution that is acceptable to both parties. Once the root of the problem solved, forever there will be no establishment ULMWP offices both at home and abroad. Then the inauguration events ULMWP office in Wamena can be used as an excuse for the police to encourage President Jokowi in order to start a dialogue with ULMWP. (*)

The author is a lecturer at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and the coordinator of the Papua Peace Network in Abepura.

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5) Activists call on wise  men to solve historic human  rights abuses -
Liza Yosephine, thejakartapost.com, Jakarta | National | Wed, March 30 2016, 1:27 PM - 

Activists are urging the government to form an independent commission made up of civilian "wise men" to push for a legal settlement of Indonesia's historic human rights abuses to bring justice to the victims and their families.

The commission's members must be representatives of the public and not public officials from institutions involved in the violations, the human rights advocacy group Setara Institute suggested.

Setara and family members of victims of past human rights abuses held a closed door meeting with the Presidential Advisory Board (Wantimpres) to convey to it the proposed formation of a Presidential Commission on the Disclosure of Truth and the Recuperation of Victims on Tuesday.

"It's impossible for governmental elements or officials to be part of this commission because in this case the state itself is subject to law that holds it responsible for historic human rights abuses, even though the current government is not the actual offender," Setara's deputy chairman, Bonar Tigor Naipospos said.

Together the activists met with Wantimpres chairwoman Sri Adiningsih and member Sidarto Dabusubroto to create a commission consisting of well-informed civilians, and not government officials, in the pursuit of a judicial resolution of seven main cases of violations.

The commission's duties would be to validate data that has been investigated by the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to see what can be taken to court and handled judicially, or alternatively, for the government to issue a formal apology by way of reconciliation.

The ad-hoc committee would be under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo with the authority to produce binding presidential decrees, Bonar said.

Jokowi has repeatedly reiterated his commitment to settling historic rights abuses that have been declared gross human rights violations by Komnas HAM.

The formation of the commission comes in response to a long-delayed bill on truth and reconciliation that is before the House of Representatives, which is apparently an alternative way in case government officials fail to find a better solution for all.

The selection of the committee members itself would be the prerogative of the President, Bonar said, adding that the backgrounds of the members would be important.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the government aimed to settle all human rights violations cases by early May through reconciliation only and not through judicial processes because there was a lack of evidence. Such a deadline was "absurd", Bonar said.
Setara chairman Hendardi also derided Luhut's statement, calling it overly ambitious, hasty and unrealistic, as well as unacceptable to the families of the victims who sought for justice.

"There would be no reconciliation without the revelation of the truth," Hendardi said.
Human rights groups and families of the victims are pushing for the resolution of the cases judicially as stipulated in the 2000 law on human rights courts.

Hendardi admitted that with the case of the 1965 communist purge, a judicial settlement would be difficult because of a scarcity of proof and witnesses.

However, he underlined other newer cases must be resolved at court with transparent legal procedures.
Maria Katarina Sumarsih, member of the the Victims Solidarity Network for Justice (JSKK), said her community, along with the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), recently held its 436th Kamisan (a silent protest held every Thursday) across from the State Palace.

The protesters will continue to do so until the government takes concrete steps.

Maria, whose son Bernardus Realino Norma Irawan died in the First Semanggi tragedy in 1998, said the solving of the Semanggi cases could set a precedent as a step forward toward a positive future when the government would be proactive in addressing issues to clear the history.

The unresolved cases consist of a 1989 massacre in Talangsari, Lampung, the forced disappearance of anti-Soeharto activists in 1997 and 1998, the 1998 Trisakti University shootings, the Semanggi I and Semanggi II student shootings in 1998 and 1999, the mysterious killings of alleged criminals in the 1980s, the communist purges of 1965 and various abuses that took place in Wasior and Wamena in Papua in 2001 and 2003, respectively. (+) 
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West Papua: another East Timor

Sister Susan Connelly interviewed on ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/religionandethicsreport/west-papua-,-another-east-timor/7281406

West Papua: another East Timor?

Wednesday 30 March 2016 5:30PM (view full episode)
IMAGE: PROTESTERS SUPPORTING THE FREE WEST PAPUA CAMPAIGN IN INDONESIA (ULET IFANSASTI/GETTY IMAGES, 2013)LINK TO LARGER IMAGE.
Prominent nun and human rights advocate Susan Connelly of the Sisters of St Joseph has just returned from a fact finding mission to West Papua. She is one of the authors of  We Are in Danger, a report on the situation there.
It refers to allegations of torture and death at the hands of Indonesian police and military; and even an attempted “slow motion genocide” of the indigenous population of West Papua, using mass migration from Java.
She told Andrew West her investigation in West Papua had a familiar and frightening echo.   
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1) Victim of Police Violence Seeks for Justice

2) Police Use Law Enforcement Operation as Alibi on Security Budget : KNPB

3) Human Rights Activists Criticise Military Operation in Papua Central Highland

4) Migrants Shouldn’t Become a Bum in Papua, says Minister Luhut
5) Official Admits Papua Public Service Slow
6) Strengthening Indonesian Existence in Southern Pacific

7) Police Should Authorise Students’ Rally on Minister Luhut Panjaitan’s Plan Visit

8) Papuan Women Win PRC Beating Thousands of Research Applicants

9) Papua Investors Reach 1, 831 as per February 2016

10) Jayapura Regency Need 500 Teachers

11) Poverty in Papua Should be Addressed, says Indonesian Legislator

12) Poor Infrastructure Affects Tourism in Papua


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1) Victim of Police Violence Seeks for Justice

28 March 2016






Sorong, Jubi – Albert Martinus Mnsen, victim of torture allegedly conducted by Mobile Brigade personnel on 1 January 2016, is still seeking justice.
As part of a local tradition, he joined other residents to celebrate the New Year’s Eve with dancing and flute-tamborine convoy. The event coincided with the arrival of the President Joko Widodo to Papua Barat Province to observe sago manufacture project in Sorong Selatan and local airport Dominique Eduard Ossok Airport.

There were about twenty personnel of Mobile Brigade Detachment A Manokwari crossing the road Jalan Tampa Garam, Sorong City to return to their post at Suprau while securing the president’s arrival. The road was crowded with convoy of dancers and vehicles.
At that time the victim Albert Mnsen along with his son pushed the car and a personel of Mobile Brigade came to help. But then he beat the victim’s head with his riffle butt until he collapsed.
“I was taken to the hospital once I was down,” said Alberth Mnsen to reporter in Sorong City on Sunday (27/3/2016).
After making the police report at Sorong Barat Police Station, facilitated by Mobile Brigade Detachment B Pelopor Sorong, they agreed to resolve the dispute amicably. But according to Mnsen, up to now he is still waiting for further action from the Mobile Brigade as agreed in their agreement, such as the promise for taking the victim to get medical treatment in Makassar has not yet materialized. The victim is still got pain because of a lump in his throat. Even while sleeping, he’s still in pain. “I still feel pain,” he said.
For that reason, he asked to the local police to immediately solve this problem.
Mobile Brigade B Detachment B Pelopor Sorong Commander, Police Commissionaire Eko on 8 January 2016 said Mobile Brigade made agreement with the victim’s family to solve the problem amicably and bear the cost of treatment, even if he got medical referral to Makassar.

“We have agreed with the family. Although it was done by personnel from Manokwari, but we have obligation to assist all cost of treatment,” he said. (Niko MB/rom)

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2) Police Use Law Enforcement Operation as Alibi on Security Budget : KNPB



                                     General Chairman of the Central West Papua National Committee, Victor Yeimo – Jubi


Jayapura, Jubi – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) stated the idea of legal security operation launched by Papua Regional Police is merely an alibi to seek allocation for security funds.
“No need to create a new operation for security budget. Isn’t it the operation occurred everyday?” said KNPB Chairman Victor Yeimo on Wednesday (23/3/2016).
He believed the security personnel used the last and recent shooting incidents as an excuse to get the additional budget for security.
Yeimo also suspected the security personnel were also retained the insurgent group led by Lekakha Telenggen who shot four civilians on last week. “They put up a fight, but on the other hand, their resistance was being used by Indonesian Military and Police to obtain bargaining power on security project,” he said.
Papua Regional Police is currently organizing a law enforcement operation to be conducted in three regencies, which they call as Black Triangle. Those are Puncak Regency, Puncak Jaya Regency and Lanny Jaya Regency.
“It is not certain when the law enforcement operation would be conducted due to permission and further guidance from commanding officer. But the most important is the plan design has been started,” said Papuu Police Chief Inspector General Police Paulus Waterpauw in Jayapura.
He said, in doing the law enforcement operation, the Police will collaborate with the Military.
Lekakha Telenggen did not decline or confirm the accusation on his group over the shooting incident. However, he stated ready for taking responsibility if his group did the shooting.
“I am ready taking responsibility of the shooting over those four construction workers if my men did it,” he said. He also confessed to shot 78 military and police personnel up to now.(Victor Mambor/rom)

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3) Human Rights Activists Criticise Military Operation in Papua Central Highland

24 March 2016

Wamena, Jubi – Human rights activists criticized law enforcement operation plans in ‘red triangle’ regions of Puncak, Puncak Jaya and Lanny Jaya regencies by security forces.
The chairman of the Papua Human Rights and Law Enforcement Advocacy, Theo Hesegem, said law enforcement operations in Papua central highlands are not a solution to resolve the problems.
“I think it is exaggerated, what is needed in Papua is a dialogue with people, not military or law enforcement operations,” he said in Wamena, Jayawijaya on Wednesday (23/3/2016).

According to him, there is no major terrorist threat in Papua, because the OPM (Papua Free Movement) is an organized group established for years and its ideology is certainly different from religiousy-motivated terrorists. So, it is not proper to link the OPM with the terrorist.
He eventually thought the law enforcement or military operation is an evidence of the Central Government’s inability to resolve the problem in Papua for decades.
“Central Government must observe the problem in Papua carefully. The economic, health and educational approaches are not enough, thus, a political approach is needed. And the law enforcement would trigger the human right violations that would degrade the Indonesian image upon the international community,” he said.
In addition, the law enforcement operation will not guarantee on conflict resolution in Papua, on contrary it is concerned to cause many fatalities among civilians and have potency of human rights violations.
Yap Thiam Hien Award 2009 winner Pastor John Jonga said the law enforment or military operation is exaggerated effort in responding the shooting incident occurred in Sinak Sub-district of Puncak Regency, Papua Province.
“If the consideration is non-conducive atmosphere, both Police and Military must have self-reflection because I see a disappointment on law enforcement that misconducted by Military and Police,” he said.
I am eventually fear if the law enforcement would sacrifice the civilians. “Better the Police and Military to initiate an approach to such groups who opposed the Republic of Indonesia. Because by using the military approach, would they guarantee to not wrongly arrest or shot the people; moreover if they go to the forest for hunting people randomly because they don’t know who perpetrators are,” he said. (Islami/rom)



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4) Migrants Shouldn’t Become a Bum in Papua, says Minister Luhut
30 March 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Migrants should not become burdens by being destitute in Papua, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut B. Panjaitan said.
“If they are destitute, they become a burden to the local government,” Luhut told Jubi, responding to a question on the migrant influx to Papua, Monday (28/3/2016).
He said he agreed with Papua Provincial Government’s plans to limit the number of people who come to Papua.
On the same occasion, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe told the minister about the existing Special Regional Regulation on population control.
“Special Regional Regulation on entry restrictions to Papua has been established since the former Governor Bas Suebu, but somehow, its enforcement has not worked,” said Enembe.
According to him, migrants have increased the number of poor population in Papua. “Many jobless and unskillful people have continuously come to Papua,” said Enembe.
Responding the Governor Enembe, the minister said if the Special Regulation is not contradictive with the existing Law, it would gain support of the Central Government. “We’ll check it,” he said.
The Indonesian Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs will spend two days in Papua, from Monday to Tuesday (28-29 March 2016) and continue his mission to Fiji and Papua New Guinea on 30 March 2016.
He will pass US$5 million donation from the Indonesian Government to Fiji Government whose citizens recently stroked by Winston hurricane. (Victor Mambor/rom)

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5) Official Admits Papua Public Service Slow
23 March 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – The assistant secretary for Social Welfare and Economic Affairs at the Papua government admitted that civil servants have been slow in providing services to the public.
Elia Loupatty said it was reflected through numerous complaints addressed by the public as users, he said in Jayapura on Tuesday (22/3/2016).
“It indicates the government as a public servant has not entirely created a system of service that is acceptable to the public’s eyes,” he said.
According to Loupatty, as public service improvement adviser of public service administrator, the Indonesian Ombudsman initiated an investigation regarding to compliance of public service administrator in the implementation of Law No. 25/2009 about public service.
“Our services are still unable to meet public’s expectations which is reflected by unintelligible, discriminative, and complicated services to public, and so on,” he said.
He explained the current condition could not be separated from the low quality of public service administrators, unfulfilled standard and low community participation.
“Public is the main core of new paradigm about ‘new public service’, the alteration of public position that formerly known as ‘clients and constituents’ becoming ‘customers’ and now resuming ‘citizen’,” he said.
He added public is not merely an object of services but should be placed as subject. “Services to public are integrated efforts in creating good, clean and efficient government to improve the welfare for the entire citizens,” he said. (*/rom)
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6) Strengthening Indonesian Existence in Southern Pacific
30 March 2016

Jakarta, Jubi – The visit of an Indonesian delegation to Papua New Guinea and Republic Fiji on 30 March to 3 April 2016 confirms the seriousness of Jakarta in its efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with the countries in the Southern Pacific region.
The visit led by the Coordianating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan to two members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is not the first conducted by a cabinet member of Widodo’s administration.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi made her first visit to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji recently. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Milner Tozaka in Honiara welcomed her during her visit to Solomon Islands on 28 February 2015. 
Both foreign ministers admitted both Indonesia and Solomon Islands have Melanesian background and cultural heritage that could help the realization of close bilateral relations between two countries for the benefit of both contries and people.
They both also recognized the importance of the principle of mutual respect on territorial integrity in building the bilateral relations of two countries in addition to strengthening the partnership in economic and human relationship sectors in particular through the capacity building and technical assistance.
Regarding to valuable position of the countries in the Southern Pacific region for the Indonesian foreign political policy, it has confirmed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Fachir at the 20th MSG Summit held at Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara, Solomon Islands on 26 June 2015.
For Indonesia, which has 11 million of Melanesian ascendants spreading in five provinces of Papua, Papua Barat, Maluku, Maluku Utara and Nusa Tenggara Timur, Pacific region is ‘a main priority’, he said during his speech before the leaders of MSG country members.
The President Joko Widodo’s official visit to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 11 – 12 May 2015 by the invitation of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is ‘a real reflection of this priority’, said Deputy Minister A.M. Fachir.
As conveyed by the Deputy Minister before the forum, which accepted the full membership of Indonesia and gave observer status to ULMWP, the commitment of Indonesia for MSG is ‘real and concrete’. Even Indonesia committed to assist the MSG country members to be more involved with the broader international community through Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and Asia Africa Conference.
On Fachir’s point of view, the open access of connectivity between Melanesian community in MSG country members and 11 million Indonesian citizens of Melanesian ascendants spreading in five Indonesian provinces would pave the way for more open access to the broader Indonesian market.
“Indonesia is willing to be the gate, even it could also act as a gateway for products of the countries in the Southern Pacific region to enter to the ASEAN market,” he said.
The opportunity of collaboration between Indonesia and MSG country memebrs is not limited in economic and trading sectors, but also cooperation in disaster mitigation due to the impact of climate change and improvement of people’s welfare is very opened.
But above the entire opportunities in strengthening both bilateral and multilateral relations, Deputy Minister A.M. Fachir reminded the agreement on MSG Establishment in 2007, in which mentioned ‘MSG members are fully respect the principles of the international law governing the international relations’.
Among those principles, the MSG members must respect to the principles of sovereignty, equal independence to the entire nation, and do not intervene the domestic affairs of the country members, he said.
What the deputy minister in MSG Forum in Honiara delivered was very unfounded moreover the internationalization of Papua issue and campaign containing of lawsuit over the validity of the implementation of the Referendum Act of Free Papua 1969 keep ongoing.
Professor of the Faculty of Law from the University of Indonesia, Professor Hikmahanto Juwana admitted this reality in his introductory note to the book by Nico Gere titled “Maintaining Indonesian Sovereignty in Papua: Revitalization of the Principles of Sovereignty and Non-intervention in the UN Charter’ (2015.
“Papua is Indonesia. But some people in Papua and a number of NGOs abroad still could not accept this reality. Therefore, the Indonesian sovereignty in the land of Papua shall continue to be treated,” he wrote in the book published by Perum LKBN Antara.
In the midst of this reality, the visit of the Indonesian delegation to Papua New Guinea, a country that will host the 21st MSG Summit in 2017, and Republic of Fiji is conducted.
According to Deputy of Communication, Information and Administrative Department of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Agus Ruchyan Barnas, in his visit to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 30 March, the Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is scheduled to meet with the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
From Port Moresby, the Indonesian delegation would continue their bilateral mission to Suva, the capital of Republic of Fiji on 31 March to 1 April. In the visit to Suva, the minister is also scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Fiji V.J. Bainimarama.
“Included in the agenda of visit of the Indonesian delegation to the Republic of Fiji is the delivery of human aid and deployment of a contingent of army engineer to help the reconstruction process for the post-Winston hurricane disaster that hit the country in last February,” said Agus.
A helping hand from Indonesia to the government and people of Fiji is reflecting the proverb “a true friend is a friend in joy and sorrow”. Indonesia did the similar act when Vanuatu was destroyed by Pam hurricane on 17 March 2015. (*/rom)
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7) Police Should Authorise Students’ Rally on Minister Luhut Panjaitan’s Plan Visit

25 March 2016


Jayapura, Jubi – Papua councilor Laurenzus Kadepa criticized the Jayapura Municipal Police for not allowing the students of Cenderawasih University to conduct a peaceful rally against a minister’s plan to visit Papua at the end of the month.
He said police made up excuses for banning the protest.
“If the Police said the students did not attach the identity of protest coordinator or not confirm the route of rally or not explain the content of banner, and not give the obvious time as using the term of Papua time instead of WIB, WITA and WIT which is used to indicate time differences in Indonesia, those reasons are certainly ridiculous,” said Kadepa to Jubi by phone on Thursday (24/3/2016).

Therefore he regretted it and asked the Police to not consider the students’ rally from a negative point of view. “Police must stop judging the students’ rally from a negative point of view. The reason to not give authorization on the rally is not obvious. It indicates the Police still close the space of democracy in Papua,” he said.
Kadepa who always criticized the minister’s statement about Papua said he personally supported the students. “I support the students and Papuan people to protest the minister’s plan to visit Papua. We do not need a person like Luhut Panjaitan. He hurt our heart as Papuans for many times,” he said.
Other politician and councilor Emus Gwijangge similarly thought the Police should not suppress the democracy in Papua. “As long as the rally is not anarchies and destructive, I think it is just fine. Why should it be banned? Let the students express their aspiration,” he said.
According to him, to express the aspiration in public is guaranteed by Law. Therefore he expected the Police could be wise in dealing with peace rally all the time. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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8) Papuan Women Win PRC Beating Thousands of Research Applicants

28 March 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – The international research committee of the Australian National University has announced that three Papuan women has been selected in the Pacific Research Colloquium 2016.
The women are lecturer of the International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Science of Cenderawasih University, respectively are Melyana R. Pugu, Elvira Rumkabu and Mariana Buiney.
Melyana R. Pugu said they managed to beat thousands of research proposals by other applicants. “For 2016, we have three indigenous Papuan women who passed the international research competition held by the Australian National University. There are thousands of applicants but three of us made it through the selection,” said Melyana R. Pugu to reporter in Jayapura on Saturday (26/3/2016).
She explained that she would conduct a research titled ‘Model of Indonesia-PNG Border Area Management of Keerom District’, while her colleague Elvira Rumkabu has research on ‘Special Autonomy and Oppositional Dichotomies of ‘Komin’ – ‘Amber’ Identity in Papua Province and Mariana Buiney would go on reseach on ‘The Impacts of Trans Border Crime in the Human Security of the People of Skow and Enjoying Border Areas between the Republic of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’. dan Papua New Guinea’.
“So, of thousands of research proposals received by the committee, they have selected 20 researchers to participate in the presentation seminar held in the Australian national University, in which they will learn about new research method in addition to the method they have learned before,” she said.
She continued the presentation seminar is also conducted in the Southern Pacific region, including New Zealand. The seminar has very positive impact, such as to strengthen a good relationship with Pacific including Australia and New Zealand.
“It is to bond the Pacific researchers through working with the experienced academicians who specialized in the social researches in this region,” said Ms. Pugu. (Abeth You/rom
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9) Papua Investors Reach 1, 831 as per February 2016

25 March 2016

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) Papua Representative Office Kresna Aditya Payokwa said the number of investors in Papua increased to 1,831 companies as of February, from only 500 in 2012.
“Based on our current data, there are 1,831 investors in Papua as per February 2016, and they are mostly located in Jayapura,” said Payokwa in Jayapura on Thursday (24/3/2016).
In 2012, he added, the number of investors was still under 500 people, but each year the number is increased to 1,100 companies in 2015 and 1,831 companies as per February 2016. According to him, Papuan people are currently interesting to investment and to know more about stock exchange.
“Thus, BEI is not only focusing on the increment number of new investors, but also attempting to promote the needs to invest as well as to provide education to the community who want to know about the stock exchange,” he said.
In addition, he said, in Jayapura City, BEI also collaborate with some universities in order to provide education to the students. “We have worked with several campuses in Jayapura such as the University of Cenderawasih and University of Yapis Papua by opening the investment galary,” he said.
He added, through the increment of investors and public interest to get to know about stock exchange, BEI is planning to open the representative office in Papua Barat Province. (*/rom)
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10) Jayapura Regency Need 500 Teachers
24 March 2016
Sentani, Jubi – Jayapura Regency said it need 500 teachers more to serve in early childhood and primary education.
“We still need as many as 500 teachers for basic education, such as pre-school, kindergarten and elementary school as well,” said Jayapura Regent Matius Awoitau in Sentani on Wednesday (23/3/2016).
The local government took an effort to fulfill the teachers’ requirement by hiring some educators to place in each level of basic education.

“Gradually, we will do this effort. Those who contracted as teacher would be evaluated within a year. The evaluation result would determine whether their contract could be extended or replaced by new recruitment,” he said.
The regent also asked the relevant office to calculate the number of teachers and, including identifying the schools in teachers’ needs.
“Based on data from relevant office, we would identify which schools have lack of teachers and how many teachers they need,” he said.
Meanwhile the Head of Jayapura Education Office Alpius Toam admitted to coordinate with several schools that need more teachers.
“We cannot make recruitment in large number, we need a sort of data on teacher’s requirement from each school. Therefore in near future we will coordinate with schools that lack of teachers,” Toam said. (Engel Wally/rom)
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11) Poverty in Papua Should be Addressed, says Indonesian Legislator


Jayapura,Jubi – Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives for Religious, Social, Women’s Empowerment and Children Protection and Natural Disaster expected the government to promptly address the poverty in Papua.
Commission VIII Deputy Chairman Deding Ishak on Tuesday (22/3/2016) in Jayapura said the poverty in Jayapura should not become a paradox or a contradictive fact with current situation.
According to Deding, series of program issued by the Ministry of Social to eliminating the poverty, including Family Hope Program (PKH), Shared Business Group (KUB), and Convenient Housing and other programs, take attention of the Commission VIII.

“It is certainly becoming our attention in the Commission VIII, in particular concerning to PKH, which is based on the presentation by Papua Social Office, it has not been entirely covered 29 regencies/municipality but only reached four or five regencies. So, many people have not received that program,” he said.
He explained the problem was included the transportation access in Papua. Due to geographical condition, it’s difficult to reach some regions in particular located in the highland area that only could be reached by plane with quite expensive cost.
“The government certainly must consider this problem, especially in preparing budget allocation,” he said.
He added Papua has the Special Autonomy law but the implementation wasn’t optimum, therefore the Commission VIII highly appreciated the proposal on Special Autonomy Law revision.
“It is related to how can we speed up the development process in Papua to be experienced and appreciated by Papuan people in particular,” he said. (*/rom)
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12) Poor Infrastructure Affects Tourism in Papua

23 March 2016



Jayapura, Jubi – A lack of infrastructure has become an impediment to the growth of tourism and creative economy at local levels in Papua.
“Having a tourism object but without access to go there means we can’t sell it,” said Pagawak to Jubi on Tuesday (22/3/2016).
Therefore, Papua Tourism and Creative Economy Office continues to work with different sectors and stakeholders including provincial and regional public work offices in preparing the infrastructures such as road access and other existing facilities.
“The partnership, which is not limited to the government but also the private sectors, keep ongoing in order to help the local residents to get benefit from the existing tourism attraction,” he added.
Concerning to growth of tourist rate, David Pagawak revealed his office is currently designing, programing and working with regional tourism stakeholders to develop the cultural festival and hold the national and international events to promote Papua culture to the world.
“We hope it’s not only 20 thousand but 30 thousand of tourists would come to Papua,” Pagawak said.
Further Papua Tourism and Creative Economy Office is planning to hold the Papua Airshow combined in Sentani Lake Festival in the next June, while the competition of Papua Tourism Ambassador and Tanah Merah Bay Festival would be held in October.
In separate place, the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) DPD Papua Chairman, Au Sitepu targeted 10 thousand people to come to Papua as international tourists within the quarter year of 2016. Based on data from previous year, the number of international tourist visiting to Papua is increased to 10 – 15 percent in the first quarter of 2016, while the number of domestic tourist could not be predicted as it is rarely to be recorded.
“For the international tourists, we can get the accurate data from the police’s report, as they have to obtain the letter of permit,” he said.
He added, in the beginning of the year, the increment of the international tourists’ visit could be traced when the cruise ship Coral Expedition docking at Jayapura Port on several times ago. He also agreed with PHRI Papua that tourism in Papua needs more serious attention from the government. (Sindung Sukoco/rom)
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