Tuesday, March 24, 2020

1) Goliat Tabuni asks independent team to investigate the church burning in Tembagapura


2) Docking their yachts at Jayapura Seaport, foreigners scrutinised by local immigration office


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1) Goliat Tabuni asks independent team to investigate the church burning in Tembagapura
Published 19 hours ago on 23 March 2020 
By pr9c6tr3_juben
Jayapura, Jubi – West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) challenge the Government of Indonesia to provide access for an independent investigation team investigating perpetrators behind the burning of a church in Tembagapura Sub-district, Mimika Regency, Papua in a press released by TPNPB. The statement of the Supreme Commander of TPNTP General Goliat Tabuni received by Jubi on Wednesday (18/3/2020).
On Thursday (12/3/2020), the Indonesian Gospel Tent (GKII) Church of Sinai Congregation in Opitawak Village of Tembagapura Sub-district reportedly burned out. The Indonesian security forces pointed finger to TPNPB as perpetrators. However, General Goliat Tabuni denied all allegations in his press release.

In turn, he believes this incident was part of the game playing by the Indonesian security forces to discredit the image of TPNPB in which they have always done for a long time. “This is not new, but [it has happened] since 1960 to the present. The Indonesian Military and Police have done it for a long time,” said Tabuni in his press release.
Furthermore, Tabuni said TPNTP was not surprised by many reports accused them as the perpetrator behind the church burning. Therefore, he challenges the Indonesian Government to provide access to an independent investigation team to investigate.

Meanwhile, TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambon confirms the statement released on behalf of Goliat Tabuni as valid. Further, he says the independent investigation team preferred by TPNPB is a joint investigation team of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council and the National Human Rights Commission of Papua Office.
“If they want to find who is behind the church burning, the Indonesian Government must allow the independent team to investigate. [The independent team is] the Human Rights Council [United Nations] and the National Human Rights Commission of Papua Office,” Sambom told Jubi on Wednesday (18/3/2020).
Furthermore, he said the Indonesian Government should be able to prove their accusation through a fair and impartial legal process, not only pointing fingers to TPNPB. “The Indonesian Military and Police should not just accuse TPNPB, and the Indonesian media should not unilaterally publish the one-side story,” said Sambom.
Meanwhile, Antara News Agency launched the statement of Tembagapura Police Chief Adjunct Commissionaire Hermanto saying the insurgent group led by Lekagak Telenggen and Joni Botak burned down the GKII Sinai Congregation Church in Opitawak Village.
“The church was initially crowded by Opitawak villagers for worshipping and other church activities. However, in several recent weeks, the armed group came to spread terror in this village. People finally have to give in to this situation,” said Hermanto to Antara. (*)
 
Reporter: Benny Mawel
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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2) Docking their yachts at Jayapura Seaport, foreigners scrutinised by local immigration office

Published 19 hours ago on 23 March 2020 
By Admin1


Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura Immigration, Seaport Health Quarantine Office, Maritime and Port Authority secured and interrogated four foreign citizens on Wednesday (18/3/2020) following their act sailing to Jayapura sea and docking private yachts at Jayapura Seaport.
The Head of Jayapura Immigration Gatut Setiawan states the four foreigners arrived in Jayapura by two different yachts. The Singaporean Wong Tet Chong took Ximula-3 Langkawi, while Bruno Coolmet of France came to Jayapura with his wife and future son-in-law by Krypton.

“The four sailed from Sorong, West Papua Province and got clearance from Sorong Immigration. But, as soon they arrived in Jayapura, they were going to the downtown without reporting their arriving to the quarantine office and seaport authority,” said Gatut in Jayapura on Wednesday (18/3/2020).
In his statement, Gatut said Wong Tet Chong initially wanted to sail his yacht to Papua New Guinea but change the destination to Jayapura due to bad weather and engine problem. Besides, the authority of Papua New Guinea has currently closed access to the country.

“The immigration, quarantine office and seaport authority has interrogated (him) and conducted the thermal check as a procedure of coronavirus anticipation. His body temperature was normal, so we gave him two days to leave the Jayapura water. If he is still around [more than two days], the seaport authority will forcibly pull out his yacht out of Indonesia,” said Gatut.
Meanwhile, Gatut said the immigration did not found any immigration violations conducted by Bruno Coolmet, his wife and their future son-in-law because they have a legal permit to stay until 1 April 2020.
“Although they did not break the immigration rule, they should deal with both quarantine office and seaport authority because [docked and left their yacht at the seaport] without reporting. In the future, we will be more restricted to protect the security of the sea from invasion by foreigners or others by involving the quarantine office, seaport authority and other relevant offices,” said Gatut.
After completing their administrative issue with the quarantine office, the three French national should leave the Jayapura Sea. “The immigration is keeping their documents as a guarantee,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Governor of Papua Province Klemen Tinal asked the Immigration, Seaport Quarantine Office and other relevant offices to restrict the surveillance over passengers at airports, seaports and other entries to anticipate the spreading of coronavirus to Papua.
“Restriction and inspection should be done more strictly to both foreign and domestic passengers coming to Papua,” he said. (*)
 
Reporter: Alexander Loen
Editor: Pipit Maizier

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Sunday, March 22, 2020

This woman used the internet to draw attention to a human rights crisis — and paid the price

This woman used the internet to draw attention to a human rights crisis — and paid the price

ABC Radio National
By Belinda Lopez for Earshot
Veronica helped start a movement to bring attention to the struggle facing West Papuans. But she's had to reckon with the life-changing consequences of talking about a such a politically charged issue — and might never be able to go home.


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Concern Bloody Paniai case will stall after AGO returns investigation dossier


https://www.indoleft.org/news/2020-03-20/concern-bloody-paniai-case-will-stall-after-ago-returns-investigation-dossier.html

Concern Bloody Paniai case will stall after AGO returns investigation dossier

Surara.com – March 20, 2020
                     Komnas HAM Commissioner M Choirul Anam speaks to reporters – Undated (Suara

Chandra Iswinarno, Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari – The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has return the investigation dossier on alleged gross human rights (HAM) violations during the bloody Paniai incident to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).
Responding to this, the Komnas HAM suspects that there is potential for the investigation into the case to come to a halt.
Komnas HAM Commissioner M Choirul Anam says that they have already received the dossier from the AGO. He has already read it and will send it back to the AGO again.
“We will prepare a response to send back with it. I myself have only given it a quick read”, said Anam when contacted on Friday March 20.

After reading the explanation from the AGO, Anam found the classic justifications, namely the AGO’s understanding of investigative powers into the Paniai incident which occurred in 2004.
Anam explained that the AGO has the power to investigate and take the case to trial.
“But what there was was the old understanding and old attitude which has consistently been pursued by the AGO. There’s nothing new although in legal terms the AGO could feasibly do it. Either as regulated under Law Number 26/2000 [on a Human Rights Court] or under the KUHAP [Criminal Procedural Code]”, he said.
Furthermore, he believes that if the investigation process into the Paniai incident only adheres to legal procedures then it will be understood as the political application of human rights which goes nowhere.
Anam said he deeply regrets this particularly as it is known that the gross human rights violations which occurred in Paniai are still recent. Yet the reality is that the AGO does not see that it has a commitment to resolve this case.
“It should be that in looking at an incident that occurred not long ago, this case can be taken over. It could be handled directly by the AGO which has the power to both investigate and prosecute. Not instead giving the impression of playing for time with an old narrative”, he said.

Furthermore, Anam also sees that there is the possibility that the investigation into the Paniai case will halt mid-way or stall because of the AGO’s justification which still adheres to legal mechanisms.
“In this context it can be said that it could potentially stall, because of the repetitive old narrative. Because of this a serious breakthrough is need on the question of authority. For example does Komnas HAM need to be given additional powers. So that the weak link in the chain which is obstructing the full resolution of HAM violations be quickly broken”, he said.
As reported earlier, the Paniai investigation dossier was returned after the AGO declared that the dossier had failed to meet the requirements and evidence to qualify as a gross human rights violation.
AGO Legal Information Centre head Hari Setiyono said that the Paniai investigation dossier was returned to Komnas HAM on Thursday March 19.

Based on the results of a study by the investigators at the AGO’s special crimes directorate, the investigation dossier was deemed to be incomplete or had not yet meet the requirements for an incident to be raised to the level of an investigation into a gross human rights violation.
“Both in terms of formal requirements as well as material requirements, and because of this the investigation dossier is declared to have inadequate evidence to fulfill the elements of a gross HAM violation”, said Setiyono in an official release received by Suara.com on Friday.
Setiyono said that the quite significant inadequacies related to material evidence which failed to fulfill all of the stipulations of the relevant articles, namely Article 9 of Law Number 26/2000 on a Human Rights Court.
According to Setiyono advice on how to address the deficiencies in the investigation dossier have already been conveyed by the AGO’s investigative team in a letter which was signed by Attorney General ST Burhanuddin and dated March 13.
Notes
On December 8, 2014, barely two months after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was sworn in as president, five high-school students were killed and 17 others seriously injured when police and military opened fire on a group of protesters and local residents in the town of Enarotali, Paniai regency. Shortly after the incident Widodo personally pledged to resolve the case but four years into his presidency no one has been held accountable for the shootings.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Kejagung Kembalikan Berkas Kasus Paniai, Komnas HAM: Berpotensi Mandek”.]
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Saturday, March 21, 2020

1) 80 candles lit to commemorate one-year of Sentani flash flood


2) West Papua Struggle accepts two new members 
3) ULMWP Chair: West Papua faces double crisis of coronavirus and Indonesian colonialism
4) Four identified patients under surveillance of Covid-19 in Papua
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1) 80 candles lit to commemorate one-year of Sentani flash flood
Published 16 hours ago on 21 March 2020 
By Admin1


Sentani, Jubi – Flash food that hit Sentani on 16 March 2019 is still kept strictly in the memory of those who experienced it. Even today, after one year of the disaster, many people are still living in refugee camps. To commemorate one year of the incident, young people and the Baptist Sunday School of Imanuel Toladan Church organise worship and several activities to pray for their family members who passed away in this natural disaster.
“We have not prepared this event for a long time, but we think this is what we can do. We want to remember the incident where all Sunday School’s students were gathering in the ‘island’ for worshipping then suddenly the flash flood came,” says Jenny Marlin Wenda, the GBIT Sunday School Principal, to Jubi on Monday evening (16/3/2020).

Furthermore, she adds that there is nothing more valuable than being grateful to God.
“So, here we are today. Mr Jeff Ron comes to give us a preach and motivate those who attend the worship today. Before praying, we lit 80 candles that provided by our school, then watch movies while gathering for coffee in the churchyard,” she says.
Besides youth and Baptist congregations, this event also involves nearby neighbours.

“We also thank those who participated to join the event and pray with us. We meet with families of victims who join and bring some food for all of us to enjoy. They feel this worship is important to them, so they come to join,” she says.
Moreover, she says no one ever thinks that they would survive in flah flood.
“When remembering that experience, I am sad because it caused 114 death, 205 missing and 961 injured, while approximately 11,725 are currently living in refugee camps. “
Meanwhile, Jeff Ron Sohilait in his preach says in difficult time humans might not think that they will survive during a flash flood, but nothing is impossible for God. God opened the way for us when we were at the island at the time.
“At that night, God opened us the way. He brought us out of place at that time. It means He has a certain purpose for the children of Sunday School in this world,” he says.
“On Saturday evening one year ago, these children went to the worship, and because of their prayer, God came to save them. This is a great testimony where God came to them in the sudden episode and guided them to the safe place,” says Jeff Ron. (*)
 
Reporter: Yance Wenda
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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2) West Papua Struggle accepts two new members 
By Len Garae  Mar 21, 2020 
Updated 20 hrs ago


The Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC) Chairman, Pastor Allan Nafuki, has welcomed two new young members into the West Papua Struggle; late Andy Ayamiseba’s second born son, Harold Ayamiseba and an Australian, Tom Young.
The Chairman says it is highly encouraging to continue to have energetic new members join the ranks because the work towards the struggle is immense and requires young, determined, focused and dynamic individuals who have West Papua’s interests at heart, to come in to continue to strengthen the Movement.
Harold who was still a young boy during the Black Brothers’ stay in Port Vila, arrived back in Port Vila with his first-born brother in recent days to reconnect with the land where they grew up as children.
His first-born brother could not be present at the meeting where Executive Members of both the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) and Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC) were present to welcome them.
Both young men confirmed the late Manager of once famed Black Brothers Band, Andy Ayamiseba, as responsible for convincing them to join the struggle.
When asked if he had anything to say, Young revealed that he grew up in Papua New Guinea where his father had a business.
It was the environment in which he grew up and the human relationships that he developed there that stayed with him and late Ayamiseba senior’s gentle explanation of the struggle of the people of West Papua convinced him to reconnect with the Melanesian struggle.
He said it is his hope that he would one day be able to contribute meaningfully towards the West Papua Struggle.
While the majority of people in Vanuatu knew the Black Brothers Band first before knowing the struggle of the Melanesians of West Papua, the truth was that knowing the band and listening to their soulful tunes was in fact knowing the struggle of the people of West Papua.
On the other hand, the Black Brothers Band was perhaps the first modern band to weave traditional Melanesian lyrics into modern musical instruments that kept toes tapping in the night clubs throughout Port Vila from the 1980s onward.
The band was also the first foreign band to step onto the Vanuatu local political stage to contribute by performing in fundraising events towards the Vanuatu Struggle.
What is happening in Vanuatu today therefore, is the most relevant Melanesian gesture of appreciation to West Papua considering the immense contributions by the Black Brothers Band after the country’s freedom from 74 years of Joint Colonial Rule by Britain and France.
To prove the Band’s achievements towards the development of Vanuatu, one of its hit songs to listen to is called “1984, Yia Blong Buluk”.
After the release of the album, I had an exclusive interview with the Manager of the Band, Andy Ayamiseba, and asked him to elaborate on the hit reggae song “…Yia Blong Buluk”.
The Manager of the band made the following profound prophesy, “One day Vanuatu will become the Jamaica of the Pacific”.
Andy Ayamiseba passed away in Australia only this year following a long illness.
His siblings chartered a jet with flying doctors onboard to Port Vila to fly him to Australia for further medical treatment.
He received medical treatment in a private medical facility.
His siblings knew of their father’s musical contributions towards the political development of the Republic of Vanuatu.
That was why they turned to Vanuatu for urgent financial assistance through ULMWP and VWPAUC to assist them to continue to keep their father at the costly private medical facility in Australia.
It is not clear if the Government had responded to their request at all.
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3) ULMWP Chair: West Papua faces double crisis of coronavirus and Indonesian colonialism

March 18, 2020 in Statement

As I stated last week, the people of West Papua face a new double crisis: a humanitarian crisis caused by Indonesian military operations, and a medical crisis caused by coronavirus. Indonesian colonialism, which has destroyed our way of life and left us without healthcare or the natural support of our environment, has increased the risks of coronavirus to my people. There has never been a more urgent time for Indonesia to allow the UN to independently monitor the situation, and for the people of West Papua to assert their independence and traditional ways of life.
The Indonesian government must immediately grant the long-standing request of the ULMWP, supported by 18 countries in the PIF and 79 countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group States (ACP), and allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights into West Papua. With military operations ongoing around Grasberg and elsewhere, we need urgent international observation of our humanitarian crisis.
The situation around Freeport McMoRan’s Grasberg gold and copper mine continuous to decline. I am deeply saddened by the news that two members of the West Papuan military wing, our traditional land owners and defenders, have been killed by the illegal Indonesian occupation forces.
Freeport must immediately halt production at the mine. The company knows that the problems around the mine run deep, and will not stop until there is a just solution for the people of West Papua – until our right to self-determination is respected, and we are granted a referendum on independence. Freeport: do you want to carry on aiding and abetting the genocide in West Papua?
To my people back home, you must prepare for a difficult year. I know you suffered so much in 2019, but this virus is likely to enter West Papua soon.
We must not panic, but we must prepare. I call on all my people to return to the way of life we have left, to grow our own gardens in our villages and sustain our livelihoods in the face of this pandemic. We can no longer rely on the Indonesian colonial regime to protect us from this virus. We must support each other and rely on the strength of our traditional way of life.
We have water, fruit, land, gardens – we can return to fishing, to eating our staples of sago and the vegetables of our villages. This is our best chance of avoiding the coronavirus and continuing our struggle for self-determination.
Our thoughts are with everyone around the world affected by this virus.
God bless you all.
Benny Wenda
Chairman
ULMWP

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4) Four identified patients under surveillance of Covid-19 in Papua
Published 16 hours ago on 21 March 2020 
By Admin1

Jayapura, Jubi – Four people are named patients under surveillance of Covid-19 in Papua and currently getting medical treatment at local public hospitals in Merauke, Jayapura and Biak.
Concerning this, Jayapura Mayor asks residents to not being panic. Meanwhile, Merauke Regional People’s Representatives conducted a closed meeting to discuss the coronavirus issue.

“The patients are now under surveillance of health authority. Besides of having fever, cough and cold, they just returned from outside Papua,” the Secretary of Papua Health Office Dr Silvanus Sumule says on Tuesday (17/3/2020).
Furthermore, he says the medical testing samples of the four patients scheduled to send to the Research and Development Agency of Health Ministry in Jakarta today (17/3/2020) for further examination. The patients currently treated at Merauke Public Hospital are males of 46 and 51 years old, while a patient treated in Jayapura Public Hospital is a 45 or 46 years old man.

“Meanwhile, the patient in Biak Public Hospital is a young man of 21 years old,” Sumule adds.
However, he admits that he does not know the exact number of people under surveillance of Covid-19 in Papua as he is still waiting for the official report from the relevant local health offices.
At the moment, the local health authority in Biak states that the patient under surveillance treated in Biak Public Hospital so far has not been infected and is under medical treatment in the hospital’s isolation room.
In the meantime, Biak Numfor Regent Herry Ario Naap in a press release states the suspected Covid-19 patient in Biak is a resident of Bandung, West Java. Moreover, he says the medical staffs of Biak Public Hospital had taken any necessary medical procedure to take care of the patient.
“The point is the local government has promptly responded to this issue. We have published announcement and established a team to conduct a surveillance action,” says Naap in the press release received by Jubi on Monday (16/3/2020).
Meanwhile, the Director of Biak Public Hospital Dr Ricardo Mayor says the patient in Biak was a ship passenger departed from Jakarta and arrived in Biak on Thursday (12/3/2020).
“He departed from Jakarta to Biak by KM Ciremai and arrived on 12 March. He entered the emergency room at around 18.30 Papua time and got medical treatment immediately. Based on the examination, the patient needs to put under surveillance,” says the mayor in the government’s release.
Furthermore, he says the patient had clinical symptom resembled those who infected by the coronavirus. However, he asserts that the initial examination will approve after the result of laboratory testing.
“To ensued whether the patient is positive of having the coronavirus, it should go through the laboratory testing. The sample would send to Jakarta,” says Mayor Naap. (*)

Sumber: Antara
Editor: Pipit Maizier
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Thursday, March 19, 2020

1) Armed Group Denies Burning Church in Papua


2) Let’s not forget about West Papua     

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1) Armed Group Denies Burning Church in Papua
 BY :ROBERT ISIDORUS MARCH 19, 2020


Indonesian police prevent a West Papuan protester from approaching the US embassy in Jakarta in August 2019. (JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro)

 Jayapura. The Indonesian Military and National Police have accused what they call an "armed criminal group," or KKB, of burning down a church in Tembagapura, Papua, on March 12.   But a spokesperson for the National Liberation Army of West Papua-Free Papua Movement, Sebby Sambom, denied the allegation.  "We believe the burning of the church was part of a [political] play by the Indonesian Military and National Police to discredit the National Liberation Army of West Papua and the Free Papua Movement. Burning houses and churches is nothing new for them. It's been their play since the 1960s," Sebby said on Wednesday.

He said the National Police should provide evidence and witnesses to prove the allegation in court.  The government must allow an independent team and the National Commission on Human Rights to oversees the investigation in Papua, according to him.   Sebby said a fair trial will reveal the real perpetrators of the crime.   According to Papua Police's public relations head, Chief Cmr. A.M. Kamal, separatist leader Lekagak Telenggen and other armed groups converted the church into a hideout on Tuesday.

A joint task force from the Indonesian Military and the National Police are now hot in pursuit of the group, who had fled but are still in Tembagapura.  "The church was a place for worship and community activities for people in the Opitawak village. The armed group has been spreading terror in the area in the past few weeks. They did not have a place to stay, so they wanted to turn the church into a base," Kamal said.

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2) Let’s not forget about West Papua     
20 March 2020 Author  Editor
Wale meets with ULMWP rep, reiterates the need for Indonesia to allow for UN Human Rights Commissioner into West Papua

The Leader of Opposition Hon. Matthew Wale on Thursday met with the Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Mr. Jacob Rumbiak. 
Mr. Rumbiak updated Hon. Wale on the human rights situation in West Papua, and the ongoing struggle for self-determination by West Papuans.
Hon. Wale reaffirmed his clear and strong support for the need for Indonesia to allow unimpeded access to Ms. Bachelet the UN Commissioner for Human Rights to the West Papuan provinces. 
Hon. Wale stated that the recent military response to peaceful protests by West Papuans and human rights abuses add to the already serious human rights abuses by Indonesia against West Papuans over many years, and the Solomon Islands must not remain silent on the issue.
“The Human rights situation in West Papua is an issue for the Solomon Islands, as it ought to be for the rest of Melanesian countries and Pacific Islands Forum member countries. Indonesia must not be allowed to buy silence on this matter ”, Hon. Wale Said. 
Hon. Wale also said that the issue of human rights abuses in West Papua is closely tied to the issue of self-determination for West Papua. Indonesia continues to suppress the legitimate aspiration of West Papuans for self-determination and refuses to allow for meaningful dialogue on the issue. 
“Solomon Islands must stand very clear for the right of West Papuans to decide their own destiny. It is not our place to say whether West Papua should be independent or not – that must be a decision for the indigenous people of West Papua only, and Indonesia must allow a process to determine it.”, Hon. Wale said.
Hon. Wale further stated the sincerity of Indonesian assistance to the Solomon Islands would be tested by Solomon Islands standing clear on these issues. 
The Opposition Leader then calls on the Prime Minister to not weaken his stand on these two very important issues for our Melanesian brothers and sisters when the MSG meets next month.
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