1) UK West Papuan tribal leader removed from Interpol list
2) Feud Between Residents in Timika Heats Up, Two Injured3) Australia, Indonesia formalizing military diplomacy
4) Indonesia and Australia Should Go Hand in Hand Into Asian Century
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19149678
Benny Wenda was issued with a red notice by Interpol at the request of the Indonesians
A tribal leader from an Indonesian province who was granted asylum in Britain has won his battle to be removed from an Interpol wanted list.
Benny Wenda, who lives in Oxford, had been issued with a red notice and was at risk of arrest and extradition.
The Indonesian authorities said they wanted him to stand trial for murder and arson, offences he denied.
But Interpol decided the case against Mr Wenda, who campaigns for West Papua's independence, was "political".
In a letter to Fair Trials International, which has campaigned on his behalf, the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files said it had deleted information about his case from its records.
"After re-examining all the information available to it... the Commission finally considered that the case against your client was predominantly political in nature," said the letter, from the Commission's Secretariat.
The British government accepted Mr Wenda's asylum application in 2002 after hearing allegations he had been persecuted by the Indonesian authorities.
Jago Russell, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said: "We are delighted that Interpol has now woken up to this abuse but safeguards are needed to stop other countries misusing Interpol and destroying lives and reputations in the process."
2) Feud Between Residents in Timika Heats Up, Two Injured
Monday, 06 August, 2012 | 18:27 WIB
Monday, 06 August, 2012 | 18:27 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Timika:Hostility between two groups of residents in Timika, Papua, worsened on Sunday when 30 men armed with machetes and wooden clubs attacked and tortured two Timika residents.
Paulu Douw and Sefnat Misikbo were rushed to hospital after the attack at the junction of Jalan Yos Sudarso and Jalan Patimura on Sunday afternoon. Paulu, who works at PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia, suffered abrasions on his left cheek, head and back.
He was riding on a motorcycle taxi (ojek) when he was forcibly stopped and beaten. Paul managed to run to the military rayon command (Koramil) post not far from the location.
Another victim, Sefnat Misikbo, was also intercepted by armed youths in the same location on Sunday afternoon. Out of the blue, he was intercepted and beaten up on his way to Damai Market to buy areca nut.
Sefnat sustained injuries to the head, arm and knee. An employee of the Office of the Court of Timika, Mohammad Said, managed to stop the fight and disperse the gang of youths.
Dozens of police arrived to guard the junction. On Sunday evening the situation was under control, but some people were afraid to leave their houses.
The dispute between the groups of people, which extended to the town of Timika, was triggered by an attack on people after they finished panning for gold on PT Freeport Indonesia’s grounds. They were mugged and attacked with arrows on Saturday morning. As a result, Sekundus Karubun and Benjamin Fautgil were rushed to hospital due to arrow wounds.
After the attack a group of armed men headed to the location of the mob attack on Jernih River, Mile 28, the tailing area of PT Freeport Indonesia, to seek revenge. The police managed to drive them to their homes.
On Sunday morning, a rumor circulated that someone was killed at Mile 32. This was followed by the burning of an ojek terminal on Jalan A Yani in retaliation. Head of operations at Mimika Police, Police Commissioner Albertus Andreana, said that no one was killed on Sunday evening.
According to Albert, the police intensified patrols and said, "Yes, we continue to take steps to return the residents’ sense of security and prevent friction. TJAHJONO EP
Paulu Douw and Sefnat Misikbo were rushed to hospital after the attack at the junction of Jalan Yos Sudarso and Jalan Patimura on Sunday afternoon. Paulu, who works at PT Kuala Pelabuhan Indonesia, suffered abrasions on his left cheek, head and back.
He was riding on a motorcycle taxi (ojek) when he was forcibly stopped and beaten. Paul managed to run to the military rayon command (Koramil) post not far from the location.
Another victim, Sefnat Misikbo, was also intercepted by armed youths in the same location on Sunday afternoon. Out of the blue, he was intercepted and beaten up on his way to Damai Market to buy areca nut.
Sefnat sustained injuries to the head, arm and knee. An employee of the Office of the Court of Timika, Mohammad Said, managed to stop the fight and disperse the gang of youths.
Dozens of police arrived to guard the junction. On Sunday evening the situation was under control, but some people were afraid to leave their houses.
The dispute between the groups of people, which extended to the town of Timika, was triggered by an attack on people after they finished panning for gold on PT Freeport Indonesia’s grounds. They were mugged and attacked with arrows on Saturday morning. As a result, Sekundus Karubun and Benjamin Fautgil were rushed to hospital due to arrow wounds.
After the attack a group of armed men headed to the location of the mob attack on Jernih River, Mile 28, the tailing area of PT Freeport Indonesia, to seek revenge. The police managed to drive them to their homes.
On Sunday morning, a rumor circulated that someone was killed at Mile 32. This was followed by the burning of an ojek terminal on Jalan A Yani in retaliation. Head of operations at Mimika Police, Police Commissioner Albertus Andreana, said that no one was killed on Sunday evening.
According to Albert, the police intensified patrols and said, "Yes, we continue to take steps to return the residents’ sense of security and prevent friction. TJAHJONO EP
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4) Indonesia and Australia Should Go Hand in Hand Into Asian Century
Richard Woolcott | August 06, 2012
Richard Woolcott | August 06, 2012
The Asian Century, driven by the unprecedented transfer of wealth and influence from the West to the East, offers opportunities to Indonesia and Australia to enhance their cooperation to their mutual advantage. This seminal change in the global balance is driven by the spectacular rise of China, in particular, but also by the rise of India, reinforced by the developed economies of Japan, South Korea and Australia, in addition to the increasing potential of Indonesia and Vietnam.
Asia Pacific is where the world’s major power relationships closely intersect. It is where the template for the US-China relationship will largely be shaped. It is the crucible in which the interrelationships on Asian issues involving China, the United States, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia and the other main Asean economies will be worked out. In the 21st Asian Century, Australia needs to change its national psyche. It needs to focus less on its 20th century links with Europe and the United States and more on its neighbors in the region.
Regional countries need to determine a current and appropriate balance in their relations with the United States and China. While Australia is an ally of the United States and has some different values than China, it should welcome the rise of China and oppose policies based on its “containment.” There is no intrinsic reason why China, under its system of authoritarian capitalism, in which it will seek to overcome the economic and political problems it faces, cannot rise peacefully, unless provoked. It is for China to decide its policies and the pace of change without advice from other countries, including Australia. As former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said last month in Chicago, “China will continue to entrench its credentials as a global power.”
All countries in the Asian region, and the United States and China, have a shared interest in continuing economic growth, peace and stability. Attitudes toward China, especially in the lead-up to the US presidential election, could become a self-fulfilling prophesy. China will resist American attempts, some unfortunately echoed by Australia, to shape attitudes about China, and other regional countries.
Australia should not be afraid of change. It should respond to it by looking ahead. The emphasis must be on cooperation. Activities that undermine that and could lead to a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region would be disastrous.
Indonesia and Australia are members of the G20. They are both at the top table dealing with global financial and economic issues. The G20 also provides opportunities to discuss the corridors of political and strategic issues.
What is sad is how little these two countries know of each other. Australia has a long history of involvement in Asia and specifically Indonesia. It supported Indonesian independence in 1947 and the Colombo plan. This has been obscured by issues like the deaths of five Australian TV journalists in Balibo in 1975, allegedly at the hands of Indonesian special forces, Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor, arrests of Australian drug traffickers, and Australia’s attitude, regrettably exaggerated for domestic political reasons, toward refugees and asylum seekers.
Many Australians are not aware of the changes in Indonesia in recent years. Democracy is now virtually institutionalized in Indonesia. Both countries have agreed on bilateral annual head of government-level meetings, the most recent of which was held in Darwin last month. There are also annual 2+2 meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs and defense from both countries.
The growth in the two economies also provides opportunities. Indonesian economic growth is at 6.3 percent. Although inflation was 4.45 percent in May, it is still within Bank Indonesia’s target. Although some political initiatives could deter future economic growth, capital inflows are continuing. For Indonesia to reach higher but inclusive growth, the government will need to reduce subsidies and increase spending on poverty reduction.
The crisis in the European Union, the weak recovery of the United States and the ongoing weakness in Japan will affect the Indonesian and Australian economies but both are relatively sound. In Indonesia, private consumption accounts for 59 percent of GDP, which will help reduce the impact of a depressed global economy.
The IMF lists Australia’s economy, in nominal terms, as the world’s 13th largest ($1.488 trillion) while Indonesia is 16th ($846 billion). Indonesia is expected to be among the Top 10 world economies by 2030 and in the top five by 2040. Unfortunately, public attitudes toward Indonesia in Australia are out of date, as indicated in recent Lowy Institute surveys of Australians. Only 54 percent of Australians have a “positive attitude” toward Indonesia and other polls suggest 30 percent see Indonesia as a security threat.
On the Indonesian side, some members of government see Australia as a threat to its territorial integrity because of support for the independence of Papua.
Australia needs to build a habit of regular and improved consultation, not only with Indonesia but with the main Asian countries, especially China, Japan and India, on a range of policy issues, in advance of announcing major policy decisions, especially those that affect them, as Foreign Minister Bob Carr argued. An example of its failure to do this, was the decision, subsequently rescinded, to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia. Another was the decision to rotate 2,500 US marines through Darwin. It also needs to avoid any perception that racism and religious intolerance are present in political and public attitudes.
We should remember that Indonesia’s religious environment is different from Australia’s. Indonesia is, by population, the largest Islamic country in the world with the overwhelming majority of Indonesian Muslims being moderates.
Indonesia is Australia’s most complex, populous and influential neighbor. Seeking to build bridges between the very different societies must be a priority. If Australians and Indonesians succeed in this endeavor both countries and indeed the region will benefit in the Asian Century.
Richard Woolcott is former head of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was also Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia and chairman of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
Asia Pacific is where the world’s major power relationships closely intersect. It is where the template for the US-China relationship will largely be shaped. It is the crucible in which the interrelationships on Asian issues involving China, the United States, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia and the other main Asean economies will be worked out. In the 21st Asian Century, Australia needs to change its national psyche. It needs to focus less on its 20th century links with Europe and the United States and more on its neighbors in the region.
Regional countries need to determine a current and appropriate balance in their relations with the United States and China. While Australia is an ally of the United States and has some different values than China, it should welcome the rise of China and oppose policies based on its “containment.” There is no intrinsic reason why China, under its system of authoritarian capitalism, in which it will seek to overcome the economic and political problems it faces, cannot rise peacefully, unless provoked. It is for China to decide its policies and the pace of change without advice from other countries, including Australia. As former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said last month in Chicago, “China will continue to entrench its credentials as a global power.”
All countries in the Asian region, and the United States and China, have a shared interest in continuing economic growth, peace and stability. Attitudes toward China, especially in the lead-up to the US presidential election, could become a self-fulfilling prophesy. China will resist American attempts, some unfortunately echoed by Australia, to shape attitudes about China, and other regional countries.
Australia should not be afraid of change. It should respond to it by looking ahead. The emphasis must be on cooperation. Activities that undermine that and could lead to a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region would be disastrous.
Indonesia and Australia are members of the G20. They are both at the top table dealing with global financial and economic issues. The G20 also provides opportunities to discuss the corridors of political and strategic issues.
What is sad is how little these two countries know of each other. Australia has a long history of involvement in Asia and specifically Indonesia. It supported Indonesian independence in 1947 and the Colombo plan. This has been obscured by issues like the deaths of five Australian TV journalists in Balibo in 1975, allegedly at the hands of Indonesian special forces, Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor, arrests of Australian drug traffickers, and Australia’s attitude, regrettably exaggerated for domestic political reasons, toward refugees and asylum seekers.
Many Australians are not aware of the changes in Indonesia in recent years. Democracy is now virtually institutionalized in Indonesia. Both countries have agreed on bilateral annual head of government-level meetings, the most recent of which was held in Darwin last month. There are also annual 2+2 meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs and defense from both countries.
The growth in the two economies also provides opportunities. Indonesian economic growth is at 6.3 percent. Although inflation was 4.45 percent in May, it is still within Bank Indonesia’s target. Although some political initiatives could deter future economic growth, capital inflows are continuing. For Indonesia to reach higher but inclusive growth, the government will need to reduce subsidies and increase spending on poverty reduction.
The crisis in the European Union, the weak recovery of the United States and the ongoing weakness in Japan will affect the Indonesian and Australian economies but both are relatively sound. In Indonesia, private consumption accounts for 59 percent of GDP, which will help reduce the impact of a depressed global economy.
The IMF lists Australia’s economy, in nominal terms, as the world’s 13th largest ($1.488 trillion) while Indonesia is 16th ($846 billion). Indonesia is expected to be among the Top 10 world economies by 2030 and in the top five by 2040. Unfortunately, public attitudes toward Indonesia in Australia are out of date, as indicated in recent Lowy Institute surveys of Australians. Only 54 percent of Australians have a “positive attitude” toward Indonesia and other polls suggest 30 percent see Indonesia as a security threat.
On the Indonesian side, some members of government see Australia as a threat to its territorial integrity because of support for the independence of Papua.
Australia needs to build a habit of regular and improved consultation, not only with Indonesia but with the main Asian countries, especially China, Japan and India, on a range of policy issues, in advance of announcing major policy decisions, especially those that affect them, as Foreign Minister Bob Carr argued. An example of its failure to do this, was the decision, subsequently rescinded, to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia. Another was the decision to rotate 2,500 US marines through Darwin. It also needs to avoid any perception that racism and religious intolerance are present in political and public attitudes.
We should remember that Indonesia’s religious environment is different from Australia’s. Indonesia is, by population, the largest Islamic country in the world with the overwhelming majority of Indonesian Muslims being moderates.
Indonesia is Australia’s most complex, populous and influential neighbor. Seeking to build bridges between the very different societies must be a priority. If Australians and Indonesians succeed in this endeavor both countries and indeed the region will benefit in the Asian Century.
Richard Woolcott is former head of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was also Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia and chairman of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
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