Saturday, September 5, 2015

1) Papuan activist Benny Wenda barred from entering PNG for PIF summit

2) Drought Threatens 6,000 hectares of Rice Fields in Merauke

3) Papua Government to Meet Felix Gold

4) Pancasila Not Applicable in Papua, Legislator Says

5) 10 People in Kaptel District, Merauke, Has Leprosy
6) Indonesia: going nowhere fast
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1) Papuan activist Benny Wenda barred from entering PNG for PIF summit

Updated Fri at 4:36pm
For the second time in six months immigration authorities in Papua New Guinea have barred the prominent West Papuan activist Benny Wenda from entering the country.
Mr Wenda was planning to travel to Port Moresby for the Pacific Islands Forum but his visa application was rejected .
Back in March he was denied entry into PNG because he did not have a visa.
At the time, Pacific Beat asked the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill about the situation and here's what he had to say.
"There is no reason why he [Benny Wenda] shouldn't be granted one," Prime Minister O' Neill said.
"I have been told of no reason to deny him that opportunity. We welcome everybody to Papua New Guinea."
This time Mr Wenda says he applied for a visa, and even got a lawyer to check that it was completed correctly.
But hours before he was due to board a flight in London he was told the application had been rejected.


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2) Drought Threatens 6,000 hectares of Rice Fields in Merauke

Bambang said in the second planting season, the target of the department for land clearing is an area of ​​17,000 hectares, yet only 14,000 hectares realized. The farmers hoped that the rainfall in the eastern part could help but it did not happen.
Due to a shortage of water , approximately 6,000 hectares faced drought.
“I can not mention in detail each village which suffered from drought. Yet generally, the amount of land area as such,” he said.
It is said, that condition can not be avoided by anyone due to natural factors.
“So what can we do. Indeed, there is restlessness and anxiety of the farmers, after most of the land is not managed properly, ” he added.
“I think the problem does not only happen in Merauke, but also in other areas in Indonesia. The cause is the same which is because of the lack of rainfall during the growing season, “he said. (Frans L Kobun/ Tina)


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3) Papua Government to Meet Felix Gold



Jayapura, Jubi – Officials from the provincial government of Papua are scheduled to meet with representatives of Felix Gold from China to discuss the continuation of the construction of a mineral processing plant (smelter) in Timika, Mimika regency.
“Felix Gold plans to visit us in September to present the request for 1000 hectares of land for the construction of the smelter,” Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe said in Jayapura on this week.
He said his government initially objected to the request of 1000 hectares of land, because many wondered what Felix Gold would do besides building a smelter.
“Based on information received, the land area of 1000 hectares will be used to build industry for smelter,” he said.
Meanwhile, the head of Energy and Mineral Resources department in Papua, Bangun Manurung, said it continues to monitor the seriousness of Felix Gold to build a smelter.
“Basically Felix Gold wants to invest in Papua and will conduct a survey. We do not just wait, but we will see its progress, “Bangun Manurung said on last June. (Alexander Loen/ Tina)


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http://tabloidjubi.com/en/2015/09/02/pancasila-not-applicable-in-papua-legislator-says/

4) Pancasila Not Applicable in Papua, Legislator Says

“Pancasila does not apply in Papua as shootings and lives of the Papuan people become target in the name of homeland,” Laurenzus Kadepa, a member of Commission I of Papua Legislative Council on Political, Legal and Human Rights.
There is a command system in military and all shootings against civilians must have been ordered by superiors, including shooting cases in Yakuhimo, Dogiyai, Tolikara and Mimika.
“The state must be held responsible,” said Kadepa via text message to Jubi on this week.
According to him, all the shooting incidents have political interests. Without command and instruction, the members will not dare to shoot as they have wives and children that they have to think.
“The central government does not pay attention to Shooting incident in Timika. However, when Musholla in Tolikara was burned, all state officials came to Tolikara. For them, Musholla is more important than human lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, commission I of Papua Legislative Council, Tan Wie Long said, the Central Government is acting a discrimination and has hurt the people of Papua.
“Papua is also part of Indonesia but there is no justice for the people of Papua. Its approach should be changed. All incidents in Papua do not reflect in the fifth Pancasila which is the principle of Social Justice for the entire of Indonesian people,” said Tan.
“Indonesia country should not be only as a slogan in Papua where in reality people do not like it. Central Government should come to Timika, and resolve the problem. This is what we asked for. Do not just focus on Tolikara case,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme)
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5) 10 People in Kaptel District, Merauke, Has Leprosy
 
Merauke, Jubi – The head of Kaptel Health Center, Mariam Wangguway said 10 residents in two villages in Merauke suffered from leprosy and are being treated on a regular basis.
“It is true that about 10 people are suffering from leprosy. I’ve just served for a couple of months, so I do not know for sure when the disease began to spread, “she said to the Jubi on Wendesday (02/09/15)
According to her, besides adults, there are also children who are infected and most spreading through breathing. So that when the immune system is not strong, it will automatically attacked slowly. And leprosy infection starts to emerge in the next 5 years.
“I visited two of the village, and see directly their condition. We from health center routinely provide health care, especially medical aid that can be consumed on a regular basis, “she added.
Separately head of health department in Merauke, Stephen Osok added, health department always instruct the medical staff there to routinely give attention to some of the people who suffered from the disease.
“We also routinely distribute drugs every month to the clinic, as well as given to them,” he added. (Frans L Kobun/Tina)
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6) Indonesia: going nowhere fast
3 Sep 2015|
It took 24 hours—and apparently an angry call from a blindsided President Joko Widodo—for Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo to revoke a raft of new restrictions on visiting foreign journalists, which were similar to those in force during President Suharto’s 32-year rule.
Why they were introduced in the first place is difficult to understand in the current democratic climate, but it showed once again the mixed signals emanating from the Widodo government when it comes to Indonesia’s dealings with the rest of the world.
Cabinet reshuffles or not, the president will have to work harder at ensuring there’s a lot more policy coordination and a lot less economic nationalism if he is to achieve his goal of attracting foreign investment and bringing a better balance to the economy.
New manufacturing industries are vital for sopping up unemployment and steering the country away from its past dependence on natural resources and onto a growth path that will propel it above the current 5%.
Right now, Indonesia is going nowhere fast, offering a welcoming hand in one instance and an arresting hand the next. It’s left the overriding impression that because of the size of its domestic market—and the profits to be gained from it—everything has to be on its terms.
It wasn’t always like this. In the years following the 1997 financial crisis, Indonesians were in despair, wondering where they had gone wrong and why it was taking so long for the country to recover. The arrival of the 2004–2012 commodity boom changed all that.
Officials trot out figures which appear to show productive foreign investment pouring in. But ask any foreign business group or investment bank analyst and they leave no doubt that investors have Indonesia firmly on the back burner.
There are different reasons for this. Admittedly, many centre on the general economic slowdown, with commodity prices still in the doldrums, domestic consumption sinking and a sluggish China weighing down hopes of an imminent world-wide recovery.
But that’s not all. In private forums, businessmen complain about regulatory uncertainty and cloying red tape; they talk of ministries working at cross-purposes and the economic coordinating minister seemingly incapable of getting them on the same page.
In places like Malaysia and China, start-up ventures are lavished with new buildings, modern technology and attractive incentives. In Indonesia, there’s nothing but bureaucratic obstacles, poor infrastructure and a take-it-or-leave-it attitude among senior officials.
One large global company, for example, still can’t secure approval to import a common agriculture commodity for its processing plant—a necessary contingency plan in the event that Indonesia is unable to produce enough to keep it running at full capacity in the future.
Two Korean companies hoping to set up garment and shoe factories in Central Java to take advantage of cheaper labour costs found they had acquired land that was either in the middle of nowhere or not zoned for industrial use.
The list of gripes go on, topped by the Manpower Ministry’s policy of slashing work permits and its recent decision to force all non-resident directors and commissioners to obtain temporary permits, whether they attend meetings in Indonesia or not.
Like the media restrictions, you would think it would take only a phone call to resolve. Instead, Widodo demonstrated his ignorance of procedures by saying he wanted to scrap temporary stay visas. That would leave the related work permit issue untouched.
Foremost among the mixed signals is the Government’s fixation on adding to the so-called Negative List—sectors where foreigners aren’t permitted. Yet even in areas where foreign investors are encouraged, such as the creative economy, they’re only allowed minority ownership.
Another complaint is the Government’s requirement for foreign-owned projects to use local content. It’s not that it can’t be done, but the way officials beat investors over the head with it. Similarly with a new requirement for all companies engaged in public service to build data centres, even if there is no need for them.
In this climate, the targeted incentives on offer in neighbouring countries are almost unheard of. Instead, by far the most common complaint is the whimsical introduction of regulations, which are both unclear and lacking in the certainty necessary for business plans to work.
A classic template is the 2009 Mining Law, the broad provisions of which were initially greeted with cautious enthusiasm. Then three years later, the Government came up with implementing regulations that changed everything, giving miners an impossible year-long deadline to build smelters.
Instead of facing up to reality, Indonesia plays its now-familiar game of smoke and mirrors. Beef prices are at record levels because the Government continues to restrict meat and live cattle imports in an effort to show it has attained self-sufficiency. It hasn’t and it probably never will.
Indonesians are assured that the looming El Nino weather phenomenon, which meteorologists are warning could be even worse than the devastating 1997–98 event, will have little impact on agriculture. But the impacts are already being felt, and no-one knows how much more is to come.
Then there was the recent spectacle of President Widodo attending the ground-breaking ceremony for a 2,000-megawatt Japanese-funded power station, hailing it as an example of the Government removing bottlenecks to infrastructure development.
Yet buried in the stories appearing in local newspapers was the revelation, well-known to most people who follow the power industry, that developers still have to win a years-long battle to acquire a crucial 10% of the land.
On that front, little has changed. Despite having the state-owned Pertamina oil company as a partner, land issues meant it took ExxonMobil more than a decade to finally get East Java’s Cepu oilfield on stream. The reason, according to one senior energy official: ‘too much democracy.’
For all the bluster aimed at a gullible domestic audience, Indonesia is losing the perception game where it counts: out in the world. But before new chief economic minister Darmin Nasution can come up with ways to turn that around, he must first convince ministers and bureaucrats alike that carrots work better than sticks.
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Friday, September 4, 2015

1) PIF-OPENING REMARKS BY SECRETARY GENERAL MEG TAYLOR DBE


2) Freedom fighter shown the way out

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Pacific Islands Forum Update

05 September 2015
Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor Addresses the Media at the PINA/PIFS Regional Media Workshop
 in the lead up to the 46th Pacific Islands Forum




MEDIA WORKSHOP
4 September 2015

OPENING REMARKS
BY
SECRETARY GENERAL MEG TAYLOR DBE
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Rimbink Pato
Esteemed members of the press from across the Pacific
Members of PINA
Colleagues and friends

1. Good morning. Welcome to Papua New Guinea and welcome to this two day media workshop. Your presence here
is appreciated and extremely important.
2. This will be an important Forum Leaders Meeting for many reasons, first and foremost because Leaders will be
considering a range of high priority and perhaps politically contentious issues for our region. However, these issues have come about through new and inclusive process of regional priority setting. The intention is that these issues could have game-changing and far reaching consequences for our region.
[Role of the media]
3. You play an important role in informing the public. For that reason, it is important that media is independent and is
 able to convey issues and facts accurately. You must communicate in a way that provokes conversation and discourse on important issues for our region such that we have a well informed public that engages with the important regional issues.
[Regionalism]
4. Since becoming Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, I have prioritised the Framework for
Pacific Regionalism. This Framework is as much about a process for identifying regional priorities, as it is about regional principles and ideals. It is about choosing to work together to address our shared challenges, and to strive towards the region
that we want; in line with our culture, our values, and our principles.
5. But working together requires frank and potentially difficult discussions to be had by our Leaders. Regionalism
has implications for sovereignty. Regionalism has implications for resourcing. Regionalism requires respect for shared
standards and values. These are difficult conversations but they need to take place.
6. They need to take place not simply in the political arena. It is important these discussions also take place in the
public domain – particularly if we are to achieve the deeper regionalism that the Framework encourages us to consider.
Needless to say, the media has a big part to play in raising the level of these discussions in the public domain.
[Framework Process]
7. Five key issues have been identified – through a public process – for Forum Leaders to discuss next week. Let’s
stop to consider this for a moment. For the first time, issues to be discussed at the Leaders level – priority issues –
have been determined by members of the public. Two were based on submissions from regional or sub-regional
 organisations. Three were based on submissions from civil society organisations. Again, I think we should recognise
the importance of this. Regional initiatives will be discussed at the highest levels and they were generated by the
public through the framework.
8. These five issues were selected by the Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism, an independent and
representative body, whose role was to consider all 68 regional initiatives that were submitted. The Sub-Committee
applied a range of tests that are set out in the Framework and my colleagues will be able to speak in more detail about
 this process throughout the course of the workshop.
9. A fundamental dimension to the Framework for Pacific Regionalism is the shift in the development paradigm that it
 calls for. When I returned to the Pacific having spent many years working around the world, I returned to a region
highly dependent on development assistance. With this assistance, and particularly the extent of this assistance,
I also see an inability of our own people and our own Leaders to articulate and prosecute their own development
and political agenda in the region. The Framework calls for us to turn this state of affairs around – to ensure that
our Leaders are setting the regional agenda, based on a public process for identifying key issues. I’m sure you
would agree with me in saying that this represents a major shift in how things are currently done in this region.
[Regional priorities]
10. Let me now turn to speak briefly on the five priority issues that Leaders will discuss.
11. The first issue is increased returns on fisheries. Maximising revenue from our fisheries is of course a potential
game-changer. The estimated value of the catch per year being around 3-4 billion US dollars, but much of this catch
 is processed outside of our region. The essence of this initiative is that Leaders agree to restructuring the tuna
industry and phase out foreign fishing vessels over twenty years. The other aspect to this initiative is that Leaders
task Fisheries, Economic and Foreign Ministers to undertake a joint comprehensive evaluation of the regional monitoring,
 surveillance and compliance regime.
12. The issue around climate change contains two elements. The first is that Leaders agree on a high level,
political statement on climate change to take to COP 21 in Paris later this year. The second component is that
Leaders endorse a draft strategy on Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific.
13. A response to alleged human rights issues within West Papua will also be put to Leaders for consideration.
Three submissions, representing over 30 civil society organisations across the Pacific were put forward. In terms of
 the correct nomenclature, it is important to point out that West Papua is the language used by those who made
the submissions on this issue. Needless to say, this is likely to be one of the more contentious issues on the agenda.
14. Leaders will also consider cervical cancer. This week the PNG Medical symposium has been taking place here
 in Port Moresby. My friend Dr Glen Mola tells me that a priority conversation across the week has been the need for
an effective national screening and HPV vaccination program to treat cervical cancer in PNG. Research indicates that
this is not a unique situation. Women and their families across the region are experiencing pain and suffering at the
hands of an illness that could be prevented. There have already been positive outcomes in addressing cervical cancer
 in Fiji, and there are lessons here that can be applied in other countries in the Pacific.
15. The last issue to be put to Leaders is Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Like the return on
fisheries, ICT has the potential to transform our region. We already see the profound effects that mobile phones
have had in the Pacific. There are educational, economic, health, disaster management, as well as communications
 benefits that can be realised if the proper ICT infrastructure is put in place.
[Forum Leaders Program]
16. There are of course a number of other important meetings to take place next week. Let me quickly brief you on
the key meetings and what is to take place in each of these.
17. On Sunday and Monday, a Civil Society Organisation Regional Forum will be held, coordinated by the Forum
Secretariat. There will be about 50 participants in attendance, who will discuss the regional priorities that are
 going Leaders. Tuesday they will present their considerations directly to the forum Troika.
18. On Monday, the Smaller Island States Leaders will convene to discuss issues the five priority issues with
 particular reference to the implications that they have for Smaller Island States.
19. The Pacific ACP grouping will meet on Tuesday. The meeting will be dedicated to reviewing ways to strengthen
 the PACP engagement for better development outcomes in the Pacific region.
20. On Wednesday the Pacific Islands Forum formal session will begin; this is an opportunity for Leaders with
forum associate members and observers to discuss major issues. The day will also include a high level climate
 change brief for Leaders, to be coordinated by SPREP and SPC.
21. The Leaders Retreat on Thursday is essentially where they will discuss the five regional issues that have come t
hrough the Framework. In addition to a number of standing issues on the Forum agenda, such as RAMSI, the
Leaders gender equality declaration, a strengthening of the Post-Forum Dialogue, the Post 2015 development
agenda, as well as the Forum Compact.
22. On Friday, Leaders will sit down with Post-Forum dialogue partners to ensure that PFD partners support
the regional priority issues endorsed by Leaders at their retreat.
[Concluding Remarks]
23. So to return to my earlier sentiments, let me reiterate the significance of the Framework for Pacific Regionalism
 both within the Secretariat, and also at the Forum Leaders meeting next week.
24. Let me also reiterate the importance that you will play in covering the events over the coming days; I do hope
that your work reaches our Pacific people, and the result is greater discourse and dialogue.
25. Let me again congratulate you on your travels, and welcome you to Papua New Guinea. I wish you all the best
for your workshop, and look forward to the fruits of your labour in the coming days.
Thank you.
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http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=320364

2) Freedom fighter shown the way out


Siteri Sauvakacolo And Solomone Rabulu
Friday, September 04, 2015


WEST Papua will apply to be a member of the Pacific Islands Development Forum, even though freedom fighter Octovanius Mote was denied entry into the PIDF meeting currently being held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
Mr Mote, the General-Secretary for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, was part of the Solomon Islands delegation.
Prior to the opening of the summit, he was told that he would not be part of the meeting and to leave the Grand Pacific Hotel premises.
PIDF interim secretary-general Amena Yauvoli said he was not aware of a West Papua delegation and he would also not comment on political matters.
"I am free in this Melanesian land, I am home, I don't care if I am not part of the meeting," Mr Mote said.
"Everybody is behind us in the West Papua fight and no nation can stop us and even though I might not be inside the meeting. It doesn't matter to me, it's too late, our solidarity groups are there."
Mr Mote said he was told he was not in the right place at the right time when he was disallowed from being part of the summit.
Mr Mote said opportunities such as the PIDF gave him the confidence to lobby leaders and gather more countries to rally behind their fight for freedom.
"We will apply to be a member of the PIDF next year, we also ask the leaders to form a fact finding mission and conduct human rights assessment in West Papua and we also ask leaders to call on the UN Secretary-General to call on a special envoy to conduct human rights assessment.
"The West Papua issue is not a local issue anymore, it is a Melanesian issue, it is a South Pacific Forum issue so I have to convey my gratitude to all my solidarity groups because we all work together. As I said, West Papua issue is a human right issue and it's an issue of all human beings who have a heart."

1) BP, security and human rights in West Papua

2) West Papua is Inseparable from the Pacific

3) Papuan Students Urge Jokowi to Withdraw the Military from Papua
4) Papuan students call on  Jokowi to withdraw military 
5) It is Necessary to Issue Restriction Number of Military Policy in Papua
6) Soldiers Told Not to Carry Weapons in City
7) PNG Foreign Minister intervenes in passport saga, Pacific journalists to have their passports returned

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http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/09/04/bp-security-and-human-rights-in-west-papua/

1) BP, security and human rights in West Papua



Image by AK Rockefeller http://akrockefeller.com/

BP is trialing new approaches to security at a major gas site in the Indonesian province. It provides an important opportunity for human rights protection at a potential conflict site. But will it work and can multinational companies be trusted to protect locals?
Indonesia’s handling of human rights has led it to be considered ‘one of three countries (along with Colombia and Nigeria) in which human rights in the corporate sphere are most obviously endangered’ (see Chris Ballard’s, Human rights and the mining sector in Indonesia).
This is especially true in West Papua where there is ongoing allegations of torture, forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and the application of treason and blasphemy laws to limit freedom of expression.
Human rights violations have been of particular concern in areas surrounding Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mining complex. With a financial interest in maintaining a presence at Grasberg, the Indonesian military has been accused of orchestrating numerous shooting incidents in the area, and then blaming the attacks on Papuan separatists.
Those who link the shootings to the military claim they are an attempt to demonstrate the military’s importance to Freeport in order to secure on-going security payments. These shootings, along with other violent incidents, have raised concerns as to whether it is possible for multinational corporations (MNCs) to invest in West Papua, while maintaining a commitment to human rights.
One such company is BP, which entered West Papua in 2005 as the operator of the Tangguh Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. While geographically distant from the Grasberg mining complex, BP acknowledged that security would be the most difficult and sensitive issue it would face in its Tangguh operations.
As with Freeport, BP is required to subsidise public security expenses mandated by the government. Payments made by BP in direct support of Tangguh security in 2012 amounted to more than US $69,000.
But as an alternative to exclusively relying upon the Indonesian security forces, the company has implemented its own Integrated Community Based Security(ICBS) strategy.
ICBS came in response to recommendations by international human rights consultants that BP should limit the deployment of security personnel in the vicinity of the Tangguh project.
The strategy is based on a model of community policing that had never been used for security at a major extractive site.
BP has made three specific commitments as part of its ICBS strategy. First, the use of an unarmed ‘inner ring’ of Papuans, many from the local area, for everyday security of the project. Second, a commitment to only call the police, not the military, and only if a security problem escalates.
And third, the provision of human rights training (including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, or VPs, and UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force) for ICBS, police and military personnel who would be called in if a security incident were to intensify.
BP has received both praise and suspicion for its security approach in West Papua.
Internationally, it is cited as an example of ‘innovation’ in conflict sensitive business practice. ICBS has also attracted recommendation within Indonesia, with claims by one report that ‘security officials are encouraging other companies to adopt similar security models’.
On the other hand, the same report suggests ‘there is little familiarity’ with the ICBS system at the national level, but ‘there is relief that it seems to be working effectively and that no security or human rights issues have developed at Tangguh’.
While the report goes on to note that ‘no political violence, separatist inspired or otherwise’ has occurred at Tangguh, BP has faced similar problems to Freeport. One of the biggest risks the company has faced in its implementation of ICBS is that Indonesian security forces might orchestrate attacks similar to the shooting incidents around Freeport.
Indonesian military agents were suspected of provoking violence even prior to the construction of Tangguh in ‘an unconventional bid for a lucrative “protection” contract’ (Kirksey, 2009: 150-1).
Kirksey and Grimston (2003) also claim that while BP has sought to cut the military out of a security deal, ‘the company is using officers from the country’s feared Mobile Police Brigade (Brimob) — which has also been accused of numerous human rights abuses’.
Further, even though ICBS has been well received by some Papuan NGO workers and religious leaders, not all Papuans are convinced about community security.
As one Papuan religious leader told me in an interview:
I am still so pessimistic about this because they are contractors for the government. There must be government responsibility inside to protect – there must be army or policemen inside even if not in uniform.
Overall, BP’s ICBS strategy in West Papua suggests that international business and human rights initiatives might open valuable opportunities for MNCs to contribute to security sector reform in their areas of operation.
Before promoting ICBS as a ‘model program’ however, it is crucial that more research be conducted into how successful this strategy actually is; how it works; how it relates to non-security related human rights concerns (eg discrimination); and how BP’s ability to implement ICBS might reflect on broader changes within the political economies of West Papua and Indonesia.
Of particular concern is that much of the available information on ICBS has been written by BP’s Tangguh Independent Advisory Panel (TIAP) whose independence and inclusivity has been questioned (Hickman and Barber, 2011, p 15).
If, in fact, BP is deemed to have successfully avoided human rights violations after 10 years of operations in West Papua, ICBS might offer important lessons on human rights protection at other extractive sites, both within Indonesia and internationally.
Dr Kylie McKenna is a research fellow at the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia program in the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. She recently authored a major study on corporate social responsibility and natural resource conflict.
References
Hickman , A. & Barber , P. 2011. Tangguh, BP & international standards: An analysis
Kirksey, E. 2009. “Don’t Use Your Data as a Pillow”. In A. Waterston & M.D Vesperi (eds). Anthropology Off the Shelf: Anthropologists on Writing. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 150-1.
Kirksey, E. & Grimston, J. 20/7/2003. ‘Indonesian Troops for BP Gas Project’.

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2) West Papua is Inseparable from the Pacific
 
Yogyakarta, Jubi – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) said that West Papua is an integral part of the Pacific community.
Before West Papua ( Netherlands New Guinea) was annexed by Indonesia in 1962, it had already been a member of the South Pacific Commission (SPC). Therefore, KNPB urged the PIF to talk about self-determination for West Papua.
“Since then the colonial power Indonesia has excluded West Papua from regional meetings, and made it as a killing field including exploiting natural resources (SDA). While, the political struggle for West Papuan self-determination continues,” General Secretary of KNPB, Ones Suhuniap wrote in the electronic mail received by Jubi on this week.
Chairman of the KNPB, Victor Yeimo said the West Papuans’ struggle for self-determination is part of the efforts to complete the decolonization process in the Pacific islands.
“We hope the leaders of the Pacific countries to urge the United Nations to provide” advisory opinion “(legal advice) about the legal and political status of West Papua and urge West Papua to be registered into the UN Special Committee on decolonization,” he said.
Indonesian colonialism and global capitalism have led to the destruction of Papua’s forests. This is a terrible threat to the future of the Pacific islands from the global warming.
“There is no other way, besides freeing West Papua from Indonesian colonialism and global capitalism in order to maintain forests as a source of our life,” he added.
Indonesian colonialism and foreign corporations are the root of the crimes against humanity that continue to occur in West Papua. Genocide is continuing against ethnic Papuan either openly or systematically. While Indonesia created its strategy to isolate West Papua from international monitoring.
“We urge the leaders of the Pacific countries to send a fact-finding team in order to directly investigate crimes against humanity in West Papua. We strongly support that the Pacific Islands Forum (Pacific Island Forum / PIF) can accept West Papua through the United Lilberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as an observer so that we can take an active role in discussing and solving the problems in the region together,” he hoped. (Arnold Belau/ Tina)


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FRIDAY, 04 SEPTEMBER, 2015 | 18:40 WIB
3) Papuan Students Urge Jokowi to Withdraw the Military from Papua

TEMPO.COMalang - Dozens of students from Papua united under the Papuan Students Alliance launched a protest at the Malang City Hall on Friday, September 4, 2015, demanding President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to investigate civilian shootings by military personnel.
"This is a nation of laws. The shooter must be probed and brought to trial," protest coordinator Nhoten Suhuniap said on Friday, September 4, 2015.
Last week on August 28, 2015, two civilians in Timika, Papua, were shot dead and two others were injured by the Indonesian Military. The students demanded that the incident must be prevented from recurring. In addition, they demanded the president to withdraw military personnel from Papua.
The students claimed that the number of Papuans killed since May 1, 1963 has reached 500,000 people. Data from the Central Statistics Agency revealed that Papua is currently occupied by 1.7 million Melanesians and 2.3 million non-Papuan people.
The students also urged the government to open the access for international journalists to cover issues occurring in Papua.
"The law provides a guarantee for us to express our opinions in public," Nhoten said.
The students also claimed that they were supported by about a thousand of West Papuan pro-independence students. Dozens of police personnel were deployed to secure the protest.
"The protest was peaceful and non-violent," said Malang City Precinct Police deputy chief Comr. Dewa Putu Darmawan.
EKO WIDIANTO


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4) Papuan students call on  Jokowi to withdraw military 
Dozens of Papuan students demonstrated on Friday in Malang, East Java, calling on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to bring an end to violence in the eastern-most Indonesian province of Papua by, among other things, withdrawing the military from the province.
Two Papuans were killed – Imanuel Mailmaur and Yulianus Okoware, both aged 23 – and two others injured – Marthinus Apokapo (24) and Marthinus Imapula (25) – when two soldiers opened fire on Aug. 28 in Timika, Papua.
The protesters also demanded that the President ensure that the Indonesian Military (TNI) carry out a proper investigation into the shootings so that the culprits could be prosecuted.
“We know that Indonesia is a country governed by the law, so, investigate and prosecute those who shot the Papuans,” said Nhoten Suhuniap, a spokesperson for the action held at Malang City Hall as quoted by tempo.co.
According to the protesters, the withdrawal of the military will end the violence in Papua.
During the demonstration, they also revealed the alleged kidnapping and torture of civilians on Aug. 27 this year. “It was a serious human rights abuse,” said Suhuniap, adding that more than 500,000 Papuan people had been killed since 1963.
They also demanded that President Jokowi fulfill his promise to give greater access to foreign journalists coming to Papua.
The demonstrators carried various posters and banners, their messages including: “Self-determination is the solution”, “Democracy for the Papuan people” and “Stop exploiting Papua’s wealth”.
Dozens of police officers guarded the demonstration, allowing the protesters to safely voice their views. “The most important thing is that the demonstration is held peacefully. Police officers are only keeping an eye out,” said Malang Deputy chief Comr. Dewa Putu Darmawan. (bbn)(++++)
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5) It is Necessary to Issue Restriction Number of Military Policy in Papua
 
Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the Board of Regional Leadership Student Association Central Mountains of Papua Indonesia (DPW-AMPTPI) East Indonesia, Nathan Naftali Tebai revealed that the military’s heavy presence is hampering development programs in Papua.
Tebai urged the Government of Papua Province to evaluate the performance of the military.
“I talked to the governor, DPRP and MRP to immediately evaluate the performance of the military in Papua because the presence of the military, police and other military in Papua would interfere the development process in all aspects, “said Natan Naftali Tebai in Jayapura on this week.
Nathan said, the Provincial Government of Papua to immediately issue provincial regulation on military restrictions in Papua. ” Based on our observation, current organic and non organic military in Papua are never recorded by the governor, DPRP and MRP,” Tebai said.
As a result it continued violence in Papua. “Stop violence, murders and shootings to children, students and youth in Papua. All the generations of the Papuan people are haunted in the woods like cuscus, “he said.
He also urged Regional Commander XVII / Cenderawasih to undertake legal proceedings to the perpetrators of the shooting in Timika.
“We (AMPTPI) urges all parties and NGOs to oversee Timika, Paniai, Dogiyai and Yakuhimo cases and the seriousness of the new military commander to standing for justice,” he said hopefully.
Chairman of the Working Group of Indigenous Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), James Dumupa declared, human beings are created by God.
“If it is believed that God created man, the question is why is people who feel entitled to kill people ?,” said Dumupa in Abepura, Jayapura on Monday (08/31/2015). (Abeth You)
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6) Soldiers Told Not to Carry Weapons in City
 
Timika, Jubi- District Military Commander 1710 / Mimika Lt. Col. Andi Kusworo, said that the shooting incident in Timika had tarnished the military as an institution and ordered officers to control their subordinates.
“This incident should be a reminder for the military to increase monitoring to each member one by one,” Andi said during a gathering with members of the Kodim 1710 / Mimika in the area of St.Fransiskus church.
“If you know “A” behaves like this, do not be silent only. As one person can make a big problem. Please talk to the members and officers,” the commander said, in Timika, this week.
He further said Kamoro tribal people have issued a lot of statements that they are part of Indonesia and even the families of the military itself.
After this incident, the commander said there would be a regulation issued by Korem 174 / ATW, Brigadier General TNI Supartodi regarding restriction to not carry weapons when members are in town.
He also said there is no longer a member of Kodim 1710 / Mimika who do security in the culverts region, because in fact the area is under the authority Amole police members.
Regarding Liquor (Miras), he asked his officers to follow up, especially in Poumako. (Eveerth)
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7) PNG Foreign Minister intervenes in passport saga, Pacific journalists to have their passports returned
By Online Editor
01:01 am GMT+12, 04/09/2015, Fiji
By Samisoni Pareti
 

Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato of Papua New Guinea has intervened in the passport saga involving Pacific Island journalists who are in the country to cover the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Summit.

“I will make sure those passports are returned,” Honourable Pato told journalists attending a Forum media workshop in the capital Port Moresby today. Among the 30 or so journalists attending the workshop are the seven journalists from Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu whose passports were confiscated upon their arrival in PNG over the last 48 hours.

The group included the manager of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and a veteran of covering previous Pacific Island Forum meetings Makereta Komai and IB magazine’s editor in chief, Samisoni Pareti. They were detained for 3 hours on arrival at Jackson International Airport on Wednesday and were denied access to a telephone or be allowed to buy meals or drinks.

Immigration authorities say the journalists should have applied for the journalist visa and pay 1000 Kina (US$356) in fees before travelling to PNG. Foreign affairs officials and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat were not aware of the special visa and fees until right on the eve of the visiting journalists’ arrival this week.

Asked by local journalists when he opened the Forum Secretariat and the PINA organised two-day workshop at the Gateway Hotel not far from Jackson Airport today, Minister Pato said he has just returned from an overseas trip and has not been briefed about the passport and visa incident.

“I have to take a briefing on that but as understand the position of the past is that there has to be a special arrangement for all of our visitors visiting PNG in connection with the Pacific Islands Forum meeting and whatever needs to be done to remedy this matter, I will instruct the immigration division which is my responsibility to ensure those issues of concerns are addressed for the media because the media clearly has an important role to play and I have already emphasised the role of the media in my (opening) statement this morning.”

President of the PNG Media Council Alex Rini commended Minister Pato for his personal intervention in the matter. Rini is also Editor in Chief of the Post Courier newspaper.

Pacific leaders and their delegations are to start arriving into Port Moresby from tomorrow (Saturday) in time for the Small Island States Summit on Monday next week, to be followed by members of the Pacific ACP group of countries meeting on Tuesday.

The main Forum plenary is scheduled on Wednesday to be followed by the Leaders’ traditional retreat on Thursday with the Forum wrapping up with the Post Forum Dialogue with development partners on Friday next week.

SOURCE: ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS

1) West Papuan leader denied PNG visa again

2) Pacific NGOs want West Papua mission
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1) West Papuan leader denied PNG visa again
Updated at 1:53 pm today
The West Papua independence activist, Benny Wenda, has been denied entry into Papua New Guinea.
Mr Wenda was invited to Port Moresby by the city's governor, Powes Parkop, to attend a conference and other events, including next week's Pacific Islands Forum Summit.
But he says his visa application was denied with no explanation, and his lawyers say there was nothing wrong with the application.
The denial follows Mr Wenda's deportation from PNG last year when it emerged he did not have a required visa.
Mr Wenda says he received assurances he was clear to enter PNG again, but he suspects he may be on some immigration blacklist.
"The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea has already stated in a media interview that 'if Benny applied for a visa, he's free to come in'. So I tried to apply for a visa to enter the country, but again [I was] rejected for the second time. So I don't know whether it's a country decision to not allow me to enter." 
A call has been made to Papua New Guinea's Immigration Department, but they are yet to respond.

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2) Pacific NGOs want West Papua mission

Updated at 3:30 pm today
Pacific civil society groups are adding their weight to a call for a Pacific Islands Forum mission to the Indonesian region of West Papua.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua recently asked that a fact-finding mission be sent to to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.
Civil societies and non-governmental organisations have met in Port Moresby before the Forum Leaders summit next week.
Emele Duituturaga from the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, or PIANGO, says the two main issues the group wants Forum leaders to address are climate change and West Papua.
Ms Duituturaga says the group wants an international binding agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
She says the time has also come to look at West Papua.
"We have information directly from West Papua of the human rights violation atrocities. Yes, we know that this is being questioned. This is also why we are calling for a fact-finding mission into those human rights violations. This is quite urgent."
United Liberation Movement for West Papua was recently granted observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group sub-regional organisation.
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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Benny Wenda’s Papua New Guinea VISA Application Rejected Again.

http://bennywenda.org/2015/press-statement-benny-wendas-papua-new-guinea-visa-application-rejected-again/


Press Statement: Benny Wenda’s Papua New Guinea VISA Application Rejected Again.

 • 00:43

Once again, Benny Wenda’s Papua New Guinea visa application has been rejected and he has been left unable to travel to Papua New Guinea. This shock visa rejection comes despite assurances from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in an interview with ABC News Australia earlier this year that, there was “no reason why he shouldn’t be granted one”.  Following the rejection of Benny Wenda’s visa, he has written this Press Statement on the issue. 
 
Press Statement: My Papua New Guinea VISA Application Rejected Again.
To West Papua, ULMWP and all the Melanesian and Pacific family,
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has rejected my application for a visa to enter the country for the second time. I am disappointed that PNG as a democratic country which values democracy, freedom and justice has come to this decision. The first, I was informed that the issue was an administrative matter and the reason given was that I did not complete the necessary PNG immigration documents and procedures.
As per an invite by the Governor of the National Capital District (NCD), Hon. Powes Parkop to attend a human rights refugee conference, and also take part in other events including PNG’s 40th independence celebrations, and the Pacific Island Forum in my capacity as the spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP); I launched a full visa application which was checked by my lawyer and I preceded with flight bookings. A few hours before I was due to board my flight from London Heathrow to Port Moresby this week, I found out that the PNG immigration rejected my visa application, and as a result, I have cancelled this trip to PNG. There were no proper details or formal explanation from the PNG High Commission in London as to why my visa application was rejected.
I respect the decision by PNG Government and its immigration department, but I hereby appeal to the Government to not penalise the struggle of the people of West Papua. I strongly urge Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill and all Pacific leaders to stand firm as Pacific leaders and support the issue of West Papua at the leaders meeting next week.
West Papua is one of five top priority areas on the Pacific Island leaders Forum agenda, and I appeal to the people of PNG and the Pacific to rally your support on the recommendations set before the leaders.
We the ULMWP are calling on our Pacific leaders to form a high level PIF delegation to undertake a fact finding mission to investigate the human rights abuses in West Papua; and to strongly urge the United Nation to appoint a special envoy on human rights to West Papua.
There is growing support in the Pacific, and I want to personally thank my Pacific brothers and sisters who are always supportive of our freedom journey. Please continue to support the people of West Papua in our struggle for freedom. Thank you also to friends in Australia, New Zealand, and those globally who continue to support West Papua freedom movements.
 
Benny Wenda
West Papua Independence Leader
Spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
Contact:
Benny Wenda Phone: +44 7411 053 953
Jennifer Robinson (Lawyer) +44 7767 707 566
Papua Merdeka!