2) ’Punks For West Papua’ Documentary Road Trip 2016 Wraps Up
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Http://Fijisun.com.fj/2016/06/01/Qvs-Opposition-Out-Of-Order/
1) QVS? Opposition Out Of Order
Fiji Sun Online June 01 14:18 2016 By Nemani Delaibatiki
Yesterday in Parliament, Opposition MPs came out with all kinds of ridiculous responses in questioning why the Indonesians and not others are rebuilding Queen Victoria School.
Roko Tupou Draunidalo said: “How much of these 20 pieces of silver helped to seal your Government’s mouth on the issue of genocide in West Papua; and why has the Government not sought assistance from other Governments like the British government if it required or Commonwealth countries to build a school named after Queen Victoria.”
As Education Minister Mahendra Reddy said all the foreign governments were given opportunities to choose QVS in the Adopt a School programme. Only Indonesia chose QVS.
The issue about West Papua and claims of human rights abuse by the Indonesian military has been around since the 1960s. Since then Indonesia has gone through political reforms and is a thriving democracy. Indonesia today is not the Indonesia of the 1960s. Fiji enjoys diplomatic relations with Indonesia and they are engaged in a number of bilateral technical projects. A Fijian mission headed by Ratu Seremaia Tui Cavuilati is based in Jakarta.
We should be grateful to the Indonesian government for committing more than $8 million towards rebuilding the Cyclone Winston damaged school into a modern complex.
Opposition MP Semesa Karavaki asked why Indonesia was chosen ahead of Australia and New Zealand to rebuild QVS.
Mr Reddy said Australia gave its own list of schools it wanted to adopt, same as New Zealand and Japan.
“We don’t dictate which schools they adopt,” he said.
What is wrong with going with countries which are willing to help us recover quickly from Cyclone Winston?
Why do some people have problems with something new, some brilliant ideas? The Adopt a School and Adopt a Village programmes are excellent ideas.
Some seemed to be programmed to say “no”, “can’t”, “won’t work”, “can’t be done” and “not allowed.”
QVS has needed a facelift for a long time. Cyclone Winston did the school a favour. It helped bring the Indonesians to Matavatucou to do the long overdue refurbishment.
There is no justification for the Opposition to question the Indonesians.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday 1st June 2016
2) ’PUNKS FOR WEST PAPUA’ DOCUMENTARY ROAD TRIP 2016 WRAPS UP
The ‘Punks For West Papua’ Documentary Road Trip wrapped up on Sunday with hundreds of people around the country attending screenings in Sydney, Darwin, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Lismore and Byron Bay.
All proceeds from the screenings went directly to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua with the funds raised being immediately used on airfares for ULMWP members to get to the next MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group) meeting, and helped West Papuan filmmaker Wensii get to Geneva to present his case to the United Nations Human Rights Commission using his footage that was included in ‘Punks For West Papua’.
More screenings will be announced leading up to the International Punks For West Papua Day on June 25 with benefit gigs in several locations around the world, and a New Zealand Documentary Road Trip is in the works for later in the year.
Filmmaker Ash Brennan said “I want to personally thank everyone who attended, and as the Leader of the West Papuan Liberation Movement Benny Wenda said at one of the screenings - everyone who attended is a part of history. These screenings have had a direct impact on the West Papuan campaign and their bid for self-determination and have inspired more people to do their part for raising awareness of the genocide in West Papua. To all the punks, all the politicians, all the Australian indigenous action groups, the media that plugged our shows and general public who wanted to find out more about West Papua and donate to their cause; Thank you”.
For further info, please contact:
DEBORAH GANN – PUBLICIST
RESERVOIR PR+MGMT AUSTRALIA
T: 0481 264 077
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3) Lectures at Uncen to be Suspended
1 June 2016
Jayapura, Jubi – Rector of the University of Cenderawasih Jayapura Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka said classes on the campus would be suspended until security could be restored.
“However, as the rector, I am sure that this situation would be safe and in order. I also guarantee that my colleagues would perform their duty properly. What they have done is for the solidarity as well as for their safety as lecturers,” he said on Tuesday (31/5/2016).
He also declared that all lecturers of the university actually have the high willingness and commitment to teaching, but then 628 lecturers and 321 administration staffs finally decided to do a strike following the violence towards some lecturers by some students during the demonstration.
“There is disappointment among lecturers due to the incident yesterday. In fact, I said they have willingness and commitment for teaching and lecturing the students,” said Dr. Onesimus Sahuleka at the University of Cenderawasih Auditorium to reporter on last weekend. According to him, he always said to the students to not barring the campus that harm their selves at the end.
“Do not often ban the campus. Lectures have willingness to educate all students at this university,” he said. He further said this solidarity movement by lectures was following the beating incident towards some lecturers as well as stone throwing over a lecture of the Faculty of Teaching and Pedagogy who should take the medical treatment in Bandung because his eye injury couldn’t be handled in Papua.
“It’s unbelievable! They did it to their own father,” said Sahuleka.
Regarding to the guard by the Police, he said the Campus Authority does not sign the MoU with Papua Police but they agreed to secure the situation in this campus ahead to SBMPTN (Student Selection) on Tuesday (31/5/2016).
“Therefore we asked the Police to guard the situation until 3 June 2016,” he said.
When asked about the request of protesters about local selection for students, he asserted that he often repeated to the protesters that the University of Cenderawasih would always put the indigenous Papuan students as priority. “Furthermore in this local selection, we certainly prioritize the indigenous Papuan students, and I have proved it in 2015. How could they exaggerate it and turn it to be like this. Papuan students to get the University of Cenderawasih is my priority,” he said.
Meanwhile the Third Rector Assistant Martinus Salosa said the threat on SBMPTN is the national threat since it is the national activity.
“Their request to extend the SBMPTN registration refers to what rule? It couldn’t, because it’s already closed there (at national level). But take it easy, there is a local test. That’s our authority,” he said.
Since 23 to 27 May 2016, dozens of student from SM3P (Student Solidarity for Papua Education) of the University of Cenderawasih held the demonstration at the University of Cenderawasih Auditorium in Jayapura City. They urged the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education to prioritize the indigenous Papuans in the registration of new students for the period of 2016/2017.
Samuel Wamsiwor in his oration said the Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education and the University of Cenderawasih to immediately change the registration method of SMNPTN and SBMPTN, because not all students mastering the information and communication technology while both SMNPTN and SBMPTN should be accessed online.
“Our friends at the remote and coastal areas in Papua do not know how to use the online registration. It is difficult to access the internet for them at the remote area,” he said. (Abeth You/rom)
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4) Government to Develop Air Bridge for Papua
So far, flights managed by the Transport Ministry to remote areas have failed to lower commodity prices.
Efforts to develop Indonesia’s eastern region have been stepped up through the development of infrastructure. The sea toll roads are the first step towards broadening access to Maluku, Papua, and surrounding areas. When that backbone is in place, the government plans to develop air transport in the area for the routine delivery of logistics to Papua’s remote areas.
Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli calls this the air bridge program. This infrastructure would make use of the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI AU) Hercules aircraft to fly to remote areas in Papua. This program is a continuation of the sea toll road program.
“We will design this air bridge,” Rizal said in his office on Monday, 30 May 2016. “We will also provide subsidies to lower tariffs and commodity prices.” (Read: Sea Toll Road Lowers Cost of Staples in Eastern Indonesia).
On the same occasion, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Ridwan Djamaluddin said the ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Transport on this air bridge program. So far, flights managed by the Transport Ministry to remote areas have failed to lower commodity prices.
Therefore, this is a multi-modal concept that incorporates sea, land and air transport. The air bridge concept, added Ridwan, will be perfected this year so the government will be able to include this program in next year’s budget. (Read: Trio Pelindo to Build and Manage Five Ports).
He has calculated that if the air bridge program goes ahead, the price of a sack of cement in Papua’s rural areas could fall by up to IDR 500,000. “We have also spoken with the Indonesian Airforce to get a cost estimate,” said Ridwan.
Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan spoke about this concept at the start of this year. He said there are several inaccessible remote areas in Papua, such as Yahukimo, Nduga, and Wamena. There are also other areas in Papua that have no access to roads and ports.
This limited access makes it difficult to transport goods to remote areas. As a result, goods in these areas are more expensive. “So, the solution is to create a scheduled air transport system. If the costs are subsidized, prices in remote areas will fall,” said Jonan (Read: (President: Indonesia’s Future is in the East).
Jonan previously announced that the ministry had allocated IDR 5.4 trillion for the transport sector in Maluku and Papua. Throughout this year, the government will focus on subsidizing land transport and flights to remote areas, financing the development Babang Port facilities, and continuing the leveling of the runway at Babulah Ternate Airport.
The government also plans to improve roads in Jayapura city, develop Depapre Port facilities, and pave the runway at Nabire Airport. The funds will also be used to extend the runway at Mindiptana Airport and pave the runway at Dekai-Yahukimo Airport as part of the program to develop the transport sector in Maluku and Papua.
Jonan also hopes to create a common understanding of the Transport Development Program between national and provincial governments. Earlier this year, he held a meeting with all of Indonesia’s governors, to gather their input to develop a work program and indicative ceilings for the 2017 state budget.
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5) Everyone Stakeholders Should be Open-Minded on Otsus Plus, says Regional Secretary
31 May 2016
Jakarta, Jubi – Papua Provincial Secretary Hery Dosinaen urged all parties in the central and regional governments to be open-minded and consider that the Special Autonomy Law was born due to two factors: politics and errors that led to governance overlapping.
“There are about seventy articles regulated in the Special Autonomy Law are also included in other regulations, therefore it has no legitimacy due to pressure from other regulations,” said Dosinaen in Jakarta on Monday (30/5/2016).
In depth review, said Dosinaen, the Special Autonomy Law is merely accommodating the nomenclature changes that are actually not significant in the governance. “It makes the authority of local government have become faded upon the central government; for example in managing the natural resources which are in conflict with other sectorial regulations,” he said.
Therefore, Dosinaen added, the Special Autonomy Plus could result a legitimated and transparent regulation towards good governance in the Land of Papua, from Papua to Papua Barat, since it was drafted under direct instruction of the former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono towards Papua Governor. “However, this effort was obstructed because everyone in each ministry and institution doesn’t see this thoroughly, “ said Dosinaen.
But on the other hand, he gave highly appreciation to the Legislative Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives for taking this aspiration and ready to make endorsement over the Special Autonomy Plus Bill to be on schedule of Prolegnas 2016 (National Legislative Program).
“It is very unfortunate that last year it became a conflict because both of related ministry and institution did not understand it thoroughly. Does it represent an exceptional fear or other things, we don’t know. But clearly, all of this was done for the benefit and welfare of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Papua People’s Assembly Timotius Murib before the Legislative Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives repeated that the Special Autonomy Plus is not talk about referendum and politic. “The bill is entirely speaking about how to increase the welfare of Papuan people,” said Murib. Further, he asserted that the Legislative Body should able to endorse the Special Autonomy Law Plus to be on schedule of the Proglegnas for evaluation.
Although the evaluation should be done, but it has never been implemented after 14 years of the implementation of Special Autonomy Law. Thus people need a new resolution related to this matter. “The Special Autonomy Law Plus was drafted by talented Papuans, that it is expected to provide the authority for the welfare of the Papuan people,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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6) The Situation of Papua Was Blurred by KNPB and OPM
27 May 2016 By Soedibyo
The Education Program in Papua should be able to make the Papuan Youth as the Indonesian.
Introduction
The armed unit of the Freedom Movement of Papua (OPM) now has been relatively controlled by the Government Security Forces, Their power is relatively decreasing, however the political activities of the youth in the city of Papua through various new mass organization opposing the integration of Papua to the Republic of Indonesia is detected to increase.
The new illegal mass organization has been detected appearing recently and called themselves The National Committee of West Papua (KNPB). Apparently its political battle cry is described by them as in line with the human right issue and democracy namely “the Referendum of Papua”.
It likely the appearance of KNPB in Papua is suggested by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (WLMWP) under Beny Wenda a relatively young Papuan, the political activist of the Freedom Movement of Papua internationally, living in London with the battle cry “The Referendum of Papua is the
way for the solution of Papuan dispute”.
way for the solution of Papuan dispute”.
The establishment of KNPB in West Papua, is covering the Province of West Papua and the Province of Papua) it is clearly the effort of ULMWP to mobilize young and educated Papuan to launch the campaign of demanding the Referendum of Papua whether or not the Papuan to decide integrating Papua as a part of the Republic of Indonesia or it is an independent country.
This political issue is clearly against the Referendum of Papua supervised by the United Nations in 1969 that resulted the decision of Papuan People that Papua is a part of the Republic of Indonesia. Accordingly being the illegal organization, KNPB is not allowed to exist and making the political movement in Papua opposing the status of Papua as a part of Indonesian country.
Assessment
The threat of the Freedom Movement of Papua likely has changed its character from the battle in the jungle and the hill moves to the city and town through the political activities. The changing of the generation likely becomes the main factor of the changing situation. The new generation of Papua being mostly educated and might be intellectual generation definitely does not like the struggle as the armed combatant.
Incidentally now one intellectual Papuan youth Beny Wenda who escaped from the Police detention in Papua now he is living in London launching internationally international struggle all around the world looking for the support of his political struggle to hold under the United Nation a Referendum to give democratically the Papuan people to give their political choice whether they want permanently under The Republic of Indonesia or to stand independently as the freedom nation in Papua.
Apparently as the Melanesian political cadre of Papua Beny Wenda is supported by all the countries of Melanesian racial in the Southern Pacific, namely PNG, Solomon, Vanuatu and Fiji.
There is Melanesian Solidarity Group abbreviated as MSG established by those four Melanesian Countries who meet regularly and Beny Wenda is allowed to come as the Observer but politically Beny Wenda’s political interest is supported by those four Melanesian States.
Domestically the political impact of the political activity of Bedny Wenda through the Umnited Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) has been sound attractively and also likely Berny Wenda is asking the young generation to establish the so called The National Committee of West Papua (KNPB) in both The Province of Papua and in the Province of West Papua.
Observing this situation it is clearly the Government of Indonesia has to change the development program of Papua totally, it is clear that the aspect of education for the new generation of Papuan people it is very vital and urgently to be reformed. The Education Program in Papua should be able to make the Papuan Youth as the Indonesian.
Conclusion
The armed threat of the Freedom Movement of Papua (OPM) will be likely decreasing, because the Power of OPM is decreasing. Young Generation of Papuan people being educated and intellectual generation they are not attracted to become the armed combatant in the jungle or on the hill.
The issue on human right and democracy is sound attractive among the educated and intellectual community abroad and also domestically. In line with the character of the struggle of Beny Wenda internationally young generation in Papua are responding the suggestion of Beny Wenda to young educated generation in Papua to establish the KNPB in the Province of West Papua and The Province of Papua.
It is likely the political activity and concurrently also the political threat coming from those young educated generation of Papua will increase spectacularly. Unluckily the existence of various NGO affiliating to the issue of Human right and democracy the existence of KNPB could be supported by those NGO.
The changing policy acted by President Jokowi likely should be seriously supported by all the Ministries of the Cabinet. The Government has been offering to solve the problem of Papua through dialogue, it is likely the Government should have the comprehensive concept that could be offered to the Papuan people if the dialogue is conducted.
The appearance of the activities of KNPB should be described as the indication of the threat with the new character is emerging in Papua. However the possible Papuan Youth action on May 31, 2016 should be handled perfectly by the Police to avoid the rise of hostility between the Papuan Youth and the Police. The plan of mass rallies will be held on May 31, 2016 by KNPB is murkied and blurred the situation of Papua. Besides that, KNPB, ULMWP, PNWP ets are Papuan’s society common enemies. KNPB and their gang’s must be repelled from Papua’s land. (*)
The author is a security and politic observer focusing on Papua’s problem.
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