2) Obeying health protocols is key to successful convening of Papua's PON
3) Social Affairs Ministry Clarifies Risma's Remark on Papua
4) Korindo: Korean palm oil giant stripped of sustainability status
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1) Indonesian police crack down on West Papuan demos
4:33 pm today
Fresh demonstrations by West Papuans have again been stopped by armed Indonesian police who arrested dozens of people
Indonesian police move in on a demonstration by West Papuan university student against the government's plans for the administration of their region, Jayapura, 14 July 2021. Photo: Supplied
The demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests by West Papuan students, churches and customary representatives opposed to the Indonesian government's plans to extend Special Autonomy provisions in the two Papuan provinces.
Many West Papuans claim they have not been involved in consultations about Special Autonomy, while police have repeatedly prevented public discussions about the issue in some parts of Papua region.
Yesterday, three student-led demonstrations were held in the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura, before armed police arrived and forcefully stopped the mobilisations. Several Papuan students from the University of Cenderawasih in Jayapura were injured.
As well, police arrested 23 students and activists with the Petisi Rakyat Papua group, an organisation with 112 civil society, student, customary and church representatives that has been co-ordinating public mobilisations in relation to Indonesia's plans for Papua.
A demonstration by West Papuans against the Indonesian government's plans for Special Autonomy provisions for their region, Manokwari, 15 July 2021 Photo: Supplied
The demos were held as Indonesia's lawmakers in Jakarta this week proceeded with ratifying their plans for Papua's new Special Autonomy provisions
Petisi Rakyat Papua also organised demonstrations today in West Papua province, including its capital, Manokwari, and Kaimana regency.
A police spokesman told RNZ Pacific that the demonstrations in Jayapura were forbidden, saying that because the Covid-19 outbreak in Jayapura is at a high level, authorities have made it clear that such public events that would add to the spread of the virus wouldn't be tolerated.
In West Papua province, sixteen demonstrators were arrested in Kaimana, as state media reported that police have tightened restrictions on public movement in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19
Special Autonomy status, which was granted to West Papua 20 years ago in response to growing Papuan demands for independence, proved controversial.
Many Papuans deemed the Autonomy law had failed to empower them to run their own affairs, with calls for a legitimate self-determination process persisting.
Police move in to stop a demonstration involving students from the University of Cenderawasih in Jayapura, 14 July, 2021. Photo: Supplied
Meanwhile, the demonstrators in Manokwari were also calling for the release of Papuan political prisoner, Victor Yeimo, a leading member of the pro-independence West Papua National Committee.
Yeimo, who was arrested in May over his alleged role in widespread anti-racism protests in 2019, is facing numerous charges including treason, arson, and incitement.
A statement by police related to his arrest also referred to Yeimo's appearance and representations at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva in March 2019.
An international organisation advocating for the rights of political prisoners in Indonesia, Tapol, is concerned that Yeimo is being targetted for state reprisal, and has appealed to Indonesian authorities for his release.
A demonstration by West Papuans against the Indonesian government's plans for Special Autonomy provisions for their region, Manokwari, 15 July 2021 Photo: Supplied
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2) Obeying health protocols is key to successful convening of Papua's PON
5 hours ago
A mascot of the National Sport Week (PON) XX to be held in Papua in October 2021. (ANTARA FOTO/ADITYA PRADANA PUTRA)
Jayapura city, which co-hosts this year's PON National Games along with Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke Districts, is bracing for a surge in COVID-19 infections, but the government has hinted at still going ahead with the convening of the competition.
In anticipation of a potential COVID-19 spike, the Jayapura Public Hospital, Abepura Public Hospital, and Provita Hospital are striving to increase their hospital bed and isolation ward capacity.
According to Silwanus Sumule, the Papua COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson, the Jayapura Public Hospital has run out of beds for COVID-19 patients, as all 23 beds allocated for Covid patients have been occupied.
The Jayapura Public Hospital is hospitalizing patients with moderate and severe COVID-19, said Sumule, who is also the hospital's deputy director.
If the COVID-19 surge hits Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, new coronavirus patients would have to be treated in the same rooms as non-COVID-19 patients, but the treatment areas would be segregated.
However, the hospital currently has only three ventilators, which is considered inadequate, Sumule said.
Besides Jayapura Public Hospital, Provita Hospital is also making efforts to boost its capacity so it can receive more COVID-19 patients in the future.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020 until July 9, 2021, Papua has recorded 26,641 COVID-19 cases, Sumule said.
At least 22,847 COVID-19 patients had fully recovered from the infection, while 524 others have died. Currently, some 3,270 residents are hospitalized in the province with COVID-19.
The Papua COVID-19 Task Force further revealed that Mimika District, which also co-hosts the PON National Games, was noted to be the largest contributor to Papua's infection rate, with 713 COVID-19 cases reported through July 9.
On July 8, 2021, Papua recorded 405 COVID-19 cases and 10 new deaths. The single-day increase in both COVID-19 cases and deaths was the highest since the pandemic struck the province in 2020, Sumule noted.
Despite the potential COVID-19 surge, the central government has hinted that they would hold Papua's 2021 PON National Games, while using a bubble system to ensure the safety of competing sports teams.
During a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali confirmed that the bubble system would also be in use at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The minister also expressed his optimism that the sporting event hosted by Papua Province would not be delayed.
Amid the global pandemic of COVID-19 that has battered Indonesia since March 2, 2020, the government had delayed the convening of Papua's National Games from October 2020 to October 2021.
Papua's 2021 PON National Games are scheduled to take place from October 2 to October 15, while the National Para Games (Peparnas) will be held from November 2 to November 15.
With the participation of at least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia, Papua's PON National Games feature 37 events, while the National Para Games, featuring 12 events in Jayapura City and Jayapura District, will be joined by 1,935 athletes and 740 officials.
With the bubble system, all competing sports teams would stay isolated from the general public because they would be transported from their housing to sporting venues, and vice versa.
Minister Amali determined that the bubble system was the most reliable approach to ensure the safety of athletes and those involved in the sporting event held during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related news: Widodo wants all athletes vaccinated prior to Papua's PON
Related news: Govt pushes ahead with Papua games preparations despite COVID surge
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) Chairperson, Marciano Norman, backed Amali's statement while stating that health protocols will strictly be applied during the Tokyo 2020 event to be held on July 23-August 8, 2021.
"The Tokyo Olympic Games will be our reference for Papua's PON National Games. We are optimistic that the enforcement of public activity restrictions would successfully flatten the COVID-19 curve," Norman said.
To ensure the safety of athletes and officials participating in the PON National Games and National Para Games, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked the concerned agencies to inoculate the athletes.
In addition to athletes and officials, President Jokowi has also instructed that local residents living near all venues of the sporting events and athletes’ villages must also be vaccinated, Amali said.
Related news: PLN's 564 officers to secure electricity supply at Papua's PON
Speaking at the online press conference shortly after attending a limited cabinet meeting with the President, Amali said mass vaccination drives for the targeted recipients need to be intensified.
To this end, mass vaccinations will be ramped up in Papua province to achieve the government's goal of inoculating all targeted recipients by August this year, he said.
Apart from the President's instruction, based on reports he has received so far, all participating athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff members from the 34 provinces have been vaccinated.
Asked about whether sports fans will be able to attend the two multi-sport events, he said the government will take a decision on this in September.
Over the past few weeks, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and several other Indonesian provinces have been striving to cope with a severe second wave of COVID-19 infections, driven by the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus.
As the host of both PON National Games and National Para Games, Silwanus Sumule has appealed to all members of society to participate actively in the fight against coronavirus ahead of the convening of the two important sporting events in Papua.
Related news: Papua's PON expected to boost SME growth: govt
Related news: Bubble system applied during Papua's PON National Games: minister
In anticipation of a potential COVID-19 spike, the Jayapura Public Hospital, Abepura Public Hospital, and Provita Hospital are striving to increase their hospital bed and isolation ward capacity.
According to Silwanus Sumule, the Papua COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson, the Jayapura Public Hospital has run out of beds for COVID-19 patients, as all 23 beds allocated for Covid patients have been occupied.
The Jayapura Public Hospital is hospitalizing patients with moderate and severe COVID-19, said Sumule, who is also the hospital's deputy director.
If the COVID-19 surge hits Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, new coronavirus patients would have to be treated in the same rooms as non-COVID-19 patients, but the treatment areas would be segregated.
However, the hospital currently has only three ventilators, which is considered inadequate, Sumule said.
Besides Jayapura Public Hospital, Provita Hospital is also making efforts to boost its capacity so it can receive more COVID-19 patients in the future.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020 until July 9, 2021, Papua has recorded 26,641 COVID-19 cases, Sumule said.
At least 22,847 COVID-19 patients had fully recovered from the infection, while 524 others have died. Currently, some 3,270 residents are hospitalized in the province with COVID-19.
The Papua COVID-19 Task Force further revealed that Mimika District, which also co-hosts the PON National Games, was noted to be the largest contributor to Papua's infection rate, with 713 COVID-19 cases reported through July 9.
On July 8, 2021, Papua recorded 405 COVID-19 cases and 10 new deaths. The single-day increase in both COVID-19 cases and deaths was the highest since the pandemic struck the province in 2020, Sumule noted.
Despite the potential COVID-19 surge, the central government has hinted that they would hold Papua's 2021 PON National Games, while using a bubble system to ensure the safety of competing sports teams.
During a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali confirmed that the bubble system would also be in use at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The minister also expressed his optimism that the sporting event hosted by Papua Province would not be delayed.
Amid the global pandemic of COVID-19 that has battered Indonesia since March 2, 2020, the government had delayed the convening of Papua's National Games from October 2020 to October 2021.
Papua's 2021 PON National Games are scheduled to take place from October 2 to October 15, while the National Para Games (Peparnas) will be held from November 2 to November 15.
With the participation of at least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia, Papua's PON National Games feature 37 events, while the National Para Games, featuring 12 events in Jayapura City and Jayapura District, will be joined by 1,935 athletes and 740 officials.
With the bubble system, all competing sports teams would stay isolated from the general public because they would be transported from their housing to sporting venues, and vice versa.
Minister Amali determined that the bubble system was the most reliable approach to ensure the safety of athletes and those involved in the sporting event held during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related news: Widodo wants all athletes vaccinated prior to Papua's PON
Related news: Govt pushes ahead with Papua games preparations despite COVID surge
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) Chairperson, Marciano Norman, backed Amali's statement while stating that health protocols will strictly be applied during the Tokyo 2020 event to be held on July 23-August 8, 2021.
"The Tokyo Olympic Games will be our reference for Papua's PON National Games. We are optimistic that the enforcement of public activity restrictions would successfully flatten the COVID-19 curve," Norman said.
To ensure the safety of athletes and officials participating in the PON National Games and National Para Games, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked the concerned agencies to inoculate the athletes.
In addition to athletes and officials, President Jokowi has also instructed that local residents living near all venues of the sporting events and athletes’ villages must also be vaccinated, Amali said.
Related news: PLN's 564 officers to secure electricity supply at Papua's PON
Speaking at the online press conference shortly after attending a limited cabinet meeting with the President, Amali said mass vaccination drives for the targeted recipients need to be intensified.
To this end, mass vaccinations will be ramped up in Papua province to achieve the government's goal of inoculating all targeted recipients by August this year, he said.
Apart from the President's instruction, based on reports he has received so far, all participating athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff members from the 34 provinces have been vaccinated.
Asked about whether sports fans will be able to attend the two multi-sport events, he said the government will take a decision on this in September.
Over the past few weeks, Jakarta, Papua, West Papua, and several other Indonesian provinces have been striving to cope with a severe second wave of COVID-19 infections, driven by the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus.
As the host of both PON National Games and National Para Games, Silwanus Sumule has appealed to all members of society to participate actively in the fight against coronavirus ahead of the convening of the two important sporting events in Papua.
Related news: Papua's PON expected to boost SME growth: govt
Related news: Bubble system applied during Papua's PON National Games: minister
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