AWPA Sydney

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

1) Indonesia says Uncle Sam to lift last bans on Kopassus troops

2) Lukas-Enembe, John-Wempi to face off in Papua election

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/us-to-lift-ban-on-indonesian-kopassus-troops/news-story/54a4128144e2d34cef1924f1a948e170

1) Indonesia says Uncle Sam to lift last bans on Kopassus troops

AMANDA HODGE,NIVELL RAYDA

The Australian12:00AM February 21, 2018

Indonesia says the US has undertaken to lift the remaining restrictions on engagement with Indonesia’s Kopassus special forces, ending a 19-year ban on the unit linked to civilian killings and human rights abuses in West Papua, Aceh and East Timor.

Former Indonesian military commander Moeldoko, now chief of staff to President Joko Widodo, said US ambassador Joseph Donovan had confirmed on Monday during a meeting at the presidential palace that the US would “gradually lift” the last restrictions on the military unit.

This follows a request last month from Defence Minister Ryacudu Ryamizard to his US counterpart Jim Mattis to end the ban, imposed in 1999, on US engagement with the unit.

Successive Indonesian governments have lobbied for the ban to be lifted, but have had only partial success despite support from the Pentagon. Former president Barack Obama in 2010 lifted the outright ban on US military contact with Kopassus, although its 6000 members are still banned from travelling to the US or training with US forces.

In a statement issued after Monday’s meeting, General Moeldoko said Mr Donovan had emphasised the importance of co-operation between the two armed forces in preserving stability in the Asia-Pacific region and said the US intended to “reopen the possibility of a military training co-operation, (beginning) with Kopassus”.

But the US embassy in Jakarta appeared reluctant to confirm General Moeldoko’s statement yesterday, or give a time line for when US training of Kopassus might resume.

Instead an embassy spokesman said: “As Secretary Mattis’ trip to Indonesia demonstrated, we are committed to deepening our defence co-operation with Indonesia and are seeking opportunities for further engagement in various areas. All engagement activities are conducted in accordance with US law.

“We support Indonesia’s efforts to promote human rights and the rule of law, and we continue to discuss the importance of accountability for past abuses.”

The move would be in line with the unveiling last month of a shift in US national security focus from counter-terrorism to contain the rising power of China and Russia.

American forces are prevented under the “Leahy Law” from providing assistance or training to units known to have engaged in human rights abuses, unless they have addressed the abuses and held those responsible to account.

Mr Mattis said last month he understood Kopassus had turned a corner and removed those from the unit believed responsible for a crackdown on student activists under the Suharto regime, as well as the deaths of independence and secessionist activists in East Timor, Aceh and Papua.

Australia also cut ties with Kopassus after its members fired on Australian soldiers sent to East Timor in the lead-up to independence in 2002. Its ban also cited links between Kopassus and the disappearance and killings of political activists and civilians.

Canberra lifted the restrictions about a decade ago following a series of deadly bomb attacks in Bali and on the Australian embassy in Jakarta, rationalising that improving the skills of Kopassus was in Australia’s interest and could save Australian lives.

Amnesty International Indonesia spokesman Usman Hamid said the military had not fulfilled its promise to bring to justice high-ranking officers responsible for kidnapping and murder in Papua, East Timor and Aceh.

He also said those accused of human rights violations continued to enjoyed strategic positions within the military and in the Joko administration.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/02/20/lukas-enembe-john-wempi-to-face-off-in-papua-election.html

2) Lukas-Enembe, John-Wempi to face off in Papua election

Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post

Jayapura, Papua | Tue, February 20, 2018 | 07:03 pm

After days of postponement, the Papua Elections Commission (KPUD) announced on Tuesdaythat incumbent pair Lukas Enembe - Klemen Tinal and the pair of John Wempi Wetipo - Hebel Melkias Suwae would compete in the province's gubernatorial election in June.

The Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) declared that both pairs were indigenous Papuans, a necessary requirement to run in the election.

The Lukas-Klemen pair is endorsed by the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the NasDem Party, the Hanura Party, the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).

John and Hebel, meanwhile, are supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Gerindra Party.

"The MRP conducted a factual verification to check whether the four people originate from Papua. They all passed the verification process," KPUD Papua chairman Adam Arisoi said in a plenary meeting in Jayapura.

The national date to announce candidates was initially set for Feb.12, however the country’s easternmost province was late to confirm its election candidates, as the MRP was late to submit the verification documents to the election offices of the four candidates’ home regions.

Article 12 of the 2001 Special Autonomy Law stipulates that all candidates in the Papua election must be native Papuans, and that the MRP has the authority to determine whether or not the applicants meet the requirement. (foy/ebf)

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Monday, February 19, 2018

1) Indonesia told to respect media freedom in Papua after expelling BBC reporter Rebecca Henschke

2) Government prepares sustainable program to address Asmat problems

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https://www.ifex.org/indonesia/2018/02/19/papua-measles-malnutrition/

1) Indonesia told to respect media freedom in Papua after expelling BBC reporter Rebecca Henschke

Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) 19 February 2018

This statement was originally published on PFF's Facebook page on 19 February 2018.

Jakarta must regain authority over Papua, demands PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum, after the latest action by "rogue" security forces.

"Free speech should not suffer because of cookies," says PFF Chair Monica Miller, referring to removal of a BBC journalist from West Papua earlier this month.

Biscuits were highlighted by the BBC's Indonesia Editor Rebecca Henschke in a tweet about low-quality emergency relief food given to infants during a serious outbreak of measles, including sugary drinks, noodles and cookies.

"Removing BBC journalists from Papua provinces over such a tiny detail is proof that Indonesian security forces are still acting outside the law."

An official release from TNI, the Indonesian military, accused Henschke of "hurting soldiers' feelings" with her reporting. As previously noted by PFF, security forces in Papua have long operated outside the law, defying Indonesia constitutional protections for free speech, along with free press legislation.

"Papua free speech is worth more than cookies and fizzy drinks", says Miller.

PFF is calling on Jakarta to "end a slow genocide against free speech, and assert authority over rogue security forces." This call extends to development partners concerned at continued resource corruption in Papua, and across Indonesia.

From Port Moresby, PFF co-Chair Alexander Rheeney compares Indonesian 'feelings' with Papua anger over mass arrests, assault, killings and jailing of those holding up free speech rights.

"Papua people have suffered decades of free-speech loss, to tragic result - half a million documented deaths in half a century. "We then have a free-speech farce with Indonesia hosting World Press Freedom Day last year - but officially ignoring Papua."

"This deportation from Papua just adds to the farce."

From Palau, PFF co-Chair Bernadette Carreon says it is time the region paid closer attention to the role of TNI, an Indonesian armed forces badge. "That badge is the same badge currently being considered for fresh funding from the United States," notes Carreon.

"American law makers must ask themselves - can a country that gets angry over a packet of cookies be trusted with advanced security training?"

PFF supports statements from AJI, the Alliance of Independent Journalists in Indonesia, RSF, Reporters Sans Frontiers, and IFJ, the International Federation of Journalists, condemning the arrests and removal of the BBC journalists. PFF is also welcoming an invitation from Indonesia for the United Nations Human Rights Commission to visit Papua province as "long overdue.”

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/114687/government-prepares-sustainable-program-to-address-asmat-problems

2) Government prepares sustainable program to address Asmat problems

Reporter: antara 5 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has prepared a sustainable program after the extraordinary status of measles and malnutrition in Asmat District, Papua, has been lifted.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared the Emergency Response Unit Forum (Tagana) and 46 mentors to support the implementation of the Family Hope Program (PKH) and the distribution of rice social assistance (Rastra)," Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham said here on Monday.

In addition, the ministry has also prepared the Village Disaster Alert (KSB) to handle Asmat people continuously.

"The Village Disaster Alert will be officially inaugurated by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani," the minister said.

Health Minister Nila Moeloek earlier said as many as 13,300 children in Asmat District, Papua Province have been vaccinated as an effort to control the epidemic of measles.

Not all sub-districts in Asmat District, however, get the vaccination due to difficult terrain.

The ministry has alternately deployed medical personnel and delivered aid packages every 10 days to handle measles and malnutrition in Asmat.

The medical personnel provided assistance in hospitals and church halls, Moeloek revealed.

"Some people have returned to their homes. However, if they do not get any health supervision from medical institutions, there could be recurrence of the disease," she explained.

(UU.A063/B/KR-BSR/S012)

1) Indonesia helps finance Melanesian Spearhead Group secretariat

2) Education is often out of reach for Papuan families

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/350755/indonesia-helps-finance-melanesian-spearhead-group-secretariat

1) Indonesia helps finance Melanesian Spearhead Group secretariat

4:56 pm today

Leading delegates at the 2018 Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in Port Moresby, including Charlot Salwai and Rick Hou, prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands (third and fourth from the left) and West Papuan leader Benny Wenda far right). Photo: Supplied

Indonesia's government has been helping fund the Melanesian Spearhead Group's secretariat.

The secretariat, based in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila, has experienced funding limitations in recent years.

The five full members - Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanaks Movement - are meant to pay annual contributions.

However, some members have struggled to pay their dues on time in the past few years.

According to a spokesman for Indonesia's embassy in Australia, Sade Bimantara, Jakarta has been helping the MSG out.

"And we have been giving our annual contribution. On top of that we have also helped the secretariat in procuring vehicles and other things for their secretariat. Yeah, so we have been assisting them financially as well."

Sade Bimantara, a representative of Indonesia's government, which has associate member status in the MSG.

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http://tabloidjubi.com/eng/education-often-reach-papuan-families/

2) Education is often out of reach for Papuan families

admin19 February 2018

Author : Matyas Baan

Jayapura, Jubi – I wish I could begin this article by storytelling about my latest trip to this mysterious, little-known part of the World: formerly Irian Jaya – or, as more of you may know it, West Papua (officially two provinces: Papua and West Papua). This supposedly semi-autonomous region of Indonesia occupies the western half of the island of New Guinea, the second largest island in the World. It might be seldom talked about, rarely mentioned in the news, but West Papua is no stranger to hardship and oppression. An isolated region for millennia, it was colonised by the Dutch in 1898 only to gain independence 63 years later in 1961. Unfortunately, its freedom was short-lived, as in the turmoil of the Cold War the United States along with the Netherlands and the UN let the new nation slip into the hands of neighbouring Indonesia in 1963. The reason? They feared potential Soviet influence taking foot in South-East Asia during Indonesia’s push for control over the western half of the island of New Guinea. Today, Indonesia restricts the travel of foreigners into the region and foreign journalists are prohibited to enter all together.

As the Free West Papua Campaign ( see https://www.freewestpapua.org ) reports, human rights abuses and the devastation of the abundant natural resources of the region are rife. The Indonesian government regards West Papua as nothing more than a resource to fuel its economy and its people as primitive, subordinate to the mainstream population. What about the children of this ravished region? Where do they stand? How are their rights respected, protected and fulfilled? These are the questions I ask myself attempting to reveal a bird’s eye view of the situation on the ground to a greater audience.

The word “headlines” has a mass media connotation even though headlines can be found in niche publications too. From a children’s rights activist’s point of view, two headlines at www.freewestpapua.org are particularly disturbing: West Papuan teenager shot dead by the Indonesian police on Christmas Day and West Papuan youth tortured to death by the Indonesian military on New Year’s Day. Both articles tell the story of Papuan youth falling victim to the Indonesian Armed Forces stationed in West Papua. They claim frequent graves human rights abuses such as torture and extrajudicial killings targeting the native population, with little to no chance for justice to be served. As a result of heavy-handed oppression, ongoing atrocities and human rights violations resulting in racial segregation, Papuan children are nearly six times less likely to survive into adulthood than non-Papuans living in Irian Jaya. According to recent research by the Netherlands based NGO Foundation for Sustainable Society Papua Barat ( http://www.sdsp.nl/ ) infant mortality among Papuans stands at a staggering 18,4 % while among the non-indigenous population at “only” 3,6 %.

The result of the decades-old transmigration program in Indonesia, 50 % of the population of Irian Jaya are non-Papuans today. The report alleges that the Indonesian government is violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Indonesia in 1990) and is non-adherent to the Maastricht Guidelines (ICESCR, ratified by Indonesia in 2006) is not catering for the needs of the mainly rural-dwelling native population. Cities, largely populated by immigrants, are disproportionately better supplied with medicine, healthcare personnel and equipment. Observers claim that rural clinics are often dysfunctional due to lack of staff and supplies. Stocked medicine is often past the expiration date.

Education is often out of reach for Papuan families.

The educational establishments are limited to cities where the mounting costs of tuition and board have resulted in native children missing out on receiving an education. Paid work for native youth is scarce and hard to find and as a result, some end up joining the ranks of the underground independence movement. These young people are frequently confined to remote hideaway locations in fear of prosecution. The West Papua flag and all related symbols have been outlawed by the Government and anyone suspected of supporting independence can face arbitrary arrest, detention, torture or even death.

The past year seemed to hold some promise for West Papuans. After all, an independence petition signed by 1,8 million Papuans (70% of the population) declared illegal by Indonesia reached the UN in September 2017. The petition, calling for a free vote on independence, could only be held in secrecy, was secretly delivered from village to village by courageous individuals who put their cause before their safety. Hopes were high coming up to the delivery of the petition but all hopes were shattered when the UN’s decolonisation committee (C-24) stated that its mandate did not extend to the issue of West Papua. Indonesia labelled the petition a publicity stunt while also prosecuting activist Yanto Awerkion for helping to gather signatures. The voices of the children have not been heard. Nor the pleas of the mothers. Or the tearful cries of the fathers. Not yet. When the voices of the oppressed are not heard, there are those who speak for the oppressed and will be heard. I offer the following quote by Audrey Hepburn to the children of West Papua:

“I speak for those children who cannot speak for themselves, children who have absolutely nothing but their courage and their smiles, their wits and their dreams.”

Writing this article has got me wonder about our understanding of who a child is. According to UNICEF, a child is a person below the age of 18 – a definition almost too simple. The words child and childhood often remind people of the vulnerability of children, of their dependence on the adults who make decisions for them while growing up (and sometimes beyond). West Papua within Indonesia was “born” a little more than 18 years ago, however, its people, both below and above the age of 18, are children of their native lands, are vulnerable to oppression and their fate depends on the decisions of those in charge: Indonesia and the international community. I genuinely hope that the children of West Papua will be listened to. (*)

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Sunday, February 18, 2018

1) Papuan Liberation Movement hopeful over MSG process

2) The strategic holiday is over (part 1)

3) Indonesia stock exchange targets 2 thousand investors from W Papua

4) BPS: Papua Exports Drop 50.80 Percent

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https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/350686/papuan-liberation-movement-hopeful-over-msg-process

1) Papuan Liberation Movement hopeful over MSG process

6:40 am today

MSG leaders meeting in Port Moresby last week referred the Movement's application to the MSG secretariat for processing under new membership guidelines.

The Movement already has observer status but MSG leaders have been divided on whether to allow it full membership.

The chairman of the Movement, Benny Wenda, said he remained hopeful.

"I want to send my people a message to my people back home that this is another positive.

"Step by step, we are in the right dircetion, so please pray. We hope that the secretariat will discuss our application very soon, because we are dreaming to become full member," he said.

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https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/strategic-holiday-part-1/

2) The strategic holiday is over (part 1)

6 Feb 2018|Malcolm Davis

The release of the Trump administration’s 2018 national defence strategy (NDS) in January highlighted a more dangerous threat environment with an assertive China and aggressive Russia at the top of US concerns. The document states that ‘it is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model—gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic and security decisions’. China and Russia are certain to push back against the new US strategy, and thus the stage is set for a new period of major-power competition akin to the Cold War.

The US plans to enhance cooperation globally by developing ‘an extended network [of allies] capable of deterring or decisively acting to meet shared challenges of our time’. It also wants to reinforce ‘collaborative planning and deepen interoperability in a manner that could also include supporting foreign partner capability development to ensure an ability to integrate with US forces’. In the Indo-Pacific region, the US says it will build ‘a networked security architecture capable of deterring aggression, maintaining stability, and ensuring free access to common domains’ and ‘bring together bilateral and multilateral security relationships to preserve a free and open international system’.

Australia must quickly respond by talking to Washington about US expectations of its allies. We can’t afford to send mixed signals like we did recently, with defence minister Marise Payne supportive of the NDS one day, and foreign minister Julie Bishop distancingAustralia from its key message the next. Our policy on the alliance has to be coherent and robust. The government should explore ways to strengthen the US–Australia alliance that enhance the likelihood of the NDS’s success and, at the same time, improve Australia’s security in a more contested environment.

The NDS refers to developing more survivable and dispersed basing arrangements in the face of a Chinese anti-access and area denial (A2AD) capability that’s increasingly long-range, accurate and responsive. Our contribution to that effort could include giving the US more access to Australian military facilities. For example, we could offer the US Navy home porting rights in Fleet Base West, and expand the enhanced air cooperation component of the US–Australia Force Posture Initiatives to a sustained presence, rather than only short-term rotations. That would enhance the survivability of US forces in the face of Chinese A2AD in East Asia, and reinforce extended deterrence below the nuclear threshold. It would also contribute to a more credible strategic deterrence posture for the US against China overall.

Strengthening our alliance arrangements will require us to discriminate between critical security interests and secondary concerns. If we’re going to help build the webs between the spokes in the ‘hub and spokes’ security arrangements, we must be careful to avoid commitments in which there’s a mismatch between our interests and the risks involved. That may call for some hard-headed choices about where, when and what we contribute. Making those decisions may be the most challenging aspect of developing a higher defence profile in Asia.

The Turnbull government has recently made good progress in facilitating closer defence relations with Japan, and is once again supporting a revival of the US–Japan–India–Australia ‘quadrilateral’ dialogue. These diplomatic efforts suggest useful pathways to playing a greater security role in Asia alongside the United States. But they do carry risks. We must not be naive about building ties that bind. We have to distinguish carefully between partners we want to cooperate with and those we seek a closer alliance with, because the latter group potentially entails defence obligations. These strategic conundrums aren’t new, but they’re becoming more acute and will force Australia to engage in a more mature strategic debate in more adverse circumstances. Our strategic holiday is coming to an end.

Indonesia also must, of course, be a priority for Australian defence diplomacy because it sits in the maritime fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific region, astride vital sea lanes and maritime straits. If China is to dominate Southeast Asia through the South China Sea, it ultimately must control Indonesian waters as well. The territorial dispute over Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone around the Natuna Islands, and China’s declared ‘nine-dash line’ which overlaps that zone, is likely to be a focal point for future crisis in Indonesian–Chinese relations.

Maintaining our strategic partnership with Indonesia is important because, as Stephan Fruehling noted recently, unless China gains access to, or control of, bases in Indonesia (as Japan did in 1942), the strategic geography makes it much harder for China to threaten Australia directly, at least in a sustained and substantial way. We should work alongside the US to boost Indonesian naval capabilities because a more powerful Indonesia that’s able to resist Chinese pressure on the high seas in turn limits Chinese territorial ambitions.

Taking on greater defence burden-sharing in Asia to support the US and counterbalance China will have significant defence capability and budget implications. I’ll consider those issues in my next post.

Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst at ASPI

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/114677/indonesia-stock-exchange-targets-2-thousand-investors-from-w-papua

3) Indonesia stock exchange targets 2 thousand investors from W Papua

Reporter: antara 6 hours ago

Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) has set a target of an increase of 2 thousand investors from West Papua Province by 2018.

Head of BEI Office of Manokwari, Adevi Sabath, said during a media gathering in Manokwari, the capital of the province, on Saturday that the number of investors in West Papua shares in 2017 reached 906 people.

In January 2018, the number increased to 956 people. Sabath stated that the office will work optimally to encourage more people to invest through securities offices under the BEI.

According to Sabath, only the cities of Manokwari and Sorong dominated the number of investors from the province. In other areas of the province, the number of investors was not significant enough.

"We are still expanding campaign and literacy programs by targeting various circles, from students to communities," Sabath stated.

He remarked that there are only five investment galleries currently formed, which were in the University of Papua and Institute of Economic Science of Mah-Eisa in Manokwari city, and in Viktoria University, Institute of Economic Science of Bukit Zaitun, and University of Muhammadiyah in Sorong city.

In addition to providing services in the investment galleries, the Monokwari`s BEI Office is carrying out educational training for the community of motorcycle drivers.

"We see that the communities have quite high interest in investing their capital. Recently, many people in the areas were deceived while investing their capital," Sabath explained.

Reindhra Nadyarian Artika Putri, the Manokwari`s Indo Premier Representative Officer, was optimistic that the investors` transaction value in West Papua Province will increase in 2018.

"In 2019, from 285 investors, the transaction value reached Rp11.9 billion. In February 2018, from 35 investors, the transaction value reached Rp3.5 billion," Putri revealed.

Putri believed that the value of stock purchase transactions until the end of December 2018 would be much larger than last year.

Reported by Toyiban
(T.M052/A/KR-BSR/S012)

Saturday, February 17, 2018

1) West Papua one step closer to MSG membership, says Wenda

2) Disused WW2 Airfield in West Papua Now Ready for Commercial Flights

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https://asiapacificreport.nz/2018/02/17/west-papua-one-step-closer-to-msg-membership-says-wenda/

1) West Papua one step closer to MSG membership, says Wenda

By PMC Editor -

February 17, 2018

Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says the Melanesian Spearhead Group has made solid progress under the chairmanship of Solomon Islands. Video: EMTV News

By Meriba Tulo in Port Moresby

West Papua’s application to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group has gained traction, with MSG leaders referring the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) request to the MSG Secretariat for deliberation.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister and new MSG chair, Peter O’Neill, made this known at the conclusion of the Leaders’ Summit.

According to O’Neill, the leaders of Melanesia have approved new criteria guidelines for observers, associate members and full members to the sub-regional grouping.

Currently, the ULMWP has an observer status to the MSG, with Indonesia already an associate member to this sub-regional grouping.

However, with this new move, West Papua, or the ULMWP at least could be one step closer to becoming a full member of MSG.

ULMWP leader Benny Wenda was present at the closing of the MSG Leaders’ Summit and was pleased with the outcome.

FLNKS backing
When addressing Melanesian leaders, Wenda called on the MSG to support West Papua in the same way that the MSG had shown support for the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) in New Caledonia in their push for independence.

Indonesia, however, called on the MSG to respect its sovereignty, calling the West Papuan issue an “internal matter”. These comments did not go down well with Wenda, when speaking to EMTV News:

“West Papua Is a Melanesian issue, which must be dealt with by Melanesians – Indonesia is not Melanesia.”

Meriba Tulo is a senior reporter and presenter and currently anchors Resource PNG as well as EMTV’s daily National News. Asia Pacific Report republishes EMTV News stories by arrangement.

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http://jakartaglobe.id/news/disused-ww2-airfield-west-papua-now-ready-commercial-flights/

2) Disused WW2 Airfield in West Papua Now Ready for Commercial Flights

By : Amal Ganesha | on 10:56 AM February 15, 2018

Jakarta. Werur Airport in Tambrauw, West Papua — formerly a disused World War II airfield — has opened again for business after six years of redevelopment, Indonesia's Transportation Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (14/02).

The airport, now with a 1,400-meter runway, used to be a military airfield for both the Japanese and the Allies during World War II.

The government had been planning to develop the airfield into a commercial airport since 2012, but construction work only began in 2015 after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo started his initiative to improve access to Indonesia's underdeveloped regions.

"Werur Airport's reopening is part of an effort to realize President Jokowi's Nawacita [nine-prong development principle]. One of the principles is that the government has to be willing to develop border areas in Indonesia," the ministry said.

"Tabrauw is right on the coast, a very strategic location. No wonder the Japanese and the Allies built the air base there during World War II," the ministry's air transport director Maria Murni said in the statement.

"The airport should help the local economy by bringing in more tourists," she said.

According to the ministry, the airport will also help reduce logistics cost to bring goods in and out of the area. Exorbitant logistics cost is the bane of many underdeveloped regions in Indonesia.

The airport at the moment is only used by Susi Air, an airline owned by Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, with two flights from Sorong to Werur every week on Monday and Friday.

The Transportation Ministry said the airport's runway and passenger terminal will be extended again later in 2018.

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Friday, February 16, 2018

AWPA West Papua update January -17 Feb 2018

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088

Summary of events in West Papua for January -17 February 2018

Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders summit

The 21st Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders summit was held in Port Moresby from 10th to 15th February. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) which has observer status at the MSG attended the meeting. The ULMWP lobbied hard for full membership of the MSG. However, the Leaders of the MSG countries referred the West Papuan application for full membership to its secretariat for processing. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, and chair of the MSG said the leaders of Melanesia have approved new criteria guidelines for observers, associate members and full members to the sub-regional grouping.

EMTV (15 Feb.) reported that the ULMWP Leader, Benny Wenda was pleased with the outcome. When addressing Melanesian Leaders, Benny had called on the MSG to support West Papua, in the same way that the MSG had shown support for the FLNKS in New Caledonia in their push for independence.

In his statement at the 21st MSG Leaders Summit in Port Moresby, the Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said the MSG chair would agree the MSG originated from a vision backed by strong political desire to strive for the entire decolonisation of the sub region and freedom of the Melanesian people still under the colonial rule.

Prime minister Salwai recalled the leaders agreed at their inaugural meeting held in Goroka, Papua New Guinea on July 17, 1986 that it was important to have common positions and solidarity in spearheading regional issues that are of common interest, including the FLNKS cause for political independence in New Caledonia and the rest of the Melanesian countries that are still struggling for political liberation.

Photo from ULMWP post

“It is important to remind ourselves as leaders of this organisation that in the quest to be the leading organisation in advancing socio-economic development and political interest of Melanesia and the wider Pacific, we must not lose sight of the core founding principle of this grouping, the achievement of political independence for our Melanesian brothers and sisters,” said PM Salwai. “This is the raison d’etre for this group, and it must not be diluted in our wider consideration. I therefore encourage the MSG to work in collaboration with parties concerned and encourage dialogue between Indonesia and West Papua to progress the issue forward, as this has been the case with France and FLNKS.”
http://dailypost.vu/news/msg-remember-your-roots/article_cba83bb2-d6c6-53ec-a155-9b870b98a591.html

A report by Johnny Blades at

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018632280/west-papua-membership-issue-still-unresolved-at-msg

From ULMWP post

It was no surprise that Indonesia warned the MSG countries about interfering in other countries affairs. Antara News (15 Feb.) reported that the Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Desra Percaya, has warned Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) members against meddling in other countries` affairs in realizing regional cooperation programs.
Desra made the remarks while addressing a MSG ministerial meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday, in his capacity as chief of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting. "We remind member states (of their obligation) to continue to implement the mandate in accordance with the principles of forming MSG, including refraining from meddling in other countries` businesses much less than their sovereignty," he stated in a press statement released on Wednesday.

In a RNZI report (16 Feb.), a spokesman for Indonesia's embassy in Australia, Sade Bimantara said the Liberation Movement's bid is at a dead end."I don't think they qualify to be a full member of the MSG," he said. "They are not a state, and as opposed to Kanaks, they are not on the C24 (UN) Decolonisation Committee, they are not on the list, West Papua. And also the separatist group does not obtain full support from all the West Papuans." Sade Bimantara said West Papuans were politically free under Indonesia's democratic system. In the report Benny Wenda said "I want to send my people a message that this is another positive," he said of the MSG's referral of the application for processing. "Step by step, we are in the right diorcetion, so please pray. We hope that the secretariat will discuss our application very soon."

From the Diplomat 16 Feb.

Regardless of the specifics, the MSG saw the inclusion of Indonesia as a participant in the forum as an opportunity to engage Jakarta on their concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua. Their participation also provided a formal international forum where the Indonesian government and ULMWP are able to hold discussions outside domestic constraints. Since both parties have begun attending the MSG, the issue of West Papuan independence has come to dominate the forum’s agenda.

Indonesia also continues to lobby countries in the Pacific trying to counter progress made by the West Papuan cause. ANTARA News reported (1^st Feb.) that A number of Southern Pacific island countries have expressed appreciation for Jakarta`s new initiative in developing Papua and West Papua, the Indonesian part of the Melanesian island of Papua. The people of the southern Pacific island countries belong to the same Melanesian race of Papua. "We support every step taken by the government of Indonesia for the prosperity of the people of Papua and West Papua," Nauruan President Baron Divavesi Waqa said after a meeting with an Indonesian delegation headed by Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Wiranto at the Government House of the Republic of Nauru, on Wednesday, a government release made available to ANTARA News Agency said.

The Nauruan President said he was confident that the government of Indonesia is sincere in developing Papua and West Papua. "We people of Nauru will continue to see Indonesia as friend," he said, adding what Jakarta has done is to bring modernity to the country`s most backward regions.
Meanwhile, Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga said his country would not interfere in the affairs of Papua and West Papua, saying that he only want to see human rights are protected and the Papuan culture is preserved. "We don`t want to interfere with the Indonesian policy. We highly value human rights as well as cultures, but Tuvalu is in no position to interfere in that issue," Enele Sopoaga said. https://en.antaranews.com/news/114465/pacific-island-countries-appreciate-jakarta-for-papua-development

Health crisis

Much of the reporting on West Papua in the past month revolved around the tragic measles (and malnutrition) epidemic in the Asmat region. Figures vary slightly but it has been reported approximately 72 people, manly children have died in the region. A Voice of America report (7^th Feb.) said about 650 children still had measles and at least 223 suffer from malnutrition.

Al Jazeera visited the region.

Al Jazeera's Step Vaesse, reporting from Asatat, said that police and military are helping health workers brought from Jakarta in reaching out to remote villages which have yet to receive any help. Al Jazeera visited Agats village, where a church has been turned into an emergency hospital as other clinics are already overfull with patients.

"We found heartbreaking scenes in the village of Asatat where many children had died; it’s one of the hardest hit villages," Al Jazeera's Step Vaesse, reporting from Asatat, said. Our correspondent said that the malnourished children were "vulnerable to diseases like measles and chicken pox", and "none of these children had actually had proper vaccinations". Report and video footage at

www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/papua-measles-kills-69-malnourished-people-180124054121007.html

In a statement (Jan 22) by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) it said it “is concerned about the health crisis facing Asmat regency in Papua, Indonesia. So far, 68 children have died from measles and serious malnutrition in Asmat. As reported by national media, the measles and malnutrition epidemic has affected 11 districts of Asmat regency: Swator, Aswi, Akat, Fayit, Pulau Tiga, Kolf Branza, Jetsy, Pantai Kasuari, Safan, Unirsarau, and Siret. Being the most remote areas of Asmat regency, victims in these districts have faced serious difficulties in obtaining access to medical facilities. Even in the regency’s capital, Agats, the Agats General Hospital (RSUD) is not equipped to deal with all the patients of measles and malnutrition. A category D hospital with limited facilities, paramedics and doctors, the hospital at present needs more medicine due to limited stock, and due to limited space, some patients have been hospitalized in the nearest church building”. Full statement http://www.ahrchk.org/ruleoflawasia.net/news.php?id=AHRC-STM-007-2018

PHOTO: Sick children wait for treatment at a hospital in Agats, Asmat District. (Reuters: M Agung Rajasa/Antara Foto) ABC News 25 Jan.

An editorial In the Jakarta Post “The death of Papuans” (19 Jan),

Pointed out That “warnings and reports of low immunization coverage and malnutrition reached the Health Ministry in September, officials said. What happened between September and January? Apart from low immunization coverage — not only against measles — many breastfeeding women were known to be malnourished”, and

In Jakarta the blame game quickly began, with the Health Ministry insisting that under regional autonomy the primary responsibility lay with the local governments — and Papua’s provinces and regencies have received huge sums of special autonomy funds, derived from their rich natural resources, for education and health servi

ces. http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2018/01/19/editorial-the-death-of-papuans.html

For all the talk by Indonesian officials that West Papua is now open, an Australian journalist covering the tragedy was expelled after her tweets angered the military. Authorities said BBC Indonesia bureau chief Rebecca Henschke was escorted out of the province after her social media posts "hurt the feelings of soldiers". One of the tweets shows a photo of supplies sitting on a dock and says, "This is the aid coming in for severely malnourished children in Papua - instant noodles, super sweet soft drinks and biscuits." Another tweet says "children in hospital eating chocolate biscuits and that's it". http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-03/australian-journalist-expelled-from-papua/9393520

PHOTO: BBC journalist Rebecca Henschke (left) is escorted out of Papua by the Indonesian military. (Instagram: tni_indonesia_update) (ABC News 3 Feb.)

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) criticized the government for banning the three BBC Indonesia journalists from reporting on the measles and malnutrition outbreak in Papua because of the tweets posted by one of them.

“We condemn the expulsion of the BBC journalists. The incident shows that the government is afraid of foreign reporting of the conditions in Papua,” AJI chairman Abdul Manan said on Saturday. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also urged the Indonesian authorities to allow journalists to report freely in the troubled region. Indonesia is ranked 124th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index. A BBC report with photos on the crisis (13 Feb.) “Indonesia's Papua province children starving in a land of gold” at

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42985439

News in brief

The month began with a clash between an armed group and the security forces. The shootout occurred at mile 61 in Tembagapura, Mimika District on the 1^st Jan. According to the Amole police thee were no casualties. Before the clash the armed group shot at two PT Freeport vehicles which were carrying officers. The cars were slightly damaged. The police claim the attackers were members of the Waker group.

The Free West Papua Campaign reported (10 Jan) that 14 KNPB activists were arrested on 7th January for raising a KNPB flag. The activists were arrested by the Indonesian military and police in Kisor and were taken to the Indonesian police station in Aifat. They were finally released after about 5 hours in custody.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will send a team to investigate reports of human rights violations in Papua

Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Visited Indonesia between 4 and 7 February. At the end of his visit he announced his office will send a team to investigate reports of human rights violations in Indonesia’s Papua province where a separatist conflict is underway. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said there were reports of serious human rights abuses and it was important to probe these allegations. “I am also concerned about increasing reports of excessive use of force by security forces, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions in Papua,” he was quoted as saying by Efe news. Hussein said large mining and logging companies have committed serious human rights violations against farmers, workers and indigenous communities from the island of Sumatra to the island of Papua, including illegal appropriation of land and the criminalization of nearly 200 activists since August last year. He issued a statement on his visit at

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22637&LangID=E

The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor visited Canberra in early February. The Secretary General was in Australia for regional policy consultations and her discussions will focus on ensuring that people are at the centre of development across the Pacific region. The agenda over the next two days will focus on the role of the Pacific Islands Forum and theregion more generally within Australian Foreign Policy. AWPA release on her visit at http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/media-release-hopefully-pif-secretary.html

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) released an U/A (6 Feb.) concerning the case of the torture to death of Mr. Isak Dewayekua (23), an indigenous Papuan. Three army personnel of Yonif 755/Yalet illegally arrested and detained Isak and tortured him to death in Kimaam, Merauke Regency, Papua Province. The army personnel forced Isak’s family to accept monetary compensation and sign a letter which demanded that the family drop the case. Currently, the Investigation is still being conducted by the Military Police of Merauke Regency. Later, the case was transferred to the higher Military Police Institution in Military Regional Office (Pomdam) XVII/ Cendrawasih from December 29, 2017. Full U/A at

http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-009-2018#.Wnlm5o12SBo.facebook

A 60-year-old woman was fatally shot by Indonesian paramilitary police in a clash between security forces and stone-throwing villagers in the troubled Papua region. The police were transporting an 18-year-old man suspected of theft when villagers intervened to help him. In a statement, they said police fired warning shots during the incident on Saturday. The woman, who was in the crowd, died from a gunshot to the head. Conflicts between indigenous Papuans and Indonesian security forces are common in the impoverished region, which Indonesia annexed more than half a century ago. (SMH 5 Feb./AP).

According to a police spokesperson, five members of a separatist criminal group, armed with pistols and machetes, attacked members of the Indonesian military at a market in Sinak, Puncak Jaya regency . One soldier was killed in the attack. The attack occurred on Monday the 12^th February. The West Papua National Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Dutch-born Franciscan bishop dies aged 96 in Papua

Outspoken human rights champion was said to be suffering from cancer

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta Indonesia February 8, 2018. A Franciscan bishop emeritus from the Netherlands known as a vocal defender of human rightspassed away in Papua province, Indonesia on Feb. 7 at the age of 96.

Bishop Herman Ferdinandus Maria Munninghoff of Jayapura was treated for a month at a hospice in his native Netherlands recently. He was said to be suffering from cancer. Special Masses were held for Franciscan communities on Feb. 8 in the capital of the Indonesian province he served.

Bishop Emeritus Munninghoff was born in Woerden in the central Netherlands on Nov. 30, 1921. He was ordained a priest in 1953 and installed as the bishop of Jayapura in 1972 — a role he inhabited until 1997. Prior to being appointed bishop he served as secretary to the first bishop of Jayapura, Rudolf Joseph Manfred Staverman OFM. Father Gabriel Ngga leads the Franciscans in Jayapura said he visited the bishop at the hospice two weeks ago. "When I asked him if he was being well taken care of, he said: 'I am happy to stay here. All the staff are good. But I can feel my death is imminent,'" he said. Father Ngga said the Papuan people would remember him fondly. "He was an outspoken bishop who often spoke out about human rights violations in the region," he said (UCAN News 8 Feb.)

Opinion pieces/press releases/reports etc

Indonesia: strategic threat or strategic partner?

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/indonesia-strategic-threat-strategic-partner/

West Papua 2017 Year in Review

http://awpasydneynews.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/west-papua-2017-year-in-review.html

A Former Political Prisoner’s Fragile Freedom in Indonesia

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/08/former-political-prisoners-fragile-freedom-indonesia

Palm Oil Association Urges Gov't to Revive Suharto-Era Transmigration Program

http://jakartaglobe.id/business/palm-oil-association-urges-govt-revive-suharto-era-transmigration-program/

In a Papuan district, tribes push to revive a legacy of sustainability

https://news.mongabay.com/2018/01/in-a-papuan-district-tribes--

FOUR NEW PALM OIL PERMITS ISSUED ACROSS PAPUA REGION