[Kabar-Irian] Irian News - 3/8/06 (Part 1 of 2)
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- Govt says no going back on polls in W. Irian Jaya
- Boycott threat looms for West Irian Jaya elections
- Papua: Greater Watchfulness Will Stop Genocide, Senior UN Official Says
- UN official says ending Papua violence has priority over Indonesia
takeover question
- Australian Greens invited to visit West Papua
- Protesters meet Indonesian ambassador
- Ambassador rejects Papuans' persecution claims
- Indonesian and US governments urged to review Freeport Contract
- PT Freeport issue not likely to be raised during Rice's visit
- Amien Rais meets Ginanjar about PT Freeport
- Govt urged to revoke license of PT Freeport
- Widodo: Govt needs to consider aspirations of people living near Freeport
*****************************
The Jakarta Post.com
Headline News
March 07, 2006
Govt says no going back on polls in W. Irian Jaya
Ridwan Max Sijabat and Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Jayapura
The central government is insisting that gubernatorial elections in Papua
and West Irian Jaya go ahead as planned later this week, despite the
opposition to the formation of the latter province by community groups.
Home Minister M. Ma'ruf said Monday the government approved the holding of
the gubernatorial elections after a thorough evaluation on the provinces'
preparedness to host the polls.
He said the election in West Irian Jaya -- at the center of a dispute
between Jakarta and local community leaders who oppose the partitioning of
Papua -- would be held on March 11, a day after the Papua polls.
Ma'ruf, speaking after a hearing on the bill on population administration
with House Commission II on home affairs, said there was no reason to
postpone the elections in both provinces despite continuing protests at PT
Freeport Indonesia's copper and gold mine in Timika.
"The central government has been assured by civilian and security
authorities in both provinces that the situation is conducive to hold the
elections and that there is no reason for further postponement," he said.
The minister added it was impossible to delay the West Irian Jaya election
because the public administration, including the provincial legislature,
was already functioning in the new province.
Benvincent Djeharu, a PDI-P legislator, responded that the government's
decision for the election to proceed would only worsen the political
situation in West Irian Jaya.
"So far, the government has not issued the regulation in lieu of a law as
the legal basis for the new province's existence. Besides, the Papuan
People's Assembly and the Papuan provincial legislative council oppose the
unilateral formation by Jakarta of the new province," he said.
Meanwhile, a survey released Monday cranked up the stakes in the Papua
race by identifying the front runners in the campaigns.
Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI), based on a poll of 440 respondents in 19
regencies and a mayoralty last month, named Barnabas Suebu and Alexander
Hessegem as the leading candidates for the elections. The pair has support
from a coalition of parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P).
In the survey, Barnabas garnered 27 percent, followed by Dick Henk Wabiser
(17 percent), John Ibo (14 percent), Constant Karma (12.6 percent) and
Lukas Enembe with 12.1 percent. More than 17 percent of respondents did
not make a choice.
Representatives of the other candidates dismissed the survey's findings,
saying it was based on suspect methodology.
Yan Ayomi from the John Ibo-Paskalis Kosay campaign, endorsed by the
Golkar Party, said the survey was not representative of public opinion.
"It does not make sense that 440 respondents could represent (the votes)
of 1.4 million people," he said at a press conference Monday.
Ishak, head of the campaign team of Constant Karma-Donatus Mote, who have
been endorsed by a coalition of eight parties, said the survey was based
on unscientific data collection.
"It's unthinkable to be able to collect data in Papua in just four days,
when you consider its vast geographical condition. Besides, there's a
regency that can only be reached by plane, not by any land
transportation," Ishak said.
"Did the volunteers really reach the respondents or they just filled in
the survey themselves as they only had four days (to complete the
survey)."
Yan Ayomi was skeptical of Barnabas' supposed popularity; although he
served as governor of then Irian Jaya province from 1987 to 1992, he spent
many years as an ambassador.
Fajar Estami of LSI defended the impartiality of the survey, and said it
was an accurate predictor of the election winner.
"We've held surveys on direct gubernatorial elections five times and our
surveys were proven correct, such as with Gamawan Fauzi winning in West
Sumatra, Ismeth Abdullah in Riau Islands, Zulkifli Nurdin in Jambi and
Sinyo Harry Sarundayang in North Sulawesi," he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Headline News
March 08, 2006
Boycott threat looms for West Irian Jaya elections
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
The organizer of the hurriedly announced direct gubernatorial election in
West Irian Jaya has played down opposition to Saturday's polls, despite
reports that four of nine regencies will boycott them.
"Their numbers (of opponents) are not much and in general, residents in
West Irian Jaya are ready for the election," chairwoman of the West Irian
Jaya General Election Commission (KPUD), Regina Sauyai, told The Jakarta
Post.
The central government confirmed Tuesday that the election would go ahead
on Saturday, amid opposition from local leaders who say there is no legal
basis for its organization.
The Sorong Regency Legislative Council has appointed three members to meet
with the Papuan regional government to express its opposition to the
election, Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily reported.
They will represent four regencies in the area -- Sorong, Sorong City,
Raja Ampat and South Sorong.
"People in the area feel there is no election because they choose to
remain part of the unpartitioned province of Papua," said representative
Julian Kelly Kambu.
With only three days left before the election, Regina said candidates are
making do with radio spots to sell their political platforms.
The three pairs of candidates embarked on full campaign programs for polls
originally scheduled for July 28 and Aug. 29 but postponed.
"This time around, the candidates were given the opportunity to deliver
their vision and mission program through Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI),
with no more open campaigning because it was done before the canceled
elections," Regina told The Jakarta Post.
As well as radio campaigning, candidates also can put up their posters
across the province and place advertisements in the media.
Candidates are Abraham Octovianus Atuturi-Rahimin Katjong, who are
endorsed by three parties, including the Democratic Party and the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P); Yoris Raweyai-Abdul M.
Killian, who are supported by two parties including the Golkar Party; and
Dortheys Asmuruf-Ali Kastella, who are nominated by a coalition of
parties, including the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and National
Awakening Party (PKB).
Despite the rushed schedule, Regina claimed all election preparations were
almost complete, with necessary equipment and ballot papers to be sent to
the 1,723 polling stations at least two days ahead of the election, held a
day after Papua's polls.
More than 400,000 people are eligible to take part in the election in nine
regencies/mayoralties, with the election costing Rp 17 billion (US$1.8
million).
Meanwhile, the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) urged Papua caretaker
Governor Sodjuangon Situmorang not to allocate funds from the special
budget allocation for the West Irian Jaya election.
In a letter dated March 3, 2006, and signed by the chairman Agus Alue
Alua, it said the West Irian Jaya election, which was based on the 2004
Regional Autonomy, violated the Constitution.
Papua Legislative Council deputy speaker Komaruddin Watubun said the
holding of the election in West Irian Jaya would contravene the 2001
Special Autonomy Law for Papua. He added that it would also mean President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla had reneged on
their earlier pledge to solve the dispute according to the law.
"By allowing the West Irian Jaya election to go ahead against Law 21/2001,
can we trust their commitments?" he said.
The legislative council and the MRP argue it is not the right time to
partition Papua, and claim to have the support of community and religious
groups in the province. The Constitutional Court ruled the partitioning of
the province to form West Irian Jaya was unconstitutional, but said it
could not be revoked because it was already functioning as a de facto
province.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pacific Magazine
Papua: Greater Watchfulness Will Stop Genocide, Senior UN Official Says
Tuesday: March 7, 2006
A senior United Nations official says greater monitoring of reported human
rights abuses in the Indonesian province of Papua will help to prevent
genocide.
The Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Prevention of
Genocide, Juan Mendez, is seeking more information on the conflict in
Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports.
A low-level insurgency has left up to 100,000 people dead since the early
1960s.
Mr Mendez says more monitoring will ultimately stop large-scale violence
on the basis of ethnicity.
“This is a conflict that can have ethnic or racial dimensions to it, and
for that reason I am interested in making sure that we follow events in a
way that allow us to provide early warning to the international community,
and hopefully advise on early action that can be taken so that the
conflict does not get out of hand,” Mr Mendez said.
Mr Mendez hopes mounting international concern doesn’t lead to accelerated
repression, but would rather be a catalyst for action to protect
civilians.
-- Source: RNZI/PNS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio New Zealand International
UN official says ending Papua violence has priority over Indonesia
takeover question
Posted at 2:13pm on 7 Mar 2006
A senior United Nations official says stopping any widespread violence in
Papua now has priority over the question of UN support for the province's
incorporation into Indonesia in 1969.
A low-level insurgency has left up to 100,000 people dead since the early
1960s.
The Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Prevention of
Genocide, Juan Mendez, says greater scrutiny of reported rights abuses now
will help to stop any large-scale violence.
"My job is not to look back and see what could have been done differently
30 or 40 years ago. It is to look to the immediate future and make sure
that we prevent an outbreak of violence that can affect the civilian
population on the basis of their ethnicity, race or religion."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Press Release: Australian Green Party
Australian Greens invited to visit West Papua
Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 9:29 pm
-- Greens accept invitation to visit West Papua
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today met with a delegation of West Papuan
leaders from the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, and
accepted an invitation to visit the troubled province as soon as is
possible.
The delegation of civil society, human rights and political organisations
from West Papua was in Melbourne to participate in workshops on
non-violent strategies to achieve self-determination in West Papua.
External spokesperson for the Coalition Rex Rumakiek extended the
invitation to Senator Nettle to visit West Papua at today's meeting in
Melbourne.
"I am hoping to visit West Papua to see for myself the situation on the
ground that has led the 43 West Papuans now in immigration detention on
Christmas Island to flee their country. My office has begun the process of
arranging an official visit," Senator Nettle said.
"West Papua has been closed off to foreign journalists by the Indonesian
government and so it is all the more important that concerned politicians
from around the region visit.
"The delegation told me that there are many more would be refugees who are
seeking to flee overseas to salvage some hope for their lives.
"The West Papuans are keen to invite foreign parliamentarians to visit
their province in order that their situation can be better understood. I
hope to be a part of that process."
The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation is a grouping of
ex-military groups, civil society groups, and political groups who have
unified under one umbrella to seek non-violent ways to achieve
self-determination for West Papuans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Age (Melbourne)
Protesters meet Indonesian ambassador
March 6, 2006 - 6:29PM
Indonesia's Ambassador to Australia faced protests from Papuan and refugee
activists on a visit to Brisbane.
A group of about 20 refugee and Papuan independence activists were held
back by state and federal police at a function for the ambassador at the
University of Queensland.
The function, closed to the public and media, was the second attended by
Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb in Brisbane, in his first official state
visit since becoming ambassador to Australia last December.
Protesters, some waving the banned Papuan Morning Star flag, called for a
group of 43 Papuan asylum seekers to be granted protection and freed.
The group, including seven children, claimed asylum in January after
landing their rickety boat on a Cape York beach in far north Queensland.
They are currently on Christmas Island where claims their lives are in
danger due to their fight for Papuan independence are being assessed.
The Indonesian government disputes their claims and has guaranteed their
safety if they return home.
But Refugee Action Collective spokesman Ian Rintoul said the Australian
government should support the group and Papua's right to
self-determination.
"We are calling for freedom for West Papua and the immediate release of
the West Papuan asylum seekers from Christmas Island and for them to be
granted permanent protection visas," Mr Rintoul said.
Earlier, Mr Thayeb said he did not understand why the group had sought
asylum in the first place.
"They are not on Indonesia's wanted list, so they have no reason
whatsoever to seek asylum," he said.
"We would like to see them back in the villages and reunited with their
families."
Describing Papua's fight for independence as a "dream of the past", Mr
Thayeb said Indonesia was changing and was now a democratic place.
"What they claim is that they are being persecuted, even genocide, they
even mention that word," he said.
"I mean genocide in the 21st century - I don't think that is now the way
of doing things. Nor are they being persecuted."
Mr Thayeb, who has previously said relations between the two countries
could be affected if asylum is granted, steered away from the issue.
"They are still in the process of being interrogated by you on Christmas
Island, so I don't want to venture into that until we know what is the
final decision," he said.
-- © 2006 AAP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABC News Online,
6 March 2006
Ambassador rejects Papuans' persecution claims
Indonesia's ambassador to Australia has tried to discredit the claims of a
group of Papuan asylum seekers.
The 43 asylum seekers travelled to Cape York in a canoe in late January.
They are being detained on Christmas Island while the Federal Government
assesses their claims.
Ambassador Hamzah Thayeb has told a forum in Brisbane he doubts the asylum
seekers' claims that they will be persecuted if they are returned to
Indonesia.
"What they claim is that they are being persecuted, even genocide, they
mentioned that word - genocide in this 21st Century, I don't think that is
the way of doing things," he said.
"Nor are they being persecuted. They are not even on the wanted list of
our national police."
He says the Indonesian consulate contacted the group when it arrived in
Australia.
"But that was the only contact that we've had," he said.
"Now we are still waiting for the latest development and we are always in
close contact with DFAT."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antara
Mar 06 23:51
Indonesian and US governments urged to review Freeport Contract
Jayapura (Antara News) - The Papua Traditional Custom Council (DAP) in
Yapen regency, Papua, has asked the Governments of Indonesia and the
United States to review the working contract of PT Freeport in Tembagapura
copper and gold mine.
Informing ANTARA in Jakarta through a telephone connection on Monday,
Yapen DAP chairman Apolos Mora emphasized the need to review Freeport’s
working contract in the exploitation of copper and gold deposits in
Tembagapura as the mining activities are disadvantageous to people in the
region and detrimental to the environment.
Apolos said he held a meeting with the Regional Legislative Assembly
(DPRD) in Yapen regency, where he disclosed his aspiration on behalf of
all ethnic groups in Timika, which have called for the closure of the
Tembagapura copper and gold mine.
The government must reconsider Freeport’s working contract in Tembagapura,
Timika, as the US mining company has so far ignored the welfare of people
in Papua, especially the seven ethnic groups domiciled around the location
of the mine.
The Freeport case is triggered by social envy since PT Freeport has
managed to get a huge profit of the mine without paying proper attention
to the welfare of people around the mining location, according to Apolos.
Concerning the 1.0 percent profit sharing given to people in Timika, he
said the portion set aside for the local community is very small compared
with the value of mining products sent out of Papua.
"We have, therefore, asked the Central Government and the US Government to
seek the best solution to the problem related to the operation of PT
Freeport in Tembagapura, Timika," he said.
"The Central Government must renew the contract with PT Freeport, and the
new contract must give priority to the fulfillment of local community’s
interests instead of merely making profits and sacrificing the interest of
the local community," he revealed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antara
Mar 07 00:43
PT Freeport issue not likely to be raised during Rice's visit
Jakarta (Antara News) - The PT Freeport issue is not likely to be raised
during US Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice’s visit to Jakarta which is
scheduled to take place later this month, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda
said.
"I don’t believe (the PT Freeport problem) will come up although it may
depend on the latest developments... anyway it is not a serious-enough
issue to be raised in talks. Let alone, Freeport has resume operating
normally," Hassan said at the State Palace here Monday.
However, Rice’s agenda in Indonesia would touch on the murder of two
Americans in Timika, Papua, on August 31, 2002, which had so far been a
stumbling block in Indonesia-US relations.
"The matter has been bugging bilateral relations and been used by US
Congressmen to question the merits of US its relations with Indonesia. But
with the capture of Wamang (Antonius Wamang)as the suspected perpetrator
of the murdes, I think there is hope this obstacle can be overcome," he
said.
Antonius Wamang is the person named by the Indonesian police as the main
suspect in the murder of the two Americans and one Indonesian in Timika.
Wamang together with 11 members were captured in the Kwamki Lama region,
Timika, on January 11, 2006.
The arrest was made by the local police which had investiagted the case
with the assistance of FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) experts.
Hassan in the meantime could not yet divulge Rice’s program in Jakarta in
detail nor name the Indonesian government officials she would meet.
Earlier, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs Christopher Hill during his visit here said Rice’s visit to
Indonesia would indicate relations between the two countries were
improving.
He predicted that regional issues including ASEAN would be discussed
during Rice’s visit to Indonesia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antara
Mar 08 18:27
Amien Rais meets Ginanjar about PT Freeport
Jakarta (Antara News) - Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR)
chairman Amien Rais here Wednesday met the chairman of the Regional
Representatives Council (DPD), Ginanjar Kartasasmita, to ask about
US-based PT Freeport Indonesia.
He wanted to get more information on PT Freeport, while Ginanjar, a former
mines and energy minister, was well informed about the US gold and copper
mining company operating in Papua, Amien Rais said at the Parliament
building on his way to meet the meeting.
The Freeport issue is a problem of the nation, and finding a solution
would help the Government, he said. He denied that his action was a
reflection of his opposition to the Government.
The problem should be solved properly to save the environment and increase
the government’s revenues which later could be used to improve the welfare
of the Papua people, he said.
Since the US company is operating on Indonesian territory, it should not
act as if it were "the boss", Amien said adding "Freeport should instead
serve the Indonesian nation."
He said in developing the mineral resources in Papua, the government and
the company should enjoy the profits fairly.
Amien said he believed questioning the way in which the profits of PT
Freeport’s operations were divided would not disturb the business climate
in Indonesia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antara
Mar 08 17:45
Govt urged to revoke license of PT Freeport
Yogyakarta (Antara News) - Tens of protesters grouped in "Frontal"
(People’s Front of Anti Nature Exploitation) staged a rally here on
Wednesday urging the Government to revoke the operation license of the US
gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia and close down the
company in Papua.
The protesters were coming from several organizations such as the Papua
Student Alliance (AMP), the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi), Mapala
The Green Palm (MTGP), and the Best Friends of the Environment (Shalink).
Frontal Coordinator Aris Widihartanto said that the presence of PT
Freeport in Papua did not give concrete contribution for the economic
growth and the welfare of the Papua people in particular and the
Indonesian people in general.
"Indonesia receives only very small percentage of profit sharing given by
PT Freeport from exploiting the country’s mining resources. And moreover
the revenues are not used to fulfill the needs of the people, but go to
the pockets of government officials," he said.
The profits gained by PT Freeport were exported to the company’s
headquarters in the United States of America. This problem caused some
Papua people to suffer from hunger, their education level is very low and
they remain poor, he added.
"Ironically, the misery happens in the centre of the greatness and luxury
of PT Freeport, an international giant company operating in Papua’s land,"
he said.
"Since the New Order Government until the current administration, when
there is a conflict between the local community and PT Freeport, the
Government and all of its personnel have always defended the interest of
PT Freeport," he said.
The presence of PT Freeport in Papau has damaged the structure of the
community relations, and pulled out the roots of the Papua people’s
culture systematically. "The local people's rights and old traditions,
which have been existing in Papua for ages, are just completely ignored by
PT Freeport in the name of national development’," he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antara
Mar 08 09:58
Widodo: Govt needs to consider aspirations of people living near Freeport
Jakarta (Antara News) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and
Security Affairs Widodo AS said that the government needs to consider the
aspirations of the people living near PT Freeport Indonesia in Mimika,
Papua, with regard to the program of environmental development of Freeport
Indonesia.
"We have to consider their aspirations," Widodo told the press when
explaining the result of the cabinet plenum chaired by President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office here on Tuesday.
The cabinet plenum was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla,
Coordinating Minister of the Economy Boediono, Minister of Defence Juwono
Sudarsono and Military Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto.
The people living near PT Freeport Indonesia had recently staged a protest
demonstration as the company had imposed a ban on illegal mining of copper
and gold near the company, and consequently the people in Tembagapura
blocked the road leading to the company and Freeport had to be closed
temporarily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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