[Kabar-Irian] News: Oct 18-24 06
========================KABAR IRIAN=========================================
News on Irian Jaya/West Papua/IRJA-BAR
Unsubscribe/Change Options:
http://www.kabar-irian.com/mailman/listinfo/kabar-irian
Archives: http://www.kabar-irian.com/pipermail/kabar-irian
Email Commands- Subscribe/unsubscribe/options/help
List-Post: kabar-irian@kabar-irian.com
List-Help: <mailto:kabar-irian-request@kabar-irian.com?subject=help>
List-unsubscribe:
<mailto:kabar-irian-request@kabar-irian.com?subject=unsubscribe>
List-subscribe:<mailto:kabar-irian-request@kabar-irian.com?subject=subscribe>
Contacts: admin@irja.org, news@kabar-irian.com, editors@kabar-irian.com
Too much mail? Switch to the digest version. As a matter of policy we DO NOT
handle requests except in emergencies.
KABAR IRIAN NEWS
TOPICS
* Illegally Logged Wood On Sale At Local Stores
* NZ Hardwood Imports Driving People From Homes
* Biakker can say a lot in just a few words
* PM Urged To Ensure West Papua Is On The Agenda
* Freeport sees 3Q earnings boosted by gold, copper prices
* Indonesian air force to install more radars
* Papua yet to benefit from special autonomy, say analysts
* Recipients of the 2006 D.I.C.K NZ Awards
* Foreign Policy: Born Again Jakarta Lobby
* German author still pines for her jungle home By Mike Swanson
* Media peace awards made
* Bird flu infected provinces in Indonesia drop to 14: official
* Earthquake measuring 5.3 on Richter Scale hits Jayapura
* Hopes West Papua on Forum agenda
* West Papua not granted observer status
* Indonesian Province Infected With Bird Flu Down To 14
* 516 pig-nosed turtles released back to their natural habitat
* Prosecutors demand 20 years jail term
* Ships with rice from Vietnam scheduled to arrive in Papua soon
---
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0610/S00197.htm
llegally Logged Wood On Sale At Local Stores
Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 9:26 am
Press Release: Greenpeace New Zealand
Illegally Logged Wood On Sale At Local Stores
Auckland - 18th October 2006 -- Kwila decking and outdoor furniture is on
sale at a store near you – but they cost the earth, Greenpeace warned today.
Kwila imported into New Zealand is nearly all from illegal logging in Papua –
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
"If people are thinking of relaxing over the summer on some nice rich red
kwila timber outdoor furniture, they should first spare a thought for the
communities and creatures of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia whose forests are
being destroyed to get the timber," said Greenpeace Forests Campaigner Grant
Rosoman.
"There are alternatives to illegal wood products. NZ consumers can choose to
buy outdoor furniture with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) green label,
or ask for 'Ecotimber' from community management forestry operations in the
Pacific. At the bare minimum consumers should ask for proof of legality when
they are buying any product made of wood," explained Grant Rosoman.
Greenpeace calls on the New Zealand government to immediately stop the
imports of illegal wood products such as kwila decking or outdoor furniture,
and to adopt border controls that prevent illegal wood coming into New
Zealand.
"How is it that this government can turn a blind eye to these illegal imports
– further fuelling forest loss in PNG and Indonesia? If it was illegal cars
or electronic gear the government would act but in this case with wood they
are sitting on their hands," said Rosoman.
According to Ministry of Forestry statistics the imports of wooden furniture
have increased four fold in recent years to a value of over $150 million
annually. With much of the forests of Asia Pacific already logged or cleared,
the remaining large area where illegal logging is now focused is on the
island of New Guinea, which also happens to be the source of much of New
Zealand's imported tropical wood, such as kwila.
"Kwila is becoming increasing threatened by a rapacious logging industry, to
a point that the Indonesian government is proposing to list kwila on Appendix
3 of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species),"
said Rosoman.
The World Bank recently reported 70% and 70-80% illegal logging rates for PNG
and Indonesia respectively, as well as illegal logging of public forests
costing US$15 billion annually in lost revenue, assets and tax evasion.
For more information on the recent World Bank report
http://www.worldbank.org/fleg
For more information on remaining intact forests go to www.intactfore
---
http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=341975&catid=0
NZ Hardwood Imports Driving People From Homes
8:03 am, 18 Oct 2006
Environmental campaigners say people in Indonesia's Papua province are being
driven from their land by the military to make way for illegal logging of
Kwila.
The hardwood is commonly used in New Zealand for flooring, decking and
outdoor furniture.
Reverend Socratez Yoman, from the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in
Indonesia, says there have been dozens of arrests recently in the area.
And Greenpeace claims that almost all of the Kwila imported to New Zealand
comes from illegally logged forest.
It is urging consumers to clearly question the origin of any timber they are
buying to ensure it comes from legal sources.
MAF is currently developing a policy on illegal logging, including draft
regulations.
© NewsRoom 2006
---
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/studien/bericht-72277.html
Biakker can say a lot in just a few words
18.10.2006
‘On the other side of the river close to us away from here going backwards’.
This intriguing answer from an East Indonesian to the question where the
houses in his village used to stand, made the Dutch linguist Wilco van den
Heuvel devote extra attention to references to people and objects in his
description of the Biak language. This Austronesian language is threatened
with extinction.
The striking answer from the Biakker is explained by the fact that in the
Biak language some word types contain much more information than in languages
such as Dutch. For example definite and indefinite articles often refer not
just to an object (for example the houses the Biakker was talking about) but
also to the location or movement of the object or of a person. And hence the
(literally translated) answer given: 'On the other side of the river close to
us away from here going backwards'.
Additionally the context in which Biak is spoken has a considerable influence
on the language. Van den Heuvel discovered, for example, that on the island
Biak, the component for 'behind' is used for downstream. Yet in another
context that refers to a movement in a westerly direction.
Jokes and prayers
The context in which Biak is spoken not only has a considerable influence on
the type of language that is used but also the type of language that is
studied. According to Van den Heuvel the language can therefore best be
studied in the environment where it is spoken. He spent a total of 12 months
on Biak, where he lived in two different villages. There he used
audiocassettes or videotapes to record stories, jokes, sermons, songs,
prayers, speeches and other spoken texts. These texts were written down by
Van den Heuvel and his language assistants and then translated and analysed.
The speakers were then questioned about any gaps in the analysis.
Van den Heuvel’s study is the first scientific language description of the
Biak grammar, with attention for phonetics, sentence structure and word
structure. Additionally the study is a valuable source of information for
those who are interested in the historical relationships between Biak and
other Austronesian languages and historical (trade) contacts between Biakkers
and speakers of other languages in the region.
With his linguistic description Van den Heuvel has saved a language
threatened with extinction for posterity. About 70,000 residents of a group
of islands off the coast of Papua (former Irian Jaya) still speak the
language. That is a lot compared with other languages in the region, yet most
of the speakers are aged 50 or over. Young people scarcely speak Biak and
only have a passive knowledge of the language. The population is increasingly
switching to a Malay dialect or, to a lesser extent, Indonesian. In remote
villages, Biak is still the main language and even the children speak it
fluently.
Van den Heuvel carried out his research under the auspices of the Areal
Studies in Eastern Indonesia programme. That programme is part of the Spinoza
research Lexicon and Syntax of professor Pieter Muysken, Spinoza laureate in
1998. Van den Heuvel’s research was sponsored by NWO.
Kim van den Wijngaard | Quelle: alphagalileo
Weitere Informationen: www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOA_6TZJ7F_Eng
---
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0610/S00402.htm
PM Urged To Ensure West Papua Is On The Agenda
Thursday, 19 October 2006, 10:19 am
Press Release: Indonesia Human Rights Committee
Indonesia Human Rights Committee
Box 68 419,
Auckland
18 October, 2006
Media Release: NGOs urge Prime Minister to ensure that West Papua is on the
Pacific Island Forum agenda.
Over 30 aid and development and advocacy organizations, have joined together
to lobby the Prime Minister about West Papua on the eve of her departure for
the Pacific Islands Forum. The groups which include OXFAM, Council for
International Development, Pax Christi and Christian World Service are
appealing to the Prime Minister to take a pro-active role to ensure that the
Pacific leaders deliberate on the ongoing human rights violations in West
Papua.
"We believe that Helen Clark has a particular responsibility to ensure that
discussion on Indonesian controlled West Papua does not slip below the radar.
The West Papuan people have placed their faith in New Zealand's ability to
take a principled stand without being diverted by possible controversy or the
fear of offending Indonesia," said Maire Leadbeater for the Indonesia Human
Rights Committee which coordinated the signatures.
The appeal advocates that the Forum grant West Papuan representatives
observer status in view of the new policy to make the Forum inclusive of all
countries in the region. West Papua is part of the Pacific region in terms of
its geography, its history and its culture.
The letter cites recent grave examples of security force violence against
civilians as well as the ongoing impunity of the military and police for past
abuses.
"In the case of West Papua human rights abuses are not just about direct
killing of civilians but also about 'indirect' threats from an out of control
epidemic of HIV/AIDs, dire poverty, food shortages and outbreaks of deadly
diseases. There are also major environmental threats from illegal logging and
the shocking impact of the miles of toxic waste from the Freeport McMoran
gold mine.'
The Indonesia Human Rights Committee has also written individually to all of
the 16 Pacific leaders who will be attending the Forum calling for them to
advocate a process of peaceful dialogue between West Papua and Indonesia and
to seek Indonesian support for a Forum fact-finding mission to West Papua.
This appeal also calls on the Forum leaders to support the campaign for a
Review of the UN role in West Papua at the time of the 1969 'Act of Free
Choice'.
---
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5550455&nav=menu209_1
Freeport sees 3Q earnings boosted by gold, copper prices
NEW ORLEANS -- Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., whose precious-metals
mine in Indonesia is one of the world's largest, more than doubled its third
-quarter earnings as gold and copper prices rose sharply, the company
reported Tuesday.
For the quarter ending Sept. 30, Freeport-McMoRan earned $350.7 million, or
$1.67 per share, on revenue of $1.64 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson
Financial had forecast earnings of $1.59 per share on sales of $1.31 billion.
In the same period a year ago, the company earned $165.8 million, or 86 cents
per share, on revenue of $983.3 million.
Freeport-McMoRan said gold prices averaged $608.79 per ounce during the
quarter, compared with $445.57 per ounce a year ago, and copper prices
averaged $3.43 per pound, compared with the year-ago price of $1.73 per
pound. Sales totaled 323.6 million pounds of copper and 478,000 ounces of
gold, compared with 346.3 million pounds of copper and 475,000 ounces of gold
during the third quarter of 2005.
The company forecast 2006 sales of 1.2 billion pounds of copper and 1.7
million ounces of gold, including 415 million pounds of copper and 470,000
ounces of gold projected for the fourth quarter. Most of that will be
produced at the company's Grasberg mine, a mountain of copper and gold in
Irian Jaya, the western half of the island of New Guinea.
In trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, Freeport-McMoRan closed
unchanged at $57.99 a share. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of
$43.10 to $72.20.
___
On the Net:
Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.: http://www.fcx.com
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=22003
Indonesian air force to install more radars
Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will install
more radars in several parts of the country to monitor the movement of
airplanes crossing the Indonesian air territory more effectively, an official
said.
"Next year we will install a new radar in Merauke, Papua, and replace old
radar in Tanjung Pinang, Riau, with a new one," Air Force Chief of Staff
Marshal Herman Suyitno said here on Thursday.
In addition, one more radar would also be installed in Saumlaki, Maluku, or
Morotai, Papua, he said.
The TNI AU would call a tender for the installation of a new radar in
Merauke, he said adding many parties had expressed interest in taking part in
such tender.
The installation of a new radar in Tanjung Pinang to replace the old one had
almost been completed, he said.
He also said the TNI AU had no plan to buy warplanes until 2009 except to
increase the number of Sukhoi jet fighters to 10 from four.
Indonesia and Russia signed a US$192 million countertrade deal in 2003, under
which Indonesia would receive Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 jet fighters and Mi-35
helicopters from Russia.
Russia in turn would receive some 30 agricultural commodities and
manufacturing products of equal value. The commodities include textile,
coffee, rubber, cacao, black pepper, electrical appliances and fishery
products. (*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
October 19, 2006
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20061019.H05&irec=4
Papua yet to benefit from special autonomy, say analysts
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Four years on, the special autonomy that costs more than Rp 5 trillion (about
US$555 million) annually, has brought about little progress in Indonesia's
eastern-most territory, analysts say.
They assert that the special autonomy status granted in 2001 has failed as an
instrument to accelerate development in the 420,540-square-kilometer
territory which is three times the size of Java and has a population of only
about 4.5 million.
Ferdinando Ibo Ikin, a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
from Papua, says that most of the Papuans still live below the poverty line.
"The fund should be audited. Jakarta and the provincial administration
implementing the special autonomy should be held accountable," he said in a
discussion here Tuesday.
This year, Papua received Rp 5.6 trillion, he said, but the only progress it
has made is the local direct elections while the people have been largely
deprived of public services, such as health and welfare, transportation and
education.
Ferdinando warned that this condition could sow the seeds of hatred among the
people against the government and encourage the support of anti-government
movements.
"We should not blame Australia or other countries if they accept Papuan
asylum seekers but we must introspect as to why they do not feel at home or
why they sympathize with secessionists," he said.
The Indonesian government has been dealing with smoldering, low-intensity,
disorganized armed separatist rebellions spearheaded by the Free Papua
Organization (OPM) since the 1960s.
Ferdinando admitted he was ashamed by what he saw as Papuan politicians'
inability to fight for Papuans' well-being, leaving them in backwardness and
poverty.
"I often feel as if I am crying out in the desert when speaking out about my
home province," he said.
Agus Sumule, a political analyst from Cendrawasih University in the Papua
capital of Jayapura, blamed the corrupt local elite for the failure of the
special autonomy.
The bigger chunk of the autonomy funds have been spent to finance the costly
bureaucracy and embezzled by the corrupt local political elite, he said.
"The top-down autonomy system has made the two governors (of Papua and West
Irian Jaya), provincial legislatures and the Papuan People's Council (MR)
quite powerful and the distribution of the autonomy funds depend on them,
making regents and mayors like beggars," he said.
"Regents and mayors propose big budgets to finance their development programs
but governors will not grant them because the bigger chunk of the fund is
used to finance their corrupt administration."
He called on the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to audit the government and
legislatures at all levels to let the people know where the huge funds have
been going to.
Director General of Regional Development Affairs at the Home Ministry,
Syamsul Arief Rivai, acknowledged that the uneven distribution of population
in the vast territory combined with the fact that the autonomy is focused on
the provincial level have made the special autonomy ineffective.
"The two provincial governments and regency and municipal administrations
have different visions and programs in carrying out development programs," he
said.
Administration at all levels should have the same vision and programs to
improve the province's human development index and they should identify
common fundamental problems that have made the province lag behind other
provinces.
To improve public services, he said, the provincial governments should give
priority to the development of road networks connecting urban centers and
rural areas.
"The development of roads, irrigation systems, school buildings and hospitals
are vital in providing public services and improving the people's well-
being," he said, adding that the development program should focus on the
indigenous people living in remote areas.
---
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0610/S00213.htm
Recipients of the 2006 D.I.C.K NZ Awards
Thursday, 19 October 2006, 10:10 am
Press Release: No WARP
From: No WARP! (Network Opposed to Weapons and Related Production)
18 October 2006
Recipients of the 2006 D.I.C.K NZ Awards and the 'Guided Missiles and
Misguided Men' Awards for Government Politicians
The recipients of this year's D.I.C.K (Destructive Industry Connected to
Killing) NZ and 'Guided Missiles and Misguided Men' Awards were announced
tonight at Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum, in Wellington.
The 2006 Supreme D.I.C.K NZ Award went to Rakon Ltd, with Right Hemisphere
and Apex Global Healthcare / Apex Distribution Ltd each receiving a D.I.C.K
NZ Award.
Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, Minister of Defence and Minister of
Trade Phil Goff, Prime Minister Helen Clark, and Minister of Economic
Development and Minister for Industry and Regional Development Trevor Mallard
each received a 'Guided Missiles and Misguided Men' Award.
The recipients of this year's Awards were selected on the basis of the number
of nominations received for each. A formatted document with the 2006 D.I.C.K
NZ Award recipients is available on the No WARP! (Network Opposed to Weapons
and Related Production) web site at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nowarp.htm
* Background to the Awards
Since 1998, the Defence Industry Committee of New Zealand has presented
Awards for Excellence at the annual get-together of the NZ Defence Industry
Association, the lobby group for companies that profit from bloodshed and
war. The criteria for their awards are a mystery - are they for the company
whose products have caused the most death and destruction? the company which
has had the biggest public subsidy for private profit? the company which has
contracts with the most oppressive governments and armed forces around the
world?
There is no mystery about the D.I.C.K NZ Awards. They recognise the reality
of the business of the NZ 'defence' industry. First held in 2001, the D.I.C.K
NZ Awards returned last year and they are now an annual event.
ADVERTISEMENT
And there is no mystery about the 'Guided Missiles and Misguided Men' Awards
for Government Politicians either - they are awarded to those who by their
words and/or actions support bloodshed and war. The name for these Awards is
from a statement by Martin Luther King, Jr: "we have guided missiles and
misguided men"".
* 2006 D.I.C.K NZ Award Recipients
- Supreme D.I.C.K NZ Award: Rakon Ltd - Auckland, New Zealand.
Rakon was, until May of this year, a privately owned company which
manufactures quartz crystal oscillators used in Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS) systems, and in products such as cellphones, navigation systems ... and
'smart' bombs.
In 2005, Rakon was the winner of the NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Export
Awards. They have received government corporate welfare including a $183,000
Technology New Zealand grant in 1996, and a $351,000 Technology New Zealand
grant in 2003/04.
Last year the NZ Herald revealed that Rakon's crystal oscillators were being
supplied to US company Rockwell Collins, for use in their navigation products
for precision-guided missile and munitions systems. Rockwell Collins's
precision-guided munitions products are outfitted in 90 percent of all US
Department of Defense guided tactical weapons, including Joint Direct Attack
Munitions, Standoff Land Attack Missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the
Small Diameter Bomb.
In response to the publicity about this, Rakon put out a media release that
said: "the company respected the commercial confidentiality of its contracts
with customers, and was not privy to the end-use systems, equipment or
applications developed by its customers"[1]. Rakon was awarded a 2005
D.I.C.K. NZ Award in because of their exports to Rockwell Collins, and
because their media release revealed "either a startling level of
irresponsibility or of duplicity".
In May this year, Rakon was recognized as one of the Top Preferred Suppliers
for 2006 by Rockwell Collins for performance in meeting delivery schedules
and product quality.
Also in May, the NZ Herald exposed the contents of Rakon's media release as a
complete lie - Rakon had in fact been working closely with Rockwell Collins
for the past ten years. Furthermore, Rakon's 2005/06 business plan (written
before the original Herald expose) states that "Rakon aims to dominate "the
lucrative and expanding guided munitions and military positioning market"
within five years"[2].
It was further revealed that Rakon's exports to Rockwell Collins had not been
subject to the strategic goods export permit system, which is supposed to
cover all military and weapons related exports. In June, Minister for
Disarmament and Arms Control Phil Goff announced that he did not consider
Rakon's crystal oscillators, exported for military use, to be covered by the
Strategic Goods List and therefore they do not require an export permit.
Rakon was nominated for a D.I.C.K NZ Award for their continued supply of
weapons components to Rockwell Collins, and for their duplicity and lies
about their contribution to death and destruction. More than double the
number of all other 2006 D.I.C.K Award nominations combined were for Rakon,
and they are thus the recipient of the 2006 Supreme D.I.C.K Award.
- Right Hemisphere - Fremont, USA; Auckland, New Zealand; and Munich,
Germany.
Right Hemisphere is a venture-backed enterprise software company with
corporate headquarters in California that describes itself as a leading
provider of product graphics management software. Their customers include
nine of the top 10 US aerospace and defense companies (listed in the number 1
spot on Right Hemisphere's web site, as though that were something to be
proud of), and the US army and navy. Right Hemisphere received an MT2 Top 100
award from US magazine Military Training Technology in 2004 for making a
significant impact on the military training industry; and is a finalist in
the 2006 NZTE Export Awards.
They are a major a recipient of corporate welfare - in September 2006, the
government announced that they had given an interest-free loan of up to US$8
million (around NZ$12.2 million) to Right Hemisphere in return for 50% of the
loan's proceeds being spent in NZ, 66.66% of Right Hemisphere's worldwide
software development expenditure being spent in NZ, and their working for
three years to establish a virtual cluster centered on 3D communications and
digital content, involving universities, other research institutions and
interested firms. Treasury was opposed to the loan, saying that they
considered it had "a low probability of resulting in net benefit to NZ."[3]
They estimated the foregone interest to be worth $3 million of taxpayers'
money annually. Prior to receiving the loan, Right Hemisphere had received
$1.2 million in government grants[4].
Right Hemisphere was nominated for a D.I.C.K NZ Award for their involvement
with some of the worst US weapons producers and US armed forces, and their
eagerness to secure taxpayers' money for their privately owned company.
- Apex Global Healthcare / Apex Distribution Ltd - Auckland, New Zealand
Apex Global Healthcare produces high-strength sunscreens, lip balms, insect
repellents, combination sunscreen and insect repellent, and camouflage paint
military use, and it is the exclusive supplier of insect repellents to New
Zealand's armed forces. If you go to the Apex Distribution Ltd web site, you
too can order Armed Forces Lip Balm, with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, which
comes in camouflage packaging.
In May 2006, Apex announced it was in the process of selecting a Malaysian
firm to manufacture its products for an order from the Malaysian military
expected to be worth about $5 million to $10 million in the first year. The
Malaysian military will then sell Apex products to the armed forces of
Indonesia, South Korea and Brunei. [5]
"Apex director Hugh Price said the $5 million to $10 million estimate was
conservative, and the Asian and Middle Eastern military market offered huge
potential. The company had recently made all of its products alcohol-free to
make them more attractive to Muslim countries." [6]
Apex was nominated for a D.I.C.K Award because of their willingness to sell
their wares in particular to the Indonesian armed forces who are engaged in a
brutal military occupation of West Papua.[7]
* 'Guided Missiles and Misguided Men' Award Recipients
- Phil Goff, Minister of Defence, Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control,
and Minister of Trade
Phil Goff was nominated for four reasons: firstly, the blatant conflict of
interest inherent in his three portfolios - defence, disarmament and arms
control, and trade.
Secondly, in his role as Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, he has
responsibility for the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Trade Disarmament
Division, which screens applications for the export of military and military
related (strategic) goods - but who evidently do not apply the criteria
"derived from the Government’s desire to make responsible decisions regarding
the export of strategic goods."[8]
The basic questions when making a decision about strategic goods exports
include: Is there evidence that the country is involved in the development of
Weapons of Mass Destruction? Is the country involved in any conflict? Could
the export of the goods in question prejudice New Zealand's relationship with
a third country? What is the human rights record of the recipient country? Is
there a possibility that the goods could be used in, or contribute to, the
abuse of human rights? What is the country's record in International
Humanitarian Law/Law of Armed Conflict? Yet there appears to be no limitation
at all on the export of strategic goods to, for example, the US government
who clearly are a cause for concern in relation to the questions above.
Thirdly, in his roles as Minister for Trade and Minister for Trade
Negotiations, he is one of the ministers responsible for NZTE who actively
promote and support military and weapons related production and exports.
Fourthly, in his role as Minister of Defence, he has continued the NZ army
base maintenance and supply contracts with Serco Project Engineering Ltd
(SPEL). SPEL is a joint venture of Projeng Pty Ltd (Australia) and Serco
Group Plc (Britain). Serco Group Plc, together with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd
and Lockheed Martin manage Britain's nuclear weapons establishments including
AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield - which design, test, manufacture and
'refurbish' nuclear warheads.
The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act, also
known as the nuclear-free legislation, prohibits any NZ citizen or a servant
or agent of the Crown from aiding or abetting ... "any person to manufacture,
acquire, possess, or have control over any nuclear explosive device" (Section
5b) - giving contracts to companies involved in the production or deployment
of nuclear weapons is at the very least a breach of the spirit of the Act,
and is considered by some to be an actual breach of that legislation.
- Helen Clark, Prime Minister
Helen Clark was nominated for her government's willingness to provide public
money to companies involved in military and weapons related production and
export; in particular her enthusiastic announcement of the US$8 million
interest-free loan to Right Hemisphere at their office in Auckland on 7
September 2006.
She was also nominated for her government's continuation of contracts with
companies involved in the production and deployment of nuclear weapons
overseas, SPEL (referred to above) being but one example of this.
- Trevor Mallard, Minister of Economic Development and Minister for Industry
and Regional Development
Trevor Mallard was nominated for his willingness to provide public money to
companies involved in military and weapons related production and export,
including apparently pushing through the Right Hemisphere loan despite
Treasury's advice; and as one of the ministers responsible for NZTE who
actively promote and support military and weapons related exports.
In particular, he was the nominated for the statement in his report to the
Cabinet Policy Committee on the interest-free loan to Right Hemisphere: "the
recommendations in this paper have no human rights implications." [9]
Try telling that to the people whose loved ones have been blown apart by the
products of Right Hemisphere's customers.
[1] http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nw240805.htm
[2] 'The Rakon files: NZ company's weapons role', Phil Taylor, 27 May 2006
[3] To Cabinet Policy Committee, Amended appropriation: Strategic Investment
Fund, Trevor Mallard, 26 June 2006
[4] 'IT firm gets free loan plus grants', Colin Espiner, 25 September 2006
[5] Forsyth Barr Research, Morning Report, 4 May 2006
[6] 'Apex turns to Asian markets'. Andrew Janes. 4 May 2006
[7] West Papua: the forgotten Pacific country -
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/wpapua.htm
[8] New Zealand Strategic Goods List : Administration of Export Controls,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, accessed 6 October 2006
[9] To Cabinet Policy Committee, Amended appropriation: Strategic Investment
Fund, Trevor Mallard, 26 June 2006
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
No WARP! Network Opposed to Weapons and Related Production
c/o Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington 6141
Aotearoa New Zealand. Tel +64 4 382 8129, fax 382 8173,
email nowarp@xtra.co.nz www.converge.org.nz/pma/nowarp.htm
---
http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?
ArticleID=1870&HomepageID=165
Foreign Policy: Born Again Jakarta Lobby
By: Damien Kingsbury
Wednesday 18 October 2006
The relationship between Australia and Indonesia is the most testing of
Australia’s foreign relations, and one which has consistently been
mishandled. Responding to bilateral fallout over the issue of Papua, Rodd
McGibbon’s recently published Lowy Institute paper ‘Pitfalls of Papua’
proposes that good relations, narrowly conceived, between Australia and
Indonesia are above all other considerations.
A similar policy of ‘good bilateral relations above all else,’ with the
previous Suharto regime, was promoted by what was known as the ‘Jakarta
Lobby.’ Yet that policy failed to produce stable diplomatic relations.
Advertisement
McGibbon’s paper represents the Jakarta Lobby reborn. The paper largely
restates what is already known about Papua, condescends towards concerns over
human rights abuses, caricatures both the West Papua resistance movement and
its external supporters, and proposes policy recommendations that warm up
Suharto-era leftovers.
‘Pitfalls of Papua’ is beset with internal contradictions. The larger
contradiction is that McGibbon promotes ‘realism.’ McGibbon says that
Australian critics of the current policy propose that Australia ‘impose
itself in a “peace-making” role [which] demonstrates a troubling lack of
realism.’ The key tenet of this ‘realism’ is that the internal affairs of
States are irrelevant to their international relations, and that
international relations are conducted in an environment in which the only
rules are those which are able to be imposed or agreed between individual
States.
In keeping with this ‘realism,’ McGibbon proposes that Australia ‘boost
security cooperation on border security with Indonesia’ and work with
Indonesia to ‘manage the Australian-Indonesian border, including discussion
of managing the cross-border impact of Papua.’ The problem, it seems, is not
that Papuans have reason to flee their home, but how they can be stopped from
doing so.
McGibbon then makes the error of discussing the situation in Papua, which he
acknowledges is deeply problematic. By acknowledging Papua’s problems,
McGibbon undoes the logic of ‘realist’ bilateral relations: he cannot
acknowledge human rights abuses in Papua and at the same time ignore them.
Interestingly, although Australia’s security interests are promoted as
paramount, nowhere in his paper does McGibbon say what they are. He
emphatically insists on that which remains unstated.
A particular flaw in ‘Pitfalls of Papua’ refers to the prospect of a
negotiated resolution to the Papua conflict. McGibbon notes the success in
securing a resolution to the conflict in Aceh. However, he suggests there
would be little political will for such a settlement in Papua. He also says
that a modified version of such an agreement is the best hope of resolving
the Papua conflict, and that attempts have been made by Indonesia’s Vice-
President Jusuf Kalla to initiate just such a dialogue, as well as saying it
is ‘a key priority for the [Australian] Government.’
McGibbon claims, however, that there is no united Papuan leadership with
which to negotiate. Papuan activists note that most of their leaders have
been killed, exiled or otherwise silenced, and the Indonesian Government has
employed a policy of divide and rule. McGibbon seems unaware that there is
now movement in Papuan political society towards a common position: to be
able to negotiate with Jakarta.
Thanks to Bill Leak
This change is illustrated by the Free West Papua Movement, or OPM, declaring
an end to their armed struggle — news of which McGibbon regards as ‘isolated
reports.’ Indeed, OPM leaders were interviewed on ABC television saying this,
and issued a media statement to this effect.
>From this point, McGibbon’s assessment slips into ridicule. He refers to
activists’ comments about their first-hand experiences on the PNG-Papua
border, describing a report by activist Nick Chesterfield as a ‘bizarre
account … replete with cloak and dagger anecdotes.’
Chesterfield is well known as a spokesman for the Free West Papua Campaign
and is one of very few outsiders to have worked with West Papuan refugees
along the PNG border, where he has received corroborated first-hand accounts
of cross-border raids by the Indonesian military (TNI), as well as reports of
Indonesian military intelligence activities. Chesterfield’s field reports are
not so much ‘bizarre’ as is McGibbon’s denial of documented TNI activity
against West Papuan refugees. By comparison, McGibbon has not visited this
region or spoken to refugees there, even though, as a pro-Jakarta researcher,
he has had surprisingly easy access to a province cut off to other
researchers and journalists.
Of personal concern to this critic is McGibbon’s serious misrepresentation of
an article by me, ‘The Trouble with the Territory’s Future,’ published in The
Weekend Australian, 15-16 April 2006. The article outlined a possible
negotiated political settlement as a means of resolving Papua’s conflict
that, if achieved, might be monitored by European Union or US aid agencies.
McGibbon claims the article advocated Australia lead ‘international efforts
to formulate and enforce a peace agreement,’ even though the article
explicitly rejected Australia’s involvement. McGibbon ridicules the idea that
Australia could play such a role in Papua because it would alienate the
Indonesian Government, yet, as previously mentioned, he also suggests
Australia do just this.
A key belief of the old Jakarta Lobby was that widespread public opposition
to a policy of appeasement over East Timor — an opposition that sat
consistently around 75 per cent according to public opinion polls — reflected
a lack of knowledge by ordinary Australians. McGibbon repeats this view about
a lack of public knowledge, regarding a poll earlier this year at the time of
the Papuan boat people crisis that showed 76 per cent of Australians
supported independence for West Papua. McGibbon’s suggestion is that the
Government counter such views with a ‘public information campaign,’ which
might also be viewed as propaganda.
The Australian population was ultimately correct about the iniquities of East
Timor and the Australian Government eventually bowed to popular pressure in
1999. Contrary popular opinion might be uncomfortable for self-assured
elites, but the Australian people are often able to see that which is
obvious, even if it does not suit elite agendas.
If there is value in McGibbon’s paper, it is that he confirms that the
Jakarta Lobby remains alive and well. In his new position, moving from the
ANU to the Office of National Assessments, McGibbon looks ready to repeat the
Jakarta Lobby’s past policy mistakes.
About the author
Associate Professor Damien Kingsbury is Director of the Masters in
International and Community Development at Deakin University, and has written
and edited a number of books on Indonesian politics.
---
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/German_author_still_pines_for_her_j_10172006.ht
ml
German author still pines for her jungle home By Mike Swanson
dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 17, 2006
Berlin- Sabine Kuegler cannot forget the tropical rainforests of Indonesia
where she spent a large part of her childhood among a tribe untouched by
modern civilization. Writing from a child's perspective, Kuegler lovingly
portrayed her experiences in Jungle Child, a book that became a runaway
bestseller in Germany last year. Now she has written a sequel.
After spending 15 years in Europe she returned to the Fayu tribe that she
grew up with in West Papua and described life there from the point of view of
a grown woman.
In her new account, The Call of the Jungle, the 33-year-old German once again
conjures up a wonderful world in which she meets her old friends and
experiences the breathtaking landscapes of the jungle.
But this time she contrasts that idyll with the outside world and comes to
the conclusion that the Fayu's way of life is in danger from the progress of
civilization that cannot be stopped.
Powerful business interests are exploiting the jungle's mineral resources,
she says, and corrupt government officials in the capital Jakarta ruthlessly
stifle any resistance.
"Where Jungle Child was the story of a delightful, exotic childhood, this new
book is the story of the Fayu's struggle for survival and also of Sabine
Kuegler's struggle to find her place in the world," says Ute Koerner,
Kuegler's literary agent.
It is a far cry from the romantic story of a 5-year-old girl who was taken to
Indonesia by her missionary and linguist parents to live in a spot that could
only be reached by air or by river boat.
Jungle Child topped the German best-seller lists for much of last year,
selling more than one-half million copies before being translated into 23
languages.
The sequel follows on from her experiences that began in 1980 when Kuegler's
family became the first whites to make contact with the belligerent Fayu
tribe, who lived a stone age-like existence, eating grubs and hunting with a
bow and arrow.
Blonde-haired Sabine was immediately captivated by the jungle. She made
friends with the Fayu children, shared their meals of roasted insects and
swam with them in a crocodile-infested river.
She was 17 when she returned to Europe by herself to study for her school-
leaving exams. Unable to cope with the massive cultural upheaval, she rushed
into two marriages and had four children before settling down - up to a
point.
"I'm always looking for protection here," she said during a tour of Germany
to promote her new book. "In West Papua there was always this tremendous
feeling of security."
When she went back to her old childhood haunts earlier this year she was
overcome by a feeling of joy. "I felt safe for the first time in a long time.
I feel I'm in good hands there because the Papua culture is a group culture."
After her first book appeared, human rights groups in Germany accused her of
idealizing jungle existence and liberally using cliches to describe her
memories of the tribe she lived with.
The Call of the Jungle is more mature and reflective in portraying the
changes that have taken place in the life of her old friends and the problems
which now confront them.
"It is a life that might appear idyllic when observed from the outside, but
when you are in the middle of it the picture is quite different," the author
says.
Kuegler pulls no punches when she describes undernourishment, the high child
mortality rate and the poor medical care afforded to the Fayu in their once
secluded world.
During her return she also spoke with witnesses who described human rights
violations carried out by people bent on exploiting the jungle's vast mineral
wealth.
Her portrayal of the troubles facing the Fayu, which were largely ignored in
her first book, have surprised critics this time round.
"We get the impression she's done a 180 degree turnaround," says Ulrich
Delius, an Asian affairs experts at the Society for Threatened Peoples in the
German city of Goettingen.
Kuegler says she wants to capitalize on the popularity of her first work to
draw attention to the problems in what she still considers to be her
homeland.
"It's my duty now to fight for these people. I've become a part of their
lives again, even if I'm not physically present there. My culture and my
heart are Papuan, but my life is in Germany.
"If nothing happens soon, then the Fayu don't have a chance."
© 2006 dpa German Press Agency
---
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20618294-1702,00.html
Media peace awards made
October 20, 2006
THE United Nations Association of Australia presented its 28th annual Media
Peace Awards in Melbourne tonight as part of its charter to promote tolerance
and diversity through balanced news reporting.
Melbourne's Age journalist Mark Forbes won the best print award for Cry
Freedom: Papua's Plea to the World, while his Fairfax colleague, Paul
McGeough of The Sydney Morning Herald won the best feature award for Death
and Democracy - The Uncertainty of Life since 9/11.
Meri Fatin, of RTR FM 92.1, won the best radio award for West Papua in Brief
and Ten's newsman Max Futcher won the best news - television for Dili.
Other awardees include:
Best television: current affairs - Philippa McDonald, Kate Gunn and David
Leland, ABC TV Asia Pacific Focus - Karen Refugees.
Best television: documentary - David O'Shea, Rowan Tucker-Evans, Cathy Carey,
Martin Butler, SBS TV Dateline - The Spanish Inquisition.
Best Photojournalism: Stephen Dupont, The Bulletin - Taliban Burning: US
Forces Burn Taliban for Psychological Warfare.
Promotion of Aboriginal Reconciliation: Russell Skelton, The Sunday Age and
The Age - The Murder Capital of Australia.
Promotion of Multicultural Issues: Erin O'Dwyer, The Sun-Herald Sunday Extra
- The Family Ties that Bind.
Promotion of Positive Images of the Older Person: Jocelyn Nettlefold, David
Pyefinch & 7.30 Report crew, ABC TV - Refugee Welcome.
Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Women's Rights and Issues:
Elizabeth Tadic, SBS TV Dateline, - Women for Justice - Umoja Trilogy - Where
Women Rule.
Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Children's Rights and Issues:
Insight team (Jenny Brockie, Antoinette Currah, Drew Ambrose, Andrew
Middlemost, Stephen Harrop and Allan Hogan), of SBS TV Insight - Thirteen.
---
http://english.people.com.cn/200610/21/eng20061021_314056.html
Bird flu infected provinces in Indonesia drop to 14: official
The number of bird-flu infected provinces in Indonesia dropped by 14 from 30,
a official said Saturday.
These 14 provinces have declared free from avian influenza (AI) virus in the
past six months, Antara news agency quoted Bayu Krisnamurthi, executive
officer of the National Commission of the Bird Flu Control and AI Pandemic
Alertness, as saying.
The AI-free provinces included South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Nanggroe
Aceh Darussalam, West Sumatera, West Nusa Tenggara, and West Sulawesi.
Bird flu cases were also not found in South Sumatera, Bangka Belitung, Riau,
Jambi, East Kalimantan, Riau Islands and West Irian Jaya.
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said that such development was
encouraging in an effort to prevent the AI virus from affecting people.
"The problem is poultry. If we can control AI infection on poultry, the virus
will not infect human beings," the minister said.
Between July 2005 and October 17, 2006, there were 72 cases of bird flu
infections in Indonesia, and the virus has so far killed 55 affected people.
The case fatality rate (CFR) of the avian influenza virus reached 76.39
percent, she added.
To deal with the fatal disease, the Indonesian government has provided
Oseltamivir or Tamiflu to a number of hospitals across the country.
Source: Xinhua
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=22106
Earthquake measuring 5.3 on Richter Scale hits Jayapura
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale
jolted Jayapura city and Jayapura regency, Papua province at 14.39 local time
on Friday, but no casualties have been reported so far.
The head of operational section of the Papua Office of the Meteorology and
Geophysics Agency (BMG), E.Kayadu, said here Friday that epicenter of the
quake is located at 2.7 southern latitude and 140.53 eastern longitude some
38 km southwest of Jayapura at a depth of 78 km.
The sudden shaking of the earth`s surface prompted people, civil servants in
various government institutions and employees of private companies in
Jayapura, capital of Papua province, and Sentani, capital of Jayapura regency
to rush for safer places.
The quake has severely damaged part of houses in Sentani and about Rp50
million is needed for the rehabilitation of those houses.(*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
October 21, 2006
---
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=106105
Hopes West Papua on Forum agenda
23/10/2006 10:44:03
The Greens hope the plight of West Papua will not be forgotten in all the
controversy at this week's Pacific Islands Forum.
Prime Minister Helen Clark arrives in Fiji this afternoon, and believes it
could be the most contentious meeting in years.
Green MP Keith Locke says the West Papuan problem has been on the agenda in
past years, but slipped off last year.
He says it would make a huge difference to West Papuans if the forum
recognised their needs, and stated its support for West Papua to have real
autonomy.
Keith Locke says Vanuatu has indicated it will bring the issue up and he
hopes New Zealand will support having that discussion.
He says the West Papuan people have been suffering under Indonesian rule and
their plight should be addressed at the forum.
He was in West Papua recently and says people there really want Pacific
leaders to take an interest.
Mr Locke says the forum is a golden opportunity to do that.
---
(anyonymous contributer)
West Papua was not granted observer status but unlike last year it was
mentioned in the Communique.
Note. Wallis and Futuna, the United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat and
Asian Development Bank were invited to become Forum observers.
----------------------------------------------------
Papua
31. Leaders welcomed the establishment by the sovereign authority, Indonesia,
of the Papuan Peoples Assembly (MRT) and the moves towards the full
implementation of the 2001 special autonomy law and the development of Papua.
Leaders expressed concern about reports of violence in Papua and called on
all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in Papua
and to work to address the root causes of such conflicts by peaceful means.
They also urged the Indonesian authorities to bring to justice the
perpetrators of serious crimes in the Province of Papua.
Associate Members and Observers
30. Leaders approved the application of New Caledonia and French Polynesia
for associate membership of the Forum. They invited Wallis and Futuna, the
United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat and Asian Development Bank to become
Forum observers. Leaders deferred further consideration of applications by
American Samoa and Guam until outstanding issues were resolved.
-----------------------------------
http://www.forumsec.org/index.cfm?
go=main.resources&cmd=forumview&uid=newsroom001&cid=431&catuuid=F082D999-
CF43-E090-B761BA94E58BDAFA
THIRTY-SEVENTH PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
NADI, FIJI
24–25 OCTOBER 2006
FORUM COMMUNIQUE
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT
The Thirty-Seventh Pacific Islands Forum was held in Fiji, from 24-25 October
2006 and was attended by Heads of State and Government of Australia, the Cook
Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand,
Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. New Caledonia and French
Polynesia also attended the formal session as Associate members and Timor-
Leste and Tokelau as observers. The Forum Retreat was held at Denarau, Nadi,
Fiji
2. Leaders expressed their deep appreciation to the Government and People of
Fiji for hosting the 2006 meeting and for the warm and generous manner in
which they have been welcomed and for the arrangements made for the meetings.
They also thanked the Prime Minister of Fiji for assuming the role of the
chairmanship of the 37th Pacific Islands Forum at short notice. They
commended the firm commitment of the Government of Fiji to the continuing
process of promoting national unity, and called on all parties to continue to
observe democracy and the rule of law.
3. Leaders extended their sympathies to the Government and people of Tonga on
the recent passing of His Majesty, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga.
Pacific Plan
4. Leaders welcomed the considerable progress made in implementing the
Pacific Plan, noting that there were many significant initiatives gaining
momentum under the Plan and that support from regional organisations and
development partners had been a strong and positive feature to date. Leaders
also noted the key challenges that need to be overcome in order for the Plan
to be effectively implemented. Paramount was that of fully translating the
regional initiatives being developed into plans and follow-up actions at the
national level. Leaders agreed on a number of key commitments in order to
move the Plan forward in the next twelve months. Prior ity areas for
attention under the Pacific Plan are listed at Annex A.
5. Leaders called for efforts to intensify regional cooperation in relation
to energy, transport and ICT. Leaders considered these focal areas to be
particular priorities for strengthening regionalism which will deliver
significant impacts to communities as well as strengthening intergovernmental
processes in support of sustainable development, economic growth, good
governance and security. They called on CROP agencies and member countries to
develop detailed frameworks for intensifying regional cooperation including
initial action steps for 2007, with a progress report to Leaders at the 2007
Forum.
6. Leaders recognised the detrimental impact on people and countries in the
region of increased oil prices particularly in small island economies. They
affirmed the importance of assured long-term energy security to the future
prosperity of the region. They welcomed proposals to explore the
possibilities for bulk petroleum purchasing and for exploitation of renewable
energy resources. They called on SOPAC to convene a meeting of regional
Energy Ministers as a matter of priority, to discuss the energy challenges
facing the region, to take stock of work in train, and to assess the scope
for strengthening regional cooperation in this sector, including in respect
of alternative and renewable energy sources.
7. Leaders also recognised the importance of transport links to trade and
economic growth as well as to the movement of people. They favoured a
holistic approach to transport and transport security issues in the region.
They called on the Secretariat to examine the scope for intensifying regional
cooperation to ensure safe effective transport options building on the
regional transport principles, including focusing on enhancing shipping
services for Smaller Island States.
8. Leaders agreed that effective regional ICT would have significant
beneficial impacts on private sector development and education in the region.
They saw particular advantages for rural populations in accessing modern
digital technology. They called for greater efforts to deliver these benefits
to the grassroots level. Leaders welcomed the outcomes of the Meeting of
Communications Ministers in New Zealand in March, which set out a stepladder
approach to ICT development. They called for further work building on the
outcomes of the Meeting.
9. Leaders emphasised the need to advance the various trade negotiations in
which the region is engaged and for members to speedily conclude the domestic
arrangements required for them to trade under the Pacific Island Countries
Trade Agreement (PICTA). Leaders reaffirmed the importance of the completion
of the PACER impact study and gap analysis as reaffirmed at the 2006 Forum
Trade Ministers Meeting, in order for Trade Ministers to consider the
implications at their next meeting prior to the next Forum Leaders’ Meeting.
Labour Mobility
10. Leaders discussed the labour mobility scheme and recalled their decision
the previous year to continue to consider the issue of labour mobility in the
context of member countries’ immigration policies. They agreed to continue to
explore opportunities for developing labour mobility schemes that would
benefit Forum Island Countries.
11. Leaders were briefed on an announcement to be made in New Zealand on 25
October 2006 on seasonal labour mobility. Leaders welcomed this development
and looked forward to further details.
12. Leaders also welcomed the progress on the establishment of the Australia
-Pacific Technical College, including the announcement by Australia, that the
College headquarters would be located in Suva, Fiji with a network of
training centers in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu. They noted the
College’s focus on skills training in the automotive, construction and
electrical, manufacturing trades, health and community services and
hospitality and tourism fields would make a significant contribution to
developing a skilled and competitive Pacific workforce. Leaders also welcomed
Australia’s generous scholarships package to ensure equitable access to the
training programmes of the College for smaller and more isolated Pacific
communities.
Regional Fisheries: Strategic Issues
13. Leaders noted the continued progress on their directive to seek greater
sustainable returns from fisheries and to establish ministerial oversight of
regional fisheries matters. They welcomed in particular the development of
the FFA Ecosystem Approach to fisheries management; the template for model
fisheries management legislation; the regional fisheries compliance strategy;
and the Sustainable Development Framework for Pacific Fisheries. They also
noted the status of the negotiation of a possible Fisheries Partnership
Agreement with the EU; and the adoption of the Vessel Day Scheme by the
parties to the Palau Arrangement.
Deep Sea Bottom Trawling
14. Forum Leaders reiterated their concerns regarding the destructive fishing
practices on seamounts in the Western Tropical Pacific Island Area (WTPIA)
and in other areas of high seas in the WTPIA and adopted the Declaration on
Deep Sea Bottom Trawling to Protect Biodiversity in the High Seas (attached
as Annex B) to manage this method of fishing to protect biodiversity in the
high seas.
Climate Variability and Change, Sea Level Rise and Extreme Weather Events
15. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacific Islands Framework for
Action on Climate Change 2006-2015 and noted that development of initiatives
under the Framework is identified as a priority for action under the Pacific
Plan, along with mainstreaming climate change into national sustainable
development strategies. Leaders urged the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
Environment Programme to give priority to its work in translating the
Framework into on-the-ground progress.
Funding for Sustainable Development
16. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the sustainable management of
natural resources and the use of locally managed and protected areas as a
mechanism to enhance and contribute to the sustainable development of Members
and as such to the implementation of the Pacific Plan. They welcomed the
commitments made by Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands (the Micronesia Challenge) as well as the substantial
commitments made by Fiji and Kiribati. They encouraged Members to consider
similar, substantial and specific commitments to the conservation and
sustainable management of marine and terrestrial resources. Leaders also
welcomed SPREP’s Island Life Campaign and the development of a Global Island
Partnership to focus international attention towards national action for the
conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity.
17. They called on the international community to support members’ efforts in
determining the value of conservation to sustainable development and
livelihoods; to match financial commitments already made to conservation and
sustainable livelihoods in Forum member countries; and to assist in the
development and resourcing of realistic financial plans in support of the
conservation and sustainable use of their natural resources. Leaders tasked
the Forum Secretariat to work with relevant CROP agencies, international
organisations and NGOs to identify the value of conservation to the region’s
sustainable development, and report on the progress of this initiative and
steps taken to finance conservation commitments to the 2007 Forum Officials
Committee and Leaders Meeting.
Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS
18. Leaders noted the progress made in the implementation of the Regional
Strategy on HIV and AIDS and re-affirmed their commitment to the achievement
of the objectives of the Regional Strategy at all appropriate levels in their
governments.
Pacific Regional Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Project
19. Leaders welcomed the development of the Pacific Regional Influenza
Pandemic Preparedness Project that builds in a sustainable way the capacity
of Pacific Island Countries and Territories to deal with the potential threat
of another pandemic and to prepare the response to other emerging diseases,
in line with the International Health Regulations and regional guidelines and
strategies. Leaders noted the ongoing need for commitment, at the highest
political level, for the implementation of the project and International
Health Regulations.
Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
20. Leaders acknowledged the strong contribution RAMSI has made to the
restoration of security, governance and rehabilitation of the economy of the
Solomon Islands; and agreed that given the many challenges which still lie
ahead, it is important that RAMSI continue, in close consultation with the
Government of Solomon Islands and the Pacific Islands Forum, its work as an
integrated broad ranging mission and should be fully supported in its efforts
by all regional partners.
21. Leaders agreed to establish a taskforce to expeditiously review RAMSI, to
report back to Foreign Ministers who will make recommendations to Leaders,
and agreed that in the meantime:
(a) RAMSI will continue in its current form; and
(b) that a consultation mechanism between the Government of Solomon Islands,
RAMSI, and the Pacific Islands Forum be established, chaired by the
representative of the Forum Chair and involving senior representatives of the
Forum Troika of past, present and incoming chairs.
22. The Leaders further agreed that:
(a) pursuant to this consultation mechanism, there should be quarterly
consultations;
(b) the consultative group will not be involved in operational decisions, but
would act as a high level reference group and discuss the broad policy
directions of RAMSI and progress achieved; and
(c) the consultative group will report quarterly to Forum Leaders.
Pacific Regional Assistance To Nauru
23. Leaders welcomed the achievements of the Pacific Regional Assistance to
Nauru since their last meeting. They reiterated their support for Nauru
through its policy of good governance under the Pacific Regional Assistance
to Nauru framework, including supporting Nauru’s National Sustainable
Development Strategy.
Counter-terrorism
24. Leaders noted that a response to a terrorist incident in the region might
include requests for external assistance and that a Regional Cooperation for
Counter-Terrorism Assistance and Response model to facilitate such requests
would be developed for consideration by the 2007 Forum Regional Security
Committee and Leaders’ Meeting.
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
25. Leaders encouraged Members, development partners, and all those other
countries which have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). They noted that this year marks the tenth
anniversary of the Treaty’s opening for signature and affirmed the importance
of entry into force of the CTBT as a practical step and an effective measure
towards nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. Leaders also
encouraged Members who have agreed to host monitoring stations under the
global verification regime to ensure that national arrangements required for
setting up and operating the stations are established and maintained.
Shipment of Radioactive Materials
26. Leaders reiterated their concerns about the risks of economic loss in an
incident involving the shipment of radioactive materials through the Pacific,
and restated their view that in the event of losses directly attributable to
such an incident, there is an imperative on the shipping states not to leave
the countries suffering those losses unsupported.
Radioactive Contaminants in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
27. Leaders recognised the special circumstances pertaining to the continued
presence of radioactive contaminants in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and reaffirmed the existence of a special responsibility by the United States
of America towards the people of the Marshall Islands, who have been, and
continue to be, adversely affected as a direct result of nuclear weapons
tests conducted by the United States during its administration of the islands
under the UN Trusteeship mandate. They reiterated their call on the United
States to live up to its full obligations on the provision of adequate and
fair compensation and commitment to its responsibility for the safe
resettlement of displaced populations, including the full and final
restoration to economic productivity of all affected areas. They also noted
the continuing dialogue between the Governments of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the United States, including the U.S. Congress, Senate
and Administration, and agreed to submit a letter to the United States
Government urging it to meet its obligations as presented in the Marshall
Islands' Changed Circumstance Petition to the United States. Leaders
encouraged members to lend support to the Marshall Islands on this issue at
the United Nations General Assembly and other international fora and to
continue to assist by raising the issue with Members of the U.S. Congress.
Regional Institutional Framework Review
28. Leaders considered the Regional Institutional Framework Review and agreed
to establish a Taskforce to work through the issues that have been identified
and report back to Leaders at their 2007 meeting. They also agreed that the
time for the transition period should be left open. Leaders tasked the Forum
Secretariat to proceed with an exercise aimed at refining its core priorities
and to progress the recommendations relating to the establishment of regional
offices or the placement of staff members in each member country.
Post-Forum Dialogue Review
29. Leaders considered the Review of the Post-Forum Dialogue. They endorsed
the recommendations of the review for implementation at the 2007 Post-Forum
Dialogue subject to further discussions. Leaders noted that six Forum members
have established diplomatic relations with Taiwan/Republic of China. They
tasked the Forum Secretariat to undertake further work to ensure that the
consultative relationship with all members’ partners is at an appropriate
level.
Associate Members and Observers
30. Leaders approved the application of New Caledonia and French Polynesia
for associate membership of the Forum. They invited Wallis and Futuna, the
United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat and Asian Development Bank to become
Forum observers. Leaders deferred further consideration of applications by
American Samoa and Guam until outstanding issues were resolved.
Papua
31. Leaders welcomed the establishment by the sovereign authority, Indonesia,
of the Papuan Peoples Assembly (MRT) and the moves towards the full
implementation of the 2001 special autonomy law and the development of Papua.
Leaders expressed concern about reports of violence in Papua and called on
all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents in Papua
and to work to address the root causes of such conflicts by peaceful means.
They also urged the Indonesian authorities to bring to justice the
perpetrators of serious crimes in the Province of Papua.
North Korea
32. Leaders welcomed the unanimous United Nations Security Council Resolution
1718 of 14 October 2006, which strongly condemned North Korea’s nuclear test,
demanded that North Korea submit to the discipline of the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty and eliminate its nuclear and Weapons of Mass
Destruction programmes and imposed a range of wide-ranging sanctions. Forum
members noted the Resolution reflected the international community’s
determination that North Korea not be allowed to threaten international
security. Leaders noted that North Korea was the only party placing
conditions on reconvening the six-party talks, the most effective mechanism
to resolve the nuclear issue, and a process to which the other five parties
have committed in good faith. Forum members called on North Korea to return
immediately and without delay to these talks and implement immediately the
obligations it agreed to under the September 2005 Joint Statement.
Results of the Smaller Island States Leaders’ Summit
33. Leaders noted the outcomes of the Smaller Island States Leaders’ Summit.
Results of the Pacific ACP Leaders’ Meeting
34. Leaders noted the outcomes of the Pacific ACP (PACP) Leaders’ meeting.
Appreciation
35. Leaders commended the outgoing Chair, Right Hon Grand Chief, Sir Michael
T. Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and his Government for their
leadership of the Forum over the past year.
Position of Secretary General
36. Leaders unanimously agreed to reappoint Mr Greg Urwin as Secretary
General of the Forum Secretariat for a further term of three years.
Venue
37. Leaders welcomed the Government of Tonga’s offer to host the 2007 Forum
and noted the Government of Niue’s offer to host the 2008 Forum.
Nadi, Fiji
24 October 2006
Annex A
NADI DECISIONS ON THE PACIFIC PLAN
In order to advance the Pacific Plan over the next twelve months, Leaders:
Economic Growth
• Affirmed the importance of long-term energy security to the future
prosperity of the region, requiring intensified regional engagement and
endorsed the convening of a meeting of regional Energy Ministers and
officials as soon as possible and before the Fifteenth Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development (scheduled for April 2007);
• Task ed the Secretariat to prioritise its role in energy issues and called
on SOPAC to provide leadership on the implementation of the Pacific Regional
Energy Policy;
• Agreed that efforts be intensified in regional economic integration,
including implementation of the PICTA and PACER, that more directly address
the objectives of the Pacific Plan, and reaffirmed the importance of the
completion of the PACER impact study and gap analysis as reaffirmed at the
2006 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting, in order for Trade Ministers to consider
the implications at their next meeting prior to the next Forum Leaders’
Meeting;
• Reaffirmed the need to coordinate intensified regional trade and economic
initiatives with other regional priorities such as trade in services,
including labour mobility, public health and other social/cultural benefits;
• Agreed that consideration be given to the establishment of an effective
regional dispute resolution mechanism to deal with differences that may arise
out of regional trade and economic agreements;
• In recognising the importance of the work underway in the ICT sector; and
in particular, the establishment of the ICT Taskforce, urged the Taskforce to
maintain and, if possible, enhance the momentum of its work, and supported
the proposal to establish a Pacific Regional ICT Resource Center;
• Affirmed the importance of intensified regional action to ensure effective
transportation within the region focusing on the needs of SIS members,
including in respect of shipping services.
Sustainable Development
• Requested regional organisations and development partners to assist
countries improve access to and effectiveness of international financing
under Multilateral Environment Agreements;
• Recommended that water, sanitation and hygiene challenges facing the region
be directly addressed under the Pacific Plan through the Pacific Regional
Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management;
• Expressed support for the regional initiatives being reported on in natural
resource management and the environment, education and training and public
health;
Good Governance
• Agreed that regional support for good governance initiatives, including
those promoted by the Forum Economic Ministers, be encouraged and intensified
over the next twelve months;
• Agreed that greater attention be given to encouraging participatory
democracy (Pacific Plan Initiative 12.6) and implementing international
conventions on human rights (Pacific Plan Initiative 12.5) as essential tools
to underpin improvements in institutional governance;
Security
• Supported the recommendations of the Forum Regional Security Committee and
other regional bodies working to enhance regional safety and security,
including a focus on broader political and human security issues and the need
to match them with national efforts;
Implementation/Partnerships
• Agreed that aid effectiveness be made an integral part of the Pacific Plan
and of the necessary national planning requirements under it;
• Committed their governments to take responsibility for implementing and
reporting on the Pacific Plan, and to ensure that national policies and
mechanisms on regionalism are in place by the 2007 Forum meeting;
• Directed that regional policy frameworks or action plans are mainstreamed
at the national level under National Sustainable Development Strategies
(NSDS) or similar processes, and that regional organisations and development
partners, work within such a framework;
• Committed their governments to pursuing national interests in ways that
complement or support the overall interest of the region as well;
• Agreed that the Pacific Plan reports focus more on outcomes and benefits to
member countries; and
• Reaffirmed that their intention to develop the Pacific Plan as a
‘springboard’ for debating and negotiating the region’s long term future be
continued in an open and inclusive manner.
Annex B
DECLARATION ON DEEP-SEA BOTTOM TRAWLING TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY IN THE HIGH
SEAS
RECALLING the decision of the 36th Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea in October 2005 to develop an appropriate legal
framework to manage deep-sea bottom trawling to protect biodiversity in the
high seas;
FURTHER RECALLING the 4th Pacific Community Conference in Palau in November
2005 that agreed with respect to deep-sea bottom trawling and high seas
seamounts that SPC should work with FFA and other partners to develop an
appropriate management framework for consideration by members;
RECALLING the Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Policy endorsed by Pacific
Islands Forum leaders in 2002 which aims to ensure the future sustainable use
of our oceans and its resources by Pacific Island communities and partners,
and the need to establish high-level leadership on oceans issues;
RECOGNISING the critical importance of marine resources to the Pacific Island
peoples;
SERIOUSLY CONCERNED about the sustainability of fish stocks and the effects
of destructive fishing practices on the marine environment, including high
seas bottom trawling that has adverse impacts on vulnerable marine
ecosystems;
CONSCIOUS of the need to avoid adverse impacts on the marine environment,
preserve biodiversity, maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems and
minimize the risk of long-term or irreversible effects of fishing operations;
NOTING that it is in the mutual interest of all fishing nations active in the
region, and the Pacific Islands, to protect and preserve the marine
environment;
FURTHER NOTING the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological
diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction in the “Western Tropical
Pacific Island Area” should be based on the precautionary and ecosystem
approaches using the best available science
RECALLING the United Nations General Assembly resolution 59/25 which called
upon States, either by themselves or through regional fisheries management
organizations or arrangements, where these are competent to do so, to take
action urgently, and consider on a case-by-case basis and on a scientific
basis, including the application of the precautionary approach, the interim
prohibition of destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling that
has adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts,
hydrothermal vents and cold water corals located beyond national
jurisdiction, until such time as appropriate conservation and management
measures have been adopted in accordance with international law; (2004 UNGA
Resolution 59/25)
RECALLING the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea, and in particular Articles 117, 118, 119, 192, 194(5),
197 and 206;
FURTHER RECALLING the relevant provisions of the United Nations Agreement to
Implement the relevant provisions of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
relating to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and in
particular Articles 5 and 6;
WELCOMING the ongoing discussions to establish a South Pacific Regional
Fishing Management Organisation (RFMO), and supportive of efforts to
cooperate to establish interim targeted protection mechanisms for vulnerable
marine ecosystems;
COMMITS the members of the Pacific Islands Forum to urgently take actions
consistent with international law to prevent destructive fishing practices on
seamounts in the Western Tropical Pacific Islands Area (WTPIA) and to prevent
destructive fishing practices in other areas of high seas in the WTPIA until
an appropriate environmental impact assessment has been carried out,
effective conservation and management measures are implemented to protect
affected ecosystems, and effective monitoring, control, surveillance and
enforcement measures are in place to measure to ensure that the measures are
properly implemented and adhered to;
CALLS UPON members of the Pacific Islands Forum to advocate for an interim
prohibition on destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling in
areas beyond national jurisdiction where there is no RMFO under negotiation
until appropriate conservation and measurement measures are in place; and to
advance international efforts to institute an immediate interim prohibition
on destructive fishing practices including bottom trawling in these areas.
CALLS UPON members of the Pacific Islands Forum to advocate for interim
conservation and management measures in areas where they are negotiating an
RFMO by 31 July 2007. In the absence of such interi m measures, calls upon
states to advocate for an interim prohibition on destructive fishing
practices, including bottom trawling beginning on 1 August 2007 until such
measures are in place.
DETERMINES, to this end, to convene a meeting of regional fisheries
management experts and legal advisers to contribute to the development of
model legislation to guide the domestic implementation of this commitment.
RECOMMENDS that consideration is also given to the use of other options to
give greater international effect to the intent of this Declaration
including;
1. the possible inclusion of the high seas areas in the tropical Pacific
within the area covered by the proposed South Pacific Regional Fisheries
Management Organisation or another RFMO with the necessary competence;
2. the possible development of a separate arrangement for the WTPIA area
including relevant areas of the high seas and the Pacific Island countries
and territories’ EEZs in the form of a convention to address the impacts of
destructive fishing practices;
3. where the science supports, to investigate the potential to use
multiple use Marine Protected Areas in the WTPIA to prevent destructive
fishing practices in the high seas enclosures beyond the limits of national
jurisdiction.
CALLS on the international community to support, and cooperate in, the
implementation of this commitment to sustainable fisheries and, in particular
urges flag states whose vessels operate in the WTPIA to promptly implement
measures to ensure their vessels and nationals do not engage in destructive
fishing practices in the WTPIA.
---
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005266009
Indonesian Province Infected With Bird Flu Down To 14
October 23, 2006 5:28 a.m. EST
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent
Jakarta, Indonesia (AHN) - Indonesia's National Commission of the Bird Flu
Control and AI Pandemic Alertness has said that the number of bird-flu
infected provinces in the country has dropped to 14 from the previous 30.
Commission official Bayu Krisnamurthi said that 14 provinces have been
declared from avian influenza (AI) virus in the past six months.
He identifies the AI-free provinces as South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan,
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, West Sumatera, West Nusa Tenggara, and West
Sulawesi.
Bird flu cases were also not found in South Sumatera, Bangka Belitung, Riau,
Jambi, East Kalimantan, Riau Islands and West Irian Jaya.
Indonesia's Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said the positive development
should encourage the government in preventing the virus to affect people.
He said, "The problem is poultry. If we can control AI infection on poultry,
the virus will not infect human beings."
Between July 2005 and October 17, 2006, there were 72 cases of bird flu
infections in Indonesia, and the virus has so far killed 55 affected people
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20061014.G04&irec=3
516 pig-nosed turtles released back to their natural habitat
Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika
The Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) has returned 516
pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelys Insulpta) to their natural habitat in the
Mawati River in Papua after the Cikananga and Yogyakarta animal protection
centers took care of them for four years.
The animals were released on the border between the Lorenz National Park
and giant copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia's contract work
area. Their return was aimed at helping to replenish the protected
turtles' stocks and educate people about the importance of animal
conservation,
Residents of Fanamo and Omawita villages turned out, delighted to see the
native animals come back to their natural habitat.
Poaching has drastically reduced the population of the turtles in the
Mawati River. The turtles live in murky salt water in river delta areas,
such as in mangrove forests, and in shallow, clear fresh water in the
upper reaches of the river, such as in low lying forests.
The marine animal, which can grow up to 50 cm long, is protected under a
1990 law on conservation and a 1999 government regulation on forest and
animal protection.
Pig-nosed turtles can be found only in Papua and Australia. Thousands of
them have been captured in smuggling attempts around the country.
Around 1,000 turtles were seized by BKSDA's Jakarta office at the
Soekarno-Hatta Airport in 2003, before they could be sent overseas. The
confiscated turtles were eventually taken care of by the Animal Protection
Center in Sukabumi, West Java.
In March 2003, the East Java BKSDA confiscated as many as 7,000 pig-nosed
turtles in Surabaya's Tanjung Perak Port. They were later sent to the
Yogyakarta Animal Protection Center in January 2005.
The two animal protection centers train and rehabilitate the animals
before releasing them back into their natural habitat.
>From the centers, the animals were sent to Papua through the
translocation program, which involves medical tests, scrutiny by the
Forestry Ministry and Quarantine Office, and document arrangements.
The translocation process was conducted at the Halim Perdana Kusuma
Airport in Jakarta on Aug. 29, involving 2,632 pig-nosed turtles from
Yogyakarta and 230 turtles from Sukabumi.
A temporary station has been set up in Porsite, Timika, to help the
animals recover from their 20-hour journey from Jakarta. It will also
assist them in adjusting to their new diet and living conditions.
The head of the Papua BKSDA's Timika Conservation Zone, Prianto S., said
his office would continually monitor the progress of the pig-nosed turtles
in the Mawati River.
The office is also working to protect the turtles from smugglers.
"We will regularly coordinate with related agencies and the police to
combat poaching of Papua's endemic animal species," Prianto said.
---
http://english.pravda.ru/news/hotspots/13-10-2006/85047-teacher-0
10/13/2006 18:28
Prosecutors demand 20 years jail term for suspect in US teacher
killings in Indonesia
Indonesian prosecutors Friday demanded seven men on trial for the
murders of two American teachers at a U.S. gold mine in Papua
province serve between 8 and 20 years in jail, the suspects' lawyer
said.
The men, all alleged members of Papua's rebel movement, walked out
of the court before the sentence recommendations were read out in
protest at what they have always maintained is an unfair trial, said
attorney Johnson Panjaitan.
Prosecutors demanded the alleged ringleader in the killings
30-year-old Antonius Wamang serve 20 years for premeditated murder,
said Panjaitan. Three of the others should serve 15 years, while the
final three should serve eight, prosecutors said, according to
Panjaitan.
The men are accused of opening fire on a vehicle carrying Rickey
Lynn Spier, 44, of Littleton, Colorado, and Leon Edwin Burgon, 71,
of Sun River, Oregon in 2002 with the mistaken belief that it was
carrying soldiers hired to guard the mine.
An Indonesian teacher traveling in the convoy was also killed in the
ambush on an isolated road leading to the mine, owned by New
Orleans-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Mine Inc.
Panjaitan said the men were convinced they could not get a fair
trial in Jakarta and were demanding to be tried in Papua.
"Since the beginning we have said this trial is a sham," he said.
Under Indonesian law, judges are free to ignore prosecutor demands
when sentencing, reports AP.
Lawyers will respond to the sentence recommendations at the next
hearing.
Prosecutors allege the men were members of a small rebel army
fighting for a separate state in the resource-rich eastern province.
The mine has long been held by separatists as a symbol of
Jakarta-rule over the province.
The attack initially complicated ties between Jakarta and Washington
amid suspicions that Indonesian security forces were involved. The
FBI, which was involved in the arrests of the men last year, has
unearthed no evidence to back up those suspicions.
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=22041
Ships with rice from Vietnam scheduled to arrive in Papua soon
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Ships carrying 240,000 tons of rice from Vietnam
are expected to arrive in Papua province at the end of October, in the
beginning of November 2006 or early in 2007, the head of the Papua
Logistics Board (Bulog) Edy Busran said here Thursday.
Of the 240,000 tons of rice imported by Bulog, 12,000 tons will be kept in
the warehouses of the Logistics Depot (Dolog) in Sorong, Jayapura and Biak
Numfor. The Vietnamese rice will be unloaded at Sorong port on October 30
and at Biak Numfor port on November 1. The Vietnamese rice arrived at
Jayapura port on March 3, 2006.
The Central Government has set the price of imported rice in Papua at
Rp4,950 per kg. In Jayapura city and regency, imported rice is sold at
Rp4,850/kg, lower than the price set by the government as in Jayapura the
staple food can be transported by land.
The 12,000 tons of rice from Vietnam for Sorong will be allocated for the
town of Sorong, Raja Ampat, South Sorong, Fakfak, Kaimana, Bintuni Bay, in
Mimika regency.
The imported rice which had entered Biak will be allocated to Biak,
Supiori, Waropen, Yapen, Nabire, Paniai and Puncak Jaya. The commodity is
kept in Dolog warehouses in Jayapura and will be allocated to Jayapura
city, Jayapura regency, Keerom, Sarmi, Jayawijaya, Tolikara, Yahukimo and
Bintang mountain regency.
The Papua Bulog will shortly distribute 3,000 tons of local rise from
Surabaya and Makassar in this Indonesian easternmost province. Bulog now
has 15,000 tons of rice stock in Dolog warehouses in Biak and Sorong.(*)
============================================================================
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News since 1994") www.kabar-irian.com
NOTE: "All items are posted for their news/information content. They are
not necessarily the views of IRJA.org or subscribers. "