[Kabar-Irian] News: Feb 16-21 2007
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KABAR IRIAN NEWS
Feb 16-21 2007
TOPICS
* Indonesian president urges faster Papua development
* Papua`s provincial administration has imported rice
* PAPUA: TV ad campaign to raise rights issue in province
* Indonesia's President calls for development progress in Papua
* Indonesia faces growing AIDS woes, Papua big worry - WHO
* KNOC finds large oil reserve off Papua
* Outgoing U.S. envoy tells RI to solve Munir case and fix Papua
* Peatland project to focus mainly on conservation
* Papuans cull fowls, fearing flu outbreak
* Australia Embassy clarifies
* Home affairs minister to visit Papua
* Chicken culled in Jayapura to stop spread of AI virus
* Thousands Displaced
* Indonesia faces rapidly growing HIV/AIDS problem
* Why can't military and police just get along?
* West Papuan students seek repatriation of Political prisoners
* On Papua
* Indonesian minister says illegal logging in Papua is decreasing
* Church leaders in Papua...
* Finnish negotiator has hopes of peace breakthrough in Papua
* EU Clears Freeport-McMoRan to Buy Phelps
* Papua, West Papua agree to end their bickering
* Witnesses describe Timor violence
*
---
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/JAK309434.htm
Indonesian president urges faster Papua development
16 Feb 2007 11:53:32 GMT
Source: Reuters
JAKARTA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia needs to speed up development in the
eastern area of Papua, a remote part the country where a low-level armed
rebellion has
simmered for decades, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.
Papua, comprising two provinces on the west half of New Guinea island, has
long been under the scrutiny of Western groups critical of how Indonesia,
the world's most
populous Muslim country, treats the predominantly Christian and ethnically
distinct area.
"The improvement of peoples' prosperity in two Papua provinces is slow.
Special autonomy has not been implemented in a good way," Yudhoyono told
reporters after a
cabinet meeting on the issue.
"I will issue a presidential decree to accelerate the development in the
two Papuan provinces. Funds will come from the region and the central
government," he said.
Papua, with a population of two million occupying a land area almost as
large as Iraq, has around 300 indigenous tribes, some still living in
virtually Stone Age conditions,
with different sets of languages and traditions.
Yudhoyono said transport infrastructure would be priority to boost the
local economy.
"We hope in three to five years we will see significant results of this
acceleration programmes," he said.
After human rights abuses against indigenous Papuans under the autocratic
rule of President Suharto were unearthed, the Indonesian government in
2001 issued a law
giving Papua a bigger share of revenue from its rich mineral and natural
resources and more freedom in running its own affairs. Suharto left office
in 1998.
Despite the pledge, critics say Papuans have often failed to gain much
from the resources in the area.
Mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., operates the world's
second-largest copper mine, Grasberg, in Papua.
The Freeport operation has been a frequent source of controversy in
Indonesia, with issues ranging from its impact on the environment and the
share of revenue going to
native Papuans and the Papua government to the legality of payments to
Indonesian security forces who help guard the site.
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=27528
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Papua`s provincial administration has
imported rice from Vietnam to meet local demand.
The imported rice was to add to the existing stock and to ensure that
there would be no shortage of the stape in the province, an official of
the provincial Logistics Depot,
Eddy Busran, said here on Thursday.
Last year, Papua imported 21,500 tons of rice for Sorong, West Papua
Province, and Biak.
(*)
---
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/programs/s1849023.htm
PAPUA: TV ad campaign to raise rights issue in province
An Australian millionaire is preparing to run television ads across
Southeast Asia urging Jakarta to let human rights monitors into the
Indonesian province of Papua.
Presenter/Interviewer: Graeme Dobell
Speakers: Australian millionaire businessman Ian Melrose; Papua activist
Clemens Runawery
DOBELL: The television ad has pictures of Australia's Prime Minister, John
Howard, and Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Earlier
versions started
running in Australia last month. Now a new series is set to be run across
Southeast Asia as well. The ads were launched at a press conference in
Parliament House in
Canberra hosted by four Members of Parliament - an independent MP and a
Labor MP from the lower house, and senators from the Democrats and the
Greens Parties.
The focus is on the new Australia-Indonesia security treaty signed in
November. While signed the treaty is yet to to be endorsed for
ratification by the Australian
Parliament's Treaties Committee. The tv ads call for the treaty to be
amended so it has a human rights clause. The sponsor of the ads,
millionaire businessman Ian Melrose,
ran a similar campaign to embarrass the Australian Government over its
dealings with to East Timor. Mr Melrose says he'll run tv ads across
Southeast Asia to discomfit
Australia and Indonesia over human rights in Papua.
MELROSE: My hope is that as a result of this both governments decide to
put human rights monitoring into the treaty with Australia and that would
be a good outcome for
both the West Papuans and Indonesia. There would be no losers.
DOBELL: How would running the ads in Asia, would have more of an impact
than running the ads in Australia?
MELROSE: Australia and Indonesia are sensitive to other countries
opinions. Airing the issue and letting everyone know what's happening at
present isn't right, isn't
honourable, is going to cause a sensitivity to both governments and they
may well both work on implementing human rights monitoring in West Papua
and access for
journalists. If journalists are allowed access, human rights monitoring
will be a much easier process because the Indonesian military won't want
to be caught out doing the
things that it does so well.
DOBELL: Are you having trouble getting the ads placed in Asia? Are some
television networks worried about offending Indonesia?
MELROSE: Hm, I don't think that's going to be the case. There's going to
be some people that take the money.
DOBELL: Other ads feature Clemens Runawery, who fled from Papua in 1969
and lives in exile in Papua New Guinea. He says there's a slow process of
genocide in
Papua, because of the influx of people from the rest of Indonesia. Mr
Runawery says that under Dutch rule in the early 1960s, Papuans made up 96
percent of the
population of what is now an Indonesia province. Today, he says only 65
percent of the population is Papuan, the other 35 percent from the rest of
Indonesia.
RUNAWERY: The over population for the Indonesian side is growing much
faster than the Papuan population. Now one may wonder why, but the answer
to that will be
through the trans-migration, official and non-official or the so-called
spontaneous migrants. They are coming in almost 5,000 a week and that is
this policy is devastating, is
detrimental to its Papuan existence, in terms of maintaining the cultures
and the dignity as an ethnic group.
---
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200702190633/indonesias_president_calls_for_development_progress_in_papua
Indonesia's President calls for development progress in Papua
Posted at 6:33am on 19 Feb 2007
Indonesia's President says the country needs to speed up development in
the eastern area of Papua, a remote part the country where a low-level
armed rebellion has
simmered for decades.
Papua, comprising two provinces on the west half of New Guinea island, has
long been under the scrutiny of Western groups critical of how Indonesia,
the world's most
populous Muslim country, treats the predominantly Christian
and ethnically distinct area.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the improvement of peoples' prosperity in
two Papua provinces is slow.
He says special autonomy has not been implemented in a good way and he
will issue a presidential decree to accelerate the development in the two
Papuan provinces.
President Yudhoyono says funds will come from the region and the central
government and says transport infrastructure would be a priority to boost
the local economy.
He says Indonesia hopes in three to five years it will see significant
results of this acceleration programmes.
Copyright © 2007 Radio New Zealand International
---
http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2007-02-17T151531Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-288121-1.xml&archived=False
Indonesia faces growing AIDS woes, Papua big worry - WHO
Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:21 PM IST160
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia faces a growing AIDS problem - particularly
among drug users and prostitutes - while a recent survey shows two percent
of the Papua
population infected with HIV, the World Health Organisation said on Saturday.
The sprawling, developing nation of 220 million people also faces
constraints and lack of resources to cope with the problem, Bjorn Melgaard
of the WHO said at the
release of the report.
"Indonesia has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in Asia. Although
the HIV prevalence among adults is still generally low, it has reached
high levels among specific
populations like injecting drug users and sex workers," the report said.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation but many of its
citizens have a liberal attitude toward sex and prostitution is a thriving
part of the economy in many
areas.
Drug usage has also been growing, police say.
The WHO report highlighted a growing concern over HIV cases in the remote
eastern area of Papua, where it said a recent survey showed that
prevalence of HIV in the
general population was 20 times the national average and two percent were
infected with HIV.
The report said there was "recent evidence of a generalised epidemic" in
Papua and cited the undeveloped health care system and a lack of resources
to cope with the
problem.
Papua, with a population of two million occupying a land area almost as
large as Iraq, has around 300 indigenous tribes, some still living in
virtually Stone Age conditions,
with different sets of languages and traditions.
The Southeast Asian country overall faced constraints dealing with the
problem ranging from weak preventative programmes among high risk groups,
blood safety issues
and poor quality of clinical care, Melgaard said.
The report did not provide estimates on cases in Indonesia, but Indonesian
Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari warned in November that the country
could see half a million
HIV cases by 2010, and double that if preventive steps are not taken.
At that time, estimates put the number of cases in a range of
169,000-216,000 in Indonesia although only about 7,000 full-blown AIDS
cases had been reported.
That represents an overall estimated HIV infection rate of about 0.1
percent of the population.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillbus.asp?fileid=20070215152424&irec=7
Feb 19
KNOC finds large oil reserve off Papua
JAKARTA (Antara): Korean National Oil Company (KNOC) has found some 671
million barrel of oil reserve in Wakam Block off Sorong regency, Papua
province.
Deputy head of The Upstream Oil & Gas Executing Body's (BP Migas) for
planning division Achmad Luthfi said Thursday that the finding in 2006
would significantly add to
the national oil production.
"KNOC has to carry out further study about the amount of the oil reserve,"
Achmad was quoted by Antara news agency as saying Thursday, adding that
further study
needed to know the exact amount of the oil reserve.
If the oil reserve is confirmed, it will be larger than reserve in Cepu
Block in Central Java, he added. (*
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20070217.K01
Outgoing U.S. envoy tells RI to solve Munir case and fix Papua
World News - February 17, 2007
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe has said that
Indonesia should respond to the international demands for a resolution to
the Munir case and
Papua's problems in order to maintain its global reputation.
"The issue is really what you are doing today to resolve these problems,
and what are you doing to try to fix them. How well you're doing in Munir
case in trying to solve it.
"What is the new governor doing in Papua? What does it look like? What
direction is it going?" Pascoe, who is about to become the first American
to be the UN's political
chief, told a farewell press briefing here Friday.
With Democrats leading both the U.S. Congress and Senate, as well as the
great possibility of a U.S. Democrat president after 2009, human rights
issues and military
reform are thought likely to resurface, with Munir's murder and Papua as
major cases.
Human rights activist Munir Said Thalib died after being poisoned with
arsenic in September 2004. Lower courts and a presidentially sanctioned
investigation team found
evidence linking top National Intelligence Agency (BIN) officials to his
murder, although none have ever been charged.
The only man successfully prosecuted for his murder, an off-duty Garuda
pilot, was later found not guilty on appeal by the Supreme Court in
September this year.
The Munir case became a focus of the U.S. Congress after Munir's widow
Suciwati was received by Congress members last year.
The new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State,
Foreign Operations and Related Agencies, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, for
instance, has said
that he suspects BIN officials were involved in Munir's death.
Meanwhile, the Democrat's win in mid-term elections in October last year
brought back some key congressmen and senators who wanted to see Papuans
be given self-
determination.
The new chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific,
and the Global Environment is Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, who said recently
that "If you want to
talk about fairness, give the people of West Papua the right of
self-determination."
Pascoe said that the U.S. Congress often looked at issues across the
world, and commented on those it thought were not moving or being fixed
fast enough.
"Of course, the foreign policy is made by the President but it doesn't
mean that Congress can't push. They hold money, and they can do serious
things on our divided
government. So, I think that the question here really is response," he said.
He said that there were very strong advocates for Indonesia among the
Democrats as well as among the Republicans because they knew Indonesia was
an example of
successful democracy.
"People say, why are U.S.-Indonesia relations moving so quickly in the
last couple of years? This is a natural follow-on from the election. It
was better than almost any place
in the world. So I think that kind of natural thing is really based on
what you do. Your reputation really depends on what's happening," Pascoe
said.
Pascoe was the Bush administration's choice to succeed Ibrahim Gambari of
Nigeria in political affairs, a post that negotiates in a variety of
crisis points around the world.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20070217.H03
Peatland project to focus mainly on conservation
National News - February 17, 2007
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government has announced that a large part of its peatland reclamation
project in Central Kalimantan will be set aside for conservation projects.
"Eighty percent of the peatland, or around 1.1 million hectares must be
conserved," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Friday in a press
conference after a
cabinet meeting to discuss the peatland project and accelerating
development in Papua.
The president said the remaining 20 percent of the converted peatland,
300,000 hectares, would be used for agricultural land, to be worked by
locals and transmigrants.
He said that all agricultural work in the area would take the conservation
effort into account.
Yudhoyono was accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Central
Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu
and West Irian Jaya
Governor Abraham Atururi.
The President is expected to issue a decree next week on the peatland
project.
The government had earlier said that it would reclaim up to 500,000
hectares of peatland in Central Kalimantan for agricultural use and
plantations as part of an effort to
revitalize the agricultural sector. Another 600,000 hectares of the
peatland was to be conserved to reduce damage to the ecosystem.
The new project is part of an effort to salvage the plan of former
president Soeharto to turn 1.4 million hectares of peatland in the
province into agricultural land, although
the project was later abandoned.
The aborted project, kicked off in 1995, toward the end of the Soeharto
administration, caused massive environmental destruction.
Forests in the vicinity of the converted peatland have also been destroyed
by illegal logging. Between 1996 and 1997, only 70,000 hectares of
peatland was converted into
agricultural land.
Then president B.J. Habibie issued instructions to halt the conversion of
the peatland in 1998.
Governor Narang said that the agricultural land converted from peatland --
which traverses Barito Selatan, Kapuas, Pulang Pisau regencies -- will be
planted with rice and
other field crops. Some of the land will also be used for cattle raising
and aquaculture.
The central government is yet to disclose how much it will spend on the
new peatland project, but a great deal of it will be covered by the
Central Kalimantan provincial
budget.
On Papua, the government reiterated its commitment to expedite
infrastructure development in both Papua and West Irian Jaya provinces to
support the implementation of
the special autonomy granted to both provinces.
The infrastructure is to be financed by provincial budgets, autonomy
allowances and revenue-sharing.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20070216.G08
Papuans cull fowls, fearing flu outbreak
National News - February 16, 2007
Nethy Dharma Somba and Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Jambi
Residents of the Dok IX area in Jayapura voluntarily culled 56 fowls and
one bird Thursday, after seven chickens believed to be infected with bird
flu died suddenly.
The culling was witnessed by Jayapura Mayor MR Kambu and representatives
of the mayoralty offices, including Papua Livestock Husbandry chairman AR
Pintadewa and
Papua Animal Quarantine head Elias Inte.
The fowls were gathered from nearby houses and slaughtered before being
burned in a pit.
"I have raised chickens for sale for a long time, but because of the
discovery of the bird flu infection, I just let my 23 fowls be culled,"
said Wondibo, one of the local
residents.
If the presence of the virus is confirmed, it would make Jayapura the
third city in Papua and West Papua to be hit by bird flu, along with
Manokwari and Timika.
It is not yet known how the virus might have gotten there. Elias Inte said
his agency had strictly supervised the entrance of chickens into Jayapura
by air and sea. "As soon
as chickens arrive from outside, they are immediately eliminated, they are
immediately eliminated," he said.
The nearby livestock husbandry office suspected an outbreak after local
residents reported the deaths of the chickens. Officers sent to the area
took blood samples from
the dead chickens for laboratory testing at the veterinary agency in
Maros, South Sulawesi.
In Jambi, a suspected bird flu patient was admitted to Raden Mattabher
Hospital, the sixth to be treated at the hospital this week.
A hospital employee, Suparni, said the five-year-old patient had bird
flu-like symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a high fever and coughing.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20070217.F06&irec=5
Australia Embassy clarifies
John McBeth is wrong (A bewildering name game in Papua, The Jakarta Post,
Feb. 16).
The Australian government strongly supports Indonesia's territorial
integrity and recognizes its sovereignty over the provinces of Papua and
West Irian Jaya.
Our commitment to this position was made clear in the Lombok Treaty signed
between Australia and Indonesia last year.
We are aware of proposals for name changes and to create new provinces on
the half-island, but also understand these are yet to be formalized by all
appropriate
authorities.
Just to make it quite clear, we regard Papua and West Irian Jaya as
integral parts of Indonesia.
BILL FARMER
Ambassador
Australian Embassy
Jakarta
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=27614
Home affairs minister to visit Papua
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Home Affairs Minister M Ma`ruf is
scheduled to leave for Papua Province on Sunday evening for a working
visit in the province with a
number of legislators.
Minister Ma`ruf and his group will visit Skouw border line area shared by
Indonesian eastern most province of Papua and neighboring Papua New Guinea
(PNG) .
The Skouw border patrol post was newly constructed and will be officially
inaugurated in March 2007.
Last year, Indonesia and PNG twice discussed the two countries` border
issues, respectively taking place in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) in August
2006 and in Jakarta in
December 2006.
Irian Jaya is the largest island in Indonesia and home to a native
Melanesian population of about 2 million people, plus another 700,000
settlers from other parts of the
country.
>From Papua, the minister, who is also accompanied by officials from the
coordinating ministry for political, legal and security affairs, the
transportation and health
ministries, will proceed to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to visit the
country`s border line in Mota Ain, Belu District, which shares a common
border line with East Timor or
Timor Leste. (*)
Copyright © 2007 ANTARA
February 18, 2007
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=27582
Chicken culled in Jayapura to stop spread of AI virus
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Jayapura Mayor Menase Roberth Kambu here
led the culling of 36 chickens in Imbi, North Jayapura District, Papua
Province,
following a report on bird flu (Avian Influenza/AI) outbreak in the area.
The result of a laboratory test of the blood sample of a chicken from
Imbi, Jayapura, confirmed that the animal was infected with the bird flu
virus, Head of the Papua
provincial husbandry agency Didik Pintadewa Radjasa said.
A local chicken breeder, Y Ansanai, told ANTARA News that of his total of
49 chickens, only 20 were still healthy. However, he was not sure whether
the Avian Influenza
was the culprit.
"My family is in a good condition and we never hestitated in eating
chicken," he said.
So far there are no reports of bird flu cases affecting humans in Papua.
However, for the culling, the Papua Administration has not allocated any
fund to compensate for each fowl.
A total of 10 nations have detected outbreaks of the animal disease in
humans. Indonesia has verified more human cases of H5N1 infection than any
other country. Of at
least 80 cases confirmed in Indonesia, 62 have been fatal.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed all regional
administration authorities to promptly provide compensation money to
people and farmers whose poultry
have to be destroyed. (*)
Copyright © 2007 ANTARA
February 16, 2007
---
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1851504.htm
Last Updated 19/02/2007, 19:51:46
Thousands Displaced
Church leaders in the Indonesian province of Papua say more than 5,000
internally displaced people are hiding out in isolated villages and
forests.
They say they were driven from their homes two months ago by fighting
between Free Papua Movement Rebels and the Indonesian military.
Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk from Indonesian Evangelical Church says their
situation is dire.
"People still need food, people not stay in their own home, because they
still afraid of army and FPM leaders," he said.
"So they still need food and medicine, because nobody helps them today."
Indonesian police and military deny the existence of displaced persons.
They say the fighting between Indonesian forces and FPM rebels has ended.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070219.A04&irec=3
19 Feb 2007
Indonesia faces rapidly growing HIV/AIDS problem
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A recent survey shows Indonesia has the fastest growth rate of HIV
infection among Asian countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said
Saturday. Half of the
country's cases are found in the easternmost province of Papua.
The survey found that 2 percent of the Papua population had HIV, 20 times
higher than the national average.
WHO said Indonesia recorded 316 new cases of AIDS in 2003. The number
increased to 1,195 in 2004 and rocketed to 2,638 in 2005 and 2,873 new
cases in 2006.
According to Health Ministry statistics, there were a total of 8,194 AIDS
patients and another 5,230 with HIV in the country as of last year.
National and international
organizations, however, estimate that the number of HIV infections is
between 169,000 and 216,000.
"Indonesia is facing a major threat because the country's AIDS epidemic is
among the fastest-growing epidemics in Asia," WHO's Bjorn Melgaard said.
Melgaard said the disease was progressing along two paths: a concentrated
epidemic among high-risk groups such as injecting drug users and sex
workers; and the
generalized epidemic that has recently emerged in Papua.
The survey involved WHO, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS,
and other international agencies as well as local nongovernmental
organizations. It was
conducted from Feb. 5 to 17 in several regions of the country, including
Jakarta, Bali, and Surabaya as well as Banyuwangi in East Java and
Singkawang and Pontianak in
West Kalimantan.
The survey paid particular attention to Papua, targeting four regencies:
Merauke, Wamena, Timika and Jayapura.
"Due to the unique nature of the epidemic and the limited financial, human
and technical resources locally available, fundamentally different needs
should be addressed in
Papua," Melgaard said.
The director general of communicable diseases at Indonesia's Health
Ministry, I Nyoman Kandun, said the government had considered a more
proactive approach to reach
'untouched' groups in Papua, a huge island with a small population divided
among many different tribes and languages.
Meanwhile, Melgaard said Indonesia had shown a strong commitment and done
the right things in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He said the
programs were not
sufficient, however, to fight the rapid epidemic among the country's more
than 220 million people.
Melgaard said the challenges Indonesia had to deal with included poor
healthcare, blood safety issues and weak prevention programs among
high-risk groups, including
injecting drug users, sex workers, men who have sex with men and
transgendered people.
He said Indonesia should focus on prevention programs, adding that the
government could learn from other countries like Thailand that had
successfully curbed the growth
of the epidemic. (01)
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070219.B06&irec=5
Feb 19 2007
Why can't military and police just get along?
Rizal Sukma, Jakarta
I have lost count of how many times members of our security apparatus, the
Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police, have been engaged in
embarrassing
clashes. In August last year, a fight between the two forces in Musi Rawas
district, South Sumatra, left a soldier and a police officer dead.
In December, a TNI soldier died in a brawl with police personnel in
Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara province. The latest incident took place last
week in Papua, when a
group of seven members of the National Police's Mobile Brigade attacked a
military station in Mulia, Puncak Jaya district.
We should not overlook the implications of these fights. TNI and National
Police personnel are expected to function as state instruments in
providing national security to the
whole nation. The TNI functions as an instrument of (external) defense.
The National Police maintains public safety and internal security. So,
when their members begin to
fight, and in some cases even kill each other, this nation clearly has a
serious problem.
What is wrong with our security apparatus? The explanations offered by
both TNI and police leaders often sound dismissive, if not trivial. The
explanation usually begins
with the pledge to deliver a "thorough investigation" and take action to
"discipline" those responsible. This is then followed by the promise that
appropriate measures will be
taken to ensure that such incidents will not reoccur in the future. Almost
in the same breath, however, they also quickly add that such brawls occur
because the security
personnel involved are generally young men.
To back up such observations, the explanations are often supported by the
fact that the brawls are often triggered by "misunderstandings" over
trivial matters. They are also
caused by the lack of coordination and communication between the two
forces at lower levels on the chain of command. We are also often told
that they are nothing to
worry about because there is a mechanism in place to deal with the matter.
In other words, there is a tendency to play down the severity of the
problem, among both TNI
and National Police leaders.
A much more interesting and frank explanation, however, was given by Maj.
Gen. (ret) Sjamsu Djalal, former commander of Military Police, back in
October 2002. He
admitted that the clashes between TNI and National Police personnel were
often caused by the competition between the two in providing security
protection for "partners"
(Kompas, October 12, 2002). Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono seemed to
confirm this when he commented that one reason behind the clash in Atambua
was the
problem of welfare. In other words, both police and TNI personnel are
forced to moonlight in order to survive.
That is the sad reality this nation needs to reflect upon. This nation
asks these young men in uniform to protect both Indonesian citizens and
the Indonesian state from any
threats. Yet they have no sufficient means of protecting themselves from
the threat of economic insecurity. Indeed, it is both a national and
international "secret" that our
security personnel are under-paid and under-equipped.
However, the problem is in fact much more complex than just the lack of
welfare for security personnel. Is it really a lack of funds that causes
police officers and soldiers to
get involved in fights? A deeper look at the issue reveals a more serious
problem than just the question of welfare.
For one, the brawls clearly demonstrate that traces of a culture of
violence are still to be found, if not entrenched, in our security forces.
People's Consultative Assembly
Chairman Hidayat Nurwahid has told TNI and National Police personnel to
resolve their disputes in a civilized manner, not by "displaying arrogance
and shooting at each
other." This clearly requires not only better recruitment, education and
training programs, but also new strategic culture .
Second, a major defense review is needed in order to determine the level
of the force and budget requirements. For example, we need to know whether
the welfare problem
in the TNI is really caused by a the small defense budget, or simply by
problems in the allocation of funds within the budget. A defense review
will also determine whether
we really need to maintain or reduce the current force level, especially
the total number in the Army.
Third, the problem also relates to the way we deploy our military. We
should not dismiss the relationship between the territorial command system
(Koter) and the brawls
between TNI and National Police personnel. As the tasks of maintaining
internal stability and public safety are now in the hands of the police,
the Koter system needs
restructuring.
Fourth, there is also the problem of the lack of regulations. TNI, while
it functions as the main instrument for external defense, it can also be
called upon by the political
authorities to undertake internal security functions in special
circumstances. However, Indonesia does not yet have a law that
specifically regulates when and how the
military can play such internal security role. It is not enough to control
this issue through a ministerial decree or military commander's
regulations.
The decision to call upon the military to undertake internal security
functions in special circumstances is a political one. It therefore
requires a law on "stability and the
support role of the military" or "military assistance to civilian
authorities" of some sort which will regulate the interaction between the
TNI and the National Police.
The writer is deputy executive director of the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies.
---
Media release 10/2/06 (Source below)
West Papuan students seek repatriation of Political prisoners
Six West Papuan Student activists from the Student and Civil Society
Coalition Concerned about Human Rights in Papua (Koalisi Mahasiswa dan
Masyarakat Peduli HAM
di Papua) were arrested, detained & later released by Indonesian Police
during a demonstration of about 60 people outside the front of the
Provincial Parliament in
Jayapura on Tuesday 6 February 2007.
Student organizer, Marthen Goo, in Jayapura, one of the six detained, said
the protesters want West Papuan prisoners currently in jail in Makassar,
Sulawesi & Java to be
transferred back to Jayapura where they can have contact with family and
community.
Marthen Goo asked that, “The Provincial Government in West Papua lobby the
Indonesian Government in Jakarta to move all Papuan prisoners back to West
Papua.”
Marthen Goo also said, “The political prisoners in Makassar are in a poor
mental and psychological state after being subjected to intimidation and
racist taunts”.
The some of the prisoners in Makassar are in jail after being found guilty
of involvement in a raid on an arms depot at a military base in Wamena, in
the West Papuan
highlands in 2003.
About these prisoners detained in Makassar, Marthen Goo said, “The
prisoners are highland people who only know about gardening of their
subsistence crops. They were
arrested and forced to confess to a crime the had nothing to do with.”
Marthen Goo and other protest organizers emphasized that, although they
believed the Wamena case prisoners in Makassar were innocent, they
respected Indonesian law
process and were just asking that the prisoners be returned to Papua.
Spokesperson for the Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights in
Australia, Jason McLoud said today.
“We are told by members of the Student and Civil Society Coalition
Concerned about Human Rights in Papua that they want all West Papuan
prisoners returned to
Papua.”
“They say that unless prisoners are returned to Papua they are they are
unable to get the kind of support from their community which would allow
them to survive
incarceration in Indonesia’s jail system.”
“Although it is usually practice throughout Indonesia that local prisoner
usually stay in their local province, it is practice that many West Papuan
prisoners are interned
elsewhere in Indonesia including jails in Makassar and Java.”
Jason McLoud went on to say, “The demonstration comes a week after the
death in custody of Eko Berotabui in West Papua’s capital Jayapura.
Berotabui was a student
activist jailed for alleged involvement in the killing of policemen during
student demonstrations in the capital in March 2006. It is reported that
Berotabui was seriously
depressed & died from a drug overdose.”
Jason McLoud also said, “We hold general concern for West Papuan prisoners
in Indonesian jails because of the state of Indonesia’s judicial process
as many prisoners
appear to be wrongfully detailed for alleged crimes or have been sentenced
to long terms for non violent political demonstrations such as flag
raising. There is also very the
serious issue of treatment of prisoners and there are recent reports of
very bad treatment and abuse in Jayapura.”
For more information contact:
* Marthen Goo, Student and Civil Society Coalition Concerned about
Human Rights in Papua (Koalisi Mahasiswa dan Masyarakat Peduli HAM di
Papua) in Jayapura on
+62 852 298910632;
* Jason MCLoud, Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights + 61 (0)
438503532;
* Paula Makabory, Els-ham West Papua, Human Rights Research &
Advocacy Institute + 61 (0) 402547517
Matthew Jamieson
Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
PO Box 1805, Byron Bay NSW 2418 Australia
matthew@hr.minihub.org
tel +61 (0) 418291998
listou
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20070220.F06&irec=6
Feb 20 2007
On Papua
In his haste to call me "wrong" (The Jakarta Post, Feb.17, Australian
Embassy clarifies), Ambassador Farmer has completely missed the point I
was trying to make.
I was not seriously questioning the Australian government's stated
commitment to non-interference in Indonesia's internal affairs.
I was asking why Australian officials from Prime Minister Howard on down
insist on calling the place West Papua, when its official name is Papua.
Whether the ambassador likes it or not, it conveys the impression to many
Indonesians that Canberra is following the lead of the Papuan independence
movement.
So I ask the question again. Why?
JOHN MCBETH
Jakarta
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30262
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Indonesian minister says illegal logging in Papua is decreasing
Posted at 04:23 on 20 February, 2007 UTC
Indonesia’s Minister of Environment says illegal logging in Papua province
is decreasing but more work needs to be done to reduce the illegal timber
trade.
Rachmat Witoelar says the international demand for hardwood, particularly
kwila, is fuelling environmentally damaging, illegal logging in Papua.
Kwila trees take up to 100 years to grow, are difficult to regenerate, and
are becoming commercially extinct.
Environmental groups are expressing concern about the rapid depletion of
Papua’s rain forest, and have asked international governments, including
New Zealand’s, to ban
the import of all tropical kwila.
Mr Witoelar says it’s hard to keep Papua’s native forests in tact while
corrupt loggers still have a market demanding its timber.
“Elements who are corrupt, they deal in this and because there are
buyers from outside. So we have to stem both the outflow and the
purchase, the market. If we reduce
the market then there won’t be any motives for the illegal loggers the
perpetrators, to repeat themselves.”
Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment, Rachmat Witoelar
---
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/s1851114.htm
Church leaders in Papua say as many as 5,300 people have been displaced
because of fighting between Free Papua Movement Rebels and Indonesian
military. The
leaders say the people are starving and in need of medical attention. But
local authorities are accusing Papua's clergy of lying.
Presenter - Katie Hamann, Speaker - Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk, head of the
Indonesian Evangelical Church; Commissioner Kartono, spokesman, Papua
police; Socratez
Yoman, president, Papua's Communion of Baptist Churches
listen windows media listen windows media >
HAMANN: There not images you're likely to see on your television screen
anytime soon and that's exactly the way Indonesia wants it. Refugees of
their own land.
According to reports at least 5,300 West Papuans seeking refuge in the
hills and villages of Puncak Jaya regency, two days walk from the nearest
town. A trickle of
information about their plight has been buried in the opinion pages of The
Jakarta Post in recent weeks a passed completely under the international
radar.
But Papuan church leaders and human rights activists say they have very
grave fears for their people. They say few outsiders or aid has reached
the refugees who are
camped in an area heavily protected by both TNI forces and Free Papua
Movement rebels. Most consider it too dangerous to even attempt the
journey.
Four people have died already as a result of disease.
Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk is from Puncak Jaya and heads the Indonesian
Evangelical Church.
BINILUK: Just four days ago they that people still need food. They don't
stay in their own home because they are still afraid of army and OPM (Free
Papua Movement)
leaders. So they are still behind the (?Jamor River). They still need food
and medicine because no-one is helping them.
HAMANN: But Indonesian police and military have consistently denied the
existence of any displaced persons. They say fighting between Indonesian
forces and FPM
rebels, which broke out in December, has ceased and everything is calm and
accuse Church leaders of lying.
A spokesman for the provinces police, Commissioner Kartono, who goes by
one name, says his forces are protectors of the people.
KARTONO: (Voice to translation) "The story about the refugees is actually
a hoax. They do not exist. Why should they be afraid? That's a lie, there
are no refugees here in
Mulya. Moreover you said they are afraid of the police. We police officers
are people protectors.
"That's a lie, okay, that's a lie. I know that this kind of thing gets
made up and the intention. There are no refugees. They make it up to stir
the water."
HAMANN: Connect Asia spoke or corresponded with three church leaders and a
professor at the Fajur Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in
Jayapura. Each said
local pastors had reported the presence of at least 5,000 refugees in
Puncak Jaya.
Socratez Yoman, President of Papua's Communion of Baptist Churches, says
history does not judge the Indonesians well.
YOMAN: Don't you believe them -- the Indonesian police and Military.
Believe the church leaders because we will tell you the evidence, we will
tell you the truth. Police and
military always give misinformation to the international community longer
than 45 years.
HAMANN: When asked why Papua's leading clergymen would lie, Kartono said
he didn't know but that the Australian media was also good at spreading
stories about
refugees.
Perhaps Commissioner Kartono has heard about the television advertisements
featuring West Papuan refugees that began screening in Australia last
week.
Their stories of abuse and repression at the hands of Indonesian military
and police are underwriting a campaign to force the Australian government
to negotiate a human
rights clause in it latest security pact with Indonesia.
It's a message many in Indonesia may well be digesting soon, too, if plans
to screen the ads in Southeast Asia go ahead.
But at least for the moment, no one is looking in Papua, and the
indigenous population will have to rely on the Indonesian forces to be as
they say they are 'protectors of
the people
---
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_36095.shtml
Regional News
Finnish negotiator has hopes of peace breakthrough in Papua
By pacnews
Feb 21, 2007, 12:28
A Finnish negotiator who helped to broker a peace deal in the Indonesian
province of Aceh says there is political will for a solution to the West
Papua conflict, Radio New
Zealand International reports
Dr Timo Kivimaki was adviser to the former Finnish president Marti
Ahtisaari during talks in Helsinki between the GAM separatists in Aceh and
officials from Jakarta.
Dr Kivimaki said that agreement meant negotiators were warmly received in
rebel strongholds in Aceh and also by the government side.
He said the goodwill generated from the Aceh agreement can be transferred
to West Papua.
“And I think that means that there is, in a way, there is more political
will, or more momentum for Papua process, peace process, than there ever
was in Aceh. But at the
same time of course the, the issue is so much more complicated, so all the
political will that there is, is needed.”
---
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/02/20/ap3445284.html?partner=alerts
Associated Press
EU Clears Freeport-McMoRan to Buy Phelps
Associated Press 02.20.07, 12:35 PM E
EU antitrust regulators on Tuesday cleared Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
Inc. to buy Phelps Dodge Corp., a deal that would create the world's
largest publicly traded
copper company - and the largest metals and mining company based in North
America.
The European Commission said that combining the two U.S.-based companies
would not significantly impede competition in Europe, identifying only
limited overlaps
between the two that would not cause antitrust problems for rivals,
suppliers or customers.
The companies announced in November that Freeport-McMoRan would acquire
Phelps Dodge for US$25.9 billion (euro20.17 billion) in cash and stock.
The cash portion of the transaction totals US$18 billion (euro14.02
billion), and Freeport-McMoRan said it would issue 137 million shares to
Phelps Dodge shareholders.
That would give them about 38 percent of the combined company on a fully
diluted basis. Freeport-McMoRan's board will also be expanded to include
three independent
Phelps Dodge directors.
The merged companies will operate under the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
banner, though businesses operating as Phelps Dodge will continue to do
so.
The world's largest copper company in terms of production is Codelco, or
Nacional del Cobre de Chile, owned by the country of Chile.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070221.@03&irec=2
Papua, West Papua agree to end their bickering
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Manokwari
Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and West Papua Governor Abraham (Bram) O.
Atururi signed an agreement here Tuesday to settle their differences, the
first
cooperative move by the two leaders since they were installed six months ago.
The reconciliation appears to bring an end to long-standing bickering over
the legal basis for the establishment of West Papua. Opponents argued the
creation of the
province violated the Special Autonomy Law on Papua.
The signing was held on Mansinam Island, a symbolically important island
for Papuans since it is where two preachers from Europe landed on Feb. 5,
1855, and began
spreading Christianity.
The introduction of the Bible marked a new era for Papua, and the
rapprochement was meant as another new start.
The ceremony was titled "One but Two, Two but One", meaning that Papua's
culture, economy and infrastructure development are unified even as its
government has split
into two provinces.
The three-step process included an agreement on the legal basis for the
creation of the new province under the Special Autonomy Law; the handover
of documents on
personnel, financing, equipment and other issues from Papua province to
West Papua; and a pledge to jointly manage the economy and infrastructure.
The agreement means that the two provinces will share management of the
special autonomy funds, which account for 2 percent of the central
government's general
allocation funds.
The special autonomy law, along with its attendant funding, is intended to
speed Papua's development and give the region more control over its rich
natural resources. The
funds have thus far been managed by Papua province in cooperation with
regency and mayoralty administrations throughout Papua, including those in
West Papua.
The reconciliation meeting was held in a very friendly atmosphere. The two
governors and their entourages were greeted with traditional dances and
all the civil servants of
West Papua province lined the road where the guests passed. Governor Suebu
shook hands with all of them.
In front of Laharoi Church, the oldest in Mansinam Island, three tents
were erected to accommodate the guests from the two provinces.
The Mansinam agreement will be deliberated by a special team before it is
discussed at a joint working meeting between the two governors and all
regents and mayors in
the two provinces in Biak.
"We will try to complete the deliberation as soon as possible so that we
can hold the next meeting, thereby enabling us to work and build," Bram
said.
The reconciliation has melted the cold relations between the two provinces
following the creation of West Papua province, which was initially named
West Irian Jaya
province.
"On this day the conflict between the province of West Irian Jaya, which
was later called West Papua, and the province of Papua must end," Suebu
said.
He added that the two provinces must work together in thought, feeling and
spirit to build a new Papua.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20070221.@02&irec=1
Witnesses describe Timor violence
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Sanur
Witnesses and survivors of the 1999 violence in East Timor testified on
the second day of the inaugural public hearings held by the Commission of
Truth and Friendship
(CTF).
Tuesday's accounts reporting the involvement of Indonesian military
members and Timorese armed civilians were among the first eyewitness
reports delivered publicly in an
official forum in Indonesia. A human rights court heard testimony in 2002,
but almost all of the 18 defendants were acquitted.
Indonesia and Timor Leste formed the commission in 2005 amid calls to
bring the perpetrators of violence to an international tribunal. The CTF's
mission is to hear
testimony on the violence before and after the 1999 referendum that led to
an independent Timor Leste.
On Tuesday, Manuel Ximenes, the chief of Atudara village in Cailaco, Timor
Leste, testified that three of his relatives were shot dead in front of
him in 1999 in an apparent
act of revenge by Indonesian soldiers and pro-Jakarta militia. Earlier,
militia members from the opposite camp had killed an Indonesian soldier.
"One of them was my nephew, who died on the spot," he told the commission
members and the audience at the Sanur Paradise Hotel.
He added that the perpetrators were under the leadership of the local
military command. Ximenes said some 47 people from his village were killed
before and after the
attack on the soldier.
Another Timorese, Florindo de Jesus Brites, said he witnessed the killing
of civilians at the Dili house of politician Manuel Carrascalao on Apr.
17, 1999. He said he was
among refugees attempting to escape the violence by sheltering there.
"I was in the front yard when a van and a truck full of armed people from
(militia groups) Besi Merah Putih, Aitarak and the TNI (Indonesian
military), ran into the gate. They
quickly surrounded the house and started shooting," said Jesus Brites, who
was then a junior high school student.
"Two of my friends ran to the back and climbed a tree. But they saw us and
started shooting. One was hit in the chest while the other got shot in the
back. I played dead,
and jumped to a bamboo tree and fell outside the yard."
Outside the session, one of the Indonesian CTF members, Lt. Gen. (ret.)
Agus Widjojo, acknowledged the possibility of "violations of procedures
and rules of engagement"
by the TNI at the local level.
"Similar incidents occurred in Aceh and Papua," Agus said.
This is why, Agus said, "it is in Indonesia's interest to fix the system"
not merely because of the Timor Leste case, but because of similar
situations throughout the country.
He said that because reconciliation is an act of compromise and cannot be
imposed, "both countries should be able to make sacrifices by moving
closer to an agreed point
instead of stubbornly defending their respective positions and arguments."
"TNI should acknowledge its mistakes in Timor Leste, and apologize to the
victims," he said.
Although the CTF has no power to prosecute, "This doesn't mean that we
forget the victims, because we will give them attention in the form of
restorative justice," which will
be part of future bilateral agreements, he said.
"Sacrifice also means that witnesses should cooperate to reveal the truth
about what really happened in Timor Leste," he said.
Also speaking after the session, Ximenes and Jesus Brites said that the
CTF could help with reconciliation.
"Let bygones be bygones," Ximenes said. "It is time for Timor Leste and
Indonesia to have an equal footing and embark on a new beginning. But both
governments should
pay attention to the survivors and the families of the victims," Ximenes
said.
Jesus Brites added that widows and orphans should be taken care of by both
governments as part of their compensation.
Indonesian Ambassador to Portugal FX Lopez da Cruz, who was also a witness
at the hearing, said reconciliation between Indonesia and its former
colony depended on
CTF's ability and credibility to reveal the truth and recommend solutions
to begin a new phase.
---
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