[Kabar-Irian] News: Oct 23- 25 2007
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KABAR IRIAN NEWS
Oct 23-25
TOPICS
* 'Time' names Suebu an environmental hero
* Freeport-McMoRan 3Q Earnings Double
* Media access to Papua tightened, claims academic
* Leaders push cooperation to boost BIMP-Eaga econ
* Papuan towns get new radar
* German doctors serving remote communities
* Education key to ending tribal war
* Papuans fear for safety in PNG capital
* Policy and Society online (Papua)
* West Papuan Human Rights Lawyer arrested
* Urgent relocation of refugees urged
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20071024.A07&irec=6
'Time' names Suebu an environmental hero
Angela Maria Flassy, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu was among an illustrious few, from activists
to tycoons as well as
politicians and inventors, chosen as Heroes of The Environment by Time
magazine this year for offering
hope for the future.
The governor was selected alongside former Russian president Mikhail
Gorbachev, former U.S. vice
president and tireless climate change campaigner Al Gore, Prince Charles
of England and Hollywood
actor Robert Redfort.
Also feted as heroes or "speakers for the planet" were Australian
scientist and activist Tim Flannery and
Bangladeshi chemist Abul Hassam, who discovered a simple way to purify
poisoned water.
Other heroes included solar tycoon Shi Zhengrong, who became one of the
China's richest men by
tapping the sun's energy, and D.P. Dobhal, who scales the shrinking
glaciers of the Himalayas to track
global warming in real time.
The U.S.-based weekly said in its special issue that its annual
celebration of heroes this year spotlights
the most innovative and influential protectors of the planet.
"You don't have to be an environmentalist to be a hero of the environment.
The threats that face the
planet are so varied -- from widespread species extinction to dwindling
natural resources -- that we'll
need front-line activists and boardroom tycoons in equal measure," the
magazine's senior environmental
writer, Bryan Walsh, wrote.
"By their words and their actions, by their votes and even their
checkbooks, Time's environmental
heroes have stepped into the silence, and in doing so, have given the
earth a voice. It remains for the
rest of us to list -- and join them."
Papua's first directly elected governor was praised for his move to fight
poverty with the province's
unrivaled biodiversity.
Since his election last year, Suebu has made plans to declare a moratorium
on log exports and
recommended that no new logging concessions be given to timber companies.
He has also launched talks on trading carbon credits to help protect
Papua's forests, home to fully half of
the country's endemic species.
"Why should we cut down trees if people are going to pay us to protect
them," he told Time.
"We can prevent deforestation and also use the money to reforest the areas
in critical condition."
The governor is slated to received the award on Oct. 25 at the Royal Court
of Justice in London.
The award for Suebu was warmly welcomed by deputy head of Papua People's
Council Hana Hikoyadi
and environmental activist Abner Mansai.
Hana said she felt proud the governor was receiving the award.
"Bas is receiving the award not only as governor but because he represents
Papua people, since
environmental work will involve the people's participation," she said.
Activist Abner Mansai of the World Wide Fund for Nature was also pleased
about the award.
"Barnabas Suebu's administration does have a commitment but it should be
followed up by strong legal
enforcement," he said.
---
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/24/ap4255370.html?partner=alerts
Associated Press
Freeport-McMoRan 3Q Earnings Double
Associated Press 10.24.07, 8:35 AM ET
Related Quotes
FCX 111.84 + 0.69
PHOENIX -
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. said Wednesday that the mining
company's earnings after
paying preferred dividends more than doubled in the third quarter,
although revenue fell short of Wall
Street forecasts.
Third-quarter earnings applicable to common stock rose to $775 million, or
$1.87 per share, from $351
million, or $1.67 per share. Quarterly earnings from continuing operations
applicable to common stock
totaled $763 million or $1.85 per share.
Freeport-McMoRan said the results also included about 67 cents per share
in charges related to one-
time items.
Quarterly revenue more than tripled to $5.07 billion, from $1.64 billion
in the third quarter of 2006.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, who typically exclude one-time
items and discontinued
operations, forecast third-quarter earnings of $2.26 on revenue of $5.12
billion.
Freeport-McMoRan's consolidated sales from its mines totaled 949 million
pounds of copper, 269
thousand ounces of gold and 16 million pounds of molybdenum in the third
quarter.
The company attributed its third-quarter performance to continued positive
market conditions for copper,
gold and molybdenum, as well as strong operating results at its North
American, South American and
Indonesian operations.
Freeport-McMoRan shares fell $2.15, or 2 percent, to $109 in premarket
trading after closing at $111.15
on Tuesday.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=35944
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Media access to Papua tightened, claims academic
Posted at 02:48 on 23 October, 2007 UTC
A United States-based West Papuan journalist and academic says the media
access to Indonesia’s
Papua region has become more restricted.
Octo Mote’s comments follow discussion in the British parliament over how
much Jakarta has opened up
Papua for foreign journalists.
While the parliament welcomed the recent permission granted by Indonesia
to BBC’s Jakarta
correspondent to report from Papua, it noted that her access to Papua was
severely limited.
Mr Mote, who is based at Yale university, says until about five years ago
it was easier for a journalist to
apply for and receive a permit to work in Papua.
“But more tight now since the Independence Movement has become
stronger and Papuans openly
express their aspirations. So the Indonesian government is really afraid
to open up.”
Octo Mote says more international pressure needs to be applied to Jakarta
to open up dialogue on
Papua
---
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/10/25/news/leaders.push.cooperation.to.boost.bimp.eaga.eco
n.html
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Leaders push cooperation to boost BIMP-Eaga econ
By Allen V. Estabillo
Of Sun.Star General Santos
KORONADAL CITY -- Local government leaders in the Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines-East
Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) are pushing for the forging of least 10 new
trading agreements,
tourism, and investment cooperation to help boost the sub-region's economy.
South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes, chair of the 2nd BIMP-Eaga
Chief Ministers,
Governors, and Head of Local Government Forum, said they are presently
exploring the 10 proposed
areas of cooperation through direct linkages between local governments in
the sub-region.
Post your comments on the explosion at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City.
"These are low-level but more direct discussions on what we can jointly do
to boost the economic
development of our respective areas," said Fuentes, who was appointed head
of the Philippine
delegation to the forum as chair of the Confederation of Provincial
Governors, City Mayors, and
Municipal League Presidents of Mindanao (Confed).
In a report on the local government sessions released by the Mindanao
Economic and Development
Council, which acted as the forum's secretariat, delegations from West
Papua in Indonesia held formal
talks with officials from Davao Oriental led by Gov. Corazon Malanyaon for
the forging of sisterhood
agreements between the two areas.
West Papua officials sought for additional investors in their wood
processing industry to help increase
their annual capacity from the current 270,000 cubic meters to their quota
of 1.5 million cubic meters.
The report said the Indonesian province reportedly offered investment
opportunities for tourism
infrastructure in the area and fisheries and mari-culture trading.
Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes also held exploratory talks with
Malaysia and Brunei for
tourism and mari-culture trade exchanges.
As initial result, Sabah's Industrial Development Minister Datuk Ewon Ebin
initially agreed to lead a
tourism mission to Zamboanga del Norte.
General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. and Sarangani Gov. Miguel
Dominguez are now
reportedly trying to arrange direct linkages with the local government of
North Sulawesi in Indonesia in a
bid to revive bilateral discussions on fisheries under the BIMP-Eaga
framework.
Brooke's Point, Palawan Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano met with the Sabah
delegation to explore the
possible opening of sea linkage between the town and Malaysia's Kota
Kinabalu and Labuan.
Feliciano also held talks with the Brunei delegation for the opening of
another sea link between the town
and of Muara in Brunei via Labuan and Kota Kinabalu.
The Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) initially received notice for
further discussions with Malaysia's
Sarawak State regarding negotiations between the city and the owner of
Ekran Berhad for the proposed
reopening of the Samal Casino Resort.
The Igacos delegation led by Mayor Aniano Antalan and the Brunei
delegation agreed to facilitate
technology exchanges and investment missions on mari-culture before the
end of the year.
In the session between Tagum City and Sabah delegations, Medco reported
that the Malaysian
representatives signified to facilitate negotiations for the possible
shipment of banana chips and
processed and fresh fruits like mango and durian from Tagum.
The city also agreed to discuss further with Indonesia's West Papua for a
city-to-city cooperation on
wood processing and expansions of banana plantations in West Papua.
Tagum City officials also invited Sabah's Ministry of Industrial
Development to conduct trade missions in
the area and explore possible opening of new plantations for rubber, palm
oil, and jathropa under a joint
venture agreement.
Sultan Kudarat, in a separate session with the Sabah delegation, offered
at least 8,000 hectares of land
for possible joint collaboration on rubber and palm oil production.
Janet Lopoz, Medco executive director, said they are presently
facilitating these direct linkages as part
of their efforts to provide equitable benefits for all areas under the
BIMP-Eaga cooperation.
"Our strategy now is the consolidation of products from various areas of
Mindanao for possible trading
with our EAGA partners," she said.
But Lopoz admitted that their efforts to consolidate products from
Mindanao were hampered by logistical
problems but she assured that the government is now trying to address them.
"Right now, we are closely coordinating with Region 10 and Armm
(Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao) for the consolidation of their poultry products and also among
Armm, Regions 9, and 12 for
tourism," she said.
Fuentes said they are presently pushing for the opening of more air and
sea linkages in the sub-region
to help realize these initiatives.
"For our part, we want to have more entry and exit points here in Mindanao
so tourists and investors will
have to go directly to our area instead of going first to Manila or Cebu,"
she said.
Aside from Davao City and Zamboanga airports, Fuentes said they pushing
for the inclusion of General
Santos City and Cagayan de Oro City airports as entry and exit point for
international travel in
Mindanao.
Minister Ewon said the State of Sabah is presently negotiating with
Malaysian airline companies for the
opening of flights from Kota Kinabalu to Davao City, General Santos City,
and Manado in Indonesia.
He said tourists and investors from their area currently relying on the
two weekly flights between
Zambonga City and Sandakan in Malaysia.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20071024.G05
Papuan towns get new radar
- October 24, 2007
TIMIKA, Papua: The Mimika administration is in the process of establishing
radar coverage in the
regency to protect Papua from attacks and facilitate responses to natural
disasters.
The commander of Timika air base, Lt. Col. Bambang Triono, said the radar,
which will be developed
gradually, could extend to Asmat, Kaimana, Serui and Wamena regencies in
Papua.
"I hope the radar plan will proceed as scheduled," he told The Jakarta
Post recently.
He said the Mimika administration had appropriated land from the public
for the construction of radar
facilities in Mimika Baru district. Area residents will receive
compensation for the land used.
"I am very grateful the administration seriously supports us in building
the radar in Mimika," said Triono.
He added the administration was constructing a radar in Merauke and would
afterward continue radar
construction in other regions of Papua.-- JP
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20071024.T01
German doctors serving remote communities
Features - October 24, 2007
Trisha Sertori, Contributor, Papua
It is a long way in both time and space from Germany to the lowlands of
Papuan villages; a trip between
two worlds that Gunter Konrad has been taking for the past 40 years.
Konrad travels to Papua annually to carry out surgery in some of the most
remote locations in the
nation; true bush medicine.
Doctors Reinhard Lehmann and Heike Scholtes, also from Germany, have
together carried out cataract
operations restoring sight and "pulling around 20 teeth without a dental
chair," or any of the expected
dental implements needed.
Konrad's affair with Papua stated in 1961 when he traveled across
Indonesia and Australia collecting
specimens for German museums. He was at that time a zoologist.
"But when I got to Papua and saw what a simple injection of penicillin
could do for the people I decided
to become a doctor so I could go back and help people in Papua," said
Konrad of a career and life
change that has led him to a professorship in Germany and the perfect
operating conditions of that
country to the jungle dwelling people of Papua who live as they have for
thousands of years. He
manages to operate successfully with almost no facilities, at times nil.
"I remember there was a woman who had been in labor for three days. An
emergency caesarean was
essential to save her life. I had nothing except a sterile sheet," said
Konrad of the difficulties operating in
remote regions. He adds mother and baby were fine.
For young doctors, such as Agats Hospital's 24-year-old Hanna, having
access to Konrad's surgical
skills is an opportunity to learn from an expert and increase her confidence.
Hanna, originally from Bandung, recently graduated as a medical doctor and
is working in Agats under
the nation's graduate doctors in remote locations program, a program
Konrad says is essential to ensure
locations such as Agats have doctors.
And it is tough out there, says Hanna. "We don't have an anesthetist, so
we do epidurals or local
anesthetic procedures only. For other operations we have to send patients
to the hospital in Timika. Most
of the diseases here are things such as hernia. That's very common because
the people work so hard.
"One of the greatest difficulties is in end stage diseases, or terminal
patients. There is always the
dilemma `do we send them to Timika or keep them here with their families.
But families often want them
to go to Timika, but if they die there it's very expensive to bring the
body home. What's difficult is
convincing families that the people will die and are much better at home,"
said Hanna.
She adds that medical budgets for patient referrals to Timika are slim and
sending nonessential cases
chews into that budget, leaving inadequate funds to send emergency cases.
So having doctors of
Konrad's caliber carrying out surgical procedures that would otherwise be
transferred to Timika lightens
the load.
This year, two other doctors joined Konrad who operated in both Agats and
the tiny village of Bajun; a
river journey into Joseph Conrad country.
Ophthalmologist Reinhard Lehmann restored the sight of cataract-blinded
villagers and dental surgeon
Heike Scholtes pulled the teeth of 20 dental patients that would otherwise
have caused abscesses and
infection.
"There was nothing else I could do. I did not have a drill or other
equipment. I did not even have a dental
chair so I needed someone to hold the patients head still while I pulled
the tooth. At least now they will
not have pain or get abscessed," said Scholtes adding that she plans to
return in two years, along with
Konrad and Lehmann.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20071023.H06
Education key to ending tribal war
National News - October 23, 2007
SURABAYA: Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu said Monday his administration
would intensify efforts to
educate people on the law in an attempt to reduce tribal violence in Papua.
"We will also facilitate meetings between tribal chiefs involved in the
violence," Barnabas said.
"And we will uphold the legal process in the case."
Eight people were killed in recent violence involving Dani, Damal and
Amungme tribes in Tembagapura
district, Mimika, Papua. -- JP
---
Papuans fear for safety in PNG capital
Radio Australia
Last Updated 23/10/2007, 21:35:40
Members of the Papuan community living in the Papua New Guinea
capital say
they fear for their safety after the murder of a senior court
magistrate at
the weekend.
It is alleged a group of Papuan refugees stoned the judge to death
after he
crashed his car near their make shift camp site.
Our PNG Correspondent Steve Marshall reports PNG police expect to
charge at
least six Papuan men over the death of magistrate Ivo Cappo at the
weekend.
The magistrate was a well known figure in Port Moresby and Papuan
community
---
from John M Miller <fbp@igc.org> -----
Policy and Society online
Editors’ Introduction
Peter King and Lily Zubaidah Rahim
This special issue of Policy and Society is based on papers
presented by the
editors and other contributors at a symposium held at the Komaba
campus
of Tokyo University in December 2005. The theme was “Japan,
Australia and
the Changing Asia Pacific Region: Prospects of Peace, Prosperity
and
Regional
Integration.”
Korupsi dan Disintegrasi in Indonesia since Suharto
Peter King
Abstract
This article argues that Indonesia since reformasi remains subject
to powerful tendencies for disintegrasi – both province-based
“separatism” and general socio-political decay. These tendencies
are greatly aggravated by the failure of democratically elected
presidents and parliaments to effectively tackle endemic corruption
or reform the armed forces, which continue to enjoy near-total
immunity as a major practitioner, guarantor and enforcer of corrupt
business practice and extortion. The article notes the activism of
civil society and liberal media on the corruption issue and the
commendable new array of anti-corruption institutions. But it argues
that reform efforts have been virtually nullified by broad collusion
of Indonesia’s political, bureaucratic, military and business elites
in
sustaining – but also “democratising” and decentralising – the
system of corruption inherited from Suharto. Change must await new
social and political struggles initiated outside the parliamentary
arena which itself has become a major source of KKN (Korupsi, Kolusi
dan Nepotisme).
Ten Questions about East Timor for which we need Answers
Richard Tanter
Abstract
Determining the social, political and economic basis of the
outbreak
of violence in Timor during early 2006 leads to questions about the
nature and form of that conflict itself and its implications for
Australian security policy. Until questions about the nature of
recent political dynamics in East Timor and the intersection of
patronage politics, foreign linkages and the possible manipulation
of
regional identity are determined, we cannot be sure of the kind of
conflict the Timorese and those who would help them at risk of their
lives are facing.
Selective Outrage and Unacknowledged Fantasies: Re-thinking
Papua,
Indonesia and Australia
Edward Aspinall
Abstract
This article discusses the public controversy that occurred in
Australia after the arrival of 43 asylum seekers from the Indonesian
province of Papua in early 2006. Noting that human rights abuses
elicit greater public attention in Australia when they occur in
Papua
than in any other Indonesian province, the article examines several
explanations for the relatively great Australian interest in the
Papua issue. Among these are a tendency to romanticise independence
movements, a propensity to be most interested in human rights issues
when they occur in such contexts, the prevalence of several popular
myths about Indonesia in Australian society, as well as the
influence
of resurgent fantasies about Australia’s role in the region. The
article suggests that one narrative framework for understanding the
Papua issue has become dominant in Australia (the framework promoted
by independence supporters), and that its dominance impedes rounded
appreciation of the dynamics of the conflict.
In Defence of the Papua Sympathisers: A Rejoinder to Ed Aspinall
Peter King
A kind of culture war seems to be developing in Australia over the
issue of West Papua’s independence from Indonesia. On one hand are
the proponents of independence or – it amounts to the same thing –
Papuan self-determination. They are a numerous array of tireless
activists grouped in the AWPA (Australia West Papua Association)
network and in various Christian denominations; a few highly
committed Green and Australian Democrat parliamentarians; a small
handful of published academics and a somewhat larger number of
journalists with long-term Melanesian credentials – plus, most
recently, a Melbourne multimillionaire who has re-deployed his sense
of fair-mindedness and campaigning dollars from East Timor to West
Papua.
A Reply to Peter King
Edward Aspinall
In responding to my article in this issue, Peter King makes a
number
of points. I disagree with some and agree with others. Many of the
points raise issues I explicitly decided not to focus upon in my
initial piece, including the nature and extent of human rights
abuses
Papua and the orientation of Australian foreign policy. Rather than
taking the debate into these new areas, in this response I will
emphasise how King’s contribution illustrates one of the points I
touched on in the original article: that it is perilous for
outsiders
to try to understand a complex separatist conflict only by looking
through the nationalist lens of one group of protagonists.
---
matthew jamieson <matthew@hr.minihub.org>
West Papua Human Rights Report 24 October 2007
West Papuan Human Rights Lawyer arrested by US & Australian trained
Anti Terrorism police
A statement released today by the Human Rights organsiation, Els-ham
West Papua, details how a West Papuan human rights lawyer, Sabar
Iwanggin, has been arrested, detained and interrogated by members of
Detachment 88, Indonesia’s special police anti-terrorism force.
Detachment 88 received substantial training and financial assistance
from the Australian and US Governments after the Bali Bombing in 2002.
Mr Iwanggin has reportedly been charged under the Indonesian Criminal
Code for spreading SMS messages which are insulting to the Indonesian
President. The SMS message says that the President ‘has an agenda
to wipe out Papuans by poisoning food and hiring members of the army
as doctors, restaurant workers, and motorcycle taxi drivers to kill
Papuans'.
Incredibly Sabar Iwanggin is reported to have only received the
incriminating message, was not the person who originally sent the
message. He is reported to have sent the message onto a handful of
friends and family members.
Human Rights workers in Jayapura report that this SMS message had
been spread around Papua since July 2007. Thousands of people in
Papua have received the same message.
In an unusual development the Police in West Papua have said that
they intend to move Mr. Iwanggin to Jakarta for further interrogation
later this week.
Iwanggin is a volunteer lawyer who has worked with the Human Rights
organisation, Els-ham West Papua.
Very serious concerns are held for Mr. Iwanggin's safety as the
reason for his interrogation and detention appear trivial and the
intentions of the Indonesian police are not clear.
Other Human Rights lawyers from Els-ham in Jayapura are seeking to
challenge the legal basis for the Police action against Sabar
Iwanggin, who has been held since Thursday 18th of October 2007.
Human Rights workers report that personnel from Detachment 88 came
from Indonesian Police Headquarters in Jakarta to arrest Sabar
Iwanggin in the street in Jayapura.
Human Rights workers said that the case against Mr Iwanggin appears
to be based around Police intercepting his mobile phone messages.
Mobile phone monitoring and recording devices have reportedly been
set up in several areas in West Papua.
Other inflammatory SMS messages about the threat of biological
warfare by the Indonesian military and the deliberate spread of
disease and the poisoning of crops have also been sent around West
Papua. The cultivation of a ‘climate of fear’ in West Papua
appears to the intention of these SMS messages.
Widespread instances of server sickness & deaths of Papuans from
consuming poisoned food and toxic drink have been reported. This new
danger has prompted a major change eating and buying habits of West
Papuan people.
Ongoing security operations by the military and police forces have
disrupted community life in many regions and 'mysterious' killings
and accidental killings have entrenched this ‘climate of fear’.
Abductions and assaults of young Papuan women have also been reported.
Special Police Detachment 88 is a 400 strong anti-terrorist police
force, which has been supported by Singaporean, Australian and US
Governments, was set up to fight terrorism in Indonesian after the
Bali bombings. Detachment 88 was originally raised from members of
the Brimob, Indonesia's notorious paramilitary police.
The establishment and operation of Detachment 88 was touted by the
conservative US based Heritage Foundation in 2006 as a US – Indonesia
bi-lateral success story. This source says that members of
Detachment 88 are vetted by the U.S. Embassy for their respect for
human rights.
Indonesian rights campaigners allege the crackdown on terrorism
conducted by Detachment 88 has resulted in numerous instances of
rights violation, as most of the arrests it made were illegal. (The
Jakarta Post, December 8, 2005)
"The Human Rights workers in Jayapura ask why Detachment 88 Anti
terrorism police should have singled out and arrested Sabar Iwanggin,
a civilian lawyer who has acted on Human Rights cases."
“It appears that Police are using the trivial involvement of Iwanggin
in the insulting SMS issue as a way to disrupt the legitimate work of
a Human Rights organisation.” said Matthew Jamieson spokesperson
for the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights.
“Given the recent brutal history of the Indonesian Police and the
elite training of the Detachment 88 very serious concerns are held
for Sabar Iwanggin’s safety during detention & interrogation.”
“Sabar Iwanggin who is 43 years old is one of the volunteer lawyers
of the Human Rights organisation Els-ham, which acted for students
tried after the violent demonstration in Jayapura on March 16,
2006. Four Brimob police and one Indonesian military personnel
were killed in this demonstration.”
“During the round up of students in relation to the incident and
throughout the subsequent trial process there were documented reports
of human rights abuse, forced confession, torture and judicial bias.”
"The arrest of Sabar Iwanggin gives a clear indication that the
Indonesian police are intent on restricting the already limited legal
rights afforded to West Papuans."
"Media restrictions in West Papua mean that the Indonesian security
forces receive limited international attention over their tactics
which make human rights abuse commonplace.”
Matthew Jamieson went on to say, "What we are seeing is an example of
the internationally created, trained & sponsored anti-terrorism
police force, the Detachment 88, being used to remove a Human Rights
defender who is critical of the Police.”
“The Indonesian security forces are clearly engaged in psychological
warfare operations in West Papua which is combined with deliberate
widespread human right abuse at a level which stays under the radar
for the international community. Human Rights defenders like Sabar
Iwanggin are one of the only defenses for the people in West Papua
because access by the international community is restricted."
"Many countries including New Zealand, Australia and the USA have
increased cooperation with and training of the Indonesian Security
forces arguing that by working with the Indonesian police and
military they can be reformed. Yet it is clear that Indonesian
security forces are using anti terrorism training and other
international support to maintain illegal & non democratic processes
in Indonesia and particularly in West Papua."
"The lessons from East Timor need to be learnt. The Australian people
and the international community in general cannot stand by and let
our Government leave the West Papuan people in the hands of the
Indonesian security forces.”
For more information contact Matthew Jamieson tel +61(0) 418291998
A picture of Sabar Iwanggin is available for publication.
Matthew Jamieson
Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights
PO box 1805, Byron bay NSW 2481 Australia
matthew@hr.minihub.org
tel +61(0) 418291998
---
http://www.thenational.com.pg/102407/Nation%2020.htm
Urgent relocation of refugees urged
By JULIA DAIA BORE
METROPOLITAN Supt Fred Yakasa has called on all responsible authorities
including the National
Government, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to act
immediately to ensure the
resettlement of the West Papuan refugees in Port Moresby.
Supt Yakasa said since last Saturday’s accident, where a senior Port
Moresby magistrate was found
murdered near their camp-site at Ela Beach, the refugees had now been
moved to another location for
their safety.
He, however, said they could not continue to remain at that undisclosed
location and must be relocated
soon to a safer more permanent place.
He called on the relevant organisations to ensure the refugees were
relocated.
It is understood that the West Papuan refugees were relocated to their new
location soon after the
accident involving the death of Ivo Cappo early last Saturday.
Meanwhile, relatives of the late Mr Cappo said if the authorities had
acted immediately and not allowed
the West Papuans to squat illegally where they did, the untimely death of
their loved one would not have
happened.
They are also petitioning relevant Government authorities who continued to
ignore the refugees’ plight,
which they claim contributed to the death of Mr Cappo.
They said the authorities they plan to petition are the National
Government (Prime Minister’s office),
United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees, NCDC and the Indonesian High
Commission.
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