[Kabar-Irian] News Feb 14 - March 06 2008 (Part I)
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KABAR IRIAN NEWS
Feb 14 - march 6 2008 (Part I)
TOPICS
* Government to make legal umbrella for West Papua, Yudhoyono says
* Papuans holding foreign citizenship resume status as Indonesians
* W. Papuan Leaders Released After Int'l Pressure
* Australian academic says there’s a major shift in Indonesia’s Papua
* Students stage rallies across Papua in call for referendum on self
determination
* Papua People’s Assembly opposes plans for new province in its region
* Govt urged to beef up Indon border
* Detained Papuan students set free
* Papua separatist speaks out against BP project
* Representatives of 157 countries to visit Paniai Lake, Papua
* Duke of York arrives for three-day visit
* Officials in Indonesia’s Papua province told by Governor to work hard
for people
* NZ considers training community police in Indonesia’s Papua region
* Indonesian military arrest two soldiers following fatal shooting in Papua
* New Zealand to help train Papua community police
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/3/5/government-to-make-legal-umbrella-for-west-papua-yudhoyono-says/
03/05/08 09:50
Government to make legal umbrella for West Papua, Yudhoyono says
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is expected to issue a government
regulation in lieu of law as a legal umbrella for West Papua in the
framework of special autonomy as stipulated in Law No.21/2001, President
Susilo Bambang Yudoyono said.
"In a meeting, I and leading figures from Papua and West Papua provinces
agreed to make a government regulation in lieu of law on the existence of
West Papua to make all become clear," the president said after receiving
leading figures from Papua and West Papua here Tuesday.
The head of state also agreed to form a coordination agency which would
deal with special autonomy funds allocated for Papua and West Papua
provinces.
"There are a lot of funds for special autonomy programs and thus a
coordination agency is needed to manage them (the funds)," the president
said.
The structure of the agency would be made in line with the needs of
government institutions in Papua and West Papua, and if it was considered
proportional and efficient the president would approve it, he said.
He also called on relevant parties to be prudent in their programs to
split certain areas in Indonesia under good plans.
"I received insights from leading figures from Papua and West Papua that
they (the provinces) should follow other provinces in Indonesia which have
exercised moratorium on the process to split their regions," he said.
The president agreed that the splitting of regions should give advantages
to all people, not only to a number of persons.
On the Presidential Instruction No. 5/2007 on the development acceleration
especially in food resilience in Papua, the president saw there were
several things which should be harmonized so as to make the instruction
implemented well.
Yudhoyono also asked the Papuan leading figures attending the meeting to
heed crimes on forest concession and illegal logging as forests must give
maximum benefits to the people.
"In the meeting, I also underscored the importance of infrastructure
development particularly in the transportation sector in an effort to
boost economic growth in Papua and West Papua," he said. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/2/24/papuans-holding-foreign-citizenship-resume-status-as-indonesians/
02/24/08 13:37
Papuans holding foreign citizenship resume status as Indonesians
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Two Papuan indigenes -- Franzalbert Joku and
Nicholas Simion who were formerly Papua New Guinean and Swedish citizens
repectively -- have officially resumed their status as Indonesian
nationals, it was reported here Sunday.
Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion regained the status of Indonesian
citizenship after their proposals on the matter were approved by the
Indonesian government through the decree of the Law and Human Rights
Minister on November 29, 2007.
The function highlighting the return of the two Papuans to the Unitary
State of Indonesia was held in Sentani, Jayapura district, Papua province
on Saturday (Feb 23).
On the occasion, Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion received the
documents on the decree of the Law and Human Rights Minister from Alwi
Hamu, an expert staff member of Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion Messet have showed good examples to
their Papuan brothers and sisters who are still abroad and expected to
follow suit, Alwi said.
"I agree with the Papuan sons` saying -- better a shower of stones at home
than a shower of gold abroad (there`s no place like home)," Alwi said.
He said the wish of the sons from Indonesia`s easternmost province to
resume Indonesian citizenship after they became foreign citizens for tens
of years was hailed by the Indonesdian government and people.
When they met Vice President Jusuf Kalla to express their intention to
return to Indonesia, the vice president directly asked his expert staff
member to handle the matter.
Alwi said ten minutes before the function, the vice president asked him to
send congratulatory message to Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion
Messet.
Meanwhile, Franzalbert Joku said the ministerial decree was the Indonesian
government`s right measure in an effort to cope with Papuan issues and
deal with the Papuan development within the Unitary State of Indonesia.
"Today (Saturday), I and my brother Nicholas Simion Messet conclude a long
trip both in terms of distance and time as well as political perspective,"
he said.
"We close an historical story of our life which was full of good and bad
experiences. Now we are resolved to begin a new trip despite a lot of
challenges we will face in the future," he said.
Franzalbert Joku said he had been abroad and become a PNG citizen for 40
years and Messet had been in Sweden and become Swedish citizen for 38
years.
"After observing the real condition in Indonesia and the international
political climate, we decided to return home forever. We believe Indonesia
will be better, more democratic, free, prosperous and peacful in the
future," he said.
As new Indonesian citizens, they are resolved to be loyal to the
government and the country in general and to the Papuan people in
particular.
The process of reforms and democracy has made changes but there are also
many things to fight for in an effort to create true justice, peace and
prosperity besides making the Indonesian people afraid of God and
strengthening the country`s dignity.
The fuction was attended among others by diplomats from the Indonesian
Embassy in PNG including Frans Pampo, representatives of the PNG
government and some officials of the Papua provincial administration.
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00076.htm
W. Papuan Leaders Released After Int'l Pressure
Thursday, 6 March 2008, 11:36 am
Press Release: West Papua Leaders
For Immediate Broadcast
Wednesday March 5 1830 Aest
Jayapura, West Papua, March 5, 2008
Stop Press: West Papuan Leaders Released From Prison After International
Pressure; Vow Demonstrations Until Indonesia Listens To West Papuans
WEST PAPUAN leaders calling for a Referendum on the future of West Papua
who were arrested by Indonesian Police for "spreading hatred against the
government", have been released without charge from Police Regional
Headquarters this afternoon.
During protests on Monday, March 3, which were called to draw attention to
the failure of Special Autonomy and calling for a referendum, Indonesian
Mobile Brigade police (BRIMOB) arrested 70 peaceful demonstrators,
inflicting beatings and torture on the West Papuan people. Edison Waromi,
leader of West Papua National Authority, and Marthen Manggaprow attended
Abepura prison Monday evening to negotiate release and charges. They were
subsequently arrested, and Tuesday morning they were transferred with
other detainees to Jayapura POLRES (HQ) for charging. 67 detainees were
released the same evening, but have been presented with summonses.
Edison Waromi, Domingus Arrongear, Marthen Manggaprow and Frangky Inekep
have all been released from POLRES Jayapura, with all charges dropped.
POLRES have indicated that they had to release the three leaders upon
orders from Jakarta and in the Indonesian Embassy in Australia, and from
international media pressure. POLRES sources had indicated previously that
the three were to be charged for violating Law no. 155 (espousing, or
showing articles, picture or actions with the Intent to cause hatred to
toward the Indonesian government).
However, one West Papuan community leader is still in custody in
Manokwari, Frans Kareth, who is Lecturer of Faculty of Law in Manokwari.
Reverend Terrianus Joku, Head of Congress Executive President of WPNA is
in Manokwari negotiating with Police for the release of Mr Kareth. Media
assistance is appreciated.
*Sorong - *Currently in Sorong the situation is: 800 people rally outside
at DPR-D (People's Representative Council) demanding referendum. Michael
Mandobayan head of FMNPP (Papua National Youth and Student Front - Head
for Sorong Regency) can be called for confirmation only on +62 852 505
17800
*PROTESTS and Flagraisings AGAIN* *will be held in Abepura Tomorrow
(Thursday March 6). All detainees have indicated they are ready TO GO BACK
TO GAOL.*
* *
*/Media Considerations: New Contact Numbers For Tomorrows Protest Are
Being Collected, As Indonesian Inteligence Have Confiscated The Old Ones.
This will be provided before 0800 AEST. Photographs and Video are still
trying to be sent, please be patient; people with footage are being hunted
by intelligence and are taking countermeasures. MORE INFO AS IT COMES TO
HAND./*
For Background Documents Please Visit Www.Manukoreri.Net And Follow The
Prompts
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38361
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Australian academic says there’s a major shift in Indonesia’s Papua
Posted at 23:28 on 03 March, 2008 UTC
“”
An Australian academic says the call by the Papua People’s Assembly, or
MRP, for Jakarta to hold a referendum on Special Autonomy is a major shift
in momentum on the Papua issue.
The MRP’s chairman is Agus Alua, is currently in Jakarta to call on
Indonesia’s President to open up dialogue on Papua.
The visit co-incides with a series of demonstrations yesterday in at least
7 main towns of Papua province calling for the referendum on Special
Autonomy.
The School of International and Political Studies at Deakin University,
says Damien Kingsbury, the involvement of the MRP is substantial.
“For the MRP now to become involved in this either means that they’re
recognising that they’re losing the political initiative and that
they’re having to make up for lost ground because they can see the
direction that events are going in, or they genuinely believe that
this is a necessary step and I think there’s an element of both in
this. In that respect there is now, I think, an even greater unanimity
on the need for the relationship between West Papua and Jakarta to be
reconsidered .”
Damien Kingsbury.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38346
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Students stage rallies across Papua in call for referendum on self
determination
Posted at 07:26 on 03 March, 2008 UTC
A series of demonstrations calling for a referendum on Papuan
self-determination have been held across Indonesia’s Papua region.
A spokesman for the West Papua National Authority, Jack Wainggai, says the
rallies aimed to voice Papuans’ desire for a peaceful solution to the
violence and poverty they live with.
He says they protested against Special Autonomy law because it has has
failed to bring any improvement to Papuans’ lives since implementation in
2001.
“We want to say to the international public, national public and local
public that West Papua needs a referendum, not Special Autonomy. The
best solution is a referendum for West Papua abecause Special Autonomy
is not good for us.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Papua People’s Assembly, Agus Alua, also
says Special Autonomy simply hasn’t worked for Papua and should be
re-negotiated.
He is currently in Jakarta to call on Indonesia’s President to open up
dialogue on Papua and establish a referendum on special autonomy.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38326
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Papua People’s Assembly opposes plans for new province in its region
Posted at 16:58 on 02 March, 2008 UTC
The Papua People’s Assembly, the MRP, says it’s pursuing dialogue with
Jakarta in an effort to stop the proposed formation of a new province in
its region.
Residents of Papua’s Pegunungan Bintang regency have been voicing their
opposition to the proposal which is being driven by five local regents.
Five regents formed a mediating team who have met both the Papua
legislative Council and the MRP over the idea.
But the MRP chairman Agus Alua Alue says Papuans believe there is no
benefit to the idea of further splitting their region.
He says that’s why the MRP is fighting the regents’ bid to separate.
“Because if we don’t do this, then that province will be outside
Special Autonomy, just a general province like all the other provinces
in Indonesia and (there’ll be) no special concern, no special
attention, no special programme for the indigenous people there, the
Papuan people there. Therefore we took the initiative because there
are no laws to set up this new province.”
---
http://www.thenational.com.pg/030508/nation9.htm
Govt urged to beef up Indon border
By GABRIEL FITO
A senior District Court magistrate has called on the Government to beef up
surveillance along the PNG -Indonesian border if they are serious about
addressing the escalating cases of border crossers.
Sandaun senior provincial magistrate Thomas Morabang said cases of illegal
entry into the country through the PNG-Indonesian border were increasing
and something must be done immediately to stop people from other countries
migrating to PNG.
Mr Morabang said people were just sneaking into the country and
responsible Government agencies were not doing anything to monitor their
movements except for a few cases where police have uncovered.
He said most of these illegal border crossers had come through the border
post at Wutung unnoticed.
Mr Morabang hinted that such incidents could only mean that Customs and
Immigration officers were not doing their job.
He said it was about time officers start performing in order to control an
influx of unauthorised persons entering our soil.
The magistrate made the call following three cases of illegal entry that
went before the Vanimo District Court last month.
In the first case, two men from Paniai Tigi, West Papua were convicted and
fined K1,000 each in default two months in prison last Jan 4 .
Another two men from Ambai village, West Papua who came in on a boat that
anchored at the Vanimo wharf were ordered by the court to pay K1,500 in
default six months in prison.
Morabang said the two men had paid their fines and had been sent back home
on their boat last Jan 16.
In the recent incident, a taxi driver from Jayapura was apprehended by
provincial police commander Sakawar Kasieng near a logging camp at Wutung
village in Vanimo.
The court found that he had no valid visa to be in Papua New Guinea and
ordered him to pay K1,000 in default two months in prison.
The man had paid his fine last week and was farewelled home by the
Indonesian consulate at Batas.
---
http://www.thejakartapost.com/node/162923
Thursday, March 6, 2008 7:35 AM
Detained Papuan students set free
, , | Wed, 03/05/2008 1:34 PM | The Archipelago
JAYAPURA: Two Papuan students detained after a pro-Papuan independence
demonstration were released after paying bail to the local police.
Zakaria Horota, chairman of the National Front of Papuan Students (FNMPP),
said here Tuesday that Marthen Manggaprow and Frangky Inekep were released
with a letter of summons.
Marthen and Frangky were arrested during a student demonstration the
police said was illegal because it had no permission from local security
authorities.
The students were demanding a referendum to decide the province's future.
Zakaria said the FNMPP accepted the letter and that seven executive board
members would come to answer police questions on the demonstration.
He said the student organization informed the police before the
demonstration was held and the students did not conduct a long march.
He called on the Uninted Nations to include the so-called West Papua issue
on its agenda for deliberation. --JP
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38244
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Papua separatist speaks out against BP project
Posted at 03:18 on 26 February, 2008 UTC
A separatist leader from the Indonesian province of Papua says the British
energy giant, BP, should not open a gas plant in the region this year.
The London-based Kotega Tribal Chairman, Benny Wenda, says he doesn’t
recognise BP’s deal with the Indonesian government.
Hundreds of homes in the Bintumi Bay area have been relocated for the
Tangguh project and specially trained local police are set to patrol the
site.
But Mr Wenda says the development will not be sustainable.
“West Papua is the earth and forest, and sea, and this is all, you
know, what we call our supermarket and our mother. So now BP will
operate in West Papua, this is another genocide toward earth and
animal, wildlife and all the species. This is not Indonesia’s land.
This is land of West Papuan people; they have to deal with West
Papuans.”
Benny Wenda.
BP hopes to pump the first liquified natural gas from Tangguh in October.
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/2/25/representatives-of-157-countries-to-visit-paniai-lake-papua/
02/25/08 21:53
Representatives of 157 countries to visit Paniai Lake, Papua
Jayapura, Papua province (ANTARA News) - Representatives of 157 countries
which have lakes will visit Paniai Lake in Papua Province which they
consider to be the world`s most beautiful and preserved lake, a local
official said.
The interest to visit Paniai Lake was expressed during the 12th World Lake
Conference in India last November 2007, Paniai District Head Naftali Yogi,
who attended the conference, said here on Monday.
The conference`s participants considered Paniai Lake in Papua to be the
world`s most beautiful and best preserved lake, he said.
Situated 7,500 meters above sea-level, Paniai Lake still had pristine
natural beauty and its water was still unpolluted, he said.
Therefore, the conference`s participants were interested in visiting the
lake and agreed to jointly help preserve Paniai Lake as the world`s best
and beautiful lake, he said without mentioning when they would make the
visit.
The Paniai administration was currently constructing roads surrounding the
lake and a number of inns as part of preparations to receive the foreign
visitors, he said.
In addition to infrastructure development, the local administration had
also been making efforts to preserve the traditional culture and arts of
the Mee and Moni tribes which constitute Paniai region`s indigenous
population, Yogi said.
The conference taking place in Jaipur from 29 October to 2 November, 2007,
ended with a call for governments and organisations to adopt appropriate
research methodologies to set up and prepare data banks to facilitate
execution of management and action plans to preserve lakes and wetlands.
Over 600 delegates who participated in the five-day deliberations, adopted
a `Draft Jaipur Declaration` which acknowledges the importance of lakes
and wetlands for domestic, agricultural and recreational uses and of
improving habitats for conserving biodiversity.
Wuhan in China will host the 13th World Lake Conference in 2009.(*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/3/4/duke-of-york-arrives-for-three-day-visit-to/
03/04/08 09:45
Duke of York arrives for three-day visit to
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Britain's Prince Andrew arrived in the Indonesian
capital Monday to begin a three-day visit as a special representative for
British trade and investment.
The Duke of York arrived at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusumah airbase on a
special flight from Britain and was received by a protocol officer from
Indonesia's foreign ministry, AFP reported.
According to the British embassy here, Andrew is to hold meetings on
Tuesday with three ministers -- for trade, energy and mineral resources,
and for state enterprises. He will then fly to the easternmost province of
Papua to visit the Tangguh liquefied natural gas field project operated by
BP.
The Tangguh project involves tapping offshore gas fields in Papua's
Bintuni bay, which have proven reserves of at least 14.4 trillion cubic
feet.
A meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been tentatively set
for Thursday, before Andrew leaves for India.
During his visit, the Duke will also meet representatives from British
companies and members of the British community here. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38205
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Officials in Indonesia’s Papua province told by Governor to work hard for
people
Posted at 21:59 on 22 February, 2008 UTC
The Governor of Papua in Indonesia has told regents and mayors in the
province that territorial isolation is not an excuse for a lack of social
welfare and development programs.
The Jakarta Post newspaper that Barnabas Suebu told regents and mayors
from across Papua at a meeting in Jayapura this week that poverty and
other social problems cannot be blamed on the region’s isolation.
Governor Suebu says that, given their capacities, provincial leaders could
make Papua better by improving the welfare of residents and the services
available to them.
He reminded the leaders that success is achieved through hard work.
The Governor pointed out that other Indonesian provinces are able to
elevate welfare more than Papua which has a far higher budget.
The central government has allocated 36 million US dollars for
infrastructure development to improve accessibility throughout Papua.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38178
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
NZ considers training community police in Indonesia’s Papua region
Posted at 03:57 on 21 February, 2008 UTC
New Zealand police are considering the possibility of cooperating with the
Indonesian police in Papua in carrying out a programme to train community
police.
The Papua Police’s Senior Commander Agus Riyanto says New Zealand police’s
manager for international strategy and policy, Jaquelyn Goodwin, was
visiting police stations in Papua.
He says she was accompanied by an Indonesian police team.
He says at a meeting with the Papua Police Chief Inspector she advised
that she would return to Papua with a community police training programme.
New Zealand has been assisting policing efforts in the region, including
in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville province which had been the scene of a
separatist war.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38190
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 military arrest two soldiers following fatal shooting in Papua
Posted at 22:53 on 21 February, 2008 UTC
Indonesian military authorities have arrested two soldiers following the
fatal shooting of a man in January in Papua.
Soldiers have long been accused of a range of human rights violations in
Papua but detentions of military personnel are rare.
The man was shot after a patrol, searching for an armed group, raided a
house in Papua’s Tingginambut district.
The military claimed that warning shots were fired, although witnesses
denied this, and several activist groups have since demanded an
independent probe into the incident.
The head of the military command overseeing security in Papua, Major
General Haryadi Soetanto, says an investigation was carried out following
the incident.
He says two soldiers were declared as suspects and will be processed
according to the prevailing laws.
He says the pair have been detained.
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/2/20/new-zealand-to-help-train-papua-community-police/
02/20/08 20:47
New Zealand to help train Papua community police
Jayapura (ANTARA News) - The New Zealand Police are considering the
possibility of cooperating with the Papua police in carrying out a program
to train community police for Indonesia`s most-eastern province, a Papua
police spokesman said.
To study the possibilty, the New Zealand Police`s manager for
international strategy and policy, Jaquelyn Goodwin, was visiting police
stations in Papua to collect inputs, head of the Papua Police`s public
relations unit Sr Com Agus Riyanto said here Wednesday.
Goodwin, accompanied by an Indonesian police team, had already visited
police offices in Manokwari, and was scheduled to come to police offices
in Jayapura on Thursday (Feb 21), Riyanto said.
At a meeting with Papua Police Chief Insp Gen Max D Aer, Goodwin promised
she would return to Papua in the near future with a concrete comunity
police training program that can be implemented in Papua, he said. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
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