[Kabar-indonesia] Anger in Papua over murder trial, presence of Freeport

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: JP: Papua People's Assembly members plan New Zealand
study tour

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Anger in Papua over murder trial, presence of Freeport

Markus Makur , The Jakarta Post, Timika

Hundreds of people rallied in Timika, Papua, on Monday in
opposition to the trial in Jakarta of seven Papuans charged
with the 2002 murders of two American teachers and an
Indonesian colleague employed by PT Freeport Indonesia.

Protesters blocked off access for several hours to
Freeport's operational area starting at around 1 p.m. The
area was eventually cleared at 5 p.m. after the police
provided trucks to transport the protesters home.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators gathered in front of the
Timika District Court to demand the unconditional release of
the seven defendants.

Damaris Onawatme and Vincen Onayame, who organized the
rally, said the demonstrators had earlier sent a message to
the Central Jakarta District Court, where the seven Papuans
are being tried, through the Timika District Court,
demanding the release of the defendants.

The organizers said the demonstrators arrived at the court
Monday expecting to receive a response to their message.

"We came here for an answer to our earlier conveyed demand,"
Onawatme said.

The demonstrators were met by court official Jhoni
Kondolele, who said their demand had been forwarded to
Jakarta but there had yet to be a response.

>From the court the demonstrators marched to the Freeport
compound, handing out leaflets along the way about the
deadly 2002 shooting.

The leaflets also outlined the demands of the demonstrators,
including the release of the seven defendants, the closure
of the Freeport mine and the withdrawal of soldiers and
police officers from Papua.

Onayame said as long as Freeport continued to operate in
Papua, it would remain a source of conflict.

"We will not hesitate to demand that the Indonesian
government launch a fair investigation of the 2002 shooting.
The incident took place in Freeport's compound. The Papuan
people, who own the country's largest stock of natural
resources, have been treated unfairly by the U.S. and
Indonesia," he said.
Onayame accused Freeport, which is based in the U.S., of
exploiting Papua's natural resources while failing to
improve the lives of Papuans.

"Moreover, the working contract awarded to Freeport does not
benefit the people of Timika," he added.

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The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Papua People's Assembly members plan New Zealand study tour

Nethy Dharma Somba , The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) will leave for New
Zealand in December to conduct a comparative study on the
programs used to empower that country's indigenous Maori
population.

The New Zealand government programs will be used as a model
for the indigenous Papuans empowerment agenda, as stipulated
in the 2001 law on Papua's special autonomy.

The trip to New Zealand will be the MRP's first overseas
visit since it was established on Oct. 31, 2005.

MRP Vice Speaker Frans A. Wospakrik told The Jakarta Post on
Sunday, during an event commemorating the assembly's first
anniversary in Sentani, Jayapura, the assembly had chosen
New Zealand due to that country's success in empowering the
Maori community in all aspects of life.

"The Maori people have been given a place, they are
respected and given opportunities like any other citizens.
The government also recognizes their customs and
traditions," said Wospakrik.

Besides meeting with government officials, the MRP members
will also meet with members of the Maori community to learn
about their culture and how government programs have enabled
their communities to develop.

"The MRP will also examine Maori social interaction in the
wider society and their traditional values, and the
regulations used by the government to assure their respect
and progress," said Wospakrik.

He said the MRP wished the whole of Indonesia could respect
the existing tribal groups in Papua and help ensure their
inclusion in the nation's progress.

"A nation consisting of many ethnic minorities should
protect and empower the smaller groups, just like it does
the larger ones," he said.

Wospakrik warned that without protection the native tribes
in Papua could one day disappear, and that large economic
gaps would have the potential to cause social problems. He
cited as an example the tension between the Dayak tribe and
migrants in West Kalimantan.
"We don't want this to happen in Papua. We want everyone to
live side by side, and for indigenous Papuans to be
respected and given an equal role as a part of this great
nation," he said.

Meanwhile, Frans Maniagasi, from the Papua Working Group,
said the trip to New Zealand was unnecessary at the moment.
He said there were more pressing issues to settle,
especially with regard to indigenous rights.

"There are important tasks which have not been resolved,
such as the special regional regulations determining the
rights of native Papuans, which is especially important when
the MRP is a cultural institution that is tasked to fight
for the rights of Papuans," he said Monday.

Frans added that the MRP should assess its performance over
the past year instead of wasting time with trivial
activities.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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