[Kabar-Irian] Part 2:

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August 1-4 2006 (part 2)
KABAR IRIAN NEWS

TOPICS

* American Senate Discussing Financing Equipment for TNI
* OPM hopes they can persuade Melanesian nations to speak on their
behalf

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http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/nasional/2006/08/02/brk,20060802-81056,uk.html

American Senate Discussing Financing Equipment for TNI

Wednesday, 02 August, 2006 | 20:29 WIB 
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The US Senate Appropriation Committee Bill
is discussing an increase of foreign military financing proposed by the
US Administration. 

The aid that will be granted under the Senate Bill amounting to US$10
million is intended to for purchasing heavy equipment and repairs to
defense system equipment. 

This large amount of funds will also be allocated for education,
terrorism deterrents and maritime security.

The United States-Indonesia Society President Ambassador Alphonse La
Porta made the above statement (1/8) after a meeting with Indonesian
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono yesterday in his office.

La Porta said that Chris Hill, Assistant Secretary at the Department of
Internal Affairs for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, will be visiting
Indonesia as a follow-up. 

"He and the Indonesian government might discuss an increase in aid for
defense and other sectors," he said.

La Porta added that the US Administration recently discussed a
strategic partnership with Indonesia. 

After the US embargo on Indonesia was lifted, according to him, the US
Senate welcomed any attempts from Indonesia to improve relations
between Indonesia and the US. 

"The Senate's agreement to increase aid is a good signal," said La
Porta.

Rieka Rahadiana

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http://islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=5650/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl


Free Papua Movement (OPM) hopes they can persuade Melanesian nations to
speak on their behalf at the October meeting. 

      Radaus/ Pacnews
      Wed, 2 Aug 2006

      JARKATA, INDONESIA ---- The separatist movement in the Indonesian
province of West Papua wants to raise its independence struggle at the
Pacific Island Forum summit, Radio Australia reports

      The Free Papua Movement (OPM) hopes they can persuade Melanesian
nations to speak on their behalf at the October meeting.

      The Forum has traditionally been reluctant to get drawn into the
West Papuan question, seeing the dispute over the mainly Melanesian
province, which comprises the western half of New Guinea, as an
internal matter for Indonesia.

      However, John Ondowame, the OPM's international representative,
said they would try again to get the issue onto the Forum agenda when
the regional leaders meet in Tonga later this year. 

      He is hoping an earlier conference of the Melanesian Spearhead
Group would prove more sympathetic, and those nations, Papua New
Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, would articulate the OPM's cause. 

      He said unless something is done, the flood of asylum-seekers
from Papua into neighbouring PNG and Australia would continue.