[Kabar-Irian] News: April 13-17 2007

[Admin-Editors Kabar-Irian]

KABAR IRIAN NEWS

Apr 13-17

TOPICS

* Papua province wants to 'adopt' West Irian Jaya
* Biblical law plan alarms bishops
* 10.000 Freeport Employees to launch massive Strike
* Drooglever's report
* Moslem Community Oppose the Draft of Regulation on Manokwari as Gospel City


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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20070414.G05&irec=4

Papua province wants to 'adopt' West Irian Jaya
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Papua province will "adopt" West Irian Jaya to give the neighboring
province a legal umbrella that will

allow it to collect special autonomy funds, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu
said Friday.

He said the move was expected to become official after a meeting between
the provinces' governors,

regents and the Papuan People's Council, which was established to act as
an interlocutor between

Papuans and the central government.

The meeting will take place in Biak city on April 18-19. It is a follow-up
on a meeting that took place

between the provinces' governors in Manokwari, West Irian Jaya, in February.

Following the meeting, a proposal on the issue will be taken to President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for

approval. The President will have to issue an instruction to make the move
official.

"Papua will adopt West Irian Jaya through a presidential instruction,"
Governor Barnabas told journalists

Friday.

The 1999 law on the creation of West Irian Jaya province has since been
revoked by the Constitutional

Court. This automatically nullified the 2003 presidential instruction
issued by Megawati Soekarnoputri

officially establishing the province; leaving West Irian Jaya without a
legal basis for its existence.

"Without a legal umbrella for its existence, the (West Irian Jaya)
province is like it doesn't exist," Barnabas

said.

He compared West Irian Jaya to a child born out of wedlock. "The child is
not recognized legally, but in

reality it exists. Should we kill the child? Of course not. In order to
make the child legal, it should be

adopted."

He said Papua providing West Irian Jaya a legal umbrella was the best
solution to prevent the province

from breaking apart, which would result in a number of unwelcome problems.

Once West Irian Jaya has that legal umbrella, it will be entitled to its
share of special autonomy funds,

under the 2001 law on special autonomy for Papua

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From: Tapol <tapol at gn.apc.org>

South China Morning Post
Saturday, April 14, 2007

Biblical law plan alarms bishops

Fabio Scarpello in Denpasar

While most of Muslim Indonesia is debating the encroachment of
Koranic sharia law, a region in Papua is infuriating Christian
authorities by planning to enforce laws based on the Bible.

Father Antonius Benny Susetyo, director of the Commission for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Catholic Bishop
Conference of Indonesia, said the proposal in the far-flung
regency of Manokwari was against the spirit of Indonesia and
could spell disaster for the country's interreligious
co-existence.

"Any religious-based law violates the spirit of pluralism in
Indonesia. In a legal perspective, these laws are against the
Pancasila, the national constitution, which is the highest law
in Indonesia," Father Susetyo said.

Pancasila comprises the five tenets of belief in one supreme
God, a just and civilised humanity, the unity of Indonesia, a
democracy led by the wisdom of deliberations among
representatives, and social justice for all people.

"It follows that we reject any religious-based law, whether it
is based on the Bible or on the sharia. These laws are not the
solution to solve the nation's problems.

"If we endorsed them, I am worried that it would create a
never-ending, religious-based, horizontal conflict, and we would
fail as a nation," he said.

Called the "Gospel Town Bill", Manokwari's proposed law is
presented as "mental and spiritual guidance", and proclaims "the
gospel as good news". Among the most controversial provisions is
Article 26, which stipulates that the "government may place
religious symbols in public places and offices".

Noteworthy is also Article 30, which prohibits "the construction
of a worship house of other religions near a church". Christians
form the majority in the region of Papua. Yet, with more than
190 million followers of Islam, Indonesia has the world's
largest Muslim population. Indonesia recognises Islam,
Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism and Buddhism, but its
constitution is secular.

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Contributed by anonymous (translated)

10.000 Freeport Employees to launch massive Strike


If there are no obstacles on Wed the 18th of April some 10,000 Papuan
Freeport, contractors and private companies employees joined with
TONGOI will strike peacefully. This action will be taken because
Freeport managment have not responded as desired to the demands made by
the musyawarah besar (mubes) back in Semptember 2006.

The primary function of TONGOI Papua is to act as a advocate for and to
the papuan employees who work for P.T. Freeport Indonesia, Privatized
companies and contractors. This function was given by the Executive
Chairman of the Board, Mr. James R. Moffet. The further basis for this
organizations existence can be found in the laws governing special
autonomy for Papua.

TONGOI Papua is a an internal advocate for the papuan employees and
partners with them to work with PT Freeport´s management. TONGOI members
are all native Papuans who work with Freeport, contractors, partners or
privatized companies. TONGOI Papua was born through processes that
took place in November 1996 following the  musyawara besar. This great
meeting consisted of Ring Irian/Papua (who are mostly coastal papuans)
and TONGOI Papua (mostly mountain Papuans). Now we unite together in
solidarity and unity in the name of TONGOI Papua.

On thursday the 4th of April about 30 people representing the executive
of TONGOI Papua and the field coordinator met with the Chief of Police
of Timika to arrange for the upcoming demo. At this meeting TONGOI
passed on a letter explaining their plans and objectives for the demo.
The letter clearly stated that this was a peaceful action and the
objective was to express the aspirations of the Papuan employees at
Freeport. TONGOI stressed they would do their utmost to keep out 3rd
parties who might get involved.

TONGOI´s head, Frans Pigome, met with the Police Chief to explain the
plans for the demo and to explain that the date has been moved from the
16th to the 18th and will take place at a yet to be disclosed location.
Starting monday the 16th TONGOI will begin pulling in employees from
Tembagapura, Grasberg, and portsite and start concentrating them in
timika. This should be accomplished by the morning of Wednesday the
18th whereupon the participants will receive directions from TONGOI as
to where to go. They will head towards the Kuala kencana office
buildings. TONGOI will do its best to make sure all Papuan employees are
present for the event.

Frans told reporters at the police station following his meeting that
about 10,000 out of 19,000 will participate.

¨We will make sure at that time that there are no employees working.¨
said Pigome.

According to Pigome this demo and strike against PTFI is happening
because Managment has not take TONGOI´s demand seriously.

Pigome explained that the core issues are salary increases,
equalization of welfare/benefits between Papuans and Non-Papuans, more
work opportunities for Papuans/emphasis on hiring local Papuans, and to
end discrimination against Papuans who have been fired, won their cases
in the courts but still are not hired back.

Until now PTFI Management have never taken seriously our demands. We
know they never will and in fact for quite some time they have harassed
us. The 16th represents the last date we will wait for an answer stated
Pigome.

According to Pigome, previously TONGOI Papua and PTFI Management had
held 3 meetings. However he stated that the meetingwas only attempts to
delve for imformation and the attitude was one of normal discussion -
not an attempt to discuss the issues at hand.

We ask for everyones´ support and ask that no one intervene to play
this out for other agendas. This demo is a right established in law for
all citizens. (said Pigome)

This strike action that has been sponsored by TONGOI Papua also has
received support from non-Papuan employees as well the head of the
local Labour Union (DPC SPSI), Noa Warikar.

Pigome stated that he and the leaders of TONGOI Papua are ready to
assume the consequences that may result from this action.

The Executive Director of LEMASA Yan B Onawame (Lembaga Musyawarah Adat
Suku Amungme) published a supporting letter in the newspaper ¨Suara
Perempuan¨ (Voice of the Women).

Yan B Onawame stated that the demo that would be taking place is
understandable because until now Freeport managment have not listened to
the demands and aspirations of the people. He asked that participants
act in an ethical and polite manner. He hoped that things would not get
out of hand and chaotic.

He specifically asked that TONGOI Papua pay close attention to those
who participated and insist that only those with legitimate right (IE:
Employees) take part and this be monitored by requiring participants
to wear their employee IDs. Otherwise others would take advantage to
create problems. He hoped that the Security apparatus would ensure that
only those who had rights to be there would be there.

He hoped that this would be an opportunity for Freeport managment to
learn something useful that could be used to reach an effective
decision.

¨We really hope that Freeport managment would commit to recruiting
locally. Until now the numbers of papuans, especially kamoro and
Amungme, are few. Ironically the gold is being taken from their land.
Yan B Onawame asked that schools and businesses continued as normal.

The police stated they have readied some 1000 personel to guard the
path of the demo. The police will provide 500, PTFI scuirty 500 and 150
from TNI Kodim 1710. They also said that TONGOI Papua have already
brought in their letter of intent as requested by the Police. TONGOI
Papua have, in the letter, agreed to end the demno should the situation
spiral out of control into anarchy.

The letter also had to detail who would be held responsible should
things go out of control, number of demonstrators and what the
objectives were.

According to the Police security for the demo inside the Freeport area
(Kuala) would be held by PTFI security but areas outside that would be
held by the police and/or TNI.

Masnembra, the Chief of Police, continued that in the letter TONGOI
Papua explained that the demo would continue until Friday upon which
they will attempt to meet with freeport management. He added thatNon
employees are fobidden to participate.

¨If they do not have ID cards they cannot participate.¨ stated
Masnembra.

Hopefully the demo goes forward peacefully and recieves a positive
response.

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From:  david chan <david at davchan.com>
Drooglever's report

I met Mr. Barnabas Mandacan two days ago. He is the chairman of Dewan Adat
Papua (Papua Customary Council) of the bird's head region.
He ask if the international community can provide the bahasa or English
edition of the Drooglever's report on the so called "Act of Free Choice
1969." They have received the book but they cannot understand the whole
content.

"We need the bahasa version of the report, but if it is not possible, I
think Dutch government or human right organizations abroad can help us by
providing the English version. If it is available in English then we can
translate it easily into bahasa to counter the official history textbooks
taught at Papuan schools today," Mr. Mandacan said.

His elder brother was the late Lodwyk Mandacan. During the Pacific for
Lodwyk was the Papuan leader in the birds head region who helped the allied
forces fighting against the Japanese troops.
"My elder brother flew to Holandia. There he signed a letter requesting guns
from the American troops to fight the Japanese. Then the American supplied
us with guns in Sidey and Sausapor. My people killed a lot of Japanese
soldiers along the Arfak mountains." He explained.

If I have a chance to meet Mr. Eni Faleomavaega, I will tell him this story.
During the world war, we helped the Americans fighting the against the
Japanese. Now when we ask for their help for our self-determination, the
Amecian government don't want to listen," Mr. Mandacan added.
Written by David Chan


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From: David Chan

Moslem Community Oppose the Draft of Regulation on Manokwari as Gospel City

Mr. Barnabas Mandacan - chairman of Papua Customary Council of Bird's Head
Region said that he has received threats aimed at killing him. "They want to
kill me because of the draft of regulation on Manokwari as Gospel city which
I support. I ask for international human rights organisations to protect
me."

On 5 February 2007, at the celebration of Gospel landing day in Manokwari,
Christian leaders declared the city as Gospel city. Last year, they
submitted a draft to the local government for banning alcoholic drinks in
Manokwari. Now it has been officially approved by the legislative council of
the regency (DPRD Tk. II) as a new local regulation. Perpetrators who sell
or drink any alcoholic drinks in public places will be sent to jail. Most of
the citizens support the regulation. Alcoholism has been a big problem in
West Papua.

As the implementation of the regulation, regent of Manokwari, Mr. Dominggus
Mandacan released instructions to the Police to carry out "liquor sweeping"
in the harbour everytime passenger ships arrive to prevent liquor
smugglings.

After succeding in banning liquor, now the Christian leaders have submitted
another draft of regulation on Manokwari as the gospel city to the local
government and the DPRD Tk. II.

In the internet, moslem community nationwide express their opposition to the
draft saying that some articles limit the religious freedom. The draft
prohibits the use of veils at schools, and offices. It also bans the Moslem
calls played loudly through loudspeakers at mosques. In the contrary, the
draft encourages the placement of the cross and various Christian symbols on
the walls of government buildings and schools.

Mr. Barnabas Mandacan said that the draft is based on the historical
background of the city. If they oppose the draft, they do not have to send
killing threats via SMS. "If there are differences of opinion or
interpretation of the draft, please come and we can sit and talk about it
together to find the best solution. But remember if they can apply similar
regulations in Acheh, Makassar, or towns of West Java, then how about us
here?"
Written by David Chan

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