[Kabar-Irian] News March 11 - 20 2008
Admin-Editors Kabar-Irian
editors at kabar-irian.info
Wed Mar 19 22:26:49 MDT 2008
KABAR IRIAN NEWS
March 12- 20 2008
TOPICS
* Suharto-Era Crimes Probed in Indonesia
* TNI plans to surrender 36 fake OPM/TPN at District Military Command
* Foreign donors back away from Indonesia AIDS fight
* Freeport-McMoRan’s falling out with its NGO former partner
* WEST PAPUAN LEADERS THREATENED WITH SUBVERSION CHARGES
* Care needed to resolve Papua's weak governance
* MORNING STAR BAG [USERS] SHOULD NOT BE ARRESTED (BANNED)
* Government chided over inaction
* 11 arrested for raising banned Papuan flag
*
Young Papuan refugees greet visitors to the East Awin ...
* High-flying Clive's African Adventure
* Glaciers shrinking
* Indonesia seeks NZ assistance in Papua police training
* Journalists reportedly threatened in Indonesia’s Papua region
* Australian NGO raises concerns about Papuan protestors arrested in
Indonesia
* West Papua National Authority fears Indonesian forces are rounding up
more Papuans
* Nine in court for waving 'Free Papua' flag
* NZ asked to suspend military ties with Indonesia amid Papua abuse
* Shattered illusions
* Indonesia: Free Peaceful Protesters in Papua
* Saving Papua: The Battle Against AIDS
* Australian mily attaches visit Papua
* How Indonesia deals with West Papua "can act as a model" to the World
* "Indonesia: Political and Economic Prospects".
* Report received from West Papua
* Power plays in the slicing of Indonesian Papua
---
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLp5c9pXAO8AFp1u4IyxM64gTH5QD8VBOVGG0
Suharto-Era Crimes Probed in Indonesia
By ZAKKI HAKIM – 14 hours ago
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's Human Rights Commission has opened
inquiries into mass killings and widespread rights abuses during the
32-year Suharto
dictatorship, in an attempt to finally bring the perpetrators to justice.
Four teams have begun collecting evidence in the purge of communists
during Suharto's rise to power in 1965, alleged atrocities by Indonesian
soldiers in the remote Aceh
and Papua regions and scores of killings and abductions blamed on security
forces in the mid-1980s.
Suharto died in January at age 86 without having seen the inside of a
courtroom, but "there are still so many people involved in the human
rights violation cases that have
remained untouched," commission member Ridha Saleh told The Associated
Press on Tuesday.
The inquiries will be conducted by dozens of commission members and
experts until May 17, Saleh said, but that period may be extended.
The commission, which has the power to investigate rights abuses but can
not issue arrest warrants, will present its findings to the Attorney
General's office. The Attorney
General could recommend that an ad hoc human rights court be formed to
conduct criminal trials against individuals.
The House of Representatives and ultimately President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono would have to sign off on the creation of such a tribunal.
Yudhoyono, a former military
officer who rose through the ranks under Suharto, has rarely, if ever,
mentioned the need to prosecute or even investigate abuses under the
former dictator.
Efforts so far to prosecute abuses have failed largely because many of
those implicated in the events are still in positions of power, critics
say.
Suharto seized control of the military in a 1965 coup after which between
300,000 and 800,000 alleged communist sympathizers were killed. Up to
300,000 died during
military operations against separatists in Papua, East Timor and Aceh.
---
TNI plans to surrender 36 fake OPM/TPN at District Military Command
1702
Jayawijaya
<http://www.koteka.net/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20
0&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=32>
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Written by AMP Numbay
Friday, 07 March 2008
AMP Papua General Consulate News
AMP KONSULATE JENDERAL PAPUA News
7,025 members of KOPASSUS Indonesian elite Special Forces in full
military
combat gear and equipment has arrived in Wamena, delivered by
Hercules
A-1310 and Puma helicopter registration number H-1322) which landed
at
least five times in succession.
7,025 Personil TNI Kopasus telah tiba dikota Wamena bersenjata
lengkap
siap tempur yang diangkut langsung oleh Helikopter Puma dengan
nomor
penerbangan H-1322 dan pesawat Hercules A-1310TNI-AU sebanyak 5
kali
berturut-turut memuat amunisi militer TNI Kospasus untuk
mengamankan
jalannya PROYEK REKAYASA PANGDAM XVIII TRIKORA dan pembohongan yang
akan
disampaikan melalui media masa (06/03/08) dini hari.
Thousands of TNI/BRIMOB are patroling Wamena and outlying villages
in
preparation for the surrender of 35 fake military-trained OPM/TPN
members
who were and have always been nurtured by TNI Battalion 756 WMS and
the
Jayawijaya Military Commander (Dandim 1702).
Ribuan personil TNI/BRIMOB disiagakan dan mengadakan patroli ke
kampung-kampung untuk mempersiapkan hari REKAYASA MILITER dan
PROPAGANDA
MURAHAN dengan penyerahanan diri anggota pasukan TPN/OPM GADUNGAN
hasil
binaan dari Batalion 756 WMS dan Dandim 1702 JWJ sebanyak 35
personil di
Makodim Wamena dini hari.
The fake OPM/TPN under the command of Wes Telengen will surrender
to the
Papua Military Regional Commander on 6th March 2008 and are not
real
OPM/TPN members. It is known that Wes Telengen is a regular visitor
to the
Wamena Battalion 756 Military District Headquarters and in fact
receives
training and guidance from the TNI (Indonesian Army).
Pasukan TPN/OPM atas nama Wen Telengen bersama 35 anggota yang
akan
menyerahkan diri pada (Kamis, 6/03/08) kepada Pangdam XVIII Trikora
bukan
anggota murni TPN/OPM secara struktural militer TPN/OPM.
WenTelenggen dan
35 orang adalah anggota SATGAS PDP yang berdomisili dikota wamena.
Ia
sering keluar masuk ke MABES Batalion 756 WMS dan DANDIM 1702 JWJ,
bahkan
mereka dipelihara dan dilatih khusus oleh TNI selama ini.
Wes Telengen and his fake group will receive 15 billion Rupiahs
(Bahasa
Indonesia = Rp.15 milyar) and although his group do not own M-16s
nor
AK-47s, for the purposes of Indonesian military propaganda will be
given
these (to hand in, as it were).
Wen Telenggen tidak mempunyai senjata F-16 dan AK-47 yang akan
diserahkan kepada Pangdam dan Kapolda di MAKODIM 1702 Wamena.
Tetapi
senjata ini adalah milik TNI Batalion 756 WMS yang sengaja
diberikan kepada
TPN/OPM GADUNGAN Wen Telengen cs sebelumnya. Wen mendapatkan uang
15 Milyar
sebagai tebusan penipuan publik yang akan disampaikan kepada
seluruh media
masa Indonesia (06/03/08) dini hari di MAKODIM Wamena oleh Pangdam
XVIII
Trikora.
We the Consulate General of the Papuan Students Alliance
(AMP/Alliansi
Mahasiswa Papua) state to the publikc and the international
community:
* The surrender of Wes Telengen and his group of fake TPN/OPM
who were
nurtured by the Wamena District Military Commander.
* Pernyerahan diri Wen Telenggen Cs adalah anggota TPN/OPM
GADUNGAN
yang telah dipelihara oleh Makodim Wamena.
* Strongly protest the efforts of the Papua Military
Commander/Pangdam
Trikora XVIII, Battalion 756 Wamena District Military Commander,
Indonesian
intelligence agencies (BIN, BAIS and BAKIN) in promoting conflict
situation
to maintain and continue their business interests.
* Mengutuk dengan tegas Pangdam XVIII Trikora, Komandan
Batalion 756
WMS, BIN, BAIS dan BAKIN yang merekayasa situasi konflik Papua
untuk
KEPENTINGAN BISNIS MILITER di Papua Barat.
* Real OPM/TPN will never surrender to the neo-colonialist
Unitary
State of Indonesia and will fight to the final drop of blood.
* TPN/OPM yang murni tidak akan pernah menyerah kepada colonial
NKRI
dan akan berjuang sampai titik darah Penghabisan.
* Papua Military Commander/Pangdam Trikora VXIII to stop
seeking to
elevate his own position and importance within the Indonesian
military
establishment through the use of photo-opportunity propaganda such
as the
surrender of fake OPM/TPN.
* Pangdam XVIII Trikora segera menghentikan PROYEK BISNIS CARI
MAKAN di
Tanah Papua Barat dengan MEREKAYASAKAN TPN/OPM Gadungan demi
jabatan,
pangkat dan uang yang telah kalah politik melawan Papua Barat.
* The Consulate General of the AMP International (Papuan
Students
Alliance) strongly reject the Papua Military Commander's (Pangdam
Trikora
XVIII) cheap propaganda.
* Kami AMP Internasional Konsulat Jenderal Papua sangat
menyesalkan
PROPAGANDA MURAHAN yang sedang dimainkan oleh Pangdam XVII Trikora.
We issue this statement on the surrender Wes Telengen and 35
members of
Indonesian-trained and nurtured fake OPM/TPN who are in fact known
to be
members of the Indonesian Red and White militia.
Demikian pernyataan sikap kami atas REKAYASA MURNI MILITER
Indonesia atas
penyerahan diri Wen Telenggen dan 35 anggota satgas Merah Putih
kepada
Pangdam XVIII Trikora.
Papuan Students Alliance International
Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua Internasional
General Consulate AMP International
Konsulat Jenderal AMP Internasional
(name withheld)
(nama dirahasiakan)
Spokesperson ConGen AMP International in Papua
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
tapol at gn.apc.org http://tapol.gn.apc.org
---
http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINJAK26649520080312?sp=true
Foreign donors back away from Indonesia AIDS fight
Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:18pm IST
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Foreign donors who have propped up Indonesia's fight
against AIDS/HIV are poised to slash their funding programs, partly
because they now
consider Indonesia a middle-income country, officials said on Wednesday.
Infection rates in Indonesia are increasing rapidly among high-risk
population groups, especially drug users and sex workers, and in the
easternmost Papua region an
AIDS epidemic has spread into the general population.
Foreign assistance makes up 70 percent of funds to fight AIDS in
Indonesia, but donors such as the United States, Britain and Australia are
expected to "drastically" reduce
AIDS-related assistance from this year, Welfare Minister Aburizal Barkie
said.
Indonesia needs an additional 1 trillion rupiah ($109.1 million) for this
year, Bakrie said.
"Therefore, allocations from regional budgets must be increased, including
financial assistance for non-government activities," he told a workshop on
AIDS funding.
Nancy Fee, country coordinator for the U.N. AIDS agency, said some
countries may reduce aid because Indonesia was now seen as a middle-income
country but the
amount would still be significant.
"According to our knowledge the international support is continuing at a
high level," she told Reuters, adding that $32 million had been earmarked
for Indonesia from the
Global Fund for HIV for the next two years.
Government programs to stop the spread of AIDS have only reached between 5
and 20 percent of those who are most at risk of HIV infection, the
National AIDS
Commission said.
"There is a gap between the amount we need and the availability of funds.
This situation is expected to continue until 2010," the commission said in
a report.
Since the epidemic first surfaced in Indonesia 20 years ago, the
government has recorded 10,000 full-blown AIDS cases, but the commission
estimates there are hundreds
of thousands of unreported cases.
The commission has estimated Indonesia will have 1 million cases by 2015
if efforts to fight the disease are not stepped up in the country of more
than 220 million people.
($1=9182 Rupiah)
(Reporting by Ahmad Pathoni; Editing by Ed Davies)
---
http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=5770
Columnists:
The contrarian – Mining and NGOs: Breaking off the engagement
Freeport-McMoRan’s falling out with its NGO former partner casts doubt
over whether companies and campaigners can work together, says Jon Entine
On the world’s stock exchanges, mining is suddenly where the action is.
Even as the markets gyrate lower, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Vale,
Freeport-McMoRan and the like are
going gangbusters, as sleeping giant economies in China and India rouse
towards developed world status.
Criticised for human rights and environmental indifference, basic
materials industry executives believe they face a lose-lose predicament.
>From the perspective of non-
governmental organisations, companies should not only be held accountable
for operations, but they should also have to justify their fundamental
right to extract resources –
an issue off the table for the industry.
>From the corporations’ perspective, most NGOs have no clue what it’s like
to operate in dysfunctional geopolitical zones. They are chastised for
being Big Brother, yet they
are expected to be a literal big brother, compensating for real
governments’ inability to provide education, healthcare and security.
That’s what makes the recent brouhaha between the metals giant Freeport
and the International Center for Corporate Accountability, an independent
NGO, so dispiriting.
The New Orleans-based mining group had been under attack for allegedly
paying money to the military to quash citizen uprisings to keep its
Indonesian Grasberg mine
humming. In response, in 2004, Freeport commissioned an external review by
Prakash Sethi, the Baruch (City University of New York) Business professor
and president of
the ICCA. It was a dramatic move in an industry hostile to outside scrutiny.
Some believe that sector peer Newmont Mining paid significantly for
resisting outside alliances. In 2004, an Indonesian NGO accused Newmont of
poisoning the waters at
its Buyat Bay facility. Five officials were jailed. Newmont released
laboratory tests contradicting the allegations, but to no avail in the
court of public opinion, aka The New
York Times, which ran a scathing article.
It took weeks before the World Health Organisation could run independent
tests, rejecting the hysteria and verifying Newmont’s studies. But the
experience was brutal – and
perhaps avoidable, some industry leaders said, if Newmont had worked more
closely with NGOs that might have rallied to its defence.
It was during the same period that Freeport hired the ICCA. The company’s
role in Indonesia is complex, not unlike what many raw materials companies
face in the
developing world. From the moment engineers arrived in the 1960s, Freeport
started building a new society from the ground up, acting as employer,
government and nanny.
No surprise the revolutionary cultural makeover left potholes.
Sethi’s unvarnished report, published in 2005, identified most of them.
The company responded by pouring resources into Grasberg and increasing
medical care benefits.
Sethi said: “I think after being in business for such a long time, the
company has indeed become very sensitive to the human rights issue.”
Fast-forward to last December and comity had deteriorated into enmity. In
a follow-up audit, Sethi noted Freeport had “responded rapidly and
effectively to most of the
recommendations”. But auditors found persistent problems in healthcare.
They noted that 2 per cent of Freeport’s workforce had contracts, which
violated Indonesian law
and company policy.
Angered, Freeport released an “executive summary”, pledging to take
ameliorative action but sidestepping some of the criticism. In turn, Sethi
posted the audit on the ICCA
website, noting: “Freeport has exaggerated its achievements and glossed
over its lack of implementation.”
Sethi then ended his contract with Freeport.
Chaos rules
Carol Raulston, head of communications at the National Mining Association,
believes Freeport faced a classic no-win situation for businesses
operating in economically and
politically chaotic zones.
“It’s not like Europe or the US where there are strong regulations and
government reporting procedures,” Raulston says. “Working with NGOs put
them in a vulnerable
situation, and in this case they’re taking a hit, but their transparency
will be worth it down the road.”
Multinational miners are gradually opening themselves to third party
verification. Meanwhile, NGOs also put their brands on the line if they
choose to work with companies
they long considered the enemy of human rights and the environment.
Jon Entine is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington
DC and senior counsellor for sustainability at Cincinnati-based Northlich.
runjonrun at earthlink.com
www.jonentine.com
---
From: Tapol <tapol at gn.apc.org>
URGENT ACTION AND MEDIA ALERT - WEST PAPUA
WEST PAPUAN LEADERS THREATENED WITH SUBVERSION CHARGES AS PAPUANS TO HOLD
MORE RALLIES FOR REFERENDUM
FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
MARCH 12, 2009 1930 AEST
WEST PAPUA, Wednesday March 12 2008: As West Papuan Youth and students
prepare for another series of demonstrations across West Papua tomorrow,
key leaders and human rights workers are being terrorised and intimidated
by the Indonesian military and police, and threatened with arrest on
charges of Subversion.
Information received from sources in Manokwari report that Indonesian
government and security forces are increasing repression on West Papuan
people ahead of continued peaceful assemblies to draw international
attention to the human rights and dysfunctional political situation
currently inside West Papua.
On 11 March 2008, 16:58:28 PM, five Indonesian intelligence agents arrived
with black Taff Car to surveille a meeting of eighty Papuan students and
youths. The five Indonesian spies are:
1. Yoris May, intelligence from Manokwari Regional Military Commando
(INTEL KODIM Manokwari).
2. Mikael Marisan, specialist hunting and attacking from Manokwari
Regional Police (BUSER Polisi Manokwari).
3. Pak Jefri, specialist hunting and attacking forces from Manokwari
Regional Police (BUSER Polisi Manokwari).
4. Pak Sul, specialist hunting and attacking forces from Manokwari
Regional Police (BUSER Polisi Manokwari).
5. Pak Arif, specialist hunting and attacking forces from Manokwari
Regional Police (BUSER Polisi Manokwari).
The first target of the operation now is to hunt and attack Jack Wanggai,
Coordinator of peaceful demonstrations in Manokwari and spokesperson of
the West Papua National Authority in West Papua. Wanggai's family in
Manokwari had received an official letter from Indonesian police for the
arrest of Mr Wanggai. Mr Wanggai and his family in Manokwari were
intimidated and terrorised by 7 members of TNI and Police, when they came
to Wanggai's house with automatic weapons, causing family to believe TNI
wanted to shoot Wanggai if he was at home. However Jack was elsewhere
organising large Papua wide protest on 13 March unaware of the
intimidation of his family.
The Indonesian government and military are doing extra work to stop Jack
Wanggai and other peaceful protesters in Manokwari through terror,
intimidation and the threat of violence. Previous arrests and
interrogations of student leaders indicate that the TNI and POLRI are
escalating operations against civilians and the guaranteed right to
peaceful political expression. These threats are currently ongoing and
escalating.
Today Wednesday 12 March 2008 POLRI in Manokwari published the letter
delivered to Wanggai?s family quoting the following:
1. Police justification under Law: SP.gl/147/III/2008/Reskrim base Dasar
paragraph 7, Article (1) sub-paragraph G, sub-paragraph 11112 Articles (1)
and (2) and paragraph 113 KUHP (Indonesian Criminal Code). This is the
Indonesian law that classifies the peaceful rally coordinated by Jack
Wanggai as ?Subversion, terrorism and related crimes?.
2. Indonesian government regulation No.2/2002 (UU No. 2/ 2002) About
Indonesian National Police.
3. Indonesian Police report No. Pol:LP/13/III/2008/SPK.III, Dated 3
March
2008
These Interrogations have been conducted by the following personnel:
? First interrogator is Captain police Nyoman Sudama, NRP:78061319.
Captain Nyoman Sudama is a head of the Criminal intelligent Unit of
National police of Manokwari Regency.
? Assistant interrogator is Sergeant POLRI Aris Patandung, NRP:
72110227
These charges, or even threat of these charges against Papuan exercising
their rights to peaceful expression of aspirations guaranteed under
Indonesian law, are a throwback to the days of the Suharto New Order (Orde
Baru). It is proof that the Indonesian government is nothing but a
military dictatorship: New Order Chapter 2 (Orde Baru bagian Dua).
The same threats and intimidation as in Manokwari are also being endured by:
? Mr. Zakarias Horota, Head of National FNMPP and another democracy
activist in Jayapura;
? Mr. Michael Mandobayan, Coordinator FNMPP and ather democrat
actist in
Sorong Regency;
? Mr. Wilson Uruwaya, Youth Chief of Papua National Council based in
Serui, the Regency Capital of Yapen Waropen;
? and is also including other Papuan democracy activists in Serui.
The Indonesian personnel responsible for giving orders to BUSER ( BU =
Buru- hunting; and SER - attack. BUSER is part of the ?anti terrorist?
Detasmen 88). POLICE and BIN (Badan Inteljien Nasional) in both provinces
in Papua is KAPOLDA (Head of Police Province Level) and PANGDAM (Supreme
Commander Province Level). The distribution order operating by KAPOLRES
(Head of Police Regency Level) and KODIM (Commando Military Regency
Level). Please contact the numbers in Manokwari below to ask respectfully
why West Papuan leaders are being threatened with Suharto era charges.
? Police Papua province hp:967 531 014
? Indonesian Criminal Intelligence Unit Manokwari: + (62 986) 211363
? Indonesian TNI Commander of Manokwari regency/DANDIM phone Number:
+62
(986) 211703
? Head of Police Manokwari Regency (KAPOLRES) phone No. +62 (986)
211359
? Deputy Police Manokwari Regency level (WAKAPOLRES) phone NO. +62
(986)
211826
? rmh dins kapolres tlp.0986 211355;
? Waka (Deputi Commander) Polres.tlp.0986 211826.
Tomorrow, Thursday 13 March 2008, West Papuan people, more than 500 Papuan
youth and students and the Executive president of West Papua National
Authority will continue to hold simultaneous peaceful rallies calling for
Referendum in Sorong, Manokwari, Serui, Nabire and Jayapura.
Melanesian people of Papua are calling to the international community to
continue monitoring of the situation inside Papua, calling to Jakarta to
allow international observers to go inside Papua as soon as possible,
especially from the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific community. West
Papuans are calling on the International community make immediate protests
on the brutal and systemic repression of people?s legitimate right to
peaceful expression by the Indonesian military, intelligence, police, and
state sponsored jihadists and militias..
Rallies will continue until Indonesian and the international community
hear and implementing referendum to the people of West Papua. West Papua
needs a referendum on its future as a political solution to the ongoing
genocide.
Ongoing information, please contact:
Dr Jacob Rumbiak
Australia, Mobile +61 (0)4313 88 976 or +61 (0)3 9510 2193
Co-ordinator, Foreign Affairs, West Papua National Authority
SORONG:
Michael Mandobayan, West Papua National Youth Chief of Council/
Coordinator WPNA Sorong + (62) 85254517800
Topan Baho, Spokesperson of WPNA Sorong +62 85254559143
MANOKWARI
Jack Wanggai, Spokesperson of WPNA Manokwari,: +62 85244340479
Abner Aisoki, HP: +62 85282919155
SERUI
Wilson Uruway, Coordinator WPNA Yapen/Waropen , HP: +62 81240009398
Simon Dom (spokesperson) +62 85254934740
NABIRE
MS Yetty Yoweni, Coordinator Ground Action of WPNA Nabire, +62 81344463429
JAYAPURA
Terrianus Yoku, Head of National Congress, WPNA, HP: +62 85244357673
Markus Yenu, Coordinator Ground Action of WPNA, HP: +62 81344531793
MEDIA CONSIDERATIONS. The situation is being monitored closely, and update
will be available from people on the ground. Photographs will be provided
as soon as we have them. Please visit www.manukoreri.net to access
photographs.
This Alert and Media co-ordination has been prepared by Nick Chesterfield,
Independent Human Security and Media Consultant to West Papua Movement.
www.manukoreri.net +61(0)409 268 978 manukoreri at riseup.net GPG Key
available on request.
---
The Jakarta Post
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Op-Ed
Care needed to resolve Papua's weak governance
Vidhyandika Perkasa, Jakarta
No significant progress has eventuated in Papua as far as
sociocultural, political and economic dimensions are concerned.
Conventional issues persist: the weak implementation of special
autonomy, which has failed to improve local socioeconomic
conditions; the controversial debate and confusion in
implementing the "legal status" of the new province of West
Papua; unresolved and unaddressed human rights violations and
discrimination among indigenous people; and the growing and
uncontrolled demands for area expansions throughout the province.
National and political elites seem preoccupied with solving
macro political and legal issues and so neglect the core
problem: identifying why special autonomy (still seen as the
most "promising" panacea for the complex Papua problems) has
failed to improve Papuans' wellbeing. There are various possible
approaches to trying to detect why the ill-fated special
autonomy has not performed as effectively as planned.
Weak governance is one significant factor in the poor
implementation of special autonomy. Governance at nearly all
levels in Papua is generally quite poor, even downright awful.
With weak governance there is no clear popular representation in
policy-making processes and no efficient, open and accountable
government.
Cultural and traditional factors are unquestionably important
contributors to weak governance. The magnitude of the influence
of traditional culture and values on behavior is quite visible
in Papua. Weak governance is about weak leadership. There are
several kinds of traditional leadership in Papua: Big Man,
Ondoafi (based on ascription), Kingdom and Mixed Leadership. Big
Man leadership, for example, which is typical in the Highlands,
stresses the leader's capacity to "manipulate" his surroundings
and natural resources for his own benefit. One informant argued
this capacity for manipulation has negative connotations because
the leader is not bound to follow any laws or regulations. Big
Man leadership tends also to be authoritarian and autonomous, as
the leader does not acknowledge division of labor among his
constituents.
Under decentralization and special autonomy, tribal leaders are
vying for positions in the modern bureaucracy. Ironically, the
formally elected leaders are engaged in traditional politics. In
most cases of tribal war, cycles of revenge and hatred are
dragged into the politics of modern governance. The influence of
this is evident in inefficient bureaucracy, corruption, nepotism
and ineffective governance. Therefore, it is crucial to
highlight the traditional patterns of behavior, patterns of
exercising power and patterns of leadership that might manifest
in the modern governance system.
Research by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS) in 2007, supported by the Australia-Indonesia Governance
Research Partnership (AIGRP), discovered the significant factors
that contribute to weak governance in Wamena include the
influence of "primordialism", ethnic exclusivism and a culture
of framing political allegiances and patterns of conflict.
Those factors have impeded the establishment of good governance.
To be more specific, the influence of ethnic and religious
considerations in bureaucratic appointments and political
representation is one expression of traditional values in local
government.
It is also evident in elected leaders' obligation to reward
their supporters in order to maintain popular support. In many
respects, this pattern of patronage is expected of traditional
leaders, but it becomes problematic when the funds allocated to
fulfill these obligations are taken from the local government
budget or special autonomy funds.
Weak governance is not solely a matter of traditional patterns
of behavior in the modern governance system but also results
from a lack of human resources. The research found inadequate
formal education and professional experience and training among
government officials and political representatives, especially
in policy making and program implementation. Bureaucratic and
political processes do not support the selection and deployment
of the most qualified people to senior positions. Appointments
are often made for reasons of political, ethnic or religious
affiliation rather than on merit, resulting in a lack of
leadership skills in local government. In addition, the
phenomenon of "the wrong man in the wrong position" or a
mismatch of qualifications, experience and position is
widespread.
Furthermore, very rapid social change since the first contact
just half a century ago has led to what might be described as
"culture shock", "distortion" or "contamination". Some of this
transformation has manifested itself in the ways leadership has
developed in the local government system, which has had access
to greatly increased revenues through Special Autonomy.
This has led to some erosion of traditional values. For example,
"deliberation" (musyawarah) is currently used to secure personal
or group interests for economic objectives. In addition, senior
government officials have had access to resources that have
enabled more luxurious and hedonistic lifestyles, resulting in a
change in the relationship between the government and the
community.
Finally, the lack of synergy among local government, NGOs and
the business community in supporting democracy and good
governance also contributes to weak governance.
Given the complexity of the problems that contribute to weak
governance in Papua, the policy recommendations are as follows.
First, there needs to be ongoing attention or research in trying
to determine the root causes of weak governance in Papua, taking
into account the complexity and magnitude of the cultural
dimensions.
I object to the view that all traditional leadership values are
"bad". CSIS discovered positive local wisdom that could support
good governance. These positive values need to be built upon in
concrete policy interventions. In addition, there needs to be a
mechanism to counter or overcome the negative effect of
traditional leadership in the modern government system.
Second, there needs to be improvement in the recruitment and
selection processes within the bureaucracy and the political
parties, regulated through bylaws (Perda).
The aim of such regulations would be to improve the professional
and educational standards of senior officials, members of the
executive and political representatives.
The third recommendation is to have professional development
programs for civil servants in local government.
Finally, a key factor in the development of democratic
governance and good governance is a strong civil society.
The author is a researcher at the Centre for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS). He obtained his PhD in
anthropology from Monash University, Australia. He can be
contacted at vidhyandika at csis.or.id
---
Cenderawasih Post, 10 March 2008
MORNING STAR BAG [USERS] SHOULD NOT BE ARRESTED (BANNED)
Governor Suebu: Solution to Papuan issues must be dealt with
persuasively.
JAYAPURA - The controversial issues of using separatist symbols
such as the
morning star flag on any accessories has become one of Governor
Suebu's
concerns. According to the governor, the handling of the people's
use of the
separatist's symbols should be dealt persuasively and not
repressively.
Governor Suebu spoke to journalists at a coffee morning in the
Governor's
Palace on Saturday (8/3/08). He said, "for instance, if you met any
elder
women holding bags that have a Morning Star flag on them you should
not
arrest them. What we need to keep in mind is to have a symbol which
is
officially recognised by regional law.
The governor said that Law no 77 year 2007 is a general law and
applies
nationally and not exclusively for Papua and it says that any
regional
symbols and regional songs must not be similar to separatist's
symbols. The
governor added, "Solution to Papuan issues must be dealt with
persuasively
and not by using any repressive ways because using repression
means that
until the end of the world, Papuan issues never be solved".
Governor Suebu said that this was one of the results of his meeting
with
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace in
Jakarta
last Tuesday (4th March).
---
<samoxen at dsl.pipex.com> -----
<http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/government-chided-over-
inaction-c
en-30708-p-4/> [UK] Government chided over inaction:
Church of England Newspaper
3.07.08 p 4.
March 8, 2008
Posted by Revd Canon George Conger geoconger in
<http://wordpress.com/tag/church-of-england-newspaper/> Church of
England
Newspaper,
http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/government-chided-over-
inaction-ce
n-30708-p-4/
<http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/government-chided-over-
inaction-c
en-30708-p-4/1244/> west-papua-flag.jpg
The former Bishop of Oxford has condemned the government's inaction
in the
face of on-going human rights violations by the Indonesian
government in
West Papua.
Speaking in the House of Lords on Feb 26, Lord Harries said the
government's
"bland disingenuousness" over West Papua had been discreditable. The
Indonesian government was guilty of torture, "systematic brutality"
and
"genocide" against the indigenous people of Papua he said.
Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch-Brown conceded "the claim that
there
are major human rights abuses," but noted the British government
sought to
work with the Indonesian government to "see it improve the
conditions in
Papua and to respect its special autonomy legislation."
Lord Harries opened his remarks by saying that when he went
shopping, he
carried a bag displaying the West Papua "morning star" flag. "If I
shopped
in West Papua with that bag, I would immediately be labelled a
separatist
and treated with brutality" and imprisoned, he said.
The government responded that Indonesia was making provisions for
Papuans to
be permitted to fly flag. Lord Malloch-Brown called for "some
understanding" for Indonesia as "flags are provocative things even
in
democracies that put an absolute premium on freedom of speech."
"The Confederate flag in the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States>
United States continues to cause eruptions in every presidential
campaign
that I can recall," the minister said.
Liberal Democratic peer Lord Avebury responded that "you do not go
to prison
for 20 years for flying the Confederate flag in the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States> United States."
"West Papua is a small country a long way away," Lord Harries said,
while
"Indonesia is a big player with which we have major trade deals."
"There are those who think that if only they stall long enough the
problem
will go away," he said. However, Lord Harries assured the
government and
the West Papuan people that their friends in the West would not
abandon
their cause in the face of economic self-interest or realpolitik,
and asked
the government to pursue this issue "with very great seriousness,
conviction
and urgency."
---
Forwarded message from joe collins <seosamh20 at hotmail.com> ---
- --
ABC News online
11 arrested for raising banned Papuan flag
Posted 8 hours 11 minutes ago
Indonesian police have arrested 11 people in Papua for raising the
Morning Star flag.
Police broke up a rally in the west of the province when
demonstrators held the banned flag aloft and called for a
referendum on Papua's future.
The demonstrators could be charged with promoting separatism.
Police have rejected claims that they beat several of the
demonstrators.
The Morning Star flag is a symbol of the Papuan independence
movement and was the official flag of West Papua when it was under
UN control in the 1960's.
---
UNHCR
http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/47d7e7914.html
Young Papuan refugees greet visitors to the East Awin refugee
settlement in Western Province.
© UNHCR/A.Rummery
UNHCR News Stories
Refugees in PNG travel the road to self-reliance
EAST AWIN, Papua New Guinea, March 12 (UNHCR) –
Hundreds of
refugees in western Papua New Guinea (PNG) could soon take a big
step towards self-reliance thanks to provincial government plans to
upgrade a vital road.
Surrounded by a vast tropical rainforest in an area of heavy annual
rainfall, the refugee settlement at East Awin is located on the 110-
kilometre-long dirt road linking the town
of Nomad to Kiunga, a
mining centre close to the border with Indonesia's Papua province.
The jungle highway is a key artery for East Awin's community of
2,500 Papuan
refugees, who use it to sell their produce in the
towns of Kiunga and Tabubil, send their children to secondary
school, ride to work and access medical facilities.
"The road is
important for our survival," said Mathias Baam, who
fled to PNG 23 years ago.
He and other refugee leaders believe they
can become self sufficient, but say their goal has been difficult
to achieve because of a lack of transport and the state of the
road,
which is virtually impassable in the wet season.
The refugees want help – something more substantial than the quick
fix projects carried out by logging and oil exploration
companies
when they move in and out of the area or the band-aid repairs
conducted by female refugees. They might not have to wait much
longer.
Fortunately for the
Papuans in East Awin, the West Province
government has put a priority on road and infrastructure
development in 2008 at a time when the challenges faced by the
broader
local community mirror those of the refugees.
Funding is
available for upgrading several roads, including the Kiunga-Nomad
highway, and work could begin in the coming months.
The government action coincides with
stepped up efforts by UNHCR
and its partners to move the refugee population in East Awin onto a
firmer development footing, and focus is zeroing in on the road.
"These
refugees have now been here for over 20 years and its time
we pooled our efforts to help them integrate more fully into PNG
life," said Wallaya Pura, UNHCR's representative
in PNG.
The need to boost self-reliance opportunities and include the
refugees in development plans for Western Province was a key theme
of a conference convened by
UNHCR in the PNG capital, Port Moresby,
late last year.
Participants, including donors, development
agencies, church groups and government agencies, agreed that fixing
the road was a priority.
"Good road access will solve lots of
problems. Once it is in place,
there is definitely the capacity with the group of refugees
themselves to make great strides towards self-reliance," said
Bishop Gilles Côté,
whose Catholic diocese of Daru-Kiunga provides
health, education and other services to refugees and locals in
Western Province.
Provincial Administrator Nelson Hungrabos
said an upgrade of the
Kiunga-Nomad road would not only open up economic opportunities,
including increased agricultural production in the Nomad region,
but also provide
better access to education and health facilities.
"We are looking at that as a key road," he said.
"Western Province is a very big land mass, but in terms of
population density it is sparsely populated, making the provision
of
services very costly. Especially when we don't have the
appropriate road network," Hungrabos noted, adding that "the
refugee camp is along the way, so it is within the
priority of the
government."
UNHCR has welcomed the government plans. "Everyone agrees we need
this critical step to make self-reliance a truly viable option for
the refugee
community," Representative Pura said. "But it will also
need to be complemented by other health, education, livelihood and
other programmes to help integrate this long-
standing refugee
population into local development plans," she concluded.
The PNG government designated East Awin a refugee settlement area
in 1987, following an influx of
indigenous Papuans fleeing an
Indonesian armed forces offensive against separatists.
Since the establishment of the settlement, some 7,000 refugees have
been received
and processed at East Awin. About 60 percent of the
current population of 2,500 were born there. Others have moved on
to other parts of PNG after obtaining residency
permits, or
returned to their villages in Indonesia.
By Ariane Rummery
in East Awin, Papua New Guinea
---
http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/news/malvnewsroundup/display.var.2121710.0.highflying_clives_african_adventure.php
High-flying Clive's African Adventure
By Jack Davidson
A CHALLENGING helicopter flight over the vast terrain of Mozambique held
some uncanny literary parallels for a Colwall author.
Clive Langmead volunteered his expertise to help old-friend and retired
naval-officer Adrian Nance research the region for his new charity, Wings
Like Eagles.
The charity would provide helicopters for quick-response aid to victims of
flooding disasters in the region, and operate as a commercial business the
rest of the time.
advertisement
Clive and Adrian hired a Robinsons R-44 helicopter and set off across the
1,200 mile stretch of land that makes up the south-east African country.
Their adventure was remarkably similar to a biography co-written by Clive
and its subject David Marfleet, also called Wings like Eagles.
The book, released more than 10 years ago, tells the true story of a
retired paratroop helicopter pilot, Marfleet, who finds his skills in
great demand in the high valleys of
Irian Jaya, a province of Indonesia.
Marfleet realises his helicopter can help during earthquakes to transport
food and aid to the isolated villagers of the province.
Clive's own adventure began in South Africa where he undertook lessons to
convert his licence to South African standard.
He was left surprised but impressed by the level of tuition needed to
negotiate the particular challenges of the region.
He said: "The instructor asked me to dip the helicopter down to just six
feet off the ground and fly at a speed of 50 knots.
"When we came to fly through rain storms, I realised why this was so
vital. We were forced to skim over the tree tops in order to see our route
ahead.
"It was quite an adventure and we met a lot of very helpful people - both
in the aviation community, which is quite small - and amongst aid workers
and business folk. The
operating potential is definitely there."
Mozambique offered a good opportunity to catch up with a friendly face
when Clive dropped in to see the son of former vicar of Malvern Priory,
David Charley, who now
runs a scuba diving school in the coastal town of Tofo.
"It was great seeing an old friend from Malvern so far from home" said
Clive, "and of course I took him and his friends for a flip round the
bay."
As Clive and Adrian continued on their tour of the country a detailed
survey was made and footage taken of the floods which will be used to
canvass further support for the
project.
The plan is to place one or two helicopters permanently in the country to
undertake commercial work but be quickly available for disaster relief
when called for.
Adrian has now set up an office for WLE in Maputo with an Operations
Manager to work alongside Mozambican charity Aerovision. They hope to have
their first helicopter
in place by the summer.
More information about the charity can be found at www.wingslikeeagles.com.
3:35pm Friday 14th March 2008
---
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/a-farewell-to-ice/
(article mentions Papua. Please visit if you wish to read)
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38696
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Indonesia seeks NZ assistance in Papua police training
Posted at 03:43 on 20 March, 2008 UTC
Indonesian police have sought assistance from New Zealand police to
implement improved community policing in the Papua region.
They are also looking to recruit about 1,500 more Papuans into their ranks
as part of the initiative.
New Zealand Police’s manager for International Strategy and Policy, Jackie
Goodwin, recently visited Papua on Jakarta’s invitation to scope out areas
where the Papua-
based police could use technical assistance.
She says people in Papua made it clear to her that they want more
development, and therefore more community policing and direct Papuan
involvement in it.
“And also the Indonesian government recognise that there is a lot of
diversity in lower levels of development in Papua and West Papua which
represent additional
challenges. And I think there’s wide acceptance now that in order to
achieve sustainable development you need rule of law. So police have a
very important role in helping to
achieve sustainable development.”
Jackie Goodwin says the details of the assistance programme are still
being worked through.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38611
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
Journalists reportedly threatened in Indonesia’s Papua region
Posted at 02:02 on 17 March, 2008 UTC
There are allegations that journalists in Manokwari in the Indonesian
region of Papua are currently being threatened and intimidated by security
forces.
West Papuan activists say the journalists have been urged to suppress
coverage of protests, while a number of demonstrators involved have been
charged with rebellion for
raising the banned Morning Star flag.
Security forces have also demanded that media provide footage and
photographs to help with the prosecution of protestors who were demanding
a referendum.
The Manokwari Executive Director of the Institute of Research, Analysis
and Legal Aid Development, Yan Christian Warinussy, says 11 people are
being held in custody
following the protests this month.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38622
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 NGO raises concerns about Papuan protestors arrested in Indonesia
Posted at 07:21 on 17 March, 2008 UTC
The Australia West Papua Association has voiced concern about the
fallout from protests against the special autonomy law in Indonesia’s
Papua region in recent weeks.
The organisation’s spokesman Joe Collins has called on Australia’s Foreign
Minister to raise the human rights situation in Papua with Indonesia’s
President.
This follows the arrest by Indonesian police of 13 Papuans last week in
Manokwari for carrying the West Papuan lag, the Morning Star.
Two were later released, however Mr Collins says there is cause for
concern for the safety of those still in custody.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38682
Radio New Zealand International
The Voice of New Zealand, Broadcasting to the Pacific
Te Reo Irirangi O Aotearoa, O Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa
West Papua National Authority fears Indonesian forces are rounding up more
Papuans
Posted at 22:44 on 19 March, 2008 UTC
The West Papua National Authority says it fears that Indonesian security
forces are rounding up more Papuans involved in peaceful demonstrations
since the beginning of
March.
Four more men have been charged with rebellion and disturbing security in
the Indonesian province.
And over the weekend nine fellow activists were charged with subversion
after being arrested for flying the Morning Star flag.
The arrests in Manokwari came under a 2007 law banning the display of
separatist symbols in Papua.
The charged men are now reportedly in police custody in Jayapura
The arrests come amidst what the Authority and various human rights group
say is a crackdown on all Papuans involved in political expression.
The Authority also claims that relatives of some of the charged activists
are being harassed and threatened by Indonesian police.
It says other activist leaders are under threat from military action and
have gone into hiding.
---
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23396168-23109,00.html
Nine in court for waving 'Free Papua' flag
>From correspondents in Jakarta
March 18, 2008 03:46pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse
NINE men arrested at a student protest in Indonesia's province of Papua
last week will face trial on charges of plotting against the state, police
say.
They were jailed after a protest against a 2007 law banning the display of
separatist symbols, including flags, in Papua.
National police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira said the nine had unfurled
the outlawed separatist "Free Papua" flag during the March 13 rally.
Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago, has long been sensitive about
separatist movements.
Two pro-independence demonstrators in the eastern province of Maluku were
jailed for 15 to 17 years last week for preparing flags for the separatist
South Maluku Republic
(RMS).
Several people from the same district are also awaiting trial for
unfurling the RMS flag during a welcoming ceremony for Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Indonesia won sovereignty over Papua, a former Dutch colony on the western
half of New Guinea island, in 1969 after a vote among a select group of
Papuans widely seen
as flawed.
Papuans have long accused Indonesia's military of violating human rights
in the province and complain that the bulk of earnings from its rich
natural resources flow to
Jakarta.
---
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38640
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 asked to suspend military ties with Indonesia amid Papua abuse
Posted at 03:43 on 18 March, 2008 UTC
The New Zealand-based Indonesia Human Rights Committee says it continues
to be deeply concerned about the human rights situation in West Papua.
It has written to the New Zealand foreign minister, Winston Peters, asking
the government to suspend all defence training ties with Indonesia.
The letter says New Zealand’s defence ties serve to give legitimacy to a
military force which is manifestly responsible for deepening repression
and ongoing violence in
West Papua.
Instead, it says, New Zealand should support the call of US Congressional
leaders, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin and Donald Payne for internationally
mediated dialogue to
help resolve the ongoing crisis in West Papua before there is further
bloodshed.
There have been reports of arrests in recent days over the raising of the
banned Morning Star flag.
---
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/19/fossilfuels.indonesia
Shattered illusions
When BP set out to build a £3.5bn natural gas plant in remote West Papua,
local villagers hoped for a bright future. But all is not well.
* John Vidal
* The Guardian,
* Wednesday March 19 2008
* Article history
This article appeared in the Guardian on Wednesday March 19 2008 on p8 of
the Society news & features section. It was last updated at 00:10 on March
19 2008.
Recently, with hundreds of Indonesian troops just out of sight in scenes
of intense security, Prince Andrew, the government's official business
envoy, dropped in on Bintuni
Bay, one of Indonesia's mots remote corners. The plan was to inspect BP's
new £3.5bn natural gas plant. What the Duke of York probably did not know
was that he had
walked straight into a row between the giant oil company and local villagers.
The British firm had promised its new neighbours, who live on the edge of
the pristine Papuan rainforest, better homes, long-term jobs and full
environmental protection
when it started several years ago to build its giant plant to extract 14
trillion cubic metres of gas. But with the gas about to flow, village
leaders have now complained bitterly
that the company has reneged on its agreements.
In a long letter sent to the Guardian and in telephone conversations,
Papuan leaders requesting anonymity have complained that the company has
blocked off their fishing
grounds, attracted a flood of migrants to the villages, provided very few
jobs for local people and is now siding with the Indonesian authorities
against native Papuans who
are engaged in a long struggle for independence.
"Everything we feared when BP came to the area has come true," claims one
community leader. "People are not allowed to catch any fish or shrimps in
the exclusive zone
established by BP. More and more migrants are coming because of the plant.
There is very high inflation because there is lots of money around. The
number of local
people from Bintuni Bay who work in the project is very low. Local Papuans
are never recruited as full-time members of staff."
BP has been desperately keen to avoid the experiences that it, Shell and
other oil companies, have had in Africa and Latin America, where oil and
gas extraction has left a
trail of pollution, human rights abuses and distressed people with no
share in the wealth extracted from their land. The company pledged from
the start to set new social and
environmental standards, and to be a model of corporate social
responsibility. It hired some of the best development NGOs to offer
advice.
Papuan leaders say they were initially impressed when BP completely
rebuilt one fishing village, poured money into the nearby communities, and
employed leading
environment, human rights and health groups to advise them on how to avoid
conflict and bring prosperity to the villages. But as the project has come
closer to opening,
people have flooded into the area. "Conflicts between local communities
and migrants have begun," says the leader. "The migrants [from all over
Indonesia] have come here
to look for jobs, and are staying. There are about 1,500 in the village of
Babo and 1,200 in Bintuni. They are the majority now in all the villages,"
he says.
The Tangguh gas field, believed to be eventually worth more than £100bn to
BP and the Indonesian government, is one of the largest in the world.
Known as a "super giant",
it is contracted to provide gas for China, Mexico and the US, and should
last 30 years.
But the Papuan leaders, who have long been pressing for independence from
Indonesia, say they fear that BP is taking sides with the Indonesian
government, as they are
bypassed from all the lasting benefits. According to documents seen by the
Guardian, less than £30m was budgeted for the Tangguh social programme
over six years,
including money for resettlement and security; nearly £15m was earmarked
for "consultants" and administration. The nine most affected villages in
the area are being given
£15,000 a year for five years, and others in the area £5,500 a year.
"BP has built 100 houses for 100 heads of families. All looks wonderful,"
another village leader says. "But the people actually suffer mentally from
their new settlement. Their
access to the sea is limited because of the company's exclusion zone, and
they cannot expand their gardens. They do not have enough [space] to
expand their families."
Criticism of BP's employment policy was levelled at the company last year
and the Tangguh Independent Advisory Panel, chaired by Lord [David]
Hannay, to monitor the
project, encouraged BP to employ more Papuans and to educate the local
population about the "demobilisation" process when the construction work
is complete.
Although nearly 6,000 people have been employed in constructing the plant,
fewer than 500 will be employed by the company after the building is
complete later this year.
Of these, only around 50 are expected to be Papuan.
"People's dependency on BP is very high. There will be problems when the
work ends. There will be economic and psychological degradation," say
Papuan leaders in their
letter to the Guardian.
"We predicted that BP and Indonesia would not care about the very survival
of the Papuans on their land and their nation. We expected that BP and
Indonesia would
continuously destroy our forests and our trees and pollute the rivers and
seas," they says. "And we feared that BP and Indonesia would bring
misfortune for the Papuans by
employing skilled workers from outside West Papua, claiming that we
Papuans are not 'skilled workers'. I have to tell you that our worst
predictions and fears have come
true."
BP denies that it is causing environmental damage, or that it is favouring
non-Papuans. The company said it is bound by strict guidelines about how
many Papuans should
be employed. A spokesman says: "We think about 30% of the construction
workforce is Papuan. The intention is that there will be long-term
employment for Papuans. We
are prioritising the most affected villages," says a BP spokesman.
But he also concedes that Papua is large and that it has been difficult to
identify who is an original inhabitant of these villages. On the fishing
situation, he points out that BP
has provided outboard motors to some people so they can travel further to
fishing grounds. "We believe we have set new standards for the BP group.
There has been a lot
of progress but there is no complacency," he says.
---
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/19/indone18314_txt.htm
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Indonesia: Free Peaceful Protesters in Papua
Activists Face Charges for Nonviolent Expression
(London, March 19, 2008) – The Indonesian government should order the
immediate release of nine Papua activists arrested for displaying the
Papuan Morning Star flag,
Human Rights Watch said today. All charges against them should be dropped.
On March 13, police arrested nine people in Manokwari, West Papua, during
a demonstration against a 2007 law banning the display of separatist
symbols, including the
Morning Star Flag. One of the nine in custody is reported to be a
16-year-old boy. Indonesia’s arrest and detention of peaceful activists
violates the internationally
recognized rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
“Raising a flag at a demonstration is a nonviolent act, but in Indonesia
it can land you in prison,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at
Human Rights Watch. “If
Indonesia wants recognition as a rights-respecting nation, it should stop
imprisoning people for acts of peaceful expression.”
In July 2007, Human Rights Watch welcomed the ruling of the Indonesian
Constitutional Court declaring unconstitutional certain provisions in
Indonesia’s criminal code
prohibiting free expression. Despite the ruling, several Indonesian laws
continue to restrict freedom of expression in violation of international
law, including article 6 of
Government Regulation 77/2007, which prohibits the display of the Morning
Star Flag in Papua, the South Maluku Republic Benang Raja flag in Ambon
and the Crescent
Moon flag in Aceh.
“Crucial Indonesian legal reforms on free expression have no bearing on
events in Papua,” said Pearson. “Unfortunately, once again there is a
different set of rules for
Papua and other areas with separatist sympathies than for the rest of
Indonesia.”
Human Rights Watch is also concerned that the nine individuals facing
trial for breaching Regulation 77/2007 will also be charged with makar,
which translates into English
as “rebellion.” In the past, Papuan activists openly supporting separatism
have been sentenced to a 20-year prison term for the peaceful expression
of their political views.
On March 12, two pro-independence demonstrators in the province of Maluku
were sentenced to 15 and 17 years in prison for possession of the South
Maluku Republic
Benang Raja flag.
Human Rights Watch takes no position on Papuan claims to
self-determination, but it supports the right of all individuals,
including independence supporters, to express their
political views peacefully without fear of arrest or other forms of reprisal.
Peaceful campaigning for self-determination is a right protected by
international human rights law, including the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which
Indonesia ratified in February 2006.
“Committing to the human rights treaties Indonesia recently ratified means
more than signing on the dotted line,”said Pearson. “It means stop
punishing people for peaceful
acts of expression.”
Related Material
“Protest and Punishment: Political Prisoners in Papua”
Report, February 21, 2007
More of Human Rights Watch’s work on Indonesia
Country Page
Indonesia: Police Abuse Endemic in Closed Area of Papua
Press Release, July 5, 2007
Out of Sight: Endemic Abuse and Impunity in Papua’s Central Highlands
Report, July 5, 2007
From: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/19/indone18314.htm
---
From: Tapol <tapol at gn.apc.org>
3 Tempo Magazine Reports:
- Saving Papua: The Battle Against AIDS
- Secretary of the National AIDS Commissio Nafsiah Mboi:
Prevention is the best course
- Death and Disavowals [Deaths from edema and malnutrition still
haunt a number of regions. The local governments should assume
greater responsibility, says the Health Minister. Integrated
health clinics need to be revived.]
-----------------
Tempo Magazine
No. 29/VIII
March 18-24, 2008
Outreach
Saving Papua
Because of limited access to health facilities in Papua, the
government is prioritizing AIDS treatment there. However,
international funds to assist AIDS program have decreased and a
number of provincial governments have also cut their budget
allocation for HIV programs.
THE fact that HIV/AIDS epidemic in Papua has reached alarming
proportions is no secret. Not surprisingly, Health Minister Siti
Fadilah Supari stated Wednesday last week that the government
should prioritize Papua in controlling HIV and AIDS.
"Geographically Papua is an extremely difficult region, hence
the need for a system to reach the entire region," said Siti
Fadilah during the national workshop on the planning and
budgeting for HIV and AIDS control at the National Development
Planning Board (Bappenas) office.
To this end, the Health Department has prepared a special
program, specifically to help the Papuan people. Called 'Save
Papua', the program takes the form of a mobile clinic manned by
medical specialists and nurses. It is also equipped with health
facilities needed in Papua. People will be examined for HIV as
well as for other infectious diseases such as malaria and
tuberculosis. Counseling for mothers' and children's health will
also be given by the mobile clinic.
This privilege is provided in the light of very limited access
for the Papuan people to health facilities, due in part to
Papua's difficult terrain and remote and isolated areas.
Therefore, the Health Department has come up with this solution
to deal with HIV and AIDS, and to train local people for
subsequent involvement in the HIV/AIDS program.
Siti says this program does not rely on foreign funds. The
Health Minister estimates that the total budget for the HIV/AIDS
program in Papua and in West Papua to be Rp664 billion. This
amount, according to Siti, can still be managed by the state
through special allocations and the Global Fund which helps
overcome AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria around the world.
The problem is that for the HIV/AIDS control program at the
national level, Indonesia has until now still depended on
foreign assistance. Meanwhile, a number of international donors
have begun to drastically reduce the amount of funds given for
this purpose. According to Coordinating Minister for People's
Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie, 70 percent of the state's spending on
the HIV/AIDS effort comes from foreign aid. At the moment, the
funds thus expended to overcome AIDS in Indonesia have amounted
to US$52.50 million.
According to Aburizal, in 2007 the government allocated Rp240
billion for AIDS from the Health Department, Rp19 billion from
the Regional (regency/municipality) Budget (APBD), Rp57 billion
from Provincial Budget and Rp5.9 billion from the AIDS Control
Commission.
Meanwhile, State Minister/Chairman of Bappenas, Paskah Suzetta,
says there is a critical need to figure out a way to overcome
budget shortfalls, reduce dependency and increase self-funding.
The APBN (national budget) and APBD are still limited. In 2006,
there was a discrepancy between the necessary outlay and the
fund availability. This condition could continue until 2010. The
funds needed to overcome HIV will increase in order to reach 80
percent of HIV-risk people by the year 2010. By 2008, an
additional amount of Rp1 trillion will be required.
To reduce dependence and to increase self-funding, Bappenas will
include the HIV/AIDS planning and funding in the national and
regional development plan system. Aburizal, who is also Chairman
of the National AIDS Commission, says that as of this year,
foreign aid has decreased substantially, specifically aid from
the US and Australia. To anticipate this, he says, there should
be cost sharing with the regional and local governments so that
the activity will not stop should foreign aid cease.
The problem has compounded as a number of regional governments
have reportedly cut their HIV/AIDS budget allocations, despite
the national-level commitment to increasing funds to fight the
spread of the AIDS virus. According to Nafsiah Mboy, Secretary
to the National AIDS Commission, the provincial governments have
reduced HIV budgets, using their funds instead on expenses
incurred in the 2007 regional heads elections.
Nafsiah says the amount cut from the budget may be
insignificant, but she fears that the greater HIV budget will be
siphoned to other institutions in the run-up to the 2009 General
Elections. "If a regional election alone can use money from the
HIV budget, how much for the national election?" she asks.
President Yudhoyono instructed an increase in the national
budget for HIV/AIDS in July last year at a cabinet meeting.
Apparently the President's request has been ignored by a number
of regions. In Papua, for example, the provincial government
allocated Rp10 billion for the Regional AIDS Commission in 2007.
But, only 1 percent of the budget has been disbursed.
The latest survey indicates that the HIV/AIDS prevalence in
Papua is among 2.4 percent of its entire population of 2.6
million, or some 67.55 per 100,000 residents. The number of
sufferers in Papua is fewer than in Jakarta with its 2,704
cases. However, where prevalence is concerned, Jakarta-which
ranks second-is only half of Papua, that is, 29.78 per 100,000
residents. In fact, if compared with the national-level
prevalence of only 4.27 per 100,000 people, Papua's figure is
obviously many times that number.
An even more alarming fact from such a high prevalence is that
most sufferers are housewives. This is certainly different from
other places where the groups of people with high risks to
HIV/AIDS are sex workers, i.e. women and transsexuals,
homosexual males, and drug users sharing common syringes.
In addition, Papua is also a unique case as to the causes of HIV
infection. There the largest cause of HIV/AIDS spread is unsafe
sex, such as frequent changes in sexual partners, which happens
after traditional celebrations, or where one person services
many people, or from sex at a young age. The use of condoms is
also very limited. A limited knowledge of sexual relations and
the many nomadic sex workers intensify the risks of contracting
the disease in Papua.
According to the 2007 records of the Papuan Provincial Health
Service, the number of people contracting HIV/AIDS not from
sexual relations is "only" 153 of the total 3,434 cases. This
data is an accumulation since the first HIV case was discovered
in Merauke in 1992. At that time six cases of HIV-positive were
found. In 2000, the number of HIV-positive in Papua increased to
427. In 2004, it multiplied to 1,749 HIV/AIDS-positive cases. In
2005, the number increased to 2,163 positive cases. Out of the
3,434 cases in 2007, HIV cases totaled 1,964 while AIDS 1,470.
The cause of HIV infection from syringes-in drug use or blood
transfusion-which figures high in other places, is very low in
Papua. According to the data of the Papua Provincial Health
Service, in 2007 only one person who is HIV-positive and two
persons with AIDS contracted it from syringes.
Another proof that sexual behavior is the greatest trigger of
infection is the survey titled Risk Behavior and HIV Prevalence
in Papua in 2006. This survey is a collaboration between the
Papua Health Service, the AIDS Control Committee, the Central
Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank. The survey published
last year targets the general population in 10
regencies/municipalities in Papua. Sex behavior has become one
topic of discussion in itself. This is the first survey in
Southeast Asia that uses the whole community as its
respondents-including blood sampling for clinical test. Usually
a survey is focused only on a group of high-risk people.
The other outcome of the survey is that generally the HIV/AIDS
knowledge among Papuan people is still very limited: 48 percent
of the population have never heard of HIV/AIDS. The
least-educated group of people (those who have never gone to
school or have not completed primary school) have a lower level
of knowledge, with 74 percent having never heard of HIV/AIDS at
all, in comparison with 20 percent of those who have finished
secondary school or college. Myths of HIV/AIDS still prevail
among the majority of people. The survey also indicates that the
main source of information on HIV/AIDS is radio and television
which constitutes the source of information for 52 percent of
the population. Those who know the most about this deadly
disease are from the highly educated groups.
Based on Papua's topography, the HIV prevalence in that province
is higher among those living in isolated places where access is
difficult, that is, 3.2 percent on the low-lying grounds and 2.9
percent on high terrain. The number in the easy-access areas is
1.8 percent. Very limited knowledge and limited use of condoms
happen in isolated areas.
The Papuan people's sexual behavior contributes to the high
level of HIV/AIDS spread over there. The majority of people
experiencing sex for the first time are under 15 years. This
tendency is higher among females than males. In addition, more
young people, males and females, often change sex partners
compared to older people. Generally, over 20 percent of males
and 8 percent of females have sex with more than one person.
Some 16 percent of the people have sex with non-permanent
partners-including with sex workers.
Unlike previous assumptions, the survey shows that alcohol has
not played a role in the spread of this disease. Only 13.6
percent of the Papuan people drink alcohol prior to having sex.
In addition, condoms are still very rarely used. Only 17 percent
of the people in Papua say condoms are easy to come by.
-- Reh Atemalem Susanti, Iqbal Muhtarom, FS
-----------------------
Tempo Magazine
No. 29/VIII
March 18-24, 2008
Outreach
Nafsiah Mboi: Prevention is the best course
Commenting on reports that the government will decrease the
funds allocated for AIDS in Papua in 2008, Nafsiah Mboi,
Secretary of the National AIDS Commission, says she regrets the
decision.
AIDS management in Papua is costly because it must reach people
throughout the province. "Epidemic status in Papua has reached
many levels of the society," said Nafsiah. "It is no longer just
concentrated on the high-risk groups."
However, Nafsiah welcomes the effort of Aburizal Bakrie,
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare who is also Chairman
of the National AIDS Commission, to seek Rp1 trillion for AIDS
programs in 2008. "If we can accelerate prevention, we would be
saving for the future," said Nafsiah.
"Prevention is much simpler among groups of people where the
spread is still low-level epidemic," explained Nafsiah.
She further added that when members of a community have been
identified as having HIV/AIDS, then dissemination of information
must be accompanied by the distribution of condoms or sterile
needles. The cost for each regency or town depends on the degree
of the epidemic. And this is linked to the level of development
of each area. "Programs dealing with poverty rarely reach the
women," said Nafsiah.
Development and HIV/AIDS management was the main topic of a
recent workshop held at the National Development Planning Board
(Bappenas) on March 12. The participants concluded that
preventing infection would sustain development efforts. As such,
the workshop also determined that AIDS management would be
included in the government's budget allocations.
"About 70 percent of funds for AIDS program still originate from
foreign aid. The rest come from the State Budget (APBN), the
Provincial Government Budget (APBD Propinsi) as well as the
Regency/Town Administration Budget (APBD Kabupaten/Kota),"
explained Nafsiah.
According to Nafsiah, this would guarantee the continuity of
AIDS management programs in the country.
Meanwhile, the private sector is expected to contribute to the
health program by regarding AIDS management as an investment in
future human resources. AIDS-infected employees mean additional
expenses for companies, since they may have to replace them,
which means recruiting and training new personnel.
The government is currently implementing the 'Save Papua'
program, which entails recruiting health professionals,
including counselors, who will work in teams to visit villages.
These professionals will conduct health checkups of villagers,
from babies to old people, in order to detect any infection of
HIV, TB, malaria as well as pregnant women. "But treatment will
be given to those found to be HIV positive," Nafsiah said.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic status of a particular area depends on the
number of people infected, which includes addicts using needles,
women, men and transsexuals working as sex workers, homosexuals,
drug-addicted prison inmates and those who live with
HIV/AIDS-positive people (ODHA).
To date, according to Nafsiah, there are 22,000 to 25,000 people
in Papua who are suspected of being infected with HIV/AIDS and
7,000 in West Papua.
-- Kamellia
---
http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/3/13/australian-mily-attaches-visit-papua/
03/13/08 19:32
Australian mily attaches visit Papua
Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - Four Australian military attaches arrived at
the Mimika district town of Timika on Wednesday for a two-day working
visit in Indonesia`s
easternmost province of Papua.
The four Australian military officials led by Colonel Raymond Presson
Wednesday met Mimika District Military Commander Lt Col Trie Soeseno and
Timika Military Air Base
Commander Lt Col Bambang Triono.
On Thursday morning, they would visit PT Freeport Indonesia`s gold and
cooper mining area at Grasberg in Tembagapura before returning to Jakarta
on Friday.
Speaking to ANTARA News here on Wednesday, Raymond Press said Australia
fully supported Indonesian sovereignty in Papua.
He said the Indonesian government`s policies in Papua such as the granting
of special autonomy appeared to be working well.
"Australia really believes the systems being developed by the Indonesian
government in Papua such as special autonomy are working well," Raymond
Press said.
Commenting on military cooperation, Press said Indonesia and Australia
were continuing to maintain security in their territorial air space by
increasing joint exercises of
their air forces.
He said the two countries` air forces had often conducted joint exercises
such as the `Rajawali Ausindo` recently held in Australia.
Besides the Rejawali Ausindo exercise, Indonesia and Australia also
conducted joint exercises such as Camar Ausindo and Elang Ausindo and
exchanged air force
officers.
"Relations between the Indonesian and Australian air forces are very good,
and we will continue to improve exchange of information in an effort to
make the ties even better
in the future," Press said.
Meanwhile, Timika Military Air Base Commander Lt Col Bambang Triono said
he was delighted by the visit of the Australian defense attaches.
"I must say, their visit is a great honor to us for in fact the Timika
military air base is a strategic place to maintain our air space
security," Triono said.
He added that as close neighbors Indonesia and Australia should be more
open for good cooperation in the transfer of technology, exchange of
information, and knowledge
on aerospace affairs. (*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
---
How Indonesia deals with West Papua "can act as a model" to the World
Meg Munn MP (UK Foreign Office Minister)
WEST PAPUA extracts from UK Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn's speech at the
Wilton Park Conference, 3 March 2008
For the full text of her speech, see:
http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/documents/Meg%20Munn%20Speech%20901.pdf
"Papua was awarded Special Autonomy in 2001. Although Papuans still await
full implementation of the measure, progress on the issue has again removed
many of the flash points."
"Indonesia's experience in Timor Leste, Aceh and Papua is not simply an
internal affair. It can act as a model to others."
"Indonesia still faces many challenges. Papua needs further development and
support for improving livilihoods - a programme which I know is being driven
by Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, whom I met in London in October."
---
From: Richard Samuelson <samoxen at dsl.pipex.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:30:04 +0900
FWPC Note:
UK Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn MP met Indonesian Foreign Minister
Wirajuda on 3rd March 2008 at a Conference at Wilton Park, near Brighton,
England, entitled:
"Indonesia: Political and Economic Prospects".
For the Conference Report, including speeches by Meg Munn and Wirajuda, see:
http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/highlights/viewstory.aspx?url=/wp_1284901822961
82500.html
---
Indonesia: Politics and Government
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs whether he discussed (a) West Papua and (b) human rights with the
Indonesian Minister for Finance, H. E. Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, during his
visit to the UK on 14 and 15 January 2008; and if he will make a statement.
[193522]
17 Mar 2008 : Column 865W
Meg Munn: I met Indonesian Finance Minister, Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, in
London on 15 January. I discussed with her a range of bilateral and
multilateral issues, including climate change and Burma as well as the
situation in Papua.
The Government's position on Papua is longstanding. We support the
territorial integrity of Indonesia and do not therefore support calls for
independence for Papua. We believe that full implementation of existing
Special Autonomy legislation is the best way to address outstanding areas of
concern and ensure the long-term stability of Papua.
The overall human rights situation in Indonesia has improved dramatically in
recent years. Indonesia is opening itself up to scrutiny by the
international human rights framework, including through the UN Human Rights
Council's process of Universal Periodic Review. Indonesia has a flourishing
free media and a parliament that is increasingly holding the government to
account. However, we recognise that challenges remain, particularly in
Papua. I discussed the situation in Papua and raised human rights with Papua
Governor Barnabus Suebo whom I met in London on 25 October 2007. Our embassy
in Jakarta monitors the situation in Papua closely and continues to support
those working to improve human rights across Indonesia.
Indonesia
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs what visits are planned to the UK by representatives of the
Indonesian government during 2008. [193523]
Meg Munn: There are regular visits by Indonesian Ministers to the UK. Most
recently I met Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr. Hassan Wirajuda, at Wilton
Park on 3 March. Following the then Prime Minister's (Mr. Blair) visit to
Indonesia in 2006 there is an open invitation to President Yudhoyono to
visit the UK at a mutually convenient time.
---
From: Tapol <tapol at gn.apc.org>
Report received from West Papua, dated 12 March 2008
Hundred of people in Manokwari demonstrated in protest against Presidential
Decree No 77/2007. Franz Kareth, an economics lecturer at the Faculty of
Economics, was arrested and is being held for 20 days.He faces the charge
of subversion (makar) , though many others at the demonstration were
carrying Morning Star flags.
A similar demonstration took place in the District of Sorong and Sorong
town. Those participating included Dewan Adat Papua, the National Front of
Papuan Youth, community leaders, women activists. Many were carrying
banners saying: "We reject PP 77 and we want a referendum". There were no
arrests. Other banners called for a halt to immigration, the disbandment of
the MRP, rejection of splitting Papua into several provinces, and end to
militarism, a halt in attacks against Papuans. One banner read as follows:
'We want international level dialogue with Indonesia, mediated by the UN',
another said: 'Jakarta should withdraw Law 21, 2001 on Special Autonomy for
Papua.
Prince Andrew walked one and a half kilometres to two train units, tank and
jetty, and also visited a community that is being fostered by BP LNG
Tangguh. The IMMEKO people hope that as a result of the visit by Prince
Andrew, all our problems with the company will be resolved in the spirit of
mutual benefit.
On 12 March, members of IMMEKO community visited the BP Tangguh office and
BP Migas. However, we discovered that BP Migas has moved its office to
Surabaya in East Java. We dont know whether this move was made to speed up
or avoid resolving the problems with the company. This could become a time
bomb for the company,
During a meeting with the head of the local BP office in Sorong, the IMMEKO
representatives were advised to have a meeting with the bupati of South
Sorong, so as to get a letter of recommendation to the governor of West
Papua, to arrange a meeting between the government, the BP company and the
IMMEKO people to seek a resolution to the problems between them.
While this advice was very useful; we dont have sufficient funds to make
such a trip. This is the problem that we face.
---
The Straits Times (Singapore) Monday, Mach 17, 2008
Power plays in the slicing of Indonesian Papua
John McBeth, Senior Writer
EVERYONE seems to agree that when it comes to Papua, the issue
is not about a lack of money. This fiscal year, 28 trillion
rupiah (S$4.2 billion) in central government funds will pour
into Indonesia's easternmost province.
But when Vice-President Jusuf Kalla met recently with Papuan
leaders in Jayapura, he could not resist the disingenuous claim
that all of the US$1.7 billion (S$2.3 billion) in taxes and
royalties the giant Papua-based Freeport copper and gold mine paid to
Jakarta last year
was being ploughed back into the territory.
'Once more, I stress that all of the wealth of Papua has been
utilised for the people of Papua,' he said. 'So, not 1 cent of
Papua's wealth is being used for the people of Jakarta. All of
it has been directed back to the communities in Papua.'
In fact, the 28 trillion rupiah fiscal infusion the province is
getting this year represents what Indonesia's easternmost
province should get anyway as its mandated 2 per cent share of
the General Allocation Fund (DAU) - the parcel of subsidies the
government distributes each year to local governments across the
country.
Under current laws, the provincial government is, in fact,
entitled to only 80 per cent of Freeport's royalties, which last
year amounted to just US$400 million. (The US$1.7 billion in
royalties and taxes the company paid last year was the highest
amount it has paid since it began operations in Papua in the
early 1970s.)
Mr Jusuf's semantics underline what irritates Papuans about
Jakarta. The Papuans are growing increasingly restless over the
way political leaders are ignoring provisions of the 2001
Special Autonomy Law.
Much of their resentment stems from the efforts of their own
ambitious political elites, in collusion with conservative
Jakarta bureaucrats and money-hungry members of the House of
Representatives, to bypass provisions in the law and create
three new provinces in the largely roadless region.
Mr Jusuf reminded his audience that Papua has received more
money than any other province, and five times more than any
province with a comparative 2.5 million-strong population.
'If these funds were distributed equally,' he said, 'every
Papuan would receive 11 million rupiah.'
Mr Jusuf was on strong ground when he homed in on how the money
was being spent and on the importance of ensuring that it was
not all 'absorbed' - his words - by an inept, corrupt
bureaucracy.
It is that - and an appalling lack of human resources across
Papua in general - that should mitigate against further
administrative divisions of Papua. But the central government,
too, can help to improve the situation.
The signs are not good. Mr Jusuf's meeting with Papua Governor
Barnabas Suebu and the 31 regents (district chiefs) from Papua
and neighbouring West Papua was to have been attended by 11
Cabinet ministers. Inexplicably, only four showed up.
Even then, they failed to meet scores of foreign donors who flew
the five hours to Jayapura for a separate session on
coordinating future village development projects.
Some Home Affairs Ministry bureaucrats in Jakarta were unhappy
at the way the World Bank, the United Nations Development Fund
and national aid agencies had been dealing directly with Papua.
Mr Jusuf's meeting with Papuan leaders did produce an agreement
under which President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will issue a
presidential instruction within the next two months recognising
West Papua's legal standing and bringing it under the umbrella
of the Special Autonomy Law.
It was also agreed that the government would not consider the
proposed creation of South Papua, Central Papua and South West
Papua (Barat Daya) provinces until a grand design had been
worked out on the future administrative make-up of a region 31/2
times the size of Java.
The driving force behind the proposed division is not the
central government itself. Instead, it is an alliance of
military and nationalist figures working hand-in-glove with
local politicians.
Under the ground-breaking 2001 law, any move to create new
administrative units in Papua would be unlawful unless it
receives the prior approval of the provincial governor, the
Papua People's Council and the Papua Legislative Assembly.
What has muddied the waters is a 2004 Constitutional Court
finding which questioned the legality of the Megawati
Sukarnoputri government's decision to create West Papua, but let
it to stand because the province was already an established
entity.
Mr Yudhoyono has said he is opposed to the Bills introduced in
Parliament in January to provide for four new provinces in Papua
and another four in other parts of Indonesia. One major reason:
It will complicate the process of defining electoral boundaries
for the 2009 elections.
As in other parts of Indonesia, local autonomy has fostered the
emergence of a clique of Papuan power-holders whose motives in
pushing for new provinces and regencies stem mainly from past
election failures or a simple reluctance to give up power after
two terms in office.
The key figure in South Papua, for example, is second-term
Merauke Regent John Gluba Gbeze, who has been campaigning hard
to forge Merauke and the three neighbouring regencies into a
single province.
Last November, he headed a 300-strong delegation to the national
Parliament to press his case, but he has still not explained how
he will achieve his goal without a fifth regency, as current
laws require.
Well-placed parliamentary sources say the go-to man in Jakarta
for the provincial elites is little-known Indonesian Democratic
Party - Struggle (PDI-P) legislator Fachruddin, the head of the
local autonomy sub-committee of House Commission 11, which
handles domestic affairs.
The Sumatran politician appears to have powerful support from
commission chairman E.E. Mangindaan, a member of Mr Yudhoyono's
Democrat Party and a retired three-star general, who last year
openly backed the creation of South and Central Papua.
Nationalist-minded PDI-P leader Megawati has made it clear she
believes dividing Papua will help undermine the territory's
independence movement.
Last October, veteran Sumatra PDI-P lawmaker Suparlan echoed
that view by asserting that the establishment of South Papua -
perhaps the most viable of the proposed provinces - was 'closely
related to the country's strategic interests in maintaining
unity'.
Among a slew of other supporters of the plan has been National
Awakening Party (PKB) legislator Tony Wardoyo, who said last
year that with plenty of money available, he could see no reason
why more local governments should not be established in Papua.
The German-educated Wardoyo is one of Papua's eleven national
lawmakers, all of whom have been less than effective in
persuading their colleagues that they should be adhering to the
Special Autonomy Law.
But that may be understandable. Only four of them were actually
born in Papua, and just one still lists his permanent address in
the region. The others, like Mr Wardoyo, come from as far afield
as Jakarta, North Sumatra, North Maluku, North, Central and
South Sulawesi.
Hardly the people's representatives Papuans deserve if they want
their country's leaders to sit up and pay attention to their
laundry list of grievances.
thane.cawdor at gmail.com
---
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