Indonesia has announced that it is ready to open its cross-border road with Papua New Guinea, saying it is proof of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Home Minister Mardiyanto visited a border post at Skow Wutung in Jayapura, Papua province, to check on immigration services.""There has been much progress, including in the trial services. Here we can check how long it takes for a traveler to process his or her documents and baggage. We will speed it up to provide a better service,"" he said.
Mardiyanto said that the opening of the road would be of great benefit to residents with relatives in the neighboring country and promote bilateral interests, particularly through the exchange of commodities, thus boosting the economies of both countries. Papuan Governor Barnabas Suebu said that with the opening of the border crossing the number of people from PNG coming to shop in Jayapura would increase because the city's prices were cheaper, while Indonesian traders from Jayapura would find it easier to sell their products in Vanimo, a PNG provincial capital close to the border. ""There are benefits to be had by both sides. They get cheaper prices and we will be able to sell our commodities,"" Suebu said. The border post is also expected to reduce the number of illegal crossings. "With the opening of the legal post, local people are expected to use it,"" he said. The post is scheduled to be officially opened next month by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare.
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Senin, 17 November 2008
Lemhannas calls for focus on preventing separatism
The National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) has recommended the government curb separatist Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonomovements in the country by focusing on preventive measures and finding the root causes of the problem.State officials participating in a training held by the think tank delivered the recommendation to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a forum at the State Palace on Monday through their presentation on "political resilience to support the country's unity".
"To deal with separatism, the government needs to examine the core of the problem by enforcing the law and eradicating unfairness," participant Abidin Syah Siregar told the forum.
"Preventive measures should be prioritized, including the implementation of education on nationality concept for citizens," he said.
Citizens should also be given more opportunity to get involved in the formulation of policies on political issues, he added, saying it would have a positive impact on society and would thus help prevent disintegration.
The participants also stressed regional autonomy should be seen as a delegation of responsibilities, rather than a delegation of power.
They said that before granting a province autonomy, the government should have a clear and measured blueprint ready.
In response to the recommendations, Yudhoyono said the government had always prioritized soft power, rather than hard power, in handling secessionist movements.
"But if the movement is already underway, law enforcement is necessary," he told the participants.
He agreed the government should find the root causes of the movements first before taking action against separatists.
"We have had many examples of such movements. Mostly the root causes are the feelings of injustice, being left behind by other provinces and not receiving a sufficient budget from the government for development in their areas," the President said.
He cited separatism in Papua, saying the government had issued a policy to grant the province special autonomy and allocate it a budget higher than those of other provinces.
"We have provided Papua with the greatest per-capita budget for development in the province, so they have no reason to cite the lack of funds as an excuse for disobedience," Yudhoyono said.
He added the government had always upheld the pursuit of prosperity and justice for the people of Papua.
Source : The Jakarta Post
"To deal with separatism, the government needs to examine the core of the problem by enforcing the law and eradicating unfairness," participant Abidin Syah Siregar told the forum.
"Preventive measures should be prioritized, including the implementation of education on nationality concept for citizens," he said.
Citizens should also be given more opportunity to get involved in the formulation of policies on political issues, he added, saying it would have a positive impact on society and would thus help prevent disintegration.
The participants also stressed regional autonomy should be seen as a delegation of responsibilities, rather than a delegation of power.
They said that before granting a province autonomy, the government should have a clear and measured blueprint ready.
In response to the recommendations, Yudhoyono said the government had always prioritized soft power, rather than hard power, in handling secessionist movements.
"But if the movement is already underway, law enforcement is necessary," he told the participants.
He agreed the government should find the root causes of the movements first before taking action against separatists.
"We have had many examples of such movements. Mostly the root causes are the feelings of injustice, being left behind by other provinces and not receiving a sufficient budget from the government for development in their areas," the President said.
He cited separatism in Papua, saying the government had issued a policy to grant the province special autonomy and allocate it a budget higher than those of other provinces.
"We have provided Papua with the greatest per-capita budget for development in the province, so they have no reason to cite the lack of funds as an excuse for disobedience," Yudhoyono said.
He added the government had always upheld the pursuit of prosperity and justice for the people of Papua.
Source : The Jakarta Post
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Minggu, 16 November 2008
International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) : Uncover Vanuatu Link
One of overseas leading figures who attended International Parliamentary for West Papua (IPWP) in London was Moana Carcasses Kalosil. Who is he ? He served as foreign minister (bertugas sebagai menteri luar negeri) under Prime Minister Edward Natapei (PM Edward) from 2003 to 2004. Following parliamentary elections, he became minister of finance on July 28, 2004 under Prime Minister Serge Vohor. He kept the post of finance minister when Ham Lini became prime minister later in 2004. But, on November 14, 2005 he was sacked by Ham Lini for unclear reasons, which he led into the oposition. (Diberhentikan dari jabatannya)
From his CV we know that he does’t have any job (pengangguran) in the government except as the deputy leader of the oposition (wakil kepala oposisi). It means that he, a member of the Vanuatu Green Party, doesn’t represent Vanuatu government (tidak mewakili pemerintah Vanuatu). As a young Papuan student Yohanes said, “What he did in London was the same with two UK parliament members were doing that is “to get popularity”
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Jumat, 28 Maret 2008
Papuans 'fed up' with special autonomy
Growing demands for a self-determination referendum show the Papuan people are fed up with corruption caused by the province's "special autonomy" status, an academic and informal leader said. Muhammad Musa'ad, a legal expert from Cenderawasih University, said most Papuan people believed special autonomy had not addressed fundamental problems in the province.
"Seven years after special autonomy, no significant changes have been made and even worse, the living standards of Papuan people have fallen to the lowest level, with most being denied access to health, education and employment," he told The Jakarta Post here on Thursday.
Musa'ad, who is a member of the assistance team for special autonomy, said Papuans had been supportive of the law when it was launched in 2001.
"But, seven years into its implementation, their hope of affordable houses, free schooling and healthcare with more hospitals has not been made a reality," Musa'ad said.
"In reality, Papua is in a paradoxical situation. The province has a huge sum of special autonomy funds but most people are getting poorer. Most can no longer afford education and health service and medicine," he said. His comments echo those of Governor Bas Suebu, who addressed local officials during a recent work meeting attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Calling for local wisdom rather than Jakarta's policy, Kalla asked local governments to spend the province's surplus of Rp 21 trillion (US$2 billion) to finance development programs.
The resource-rich province has brought in Rp 21 trillion for Papua and Rp 8 trillion for West Papua this fiscal year, a significant increase from past years, Rp 3.6 trillion in 2006, Rp 2.7 trillion in 2005, Rp 2.45 trillion in 2004, Rp 2.43 trillion in 2003, Rp 2.04 trillion in 2002 and Rp 590 billion in 2001.
Jayapura has been shaken recently by waves of student demonstrations demanding the province abandon special autonomy, dissolve the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and hold a referendum to determine the province's future.
Deputy chairman of the Papuan Tribal Council (DAP) Fadal Alhamid accused the government of viewing special autonomy as a money-making exercise.
The funds allocated after the 2001 special autonomy law was introduced has mostly gone into local officials' pockets and the bureaucracy, with only a small portion being used to build infrastructure, Fadal said.
"This has been demonstrated by officials who frequently go out of the province and have luxury houses and cars," he said.
Fadal said the dispute over the formation of West Papua province remained a conflict between the two provincial governments in Papua and had nothing to do with the people.
"The formation of many more provinces in Papua will not create change unless elite locals work harder and the development program is oriented to the poor, the sick and the uneducated," he said.
Musa'ad and Alhamid agreed both Jakarta and the local government should reconcile with the Papuan people to gain their confidence, and suspend the planned formation of four new provinces.
Both called for a revision of the current policy while respecting the rights of the Papuan people.
Musa'ad, who is a member of the assistance team for special autonomy, said Papuans had been supportive of the law when it was launched in 2001.
"But, seven years into its implementation, their hope of affordable houses, free schooling and healthcare with more hospitals has not been made a reality," Musa'ad said.
"In reality, Papua is in a paradoxical situation. The province has a huge sum of special autonomy funds but most people are getting poorer. Most can no longer afford education and health service and medicine," he said. His comments echo those of Governor Bas Suebu, who addressed local officials during a recent work meeting attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Calling for local wisdom rather than Jakarta's policy, Kalla asked local governments to spend the province's surplus of Rp 21 trillion (US$2 billion) to finance development programs.
The resource-rich province has brought in Rp 21 trillion for Papua and Rp 8 trillion for West Papua this fiscal year, a significant increase from past years, Rp 3.6 trillion in 2006, Rp 2.7 trillion in 2005, Rp 2.45 trillion in 2004, Rp 2.43 trillion in 2003, Rp 2.04 trillion in 2002 and Rp 590 billion in 2001.
Jayapura has been shaken recently by waves of student demonstrations demanding the province abandon special autonomy, dissolve the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and hold a referendum to determine the province's future.
Deputy chairman of the Papuan Tribal Council (DAP) Fadal Alhamid accused the government of viewing special autonomy as a money-making exercise.
The funds allocated after the 2001 special autonomy law was introduced has mostly gone into local officials' pockets and the bureaucracy, with only a small portion being used to build infrastructure, Fadal said.
"This has been demonstrated by officials who frequently go out of the province and have luxury houses and cars," he said.
Fadal said the dispute over the formation of West Papua province remained a conflict between the two provincial governments in Papua and had nothing to do with the people.
"The formation of many more provinces in Papua will not create change unless elite locals work harder and the development program is oriented to the poor, the sick and the uneducated," he said.
Musa'ad and Alhamid agreed both Jakarta and the local government should reconcile with the Papuan people to gain their confidence, and suspend the planned formation of four new provinces.
Both called for a revision of the current policy while respecting the rights of the Papuan people.
Read More..
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