West Papua Today

Main problems in Papua

2010-03-24T03:37:00.000-07:00

Written by Lambang Triyono,
Peace in Papua still faces many obstacles, although there is also opportunity and hope. Papua is still vulnerable to the conflicts (prone to conflict), particularly separatist conflict, as well as local conflicts due to other unsolved problems of injustice and inequality of development, and political resistance associated with central policies that are counterproductive to the implementation of the Papua Special Autonomy . Still vulnerable conflict preventing peace in Papua, especially related to the following issues.

First, inequality, inequality and injustice of development in Papua. Included here is the disparity among regions and communities, between communities cities and the countryside, or the new settlers and indigenous people, in access to development. The potential conflict will be even greater if the gap is even more sharply is not resolved by the development, particularly policies Autonomy available. Especially not improved, or has not resolved the various socio-economic problems in rural areas, residents in the villages and districts that are still isolated by development, Otsus policies, or policies other centers, will make them accessible, which later became closer, to organizations independent Papua (OPM) which promises a better life for them.

Second, the implementation of Autonomy, with a mandate specifically to promote the indigenous Papuans and supported by the majority of Papuans, was still very weak and not satisfactory, yet supported institutional strengthening, MRP, adequate, and not able to improve the quality of life for the majority of Papuans, particularly in rural areas , the villages and districts. The majority of Papuans support Otsus, or Pro-Autonomy, be disappointed, if the central policy counterproductive or weaken Otsus, remain in effect, further increasing the bargaining power movement OPM continues to haunt them.

Third, OPM issues untouched, even by Autonomy though. They so far have not received Autonomy, and continued to launch an armed movement, although sporadic, disorganized, such as in Aceh, no representation or special support of the distribution of political seeds of Papua independence movement in the international and national levels. Peace without touching or involving the groups in conflict, especially the hard-liners in the conflict, such as OPM and its supporters, can not be realized. Peace in Aceh prove it, worked because the GAM signed in it, even though the original was so hard to do.

Fourth, because there is still sporadic, the OPM is not organized, and also because of the complexity of the conflict dynamics, associated with the many factions in the conflict due to the development gaps, lack of Autonomy, and counterproductive policy toward Otsus centers, such as conflicts of migrants and natives, the group Pro-Autonomy, could complicate the formation of groups representing the interests of Papua in a negotiation, dialogue or peace. Peace can only be done if there is representation adequate. In the case of Papua, Papua formation of groups representing very difficult, due to a mosaic of actors have conflict, and the complex linkages between the factions of the conflict there.

Fifth, related to the peace efforts still lack, or absence of systematic efforts and steps, on purpose, and direction done for peace of Papua. The central government itself has not committed to open dialogue, while in the area is also not developed an initiative seeking negotiations, dialogue and peace. Diplomatic efforts and opened negotiations or dialogue, especially with the OPM, has so far not done. Meanwhile, Autonomy policy that allows for open dialogue is not directed there, so that Papua ahead is still very vulnerable to the conflict.

DIALOG PAPUA-JAKARTA: Still Full Suspicion & Concerns

2010-03-21T23:38:00.000-07:00

by: andawat.papua
Now the issue of dialogue revolving so fast that sometimes some things of substance and some of the terms have not been agreed upon, refined, standardized and well understood in conjunction with already developed with a variety of perceptions. Technically this is still a lot of things that must be considered in order not to affect the substance and purpose of dialogue.

Dialogue Papua Jakarta have multiple interpretations. People arguing for the word of Papua or Jakarta first, there is the opinion of Papua said first mentioned to indicate where they are. When called dialogue Papua Jakarta there is a direct mean to the national dialogue, to participate call the press and the national dialogue as a developing news. Words as Papua and Jakarta were actually shown in 2 subjects and political territories in conflict: Papua and Jakarta. Jakarta as a center of power from the Indonesian government is continuously assessed heart failure in making and integrating Papua into Indonesia also ignores the existence of the Papuans even psychologically Jakarta is the personification of the oppressor group. While Papua entity represents the area and always had the practice of injustice, state violence, oppression, and sacrificed for the interests of Indonesia.

So that when called Dialogue Papua Jakarta indirectly defines the type of dialogue as a national dialogue. The demand for third party involvement and / or international parties or committed abroad, and given the title of an international dialogue that dialogue remains Papua and Jakarta. So the involvement of third-party claims and or international parties framed in an effort to inspire trust, neutrality and objectivity. Help create the conditions and situations that facilitate the process of dialogue rather than backing one party.

Bids dialogue also will be faced with a referendum issue by some groups of pro-independence papua. This is because there is still uncertainty about the dialogue and the perception of the referendum. Dialogue should be understood as a way to communicate problems, formulate and make choices. While the referendum or too NKRI, OTSUS etc. It is the result or the option of dialogue. So of course to put the dialog box is not equal to the box to put the referendum, the Republic of Indonesia, OTSUS or other options. Dialogue is a way or a way to arrive at the following boxes are. Referendum issue will also be exploited by groups that are pro-Republic of Indonesia to maintain the conflict among the papua.

Group wishes to support the dialogue must remain enriched by the realities and possibilities - possibilities that will be encountered. Because there is his hope that the dialogue is the last option to negotiate with Indonesia so worried if then the dialog will fail (again). There is also a very quick thinking and have more technical determine the location of the dialog or negotiator or a third party that argues that dialogue must be done quickly. There was a very agree but do not understand how to start and contribute to the dialogue that leave the task to the team formed by LIPI and Father Neles Tebay. Of course among the various expectations that have been there, there is also suspicion, rejection and even the campaign against the dialogue that continues to grow, so must be managed properly in order to support a growing dialogue. Campaigns pro dialogue should be done with a synergy through various opportunities available and made on purpose.

LIPI and Father Neles Tebay has initiated the meeting in Singapore last November 2009 with the involvement of NGO activists, youth, students, indigenous leaders and the next group of scholars formed papua Peace Network (JDP). JDP main agenda is to disseminate the concept of dialogue and gather input from the community of the dialogue bid. Efforts to internalize the support of the dialogue should start from the JDP team, the dialogue made an important agenda at the level of each institution and everyone involved was expected to reach maximum support appropriate capacity owned.

One of the JDP's agenda is to facilitate public consultation in several places in Papua and West Papua. Very risky indeed if the public consultation carried out is seen as the only step approach and forms of consolidation. For participants in public consultation is very limited though attended by people who played an important role in their community but there are many other important figures who were not involved, the avoidance or forgotten, for they all would require a different strategy approach.

Also realized that the polarization among people of Papua lately increased very sharply so many parties that had to be approached and invited to speak. The approach taken to the former political prisoners, prisoners and people of Papua in foreign countries must be balanced with the approach to the characters and the prisoners are political prisoners still in jail in the country. As with the communication with the movements of young people in Papua should be strengthened. Other groups have also seriously involved with the press is to oversee issues of dialogue and expand coverage of the pro-dialogue continuously. Because if every time the reader is presented information about the pro-dialogue will inevitably everyone will meet and interact with a variety of ideas pro-dialogue.

The next group should also be considered a comer. ALDP survey with Cordaid - Netherlands in 2009 in 3 (three) locations of Jayapura, Jayapura and Kab Kab Keerom indicates that the response to understand the problems of migrants in Papua has increased in line with their increasing role. Some people suggest that migrants papua engaged in resolving problems on the ground in accordance with the capacity papua and proportion. Father Neles Tebay in Dialogue Jakarta, Papua, Papua Perspective A also mentions the existence of migrants. Offer of dialogue for immigrants is still a fear. Dialogue seemed tantamount to an independent Papua, now the dialogue became sensitive issue for immigrants. So that communication is important to build a more intensive and open to newcomers about the humanitarian issues that occurred in Papua and the importance of dialogue to find solutions together.

The main principle when doing pro campaign dialogue is to provide opportunities for - great for anyone to develop initiatives, contribute to each other and bersinergis. Each process must be communicated to the public especially to make them feel involved in every process even invited to make a decision. Must be diligent to confirm and provide information. Perhaps the time will be longer but the support provided will be more powerful and real. All people should remain optimistic that promote critical and rational attitude. Many people have started to work and still need a lot more people because there are a lot of work. There are working diligently and openly, but some are done with perseverance and silently. May be preceded by a lot of insults rather than compliments therefore needed is consistency.

The Prospects for Papuan-Indonesian Dialogue

2010-03-14T04:41:00.001-07:00

Clifton
In many cases, conflict in the workplace just seems to be a fact of life. We've all seen situations where different people with different goals and needs have come into conflict. effective conflict resolution skills can make the difference between positive and negative outcomes.

The Sixth Indonesia President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was elected in October 2004, has indicated that he is committed to implementing the special autonomy law for West Papua. The 2001 special autonomy law for West Papua was enacted in a move to assuage Papua’s desire for independence. We realize that the special autonomy law implementation still lack of Perfect because the core of problems in Papua are how to make trust building between Jakarta and Papua. If we discussed about Papua Road Map: Negotiating the Past, Improving the Present and Securing the Future. Editor: Muridan S Widjojo, Jakarta 2009. Published by LIPI, Yayasan TIFA and Yayasan Obor, stakeholders in Jakarta and Papua seems not agree if should involved international. Moreover, Indonesia has many experience in solving problems in Ace, Timor Leste, and Ambon, Special for Papua, The Indonesia Government seems not agree if invite international group as mediator in Jakarta-Papua dialogue.

As part of a move by Jakarta to reduce the powers of the central administration in the wake of Suharto’s downfall, a law to devolve certain powers to district administrations throughout the country was enacted. In recognition of the many problems that had dogged Aceh’s relations with Jakarta, a special autonomy law for Aceh was adopted in 2001, Law 18/2001. In the same year, West Papua was also granted special autonomy under Law 21/2001. In both cases, these special autonomy laws met with widespread dissatisfaction. According to the Papua Road Map, both laws lacked legitimacy in the eyes of their people because they had been drafted without the involvement of local political and social organisations and parties. It was not until Jakarta entered into talks in Helsinki with the Aceh independence movement, facilitated by the former president of Finland, that an agreement was reached between the two sides, resulting in a law on the Governance of Aceh. Shortly prior to the agreement, Aceh was devastated by a tsunami in December 2004 that left some 140,000 people dead, which increased the pressure on all sides to end the conflict.

The 2001 special autonomy law for West Papua was enacted in a move to assuage Papua’s desire for independence. It was regarded with deep suspicion by Indonesian nationalists and the armed forces. Having already been stung by the loss of East Timor, they regarded special autonomy (OTSUS) as an unwarranted gift to Papuan separatists. But neither were West Papuan nationalists satisfied with OTSUS, in particular for failing to confront their demand for independence.

Papua Road Map is the product of several years of research undertaken in West Papua by academics at LIPI, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences. According to the Papua Road Map, this was a missed opportunity. Because of the failure of the Indonesian side to recognize the traditional Papuan approach to negotiations and its failure to consider the possibility of reaching a compromise, the breakdown in the talks resulted in the conflict continuing up to the present day, as well as a deepening mistrust between the two sides. Talks must be regarded as involving a long process. The Indonesian side needs to recognize that there are serious problems in Papua.

As a prelude to its evaluation of the prospects for dialogue, the Papua Road Map gives an account of the impact of development in West Papua. Far from benefitting the local people, this has resulted in their marginalization and discrimination.

The education system is very unsatisfactory and has failed to produce Papuans with a decent level of education. Although plenty of schools have been built, there is a serious lack of teachers and school books. The LIPI team concluded that education is worse today than in the 1970s, largely because the private schools which were run by the churches have been closed down, giving way to _”_presidential instruction” (OTSUS) schools of indifferent quality. They point out that teachers produced under the earlier system were more dedicated to their vocation than those produced today. Certainly, a great level of dedication is required for teachers to live in remote villagers where they lack the facilities to which they are accustomed. (Most if not all the teachers are recruited from outside Papua.) The fees for local primary schools are far too high for many Papuans and the schools are too far away for the children to go to school every day, with little in the way of transportation.

According to a survey undertaken in 2006, 73,729 of the 432,122 children aged 7-15 years, of whom most were concentrated in the Central Highlands, had never been to school. While the statistics would suggest that the number of teachers is adequate, they rarely teach at schools in the interior as most of them prefer to live in urban areas. Many head teachers simply don’t bother to visit their school unless exams are taking place. A teacher at a secondary school in Merauke is quoted as saying that she couldn’t teach children who had already graduated from primary school because they couldn’t read, write, or count. In Yahukimo district, according to the 2006 survery, were more than 47 students per teacher.

Moreover, the allocation of OTSUS funds for education was far below that required by law. Education should have received 30 percent of the budget but its allocation in the provincial budget for 2008 was less than five percent.

As for economic empowerment, Papuans do not have the necessary business skills to compete with people who have migrated to the territory from other parts of Indonesia. Whereas in 1959, outsiders accounted for a mere 2 percent of the population, demographic experts expect it to increase to 53.5 percent by 2011. Although 48% of the villages in Papua province, and 37% of those in West Papua province, are below the poverty line, the territory is extremely rich in natural resources. A foreign multinational, Freeport-McMoran, is mining Papua’s copper and gold and is the largest taxpayer in the country. BP has also just begun to exploit Papua’s natural gas.

In order to address peacefully the injustice in West Papua Jakarta and Papua must do :

Seeking just and peaceful solution through an all-inclusive dialogue. All stakeholders representing Center and local government and the Papuans should participate in this dialogue. Such a dialogue would be a peaceful means for the Indonesia authorities and the Papuans to reach a common understanding on the problems that have to be addressedand a common agreement on the role of stakeholders.

The Indonesia government should encourage to implement without any delay and carry out supervisory institution to supervise implementation law number 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for West Papua for it addresses the neglect and marginalization of the socio-economic in Papua.

Dialogue should proceed through four stages: a national dialogue between the central government and Papuan representatives, dialogue between the Papuan representatives, dialogue within the Papuan elite who will be in charge of the political processes, and then dialogue between the Indonesian government Papuan representatives not involve international side in solution the Papua problems because Papua is part of NKRI. To incarnate trust and capacity building local government, all stakeholders in Jakarta and papua should Promote the capacity and opportunity of civil society organizations, to advocate for justice and ensure respect human rights in Papua.

Source : PapuaToday.com March 13, 2010

RI, PNG open border post at Sokau-Wutung

2010-03-14T04:36:00.000-07:00

Indonesian and Papua New Guinean (PNG) governments have agreed on Friday to open an official border post at Sokau-Wutung between the two countries.

The agreement to open the border post was jointly signed by visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare after a bilateral meeting in Port Moresby on Friday.

Besides the border post agreement, three other memorandum of understandings on the prevention of double tax, defense and security cooperation, and and agriculture cooperation between the two governments were also signed by related ministers of the two countries.

At a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting, President Yudhoyono explained that the two countries had agreed to continue with the border management, in addition to police and military cooperation.

The president at a meeting with Indonesian community in PNG also said border issues between the two countries would continue to be improved to step up economic and social relations among the people living at the two countries border areas.

The agreement on the border issues, according to the president, should be based on demarcation regulation.

In economic field, President Yudhoyono said the two countries had agreed to step up cooperation in investment, trade, agriculture, transportation, micro credit and small medium enterprises.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Michael Somare expressed hope that there would be a cooperation in trade and manufacture production such as machinery and textile equipment.

"We also need cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG) process and small medium business," Somare said.

Regarding the agreement on the prevention of double tax, President Yudhoyono said it would be made to avoid imposition of tax on Indonesian businessmen in PNG and PNG businessmen in Indonesia.

"It will make investment and business expansion in the two countries more expensive and inefficient, and therefore the detail of the agreement will be discussed in the ministerial meeting of the two countries," Yudhoyono said.

In addition, the two countries also agreed to cooperate in international forum on climate change and forest management.

Source : ANTARA - Friday, March 12, 2010 Port Moresby

Forestry minister warned Freeport

2010-02-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan miner rebuke from the United States, PT Freeport Indonesia, because it still operates even if not yet completed the process of using borrowed licenses. In addition to Freeport, Zulkifli said in a working meeting with the House Commission IV in Jakarta, Monday (22 / 2), eleven other companies that also operate in protected forests, also have not received similar permission.

Freeport and 12 other mining companies the privilege to perform open mining in protected forests based on Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No.1/2004 Perppu known as Mines. He said, Kemhut already issued the first warning letter to Freeport. "We immediately sent a second warning letter," he said. Menhut requested that law enforcement officers to take action against violations of law occurred. "Law enforcement officers should not only take action against the small things. But it is also a great act," he said.

Meanwhile, Director General of Planning Kemhut, Soetrisno revealed, until now only two companies that have received permission to borrow wear, namely PT Indominco Mandiri and PT Aneka Tambang. "PT Inco is currently in process of asking permission to borrow using. But the governor has not received a recommendation," he said. Members of the House of Representatives, Mark Dance, supporting measures to bring order Menhut mining in forest areas. He challenged Menhut to take firm action to halt Freeport's operations. "Menhut must dare to take action. Stop the operation if necessary," he stated. Zulkifli said it could not conduct such legal action revoke the operating license for mining permits issued not by Kemhut. "What's his permission to publish other agencies," he said.
News on a proud nation who had been as afraid to take action against foreign mining corporations "Freeport" which has been operating for decades in Papua. However Menhut courage stated that if no courage diukung with law enforcement agencies and the government, just rhetoric. Yet the damage has been caused by gold mining company Freeport is very alarming.

Papuan activist in Netherlands Victor Kaisiepo dies aged 61

2010-02-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

A Papuan activist, Victor Kaisiepo, has died in the Netherlands at the age of 61.
He was a spokesperson for the West Papua People’s Front, the Federation of Papuan organisations in the Netherlands.

Mr Kaisiepo also lobbied the United Nations to promote the rights of his people as well as the rights of other indigenous peoples.

He was born in Dutch New Guinea, but his family left for the Netherlands when the territory was handed over to Indonesia in 1962.

Mr Kaisiepo’s father was also a well-known activist for Papuan independence.

Lake Sentani plans festival to bridge gap

2010-02-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

Ridwan Max Sijabat
Want to know how Papuan “female divers” smoke while diving, or how to call a crocodile out of a river by whistling, or any of the other unique local wisdom of the Sentani people?

Then don’t miss the Lake Sentani Festival, Jayapura Regent Habel Melkias Suwae says. Delivering his address at the opening of a Sentani photo exhibition here Friday, Habel said the festival, the third such festival since 2008, would be held from July 19 to 23, 2010r, and was targeting not only to attract more foreign and domestic tourists to the regency, but also to improve ties between Papua and Indonesia’s other provinces and peoples.

“Ethnically we are different. You are part of the Melayu ethnicity, but we are Melanesian. However,
we are one in Indonesia. This festival is really a means to introduce Papuan people and our culture to you. We need to get to know each other better to strengthen our big national family and to build
mutual trust,” said Habel, wearing a Batik shirt.

The exhibition displayed hundreds of shots taken by freelance photographer Toni Sri, depicting the cultures and daily lives of 24 Papuan ethnic groups living around the lake. The exhibition was aimed to attract all province in Indonesia to visit Papua during the upcoming festival. “Two eyes are not enough to see and shoot the richness of Papuan culture and its beautiful panorama.”

Freelance writer Anto Dwiastoro also launched Doors to the Unknown: The story of Sentani in the Papuan regency of Jayapura, a book with photos, covering Papuan culture, environment and historical sites around Lake Sentani. While the Lake Sentani Festival had cost Habel a lot to organize, he said he was proud of it and many other Papuan festivals. The funding was peanuts in comparison to the cultural value and “political benefit” it had for the whole nation, he said.

In 2008, the first festival attracted only around 2,000 foreign and domestic tourists, but the second brought in around 5,000. With the third we hope to see up to 10,000, because of the numerous pre-festival events both at home and overseas.

Habel, a former elementary school teacher and local Golkar Party chairman, said that unlike other festivals, the Lake Sentani Festival would present guests with dance performances, local customs and antiques, as well as sightseeing tours to historical sites and a tourist village near the lake.

“We have prepared 1,500 dancers from 24 villages around the lake... while villagers have been prepared to accommodate guests in their own homes to show our sincere hospitality,” he said.

Festival promotions manager Mian Simanjuntak said his team was working to promote the festival through hotel associations and airlines, both at home and abroad, at cultural events in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the US.

Source : The Jakarta Post

England Action FWPC not to be taken

2010-01-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

Peaceful demonstrations are often held by some people who call themselves the "Free West Papua Campaign (FWPC)" is in front of the Embassy of London led Benny Wenda seraca not to be taken politically, because it was just the way they make money by attracting the attention of tourists. This was said by one of his former political combatants Free Papua Movement (OPM) which has officially returned to the bosom of the motherland Indonesia, Nicholas messed.

"Action demonstration in front of the Embassy London starring Benny Wenda who wore traditional dress of Papua's indigenous people is an art attraction, so as not to be taken politically, but viewed from the side of the art of traditional dress. Pendemonya shouting If Papuan independence then it is not needs ignored, "he said.

Benny Wenda should not need to seek a political sensation abroad, but just go back to Papua, his homeland and with his brothers to build Papua New Papua is more just, peaceful and prosperous.

Benny Wenda should be aware she is currently being used by certain NGOs to the NGO's own interests that the ends are pulled sympathetic to bring more money for the success of the political agenda of these NGOs. FWPC in action never received support from the British government, for their own FWPC not recognized as an official organization in the UK. So what FWPC campaigning for Papuan independence, if the UK supports the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia and Papua part of Indonesia.

'It should be noted, the British Government has formally and consistently recognized Papua as an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia, "he said. According messed, what is done Benny Wenda with his colleagues was just a waste of time and energy. Far better he returned to Papua to build this land of Papua.

"I've had decades of experience in foreign countries struggling for independence of Papua, but the struggle was futile, even torment yourself and harming others in the land of the people of Papua," he said. "Whether or not good, my land Papua better. Rain in the land of gold, stones rain in their own country, right in their own country," he said poetically.

Free Papua Organization (OPM) group founder back in Indonesia

2010-01-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

Free Papua Organization (OPM) rebel group founder Nicholas Jouwe arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday and vowed to spend the rest of his life in the country. Jouwe, 86, proceeded to the office of the Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono upon his arrival in Jakarta. Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, who is a native Papuan, was also seen at the meeting.

“I left the Netherlands to settle on my home soil of Indonesia for good,” Jouwe was quoted by Antara.He said he was happy with the Indonesian government’s reception of him and its commitment to solving Papua’s problems.

In press conference Nicolas Jouwe said that I think Papua is part of Indonesia. We talked about the cooperation program, which is what we need. We have to develop the Papua land,” .

When asked about a series of attacks which are linked to OPM in Papua, Jouwe said the perpetrators were just “young people who know nothing.” “They emulated what other people in other parts of Indonesia did,” he added.

Source : Papua Today

Keerom district should be RI`s showcase on PNG border

2010-01-13T21:54:00.000-08:00

Keerom district bordering Papua New Guinea (PNG) should be treated as the country`s "front yard" and therefore it should have adequate public facilities and a community welfare improved through empowerment programs, a regional official said.
The efforts needed to be made to make a positive impression with neighboring countries, said Keerom District Chief Celcius Watae here Tuesday.

He said the border region had strategic potentials but was also prone to security , political, socio-economic and cultural problems. Therefore, it should receive more attention, in order to create harmony with the neighboring country and prevent its community from becoming poorer than people on the other side of the border.

However, in reality development in the border area was making very slow progress as if it was the country`s "backyard," he said. . This way of things should be changed and the border region should be regarded as the country`s front porch in which outsiders could see the face of the nation, he said.

He said conditions in Keerom district on the border with PNG had unique characteristics because its people still had ties of kinship, culture and indigenous ownership of traditional lands with people on the other side of the border. Many people in Keerom still had relatives living just across he border with PNG with whom they shared customary ownership of land.

Conversely, many PNG citizens had relatives living on Indonesian territory and even owned land in the Republic of Indonesia.

"Resident who lives here (Indonesia) and there (PNG) experienced life as one big village that makes them need each other over the yearsm," he said and pointed out that the Walsa and Fermagem tribes were each actually part of the same extended family but lived in both Indonesia and PNG.

Both these tribes, he said, had members scattered in 14 villages living on PNG territory and in six villages on Indonesian territory , namely Kampung Ampas, Kalifam, Banda,: Pund, Kalimo and Yuwainde. Until July 2009, as many as 464 people from PNG were still living in and had settled down in the villages of Kampung Yabanda, Sengi sub-district, Keerom district.

Despite the efforts of the government to make the local people aware of their Indonesian citizenship the mobility of people between villages along the border was difficult to stop, especially in Keerom where a market selling a variety of basic needs was also attracting buyers from across the border.

To anticipate developments in the neighboring country, the Indonesian government which had the authority to handle the border areas to build public facilities such as roads, bridges, educational facilities, health services and schools.

Regarding the security situation on the border with PNG, Cenderahwasih XVII regional commander Maj. Gen. AY Nasution said security conditions there were expected to improve in 2010.

Moreover, the Free Papua Organization (OPM)figure Nicolaas Jouwe who had settled abroad, returned to Papua and chose to be an Indonesian citizens. Nicolaas, reportedly arrived in Jakarta on Monday (Jan 111) and will soon head to Jayapura.

Source : ANTARA News

Mimika students, councilors call for end to tribal clashes

2010-01-13T21:51:00.000-08:00

Markus Makur
Fifth-grader Eikman Songgonao from the SD Inpres state elementary school in Kwamki Lama in Mimika, Papua, has not been to school since tribal clashes erupted last week.“My friends and I want to go back to school, but we’re terrified of the fighting still taking place in Kwamki Lama,” Songgonao told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He appealed to the upper and lower Kwamki Lama tribes involved in the conflict to immediately cease hostilities so the students could return to school. The feud is blamed on the failure of one of the tribes to pay compensation for a rape allegedly committed by a member of the rival tribe six months ago.“Students from both warring tribes have missed out on school, and some have even joined their parents in the fighting,” Songgonao said during a visit by Mimika and Papua legislators.

“I’ve asked my parents to stop their involvement in the conflict.”

The school has been closed for the past week, following the tribal clashes that often play out right in front of the schoolyard.

Songgonao said teachers were no longer willing to come to Kwamki Lama due to the conflict.

“I don’t know when this war will end. I’m very sad about the situation in Kwamki Lama,” he said.

“The warring groups, those who still have family ties, must immediately stop the conflict.”

Songgonao added he had earlier taken part in the fighting, while his friends were still engaged in it.

Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Moh. Sagi said police had tried to mediate in the dispute.

Police have cordoned off the main battleground and posted personnel in the area. Both warring groups, previously armed with bows and arrows, have since laid down their arms, and for the most part the attacks had ceased over the weekend.

“Councilors from the Mimika and Papua legislatures are here today to meet both communities in an effort to stop the conflict,” Sagi said.

“I hope the groups are able to end the hostilities and seek a peaceful way to reach a peace agreement.”

Mimika councilor Elminus Mom, from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), said the regency legislature had been trying to forge a peaceful resolution for the past week.

“As a native of Kwamki Lama and a tribal member sitting in the legislature, I urge the groups to end the fighting today,” he said.

“The Mimika and Papua councilors will only be here today and are waiting for the two to make peace.”
Mimika councilor Pieter Magal, from the Democratic Party, echoed the call.

“I’m present and standing here now to urge the people to stop the fighting,” he said, adding he himself was from the local Amungme tribe.

Upper Kwamki Lama battle leader Yulianus Agabal said he was open to the reconciliation efforts by the regency and provincial councilors.

“We accept every effort made by the Mimika and Papua legislators to end the conflict,” he said.

“As the victims, we will meet with the lower Kwamki Lama group to discuss ending the conflict immediately.”

Source : The Jakarta Post

Central Government Budget Assistance to Papua TA.2010 USD $ 21.89 Trillion

2010-01-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

JAYAPURA/PT- On January 8, 2010 Papua receive Form Implementation of the central government budget which has increased from the previous year 2009 only Rp 19.058 trillion, then in 2010 was the Papua received Rp 21.89 trillion or an increase of about USD 2.8 trillion from the central government. In his speech the Governor of Papua Barnabas Suebu, SH said, the total fund of Rp 21.89 trillion from the State Revenues and Expenditures (Budget), among others sourced from a managed budget agencies of central government, the General Allocation Fund (DAU), the Special Allocation Fund (DAK), the Special Autonomy Fund (Autonomy) and Infrastruktut Autonomy Fund.
Delivery of DIPA has a symbolic meaning that is very important, namely that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants the continuity of development which took place without a break, without stopping, in Papua Province. For that there is no reason to delay implementation of the budget in the form of development activities that have been planned in accordance with the stages according to the applicable government regulations, seriously guided by the principles of budget management is accountable, results-oriented, professional, proportionate , and open / transparent. In his speech President Yudhoyono asked the seriousness of all parties to not accumulate disbursements at year-end budget, but disseminate it more proportional to each quarter. That means that the implementation of the budget must be started early in 2010 so that the role of government budget as a stimulus to the economy actually improved efektifivitasnya.

The entire state budget funds in 2010 amounted to USD 1047.6 Trillion consisting of, the central government budget of Rp 725.2 trillion, and transfers to regional budgets amounted to Rp 322.4 Trillion
Of total central government budget, allocated to them, spending Employees Rp 160.3 trillion, spending Rp 107.0 T goods, capital expenditure Rp 82.1 trillion, social assistance and Rp 64.2 trillion debt interest spending, subsidies and spending Other-Other amounted to Rp 30.7 trillion.

Then the total budget allocation of funds for Papua Province, managed by government agencies is central to Rp 5.78 trillion, with the details, shopping Employees Rp 1.60 trillion, spending Rp 1.29 trillion of goods, capital expenditure Rp 1.95 Trillion , and social assistance Trilyun.Lembaga USD $ 0.92 this year the government allocated a large enough budget is the national education department Rp 0.54 trillion, the department of defense Rp 0.61 trillion, the Ministry of Public Works USD 1.44 Trillion, National Police Rp 0.63 trillion, the Ministry of Health amounted to Rp 0.07 trillion, and the Department of Transportation is Rp 0.65 trillion.

National Education Fund Allocation of them will be used for Social Assistance Institute of Education, Office of Education, Youth and Sports of Papua province to Rp 360.5 billion. Allocation of Department of Public Works of which USD 1.3 Trillion, will be used for the construction of roads and bridges, residential infrastructure development, development of water management and environmental health as well as the settlement of natural resource management and other activities on the field of Public Works.

Allocation of funds National Police will be used mostly for police operations throughout the province of Papua. Department of Health Allocation of funds for other than operational expenditure will also be used for the construction of Jayapura Office of Health Polytechnic of Rp 17.5 billion.

As for the Papua province in the fiscal year 2010 funding was obtained allocations that make up the bulk of the Papua Provincial structure as follows: DAU Rp 11.119 trillion with the details of the Papua Province DAU USD 1.148 trillion and DAU County / City of Rp 9.971 trillion. Then Papua Province DAK Rp 1.5 trillion, with details of the Papua Province DAK Rp 75 billion and DAK County / City of Rp 1.453 trillion. Next fund Otsus Rp. 3.49 trillion, which consists of funds from 2 percent of national DAU Rp. 2.69 trillion, and Rp infrastructure funds. 0.8 trillion. Thus, the total of all funds derived from the state budget allocated for the Province of Papua in the Fiscal Year 2010 is Rp. 21.89 trillion.

Jakarta-Papua talk still possible

2010-01-02T20:42:00.000-08:00

Neles Tebay,
Despite the killing of Kelly Kwalik by Indonesian Mobile Brigade Police on Dec.16, 2009, at Timika, the capital of Mimika regeny, Papua, the Indonesian government under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Pa-puans have not yet shut down the window for dialogue.

A dialogue between Jakarta and Papua is important for both parties to jointly reach a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Papua conflict. From the Papuans side, they have already demonstrated their commitment and willingness for a peaceful dialogue between Jakarta and Papua.

The world has witnessed that during and after the Kwalik's burial in Timika town, Papuans were able to calm themselves. They did not retaliate against the police. There was no atrocity initiated by the Papuans. The Papuans have rejected violent approaches, such as killing, for it will never settle the conflict. They have already chosen dialogue as a civilized way to reach a dignified solution to the Papua conflict.

The Papuans publicly announced they wanted to settle the Papua conflict through a civilized way, through a neutral third party, which will mediate the dialogue between Jakarta and Papua. Kwalik's assassination has even renewed and strengthened their commitment to dialogue, as clearly communicated in the speech of the chairperson of the Papuan Customary Council (DAP).

It is the belief of the Papuans that the Indonesian authority will not keep repeating its violent approach and therefore choose a civilized way, such as dialogue, to settle the Papua conflict. This belief is based on the fact that the government under the leadership of Yudhoyono has successfully settled the government's armed conflict with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), through a third party-mediated dialogue with the signing of Helsinki Agreement in August 2005.

Yudhoyono has been reelected for the second term of his presidency. Yudhoyono's reelection gives hope that the government under his leadership will handle the Papua conflict through dialogue with the Papuans, as was done in Aceh.

During his first term, Yudhoyono made several public statements announcing the government's commitment to settle the Papua conflict through dialogue.

However, the promised dialogue has not taken place. The Papuans understood well that the President was not able to initiate a dialogue with them because his political party, the Democratic Party, was new and small. Yudhoyono might have been reluctant to settle the Papuan conflict through dialogue because his political support in the House of Representatives was weak and his attention was focused on the implementation of the Helsinki Agreement in Aceh.

For the second term of his presidency, Yudhoyono has very strong political backing in the House. His political party won the April legislative elections and his party has formed coalition with some other big and influential parties. Therefore, there is less possibility for him to face resistance in the House.

Yudhoyono, at the same time as being the head of state and government, is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Indonesian army.

It is in the second term of his presidency, then, that it seems proper for him to settle the Papua conflict through dialogue as all of the country's power now at his disposal.

Yudhoyono's initiative for the dialogue between Jakarta and Papua will certainly be supported by the House, the government, and the Indonesian Military (TNI).

That's why the Papuans see that dialogue between Jakarta and Papua is still possible, particularly during Yudhoyono's presidency.

Once the Jakarta-based government engages in dialogue with the Papuans, and the Papua conflict is settled without bloodshed, then this peaceful settlement to the conflict would be the Yudhoyono's legacy.

The history of Indonesia will record and tell that he was the only Indonesian president who was able to settle peacefully and permanently, the Papua conflict through dialogue between Jakarta and Papua.

Not like in Aceh, where former vice president Jusuf Kalla was also involved, the peaceful settlement to the Papua conflict is and will be the Yudhoyono's work. It will be recognized his own idea.

A dialogue between Jakarta and Papua will really be considered as a manifestation of the Yudhoyono's genuineness and personal initiative.

As a result, he will be recognized internationally as a man of peace. It may even win him a Nobel Peace Price in the years to come.

It is needless to say that dialogue between Jakarta and Papua will certainly bring about a good reputation for the country of Indonesia before the eyes of international community. Therefore there is still hope and possibility for the present government to take the initiative for dialogue to settle the Papua conflict.

The writer is a lecturer at the Fajar Timur school of Philosophy and Theology in Abepura, Papua.

Papuan Council Recalls Former President Gus Dur

2009-12-31T20:39:00.000-08:00

Head of the council Thaha al Hamid said on Thursday papuans will never forget the swift measure by Gus Dur in December 1999, in approving the use of the original term for their region, Papua, as the official name of province.

The measure replaced the name of Irian, Jaya given during Soeharto presidency, within only two months after the cleric assumed office which remained until now.

During his unfinished term he made two visits to the island in 1999 and 2000 and met with a senior papua leader Theys Hiyo Eluay jailed by the Indonesian authority during the second visit. “Even several times, when we had not visited him so often anymore, Gus Dur would asked and then we would come to visit him. So our contact was maintained even when was no longer holding the presidential post”

The last visit was in 2006 when Gud Dur was out of the office and in which Thaha said, Gus Dur made a plea to the governemnt to name Theys as a national hero.

His figure, Thaha went on, was too extraordinary for Papua and papuans. “We are not just losing a cleric, a former president, and a teacher, but actually we are losing a living scripture. A scripture that continuously giving advise.”

The killing of Kelly Kwalik and Papua conflict

2009-12-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

Neles Tebay
Kelly Kwalik was recognized as a prominent Papuan leader of the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). He resisted Indonesia’s rule over Papua until the last day of his life, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.

He was shot to death by the Indonesian Mobile Brigade Police in Timika, the capital of Mimika regency, Papua.

In the absence of Kwalik, the police can easily justify the killing by linking him with allegations of misconduct.

Police might link Kwalik to the series of shootings near Timika over the past six months targeting the operations of the US mining company, Freeport-McMoran.

Kwalik might be accused of having ordered the kidnapping of the two Belgian journalists who were released after two months in 2001.

They might allege he was involved in the killing two US Freeport employees in 2001. The list can be made longer by adding other allegations against Kwalik.

Despite the allegations, he was killed neither during a war nor in an exchange of fire.

Indeed, he was assassinated in a time of peace in a raid conducted by the police.

Since he was assassinated in a time of peace, Kwalik’s death might not be the final goal of the killing.

The killing is simply a means to achieve a certain goal.

Kwalik could have been killed deliberately in order to address a particular problem and to achieve a certain goal. What goals could be achieved through this killing? There are two possibilities:

The first is that Kwalik was possibly killed to put an end to the attacks initiated in June 2009 targeting Freeport mining operations.

Police might have considered Kwalik as the main cause of the attacks, although he denied any responsibility.

Therefore, the police might have decided to eliminate Kwalik to address the security problem within the Freeport concession area.

However, the truth is that despite its investigation, underway since June, the police to date have not been able to identify those parties responsible for the attacks.

Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold Corporation has long been linked to human rights abuses involving Indonesian troops who secure the company’s facilities.

Making Kwalik a scapegoat then, only serves to mask the failure of Indonesian authorities to credibly resolve the case.

If the above analysis is true, then the killing of Kwalik will not resolve the security problem in the Freeport consession area.

Therefore, sooner or later, the attacks will happen again in the same area, unless all parties demanding protection money from Freeport are satisfied with the huge amount of money.

The second possibility is that Kwalik was assassinated to settle the conflict between the Indonesian government (Jakarta) and the Papuans (Papua) which has been going on from 1963 until today. Police might have considered Kwalik the main cause of the conflict.

Therefore the best way chosen by the police to settle the conflict was by assassinating Kwalik in a raid.

The questions should be: Is it true that Kwalik was the main cause of the conflict between Jakarta and Papua?

In order to answer this question, we need to explore the root cause of the conflict: What is (are) the main cause(s) of the unsettled Papua conflict?

The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has conducted research for four years on the conflict between Jakarta and Papua and identified, in the book entitled Papua Road Map published in 2009, four main problems as the main causes of the conflict.

The first problem would be the government’s failures in development, particularly in the area of education, health care, infrastructure, and people’s economic development.

Its indicator is that many Papuans remain living under the poverty line, despite the wealth of natural resources in Papua.

Second is the marginalization of, and discrimination against, the indigenous Papuans under Indonesian domination.

Third, the human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Indonesian security forces since May 1, 1963 until today.

The fourth problem is the different interpretation of the history of integration of Papua into the Republic of Indonesia.

As of today the conflict between Jakarta and Papua remains unsettled because these four identified problems have not yet been addressed.

So it would have been a great mistake if Indonesian security forces thought the assassination of Kwalik was the solution to the Papua conflict.

It is necessary for the Indonesian government to be reminded again that the killing of Kwalik and other Papuan rebel leaders will never overcome any of the four identified problems.

Nobody in Papua believes that the assassination of Kwalik settles neither the security problems around the Freeport mining area nor the conflict between the government and the Papuans.

Having rejected the violent approach, the Papuans have already started discussing the possibility of having a neutral, third-party mediated dialogue between Jakarta and Papua. Despite the assassination of Kwalik, the Papuans will keep moving toward a dialogue between Jakarta and Papua.

In the wake of this killing, will the government finally engage in dialogue with the Papuans to settle the Papua conflict by addressing the four identified problems?

The writer is a lecturer at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Abepura, Papua.

Deforestation threatens Indonesia's Papua region

2009-12-23T19:12:00.001-08:00

Jayapura – Logging and agribusiness is threatening environmental destruction in Indonesia's Papua region, one of the world's last vast wildernesses.The governors of the two provinces in the region on the western end of New Guinea island told an international environmental conference a strategy was needed to avoid the mistakes that have decimated other Indonesian regions.

Kalimat berikutnya

West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi said that pressure and threats to biodiversity in Papua are increasing. Papua is becoming a target for massive agro and forestry industry investment. His government had received an increasing number of requests for development and feared environmental destruction from illegal logging aimed at clearing land for plantations. In this regard, Papua should not repeat the failure to manage forests and biodiversity that has happened in Kalimantan (Borneo) and Sumatra.

In the meantime, The governor of Papua province, which sits on the eastern end of the region, Barnabas Suebu, said preserving the tropical forest-blanketed region was key to helping absorb the gases that cause climate change. The capacity of Papua's 42 million hectares (104 million acres) of forests to process CO2 is equivalent to the carbon footprint of nearly all the population of Europe.

Indonesia, which spreads across over 17,000 islands, has been a key advocate for plans being floated ahead of global climate talks in Copenhagen in December that would see developing countries paid to conserve forests and peatlands. Deforestation, largely on Borneo and Sumatra, has seen the country become the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases

Source : Agence France Presse

Landslide kills Freeport employee

2009-12-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

Because of deforestation and mining, an employee of mining company PT Freeport died and four others suffered injuries in a landslide at the company’s mining site in Papua on Sunday. The incident took place at the Ridge Camp area at mile 72 (near the Aptonal hill) at about 8:30 pm local time after heavy rains in the area. Five other workers recovered from the ground according to head of the Public Communication unit of Papua Police Agus Rianto were in critical condition. And were being treated at Tembagapura Hospital.

One mining worker in the Freeport McMoran goldminer complex in Papua was killed in a rain triggered landslide on Sunday night which also injured four of five other workers.
Spokesman for Freeport McMoran, Mindo Pangaribuan confirmed the accident but said only four other workers we injured in the accident.

Source : The Jakarta Post , Tempo interactive

BAHASA INDONESIA

Tanah Longsor membunuh karyawan Freeport

Karena penggundulan hutan dan pertambangan, seorang karyawan dari perusahaan pertambangan PT Freeport tewas dan empat lainnya menderita luka-luka dalam tanah longsor di lokasi pertambangan perusahaan di Papua pada hari Minggu. Insiden terjadi di kawasan di Ridge Camp mil 72 (dekat bukit Aptonal) sekitar pukul 8:30 waktu setempat setelah hujan lebat di daerah tersebut. Lima pekerja lain pulih dari tanah menurut Kepala Unit Komunikasi Publik Papua Polisi Agus Rianto berada dalam kondisi kritis. Dan sedang dirawat di Rumah Sakit Tembagapura.

Salah satu pekerja di pertambangan Freeport McMoran di Papua goldminer kompleks tewas dalam tanah longsor dipicu hujan pada Minggu malam yang juga melukai empat dari lima pekerja lain.
Juru bicara Freeport McMoran, Mindo Pangaribuan membenarkan kecelakaan tetapi mengatakan hanya empat pekerja lain kita terluka dalam kecelakaan.

Decentralization jeopardizes forest in Papua

2009-12-14T17:06:00.000-08:00

Nethy Dharma Somba
Regional autonomy in Papua poses a threat to forests in the province because the infrastructure development following autonomy would exploit forested areas, says a forestry official.

"The forested areas currently available would unlikely still be there five to 10 years from now if regional autonomy continues as it would lead to physical development," said Papua Forestry Office head Marthen Kayoi, during the launch of the Forest Governance Integrity (FGI) at the Transparency International Indonesia office in Jayapura recently. He added that the regency capital of Keerom was previously a forested area but raised doubts whether it could still be described as such.

The current area of Papua's intact forest is 31.5 million hectares, while 5 million hectares had been categorized as critical areas from 1973 to 2003. Kayoi said only around 24 million hectares of the forested areas would remain given the pace of regional autonomy, which has so far produced 33 regencies and municipalities. This is what's happening now. The continuing process of regional autonomy, followed by infrastructure development would further reduce the size of forested areas he said. We also could not ensure whether the remaining forested areas would exist in the next five years.

The government has designated a 4,825,786-hectare forested area in Papua as a conservation forest, or natural preserve. However, for the past several years it has received pressure in the form of conversion into farmland, settlement and infrastructure development including illegal logging. The Lorentz National Park, a protected area that has now encompassed seven regencies, including the giant PT Freeport Indonesia gold and copper mining company, due to the impact of regional autonomy.

Marthen has urged every party, including Transparency International (TI) Indonesia, which is now present in Papua, to organize the forest in a wise manner for the sake of Papuan forest sustainability. This is a challenge for the forestry office to carry out development effectively, he said. TI's presence in Papua, said FGI Asia Pacific regional manager Agustinus Taufik, urged every party to fight illegal forestry practices. With the principle of united we stand, we could develop a community that is mentally and spiritually sound for the sake of mutual prosperity, Agustinus said. Agustinus said Papua's forest is one of the best tropical rainforests in Indonesia and serves as the lungs of the earth.

Papua's forest is a valuable asset that must be managed well to improve the quality of the ecosystem and the well-being of people in Papua in particular and in Indonesia in general.

Source : , The Jakarta Post

BAHASA INDONESIA

Desentralisasi mengancam hutan di Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba
Otonomi daerah di Papua menimbulkan ancaman bagi hutan di provinsi karena pembangunan infrastruktur berikut akan mengeksploitasi hutan otonomi daerah, kata seorang pejabat kehutanan.

"Para wilayah hutan yang tersedia saat ini tidak mungkin akan tetap ada lima hingga 10 tahun dari sekarang jika otonomi daerah terus karena akan mengarah pada pembangunan fisik," kata Kepala Dinas Kehutanan Papua Marthen Kayoi, pada peluncuran Tata Kelola Hutan Integritas (FGI) di Transparency International Indonesia di kantor di Jayapura baru-baru ini. Dia menambahkan bahwa ibukota Kabupaten Keerom sebelumnya sebuah kawasan hutan tetapi mengangkat keraguan apakah masih bisa digambarkan seperti itu.

Daerah saat ini utuh Papua hutan adalah 31,5 juta hektar, sementara 5 juta hektar telah dikategorikan sebagai daerah kritis 1973-2003. Kayoi mengatakan hanya sekitar 24 juta hektar dari kawasan hutan akan tetap mengingat laju otonomi daerah, yang sejauh ini telah menghasilkan 33 kabupaten dan kotamadya. Ini adalah apa yang terjadi sekarang. Proses yang terus-menerus otonomi daerah, diikuti dengan pembangunan infrastruktur akan semakin mengurangi ukuran wilayah hutan katanya. Kami juga tidak bisa memastikan apakah kawasan hutan yang tersisa akan ada dalam lima tahun.

Pemerintah telah menunjuk seorang 4.825.786 hektar kawasan hutan di Papua sebagai hutan konservasi, atau melestarikan alam. Namun, selama beberapa tahun ini telah menerima tekanan dalam bentuk konversi menjadi lahan pertanian, pemukiman dan pembangunan infrastruktur, termasuk pembalakan liar. Taman Nasional Lorentz, sebuah kawasan lindung yang sekarang meliputi tujuh kabupaten, termasuk PT Freeport Indonesia raksasa emas dan tembaga perusahaan tambang, karena dampak dari otonomi daerah.

Marthen telah mendesak semua pihak, termasuk Transparency International (TI) Indonesia yang kini hadir di Papua, untuk mengatur hutan dengan cara yang bijaksana demi kelestarian hutan Papua. Ini adalah tantangan bagi kantor kehutanan untuk melaksanakan pembangunan secara efektif, katanya. Kehadiran TI di Papua, kata FGI manajer regional Asia Pasifik Agustinus Taufik, mendesak semua pihak untuk memerangi praktek-praktek kehutanan yang ilegal. Dengan prinsip bersatu kita teguh, kita bisa mengembangkan komunitas yang sehat secara mental dan spiritual demi kesejahteraan bersama, kata Agustinus. Agustinus mengatakan hutan Papua merupakan salah satu hutan hujan tropis terbaik di Indonesia dan berfungsi sebagai paru-paru bumi.

Hutan Papua adalah aset berharga yang harus dikelola dengan baik untuk meningkatkan kualitas ekosistem dan kesejahteraan masyarakat di Papua khususnya dan di Indonesia pada umumnya.

Border in Papua Disputed

2009-12-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

Around 200 residents of Ugimba, Paniai regency in Papua, yesterday insisted that the Mimika Regent resolve the issue concerning the border between Mimia and Paniai regencies.

Those who claimed to be the owners of the communal land rights of the Grassberg area have demanded compensation for PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations. They also insisted the Mimika regional government resolve this issue with the Papua governor using customary laws. “This has been discussed with Mimika regent,” said one protestor, Samuel Tabuni. The Mimika regent, Klemen Tinal, said the government was ready to facilitate a meeting between Ugimba residents and the Papua governor. When the Mimika Regency was set up in 2000, the residents of Ugimba were included in the Mimika Regency area.

Source : TEMPO Interactive

Bahasa

Perbatasan di Papua dipertentangkan

Sekitar 200 warga Ugimba, Kabupaten Paniai di Papua, kemarin menegaskan bahwa Bupati Mimika menyelesaikan masalah mengenai perbatasan antara kabupaten Mimia dan Paniai.

Mereka yang mengaku sebagai pemilik hak atas tanah komunal dari wilayah Grassberg menuntut kompensasi untuk PT Freeport Indonesia operasi pertambangan. Mereka juga menegaskan pemerintah daerah Mimika mengatasi masalah ini dengan Gubernur Papua dengan menggunakan hukum adat. "Hal ini telah didiskusikan dengan Bupati Mimika," kata salah seorang protestor, Samuel Tabuni. Para Bupati Mimika, Klemen Tinal, mengatakan pemerintah siap untuk memfasilitasi pertemuan antara warga dan Ugimba Gubernur Papua. Ketika Kabupaten Mimika didirikan pada tahun 2000, penduduk Ugimba dilibatkan dalam wilayah Kabupaten Mimika.

Papuans Demand Restoration of Violated Rights

2009-12-11T18:31:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of people in Papua joined a rally on Thursday (10/12) to mark the Human Rights Day in different locations in the seat of the capital, Jayapura. Participants denounced human rights violations by the government and multinational companies operating in the province including goldminer Freeport McMoran.

The rallies started at about 9 am local time in Abepura district, followed by a rally outside the provincial regional House of Represenatatives in Jayapura were residents handover 11 demand to provincial lawmakers.

Some of the demands are urging the government to halt all investments in the province that reduce or completely robbed the rights of indigenous tribe. A second demand was pressing the provincial authorities to conduct complete assessment on security policy and the size of military force in the island. The next one was pushing the introduction of regional regulation for the legalbasis to restore the rights of victims of human rights violation.

Police deployed around 200 personnel to maintain security during the protest which ended after protesters met with regional lawmakers.

Source : TEMPO Interactive

Bahasa

Papua Menuntut Pemulihan Pelanggaran Hak Azasi

Ratusan orang di Papua bergabung dengan sebuah rally pada hari Kamis (10/12) untuk menandai Hari Hak Asasi Manusia di berbagai lokasi di kursi ibukota, Jayapura. Peserta mengecam pelanggaran hak asasi manusia oleh pemerintah dan perusahaan-perusahaan multinasional beroperasi di provinsi ini termasuk goldminer Freeport McMoran.

Para aksi unjuk rasa dimulai pada sekitar 9 am waktu setempat di distrik Abepura, diikuti oleh sebuah reli di luar daerah provinsi Rumah Represenatatives di Jayapura adalah penduduk serah terima permintaan untuk 11 anggota parlemen provinsi.

Beberapa tuntutan yang mendesak pemerintah untuk menghentikan semua investasi di provinsi yang mengurangi atau sama sekali dirampok hak-hak suku asli. Permintaan kedua adalah menekan pemerintah provinsi untuk melakukan penilaian lengkap pada kebijakan keamanan dan ukuran kekuatan militer di pulau ini. Berikutnya adalah mendorong pengenalan peraturan daerah untuk legalbasis untuk mengembalikan hak-hak korban pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.

Polisi dikerahkan sekitar 200 personil untuk menjaga keamanan selama protes yang berakhir setelah pengunjuk rasa bertemu dengan anggota parlemen daerah.

Mr.Benny Wenda always sell his liar about Papua

2009-12-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

Mr Wenda who claimed himself as the great leader of West Papua made another super claim as the voice of 250 tribe. He said that West Papua is Western Half of the New Guinea Island North of Australia, Home of Birth of paradise, but today home of Military. Indonesia Military & Police committed crime humanity in West Papua, everyday killing, rape, intimidation, torturing, and Imprisonment. He also mentioned that when West Papuan People made a peaceful demonstration, Indonesia Military and Police always came and stopped the demonstrator and arrest them, torture them put them in the prison very long time without any trial. Please check yourself by visiting Papua and you will find the peaceful land of Papua without any condition that Benny has accused in his speech at every corner of the United Kingdom.

Benny the great leader of West Papua is a Liar. He lies with his heart and never really think about the progress in West Papua. Indonesia is a democratic country, and you have to prove it by seeing it directly with your eyes and not from what Benny has said so.

Why should smart people in UK and Holland believe what Benny said without crosscheck to reliable sources and if possible just see it with your own eyes. West Papuan people need your help to see the situation in reality and not lies. Mr. Wenda just thinking about his interest to earn money, popularity and never thinking about how to find solution in Papua. So we must carefully when read information about Papua, because we must crosscheck true or false.

Meaning of Nationalism in Papua

2009-12-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

[Jayapura] Indonesian nationalism in the local political context of Papua, not just kiss the flag of Red and White, memorized the Pancasila and the Constitution of 1945, joined the flag ceremony every August 17. But the nationalism of indigenous peoples Indonesia Papua is a free school, the light is not extinguished, prosperity, good health services, clean water, forests awake, social justice and economic justice manifested.

According to the Secretary General of the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) Alhamid Moh Taha, Indonesian nationalism to the people of Papua is respect for human rights (Human Rights) as guarantee the rights of life and cultural rights can be enforced. Each person gets the same value in public bureaucracies also clean of corruption .. Autonomy is expected to provide all the requirements expected by the people of Papua. Flag of Papua New to be in the Raise the flag of the right to life, social welfare, respect for human rights, social justice and fairness and not the flag a symbol of a movement. Optimization of Law No. 21 / 2001 regarding Special Autonomy should be based on seriously with a strong commitment between local government, central government, all stakeholders, leaders and religious leaders and people of Papua to build and welfare of Papua.

Autonomy with based on a shared commitment to promote Papua, can be a solution to solve complex problems in Papua, which is increasingly difficult to solve. Penyelesaiannyapun takes a long time, because of corruption, illegal logging, looting natural resources in Papua, intimidation and violence that arise both by the OPM and the security forces, the solution requires strong cooperation of all stake holders involved. Development, education and welfare a priority for local governments for welfare of the people of Papua in order to reduce provocation "independence of Papua" is always used by groups who deliberately makes the issue of Papua for the benefit of the group.

Arti Nasionalisme di Papua

[JAYAPURA] Nasionalisme Indonesia dalam konteks politik lokal Papua, bukan sekadar cium bendera Merah Putih, hafal Pancasila dan Undang-Undang Dasar 1945, ikut upacara bendera setiap 17 Agustus. Tetapi nasionalisme Indonesia bagi masyarakat asli Papua adalah sekolah gratis, lampu tidak padam, kesejahteraan, pelayanan kesehatan baik, air bersih, hutan terjaga, keadilan sosial dan keadilan ekonomi terwujud.

Menurut Sekretaris Jenderal Presidium Dewan Papua (PDP) Thaha Moh Alhamid, nasionalisme Indonesia bagi rakyat Papua adalah penghormatan terhadap hak asasi manusia (HAM) seperti memperoleh jaminan hak hidup dan hak-hak budaya bisa ditegakkan. Setiap orang mendapat nilai yang sama didepan umum juga birokrasi yang bersih dari korupsi.. Otsus diharapkan dapat memberikan segala kebutuhan yang diharapkan oleh rakyat Papua. Bendera Papua Baru yang mesti di kibarkan adalah bendera hak hidup, kesejahteraan rakyat, penghormatan hak asasi manusia, keadilan sosial dan keadilan dan bukan bendera simbol suatu gerakan. Optimalisasi UU No 21/ 2001 tentang Otonomi Khusus perlu dilakukan secara serius dengan didasari komitmen kuat antara pemerintah daerah, pemerintah pusat, seluruh stakeholders, tokoh dan pemuka agama serta rakyat Papua untuk membangun dan mensejahterakan Papua.

Otsus dengan didasari komitmen bersama untuk memajukan Papua, dapat menjadi solusi untuk menyelesaikan kompleksnya persoalan di Papua yang semakin hari semakin sulit dipecahkan. Penyelesaiannyapun membutuhkan waktu yang tidak sebentar, karena pemberantasan korupsi, illegal logging, penjarahan kekayaan alam di Papua, intimidasi dan kekerasan yang muncul baik oleh OPM dan aparat keamanan , penyelesaiannya membutuhkan kerjasama kuat seluruh stake holders yang terlibat. Pembangunan, pendidikan dan kesejahteraan menjadi prioritas bagi pemerintah daerah untuk mensejahterakan rakyat Papua sehingga dapat mereduksi provokasi “kemerdekaan Papua” yang selalu digunakan oleh kelompok-kelompok yang sengaja menjadikan isu Papua untuk kepentingan kelompoknya.

Papua is land of peace

2009-11-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

After Indonesia government succeeds to implement special autonomy in Papua, both central and local government are actively promoting the development of economic and social infrastructures covering city building, energy systems, communication, health care, and education.

The implementation of special autonomy has attracted many Papuan living at overseas. Displacement happened in the past have been reduced due to the success of repatriation. Hundreds of TPN/OPM members are ready to come back to the city and wants to be the Republic of Indonesia Citizen (NKRI).Furthermore, they believe Indonesia government to incarnate prosperity and development In Papua as president Jusuf Kalla statement that Jakarta gets fund from Freeport Rp 17 trillion, meanwhile Jakarta gives back financial support to Papua Rp 29 trillion or double from that is taken from Papua. “So again it is untrue if Jakarta only obtained money from Papua,”he added

Deforestation threatens Indonesia's Papua region

2009-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

Jayapura – Logging and agribusiness is threatening environmental destruction in Indonesia's Papua region, one of the world's last vast wildernesses.The governors of the two provinces in the region on the western end of New Guinea island told an international environmental conference a strategy was needed to avoid the mistakes that have decimated other Indonesian regions.

West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi said that pressure and threats to biodiversity in Papua are increasing. Papua is becoming a target for massive agro and forestry industry investment. His government had received an increasing number of requests for development and feared environmental destruction from illegal logging aimed at clearing land for plantations. In this regard, Papua should not repeat the failure to manage forests and biodiversity that has happened in Kalimantan (Borneo) and Sumatra.

In the meantime, The governor of Papua province, which sits on the eastern end of the region, Barnabas Suebu, said preserving the tropical forest-blanketed region was key to helping absorb the gases that cause climate change. The capacity of Papua's 42 million hectares (104 million acres) of forests to process CO2 is equivalent to the carbon footprint of nearly all the population of Europe.

Indonesia, which spreads across over 17,000 islands, has been a key advocate for plans being floated ahead of global climate talks in Copenhagen in December that would see developing countries paid to conserve forests and peatlands. Deforestation, largely on Borneo and Sumatra, has seen the country become the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases

Source : Agence France Presse - November 23, 2009

Mimika residents hope for peace in Freeport

2009-11-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

Timika - Residents of Mimika, Papua, hoped the security situation in the area of PT Freeport Indonesia would soon be restored to normal and no more terror after kelly kwalik's funeral.

Anti Violence Human Right Foundation (YAHAMAK) vice president, Arnold Ronsumbre, said that all Mimika residents are hoping for peace in the area. We want to live in peace and don`t want a recurrence of the shooting incidents.

The existence of GSP Support Group on Foreign Affairs

2009-11-23T16:48:00.001-08:00

Emmanuel Octavianus
We need to know that for the moment, Papua Separatist Movement 'Free West Papua Campaign (FWPC)' led by Benny Wenda and Richard Samuelson, actively mobilize the international forces in the UK. Looks like this organization actively campaigning for the independence of Papua, by manipulating the facts to influence international opinion, in order to achieve support for its struggle to separate Papua from the Republic of Indonesia.

Indonesian society knows that the Papuan situation today, compared to 15 years ago has started to improve, even more so since the era of reform emerged, and dignity, the dignity of society are protected, then the society free from fear and discrimination.

In order to succeed in Papua Special Autonomy program, the main thing needed is a system of government dibenahai in Papua. This must be done, because it must be adjusted with the breath of Autonomy Act specifically, in order to improve public services in Papua.

In the meantime, do with a group of Papuan independence supporters outside the country, which until now often maneuver, as happened in England with sponsored by the 'Free West Papua Campaign' or (FWPC). Maneuver is a major threat to the integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). FWPC separatist movement active campaigning and mobilizing an international force for the independence of Papua, to discredit the Government of Indonesia.

The aim of the Papuan separatist movement abroad is, to gain political support from the local state, which then are directed to the international world, in order to achieve its goal to separate Papua from the Republic of Indonesia or to self-determination (Self Determination). All efforts are made is as a way to provoke the UN response.

Source : www.papuatoday.com

Papuan biodiversity conference ends with commitment to preserving nature

2009-11-16T18:03:00.001-08:00

Niken Prathivi, The Jakarta Post , Jayapura, Papua
The International Biodiversity Conference on Sustainable Development closed here Saturday, urging the central government to help Papua preserve its natural environment for sustainable development. organizing committee chief Noak Kapisa said this conference recommends the central government implement an agenda and regulations that support the establishment of conservation forests.
All parties including the government, the private sector and locals must obey the regulations. The conference also recommended Papua become a leading force in reducing harmful emissions over the next seven years by undertaking a conservation project and preserving Papua's unique ecosystem. Papua has been asked to introduce an environmental education project in educational institutions from elementary schools to universities. the recommendations would also be presented to the second UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen next month. Around 400 scientists, environmentalists, government officials and residents participated in the four-day conference.

Responding to the five recommendations, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu said the residents of Papua and the central government must work together to encourage the international society to preserve the environment for the future.

"Let us save Papua, Indonesia and the planet."

PNG not for opponents of unitary state of Indonesia

2009-11-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare assured here on Friday that his country fully supports the integrity of the Unitary State of Indonesia. Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a meeting with Prime Minister Somare said that Prime Minister Somare emphasized is that Papua New Guinea supports the Unitary State of Indonesia. He several times stated that the country could not be used for launching activities against the Unitary State of Indonesia. Prime Minister Somare reaffirmed that the current status of Papua was final as part of the Unitary State of Indonesia.

During the meeting that lasted for about 30 minutes at Hotel Marina Mandarin Prime Minister Somare and President Yudhoyono had also discussed border cooperation. Regarding the hundreds of Indonesians from Papua who are now still staying in Papua New Guinea, the two governments had agreed to repatriate them in stages. Cooperation between RI-PNG will be enhanced not only in the field of security but also the economy. Therefore a checkpoint would soon be opened at the border to facilitate the traffic of people particularly traditional border crossers. on November 19 and November 22, 2009, there are many of Papuan who have moved to Papua New Guinea have already been repatriated.

Gubernur papua berupaya dalam melindungi hutan

2009-10-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

Dalam mengatasi deforestasi di Papua, o Gubernur Papua, Barnabas Suebu mengatakan bahwa semua pemegang HPH harus mengembangkan fasilitas pengolahan kayu di Papua, seperti larangan ekspor log mentah akan tetap di tempatnya. Mereka harus juga setuju untuk menanam lima pohon untuk setiap satu mereka dipotong. Peraturan sebagai upaya untuk mengontrol karena sedikitnya 7,2 juta meter kubik kayu di Papua dipotong setahun, terus menyusut dengan 42 juta hektar hutan, yang memiliki tingkat keanekaragaman hayati tertinggi di dunia.

Pada akhirnya, Mr Suebu berjanji untuk menyelamatkan hutan papua dan mengelolanya secara berkelanjutan dan menghasilkan uang untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan dan menciptakan kemakmuran bagi seluruh Papua sebagai tujuan dari kebijakan.

The Age/30 Oktober 2009

Mimika focuses on alleviating maternal mortality rate

2009-09-23T22:14:00.000-07:00

Markus Makur
The Mimika regency administration is focusing on alleviating the maternal mortality rate in their 12 districts through the local health office, in line with the program initiated by the provincial administration to provide good health care for people in rural areas of Papua, be they in the mountainous, hinterland or southern areas of Papua. The program will be implemented in every regency across the province by sending teams to provide counseling, medical checkups and food supplements for expectant mothers in rural areas.

The health office has posted medical workers in rural areas and in 13 community health clinics in the 12 districts of Mimika. Medical awareness among pregnant women in Mimika regency remains very low despite the medical services provided by the clinics, so much so that Mimika is often regarded as lacking decent medical services.

Mimika Health Office head Erens Meokbun told reporters in Timika recently that medical workers often encountered obstacles in the field, such as from members of the community who refused to help themselves or those who were unaware of health care issues. Meokbun said as well as the drive to alleviate the maternal mortality rate by conducting routine medical checkups at the clinics in the 12 districts, the health office would also provide examinations for those infected with tuberculosis, malaria counseling and information on HIV/AIDS mitigation to people in villages.

"The teams from the health office are visiting villages and community health clinics to make the mobile clinic program across Papua a success by focusing on saving the lives of expectant mothers. The teams are currently working to provide medical checkups to pregnant women so their babies can grow and develop healthily," he said.

The Health Ministry has allocated Rp 5 billion (about US$500,000) to pay for the mobile clinics across Papua including using assistance funds from the provincial and regency administrations. The provincial health office has proposed Rp 6 billion in supporting funds from the regency administration's budgetary team in 2010. Meokbun said his office had distributed Jamkesmas health insurance cards to residents in rural areas. They will be exempted from paying medical bills when getting treatment in government-run hospitals and community health clinics.

When asked by reporters about the finding of malnutrition cases in Far East Mimika district, Meokbun confirmed five children in the Far East Mimika capital of Ayuka were suffering from malnutrition, and were currently being treated by a medical team.

Mimika's medium-term development program (2009-2013), approved by the local legislature a week ago, included a number of development plans, such as improving human resources in Mimika by providing equal access to education in rural areas; realizing free education in state-run, as well as private, schools; and providing good services to the public, such as good health care to the people in the villages.

Mimika Regent Klemen Tinal said his office would exempt students in state-run schools in Mimika from paying school fees throughout the 2009 budget period. "If there are schools, from elementary to senior high school level, demanding school fees, they should return the money to parents because the government has exempted Papuan students from paying school fees. "I am very serious about improving education here, by providing education to every Papuan child in the rural areas of Mimika," he said.

Source : The Archipelago | Timika | Wed, 09/23/2009 |

Schools in Mimika interior closed for months

2009-09-22T21:44:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Academic activity at schools in Mimika district`s interior have been at a standstill for the past few months because their teachers have become stuck in Timika city, one of the teachers said.

The principal of Jila district`s junior high school (SMP), Natalis Nimbitkendik, said he and other teachers at his school were still in Timika because they had no transportation to return to Jila.

"We can not return to Jila, because there is no transportation to get there," he said.
He said the teachers usually travel to Jila from Timika by a PT Freeport Indonesia helicopter hired by the Amungme and Kamoro Community Development Foundation (LPMAK).

Several villages in Jila district, such as Hoeya, Bela, Alama, Geselema and others are located 3,000 meters above sea level, and can only be reached by air transportation.

But since the shooting incidents in the concession area of gold and copper mining company PT Freeport, the company`s helicopters no longer fly to Jila district nor to Keakwa in Central East Mimika district.

Cantius Emereyauw, a Kamoro tribal community figure, said for the past three months YPPK`s Bona Ventura elementary school had totally stopped operating. The whereabouts of its teachers were also unknown.

"There has been no schooling activity in the past three months, because the teachers are not at their stations," he said.

He said he was concerned about the pupils` future now that their schooling had been disrupted.

Elementary schools in Mimika which were run by the Catholic Education and School Foundation (YPKK) of Timika were also only operating now and then with casual teachers.

Meanwhile, the teachers with civil servant status were not around, and spending their time doing something else in the city, he said. Ironically, these teachers continued to receive their full salaries and allowances from the state.

The School Operational Assistance (BOS) funds the schools were receiving from the central or local governments were also being embezzled by the school principals with impunity.

"We urge Mimika`s local government through its relevant apparatus to pay serious attention to this situation," Cantius said.

Source : ANTARA News | Timika | Papua

Educating children in Timika no easy task

2009-06-17T23:42:00.001-07:00

Markus Makur, Timika, Papua
School-aged children in Timika, Papua, apparently prefer scavenging for recyclable items, such as used soft drink cans, to attending school, as they can sell the items and earn money to supplement their families' income.

Their presence is easily noticeable along the roads in Timika city. They carry sacks on their backs, filling them with scrap items found in the city's garbage dumps, drains and canals.

Most of them are elementary school dropouts, something which can be attributed to the low level of awareness among parents of the importance of education. This problem must be resolved immediately to prevent school-aged children from scavenging on the streets in Timika. Parents must encourage their children to attend school for the sake of a better future.

The issue was raised by Kantius Yoseph Amereyauw, cultural leader of the Kamoro Community Tribal Council (Lemasko) and head of the Mimika Education Council, in Timika recently.

Amereyauw said that based on recent observations, he found many street children gathering scraps, especially empty soft drink cans, to sell to make money for their families.

"I often ask teachers why the children, mostly native Papuans, do not attend school and are found on the streets collecting scraps, and they couldn't answer my question," he said.

Amereyauw expressed grave concerns over the inferior standard of education in Mimika for native Papuan children as most of them have dropped out of school and live on the streets. He said that most of the school-aged children do not attend school, likely due to their parents' ignorance on the importance of formal education.

"This is of grave concern to the local community in regards to the education progress of native Papuan children in Timika and those living in remote and mountainous areas of Mimika. I hope parents and the regency administration will look into the issue seriously and address it immediately for the sake of the children's future," Amereyauw said.

Pius Ilimagay, an Amungme tribal elder in Aramsolki village in Agimuga district, said parents in the village tend to lack awareness of the importance of education, as they continue the practice of taking their children to farm in the forest.

"Parents remain taking their children to farm in the jungle for months, thus forcing classrooms to be empty of students despite the presence of teachers. Parents should not blame teachers who return home, because they have no one to teach," Ilimagay said.

He added the government should play a bigger role in encouraging parents in remote and mountainous areas of Mimika to be more aware of the importance of education for their children.

"I hope parents in remote areas of Mimika will persuade their children to go to school because education is very important for the progress of an area," he said.

Head of the financial division at the Mimika regency administration Yohanes Bassang said his office had focused the regency budget and special autonomy funds on education and healthcare in an effort to empower the community. The administration is focusing these development programs on five disadvantaged districts.

"We have prioritized healthcare services, education and community empowerment in the development program by setting aside funds from the regency budget and special autonomy funds for Mimika," Bassang said.

He added the special autonomy funds stood at Rp 53 billion (US$4.8 million), while the regency budget amounted at Rp 1,4 trillion this year.

As reported earlier, the Mimika regency administration announced that it would provide free education from elementary to senior high school levels this year in a effort to motivate parents of native Papuans as well as migrants to send their children to school, without bearing the burden of school fees.

Source : | The Archipelago

Local Government of Papua to establish a 'cultural laboratory' to preserve native language.

2009-06-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

The Papuan Government is planning to build a cultural laboratory this year as a means to preserve its diverse cultures, Antara state news agency reported Friday. Masmur Asso of the Papuan Culture and Tourism Agency said Papua was slowly losing its many various cultures because of the infiltration of foreign cultures.

“If no measures are taken to find a solution to this problem, future generations will not be able to get to know Papuan culture,” Masmur said. One way to preserve Papuan culture, he said, was to build a cultural laboratory, which would act as a library to store data and information on the many Papuan cultures.

“The laboratory would serve as a center for research, as well as a recreation spot for anyone wanting to learn more about Papuan cultures.” It is important for future generations to learn the vastly varying languages and folklores of the Papuan peoples. If younger generations are influenced by foreign cultures, it is not unforseeable that one day local languages and folklore may be forgotten and become extinct,” Masmur warned.Through the laboratory, Masmur hopes young Papuans can develop a greater appreciation for their own culture. “Foreigners have been coming here to research our culture. It’s high time Papuans themselves had more respect for their own culture.”

Source : The Archipelago

Amungme tribespeople start enjoying rice

2009-04-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

Markus Makur
Amungme tribespeople have exchanged rice for potatoes, cultivating their new staple on a 5-hectare plot in the Agimuga district in Mimika regency, Papua. Over the last three years, the tribespeople have produced hundreds of tons of rice.

Djafar Baco, a senior researcher at the Agricultural Technology Assessment Agency at the Makassar-based Hasanuddin University, said on Tuesday that their lands in the Aramsolki kampong are fertile and suitable for growing various crops such as carrots and onions. The local people had previously grown these crops but their harvests could not be sold and were left to rot due to the lack of cheap transportation to Timika, the capital of Mimika regency.

Djafar, who has been researching the Agimuga land since 2007, explained all Indonesian varieties of rice could be cultivated there. "I'm proud to see the willingness of Amungme tribespeople to grow rice of the *Gogo' type," Djafar said. Djafar was appointed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Papuan Agriculture Development Alliance in cooperation with the giant copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.

Assisted by Stefanus Susant of the Mimika Agriculture Office, Djafar said he had advised the local people to grow rice. "Over the last three years, rice production here has been promising, which has encouraged other people to expand their paddy fields," Djafar said.

The rice is sold to a cooperative the Amungme tribe founded in cooperation with the Timika Church Diocese. There have so far been seven groups of farmers in Aramsolki under the guidance of USAID, which also provides equipment, including hand tractors and rice-milling machines.

Pius Ilimagay, head of the Aramsolki kampong, explained there was no longer any need for local villagers to buy expensive rice in Timika, which can only be reached by sea and air. Residents from five other kampongs in the district now buy rice from Aramsolki, rather than Timika. It takes up to two days to travel between the kampongs on foot. Ilimagay said despite the addition of rice crops, the local people still continued planting potatoes and tubers to meet demand.

He explained Amungme tribespeople no longer needed cash assistance but still required more direct guidance on properly cultivating and harvesting the rice crops. "We ask the Mimika administration to assist by providing quality rice seeds and agricultural experts. Don't just give the Amungme people money - teach them how to maximize their agricultural potential."

Hengky Walilo, from the local Aramsolki Catholic church, said USAID and Freeport had made a real difference as the local people were now able to harvest and eat rice. She said instead of simply talking, the companies had provided what the people needed.

The coordinator of the Papua Agriculture Development Alliance Project, Kornel Gartner, explained Aramsolki kampong was chosen to plant rice because the Catholic church has traditionally introduced agricultural practice to the local people, since Dutch colonial times. Another project being developed is the Papuan coffee plantation, which will be marketed overseas.
Source : The Archipelago

West Papuan Traditional Food

2009-03-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

There are two types of staple food in West Papua.
1. Sago, mostly consumed by Papuans in coastal areas: Biak, Serui, Jayapura, Merauke, etc. People don't normally grow sago as they grow wild all over the coastal areas. Normally people do not work hard here, fish is available, pork and others are in the jungles, and sago grows everywhere.

2. Sweet Potato, we who in the highlands grow and eat this as our staple food. Our main source of protein is pork, and also culturally very valuable. It was used to pay bride-price, pay fines, buy forests/trees to build houses, and it still has a very high value here. We work hard here to make garden, plant, breed, and grow the crops and animals, no wild pigs here as those in the coastal areas.

Coastal Papuans are generally referred to as the Austro-Melanesians, ancestors originated from Asia. Highlands are Papua-Melanesians, ancestors until today are not yet identified, but generally referred to as native Papuans in this land.

Our common meal and how is it prepared.
The meal is prepared with a method in Indonesian called "bakar batu" or "bake the stones", which means, heat the stones with fires. Dig hole on the ground, put grass, then put the hot stones on the grass, cover the stones with more grass, put the meal: normally sweet potatoes first, then put the stones on top of the potatoes. After this, put the grass again, then put the vegetables (such as cabbages, spinach, sweet-potato leaves, cassava leaves, papaya leaves, etc.), or fruits like cucumber, corn, etc.
We can mix meat with vegetables, just like in a pan in the Western and other modern society. So vegetables are mixed with the meat, well not mixed as in the West but they spread the taste and smell well over, to make it nice...

Mostly men prepare the fires, heat the stones, find the woods, find the grass, slaughter the meat, (or hunt) and women clean the meals in the water/stream, then prepare the meal, and sit on the side of the hole and put the meals into the "cooking pan" (which is the ground for us), then men help them by handing out hot stones (women mostly wait on the ground to give order to men where to put the stones, etc)

After all, we cover the cooking up with more grass and leave them for about an hour. Before opening, men go first to sort out the grass, then women can go some minutes later to open. Women are responsible to decide which meal to go which group (We do not eat individually in separate plates and spoons. We put meal on the ground for some people, we sit for meals in groups of young people, boys, girls, etc.)Our Drink West Papuan drink pure water and mostly unboilled one. We have pure and fresh water. But now it is changing, we are advised to boil water beforehand.

On the coastal areas, they also drink "saguer", and what I call Papuan wine, made out of coconut fruit. Taste coconut, but some minutes later, it shows its power.
We get water from its source, from the ground, stream, etc.

Source: sagopapua.blogspot.com

Indonesia-Australia

2009-02-24T06:47:00.001-08:00

(Free West Papua) A short note from Sidney 23 Feb 2009.

Australian government is going the wrong way about improving relations with Indonesia if it continues to ignore the Aborigines (Indigenous Australians) while talking about West Papua issue. The genocide of Aborigines is a bad history that Indonesia should avoid in West Papua.

If Australia really wants to improve the relationship with Indonesia, we should be actually talking and discussing the issues of Aborigines genocide and the human rights situation in West Papua simultaneously. By ignoring it, it’s only putting it on the backburner and one day will explode and probably destroy the good image of Australian people in the world.

Tourism in West Papua

2009-02-03T23:31:00.000-08:00

Tourists are mostly Dutch and German, who come to West Papua travel to the Baliem Valley in the highlands. The main town, Wamena, draws tourists who are interested in trekking and in the culture of the local Dani tribes.

Although the Indonesian administration has previously tried to force them to wear clothes and live a more "civilised" lifestyle, today they are happy if they go naked because it is good for tourism.

In the village of Manda for example, clothed villagers are barred from the village while near-naked tribes-people, well-rehearsed and divided into two twelve-member teams, cook and dance in the traditional way for camera carrying tourists. The tourists pay for the food, the dancing, the photos, some handicrafts and a night's accommodation.

Tourists can stay in a village, completely built by the co-operative to house visitors. The villagers will dress traditionally, dance and have a feast for paying tourists.

Indonesia, PNG ready to open border road

2008-11-17T18:12:00.001-08:00

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.

Lemhannas calls for focus on preventing separatism

2008-11-17T01:07:00.000-08:00

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

International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) : Uncover Vanuatu Link

2008-11-16T21:24:00.000-08:00

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”

Papuans 'fed up' with special autonomy

2008-03-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

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.