Tuesday, May 31, 2011

AWPA update. May 2011

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 208


AWPA update. May 2011
A snapshot of events for May
On the 1st May 1963 the UN transferred the administration of West New Guinea to Indonesia and from the moment Indonesia took over from the UN the oppression of the West Papuan people began. 48 years later the oppression continues and so does the struggle of the West Papuan people for self-determination. On the 2 May thousands of people marched in peaceful rallies in towns around West Papua to mark the handover from the UN to Indonesian control. The demonstrators were calling for a new referendum on independence. Although the demonstrators had official permission there was a strong police and military presence and reports of incidents of intimidation. Police in Wamena arrested a few days before six activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) because they were distributing leaflets regarding the rallies. Photos of the rally in Jayapura can be seen in a photo story in newmatilda.com at http://newmatilda.com/2011/05/05/west-papua-photo-story
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Australian aid

A press release from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta said Australia was committed to reducing poverty in Papua and West Papua, The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Greg Moriarty witnessed a signing, between Papua Governor, Mr. Barnabas Suebu, and West Papua Governor, Mr. Abraham O. Atururi, for a new Australian government-funded program to improve health, education and infrastructure in the two provinces. Australia will provide an estimated A$17 million in development assistance to the provinces in 2010-11 http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR11_038.html

In another press release from the embassy it stated that the Australian Government would provide an estimated A$558.1 million (Rp. 5,15 trillion) in official development assistance to Indonesia in 2011-12. This is an increase of A$100 million (Rp. 923 billion) compared to the 2010-11 Budget.” The increase in aid funding demonstrates Australia’s long-term commitment to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development in Indonesia,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Greg Moriarty. http://www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/jakt/MR11_041.html

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Women’s voices

Scant attention to women's opinions in Papua

JUBI, 19 May 2011
Hagas Aksamina Madai, a member of Commission E of the Papuan legislative assembly, the DPRP, has criticised the government for failing to show any interest in or concern for Papuan women. She was speaking during a discussion held by Papuan women students on 'Perspectives for Papuan women regarding Papuan women's involvement in political issues. She gave as an example the lack of government attention towards the construction of markets where women can function. 'All they have done is to establish some temporary markets for us,' she said. 'And moreover these markets have failed to take account of our needs.' This had resulted in Papuan women traders being compelled to go back to the old market places in front of Gelael and the Ampera market even though these are far from adequate and have resulted in women traders suffering losses in their business activities. She said that what the government should be doing is first of all to consult the local people about what they need 'In my opinion, before going ahead with anything, the government should get together with the local community to ask them what they think they need.' (From Tapol)

In its Spring Quarterly Cultural Survival has an article on the suffering of West Papuan women “Papuan women have been suffering terrible violence both outside and inside their homes for the past 40 years, and for most of that time, they’ve suffered in silence. But now a group of women has launched their own truth commission to give support to the victims and to pressure the government to change its behavior”. http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/papua-new-guinea/reckoning and in an article in the Wall Street Journal “Jakarta's Dismal Record in Papua Audryne Karma who is the eldest daughter of West Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma, writes about his case. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304520804576340793292830806.html
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HIV/AIDS

A number of media reports raised concerns about the increase of HIV/AIDS in West Papua. Health statistics for West Papua vary but the West Papuan people have one of the poorest health standards in the archipelago although West Papua is rich in natural resources.
HIV/AIDS Infections Jump Sharply in Papua
Banjir Ambarita | Jakarta Globe May 06, 2011
Jayapura. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua and West Papua has jumped by more than 30 percent to over 17,000 in just four months, an official said on Thursday. Kostan Karma, head of the Papua AIDS Prevention Commission (KPA), said the spike in infections was very worrying, and blamed it on the prevalence of unprotected sex. He said the latest data from the provincial health office showed there were 7,098 people with the virus in Papua in December, and 10,000 in West Papua. “But back in August 2010, there were only 5,000 in Papua and 8,000 in West Papua,” he said. “The KPA is trying hard to campaign about HIV/AIDS prevention, but we just can’t seem to keep the numbers down.” Kostan said that of the 38 towns and districts in the two provinces, Mimika in Papua, home to the world’s biggest copper and gold mine, had shown the highest increase and overall number of infections. However, he did not give any figures. The KPA also blamed the proliferation of new districts over the past 10 years as a factor for the spread of the virus. “What’s happened is that there’s been more money spreading around, which encourages people to break with the traditional way of life and adopt a more modern lifestyle, including sexual promiscuity,” Kostan said. “What we’re trying to do is get churches to spread the message to get people to stop having casual sex, or if they must, to at least use a condom.” He said that if the number of people living with the virus rose to 1 percent of the population of both provinces which the 2010 census put at 2.8 million the KPA would begin imposing mandatory testing for all new mothers in the region. He said the measure would at least help identify the number of infected newborns, so they could get early treatment.
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Mimika allocates Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS program
May 26 2011
Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - The local government of Mimika district, Papua, has allocated Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS handling program in the region, an AIDS Commission official said. Chief National AIDS Commission (PPA) for Mimika Erens Meokbun said here on Thursday that the AIDS handling program in Mimika was still focused guidance, officials` training, inventory of new cases and counseling of HIV/AIDS carriers. He said that the HIV/AIDS allocation for the HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika this year was down if compared with previous years` allocations which reached about Rp3 billions. "In the previous three years, the funds allocation for HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika amounted to Rp3 billion each year," he said. The number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Mimika is the highest one among those in other districts in Papua province. He said that the high cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Mimika was among other things fueled by the flow of migration into the district from neighboring districts and rural areas in Papua. Data at Mimika KPA office indicated that up to December 2010, the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers was recorded at 2,463 cases, of whom 1,262 men and 1,195 weer female carriers. In 2010, there were additional 407 HIV/AIDS cases, of whom nine have died.

(Uu.A014/HAJM) Editor: Priyambodo RH

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Indonesia Elected to UN Rights Panel Despite Concerns

Indonesia was among 15 nations elected on Friday to the UN Human Rights Council, despite a human rights watchdog earlier stating the country had questionable qualifications for membership. In a General Assembly vote, Indonesia was elected along with India, the Philippines, and Kuwait, on a clean or uncontested, slate of Asian nations for three-year council terms. Unfortunately, some of the worst violators of human rights get elected” to the body, Hillel Neur, the head of UN Watch said at UN headquarters on Thursday, on the eve of the vote. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/indonesia/indonesia-elected-to-un-rights-panel-despite-concerns/442307

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From Tapol
Papuan killed by six members of the security forces
JUBI, 16 May 2011
According to information from the Justice and Peace Secretariat of the Kingmi Church, Papua, a man called Derek Adii who had just completed his application for appointment as a civil servant in the sub-district of Deiyai, was maltreated by six members of the armed forces in the Nabire port area on Saturday 14 May. He was beaten and stabbed and died as a result. According to the SKP report, the victim was attacked as he was boarding the ship, KM Labobar, when a neighbour of the victim from Manokwari pulled out a bayonet and struck the victim in the forehead, and then went on to throw his body into the sea. 'Six people were involved in the attack, all members of the Indonesian army, and after stabbing him, they threw his body into the sea,' said Yones Douw, SKP co-ordinator of SKP in Nabire. The incident started when the 26-year old man asked members of the army at the Nabire port to help organise the passengers as they were boarding the KM Labobar. In response to the request, the victim was subjected to maltreatment; he was stabbed with bayonets and died on the spot. Several people nearby, angered by the attack, started to protest but they were dispersed by the security forces. The brother of the victim, Martinus Adii, who lives in Amban, Manokwari was shocked when he heard of the death of his brother and demanded information about the killing of his brother. 'What wrong did my brother do that led to his being killed? Are you human beings or not? Why were his words responded to by an act of violence?' Martinus said that members of the family were planning to return to Manokwari after gathering together the victims application papers to become a member of the civil service. In protest against the incident, hundreds of students and members of the public, armed with tradional weapons such as arrows, choppers and spears, occupied the port of Manokwari on Sunday afternoon. They vented their anger by smashing the windows of the waiting room in the harbour, but fortunately, this action calmed down after members of the security forces took control of the situation.
Translated by TAPOL

Numerous problems in Papua since OTSUS was enacted

JUBI. 15 May 2011
Since the enactment of OTSUS, the special autonomy law for Papua, a pile of problems have hit Papua. There has been no decline in the number of problems; on the contrary, they have steadily increased. Many buildings have been constructed that are of no benefit to the indigenous population. Take for instance the construction of commercial premises and the fate of Papuan businesspeople. 'These buildings are for other people,' said Olga Helena Hamadi, Director of the Commission for Disappearances and the Victims of violence, KontraS, on Saturday. As for the demands for permanent business premises for Papuan businessmen, they are still struggling for this to happen. Their future is still very much in the air. The kind of premises they have been calling for have not been built by the government. The premises that have been built do not last long even though they have been calling for this since 2004., she said. OTSUS makes provision for a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation to be set up but all that has happened since OTSUS has been the creation of a National Human Rights Commission which means that human rights violations, acts of violence and shootings are only dealt with by the Komnas HAM. The result is that many cases have got stuck, some of which got no farther than a court hearing. There has been no follow-up. Furthermore, there has been no proper accounting for OTSUS funds. No procedures are in place to control the use of these funds. There is no accountability because no procedures have been put in place.
She said that all these things point to the failure of OTSUS, which has failed because no procedures have been put in place. She said that she was making these clarifications because of a previous news report that OTSUS had not failed.. 'We dont agree that OTSUS has not been a failure, because since the enactment of OSUS, a number of problems have emerged.'
Translated by TAPOL

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Military, police asked to secure West Papua investment
From News Reports: Timika, May 18: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the military and police to guarantee the security of investment in West Papua as part of efforts to accelerate economic development, reports the Antara news agency. Tranquility and comfort were crucial to the growth of private business and investment in West Papua, the news agency quotes special aide for regional development and autonomy, Velix V. Wanggai as saying. “The President has always encouraged the implementation of a master plan for expansion and acceleration of the Indonesian economy,” said the aide. “Papua is one of the socio-economic corridors besides Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Kalimanta.” The news agency reports that National Defence Forces Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono and National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo have visited Timika. Their purpose was discuss security and stability in Mimika district, especially at the Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Corporation’s Grasberg gold and copper mine. (The Southeast Asian Times)

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Freeport pays $678m to government

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | 05/26/2011 8
PT Freeport Indonesia, the Indonesian unit of US mining firm Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc., reported that it has paid US$678 million to the government in financial obligations for its first-quarter operations. The payment was comprised of $346 million in corporate income tax; $165 million in employee income tax, regional tax and other levies; $51 million in royalties. The remaining$117 million was the government’s share of dividends. The first-quarter payment brought the total payments made by Freeport during its operations from 1992 to March 2011 to $12.1 billion, comprised of $7.3 billion in corporate income tax, $2.3 billion in employee income tax, regional tax and other levies, $1.2 in royalties and $1.2 billion in dividends. For the full year of 2010 the company’s financial obligations to the government reached $1.9 billion, comprised of $1.2 billion in corporate income tax; $308 million in employee income tax, regional tax and other taxes; $185 million in royalties and $169 million in dividends. The company’s annual contributions to the government, according to a 2010 study conducted by the University of Indonesia’s Institute of Economic and Social Research, were estimated at 1.59 percent of GDP. The company, which operates the Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua, also made other contributions to the government, such as infrastructure investment for the province, and contributed 1.59 percent to GDP. Earlier on May 5, another gold and copper producer PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) announced that it had paid Rp 1.36 trillion to the Indonesian government in the first quarter of 2011 to fulfill its financial obligations for tax, non-tax and royalty payments. (drs)

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/31/bp-finalizes-study-new-lng-train.html
BP finalizes study for new LNG train
Rangga D. Fadillah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta 05/31/2011
Oil and gas giant BP is waiting for certainty over its gas reserves to go ahead with its plan to build a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at the Tangguh LNG plant in Papua, upstream oil and gas regulator BPMigas said. “The company is currently in the final phase of studying the reserves at the Tangguh gas field to check whether it can supply gas to the planned train,” BPMigas spokesperson Gde Pradnyana told reporters via text message on Monday. He continued that the construction of the train could only be started after the company ensured that the gas reserves would be sufficient to supply the planned train and there were certain purchasing contracts with buyers.
The planned train will have a total production capacity of 3.8 million tons per annum.
Tangguh is a massive gas project located in the Bintuni Bay area in West Papua with total proven gas reserves of 14.4 trillion cubic feet. The Tangguh LNG plant consists of two production units, each with capacity of 3.8 million tons of LNG per year. BP started the first production unit, Train 1, in February 2009 and the second, Train 2, in July 2009. BP is the operator of the Tangguh field, holding a 37.16 percent stake in the project. Other partners are MI Berau B.V. (16.3 percent), China-based CNOOC (13.9 percent), Nippon Oil Exploration (Berau) (12.23 percent), KG Berau/KG Wiriagar (10 percent), LNG Japan Corporation (7.35 percent) and Australia-based Talisman (3.06 percent). BPMigas says that the Tangguh gas field has been the fourth largest contributor to national gas production. The agency expects the field will produce 879.57 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in 2011, up from the previous target of 859.16 mmscfd.
BP announced that it will invest around US$10 billion over the next ten years to crank up production at the Tangguh LNG plant and explore the country’s coal-bed methane (CBM) potentials, according to a report from Bloomberg. BP chief executive officer Bob Dudley affirmed his company’s commitment to continuously invest in Indonesia after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh on Friday. “Our focus in investment is Tangguh in Papua, which we know we handle with great care as that’s already a very large project for BP,” he said. The company, which has operated in Indonesia for more than 35 years, reported that as of today, it has invested around $7 billion. Dudley said that the company would develop CBM blocks in Kalimantan. The company had signed four CBM production sharing contracts (PSC) in the Barito basin. The $5 billion Tangguh project, which shipped its first LNG cargoes in 2009, has multi-year contracts to supply 2.6 million tons a year to China, 1.15 million tons a year to South Korea and an agreement to supply as much as 3.7 million tons a year to Sempra Energy, Bloomberg says. Indonesia is currently the world’s third largest LNG exporter after Qatar and Malaysia.
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Press releases/reports/opinion pieces etc.
Indonesian Colonisation, Resource Plunder and West Papuan Grievances
David Adam Stott
The Asia-Pacific Journal Vol 9, Issue 12 No 1, March 21, 2011.


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Managing Papuan Expectations
After Handing Back Special Autonomy
A paper by Budi Hernawan Issues Paper 16 May 2011
cigj.anu.edu.au


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Amnesty International Annual Report 2011
Indonesia
The security forces tortured and otherwise ill-treated detainees, and used excessive force against protesters, sometimes leading to death. No adequate accountability mechanisms were in place to ensure justice or act as an effective deterrent against police abuses. The criminal justice system remained unable to address ongoing impunity for current and past human rights violations. Restrictions on freedom of expression were severe in areas such as Papua and Maluku. Religious minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups faced violent attacks and discrimination. The maternal mortality ratio remained among the highest in the East Asia and Pacific region. No one was executed during the year………………….
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West Papua Rally to Demand Referendum In West Papua

From: Papua Emergency <papuaemergency@yahoo.com>
Date: 2 May 2011 11:25:02 PM

Thousands people of West Papua Rally to Demand Referendum In West Papua


2 Mei 2010

Jayapura, Thousands of the people of West Papua coordinated by the West Papua National Committee are rally to demand referendum to be held in West Papua. The demo was to commemorate the illegal occupation by Indonesia in West Papua in May 1, 1961. They also give full mandate to the government of Vanuatu, International Lawyers for West Papua ILWP) and International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) to bring the political statue of West Papua to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The rally was carried out from Sentani, Abepura and Jayapura. Many people came from every regents, town and city, many others from Student, victims and the perpetrators of Pepera 1969 (the illegal act of Free choice). The streets along the city of Abe, Jayapura and Sentani standstill. No activities.

At the Lingkaran Abe, the central of city in Abepura the masses sit down and they also made orations alternately and sign joint petition.

According to Victor Yeimo as the International Spokesperson of KNPB, this rally is carried out to show the Indonesia and also international that the people of West Papua want to self determination thought the referendum as the final and democratic solution. "We want to show to the Indonesia and international community that we are not a handful of people who want independence. All people of West Papua want to be free".

Mako Tabuni as the vice chairman has read the petition and invites the people of West Papua to unite and support the law process which is being driven at the International. Benny Wenda as the West Papuan leader in London also has spoken directly from London via mobile in from of the thousands people of West Papua.

This peaceful demonstration ended at 5:00 P.M. The KNPB also invite the people of West Papua to join in the next demonstration that will be held in whole West Papua.Thousands of the people of West Papua coordinated by the West Papua National Committee are rally to demand referendum to be held in West Papua. The demo was to commemorate the illegal occupation by Indonesia in West Papua in May 1, 1961. They also give full mandate to the government of Vanuatu, International Lawyers for West Papua ILWP) and International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) to bring the political statue of West Papua to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The rally was carried out from Sentani, Abepura and Jayapura. Many people came from every regents, town and city, many others from Student, victims and the perpetrators of Pepera 1969 (the illegal act of Free choice). The streets along the city of Abe, Jayapura and Sentani standstill. No activities.

At the Lingkaran Abe, the central of city in Abepura the masses sit down and they also made orations alternately and sign joint petition.

According to Victor Yeimo as the International Spokesperson of KNPB, this rally is carried out to show the Indonesia and also international that the people of West Papua want to self determination thought the referendum as the final and democratic solution. "We want to show to the Indonesia and international community that we are not a handful of people who want independence. All people of West Papua want to be free".

May 2, 2011

Jayapura, Mako Tabuni as the vice chairman has read the petition and invites the people of West Papua to unite and support the law process which is being driven at the International. Benny Wenda as the West Papuan leader in London also has spoken directly from London via mobile in from of the thousands people of West Papua.

This peaceful demonstration ended at 5:00 P.M. The KNPB also invite the people of West Papua to join in the next demonstration that will be held in whole West Papua.

For further info contact at: +6282198854369

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

AWPA update. April 2011

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

PO Box 28, Spit Junction, NSW 2088


AWPA update. April 2011

A snapshot of events in West Papua during April

Activists arrested
Six activists from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested by police in Wamena on the 30 April. They were arrested while they were distributing leaflets regarding demonstrations to be held on the 2 May. It is 48 years since the administration of West Papua was handed over by UNTEA (the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority) to Indonesian and still West Papuans are being arrested because they are peacefully demonstrating against Indonesian rule. According to Victor Yeimo, international spokesperson for KNPB, the names of the activists arrested are Baroy Sambom (24), Etus Wandik (29), Victor Kepno (19), Yarimi Yare (10), Agustinus Mabel (20), Tohmas Loho (21). "We got information directly from Simion Dabi as chairman of KNPB in Wamena that the six man still questioned by Indonesian Police in Wamena. We are disappointed that Indonesian Police is still close the room democracy in Wamena", said Victor. The situation will need to be monitored in the next few days and people will need to respond to any urgent actions received if the security forces crack down on any demonstrations that are held.
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Incident in Dogiyai district

Two civilians where killed in an incident in Dogiyai district over what the police claim was a raid on an illegal gambling den although officials from the Kingmi Church said there was never any raid. They claim officers shook down two people for money, one of whom, Dominikus Auwe, who was selling tickets for togel , a popular lottery-like game. Amnesty International released a statement about the incident which can be found at
http://www.amnesty.name/en/library/asset/ASA21/010/2011/en/d813c90f-ba6a-4f5b-a00d-670678f0c6f2/asa210102011en.html
Tapol also received a report about the incident (below)

Serious situation in Dogiyai district following shooting dead of 2 people
From Tapol
Translation of a report received today, 20 April from a reliable source in West Papua.
PRESENT SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF DOGIYAI FOLLOWING THE BLOODY TRAGEDY
People living in the district of Dogiyai have been leaving their homes, following the bloody tragedy that occurred on 13 April. On 13 and 14 April, troops from the Indonesian Army and the Police killed two civilians, Dominikus Auwe and Alosius Waine. Joint forces of the army and the police then conducted searches in several kampungs in the district. A number of homes, gardens and lifestock were flattened and killed. According to information received from the area.on 15 April, ten homes were flattened and people's lifestock were destroyed. 'We are not able to say how many people may have died in the aftermath of this incident, or how may lifestock were killed. The district capital is now deserted,' said a source. The number of heavily-armed troops has been increasing, having been brought in from the neighbouring districts of Deiyai, Nabire, Paniai and Timika. Convoys of troops are continually arriving in Moanemani, going back and forth, with army and police troops carrying out searches in a number of kampungs. The capital town of Dogiyai district and several other districts are quite deserted. The people in these districts are suffering from severe food shortages and disease, while some may well have died. Here are some examples: An eight-year old boy, Detianus Goo with his mother fled into hiding, and on 15 April, the child died. In addition, a forty-year old woman, Rosia Goo left her home in Mauwa for Udekebo to seek a place of sanctury but died there on the following day.
This is a brief report about the current situation in the district of Dogiyai, sent by Selfius Bobii,chairman of te Pepera Front.
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Freeport car crash duo died in fire, police claim

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura 04/11/2011
The funeral for two employees of mining giant PT Freeport took place Sunday while a police report said the two died in a fire. Daniel Mansawan was buried in Timika on Sunday while Harry Siregar’s remains were flown to Jakarta for burial. The two, who were security officials in the company, were found dead Thursday night in their burned-out car at the mile 37 marker of the Tanggul Timur road near Nayaro village. The car itself had bullet holes, raising speculation that the men were shot dead. However, police say autopsy results proved otherwise. “The results of the autopsy conducted by our forensics team show that the cause of death was fire,” Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono wrote in a text massage to The Jakarta Post. Although the cause of death was confirmed to have been the fire,
Wachyono said police would continue to investigate the discovery of the bullet holes in the car and a shooting incident that occurred the day before. Abdul Simanjuntak and Agus Patah, both also Freeport employees, were fired upon on Wednesday while driving. They were not hit, but were injured by shards of glass from the windscreen.
Military authorities in the province said they were helping the police conduct sweeping raids to search for the shooter. “We have been continuously involved in security operations,” Mimika military commander Bonni Christian Pardede was quoted as saying by Antara news agency. He denied suggestions that the military and police were not serious about providing security for employees of Freeport or its subcontractors. Freeport employees had staged a rally outside the Mimika legislative council building following the two incidents.“We are serious. We never assume duties in a not-serious manner. We all want security. No one wants such incidents happening,” he said.He said guaranteeing security for Freeport employees and Mimika residents in general was a shared responsibility.

“There is a need for better cooperation all sides, including the company and the government, if we are realize that the company and employees are state assets,” he said. Local leaders and councilors were also criticized by protesters, who on Saturday staged a rally for their two dead colleagues. They said they believed the two men were killed before their car was set on fire. The death of Daniel and Harry was an inhumane act because they were killed and then burnt like animals,” a protester said. “The government and the council do not seem concerned about the case while they live on royalties and employees’ taxes.” They voiced their disappointment at the treatment they received from councilors following a rally on Friday, in which no council members met with them. Freeport spokesman Ramdani Sirait said the company hoped the incidents would not distract employees. “The workers’ union instructed employees to return to work and to leave the case to the authorities to investigate the security disturbances,” Ramdani said.
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Latest Papua killing reflect pattern, says anthropologist

RNZI April, 2011
An anthropologist who has conducted extensive research on deadly incidents around Papua’s Grasberg gold and copper mine says the latest shootings near the mine must be seen within a history of impunity. Reports from Indonesia say that unidentified gunmen killed two workers at Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold Inc’s giant gold mine in Papua province yesterday. The mine has been a frequent source of friction because of its environmental impact, the share of revenue going to local Papuans and the legality of payments to security forces who guard the site. Eben Kirksey of the City University of New York says there’s a history of shootings at Freeport. “In 2002 there were American schoolteachers killed. A few years back you had an Australian national killed as well as number of Indonesian citizens who were in the area of the Freeport mine. And in all these cases, the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds behind the attacks to justice. In the 2002 killing, there’s very clear evidence that those masterminds are Indonesian intelligence agents.” Eben Kirksey

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Komnas HAM report on 2003 arms dump assault
(From Tapol) JUBI, 5 April 2011
Assault on arms dump in Wamena was a manipulation, says Komnas HAM member
The deputy chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Papua branch Matius Murib, has told the press that the solution to the assault on the arms dump of the Wamena district military command on 4 April 2003 now depends on the state and the attorney-general's office. 'The Komnas HAM, as a state institution, has completed its task of conducting a /pro justicia/ investigation and has delivered its evidence and associated data to the attorney-general. But the attorney-general has responded, saying that the evidence is not strong enough,' he said. 'Our job is finished and we cant do anything more on the matter,' he told JUBI. The /pro justicia/ report recorded that nine people were murdered, 38 people from 25 kampungs were forcibly evicted, 42 people died from starvation and fifteen others were treated unjustly.

With the Konmas HAM having done its work, it now depends on the goodwill of the state and the attorney-general's office to solve the case. In his opinion, this would mean bringing the case before the judiciary, and in this case, this would mean submitting it to the human rights court because, he said, ' this was a case of gross violation of human rights which must be heard before the human rights court.' He went on to explain that this was not a case involving any bloodshed. It should be regarded as something that was deliberately manipulated. 'I was at the location at the time,' he said. 'Just imagine, the arms dump is in the centre of town, yet even so an assault took place. This can only have been a deliberate manipulation,' he said. He also referred to the Wamena Tragedy of 6 October 2000 which resulted in many casualties and much spilling of blood. 'Many ordinary were tortured. This was also a case of serious human rights violations,' he said.

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MSG facing credibility test over West Papua issue
RNZI 07 April, 2011
The Papua Peace Network says the credibility of the Melanesian Spearhead Group will be tested by its decision to grant Indonesia observer status. The move has met with disapproval by many Papuan advocate groups who say West Papuans should have their own seat at the MSG. But the Network’s co-ordinator, Pastor Neles Tebay, says that the move could be a positive step if it helps facilitate a peaceful solution to the West Papua conflict. He says Melanesian peoples want the MSG leaders to rise to the challenge of addressing the West Papua issue. “The West Papuans know much about the MSG and they expect that the MSG will say something about the West Papua conflict. if West Papua is given the status of observer, the people will be glad. But if not, then the MSG should say something about how to settle the West Papua conflict.” Neles Tebay.

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Former chair of Papua People’s Assembly , Alua dies.
RNZI April, 2011
A veteran West Papuan leader, the former chairman of the Papua People’s Assemblyin Indonesia, Agus Alue Alua has died in a Jayapura hospital.
Local media is reporting that Alua is understood to have collapsed suddenly yesterday and was rushed to Dian Harapan Hospital in Papua’s provincial capital where he was dead on arrival. The cause of death is not yet known. The late Agus Alua served as chairman of the MRP during its first term which recently ended. He is credited with having introduced policies such as the decree that Papua’s regional head and deputy must be indigenous Papuans. He is survived by his wife and three children.

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German firm to invest $900m in West Papua
Linda Yulisman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/18/2011 10:00 PM | Business
German engineering firm Ferrostaal AG announced plans to build a petrochemical plant in West Papua at a cost of US$900 million, a senior company executive says.
“The investment is about $900 million but it can change depending on the project and everything needed, including the gas supply,” Ferrostaal petrochemical division senior executive manager Soenke Gloede said after a breakfast meeting with a forum of industrial gas users in Jakarta hosted by the Industry Ministry on Friday. Gloede said his firm planned to procure gas for the plant from the Tangguh LNG plant to support the operation of the plant, which would produce methanol and dimethyl ether (DME). Gloede said he expected his company to complete all planning and preparation in the next one or two years and start construction in 2013. The plant, set to commence operations in 2016, would produce around 1 million tons of methanol and up to 200,000 tons of DME annually. He said the methanol will be sold both domestically and exported, while the DME, which can be used as an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), would be sold on the domestic market. Industry Minister MS Hidayat said the operation of the petrochemical plant was feasible because it could receive supplies of gas from the Tangguh field.

The Tangguh LNG plant in Papua, along with the Arun plant in Aceh and the Bontang plant in East Kalimantan, are the largest contributors to the country’s LNG production. “It is very possible to develop a petrochemical industry there. Papua is also a site where we want to develop an oil and gas-based industrial cluster,” he said. Hidayat said he would discuss Ferrostaal’s investment plans with the President and Cabinet ministers in Bogor, West Java, on April 18-19. Earlier this year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa and National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana launched an economic master plan to grow the economy by 7 to 8 percent per year from 2013 to 2025. The plan covers the development of six economic corridors throughout the archipelago: Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, and the Papua and Maluku corridors. Economic growth in the Papua and Maluku corridor is targeted to increase six-fold by 2030. However, this would require infrastructure, such as a trans-Papua highway, including to Merauke, Jayapura and Merauke ports, and the coal-fired power plant in Urumka.

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Komnas HAM on Lack of commitment to solve human rights issues in Papua
(from Tapol ) JUBI, 8 April 2011
The deputy chairman of the Papuan branch of Komnas HAM, the National Human Rights Commission, Mathius Murib, has accused the regional authorities of lack of commitment to solve human rights violations in West Papua. He said that the local government had failed to enact a regional regulation known as Perda regarding human rights . Komnas HAM has already prepared the draft of a Perda but the provincial governor and the provincial legislative assembly have as yet failed to enact it as a regulation. He cited as examples of the government's lack of commitment the fact that the Wasior case in 2001 and the Wamena case in 2003 were still unresolved although Komnas HAM had carried out pro justicia investigations of these cases and had reached the conclusion that both were cases of gross human rights violations. However, the attorney-general's office had a different opinion about the cases.
Murib made three recommendations that the victims might consider in order to bring such cases to a resolution. They could find ways to use legal mechanisms within the Indonesian judiciary, adding that it might be possible to bring these cases before an international mechanism. A second possibility was for the provincial government to enact the Perda regulation as drafted by Komnas HAM. The third possibility was for Komnas HAM to become a regional human rights commission under the framework of the special autonomy law within the powers of authority of the governor of the province of Papua.


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RI, Australian navies to strengthen cooperation
Mon, April 18 2011
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian navy (TNI-AL) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education, exercises and sea border security. "As has been known a lot of illegal activities still continue to happen on the two countries` border such as illegal fishing, smuggling and territorial violations," TNI-AL spokesman Commodore Tri Prasodjo said after attending a meeting between the Australian Fleet commander Vice Admiral Steve Gilmore and TNI-AL`s deputy chief of staff Vice Admiral Marsetio here on Monday.
He said the high rate of illegal activities in the Indonesian eastern region and on the border between Indonesia and Australia had made the two countries to develop constructive cooperation in various fields such as joint patrols, exchange of officers and joint exercises. "Although political relations between the two countries ebb and flow the military relations so far especially between the two navies have gone well and continued to increase," he said. To maintain and increase the capability and professionalism of navy soldiers the two countries` navies have conducted a joint exercise code-named "Cassowary Exercise" routinely so far. "We continue conducting and increasing joint exercises including with the Australian navy based upon mutual respect and trust," he said. (T.R018/H-YH/HAJM/A014) Editor: Priyambodo RH


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Press releases/reports etc.

US Department of State 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/index.htm
2010 Human Rights Report: Indonesia

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eap/154385.htm

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Fiji's military ruler uses Melanesian Spearhead Group to end pariah status

Co-operation among Pacific islands will be tested by Frank Bainimarama's leadership of the group. Johnny Blades Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 26 April 2011
There aren't many international summits where the leaders sit down to a round of sedatives before settling into formal talks. But getting together around the kava bowl in laid-back Pacific style is their way of reaching consensus………………………..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/26/melanesia-fiji-frank-bainimarama-blades



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Two new DTE publications & DTE newsletter 88
Two new publications from DTE are now available on our website:
Plantations and Poverty: Notes from a village deep in oil palm territory, by Betty Tiominar, English translation and editing by Carolyn Marr, April 2011. Available in English and Indonesian.
Tangguh, BP and International Standards. An analysis of the commitments made by BP in relation to BP Tangguh in West Papua and their social and environmental responsibilities, by Andrew Hickman and Paul Barber, edited by Carolyn Marr, April 2011.
Our latest newsletter, DTE 88, is also now available online. Download the complete PDF newsletter or click on individual articles:

DTE 88, April 2011
Oil palm plantations:
100 years of oil palm
New DTE book: plantations and poverty
Agrofuels in Indonesia
Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil to speed up plantation development
Climate justice:
RRI Dialogue on Forests, Governance and Climate Change
The local-global (dis)connection
Papua / Tangguh:
Holding BP to account: new publication
DTE activities update


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Papuan lawmaker wants police chief fired after two people shot dead

Pacific Scoop: Report By Banjir Ambarita in Jayapura
A Papuan legislator has called for the firing of the provincial police chief following two people being shot dead in Dogyai district in Indonesian-ruled West Papua this week. Ruben Magai, a Democratic Party lawmaker at the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD), said on Friday that the Papua police chief should be held accountable for his men opening fire on civilians with live rounds on Wednesday………………………
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/04/papuan-lawmaker-wants-police-chief-fired-after-two-people-shot-dead/


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(The below opinion piece is of great concern. In it states that “MIFEE will require an estimate of four permanent laborers per hectare. This means more than 4.8 million external workers will be needed”. Already West Papuans are in danger of being a minority) .

Mifee must benefit indigenous Papuans, everyone
Norman Jiwan, Jakarta | Sat, 04/30/2011 8:00 AM | Opinion
The Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) program is very strategic in terms of the nation’s food security and energy programs. The program is expected to produce 1.95 million tons of rice, 937,000 tons of corn, 167,000 million tons of beans, 64,000 cows, 2.5 million tons of sugar and 937,000 tons of crude palm oil (CPO) every year. However, to make that happen MIFEE needs greater support from both investors and the local gov-ernment. According to the Merauke Investment Promotion Board, in May 2010 principal permits to cultivate more than 2 million hectares of land areas were awarded to 36 domestic and foreign private companies. Recently, the Agriculture Ministry reported that there were 40 investors who were awarded permits in Merauke………………………………………….
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/04/30/mifee-must-benefit-indigenous-papuans-everyone.html