Tuesday, July 28, 2015

1) Tolikara Police chief removed 10 days after incident -

2) Insight: Making Freeport  Indonesia more Indonesian - 
3) GIDI and NU Agreed to Resolve Tolikara Incident Without Outsider’s Intervention
4) Papuan Student Killed in Manado
5) Do Not Just Dwell on Tolikara Incident, Chairman of Papua Legislative Council says
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1) Tolikara Police chief removed  10 days after incident - 
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Headlines | Tue, July 28 2015, 4:41 PM - 
Tolikara Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Soeroso, has been reassigned following the recent riot, which saw angry masses burn down kiosks and a musholla (small mosque), during the Idul Fitri holiday on July. 17.

Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Albert Rudolf Rodja led the handover ceremony from Soeroso to new Tolikara Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Musa Korwa at the Papua Police headquarters in Jayapura on Monday.

Soeroso, who had been stationed at Tolikara for nine months, has been appointed as the region supervisory and operational inspector. Soeroso’s successor Musa Korwa was formerly responsible for security at giant mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.

However, Rudolf Rodja denied that the replacement of Soeroso related to the recent incident in Tolikara, saying that Soeroso had successfully maintained security in the area.

“It’s a routine replacement, nothing to do with the Tolikara incident. [Soeroso] was replaced and promoted to a new position that required an official who has previously been a police chief,” Rodja claimed.

However, National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate chief Budi Waseso said the replacement of the Tolikara Police chief was the Papua Police chief’s decision.

“I think [he] was not sacked for any reason except internal processes. Probably [the replacement] was made based on certain needs. Maybe, there were mistakes leading up to the incident,” Budi was quoted by tribunnews.com as saying at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Monday.

Meanwhile, Papua Police were continuing their investigation into the incident. Two Tolikara residents, identified only as AK, 26, and JW, 31, have been named suspects in the incident in which one crowd member was shot dead by police.

Both suspects, currently detained at Papua Police headquarters, admitted that they, along with others, threw stones during the incident.

Papua Police chief Isp. Gen. Yotje Mende said the provincial police took over the case as it was a major incident.

He said the police had examined 68 witnesses, 11 of them civilians, 31 police officers and 24 victims.

As investigations continue, local Muslim and Christian communities have reached a new peace agreement.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo hosted Tolikara religious leaders at the Presidential Palace a few days ago, in an effort to mediate and establish peace.

Leaders from various religions in many parts of the country have since released statements aimed at preventing similar conflicts in their respective areas. -
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2) Insight: Making Freeport  Indonesia more Indonesian - 
Revrisond Baswir, Yogyakarta | Insight | Tue, July 28 2015, 4:31 PM - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/28/insight-making-freeport-indonesia-more-indonesian.html#sthash.W1vXr2K5.dpuf
If we look deeper into the context of PT Freeport Indonesia’s contract amendment, it is related to the issuance of the 2009 Mining Law. The law obliges mining companies to process their mining products in this country before exporting them, but Freeport had been in operation and was bound by a contract before the law was implemented.

Talks about adjusting Freeport’s contract to bring it in line with the law have been going on for a long time. The government said an amendment to the contract needed to be made and a deadline was set for Jan. 25 this year. However, due to the transfer of power in October 2014, when President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office, the deadline was extended for six months. So, on July 25, the amendment of the contract — not the extension of the contract of work (CoW) — should have been in place.

There were points discussed as preparations were made for the amendment. They included the construction of smelters, an increase in the government’s stake from 9 to 30 percent, the use of local products in Freeport’s operations in Indonesia and issues related to work safety. 

Of those sticking points, the construction of smelters is the most crucial. Had the amendment been made, the smelters would have had to have been in place by July 25, or else no amendment could be made. In fact, even up to July 24, there was no clarity on the planned development of smelters in Gresik in East Java or in Papua.

Technically I do not know for sure what the challenges are that Freeport is facing in building the smelters. There seems to be a strong indication that Freeport does not want to amend the contract accordingly because it is already 2015 and the company’s CoW is due to expire in 2021 and any negotiations on a new contract can only begin in 2019 at the earliest. The company does not want to make an investment simply for it to be forgotten.

There is a strong impression that Freeport wants to merge its obligation to abide by the law that requires an amendment to the contract with the deadline for renegotiating the CoW. The company wants to make sure that its investment (in building a smelter) will not come to an end in 2021 before it receives a return on the investment.

As far as I can read from the government’s point of view, there is a strong desire on the part of the government to make Freeport Indonesia more Indonesian. The aforementioned points, which were proposed by the government, indicate so. This does not necessarily mean nationalization, which is commonly marked by a takeover. 

With regard to the smelter construction, for example, the government cannot just force Freeport to invest. As a business entity it has business calculations to consider with. With regard to the proposed increase in the government’s stake in the company, similarly, the government has to calculate where the money to buy the extra shares will come from and which government institution or state-owned company will conduct the purchase.

With regard to the use of domestic products in Freeport’s operations in Indonesia, the government has to be clear about which products and how to ensure the products meet Freeport’s standards. Everything has to be carefully calculated so as not to create new conflicts in the future.

If making Freeport Indonesia more Indonesian is really the target of the Jokowi administration and Freeport trusts the government that its investment will not be terminated and the CoW will be extended, I see no problem. Although the smelters have not yet been constructed, Freeport has allocated US$115 million for the smelters to show its good faith.

When talking about Freeport the key is the CoW. The questions will be what is in the contract and who drafts it. As far as we know, the extension of the contract in the past was problematic. It was signed without involving the public. As a result, we know only a little about it, no transfer of technology was stipulated, the Papuan people suffered, etc. What is happening now I think is the new government is trying to make amends for the past mistakes.

To be fair, however, few can deny that Indonesia depends on the extractive economy. We live by exploiting natural resources. Our problem with the extractive economy is that almost all the products we extract are for export, while for domestic needs we rely heavily on foreign loans, which must be paid using foreign reserves.

This is a matter of sustainability. If Freeport stops production, the company will not be the only party to suffer losses. Indonesia will also lose one of its income sources. As a consequence, we may not be able to pay our debts; the rupiah will depreciate and so on.

Forcing foreign companies to build smelters and use domestic products in their operations is fine, but it has to be supported by monetary policy in particular. Otherwise, we will be trapped in the so-called backwash effect, in which the money distributed to regions will be re-allocated to Jakarta thanks to the centralized monetary system.

In the case of Freeport, if the government is really serious about distributing the cake of development to Papua, it has to oblige Freeport to have its headquarters in Papua rather than in Jakarta. It also has to force the company to employ locals as it will automatically empower them. Locals will never be empowered unless they are trained.
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The writer is a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University’s school of economics, Yogyakarta. 

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3) GIDI and NU Agreed to Resolve Tolikara Incident Without Outsider’s Intervention
Jayapura, Jubi – President of Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI), the Rev. Dorman Wandikbo visited to Nahdatul Ulama Board Office of Province Papua to seek solution on the incident occurred at Karubaga, Tolikara on 17 July 2015. Chairman of NU Province Papua, Toni Wanggai welcomed Wandikbo during his visit.
“We come here (NU Office) to strengthen our good relation to find peace solution for GIDI members and Muslims at Tokikara after the last incident,” the Rev. Wandikbo told Jubi in the meeting held at NU Office on Monday (27/7/2015).
He came to the meeting with Chairman Kingmi Synod the Rev. Benny Giay. Inter-religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) of Province Papua also attended the meeting.
Both priests were deeply for the statement of the Chairman of NU, Toni Wanggai few times ago that stated the Tolikara incident could be resolved by Papuans, no need intervention from outsiders.
Toni Wanggai welcomed their good intention. He once again affirmed that Papuans must solve the incident in Tolikara. He hoped this problem could be immediately solved because in next two months, Muslims would do Eid prayer to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
“As far I knew the land used by Muslims to build Mushola there belongs to the Church. Then, GIDI and Tolikara Regent also donated a cow for Muslims as an apology to the circular that already passed, as well as a clarification. It indicates a good intention before the incident was occurred. So we could solve by ourselves,” Wanggai said.
The Rev. Dorman Wandikbo explained the letter of clarification issued to clarify the circular that later triggered the problem was not received by Tolikara Police Chief before 17 July that coincidence with Eid Al-Fitr. It’s happened because Tolikara Regent as Committee Chairman of GIDI Seminar must got to Panaga Village on 14 July in the morning to resolve dispute among villagers at that village.
In this meeting, both Muslim and Christian leaders were taking time to talk with Ustad Ali Muktar, Muslim leader at Karubaga, Tolikara. In the phone conversation, he admitted the current situation at Karubaga is fine. He is glad having direct conversation with President of GIDI though via telephone. He also admitted very glad because Muslims in Papua Province has met with GIDI leaders to materialize a peace among Muslims at Tolikara and local community who are GIDI members in majority.
“Yes. In the near future, after the guests from Jakarta have returned, I will come to Jayapura. I hope able to meet with President of GIDI that make the life of Muslims and Karubaga natives can be saved and comfort as before. Indeed, we can only solve this problem without intervention from other parties. Because for nine years I was here (Karubaga), the incident like yesterday was never happened, either the threat or prohibition. We used to pray, it’s just fine. We also had harmonious relation with out brothers here. When the stalls were burned, I stayed at Christian Tolikara native at Kompleks Koramil 1702-11. President of GIDI also provided me with generator. Thank you sir for the generator,” Ustad Ali Muktar thanked the President of GIDI by phone.
Ustad Ali Muktar, Toni Wanggai and the Rev. Dorman Wandikbo agreed that Muslims and GIDI members are the victims in this incident. “Muslims became victims because forbidden to worship, while GIDI members became the shooting victims by security forces. In addition both sides experienced the material losses. Both sides are victims,” said Toni Wanggai.
On this occasion, the Rev. Wandikbo said the information that GIDI prohibit other Christian dedomination to build churches in Tolikara is not true. “They should ask me about it. GIDI never prohibit other denomination to build a church in Tolikara. The fact is there are GIDI member who have problem with other denomination’s member who want to build church in Tolikara. So it’s personal problem, not the Church,” said Wandikbo.
At the end of meeting, both religious leaders agreed to hold several phases of reconciliation toward peace among Muslims and GIDI members in Tolikara. “In near future, we will meet again to discus our concrete action. Insya Allah, Muslims in Tolikara can do Eid prayer during Eid al-Adha,” Toni Wanggai said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
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4) Papuan Student Killed in Manado
Jogyakarta, Jubi – A Papuan man studying in Manado, Nius Lokobal (24), was killed by an unidentified person on last Sunday.
“The victim was stranded when founded. He was allegedly tortured before being stabbed in his right stomach. There’s a hitting mark on his forehead that might caused his death,” a Papuan student in Manado told Jubi by email on Sunday (26/7/2015).
The source said at around 01:00 Lokobal, a student |at Universitas Pembangunan Indonesia in Minahasa, Manado, North Sulawesi Province, went out of his house to buy something at a stall, but then he was found in a weak condition at the location without any light.
The local resident reportedly found him and called Malalayang Police Station. The police immediately came to the scene. Malalayang Police Chief Adjunct Police Commissionaire Jefferson Batewa told Papuan students in Manado that after receiving the resident’s report, the police were immediately came to the scene and found the victim badly
injured at around 2:30 local time.
“We took him in patrol car to the hospital but he did not make it. He died because of blooding of being stabbed on his right belly and hit his liver,” he explained.
Further he said currently the police are searching the perpetrator.
“We don’t know why the victim went out from his resident. But we assumed he was stopped and then tortured and stabbed. We are still investigating to prove it,” he explained.
Batewa further said the witness admitted not seeing anyone when he returned from the stall but the victim. Then he asked for help to people who live around the scene. When walking towards the stall, the witness saw a car and motorcycle passed the street.
‘The police couldn’t predict it since there’s a black Avanza car and a motorcycle. In addition I couldn’t recognize its plat number because it’s dark. The police are currently searching the perpetrator,” he said.
According to Malalayang Hospital, the victim Nius Lokobal was died on the way to hospital. The victim’s family has agreed for autopsy but the doctor was on Sunday off. Thus he would be autopsied on Monday (27/7/2015).
Meanwhile the Chairman of Jayawijaya Student in Manado, Agus Tabuni asked the police to immediately reveal the murderer. “The murderer of last incident was unidentified person as well. So I beg the police to immediately revel the perpetrator,” he said. (Arnold Belau/rom)
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5) Do Not Just Dwell on Tolikara Incident, Chairman of Papua Legislative Council says

Jayapura, Jubi – The speaker of the Papua Legislative Council urged officials in Jakarta not just dwell on on the Tolikara incident, but to also talk about shooting incidents that have claimed many lives in Papua.
Speaker Yunus Wonda said after the incident in Tolikara, the Indonesian Police Chief, Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Social Affairs came to the scene.
He said he hoped central government officials would treat every act of violence equally.
“I hope the central officials would come to see and find solutions to those cases. The lives of Papuans are also precious on this land. No one has the right to take their lives. Only God can. We want no more provocative comments related to the Tolikara incident. Why do they only care about that incident? Why do they not care about the Paniai case even though it’s about human lives?” Wonda said last week.
According to him, the musholla that burned in Tolikara incident could rebuild but how about Papuans whose lives were taken as shooting victims? He said Tolikara incident became a lesson to keep the harmony among inter-religious communities in Papua since decades up to now.
‘We hope people outside of Papua do not discredit Papuans because of it. Do not talk about what was happening in Tolikara without knowing the reality. Instead of burning incident, there’s also the shooting incident. We want the police to reveal the perpetrators,” he said.
Wonda said based on the information from many parties in Tolikara, the shooting incident caused a tense because people in the highland area have traumatic experience with the gun’s fire.
“There’s no intention to burn the mushola. Do not make as if it was burned intentionally. Mushola was already there even Tolikara was a sub-district,” he said. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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