National Police Chief Says Softer Touch is Needed in Papua

Local police, military and government officials are developing a culturally-sensitive approach to addressing violence and unrest in Papua, the National Police said on Tuesday.

National Police Chief, Gen. Timur Pradopo

National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo did not elaborate on the details of this new approach, but said that he hoped it could solve the province’s “Security problem.”

The programs will urge Papua residents not to violate each others’ rights and will instill a belief in “the right of the state,” Timur said.

Timur cited recent reports that 11 members of a pro-independence militia operating in Serui, Papua, laid down their arms and expressed their support for Indonesia.

“In Serui, 11 people gave themselves up and unarmed themselves. And after the hard work of police and the local community, 11 people claimed to support [Indonesia],” Timur said.

A similar approach could be taken to address tribal conflicts like the recent clashes in Timika, the police chief said.

“About tribal issues, we need more involvement from the local government that is based on traditions. Then military, police and the local government can manage to solve the problems they are faced with,” said Timur Pradopo.

Source: ANTARA News

Police shot in Freeport area

A Papua Police Mobile Brigade officer, First Brig. Mujahidin, was shot on Saturday in Timika regency, Papua.

The shooting took place at Mile 43, where United States-based mining company PT Freeport Indonesia operates.

The victim was shot in his right leg.

Source: ANTARA News

Papuan students to participate YES program in the U.S.

A student coming from Sorong, West Papua province, has become one of 21 students from Indonesia to participate in the student exchange program entitled Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) in the United States from August 2012 – July 2013.

“It is great, I did not expect to go to America. From several tests conducted in Makassar (South Sulawesi), I was the sole participant from West Papua, while others were from Papua, Makassar, Mataram, and Maluku,” Ilonka Amaia, a high school student of SMAN 1 Sorong, West Papua, said here Friday.

She was talking on the sidelines of the welcoming event for the 21 student participants of the YES program held by U.S. Consul General in Surabaya Kristen F Bauer. The event was also attended by the coordinator of NGO Bina Antarbudaya, Nisa Permatasari.

“I am ready to introduce some Papuan culture to American students and the public. I will demonstrate the traditional dance Yospan and also a small traditional musical instrument, the tifa. I will also take Papua traditional clothing, including chest and woven grass cloths,” the second grade students said.

In welcoming the students, the U.S. Consul General in Surabaya, Kristen F. Bauer, expected the students might take the opportunity to explore the experience, as much as possible, during their studies and spend a year in America.

“Coming home from America, you can share the experiences with fellow students and the Indonesian community. If you see something good in there, such as environmental projects, then you can practice them here. ” she said.

Similarly, the spokesman of U.S. Consul General in Surabaya, Emily Y Norris, added that the special program of high school students and the schools started in 2003 was intended to allow Americans to learn about Indonesia directly from Indonesians, which is a Muslim-majority country.

“By contrast, Indonesians can teach Americans so that eventually each other can understand and work together. Right now there are five to six 6 American students who are studying here,” she said.

Source: ANTARA News

Govt trying to Bring Papua in Harmony with Unitary State of Indonesia

The situation in Jayapura city, in particular, and Papua Province, in general, seems to be peaceful, after being hit by random shooting incidents committed by unknown people.

Police personnel and military troops, however, are still stationed at several spots in Jayapura.

The security situation was quite worrying last weekend following the death of Mako Tabuni, one of the coordinators of the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB). Some mourners went on a crime spree, burning shops, cars and other motor vehicles, as well as torturing people in Waena, Jayapura.

Tabuni died after being shot by police, who were trying to arrest him for his alleged involvement in recent shooting incidents in Jayapura and surrounding areas.

In response to a series of shooting incidents and violence in Papua, the Indonesian government has reiterated its commitment to pursuing an approach of focusing on the welfare of the community, instead of a military approach, to deal with problems in the country`s eastern most province.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, reaffirmed the non-military approach when meeting with community and religious leaders and members of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) and the Papuan People Assembly (MRP) in Jayapura, the capital of Papua, on June 18.

He stated that the government hoped to “bring Papua into harmony with the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI)”.

“Until now, the approach used is welfare and not military, because a military approach is only useful for dealing with crimes,” Djoko said.

Minister Djoko began a working visit to Papua on Monday (June 18), along with Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Admiral Agus Suhartono, National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo and Chief of National Intelligence Agency Marciano Norman.

On Tuesday afternoon (June 19), he was scheduled to travel to Timika, Mimika District, where the US copper and gold mining company PT Freeport, often a target of sporadic shootings, is located.

Papua has been given a special autonomy status, but the implementation of the development programs have not yet met public expectations, although the government set up the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit (UP4B) in 2012 to boost developments on the Papua island.

Velix Wanggai, a presidential special staff member in charge of regional development and autonomy, said in a press statement in Jakarta on Sunday (June 17) that the government remains committed to developing Papua into a land of peace, as declared by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004.

President Yudhoyono is pursuing peaceful approaches and dialogs to solve the problems in Papua, according to Velix.

The government has a comprehensive design consisting of five points on Papua, including affirming Indonesia`s unitary state while respecting Papua`s diversity and uniqueness; optimizing Papua’s status as a special autonomous region; pursuing affirmative policies to recognize the basic rights of Papua people, such as access to education; designing strategies, policies, funding and programs to promote development and empower the Papua people; and promoting human rights as well as preventing violence.

Before leaving for the G20 Summit in Mexico last week, Yudhoyono asked Minister Djoko to examine the cause of problems in Papua that have led to a number of recent violent incidents in the region.

With regard to cases linked to separatism, he said, they were against the law and would be dealt with according to the law. Yudhoyono added that the law of the country also applied to Papua and there was no discrimination involved.

He told his ministers that although security disruptions in Papua could be categorized as small-scale incidents, the government would not ignore the loss of lives and take action immediately.

Over the last several months, Indonesia`s easternmost province of Papua has seen random shootings in various locations. The latest shooting incident occurred at the University of Cendrawasih`s campus on Sunday evening (June 10).

On June 5, unidentified people shot three people, identified as Iqbal Rifai, aged 22, a resident of Hamadi Pasar; Hardi Jayanto, aged 22, a resident of Klolfkam; and First Private Frangki Kune, aged 25, resident of the Waena Combat Engineering Corps station.

Arwan, a civil servant of the XXVII Cenderawasih Military Regional Command Headquarters, was shot by unknown gunman and later died while being treated for his wound at a local hospital on June 6.

On May 29, 2012, German national Pieter Dietmar Helmut (55) was shot at the Base G beach in Jayapura. Several days later, the wounded German tourist was evacuated to a Singapore hospital.

Minister Djoko condemned the recent shootings of civilians, foreigners, military and police personnel in Papua. “The acts were against the efforts aimed at creating peace in Papua and accelerating development programs in the region,” he told the press.

“The security personnel are investigating and studying the case. Such violence must be stopped. The local police and TNI must find the perpetrators,” the minister said.

During a hearing with the Parliament on Monday, Marciano Norman, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Indonesia`s intelligence agency, said that a separatist group called the Free Papua Movement (OPM) was behind the recent shootings in Papua.

In order to stop shooting incidents, the Indonesian Papuan University Students Movement (GMPI) has requested that local police again compile an inventory of gun ownership by civilians in Indonesia`s eastern most province of Papua.

Further, security authorities must address security problems by establishing an inventory of firearms ownership in Papua, GMPI Chairman Habelino S Sawaki said in Jayapura recently.

Sawaki said he believed that guns had been smuggled into Papua over the Papua and Papua New Guinea border. The border stretches some 800 km and is guarded by four battalions of soldiers.

“With only four battalions guarding the border, it`s easy to smuggle in guns,” Habelino said.

He urged the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police to deal with shooting incidents in order to create peace in Papua. He also asked the Papuan people to help security officers maintain security and peace.

Source: ANTARA News

Govt to continue welfare approach to deal with Papua problems

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has continued implementing a welfare approach to deal with the problems in Papua, according to chief security minister Djoko Suyanto.

“Until now the approach used is welfare and not military, because a military approach is only useful for dealing with crimes,” Djoko said at a meeting with community and religious leaders and members of the Papuan legislative assembly (DPRP) and the Papuan People Council (MRP) here on Monday (18/06).

He stated that he had come to Papua not because of the recent violent incidents, but because of his duty to learn about what happened in the region.

“Indeed it is not easy to unite the views of different parties, but the most important thing is how to unite Papua peacefully so that the province could catch up with other regions,” Djoko noted.

He added that the government hoped to “bring Papua in harmony with the Unitary State of Indonesia”.

Regarding the implementation of special autonomy in Papua, Djoko said the program had not yet been able to meet public expectations.

In view of that, he added, the implementation of the program would continue to be evaluated, which had led to the issuance of Presidential Instruction Number 5 of 2005 and the establishment of the UP4B (Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit) in 2011.

The meeting was also attended by defense forces (TNI) commander Admiral Agus Suhartono, National Police chief General Timur Pradopo, and National Intelligence Agency chief Marciano Norman.

Source: ANTARA News

Govt has comprehensive design on Papua

The government remains committed to developing Papua into a land of peace as declared by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004.

President Yudhoyono is pursuing peaceful and dignified approaches and dialogs to solve the problems in Papua, Velix Wanggai, a presidential special staff in charge of regional development and autonomy, said in a press statement here Sunday (17/06).

The head of state always reminded ministers, police and military chiefs to manage Papua with conscience, and not to think “business as usual”. They must make a breakthrough and think outside the box in handling Papua.

Since President Yudhoyono was reappointed as the president for the second term in October 2009, the government has been committed to solving problems in Papua.

The government has a comprehensive design consisting of five points on Papua, namely affirming Indonesia`s unitary state while respecting Papua`s diversity and uniqueness; optimizing the Papua status as a special autonomous region; pursuing affirmative policies to recognize the basic rights of Papua people such as access to education; designing strategies, policies, fundings and programs to promote development and empower the Papua people; and promoting the human rights as well as preventing violence.

Source: ANTARA News

Police Chief: Mako Tabuni Was Shot for Resisting Arrest, Seizing Police Gun.

Indonesian Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said efforts to capture Mako Tabuni had resulted from information derived from three previous arrests.

Mako was suspected of being one of the perpetrators of a string of mysterious shootings in Papua since May 22. However, police attempts to capture [him] at 9 a.m. was not fruitful.

“Prior to the capture, a conversation took place. Then the gun of a police officer was seized, so other police members protected [the officer],” said Timur in his press statement at the State Palace on June 14, 2012.

Because Mako was threatening officers with a gun, the officers in the field had to disarm him and as a result, he was shot. “He seized a gun, so we had to disarm him. A handgun with 18 bullets was found on his body,” said Timur.

This happened in the wake of the incident in which motorcycles, cars and houses were set on fire.

However, the Cenderawasih Military Command (Kodam) put the situation under control. “I call upon the people to remain calm. The situation in Jayapura and its vicinities had been put under control by the local police aided by Kodam and the intelligence,” said the former police chief of Jakarta.

Source: Tempointeraktif

Minister says there are no political detainees in Papua

Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsudin said Wednesday (13/06) that the Indonesian government had never detained any Papuans, as well as other citizens elsewhere, without clear and honest legal procedures.

“We have never detained anybody for expressing his/her freedom of speech as has been accused by some parties,” he said.

He continued that the people, who had been under detention, including those in Papua, were those who had obviously violated Indonesia’s laws.

“Therefore, it’s misleading to address them as political detainees,” Syamsudin told reporters on the sidelines of a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights.

The minister’s was responding to lawmakers’ questions on the escalating violence in Papua.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Time to End Papua’s Security Problems

A recent string of shooting incidents points to a serious security problem in Papua, but the root of the problem is more complex than a group of people trying to gain independence from the Indonesian government.

Other factors such as dissatisfaction with the distribution of profits from Papua’s natural resources, resentment toward the government, efforts to internationalize the conflict and local politics related to regional elections also play a role.

Such complexities have rendered the government ‘helpless’ to overcome the multitude of challenges in the region. The most recent shooting incident in Jayapura and Wamena claimed the lives of two civilians and 43 people have died in shooting incidents since 2009, including security officers.

The government should immediately take action. Violence not only claims lives, it disrupts the daily activities of the local people and government.

As a result of the recent shootings, economic activities have been crippled. Stores and markets in Jayapura and Abepura have been forced to close early. Prior to that, regional head elections were already suspended due to riots in Tolikora regency.

Eradicating acts of terror is not an easy task. The police are concerned because perpetrators mingle with civilians.

The police also often hesitate to take action because they fear being accused of committing human rights violations.

If necessary, the central government should dispatch a counter-terror team to curb the violence. Arresting perpetrators has nothing to do with human rights violations and therefore the police should not hesitate in applying austere measures.

Only through firm actions can peace and civil order be restored.

Source: Tempointeraktif

TNI Commander Admit Soldiers’ Overreaction in Papua

TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono

TNI commander Admiral Agus Suhartono admitted on Tuesday (12/06) that security officers had overreacted with their handling of the security situation in Papua, where violence has escalated for the past couple of weeks.

Admiral Suhartono referred to the alleged attack of a village in Wamena, Papua by a group of TNI soldiers. It was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of a fellow soldier by an angry mob after he and another soldier, critically wounded, almost hit a child while riding a motorcycle through the village.

“We should take lessons from this situation. They [TNI soldiers] shouldn’t have overreacted. But we must also understand the emotional states of the soldiers,” Admiral Suhartono told reporters after the Cabinet meeting at the presidential office.

“We don’t want other overreactions by the TNI there because we don’t want any human rights abuses,” he added.

TNI burned Papuan’s houses down in Wamena

Admiral Suhartono said the TNI had made an agreement with residents of Honai Lama village to build tents as temporary shelters for some villagers who lost their houses which were burned down by TNI soldiers.

“We’ve also agreed to question TNI members that overreacted, and agreed that police should at the same time investigate murders of TNI soldiers. Investigations must be run both ways,” he said.

A number of shooting incidents have occurred in several locations in Papua in the past few months. But, no one has been arrested for the attacks.

State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Marciano Norman has accused the Free Papua Organization (OPM) was behind the shootings.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a thorough investigation into the incidents and would dispatch the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Djoko Suyanto to Papua to monitor the situation.(*wpnn)