OPM Admits Shooting TNI Member in Papua

The Supreme Commander of the West Papua National Liberation Army (WPNLA), Gen. Goliath Tabuni, claimed he was responsible for the shooting in the Papuan district of Illu on Tuesday, June 25. Two people were killed in the shooting, a TNI infantry lieutenant named I Wayan Sukarta and a civilian named Tomo.

“The shooting was done my members under my command,” Tabuni said as reported by the West Papua National Liberation Army media, Thursday, June 27.

In the report, Tabuni also said that the civilian they killed–reported by local media as a taxi driver–was actually a military intelligence of the TNI 753.

Tabuni further said that the Liberation Army is ready to fight against the military. He also asked Indonesia’s security officers–the TNI and the police, not to use civilians as the targets of their emotional outlet.

“If want to pursuit my members, just look for me and my members only,” he said.

Papua Police spokesman, Comm. I Gede Sumerta Jaya, said the motive of the shooting was to disrupt the distribution of basic goods to Illu District.

Sumerta asserted that the police will do something about what happened and will form a special team to investigate the shooting. “It was a criminal act and the offenders will be pursued,” he firmly stated.

Source: Tempo.co

USS Blue Ridge Visits Jakarta

The United States 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and Vice Admiral Scott H. Swift, commander, United States 7th Fleet, arrived on June 14 for a visit to Jakarta. Vice Admiral Swift met with US Ambassador Scot Marciel and with the Chief of Indonesian Navy Admiral Marsetio and hosted a reception aboard the Bule Ridge.

The USS Blue Ridge and embarked 7th Fleet staff are visiting Jakarta is support of building maritime partnerships with the Indonesian Navy and conducting security and stability operations.

While in port, the U.S. 7th Fleet Pacific Navy Band performed at @america in Pacific Place Mall, and the command soccer and volleyball teams played friendly matches against their Indonesian navy counterparts.

For 33 years, the USS Blue Ridge has maintained a presence in the Pacific, strengthening allied ties through community service projects and conducting joint military exercises with regional nations.

Source: The US Embassy in Jakarta – Indonesia

US Ambassador joins opening of US – Indonesia military exercise

The US Ambassador Scot Marciel joined Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, Deputy Commander for the Army National Guard, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) Maj. Gen. Daniel Ambat, Kostrad Division 1 Commander, for the opening of the Garuda Shield exercise (GS) in Cilodong, Indonesia on June 10.

Garuda Shield is an annual Army-to-Army interoperability exercise. It is focused on building stronger relationships, sharing techniques, tactics and procedures, and building operational familiarity.

The exercise consists of four parts including a combined tactical operations center and staff process, computer planning exercise, intensive field exercise portion, and a combined airborne operation with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. This is the 7th iteration of the Garuda Shield exercise which is scheduled to conclude on June 21 at Kostrad Division 1 Headquarters.

The Garuda Shield exercise is the centerpiece of a series of exercises that are building greater cooperation under the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. This year’s Garuda Shield is the 7th iteration of the exercise and represents the largest and most complex bilateral event ever conducted between the United States and Indonesian Armies.

United States forces also participated Gema Bhakti combined Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief staff exercise at the International Peace and Security Center in Sentul, Indonesia from June 6-10. The Gema Bhakti exercise brought together forces from U.S. Army Pacific Command, U.S. Navy and Air Force to work side-by-side personnel from the TNI to create response planning to assist Indonesia in responding more efficiently to a natural disaster.

Experts in various disaster relief fields discussed issues, emergency responders and support services, face during an emergency and provided insights which allowed roughly 100 participants from both militaries to brain storm ideas to support national and strategic level decision making processes.

As a further compliment to the Garuda Shield and Gema Bhakti exercises, Indonesia and the United States also conducted a Disaster Response Exercise & Exchange entitled Pacific Resilience. Pacific Resilience, held from June 3-6 at the Indonesia Peace & Security Center in Sentul brought together USARPAC, TNI, Indonesian disaster response agencies, and U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). During the course of the exercise, over 150 participants gathered to focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The exercise was designed to simulate the response to an earthquake and tsunami impacting the area of Padang in western Sumatra.

Source: The US Embassy in Jakarta – Indonesia

Indonesia to campaign on Papua progress in regional forum

The Indonesian government has invited foreign ministers from Melanesian nations grouped under the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to Jakarta to receive briefings on development in Papua and West Papua provinces, a move that could be seen as a campaign to obtain international support for the country’s sovereignty over its easternmost region.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said that an invitation for the event had been sent to Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

“It is true that I met the Fijian prime minister in Fiji on June 3. The topics we discussed touched mainly on bilateral relations between our two countries. At the meeting, I also extended an invitation to foreign ministers of MSG member states to come to Indonesia,” said Djoko Suyanto on Tuesday (18/06).

The MSG consists of Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, as well as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), a pro-independence group from French-ruled New Caledonia.

“We invite these foreign ministers to visit Indonesia to observe Indonesia’s development in general, which also includes the government’s policy on the acceleration of development in Papua and West Papua,” Djoko said.

He denied, however, that the invitations were aimed at countering Papuan pro-independence activists’ efforts to win support from the international community.

The senior minister said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had endorsed the plan.

On Monday (17/06), PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who led a delegation of government officials and business leaders on a three-day visit to Jakarta, said that Papua was an integral part of Indonesia.

O’Neill merely added that he was “happy to have been asked by the Indonesian government to help manage issues” in Papua and West Papua.

Source: The Jakarta Post

West Papua part of Indonesia: PNG PM

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’ Neill has reiterated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia.

O’Neill again told reporters in Jakarta, Papua New Guinea’s position has not changed.

But he says, PNG is happy to have been asked by the Indonesian government to help manage issues in Papua Province, in the areas of autonomy, cultural and economic activities.

O’ Neill says for the first time, the people of Papua Province will be encouraged to attend the Pacific Games to be held in Port Moresby, and the Melanesian Festival of Arts next year.

In related developments, the Secretary General of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation Rex Rumakiek has expressed disappointment at signs, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) will defer a decision on the West Papuan application for membership in the group.

Source: Islands Business

Melanesian Spearhead Group delays decision on West Papua membership

It has been recommended that a bid by the Free West Papua movement to join regional Pacific body the Melanesian Spearhead Group to been deferred.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) brings together the leaders of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, along with New Caledonia’s indigenous political movement FLNKS.

The Free West Papua movement is pushing for independence from Indonesia and sees membership of the MSG as a step towards international recognition.

PacNews reports foreign ministers gathered in Lifou, the capital of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands, have resolved to defer the decision until they’ve sent a delegation to Jakarta and Jayapura.

Fiji Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola

Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola told the meeting Indonesia extended the invitation earlier this month.

He says Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands take the same position when it comes to the Indonesian province of Papua.

“All MSG countries share the same view that we would like to some form of self-determination for West Papua,” he said.

Vanuatu’s foreign minister Edward Natapei says his country strongly backed the bid to have it discussed at this meeting, but was outnumbered.

“We have to comply with the majority,” he said.

The leaders will also consider whether to approve the foreign ministers’ decision to send a delegation to Jakarta and Jayapura.

Source: Australia Network News

PNG`s defense minister pays courtesy call on Indonesian counterpart

Papua New Guinea`s Defense Minister Febian Pok paid a courtesy call on his Indonesian counterpart, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, here on Tuesday (18/07).

The two ministers discussed efforts to intensify defense cooperation between Indonesia and PNG, Minister Yusgiantoro said.

“The defense cooperation, which has been implemented so far, includes joint border patrol, military official exchange visits, and training as well as exercises,” the minister said.

The two countries explored possibility to establish cooperation in the defense industry, he added.

Indonesia and PNG signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in Port Moresby, PNG, on March 12, 2010 during a state visit by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Minister Febian Pok is a member of the entourage of PNG`s Prime Minister Peter Charles Paire O`Neill who is on a visit to Indonesia.

Prime Minister O`Neill and President Yudhoyono held a bilateral meeting in Jakarta on Monday (June 17).

President Yudhoyono considered the state visit of the PNG prime minister this time very significant for developing and increasing the cooperation between the two countries following the meetings before in Honolulu and in the Bali Democracy Forum last year.

“This visit is very important not only for the two countries` bilateral relations but also for increasing and strengthening our relations and partnership. We have agreed to work more and seek more opportunities and comprehensive partnership,” he said.

Prime Minister O`Neill meanwhile said he was glad over the warn welcome that had been given to him and his delegation.

He said as close neighbors PNG and Indonesia could continue to develop their cooperation wider.

Source: ANTARA News

Indonesia, PNG agree to increase cooperation

PNG’s PM Peter O’Neill and Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Indonesia and Papua New Guinea have agreed to increase bilateral cooperation, the two countries` heads of state said ahead of their meeting here on Monday (17/06).

The bilateral meeting was part of the agenda of the current visit of Papua New Guinea`s Prime Minister Peter O`Neill to Indonesia.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono considered the state visit of the PNG prime minister this time very significant for developing and increasing the cooperation between the two countries following the meetings before in Honolulu and in the Bali Democracy Forum last year.

“This visit is very important not only for the two countries` bilateral relations but also for increasing and strengthening our relations and partnership. We have agreed to work more and seek more opportunities and comprehensive partnership,” he said.

Prime Minister O`Neill meanwhile said he was glad over the warn welcome that had been given to him and his delegation.

He said as close neighbors PNG and Indonesia could continue to develop their cooperation wider.

PM O`Neill flanked by his wife made a state visit to Indonesia after a meeting with President Yudhoyono in Bali in 2012.

The two countries` delegations are also scheduled to conduct bilateral talks and cooperation agreements would also be signed during the PNG prime minister`s visit.

Source: ANTARA News

Trade, extradition and West Papua on agenda for PNG-Indonesia talks

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says trade, border issues and an extradition treaty will be on the agenda for this weekend’s trip to Indonesia.

O’Neill says the trip will mark a historic deepening of bilateral relations between the neighboring countries.

He says trade will be a key focus, with a comprehensive partnership agreement covering economic links.

“We want to encourage further strengthening of the trade and investment opportunities between the two countries,” he said.

“[We want] to further develop the economic opportunities along the border area, and further strengthen the management of the border issues between the two countries.”

Border issues include people from Indonesia’s West Papua province seeking shelter in PNG, and ongoing reports of human rights abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua.

O’Neill says PNG’s policy is that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but he looks forward to discussing the border issues.

“We are encouraged by the invitation by the Indonesian Government, through the president, for the first time in its history asking Papua New Guinea to help in some of those issues in West Papua,” he said.

“We have taken up that invitation and we are going to positively discuss many of those issues…with the president and the Indonesian Government officials.”

O’Neill says PNG’s cabinet has agreed on an extradition treaty with Indonesia that will be discussed during the trip.

The discussion comes in the wake of the case Indonesian citizen, Joko Chandra, who fled to PNG and was made a citizen, despite it being illegal to hold dual citizenship.

O’Neill says he and Indonesia’s president have not discussed that specific case, which will be up to the courts to rule on.

“The ministerial committee’s decision is final – Joko remains a citizen of Papua New Guinea until the courts decide whether that citizenship is valid or not,” he said

“But of course if the president and the Indonesian officials bring up the issues, now the extradition issues are now going to be assigned between the two countries, we will process any of those issues, including this particular case in accordance with that treaty.”

Peter O’Neill said many ministers will be on hand to sign agreements and more than 100 business people will also join the delegation.

Source: Islands Business