Indonesia serious about advancing prosperity in Papua

The Government of Indonesia is fully aware of the problems existing in its easternmost province of Papua and has taken steps to reduce the gap and eliminate the feelings of injustice felt by the residents of the province.

The scarcely populated regions in the province do not seem to be at par with the rest of the country in terms of economic and social development, but the government is serious about advancing prosperity there.

During a joint press conference held with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the Merdeka Palace on Monday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that the government was sincere and serious about advancing prosperity in Papua.

“To the Australian Prime Minister, I say that the Indonesian policy to manage Papua is very clear, for we take the approach of welfare, justice and democracy,” the President said.

The head of state further pointed out that Papua was the region to which the highest development funds had been allocated in Indonesia, although there were local and structural problems that had to be managed well.

“Indonesia is a democratic country, and the problems in Papua are part of democracy because the region is an integral part of Indonesia. Indonesia`s sovereignty covers Papua as well,” Yudhoyono noted.

On the occasion, Yudhoyono also extended his gratitude for the Australian government`s statement regarding the country`s respect for Indonesia`s sovereignty.

“One thing is clear that Indonesia will take full responsibility to overcome the problems in Papua properly and wisely,” he went on.

Meanwhile, the Australian Prime Minister also appeased Indonesian sensitivities by taking an unusually tough line against protesters in Australia agitating for independence of the Indonesian territory of Papua.

“The government of Australia takes a very dim view… of anyone seeking to use our country as a platform for grandstanding against Indonesia. We will do everything that we possibly can to discourage this and prevent this,” Abbott said.

He also the admired Indonesian Government`s efforts to improve the autonomy and life of the people of West Papua.

The Australian Prime Minister stated that he believed that the people in West Papua could lead a better life and have a better future as an integral part of Indonesian nation.

The people of Papua were yet to enjoy the fruits of development and therefore felt isolated, Velix Wanggai, President Yudhoyono`s special aide for regional development and autonomy had said in August.

He added that the feeling of injustice with regards to economic and social gaps had been further exploited by the outlawed Free Papua Organisation (OPM), which had incited a fight for independence.

According to Wanggai, backwardness, disappointment, and dissatisfaction of the people of Papua had served as ammunition to incite resistance against the government.

However, Marinus Yaung, an international law and political observer at the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) opined that a peaceful dialogue between Papua and Jakarta was the best possible solution for the problems of Papua.

“We agree that Papua-Jakarta Dialogue will help solve the problem in Papua,” Yaung said in Jayapura recently.

He noted that the problem in Papua was not limited to economic and social development; but was a political problem that had to be solved through peaceful dialogue with Jakarta.

Meanwhile, a hearing of the People`s Assemblies of Papua`s two provinces–Papua and West Papua–at the end of July had indicated that the majority of people in Papua were in favor of a dialogue.

Therefore, the Director of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) Latifah Anum Siregar said that all stakeholders in the region should support the Papua People`s Assembly (MRP) in recommending a Papua-Jakarta dialogue immediately.

“The regional administrations of Papua and West Papua, the regional legislative assemblies, and people of the two provinces should support MRP`s recommendations,” added Siregar.

Meanwhile, Manokwari-based Institute of Research, Analysis and Development for Legal Aid (LP3BH) Director Yan Christian Warinussy had noted in August that the Papuan people had repeatedly urged Jakarta to open a peaceful, neutral and transparent dialog, facilitated by a third party in a neutral place.

Such a dialog had long been called for, but the Papua People`s Council (MRP) and West Papua People`s Council (MRPB) had only shown appreciation for the call and given their recommendations now, he said.

“Therefore, LP3BH of Manokwari, which serves as an advocate for human rights in Papua, had urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not to close the door for a proposed Papua-Jakarta dialog in 2013,” Warinussy stated.

He said the proposed dialog should be held immediately, adding there was no reason for a delay.

Warinussy further stated that so far no response or appreciation had been shown despite the offer to facilitate a dialog with a system universally acceptable by the Papua Peace Networks.

As a result of the hearings held by official institutions, such as the MRP and MRPB, Jakarta was expected to react favorably to a proposed Papua-Jakarta dialog before the general elections in 2014, he added.

“A Papua-Jakarta dialog should be held to honor the aspirations of the 99 percent majority of the Papuan people,” he pointed out.

The MRP-MRPB hearing, which evaluated the implementation of the Law on Special Autonomy in the two provinces, had issued a number of recommendations including the holding of a Papua-Jakarta Dialog.

Supporters of the move are being drawn from youth organizations in Papua for immediate implementation of the proposed dialog.

Source: ANTARA News

Aloysius Giyai: From dire poverty to dentistry

Aloysius Giyai

Being born into a very poor family in a remote village did not dampen Aloysius Giyai’s perseverance or determination to pursue a college education and build a successful career.

Five of Aloysius’ siblings died from malaria and cholera, leaving only Aloysius and two others, Damianus Giyai and Octovina Giyai. The deaths were partly due to the failures in Deiyai regency’s health service. The regency’s health services, as well as those in Paniai and Dogiyai regencies, were infamous for the high levels of malaria and cholera fatalities.

However, the husband of Agustina P. Katoar didn’t hesitate to recount his past.

“I reflect on my difficult and disadvantaged conditions as a child with appreciation because the experiences forged my strong personality and character,” said the 40-year-old dentist and master of public health.

His path in life, albeit marred by tragedy, led him to become a dentist and in 2009 he became director of Abepura Regional Hospital, Papua. Alo, as he is commonly called, attributes his success in part to a vow made by his father.

On Christmas Day in 1961, the Parish of Diyai village’s Catholic community had organized a party in the church yard to follow mass. All families were required to bring vegetables, cuscus meat, pork, sardines and instant noodles. Alo’s father, Giyaibo Raymondus Giyai, and his wife Yeimoumau Albertha Yeimo wanted their family to be involved with the event.

Giyaibo was confused with the demand for sardines and instant noodles because the family had never heard of them before; however, instead of giving up, he hunted and brought more than a dozen cuscus even though only two marsupials were needed. He also brought large quantities of vegetables and tubers.

Alo recalls the story of that Christmas day, when Giyaibo and his family left home at 5 a.m. and walked to church, which was 5 kilometers away.

After mass, the church committee examined the food brought by the families. When Giyaibo was asked where the sardines and noodles were, he remained silent until the church personnel showed him what they looked like.

“They are new to me. I didn’t know what to buy. So I brought more cuscus, vegetables and tubers,” he said, as told to Alo.

Giyaibo and his family were denied entry to the event and the children began to cry. Feeling deflated by the experience, they had no option but to walk home with their unwanted food.

When they got back to their owaa (home), they held a barapen (stone burning) family ritual, which was when Giyaibo, looking up at the sky, made a vow by the fireplace.

Before Ugatame (the creator), Giyaibo pledged that all his children would enjoy sardines and noodles and, through schooling, they would also observe and be engaged in the production of the luxury foods.

This episode, often retold to all of his children, instilled a determination into Giyaibo to send his kids to school at all costs, even though he and his wife were only small farmers living in a forest area.

“During our primary school years in Diyai, my father would be up before dawn preparing food for us to take to school. He taught us to observe discipline,” recalled the Airlangga University, Surabaya, East Java, master’s graduate.

Alo’s parents’ responsibilities were slightly relieved during his junior high school years because he attended a boarding school where he received spiritual guidance.

“They [the school] taught me the values of life, such as the feeling of gratitude. This strengthened my character,” said the recipient of 14 honors including The Best Executive Award from Citra Insani Foundation (2009) and Indonesia’s Most Popular 2012 from the International Human Resources Development Program Foundation.

“My dormitory life was highly beneficial,” he said, adding that if he had not stayed there, he would have had to face a 40 kilometer daily walk. Later, Alo progressed to Abepura State High School 1.

The school — a favorite of rich Papuans, officials and entrepreneurs — rarely accepted students from farmers’ families. As Alo was without the financial backing of a rich family to support his daily needs, he became a septic tank pump worker and gardener, draining nearly all the tanks in the Cenderawasih University housing complex.

As a dental medicine student at Airlangga University, he still faced financial difficulties despite a regional administration scholarship and help from relatives. So he sold dentistry instruments to fellow students.

“Thank God, my small business was doing well. What’s more, my peers as buyers came from rich families,” he said.

When he finally became a dentist and later a hospital director, he strived to improve the quality of life in his region, with the high mortality rate due to illness weighing heavy on his mind. So, during his service, he has bent the rules.

For instance, he has facilitated the treatment of poor families who lacked health social security network cards (JPS-BK) out of sympathy for the helpless patients.

“My conscience was challenged. I couldn’t let them suffer or even die. They could just show certificates from priests or customary elders. They shouldn’t face grave situations,” he stressed.

In fact, Alo was called to the Health Ministry in Jakarta to explain why he breaching the rules in the name of humanity.

“The ministry praised me. When I returned to Jayapura, [the late] governor J. P. Salossa also valued my work,” Alo added.

Source: The Jakarta Post

President Yudhoyono asks minister to investigate Papua problems

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked chief security minister Djoko Suyanto to examine the cause of problems in Papua that have led to a number of violent acts in the region recently.

“Before leaving, I hope you could make efforts to overcome the problems in Papua. Study them to see if there are political or social aspects involved, which later affect security and local aspects. If we could find the cause of the problem, it would be easier to find its solution,” he said, before holding a limited cabinet meeting on security and political affairs here on Tuesday (12/06).

President Yudhoyono expressed hope the planned visit of Djoko and other ministers to Papua would result in a solution to the problems in the violence-ravaged area, where a number of civilians were killed recently in a shooting incident.

“While you are there, you must also give a proper explanation to the international media,” he said.

President Yudhoyono stated the government had decided to take a welfare approach in order to settle the problems in the easternmost province.

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

“The law and security must be upheld for the sake of the people and its enforcement must be carried out based on the existing law. Papua is a legitimate part of our sovereign country and, therefore, the law that we make also applies there,” he said.

President Yudhoyono noted separatist activities violated the law and would be dealt with legally.

Speaking about armed separatist members who broke the law by conducting violence and causing deaths, he said: “We must not condone them. I believe death-causing acts are not part of the freedom of speech. That is a violation of the law and the law must be enforced.”

“We must be firm and be able to differentiate between human rights and non-human rights issues. Everything that we do, as I have always said, must also be accountable. Inform the public through the media about what we have actually done so that local people and even the world community would know the real problem,” President Yudhoyono added.

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

President Yudhoyono also admitted that security officers had overreacted with their handling of the security situation in Papua, where violence has escalated for the past couple of weeks.

“Security officers, those are the TNI and the National Police, have been deemed over reactive in their responses to activities committed by certain elements, such as the killings of citizens and TNI soldiers stationed in the region,” Yudhoyono said.

The cabinet meeting was attended by coordinating minister for security, law and political affairs Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for people`s welfare Agung Laksono, coordinating minister for economic affairs Hatta Rajasa, minister of justice and human rights Amir Syamsuddin, minister/state secretary Sudi Silalahi, cabinet secretary Dipo Alam, defense forces commander Admiral Agus Suhartono and national police chief General Timur Pradopo.

A number of shooting incidents have occurred in several locations in Papua in the past few months, with the latest one recorded on June 6 at the Cenderawasih University compound.

Source: ANTARA News / The Jakarta Globe

PNG students study Indonesian in Jayapura

Dozens of Papua New Guinean students are visiting Jayapura, the capital of the Indonesian province of Papua, to study Indonesian.

The students are from several schools at the University of Papua New Guinea, and are visiting Jayapura’s Cenderawasih University, among other places, Papua administration official Elly Loupatty said in Jayapura on Monday (14/11).

“They like learning Indonesian, and they chose Papua to further learn the language, as part of their studies,” Elly said.

“They will visit Cenderawasih University to study. They’ve asked about a lot of things — about education here from elementary school to high school and higher education, as well as about Papuan students’ views on Indonesia,” he added.

Elly said the Papua New Guinean students would be in Jayapura until Nov. 23.

He added the Papua administration welcomed them, as the visit would hopefully strengthen ties between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Chief of Papua Education, Youth and Sports Agency James Modouw, meanwhile, said the Indonesian study program was part of a long-established education partnership between the governments of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Government equips Cenderawasih University

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh promised to provide special funding to support Cenderawasih University in Papua to develop complete facilities for its medical school in 2012.

Nuh said that, under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration, the ministry was expected to pay more attention to regions with special characteristics such as Papua.

“A special university must have special funding. I said special funding because I haven’t said this to other universities,” Nuh said during the ceremony for the university’s new official building on Friday (3/6).

“I will realize the rector of Cenderawasih University’s desire to equip the medical faculty with a hospital in 2012,” Nuh said.

Nuh hopes that Cenderawasih University will serve not only higher education institutions but also provide communities in Papua’s remote areas with access to education.

According to the rector of the university, Berth Kambuaya, the National Education Ministry provided Rp 22 billion (US$2.58 million) to renovate the university’s building, which was damaged in a fire on 2009.

The university has eight faculties with 34 majors to accommodate more than 10,000 students.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Papua`s University striving to produce renewable-energy-conscious graduates B

Cendrawasih University (locally known as Uncen), particularly the Faculty of Engineering, has been intensifying a variety of academic activities to produce field workers with wide knowledge about renewable energy.

According to the dean of Uncen`s Engineering Faculty, Dr.Agustinus Fatem, the university which is located in the easternmost province of Indonesia plays a major role as a center for research on and development of renewable energy in the education sector in Papua province.

“Renewable energy is a sector which has become a global topic in efforts to tackle the world`s energy crisis and to address global warming issues. Academic activities at this campus are focusing on the sector,” he said.

Agustinus added, the global issues have become the responsibility of the community in the entire world, including those who live in Papua. Therefore, the world`s efforts to overcome the problem of fossil fuel scarcity and environmental issues that have been affecting the globe should be followed up with concrete activities that can be started from campus.

“The development of renewable energy in Papua is done by studying the potential and its utilization, including developing the technology that can be applied in a practical and easy way with reasonable investment cost because the purpose of all these efforts is to meet the local people?s need of energy,” Agustinus said.

Therefore, Papua, which has abundant potentials of a various types of renewable energy such as hydro-power, solar energy, bio-fuels and wind energy, must have experts and skilled workers in that field. This is to optimize all the natural potentials in order to achieve the welfare for the local people in Papua.

Research

In connection with the academic activities on the renewable energy topic, the Faculty of Engineering has implemented several science and technology development programs involving the students and the lecturers.

According to the Deputy III to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Apolo Safanpo, MT, a student team won the championship at the National Energy Conference of Indonesian Students (Kemin) held at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on 15 to 17 March 2009.

“In this activity, the students conducted a research on the processing of bintanggur fruits (Copillium inopillum) into alternative fuel and it was recognized as the best research by the jury consisting of experts,” he explained.

In addition, some students at the final year in the Engineering Faculty, especially at the Electrical Engineering, are also directed to conduct research on renewable energy in accordance with their respective talents and interests.

“We drive and guide the students to conduct their final projects on the theme of renewable energy because it is very factual issues, in line with the international efforts to search and develop the utilization of alternative renewable energy sources,” the head of the Electrical Engineering department, Joseph Lefaan, MT noted.

According to him, Papua which has a vast area stores very kinds of renewable energy potentials which are optimally unexplored. The research activities of students in the final project can support the efforts of all parties, particularly the local administration to develop those potentials.

Yosef said one of the students has made final project research titled The Identification of Hydro Power Potential To Develop Micro Hydro Power Plant in Drakisi Village, Demta Sub District, Jayapura District.

Some of the researches on renewable energy that have been and are being conducted by the Engineering Faculty lecturers include processing of sago and rice husk waste into bio-briquettes which aim to provide an alternative fuel for households, especially if kerosene as a main fuel is difficult to obtain.

In addition to research conducted by the Engineering Faculty lecturers, teachers at the Mathematics and Natural Sciences faculty (MIPA) has also produced some researches namely processing of bio-diesel from used cooking oil using zeolite catalysts, processing sago starch fermentation to ethanol using mobilized jelly and designa pyrolysis reactor to process the sawdust.

While in the development of hydro-power potentials, a number of lecturers? researches have also been implemented, namely, those on the Study Potential of Micro Hydro Power Plant and The Distribution System in the North Coastal Area, Jayapura District.

Lectures

The efforts to produce competent human resources in the field of renewable energy is also done through lectures with the aim of giving students knowledge and expertise on the topic.

According to Agustinus, the Faculty of Engineering which has eight courses including those on Civil Engineering, Mechanical Electrical and Mining Engineering under the strata-one program and diploma-three program contains the subjects of renewable energy both as compulsory and optional subjects in the curriculum.

“The opening of the renewable energy subject in the Mining Department for instance, aims that the students gain general knowledge on this topic. As for students at the diploma-three level, renewable energy will become a compulsory subject and they will have expertise in this field,” the head of the Mining department, Enos Karapa, MT explained.

This is supported by the results of assessment on the needs of a number of industry players who are hoping that there are experts and skilled workers in the field of renewable energy both as operators or energy equipment mechanics, the coordinator of Technical Working Group 6 at the University Co-operation division of CASINDO project (capacity development and strengthening for energy policy formulation and implementation of sustainable energy projects in Indonesia), Endang Hartiningsih, MT said.

Therefore, she continued, the industry players also supported any efforts, including the university to develop renewable energy in Papua for the dependence on foil fuel can be minimized.

“Thus, the job market for graduates who are competent in the field of renewable energy is widely opened,” Endang said.

Cooperation program

To develop and enhance a variety of academic activities, particularly in the field of renewable energy, the Faculty of Engineering has worked with a number of institutions both within and outside the country.

One of the inter-university cooperation programs which is being implemented by the Engineering faculty in the field of renewable energy is CASINDO (capacity development and strengthening for energy policy formulation and implementation of sustainable energy projects in Indonesia).

The dean of the Engineering faculty, Dr.Agustinus explained, this activity is a cooperation between the Indonesian government with the Netherlands. Among a number of programs run in this activity is cooperation inter universities involving five higher education institutions throughout Indonesia.

In addition to Cendrawasih University in Papua, the four other universities are University of North Sumatra (North Sumatra), Diponegoro University (Central Java), Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University (Yogyakarta) and University of Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara).

Together with the five universities, there is also a University of Technology Eindhoven (TU/e) as one of the partners in the development of renewable energy in the academic field.

“Developing renewable energy in Papua can be started from the university through research activities whose results can be used by the local administration for the development and industrial purposes as the energy users. Thus, there can be collaboration between these three components,” a professor from TU/e, JMN van Kasteren PhD said while giving training materials on biomass in Jayapura, Papua, in mid-May.

The same opinion was also delivered by another TU/e professor, Dr.Jacob van Berkel who said Cendrawisih University play an important role to take the first step in the utilization of renewable energy in Papua.

“Even if the potential of renewable energy such as hydropower, to supply the electricity needs of the people in Papua, could be developed as a promising business when it collaborates with the state electricity company, PLN,” he continued.

To optimize the utilization of renewable energy sources in Papua, the role of higher education alone will not sufficient. Synergy with the local administrations as policy and decision makers as well as the investors including the industrial sector, also take a significant role for the world`s efforts to overcome the crisis in energy supplies and to save the earth from pollution of fossil fuels in the hope it can be achieved as expected.

Producing competent human resources in the field of renewable energy will at least be a concrete step that has been taken and continued by Cendrawasih University which will continued in Papua.

Source: Antara News

President SBY Opens Five State Universities in Border Areas

The government will provide education for every Indonesian and develop centers of quality education throughout the country.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated five state universities in several border areas on Monday.

The launch was held at the auditorium of the Cenderawasih University in Jayapura, Papua. “We are opening these five state institutions to improve the country’s education,” said Yudhoyono, who also opened the national meeting of Student Executive Boards from universities across the nation.

The five institutions are Musamus University in Merauke, Papua, Borneo University in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung University in Bangka Belitung, the State Polytechnic Institute in Bangka Belitung and the State Polytechnic Institute in Batam.

Yudhoyono said the government would ensure that every Indonesian had access to quality education.

“We will help low-income people to gain an education. And we will even fund tuition fees for the poorest. We should not allow the younger generation in this country to fail to receive quality education,” he said.

A country’s ability to advance depends on its education, he said.

After struggling for 50 years as a developing country, South Korea developed into one of the most affluent economies in the world by improving the country’s education, Yudhoyono cited an example.

The government, he said, should be able to provide education for every Indonesian and develop centers of quality education throughout the country.

Since 2007, Yudhoyono said, the government had mandated five development targets for Papua, comprising poverty reduction, education and health improvement, infrastructure development and affirmative action for Papuans involvement in development activities.

Meanwhile, educational practitioner Anis Baswedan said Monday that Indonesian education was concentrated in Java.

“The government should better distribute educational institutions in provinces outside Java, by allowing the private sector to take part in the development of educational institutions,” he said, adding that mobilizing the private sector to invest in higher education had become critical in developing countries, including Indonesia, where many governments were strapped for cash. “The opening of the universities is one positive step taken by the government to improve the country’s education,” he said.

However, he continued, the government could accelerate advancing education by providing wider opportunities for private sectors to invest more in higher education. “This was not easy,” said Anis, also rector of Paramadina University.

He said many private institutions and foundations were unable to invest in higher education due to difficulties in acquiring land needed for education infrastructure development. Citing a research study, Anis said almost 50 percent of Indonesia’s middle class was from low-income families, due to low-cost education from by Soeharto’s regime.

“But now, how can we achieve success with the soaring costs to attend quality schools, which poses heavy concerns on elitism in our education?” he said.

Source: the Jakarta Post