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

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

Hana Hikoyabi: Striving for the people

“When one door closes, find another one to enter.”

Hana Hikoyabi

That is the principle Hana Hikoyabi, former deputy chairperson of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), follows in her struggle for the welfare of Papuans after being deprived of her MRP membership for the 2011-2016 period.

The MRP, formed after Papua was granted special autonomy in 2001, is a cultural institution of native Papuans aimed at working for their basic rights, striving to empower them through beneficial policies related to all aspects of their lives.

While in the MRP, Hana, 46, and 42 other MRP members decided to change the policy on civil servant recruitment in Papua, with priority given to native Papuans and positions in echelons II-IV dominated by locals as well.

The move, initiated by Hana and MRP executives Agus Alua and Frans Wopakrik, in striving for priority treatment of native Papuans caused concern in the central government and climaxed in a demonstration before the Papuan Regional Council.

A resolution of the MRP conference was submitted in July of 2010 that rejected special autonomy for failing to promote Papuan welfare.

With the resolution, Hana was deemed disloyal to the state philosophy of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and the Home Ministry discontinued her MRP membership despite her majority votes in the election of female members of the MRP in the city of Jayapura.

As she questioned the reason for the stripping of her MRP membership, Hana was offered a place in the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit (UP4B), which she rejected. “They failed to show my fault and violation, even proposing a post in the UP4B and I said no,’’ she said.

As the MRP door is now closed to Hana, she is instead struggling through the “people’s door” for the well-being of Papuans. “Though without formal dress as an official to exert clout on people-oriented policymaking, I can still join hands with the people in another quest for the promotion of public welfare,” she said.

Hana’s change from a public figure into a livestock breeder is her way of maintaining her existence along with the masses. Her elegant and extensive residence in Sentani now partly serves as a chicken and catfish breeding site. Along with local farmers and breeders, Hana is striving to make Papua, especially Jayapura, a chicken and fish producer rather than just a consumer.

“So far Papua has remained a consumer of fish, beef, chickens, vegetables, chilies and various needs from other regions while in fact they can be produced in Papua. The question is what has made Papua continue to be a dependent recipient instead of a producing province,” wondered the former justice ministry official.

This is what Hana is supposed to answer. Through a farmer’s group with 99 members, Hana is endeavoring to penetrate a market now controlled by major companies. “We have very vast natural resources that are not yet fully exploited. Why doesn’t the government strengthen local farmers’ capacity to produce all their daily needs without buying them from Java?” she asked.

“I’m undertaking this breeding business in order to encourage and convince local farmers that Papua can also independently meet its own necessities. All the commodities purchased from other regions can be yielded in Papua, but it now depends on whether the government favors local farmers or big companies,” Hana said.

According to Hana, the government tends to make available stocks regardless of their origins, whereas Papuan farmers are no match for major investors so that they can only become small-scale village businessmen. Though they have chicken harvests every 25 days, it’s very hard to find a market. “The interior market is already controlled by entrepreneurs while urban shops only buy at lower prices,” she said.

Hana even opened her own shop to face the competition in Jayapura. “I opened my shop to market the group’s broilers by making available fresh chicken at a competitive price against the frozen chicken coming from other regions.”

She was striving step by step, trying to overcome constraints with the aim of making Papua a producer and local farmers the market owners in the region.

Besides handling livestock breeding, Hana continues to instruct women in Papua, including by setting up a women’s cooperative in Sentani. “The cooperative started early this year but it has 193 members and has opened three branches in villages,” she said.

Called Nake Mei, meaning everybody’s mother, the co-op has three businesses: merchandizing, credit-saving and fuel distribution to villages.

The cooperative aims at enabling women to earn income and help their husbands meet family needs while also promoting housewives’ self-confidence. “Undeniably economic problems are among the causes of domestic violence, so that women’s income is expected to reduce violence and boost confidence without fully depending on their spouses,” she said.

“Women are pillars of the nation and state so they should be of good quality in order to produce quality generations in terms of education, health and other aspects of life. Sickly mothers can’t take care of their children and households properly,” said Hana, who sees no closed doors in her pursuit to improve the welfare of the people of Papua.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Papuans to elect governor in August

The Home Ministry, the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) and the Papuan People Council (MRP) have agreed to hold a long awaited gubernatorial election in Papua on Aug. 14.

“We have agreed on the timetable for the electoral phases, and have reported it to the Home Ministry,” acting Papua Governor Syamsul Arief Rivai said on Tuesday (01/05).

“The election will be on Aug. 14.”

Syamsul Arief Rivai was sworn in as Papua’s caretaker governor last July, charged with conducting local elections within the province.

Papuan Legislative Council chairman Ruben Magai said that candidate registration would run from May 7 to 13, followed by a selection process from May 14 to 20.

“Papuans want a new governor. We hope the central government will be in Papua from early May to oversee the process,” he said.

Activists have called on Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi to replace Syamsul due to his apparent incompetence and failure to schedule elections.

The Papuan Lawmaker Caucus chairman Paskalis Kossay previously said that the caucus was disappointed with the acting governor’s performance since his appointment in July 2011, complaining about the absence of a fixed schedule for gubernatorial elections.

Source: The Jakarta Post

MRP chairman for 2011-2016 sworn in

Papuan caretaker governor Syamsul Arief Rivai presided over the swearing in of the new chairman of the Papuan Legislative Assembly (MRP) on Thursday (15/9). Timotius Murib, who represents the required traditional branch, assumed office as chairman, while Hofni Simbiak, fulfilling the religious component, and Angelbertha Kotorok, the women’s component, were sworn in as first and second deputy chairpersons, respectively.

“The duties to be carried out by the MRP include the selection of indigenous candidates for the upcoming Papuan gubernatorial elections,” Syamsul said.

“We will check the lineage of each indigenous candidate in line with Papua’s Special Autonomy Law. All candidates have to meet certain criteria for the candidacy in line with existing regulations,” Timotius said.

Thursday’s swearing in annulled the results of a vote by 73 MRP members from Papua and West Papua, reached on June 30, 2011, when Dorkas Dwaramuri was chosen as the chairman, and Herman Saud and Timotius Murib as the first and second deputy chairmen, respectively.

Source: the Jakarta Post

West Papua MRP board members sworn in

West Papua Governor Abraham O Atururi swore in the 33 new board members of the province’s Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) on Wednesday (15/6). The swearing-in ceremony was held a week after the election of board members in Manokwari.

The West Papua MRP leaders inaugurated on Wednesday were speaker Vitalis Yumteh and deputy speakers Anike TH Sabami and Zainal Abidin Bay.

The ceremony was based on Government Regulation No. 54/2004 on the MRP, which was an elaboration of Law No. 21/2001 and Law No. 35/2008 on Papua’s special autonomy.

In April, the 33 West Papua MRP members were inaugurated by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi together with 40 members elected from Papua province.

“The Assembly had the task of making sure that the indigenous Papuans remained in existence in the region,” said MRP member Yoram Wambrauw.(WPNN)

Papuans Don’t Understand What They Really Want, Ministers Claim

If the broad autonomy accorded to Papua had not raised the region’s prosperity it was the local authorities’ fault, government ministers said on Tuesday.

The comments came on the heel of massive protests in Papua last week that demanded a referendum on self-determination and claimed the special autonomy handed to the region in 2001 had failed.

“In Papua there are people demanding freedom from Indonesia,” Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said.

“Actually, they don’t really understand that what they really want is good welfare. In fact, we have sent Rp 30 trillion [$3.3 billion] to Papua.”

The coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Djoko Suyanto, said it was not up to Jakarta to monitor the region’s special autonomy status.

“If there are funds for the region that have not been disbursed, that is the work of the governor and the DPRP to supervise,” Djoko said, using the acronim for the Papua Legislative Council.

Djoko said that trillions of rupiah had been sent to develop the region, making Papua the largest single recipient of special autonomy funds.

The coordinating minister said that last week he had met twice with representatives of the DPRP and the Papuan People’s Council (MRP) to discuss the calls for a referendum in Papua.

“They have stated what they need to say and we also stated our standing position,” he said.

Salmon Yumame, who heads the United Papua People’s Democracy Forum (Fordem), said that despite the introduction of special autonomy, Papuans remained marginalized.

“The special autonomy with its trillions of rupiah has never touched the lives of our people,” Salmon said.

“Those who enjoy the money are only the elite and bureaucrats,” he added.

Salmon said that special autonomy did not protect or benefit Papua’s native people and that there was a need for the policy to be evaluated.

“In the nine years since special autonomy was given, it has never been evaluated,” he said.

Salmon said that the special status given to the region had failed to raise the dignity of the Papuan people and that the MRP had seen its decisions ignored.

He said that despite the council’s recommendation that heads and lawmakers in Papua be native to the region, many were appointees from outside.

Fordem’s secretary general, Benny Giay, said that another problem giving rise to dissatisfaction in Papua and therefore fueling the demand for a referendum was the wide economic gap between natives and migrants in the region.

“There are also problems of the basic needs and rights of the Papua people, such as education and health, which are not being fulfilled by the government,” Benny said. “This reality has forced some of Papuan people to ask for a referendum.”

He said migration to Papua from other parts of the country should be halted. Benny accused the government in Jakarta of being arrogant and failing to ensure special autonomy in Papua was really implemented.

Discontent in Papua has been fueled by what local people perceive as the siphoning off of the region’s natural resources by non-Papuans and the alleged human rights violations in the region committed in the name of national security.

Source: Jakarta Globe

Papuan Students Ask for Better OTSUS

Jayapura — Student council of Cendrawasih University in Jayapura asks the Papua governor and local parliament (DPRP and MRP) to really implement special autonomy (Otsus) for the people of Papua.

“Special autonomy is supposed to accelerate the Papuan development and prosperity,” said Student Council speaker Decky Ovide.

With special autonomy, Papua province and its people have broader authority to manage and develop themselves. It is including the authority to exploit Papuan economy and cultural as well as giving significant role to the indigenous people.

The Indonesian government has accommodated the aspiration of Papuan on indigenous rights. It is stated on UU No.21/2001.

Student Council asks DPRP to form a special committee to watch Otsus implementation and transparency as well. The students ask also the Papua governor to have dialog with the people to discuss the Otsus implementation.

The student council will conduct manifestation if Papua governor, DPRP and MRP do not carry out this suggestion.(wpnn)