Two Shot in Latest Freeport Attack in Papua

Christian Motte & Farouk Arnaz
 

Police standing guard outside a clinic where the body of a Brimob officer was taken after a fatal car crash along the road linking the Freeport mine and Timika. (Photo: Tjahjo Eranius, AFP)
Two Shot in Latest Freeport Attack in Papua

Another convoy of PT Freeport Indonesia vehicles came under attack in Papua on Wednesday, leaving a Timika Police officer and a local Freeport employee with gunshot wounds at the same place as an Australian was shot and killed in a similar ambush near the Grasberg mining complex on July 11.

The latest attack brings the number of people injured to 13, most of them police officers, since apparently well-trained and organized attackers used what is believed to be military weaponry to kill Drew Nicholas Grant, a 29-year-old project manager at Freeport.
A police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer believed to be responding to the first ambush on July 11 was also killed or fell to his death down a ravine in a bid to escape an attack.

The total number of dead and injured does not include a second incident on Wednesday, in which Brimob Second Brig. Ismail Todohu was killed and two soldiers, one local Freeport employee and another Brimob officer were injured in what police are tentatively labeling a car accident, but which occurred just six miles from the scene of Wednesday’s ambush.

Brig. Gen. Sulistyo Ishak, a National Police spokesman, confirmed the latest casualties on the notorious road linking the mine and Timika, which occurred despite the arrests of 15 ethnic Papuans in relation to what police said were a number of attacks, including the fatal incidents.

He said the latest attack involved an ambush on a convoy of 18 Freeport buses at Mile 51 on the outskirts of the world’s largest gold mine. The two casualties from the attack have received medical attention.

“They have been shot and are being treated at Kuala Kencana medical clinic,” he told reporters, without providing further details.
In relation to the car accident, Sulistyo denied speculation that sabotage was involved.

“I do not know about it. Let’s wait for our officers to conduct investigations into both incidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. AY Nasution, the head of the XVII District Level Military Command (Kodam) in Papua, denied that the members of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) were implicated in any of the attacks, particularly the military-style ambushes outside the mine.

“None of our members are involved, including deserters or former soldiers,” Nasution said during a news conference in Timika conducted with Papua Chief Insp. Gen. Bagus Ekodanto.

He also rejected allegations that a member of the Special Forces (Kopassus) was arrested in relation to the killing of Grant at Mile 51.

“It’s not true,” he said.

When asked about the bullets used in the attacks, Nasution said they were manufactured by state-owned military equipment manufacturer PT Pindad.

Bagus said that 15 suspects — not 17 suspects as reported earlier — were arrested at Mile 27.

Most of 15 suspects were secured by members of the Amungme tribe, who live in Freeport area. Despite the fact that one of them was a Freeport employee, he will still be questioned by police, Bagus said.

The 15 were identified as Domingus Beanal, 24; Tommy Beanal, 25; Yani Sarin Beanal, 18; Eltinus Beanal, 26; Yonas Uwamang, 65); Viktor Beanal, 30; Simon Beanal, 30; Petrus Kanisius Taturdas, 34; Samuel Totti, 25; Amom Yawame, 30; Yoseph Sikora, 20; Matius Agustinus Yeristono, 24; Bernadus Natipe, 23; Yustinus Boaka, 21; and Andel Kiwak.

Papua is home to a four-decade, low-level insurgency. Members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) — who see Freeport as a symbol of outside rule — were initially blamed by authorities for the latest violence in the province.

Some analysts, however, believe the shootings stem from a rivalry between the police and the military over multimillion-dollar illegal gold mining or protection contracts for the mine.

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

Papua Assembly Urges Open Probe of Freeport Mine Shootings

The Papuan People's Assembly, a body representing the cultural and social
rights of Papuans, on Friday urged the police to find those responsible
for a recent series of armed attacks at the massive Freeport gold and
copper mine in Timika.

Frans Wosprakrik, the deputy chief of the assembly, also known as the MRP,
asked that the culprits be found quickly, and pledged that the assembly
would support the investigation as long as it was open and fair. He also
said that calls demanding the closure of PT Freeport Indonesia's mining
operations there by some communities and nongovernmental organizations
were unwarranted.

"We can look at the problem and find the solutions to it," Wosprakrik
said. "It might be that people's rights were neglected, which needs to be
addressed."

He said those behind the Timika shootings likely had grievances against
the mining company's operations in the area, speculating that the attacks
were carried out by people who felt personally disgruntled by Freeport.

"If there is dissatisfaction, it must be revealed, solved and ended," he
said.

Bery Nahdian Forqan, the executive director of leading environmental
watchdog Walhi, is among those calling on Freeport to end its activities
in Papua. He has argued that unless this was done, the level of violence
would continue to increase.

"The best way to solve the problem is to stop the source of the problem,
which is Freeport," he said.

Rights group Imparsial said in a press release that the attacks in Timika
had to have been planned and conducted by trained assailants, with
experience in handling weapons and the expertise to evade tight security.

Arkilaus Arnesius Baho, the chairman of the National League for the
Struggle of the People of West Papua, said that the primary motivation
behind the violence in Timika was likely the perceived injustice among
ethnic Papuans surrounding the exploitation of the province's natural
resources.

Posted via email from papuanews's posterous

Indonesian Police Beef Up Security Around Freeport Mine

National Police have dispatched 150 officers, including antiterror police,
to Timika, Papua, to support local officers and the military in their hunt
for suspects following violent attacks targeting Freeport employees.

The announcement comes despite comments from Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen.
Bagus Ekodanto on Thursday, who said that despite the recent attacks, no
additional police forces would be sent to the area.

Shots were fired early this week on a security-bus convoy near the
Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua province, the latest in several
attacks that have occurred since July .

"Actually, we are already sharing duties in a joint patrol of the area
with the military and together we have built a task force named Amole,
which is headed by the Papua Police chief," National Police Chief Gen.
Bambang Hendarso Danuri said on Friday, adding that his men must succeed
in capturing the attackers, regardless of the rugged terrain in Timika.

"They are armed criminals. Our main concerns are the areas of Tinggi
Nambut [Puncak Jaya district] and Timika [Mimika district] now," he said.

The attacks have left four people dead — two Freeport employees and two
police officers — and left dozens of others wounded.

Bagus Ekodanto, who is scheduled to be replaced by former antiterror
police chief Brig. Gen. Bekto Suprapto, noted that a soldier was shot in
the leg when returning from a routine patrol near the 37-mile mark in Kali
Kopi, Timika, on Wednesday.

He said he believed the attackers may have been aiming at drawing the
world's attention to their existence ahead of Dec. 1, the anniversary of
the1961 West Papuan declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule.

The date has since been taken up by pro-independence activists there as
their national day.

Local military leaders initially blamed the attacks on members of the
separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), but police investigations have
produced no evidence of their involvement.

Rouge elements of the Indonesian Armed Forces are also suspects.

Papua Police, in cooperation with the 17th Regional Military Command, have
deployed more than 1,000 personnel to secure the Freeport area.

Freeport vehicles now only travel by daylight under heavy security escorts.

Posted via email from papuanews's posterous

Papua Tribe Targets Mining Giant Freeport in $30 Billion Legal Action

The Amungme tribe on Thursday filed a $30 billion lawsuit against Freeport
McMoRan, one of the world's major mining firms, for alleged damages
sustained over 40 years of operations on their ancestral lands in
Indonesia's Papua province.

"From 1969 to 2009, our land has been exploited and we have not had a fair
share of the wealth it generates," Titus Natkime, a lawyer for the tribe,
said ahead of the lawsuit hearing at the South Jakarta District Court.

He represents about 90 Amungmes who live on the lowlands of a mountainous
area in Papua's Mimika district, where Freeport runs a gold and copper
mine.

"The tribe holds the traditional rights to own the land and all its
resources, but other people took away all the financial benefits from us,"
the lawyer said.

The plaintiffs claim they are the legitimate owners of 2.6 million
hectares of land on which the mine is located, and that the 1967 work
contract between the government and Freeport was made without their
approval.

They also questioned the promised trust fund of $1 million a year that
they said was never received.

The tribe has further accused Freeport of the illegal eviction of
indigenous people, with the support of government troops.

The lawsuit is also directed against the government and PT Indocopper
Investama, a Bakrie group company, each owning a 9.36 percent stake in PT
Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of the US-based mining giant.

The plaintiffs have demanded that the court fine the defendants "$20
billion for environmental damages caused by the mining activities and $10
billion for human rights violations."

"I have lived there for more than 40 years, and things have been getting
worse since Freeport started to operate," tribal leader Yunus Omabak said.

"We live poorly in our own land, our children live poorly too. We can't
move because we have no money," he said.

Presiding Judge Suharto suggested mediation for the parties. "You have 40
days to settle the case through dialogue. The court will appoint our
judge, Ahmad Yusak, as mediator."

Freeport spokesman Mindo Pangaribuan said in an e-mail to the Jakarta
Globe that since 2001, the company had paid $25.9 million into a trust
fund, $17 million of which had been withdrawn by two foundations set up by
the Amungme and Kamoro tribes.

"Since 1996, PT Freeport Indonesia has allocated 1 percent of its gross
revenue for a society development program, and in 2008 the partnership
fund reached some $324 million," he said.

Posted via email from papuanews's posterous

Indonesia moves to repatriate West Papuans

Indonesia moves to repatriate West Papuans
Print Email

Updated Fri Oct 9, 2009 6:22pm AEST

Indonesia is currently undertaking a program to repatriate several
thousand West Papuan freedom activists living in Papua New Guinea. The
West Papuans have been living PNG since they left their homeland during
their struggle for political freedom over the last 30 years - and have
called PNG home.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Joneri Alimin
Listen: Windows Media

NANOL: The Indonesian Embassy in Papua New Guinea is organising a
''Voluntary Repatriation'' program to help West Papuan separatists who are
willing to return home.

Embassy spokesperson, Joneri Alimin says no one is being forced to return.

He says the Indonesian authorities will guarantee the safety of those who
volunteer to return.

ALIMIN: It is a voluntary repatriation program for West Papuans who want
to go back to their homeland voluntarily and if they want to go back, we
asking the Indonesian Government if they will facilitate them.

NANOL: Mr Alimin, is their security guaranteed when they go back. The
Indonesian and the Kopasus security officers will not torture them and
intimidate them?

ALIMIN: For sure, 100 percent.. the Indonesian Government would guarantee
them that they will be safe when they return to their homeland. And you
know until now, there is no report of like harassment from the West
Papuans who already repatriated back to Papua Province with guarantee.

NANOL: How can that be guaranteed? Are they going to sign some form of
documents to say that they will not be tortured, intimidated. How can you
guarantee that?

ALIMIN: Yes, you know of course if they want to join this program, they
have to fill some document. They process the statement they want to go
back. The government in Indonesia also have a think about the program and
also already prepared everything regarding the security you mean.

NANOL: A group of West Papuans living in the capital Port Moresby claim
the voluntary repatriation program is not in their interest.

West Papua pro-independence activist Samuel Ingamar says they will only
return when their dream for political freedom is realised.

He says they will not volunteer to return as life will be hard for them
once they return.

INGAMAR: I don't think it is good for West Papuan, because the tension in
West Papua, it is not okay for West Papuans to return home.

NANOL: Do you think their safety will be guaranteed?

INGAMAR: It is not safe, because we all are West Papuans. We come for one
motive for West Papua to be self-independent. When you go back to West
Papua, you are fulfilling the dreams of the Indonesians. Indonesia does
not need West Papuans. They only need our resource our land and what's the
use of us going back there. We all are freedom fighters that seek for
independent for West Papua, and are going back to West Papua is not a
solution for West Papuans as freedom fighters.

NANOL: You and some of these West Papuans who are living up there in
Moresby, are some of your members also involved or given the names for
voluntary repatriation or what is the situation?

INGAMAR: For us here, a total of 169. We did not put our names there for
repatriation. We are against that program. We only put our leg to West
Papua when we get self-independence only, but volunteer back to Indonesia,
no.

NANOL: Indonesian officials are visiting provinces in Papua New Guinea
where West Papuan political activists and families are living to inform
them of the ''Voluntary Repatriation'' program.

Spokesperson, Joneri Alimin told Pacific Beat, an estimated seven hundred
West Papuans have indicated they wish to return since last year.

He says they hope to repatriate nearly 400 West Papuans including women
and children by next month.

Posted via email from papuanews's posterous

Indonesia moves to repatriate West Papuans

Indonesia moves to repatriate West Papuans
Print Email

Updated Fri Oct 9, 2009 6:22pm AEST

Indonesia is currently undertaking a program to repatriate several
thousand West Papuan freedom activists living in Papua New Guinea. The
West Papuans have been living PNG since they left their homeland during
their struggle for political freedom over the last 30 years - and have
called PNG home.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Joneri Alimin
Listen: Windows Media

NANOL: The Indonesian Embassy in Papua New Guinea is organising a
''Voluntary Repatriation'' program to help West Papuan separatists who are
willing to return home.

Embassy spokesperson, Joneri Alimin says no one is being forced to return.

He says the Indonesian authorities will guarantee the safety of those who
volunteer to return.

ALIMIN: It is a voluntary repatriation program for West Papuans who want
to go back to their homeland voluntarily and if they want to go back, we
asking the Indonesian Government if they will facilitate them.

NANOL: Mr Alimin, is their security guaranteed when they go back. The
Indonesian and the Kopasus security officers will not torture them and
intimidate them?

ALIMIN: For sure, 100 percent.. the Indonesian Government would guarantee
them that they will be safe when they return to their homeland. And you
know until now, there is no report of like harassment from the West
Papuans who already repatriated back to Papua Province with guarantee.

NANOL: How can that be guaranteed? Are they going to sign some form of
documents to say that they will not be tortured, intimidated. How can you
guarantee that?

ALIMIN: Yes, you know of course if they want to join this program, they
have to fill some document. They process the statement they want to go
back. The government in Indonesia also have a think about the program and
also already prepared everything regarding the security you mean.

NANOL: A group of West Papuans living in the capital Port Moresby claim
the voluntary repatriation program is not in their interest.

West Papua pro-independence activist Samuel Ingamar says they will only
return when their dream for political freedom is realised.

He says they will not volunteer to return as life will be hard for them
once they return.

INGAMAR: I don't think it is good for West Papuan, because the tension in
West Papua, it is not okay for West Papuans to return home.

NANOL: Do you think their safety will be guaranteed?

INGAMAR: It is not safe, because we all are West Papuans. We come for one
motive for West Papua to be self-independent. When you go back to West
Papua, you are fulfilling the dreams of the Indonesians. Indonesia does
not need West Papuans. They only need our resource our land and what's the
use of us going back there. We all are freedom fighters that seek for
independent for West Papua, and are going back to West Papua is not a
solution for West Papuans as freedom fighters.

NANOL: You and some of these West Papuans who are living up there in
Moresby, are some of your members also involved or given the names for
voluntary repatriation or what is the situation?

INGAMAR: For us here, a total of 169. We did not put our names there for
repatriation. We are against that program. We only put our leg to West
Papua when we get self-independence only, but volunteer back to Indonesia,
no.

NANOL: Indonesian officials are visiting provinces in Papua New Guinea
where West Papuan political activists and families are living to inform
them of the ''Voluntary Repatriation'' program.

Spokesperson, Joneri Alimin told Pacific Beat, an estimated seven hundred
West Papuans have indicated they wish to return since last year.

He says they hope to repatriate nearly 400 West Papuans including women
and children by next month.

Posted via email from papuanews's posterous

The Forgotten People

Skip to commentsby Bruce Clark, Mon, 25 May 2009. 0

We are all familiar with Indonesia’s terrible record of human rights abuse in East Timor, a sorry tale of oppression, murder and torture. East Timor became something of a cause celebre, as the world woke up to the facts of Indonesia’s illegal invasion, harsh occupation and, finally, the rights of its people to self-determination. What we more easily forget is that while this murder and mayhem was being perpetrated by the Indonesian forces, the West, our own enlightened government and that of Australia, had for a generation or more turned a blind eye to the atrocities. The East Timorese were on their own, presumably as the need to maintain friendly relations with a growing economic power overrode any concerns about justice and human rights. One could scarcely imagine a clearer case of injustice and the right of a people to self-determination, yet the plight of the Timorese was so easily forgotten.

That such hypocrisy and neglect of a people so close to us could occur again would be unconscionable, would it not? Of course it would, but the Realpolitik of international relations should not be underestimated. A very similar set of circumstances to those that occurred in East Timor do indeed prevail in a land even closer to ours, and a mere hop skip and a jump from our Australian neighbours. West Papua, artificially divided from Papua New Guinea by its colonial legacy, has and is suffering just such a fate.

Ethnically and linguistically completely different from the other Indonesian populations, West Papua was granted independence. But in breach of an agreement with the Netherlands, the previous colonial master Indonesia illegally invaded in the early 60s, an invasion supposedly legitimised by a vote of 1000 or so tribal leaders under the gun. Indonesia has maintained a reign of terror carried out by its armed force since that time. From 1969 the Free Papua Movement, or OPM, has conducted an armed resistance, albeit with the most meagre of military resources. This insurgency has been fuelled by economic deprivation, political disempowerment and the forcible loss of and pollution of habitat. Protest has been met with the most vicious response. Lowry, in his book Armed Forces of Indonesia, cites the armed forces as “indulging in indiscriminate killing and torture of suspected rebels and sympathisers” and the “indiscriminate use of terror and force rather than the building of social structures and networks which would produce more enduring and self-sustaining results”. Because of the control of information coming out of West Papua, estimates of deaths are difficult, but tens of thousands (the OPM estimates hundreds of thousands) of non-combatants have been killed by the army since the 1960s. The exact figure may not be known, but recently the BBC gave a figure of 15% of the population having been killed in the ongoing independence struggle. The Indonesian army has an atrocious record of murder, rape and torture. The plight of the West Papuan people is all but ignored by the West and its press.

Of course, the usual suspects in the exploitation of the powerless—the multi-national mining and forestry concerns—are there as well, paying millions in protection to the army, while in the case of Freeport McMoran at its Grasberg mine for instance, earning about US$1million in profit per day. Needless to say, only a scrap of this finds its way to the local communities, whose protests are met with the most brutal response. Freeport McMoran built the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in the world in West Papua. It became the largest tax payer to the Indonesian government and was vital to the government’s drive to attract overseas investment in the post-Sukarno era. Its economic importance entailed the brutal suppression of any opposition to its activities. Mass killings of Papuans by the Indonesian forces have occurred near the mine and any call for a better deal for the local people has only ever been met with the stationing of more troops.
People disappear, whole populations are forcibly moved and denied the ability to pursue their traditional way of life, and the world stays silent. Having seen the hypocritical about-turn of our own and other governments over the situation in East Timor, one need not be surprised. The Indonesian government maintains strict control over media access to West Papua, and it is far enough off the beaten track for the Indonesian government and the multinationals to get on with business. Migration from other parts of Indonesia means that the West Papuans are threatened with becoming a minority in their own land with their land and resources being exploited for the gain of others, and their traditional way of life in danger of extinction.

Perhaps one day the world will wake up to the terrible oppression that goes on in West Papua, and people will wonder how this modern day colonial depredation had taken place right under our noses. No doubt, it will be asserted that such a thing could not happen again.

  * Article tagged in: Issue11-2009

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

Strangers In Their Own Land

Rev. Socrates Sofyan Yoman, Mon, 4 Sep 2006. 0

The following is an extract from a presentation from Rev. Socrates Sofyan Yoman from West Papua given on Monday 28th August 2006. Socrates is one of the leaders of the Melanesian country currently being dominated and destroyed by Indonesian control.

West Papua is a beautiful land, like your country. West Papua is the land of peace. West Papua is the land of paradise, of many birds. West Papua is the Melanesians’ land, the Melanesians of the Pacific Islands. West Papua is a rich land: copper, gold, and minerals available to be mined. West Papua is the beautiful country of beautiful lands. There are also beautiful people – friendly people in West Papua, like here.

It has already changed to the hopeless land, 43 years after Indonesia took over and occupied West Papua land. In 1963 West Papua [was] taken over by the Indonesian government with support from the United States. Ordinary people, West Papuans, local people, in the Christian perspective we say God’s people, indigenous people in West Papua, the Indonesian army, they kill the people. They terrorize and intimidate the people publicly. They put them in the paper. [When] people are killed their photos are put in the local newspaper. The military have taken over the newspaper; we call it a criminal newspaper. After the military kill the people, then they put them in the newspaper.

They’re killing our mentality. They create our fear. Killing continually, systematically … they plan to depopulate West Papua. They’re not only killing Papuans physically, but their mentality, emotion, character. Also they kill it economically, [and] education and health. We need the health, need to educate, and build [for] the local indigenous people, but we are struggling [for] justice and peace, and human rights and hum an dignity, [but] how do we develop economically, educationally and in health?

Environmental destruction, with the presence of multinational companies like [the] Freeport mine, Rio Tinto, of Australia, and now presently BP, with petroleum [have created] damage, huge destruction our mountains, and illegally supported by the military … HIV/AIDS in West Papua, prostitution in West Papua infects the women, HIV/AIDS brought to West Papua [is] facilitated by the military. The Papuans are for self-determination, to be fully independent on their own land. Indonesia says no. But we have to look for another way, [and] consult West Papuans for the answer.
Transmigration and the marginalisation of West Papuans Papua is marginalized economically

West Papuans on their own lands are very marginalized. The main purpose of Indonesians coming to West Papua is not to develop the people in Papua. They want to take over the lands, control the Papuans’ lands. And they never develop the Papuans economically, or their capacity … They never will develop the education of our people.

The Papuans, the young people, the women, are members of the separatist movement. The Papuans never got an education. So the economy is controlled by migrants, because they’ve got good facilities, from the government. The transmigrants build good roads, bridges, schools, good houses. They put them there. And in the bank, if we want to get money, credit, we never get access. We never get the benefit of our land, of our resources. The international community give money to the Indonesian government to develop the Papuans, but I never see it. The government is killing them. When they bring the people from outside, they [also] establish military bases close by, they protect their people, and they marginalize the Papuans.

West Papuans know very well that Indonesia will never improve education and develop the Papuans. They only come and kill us. Systematically killing, and there is genocide. And they want to take away our lands. It is increasing [the military presence] and there are more military barracks everywhere.

And [another] thing is, they divided the new provinces. We have only a population of 1.2 million. We don’t need more provinces. How do they develop education, health, [and the] economy? They divided the new province again! They will spend more money on other resources and apparatus. They will have more transmigration, more military. This is a problem for us.

Another thing is… the people are still in jail. Many Papuans are still in prison and … [there is] no freedom to demonstrate. When we come demonstrate, the police shoot the people, arrest the people. [There are] no public demonstrations in West Papua. This is happening in West Papua, and it is our our problem. With my community, with my people.
Intimidation of West Papuan leaders

Because we speak for justice and peace, for protecting the people, they want to kill the us, the little and small people. But they will not. They never will stop us. Many times they terrorize me, many times. After I visit Australia, I return to West Papua. I arrive in the Airport in Jakarta. Indonesian Intelligence came, they took my passport. But I say I don’t follow you, for who needs my passport, if not me? Because I have my people with me, from West Papua. They terrorize me. This is what’s going on.
Support from the international community

We need the voice of the international community to relieve the West Papuans of their suffering. We need to be helped like East Timor. How are you able to help East Timor and not assist us in West Papua?

This is not a good experience for us and we need Australia and the international community, especially the New Zealand government to become the mediators, to mediate a deal, genuine dialogue, to sort out the West Papua problem, not through the special autonomy law, but [for] West Papua and Indonesia to come together, facilitated by the New Zealand government.

And secondly, the New Zealand government [can] also support West Papua to gain observer status at the Pacific Island Forum. This is important. We are not ethnically, culturally, democratically Indonesia! We are actually Melanesian, part of the Pacific Island people. How do they force us to be Indonesian?

And the last thing is [that] we need a statement made by the international community, especially governments, to say we strongly support territorial integrity. The international community has to stop, has to make a firm statement … Better the West Papuans get their own government, own land.

We need education. Bring one or two or three here, and educate them. And after they come back, [they] will educate [their] own people with language, culture, and with your support. We need your support. We also want justice and peace and selfdetermination also. The better way is [our] own government, own land and capacity.

Thank you very much, God bless you.

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

West Papua Coalition wary of Indonesia’s closer links to Vanuatu

Posted at 02:04 on 11 May, 2009 UTC

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says a visit by Indonesia’s Ambassador is unlikely to sway Vanuatu’s support for West Papuan self-determination.

Primo Alui Joelianto has been in Vanuatu to present his credentials to the Head of State as Indonesia’s newly appointed ambassador to Vanuatu, based in Canberra.

The ambassador expressed his government’s desire to engage in constructive dialogue with the Pacific region on development and policy issues in line with Jakarta’s "look east" policy, despite differences with countries like Vanuatu over the issue of Papua.

The Coalition’s Secretary General, Rex Rumakiek, says Indonesia could be trying to butter up Pacific countries...

  “We know that they’re doing that and it is open that we want to battle them on that ground. We’re winning the upper hand. So I don’t think they’ve any economic power to influence any government in the region to support them.”

Meanwhile, Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Bakoa Kaltongga has told the ambassador that his government will continue the country’s long-standing tradition of vocal support for West Papuan self-determination.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

PNG defends decision to repatriate West Papuans

Posted at 18:16 on 17 May, 2009 UTC

Papua New Guinea has been defending its agreement to repatriate 700 West Papuans to neighbouring Indonesia.

Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Sam Abal, says there’s nothing new about his country’s officials working with their Indonesian counterparts.

The agreement between the two nations’ leaders was announced last week after a meeting also attended by the Indonesian military commander.

Mr Abal says it’s always been the case that his government helps facilitate the return of Papuans who have fled Indonesia should they want to return.

  “There have been for some time quite a few people from West papua on this side but it’s always been our wish to process them, whether they decide to stay in PNG, where there’s always the opportunity for citizenship, but where they’re not able to do that they can be repatriated to a third country. But the best option we always look at is to see if they be returned and be accepted over there (Indonesia)”

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

Papuans seek US support for dialogue with Jakarta

Posted at 21:31 on 08 May, 2009 UTC

West Papua advocates have been urging the United States to apply meaningful pressure on Indonesia for internationally-facilitated dialogue between Jakarta and Papuan leaders.

A member of the West Papua Advocacy Team spoke before a US Congressional panel about threats to human rights and the environment in Indonesia’s Papua region.

The NGO has joined with the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, or ETAN, in urging Washington to move beyond the current Special Autonomy arrangement in Papua to address the growing human rights crisis.

Their appeal came in response to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s call for a degree of autonomy for Papuans.

ETAN’s John Miller says he doesn’t think the statement signals a fresh approach from the previous Bush administration.

  “The Papuans themselves are saying that Special Autonomy has failed, and that they would like meaningful discussion which we think the US has the potential - because of (President) Obama’s background - to do with Indonesia about what Papua’s future should be where everything is on the table.”

John Miller

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

Posted via web from papuanews's posterous

Melanesia News.org

Melanesia News Posterous is Parallel posting for www.melanesianews.org

Posted via web from Melanesia News

Melanesia Posterous

Melanesia Posterous is dedicated to Post News and Information on Free Melanesia Activities

Posted via web from Melanesia Post