Meeting between military and civil society in Manokwari

Another important news update from TAPOL.

Report received from LP3BH, Institute for Analysing, Investigation and Development of Human Aid

A meeting convened by the local military commander, Lt.Col Irham Waroihanwas which was held in Manokwari on 28 November was attended by local military officers, local civil society leaders and representatives of NGOs.

Opening the meeting, the military commander said the aim of the meeting was to exchange thoughts in connection with the plan of the President to visit Manokwari on 20 December, and possible developments in the area on 1 and 14 December. He urged all those present to keep in communication with each other so as to avoid mutual suspicions and to ensure that any developments could be resolved peacefully, without resort to violence.

President meets with traditional kings and sultans

11/30/08 07:06

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here Saturday met with traditional kings and sultans grouped in the Nusantara Forum of Palaces and called on them to help safeguard the country`s national heritages.

“Indonesia has a variety of cultures, arts and civilizations which show the greatness of the country. As the head of state, I expect all kings and sultans to play a role in preserving and developing the national heritages ,” he said.

Three Fundamental Problems in West Papua

There are three fundamental problems that should be addressed peacefully in West Papua: crimes against humanity, the failure of New Order’s (Suharto regime) socio-economic and cultural development, and the reconciliation of Papua as land of peace. Democratisation in Indonesia has brought a very successful change in Papua. The majority of Papuan are now supporting the development program implemented under the special autonomy with the support of international community. Papuans are no longer facing marginalisation in their own land. Some would say it is time  for a real change.

Addressing these problems is an internal matter for Indonesia’s central government and local government of Papua and West Papua provinces. However, the international community through any international organization such as the UN , NGOs and civil society movements could take part in helping the development in Papua.

From remote villages to bustling cities: educating Indonesians about HIV

UNICEF Indonesia’s HIV/AIDS outreach team receives a warm welcome from the Arfak people of Papua, Indonesia.

copyright: UNICEF

Link source : UNICEF

By Suzanna Dayne

WEST PAPUA, Indonesia, 28 November 2008 – It is before dawn as a UNICEF outreach team departs on a bumpy six-hour drive up a steep mountain road to the remote village of Imbenti. The goal is to bring life saving information about HIV/AIDS to the approximately 100 families who are living in the Arfak moutains of West Papua.

In the past, the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in such a small, rural community was not seen as very high. However, many young people are now leaving the village to further their schooling. As such, there is a fear that if these young people are not educated about HIV/AIDS, they could return to their village and spread the virus.

Human rights: business responsibility

What are the human rights responsibilities of corporations? Christine Bader, BP’s manager of policy development currently on secondment to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for business & human rights, provides an overview of the current debate.

Business is increasingly multinational, and corporations from all countries continue to grow in scale and scope. But with this expanded breadth, business can increasingly impact on human rights, both positively and negatively.

Two Papuan refugees return to Indonesia from Australia: ministry

Agence France-Presse – 11/29/2008 10:28 AM GMT

Two Papuans out of a group of 43 asylum seekers who fled Indonesia in 2006, triggering a diplomatic row with Australia, have returned home, the foreign affairs ministry said Saturday. Yunus Wainggai and his young daughter Anike were repatriated more than two years after they travelled by boat to northern Australia led by Papuan separatist activist Herman Wainggai.

“There was no force whatsoever in their decision to return home,” foreign affairs ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told AFP. “Yunus felt that he had been cheated by Herman. He was promised some money and a job but they were not realised. Yunus also told us that he missed his home and relatives,” he said. Faizasyah did not elaborate on how Yunus and Herman were related. The father and daughter flew from the Australian city of Canberra to the capital Jakarta through a transit in Denpasar, Bali. “It’s up to them to decide when they want to return to Papua,” Faizasyah said.

Lack of midwives and high mortality rate; education facilities very inadequate according to Governor

Wake up !!!

Indonesian citizen in Papua should work hand in hand to develop education facilities.

Indonesian citizen in Jakarta and other advance cities should pay more attention to help us…are we your brother or not !!!

Please read this ! Very Important News from Tapol

Kompas, 21 November 2008

The mortality rate of mothers and babies is very high in the provinces of Papua and West Papua because of a serious shortage of midwives, according to the director of the Mothers’ Health Department of the Indonesian Department of Health, Bagus Sukasuara.

Two quakes hit West Papua on Monday

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Two earthquakes respectively measuring 5.2 and 5.5 on the Richter scale hit West Papua Province, on Monday.

The national meteorological and geophysics office said here on Monday that the 5.2-magnitude quake occurred at 12.23 am Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

Benny Wenda Gives a pack of lies to Catholic peace and Justice group in Liverpool.

Nov 24, 2008

I will support  Benny Wenda if Indonesia still held the military and autocratic New Order system. But since 1998, a big change happened in Indonesia and all Indonesian can speak freely and openly to the world about everything. Indonesian press is also one of the freest in the world today. My only reaction to Benny Wenda campaign in UK is that please stop telling lies to British people. I will suggest Benny Wenda to go home and see the development in Papua by his own eyes.

Papuans left Australia to ‘avoid crime charge’ ?

“They (Papuans) came home by their own will, that’s what I know. Australia has its laws, we have ours. If they were involved in a crime, I think they should be punished. Many Australians have been punished here in Indonesia,” Setyawati said Wednesday.

Indonesian Alfons Adadikam following the instruction of Herman Wainggai tries his best to propagate lies abot Hana Gobay and Yubel Kareni.

Angela Flassy , The Jakarta Post , Jayapura | Fri, 11/21/2008 1:16 PM | The Archipelago

The return home from Australia of two Papuan asylum seekers was due to legal problems arising from the couples ongoing incidence of domestic violence — and nothing else, Alfons Adadikam, chairman of the Melbourne based Victoria West Papua Association (VIWPA) said. He criticized the Indonesian government for using the repatriation for political gain and said the repatriation was for no other reason.

Special Report: Defending Papua, RI’s main agenda in Pacific region

Fri, 11/14/2008 11:03 AM | World

Indonesia’s relations with countries in the Pacific region have received sparse media attention in recent times. However, a series of recent incidents and demonstrations have brought into question Indonesia’s right to sovereignty over Papua. The Jakarta Post’s Abdul Khalik joined an Indonesian delegation in a dialog last week with senior officials from Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Port Moresby to discuss problems along the 760-kilometer-long border the countries share. The event was preceded by a visit by Indonesian officials to the border town of Merauke in Papua. The following are reports from the event.

Benny Wenda Gives empty propaganda talks to Amnesty International in Oxford University

Mr Wenda who claimed himself as the great leader of West Papua made another super claim as the voice of 250 tribe.

He said that West Papua is Western Half of the New Guinea Island North of Australia, Home of Birth of paradise, but today home of Military. Indonesia Military & Police committed crime humanity in West Papua, everyday killing, rape, intimidation, torturing, and Imprisonment. He also mentioned that when West Papuan People made a peaceful demonstration, Indonesia Military and Police always came and stopped the demonstrator and arrest them, torture them put them in the prison very long time without any trial. Please check yourself by visiting Papua and you will find the peaceful land of Papua without any condition that Benny has accused in his speech at every corner of the United Kingdom.

Benny the great leader of West Papua is a Liar. He lies with his heart and never really think about the progress in West Papua.

Indonesia is a democratic country, and you have to prove it by seeing it directly with your eyes and not from what Benny has said so.

Why should smart people in UK believe what Benny said without crosscheck to reliable sources and if possible just see it with your own eyes.

West Papuan people need your help to see the situation in reality and not lies.

Here is the photo of UK smart people who listen and believe in a liar talks without crosscheck.

More lies on West Papua Story

It is normal for both democratic Indonesia and the United Kingdom to see exiles from West Papua demonstrated in Reading Festival to instigate a packed audience that included the mayor and mayoress about their fight for separating Papua province from Indonesia. South East MEP Dr Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, also spoke at the meeting on October 17, 2008.