The Battle to Save Indonesia’s Disappearing Forests

Zubaidah Nazeer – Straits Times Indonesia | February 23, 2011

Imagine 400 football fields of trees disappearing during the duration of a soccer match. That was the rate of deforestation in Indonesia just a few years ago, between 2000 and 2006.

After bans by European countries on imports of illegally logged timber products, the rate of destruction has halved – to about 1 million hectares a year. But this is still considered high, and urgent action is needed, say researchers, analysts and environmental activists. If nothing is done, Indonesia’s unprotected natural forests will be depleted in about 35 years, said Bustar Maitar of Greenpeace Indonesia.

Jouwe: Papua Merdeka Only a Dream

Free Papua Movement (OPM) founder Nicholas Jouwe, on Thursday, said that Papua Merdeka is only a dream.

Papua will never be independent, because it has been independent in the frame of the Republic of Indonesia.

Nicholas Jouwe was fighting for Papuan independency in the U.N. in 1960s.

Nicholas Jouwe returned to Indonesia for good in 2009.

He will stay in Papua and spend the rest of his life there.

“I shall return to Papua, because I am an Indonesian,” said Nicholas Jouwe.

He gets a lot of information on Papua development.

He admitted that Papua is much more progress than 40 years ago. People were living in stone-age then. Now, it is modern life in Papua.

Former beauty queen of Papua serves as Indonesia’s ‘transmigration ambassador.’

24-year-old Augustine Ariella Nere embarked from Jakarta on a mission to Mesuji district in Lampung, her second trip with government officials as the country’s “transmigration ambassador.”

Augustine was appointed to the post by the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration on Dec. 14. The former beauty pageant contestant says she wants a chance to talk with the minister, Muhaimin Iskandar, about her own ideas on how to improve relocation programs in far-flung areas of the country.

Prominent Figure of West Papua passed away

Amersfoort — Viktor Kaisiepo passed away at the age of 61 in Amersfoort, the town where he resided. He was an internationally renowned fighter for developing the people of West Papua, the land where he was born. Kaisiepo had been seriously ill for some time, as stated by his wife.

In May 2000 the Papuan activist Viktor Kaisiepo set foot on his native soil for the first time in 38 years. In Indonesia, the political tide had turned, and President Wahid gave Western New Guinea its old name back: Papua. The indigenous people held a conference on the political future of the region and Viktor, then 51 years old, could not afford to be absent.

Papua is part of Indonesia

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 01/12/2010 5:04 PM

Free Papua Organization (OPM) rebel group founder Nicholas Jouwe arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday and vowed to spend the rest of his life in the country.

Jouwe, 86, proceeded to the office of the Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono upon his arrival in Jakarta. Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, who is a native Papuan, was also seen at the meeting.

The killing of Kelly Kwalik and Papua conflict

Neles Tebay , Abepura | Thu, 12/24/2009 9:08 AM | Jakarta Post

Kelly Kwalik was recognized as a prominent Papuan leader of the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). He resisted Indonesia’s rule over Papua until the last day of his life, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.

BP Shattered illusions

I am sure that well educated Papuan either activist or government employee should read the article on BP business in Papua.  As I mentioned earlier in my writing on Multinational Projects that Papuan should watch closely all multinational projects in the land of Papua. The importance of this is not only watching but also push BP to take serious attention on the survival of the Papuans. We should prevent BP from doing a continuously destructive project on our forests and our trees. We also should fight againts BP projects that pollute the rivers and seas.

The article by John Vidal is must reading for all Papuan Watcher and Papuan Environment activist.

Students stage rallies across Papua in call for referendum on self determination

Referendum for Papua was held in the name of Act of Free Choice in 1969. Today some elements of People who live in Papua call for referendum on self determination. Why? Dissatisfction to the condition of Papua, mismanagement of development and political repression are the main cause of such demand.

Amnesty Exeter Invites Papua’s Separatist Leaders in London

January 22nd, 2008 was the first time in the year of 2008 Amnesty Exeter (Exeter Amnesty International Group) invites West Papua  separatist leaders, Mr Benny Wenda & Mr Richard Samuelson. Mr. Benny Wenda who is Papuan gives talk about Human Right Issue in West Papua. He says Human Right violation in West Papua is committed by Indonesia Military toward West Papuan Peoples. Those propaganda was an old stories that Mr. Wenda keep echoing in UK. He also says that there is no freedom at all, and only killing, torture, imprisonment and intimidation. so we need international attention and keep an eye on the West Papuan Peoples. In contrast, the real situation in West Papua Indonesia is far from Mr. Wenda propaganda, that is a new democratic atmosphere is gradually developed.

Papuans’ Intellectual Freedom

From the bottom of my heart I should salut to Mr. Neles Tebay for his objective analysis on the decision of Indonesia’s government to ban a book entitled “The Sinking of the Melanesian race: The Unitary State of Indonesia’s Political Struggle in West Papua”, written by young author Papuan Sendius Wonda which was announced on Dec. 14 last year.

Shame on Richard Samuelson

A tricky opportunist whore Richard Samuelson may look very scary to Indonesian Military, but to Papuan People he is just a puppet master of great men like Sem Karoba and Benny Wenda. Samuelson is nothing and priceless in the eyes of West Papuan People. However, by influencing papuan natives, he might become a threat to the peaceful democracy of Papuan region. Because he maintains conflict among Papuan People for his personal interest.

By supporting and doing black propaganda operation regarding Papua’s Issue, Richard keep telling lies to the world and without hesitate spreading conflict among papuans.

Please inform us about any dirty attempt by Richard, so we all West Papuan can avoid his trap in creating hostile situation in the peaceful land of Papua.

The West Papuans Refugees Ordered to Leave Site

What Indonesian government should do is to help west papuan refugees whenever they need help. This is not only an obligation in the view of humanitarian perspective, but  also an opportunity to show the world that the democratic Indonesia is attentive to human rights issue. Hopefully that the diplomatic ties between Indonesia and PNG can solve the problem of West Papuan refugees.

Here is the news:

The Hardliners on Either Side Need Each Other

I just read an enlightened article from Contradiction Blog with title Who supports what? I should congratulate the way the writer put the objective situation in Papua Indonesia.

It seems to me that the writer is a field researcher or activist who really understand that to distinct between different positions in Papua is often obscured. This may be too simple when we talk about the complexity of Papua’s picture. This may be the situation is really that simple and we can ignore the complexity which has been made for 40 years.