[Kabar-Irian] News: August 7-13 2006

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August 7-13 2006
KABAR IRIAN NEWS

TOPICS

* Establishment of Indonesian Papuan People's presidium council declared
* Three die in Papua tribal melee
* Four people were killed...
* PNG troops shoot fisherman: Indon upset
* Indonesian fisherman in PNG shot during effort to disable outboard motor
*  PAPUA: Court Completes Trials Of March Mine Protestors
* Female condom gaining acceptance as means of preventing HIV/AIDS
* Critics say the Bill was drawn up to appease Indonesia after Papuans
asked for asylum.
* West Papuan human rights advocate tours NZ
* Killed fisherman buried back home in Papua
* PNG envoy summoned over fatal shooting of Indonesian
* Cultural understanding necessary in Papua
* President admits indigenous people mistreated
* Freeport suspects reject indictment
* Time for govt to change approach to Papua
* Bird flu virus spreads to Papua
* A threat to Indonesia's rich biodiversity
* Controversial Asylum Law Passes First Hurdle in Australia
* Equal treatment for OPM needed
* Who are indigenous Indonesians?
* No changes to planned border laws
* Australia debates asylum changes


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http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=18193

Establishment of Indonesian Papuan People's presidium council declared


Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Former freedom fighters for the 1969 Irian Jaya
Referendum (PEPERA), Papuan community leaders and the Papuan youth
declared here Friday the establishment of the Indonesian Papuan People`s
Presidium Council.

The text of the declaration was read out loudly and clearly before an
audience of about 200 by Heemskercke Boney, a Papuan women leader and
daughter of Elieser Yan Bonay, former first governor of Irian Barat (West
Irian) province for the 1963-1965 period.

"By sending a prayer up to the one and only God for the opportunity
bestowed upon us, as the generation responsible for continuing the
aspirations of the people of Papua, the inseparable part of the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia, we declare in this Jayapura City on
Friday, August 11, 2006, the establishment of the Indonesian Papuan
People`s Presidium Council," Elieser declared.

On the traditional and religious bases and with the support of the Papuan
youth, students and women, the Council is committed to always holding in
high esteem the noble values of the five-point national ideology Pancasila
and the 1945 Constitution, and will always faithfully stick to the history
of Papua in the fringes of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,
she avowed.

The Indonesian Papuan People`s Presidium Council, or DPMPI for short, is
determined to foster changes for a better welfare and justice for the
Indonesian people in Papua, she said.

Moreover, the Council is prepared to defend the nation and the country
against internal and external threats and maintain Papua as an integral
part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, she stated.

Before declaring the establishment of the Council, the declaration
committee held a seminar on the maintenance of Papua in the Unitary State
of the Republic of Indonesia, with several prominent figures as keynote
speakers.

Dr.L. Revassy MA of Cenderawasih University discussed the Papuan people in
the perspective of national development and as 1969 PEPERA historical
actors. Ramses Ohee discussed the topic of maintaining the 1945 values for
the sake of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

The one-day seminar was aimed at ensuring the right and profound
perception of the 1969 PEPERA historical fact, which underlines that Irian
Barat (West Irian) is an inseparable part of the Unitary State of the
Republic of Indonesia, in a bid to strengthen the spirit of nationalism of
all components in the Papuan community, especially the Papuan youth,
organizing committee chairman Daniel Wanda said.

"We hope that the seminar, which was attended by former 1969 PEPERA actors
and veterans of the Trikora struggle against the Dutch colonial
administration, will turn out a common commitment to defend national unity
in overcoming disintegration issues in Papua province," he said.

Wanda made it clear that the one-day seminar followed by the declaration
of the establishment of DPMPI is not intended to counter seminars and
declarations of the formation of various organizations or groups in Papua.

The Indonesian Papuan People`s Presidium Council was born from the pure
aspiration for the maintenance of Papua in the Unitary State of the
Republic of Indonesia for the sake of the enhancement of people`s welfare
and peaceful situation in the Indonesian easternmost province, he
asserted. (*)

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20060813.A04&irec=1

Three die in Papua tribal melee

INDONESIA: Fresh fighting between warring tribes broke in Kwamki Lama
hamlet, Mimika regency in Papua on Saturday, leaving three people dead and
80 others injured.

The clash between the Dani and Damal tribes, which erupted at 6 a.m., also
left two police officers -- Mimika Police chief's adjutant Brig. Wilson
Richard Latuasan and Second Brig. Nathaniel Naga -- injured. The two
officers, who suffered wounds to their stomach and shoulder respectively,
were treated at Mitra Masyarakat Mimika Hospital.

The Saturday clash, which also saw three houses set on fire, started when
villagers from the Damal tribe attacked the Dani tribe. A previous clash
between the two tribes had left 10 people dead.

More police officers have been deployed to the conflict area and two
people allegedly responsible for provoking the fresh clash have also been
apprehended by the police. -- JP

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http://www.antara.co.id/en/seenws/?id=18222

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Four people were killed when tribesmen in
Indonesia's remote Papua province battled each other again with bows and
arrows, spears and machetes, police said Sunday.

Renewed violence erupted early Saturday just 10 days after leaders of the
Dani and Damal tribes vowed to halt clashes that had left 10 dead in 10
days of warfare.

Four people were killed and two policemen were among the injured. There
had been no clashes on Sunday so far, Master Sergeant Bonepai, from Timika
district police, said as reported by AFP.

The cause of the renewed outbreak of violence remained unclear. The first
conflict in July was sparked by the drowning of a child from the Dani
tribe while under the supervision of a relative from the Damal tribe.

The battles were staged in an open field on the outskirts of Timika town,
not far from a huge gold and copper mine operated by a subsidiary of US
mining giant Freeport-McMoRan.

Papua is home to groups that engage in elaborate war rituals to solve
disputes between clans or tribes. Conflicts, with each camp taking turns
to shoot arrows and throw spears, can take days to be resolved.

According to tradition, a death should be avenged by another death or else
the killer's tribe must pay a hefty fine of prized pigs and hold a feast
to seal peace. (*)

COPYRIGHT © 2006 ANTARA

August 13, 2006

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/PNG-troops-shoot-fisherman-Indon-upset/2006/08/11/1154803095196.html

PNG troops shoot fisherman: Indon upset

August 11, 2006 - 8:04PM


Indonesian officials say PNG soldiers used "excessive force" when they
shot and killed an Indonesian fisherman and injured two others near the
two countries' northern sea border.

The body of the 27-year-old fisherman, named as Mulydi, was on Thursday
returned to family members in Indonesia's Papua province following
Tuesday's incident.

The shootings occurred after a coastal border patrol of PNG soldiers and
police chased a motorised canoe carrying 10 Indonesian fishermen allegedly
fishing illegally in PNG waters.

The Indonesian consul in the northern PNG town of Vanimo said the PNG
government had yet to give a formal explanation for the incident but it
was important government to government talks took place to resolve the
issue.

"This is the first time our fishermen have been shot," Kristanyo Hardojo
said.

"Use of excessive force to our fishermen will be one aspect discussed
between our two capital cities.

"We should solve this problem as soon as possible according to the law and
continue what we have had with a close relationship."

Two of the fishermen were being treated for gunshot wounds in Vanimo's
hospital and the other seven were in police custody in the town.

All were from the island of Sulawesi but were working out of the Papuan
capital Jayapura.

Hardojo said the detained fishermen had yet to be charged by police or
fisheries authorities and he had requested they be repatriated.

PNG's acting Police Commissioner Gari Baki confirmed the shootings by PNG
soldiers and said the shots were fired after the Indonesians allegedly
tried to escape by towing the PNG patrol boat to the border after a line
was tied to their vessel.

The shooting death would be the subject of a coroner's inquest, he said.

PNG's Opposition Leader Peter O'Neill said the incident was unfortunate
and he did not believe the reported circumstances surrounding the incident
warranted deadly action.

"We cannot allow our disciplined forces to go on a shooting spree every
time there is an illegal crossing," he said.

PNG Foreign Affairs Secretary Gabriel Pepson said his department had been
liaising with Indonesian Embassy staff in Port Moresby.

Hardojo said his office had good relations with police and provincial
officials in PNG's border province of Sandaun and many people in the
province had expressed their dismay over the shootings.

There were no signs of tension on the border following the incident but
the number of Papua New Guineans crossing to visit markets on the
Indonesian side had dropped off for two days, he said.

© 2006 AAP

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200608111821/f86bd6f


Indonesian fisherman in PNG shot during effort to disable outboard motor

Posted at 6:21pm on 11 Aug 2006

Indonesian officials say PNG soldiers used excessive force when they shot
and killed an Indonesian fisherman and injured two others near the two
countries' northern sea border.

The body of the 27-year-old fisherman, named as Mulydi, has been returned
to family members in Indonesia's Papua province following Tuesday's
incident.

The shootings occurred after a coastal border patrol of PNG soldiers and
police chased a motorised canoe carrying 10 Indonesian fishermen allegedly
fishing illegally in PNG waters.

The chief of staff of the PNG Defence Force, Captain Tom Ur, says soldiers
and police had been asked to join one of the regular fisheries patrols
near the border town of Vanimo.

He says they came upon around 12 boats and pursued them when they failed
to stop.

    "They fired a few warning shots but these guys continued trying to
escape, so the next thing they did was try for the outboard motor. I
think because of the unstable platform they got the guy sitting at the
back."

Copyright © 2006 Radio New Zealand International

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 PAPUA: Court Completes Trials Of March Mine Protestors

Saturday: August 5, 2006

(RNZI) - A court in Indonesia’s Papua province has jailed two men for 15
years each for taking part in deadly protests in Jayapura against the
US-run Freeport mine, reports Radio New Zealand International Online.

Their lawyer says the district court found Ferdinandus Pakage and Luis
Gedi guilty of resisting police and using violence which caused death.

The lawyer says the pair were the final defendants from a total of 23
Papuans, mostly students, who have been standing trial in connection with
the protest, which saw five security personnel and one civilian killed.

He earlier defended 14 others who have been sentenced to five or six years
in jail.

He says he has lodged appeals in all of his 16 cases.

A separate group of seven suspects on trial for the alleged murder of an
air force officer at the protest are still awaiting verdicts from the same
court.

Criticis of Freeport-McMoran accuse the mine of not giving enough to the
people of Papua in return for the mine.

Source: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=25867

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http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/8101.html

Female condom gaining acceptance as means of preventing HIV/AIDS
Posted on : Sat, 12 Aug 2006 09:24:01 GMT | Author : Thomas Blythe
News Category : Health

The National AIDS Commission has decided to advertise the use of female
condoms in Papua in order to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS in the region.
NAC secretary-general, Nafsiah Mbo announced that the commission had
distributed around 900 condoms among females in the area to see how the
contraceptive would be received in the community.The National AIDS
Commission has decided to advertise the use of female condoms in Papua in
order to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS in the region. NAC secretary-general,
Nafsiah Mbo announced that the commission had distributed around 900
condoms among females in the area to see how the contraceptive would be
received in the community.

Nafsiah said the initiative to provide condoms to females was a good one
since it had borne fruit in diverse countries like Thailand and Zimbabwe
and had succeeded in reducing the infection rates there. "The HIV
infection rate is increasing much faster among women than among men in
Indonesia. The percentage of new infections among women is very high," she
said. "We have to provide female condoms so that women can protect
themselves. Not just for injected-drug users or sex workers, but also
housewives who know that their husbands are unfaithful."

Across the world women account for almost 50 percent of HIV/AIDS affected
persons. In fact at the AIDS summit held in June, UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan had called for fighting the increasingly female face of AIDS.
But the prevailing prejudices in the society make it tough for women and
girls to have a say in sexual matters. That is why the female condom could
provide an answer, "It's a pilot study to see how people like it, and we
also train people to promote it," Nafsiah said.

Zimbabwean activist Caroline Maposhere said the female condom would
empower women. "In terms of alcohol and drugs, people are often too drunk
and too high to put on a condom. With the female condom, women who are
injected-drug users are already protected," Maposhere said.

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ABC News onlineLast Update:
Thursday, August 10, 2006. 7:31pm (AEST)

Critics say the Bill was drawn up to appease Indonesia after Papuans asked
for asylum. (File photo) (ABC TV)

Anger over Indonesia's role in migration debate


There is new controversy about Indonesia's role in the latest migration
Bill.The Bill passed but Liberals Petro Georgiou, Judy Moylan and Russell
Broadbent crossed the floor and Bruce Baird abstained. It is the first
time in 10 years that Liberals have voted against the Government in the
Lower House but the Bill still passed and now the focus is on the Senate.
Labor's Tony Burke say the Bill is aimed at appeasing Indonesia, because
it was drafted after 43 Papuans arrived on the mainland in January.
"Instead of the Australian Government standing up for the Australian legal
system John Howard said 'OK, if you don't like our laws we'll change
them'," he said. This Bill will test the Coalition's one-seat majority; if
a government Senator opposes it then Family First Senator Steve Fielding's
vote will be crucial. Earlier today he discussed the issue with the
Indonesian Ambassador and the Prime Minister. Greens Senator Bob Brown has
condemned Senator Fielding's action and says he should rename his party
'Jakarta First'. Meanwhile, a senior Nationals MP in the House of
Representatives has resigned from his position as party whip because he
abstained on today's migration legislation. Victorian MP, John Forrest,
abstained because of his concerns over the Bill. He then gave his
resignation as whip to the Nationals leader, Mark Vaile.


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http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0608/S00132.htm

West Papuan human rights advocate tours NZ
Sunday, 13 August 2006, 3:15 pm
Press Release: Indonesia Human Rights Committee

West Papuan human rights advocate tours NZ

Socratez Sofyan Yoman Prominent Human Rights Activist and leader of the
Baptist Churches in West Papua arrives in Auckland for a month long tour
on Monday August 14, 2006. He will be the keynote speaker at a seminar
'West Papua the Hidden Pacific Conflict' August 18-19, AUT University, cnr
Wellesley St and Mayoral Drive

In the last eight years, Reverend Yoman has taken a high profile as a
campaigner for peace, justice and human rights in West Papua. Reverend
Yoman has briefed Australian, UK and European parliamentarians as well as
UN representatives. He is held in high esteem by major international peace
and justice NGOs. His 5 books on West Papua: include "The Gate to Free
Papua" and "The Silence of The Churches in The History of Abuse and
Repression of People of West Papua."

Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman has released a list of incidents in 2006 when he
was terrorised and intimidated by Indonesian military, police or
intelligence officers, including when his car was destroyed by Indonesian
Mobile Brigade Police. "Myself, I am not afraid because I am talking about
the truth and justice and peace; and I'm talking about human dignity and
human rights. But I'm still afraid for my two sons."

West Papua, New Zealand's Pacific neighbour, has been under Indonesian
rule since 1963. At least 100,000 people have died in the ongoing
conflict. Early this year 43 desperate asylum seekers fled persecution,
risking their lives in a traditional outrigger boat in order to reach
Australia's northern tip.

The seminar will also hear from John Wing, Centre for Conflict Studies
Sydney will present the findings of his recent research for the report
"Genocide in West Papua? The Role of the Indonesian State Apparatus and a
Current Needs Assessment of the Papuan People". The Saturday Workshops
include sessions on the history of West Papua, health and environmental
issues (Freeport: Mountain of Wealth and Destruction), human rights
overview and the role of the international community. The seminar
concludes with a Forum to which political party representatives have been
invited. The much praised film "Land of the Morning Star" will be
screened.


Ends

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060812.G02


Killed fisherman buried back home in Papua

National News - August 12, 2006

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

A fisherman shot dead by the Papua New Guinea military was laid to rest
Friday at an Islamic cemetery in Waena, Jayapura, as calls increased for
an investigation into the border incident.

The fisherman, Mulyadi, is survived by his wife, 26-year-old Nur Jannah
Bandaso, and two young children, 19-month-old Randa and Randi, seven
months.

Mulyadi's remains arrived in Jayapura on Thursday, after they were
delivered by the Indonesian Consulate General in Vanimo Ignatius
Christanyo Hardoyo and Sandaun province police chief Richard M. Molou.

The shooting occurred on Tuesday, a day after Mulyadi and nine other
fishermen identified as Hamid, Oval, Hamka, Nasrul, Dawi, Seri, Lompo,
Tuamara and Lupus, left from Palopo to Papua aboard the Buana Jaya fishing
boat.

Two other fishermen were injured in the incident and are being treated at
the Vanimo Hospital while seven others have been detained by the PNG
military.

On behalf of the victims' families, a spokesman for the fishermen, Rusdin
Ali Patung, urged the Indonesian and the PNG governments Friday to
repatriate the two injured fishermen.

"We are very concerned, we don't know whether our brothers are lightly or
seriously injured. We want the Indonesian and Papua New Guinea governments
to bring them home," he said.

He also demanded Indonesia thoroughly investigate the incident. "Our
brothers are human. Why is it so easy to take away their lives? Why were
they shot at only because they were suspected for trespassing over the
country's border? Did they really break any laws?" he said.

Following the incident, the Foreign Ministry summoned PNG Ambassador to
Indonesia Cristopher Siaoa Mero on Thursday to convey the country's anger
about the shooting of the fishermen.

"This is the first act of violence by Papua New Guinea authorities that
has claimed an Indonesian fisherman's life. We don't know yet if the
fishermen had crossed the border but whatever their mistake, we can't
accept the shooting," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

He said the government had demanded PNG investigate who was responsible
for the order to shoot the fisherman.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060811.G02

PNG envoy summoned over fatal shooting of Indonesian

National News - August 11, 2006

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Foreign Ministry summoned Papua New Guinean Ambassador to Indonesia
Cristopher Siaoa Mero on Thursday to convey Indonesia's anger over the
shooting of Indonesian fishermen, one of whom was shot dead, at the
maritime border between the two countries Tuesday.

"This is the first act of violence by the Papua New Guinean authorities
that has claimed an Indonesian fisherman's life. We don't know yet if the
fishermen had crossed the border but whatever their mistake, we can't
accept the shooting," Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said.

He said that the Indonesian government had demanded that the Papua New
Guinean government investigate who was responsible for the killing of the
fisherman, who was identified as Mulyadi.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said that besides Mulyadi, two
other fishermen were injured in the incident while seven others were
detained by the Papua New Guinean military.

"The Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo (Papua New Guinea) will help send
Mulyadi's body home as soon as possible while they will also provide
consular assistance to the other nine," Desra said.

He said that the Foreign Ministry had informed the families of all the
fisherman in Palopo, South Sulawesi, about the incident.

Mulyadi and nine of his friends, identified as Hamid, Oval, Hamka, Nasrul,
Dawi, Seri, Lompo, Tuamara and Lupus, left from Palopo to Papua aboard the
Buana Jaya fishing boat. The fishermen are from the Dok V area in
Jayapura, the capital of Papua province.

They left to fish Monday and the incident occurred the next day.

"We are still waiting for the Papua New Guinean government's statement on
the incident," Desra said.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060811.E02


Cultural understanding necessary in Papua

Opinion and Editorial - August 11, 2006

Vidhyandika D. Perkasa, Jakarta

Papua again is in the spotlight after almost two weeks of tribal violence
that left 10 people dead in Mimika. However, a more historical event
occurred a few weeks earlier, when Australian Prime Minister John Howard
and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met in Batam. The
meeting resulted in Australia's recognition of Indonesia's territorial
integrity -- including Papua.

Despite the good will shown by Australia, however, there is no guarantee
that a stable diplomatic relationship exists. Indonesia has experienced
various diplomatic hiccups not only with Australia but also with other
countries concerning the incorporation of Papua within Indonesian
territory.

In this case, the most effective solution for avoiding such diplomatic
hiccups is still rooted in Indonesia's ability to handle the complexity of
the problems in Papua without wasting any more time.

Currently, special autonomy for the province is seen as the most effective
and promising formula for solving the complex problems in Papua. This
include efforts to lift 80.07 percent of Papua's population, or about 1.5
million people, from poverty. However, the implementation of special
autonomy has disappointed many Papuans.

A study conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
between 2004 and 2005 found the majority of Papuans did not understand the
essence of special autonomy, a few misinterpreted the meaning and,
ironically, the people in charge of familiarizing Papuans with special
autonomy had never read the 2001 Special Autonomy for Papua Law. Thus,
recently a few people opted for a revision of the law in order to allow it
to be more effectively enforced. But who is to blame for the ineffective
implementation of special autonomy?

Despite various explanations of the failure, there are two underlying
reasons: First, special autonomy failed because of intervention by the
central government in the implementation of the law. Second, the failure
resulted from a lack of monitoring by the central government of the
implementation of the law, citing the spirit of regional autonomy.

The second reason has detrimental implications. Not only was there a lack
of monitoring and limited intervention, but the situation was exacerbated
by the government's lack of understanding, or possibly negligence, as to
where cultural aspects stand or have influence in the implementation of
special autonomy. Ideally, all policies must be implemented under a
cultural framework for maximum results.

It is clear that special autonomy in Papua has not been effective due to a
narrow understanding of culture, or in the extreme sense a cultural
disparagement in policy formulation and implementation. Culture is only
normally understood as art and traditional performances. However, in
anthropological terms there is more to a culture. Culture involves values,
norms, behavior, traditions, symbolic goods, knowledge, experience and
life cycles.

Papuans have a unique culture and character. They are sensitive to
promises. Once a person promises something and fails to deliver, he or she
will lose the trust of others. That person will be accused of deception.
This may explain why special autonomy has been rejected by Papuans. Being
seen as a string of broken promises, special autonomy is regarded as a new
form of deception. It will be difficult now to regain people's trust.

The ineffective implementation of special autonomy is also related to
aspects of local or tribal leadership, which Papuans regard as a sacred
status. In addition, leadership in Papua is based on achieved status.
Sadly, Papuan society has long been characterized by tribal wars that were
triggered and solved by various reasons and conflict mechanisms.

Under special autonomy, tribal leaders are vying for positions in the
modern bureaucracy. Ironically, the elected formal leaders are engaged in
traditional politics. To be more specific, all causes of tribal wars,
cycles of revenge and hatred are dragged into the politics of modern
governance, as evident in the conflict between Jayawijaya Regent David
Hubi and legislative speaker Budiman Kogoya. The impacts of this are
inefficient bureaucracy, corruption and nepotism.

The bankruptcy of local government is a good example of this kind of
leadership style. This may happen due to certain local values that require
the payment of people's claims to settle any problems facing local
leaders. A leader's status will increase if he is capable of settling all
of the people's claims and problems.

In the Papuan case, there is no right or wrong to judge the behavior of
leaders, because culture captures values and relativism. The people
(masses) will be loyal to their leader despite his wrongdoings, and there
is a tendency that no formal laws will be able to control his behavior.

This phenomenon demonstrates just how fatal it is if a policy formulation
and implementation neglects the cultural aspects of the targeted society.
A special autonomy that neglects the cultural values of the Papuans has
resulted in a political tragedy. The government needs to make a more
serious effort to overcome this problem.

The writer is a researcher in the Department of Politics and Social
Change, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta. He
obtained his PhD in anthropology from Monash University, Australia. He can
be reached at vidhyandika at csis.or.id

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060810.H08

President admits indigenous people mistreated

National News - August 10, 2006

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid homage to Indonesia's indigenous
people Wednesday and said he would propose a law to provide them special
protection.

In an event to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous People
in Jakarta, the President said indigenous people "have shown their wisdom
in the use and preservation of natural resources".

Yudhoyono admitted that the rights of original inhabitants have often been
sacrificed for the sake of development, as powerful business interests
seek to exploit natural resources.

"I am calling on all government officials at the central and local
administrations to take into account the interests of these people in
designing and executing development programs," he said.

Yudhoyono said the government should learn from indigenous people who have
devised ways to use natural resources without causing environmental
destruction.

"And that is unlike what we see now. We must ensure that land use and
environmental arrangements are carried out according to traditional
values, to prevent excessive exploitation," he said.

The President said one reason the rights of original inhabitants were
often overlooked was the absence of a law specifically addressing the
issue.

He said he would propose a bill to detail the rights and roles of
indigenous people, and to require local administrations to take them into
account in carrying out development.

Projects like the Freeport gold and copper mine in Papua province have
long been a target of critics, who say there has been little effort to
preserve the environment or improve the lives of indigenous people there.

They charge most of the money generated from the mine has gone to the
American company and the Indonesian government.

Similar cases have taken place throughout the country. Indigenous people
have lost their traditional land and livelihoods to business interests
backed by government forces.

Indonesia has yet to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO)
Convention 169 Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent
Countries.

While the country has no specific law on indigenous people, they are
protected under broader laws such as the one concerning human rights.

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060809.H09

Freeport suspects reject indictment

National News - August 09, 2006

Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lawyers for seven men charged with the 2002 killings of two Americans and
one Indonesian in Papua province entered a not guilty plea for their
clients Tuesday, saying the indictments were obscure or baseless.

"The defendants have been made scapegoats as part of an effort to clean up
the image of the TNI (Indonesian Military) and mend military ties between
the United States and Indonesia," chief lawyer Johnson Pandjaitan told the
Central Jakarta District Court. He did not elaborate.

The suspects were indicted for killing U.S. nationals Ricky Lynn Spier,
44, and Edwin Leon Burgen, 71, and their Indonesian colleague, FX Bambang
Riwanto, in an armed ambush near PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika district.

Johnson said the charges against key suspect Antonius Wamang, who has
confessed to shooting at the vehicles carrying the Freeport employees,
were obscure.

"Prosecutors charge Antonius with recruiting the other six defendants to
help him vandalize the road to Freeport, but they do not clearly say
whether he planned to vandalize the road or to commit murder," Johnson
said.

He said the indictments against Agustinus Anggaibak and the five other
defendants were premature as their case was related to that of Antonius,
who had not been proven guilty.

Antonius' six colleagues are accused of aiding him in launching the
assault. "The police said Agustinus Anggaibak and Yulianus Deikme knew
nothing about the order, while the rest only knew that there was a request
from Antonius to sabotage the Freeport road," Johnson said.

He said the seven suspects could not be charged with premeditated murder
because they actually intended to vandalize Jl. Tembagapura, rather than
commit murder.

Johnson also said the Supreme Court's order to move the trial from Timika
district to Jakarta was invalid.

Such an order should have been issued by the Justice and Human Rights
Ministry, the lawyer argued.

"The 'security reasons' for the trial to be moved to Jakarta ahead of the
Papuan gubernatorial election were an exaggeration, because the poll ended
peacefully," he said. "After all, all regions (across the country) will
hold local direct elections, and that should not necessarily cause court
proceedings to be moved."

During the Tuesday court hearing, the seven defendants continued to
protest against being tried in Jakarta. They refused to sit in the
defendants' chairs, and kept silent during the proceeding.

Johnson said the arrests of the suspects by FBI agents in January were
also invalid because they were carried out without arrest warrants.

"They were deceived by the FBI agents, who persuaded them to come out of
hiding with a promise that they would be brought to the U.S. so they could
tell about the injustices in Papua. But in fact they were turned over to
Indonesian authorities," the lawyer said.

Johnson also said his clients were not accompanied by a translator during
the investigation, and most of them could not speak Indonesian fluently.

Presiding judge Andriani Nurdin adjourned the trial until Aug. 15, when it
will continue with or without the presence of the defendants.

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060809.B07

Time for govt to change approach to Papua'

Opinion and Editorial - August 09, 2006

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's recent visit to Papua marked the
government's renewed commitment to addressing the multitude of problems
facing the local people. Papua University scholar Agus Sumule, who helped
draft the law on special autonomy for Papua, shared with The Jakarta
Post's Dwi Atmanta his views on the implementation of the law.

Question: Many people say special autonomy is the best solution to Papua's
problems. What actually are the problems?

There are four basic problems facing Papuans. First, the yawning gap
between Papua and Jakarta. Despite the exploration of natural resources
like mineral, marine and forest resources, the quality of life of the
Papuan people remains poor as indicated by the province's mortality rate,
which is the highest, and life expectancy, which is the lowest in the
country. Second, the traditional rights of Papuans have long been
neglected. The history of the extraction industry in Papua cannot be
separated from Jakarta's negligence of rights abuses. Third, many gross
human rights violations that have occurred since 1963 in Papua remain
unaddressed. Fourth, there has been debate over the history of Papua's
integration with Indonesia through the Act of Free Choice in 1969. Many
Papuans believe the process was unfair and far from honest.

Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua was envisioned to address
the problems, one by one. It stipulates the allocation of 2 percent of the
special allocation fund for Papua and the lion's share of 70 percent of
the revenue from oil and gas for the province. Past human rights abuses
will be settled through the Papua office of the National Commission on
Human Rights and the controversy surrounding Papua's integration into
Indonesia will be resolved through the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission. But apparently the major problems have remained unaddressed.

Why has special autonomy not gone ahead?

The government has made two basic mistakes. First, I haven't seen the
central government intent on upholding the special autonomy law since it
was enacted by president Megawati. It was evident in the delay of the
formation of the MRP (Papua People's Council) and the issuance of
Presidential Decree No. 1/2003 (on the acceleration of Papua's division
into three provinces). As soon as SBY assumed power, we pushed for a media
campaign to tell the new government the time had come to make amends for
the mistakes. But our advice fell on deaf ears.

Second, the law cannot work because the local government lacks the
capacity, which is demonstrated by overwhelming practices of KKN
(corruption, collusion and nepotism), while at the same time we feel the
central government seems reluctant to improve conditions. Jakarta is
mandated to carry out the supervision of regional governments, according
to Law No. 22/2004 on regional administrations. It is as though there is
some grand scheme to derail special autonomy by letting the mismanagement
continue. The government plans to review the law on special autonomy for
Papua. Will the revision result in improvements?

The revision must first of all guarantee that the substance of the law
will not be altered, because the problem rests with the implementation.
That's why the Papua legislature has expressed opposition to the revision
plan. Even the formation of West Irian Jaya cannot justify the amendment.

Such a revision must start from the bottom, which more or less is similar
to the way Law No. 11/2006 on Aceh's governance was drafted. Thank God,
Aceh's problems could finally be settled through a democratic process. We
can do it for the Papuans, can't we? Therefore the government should let
Papuans take the initiative in the revision of the law on special autonomy
for Papua. The law itself stipulates that any revision to it must be done
through consultation with the legislature and the MRP.

How do you see the recently issued presidential instruction on the
acceleration of Papua's development?

I don't agree with it. First, the instruction, if we read it thoroughly,
confirms the government's failure to uphold the special autonomy law. In
the case of Aceh, the law on special autonomy status for the province was
a failure and was replaced by the law on Aceh governance. It is
humiliating for Papuans if the law on special autonomy for Papua is
replaced with a presidential instruction. Besides, the hierarchy of our
legal system does not recognize a presidential instruction according to
People Consultative Assembly Decree No. 3/2000.

Second, the presidential instruction on Papua's development requires each
Cabinet minister to draw up a strategy for development in Papua. So, where
is the autonomy? It is obviously a form of central government intervention
in Papua's autonomy.

Third, through the instruction, the government appears to be pushing for a
resettlement program in Papua. It is not specifically stipulated in the
instruction, but the fact that it orders the transmigration minister to
deploy skilled human resources to help Papua develop agriculture means
transmigration.

Fourth, the instruction offers affirmative actions that differ from those
stipulated in the special autonomy law. The instruction restricts the
affirmative actions to opportunities for local people to hold government,
military and police posts, which worries me. Will there be a new military
battalion in Papua that will treat fellow Papuans brutally? I don't know.

Fifth, the instruction is too simple compared to Law No. 21/2001. The
protection of traditional rights and the settlement of past human rights
abuses, for example, are absent from the instruction.

The instruction should have focused on steps to correct the ineffective
implementation of special autonomy following the inauguration of the new
Papua and West Irian Jaya governors, to adjust all government policies to
the law and investigation into corruption cases. Is separatism still
relevant in Papua?

It's a very relevant issue to date and is worrying. People have considered
special autonomy a failure and demanded talks to restore public trust in
the central government. If the demand is left unheeded, they will feel
they are different and look for their own way. Separatism may not take
shape in an armed struggle but an intellectual revolt.

The timing is right for the government to improve the condition now that
the new governors have been installed following a democratic process and
the Aceh problem has been settled through talks that set a good precedent
for international support for the solution to Papua's problems. The
involvement of foreign parties does not mean turning the matter into an
international issue, but it will instead build trust as happened in Aceh.
If this golden chance is wasted, I don't know what will happen.

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060808.@02


Bird flu virus spreads to Papua

National News - August 08, 2006

Nethy Dharma Somba and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Medan

The bird flu virus has now reached easternmost Papua after attacking
poultry populations in Java and Sumatra in the western section of the
country.

About 174 chickens are believed to have died of the H5N1 virus in Mimika
regency as of July 11, while 414 others were culled due to suspected
infection.

Based on a lab analysis from the Bogor Veterinary Research Center
conducted on July 19, three of 37 birds tested were positive for H5N1, an
official said Monday.

"Test results showed that three of the chickens contain the H5N1 virus;
one of them was from SP3 Timika Jaya and two were from the traditional
market," head of the Papua Husbandry Office AR Pintadewa told The Jakarta
Post in Jayapura.

According to Pintadewa, officers from the Mimika Husbandry Office received
a report from a farmer in Sempan village, Timika, on July 11 that his
chickens were sick.

They found 40 birds with H5N1 symptoms at the farm.

Inspections of the traditional market also found many chickens with
symptoms of the disease.

"The place was immediately treated with disinfectant and chickens showing
clinical symptoms of infection with the virus were culled to prevent an
outbreak ..."

He said most vulnerable to the virus were the Indonesian Thai game
variety, known locally as ayam Bangkok, that came from outside Timika. "We
are still examining where they came from. The virus can be spread by air."

To prevent the spread of the virus to other areas, Pintadewa said the
Mimika regent issued a circular banning transportation of chickens out of
the regency.

In Medan, North Sumatra, three children from Karo regency admitted to Adam
Malik Hospital in Medan after showing bird flu symptoms are believed to
have been taken home by their parents.

Hospital director Nur Rasyid said the children were not in their beds when
nurses made their afternoon rounds Sunday to administer medicine.

"We don't know where the patients and their families are now. They left
without notifying hospital authorities."

Rasyid said the patients' families had requested their release since last
Friday, after reports they tested negative for H5N1, but doctors refused
because they had yet to receive the official results from the Health
Ministry.

He said the medical team wanted to continue to monitor the children's
progress and prevent a relapse in their condition.

"Medically, the patients' conditions have improved considerably, but one
of them still needs serious attention due to a problem in his lungs."

The two female siblings and an 18-month-old male neighbor come from the
same village of Sumbul, Kabanjahe district. They were admitted to the
hospital on Aug. 1, after being referred from Kabanjahe Hospital.

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060808.Q02

A threat to Indonesia's rich biodiversity

Features - August 08, 2006

Despite sobering statistics about environmental degradation last year, the
2005 State of the Environment report also highlights some welcome news
about the stratosphere above the archipelago and more findings of new
species.

Citing observation data from the National Aeronautics and Space Agency,
the report says the stratospheric ozone layer above Indonesia has improved
to a level that could reduce the amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation
reaching the Earth.

Experts believe that the stratospheric layer of the atmosphere, where 90
percent of the ozone exists, blocks exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays,
which could cause eye cataracts and decrease human immunity, as well as
affect crops and sea plankton that would disrupt the marine food chain.

The report said that in the last few years, stratospheric ozone
concentration ranged between 216 dobson units (DU) and 248 DU.

The ozone layer is considered normal when it measures about 300 Dobson
Units (equal to three millimeters), while a hole occurs when its thickness
reduces to 100 Dobson Units.

Decreasing usage of aerosol and other ozone-depleting compounds (ODS), due
to the government's continuous efforts to phase out the use of such
compounds in the country greatly contributed to the improved condition,
the report said.

Deputy to the state minister for the environment Masnellyarti Hilman said
the government had cut the use of ozone-depleting substances by around
4,100 metric tons since 1994, when ozone layer protection programs began
in the country.

"Our next challenge is to cut 6,325 metric tons of ODS (traded here) by
the end of 2007," she said recently.

The government believes the biggest challenge it is facing is widespread
smuggling and illegal trade in ODS. It is estimated that around 4,000
metric tons of ODS is circulating in the country, used mostly by
air-conditioning servicing stations that service old refrigerators and
outdated car air-conditioning systems.

Another heartening development indicated in the report is that more new
species were discovered last year, placing Indonesia as the one of the
world's richest countries in terms of biodiversity.

The report highlighted the finding of scores of new animal and plant
species in Foya Mountain, Papua, by a group of scientists from
Conservation International Indonesia, who dubbed the place "the closest
place to the Garden of Eden you're going to find on Earth".

The scientists found 24 types of palm tree, of which five were declared
new species, and another 550 species of plant.

They also found dozens of rare species of animals including from kangaroo,
amphibians, birds and butterflies.

However, rapid deforestation, which last year totaled more than three
million hectares, threatened research in revealing the truth about the
country's biodiversity.

"All that pride means nothing if deforestation and the destruction of the
habitats that are home to those species is continually taking place, as it
is at present," said Banjar Y. Laban, the Forestry Ministry's director of
conservation areas, in a statement following the recent discovery of a
snake with the ability to spontaneously change color in West Kalimantan
province, called Enhydris gyii, or known locally as the Kapuas-Mud Snake.

The report also exposed imminent threats from diminishing wetlands areas
on Java island, of which there are about 1,000 hectares in Greater Jakarta
that have been converted into residential and industrial areas.

Citing Wetlands International Indonesia data, the report said the
country's remaining wetlands stood at about 1,300 hectares last year,
compared with over 2,300 hectares in 2004.

World Wide Fund for Nature executive director Mubariq Ahmad warned that
such rapid disappearance of habitat could halt further the findings of new
species across Indonesia.

He cited as an example that in Kalimantan alone, at least one new species
of animal has been found every month in the last 10 years.

"The country's worsening environmental condition is a threat to uncovering
more knowledge about our biodiversity," he told The Jakarta Post. (Tb.
Arie Rukmantara)

---

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-08-10-voa14.cfm

Controversial Asylum Law Passes First Hurdle in Australia
By Phil Mercer
Sydney
10 August 2006


Australia
A controversial bill that would require all asylum seekers who arrive in
Australia illegally by boat to be sent to offshore camps has been approved
in Parliament's lower house. The legislation has provoked rare division
within the governing right-wing coalition.

Three members of Parliament voted against the legislation, in defiance of
Prime Minister John Howard. They described the legislation as "profoundly
disturbing." Mr. Howard has never faced such open revolt during his 10
years in power.

John Howard (file photo)
John Howard (file photo)
The legislation would force all asylum seekers who arrive illegally by
boat to be held at remote island camps while their asylum applications are
processed. Most would probably end up on Nauru, a tiny speck of land in
the South Pacific near the Equator.

As the law currently stands, asylum seekers arriving on the Australian
mainland have their cases handled inside the country.

The proposed law was passed by 78 votes to 62.

It followed passionate debate both inside and outside the lower house of
Parliament.

Before the debate, government lawmaker Wilson Tuckey clashed with
opposition leader Kim Beazley outside the Parliament building.

TUCKEY: "Kim, why are you opposing the border protection for all the people?"

BEAZLEY: "Take your tablets, mate."

TUCKEY: "Ah, don't you insult me with tablets
"

BEAZLEY: "Why don't you take your weak, worthless self in there with the
weak, worthless legislation?"

TUCKEY: "Don't you call me worthless, you big fat so-and-so."

The legislation now faces an even tougher test in the upper house of
parliament, the Senate, where the government has a very slim majority. The
Senate vote could come next week.

The legislation was drafted after a group of asylum seekers from the
Indonesian province of Papua arrived in Australia by boat earlier this
year. There has been a long-running separatist movement in Papua.

The decision to grant them asylum infuriated the authorities in Jakarta
and sparked a major diplomatic dispute.

Australian officials say the migration bill is not meant to appease
Indonesia. Ministers have said the Papuan affair illustrated that border
protection needs to be improved.

Australia accepts more than 10,000 legal asylum seekers a year from such
places as Sudan and Afghanistan. However, over the past few years, the
government has cracked down on those who try to sneak into the country
illegally. It is particularly concerned with stopping those coming in
secretly by boat. The policy has strong public support, but human rights
activists say it subjects already traumatized people to additional
hardship.

---

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060812.F05&irec=4


Equal treatment for OPM needed

With the recent surrender of members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM)
rebel group to the government, and their recognition of the unitary state
of the Republic of Indonesia, they should receive the same treatment as
that given to followers of the Free Aceh Movement.

The OPM members should be trained in agriculture and other skills,
provided with housing and start-up capital for business activities, to
enable them to live a normal life.

Unless the government pays proper attention to their daily existence, the
ex-OPM people will succumb to the influence and persuasion of OPM
diehards, who continue to launch their propaganda from the interior and
mountain hideouts.

This is particularly true because without government support, they will
feel there is no difference between their lives as normal citizens and
their lives as members of the separatist organization.

BAYUMI
Jakarta

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060812.F07&irec=6

Who are indigenous Indonesians?

Who is an indigenous Indonesian? According to sources like Peter Bellwood
in the Cambridge History of Southeast Asia the prehistory of Indonesia is
roughly as follows:

Homo sapiens first reached Indonesia about 50,000 years ago, when sea
levels were lower than now and western Indonesia was still part of the
Southeast Asia mainland. After several millennia, early Indonesians
invented what were probably the world's first sea-going vessels and went
on to settle eastern Indonesia, Australia, including Tasmania, and the
Solomon Islands.

Their descendants still inhabit Papua today. However, they were eliminated
from western Indonesia by relatively recent migrants. The spark for this
was the emergence of crop cultivation in the Yangtze River valley in about
7,000 BC. Agriculture spread across what is now China and farming
communities began to migrate into Southeast Asia.

While some moved through mainland Southeast Asia, the ethnic and
linguistic groups which took over Indonesia had traveled by the maritime
route. Their Austronesian language and culture, featuring stone tools,
pottery, rice, pigs and chickens, took shape in Taiwan, where they became
great seafarers, possibly thanks to the outrigger canoe. Between 3,000 BC
and 2,000 BC they moved to the Philippines, then Kalimantan and Sulawesi
and on to Java, Sumatra and Nusa Tenggara. Thus, Austronesian languages
and culture dispersed across Indonesia, although tropical roots like yams
and taro, probably supplanted rice in the early centuries of settlement.

Indigenous tribes survived only in Papua, as they had developed
agriculture independently about 5,000 BC and were thus able to resist
encroachment from outsiders.

Hunter-gatherer groups in western Indonesia today, like Kubu in Jambi and
some Dayaks in Kalimantan, are unrelated to the original Melanesian
hunter-gatherers; they are descendants of Austronesian farming communities
that gradually abandoned farming. Also Malay-speaking communities on the
Malay peninsula are descendants of Austronesian people who migrated from
Sumatra and Kalimantan, not the other way around.

Transformation of Indonesia accelerated from about 500 BC, with the
introduction of metal working from Vietnam, soon followed by the arrival
of writing, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Perhaps if this history were more widely studied, the "indigenous" issue
would not be so prone to common misconceptions and political manipulation.

JOHN HARGREAVES
Jakarta

---

http://www.smh.com.au/news/NATIONAL/No-changes-to-planned-border-laws/2006/08/06/1154802738067.html

No changes to planned border laws


August 6, 2006 - 10:59AM


The controversial border protection legislation will be debated in
parliament this week despite backbench unrest, Prime Minister John Howard
says.

Mr Howard said proposed immigration laws that ensure asylum seekers are
processed offshore would not be changed.

"It remains the government's policy to go ahead with the bill in the form,
including the amendments, that I announced before the parliament broke for
the winter," he told the Ten Network.

But Mr Howard said he would not speculate on whether he could strike a
deal with the renegade backbenchers or his course of action if the
proposed legislation did not have the numbers to pass the House of
Representatives.

"As to the to and fro of when we have the handling of the debate, as you
know it's not my custom to speculate about those things," he said.

"I deal with the issues as they come along.

"But the current intention is for debate in the House of Representatives
to commence next week."

The proposed changes follow the arrival of a group of Papuan asylum
seekers, 42 of whom were granted protection visas sparking outrage from
Indonesia.

Australia has previously sent asylum seekers to detention centres on Nauru
and the Papua New Guinea island of Manus under the so-called "Pacific
Solution".

Opponents believe the new proposal breaches an agreement on keeping women
and children out of detention centres.

Up to 10 government backbenchers are reportedly considering voting against
the measure.

© 2006 AAP

---

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5258744.stm
Australia debates asylum changes

John Howard said he had already made concessions on the bill
The Australian Parliament has begun debating controversial proposals to
process all future asylum seekers arriving by boat in off-shore camps.

Prime Minister John Howard said the Australian people wanted strong border
protection.

But the opposition accused him of using the legislation to appease Indonesia.

Earlier this year Australia's decision to accept more than 40 asylum
seekers from the Indonesian province of Papua caused a diplomatic rift
with Jakarta.

Indonesia temporarily withdrew its ambassador to Australia in protest,
claiming that its southern neighbour was interfering with Indonesian
domestic affairs.

Tough rules

Currently, only people who arrive on outlying islands or are intercepted
at sea have their claims for Australian asylum processed off-shore.

Protestors outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta on 5 April
Australia angered Jakarta by accepting Papuan refugees
Those arriving on the mainland have their cases handled inside the
country, under the Australian legal process.

If passed, this new proposal would mean that all arrivals by boat would be
sent off-shore, to places such as on the island state of Nauru.

Even if they are found to be genuine refugees, they could still be refused
asylum. Mr Howard faces stiff opposition to this bill, and has already
made several concessions, but on Wednesday he was not in the mood to back
down further.

"A lot of changes have been made to accommodate the concerns of some
colleagues, but in the end, as happens in any democratic party, the
overwhelming majority view must be respected," he is quoted as saying by
the French news agency AFP.

But several members Australia's governing coalition have said they will
join with the opposition to vote against the new bill.

Ruling party member Petro Georgiou told reporters that the bill was "the
most profoundly disturbing piece of legislation I have encountered since
becoming a member of parliament".

He told the Associated Press that parliament was now being asked to take a
"severely regressive measure".

But the opposition of a few ruling party members is unlikely to prevent
the bill from passing in the lower chamber, because Mr Howard has a
comfortable majority.

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