More Papuans want to work for Freeport mining

At least 400 demonstrators from the Amungme and Kamoro Job-seekers Solidarity orgnisation rode public buses from the Mimika regency capital of Timika to the Nemangkawai Mining Institute's office demanding that they be given priority for employment at the PT Freeport Indonesia mining operations in Papua province, Markus Makur reported for The Jakarta Post.

"As far as we can see, PT Freeport Indonesia and its subsidiaries have disregarded the local people. Now, in our rally we demand that Memangkawai employs local people at PT Freeport," said Gerson Meno Imbir, the head of the protest group. "Now in the era of special autonomy, indigenous people should be given priority in PT Freeport recruitment," he said.

Deputy chief of the solidarity group Pontius Kelanangame questioned the achievements of the Mimika Manpower and Resettlement Office and said that he felt nothing had been done by the office to help the local people. "We want to be involved in development in Mimika regency rather than simply being made development objects. We support progress in Mimika regency but please pay attention to the indigenous people," he said.

Yusuf Tapa, one of Nemangkawai Mining Institute's staff members, said his office had received notification of the aspirations of job-seekers from Amungme and Kamoro as well as five other tribes. Nemangkawai, he said, has been committed to recruiting at least 57 workers per month for employment at PT Freeport's underground, operations and mechanic sections and another 120 have joined training sessions as apprentices.

"Nemangkawai has contributed greatly to the seven tribes in terms of the development of worker's skills. Those learning enough skills will be transferred to PT Freeport," he said. From 26 to 30 March there will be a recruitment test for local apprentices in Mimika. If they pass the test they will be trained, Yusuf said. If not they will be given another chance to try again at a later date, he added.

British accounting program for Papuan officials

The British government in cooperation with the public sector accounting study center of Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University is conducting a 10-day financial management training course for Papua provincial officials in Jayapura. Yesaya Sombuk of the Papua training center said participants will be taught new budget regulations according to the framework for the preparation of the 2008 budget.

"The implementation of the special autonomy status involves a large of amount of funding and requires skilled financial officers. We will help prepare them through this training. Good financial management will help the implementation of the special autonomy status succeed, thereby creating a new Papua," Theressa Mahoni of the British Embassy in Jakarta told The Jakarta Post.

Border concerns as new road gets ready to open

Residents of Vanimo in Papua New Guinea have protested against the opening of a new cross-border road linking their township with the capital of Indonesia's Papua province, Jayapura. According to the Port Moresby Post-Courier, the demonstrators are concerned that PNG does not seem prepared and ready to handle the influx of visitors passing through the border post at Wutung onto the PNG side.

"The opening of the highway could cause far more serious problems for PNG as a new wave of illegal immigrants could be passing through the border post and then disappearing into PNG like others have done in the past. PNG needs to provide the infrastructure and staff to secure the border post and provide quarantine, immigration, customs, police, Defence Force, taxation and other services needed to ensure strict compliance with PNG laws by anyone wishing to enter PNG," the newspaper commented.

"The government should not rush into any opening ceremony until all required services and manpower are ready to administer movements across the common border. It should also ensure the people of West Sepik, the churches, women's groups and the youths clearly understand the full implications of opening up their border town to visitors from the Indonesian side. The opening of links between the two countries needs to be carefully done to ensure the common border does not become a transit point for transnational criminal activities such as human smuggling, drugs and guns trafficking, prostitution and importation of illegal products into PNG," it said.

The Vanimo protesters have delivered a petition regarding their concerns to their provincial governor, Carlos Yuni, to give to the prime minister.

Across the border, special petrol stations are being built for PNG visitors to prevent them from purchasing diesel oil and gasoline subsidised by the Indonesian national government. But Papua provincial governor Barnabas Suebu expects a surge of PNG visitors, particularly from Vanimo, because Jayapura's prices are cheaper. "There are benefits to be had by both sides. They get cheaper prices and we will be able to sell our commodities," he said.

MRP backs first local political party in Papua

The Papua People's Congress (Majelis Rakyat Papua), the regional upper house institution comprised of representatives of indigenous community, cultural and women's organisations, supports the formation of Papua province's first local political party, the Partai Kebangkitan Rakyat Papua (Papua People's Awakening Party). MRP Second Vice Chairwoman Hanna Wikoyabi said the movement that led to the new party's establishment could lift the indigenous Papua people's esteem and dignity as it accorded with a provision in Law No 21 on Papua province's Special Autonomy and would enable more indigenous Papuan people to run in legislative elections at national and regional levels.

"The local political party must be a means for people from various walks of life, including women, clergymen, youth, customary communities, to have a chance to win seats in legislatures," she told Antara newsagency. She said although Papuans already served in the Indonesian national parliament and the provincial and municipal assemblies, efforts were needed to increase their numbers in the 2009 general elections.

"So far, there are various groups or people in legislatures who claim to represent the indigenous Papua community but they in reality are unable to voice the aspirations of indigenous Papuans or are just motivated by personal interests so that indigenous Papuans' political rights remain neglected while Papuans themselves are often left to bear certain stigmas within the frame of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," she said.

The MRP's blessing for the PKRP needed to be followed up by the provincial administration by issuing a special regional government regulation on the mechanism for the representation, on the classification and specification of the political rights of indigenous Papuans so that local political parties would have a firmer and more detailed legal umbrella, she said.

Repair work on Timika airport to start in April

PT Freeport Indonesia subsidiary, Airfast Aviation Facilities Company, which manages the Moses Kilangin International Airport in Timika, Papua province, will commence a 4-5 month repair work program on its runway in April. However arrivals and departures of Hercules transports and Boeing 737-200 jetliners will not be affected.

According to the Timika air base commander Lt. Col Bambang, the work includes a seven-centimetre overlay on a 200-metre cracked section of the 2,395-metre runway. "Overlaying runways periodically is compulsory for the sake of flight safety, especially for Moses Kilangin which is an international airport. Cracks on the runway could cause punctures," he told Antara newsagency.

Air Force to add radars to Papua and Papua Barat

The Indonesian Air Force plans to install air defense radars in Timika, the capital of Mimika district in Papua province and in Kaimana town in Papua Barat (West Papua) province in 2008. "The radar will be installed to monitor and anticipate air violations of foreign airplanes as well as sea crimes," Timika Air Force Base Command chief Lt Col Bambang Triono told Antara newsagency. "The radars will be set up next year and fully operational in 2010. The gadgets are capable of monitoring air zone within a radius of 250 nautical miles," he said.

As the Air Force currently operates only one radar in western New Guinea, in Papua province's Biak island, it must rely on Boeing 737-200 air patrols to observe vast areas of the region prone to illegal logging and poaching.

'Moderate' 5.4 earthquake shakes Papua province

Another 'moderate' earthquake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, struck Papua province at 11:24 a.m. (0224 GMT), an official at the Indonesian National Metereology and Geophysics Agency confirmed to Reuters. It was centred 147 km northwest of the provincial capital, Jayapura, at a depth of 78 km, the official said.

Rural-assigned Papua Barat teachers "still in city"

The Provincial Government of Papua Barat (West Papua) is concerned at the high number of teachers who had been assigned to the countryside but were still effectively spending time in Manokwari city. Evidently, due to the low level of welfare extended to them, the teachers need to spend time in the city to make extra income or to meet other needs.

"This problem is not only about the lack of teachers but also about their distribution," AR Wasaraka, Papua Barat's Section Head for Education, Culture, and Tourism said in Manokwari on Wednesday. He said the local governments (regencies and city) must work with the province to increase teachers' welfare and motivation so that teachers felt at home in the countryside and really needed.

Because of the constitutional responsibilities of the province's eight regencies and one city, they needed to make a commitment together to play an active role in supporting the availability of teachers in the countryside, he said.

How to return human remains from Dutch museum

When the Amsterdam Museum for the Tropics, the Tropenmuseum, rediscovered a forgotten collection of hundreds of human skulls, bones and even organs stored in formaldehyde in glass jars, it lead to uneasy ethical questions. Many of the human remains are from indigenous inhabitants of Papua and Java, sent to the Netherlands between 1915 and 1965.

The bones were used by the Tropenmuseum for physical anthropological scientific reasearch, an area of study under intense scrutiny because of the infamous racial studies conducted by the German Nazi terror regime before and during World War Two which culimated in the Holocaust (the Nazis' systematic massacre of millions of European Jews).

The remains were rediscovered six years ago. Since then the museum has categorised them and documented the collection in detail. Recently, the museum announced it wanted to find a good home for the remains, possibly returning them to where they came from.

"But the question of what to with these remains is not an easy one to answer," Michel Walraven of Radio Netherlands noted. "It raises many more questions, such as: who officially owns them? The museum itself, or perhaps the Indonesian government? Or maybe the tribes themselves or relatives of the people whose remains they are? And the questions don't end there. For example,does anybody want the remains back? And if not, should they be buried somewhere or should they perhaps be cremated ...?

"Now the main question would probably be, when it comes to the Papua remains, what does the community itself - wich consists of close to 300 tribes - think of all this? After all, the bones and skulls in question were once their great great grandparents.

"Viktor Kaisiepo is Papuan himself and also represents the Papuan community abroad. He's pleased the museum is not making any decisions on its own, but he still needs to talk to people in Papua about what to do with the remains: 'I am challenged that the remains of my people are found. But we have to talk about the ownership. We need to approach this carefully because there may be a lot of emotions involved. I will need to speak to my people to see what we want to do with these remains. I will be in service to my people. I will ask them if they can and will receive them back and how that would happen.'"

He says that, when it comes to the matter of human remains, the indigenous people should be in charge of deciding on what to do with them.

PNG dance troupe to perform in Papua province

Dr Jacob Gris Jumogot MP, Governor of the Papua New Guinea province of Manus announced a cultural tour to Indonesia's Papua province on 15-20 March. He made the remarks during a meeting with Indonesia's Consul in Vanimo, Ign. Kristanyo Hardojo and Maria Wagey, a cultural team liaison officer. "I will directly head the artists troupe of Manus province in a visit to Papua. The troupe of artists is called Paksonon Heritage Cultural Dancing Group," Jumogot told Antara newsagency, adding that cooperation in fishery and maritime affairs will follow.

The 45 dancers and seven other members of the troupe will perform on the Melanesian Cultural stage in Jayapura and Keerom districts in Papua province. Governor Jumogot opined that it "was a proper cultural cooperation because people of PNG's Manus and Papua province have the same culture and tradition."

How "Papua" originated in western New Guinea

From Letters Page of The National (Port Moresby)

"... the name Papua originally derived from “Pua-pua” in Eastern Malay dialect which means frizzy hair referring to inhabitants of the Western part of New Guinea mainland. This is attributed to the Portuguese explorer who then pronounced it as Papua."

Noah Omaleh Kaiyo,
Vanimo, West Sepik province
Papua New Guinea

Squatters endanger Jayapura water catchments

The future of nature conservation water catchment areas serving the Papua provincial capital city of Jayapura and the nearby town of Sentani is under threat from human settlement and resultant land clearance. According to Jayapura Regent Habel Melkias Suwae, 4,330 people have illegally settled in the Cycloop conservation areas, because government bans on people living in the conservation areas were not being heeded. "These people have illegally felled trees and developed farming ... They claim the land belongs to them so that they feel they can do as they like. But when their activities cause flooding, it is the local administration which is to blame," he said.

Suwae explained that out of the 22,500 hectares earmarked for nature conservation in the area, 9,374 hectares had been classified as 'critical land'. Illegal logging in the conservation areas had already caused landslides in three locations and caused flooding in parts of Sentani, Habel said as reported by The Jakarta Post.

Papua invites investors for Biak satellite station

The Papua provincial administration will build a satellite telecommunication station in Biak Numfor regency within the next five years to improve communications in isolated areas. Papua Vice Governor Alex Hesegem said improvement in the telecommunications sector will enable Papuans to communicate with the outside world.

Hesegem said the administration had invited people interested in investing in Papua to join the project, a top priority in the administration's five-point development program. "The administration needs to work hard to realize this project. It will be directly overseen by Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu. We are positive about the satellite station because Papuans have already realized the importance of sophisticated telecommunications technology," he said.

Tribal fighting kills nine in isolated Papuan town

Nine people were killed and more than 150 hurt in Indonesia's Papua province after a murder accusation triggered clashes between tribesmen armed with spears and arrows. A woman accused of poisoning her husband to death encouraged members of her clan to attack members of a rival group which her accuser -- and her dead husband -- belonged to, according to police spokesman Kartono Wangsadisastra. Nine people were killed in the ensuing clashes between the Kobagau and Sani tribes and 154 others were injured, including a policeman hit by an arrow, the spokesman told AFP. "We have managed to curb the violence, but as long as no customary peace-making ceremony has been held, it may well erupt again," he said. According to tradition, a death should be avenged by another death or the killer's tribe must pay a hefty fine of prized pigs and hold a feast to seal peace.

Provincial deputy police chief ,Brig. Gen. Max D Aer, told Nethy Dharma Somba of The Jakarta Post that the violence, sparked by the death of a local, thirty-year-old teacher named Hendrikus Sani, had been focused in Yoparu village, Sugapa district in Paniai regency, which is far from the nearest police station and can only be reached by foot. The man's family believed Hendrikus was poisoned with a substance called Minaba.

Police in Sugapa, with the help of traditional and religious leaders, were able to get the two clans to agree to end the hostilities on 8 February Aer said. However, that agreement lasted only until 26 February when members of the two clans fought each other with bows and arrows and knives. The violence continued despite the efforts of authorities. On 3 March an officer with the Sugapa Police, Second Brig. Yafet Turembi, was shot by an arrow. The officer survived the injury and was transported to Nabire Hospital in Nabire for treatment.

Four of the nine dead were from the Sani clan. They have been identified as Hendrikus Sani, 30; Yan Sani, 30; Rafael Sani, 35; and Niko Sani, 50. Another 20 members of the clan were seriously wounded in the fighting, and another 30 suffered minor injuries. Five members of the Kobogau clan have died in the violence. They are Alfons Kobogau, 36; Herman Kobogau, 11; Enos Jegeseni, 28; Boka Kobogau, 38; and Daniel Kobogau, 40. Twelve clan members suffered serious injuries and 92 minor injuries.

"Tanah Papua will be more advanced than PNG"

Indonesian Papuan citizens living in Papua New Guinea and abroad for the past 40 years can now return to rebuild their homeland in western New Guinea, Logohu Award winner and PNG journalist Franz-Albert Joku told a 'West Papuan' community gathering in Erima Parish, Gordon, PNG. He had just returned to Port Moresby after negotiating with Indonesian central government and Papuan provincial government officials on the special autonomy and how West Papuans in PNG and abroad could participate.

The PNG government supports the special autonomy process in the two Indonesian provinces, Papua and Papua Barat and PNG officials will be liaising with the Indonesian government and the Papua province government to register West Papuans who fled Indonesia in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who agree to return home.

"Mr Joku appealed to the West Papuans fighting for independence in the bushes and mountains to reach a compromise and work together under the new special autonomy process," Harlyne Joku reported in The National (Port Morsby). "He said under the special autonomy, West Papuans would have 85 per cent freedom to empower themselves on their own land. He said now, a positive pace had been set and the special autonomy process passed by the Indonesian government in October 2001 was beginning to work. Leaders were being elected in a democratic process."

Joko also appealed to educated West Papuans not be spectators of the autonomy process but make it work, adding there was freedom of speech, movement and elections. Although their fathers had demanded political independence, the Indonesian government had given special autonomy.

"Not like before when people were ruled under the barrel of a gun. If all goes as expected under special autonomy, between seven and nine years time, in development than PNG," he said.

The meeting was a first of a series of meetings in Port Moresby for the West Papuan community to discuss the special autonomy process. The next meeting is set for next month.

References to "West Papua" appear to include both Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces of Indonesian New Guinea.

Central Govt confirming Papua Barat name change

Indonesia's Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing to official confirm the change of name of the province of Irian Jaya Barat to Papua Barat (West Papua) as requested by the province's governor Abraham O Artururi and the province's parliament (DPRD) "We are composing a draft government regulation. In line with Law No 32/2004, changing the name of a province needs to be put forth in a government regulation," the Ministry's Director General of General Governance, Sodjuangon Situmorang, told Kompas.

Papuan Christians say Muslims a 'genocidal' threat

A separatist leader claims the Papuan people are in danger of being wiped out because of Indonesian rule. "We are at risk of genocide," Benny Wenda, a British resident, told Adnkronos International. "I fear that in 30 years the Melanesian race will be wiped off Papua. The international community must force Indonesia to stop its military operation and leave Papua," he said.

According to the AKI report, the Reverand Socrates Sofyan Yoman, leader of the Baptist church of Papua, said that the risk of genocide also comes with the flow of immigrants that continue to arrive from other parts of Indonesia. "Genocide is also seeing our culture and religion disappearing with the arrival of migrants," the religious leader told AKI.

Neles Tebay, a Catholic priest and local accademic said that the presence of immigrants is evident everywhere. "There are mosques at every corner. Migrants are by far the majority in the main cities of the region," Tebay told AKI.

The article also quoted a 2003 study conducted by Yale University, that reportedly said that the migratory flow of people towards Papua could be considered "an act of genocide".

"The Indonesian government has denied these accusations. Jakarta has said that with respect to human rights, the situation in Papua has significantly improved in the last few years and that the desire for independence is not shared by most in the population. The government also said that the provinces in the Papua region - Papua and [Papua Barat] - are ruled by Papuans, as stipulated by a special statute giving these area provincial autonomy in 2001. The government also said that in Indonesia, citizens can move freely from one island to another," AKI commented.

Papuan Catholic says religions 'working together'

If Islam's jihad, "in its authentic sense manifests in people's endeavors to build peaceful coexistence," wrote Neles Tebay, a Catholic priest and lecturer at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Abepura, Jayapura, "Muslim and non-Muslim communities everywhere in the world, then, can work together." In an article in The Jakarta Post, he reported that since 2000, the leaders of all religions -- including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism -- in Papua have been united in promoting peace. The campaign aims to build 'Papua, the land of peace' and that the religious leaders believe all peoples, regardless of their different religious traditions, are determined to establish a lasting peace and want to build Papua as a peaceful territory.

The shared concept of "Papua, the land of peace" consists of eight fundamental values: awareness of and respect for plurality, justice, unity, harmony, solidarity, togetherness, sincere brotherhood and welfare. These values examine which plans and activities should be supported and/or rejected by the people of Papua. Based on the fundamental values, the religious leaders are committed to jointly speaking out about injustice and all forms of oppression experienced by the community, particularly the indigenous Papuans. They see the necessity to boost effective cooperation and communication among interfaith leaders, with other civil society groups, and with all people of good will.

"The religious leaders have repeatedly called on all people across Papua to take part in the campaign, love one another as an expression of their faith, recognize and accept ethnic, religious and cultural diversity as a gift from God, give priority to dialog as a way of resolving problems, maintain harmonious relations with God, fellow members of the community and nature and resist provocation and avoid being provoked by conflicts taking place outside Papua," he wrote. "To create a peaceful Papua, the religious leaders have jointly called upon the local and central governments to build good and clean governance, engage in dialog with the people through the regional assembly regarding the implementation of Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua, take actions in cooperation with non-governmental organizations against the spread of HIV/AIDS through the adequate provision of health services and efforts to tackle the root causes of its proliferation."

The leaders also emphasise the necessity for the governments to engage with communities -- including customary, religious, youth communities and women's organizations -- in planning, deciding, implementing and evaluating development programs, and choose dialog as the first course of action in addressing problems in Papua. "

"For the sake of peace, they call on the governments to guarantee all people living in Papua the right to live, uphold justice by addressing gross violations of human rights in Papua without impunity, give Papuans the opportunity to take their rightful place as the primary actors in the process of development and the use of natural resources, and utilize natural resources for the welfare and prosperity of the Papuan people.

"Given the resistance movement waged by the Free Papua Movement (OPM), any peace initiative could be mistakenly interpreted as advocating an independent state in Papua. The Indonesian authorities could, therefore, be suspicious of all peace-building initiatives in Papua. Addressing this suspicion, the religious leaders have made it clear the peace campaign has nothing to do with the campaign for an independent state in Papua. These two campaigns are not identical. For the main aim of the "Papua, the land of peace" campaign is to ensure peace prevails in Papua, irrespective of whether Papua remains an Indonesian province or becomes an independent state.

The goal of the campaign, therefore, is wider than an independent state. It includes all aspects of human life from physical health, social relationships and prosperity, mutual trust and respect, justice, fair opportunities for development, socioeconomic development, cultural rights and human security. In order to highlight their peaceful campaign and reflect its significance in everyday life, the religious leaders lead the celebration of Papuan Peace Day every Feb. 5 and International Peace Day on Sept. 21."

Mellish: Why it’s all quiet on the West Papua front

Morgan Mellish, a journalist representing the Australian Financial Review in Jakarta, Indonesia, perished when Garduda Indonesia flight GA-200 burst into flames when it crashed on landing in Yogyakarta on 7 March. Mellish was a member of the Jakarta Foreign Corresponents Club and regularly contributed to its newsletter. The following is from its December 2006 edition.

JFCC Jalan-Jalan is a newsletter feature chronicling the highs and lows of correspondents' experiences following the Indonesian story. Submissions are welcome. In this edition, Australian Financial Review correspondent Morgan Mellish drops a dime on the stranglehold of official "security" that obstructs foreign journos reporting legally from Papua:

In September, Australian television journalist Naomi Robson created headlines in that country when she and her crew were booted out of West Papua without getting beyond Jayapura. Robson's attempted journey inside the restive Indonesian province highlighted the difficulties of reporting from this tightly-controlled police state.

Within days of the Channel 7 crew being unceremoniously ejected, three other Australian journalists managed to travel inside West Papua and all encountered official interference and intimidation.

The three - myself, the ABC's Jakarta correspondent Geoff Thompson and The Australian's Jakarta correspondent Stephen Fitzpatrick came away with exactly the same conclusion: If this is how the Indonesian security forces treat the western pres, then pity the poor Papuans.

Unlike Robson and her crew, who entered the desperately poor province on tourist visas, the three of us had "surat jalans".These are the official government travel permits needed to legally enter West Papua, which is one of the most militarized areas in Indonesia.

But this didn't stop the overzealous and at-time thuggish secret police from trying to stop us reporting at almost every turn. There may be some goodwill in Jakarta towards solving West Papua's problems, but it's clear the security forces on the ground remain a law unto themselves.

The difficulties for western journalists start well before you arrive in Papua. To get a surat jalan requires the approval of Indonesia's Department of Foreign Affairs (Deplu), the State Intelligence Body (BIN and the Indonesian police.

Our permits were among only a handful approved this year and took about six months to get. The vast majority of applicants are knocked back by DEPLU on the trumped-up grounds that the country's easternmost province is too dangerous for journalists. The Sydney Morning Herald/Age Jakarta correspondent Mark Forbes went into West Papua with a surat jalan in March.

Each surat jalan specifies where you can travel and what you can report on. Mine said Jayapura, Timika and Wamena and that I could only report on the investment climate. The Australian's and the ABC's said they could only report on an Asmat tribe arts festival.

Upon arriving in Jayapura, the provincial capital, all westerners must register with the police. I, along with my assistant, went to police headquarters to register with deputy director of police intelligence, Yan Pieter.

After grilling us on our intentions, he casually took a picture of us with his late-model Nokia flip phone. He then showed us a picture on the phone of Fitzpatrick, who'd been in the office a few days earlier.

"Stephen was very bad and was deported [from the province] for covering politics," he said, maintaining a friendly demeanor. "Now, you won't do anything like that, will you?"

While in West Papua, all three of us were tailed by plainclothes secret police known as "intels"and threatened for attempting to interview human rights activists and Papuan community leaders. Thompson's ABC crew got the worst treatment.

They filmed a pro-independence ceremony just outside Jayapura and were later detained and shouted at during a one-hour interrogation. Later, In Timika location of the massive Freeport-McMoRan mine and much of the province's unrest - Thompson's ABC crew were again harassed and detained for a total of five hours. The intels demanded to see and then copied all of their footage. A local ABC employee was interrogated separately behind closed doors and asked to sign a written statement cataloguing the ABC's activities in Papua.

In the end, the ABC sought help from Australian embassy consular staff who spoke via phone to the intels. This, according to Thompson, related the level of scrutiny. However, the intels said because the Asmat tribe arts festival wasn't in Timika and wasn't on for another week, there was nothing for the ABC to do in Papua.

Meanwhile in Jayapura, Fitzpatrick was told to go to police intelligence headquarters or officers would come and get him. Police intelligence's Yan Pieter demanded to see his notebook which Fitzpatrick showed, knowing his hurried longhand would be illegible.

After this, Fitzpatrick started receiving strange phone calls. This included a text message attempted "sting" by an intel who pretended to be an independence activist and offered to meet him.

When I arrived in Timika, I received similar treatment. I was having lunch with two Freeport employees when an intel marched in and aggressively demanded to know who we'd talked to and to see our notes.

To try and resolve the tension, my assistant offered to photocopy several pages of notes from a press conference with the Papuan Governor. We then explained that I didn't take notes because I simply remembered everything. A Freeport employee later apologized and said the company had little control over the intels.

We then returned to Jayapura and, by keeping a low profile, managed to interview two jailed activists inside Jayapura prison who'd been tortured and then get out of the province without the intels realizing.

The worrying thing is the treatment of local journalists is a lot worse. On top of intimidation and threats, they are often physically assaulted. Cunding Levi, a Jayapura-based stringer for national magazine Tempo, says he is often harassed when covering sensitive stories.

"I was taking pictures of police hitting a demonstrator during the Abepura incident,"he says, referring to a riot in March in which five Indonesian security personnel were killed. "Police hit me on the back with a rattan cane and told me not to take that picture, but take a picture of the demonstrators killing their colleague."

Journalist Tjah Jono from radio KBR 68H in Timika says: "We don't have access to information from public institutions. No journalist has ever got the official data on the local budget. It makes it difficult to reveal corruption or abuse of power."

"Freeport also closes all access to information. If there is an incident in the Freeport concession area, we can't enter. A Freeport communications officer will usually give us information, but we don't believe them."

The debate about whether Papua should be independent is for another time and place. But given the way journalists are treated and the allegations of ongoing human rights abuses, it's easy to conclude many Papuans still live in a climate of fear.

Student activist agrees with Minister on regencies

A Papuan student leader apparently agrees with the Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs that a number of Papua districts belong considered for local government status are not yet ready for the responsibility. In February, Minister M. Ma'ruf, asked that discussion on bills for the creation of six new regencies, Yalimo, Central Mamberamo, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Dogiyai and Puncak, be further clarified before deliberations continue as he believed none are yet viable as separate administrative entities. "Autonomous regions will only enrich a certain group of people and allow for greater corruption," the head of the Indonesian Central Papua Highland Alliance, Markus Haluk, told a crowd of 200 students at the Papuan governor's offices in Jayapura.

According to Haluk, the political elite and government officials are the ones who favor the creation of more autonomous regions. "Some push for the creation of an autonomous region after losing elections, some after being denied government positions and others because their terms in office are about to end. There are also those people who eye the natural wealth of an area and work together with investors to fund campaigns for an autonomous region, as well as those involved in corruption who are trying to run away by forming an autonomous regency," he said, adding that the creation of autonomous regions would also lead to human rights violations and environmental destruction by investors exploiting an area's natural wealth.

Separatist claims crimes continue against Papuans

One of 42 Papuans separatists granted asylum after reaching the Australian mainland by traditional boat in January.2006, Herman Wainggai, has thanked Australian politicians, academics, Australia West Papua Associations around Australia, NGO¹s and others who have written submissions to the government of Australia advising them not to sign a security agreement with the Indonesian government.

"The agreement is not useful for Australians, Indonesians and West Papuans. It only serves the Indonesian government policy of continuing their crimes against West Papuans, Indonesian civilians and foreigners. Signing the agreement is encouraging the infiltration of the internal affairs of Australia by Indonesian intelligence agents. For example, there are Indonesian spies in Australia posing as students in education institutions," he announced. "The Indonesia and Australian governments should be protecting human rights, encouraging the development and implementation of democratic principles, and upholding the supremacy of law for the people of Indonesia, the Indigenous people of West Papua, Australian citizens, and the peoples of the Pacific island nations. We will never, never, never, give up."

Wainggai, promoted by Australian Greens senator, Kerry Nettle, as "leader of the West Papuans" reportedly served time in Indonesia for treason. His uncle Tom Wainggai, also a leading academic and separatist, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for organizing a flag raising event in 1988 and died in Jakarta’s Cipinang prison in 1996, prompting allegations he was poisoned or denied proper treatment.

The references to "West Papua" appear to include both Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces.

Pay dispute hits Mimika health centre services

Hundreds of medical workers from 12 community health centres.in Mimika regency in Papua province rallied at the local government health office over a pay dispute. They demanded the office head, Erens Meokbun, raise the issue with the Mimika regent. According to The Jakarta Post, the protesters said a new salary scheme issued by the regency administration, requiring district administrations to pay the salaries of community health centres.staff, was unfair and overly complicated. They also said they had not been informed of the new policy prior to its issuance. "We went on strike in protest of the government's arbitrary issuance of this policy," said rally coordinator Ibrahim Iba.

The healthcare workers had previously been paid by the health office but Health head Meokbun said the new policy was in response to residents in remote areas complaining that medical workers were often not on duty at the community health centres.

Papua province to spend 45% of budget on villages

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu has announced that out of the province's Rp 5.3 trillion budget this year, 45 percent, or around Rp 2 trillion, will be used for development purposes in villages. The budget will also take into account the basic needs of residents, including food, health, education, housing, fresh water and infrastructure.

"In total, the funds to be distributed in Papua will reach more than Rp 2 trillion," he told Nethy Dharma Somba of The Jakarta Post in Jayapura. He said the notion of village-based development is in accordance with the spirit of the 2001 law on special autonomy in Papua to improve the welfare of Papuans.

"We should take into account that the special autonomy fund is for the people so it is natural if the biggest share is for development as most Papuans live in villages," he said. Out of Papua's Rp 5.3 trillion budget this year, Rp 3.2 trillion came from special autonomy funds.

Warning on US$11,000 grants to 3,800 villages

The Papua administration, which currently oversees autonomy funds for both Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces, has been warned to properly manage a directly distributed grant to over 3,800 villages. Papua Govenor Barnabas Suebu announced in February that the 2,700 villages in his province and 1,164 villages in Papua Barat province will each be granted Rp 100 million (about US$11,100) to get them active in specifying their needs and to outline planned development programs, as well as detailing plans for supervising the use of the money.

"There needs to be clear guidelines in place before villages receive the money. And villages need to be taught how to properly use the funds so that the money can benefit all residents," Fadal Alhamid, the secretary of the Majelis Rakyat Papua (the bi-provincial Papuan People's Congress), told The Jakarta Post in Jayapura.

"Distributing the grants without clear guidelines for their use and effective monitoring mechanisms will potentially create conflict because everyone will want a share of the Rp 100 million. We don't want the distribution of this money to create a situation which could negatively impact on the goal of improving people's welfare," he said.

He suggested that the provincial administration recruit qualified village secretaries to oversee the use of this money. These secretaries should be university graduates, he said. "There are many unemployed university graduates in the cities. They could be sent to villages to work as secretaries," he said.

Shopia Maipauw of the Association for Women's Policy Awareness hoped that women's needs will be met. "The percentage of this grant dedicated to women's issues should be made clear. If it isn't, women will continue to be marginalized," she said, adding that is was a concern that women's issues were being ignored in a similar village-based development program that has been in operation in Jayapura for five years. "The money is being controlled by men, so women are not receiving a share to finance their activities," she said.

Freddy Numberi hits foreign "plunder" of Indonesia

The highest ranking Papuan in the Indonesian national government, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister, Rear Admiral (ret) Freddy Numberi has alleged that foreign 'mafias' are destroying Indonesia's economy by paying locals to plunder its natural resources. He said there had been a rise in illegal fishing by foreigners using large vessels and fresh cases of marine sand being plundered by foreign contractors in cahoots with Indonesian businessmen.

"These mafias are from certain countries which want to destroy the Indonesian economy. They know that Indonesia is a country with rich natural resources. They fear that if Indonesia became strong, it would pose a threat," he was quoted as saying by the online Media Indonesia.

Two Chinese fishing vessels had been caught 'red-handed' with hauls worth Rp 50 billion in total, said the veteran minister and former Governor of Papua province. "These mafias have been entering the country and offering huge amounts to Indonesians," he said.

The minister also hit out at the "plundering" of marine sand in the Riau islands "for reclamation works in Singapore." Marine sand exports were banned by the Indonesian authorities in 2003. The renewed mining was the work of seven foreign contractors, he said.

He also repeated earlier claims that the alleged smuggling of marine sand for Singapore's reclamation works was against Indonesian economic and political interests. According to the Straits Times newspaper, he went so far as to call Singapore a United States "puppet", and said reclamation work was meant to enable US warships to call or drop anchor there.

His latest remarks were a second salvo after comments in Saturday's Jakarta Post, when he said the ban on sand exports to Singapore would go on until border disputes were settled. Even if Indonesia lets sand sales resume, it wants to renegotiate the price and determine which areas could be mined to avoid ecological damage, he said.

Indonesia to increase selling price of Tangguh LNG

Indonesia wants to renegotiate the price of a liquefied natural gas deal to South Korea, less than a year after it forced a major Chinese customer to pay more. Soaring construction costs, sustained higher oil prices and a shortage of LNG before 2012 has emboldened producers such as Indonesia, until last year the world's biggest exporter, to demand significantly higher long-term prices from consumers, Reuters reported.

"Currently, there are talks to increase our price to South Korea and a diversion of some of our sales from the West Coast (of the United States) to the Japanese market," energy minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said in a written statement to the Indonesian national parliament.

The country has a contract to supply a total of 1.1 million tonnes of LNG to two Korean companies for the next 20 years from its Tangguh field in Papua Barat (West Papua)_province, operated by BP with Japanese and Chinese partners.

'Moderate' earthquake hits Papua Barat province

A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck western New Guinea island on Saturday, damaging some houses and a TV tower but caused no serious damage or deaths. The quake struck 67 km southeast of Manokwari, the capital of Indonesia's Papua Barat (West Papua) province, at a depth of 33 km.

Christians told of Papuan cleansing and genocide

Elizabeth Kendal, the Principal Researcher and Writer of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, has reported to the ASSIST News Service that "the Indonesian military (TNI) has once again unleashed terror in the highlands of Papua. Thousands of indigenous, predominantly Christian Papuans have been ethnically cleansed from their villages and driven into the inhospitable jungle where many will die."

Her article, Papua, Indonesia, the TNI and the USA, further claimed that policies being enacted by the Indonesian government and the TNI are "effecting the genocide" of the indigenous Papuans.

"There will always be in every country government officials and CEOs who are prepared to put political and economic interests ahead of human life. Because of this it is left to those voters and investors who are not prepared to be complicit in human rights abuses and genocide to exert their power to force change. The impunity must end somewhere.

"Freeport should be made to cease operations in Papua and the US government should be made to cease military aid to Indonesia until the human rights situation in Papua is corrected and Papua's Special Autonomy Law is fully implemented to the indigenous Papuans' satisfaction," she concluded.

Ms Kendal can be contacted at rl-research@crossnet.org.au

Papua team to complete autonomy ordinances

The Governor of Papua province, Barnabas Suebu, has ordered the establishment of a joint team to draft provincial and regency and muncipal government ordinances and regulations necessary for the full implementation of special autonomy by the end of the year. Last year, just six local ordinances out of 10 that were proposed ended up being approved. So far this year, only one local ordinance has been approved by the Papua Legislative Assembly.

"It is necessary to have a team really working to complete the regulations. It's been five years since the autonomy law was being issued but it is not backed up by local regulations. A law can only work if there are regulations which control its implementation. The team is expected to work thoroughly, and is expected to finish by the end of this year," Barnabas told reporters in Jayapura as quoted by Nethy Dharma Somba of The Jakarta Post.

Under the plan, the special autonomy team will comprise administration officials, legislators, members of the Papua People's Council and members of the team that drafted the 2001 Papua Special Autonomy Law. He said that since the team had less than a year to complete its work, a special time would have to be set aside to deliberate the draft ordinances.

Papua Legislative Assembly Speaker John Ibo welcomed the statement. "I support the team's formation, which is a breakthrough from the governor. The council will support the team in speeding up the issuance of clear directions for implementing the autonomy law, in the hope that we can reach the goals of autonomy," he said.

Papua's Mimika reports on new foreign gold miners

An unnamed US mining company is now opening a new gold mining in Mimika regency, Papua Province, the head of the regency's Mining and Energy Agency, Oktovianus Kambu, told Antara newsagency. Exploration had "reached the fourth or the final stage," he said.

"In the future, Mimika regency will not only rely on gold mining carried out by PT Freeport Indonesia which has been operating since 1968," he said, adding that other mining resources like coal and oil were "always waiting" for exploration in the regency.

West Papua's Tangguh LNG plant nearly completed

The Tangguh LNG plant, located in a Papua Barat (West Papua) province gas field with proven reserves of more than 14 trillion cubic feet, is entering the final phase of construction and is expected to commence initial production by the last quarter of 2008, Kardaya Warnika, chairman of BP Migas (Indonesia's Upstream Oil and Gas Executive Agency), told media. He said construction of the plant, to be operated by a consortium led by BP Indonesia (and inckluding Japan's LNG Corporation and Nippon Oil Corporation and China's CNOOC) was 70 percent completed.

Having already secured more than US$2 billion in loans, Kardaya said negotiations between BP and a group of Chinese banks for US$884 million in loans were still underway. To build the plant BP needs financing of US$6.5 billion, of which US$3.5 billion consists of loans, with the remainder coming from the company's own resources.

BP Migas records show that the government has signed contracts with Fujian-China for the delivery of 2.6 mmtpa of gas over 25 years from Tangguh, with SK Power Korea for 0.55 mmtpa over 20 years, with Posco Korea for 0.55 mmtpa over 20 years and with US West Coast for 3.7 mmtpa over 20 years, Ika Krismantari reported for The Jakarta Post.

Freeport's payments to Indonesia and Papua

Freeport Indonesia, the Indonesian subsidiary of US-headquartered Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc, operates the world-class gold and copper mine in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua and may be Indonesia's largest taxpayer. "From January to December 2006, Freeport Indonesia paid its financial obligations to the government of Indonesia in the sum of US$ 1.6 billion," a company statement quoted by AFP stated.

It said US$ 1.29 billion of the total comprised corporate, employee income and other taxes. Dividends accounted for US$ 159 million and royalties for US$ 146 million. Freeport Indonesia has paid US$ 5.1 billion to the Indonesian government since 1992, according to the statement. Taxes accounted for US$ 4.1 billion of the figure, with the remainder comprised of royalties and dividends.

The company said Freeport Indonesia had also invested US$ 5 billion dollars to develop company infrastructure and US$ 500 million in social facilities. It had also generated direct employment for 9,000 people in 2006, some 27 percent of whom were indigenous Papuans, the statement said.

It added the company had provided 10,700 jobs indirectly last year, for example for contract workers or employees at partner firms and had purchased domestic goods and services worth US$ 4.3 billion.

Raja Ampat regent forms Marine Protected Area

The waters off the northwest tip of Papua are among the world's richest in marine biodiversity but are affected by human activity. The Nature Conservancy environmental organization is among parties involved in efforts toward creating sustainability in the area. The following report is by The Jakarta Post's Ati Nurbaiti who was invited to communal ceremonies on 15 February held to affirm the local commitment to conservation in the Raja Ampat regency.

This regency of over 600 islands, both large and small, is a three-hour speedboat journey or whole-day ferry trip away from the port town of Sorong, in Papua Barat province. Its waters are frequented by whales, manta rays and dolphins, and locals attribute the return of fish near their homes to the recent conservation efforts.

The conservation project aims to preserve the biodiversity of this regency, comprised of four million hectares of land and sea with a human populace of just 38,000, according to latest estimates. Less than 40 of these islands are inhabited. The focus of the conservation efforts is predominantly on marine life, with evidence of over-exploitation in local and foreign fishing activities.

Last December Regent Marcus Wanma announced part of , the 110,000 hectares of sea around the Kofiau islands stretching to the border with North Maluku, as a protected marine area. In mid-February local communities affirmed their commitment to the area's conservation through religious and traditional rituals.

"What is required here," says Becky Rahawarin, head of the local fisheries agency, "is a management model which differs from that of protected areas under national parks." The regency must seek its own model. Until December there were a number of protected areas scattered throughout the islands, but lack of funds and other factors have rendered protection efforts ineffective, he said.

Local authorities have opted to adopt the environmental program, naming it the Regional Marine Protected Area, though no one has measured which part of the ocean comes under the jurisdiction of the central government and which parts should be fall under the umbrella of the local administration.

Australia "does not" support separatist causes

Comments on criticism of the proposed Indonesia-Australia Treaty by Gillian Bird, a deputy secretary of the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs to Radio Australia:

"This agreement is unique; it is Australia's first security treaty with a regional government focussing on both traditional and non-traditional security threats. It should set a benchmark for the region ... It contains a clear undertaking of support for each other's territorial integrity, which is an unambiguous treaty level statement that Australia does not in any way support separatist causes in Indonesia.

"Australia strongly supports the development of Papua as a stable and prosperous part of the Republic of Indonesia. This is best done through the full and effective implementation of special autonomy and respect for human rights ... Access to Papua I think is an important issue; it's one that we do raise with the Indonesians. We would like to see access to that area; certainly we have had embassy access which we think is important. Certainly that issue of access is one that we do raise."

Bird's use of "Papua" appears to cover both Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces in Indonesian New Guinea.

Catholic actvists in Merauke support province split

Catholic bishops of Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces have called on Catholic young people to uphold and revive human values in service and ministry. The five bishops of Indonesian New Guinea made the call in a joint letter to the Indonesian national working meeting of Pemuda Katolik (Catholic Youth Association) in Merauke, 3,670 kilometers east of Jakarta, in Papua province's southern territory.

The bishops presented the letter on 13 February at the opening session of the four-day meeting with the theme Awaken and Move: Historical and Cultural Basics of Catholic Church to Develop New Habitus for the Nation.

The five bishops – of Merauke Archdiocese and Agats, Jayapura, Manokwari-Sorong and Timika dioceses – shared values, virtues and moral guideposts in the letter, read by Sacred Heart Archbishop Nicolaus Adi Seputra of Merauke, for 114 budding activists at the meeting's opening on 13 February. Franciscan Bishop Aloysius Murwito of Agats was also present.

"Human values need to be upheld and revived continuously among young Catholics, especially those preparing to be leaders," the bishops said in the letter, "these values need to be given top priority."

The bishops urged the activists to follow Jesus, who worked with clear vision and mission. Jesus Christ, wrote the bishops, "struggled unto death for the realization of vision and mission ... making himself a servant, even by sacrificing himself unto death on the cross."

The meeting was a good opportunity for young Catholics to review and improve service activities, the bishops added. The Papua church leaders hope the work meeting will be followed by concrete activities, preparing Catholic cadres nationwide.

Marningrot Tua Natalis Situmorang, national board chairman of Pemuda Katolik, told UCA News at the end of the meeting that participants produced a number of programs to be implemented by all chapters nationwide, including consolidation of the organization, development of national membership, and leadership training.

The meeting, he added, also produced a statement of support for the establishment of a South Papua province to be split from Papua province. The proposed province, based on local people's aspirations, would include Asmat, Boven Digoel, Mappi and Merauke districts.

On 15 February, Saifullah Yusuf, State Minister for the Accelerated Development of Disadvantaged Regions, urged Pemuda Katolic's young activists to empower the poor.

The national working meeting was closed with a Holy Mass led by Archbishop Seputra, with Father Johanes Kandam, the archdiocese's vicar general, and Sacred Heart Father Miller Senduk concelebrating.

Established in 1929 in Yogyakarta with the motto Pro ecclesia et patria (for church and country), the Indonesia Catholic youth association gathers and unites Catholic youth, building mature personalities, and responsible, dedicated citizens and church members. The association holds national congresses to elect leaders, and national working meetings to set programs and develop projects.

Elsham claims evacuees starving in Puncak Jaya

Diaz Gwijangge, a representative of the Papua-based Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (Elsham), told Fabio Scarpello of the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) that about 5,600 people were surviving in Puncak Jaya regency, Papua province, by eating leaves and what little was offered by the local churches, while hiding in the forest having fleeing their homes in early December.

"They fled after the military and the police attacked the area after a flag of the Free Papua Movement was hoisted. Now they are too scared to return," Mr Gwijangge said. "At least four people have already died of hunger and disease, and the toll is bound to rise fast, unless help is delivered soon," the activist said.

Elsham claims evacuees two days' walk from the nearest town, difficult to reach, and infested with mosquitoes carrying malaria and dengue fever. To make matters worse, the evacuees - fearing a military reprisal - have reportedly cut most of the rope bridges that link the area to the outside world.

The plight of the refugees was reportedly confirmed by local religious leaders, but denied by the security forces, who called it "a trumped-up story".

Koreans on potentially huge Papua Barat oilfield

South Korea's state-run Korean National Oil Corp (KNOC) is seeking to extend its expiring exploration contract on an oil block offshore of Papua Barat province that could be the biggest untapped discovery in Indonesia. Initial estimates indicate the Wokam block has 671 million barrel of oil reserves, Achmad Luthfi, deputy chief of BP-MIGAS, told Reuters. If reserve estimates prove accurate, the block would top the Cepu oil and gas project in East and Central Java, which is estimated to have recoverable reserves of up to 600 million barrels.

Awakening "sleeping giant" of a prosperous Papua

The Papua provincial governnment will focus its development programs on rural areas where the largest number of poor live, the Governor Barnabas Suebu has announced. He said as 80 percent of Papuans live in remote villages in poor conditions, if not absolute poverty, his administration will provide each of the 2,700 villages in his province and 1,164 villages in West Papua province with Rp 100 million (about US$11,100). "This is not a gift from Santa Claus, it must be accounted for," he said.

The Papua administration currently oversees autonomy funds for both Papua and West Papua provinces.

Before receiving the funds, villages must specify their needs and outline planned development programs, as well as detailing plans for supervising the use of the money. Some of the main goals of the village development program are improving nutrition, education, health, local economies and infrastructure in the villages, as well as addressing issues such as gender equality, sustainable forest management and law and justice.

To finance the program, Suebu has shaken up the provincial budget. In the previous budget, 70 percent of funds were allocated for the state apparatus, 20 percent for infrastructure and public spending and the remaining 10 percent for rural development. In the new-look budget, the funds for the state apparatus have been slashed to 27 percent, while 25 percent will go for infrastructure and public spending and 45 percent for rural development.

Papua province also has launched a major infrastructure project, called the integrated transportation network. Under this project, the administration will build seaports, airports and a modern highway system, at a total cost of between Rp 50 trillion and Rp 100 trillion. Funding for the work will come from both the state and provincial budgets, as well as from overseas grants.

Suebu said a modern transportation system would spur economic growth in villages. "Our farmers have to sell their products in the city, but to do this they have to pay a lot for transportation, which cuts their profit. That's a major drawback of a poor transportation system," he told Nethy Dharma Somba of The Jakarta Post in Jayapura.

The governor said the highway construction would begin this year, starting with the 3,000 kilometer Trans-Papua highway, which will connect Papua and West Papua at a cost of Rp 30 trillion.

To save costs, the project will make use of tailings from the PT Freeport mining company, with the end result expected to be of similar quality as concrete roads.

Suebu said with an integrated transportation network, isolated areas would be opened and more investors would come and awaken the "sleeping giant". "This is what we call the new Papua, a prosperous Papua," said the governor.

Among Papua's abundant natural wealth are proven gold and copper reserves of 2.5 billion tons in the PT Freeport mining concession area, 540 million cubic meters of potential commercial timber, nine million hectares of forest conversion areas for large-scale plantations, 2,000 miles of coastline, a sea area of 220,000 square km and 1.3 million tons of potential fishery products per year.

Delay request for Special Autonomy Law revision

A forum held at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Central Jakarta requested the Indonesian central government postpone its planned revision of the 2001 Papuan Special Autonomy law. The meeting claimed that six years of special autonomy in Papua had yet to provide opportunities for indigenous Papuans to get involved in managing their own affairs.

"There should be comprehensive evaluation and planning before reaching the conclusion that revision is urgently needed," the Forum chairman Albert Hasibuan said, adding that if revision was truly unavoidable, the revised law should not just look after the needs of political elites.

"If there should really be a revision, the people of Papua, who are represented by the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) and the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) should participate (in its deliberation)," said a member of the Jakarta Community for Papua (Pokja), Frans Maniagasi. "These two bodies represent the people while the two governors (Papua and West Papua) represent the central government," Frans said.

He added that the implementation of special autonomy law was a "mess" since the supporting legal components were yet to be issued. "Many Papuans are against the revision because the provincial bylaw (Perdasi), created by the governor and the DPRP; and the special bylaw (Perdasus) created by the governor, DPRP and MRP are not yet available," he said.

The Forum also asked the central government to conduct feasibility studies before making decisions on the establishment of new regencies in the two provinces.

Legislator Simon Morin, from the Golkar Party in the national House of Representatives, said that special autonomy needed a special instrument "established by the central government to empower special autonomy. People's empowerment is important. Without empowerment and enforcement from the central government to local offices, the special autonomy law will not be effective," Morin said, adding that local governments in Papua should be evaluated closely to deter potential mismanagement, especially in budget allocation becaue "the more you go down to the level of local bureaucracy, the smaller the funding becomes."

A researcher from the Center for Political Studies at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Muridan S. Widjojo, said there was nothing wrong with the special autonomy law. "It's not the law but the implementation of the law. A lot of the funding actually went to activities that would not increase the welfare of the people," he said. "Where are the funding to improve health clinics and schools or to send teachers to remote areas? There is just no data to prove that substantial allocation has happened," he said, as reported by lvin Darlanika Soedarjo of The Jakarta Post.

Eight points of agreement between two provinces

Under the terms of the "One but Two, Two but One" ceremony held by the Governors of Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) provinces in Manokwari on Tuesday, eight points of agreement were decided for further deliberation in Biak, Papua province, on 31 March.

The follow-up meeting is scheduled to be attended by the Papuan and West Papuan governors, representatives from the provinces' parliaments and the Papuan Peoples' Congress (MRP), 22 regents and mayors from Papua and seven regents and mayors from West Papua, The Jakarta Post reported.

One of the points of agreement is the gathering of inventories for personnel and equipment as well as the documentation of regional revenue, public works, transportation, forestry, agriculture, sea fishing and mining figures.

Another point deals with an agreement by representatives of the two provinces to share special autonomy funds. It was also agreed that all natural resources should be shared by all provinces, regencies and mayoralties throughout Indonesian New Guinea, based on a percentage division between producing and non-producing areas already set out in existing regional regulations.

Others points included an integrated development plan, which covers spatial planning and the development of infrastructure, strategic economic development, social and cultural development and the development of human resources.

Increasing child/youth AIDS infection in Merauke

At least 113 young people, under 20 years old, from Merauke regency in Papua province have been infected by HIV/AIDS since they were in wombs of their mothers, officials told Antara newsagency. Head of Merauke's HIV/AIDS Controlling Commission (KPAD) Waryono said 26 of them age up to 4 years, six age between 5 to 9 years and 81 others age between 10 to 19 years.

Meanwhile, the number of reported cases of adults with HIV/AIDS has now reached 639. Waryono, who is also Merauke deputy regent, blames the large number on "permissive sex", Antara reported.

Vatican representative visits Catholics in Papua

The Holy See nuncio to Indonesia has urged Catholic villagers in Indonesia's Papua province to practise Christian values and build inter-communal harmony in areas known for tribal conflicts. "There are many Papuan tribal and cultural values that are good, but there are also traditions that are harmful and which cause death," Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, apostolic nuncio to Indonesia, told parishioners of Morning Star Church in Abmisibil, UCA News reported.

"The bad elements are, among others, tribal warfare, adultery, polygamy, idol worship and belief in ancestral spirits," said the archbishop.

The prelate's 9-12 February visit to eight parishes in Jayawijaya district, Jayapura Diocese, was the first such pastoral visit by a nuncio to the area in Indonesia's easternmost province. According to government statistics, the largely Protestant district has a population of 313,961. Protestants make up 82 percent, while Catholics make up 15 percent and Muslims 1.5 percent, with Hindus and Buddhists comprising the rest.

At Morning Star Parish, the nuncio urged Catholics to respect the dignity of others, to practice church teaching on marriage, and to build a culture of peace, justice and love. During the dialogue session with local Catholics, lay leader Beny Ningdana said: "Abmisibil people, who dwell in the border areas between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, sincerely welcome Pope Benedict XVI's representative to observe our joys and sorrows."

Accompanied by several local bishops, Archbishop Girelli also visited other parishes where Catholics welcomed the nuncio with traditional dances. They also placed the noken, a traditional Papuan bag made of netted material, around his neck, along with headdresses made of Bird of Paradise plumes.

Two provinces united for culture and development

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and Papua Barat (West Papua) Governor Abraham (Bram) O. Atururi have signed an agreement to settle differences, the first cooperative move by the two directly-elected leaders since they were installed six months ago. The reconciliation may end Papua province bickering over the legal basis for the establishment of West Papua.

The signing was held on Mansinam Island, a symbolically important island for Papuans since it is where two preachers from Europe landed on 5 February 1855 and began spreading Christianity. "The ceremony was titled "One but Two, Two but One", meaning that Papua's culture, economy and infrastructure development are unified even as its government has split into two provinces," Nethy Dharma Somba reported for The Jakarta Post from Manokwari.

The three-step process included an agreement on the legal basis for the creation of the new province under the Special Autonomy Law; the handover of documents on personnel, financing, equipment and other issues from Papua province to West Papua; and a pledge to jointly manage the economy and infrastructure.

The agreement means that the two provinces will share management of the special autonomy funds, which account for 2 percent of the central government's general allocation funds.

The special autonomy law, along with its attendant funding, is intended to speed Papua's development and give the region more control over its rich natural resources. The funds have thus far been managed by Papua province in cooperation with regency and mayoralty administrations throughout Papua, including those in West Papua.

The reconciliation meeting was held in a very friendly atmosphere. The two governors and their entourages were greeted with traditional dances and all the civil servants of West Papua province lined the road where the guests passed. Governor Suebu shook hands with all of them.

The Mansinam agreement will be deliberated by a special team before it is discussed at a joint working meeting between the two governors and all regents and mayors in the two provinces in Biak.

"We will try to complete the deliberation as soon as possible so that we can hold the next meeting, thereby enabling us to work and build," Bram said.

The reconciliation has melted the cold relations between the two provinces following the creation of West Papua province, which was initially named West Irian Jaya province.

"On this day the conflict between the province of West Irian Jaya, which was later called West Papua, and the province of Papua must end," Suebu said. He added that the two provinces must work together in thought, feeling and spirit to build a new Papua.

Minister wary of six new Papuan regencies

Indonesian Minister for Home Affairs, M. Ma'ruf, has reportedly asked that six bills on the creation of new local governments in Papua province, proposed by the national House of Representatives, be further clarified before deliberations continue. The six would-be regencies are Yalimo, Central Mamberamo, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Dogiyai and Puncak. The minister believes none are viable as seperate administrative entities.

"The central government appears overwhelmed by demands for new administrative regions, due mainly to the absence of clear-cut criteria," Hyginus Hardoyo commented in The Jakarta Post.

Proposed new central province targets big assets

Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri pushed forward the division of Indonesia's then sole province in New Guinea island, Irian Jaya, into three separate provinces with her Presidential Instruction No. 1/2003. However the creation of Central Irian Jaya province was stalled due to internal disputes amongst residents.

According to Neles Tebay, a lecturer at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Abepura, Jayapura, in Papua province, "a motion for the formation of Central Irian Jaya province has resurfaced and is being debated in Nabire. A special committee for the establishment of Bomberay province has already been formed."

Writing in The Jakarta Post, he said Bomberay would cover the Papua Barat (West Papua) regencies of Fakfak, Kaimana and Bintuni plus Mimika in Papua - which would therefore transfer BP's massive gas fields from West Papua province and the huge Freeport gold-copper mine from Papua.

NGO claims peaceful Papuan separatists attacked

The Human Rights Watch lobby group in New York, USA, claims at least 18 Papuans are serving sentences in Indonesian jails "simply for peaceful acts of freedom of expression and opinion" in violation of international law and Indonesia’s international legal obligations. The 42-page report, “Protest and Punishment: Political Prisoners in Papua,” argues that the Indonesian government uses criminal law to punish individuals who peacefully advocate for independence in Indonesia's New Guinea provinces of Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) which they refer to collectively as Papua.

“Indonesia claims to have become a democracy, but democracies don’t put people in prison for peaceful expression,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Real freedom of expression, assembly and association are still in short supply for political activists in Papua.”

Given as an example is Linus Hiluka who, in June 2000, was charged with treason and spreading hatred due to his connection with a separatist organization, the Baliem Papua Panel. According to the report, at no point was Hiluka accused of any violent or criminal activity but he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.

Another example: On 26 May 2005, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage were found guilty of rebellion and spreading hatred against the government because they conducted peaceful demonstrations on 1 December 2004 to mark what separatists commemorate as Papua’s national day. For these acts, they were sentenced to 15 years’ and 10 years’ imprisonment respectively.

In “Protest and Punishment,” Human Rights Watch states it only included cases where the defendant was convicted for peaceful expression. There are many other cases in Papua where individuals have been charged with or convicted of crimes against the security of the state where it was alleged that the defendant engaged in or advocated violence. Human Rights Watch did not include these cases in the report, even those cases where the allegations of violent activity or advocacy did not appear to be readily supported by the evidence.

Human Rights Watch also claimed that severe government-imposed restrictions on access to Papua mean that it is difficult to identify all such cases or to ascertain the full extent of the human rights situation in Papua. “Until Papua is opened fully to scrutiny there will be doubt and confusion about the extent of abuse there,” said Adams. “As we saw in Aceh, closed conditions create breeding grounds for unchecked abuse. If the government has nothing to hide, it should open Papua to the outside world.”

Human Rights Watch called on the Indonesian government to immediately release all political prisoners in Papua and to drop any outstanding charges against individuals awaiting trial. Human Rights Watch also urged the government to repeal the vague and broad laws criminalizing the spreading of “hatred” and treason to ensure that no further prosecutions can take place in violation of international law.

However, according to Reuters, Indonesia denies any systematic rights abuses. "Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono said last year there were some "violations" in Papua by rogue elements in the military but insisted these acts were perpetrated by individuals. He also suggested the media exaggerated problems in Papua," the newsagency's Ed Davies commented.

PNG visitors prevented from buying subsidised fuel

The Indonesian government has imposed the international oil price standard on Papua New Guinea residents who buy fuel oil in Wutung, Jayapura in Papua province. The measure was taken to prevent border crossers from purchasing diesel oil and gasoline subsidised by the Indonesian national government, Indonesian Consul General to Vanimo, Ignatius Kristanyo, told Antara newsageny.

"If border crossers from PNG are allowed to buy fuel oil at gas stations in Jayapura, they will buy the commodity in bulk and the Indonesian people in Jayapura and environs will run out of the fuel oil they need," he said. He said the purchase of fuel oil in great volume could happen because the rate of PNG's currency, Kina, is higher than the Indonesian unit, Rupiah, namely, Rp3,000 to one Kina.

Thus, the Indonesian government would set up gas stations on areas bordering on PNG to avoid the purchase of fuel oil in bulk by PNG people in rupiah, he said, adding that the government would also limit the volume of fuel oil to be sold in the border areas. He cited as an example that diesel oil would be sold at four Kinas or Rp12,000 per liter and gasoline at 4.50 Kinas or Rp14,000 per liter.

"The oil prices of international standard are lower than those in PNG," he said while disclosing that the living cost in PNG was higher than that in Indonesia. Therefore, many PNG people come to Indonesian areas bordering on PNG for shopping as the prices of basic necessities in the achipelagic country are lower than those in the beighbouring nation, he said.

Indonesia ready to open Papua/PNG border road

Indonesia has announced that it is ready to open its cross-border road with the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, saying it is proof of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Minister for Home Affairs, M. Ma'ruf visited a border post at Skow Wutung in Jayapura, Papua province, to check on immigration services.

"There has been much progress, including in the trial services. Here we can check how long it takes for a traveler to process his or her documents and baggage. We will speed it up to provide a better service," he said.

Papuan Governor Barnabas Suebu said that with the opening of the border crossing the number of people from PNG coming to shop in Jayapura would increase because the city's prices were cheaper, while Indonesian traders from Jayapura would find it easier to sell their products in Vanimo, a PNG provincial capital close to the border. "There are benefits to be had by both sides. They get cheaper prices and we will be able to sell our commodities," Suebu said.

The border post is also expected to reduce the number of illegal crossings. "With the opening of the legal post, local people are expected to use it," he said.

The post is scheduled to be officially opened next month by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare, The Jakarta Post reported.

Illegal logging in Papua may be decreasing

Indonesia’s Minister of Environment said illegal logging in Papua province is decreasing but more work needs to be done to reduce the illegal timber trade. Rachmat Witoelar told Radio New Zealand International that the international demand for hardwood, particularly kwila, is fuelling environmentally damaging, illegal logging in Papua.

Kwila trees take up to 100 years to grow, are difficult to regenerate and are becoming commercially extinct and Witoelar said it’s hard to keep Papua’s native forests in tact while corrupt loggers still have a market demanding its timber.

“Elements who are corrupt, they deal in this and because there are buyers from outside. So we have to stem both the outflow and the purchase, the market. If we reduce the market then there won’t be any motives for the illegal loggers the perpetrators, to repeat themselves,” he said.

Central ministries review Papua's border with PNG

Indonesian Home Affairs Minister M Ma'ruf is scheduled to leave for Papua Province on 18 February for a working visit in the province. The Minister and a group of national legislators and central government ministry officials will visit Skouw border line area shared by Indonesian eastern most province of Papua and neighbouring Papua New Guinea. The Skouw border patrol post was newly constructed and will be officially inaugurated in March.

Last year, Indonesia and PNG twice discussed the two countries' border issues, respectively taking place in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) in August 2006 and in Jakarta in December 2006.

Indonesia's two provinces on New Guinea island, Papua and Papua Barat (West Papua) are home to a native Melanesian population of about 2 million people, plus another 700,000 settlers from other parts of the country.

Antara reports that the minister, who is also accompanied by officials from the coordinating ministry for political, legal and security affairs and the transportation and health ministries, will then proceed to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to visit the country's borderline in Mota Ain, Belu District, which shares a common borderline with Timor Leste.

WHO recognises danger to Papuans of HIV/AIDs

According to the World Health Organisation, Indonesia faces a growing AIDS problem, particularly among drug users and prostitutes, while a recent survey shows two percent of the Papua population infected with HIV.

According to Reuters, the WHO report highlighted a growing concern over HIV cases in the remote eastern area of Papua, where it said a recent survey showed that prevalence of HIV in the general population was 20 times the national average and two percent were infected with HIV. The report said there was "recent evidence of a generalised epidemic" in Papua and cited the undeveloped health care system and a lack of resources to cope with the problem.

The term "Papua" used by Reuters appears to refer to both Indonesian provinces on New Guinea island and not specifically Papua province.

Adverts call for 'Papua' changes to Aust-RI Treaty

An Australian optical store-owner will run television advertismenents across South East Asia urging Indonesia to let human rights monitors into its two New Guinea-island provinces and also promoting separatist identities. According to Graeme Dobell of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC News, one advertisement, shows pictures of Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, and Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono while stating: "Howard, Yudhoyono, you now have all the information: 183,000 dead in East Timor, 100,000 dead in West Papua. Include human rights monitoring and access for journalists to West Papua in the Australia Indonesia Treaty."

The advertisements were launched at a press conference in the Australian Federal Parliament House in Canberra, hosted by an independent MP Peter Andren and Australian Labor Party MP Duncan Kerr from the House of Representatives and Senator Natasha Stott Despojas from the Democrats and Senator Kerry Nettle of the Greens.

According to Dobell, another advertisement in the series features Clemens Runawery "who fled from West Papua in 1969 and lives in exile in Papua New Guinea. He says there's a slow process of genocide in West Papua, because of the influx of people from the rest of Indonesia. Mr Runawery says that under Dutch rule in the early 1960s, Papuans made up 96 percent of the population of what is now an Indonesia province. Today, he says only 65 percent of the population is Papuan, the other 35 per cent from the rest of Indonesia."

And Runawery further told Dobell that "the overpopulation for the Indonesian side is growing much faster than the Papuan population. Now, one may wonder why. The answer to that would be through the transmigration, official and non-official of the so-called spontaneous migrants. Therefore, they're coming in almost 5,000 per week. And that is in fact, this policy is devastating, is detrimental to West Papuan existence, in terms of maintaining the cultures and the dignity as an ethnic group."

The term "West Papua" used in the advertisements and by Runawery appear to refer to both Indonesian provinces on New Guinea island and not specifically Papua Barat (West Papua) province.

The sponsor, millionaire businessman Ian Melrose, said he'll find television networks who'll "take the money" and run his advertisements across South East Asia.

According to Kate Corbett of Australian Associated Press, the adverts will "initially be aired across Australia and then overseas on ABC Asia-Pacific [the Australian Government-owned satellite broadcasting service now renamed Australia Network and already broadcasting into indonesia] and potentially on Indonesian television."

Democrats may intrude in Indonesian New Guinea

The Jakarta Post tips growing USA Democratic Party interest in separatism in Indonesia's two New Guinea provinces. Reporting on the media conference of the outgoing US Ambassador to Indonesia B Lynn Pascoe, reporter Abdul Khalik highlighted the ambassador's comment that Indonesia should respond to the international demands for a resolution to the Munir case and problems in New Guinea in order to maintain its global reputation

Indonesian human rights activist Munir Said Thalib died after being poisoned with arsenic in September 2004. Lower courts and a presidentially sanctioned investigation team found evidence linking top National Intelligence Agency (BIN) officials to his murder, although none have ever been charged.

According to Abdul Khalik, the Democrat's win in mid-term elections in October last year brought "back some key congressmen and senators who wanted to see Papuans be given self-determination."

One example he presented is the new chairman of the House of representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, who said recently that "If you want to talk about fairness, give the people of West Papua the right of self-determination."

In this context Faleomavaega is referring to the people of the two provinces not specifically the people of Papua Barat (West Papua).

Indonesia to speed-up New Guinea development

Indonesia needs to speed up development in the country's two provinces on the west half of New Guinea island, Papua and West Papua, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told reporters after a cabinet meeting on the issue. "The improvement of peoples' prosperity in [the] two Papua provinces is slow. Special autonomy has not been implemented in a good way," he said. "I will issue a presidential decree to accelerate the development in the two Papuan provinces. Funds will come from the region and the central government," he said, as reported by Reuters.

Yudhoyono said transport infrastructure would be priority to boost the local economy. "We hope in three to five years we will see significant results of this acceleration programmes," he said.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS also told media that developing basic transportation infrastructure will be prioritised. "It is important to improve access and mobility to remote areas, and those near the border, so that people in these areas can be reached more easily," he said as quoted by Urip Hudiono of The Jakarta Post. Widodo further mentioned the need to develop suitable plantations and crops in the two provinces to promote self-sufficiency. "We are considering developing oil palm plantations, among other things," he said. "This will also help create employment in these areas."

West Papua Governor Abraham Atururi acknowledged the development challenges in the two provinces and said future strategies should also focus on developing the local human resources. "Papua is said to be a land of riches; the problem is in its human resources," he said. "We hope this can be changed for the betterment of all."

Provincial officials from Papua and West Papua will meet soon in Manokwari, he said, to discuss cooperation in implementing future development policies.

Papua province imports rice from Vietnam

Papua's provincial administration has imported rice from Vietnam to meet local demand. The imported rice was to add to the existing stock and to ensure that there would be no shortage of the stape in the province, an official of the provincial Logistics Depot, Eddy Busran, told Antara in Jayapura.

Last year, the two provinces in Indonesian New Guinea imported 21,500 tons of rice.