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.

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'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.

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.

Churches warn Papua of spreading HIV/AIDs virus

Papuan Churches Association (PGGP) have issued a circular warning Papuans of the danger of HIV/AIDS as the number of the cases is significantly high in Indonesia's eastern-most province. "The virus is a great treat to the lives of people in Papua land," said the circular issued on 27 January and signed by a number of church leaders. The Papuan HIV/AIDS Overseeing Committee recorded that there are 3,023 people infected by the incurable virus in last December. With 1,128 cases, Mimika regency is the worst region, followed by Merauke regency with 883 cases and Jayapura regency with 247 cases.

Four killed in tribal conflict in Mimika Regency

Police were on guard Monday in tense Kwamki Lama village in Mimika regency after a three-day clash between two tribes left four people dead and 16 injured. Fighting erupted Friday when Yohanes Kogoya from the Nduga tribe was fatally wounded by arrows when he was attending the funeral of the Bhintuka village chief's son, Nugi, a member of the Dani tribe. Nugi reportedly drowned in a local river, but the Dani blame the Nduga tribespeople for the death. The conflict broke out in the Kwamki Lama area, not far from a huge gold and copper mine operated by PT Freeport Indonesia.

A community figure in Mimika, Rev. Addiel Tinal, said Monday that leaders of both tribes had attempted to calm their members, but to no avail. "We've tried to talk some sense into them, but it seems difficult for them to accept peace because they are still emotional about the incident," said Tinal, who was accompanied by Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jantje Jimmy Tuilan in Kios Panjang, Kwamki Lama. "Community leaders and I will wait until the situation calms down and we won't force ourselves to appease both sides. We have posted police troops in the conflict area since Sunday to quell the situation," he said.

Murder trial of OPM suspects starts in Jakarta

The Central Jakarta District Court opened the trial Tuesday of seven Papuans charged with the 2002 murders of two American teachers and an Indonesian who worked for PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua. The suspects were forcibly brought to trial by police after twice refusing to appear. The defendants demanded that the trial be held in Timika. "It's useless to hold the trial here. We won't talk," defendant Ishak Onawame, 54, told presiding judge Andriani Nurdin. The judge was questioning Antonius Wamang, who remained silent.

Antonius, 30, who is accused of orchestrating the killings, is being tried separately from the other six defendants: Ishak, Agustinus Anggaibak, 23, Yulianus Deikme, 26, Esau Onawame, 23, Hardi Sugumol, 34, and Yairus Kiwak, 52. The seven Papuans insisted they would stand trial only in Timika, where the alleged crimes took place. "Don't force us!," cried another of the accused, while Papuan supporters attending the session applauded. Antonius, who was seated in front of the judges, returned to the visitors' seats to join the other defendants in protest of the proceedings. "I want this trial closed now!" cried Ishak.

Judge Andriani pleaded with them to agree to stand trial but failed. The situation was exacerbated by the absence of the defendants' lawyers, who are from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association. They had been asked by the Papuans not to attend. The police finally forced Antonius to return to his seat so that the indictments could be read. "You may file your objection in a written statement in your defense later," Andriani said, adding that the trial must go on.

In the indictment, prosecutors alleged that Antonius was a member of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) and was ordered by OPM leader Kelly Kwalik to sabotage Jalan Tembagapura in Timika and to attack Indonesian Military (TNI) troops that passed along the road near the Freeport mine. "Antonius Wamang recruited 11 people to launch the attack," the indictment said. "In his action, he was backed by preacher Ishak Onawame who gave him two sacks of rice and a tent ..."

The indictment claims that on August 31, Antonius and the rest of the attackers, using M-16, SS-1 and Mauser rifles, ambushed the vehicle carrying five Americans and an Indonesian, which they believed was also carrying TNI soldiers. U.S. nationals Ricky Lynn Spier, 44, and Edwin Leon Burgen, 71, and an Indonesian, FX Bambang Riwanto, died in the attack.

During the session, a Papuan woman kept yelling that the seven defendants were innocent. "They are just farmers. Farmers don't have guns, soldiers do!"

The defendants are charged with premeditated murder and weapons possession, for which they could face the death sentence. Prosecutor Anita Asterida said the Timika District Court and the Papuan provincial prosecutor's office had pleaded with the Supreme Court to move the trial to Jakarta for security reasons. "It is exactly as stipulated in the Criminal Procedures Code," she told The Jakarta Post. The trial was adjourned until 1 August, when the defendants and their lawyers will present their pleas.