Editorial: Is Muhaimin corrupt?

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is facing yet another test of his commitment to fighting corruption as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) digs deeper into a bribery case allegedly implicating a member of his Cabinet.

It appears that Yudhoyono faces a dilemma, as the Cabinet member involved is Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, whose National Awakening Party has been the President’s loyal coalition partner, both in good times and in bad.

The KPK has arrested two ministry officials, I Nyoman Suisnaya and Dadong Irberelawan, as well as businesswoman Dharnawati in connection with the case, which revolves around a Rp 1.5 billion (US$175,500) bribe paid to accelerate an infrastructure project in a resettlement area in the West Papua capital of Manokwari.

Dharnawati said through her lawyer that the money was meant for Muhaimin as an “Idul Fitri bonus”. Muhaimin has denied the allegations.

However, it remains for the KPK to determine if the minister is in the clear or not. KPK deputy chairman M. Jasin said on Monday that investigators have arranged a questioning session with the minister in the near future.

According to an investigation conducted by Tempo magazine, Dharnawati, who works for PT Alam Jaya Papua, was allegedly asked to pay Rp 7.5 billion, to be split between Muhaimin and the House of Representatives’ budget committee.

The payments excluded a 10 percent “commission” allegedly demanded by the politicians for a Rp 500 billion tender granted to the company to build infrastructure in resettlement areas in 19 regencies across the country.

The company could only afford to pay Rp 1.5 billion, which Dharnawati later allegedly handed to Nyoman on Aug. 25. KPK investigators caught the suspects while in the act that day.

Of course the KPK should and cannot unquestioningly accept Tempo’s findings, which have no legal weight and might be inaccurate. The KPK will have to rely on the facts and evidence its investigators discover, regardless of Dharnawati’s accusations or Muhaimin’s denials.

Without a doubt, politics are and will be at play in the bribery case, given Muhaimin’s status as the chairman of a party that supports Yudhoyono’s government. The situation is exacerbated by the KPK’s corruption investigation of Muhammad Nazaruddin, the former treasurer of Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party.

The fact that the KPK previously waited for ministers to step down before investigating them in earnest for corruption allegations shows how politics have impeded the antigraft campaign in the country. This has happened despite the President’s vow to stay away from the legal process conducted by the KPK against his aides.

Muhaimin, who has emerged as a seasoned politician since reform, should wary of using politics to weather this crisis. In interview given to local journalists in his hometown, Jombang, in East Java over the weekend, Muhaimin made an unprecedented move to declare his party’s support for a House move to exercise the right to express an opinion in connection with the controversial Bank Century bailout if the ongoing legal process to settle the case stalls.

As a former deputy House speaker, Muhaimin is well aware that such a move would lead to impeachment of Vice President Boediono, whom the House blames for the Rp 6.7 trillion bailout.

The only way to prove his leadership in the nationwide fight against graft is for the President to throw his weight behind the KPK investigation and ask Muhaimin to focus on the legal process.

For the sake of equality before the law, the same standard should apply to all Cabinet ministers, including those from the Democratic Party.

Source; http://www.thejakartapost.com/

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The week in review: Independence dreams

Not all Indonesians shared in the joy and gratitude for 66 years of living as an independent and sovereign nation, which was proclaimed by their founding fathers on Aug. 17, 1945.

In his letter, a reader of The Jakarta Post says he refuses to hoist the Red and White flag to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Indonesia’s independence, as he feels he has nothing to celebrate.

Indonesia, he says, has betrayed the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers as evident in the court system that surrenders to those who have money or terrorize judges in the name of religion, massive exploitation of natural resources that benefits corporations and growing public resistance to diversity.

Such discontent has turned into a secessionist movement on the outlying territory of Papua. Amid the festive commemoration of Independence Day across the province, suspected members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist group intensified attacks this week to either spoil the party or to gain international recognition of their existence.

On Monday evening, a group of gunmen sprayed bullets at and attacked two public minivans outside St. Peter Catholic church in Abe Pantai in the provincial capital of Jayapura. Nobody was injured in the incident, but it was reminiscent of a fatal ambush of a car in Nafri village, also in Jayapura, on Aug. 1, which killed three civilians and a soldier.

Hours before the flag raising ceremony to mark Independence Day on Wednesday, locals discovered an outlawed Morning Star flag hoisted in Tanah Hitam in Abepura district of Jayapura.

Local media reported that gunfights between security troops and suspected rebels erupted in Madi district in Paniai regency later in the evening, but no fatalities were reported. Tension had gripped Paniai since Tuesday, when around 30 people believed to be followers of rebel leader John Yogi held a police officer’s wife hostage in Kamofa district. The woman was released after the police granted the group’s demand for two rifles as a ransom.

The violence occurred despite President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s pledge in his annual State of the Nation Speech that preceded Independence Day on Tuesday to allocate an extra Rp 1 trillion (US$117 million) for infrastructure development in Papua next year.

Human rights groups have repeatedly warned the government of prolonged security threats in Papua unless the root causes of the conflict are thoroughly settled through dialog with all parties in the province rather than pouring in more and more money.

Despite the huge special autonomy fund from exploitation of its rich natural resources, Papua remains one of the most underdeveloped provinces in the country.

The paradox has been exacerbated by rampant corruption, marginalization of local people as a side effect of migration and continuing violence against Papuans, which sadly is not addressed accordingly. In the latest defiance of justice, three soldiers escaped murder charges and were handed light jail sentences last week for disobeying their superior’s order involving torture that killed Papuan Rev. Kinderman Gire in March last year.

Independence from Indonesia has remained a living aspiration in Papua — at least among those who are critical of the government’s approach in dealing with the province’s chronic problems of socio-economic injustice. After a series of rallies calling for a referendum for Papuan independence, Papua Customary Council (DAP) chairman Forkorus Yaboisembut launched on Monday his book that justifies the referendum demand.

The book calls the Act of Free Choice in Papua in 1969 as a move by Indonesia to annex the natural resource-rich territory. Yaboisembut insists that Papuan people declared their independence on Oct. 19, 1961 through a political manifesto signed by the Papua National Committee and the hoisting of a Morning Star flag with approval of the Dutch colonial administration.

It will require a Herculean effort to straighten the history of Papua’s integration into Indonesia, mostly because many of the actors and witnesses of the 1969 event are no longer alive. But even if history is revised, a referendum for Papua is unlikely to happen, as it goes against the Constitution and the international recognition of Indonesia’s sovereignty over Papua.

However, security threats will continue to plague the easternmost province if the government continues to look down on Papua.

A conference facilitated by the Papua Peace Network last month recommended that the government show more respect for the customary rights of Papuans, including the access to natural resources they need to improve their welfare, and bring to court all perpetrators of state violence, either reported or not, in accordance with the people’s sense of justice.

While thousands of criminals, including corruption convicts, received sentence remissions or even automatic releases on Independence Day, graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin began his interrogation process for his suspected involvement in graft. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) estimates Nazaruddin’s cases involve a whopping Rp 6 trillion.

Nazaruddin was wanted not only by the KPK, but also by the public at large, who are now waiting for fulfillment of his promise to prove the involvement of key figures in the ruling Democratic Party in the corruption case.

Contrary to public’s expectations, Nazaruddin, a former Democratic Party treasurer, said after his questioning on Thursday that he would not let the party down and would bear all the responsibility if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the party’s chief patron, protected his family.

— Dwi Atmanta

Source; http://www.thejakartapost.com

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Merawat Papua

Papua dan kekerasan seolah menjalin kekerabatan yang sangat erat. Hampir tiada hari tanpa kekerasan di wilayah berjuluk mutiara hitam ini. Sejak resmi bergabung dengan NKRI pada 1 Mei 1963, Papua tidak pernah berhenti bergolak. Aksi-aksi kekerasan bernuansa separatisme, pelanggaran HAM oleh aparat, dan konflik horizontal, terus terjadi dari waktu ke waktu. Entah sudah berapa banyak nyawa yang melayang percuma sebagai korban kekerasan.

Kasus terkini terjadi di Ilaga, ibu kota Kabupaten Puncak, Minggu (31/7), dan di Distrik Abepura, Senin (1/8), dengan total korban 21 orang tewas. Aksi kekerasan di Ilaga yang menewaskan 17 orang, dipicu oleh perselisihan pilkada yang berujung bentrokan antara dua kubu massa pendukung calon bupati. Aksi di Abepura menewaskan empat orang, salah satunya anggota TNI.

Semua aksi kekerasan itu secara terang benderang mengindikasikan bahwa ada yang belum beres di Papua. Ketidakberesan inilah yang membuat Papua masih tertinggal jauh dari saudara-saudaranya di republik ini, kendati sudah 48 tahun bergabung dalam naungan NKRI. Kondisi ini sungguh sangat ironis karena di tengah keberlimpahan sumber daya alamnya, rakyat Papua hingga hari ini masih terbelenggu kemiskinan, kebodohan, dan keterbelakangan. Angka kemiskinan Papua masih di atas 30 persen, sementara angka rata-rata nasional kurang dari 14 persen. Kemiskinan, kebodohan, dan keterbelakangan ini bisa menjadi ilalang kering yang mudah terbakar di musim kemarau. Karena itu, bila persoalan mendasar tersebut tidak diselesaikan, maka aksi-aksi kekerasan akan senantiasa terjadi di Papua.

Harus ada terobosan yang luar biasa serius untuk membuat daerah ini bergerak maju. Papua harus dibikin maju, paling tidak setara dengan provinsi lainnya di Tanah Air. Tanpa upaya luar biasa ini kita tidak bisa berharap kekerasan akan menjauh dari Papua. Kita pun tidak bisa terlalu banyak berharap Papua akan tetap menjadi bagian dari NKRI di masa mendatang.

Karena itu, Papua harus dirawat dengan saksama. Papua harus diberi perhatian yang lebih agar daerah ini bisa mengalami percepatan pembangunan di segala lini. Penerapan Otonomi Khusus (Otsus) tampaknya belum cukup untuk membawa Papua ke kondisi yang lebih baik. Otsus hari ini hanya dinikmati oleh segelintir elite, belum seluruh rakyat Papua. Pemerintah pusat dan elite Papua, harus benar-benar mau mendengarkan apa yang menjadi keinginan masyarakat terkait dengan pembangunan mereka ke depan. Sejauh ini kita percaya bahwa mayoritas rakyat Papua masih ingin bersama kita dalam perahu NKRI. Namun bila tidak dirawat atau dikelola dengan baik, maka perlahan tapi pasti, keinginan untuk memisahkan diri dari Indonesia akan semakin menguat dan sulit dilunakkan lagi.

Kita jelas tidak ingin hal itu terjadi. Papua harus dipertahankan sekuat mungkin. Kita tidak ingin kasus Timor Timur, yang kini telah menjadi Negara Republik Demokratik Timor Leste, terulang kembali. Untuk itu, kasus-kasus kekerasan di Papua harus diakhiri. Akar persoalannya harus dicari dan dibereskan.

Kita melihat akar persoalannya ada pada kemiskinan, kebodohan, dan keterbelakangan. Semua itu terjadi akibat kebijakan pemerintah pusat yang kurang pas, ditambah perilaku elite Papua yang mementingkan diri sendiri.

Data dari Majelis Rakyat Papua menyebutkan sejumlah hal yang membuat rakyat Papua terus tertinggal. Pertama, pelanggaran HAM oleh aparat yang masih terus terjadi. Kedua, eksploitasi sumber daya alam yang sangat berlebihan oleh pusat sehingga memiskinkan masyarakat lokal. Ketiga, penguasaan sektor formal dan informal oleh kelompok imigran yang mengakibatkan orang Papua terpinggirkan.

Keempat, pembangunan hanya bersifat proyek sehingga tidak menyentuh kebutuhan dasar rakyat asli Papua. Kelima, pembuatan regulasi yang bertabrakan satu sama lain sehingga melanggar UU Nomor 21 Tahun 2001 tentang Otsus Papua. Keenam, pelaksanaan Otsus tidak menyentuh kepentingan rakyat asli Papua akibat maraknya korupsi. Ketujuh, penerimaan PNS yang lebih banyak didominasi warga pendatang. Kedelapan, stigma OPM yang menghancurkan karakter orang asli Papua.

Semua persoalan itu harus segera dijawab pemerintah, baik pusat maupun daerah, dengan pendekatan konkret. Harus ada program-program pembangunan yang membuat rakyat Papua merasa menjadi bagian dari pembangunan itu sendiri. Korupsi dana Otsus yang begitu marak di hampir semua kabupaten di Papua harus diusut tuntas. Para koruptor harus dikirim ke balik jeruji besi agar ada efek jera bagi yang lain. Dengan begitu, dana Otsus yang jumlahnya cukup fantastis benar-benar mengalir untuk rakyat.

Untuk itu, harus ada keseriusan dan kepedulian yang lebih dari semua pemangku kepentingan di pusat dan daerah untuk merawat, memberdayakan, dan memajukan Papua. Jangan hanya kekayaan sumber daya alamnya saja yang dijarah ke pusat sementara rakyatnya dibiarkan terus melarat. Selama tidak ada upaya perbaikan yang signifikan, maka jangan berharap aksi-aksi kekerasan akan sirna dari Papua. Selanjutnya, jangan berharap pula rakyat Papua masih sukarela menjadi bagian dari NKRI.

Sumber; http://www.suarapembaruan.com

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The week in review: Fighting graft and separatism

(Ed
In the nation-wide struggle to root out graft, Indonesians have to undoubtedly consider the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as the most prominent institution to take the lead compared to the police and the Attorney General’s Office; although there are critics saying the commission is dragging its feet in dealing with high-profile cases.

The stunning remark by House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, who suggested that the KPK be dismantled if its leaders were unreliable, failed to erode the public’s faith in the antigraft body.

As the KPK is in dire need of new leaders, people are anxiously waiting for the results of the ongoing selection of new KPK leaders. The committee has shortlisted 10 figures — Abdullah Hehamahua, Abraham Samad, Adnan Pandupradja, Aryanto Sutadi, Bambang Widjojanto, Egi Sutjiati, Handoyo Sudrajat, Sayid Fadhil, Yunus Husein and Zulkarnain — for the last selection stage.

Interviews of the 10 candidates will take place on Aug. 15 to further cut the number to eight, after which their names will be submitted to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on
Aug. 18, according to Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar.

Fugitive graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin, the ousted treasurer of Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, is certainly not part of the selection committee, but he could show a number of candidates the door.

To the public’s surprise, three key incumbent KPK figures – deputy chairman Chandra M. Hamzah, deputy for enforcement Ade Rahardja and spokesman Johan Budi – failed to qualify. Their exit came just after Nazaruddin talked to the media from his hiding place where he had met the three KPK officials and investigator Adj. Sr. Comr. Roni Samtana, to negotiate several cases implicating members of his party. Nazaruddin said Chandra and Ade would receive the party’s backing in return.

Another name that also attracted the public’s attention was Sutan Bagindo Fachmi, head of the West Sumatra Prosecutor’s Office. Fachmi failed to clear the hurdles after Nazaruddin claimed that the prosecutor had contributed Rp 1 billion (US$118,345) to the Democratic Party in exchange for the party’s favor. Fachmi has denied the allegation.

Nazaruddin is wanted for his role in corruption cases relating to the construction of SEA Games’ facilities in Palembang, South Sumatra. In an apparent act of retaliation, Nazaruddin named Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum the mastermind of his act of corruption. Nazaruddin said Anas won the party’s chief post in 2009 after buying votes, which he funded with ill-gotten money from projects commissioned by state-owned enterprises.

According to National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam, with the hunt for Nazaruddin intensifying, the police plan to confiscate BlackBerry smart phones used by a number of journalists to communicate with Nazaruddin.

The brouhaha has prompted the KPK to establish an ethics board, which is aimed to investigate alleged violations committed by commission members and, more importantly, restore its credibility.

We hope only people with integrity and honesty will stay in the KPK to continue the campaign against graft that has long tarnished the country’s image.

Indonesia also came under the spotlight this week as Papuan people renewed their demand for a referendum. On Tuesday, the heads of state institutions met with President Yudhoyono, calling on the government to pay more attention to the implementation of special autonomy in the provinces in order to prove the secessionist view is wrong.

Papua has recently seen a spate of violence. Just after 19 people were killed in a clash between supporters of rival political candidates in Puncak Jaya regency over the weekend, gunmen shot dead three civilians and a military soldier in Nafri, near the provincial capital of Jayapura on Monday. Two days later, gunmen shot at a military helicopter in Puncak Jaya, which is believed to be the stronghold of the separatist rebel group, OPM (Free Papua Organization).

Thousands of Papuans rallied in Jayapura, Biak and Jakarta in a show of support for the conference of International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) in Oxford. The ILWP argues that the 1969 Act of Free Choice in Papua, albeit supervised by the United Nations, was flawed because it relied on the consensus of elders who did not represent the entire population in Papua.

It was unfortunate that during the meeting between the state institutions’ leaders and the President, they did not discuss the conference result. Regional Representatives Council head Irman Gusman said that “the Unitary State of Indonesia is already final.” He added that the state institution leaders demanded that the government “better manage Papua and Aceh ahead of the regional elections, which are prone to conflict”.

Speaking after the meeting, however, Yudhoyono did not touch on the issue of Papua or Aceh. Instead, he said he would consider input from state institution leaders to be inserted in his state address to be delivered on Aug. 16, ahead of the Independence Day anniversary.

As the first week of Ramadhan has passed, people have begun to complain about the rising prices of food and basic goods. The increasing demand for food supplies has prompted the government to set aside Rp 2.2 trillion to ensure demands are met.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa said Rp 1 trillion from the funds would be used to finance “rice for the poor”. BPS chairman Rusman Heriawan called on the government to focus on the last week of August, when people brace themselves for the Idul Fitri holiday, to stabilize prices through market operations.

In spite of these events, hopefully peace will prevail in the remaining weeks of Ramadhan.

— Primastuti Handayani

Source; http://www.thejakartapost.com

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West Papua Report

This is the 72nd in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans. This series is produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments, and analysis and reporting from …West Papua Report

May 2010
This is the 72nd in a series of monthly reports that focus on developments affecting Papuans. This series is produced by the non-profit West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) drawing on media accounts, other NGO assessments, and analysis and reporting from sources within West Papua. .

Summary

Indonesia’s Special Forces (Kopassus) and U.S.-backed Detachment 88 troops joined in an assault on peaceful demonstrators in Manokwari. It is unclear if any of those initial detained remain in custody. The Jakarta Post reports chronic malnutrition among Amungme and Kamoro children who live in the shadow of the massive Freeport McMoran copper and gold mine. A prominent leader of PDI-P has called for creation of truth and reconciliation commissions for Aceh and West Papua. Pressure appears to be building for a military response to dissent in West Papua, including the targeting of NGOs. Leading human rights organizations and churches have called for an end to mistreatment of political prisoners in West Papua and an investigation of security force killing of activists. Indonesian intelligence and special forces are attempting to create a false front organization in Biak to replace a legitimate one established by the local people.

Contents
• Security Forces Attack Peaceful Demonstrators in Manokwari
• Freeport Ignores Childhood Malnutrition at Its Doorstep
• Call for Truth and Reconciliation Commission in West Papua
• Pressure Grows For Military Response to Political Dissent in West Papua
• Rights Groups Decry Mistreatment of Political Prisoners and Failure to Investigate Killing of Activists
• Indonesian Intelligence and Special Forces Seek to Create a Stooge Traditional Council in Biak
Security Forces Attack Peaceful Demonstrators in Manokwari

Sources in West Papua reported on the latest security force assault on peaceful demonstrators. The U.S.-organized and -funded Detachment 88 attacked peaceful protesters in Manokwari on April 22. The attacking force also included BRIMOB (militarized police) and Dalmas (a special security unit). Video of the attack revealed plainclothes officials also assaulting the demonstrators. (The plainclothes officials may have been Kopassus or military intelligence (BIN) which often work out of uniform.)

According to a report from the scene, at least 17 of the estimated 700 protesters were arrested. Most of this number, which included women and youths, were subsequently released though there is some indication that some of these were re-arrested, notably Mark Yenu, the leader of the Manokwari contingent of the West Papua National Authority.

Video of the incident noted that demonstrators carried a banner calling for a referendum for West Papua and rejecting dialogue as a means of resolving the Papuan crisis.

Rally speaker Reverend Yoku called for the immediate release of those “political prisoners” detained at the demonstration. The President of the National Congress of the West Papua National Authority added, “What is democracy if you can’t have a rally? Where is Yudhoyono? Why doesn’t he pull back his security forces?”

“As a recognized leader in West Papua, I call on the US and the Netherlands, Australia and the 84 UN-member countries that recognized the Act of No Choice in 1969 to take responsibility for the decision they made. Let me say this, because 816,896 West Papuans were never asked whether they wanted the Indonesian occupation. Forty-seven years later, we still don’t want them.”

Freeport Ignores Childhood Malnutrition at Its Doorstep

An April 9 Jakarta Post article describes the inauguration of a program to provide supplemental food for schoolchildren in the Timika area. The “Provision of Food Supplement to Schoolchildren” project is intended to address chronic malnutrition among schoolchildren that contributes to poor learning and equally chronic illiteracy.

Local education official Benny Tsenawatne said the Kamoro and Amungme tribal communities generally lacked access to schools or health clinics, and suffered from low human resource development.

The Post alludes to but does not explore the savage irony that this malnourishment is a chronic concern in a community which serves as the base for the Freeport McMoran gold mining enterprise which has channeled billions of dollars to the U.S. corporation and to the Indonesian government. The Kamoro and Amungme peoples whose land was expropriated by the mining operation have long protested the devastation of their natural resources by the mining operation and the human rights violations meted out by Indonesian security forces acting in service of the mining giant.

To this litany of grievances can be added the plight of the local Papuan’s children. Freeport has ignored the Kamoro and Amungme children suffering chronic malnutrition on its doorstep for decades. (On April 21 Reuters noted that Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc had reported a twenty-fold jump in first-quarter earnings and that it was doubling its dividend as global demand for metals has soared.)

Call for Truth and Reconciliation Commission in West Papua

Indonesia’s Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has publicly called for creation of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the violation of human rights in Aceh and West Papua. Karimun Usman, the chairman of the Aceh branch of the PDI-P, told the media April 22 that the proposal was intended to address the government’s reluctance to deal with past human rights violations.

The 2005 internationally-mediated Helsinki agreement [PDF]which ended conflict between the Indonesian military and the Acehenese independence organization (GAM) required the Indonesian Government to establish both a “human rights court” and a truth and reconciliation commission. The failure of Jakarta to take these steps underscores the continued unwillingness of the central government to confront the powerful Indonesian military which operate with impunity before Indonesia’s deeply flawed judicial system.

The call for a truth and reconciliation commission for West Papua to deal with decades of ongoing security abuses and criminality targeting Papuans is a notable acknowledgement by a non-Papuan official of the need for an official review of security force performance in West Papua. The call for such a commission for West Papua provides tacit support for an internationally-mediated dialogue between Jakarta and Papuans. That proposal, which has drawn broad Papuan support as well as some backing from Indonesian academics and political leaders, is aimed in part at addressing decades of military abuse and criminality.

Pressure Grows For Military Response to Political Dissent in West Papua

In recent weeks an apparently orchestrated effort has emerged aimed at building support for increased military action to address growing peaceful, political dissent in West Papua. Targets for a repressive “security approach” to political problems are not simply the small armed resistance, the “OPM,” but also civilian political dissenters and human rights defenders. Concern about military-on-civilian violence has been prompted in part by Pucak Jaya District Chief Lukas Enembe who has called publicly for government action against unnamed NGOs, “domestic as well as foreign,” whom he alleged have been involved in recent attacks in the district by armed groups. He claimed the activity amounted to efforts to “undermine the Republic.”

The District Chief resorted to the central government’s rhetoric of labeling critics as separatists, contending without evidence that the OPM was “supported by NGOs and individuals who are in favor of a Free Papua.” He also sought to raise fears about a strengthening OPM, contending, again without evidence that OPM personnel were equipped with modern automatic rifles.

The remarks made by district chief Enembe alleging that NGOs are supporting the separatist OPM have been challenged by the NGO community. Budi Setyanto, Director of the Institute for Civil Strengthening told the media that in fact the NGO community is dedicated to nonviolence. He noted that NGOs had long been accused of supporting OPM activity in the Puncak Jaya and challenged those like Enembe who make such false claims: “If there is any evidence that NGOs have supported the OPM, please say which NGOs are involved and who it is within these NGOs who are involved. If what they have done amounts to a criminal act, then the persons should be charged in court. He explained further that the government itself often established NGOs which lacked the ‘common vision of the NGO movement.” (Note item below which describes just such Government efforts in Biak during April.)

The District Chief’s comments coincided with what appeared to be propaganda efforts to increase tensions, including especially ethnic tensions between migrants and Papuans. Sources in West Papua have reported posting of fliers in and around the Papuan capital and main airport at Sentani that proclaim OPM a “terrorist” and “criminal” organization. Curiously, the fliers bear information indicating they were produced by two NGO’s in Jayapura, both of which stoutly deny any involvement in the propaganda.

Assessing these efforts to increase tensions using false claims and clandestine propaganda, a respected analyst believes that the effort is the work of the Indonesian military, particularly those such as the special forces, Kopassus, and the military intelligence, BIN, which engages in intelligence and covert operations. That analyst notes that Kopassus has around 1,000 soldiers operating in civilian clothes and stationed throughout Papua’s more than 30 regencies (districts). BIN personnel tend to be positioned in West Papua’s cities.

Indications that groundwork is being laid for a broad security force crackdown is also reflected in aggressive security force actions against peaceful demonstrations such as those in Manokwari, April 22, where film shot of security forces clearly reveal beating of unarmed protesters. ( See report on that incident above.)
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Sign the petition opposing U.S.
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Rights Groups Decry Mistreatment of Political Prisoners and Failure to Investigate Killing of Activists

International human rights defenders in an April 22 press conference appealed to the Indonesian Government to end discrimination targeting Papuans. The appeal, offered by the Indonesian NGOs Kontras (the Commission for The Disappeared and Victims of Violence) and Imparsial (the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor) as well as the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch among others was published by CathNews Asia.

The CathNews report follows:
Rights groups and churchmen have urged the Indonesia government to cease what they call its discriminatory treatment of Papuan nationalists.
“We see the government and law enforcement officials still stigmatize and single out those who allegedly favor Papuan independence, including political prisoners,” several rights groups said in statement issued at an April 22 press conference, UCA News reports.
The groups included the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), and Human Rights Watch.

Peaceful dialogue involving all social and governmental elements is the solution to overcoming disagreements in Indonesia’s largest province, they said. The groups also questioned what they called lack of government action over the death of Yawan Wayeni, a Papuan political activist. Wayeni was shot dead by local police in a sweep against nationalist activists in Serui on Yapen Island.
The groups also raised the lack of medical treatment for Filep Karma, a Papuan political prisoner who suffers from severe prostate problems. They urged the Department of Justice and Human Rights to allow Karma to undergo surgery at a Protestant-run hospital in Jakarta. “Law Number 12/1995 of the penal code stipulates the directorate general of the department is responsible for the healthcare of all prisoners in jails across Indonesia,” they said.
They revealed that 68 political activists are being held in different jails in Papua. “But they are not treated properly. They face discriminatory and violent treatment including beatings,” they said.

During the press conference, Reverend Benny Giay, a Papuan Protestant pastor, said such discrimination was the result of a belief that most Papuans want independence. He said many churches and NGOs in Papua come under scrutiny because of their vocal defense of human rights. “We hope that rights groups outside Papua, especially Jakarta, will support us in speaking out against human rights abuses in Papua,” he said.
Speaking with UCA News, Dorus Wakum, a Papuan human rights activist, agreed that human rights activists were often seen as separatists. “Being labeled a separatist is a character killer,” he said.
Indonesian Intelligence and Special Forces Seek to Create a Stooge Traditional Council in Biak

According to a report translated and released by TAPOL from an April 7 BiakNews report, efforts are underway in Biak to create a false front organization to replace the East Biak Traditional Council.

BiakNews reports that the Indonesian State intelligence organization (BIN), the notorious Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus), and the local military command (Korem) are orchestrating the effort. The initial effort to organize a stooge East Biak Traditional Council was launched at an April 7 meeting held at Kopassus Post 08 in Biak Papua. The meeting was closed to the public.

Back issues of West Papua Report here: http://www.etan.org/issues/wpapua/default.htm

This issue is at http://www.etan.org/issues/wpapua/2010/1005wpap.htm

ENDS

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Editorial: Australia’s Role Vital To Indonesian Growth

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s official visit to Australia was symbolic as well as critical in enhancing ties between Indonesia and its neighbor. Australian companies have played an important role in developing Indonesia’s mining, banking and food sectors, while Australian universities have long attracted Indonesian students.

As Yudhoyono noted in a speech to Australian business leaders on Thursday, the final day of his visit, enhancing economic and trade ties represents an opportunity for Australian companies to invest in Indonesia. He spoke especially about the need to develop eastern Indonesia, which has seen less investment compared to other regions.

A special emphasis was placed on the need for investment in six provinces in the eastern region, which is geographically closer to Australia. They are Papua, West Papua, Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, which includes West Timor and is positioned near the oil- and gas-rich Timor Sea.

Around 400 Australian companies currently operate in Indonesia, including those in the mining, construction, banking, transportation and food and beverage industries. Indonesia also has the Asia-Pacific region’s largest proven natural gas reserves.

Yudhoyono is absolutely correct in highlighting eastern Indonesia as a possible investment destination for Australian firms. The relatively undeveloped but resource-rich region could conceivably be a gold mine for businesses with the necessary courage, foresight and risk appetite.

The president’s call shows the government’s openness to foreign direct investment, which Indonesia needs over the next few months to boost gross domestic product growth to above 7 percent. In fact, it is estimated that the country will require more than $30 billion in FDI to complement domestic investment.

But foreign investment needs to go hand in hand with receptive government policies, something that has not happened to this day. Investment regulations that restrict FDI and the issuance of a negative list send mixed signals to potential investors. The country’s dizzying attempts to decentralize power have also resulted in overlapping regulations, more cases of red tape and counterproductive levies and taxes.

There is also a need for government agencies to coordinate their policies better. While the trade and investment ministries are wooing investors, others like the Education Ministry are doing the opposite. The new regulation issued this week on international schools, for example, sends the wrong signal to foreign investors. Foreign companies will not invest in Indonesia unless their employees are assured that their children can go to international schools that offer a global-standard education.

The government must adopt a wholistic approach to foreign investment. Every policy that could impact the foreign community must be carefully thought through.

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-australias-role-vital-to-indonesian-growth/363360

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