Erdy Nasrul, Jakarta — Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is monitoring a case of alleged intimidation by security forces against University of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM UI) Chairperson Melki Sedek Huang.
Hamid feels that this kinds of thing should not happen in a democratic country and has condemned the intimidation directed at Huang along with this parents and teachers.
“We know Melki as a student who articulates his views on state policy.
He is critical of the Constitutional Court’s decision on the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates. This is Melki’s constitutional right”, Hamid told reporters on Friday October 10.
Hamid emphasised that intimidation against citizens who criticise the state is a serious threat to freedom of expression and warned that this adds to the list of cases of threats to civil liberties in Indonesia.
“Everyone has the right to state their thoughts without being afraid of threats and punishment”, said Hamid.
Hamid is therefore urging the authorities to investigate the intimidation against Huang, his family and teachers, as well as fellow students, which was allegedly carried out by state security forces.
Hamid is asking that the perpetrators be prosecuted through a fair and transparent legal process.
“The state is obliged to prevent intimidation against individuals who express their thoughts peacefully. The state must also ensure that the duties of the security apparatus are to provide guidance, service and protection. Not suppress criticism”, said Hamid.
Earlier on Tuesday November 7, Huang claimed that he had been intimidated directly and through his parents and teachers in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
“My mother was visited by security personnel at home. Officers from the TNI [Indonesian military] and the Polri [national police] asked my mother, ‘When does Melki usually come home? What are Melki’s activities at home'”, said Melki in a video recording obtained by Amnesty International on Wednesday November 8.
Melki also claimed that he had received threats since becoming the BEM UI chairperson in early 2023. The threats increased leading up to and after demonstrations rejecting the Constitutional Court’s decision on the age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates on October 16 2023.
Amnesty International data as of October 2023 has recorded that since the beginning of this year there has been at least 78 cases of physical attacks against human rights defenders with at least 226 victims. These attacks include intimidation and physical attacks, being reported to the police, attempted murder, criminalisation, arrest and attacks against human rights institutions.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was
“Amnesty: Usut Intimidasi terhadap Ketua BEM UI”.]
With spines like a hedgehog, feet like a mole and snout like an anteater, this bizarre-looking animal is hard to miss. But that’s exactly what it has been excelling at for more than half a century, eluding scientists to the point that this weird hybrid-looking species had been presumed extinct.
Now, remarkably, the animal has been spotted casually strolling past the field of view of a movement-triggered camera trap, one of 80 such devices deployed during research project Expedition Cyclops, in the remote and inhospitable Cyclops Mountains in Indonesia’s Papua province.
Full story can be found at link below including video . We have included this story to show the diversity of animals in West Papua and also the link between Echidnas in Australia . The two countries were once joined not that long ago .
The animal in question is actually the Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), which has, of course, been named after the beloved British presenter Sir David Attenborough. It’s only been scientifically recorded once before, in 1961, by Dutch botanist Pieter van Royen.
“Because of its hybrid appearance, it shares its name with a creature of Greek mythology that is half human, half serpent,” said James Kempton, a biologist from the University of Oxford who led the expedition. “The reason it appears so unlike other mammals is because it is a member of the monotremes – an egg-laying group that separated from the rest of the mammal tree-of-life about 200 million years ago.”
Much like its Australian echidna cousins, this species is notoriously people-shy and does most of its wandering in the dark, usually well hidden in ground cover.
Along with three other echidna species and the platypus, it’s one of only five remaining monotremes on the planet. It’s also listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and has never been recorded outside of the Cyclops Mountains.
Previous expeditions in 2022 had given scientists hope, after discovering distinctive ‘nose pokes’ in soil, a tell-tale sign of the long-beaked animal foraging for ground insects. However, the Expedition Cyclops team had almost given up after four weeks of no sightings despite deploying the 80 cameras across an expanse that, over multiple ascents, saw them scale over 11,000 meters (36,089 feet), a height greater than Mount Everest.
Finally, though, they got lucky: On the last day, on the last memory card retrieved, they had not just images but video of the lumbering, spiky echidna. While hard to mistake, researchers made sure and had its identity confirmed by Professor Kristofer Helgen from the Australian Museum Research Institute.
The team worked closely with the local communities. The echidna holds cultural significance for one such community, the people of Yongsu Sapari, who have inhabited the northern slopes of the mountains for 18 generations. It’s said that when there is conflict, one side is sent up into the ranges to search for an echidna, while the other side heads to the ocean to find a marlin. Because they were both so hard to find, it would often take decades to do so. However, once found, the animals symbolized the end of the fight.
“The discovery is the result of a lot of hard work and over three and a half years of planning,” Kempton said. “A key reason why we succeeded is because, with the help of [Indonesian NGO] YAPPENDA, we have spent years building a relationship with the community of Yongsu Sapari, a village on the north coast of the Cyclops Mountains. The trust between us was the bedrock of our success because they shared with us the knowledge to navigate these treacherous mountains, and even allowed us to research on lands that have never before felt the tread of human feet.”
The echidna is also an EDGE species, which are considered ‘one of a kind’ and close to extinction. This night wanderer has also evolved independently of other mammals for around 200 million years.
The team made many other discoveries on the challenging trip: several dozen new insect species, the rediscovery of Mayr’s honeyeater (Ptiloprora mayri) for the first time since 2008, and a new genus of ground- and tree-dwelling shrimp.
“We were quite shocked to discover this shrimp in the heart of the forest, because it is a remarkable departure from the typical seaside habitat for these animals,” said Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and lead entomologist on the expedition. “We believe that the high level of rainfall in the Cyclops Mountains means the humidity is great enough for these creatures to live entirely on land.”
It was anything but a walk in the park, however. The region is known for being extremely challenging on foot – the researchers found themselves cutting new paths through the dense jungle, where no humans have ever stepped foot before. This is one reason why the Cyclops Mountains is a treasure trove of new species, compared to life beyond the region where human disturbance has been so devastating for the natural world.
Over the course of the fieldwork, Davranoglou broke his arm in two places, someone contracted malaria, and another team member had even worse luck, with a leech attached to his eye for nearly two days before it could be removed in hospital.
“Though some might describe the Cyclops as a ‘Green Hell,’ I think the landscape is magical, at once enchanting and dangerous, like something out of a Tolkien book,” said Kempton. “In this environment, the camaraderie between the expedition members was fantastic, with everyone helping to keep up morale. In the evening, we exchanged stories around the fire, all the while surrounded by the hoots and peeps of frogs.”
The team also collected 75 kg (165 lb) of rock samples and expect many more new animal species to be discovered in future research. The scientists hope to name their future discoveries after members of the local community.
“Tropical rainforests are among the most important and most threatened terrestrial ecosystems, said Davranoglou. “It is our duty to support our colleagues on the frontline through exchanging knowledge, skills, and equipment.”
Krisiandi, Jakarta — The Civil Society Coalition is concerned that there is a politicisation of the TNI (Indonesian military) occurring in the lead upt to the 2024 elections.
Coalition member Julius Ibrani, who is also the chairperson of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Foundation (PBHI), said this concern emerged after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo nominated General Agus Subiyanto as the replacement for TNI commander Admiral Yudo Margono.
According to Ibrani, an aroma of nepotism has begun to be apparent because of Widodo’s closeness to Subiyanto who was the Surakarta (Solo) district military commander (Dandim) from 2009 to 2011 when Widodo was mayor.
“The president’s proposed TNI commander, namely Agus Subiyanto, was once the Surakarta Dandim when Jokowi held the post of mayor in the same city”, said Ibrani in a written release on Monday November 6.
According to Ibrani, the replacement of Margono seems to be leading towards practical politics and partisan group interests.
Ibrani said that these interests can be seen from Widodo’s meddling
(cawe-cawe) in the 2024 elections, particularly in relation to his eldest son and Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka who has been nominated as Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto’s vice presidential running mate.
“I our view, the name Agus Subiyanto is rife with political dimensions.
This proposed name also has great potential for misuse by the president in the 2024 electoral contest”, he said.
“Therefore, the wider community should also be concerned about the potential politicisation of the TNI as an institution in the upcoming
2024 electoral contest”, he added.
In addition to this, the Coalition also noted that during his term in office Widodo has often gives posts to people based on their closeness to him.
Such as national police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo who was Solo municipal police chief when Widodo was the mayor of the city.
TNI commander (now retired) General Andika Perkasa, who once held the post of Presidential Security Guard Commander (Danpaspampres) in
2014-2016 during Widodo’s first term in office.
“[And] TNI commander Air Chief Marshal (now retired) Hadi Tjahjanto, who served as the commander of the Adi Soemarmo Air Base in 2010-2011 when Joko Widodo was mayor of Solo and military secretary to the president in
2015-2016 when Joko Widodo served his first term as president”, asserted Ibrani.
General Subiyanto has not responded specifically to the issue of being “close to” Widodo. When asked by journalists he just smiled and claimed to still be focusing on his position as Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), a position he was appointed to by Widodo only a week earlier.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Koalisi Sipil Khawatirkan Politisasi TNI Jelang Pemilu 2024”.]
Jakarta — The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy is urging Anwar Usman o resign from his position as a Constitutional Court (MK) judge after being proven to have committed a serious violation of the ethics code due to a conflict of interest in the court’s ruling on the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.
As has been reported, in the Constitutional Court Honorary Council
(MKMK) ruling, Usman was only removed as the Constitutional Court chief justice and prohibited from taking part in future hearings that could potentially give rise to a conflict of interest.
“The MKMK decision is a momentary opium and an antidote to address the public’s anger which was disappointed and angry with the 90/PUU-XXI/2023 decision [to change the minimum age limit], which has became a culmination of constitutional evil and the death of democracy in Indonesia”, read an official statement by Setara Institute management board chairperson Ismail Hasani on Wednesday November 8.
Hasani said that the public’s angry reaction to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the minimum age for presidential candidates was not just over the issue of smoothing the way for President Joko “Jokowi”
Widodo eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka to step forward in the 2024 presidential elections. But also about how power can interfere in legal affairs and the country’s constitution.
“Democracy has transformed into vetocracy, where a very limited group of people and interest groups, have orchestrated the Constitutional Court to make it easier for Gibran Rakabuming Raka to participate in the presidential elections by blocking the will of democracy and the constitution”, said Hasani, who is also known as a lecturer in constitutional law at the Jakarta Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN).
Setara believes that the MKMK’s decision proved that the court’s earlier ruling regarding the requirement for a vice presidential candidate was not decided “for the sake of justice based on belief in the Almighty God”, as stated in the Constitutional Court’s ruling, but rather, continued Hasani, was made in the interests of cultivating power.
On this basis, Hasani said that they are of the opinion that Usman should resign from his position as a Constitutional Court judge. “The Setara Institute is urging Anwar Usman to resign from his position as a MK judge, so that it will no longer a burden on the court”, he said.
Separately, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and its 18 Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices across Indonesia said that the MKMK’s decision on Usman’s ethical code violations is still problematic and does irreparable damage to the principle of equality before the law.
“It hurts the sense of justice of citizens who have long been traumatised by the New Order government [of former president Suharto] where corruption, collusion and nepotism destroyed the basic pillars of national life, namely the rule of law, democracy and human rights. The MKMK’s misguided justice is repeating the same mistakes”, read a joint statement by the YLBHI and the LBH offices on Wednesday.
“We are disappointed with the MKMK panel’s decision because the decision is a compromises on the disgraceful actions of the chief justice of the Constitutional Court. The MKMK should have made a decision to dishonorably dismiss him. Aside from this, the MKMK made a mistake by allowing the earlier 90/PUU-XXI/2023 ruling to remain in force, which should have been declared invalid”, they added.
The YLBHI and its regional offices said that the MKMK decision that was read out on Tuesday November 7 appears to confirm the public’s doubts about the ad hoc panel led by Jimly Asshiddiqie.
“If you abide with the prevailing legal provisions under Article 41 c in conjunction with Article 47 of Constitutional Court Regulation Number
1/2023 on the Constitutional Court Honorary Council and are consistent with the legal facts proven by Anwar Usman’s serious violations, the entire MKMK panel of judges should have decided to dismiss Anwar Usman from his position as a MK judge and as MK chief justice, not just dismissing him as chief justice of the MK”, said the YLBHI.
Out of the three MKMK members, only Bintan R Saragih had a dissenting opinion that Anwar Usman should be dishonorably dismissed from the Constitutional Court all together.
Furthermore, the YLBHI and its regional offices believe that Usman’s presence will become a burden and a time bomb for the Constitutional Court related to the issue of its integrity, independence and impartiality as a the guardian of democracy and the constitution.
“Therefore, YLBHI and the 18 LBH offices urge Anwar Usman as the perpetrator of nepotism to be self-aware and immediately resign as a Constitutional Court judge because he is no longer fit to hold that position”, they said.
Earlier, the MKMK decided that Usman was proven to have committed a serious ethical violation related to a conflict of interest in the Constitutional Court’s ruling that granted an appeal on the minimum age requirement for vice presidential candidates.
The MKMK also removed Usman from his position as chief justice and prohibited from nominating himself or being nominated as the head of the Constitutional Court until his term as constitutional judge ends.
Responding to demands that he resign from the Constitutional Court, Usman said he has consistently stated that the position belongs to God, as he did when questioned by the MKMK. Therefore he claimed that he will continue to participate in and carry out his activities as a constitutional judge.
“Yes, yes, [I will still carry out my duties as a member of the MK judges], this position belongs to Allah”, said Usman at the Constitutional Court building in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Then at today’s press conference, Usman denied all of the accusations that he was involved in a conflict of interest in ruling on the requirements for running as a presidential and vice presidential candidate. (dis/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “SETARA Desak Anwar Usman Mundur dari MK Usai Langgar Etik Berat”.]
Jakarta, Jubi – Several prominent figures in Indonesia issued a collective plea for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the ongoing armed conflict in Papua.
In Jakarta on Thursday (9/11/2023), Gomar Gultom, the General Chairperson of the Association of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) announced several notable signatories including Sinta Nuriyah of Nahdlatul Ulama (Former First Lady of Indonesia 1999-2001, Wife of KH Abdurrahman Wahid), Yanuarius Theofilus Maatopai You (Bishop of Jayapura), Siprianus Hormat (Chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference), Marzuki Darusman (Former Attorney General of Indonesia during the presidency of KH Abdurrahman Wahid), and Alissa Wahid (Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board).
Franz Magnis Suseno, Makarim Wibisono, and Abdul Mu’ti, though did not attend the event, were declared as supporters of the Call for Peace in Papua.
The call for peace was prompted by the signatories’ reflections on global challenges, including the crises in Ukraine and Palestine, emphasizing the need to address domestic issues.
“On a different scale, the humanitarian crisis that we witness in the world can also be seen closely in the Land of Papua,” said Gultom.
The call underscores that only a peaceful resolution can prevent loss of life and foster prosperity, justice, and well-being in Papua. The signatories expressed deep concern over the armed conflict, urging the Indonesian government and all parties involved, including armed civilian groups, the ULMWP (United Liberation Movement for West Papua), traditional leaders, and Indigenous Papuans, to engage in dialogue and take immediate steps toward peace.
The signatories called for building trust as a crucial first step, urging state officials to collaborate with all segments of society to address the humanitarian crisis and initiate dialogue for a peaceful resolution. They emphasized the importance of dialogue facilitated by trusted, impartial mediators, including national figures and Papuan Alissa Wahid highlighted the dire consequences of armed conflict, including hunger, displacement, and increasing casualties, and emphasized the need for the government to engage with diverse parties to find a new approach for resolution.
Efforts to initiate a humanitarian pause in Papuawere previously undertaken through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by ULMWP, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas), and the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 11, 2022. However, the process faced setbacks after Komnas HAM revoked it on February 9, 2023.
Prime Minister (PM) Charlot Salwai held discussions with Head of State Nikenike Vurobaravu yesterday, following the Council of Ministers’ (COM) decision to recommend the dissolution of the parliament.
The COM, during its meeting yesterday morning, advised President Vurobaravu to dissolve the parliament on Monday, November 13, 2023, citing various reasons.
Principal Private Secretary to the Head of State,Clarence Marae, conveyed that President Vurobaravu will carefully assess the request throughout the weekend and is expected to make a decision on the matter next week.
One major concern raised by the COM is the frequent changes in leadership, with Vanuatu having its fourth Prime Minister within a year. The COM highlighted the recent terms of Ishmael Kalsakau, Sato Kilman, and Charlot Salwai, emphasising the current Motion of No Confidence faced by Salwai.
The COM cited the instability caused by Members of Parliament (MPs) consistently moving between governments. Allegedly, these MPs have approached PM Salwai expressing their desire to switch sides again, raising concerns about the government’s stability.
The COM further argued that ongoing investigations, court cases, and Commission of Inquiries (COIs) into misappropriations and corruption implicated a majority of MPs in the Opposition, raising concerns about potential consequences if they return to power.
The COM also noted the potential decrease in the number of Opposition MPs, making stability uncertain. They suggested that the country might face by-elections in various constituencies due to ongoing legal processes, making a general snap election a wise choice.
Economically, the COM noted the challenges faced by Vanuatu, including the aftermath of recent cyclones and a forecasted slowdown in economic growth.
They asserted that the dissolution of parliament would provide an opportunity for the country to focus on recovery efforts.
The COM concluded that the majority of the public is supportive of the decision to dissolve parliament, emphasising the need for stability. Despite the current State of Emergency (SoE), the Office of the Attorney General (AG) Kiel Loughman advised that the President, on the COM’s advice, has the authority to dissolve parliament under specific constitutional provisions.
AG Loughman said the President may on advice of the COM, exercise his power under subarticle 28(3) to dissolve, as subarticle 70(5) does not apply because the current SoE was declared under the Disaster Risk Management Act No. of 23 of 2019.
Subarticle 28(3) of the Constitution provides: “The President of the Republic may, on the advice of the Council of Ministers, dissolve Parliament.” While subarticle 70(5) states, “Parliament may not be dissolved under Article 28(2) or 28(3) during a state of emergency. If the life of a Parliament ends in accordance with Article 28(1) during a state of emergency, the former members of that Parliament may meet for the purpose only of considering the state of emergency until the new Parliament first meets. “
The 12th legislature was dissolved on August 18, 2022 following a similar political scenario.
This development comes just days before the parliament was scheduled to convene and debate a Motion of No Confidence in PM Salwai.
Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific Lead Digital and Social Media Journalist @kelvinfiji kelvin.anthony@rnz.co.nz
The Melanesian Spearhead Group has appointed Fiji and Papua New Guinea prime ministers Sitiveni Rabuka and James Marape as special envoys to Indonesia to “address the West Papua issue”, a move that has been welcomed by the Pacific Conference of Churches.
The sub-regional group met for its caucus meeting on Monday (Cook Islands time) ahead of the official opening of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, during which Rabuka proposed sending a representative to Indonesia to facilitate dialogue on the West Papua situation.
Rabuka and Marape’s mandate will be to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss the pressing issue of West Papua.
The MSG caucus reached a consensus that sending a ministerial envoy, as opposed to a bureaucratic-level envoy, would be the most effective approach to addressing the West Papua issue.
“Earlier today, the Melanesian Spearhead Group Caucus appointed me as a Special Envoy to address the West Papua issue,” Rabuka posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“Alongside Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea (PNG), we’ve been tasked with meeting the President of Indonesia to discuss this pressing matter.”
In August, the MSG leaders failed to reach a consensus in Port Vila to accept the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s (ULMWP) bid to become a full member of the sub-regional grouping, defering the issue to the Forum Leaders Meeting.
Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu said Rabuka and Marapae’s appointment was “an additional measure” on the West Papua issue.
“This is an additional measure agreed to by the MSG which supplements the existing decisions of PIF and MSG for an independent assessment by the UN Human Rights Commissioner and an MSG Leaders visit to West Papua,” Regenvanu posted on X.
Churches welcomes move
The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has said it “welcomes [the] Melanesian Spearhead Group move to engage further with Indonesia on the situation in West Papua and calls for an inclusive process of engagement that doesn’t leave West Papuans out of the talanoa.”
General secretary Padre James Bhagwan said the PCC “the engagement of ULMWP as MSG Observers will need to be secured by PMs for this process to have legitimacy.”
However, the PCC is also calling for an imminent persons group, including civil society to accompany the process, for transparency.
“The situation in West Papua will also be on the Agenda of the 12th [PCC] General Assembly, which begins in just over a week in Kanaky-New Caledonia,” Padre Bhagwan said on X.
The PCC General Assembly is expected to gather almost 200 delegates from 35 churches and 12 national councils of churches and regional faith organisations from over 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, making it the largest constituent assembly in the region, he added.
3) Pacific Islands Forum: Australia under pressure to rein in fossil fuel subsidies
A fraction of $11bn federal handouts could be used to fully fund the shift to clean energy in eight island countries, report claims
Australia is facing fresh pressure to rein in fossil fuel subsidies, with new figures showing just a fraction of that spending could fully fund the shift to clean energy in eight Pacific island countries.
The climate crisis is one of the biggest issues on the agenda at the Pacific Islands Forum’s top political gathering this week, with Vanuatu demanding “radical” action to end the world’s fossil fuel addiction.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, arrived in the Cook Islands on Tuesday local time (Wednesday Australian time) and acknowledged the climate crisis was “certainly felt most acutely in island states”.
In a report published to coincide with the talks, campaigners highlight how Pacific island countries are on the frontline of the climate crisis despite being responsible for just 0.23% of annual global emissions.
By contrast, the world’s 15 largest-emitting nations – led by China, the US and India with Australia in 15th place – are collectively responsible for 71.88% of annual emissions.
The report was commissioned by the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, a group that is campaigning to end new development of fossil fuels and phase out existing production.
Island countries are still heavily heavily dependent on imports of diesel fuel for use in generators, says the report titled Ki Mua: Towards a Just Transition for the Pacific.
It suggests that a mix of utility-scale and decentralised renewables, dominated by solar PV and wind installations, would provide the region with “significant opportunities”.
These gains would include reducing pollution and improving public health while ending reliance on fossil fuel imports. It suggests developed countries like Australia have a responsibility to help.
“In the past year, Australia has handed out $US7bn ($AU11 bn) to the fossil fuel industry,” said Auimatagi Joe Moeono-Kolio, an adviser to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.
“That’s seven times the amount of money it would take to fund a renewable energy transition for eight Pacific countries.”
The report estimates that across eight Pacific island countries analysed, the upfront cost of replacing all existing fossil fuel electricity generation “ranges from $US691m to just over $US1bn, depending on the specific technology mix”.
The fossil fuel subsidy figure is drawn from analysis by the Australia Institute thinktank, which examined all federal and state government “spending and tax breaks to assist fossil fuel industries” in 2022-23.
The single largest share is the federal government’s fuel tax credit scheme, which gives businesses a tax credit on fuel used in machinery, vehicles over 4.5 tonnes and vehicles not used on public roads.
The Australia Institue argues this tax break “works to make fossil fuel use cheaper for energy-intensive businesses, such as coal mines”. But the mining industry has repeatedly rejected the characterisation of this as a subsidy.
Moeono-Kolio said if Australia wanted to host the 2026 UN climate conference in partnership with the region, “then the first step is to start caring for Pacific peoples and stand with us instead of blocking the Pacific’s efforts as it has done for decades”.
Vanuatu’s climate minister, Ralph Regenvanu, called for a “sustained, radical” phase out of fossil fuels because the world had run out of time for “slow and steady” action.
Tuvalu’s finance and climate minister, Seve Paeniu, added: “It is high time for wealthy, fossil fuel producing countries that are largely responsible for the climate emergency to take the lead in phasing out fossil fuels, and support our countries in the shift towards renewable energy.”
Albanese met three leaders on his first day on the island of Rarotonga, including the prime minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, who described himself as “the leader of a country that is going to be under the water” if current trends continued.
Albanese promised to work with Natano and argued his Labor government was elected last year “with a platform of taking action on climate change”.
Natano was later asked by reporters how he felt about Australia approving more coal and gas projects.
“Well, it’s an issue that we are working with Australia to see that we can get them to assist because fossil fuel is the main contributor to global warming,” Natano said.
Jayapura, Jubi – Dorthea Carolien Enok, the Principal of SMPN 2 Jayapurajunior high, mother tongue or local languages hold equal importance compared to national and foreign languages. Therefore, the younger generation should not overlook the need to maintain proficiency in their mother tongue.
She emphasized the necessity of revitalizing local languages, especially among students at SMPN 2 Jayapura from a young age, encouraging them to use their mother tongue in their daily conversations.
Enok explained that local languages play a crucial role in identifying one’s cultural roots and preserving them. At their school, it’s common for children to communicate in local languages.
In light of their participation in the Tunas Bahasa Ibu (Tobati Language) Festival, Enok proudly mentioned that SMPN 2 Jayapura secured the top position in the short story and folk song categories. This achievement serves as motivation for both the school and its students to continue promoting the use of local languages, not just within the school environment but also at home.
Enok revealed that preparations for the competition took about a month, and the students will receive further training from the Papua Language Center in November 2023 to participate in the Gebyar Tunas Bahasa Ibu event in Jakarta.
Antonius Maturbongs, involved in language development at the Papua Language Center, stressed the significance of language coaching and development in supporting the revitalization of local languages, playing a direct and indirect role in the process.
He explained that this program involves various stages, including language mapping, language vitality studies, conservation, revitalization, and registration.
Antonius expressed hope that the promotion of local languages in schools would serve as a means of revitalization, beginning from elementary schools, continuing through junior high schools, and extending to high school and vocational education units. He pointed out that the use of local languages among children in Jayapura City is becoming increasingly rare in both family and community settings, indicating that there is a growing need to reintroduce and promote these languages, particularly through revitalization efforts in schools. ——————————————————————
West Papuan leaders say they’re putting hope in two powerful Pacific prime ministers to hold dialogues with Indonesia over alleged human rights abuses in the region.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape have been appointed “special envoys” to speak with Indonesia about the issue.
FEATURED:
Octovanius Mote, ULMWP vice president
Reverend James Bhagwan, Pacific Conference of Churches general secretary
The people of West Papua who are part of Indonesia are our kinsmen, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He said his appointment as Melanesian Spearhead Group special envoy to Indonesia wasn’t to appease Fijians who were West Papua supporters.
“When the world looks at the Melanesian Spearhead Group, taking up the issue with the sovereign state of Indonesia, they would probably think we are partisan in what we are coming up with,” said Mr Rabuka.
“The people of the Papua, part of Indonesia are our kinsmen – they are Melanesians so they could consider that our concern from the MSG is partisan.
“It is more aligned to the needs and wishes of the Melanesians of Indonesia. But if you go as leaders of a sovereign state, entrusted with the role of talking to the leadership of Indonesia that takes on a different profile, different optics.”
The MSG leaders appointed Mr Rabuka and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape as special envoys to Indonesia at their meeting in Cook Islands yesterday.
Jakarta — Senior economist Faisal Basri has testified that he once met with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (Menko Marves) and warned him of a potential conflict of interest related to the coal extractive industry.
This was conveyed by Basri when he was presented as an expert witness during a hearing at the East Jakarta District Court on Monday October 30 in the trial of human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti who are defendants in a case of defamation against Pandjaitan.
“I once met with Pak [Mr] Luhut, I said that his problem is just one, namely a conflict of interest. The Pak minister manages the extractive industry, his policies have the potential to create a conflict of interest”, Basri said before the panel of judges presided over by Judge Cokorda Gede Arthana.
Faisal gave an illustration of this saying that in 2022 revenue from coal was worth more than 1,000 trillion rupiah, reaching a quarter of the total revenue from Indonesia’s exports. This increase was in the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“And 100 percent of this windfall income was enjoyed by the coal tycoons. None was taken by the state [in taxes]”, said Basri.
Basri said that countries like the United States, Australian and all of the countries in the European Union apply tax policies on such “fallen durian” (windfalls). Moreover, he continued, Mongolia applies a 70 percent tax for the state on coal income.
“I proposed to the Menko Marves, the Menko Perekonomian [Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs], the ESDM [Energy and Mineral Resources] Minister and so on that we use a ‘fallen durian’ tax”, said Basri.
“The minister [Pandjaitan] said, ‘Oh, that would be great too, yes.
Later I’ll talk to the finance minister’, Pak Luhut said to me”, added Basri.
“But, to this day there’s been nothing, because I forgot that Pak Luhut has coal [interests]. So, it was a conflict of interest that was so very real. I met with the person concerned personally, Your Honor”, he reiterated.
Aside from the tax incentive, Basri gave another example of a conflict of interest related to the extractive industry, namely revisions to regulations and laws (UU).
“[Tax incentives], among others, there are still many more. ‘I have power, I have a big influence on revisions to the law. I revised the law in the process at the DPR [House of Representatives] with a quick process so that when my coal [mining contract] expired the concession period could be automatically renewed until the coal is used up'”, said Basri.
“What law was that?”, asked Azhar and Maulidiyanti’s lawyer Nurkholis Hidayat.
“The Minerba [Mineral and Coal Mining] Law”, replied Basri.
Basri added that coal dust has created pollution and threatens people’s health.
“Coal creates pollution, emits dust. Before it was categorised as dangerous waste. The new law, the Omnibus [Law on Job Creation], removed it from the list of dangerous waste so it was no longer considered dangerous, Your Honor”, said Basri.
“My God, Your Honors, I couldn’t imagine a [legal] revision process that was so very fast, in a short space of time the law was issued in the interests of a handful of people”, he concluded.
Azhar and Maulidiyanti have been indicted under Article 27 Paragraph 3 in conjunction with Article 45 Paragraph 3 of the Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) Law, Article 14 Paragraph 2 and or Article
15 of Law Number 1/1946, and Article 310 of the Criminal code (KUHP).
Each of these articles are in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 of the KUHP.
A number of witnesses have appeared since the trial began, including Pandjaitan who testified before the panel of judges. Azhar and Maulidiyanti meanwhile have refused to testify against each other.
(ryn/wis)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Sidang Haris-Fatia, Faisal Basri Akui Pernah Bertemu & Ingatkan Luhut”.]
Australia West Papua Association Adelaide 