Rebels kill seven in Papua attack: police

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AFP Jakarta   ●   Wed, October 18, 2023 The National Police said on Tuesday that armed rebels had gunned down seven civilians when they opened fire on a gold mine in Papua. Authorities said assailants fired shots at mining workers on Monday afternoon in the remote, mountainous Yahukimo district.  Police claimed The West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) separatist group led by Egianus Kogoya was behind the shootings.

“We will chase the perpetrators and we will take legal action against the separatists and Egianus Kogoya,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of Cartenz Peace Taskforce, a special group formed to handle the Papua separatists, said in a statement Tuesday.

Faizal said a police unit sent to retrieve the bodies and rescue survivors was fired on by the rebels. “As soon as we arrived at the location, our personnel were attacked and the gunfire lasted 1.5 hours,” he said. Seven bodies have been retrieved from the location while 11 other people were rescued alive, police said. Most of the dead were migrants from the South Sulawesi. 

The rebels also burned down excavators, trucks and the workers’ camp, police added. The rebels claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying that they had warned the migrants to leave the region and all Papuan areas. “(Indonesia) must immediately open a negotiation with the Papuan nation to find a solution,” said the group’s spokesperson Elkius Kobak in a statement. The group is also responsible for the February 2023 kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot from the Papuan highlands.  Papua has seen several deadly attacks linked to the insurgency in recent years. Ten people were killed in July last year when a group of rebels attacked a truck full of civilians transporting goods.  In March 2022, eight telecommunications workers were shot dead while installing communications towers in Puncak district.

Papuan DPR members say illegal gold mining has a high potential for conflict

I feel sorry for the seven mine workers who were killed. May the family always be given strength. Second, Papua is very rife with illegal gold mining activities

News Desk – Illegal Gold Mining

October 19, 2023

Jayapura, Jubi TV– The potential for conflict in illegal traditional gold mining areas in a number of districts in Tanah Papua is considered quite high. However, the government seems to be neglecting it. The government is considered not serious about controlling illegal gold mining areas, even though conflicts often occur in the area.

This statement was made by a member of the Papua DPR’s Commission for Government, Politics, Law, Human Rights and Security, Laurenzus Kadepa.

Kadepa stated that this was related to the attack and murder of seven traditional gold miners in Kali I, Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountain Province, on Monday (16/10/2023).

The West Papua National Liberation Army or TPNPB also stated responsibility for the attack.

“I feel sorry for the seven mine workers who were killed. May the family always be given strength. Secondly, Papua is very rife with wild or illegal gold mining activities, but it seems that the government is just ignoring it. “In fact, if you look at the potential for conflict in this mining area, it is very high,” said Kadepa when contacting Jubi via telephone, Thursday (19/10/2023).

According to him, apart from the potential for conflict, illegal gold mining also causes serious damage to nature and forests.

“I have always been vocal about closing all illegal mines in Papua,” he said.

He said, in 2018, he urged the Acting Governor of Papua at that time, Soedarmo, to go directly to Korowai, Boven Digoel Regency, which is now part of South Papua Province, to look at illegal mining activities there.

This was based on the aspirations of the Korowai people at that time through Pastor Trevor. At that time, the Papua Province regional government communications forum came to the location.

“Unfortunately, these steps were not followed by the governors and regents in Papua. “For me, the presence of illegal mining like this has many negative impacts, so it must be closed,” he said.

Laurenzus Kadepa also asked the security forces and TPNPB involved in the armed conflict not to continue killing civilians for various reasons.

“Stop killing civilians for whatever reason. I’m surprised that all this time there have been civilians shot by the TPNPB because it was part of the intelligence apparatus. On the other hand, if the TNI/Polri shoot civilians, they say they are part of the TPNPB, OPM and others. This is very dangerous. “If the government doesn’t find a solution, it will be dangerous for the lives of people in Papua,” said Kadepa.

Previously, TPNPB spokesperson, Sebby Sambom, said that the TPNPB Special Forces Kodap III Ndugama and Kodap XVI Yahukimo were responsible for the attack on the mine in Kali I, Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountain Province.

“The Free Papua Organization TPNPB is responsible for the murder,” said Sambom.

Sambom stated that the gold mine in Seradala District was an illegal gold mine. He also conveyed accusations that there were TNI intelligence workers working in the mine at Yahukimo.

According to Sambom, his party has repeatedly warned civilians to leave areas of armed conflict, because the TPNPB will not compromise and shoot them.

Sambom stated that his party again demanded that the government immediately open a space for dialogue to find a solution to the armed conflict in the Land of Papua.

“We, TPNPB, ask the state to immediately open a space for negotiations with the Papuan people, to find a solution. “Once again, we TPNPB are not playing around,” he said. (*)

This article has been published on jubi.id with the title: Kadepa: Illegal gold mining has the potential to cause conflict

Rempang, developmentalism and the politics of post-Suharto economic development

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Arah Juang – October 1, 2023

Hayamuddin — On September 7 residents and security forces clashed on the island of Rempang, Riau province, after local people attempted to stop the authorities from conducting land measurements and boundary marking for the Eco City development project.

Residents blocked the main road spanning the island using trees and burning tyres as makeshift barricades. Police responded by firing teargas into the crowd with some landing in a nearby school, resulting several children suffering from teargas inhalation. Police detained at least eight demonstrators following the incident.

In 2001 plans emerged to turn Rempang Island in Riau province into an industrial and tourism area supported by a free trade zone and free port policy as part of the Batam City Industrial Area Development Project, which was awarded to the company PT Makmur Elok Graha (Meg) on May 17 2004.

Prior to this, in 1986 under Forestry Minister Sujarwo, Rempang Island was declared a conservation area but without any consultation or inspection on the ground, so the island was deemed to be uninhabited.

A new policy in 1992 established that Rempang Island, Galang Island and the surrounding islands were to be included in the Batam Island Industrial Region as a Bonded Zone. This reaffirmed the assumption that there were no local communities living on Rempang Island or that they were not of any concern. As a consequence there was no policy for the relocation of local residents or compensation mechanisms.

Following this in 1999, residents of Galang sub-district on Rempang Island were given the opportunity to become part of the administration of the Batam City municipal government, but this still did not resolve the problem because the communities there were still not recognised because as did not have legal claim over land that had occupied for generations.

In late 2022 a meeting was held between the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) and Rempang residents at the Tg Kertang Bridge Four Village on Rempang Island, at which the BP Batam explained about the planned Rempang Eco City construction project that would be carried out by PT Mega.

The mega project was to be part of the government’s so-call agrarian reform program known as TORA (Agrarian Reform Land Object), which would be registered by the government by requesting land right certificates from Galang sub-district residents.

In the second period of the process PT Meg conducted aggressive lobbying with relevant ministries in order to get support to accelerate the project, which became easier after a decree was issued designating the project as a strategic national project (PSN).

If we go back a few years following the 1965 mass killings that brought Suharto’s New Order dictatorship into power, land gabbing had become common in many parts of Indonesia. This was in line with Suharto’s move to forge a close relationship with the US imperialist state, which had backed Suharto’s seizure of power and the removal of Indonesia’s leftist founding president Sukarno.

And of course in order to pay back this debt of gratitude, the US was allowed to force its way deeper into Indonesia’s economy though capital exports such as funding development programs in an effort to increase its grip on and in the end be freer to monopolise the economy. By this time land grabs were being carried out though a militaristic approach.

Suharto was overthrown in 1998, but the ideology of developmentalism

(pembangunanisme) continued to dominate in Indonesia. In 2004 the World Bank issued a document titled “Bad Infrastructure Hampers Indonesia’s Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation Efforts”. These kinds of documents are a scenario that is always applied to control Third World countries because with large debts they can be forced to follow programs that have been determined by the imperialist countries. Thus Indonesia is encouraged to pursue infrastructure projects to support the smooth circulation of capital throughout the country.

The implementation of this on the ground began in 2004 during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) with the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development (MP3EI).

Put roughly, the World Bank said that if Indonesia wants to maintain economic stability it must improve the state of its infrastructure.

Since the late 80s Indonesia has adopted the model of public-private partnership schemes (PPP). Under these schemes, infrastructure development is no longer funded by the government but is instead handed over to the private sector or investors. For these investors it becomes a kind of bolu kukus (steamed sponge cake) that is soft and delicious because they can do as they like when investing in Indonesia.

Meanwhile the government’s role in facilitating projects is taking responsibility for the acquisition of land, which can be done by means of forced mediation or forced evictions, as was the recent case in Rempang.

The authority of national strategic projects has been further strengthened by the enactment of the widely unpopular Omnibus Law on Job Creation, which provides strong “legal certainty” for the acquisition of land for the benefit of capitalistic projects in Indonesia.

The law also saw the establishment of a Land Bank. In normative terms this institution guarantees the availability of land through the concept of economic fairness for public, social and national development interests, economic equality, land consolidation and agrarian reform.

This however is only on paper. In practical terms, the hidden goal of land banks is to facilitate the process of land acquisition for investment, both in the name of development for the public interest and economic growth, as well as facilitating the process of the privatising state land. Land controlled by the land bank is given the status of the Land Management Rights (HPL).

The implication of this is the privatisation and commercialisation of state land (something prohibited in the 1960s), and the avoidance of corruption in the use of state land, and the strong potential to displace people from their land, who de facto are occupying or living on state land. Thus people can be evicted on legal grounds.

I order to fight the people’s oppressors, there needs to be a systematic and organised movement. Starting from educating young people, and this education must also be populist in accordance with the definitions and desires of the people. The ordinary people must build for themselves what they want without interference from the corrupt government.

With that also, when young people understand who the real enemy is that is trampling on and grabbed their parents’ necks, and forcibly taking their land, then young people will be two or three steps closer to an organised people’s movement.

Then there is a need for solidarity from the working class, students and other elements of the oppressed people in every part of Indonesia so that it can pressure the government to withdraw all military and police forces from Rempang (as well as Wades and other areas where people are threatened with eviction) and provide the rights that should be afforded to the residents of Rempang Island such as land ownership and the right for the indigenous people on Rempang to control, regulate, manage and utilise their customary lands and all natural resources within it.

— Hayamuddin is a member of the Socialist Study Circle, which is affiliated with the Socialist Union (Perserikatan Sosialis).

[Translated by James Balowski. Two paragraphs at the beginning of the article were added to provide context for non-Indonesian readers. The original title of the article was “Rempang, Pembangunanisme dan Konsep Ekonomi Politik Rezim Paska Reformasi 1998”.]

Papuan independence fighters killed in clash in Indonesia’s restive Papua region

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 BY ALFIAN KARTONO

Updated 9:31 PM AEDT, October 2, 2023

JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP) — Five Papuan independence fighters were killed in a clash between security forces and a rebel group in Indonesia’s restive Papua region, police and rebels said Monday.

A joint military and police force killed the five fighters from the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, in a battle on Saturday with dozens of rebels armed with military-grade weapons and arrows in the hilly Serambakon village in Papua Highland province, said Faizal Ramadhani, a national police member who heads the joint security force.

Security forces seized two assault rifles, a pistol, several arrows, two mobile phones, cash, more than 300 rounds of ammunition and a “morning star” flag — a separatist symbol — after the clash, Ramadhani said.

Rebels in Papua have been fighting a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region, a former Dutch colony.

Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham. Since then, the insurgency has simmered in the region, which was divided into five provinces last year to boost development in Indonesia’s poorest region.

Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the liberation army, confirmed the police claim but said that losing five fighters “would not make us surrender.”

“They were the national heroes of the Papuan people,” Sambom said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Monday. “They died in defending the Papuan people from extinction due to the crimes of the Indonesian military and police who are acting as terrorists.”

The rebels in February stormed a single-engine plane shortly after it landed on a small runway in Paro and abducted its pilot. The plane initially was scheduled to pick up 15 construction workers from other Indonesian islands after the rebels threatened to kill them.

The kidnapping of the pilot was the second that independence fighters have committed since 1996, when the rebels abducted 26 members of a World Wildlife Fund research mission in Mapenduma. Two Indonesians in that group were killed by their abductors, but the remaining hostages were eventually freed within five months.

The pilot kidnapping reflects the deteriorating security situation in Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia.

Saturday’s fighting was the latest in a series of violent incidents in recent years in Papua, where conflicts between indigenous Papuans and Indonesian security forces are common.

Data collected by Amnesty International Indonesia showed at least 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian troops and nine police, along with 23 independence fighters, were killed in clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022.

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Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.

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Five Members of TPNB KODAP XXXV Fell In The Battlefield Of Oxibile And Komnas TNPB Announces National Grief.

Shared by: Sebby Sambom (Jubir KOMNAS TNPB)

Press Release of the Management of the TPNB Komnas Headquarters as of October 2, 2023

Goodbye Patriots of Papuan, and rest in peace (RIP).

The Management of the TNPB Komnas Headquarters has Received a confirmation report from the Commander of the TPNB Kodap XXXV East Star on today Monday 2 October 2023 that 5 members of the TNPP have fallen in the battlefield, in the area of Serambakon District, Pegunungan Bintang Region due to being shot by Terrorist Forces which are members of the Army and the Police.

We also received reports that these 5 fallen TNPB members have been mutilated like animals, therefore the TNI police did not publish photos and videos of our members that they shot dead.

Therefore, we inform the international community and the UN that the Indonesian Military and Police are real terrorists (the Indonesian military and police are real terrorists in West Papua).

Thus, on today Monday 2 October 2023 we officially announce national mourning, for 5 members of the TNPB who fell in the battlefield. And it needs to be known by all components of Papuan people that they are the National Heroes of Papuan nation, because they failed in defending and saving Papuan nation from extinction due to the Military crimes and Police of Indonesia who are truly terrorists.

Please follow the report from TPNB Kodap XXXV Eastern Star below!

The chronology of the fall of 5 members of the TPNB commandos of the 35 east star defense area.

At star mountain region papua

The place where the 5 members of the TNPB fellows in the district of Mount Bintang, SERAMBAKON DISTRICT, in MODUSIT VILLAGE

Chronology

========

On Saturday, September 30, 2023

Fasting time : 5:00

Places. At : modusit village.

Troops while sleeping one of the houses in the forest in modusit village

At star mountain papua

After that

TNI entered the house where the TNPB troops slept, then attacked with snipers, basoka, and other weapons

After being paralyzed,

Grab

Weapons belonging to TPNB Komado of 35 east star defense area.

= . 2 long barrel gun barrel

=. 1 piece pistol

=. Ammunition or bullets about 300 more, cellphone 2 pieces, 1 Pajar star flag, money ETC.

After that, THE VICTIMS ARE CUT IN PIECES BY THE ARMY, JOINT POLICE

AND FOR A WHILE THE VICTIMS HAVEN’T BEEN EVALUATED BECAUSE

THE COMBINATED ARMY AND POLICE

STILL ON WATCH 1 FOR EVACUATION,

THEN IT IS NOT FOR A WHILE

EVACUATE.

And names2

Name-name. TNPB member who fell in battlefield

AS FOLLOWS:

1. 1st battalion commander shows off in name. : this is the BUS BABY.

gender type. : man Religion : protestant Christians

2. KODAP intel Deputy Commander by Name. : HERE COMES TO MIMIN.

SEX TYPE. : Male

Relieved. : protesting Christians

3. TOP NAME : OTTO KASIPKA

gender. : Male

Relieved. : Protest

4. IN NAME :ALEXS LEPKI

gender. : Male

Relieved. : Protest

5. In the name :TARKUS AKMER.

gender. : Male

Relieved. : Protest

Evidence and photo we can not confirm yet.

Because Medan is dominated by

THE COMBINATED ARMY, POLICE.

So

The chronology of events

On the battlefield

Saturday 30th of September 2023.

Thus is the press broadcast of the Management of the Commnasium Headquarters of TPNPPB, and thank you for the good cooperation.

Forwarded to all parties by Jubir Komnas TPNB Sebby Sambom,

Jubi Documentary launches five films spotlighting Papua’s human rights issues  

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News Desk – Human Rights Violations

 2 October 2023

Jayapura, Jubi – Director Latifah Anum Siregar of the Democracy Alliance for Papua (ALDP) emphasized the importance of raising awareness about human rights violations in Papua during a discussion at the launch of the Jubi Documentary films. The event took place at the St. Nicholaus Ambassador of Peace Study House in Jayapura City on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

The Jubi Documentary released five films about Papua at the end of September: When the Microphone Turns On; Pepera 1969: Democratic Integration?; Black Pearl of the Field General; My Name is Pengungsi; and Voices from the Grime Valley. They were launched in Jayapura, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta.

Siregar stressed that these documentaries are not meant for mere entertainment but should serve as a platform for everyone, especially young students, to speak out against human rights violations in Papua.

Former football giant Persipura captain Fernando Fairyo, who was also present at the launch event, expressed how emotionally impactful the documentary “Black Pearl of the Field General” was for him. He mentioned shedding tears while watching the film, which highlighted the history of Persipura’s journey and invoked mixed emotions of joy and sadness.

Fairyo also emphasized the need for Persipura to focus on strengthening the team and urged creative management to find funds beyond sponsorship from PT Freeport Indonesia and Bank Papua to support the team.

The five documentaries released by Jubi were produced over two years by Jubi Documentary, a branch of Jubi media based in Jayapura City. These films share a common theme of humanity and the repercussions of human rights violations in Papua.

Watchdoc, an audio-visual production house founded by Andhy Panca Kurniawan and Dandhy Dwi Laksono in 2009, supervised the production of these films. Watchdoc is renowned for its social justice-themed documentaries and received the 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Award in the ‘Emergent Leadership’ category.

Voices from the Grime Valley, directed by Angela Flassy, explores the social consequences of forest clearing for oil palm plantations in Keerom Regency and Jayapura Regency, both located in Papua Province.

Meanwhile, Black Pearl of the Field General, directed by Maurids Yansip, narrates the story of Persipura football team as a symbol of pride and identity for Papuans, its achievements, and its current struggle to regain a spot in League 1.

The launch event included discussions with the filmmakers and experts, providing a platform for in-depth exploration of the documentary topics.

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Government now admits no environmental analysis done for Rempang Eco City project

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Kompas.com – September 29, 2023

Dian Erika Nugraheny, Icha Rastika, Jakarta — Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan says that the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) for the Eco City project on Rempang Island, Batam, is still in process.

According to Pandjaitan, there are no problems with the Amdal.

“Yeah, right now everything is in the process. There aren’t any problems”, said Pandjaitan after attending a launch and discussion on the book “Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan According to us” at the Gramedia Matraman bookstore in Jakarta on Friday September 29.

Pandjaitan emphasised that there is no target for resolving the problems on Rempang Island.

Earlier, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said that the government had already conducted a thorough study of the Eco City project and the glass and solar panel industry that is to be established on Rempang Island.

Lahadalia rejected criticism from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) about the risk of environmental damage as a consequence of the project on Rempang.

“It’s been done already, of course (it’s part of the study). Walhi shouldn’t feel like it knows better than the government. You are behaving like this country, as if its regulated by some other institution”, he said during a press conference on Monday September 25 as reported by Kompas TV.

Lahadalia said that there is already an Amdal on the construction project on Rempang, and insisted that the Eco City project will not harm the local environment.

“Where is there a country that wants to bring suffering to its people?

Write this down carefully, we respect Walhi’s thoughts, but the country also has its goals”, he said.

“There is an Amdal, if in this country we keep worrying, continue to be suspicious, when do you want to move forward? We’re being given spice to curry suspicion, keep being afraid, when do we want to progress”, he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was

“Luhut: Amdal Rempang Eco City Masih Proses, Enggak Ada Masalah”.]

Indonesian police raid church office, home in Nduga – arrest six, torture 12 

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Asia Pacific Report

Members of Indonesia’s Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force have raided a residential house and the local head office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua) in the town of Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, reports Human Rights Monitor.

Before raiding the Kingmi Papua office on September 17, the police officers arbitrarily arrested Melince Wandikbo, Indinwiridnak Arabo, and Gira Gwijangge in their home in Kenyam.

They were tortured and forced to reveal the names of people who had attended a recent burial of several members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

After one of the suspects mentioned the name of Reverend Urbanus Kogeya, the police officers searched the Kingmi Papua Office in Kenyam.

They arrested three other Papuans without showing a warrant. Police officers reportedly beat them during arrest and subsequent detention at the Nduga District police headquarters.

Everybody detained were later released due to lack of evidence.

Local Kingmi Papua church leaders and congregation members slept inside the Kingmi head office that night because they were preparing for a church event.

Around 11:30 pm, the police officers forcefully entered the office, breaking the entrance door.

Excessive force
According to the church leaders, the officers used excessive force against the suspects and the office facilities during the raid. Nine people suffered injuries as a result of police violence during the raid at the Kingmi Papua office — including an 85-year-old man and four women.

As Reverend Nataniel Tabuni asked the officers why they had come at night and broken the entrance door, a police officer approached him and punched him three times in the face.

According to Reverend Tabuni, one of the police officers ssaid: “You are the Church of Satan, the Church of Terrorists! You are supporting Egianus Kogeya [TPNPB Commander in Nduga] under the pretext of praying.”

The acts of torture were witnessed by the head of Nduga Parliament (DPRD), Ikabus Gwijangge.

He reached the Kingmi Papua Office around 11:45 pm after hearing people shouting for help.

As Gwijangge saw the police officers beating and kicking suspects, he protested the use of excessive force and called on the officers to follow procedure.

‘I’ll come after you’
A Damai Cartenz officer reportedly pointed his finger at Gwijangge and threatened him, saying: “Stupid parliamentarian. I’ll come after you! Wherever you go, I will find out where you are. I’ll chase you!”

Another police officer pushed Gwijangge outside the building to prevent him from witnessing the police operation. After that, the police officers searched all the office rooms and broke another office door.

The Nduga police chief (Kapolres), Commissioner Vinsensius Jimmy, has apologised to the local church leaders for the misconduct of his men.

The victims demanded that the perpetrators be processed according to the law.

Congregation members in Kenyam carried out a spontaneous peaceful protest against the police raid and violence against four Kingmi Papua pastors.

The Human Rights Monitor (HRM) is an independent, international non-profit project promoting human rights through documentation and evidence-based advocacy. HRM is based in the European Union and active since 2022.

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Indonesia Says No One Brings Up Papua Issue at Recent UNGA Forum

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Jayanty Nada Shofa   September 29, 2023 | 6:50 pm

Jakarta. A senior Indonesian diplomat said Friday that no country raised the issue of Papua at the recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) talks in New York.

Indonesia in the past had faced accusations of human rights violations in its easternmost region at the UN forum. These accusations mainly came from Pacific island nations, particularly Vanuatu. However, the 78th UNGA session, which had just ended earlier this week, did not see anyone pointing their fingers at Indonesia.

“The UNGA forum did not see any country bringing up the Papua issue. [This shows] how other nations’ respect towards Indonesia is growing,” Tri Tharyat, the director-general for multilateral cooperation at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, told a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

Tri attributed the lack of mentions of Papua to the Indonesian government’s efforts to fast-track the region’s infrastructure and human capital development, among others. Indonesia has also tried to speak to the countries who took an interest in the Papua matter. Tri, however, did not refer to the said countries whom Indonesia had been talking to by name. 

“Remember how there would be some countries who would call the [UNGA] forum’s attention to Papua,” Tri said.

“We have done so many things this year. But what is of utmost importance is to talk with other countries to give them a better picture of what is going on in Papua, including its development progress,” Tri also told reporters.

There have been several instances of Indonesia arguing with Pacific island nations over the latter’s human rights abuse accusations in Papua. For instance, at the 75th UNGA Session in 2020, then Vanuatuan Prime Minister Bob Loughman alleged indigenous West Papuans continued to suffer from human rights violations. Indonesia then accused Vanuatu of not respecting the UN Charter and its principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in March visited the Papuan capital of Jayapura during which he said the government considered Papua a priority for a more “Indonesia-centric” development.

His remarks aimed to dispel doubts that Indonesia’s development only focused on Java Island. Jokowi then listed some major infrastructure projects in Papua, including the 3,462-kilometer Trans-Papua road. The government has also built a road that spanned 1,098 kilometers in the Papuan borders, according to Jokowi.

Read More: Jokowi to Attend ASEAN-GCC Summit in Saudi Next Month

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Call for carbon trading boycott in response to launch of carbon stock exchange

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Suara Papua – September 28, 2023

Reiner Brabar, Sorong — Calls for a boycott on carbon trading, ending the release and discharge of emissions, as well as accelerating the recognition of customary and people’s management areas have been echoed because of its direct impact on the existence of the archipelago’s indigenous peoples.

The government officially launched the Indonesian Carbon Exchange (IDX

Carbon) on Tuesday September 26. A carbon exchange business management license was given to the IDX by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) through Decree Number Kep-77/D.04/2023 on September 18. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that it is hoped that the launch of the exchange will contribute to fighting the climate crisis.

According to media reports, during the launch at the Stock Exchange Building, president Widodo said, “The result of this [carbon] trading is that it will be reinvested in efforts to protect the environment, especially though reducing carbon emissions”.

In response to this, a network of civil society organisation such as the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Nusantara Traditional Community Alliance (AMAN), Greenpeace, the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM), the People’s Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka), the PIKUL Foundation, the Nusantara Traditional Community Defense Association

(PPMAN) and the School of Democratic Economics (SDE) expressed their opposition to carbon trading, which has been chosen by the government to overcome the climate crisis.

The opposition was officially conveyed through a letter titled “Boycott carbon trading, end the release and discharge of emissions, and accelerate the recognition of customary and people’s management areas!”, which was address to the president, related industries, the IDX and the international verification institute Verra.

Walhi national plantation and forestry campaign manager Uli Arta Siagian said that carbon trading is a misguided way to overcome the climate crisis.

The network of organisations believes that the government is creating a trade crisis because the nature of carbon trading is granting permits by the state to corporation and industrial countries to continue releasing emissions by balancing carbon or carbon offsets.

“Carbon trading was chosen in order to ensure that corporations and industrial countries can continue to extracting [resources from] nature, either through extracting underground fossil fuels, burning fossil fuels, deforestation as well as conservation project that will further extend the chain of conflict and the climate crisis”, said Siagian.

AMAN director for legal policy advocacy and human rights, Muhammad Arman, is of the view that carbon trading by the Indonesian government will threaten traditional communities. Carbon trading practices will be done without recognising, protecting or fulfilling the rights of traditional communities.

This, according to Siagian, is the same as the practice of colonialism.

“The various legal instruments that have been issued by the government in bridging carbon trading are only orientated to the interests of investment, and represent a tangible manifestation of the government ‘washing its hands’ of extractive industrial practices that are the source of emissions” said Arman.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Boikot Perdagangan Karbon Diserukan”.]

Jokowi’s strategic projects creating injustice and repression: YLBHI

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CNN Indonesia – September 25, 2023

Jakarta — The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has found that national strategic projects (PSN) and the management of natural resources (SDA) under the administration of President Joko “Jokowi”

Widodo has crfeated injustice and oppression for the ordinary people.

In addition to this, these national strategic projects and natural resource industries have caused environmental destruction and land conflicts.

“The YLBHI found that PSN and the management of SDA produced multiple effects in the form of injustice and the oppression of ordinary people”, wrote the YLBHI in a written release on Sunday September 25.

There has yet to be a response or comment from the government on the YLBHI’s statement.

“In fulfilling these ambitious projects, the state has committed a series of repressive acts and used excessive force (excessive use of

force) against residents who are defending their land, water and living space through state security forces, namely the TNI [Indonesian military] and the Polri [Indonesian police]”, they continued.

The YLBHI found that farmers, traditional communities, human rights defenders and environmental activist suffered physical violence, non-physical violence and criminalisation.

Over the period 2017-2023, the YLBHI recorded a number of incidents of violence against farmers in cases being handled by its 18 regional Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices. This seven-year period was determined based on the start of national strategic projects in 2016.

The explanatory data on criminalisation covers areas of natural resource conflict, especially in areas where there were national strategic projects. The data is divided into several variables, including the number of conflicts, the area of conflict and number of victims, the perpetrators of violence and criminalisation, patterns of violence, the laws that were frequently used, the causes and the structural impacts of conflict.

The YLBHI data

As many as 106 agrarian conflicts and cases involving national strategic projects were handled by the YLBHI and its regional LBH offices throughout Indonesia. The land area where there were conflicts covered around 800,000 hectares and resulted in more than 1 million ordinary people falling victim.

The plantation sector was dominant with 42 cases, followed by the mining sector with 37 cases, then conflicts involving national strategic projects with 35 cases.

The YLBHI said that there were a variety of perpetrators in these conflicts. Private companies were involved in 100 conflicts, regional governments in 74 conflicts and the police in 50 conflicts.

A many as 123 acts of violence were recorded, which broadly speaking fell into three types of patterns.

First, patterns of violence in the form of verbal violence such as intimidation in the form of physical violence ranging from physical abuse to torture. This pattern was recorded in 48 cases (40 cases of intimidation and eight cases of physical violence).

Second, 43 cases split between these two patterns, and third, criminalisation with 43 cases.

“Usually, these three patterns were applied in stages, for example beginning with the threat of forced eviction and the threat of criminalisation, then increasing to the level of violence and criminalisation”, wrote the YLBHI.

Furthermore, said the YLBHI, local people that were criminalised were used as negotiation tools causing divisions between those who supported and opposed a given project within the community.

The YLBHI recorded that out of the 43 cases, some 212 farmers were criminalised. The majority of cases of criminalisation used articles under the Criminal Code (KUHP) with 29 cases.

This was followed by the Mineral and Coal Mining Law (UU Minerba) with seven cases, Law Number 39/2014 on Plantations with four cases, Law Number 18/2013 on the Prevention of Forest Clearing and Destruction with three cases, the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE) with two cases and the anti-communism law in one case.

The YLBHI also highlighted attempts to criminalise farmers involving strategic national projects in the 18 regions where there are LBH offices. There were some 35 national strategic projects in which 35 farmers became victims of criminalisation. The victims came from five different provinces or municipalities, namely Central Java, West Java, Padang, Makassar and Manado.

The largest number of cases of criminalisation in national strategic projects occurred in Central Java (10 cases) and Padang (10 cases).

If viewed from the legal basis for the criminalisation, the YLBHI noted that almost all of them were based on Article 362 of the KUHP on theft.

Second, Article 333 that contains criminal offices on depriving a person of their freedom. Third, Article 170 that contains offences on crimes of violence against persons or materials.

Fourth, Article 154a that contains offences on insulting state symbols.

Fifth, Article 406 that regulates damage to another person’s property.

And finally, Article 27 of the ITE Law that contains offences on defamation.

The YLBHI and its 18 regional LBH offices are urging the government and the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as related ministries and government institutions, to cancel all strategic national projects that are considered to harm the ordinary people or trigger practices of violence and human rights violations by the state though its apparatus.

The YLBHI is also asking the government to stop appropriating the people’s land in the name of management rights and state land claims.

The other demand is asking the government to withdraw all security forces from agrarian conflict areas and national strategic projects, as well as revoking the Omnibus Law on Job Creation and its derivative regulations, which are seen as triggers for the increase in land grabs and state violence against the ordinary people.

The YLBHI is also asking that national programs disguised as agrarian reform or fake agrarian reform programs to be stopped.

In addition to this, the government is being asked to stop the criminalisation of those fighting for land rights and the environment, as well as their unconditional release from all charges and criminal indictments.

“Ensure that the state implements the constitutional mandate, especially Article 33 Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution, [which states] that the earth, water and natural resources contained therein are controlled by the state for the greatest prosperity of the people, not for investors and/or those in power or entrepreneurs”, wrote the YLBHI.

(yoa/tsa)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was

“YLBHI: PSN Era Jokowi Hasilkan Penindasan Terhadap Rakyat”.]

Former Papuan governor Enembe’s corruption trial ends – verdict soon 

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SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya

Former Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe has presented his case for the defence, denying the corruption and bribery charges against him, with the end of the controversial and lengthy trial at the Tipikor Court of Jakarta Central District Court this week. The verdict is due on October 9.

During the hearing, Enembe and his legal team argued there was no evidence to support the allegations made by the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) prosecutor.

The two-term Papuan governor and his legal team firmly stated that the KPK prosecutors had no evidence in the indictment against him.

In a statement presented by his lawyer, Petrus Bala Pattyona, Enembe strongly denied the allegations of receiving bribes and gratuities from businessmen Rijatono Lakka and Piton Enumbi.

Enembe emphasised that the accusations made against him were “baseless and lacked substantial evidence”.

Enembe maintains innocence
He stated that his case was straightforward, as he was being accused of accepting a staggering amount of 1 billion rupiahs (NZ$100,000) from Rijatono Lakka, along with a hotel valued at 25.9 billion rupiahs (NZ$2,815,000) and a number of physical developments and money amounting to Rp 10,413,929,500.00 or 10.4 billion rupiahs (NZ$1,131,000) from Piton Enumbi, lawyer Pattyona said during the reading, reports Kompas.com.

Enembe maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings and asserted that he had never received any form of illicit payments or favours from either businessman.

The simplicity of Lukas’ case, as stated by his lawyer, Petrus Bala Pattyona, lay in the clarity of the accusations made against his client.

Enembe and his legal team emphasised that none of the testimony of the 17 witnesses called during the trial could provide evidence of their involvement in bribery or gratuities in connection with Lukas Enembe, reports National.okenews.com.

“During the trial, it was proven very clearly that no witness could explain that I received bribes or gratuities from Rijatono Lakka and Piton Enumbi,” Enembe said through his lawyer Pattyona during the hearing, reports Kompas.com.

“I ask that the jury of pure hearts and minds, who have tried my case, may decide on the basis of the truth that I am innocent and therefore acquit me of all charges,” Enembe said.

In addition to asking for his release, Enembe also asked the judge to unfreeze the accounts of his wife and son that were frozen by the authorities when this legal saga began last year.

He claimed his wife (Yulce Wenda) and son (Astract Bona Timoramo Enembe) needed access to their funds to cover daily expenses.

Ex-Governor Enembe also discussed gold confiscated by the KPK, calling on judges to allow its return.

Enembe asked that no party criminalise him anymore. He insisted he had never laundered money or owned a private jet, as KPK had claimed.

Enembe’s lawyer also requested that his client’s honour be restored to prevent further false accusations from emerging.

KPK prosecutor’s demands
However, the public prosecutors of the KPK considered Lukas Enembe legally and conclusively guilty of corruption in the form of accepting bribes and gratuities when he served as Governor of Papua from 2013 to 2023.

The prosecutors alleged that there was evidence that Lukas Enembe had violated Article 12 letter A and Article 12B of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Criminal Acts and Article 55 paragraph. (1) of I of the Criminal Code jo Article 65, clause (1), of the Criminal Code, reports Beritasatu.com.

In addition to corporal crime, the prosecution is seeking a fine of Rp 1 billion for Enembe and want a court order for him to pay Rp 47,833,485,350 or 47.9 billion rupiah (NZD$5,199,000) in cash, accusing him of accepting bribes totalling Rp 45.8 billion and gratuities worth 1 billion, reports Kompas.com.

A verdict date is set
The Jakarta Criminal Corruption Court panel of judges is scheduled to read the verdict in the case against Enembe on 9 October 2023.

“We have scheduled Monday, October 9, 2023, for the reading of the verdict against the defendant Lukas Enembe,” said presiding judge Rianto Adam Pontoh yesterday at the Central Jakarta District Court after undergoing a hearing of the readings, reports CNN.com.

The date marks an important milestone in the trial as it will bring clarity to the charges against Enembe. The outcome of the judgement will have a profound impact on Enembe’s future and the public perception of his integrity and leadership, and most importantly, his deteriorating health.

Former Governor’s health
Previously, the KPK prosecutor had requested a sentence of 10 years and six months in prison.

Enembe’s senior lawyer, Professor OC Kaligis, argued that imprisonment of Enembe for more than a decade would be tantamount to the death penalty due to the worsening of his illness, calling it “brutal demands” of the KPK prosecutors.

“The defendant’s health condition when examined by doctors at Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) showed an increasingly severe illness status. So we, legal counsel, after paying attention to the KPK Public Prosecutor’s concern for the defendant’s illness, from the level of investigation to investigation, concluded that the KPK Public Prosecutor ignored the defendant’s human rights for maximum treatment.

“With such demands, the KPK Public Prosecutor expects the death of Lukas Enembe in prison,” said Professor Kaligis, reports mambruks.com.

Lukas Enembe’s life
Former Governor Lukas Enembe was born on 27 July 1967 in Mamit village, Kembu Tolikara, Papua’s highlands. He graduated from Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, in 1995, majoring in socio-political science.

After returning to West Papua, he began his public service career in the civil service of Merauke district.

Enembe studied at Christian Cornerstone College in Australia from 1998 to 2001. In 2001, he returned to West Papua and ran for the regency election, becoming the deputy regent of Puncak Jaya.

In 2007, he was elected as the regent of Puncak Jaya.

Enembe served as the Governor of Papua from 2013 to 2018 and was re-elected for a second term from 2018 to 2023.

His tenure focused on infrastructure development and cultural unity in West Papua, leading to landmark constructions such as a world-class stadium and a massive bridge.

He also introduced a scholarship scheme, empowering hundreds of Papuan students to pursue education both locally and abroad — such as in New Zealand which he visited in 2019.

Enembe’s achievement as the first Highlander from West Papua to become governor is a groundbreaking milestone that challenged long-held cultural taboos.

His success serves as an inspiration and symbolises the potential for change and unity in the region.

His ability to break cultural barriers has significantly impacted the development of West Papua and the collective mindset of its people, turning what was once regarded as impossible into possibilities through his courage and bravery.

The fact that he is still holding on despite serious health complications that he has endured for a long time under Indonesian state pressure is widely regarded as a “miracle”.

One could argue that West Papua’s predicament as a whole is mirrored in Enembe’s story of struggle, perseverance, pain, suffering, and a will to live despite all odds.

Yamin Kogoya is a West Papuan academic who has a Master of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development from the Australian National University and who contributes to Asia Pacific Report. From the Lani tribe in the Papuan Highlands, he is currently living in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.