Lycos - Search the Web
CareerPath - Where Employers and Employees Click
RELATED LINKS
Irian Jaya Home
Issues Home Page
THE RECORD -LINKS TO RECENT NEWS ON THE IRIAN JAYA QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE
THE RECORD: IRIAN JAYA (WEST PAPUA, NEW GUINEA): THE QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE-MARCH 4-10, 2000 NEWS SUPPLEMENT
=======================================================
Subj: Indon military vows to take harsh action on Papua separatists
====================================================
=======================================================
Subj: Defense minister wants NGOs audited over violence
=======================================================
Subj: Annan Announces Review Of UN Peacekeeping Operations
=======================================================
Subj: TAPOL Urgent Action: West Papua's self-determination must be realised
=======================================================
Subj: Freeport deal still open to change: Sonny
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
=======================================================
Subj: Freeport deal still open to change: Sonny
=======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Police's Brimob won't quit Nabire
=======================================================
Subj: Papua Demands a Stake in Freeport Indonesia
======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Various: Freeport and Nabire =======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Environmental Destruction Worst In Irian Jaya Subj: US ambassador defends Freeport against charges of HR and environmental abuses
=======================================================
Subj: Governor: Freeport must donate 20% of shares to reg. administration
=======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Statement on Rights Victims in Mapnduma
=============================================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Act of Free Choice was a farce
=====================================================
Copyright 2000
Date: 3/10/00 4:04:20 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Observer
10th March 2000
Police, military vow to take action on Papua separatists
JAKARTA (IO) — The National Police and the Military yesterday vowed to take
harsh action against any separatist movements made by Papuan groups that plan
to set up a new state within the country.
The vow was made yesterday by West Papua Police Chief, Brigadier General
Wenas, following statements from separatist leaders Theys Eluay and Don Flasi
that they will establish a transitional government on May.
The transitional government is part of the preparation for an independence
declaration on December 1.
Trikora Military Commander, Brigadier A. Inkiriwang, endorsed the statement,
saying that the military will also take harsh action against any groups that
want to declare independence. Earlier the two institutions had been
criticized over their reluctance to crack down on separatist movements in the
province.
Even though there are groups in West Papua that often organize
separatism-oriented activities, such as the hoisting of Free Papua's flag,
security forces do not ban these activities.
The police chief said the hoisting of Free Papua's flag will not be banned as
long as the people do not take down the national red and white flag.
But the police will take strong action against plans to declare a
transitional government because such a move could lead to the establishment
of an independent country.
Papuans assembly
The Papuans recently held a gathering from February 23-25 in the province's
capital of Jayapura.
Sources told Antara that the assembly had concluded with seven decisions.
The Papuans also plan to hold a congress on April as a follow up to the
assembly.
They said that whether or not the security forces allow the congress, it will
be organized to go ahead.
Papuan leaders will on May 1 announce the establishment of the transitional
government.
The transitional government is tasked to gradually take over power from
Indonesia between May and November 2000. And then on December 1, the Papuans
will declare independence.
Earlier the issue was denied by security forces, but following the
announcement from Theys Eluay and Don Flasi that the Papuans will set up a
transitional government, the police and military chief's responded.
Speaking separately to the press, West Papuan Administration Secretary Progo
Nurjaman said the performance of the local administration is now decreasing
due to the many demonstrations staged in the area.
Hundreds of officials also plan to move from the province. They feel
threatened by the increasing number of demonstrations.
This has caused disturbance to development projects in the province. The
worsening security condition has become the main factor causing the exodus of
state officials from the province, said Progo.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
Date: 3/9/00 10:45:46 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
CC: slliem@xs4all.nl, dtecampaign@gn.apc.org, dte@gn.apc.org
Indonesian Observer
9th March 2000
Defense minister wants NGOs audited over violence
JAKARTA (IO) — Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono says all non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) should be independently audited, because there are signs
that some of the recent bloody violence in various parts of the country was
organized, provoked and funded by certain organizations.
He yesterday acknowledged that public opinion generally says security forces
must be held responsible for the bloody riots. "If the government, including
military and police officials, must be held responsible for the riots, we
also want NGOs to be audited transparently," Juwono said during a meeting
with legislators at parliament.
He said thorough audits would reveal who has been giving money to NGOs, and
how the cash has been spent. He did not mention the identity of the suspected
NGOs.
Juwono said many NGOs often use human rights issues to disturb the Indonesian
government and to force it to take certain actions.
He said there are two aspects of human rights. "The first is that human
rights are a normal issue and have become the concern of the common people.
The second is that human rights has become an industry which is used by
foreign NGOs to disturb the government." He said all people must seriously
consider the second aspect.
Commenting on speculation raised by some legislators that the US government
has tried to cause national disintegration in Indonesia by provoking riots in
the province of Aceh, Juwono said the US is trying to give equal attention to
regional problems in Indonesia.
"The US government is accused of paying excessive attention to the East Timor
problem. That is why the US government is now trying to give attention to
Aceh's problems," he said.
"If there is any indication that the US government has also provoked and
masterminded riots in Aceh province, we must anticipate this as early as
possible," said Juwono, who has served as lecturer on international relations
at Jakarta's University of Indonesia.
The defense minister reiterated that foreign institutions and countries use
human rights issues to dictate certain terms to the Indonesian government,
mainly relating to incidents in East Timor, Maluku and Aceh.
"We must dare to say there is a limit for any foreign countries to comment on
human rights issues, and we must dare to say there are issues which will be
handled only by the government," he said.
Touching on the state of national defense, Juwono said the country's
capabilities are not very good. He said the government should be aware of
that other countries in the region are spending more on defense.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
Date: 3/8/00 5:23:25 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Associated Press
March 7, 2000
[When will the UN carry out a review of its disastrous 'supervisory'
mission in West Papua in 1969 which
resulted in the West Papuan people being delivered lock, stock and barrel
to the mercies of the Suharto
New Order regime? TAPOL]
Annan Announces Review Of UN Peacekeeping Operations
UNITED NATIONS (AP)--Secretary-General Kofi Annan Tuesday announced a major
study of U.N. peace efforts aimed at preventing a repetition of the
"appalling failures" of the United Nations in Rwanda's genocide and a
massacre in Bosnia.
An eight-member panel will take a critical look at the whole range of U.N.
peace operations - past and present - from conflict prevention to observer
missions and military intervention operations, he said.
We need a clear set of recommendations on how to do better in future in the
whole range of U.N. activities in the area of peace and security, Annan told
a news conference.
The secretary-general said the study was "propelled forward much faster" by
recent highly critical reports he commissioned of the U.N. role in the 1994
Rwanda genocide and the 1995 fall of Srebrenica - when Annan headed the U.N.
peacekeeping department.
The United Nations was accused of ignoring evidence that a genocide was
planned in Rwanda and of abandoning the Rwandan people when it was underway.
It was also accused of failing to help save thousands of Bosnian Muslims from
a Serb mass murder in Srebrenica because of errors and misjudgment.
The United Nations is currently involved in 16 peacekeeping operations from
East Timor to Sierra Leone, each with a different mandate from the U.N.
Security Council. It is also involved in numerous diplomatic efforts aimed at
preventing or resolving conflicts, such as in Afghanistan and between
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Annan recalled that when the reports on Srebrenica and Rwanda came out late
last year, he said "we must all do our utmost not to allow such horrors, and
especially such appalling failures by the United Nations, ever to happen
again."
"We must not promise too much, or raise expectations higher than are
justified by the will of governments to act," he said. "But we must do
whatever we can to raise the standards of international behavior and
responsibility. I think we can only hope to succeed in that if we have a very
clear idea of what has been wrong up to now."
There is a need to be clearer about what U.N. missions are trying to do, what
kind of forces are needed, and what to do when circumstances change - "for
instance if the peace you are trying to keep breaks down and large numbers of
civilians are in danger of being massacred," Annan said.
Annan said it was also important to get "the nuts and bolts" of peace
operations right, which the study will focus on, including U.N. planning and
organization, lines of command, coordination and accountability.
Former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been involved in
U.N. negotiations during conflicts and in running U.N. missions, will head
the panel. Its report will be issued in July and sent to leaders of the 188
U.N. member states to read before they come to New York for the Millennium
Summit in September, Annan said.
Brahimi told reporters the difficulties in U.N. peace-related operations come
either from mistakes or shortcomings that Annan is responsible for - or from
action or inaction by the Security Council and the international community.
"These are the problems - and these are the areas we have to look in," he
said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
Date: 3/7/00 1:20:56 PM Central Standard Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, andy@sumner93.freeserve.co.uk, robinr@quaker.org.uk
7 March 2000
TAPOL URGENT ACTION
WEST PAPUA'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION MUST BE REALISED
'The strength of the Indonesian position lies in the fact that…they must
know that, even if there are protests about the way they go through the
motions of consultation, no other power is likely to conceive it as being
in their interests to intervene…I cannot imagine the US, Japanese, Dutch or
Australian Governments putting at risk their economic and political
relations with Indonesia on a matter of principle involving a relatively
small number of very primitive people.'
British diplomat, 1968
Despite the appalling violence and intimidation in East Timor last year,
there is no question that the UN was scrupulous in ensuring that the
administration of the 'popular consultation' was free and fair. The
contrast with the UN's shameful role in West Papua's 'Act of Free Choice'
in 1969 could not be more stark. The cynical betrayal of the West Papuan
people 30 years ago was one of the most shameful episodes in the UN's
chequered history.
A meeting from 23 to 26 February 2000 of the West Papuan Grand Assembly,
attended by 500 representatives from all over West Papua, rejected the
result of the 1969 Act because it was conducted in violation of the 1962
'New York Agreement' between the colonial power, the Netherlands, and
Indonesia, which stipulated that the act of self-determination 'must
conform with international practice'. 'The way in which the Indonesian
Government conducted the act of self-determination abolished the rights and
political freedoms of the West Papuan people, by means of political
intimidation, arrests, imprisonment and murder…by the military… The 1025
persons selected by Indonesia to take part…and secure victory for Indonesia
were a tiny group,…the majority of the people were subjected to
intimidation and were not given the right to vote,' the Assembly said.
It went on to say: 'After being integrated into Indonesia…we West Papuan
people…have been subjected to brutal and inhuman treatment, human rights
abuses, killings, rapes, ignorance, poverty and social injustice and have
been subjected to virtual ethnic and cultural genocide.'
The international community must now act to ensure the West Papuan people
are allowed a proper act of self-determination. The Dutch government has
already announced that it will review the 'Act of Free Choice'.
The 1969 Act took place seven years after Indonesia had taken control of
West Papua under the 'New York Agreement'. The West Papuan people were not
consulted. In 1968, The UN set up a team led by Bolivian diplomat,
Fernando Ortiz Sanz to 'assist, advise and participate' in the Act. In the
event, there was nothing free about the Act and the UN simply connived at
Indonesia's shameless manipulation of the outcome.
Indonesia was determined to prevent a free vote and Western powers, by
then rapidly expanding their economic ties with Indonesia's military
dictator, General Suharto, were not minded to stand in the way.
The Act involved 1,025 hand-picked 'tribal chiefs' out of a population of
800,000, who were forced to decide at gunpoint that their country should
become part of Indonesia. The British Government was well aware of what
went on. A foreign office briefing to the UK mission at the UN said: 'The
Indonesians took great care to ensure, in all ways open to them, that the
chosen representative would vote in favour of West Irian [as it was then
known] remaining in Indonesia.'
In the UN General Assembly, several African countries condemned the
exercise. The Ghanaian delegate denounced it as 'a travesty of democracy
and justice', but with little further discussion, the General Assembly
simply voted to 'take note' of the Secretary-General's report that the
people of West Papua had opted unanimously to remain with Indonesia. This
led to West Papua's removal from the UN agenda and its delivery lock, stock
and barrel to the mercy of the Indonesian military regime.
After the international community decided to avert its eyes from West Papua
in 1969, a veil of secrecy fell over the country and information about the
widespread abuses of human rights reached the outside world only
sporadically. It is no exaggeration to say that tens of thousands have
been killed and abused. Action must now be taken to end the injustice
meted out to the West Papuan people.
ACTION NEEDED
Please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 475 on West Papua (see below)
and call on the Government (either write to your MP at House of Commons
London SW1A OAA or the Foreign Secretary at Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH) to:
· Recognise that the inalienable right of the people of West Papua to
self-determination has not yet been realised in accordance with
international law.
· Work for the reinstatement of West Papua on the UN's agenda of
non-self-governing territories and for a referendum on the territory's
future ties with Indonesia to be conducted under internationally accepted
conditions.
· Apply pressure on Indonesia to enter into meaningful dialogue with West
Papuan representatives to seek democratic and peaceful solutions to their
grievances.
· Apply pressure on Indonesia to end military repression and state violence
in the territory and to ensure that all those responsible for human rights
violations are made accountable for their crimes before an independent and
impartial tribunal.
EDM 475: West Papua
This House recalls that in August 1969 an 'Act of Free Choice' ('the Act')
took place in the former Dutch colonial territory now known as West Papua
or Papua, then under Indonesian administration, which was intended to be an
act of self-determination conforming with 'international practice'; further
recalls that the Act in fact involved an unrepresentative group of 1,025
persons selected by Indonesia voting under duress to become part of
Indonesia; is concerned that the Act was not free and fair and was not a
proper act of self-determination in accordance with international law;
notes that in December 1999 the Government of the Netherlands agreed to
investigate the circumstances under which West Papua was incorporated into
Indonesia; further notes that in February 2000 the Grand Assembly of West
Papua, comprising representatives from across the territory, voted to
reject the result of the Act because it did not conform with international
practice and took place amidst intimidation and murder by the Indonesian
military; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to recognise that the
inalienable right of the people of West Papua to self-determination has not
yet been realised in accordance with international law and to press the UN
to investigate the Act with a view to carrying out a proper act of self
determination in the territory; and further calls upon Her Majesty's
Government to press the Government of Indonesia to enter into meaningful
dialogue with West Papuan representatives to seek peaceful and democratic
solutions to their grievances.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 1420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia,
East Timor, West Papua and Aceh, 1973-1999
Date: 3/7/00 5:37:54 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Jakarta Post
March 07, 2000
Freeport deal still open to change: Sonny
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Environment Sonny Keraf said on Monday
that the mining contract between the government and PT Freeport Indonesia
remained open to change, pending the results of an environmental audit of the
company.
Sonny said there remained the possibility of the government reviewing or
renegotiating the deal if a joint team comprising officials from his office
and the Ministry of Mines and Energy found the contract was flawed.
"No final decision has been made yet. The status of the contract is now
pending the outcome of the examination conducted by the interministerial
team," he told The Jakarta Post.
Sonny was responding to a comment by Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab,
who said the government had rejected calls for amendments to the contract
because it would undermine the country's legal certainty and discourage
foreign investors from entering Indonesia.
Sonny recommended the government amend article 26 of the contract, which
requires that the giant gold and copper mining company safeguard and insure
the sustainability of the environment surrounding its site.
He said the team was gathering data and verifying Freeport's own audit of
environmental conditions and the community development around its mining site
in Irian Jaya. The verification is expected to be completed within three
months.
A team set up by the National Environmental Management Agency, which he
chairs, will soon visit the company, a subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan Copper
& Gold of the United States.
An environmental audit on the company by independent consultant
Montgomery-Watson last year described Freeport's environmental protection
program as exemplary, but Sonny said the audit was incomplete.
Freeport has come under fire for allegedly causing human rights abuses and
environmental damage during its more than 30-year operation in Irian Jaya.
Sonny shrugged off former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger's warning
that Indonesia should honor its contract with Freeport, saying it was
unnecessary for the government to comply with the deal if it was inequitable.
Kissinger, who is also a member of Freeport McMoRan's board of directors, met
with President Abdurrahman Wahid last week. (01/dja)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
Date: 3/7/00 5:38:10 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Observer
March 7, 2000
[This account gives a much higher number of deaths than previously
mentioned in reports about the events in Nabire. We are checking to
discover whether these figures are accurate. TAPOL]
Papuans urge investigation into Nabire incident
JAKARTA (IO) — A group of West Papuan people yesterday staged a demonstration
at Parliament building, urging the government to launch an investigation into
the bloody incident in the district of Nabire. The incident , on February 28,
caused the deaths of 12 people.
In a statement read out by a protester, the West Papuans urged the government
to disclose the incident within the next two weeks.
They also urged that legislators set up an investigating team to deal with
human rights abuses in Papua and bring those involved in the abuses to court.
"If either the military or the police ignore this demand, we call on
legislators from Papua to resign," said the protester, amid chanting of
slogans by fellow.
The Nabire incident took place when dozens of Papuans held a mass gathering
outside the Nabire district police office. They urged the police to release a
resident Aten Dimi, detained by the police.
But on the way to the police office, they were blocked by a police mobile
brigade. Some of the police officials confiscated arrows brought by some of
the protesters and the situation grew tense. A student from the
Administration College Menase Erari, who tried to calm down the situation,
was killed.
Following the shooting of Menase Erari, the situation in Nabire was even more
tense until March 4. At least 12 people were killed during the incident and
15 others seriously wounded and hospitalized.
At yesterday's demonstration, the protesters refuted claims that the incident
was prompted by a planned attack by the Papuan community against the police.
They said the Papuans brought arrows to the demonstration in Nabire because
arrows are symbol of masculinity. "Wherever the Papuans go, they carry
arrows," the protester said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: 3/7/00 5:37:54 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Jakarta Post
March 07, 2000
Freeport deal still open to change: Sonny
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Environment Sonny Keraf said on Monday
that the mining contract between the government and PT Freeport Indonesia
remained open to change, pending the results of an environmental audit of the
company.
Sonny said there remained the possibility of the government reviewing or
renegotiating the deal if a joint team comprising officials from his office
and the Ministry of Mines and Energy found the contract was flawed.
"No final decision has been made yet. The status of the contract is now
pending the outcome of the examination conducted by the interministerial
team," he told The Jakarta Post.
Sonny was responding to a comment by Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab,
calls for amendments to the contract
who said the government had rejected because it would undermine the country's legal certainty and discourage
foreign investors from entering Indonesia.
Sonny recommended the government amend article 26 of the contract, which
requires that the giant gold and copper mining company safeguard and insure
the sustainability of the environment surrounding its site.
He said the team was gathering data and verifying Freeport's own audit of
environmental conditions and the community development around its mining site
in Irian Jaya. The verification is expected to be completed within three
months.
A team set up by the National Environmental Management Agency, which he
chairs, will soon visit the company, a subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan Copper
& Gold of the United States.
An environmental audit on the company by independent consultant
Montgomery-Watson last year described Freeport's environmental protection
program as exemplary, but Sonny said the audit was incomplete.
Freeport has come under fire for allegedly causing human rights abuses and
environmental damage during its more than 30-year operation in Irian Jaya.
Sonny shrugged off former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger's warning
that Indonesia should honor its contract with Freeport, saying it was
unnecessary for the government to comply with the deal if it was inequitable.
Kissinger, who is also a member of Freeport McMoRan's board of directors, met
with President Abdurrahman Wahid last week. (01/dja)
Date: 3/7/00 8:36:58 AM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
www.KABAR-IRIAN.com & www.IRJA.org
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
The Jakarta Post.com
Across the Archipelago
March 07, 2000
Police's Brimob won't quit Nabire
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Despite mounting protest, Irian Jaya Police
chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said on Monday he would maintain the
presence of the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in the riot-torn
Nabire.
Wenas said that Brimob would not be withdrawn "because they were
sent here to maintain security and order".
"If the situation in Nabire worsens, many more Brimob troops will be
sent here," he said, responding to the people's demand to withdraw
Brimob from Nabire following a recent deadly clash which claimed
four lives.
He also said that Brimob troops were also assigned to arrest the
provocateurs, referring to Willem Wanimwarba who was shot dead for
allegedly provoking Nabire people to attack police officers last
week. (eba)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News")
NOTE: "IRJA.org Inc., the moderator/s and subscribers do not neccessarily
hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe Kabar-irian" (minus the
"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
You can also un/subscribe at http://www.irja.org/conf.htm via a user
friendly form.
Need more help or information? Mail mailto:admin@irja.org
Date: 3/6/00 2:27:42 PM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
also: Freeport Contract Must be Amended: Indonesian Minister
Papua Demands a Stake in Freeport Indonesia
JAKARTA, March 6 Antara/Asia Pulse - The regional administration of Papua has
called for amendment of the working contract of PT Freeport Indonesia to
include the province as a shareholder in the U.S. company.
Papua Governor Freddy Numberi said the amendment could put an end to frequent
disputes between the local people and copper and gold mining company.
Freeport, which has been operated in Papua, formerly Irian Jaya since 1968,
has been accused of damaging the environment and robbing the local people of
their traditional land.
"It is important for the regional administration to have the amendment to
prepare for the government's plan of extending autonomy to the regions,"
Numberi, who is concurrently state minister for the empowerment of state
apparatuses, said.
Numberi said it was not fair if the regional administrations had no share in
the companies exploiting their natural wealth.
Herman Afif Kusumo, chairman of the Indonesian association of mining experts,
supports the call made by the Papua governor.
Herman said the amendment proposed by the regional administration would give
the local people a sense of resposibility to protect the company as coowner.
------------------
Freeport Contract Must be Amended: Indonesian Minister
JAKARTA, March 6 Asia Pulse/Antara - The work contract of US gold and copper
mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia with the Indonesian government must be
amended as it is no longer compatible with the current situation and
conditions in the country, State Administrative Reform Minister Freddy
Numbery says.
"We can amend it because the contract contains a clause providing for the
possibility. We need an amendment that will benefit both the government and
Freeport," said Numbery who is also governor of Irian Jaya where Freeport's
mines are located.
One of the articles in the contract that needed to be altered was that about
participation of the Irian Jaya regional administration in the company's
equity, he said.
"During the 30 years Freeport has been operating in Irian Jaya, the local
government was never given a share in the company," the minister said.
Until now US-based Freeport McMorran controlled 80 percent of Freeport
Indonesia shares while the remaining 20 percent was held by the central
government and several businessmen.
The contract should further have a new clause, namely one requiring the
company to contribute to the empowerment of local human resources, Numbery
said.
"We hope with the regional administration also having a stake in the company,
Freeport will be more seriously committed to efforts to uplift the local
people. They would then be able to work in the company not only as clerks but
also have a chance to rise to managerial positions," Numbery said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Mining Experts' Association Herman Afif
said public demand for the amendment of Freeport's contract showed that the
people living around the company's concession area had been treated unfairly.
"It also shows that the central government's policies regarding Freeport have
not properly accommodated the local people's aspirations," Afif said.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
Date: 3/5/00 4:58:14 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
www.KABAR-IRIAN.com & www.IRJA.org
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
The Jakarta Post.com
Across the Archipelago
March 06, 2000
Business resumes in Nabire
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Economic activity in Nabire regency showed
signs of recovery on Saturday after almost a week of total
standstill due to rioting, police said.
Nabire Police chief Lt. Col. Faizal A.N. said in a telephone
interview that order had been restored and markets, government
offices and private companies had resumed activities.
He said roadblocks erected by the Papuan Security Force were removed
on Friday afternoon by the security personnel and local residents.
"The roadblocks were cleared following a meeting between Regent A.P.
Youw, local officials, community figures and religious and tribal
leaders," Faizal said.
He confirmed that three people were killed and at least 13 others
injured in the rioting. Witnesses, however, put the death toll at
four.
Armed with arrows, machetes and spears, some 2,000 people attacked
the local police headquarters on Wednesday in retaliation of the
death of a fellow Irianese in Monday's clash. (01/eba)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Business News
March 06, 2000
Government will not amend Freeport contract: Alwi
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said on
Saturday the government had rejected calls for the amendment of the
contract of giant copper and gold mining company PT Freeport
Indonesia, reiterating the government's pledge to honor its deals
with foreign investors.
Alwi said forcing Freeport to change its contract would undermine
the country's legal certainty and discourage foreign investors from
entering Indonesia.
He made the remarks amid growing criticism over Freeport's operation
and mounting pressure on the government from various parties,
including ministers, to amend Freeport's contract.
Outgoing Irian Jaya Governor Rear Adm. Freddy Numberi, who is also
state minister of state administrative reforms, demanded last week
Freeport's contract be amended, asking the company to donate a 20
percent stake to the people of Irian Jaya.
Alwi, however, said the government would not amend the contract but
it would ask Freeport to give a concession to the local people,
including a stake in the company.
"But, that doesn't mean changing the contract," he said.
Alwi stressed the concession should aim at improving the welfare of
the local people, by, among others things, providing them with more
job opportunities.
PT Freeport Indonesia is 81.28 percent owned by United States mining
company Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold. The Indonesian government
holds a 9.36 percent stake in the company, as does the PT Indocopper
Investama Corporation.
Indocopper is 49 percent owned by Freeport McMoran and 50.48 percent
by Nusamba Mineral Industries, a company linked to former president
Soeharto, while the investing public holds a 0.52 percent stake.
Executive director of the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) P.L.
Coutrier said the request of the local people for a stake in the
company was reasonable.
"I can understand the request. It was in the interest of Freeport to
relinquish some shares to the locals, as it would make the latter
care more for Freeport," Coutrier told The Jakarta Post over the
weekend.
Legislator Pramono Anung of the House of Representatives' Commission
VIII for mines and energy said any discussion on the divestment of
Freeport's shares should be held in the framework of the contract.
"There is no need for the contract to be amended, since it already
contains a clause regulating the company's divestment obligation,"
Pramono said.
Under the contract, which was signed in December 1991, Freeport is
obliged to divest up to 51 percent of its shares to the Indonesian
government, Indonesian companies or Indonesian citizens within 20
years after the signing of the contract.
However, Pramono said, thus far Freeport had failed to divest its
shares as stipulated in the contract.
According to him, Freeport had taken advantage of a clause in the
contract that allowed it to rid itself of the divestment obligation
should the government issue a regulation allowing it to do so.
In 1994, three years after the signing of Freeport's contract, the
government issued regulation No. 20/1994 allowing foreign investors
to fully own their companies, Pramono said.
Pressure on the government to review Freeport's contract also came
from State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf.
He blasted Freeport for failing to protect the environment around
its mining site.
Freeport vice president Yuli Ismartono rejected allegations that the
company had damaged the surrounding environment and did not care for
the welfare of the local communities.
She said meeting environmental standards was mandatory in Freeport's
contract and the company had been complying with the Indonesian
regulations on this matter.
Independent consultant Montgomery-Watson, which was hired by
Freeport to conduct an environmental audit on the company last year,
described Freeport's environmental protection program as exemplary,
but Sonny said the audit was incomplete.
Yuli also said that during 1991 to 1999, Indonesia had earned more
than US$1.27 billion in taxes, royalties and dividends from
Freeport.
"Some 87 percent of Freeport's earnings were spent in Indonesia,"
Yuli said in statement last week.
Yuli further said the company had been the object of five
independent probes on human rights violations, but none had proved
any wrongdoings by the company.
Former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger visited the country
in the defense of Freeport last week.
During a call on President Abdurrahman Wahid, Kissinger, who is a
member of Freeport McMoRan's board of directors, asked the
Indonesian government to honor its contract with Freeport, warning
that any violation of the contract would impede the flow of foreign
investment. (dja/bkm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Republika, 4 March 2000
[Slightly abridged]
US government has investigated charges against Freeport re human
rights and environmental abuses
Jakarta,
The US ambassador to Jakarta, Robert Gilbard, has denied charges
against PT Freeport that it committed human rights abuses and
damaged the environment. He said that the military should be
investigated, not Freeport as a company.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the ambassador said that
the US government had itself undertaken investigations of the
charges levelled against Freeport because the charges had resulted
in threats to revise the contract of work with the company.
'Our investigations showed that the charges were unproven,' said
Gilbard, who was accompanied at the press briefing by Thomas R.
Pickerking, a senior State Department official who has been on a
three-day visit to Indonesia.
The ambassador said that as far as human rights abuses were
concerned, the Indonesian government should investigate the
Indonesian military. 'Any charges levelled against Freeport are
clearly unproven,' he said.
If it was a question of the military using Freeport facilities when
violating human rights, the ambassador said that this was difficult
to avoid. If the military ask to borrow things from Freeport, it is
difficult for the company to refuse
Pickering said that the Indonesian government would respect all
contracts that it had signed. Contracts are integral to the
confidence to invest and investment is integral to the economic
advance of a country.
The official spokesperson of the TNI, Vice Air Mrshal Graito Usodo,
said separately that he had not himself heard the charges being made
by the US ambassador. If he said such things, this would have to be
proven and properly evaluated. 'He can't put forward a one-sided
view of the matter,' he said. Graito Usodo pointed out further that
the TNI was present in the area precisely in order to protect a
vital enterprise. 'The troops are there,' he said, 'to provide
security so that the employees of Freeport can continue with their
productive activities without fear.'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
March 06, 2000
Regional autonomy 'not as easy as it sounds'
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid
denied the central government was being tardy in its preparations to
implement regional autonomy, saying officials were painstakingly
drafting the necessary arrangements to make the program workable.
"The implementation of regional autonomy is not as easy as it
sounds. It could bring less changes to regions and even become
unused if everything is done too abruptly," he said in a seminar on
regional autonomy organized by the West Kalimantan Community in
Jakarta (IKKB) here on Saturday.
Many sides, including the IKKB, have criticized the government for
dragging its feet in making preparations to implement the
much-anticipated regional autonomy.
Ryaas defended himself against the criticism, contending that as
much as it would like to, the government cannot act as fast as many
desire as the implementation of regional autonomy requires the
establishment of "strong software and hardware".
"The two laws on regional autonomy and on fiscal balance are not
adequate to be held as a legal basis for implementing autonomy.
Besides issuing a number of new regulations to enforce the two laws,
the government also has to amend many other laws to synchronize them
with the autonomy implementation. And all this work needs a
relatively long time," he said.
He cited as an example that his office in cooperation with other
ministries was drafting at least ten government regulations to start
implementing autonomy in January 2001.
"The most crucial and long-awaited is the regulation on powersharing
between the central and provincial administrations ... The division
of authority must be clear-cut to avoid overlaps in administrative
affairs," he said, adding the regulation would be issued in May at
the latest.
Ryaas also said he and Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo would
issue five regulations to enforce the fiscal balance law,
regulating, among others, negotiations on sharing profits from
natural resources and on cross-subsidies from resource-rich regions
to less developed ones.
The government will also revise the 1982 law on spatial zoning and
the 1974 law on regional administrations to make them consistent
with the planned decentralization of much authority to provincial
administrations.
Ryaas said that despite the deadline of Jan. 2001, the
implementation of regional autonomy would partly depend on the
readiness of the regions themselves to carry it out.
A full implementation of regional autonomy will be conducted only in
provinces and regencies, which, if seen from the perspective of
their human resources and managerial skills, are considered
prepared, he remarked.
He said that under developed provinces such as Aceh and Irian Jaya
may not be ready to fully implement regional autonomy.
According to Ryaas, such provinces would likely only be delegated a
certain amount of authority of which they had been assessed as able
to handle.
"To me, regional autonomy is not an efficacious medicine to treat
political and economic problems in provinces because it depends much
on their own preparedness to implement it," he said.
He suggested local administrations immediately begin recruiting
qualified personnel to fill the high demand for skilled officials in
the bureaucracy. Asked about the role of the police in such a
system, Ryaas remarked that they should shift their main deployment
away from urban centers to maintain security and order in rural and
remote areas.
"Police should no longer be concentrated in urban areas, especially
provincial capitals, because their presence will be much needed in
rural and remote areas," he said.
In Saturday's seminar, many West Kalimantan figures called on the
government to give special autonomy to the province in compensation
for the over-exploitation of its natural resources and damages to
its environment in the past.
Ryaas said at the most the government could give special treatment
to help redevelop its forests and local culture. (rms)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News")
NOTE: "IRJA.org Inc., the moderator/s and subscribers do not neccessarily
hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe Kabar-irian" (minus the
"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
You can also un/subscribe at http://www.irja.org/conf.htm via a user
friendly form.
Need more help or information? Mail mailto:admin@irja.org
Date: 3/5/00 4:56:55 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
www.KABAR-IRIAN.com & www.IRJA.org
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
Environmental Destruction Worst In Irian Jaya
Sunday, March 05, 2000/12:42:12 AM
Jayapura, March 5 (ANTARA)
Irian Jaya is ranked the worst in the country in terms of
environmental destruction due to the exploitation of mineral,
forestry and fishery resources, an official said.
Moh. Ali Kestalla, head of the Irian Jaya provincial environmental
impact management board (Bapedalda) said on Saturday his office had
inspected a number of companies, including PT Freeport Indonesia and
PT Santa Fee and found that the environmental destruction in the
country's easternmost province had reached an alarming level.
Most of the companies were paying minimal attention to the
rehabilitation of the damaged environment creating risks and
liabilities that would be borne by Indonesia's future generations,
he said.
Even locals can no longer consume marine biotas because they had
been exterminated or polluted by the companies` wastes, he said,
adding that the problem should be reason for national concern.
Citing an example, he said PT Santa Fee, oil mining company in
Sorong, had disposed of its oil waste onto the local environment,
causing locals to suffer from upper respiratory tract infections and
killing plants, such as taro, calladium and sweet potato.
He said the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Ambon's
chapter, had made a study in the Sele Straits, Sorong district, and
found the waters to be contaminated with heavy metal because the oil
company had never made environmental conservation efforts since the
Dutch colonial era when it started its operations in the area.
This had made it impossible for marine biotas such as fish and
shrimp to flourish, he said.
To date there are 57 forest concession holders operating in Irian
Jaya.
They cut down forest trees at the expense of the environment, he
said.
A number of plant and animal species of high economic value had died
out, he said.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News")
NOTE: "IRJA.org Inc., the moderator/s and subscribers do not neccessarily
hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe Kabar-irian" (minus the
"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
You can also un/subscribe at http://www.irja.org/conf.htm via a user
friendly form.
Need more help or information? Mail mailto:admin@irja.org
=======================================================
Date: 3/5/00 5:41:15 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
Republika, 4 March 2000
[Slightly abridged]
US government has investigated charges against Freeport re human rights and
environmental abuses
Jakarta,
The US ambassador to Jakarta, Robert Gilbard, has denied charges against PT
Freeport that it committed human rights abuses and damaged the environment.
He said that the military should be investigated, not Freeport as a company.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the ambassador said that the US
government had itself undertaken investigations of the charges levelled
against Freeport because the charges had resulted in threats to revise the
contract of work with the company.
'Our investigations showed that the charges were unproven,' said Gilbard,
who was accompanied at the press briefing by Thomas R. Pickerking, a senior
State Department official who has been on a three-day visit to Indonesia.
The ambassador said that as far as human rights abuses were concerned.,
the Indonesian government should investigate the Indonesian military. 'Any
charges levelled against Freeport are clearly unproven,' he said.
If it was a question of the military using Freeport facilities when
violating human rights, the ambassador said that this was difficult to
avoid. If the military ask to borrow things from Freeport, it is difficult
for the company to refuse
Pickering said that the Indonesian government would respect all contracts
that it had signed. Contracts are integral to the confidence to invest and
investment is integral to the economic advance of a country.
The official spokesperson of the TNI, Vice Air Mrshal Graito Usodo, said
separately that he had not himself heard the charges being made by the US
ambassador. If he said such things, this would have to be proven and
properly evaluated. 'He cant put forward a one-sided view of the matter,'
he said. Graito Usodo pointed out further that the TNI was present in the
area precisely in order to protect a vital enterprise. 'The troops are
there,' he said, 'to provide security so that the employees of Freeport can
continue with their productive activities without fear.'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
Return-Path:
Received: from rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (rly-zc02.mail.aol.com [172.31.33.2]) by air-zc01.mail.aol.com (v69.17) with ESMTP; Sun, 05 Mar 2000 06:41:15 -0500
Received: from monsoon.mail.pipex.net (monsoon.mail.pipex.net [158.43.128.69]) by rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (v69.17) with ESMTP; Sun, 05 Mar 2000 06:40:50 -0500
Received: (qmail 20389 invoked from network); 5 Mar 2000 11:40:45 -0000
Received: from useram11.uk.uudial.com (HELO tapolpfs) (62.188.134.183)
by smtp.dial.pipex.com with SMTP; 5 Mar 2000 11:40:45 -0000
X-Sender: tapol@pop.gn.apc.org
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.1
Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2000 11:32:03 +0000
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
From: TAPOL
Subject: US ambassador defends Freeport against charges of HR and
environmental abuses
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Message-ID: <200003050640.ZPUa01776@rly-zc02.mx.aol.com>
Date: 3/5/00 5:40:56 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
The Jakarta Post, 4-3-2000
Freeport told to donate 20%of shares for locals
JAKARTA (JP): Outgoing Irian Jaya Governor Rear Adm. Freddy Numberi petitioned mining-giant PT Freeport Indonesia on Friday to donate 20 percent of its shares and profits to the regional administration in Irian Jaya to support the community where the company exploits the naturalresources.
The current contract stipulates that approximately 20 percent of the company's operation be owned by the Indonesia government and anotherIndonesia company.
Freddy, who also holds the post as State Minister for Administrative Reforms, said that some of the profits should be channeled directly to the surrounding community.
"The local government never got anything from the deal," Freddytold reporters on Friday.
PT Freeport Indonesia is 81.28 percent owned by United States mining company Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold. The Indonesian government holds a 9.36 percent interest in the company along and PT Indocopper Investama Corporation owns an equal interest.
Indocopper is 50.48 percent owned by Nusamba Mineral Industries, which is linked to former president Soeharto. Freeport McMoran holds a 49 percentstake in Indocopper and the investing public holds 0.52 percent.
Freeport has been criticized by many parties believing its mining activities in the Grasberg area of Irian Jaya have adversely affected theenvironment.
State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf last month said his office would audit, and perhaps redo, the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) of PT Freeport Indonesia as the existing report contains severalirregularities.
Sonny did not elaborate on the alleged irregularities in the report but remarked that they included inconsistencies in reports on the company's environmental management and environmental work plan. He further remarked that the tailings disposal system was inadequate.
Some have openly questioned the validity of the environmental auditresults of American auditor Montgomery Watson, who lauded Freeport's environmental protection as exemplary.
Two commissions at the House of Representatives also have recommended areview of the contract of work held by PT Freeport Indonesia.
During a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is a member of the company's board of directors, President AbdurrahmanWahid on Monday pledged to honor the government's contract with thecompany.
Nevertheless, he asked Freeport to be more mindful and concerned with developing the community where it conducts its activities.
Speaking during a luncheon with the Indonesian Australian BusinessCouncil here, Freddy also dismissed the idea of annulling the Freeportcontract.
He conceded that he had received numerous reports of detrimental effects of Freeports' activities but asserted that the government will honor itscontract.
"I see it as a legal problem so we'd better settle the problem incourt not by revoking the agreement,' he said of the allegations of environmental destruction by the company.
Freddy said he had also sent an official letter to the World WildlifeFund for Nature asking for assistance in dealing with the environmentalissues.
Freddy, who will officially relinquish his gubernatorial post on March 20, said it was crucial for the government to honor the contract.
"It is the right of the company to do business here, we have torespect that," he remarked.
Nevertheless there should be several changes in the agreement which would allow the people of Irian Jaya a stake in the business. Such changes will be necessary to implement regional autonomy likely to be enacted in thenear future.
"There were some small mistakes made in the past that we have to revise," he said while pointing to the fact that the company was not obligated to deal with the local administration.
Freddy further remarked that the public should view the presence of thecompany objectively.
"The company does bring some advantages for us, like jobopportunities and other profits," he contended. (dja)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,Surrey CR7 8HW, UKPhone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322email: tapol@gn.apc.orgInternet:www.gn.apc.org/tapolCampaigning to expose human rights violations inIndonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: 3/4/00 5:41:06 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
www.KABAR-IRIAN.com & www.IRJA.org
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
From: TAPOL
Subject: Statement on Rights Victims in Mapnduma - Appeal to
Governments/ICRC
JOINT STATEMENT BY VICTIMS OF THE 1996 HOSTAGE CRISIS IN MAPNDUMA WITH
DETAILS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, WEST PAPUA
26 February 2000
[Translated in slightly abridged form by TAPOL.]
Four years have now passed but we are still feeling the repercussions of
the 1996 hostage crisis because of the many grim reports of human rights
violations committed by the military at the time of the freeing of the
hostages in the Central Highlands, in Jila, Bela, Alama, Nngeselama,
Mapnduma, Yigi, Mugi and Mbua. Our sufferings have not yet ended; to this
day, the Indonesian National Army (TNI) still control our kampungs exerting
constant pressure on our everyday lives and limiting our freedoms..
As was reported in August 1999 by the three main churches (two Protestant
and one Catholic) and the human rights NGO, ELS-HAM Irian Jaya (West
Papua), a number of gross human rights violations occurred in our region as
a result of the hostage crisis and the military operations at the time, in
accordance with our testimonies to the aforesaid organisations which showed
that during the operations to release the hostages and following their
release, the following violations occurred:
* 35 persons were murdered
* 14 women were raped including one 3-year old baby girl, two 12-year old
girls, and one 50-year old woman.
* 13 churches were destroyed.
* 166 homes were destroyed.
* 123 persons died of various diseases and the shortage of food when they
were living as refugees having fled their homes because of the military
operations.
We know that these reports were sent to the National Human Rights
Commission (Komnas HAM), the Indonesian Parliament, the British, Dutch and
German governments, the International Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations.
The churches which are concerned about our sufferings have made appeals to
those in authority, calling for investigations and for the results to be
made public. We are still waiting and waiting, but to this very day,
nothing has happened. We have taken a number of steps to obtain justice in
this country but justice has eluded us. Komnas HAM came here and verified
the accuracy of the report drawn up by the churches, confirming that human
rights violations had indeed occurred in Bela, Alam, Jila and mapnduma, but
their recommendations were not followed up.
We have testified to the fact that the ICRC was involved in the bloody
mission during the military operations to release the hostages. However,
they have not undertaken any on-the-spot investigations but have continued
to defend themselves. The British government has refused to comment on
indications that SAS troops were involved in the operation. The Dutch
government which is believed to have been involved in the operations has
not yet taken a stand despite being pressed to do so by various parties. As
for the South African government, it has confined itself to saying that the
mercenary army that was involved in the operations is illegal in their
country.
For us, nothing is clear, nothing is certain while our villages are still
under the control of the Indonesian military who are restricting our
freedoms every day and spreading fear and oppression.
We therefore make the following demands:
1. ICRC
The board of the ICRC in Geneva should set up an investigation team to
conduct direct, on-the-spot investigations to ascertain the role of the
Jakarta office of the ICRC in the negotiations that were held at the time
with the OPM, its involvement in the operation to release the hostages and
to determine who were the parties who manipulated ICRC symbols so as to
launch an attack on our brothers and sisters.
2. The Indonesian government
The Indonesian government should explain why they permitted human
rights violations involving the security forces to occur in the Central
Highlands.
3. The British and Dutch governments
To set up an investigation team to examine the involvement of the
British and Dutch armies in the military operations to release the hostages
in Mapnduma.
4. The South African government
To set up an investigation team to examine the involvement of the South
African mercenary army in the attack on our brothers and sisters.
[The statement bears the signatures or thumb prints of 123 people including
sixteen women.]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh
26 years - and still going strong
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News")
NOTE: "IRJA.org Inc., the moderator/s and subscribers do not neccessarily
hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe Kabar-irian" (minus the
"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
You can also un/subscribe at http://www.irja.org/conf.htm via a user
friendly form.
Need more help or information? Mail mailto:admin@irja.org
x
Date: 3/4/00 5:41:38 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
www.KABAR-IRIAN.com & www.IRJA.org
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
From: evelien vd broek
Organization: PaVo
Frontpage of Dutch national newspaper NRC Handelsblad:
ACT OF FREE CHOICE PAPUANS WAS A FARCE
NRC Handelsblad
Jayapura/Sucre, March 4, 2000 - In 1969, the Indonesian government
manipulated the 'Act of Free Choice' about the status of the former
Dutch New Guinea (Irian Jaya). 'By all means, proper or improper',
Jakarta wanted to prevent that the Papuan people would choose against
final integration into Indonesia. This appears from a so-called 'secret
instruction' in May 1969 given by Soemarto, the Indonesian commander in
Merauke, to the regent of that area. NRC Handelsblad possesses a copy of
this letter in which it is stated that participants to the musyawarah
(deliberating popular meetings) must be selected on their loyalty to
Indonesia. Is there no loyalty, then 'one has to have the courage to use
improper methods to remove the delegates concerned'.
The transfer of sovereignty of New Guinea, first to a transitional
administration of the United Nations and consequently on May 1, 1963 to
Indonesia, was laid down in the New York Agreement of August 15, 1962.
The Netherlands was forced to agree but stipulated that on a later date
the Papuan people would be consulted about the final status.
In the past years there have been more and more indications that this
Act of Free Choice has been a farce. The above-mentioned letter confirms
this. The former Bolivian diplomat Ortiz Sanz, then head of the
UN-observer mission, thinks also afterwards that the outcome was 'wise
and prudent'. The Papuan people was still 'too primitive' to decide over
its own fate, Ortiz Sanz told this newspaper. 'What freedom can you
offer a population that is not capable of producing its own food?' And,
states Ortiz Sanz, also the Netherlands that didn't want to jeopardise
again its good relations with Jakarta, reconciled itself to the outcome,
however doubtful it was.
Soemarto wrote about Ortiz Sanz: 'One has to use the criterion that he
is an advisor and assistant of the Indonesian government and not a
mediating institution. For this reason he has to keep to the rules of
this place.
More elaborate articles on these issues (letter Soemarto, interview
Ortiz Sanz, and history of transfer of sovereignty) on page 7 of the
newspaper.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News")
NOTE: "IRJA.org Inc., the moderator/s and subscribers do not neccessarily
hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
To unsubscribe send the message "unsubscribe Kabar-irian" (minus the
"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
You can also un/subscribe at http://www.irja.org/conf.htm via a user
friendly form.
Need more help or information? Mail mailto:admin@irja.org
E-Mail:
isssues@lykos.com
