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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN]Fwd: [wpapua] ENGLISH - PRESS RELEASE (PDP) HASIL RAPAT
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Billions set aside for Scholarships
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Source information
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Billions set aside for Scholarships
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< Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN]Fwd: [wpapua] ENGLISH - PRESS RELEASE (PDP) HASIL RAPAT
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Source information
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] JP - National News, 19th April 2000
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Irian calls for end to merpati flights
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Subj: With Friends Like These: Kissinger Does Indonesia
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Subj: Regent denies plan to expel non-West Papuans
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Personal observation on situation in Irian
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Temp Gov in Irian
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Subj: Police Probe Rebel Training in West Papua
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Freeport to be audited Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Is it Papua or Irian Jaya?
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Freeport to be audited
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Subj: Kontras to open office in Papua
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Subj: Blood on the (Red) Cross - Response from the AMP
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Subj: WP conference
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Subj: Is it Papua or Irian Jaya?
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Subj: Indon Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
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Subj: More on Gus Dur's decision to attend Papuan Congress
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Subj: Indon Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] NSW Parliamentarian Group for West Papua
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Subj: Abdurrahman to open Irian Jaya congress
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] OPM reject autonomy
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Copyright 2000
Date: 4/19/00 10:54:10 AM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
From: Sem Karoba
Reply-To: Sem Karoba
PRESIDIUM OF PAPUA COUNCIL
POINTS OF PRESS RELEASE
MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE PRESIDIUM COUNCIL OF PAPUA
INTRODUCTION
a. The resurrection of struggles of Papua people in the
end of the 20th century
offers one political position from the people: "To stay
with the Unitary
Republic of Indonesia or to separate from it".
b. To formulate various agenda for priority struggles,
the Council holds a
MEETING OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL on April 16th -
18th, 2000 in Hotel Diah
Graha, Angkasa Indah Numbay.
c. The meeting the points with the following purposes:
1. Evaluate activities post MUBES (General Assembly),
i.e., 23-36 February 2000;
2. To plan agenda of activities according to the scales
of values and
priorities;
3. Approve the Proposal for the Papua Congress 2000
4. Establish Basic Guidelines for the Papua Council
(Panel and Presidium);
5. Formulate Master Programme: Direction and Strategy of
Papua Struggles Pre and
Post Papua Congress 2000).
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
After thorough and in depth discussions on above agenda
items, the following
decisions are taken by the Council:
a. Decision of Presidium Council of Papua No:
A.02/KEP-PDP/IV-2000
regarding Papua Congress 2000.
1. Papua Congress 2000 is the Second Congress (The
Second Papua Congress was
held in October 1961)
2. The Congress will be held on 29 May - 03 June 2000
3. The Theme of the Congress is "Let us correct the
History of West Papua",
whereas the Sub Theme is "Papua People are determined to
Promote Democracy and
Human Rights based on the Principles of Truth and
Justice towards an Independent
West Papua".
4. Papua Congress 2000 will be held in Port Numbay
(Jayapura).
5. The Congress will be attended by 3000-5000 people
that are categorised into
groups of participants (will be arranged in details by
the Congress Committee)
6. The composition of the Committee of the Congress is
as follows:
Chair: Agus A. Alua
Vice Chair I: Laurence Mehue
Vice Chair II: Abina Wasanggai
Secretary: Thaha M. Alhamid
Vice Secretary: Zadrak Taime
Treasurer: Ida Faidiban
Vice Treasurer: Bas Yufuway
Spokesperson for the Committee: Secretary of the
Committee
7. The Committee will be members and organisers for
sections with one Committee
of Directors.
8. Before the Congress there will be socialisation
activities in all regions of
West Papua to build united and one perception between
the members of the
Council, members of the Panels and all Papua people.
9. For this, on 01 May 2000, the Council declares as the
day for socialisation
process of the Papua Congress 2000.
. The Papua Presidium Council is divided into some
Teams of Socialisation
Processes throughout West Papua and other places where
needed.
11. In this Easter Week, The Council wishes all Papuan
Christians Presidium
Dewan Papua, "Happy Easter! May the remembrance of the
resurrection of the Lord
revive a new wave of power towards a New Papua with
peace, justice and
integrity.
12. Remembering that Papua Congress 2000 is a New
Democratic Festival that we
can celebrate now after Indonesia enters reformation
era, the Council suggests
all people who live in Papua to welcome this Congress
momentum with thanksgiving
and peace. We should avoid issues that invite conflicts
that want to disturb the
congress. To all non-Papuans who live in Papua, we
guarantee that the Papua
Congress 2000 is not to push you out from Papua land,
nor to fight against you.
This congress is a political momentum for Papua people
who voice their demand
for their Sovereignty to be recognised in a democratic
and peaceful manner and
in order to uplift the Truth and Justice in Papua land.
CLOSURE
These are points of press release from the Presidium of
Papua Council in the
Papua Congress II, 2000
Thank you very much.
PRESIDIUM OF PAPUA COUNCIL
Theys H. Eluay
Chairman
Tom Beanal
Chairman
Moderators
Dr. Benny Giay, Pdt. Herman Awom, S. Th Fransalbert Joku
Sent by Toshi Kenzo MDP
Translated by the Collective Editorial Board of the
Diary of OPM
www.westpapua.net
Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece (OPM)
E-mail: westpapua_net@yahoo.com
Mobile (UK) +44 7901 625133
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to
forget.
Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni
already
registered, there's a good chance you'll find your
friends here:
http://click.egroups.com/1/2885/2/_/418682/_/956137620/
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------
To Post a message, send it to: wpapua@eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
wpapua-unsubscribe@eGroups.com
----- End forwarded message -----
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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. "
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Date: 4/19/00 2:32:41 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
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April 20th 2000
Irian Jaya saves billions for scholarships
JAKARTA (IO) Former governor of Irian Jaya
(Papua) Freddy Numberi says that during his term in office from
1998-2000, he saved Rp3 billion (US$391,000) in
administration funds, which will be used to provide scholarships to
students from the easternmost province.
Numberi, who is Administrative Reforms Minister,
yesterday said that apart from saving money, he also managed to
pay off a debt of Rp3 billion, which he had inherited
from the former provincial administration, Antara reported.
"I was so happy during the April 4 ceremony at which I
was replaced by my deputy who is now acting governor,
because the local governments debt has been paid off
completely," he said in the provincial capital, Jayapura.
"And I was able to save money that will used to
provide scholarships to native Irianese, so they can further their
studies and improve the quality of human resources in
Irian Jaya."
The scholarships will be made available to gifted high
school students, undergraduates, and post-graduates seeking
masters or doctorate degrees.
Numberi said tight selection criteria for the
scholarships will ensure the money doesnt go to the wrong people.
Apart from the money saved by Numberi, the local
government started the new fiscal year this month with Rp20
billion (US$2.6 million) to be used to cover tuition
fees for all school students in the province.
The assistance will be a great benefit to children
from impoverished families, said Numberi.
The former governor said he realized that more money
had to be spent on education, after visiting remote villages in
Biak Numfor regency, where many children cannot
continue their studies and have to drop out of school because
their parents cannot afford tuition fees.
He said many drop-outs feel ashamed to go back to
school, because whenever they show up, they are always asked
to pay their outstanding fees.
Therefore, said Numberi, it was necessary to allocate
special funds to ensure that all native children in the province
could get an education.
Much of the money spent on scholarships in Irian Jaya
is provided by gold and copper mining giant, PT Freeport
Indonesia.
Freeport, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Freeport
McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, made an average profit of just
under US$2 million a week in 1999 from the vast mine
it operates in mountains near Timika.
Although the central government has a small stake in
the project, the provincial government has none. Historically,
decisions relating to the controversial mine by-passed
the provincial authorities, like those relating to other
multinational mining firms in Indonesia.
Freeport is mining one of the worlds largest deposits
of copper and gold. It began operations in Irian Jaya in 1968
and in recent years has become a constant target of
public criticism, particularly since former president Soeharto
was forced out of office two years ago.
Freeport is also one of Indonesias largest corporate
income tax payers. It argues that it makes significant economic
contributions to the country through taxes and a
scheme to donate a small proportion of its revenues to ethnic
groups in the area of its mine.
The company is, directly or indirectly, the main
employer in and around Timika and Tembagapura. Neither town
existed before the mine opened.
Freeport employs a number of Irianese, but their jobs
tend to be lower-paid because they generally lack the right
skills for the better paid ones. Freeport says it is
trying to promote employment at the higher levels in the long run
through the scholarship scheme, but it is years away.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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
Date: 4/19/00 11:09:19 AM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Dear all,
This evening (the 19th) we received the below:
--Admin
Consulate paid their fares. They wanted to speak with them about the
situation in IJ. Apparently they do intend to offer autonomy. We are so
glad to hear how seriously the Indonesian government is viewing this.
Gus Dur is a good man for this time.
Sincerely,
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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: 4/19/00 2:32:41 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
April 20th 2000
Irian Jaya saves billions for scholarships
JAKARTA (IO) Former governor of Irian Jaya
(Papua) Freddy Numberi says that during his term in office from
1998-2000, he saved Rp3 billion (US$391,000) in
administration funds, which will be used to provide scholarships to
students from the easternmost province.
Numberi, who is Administrative Reforms Minister,
yesterday said that apart from saving money, he also managed to
pay off a debt of Rp3 billion, which he had inherited
from the former provincial administration, Antara reported.
"I was so happy during the April 4 ceremony at which I
was replaced by my deputy who is now acting governor,
because the local governments debt has been paid off
completely," he said in the provincial capital, Jayapura.
"And I was able to save money that will used to
provide scholarships to native Irianese, so they can further their
studies and improve the quality of human resources in
Irian Jaya."
The scholarships will be made available to gifted high
school students, undergraduates, and post-graduates seeking
masters or doctorate degrees.
Numberi said tight selection criteria for the
scholarships will ensure the money doesnt go to the wrong people.
Apart from the money saved by Numberi, the local
government started the new fiscal year this month with Rp20
billion (US$2.6 million) to be used to cover tuition
fees for all school students in the province.
The assistance will be a great benefit to children
from impoverished families, said Numberi.
The former governor said he realized that more money
had to be spent on education, after visiting remote villages in
Biak Numfor regency, where many children cannot
continue their studies and have to drop out of school because
their parents cannot afford tuition fees.
He said many drop-outs feel ashamed to go back to
school, because whenever they show up, they are always asked
to pay their outstanding fees.
Therefore, said Numberi, it was necessary to allocate
special funds to ensure that all native children in the province
could get an education.
Much of the money spent on scholarships in Irian Jaya
is provided by gold and copper mining giant, PT Freeport
Indonesia.
Freeport, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Freeport
McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, made an average profit of just
under US$2 million a week in 1999 from the vast mine
it operates in mountains near Timika.
Although the central government has a small stake in
the project, the provincial government has none. Historically,
decisions relating to the controversial mine by-passed
the provincial authorities, like those relating to other
multinational mining firms in Indonesia.
Freeport is mining one of the worlds largest deposits
of copper and gold. It began operations in Irian Jaya in 1968
and in recent years has become a constant target of
public criticism, particularly since former president Soeharto
was forced out of office two years ago.
Freeport is also one of Indonesias largest corporate
income tax payers. It argues that it makes significant economic
contributions to the country through taxes and a
scheme to donate a small proportion of its revenues to ethnic
groups in the area of its mine.
The company is, directly or indirectly, the main
employer in and around Timika and Tembagapura. Neither town
existed before the mine opened.
Freeport employs a number of Irianese, but their jobs
tend to be lower-paid because they generally lack the right
skills for the better paid ones. Freeport says it is
trying to promote employment at the higher levels in the long run
through the scholarship scheme, but it is years away.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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
Date: 4/19/00 10:54:10 AM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
From: Sem Karoba
Reply-To: Sem Karoba
PRESIDIUM OF PAPUA COUNCIL
POINTS OF PRESS RELEASE
MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE PRESIDIUM COUNCIL OF PAPUA
INTRODUCTION
a. The resurrection of struggles of Papua people in the
end of the 20th century
offers one political position from the people: "To stay
with the Unitary
Republic of Indonesia or to separate from it".
b. To formulate various agenda for priority struggles,
the Council holds a
MEETING OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL on April 16th -
18th, 2000 in Hotel Diah
Graha, Angkasa Indah Numbay.
c. The meeting the points with the following purposes:
1. Evaluate activities post MUBES (General Assembly),
i.e., 23-36 February 2000;
2. To plan agenda of activities according to the scales
of values and
priorities;
3. Approve the Proposal for the Papua Congress 2000
4. Establish Basic Guidelines for the Papua Council
(Panel and Presidium);
5. Formulate Master Programme: Direction and Strategy of
Papua Struggles Pre and
Post Papua Congress 2000).
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
After thorough and in depth discussions on above agenda
items, the following
decisions are taken by the Council:
a. Decision of Presidium Council of Papua No:
A.02/KEP-PDP/IV-2000
regarding Papua Congress 2000.
1. Papua Congress 2000 is the Second Congress (The
Second Papua Congress was
held in October 1961)
2. The Congress will be held on 29 May - 03 June 2000
3. The Theme of the Congress is "Let us correct the
History of West Papua",
whereas the Sub Theme is "Papua People are determined to
Promote Democracy and
Human Rights based on the Principles of Truth and
Justice towards an Independent
West Papua".
4. Papua Congress 2000 will be held in Port Numbay
(Jayapura).
5. The Congress will be attended by 3000-5000 people
that are categorised into
groups of participants (will be arranged in details by
the Congress Committee)
6. The composition of the Committee of the Congress is
as follows:
Chair: Agus A. Alua
Vice Chair I: Laurence Mehue
Vice Chair II: Abina Wasanggai
Secretary: Thaha M. Alhamid
Vice Secretary: Zadrak Taime
Treasurer: Ida Faidiban
Vice Treasurer: Bas Yufuway
Spokesperson for the Committee: Secretary of the
Committee
7. The Committee will be members and organisers for
sections with one Committee
of Directors.
8. Before the Congress there will be socialisation
activities in all regions of
West Papua to build united and one perception between
the members of the
Council, members of the Panels and all Papua people.
9. For this, on 01 May 2000, the Council declares as the
day for socialisation
process of the Papua Congress 2000.
10. The Papua Presidium Council is divided into some
Teams of Socialisation
Processes throughout West Papua and other places where
needed.
11. In this Easter Week, The Council wishes all Papuan
Christians Presidium
Dewan Papua, "Happy Easter! May the remembrance of the
resurrection of the Lord
revive a new wave of power towards a New Papua with
peace, justice and
integrity.
12. Remembering that Papua Congress 2000 is a New
Democratic Festival that we
can celebrate now after Indonesia enters reformation
era, the Council suggests
all people who live in Papua to welcome this Congress
momentum with thanksgiving
and peace. We should avoid issues that invite conflicts
that want to disturb the
congress. To all non-Papuans who live in Papua, we
guarantee that the Papua
Congress 2000 is not to push you out from Papua land,
nor to fight against you.
This congress is a political momentum for Papua people
who voice their demand
for their Sovereignty to be recognised in a democratic
and peaceful manner and
in order to uplift the Truth and Justice in Papua land.
CLOSURE
These are points of press release from the Presidium of
Papua Council in the
Papua Congress II, 2000
Thank you very much.
PRESIDIUM OF PAPUA COUNCIL
Theys H. Eluay
Chairman
Tom Beanal
Chairman
Moderators
Dr. Benny Giay, Pdt. Herman Awom, S. Th Fransalbert Joku
Sent by Toshi Kenzo MDP
Translated by the Collective Editorial Board of the
Diary of OPM
www.westpapua.net
Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece (OPM)
E-mail: westpapua_net@yahoo.com
Mobile (UK) +44 7901 625133
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Good friends, school spirit, hair-dos you'd like to
forget.
Classmates.com has them all. And with 4.4 million alumni
already
registered, there's a good chance you'll find your
friends here:
http://click.egroups.com/1/2885/2/_/418682/_/956137620/
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------
To Post a message, send it to: wpapua@eGroups.com
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
wpapua-unsubscribe@eGroups.com
----- End forwarded message -----
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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: 4/19/00 11:09:19 AM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Dear all,
This evening (the 19th) we received the below:
--Admin
Consulate paid their fares. They wanted to speak with them about the
situation in IJ. Apparently they do intend to offer autonomy. We are so
glad to hear how seriously the Indonesian government is viewing this.
Gus Dur is a good man for this time.
Sincerely,
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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: 4/18/00 1:36:10 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
JP - National News, 19th April 2000
Regional autonomy needs transition period:
Researchers
JAKARTA (JP): Regional autonomy, scheduled to become
effective May 2001, urgently needs a transition period
given the vulnerability to continued communal conflict,
researchers said on Tuesday.
Laode Ida, chairman of the Center for Regional
Development Studies (PSPK), revealed the results of the
center's study of conflict-ridden regions such as Maluku,
West Kalimantan, Aceh, and Irian Jaya.
However, he did not suggest a time frame for the
transitional phase.
The study, conducted for one month from early March,
focused on communal conflicts involving religious and
ethnic differences, and conflicts involving the national
elite, such as timber concessions.
Like other experts, Laode said regions were not yet ready
for autonomy.
A science and regional autonomy expert from the National
Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), Deddy
Supriady Bratakusumah, echoed other observers, saying
that despite shortcomings, implementing regional
autonomy was inevitable.
"If the policy is postponed, demands for independence (in
the regions) will be stronger," Deddy said, adding that
regional autonomy had become a global trend.
Laode said that while the law will provide the regions
with
greater authority, regional power struggles involving
religious and ethnic sentiments will continue, especially
outside Java.
"Whichever local ethnic group is in power will show its
arrogance, both politically and economically, generating
horizontal conflicts. This could explode at
anytime," Laode
added.
Sociologist Thamrin Amal Tamagola from the University of
Indonesia agreed, saying that ethnic groups who did not
share power would go through a "minority syndrome".
Such groups will continue to be suspicious of any policy
made by the majority.
Laode added, "There will be fights over natural resources
between regencies because the autonomy law doesn't set
limits for regional authority in natural resources
exploitation."
He was referring to law no. 22/1999 on regional
government, that relates to law no. 25/1999 on fiscal
balance between the central and regional governments.
Regulations for the new law are still being drafted.
Laode also said that when the law comes into effect,
locals'
demands to reclaim their assets exploited by outsiders
through arrangements with the central government will
increase.
He was referring to controversial issues involving mining
firms such as PT Freeport Indonesia in Irian Jaya and PT
Newmont Minahasa Raya in North Sulawesi.
On Monday the Ministry of Mines and Energy disclosed
that at least 16 foreign mining companies have delayed
exploration activities due to uncertainty in security or
for
financial reasons.
Simon Sembiring, the director of mining development, said
the outbursts of conflicts between local communities and
mining firms are an expression of regional discontent
over
mining and timber operations.
The study of PSPK concluded that "the law could not be
implemented uniformly in every region of the country and
there should be special consideration for every region"
because of their uniqueness in ethnic composition and
natural resources.
If exploitation of natural resources continues to be
perceived to benefit outsiders only, Laode said continued
vertical conflicts could be expected. He was referring to
conflicts between locals and business owners from
outside. (08)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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: 4/18/00 1:56:25 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
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IO - April 19 2000
Irian Jaya wants to stop Merpati flights operating in the province, as its
performance over the past 20-years has been abysmal.
Merpati has held a monopoly on flights in Irian Jaya
for decades and has received considerable government
funding, but its services have never satisfied locals,
Deputy Governor J.G.R. Djopari told SCTV in the provincial
capital of Jayapura yesterday.
He said President Abdurrahman Wahid should cancel the
airline tender that would allow a foreign carrier to
take over from Merpati.
Djopari said many airlines from Europe and Australia
could do a much better job than Merpati, by providing cheaper
tickets and lower operational costs.
He lamented the lousy services provided by Merpati.
"I can give you a small example of this. For almost 20 years, the
government has been preparing 12 twin-otter planes
to serve all [flight] routes in Irian Jaya, but today
only 2 or 3 of the planes are air-worthy. The others must be
grounded because they are lacking spare parts."
Due to the lack of air-transport in Irian Jaya, said
Djopari, coordination between regents in remote areas of the
province has become poor and many meetings have been
canceled because certain places can only be reached by
small aircraft.
In the past, the central government promised to
complete the Trans-Irian Highway, connecting Jayapura and
Wamena, covering a distance of 580 kilometers. But the
project never progressed beyond an initial phase, and there
has been no indication that it will ever be resumed.
"We have natural resources, but we are neglected when
it comes to development," said Djopari.
The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V, which
deals with industry and trade, has asked private airlines
to resume international flights to and from Frans
Kaisiepo Airport on Irian Jaya
"Irian Jaya is now seeking the possibility of
reopening the route by private airlines," a member of the commission,
Jaap P. Salsa, was quoted as saying by Antara over the
weekend.
The Biak-Honolulu-Los Angeles and Biak-Tokyo flights
by national airline Garuda Indonesia, were discontinued in
1994 for financial reasons.
A five-star hotel in Biak owned by the local
administration is now on the brink of bankruptcy as the result of the
discontinuation of international flights, said Salsa.
Garuda has insisted it won't resume the international
flights due to its severe debts.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Date: 4/17/00 4:09:32 PM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
In These Times [US]
April 17, 2000
With Friends Like These;
Kissinger does Indonesia
By Terry J. Allen
Asked why he quit writing satirical songs, Tom Lehrer replied that after
Henry Kissinger won the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, there was nothing left to
satirize. Lehrer may have underestimated Dr. K's spirited sense of irony.
This February, the former U.S. secretary of state accepted Indonesian
President Abdurrahman Wahid's invitation to become an unpaid adviser to the
Indonesian government. Kissinger accepted "out of friendship for the
Indonesian
people and the importance I attach to the Indonesian nation."
Twenty-five years earlier, on December 6, 1975, Kissinger -- along with
President Gerald Ford -- paid another friendly visit to Jakarta. The next
day,
as Air Force One cleared Indonesian air space, President Suharto launched some
10,000 troops on a full-scale invasion of East Timor. The goal was to
conquer and
annex the fledgling nation, which had just been granted independence by
Portugal. Kissinger now calls the atrocities that accompanied and followed
the
invasion -- 200,000 dead -- "regrettable."
To this day, Kissinger maintains that the timing of his 1975 Jakarta visit
was a mere coincidence and the United States had no role in the invasion.
But a
partially declassified State Department document of the December 6 meeting,
minutes of a December 18 Washington meeting with his top advisers and other
documents have been enough to convince most historians that the United States
was complicit in planning, arming and supporting the invasion.
As a recent editorial in the Asian Times noted, "Kissinger is an
accomplished
liar in the service of his nation and his personal image." Not to mention his
bank account. The strength of his fellowship for the Indonesian people is at
least rivaled by that of his financial ties to the world's largest gold mine,
located in the remote province of Irian Jaya (now called West Papua).
Kissinger
sits on the board of New Orleans-based Freeport McMoRan Gold and Copper, the
majority shareholder in the massive mining operation, which also happens to be
Indonesia's biggest taxpayer. Friends and family of Suharto, who was ousted
in 1998, still hold much of the minority stake in the mine.
In another "coincidence," Kissinger's trip to Jakarta came at a time of
rising Indonesian dissatisfaction with the mining giant and the terms of its
operating contract, which was negotiated during the height of Indonesian
cronyism and U.S. dependence. Recently, after several Indonesian legislators
visited the company's 10,000-square-mile mining operation, Jakarta rejected a
glowing environmental impact statement prepared by a firm hired by Freeport.
The government indicated it might review Freeport's contract to operate in
Indonesia. But settling into his new role of adviser, Kissinger proffered
his
first words of wisdom. Chiding Jakarta for failing to guarantee strict
adherence to working contracts signed in the past, he cautioned that "it is in
the interests of Indonesia" to honor the contract. "Investors also expect
an
assurance in law enforcement," Kissinger reportedly reminded Yasril Ananta
Baharuddinn, chairman of the House of Representative's defense commission.
Law enforcement is certainly what Freeport investors got in West Papua in
spades . . . and clubs. Local and international human rights groups have
linked
Freeport with persistent human rights violations. The Free Papua Movement,
like
its counterpart in East Timor, has long sought independence from Jakarta.
During Suharto's 32-year reign, the military, armed with U.S. equipment,
burned
and strafed villages in an unsuccessful scorched earth campaign to eradicate a
tiny band of ill-equipped rebels.
The army reportedly has used Freeport company buses to haul away
protesters,
and West Papuans have been imprisoned in Freeport chipping containers.
Freeport
Vice President Paul Murphy vouched for the mine's innocence: Company
equipment,
he said, was commandeered by the military. "For years Papuans saw the
Indonesian military coming in Freeport helicopters, boats, trucks and Jeeps,"
a
U.S. missionary told Time magazine. "So it's hard for them to see the
difference."
The mining company also has touted its "exemplary" environmental practices.
However, both international and local organizations have accused Freeport of
massive pollution. West Papua's Environmental Impact Management Agency says
that the operation has contaminated 514 square miles. Freeport officials
insist
that the devastated area is only 51 square miles and will soon blossom forth
with bananas and pineapples.
While admitting that it dumps 220,000 tons of gravel tailings every day
directly into the murky Aghawagon River, Freeport insists the water is safe
and
that the local hunter gatherers have failed to provide scientific studies to
back up their claims that fish and shellfish -- and the people who eat them --
are being poisoned by metal from the tailings. Nor have they proven that
Freeport's huge mountains of stored tailings may be leeching into the
groundwater.
While all agree that the mining operation has brought with it many of the
accoutrements of 20th-century progress, some of the beneficiaries are less
than
grateful. They charge that economic change, including patterns of land use
and
ownership, have undermined indigenous cultures and spawned an epidemic of
alcoholism.
All this unrest no doubt makes Kissinger and fellow Freeport board members
nervous. In his new role of adviser, the former secretary of state promised
to
hold regular phone discussions with senior government ministers and to visit
Jakarta annually. Accepting his appointment and calling himself "a patriotic
American," Kissinger said "the role of Freeport in Indonesia must be a
strictly commercial one and must be to the mutual benefit of Indonesia and
Freeport."
But he promised not to interfere in Indonesian politics (wink, wink).
GRAPHIC: Picture, Free Papua leader Kelly Kwalik, MARK DAVIS/AUSTRALIAN
BROADCASTING COMPANY/AFP
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/17/00 6:08:07 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Observer
April 14, 2000
Regent denies plan to expel non-Papuans
JAKARTA (IO) — Officials in Papua (Irian Jaya) have denied reports that the
Arfak tribe in Manokwari regency is planning to expel non-Papuans from the
region next month.
Manokwari Regent Mulyono and several prominent local leaders on Wednesday
sought to reassure transmigrants in the region they would not be attacked.
But many transmigrants have been fleeing from Manokwari over recent days,
alarmed by rumors they will forced out or killed, and that their belongings
will be looted and houses destroyed.
Obed Ayok, the leader of a local youth group, said the rumors are false and
were launched by a provacateur who aims to damage national unity, Antara
reported.
"I have seen many transmigrants flee hastily to other regions, without
worrying about what may happen to their houses and possessions. This
continues, no matter how hard I try to inform them that the Arfak people have
not the slightest intention of harming them, let alone killing them after May
1," he said.
Obed said all tribal elders in the region have signed a statement that there
will no murder, arson or looting before or after May 1, and that
transmigrants and other non-Papuans can still live in harmony alongside
natives.
Regent Mulyono, when asked about the possibility of a May riot, said the
maintaining of security and order is the responsibility of all people, not
only police, military personnel and the government. Despite his reassurances,
he warned transmigrants to be alert over the days leading up to May 1.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/17/00 1:43:42 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
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----- Forwarded message from owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
-----
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 03:26:28 +0900 (JAYT)
From: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-To: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Subject: BOUNCE kabar-irian@irja.org: Message too
long (>90000 chars)
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>From icw@irja.org Tue Apr 18 03:26:26 2000
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Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 03:26:26 +0900 (JAYT)
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Irian Jaya danger: May 1 has been the target day for
groups wanting independence in Irian Jaya to raise their
new flag and lower the Indonesian flag all across the
island. Sentiment for independence is rising. The
government is offering more autonomy, but has said
independence is not an option. Independence groups say
they do not want violence, but that they
will not back down from demands. Many Irianese want the
many Indonesians from other islands to leave, and
inter-religious fighting could erupt here
as in Maluku if instability occurs. Most people do not
want fighting, but small incidents can provide a spark,
and the fire spreads. More and more
people get drawn in as casualties occur.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
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Date: 4/16/00 3:39:45 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Jakarta Post
April 17th 2000
Nusantara
Irian Jaya caretaker governor installed
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Home affairs minister Surjadi
Soedirdja installed Musiran Darmo Suwito on Saturday as
caretaker governor of Irian Jaya, replacing Freddy
Numberi
who was appointed as state minister of administrative
reforms last year.
Musiran was formerly deputy governor of East Timor
before the province decided to separate from Indonesia.
Surjadi reminded Musiran that the main problem in Irian
Jaya was consolidation in politics, government and
development. Surjadi further expressed hope that the next
elected governor would be the best cadre from the region.
When asked about who he thought should serve as the
next governor, Musiran told reporters that it should be
the
best son or daughter of the province.
It is unclear when the election of the next governor will
be.
(eba)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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
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Date: 4/16/00 5:54:40 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
CC: slliem@xs4all.nl, will.carey@virgin.net
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
[note: April 15 edition of Jakarta Post is not yet available online. It
normally appears 12 hours ago.]
also: West Papua: Pro-independence militia undertake warfare training; and
PDI-P says next governor of West Papua should "extinguish demands for a free
Papua"
[[Caution is needed towards reports about militias in W Papua. Their true
identity needs to be
investigated as there are many reports of bogus pro-independence militias
operating in the region.
TAPOL]
Jakarta Post
April 14, 2000
Police probe rebel training
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said here
on Thursday the police were investigating reports that an armed rebel group
was conducting military training in Fakfak regency.
"We fear such training will lead to criminal actions and cause anxiety among
local residents. I have instructed the Fakfak Police to ban such training,"
Wenas said.
During routine operations, sharp weapons were confiscated from the training
site.
Wenas warned that the police would take sterner measures if the group
continued its training and recruited volunteers to the separatist movement.
He said the training had caused fear in the neighboring districts, crippling
the activities of residents.
Fakfak Police chief Lt. Col. Totok Kasmiarto said the rebel group had
recently wounded a policeman, identified as Sergeant Roy Boki. During the
incident police fired warning shots to disperse the attackers. (eba/dja)
----------------
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
April 15, 2000, Saturday
Source: 'Detik' web site, Jakarta, in Indonesian 13 Apr 00
West Papua: Pro-independence militia undertake warfare training
Fakfak: As Papua pro-independence militia are engaging in warfare training,
locals from Teluk Arguni, Fakfak District, Irian Jaya, are feeling
intimidated.
Local residents would rather flee the area than live in fear.
This scenario was highlighted on Thursday (13th April) as a number of
schools, offices, kiosks and other trading centres were closing down and being
abandoned by their owners...
It was suspected outsiders have trained the militia. It has even been
proposed that former military personnel, dismissed for committing a number of
violations in the past, were doing the training...
----------------
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
April 15, 2000, Saturday
Source: 'Suara Pembaruan', Jakarta, in Indonesian 12 Apr 00
Daily on requirements for next Papua governor
The 12th April web site editions of the Indonesian newspaper 'Suara
Pembaruan' (Jakarta) has published a report on requirements for the governor
of
Irian Jaya [Papua].
'Suara Pembaruan' reported the deputy secretary of the PDI-P [Indonesian
Democratic Party-Struggle] faction in the DPR [House of Representatives],
Lukas
Karl Degey, had said the governor for the 2000-2005 period, to be chosen from
almost 50 candidates, should "extinguish demands for a free Papua, promote
special autonomy, eradicate human rights abuses, develop human resources and
improve welfare standards in the community". This would avoid the
disintegration
of the nation at a time when demands for a free Papua were increasing, the
paper
paper 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: 4/15/00 12:27:21 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
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Subject: Indon Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
JAKARTA, April 11 Antara/Asia Pulse - The Indonesian Forum for the
Environment (Walhi) will launch a national campaign for an independent
environmental audit on US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (FI)
and a
renegotiation of its work contract, a forum spokesman said.
Longgena Ginting, a Walhi chairman, explained the forum's reasons for
the
campaign at a press conference here Monday.
He said an independent environmental audit was needed because one made
by
Montgomery and Watson was "unreliable" since it had been fully funded by
FI.
The report on Montgomery and Watson's audit as released to the public
recently only showed "the positive things" and ignored the environmental
damage caused by the company's mining activities in Irian Jaya's Timika
district, he said.
Montgomery and Watson's audit, conducted in late 1999, concluded that
Freeport's activities "generally met environmental prerequisites and
commitments".
The published results of the international audit also did not satisfy
Freeport's critics and the Indonesian government.
The Office of the Environment Minister decided to carry out its own
investigation on Freeport.
A multi-agency team set up in March is currently gathering facts not
only on
environmental-related issues. It is also examining public calls for a
review
of Freeport's 30-year contract.
The government's fact-finding team will submit its report in June. The
audit
may offer two options: a total revision of Freeport's work contract or
an
additional clause to the existing contract, Environment Minister Sonny
Keraf
said.
Longgena said, beside demanding a more reliable environmental audit,
Walhi
was also calling for a renegotiation of the company's work contract
because
its terms apparently did not provide for fair compensations to the
country.
"The first contract signed by former President Soeharto in 1967 was also
politically defective because at the time the status of Irian Jaya was
not
clear. The province had yet to be fully integrated into the Republic of
Indonesia," he said.
The first contract, which ended in 1988, was followed by a second
contract
effective in December 1991 and to expire in 2030.
According to Walhi, the contract gave Indonesia only a small share in
FI's
profits, namely 3.8 percent of FI overall revenues.
Longgena said the campaign to be conducted by Walhi would include the
dissemination of written material on the issue including letters to
President
Abdurrahman Wahid and other parties concerned with the problem.
To obtain wide public support, Walhi would also present its case through
advertisements, postcards, news letters and other public media.
FI's production rose from 10,000 tons of ore in 1973 to 240,000 tons in
1997.
It plans to continue increasing its output to 300,000 tons by 2003.
The company processes more than 230,000 tons of ore daily of which only
3 to
4 percent becomes mineral concentrates containing copper, gold or
silver. The
remaining 97 percent becomes waste material known as tailings.
For as many years as the company has been in operation, the waste
material
has been continuously dumped into the Aghawagon-Otomona-Aikwa rivers.
Every
day, the rivers' water carries more than 210,000 tons of tailings
downstream
as fine sand.
The sand has eventually caused more than a hundred thousand hectares of
mangrove and sago forests to dry up and become a threat to specific
local
flora and fauna.
According to the local Environmental Impact Analyses Board, the
environmental
damage caused by the sand has affected 133,000 hectares of land.
It was estimated that by the end of Freeport's contract in 2030, the
company
will have left some 2.7 billion tons of tailings.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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hold to or support the opinions and views expressed in these postings. They
are posted for their news/interest content. "
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Date: 4/15/00 12:27:17 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
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s it Papua or Irian Jaya?
12/04/2000 Jakarta Post
[Our own observation is that the people themselves continue to refer to
their country as West Papua, as they did when officially, the name was
still Irian Jaya. TAPOL]
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya:
Although still not formally endorsed by the central government, people
could refer to Irian Jaya by its new name Papua, an official said on
Tuesday.
A final decision had yet been taken by the central government, said
Florens Imbiri, who heads the special commission in Irian Jaya
provincial
council to look into name change plan.
Florens said the commission had completed its work and sent its
proposal
to Jakarta, Antara reported.
"We have asked the House of Representatives to quickly endorse the
proposal to give legitimacy to the new name," he said.
President Abdurrahman Wahid during a visit here in December agreed to
local demands to call the province as Papua. Many local people however
preferred the name West Papua.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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") www.kabar-irian.com
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. "
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"parenthesis") to majordomo@irja.org
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Date: 4/15/00 12:27:21 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Subject: Indon Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
JAKARTA, April 11 Antara/Asia Pulse - The Indonesian Forum for the
Environment (Walhi) will launch a national campaign for an independent
environmental audit on US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (FI)
and a
renegotiation of its work contract, a forum spokesman said.
Longgena Ginting, a Walhi chairman, explained the forum's reasons for
the
campaign at a press conference here Monday.
He said an independent environmental audit was needed because one made
by
Montgomery and Watson was "unreliable" since it had been fully funded by
FI.
The report on Montgomery and Watson's audit as released to the public
recently only showed "the positive things" and ignored the environmental
damage caused by the company's mining activities in Irian Jaya's Timika
district, he said.
Montgomery and Watson's audit, conducted in late 1999, concluded that
Freeport's activities "generally met environmental prerequisites and
commitments".
The published results of the international audit also did not satisfy
Freeport's critics and the Indonesian government.
The Office of the Environment Minister decided to carry out its own
investigation on Freeport.
A multi-agency team set up in March is currently gathering facts not
only on
environmental-related issues. It is also examining public calls for a
review
of Freeport's 30-year contract.
The government's fact-finding team will submit its report in June. The
audit
may offer two options: a total revision of Freeport's work contract or
an
additional clause to the existing contract, Environment Minister Sonny
Keraf
said.
Longgena said, beside demanding a more reliable environmental audit,
Walhi
was also calling for a renegotiation of the company's work contract
because
its terms apparently did not provide for fair compensations to the
country.
"The first contract signed by former President Soeharto in 1967 was also
politically defective because at the time the status of Irian Jaya was
not
clear. The province had yet to be fully integrated into the Republic of
Indonesia," he said.
The first contract, which ended in 1988, was followed by a second
contract
effective in December 1991 and to expire in 2030.
According to Walhi, the contract gave Indonesia only a small share in
FI's
profits, namely 3.8 percent of FI overall revenues.
Longgena said the campaign to be conducted by Walhi would include the
dissemination of written material on the issue including letters to
President
Abdurrahman Wahid and other parties concerned with the problem.
To obtain wide public support, Walhi would also present its case through
advertisements, postcards, news letters and other public media.
FI's production rose from 10,000 tons of ore in 1973 to 240,000 tons in
1997.
It plans to continue increasing its output to 300,000 tons by 2003.
The company processes more than 230,000 tons of ore daily of which only
3 to
4 percent becomes mineral concentrates containing copper, gold or
silver. The
remaining 97 percent becomes waste material known as tailings.
For as many years as the company has been in operation, the waste
material
has been continuously dumped into the Aghawagon-Otomona-Aikwa rivers.
Every
day, the rivers' water carries more than 210,000 tons of tailings
downstream
as fine sand.
The sand has eventually caused more than a hundred thousand hectares of
mangrove and sago forests to dry up and become a threat to specific
local
flora and fauna.
According to the local Environmental Impact Analyses Board, the
environmental
damage caused by the sand has affected 133,000 hectares of land.
It was estimated that by the end of Freeport's contract in 2030, the
company
will have left some 2.7 billion tons of tailings.
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Date: 4/13/00 10:10:56 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
CC: slliem@xs4all.nl, will.carey@virgin.net
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Observer
April 13, 2000
Kontras to open office in Papua
JAKARTA (IO) — In an effort to intensify efforts to resolve human rights
violations in West Papua (Irian Jaya), the Commission for Missing Persons and
Victims of Violence (Kontras) will open a branch office in the province, says
Kontras executive Munir.
"We have agreed to set up an office [in the provincial capital of
Jayapura]...by the end of June," he was quoted as saying by Antara yesterday.
Munir said Kontras will mediate in and help to settle human rights violations
occurring in the easternmost province.
He noted that locals need assistance from advocacy groups such as Kontras, to
enable them to deal with security authorities.
Indonesia occupied West Papua, a Dutch colony, in 1963. The region was
renamed Irian Jaya and Indonesian sovereignty was formalized in 1969
following an extremely dubious vote organized by the United Nations.
President Abdurrahman Wahid last year said the province should be renamed
Papua, but most locals prefer the name West Papua.
Until 1998, the Indonesian military ran the province using repressive
tactics. Hundreds of locals were reportedly killed and tortured during a
series of anti-insurgency operations.
After the fall of ex-president Soeharto, the government abolished a state of
emergency and repression eased. But independence activists have been
emboldened by last year’s secession of East Timor and protests have steadily
mounted.
Last month, West Papua Governor Rear Admiral Freddy Numberi warned that
pressure for independence is bound to grow if natives are treated as second
class citizens and the province’s resources only benefit outsiders.
Armed separatists from the Free Papua Movement have for years been fighting
for the independent state of West Papua.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/13/00 5:30:39 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
CC: tapol@gn.apc.org, plovers@gn.apc.org
Letter to Marco Altherr of the ICRC
Dear Mr Altherr,
We would like to thank for the ICRC report that you passed on to us on March
14, 2000.
On behalf of the Allaince of Students of West Papua (AMP), we have reported
back with a brief translation to the people in Wamena and Jayapura. In the
meantime, the people there are demanding more steps to be taken by the
Indonesian army and the ICRC. Perhaps you have read the demand from Geselema
that was released some weeks ago. (If not, please let me know.)
We would like take this chance to give some comments on the report, drawn
from some communication with people back home (West Papua).
1. The failure to meet Kelly Kwalik in the investigation as reported is not
because of any difficultly to meet him as it says, but it is because the
ICRC does not want to meet him and his people, who up till now, are open and
waiting to meet and talk toh anyone who comes to open the issue of the role
played by
the ICRC in the murder on May 9, 1996;
2. This choice, avoiding to meet Mr Kwalik, is somewhat an indication that
the ICRC has done something wrong to him. In other words, if there is
nothing wrong with him, why can't the ICRC team meet him again? His accounts
indicate that during the negotiations with the ICRC team, many times his
demands and interviews were video- taped, with promises that his messages
will be released after returning to Timika or Jayapura or Jakarta or to
Geneva. This is an obvious reason, as Kwalik thinks, that may cause the ICRC
is reluctant to meet a person whom it pretended to build a trust to release
the hostages. Kwalik regrets that the ICRC cannot meet him, but he is
prepared to do so if the ICRC wants to do so, and if the ICRC really plays
its neutral role.
3. The ICRC, according to Kwalik's accounts, did not serve as a neutral
intermediary. It rather tended to suppport Indonesia by giving all the
recorded interviews and pictures to help the army pursue Mr Kwalik and his
people. In this case, he regards the ICRC has acted as an agent for the
Indonesian and the military. However, no where in the report shows that the
ICRC admit this game. We believe that the ICRC will not do so in any
circumnstance.
4. According to the accounts revealed in the ABC video (by Mark Davis), Mr
Kwalik did not make threat to the hostages. The report says, "However, owing
to the insufficient communication within the ICRC team, but above all as a
result of security concerns (i.e. the hostage-takers' pronounced
agressiveness towards the ICRC on the morning of May 9), it was not possible
for the organisation to explain to the hostage-takers in sufficient detail
that it was withdrawing certain services but not others." This sentence is
incorrect. Mr Kwalik repeatedly had admitted that he will never kill any
foreiginers, but this sentence shows clearly that the ICRC tends to stand
with Indonesia rather than with "humanity" and the emblem it carries. He
says, "We are not terrorits like the Indonesian army. We are fighting to
free all beings from terrorist, state-terrorism!"
5. The sentence in the report above continues, "It should be noted that the
accounts of
the hostages themselves and those of the delegates present in Nggeselema on
9 May agree that the hostage-takers were by then expecting imminent action
by the Indonesian armed forces." This sentence shows an excuse or the reason
by the ICRC to avoid confessing its mistake and its un-neutral role at this
time. Such an attitude is inhuman and it does reveal that we are not
regarded having the "full right to live" as those other in this world.
People expecting imminent attack by Indonesia is natural. All the time,
everywhere in West Papua, Melanesians there always expect imminent attack
when they say something against Indonesia's brutality. We are being killed
all the time. This condition should be understood by every international
body working there.
6. Suggestion number d) suggests to take steps to restore dialogue with the
Papuans, but we would like to tell the ICRC that this dialogue should also
be attended by other representatives of indigenous people and organisations
in the world who face similar fate like us in West Papua. It is important
for us all to witness how the ICRC is about to continue its intermediary
role in carrying its emblem to the face of human beings world-wide, to avoid
similar case repeated on this planet earth and in this level of civilisation
by this most respected humanitarian organisation.
As we have said in our letter previous we handed in Geneva, the Irian Jaya
Human Rights Studies and Advocacy has started the investigation and it is
continuing the effort up till now. The AMP is prepared to co-operate and
assist in taking further steps
to restore the relationship, not only for humans in West Papua but also for
all human beings on this planet, so that the future operations, the ICRC can
stand neutrally and not become "the servant" for the state-terrorism
activities.
Please receive our deep appreciation and thanks for the report and
particularly for further steps
S. Karoba
www.westpapua.net
Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece (OPM)
E-mail: westpapua_net@yahoo.com
Mobile (UK) +44 7901 625133
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/13/00 11:23:20 PM Central Daylight Time
From: iris@matra.com.au (Anne Noonan)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
A CONFERENCE ON THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE
AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN WEST PAPUA
WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL 2000
9.30am-5pm
(Registration and coffee: 9.00am)
International House, City Road,
University of Sydney
Convened by the West Papua Project,
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies,
University of Sydney
Speakers confirmed: probable:
Wim Zonggonau Tom Beanal
John Ondawame Jacob Prai
Peter King Joppy Kilangin
Jim Elmslie Willy Mandowen
Mark Davis Sen. Bob Brown
Ben Bohane George Aditjondro
Denise Leith Rex Rumakiek
Vanessa Johanson Mark Worth
Cost: AU$10.00 (includes registration and morning and afternoon
tea--lunch
is available for $6 from International House)
The Launching of
The West Papua Project is dedicated to research into conflict
resolution
and other contemporary issues concerning the future of West Papua and
providing resources for the media and the academy to gain a better
understanding of West Papua and its peoples.
Project Convenors:
Peter King (Government and International Relations, University of
Sydney)
Jim Elmslie (do.)
Project Co-ordinator:
John Ondawame (Australian National University)
US Representative:
Steven Feld (New York University)
Patrons:
Dr. Meredith Burgmann (Legislative Council of NSW)
Dr. Tim Flannery (Museum of South Australia)
The West Papua Project will be launched by Dr. Burgmann following an
introduction by Professor Stuart Rees, Director, Centre for Peace and
Conflict Studies.
Cost: AU$10.00--drinks and finger food provided.
Conference Inquiries:
Peter King 61.2.9351 7402
peterk@bullwinkle.econ.usyd.edu.au
John Ondawame 61.2.6249 0181/6257 0587
ondawame@coombs.anu.edu.au
Jim Elmslie 61.2.9327 6010
belmslie@dove.net.au (version4, 27.3. 00)
-----------------------------------------------
Australia West Papuna Association, Sydney
PO BOX 65
Millers Point, NSW
Australia 2000
Tel/fax 61 2 99601698
iris@matra.com.au
Date: 4/13/00 5:27:11 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
Is it Papua or Irian Jaya?
12/04/2000 Jakarta Post
[Our own observation is that the people themselves continue to refer to their country as West Papua, as they did when officially, the name was still Irian Jaya. TAPOL]
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya:Although still not formally endorsed by the central government, people could refer to Irian Jaya by its new name Papua, an official said onTuesday.
A final decision had yet been taken by the central government, saidFlorens Imbiri, who heads the special commission in Irian Jaya provincial council to look into name change plan.
Florens said the commission had completed its work and sent its proposalto Jakarta, Antara reported.
"We have asked the House of Representatives to quickly endorse the proposal to give legitimacy to the new name," he said.
President Abdurrahman Wahid during a visit here in December agreed to local demands to call the province as Papua. Many local people howeverpreferred the name West Papua.
Date: 4/12/00 7:16:32 AM Central Daylight 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
Subject: Indon Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
JAKARTA, April 11 Antara/Asia Pulse - The Indonesian Forum for the
Environment (Walhi) will launch a national campaign for an independent
environmental audit on US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) and a
renegotiation of its work contract, a forum spokesman said.
Longgena Ginting, a Walhi chairman, explained the forum's reasons for the
campaign at a press conference here Monday.
He said an independent environmental audit was needed because one made by
Montgomery and Watson was "unreliable" since it had been fully funded by FI.
The report on Montgomery and Watson's audit as released to the public
recently only showed "the positive things" and ignored the environmental
damage caused by the company's mining activities in Irian Jaya's Timika
district, he said.
Montgomery and Watson's audit, conducted in late 1999, concluded that
Freeport's activities "generally met environmental prerequisites and
commitments".
The published results of the international audit also did not satisfy
Freeport's critics and the Indonesian government.
The Office of the Environment Minister decided to carry out its own
investigation on Freeport.
A multi-agency team set up in March is currently gathering facts not only on
environmental-related issues. It is also examining public calls for a review
of Freeport's 30-year contract.
The government's fact-finding team will submit its report in June. The audit
may offer two options: a total revision of Freeport's work contract or an
additional clause to the existing contract, Environment Minister Sonny Keraf
said.
Longgena said, beside demanding a more reliable environmental audit, Walhi
was also calling for a renegotiation of the company's work contract because
its terms apparently did not provide for fair compensations to the country.
"The first contract signed by former President Soeharto in 1967 was also
politically defective because at the time the status of Irian Jaya was not
clear. The province had yet to be fully integrated into the Republic of
Indonesia," he said.
The first contract, which ended in 1988, was followed by a second contract
effective in December 1991 and to expire in 2030.
According to Walhi, the contract gave Indonesia only a small share in FI's
profits, namely 3.8 percent of FI overall revenues.
Longgena said the campaign to be conducted by Walhi would include the
dissemination of written material on the issue including letters to President
Abdurrahman Wahid and other parties concerned with the problem.
To obtain wide public support, Walhi would also present its case through
advertisements, postcards, news letters and other public media.
FI's production rose from 10,000 tons of ore in 1973 to 240,000 tons in 1997.
It plans to continue increasing its output to 300,000 tons by 2003.
The company processes more than 230,000 tons of ore daily of which only 3 to
4 percent becomes mineral concentrates containing copper, gold or silver. The
remaining 97 percent becomes waste material known as tailings.
For as many years as the company has been in operation, the waste material
has been continuously dumped into the Aghawagon-Otomona-Aikwa rivers. Every
day, the rivers' water carries more than 210,000 tons of tailings downstream
as fine sand.
The sand has eventually caused more than a hundred thousand hectares of
mangrove and sago forests to dry up and become a threat to specific local
flora and fauna.
According to the local Environmental Impact Analyses Board, the environmental
damage caused by the sand has affected 133,000 hectares of land.
It was estimated that by the end of Freeport's contract in 2030, the company
will have left some 2.7 billion tons of tailings.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
Date: 4/11/00 4:27:03 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
Indonesian Observer, 8 April 2000
President To Open Papua Kongress
Jakarta (IO)
President Abdurrahman Wahid will open an upcoming community congress in
Irian Jaya (West Papua) to discuss the future of the country's easternmost
province, a local top rebel leader announced yesterday.
Theys Hiyo Eluay told journalists in Jakarta that Wahid, better known as
Gus Dur, has agreed to attend the Papua People's Congresss, in which the
demand for Irian Jaya's possible independence will be on the agenda.
Eluay, a traditional leader of one of the province's many ethnic groups,
said he met with Gus Dur on April 2 at Jakarta's State Palace to discuss
the situation in the resource- rich province.
The rebel leader was accompanied during the talks with the president by
co-chairman of the Yapen Waropen Custom Society Yusuf Tanawani, who also
wants secession from Indonesia.
"He said that he would come to Papua and open the congress scheduled for
this year ... at the latest in June,"Eluay quated Gus Dur as saying during
the meeting.
The separatist leader said the president gave "the assurance" that he would
attend the congress in Irian Jaya, were there are widespread demands for
independence under the name West Papua.
Gus Dur has been tryng to redress past grievances of Irianese since coming
to power last October, but he has ruled out granting independence to the
province.
Eluay said Gus Dur promised to ask the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
to heed to any results of the forthcoming congress.
"The MPR should respond to the people's aspirations ... I would convery it
to the MPR, which will have the final say, " he quoted Gus Dur as saying.
No specific date has been set for the planned congress, but Eluay said the
president will visit the Irian Jaya district of Timika on April 17 to open
at three-day seminar on the province's human resources. " However, Gus Dur
has asked for a separate date for the opening of the congress, " he said.
Eluay, who was a legislator under disgraced former president Soeharto and a
member of the former ruling Golkar Party, has taken up the separatist caese
since Soeharto feel in May 1998. He now styles himself the 'West Papua
leader'.
He claimed his group has been acting "on behalf of the people of Papua" in
approaching the government on convening for a national dialog on the
region's problems.
Eluay demanded the government withdrawolice and soldiers from the land of
Papua for allegedly tryng to intimidate locals in the run-up to the congress.
He said the military has sent extra troops to the region ever since his
group announced its intention of holding a meeting af pro-independence
leaders.
The influx of troops followed a meeting last mont of separatist leaders to
prepare the congress, he said.
"After the Papua meeting there have been deployments, "Eluay said.
"There has been no direct intimidation to us lately. The police have been
acting wisely so far. But we want to be free on our own land.
However, during the meeting on April 2, he said Gus Dur assured him that
soldiers would not disrupt the historic congress.
"He assured me that Indonesian soldiers will not disrupt the preparation
and the Irian military commander will be ordered to not to do any
intimidation."
Demands for independence in Irian Jaya have risen since Soeharto' fall,
prompted by past human rights abuses and the government sponsored
exploitation of its natural resources.
East Timor's bloody secession from Jakarta's grip after August 30 last year
has only increased the hunger for independence. ***
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/11/00 5:00:27 PM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
CC: dtecampaign@gn.apc.org, dte@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Forum to Campaign for Environment Audit on Freeport
JAKARTA, April 11 Antara/Asia Pulse - The Indonesian Forum for the
Environment (Walhi) will launch a national campaign for an independent
environmental audit on US-based mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) and a
renegotiation of its work contract, a forum spokesman said.
Longgena Ginting, a Walhi chairman, explained the forum's reasons for the
campaign at a press conference here Monday.
He said an independent environmental audit was needed because one made by
Montgomery and Watson was "unreliable" since it had been fully funded by FI.
The report on Montgomery and Watson's audit as released to the public
recently only showed "the positive things" and ignored the environmental
damage caused by the company's mining activities in Irian Jaya's Timika
district, he said.
Montgomery and Watson's audit, conducted in late 1999, concluded that
Freeport's activities "generally met environmental prerequisites and
commitments".
The published results of the international audit also did not satisfy
Freeport's critics and the Indonesian government.
The Office of the Environment Minister decided to carry out its own
investigation on Freeport.
A multi-agency team set up in March is currently gathering facts not only on
environmental-related issues. It is also examining public calls for a review
of Freeport's 30-year contract.
The government's fact-finding team will submit its report in June. The audit
may offer two options: a total revision of Freeport's work contract or an
additional clause to the existing contract, Environment Minister Sonny Keraf
said.
Longgena said, beside demanding a more reliable environmental audit, Walhi
was also calling for a renegotiation of the company's work contract because
its terms apparently did not provide for fair compensations to the country.
"The first contract signed by former President Soeharto in 1967 was also
politically defective because at the time the status of Irian Jaya was not
clear. The province had yet to be fully integrated into the Republic of
Indonesia," he said.
The first contract, which ended in 1988, was followed by a second contract
effective in December 1991 and to expire in 2030.
According to Walhi, the contract gave Indonesia only a small share in FI's
profits, namely 3.8 percent of FI overall revenues.
Longgena said the campaign to be conducted by Walhi would include the
dissemination of written material on the issue including letters to President
Abdurrahman Wahid and other parties concerned with the problem.
To obtain wide public support, Walhi would also present its case through
advertisements, postcards, news letters and other public media.
FI's production rose from 10,000 tons of ore in 1973 to 240,000 tons in 1997.
It plans to continue increasing its output to 300,000 tons by 2003.
The company processes more than 230,000 tons of ore daily of which only 3 to
4 percent becomes mineral concentrates containing copper, gold or silver. The
remaining 97 percent becomes waste material known as tailings.
For as many years as the company has been in operation, the waste material
has been continuously dumped into the Aghawagon-Otomona-Aikwa rivers. Every
day, the rivers' water carries more than 210,000 tons of tailings downstream
as fine sand.
The sand has eventually caused more than a hundred thousand hectares of
mangrove and sago forests to dry up and become a threat to specific local
flora and fauna.
According to the local Environmental Impact Analyses Board, the environmental
damage caused by the sand has affected 133,000 hectares of land.
It was estimated that by the end of Freeport's contract in 2030, the company
will have left some 2.7 billion tons of tailings.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/10/00 2:00:40 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org (Admin)
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
http://www.irja.org/conf.htm
See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
From: ondawame@coombs.anu.edu.au (John Ondawame)
Subject: NSW Parliamentarian Group for West Papua
Dear Freinds,
NSW Parliamentarian Group for West Papua will inagurate
on 13 April.
Please see below. It is the first time a
parliamentarian group for West
Papua will establish. I hope this is only begining of
new waves of shifting
in regional committment towards the forgotten issue of
West Papua.
Regards,
John Ondawame
Subject: FRiends of West Papua
Date sent: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 19:28:53 +1000
Meredith Burgmann has asked me to invite all WPP
members. Kaz
Monden also welcome
PK
5 April 2000
Re: NSW Parliamentary Friendship Group for West Papua
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to invite you to the inaugural meeting of
the NSW
Parliamentary Friendship Group for West Papua.
1pm
13 April
President=92s Office
(there will be sandwiches, tea, coffee and cold drinks)
Two special guest speakers with extensive personal
experience in West
Papuan politics will address the meeting.
Willem Zonggonau was a West Papuan Parliamentarian
before the so
called =93Act of Free Choice=94 at which time he
renounced his position and
made a famous attempt to report to the UN, thwarted at
Port Moresby
airport by Australian Government officials. He is a
founding member of
OPM =96 Free Papua Movement, and an anthropologist who
has lectured
extensively throughout the world on West Papuan
politics.
John Ondawame, a student leader in the 1970s was gaoled
in Port
Numbay by the Indonesians for his political activities.
He narrowly
escaped a second prison term and possible execution
through the
intervention of the UNHCR. John has just finished his
PhD at ANU and
has also travelled extensively representing the cause of
the West Papuan
people.
The recent events in East Timor and Indonesia offer new
possibilities for
change in West Papua. As with East Timor, Australia has
had a significant
influence on the history of West Papua and we should
take an active
interest in resolving the situation. The Friendship
Group will contribute
to the struggle by assisting in the distribution of
information and the up-
dating of interested MPs.
Please ring the office on 9230 2301 if you would like to
attend the
meeting or would like to become a member of the NSW
Parliamentary
=46riendship Group for West Papua.
Yours sincerely
MEREDITH BURGMANN
Professor G Peter King
Department of Government
University of Sydney 2006
Australia
Tel 02 9351 7402
1 May 2000-23 March 2001
In Japan:
Visiting Foreign Researcher
Research Center for the Pacific Islands
University of Kagoshima
2-21-24 Korimoto
Kagoshima 890-8580
Japan
=46ax 81 99 285 6197
Tel 285 7394
email:peterk@cpi.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Residence
Room 4409, 2nd Building
Kagoshima University International Residence Hall
4-5-20 Shimo-arata
Kagoshima City 890-0056
Japan
________________________________________________________
_______
John Otto Ondawame
Department of Political and Social Change
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
Australian National University
Canberra, ACT 0200
Australia
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Date: 4/10/00 6:51:54 AM Central Daylight Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Straits Times
April 10, 2000
Abdurrahman to open Irian Jaya congress
JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has agreed to open a
forthcoming congress in Irian Jaya at which independence for the province
will be discussed, a top separatist leader said yesterday.
Mr Abdurrahman has been trying to redress past grievances of Irianese since
coming to power in October but he has ruled out granting independence to
Indonesia's eastern most province.
Separatist leader Theys Eluay said he met the President last week to discuss
the situation in Irian Jaya, where there are widespread demands for
independence under the name West Papua.
"He said that he would come to Papua and open the congress scheduled this
year... the latest in June," said Mr Eluay, a traditional leader of one of
the region's many ethnic groups.
Mr Eluay, a legislator for the then ruling Golkar party, has taken up the
separatist cause after Suharto. He now calls himself the "West Papuan
leader".
"We demand Indonesia withdraw its police and soldiers from the land of
Papua," he said.
The troops were sent in after a meeting last month of separatist leaders to
prepare for the congress, he said. There had been shootings in several towns
across the vast province this year.
"After the Papua meeting there have been deployments," he said.
"There has been no direct intimidation lately. The police have been acting
wisely so far. But we want to be free on our own land," he said. -- Reuters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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: 4/10/00 2:25:59 PM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
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See http://www.irja.org/eypij.htm for the correct meaning of Irian
Jakarta Post
April 11 2000
Nusantara
OPM members reject autonomy
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Members of the Reconciliation
Forum of Former Free Papua Organization (OPM) have
written President Abdurrahman Wahid expressing their
rejection of his offer of autonomy for the easternmost
province of West Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya.
In the letter dated April 3, the forum members, who are
former political prisoners, said the Indonesian
government's offer of wide ranging autonomy to West
Papua would just lead to further murder, rape and
oppression as committed by the old regime.
The letter, signed by 15 OPM political prisoners, also
said
they had been fighting for years for an independent state
of West Papua, not just a wide ranging autonomy.
"Therefore we strongly reject the offer," the letter
read.
They also urged the President to have the newly deployed
troops in Papua withdrawn. (eba)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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