Australia says it does discuss Papua with Indonesia

Australia is a truly friend of Papuan Indonesia.

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Posted at 23:19 on 24 February, 2009 UTC

The Australia Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, says his government discusses issues around Papua with Indonesia a lot.

Papuan lawyer acquitted for text message ‘insult’

Good News for all Indonesian human rights defender :

(Papua Story)

A Papuan human rights lawyer has been cleared of all charges under Indonesian law after accusations he sent a text message deemed ‘insulting’ to Indonesia’s president.

The lawyer, Iwanggin Sabar Olif, was alleged to have sent a message warning Papuans that the president had ordered the army to ‘eradicate’ Papuan tribes through a programme of poisoned food and violence. He faced up to six years in prison.

INDONESIA Archbishop highlights folk wisdom to prevent calamity

A story from UCAN

MERAUKE, Indonesia (UCAN) — An archbishop in Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost province, says local people should learn from folk wisdom to avert natural disasters.

Sacred Heart Archbishop Nicolaus Adi Saputra of Merauke has suggested people return to the practice of building wambad, mounds on which sago trees and other crops can be planted, to protect against rising tides.

The archbishop made these comments in the wake of tidal flooding in early January that hit five of the 16 Catholic villages in Wan subdistrict, part of Merauke district.

Australia Gives Boost to Fight AIDS

Australia shows a sincere posture as a neighbour country to Indonesia, hopefully this will strengthen relationship between Indonesia and Australia. AIDS is a universal problem, by helping Indonesia in its domestic efforst to fight AIDS, Australia is not only helping Papuan Indonesian, but also helping the world.

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Reported by Dessy Sagita

(Jakarta Globe)`The city administration and the Australian government on Thursday signed an agreement to work together in tackling HIV/AIDS in the city.

“The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jakarta is increasing quite significantly, especially among injected drug users. That is why we need all the help we can get,” said Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, who is also chairman of the Jakarta AIDS Commission, or KPAD, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer.