Academic doubts Papua will see Middle East-style uprising

Posted at 01:42 on 25 February, 2011 UTC RNZI

An academic specialising in Papua affairs says it is unlikely that effective popular uprisings like those seen across the Middle East will take place in Indonesia’s Papua region.

The comment by Richard Chauvel from Melbourne’s Victoria University came at this week’s Comprehending West Papua conference in Sydney.

Some delegates at the Sydney University conference claimed that ongoing mass mobilisations demanding change in Arab countries give hope to Papuans frustrated with Indonesian rule.

However, Dr Chauvel says the context is very different in Papua.

“The Indonesian government can contain what happens in Papua in a way that doesn’t affect mainstream Indonesian politics and society. For this Indonesian government and President, there are no votes in Papua. That consensus that Papua is part of Indonesia is still intact.”

Richard Chauvel

The Battle to Save Indonesia’s Disappearing Forests

Zubaidah Nazeer – Straits Times Indonesia | February 23, 2011

Imagine 400 football fields of trees disappearing during the duration of a soccer match. That was the rate of deforestation in Indonesia just a few years ago, between 2000 and 2006.

West Papua Forest

After bans by European countries on imports of illegally logged timber products, the rate of destruction has halved – to about 1 million hectares a year. But this is still considered high, and urgent action is needed, say researchers, analysts and environmental activists. If nothing is done, Indonesia’s unprotected natural forests will be depleted in about 35 years, said Bustar Maitar of Greenpeace Indonesia.

Boediono to lead Papua meeting

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 02/14/2011 10:42 AM | National

Vice President Boediono will lead a meeting of 22 ministers in his office to discuss accelerating development in Papua on Monday.

In attendance are expected to be the National Education Minister, the Health Minister, the Home Affairs Minister, the Public Works Minister, the Industry Minister, the Trade Minister, the Law and Human Rights Minister, the Agriculture Minister and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister.

“This follow-up meeting will discuss the concept and design of the presidential decree on the acceleration of development in Papua and West Papua,  Beodiono’s spokesman, Yopie Hidayat said, as reported by kompas.com news portal.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and West Papua Governor Abraham O will not attend the meeting since the pair was at a meeting at the presidential office on the same subject in January.

 

PNG’s joint forces border operation could be extended

Updated February 11, 2011 17:38:40 Radio Australia

Authorities in Papua New Guinea have recently rounded up more than 100 people at the border with the Indonesian province of Papua and took them to a refugee camp in PNG’s Western province.

They join other West Papuans at the East Awin refugee camp which is protected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

They were rounded up by a joint PNG security forces operation to locate, search and destroy alleged West Papua training camps and settlements at the PNG-Indonesia border.

The Joint Forces Commander, Jerry Frank says the operation has also resulted in the collection a lot of revenue for the government.

He says the operation could be extended by another three months to June when it expires next month.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol

Speaker: Jerry Frank, PNG’s Joint Forces Commander

Unicef allocates US$4 million for education in Papua

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 02/11/2011 1:28 PM | National

Unicef says it has allocated US$4 million for the development of education programs in Papua and West Papua provinces for the 2010-2012 period.

The support is being provided in efforts to improve the quality of education offered in the two provinces, Sri Karna, a member of Unicef’s education staff in Biak, said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Sri said the funding was intended to finance various programs, including school-based management and strategic education planning.

Unicef was also closely monitoring the education programs of other provinces, particularly Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and East Nusa Tenggara, she said.

PNG border crackdown detains 14 suspected of OPM links

(RNZI) The head of Papua New Guinea’s join security forces operation in Sandaun province around the border with Indonesia says 14 detainees are suspected of being members of the militant separatist group, OPM Free West Papua.

Operation Sunset Merona has been underway for three weeks with more than 100 people arrested and detained for alleged illegal movement across the border from Indonesia.

Greenpeace renews calls for sustainable energy in Papua

JAKARTA: Indonesia should expedite the development of renewable energy industries to meet growing electricity demands, Greenpeace said in a statement on Saturday.

“Greenpeace believes that clean, renewable energy is crucial for genuine development.”

Papua Torture Trials Show ‘Progress’: US Military

Washington. The US military is concerned over the light jail sentences given to Indonesian troops caught on video torturing men in the restive eastern region of Papua but see the trial as a sign of “progress,” a senior official said Tuesday.