Call for more access to West Papua

RadioNZ – A church-backed coalition has called on Indonesia to open greater access to West Papua for international journalists, independent observers, human rights organizations and the International Red Cross.

International consultation on West Papua 22-24 February 2017 in Geneva, hosted by the World Council of Churches. Photo: Victor Mambor

The call came at an international consultation hosted by the World Council of Churches with the International Coalition on Papua in Geneva.

Also in Geneva this week, at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council, seven Pacific Island countries delivered a statement about their concern over rights abuses in West Papua.

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, who visited Papua in 2012 said the organisation supports the struggle for West Papuan human rights, and urges an end to ongoing violence and impunity.

He said the WCC backed the call for social and economic justice through serious dialogue and a concrete political process that seeks to address root causes of the present problems.

The round-table gathering included civil society proponents, human rights experts and diplomats who examined current patterns of human rights abuses in West Papua.

The gathering coincides with the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where seven Pacific nations this week raised concern about a lack of justice over serious and prolonged rights abuses in West Papua.

Indonesia denied allegation that it failed to address rights abuses in Papua, saying it always endeavoured to address violations, takes preventative measures and delivers justice.

Protesters are resisting police using water cannons during a protest by mostly university students from Free Papua Organization and the Papua Student Alliance in Jakarta on December 1, 2016. — Protests in West Papua in 2016. Photo: AFP

However, the WCC website reported that this week’s consultation in Geneva had shown growing level of international concern about Papua.

Victor Mambor of the Papua Coalition for Law Enforcement and Human Rights said that the civil society group made a number of recommendation to the government of Indonesia.

As well as demanding open access to Papua for international journalists and human rights groups they called for ensuring

“that perpetrators of the police and military responsible for past and present human rights violations in West Papua are prosecuted in public and fair trials, resulting in the appropriate sentences for perpetrators and the restitution, compensation and rehabilitation of victims”.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches based in Fiji, Rev. Francois Pihaate, said churches in the region were very concerned about violence in Papua.

West Papuan journalist Victor Mambor. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

“How can we as churches be ignorant of what is going on outside our own world? That is why we as churches are concerned,” he said.

A member of the Indonesian mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Denny Abdi, disputed the veracity of claims that nearly 5000 Papuans were arrested last year for peacefully demonstrating their independence aspirations.

However, the WCC’s West Papuans representatives have said there is no trust between the people of West Papua and the government in Jakarta, rendering it “not possible to talk heart to heart about what is going on”.

“We have to talk, ” said one member of the WCC’s Papua chapter. “As a church the prophetic voice needs to go beyond boundaries.”

Demonstrators march in Timika in West Papua.

Demonstrators march in Timika in West Papua. Photo: Supplied

Veronica Koman of the Papua Itu Kita based in Jakarta said the government of Indonesia has failed to address the root problem, which stems from Papua’s controversial incorporation into Indonesia in the 1960s.

“The West Papuan people will not stop screaming for independence until the root cause is addressed,” she said.

March 10, 2017 1

Bishop visit to West Papua welcomed cautiously

RedioNZ – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has cautiously welcomed news that Australia’s Foreign Minister is to visit Indonesian-ruled Papua region this year.

Julie Bishop gave an undertaking to visit later this year, during talks in Jakarta this week with Indonesia’s government which has been touting a policy of openness about Papua.

This comes amid ongoing calls by Pacific Island governments for the United Nations to probe reports of widespread human rights abuses against West Papuans.

The matter is highly sensitive to Jakarta which opposes any outside interference in what it considers domestic affairs.

Last month, Australia’s prime minister Malcom Turnbull reassured Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo of Canberra’s support for Indonesian sovereignty over Papua.

While Ms Bishop’s visit is not being described as a human rights fact-finding mission, the Liberation Movement says it is important that other governments find out more about the situation in Papua.

The secretary-general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Octo Mote (centre) talks to New Zealand MPs, including Steffan Browning (right). Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

The Movement, which has observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, urges Indonesia’s government to allow Julie Bishop unfettered access to West Papuan community groups.

According to a spokesman for the Movement, a short and restricted visit to Papua by MSG Foreign Ministers in 2014 was evidence that Jakarta had so far failed to allow foreign governments open access to the region.

Indonesia is accused by the Movement of waging slow-motion genocide in Papua.

The West Papuan representative group cites evidence of simmering armed conflict, unrest, extra-judicial killings and jailings of Papuans, and marginalisation of their culture.

March 10, 2017 0

Calls for resignation of Fiji’s UN Ambassador

RadioNZ – Fiji’s opposition SODELPA party has called for the resignation of the Fijian ambassador to the United Nations, Nazhat Shameem, after she described the past protections of the rights of indigenous Fijians as institutionalised racism.

Ambassador Shameem’s comments were part of an address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on the 1st of March.

In her comments she said, “Racism was institutionalised in Fiji to such an extent that it instilled a ‘privileged caste’.”

“Rights of the majority in a democracy whether indigenous or not must not be used to suppress the rights of the minority and vulnerable communities,” she also said.

The SODELPA vice president, MP Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki says Ambassador Shameem’s comments were misguided and smacked of prejudice.

He said they amounted to a deliberate misunderstanding of the grievances of the indigenous community in Fiji and were contrary to international law on the rights of indigenous peoples.

“She should retract that statement. In fact we are calling for her resignation. It is out of line as far as Fiji is concerned. It is an insult to the indigenous people. And at that level, she shouldn’t be there.”

March 10, 2017 1

PIANGO: “Indonesia tak bisa lagi pura-pura polos di Panggung PBB”

Nabire, Jubi – Asosiasi NGO Kepulauan Pasifik menuding respon Indonesia terhadap pidato Vanuatu di Sidang Dewan HAM PBB (UNHRC) ke-34 sebagai upaya pengalihan perhatian komunitas internasional terhadap pelanggaran HAM yang terus terjadi di West Papua.

Emele Duituturaga, direktur eksekutif PIANGO sampai pada kesimpulan itu setelah Indonesia menuding Vanuatu “memolitisasi isu West Papua untuk tujuan politik domestiknya” dalam respon hak jawabnya di UNHRC di Jenewa (1/3).

“Reaksi Indonesia ini sangat kekanak-kanakan, dan sebetulnya hanya menelanjangi ketiadaan kemanuannya untuk menghormati dan menegakkan nilai-nilai yang menjadi milik komunitas internasional bangsa-bangsa , yaitu PBB,” ujar Duituturaga seperti dikutip Pacific Islands News Association, Minggu (5/3/2017).

Respon Indonesia, menurut dia adalah ciri khas politik ‘pecah belah dan menangkan’ dengan menjatuhkan Vanuatu namun kemudian menawarkan bantuan untuk isu-isu dugaan pelanggaran HAM-nya, “Itu sebetulnya (kepanikan) untuk merespon permintaan Koalisi Pasifik memperlakukan anggota keluarga Pasifik, yakni West Papua, dengan hormat dan bermartabat,” kata dia.

Menurut Duituturaga, Koalisi Kepulauan Pasifik untuk West Papua (PICWP) tidak akan meminta PBB mengirimkan Pelapor Khususnya ke West Papua jika mereka tidak memegang banyak bukti atas apa yang dialami rakyat West Papua.

Berdasarkan laporan HAM terkait West Papua, jumlah korban dan kasus-kasus pembunuhan diluar peradilan dan penyiksaan tidak berkurang signifikan dari 2012 sampai 2016.

“Penahanan politis meningkat tiga tahun terakhir, dan semua korban penyiksaan dan pembunuhan dari data mitra kami adalah orang asli Papua. Sementara orang asli Papua hanya sekitar 40% dari penduduk Papua namun mereka lah 100% dari korban. Ini jelas wujud elemen kekerasan rasial oleh praktik aparat keamanan.”

Sejak tahun 2007 Indonesia juga tidak mengijinkan prosedur khusus apapun mengunjungi West Papua, dan wilayah itu, lajut Duitutraga sebagian besar tetap tertutup bagi para pengamat HAM internasional. “Jurnalis asing pun tidak bisa dengan bebas melakukan liputan karena ditemani intel, sehingga sulit membuat laporan independen,” tudingnya.

“Ketika bukti-bukti sudah sangat banyak tunjukkan ribuan orang West Papua yang merupakan penduduk Kepulauan Pasifik kehilangan nyawanya, dan mereka berjuang memberikan pandangan alternatif untuk mengelola sumber daya mereka sendiri hingga memotivasi negeri Pasifik membangun koalisi, maka sekarang Indonesia harus menyadari tak bisa lagi pura-pura polos di panggung PBB,”

ungkap Duituturaga.

Sementara itu, terpisah pada Jum’at lalu, Juru Bicara Kementerian Luar Negeri RI Arrmanatha Nasir, seperti dilansir CNN Indonesia mengklaim bahwa PBB tidak akan menyelidiki isu pelanggaran HAM tersebut, karena menurut dia pernyataan Vanuatu hanya sebatas kekhawatiran politis dan bukan berdasarkan penyelidikan.

“Kalau [pelanggaran HAM] itu ada, pasti akan menjadi sorotan dari publik dan mekanisme yang berlaku di Indonesia,” kata Arrmanatha di Gedung Kemlu RI.

Menurut Nasir, pernyataan Vanuatu itu bukan pernyataan berdasar investigasi, melainkan hanya bersifat politis sehingga tidak bisa langsung ditindaklanjuti.(*)

Reporter :Zely Ariane

zely.ariane@tabloidjubi.com

March 8, 2017 1

Benny Wenda Alergi atas kata “Revolusi”, Amunggut Tabi: Ini Fakta Sejarah

Menanggapi Undang-Undang Rev9lusi West Papua atau Peraturan Sementara Republik West Papua, Lt. Gen. Amunggut Tabi dari Markas Pusat Pertahanan TRWP (Tentara Revolusi West Papua – atau disingkat TRWP) menyatakan bahwa Benny Wenda, sebagai pucuk pimpinan kemerdekaan West Papua di luar NKRI perlu mengambil sikap karena menurut laporan PIS (Papua Intelligence Service) Sdr. O. Motte dan Sdr. N. Tebay adalah dua orang Koteka mata-mata NKRI.

Menanggapi pandangan ke-barat-baratan yang disampaikan Benny Wenda, Jubir ULMWP, bahwa kata “revolusi” berhubungan dengan komunis / revolusi sama dengan komunis maka Amunggut Tabi sebagai Pemangku Jabatan HUKUM ADAT Papua, yang diemban Lt. Gen. Amunggut Tabi mengumumkan kepada semua pihak, di manapun Anda Berada Anda berkewajibab memilih “revoluisi West Papua” or anything else.

March 7, 2017 0

West Papua flag mural in Darwin remains intact despite criticism from Indonesian Consul

Independence activist Piter Elaby — Photo: West Papua independence activist Piter Elaby touches up a mural in Darwin’s CBD on Australia Day, 2016. (ABC News: Felicity James)

The Indonesian Consul to Darwin, Andre Siregar, has denied he pressured the owner of a wall to paint over a mural which features the West Papuan flag, but said he had reported its existence to Jakarta.

“It is something that we respect, we have to respect, but please note that it, itself is offensive to us,” Mr Siregar said.

Mr Siregar said as the Indonesian Government’s representative in Darwin he had conveyed Indonesia’s position on West Papua.

“Of course that is a flag of a separatist group — they want West Papua to be their own country,” Mr Siregar said.

“They ignore the 2.5 million Papuans who have gone to the election and voted, and the 3.9 million Papuans that live there.

“So as the government representative in Darwin I have conveyed this situation to the NT Government, [and] we don’t want them to be ill-informed.”

Mr Siregar told the ABC he was the last to find about the “external pressure” and urgency to remove the mural.

“I guess I found out last, that someone feels pressured, and someone wants their walls clean, someone had to choose someone to blame,” Mr Siregar said.

Mr Siregar said the building’s owner — Carlo Randazzo, the honorary Vice-Consul to Italy — had contacted him about the issue last week.

“He just said ‘we’re going to clean it up’, I said ‘it’s your wall, it’s your wall’ — and he just gave me some updates regarding where it’s been with those people who have painted on it,” Mr Siregar said.

“I’ve also casually spoken to Peter Styles about this, and he as the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, would take note of that. But again I have not really followed up on this discussion.”

Photo: The mural depicting the West Papuan Morning Star flag was painted in June 2015. (ABC News: Stephanie Zillman)

Issue flared after ‘external pressure’

The issue of the large depiction of the West Papuan flag in the city’s centre flared after the artists who painted it in June 2015, were told to paint over it by an employee of Randazzo Properties.

The email to the artists cited “external pressures” as the reason for the sudden, urgent removal of the mural.

The mural itself also depicts the Aboriginal flag, and was painted as a symbol of solidarity between the two groups.

Mr Siregar said the Indonesian Consulate respected freedom of expression in Australia, and he had explained to visiting Indonesian officials the West Papuan flag mural did not necessarily reflect the position of Australians.

“Now after eight months there are many Territorians who also came to me and asked me ‘what’s with that flag?’,” Mr Siregar claimed.

Mr Siregar also said Indonesia was working at improving its human rights record.

“If there’s some concerns about human rights, as a developing country we’re all striving to make sure there’s no more human rights violations, even if there were violations, we are committed to rectifying those mistakes.”

Photo: The Indonesian consul was blamed for the “external pressure” to remove the mural. (ABC News: Stephanie Zillman)

March 5, 2017 0

Mahasiswa Papua Tuntut Tambang Freeport Ditutup dan Referendum

KBR, Jakarta– Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua bersama Front Rakyat Indonesia Untuk West Papua mendukung upaya tujuh Negara Pasifik yang bakal membawa berbagai macam masalah Papua ke Dewan HAM PBB. Koordinator aksi, Samsi Mahmud mengatakan, cara itu ialah satu-satunya jalan penyelesesaian berbagai macam masalah di Papua terutama masalah pelanggaran HAM.

Samsi juga mendesak Pemerintah Presiden Jokowi untuk memberikan hak penentuan nasib sendiri bagi bangsa Papua.

“Kita juga akan menyampaikan kepada rakyat Indonesia, kepada Pemerintah Indonesia terkait dengan kehendak rakyat Papua yaitu menentukan nasib sendiri adalah solusi demokratik untuk masa depan rakyat dan bangsa kita ini. Dan bagi kami terkait dengan persoalan-persoalan yang ada di Papua, solusinya adalah kehendak menentukan nasibnya sendiri bagi rakyat Papua,” ujarnya saat berorasi di depan Kantor Perwakilan PBB untuk Indonesia, Jakarta, Jumat (03/03).

Koordinator aksi, Samsi Mahmud juga mendesak Pemerintah Presiden Jokowi untuk menarik seluruh kekuatan militer termasuk kepolisian di seluruh wilayah Papua. Kata dia, keberadaan kekuatan militer justru semakin membuat Papua rentan pelanggaran HAM.

“Kami meminta dan harus ditindak lanjuti soal penuntasan seluruh kasus pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di tanah Papua. Seluruhnya tanpa terkecuali termasuk yang terbaru soal konflik sengketa Pilkada di Intan Jaya,” ucapnya.

Dia menambahkan, penutupan PT Freeport juga menjadi harga mati. Pasalnya kata dia, keberadaan Freeport di Papua tidak memberikan dampak apapun kepada warga Papua di sekitar perusahaan. Kemiskinan dan diskriminasi kata dia tidak mengalami penurunan di sana padahal daerah tersebut sangat kaya akan sumber daya alam.

“Saat Pemerintah Indonesia menerbitkan izin eksplorasi dan eksploitasi tambang Freeport melalui Kontrak Karya I yang diterbitkan pada 7 April 1967 itu, rakyat dan bangsa west Papua tidak dilibatkan. Padahal status West Papua belum secara resmi diakui Internasional sebagai bagian dari wilayah Indonesia,” tambahnya.

Editor: Rony Sitanggang

March 5, 2017 0

FRI West Papua dan AMP aksi di 7 kota, dukung 7 negara Pasifik di Dewan HAM PBB

Jayapura, Jubi – Mendukung sikap tujuh negara Pasifik terhadap persoalan West Papua di Dewan HAM PBB, Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua (FRI West Papua) dan Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP) menggelar aksi di beberapa kota di Indonesia, Jumat (3/3/2017)

“Kami memberikan dukungan terhadap tujuh negara Pasifik. Kami berharap, masalah-masalah Papua di antaranya pelanggaran HAM harus dimasukkan dalam sidang PBB,” demikian ujar Samsi coordinator aksi FRI West Papua di Jakarta via teleponnya kepada Jubi, Kamis (2/3/2017).

Menurut Ketua AMP Kota Yogyakarta, Abbi Douw kepada Herman Degei yang melaporkan untuk Jubi dari Yogyakarta (3/3) aksi berlangsung di setidaknya di 7 Kota di Jawa dan Maluku Utara. “Selain di Yogyakarta, hari ini aksi di beberapa kota lain di Indonesia seperti Semarang, Malang, Jakarta, Bandung, Pulau Taliabu, dan Ternate. Kalau di Pulau Taliabu (Maluku Utara) kemarin juga mereka turun aksi dan hari ini,” ungkapnya.

Aksi solidaritas tersebut menyusul pidato Menteri Kehakiman dan Pembangunan Masyarakat Vanuatu, H.E. Hon Ronald Kay Warsal, mewakili 7 Negara Pasifik meminta perhatian PBB atas situasi keseluruhan West Papua di hadapan Sidang Dewan HAM PBB ke-34, Rabu (1/3).

Baca: Tujuh negara Pasifik tuntut PBB tangani keseluruhan situasi West Papua

“Tuan Presiden, mencermati berbagai pelanggaran (HAM) dan lambatnya tindakan pemerintah Indonesia, kami serukan kepada Dewan HAM PBB untuk meminta Komisioner Tinggi HAM membuat laporan terpadu atas situasi aktual di West Papua,” ujar Warsal.

BAca: FRI West Papua dan AMP akan demo di kantor PBB Jakarta

Dalam pernyataan sikapnya, FRI West Papua dan AMP menyoroti beberapa peristiwa pelanggaran HAM yang menjadi fondasi sejarah bagi berbagai masalah pelanggaran HAM di Papua selanjutnya. Peristiwa pelanggaran HAM tersebut seperti Trikora 1961, New York Agreement 1962, dan Pepera 1969.

Sejak saat itulah, tulis mereka, dominasi militer terus menguat di Papua dan pelanggaran HAM seperti pembunuhan Arnold Ap, Thomas Wanggai, Theys Eluway, Mako Tabuni, dan berbagai kebijakan operasi militer (DOM) penangkapan, penembakan kilat dan penyiksaan adalah konsekuensi dari dominasi tersebut.

Mereka juga menyebut Kontrak Karya PT. Freeport sebagai pelanggaran HAM karena dilakukan sebelum Pepera 1969 sehingga bersifat ilegal.

Aksi di Yogyakarta dan Semarang

Di Yogyakarta, menurut laporan Herman E. Degei kepada Jubi, Jumat (4/3), AMP Komite Yogyakarta bersama FRI-West Papua menggelar aksi Mimbar Bebas di Bundaran UGM Yogyakarta.

“Aksi mimbar bebas yang digelar mulai pukul 10.00-11.35 WIB itu dijaga ketat oleh ratusan gabungan Aparat Keamanan, Forum Kemitraan Polisi dan Masyarakat Paguyuban Seksi Keamanan Kraton (FKPM Paksi Katon), juga Ormas Pemuda Pancasila Yogyakarta,” tulis Herman dalam pantauannya.

Bahkan, lanjutnya, sekitar pukul 11.09 WIB, seorang Mahasiswa Papua, Decki Derek Degei, nyaris direpresi oleh beberapa Ormas saat sedang menyebar selebaran aksi ke setiap pelintas jalan raya. Namun, Degei dilepaskan setelah Emanuel Gobai, Kuasa Hukum LBH Jogja bernegosiasi dengan pihak keamanan.

Setelah itu sempat terjadi adu mulut antara massa aksi dengan pihak Ormas. “Namun tak ada kekerasan fisik,” tulis Herman.

Di Semarang, Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP) Komite Kota Semarang-Salatiga yang melakukan aksinya dari Patung Kuda Universitas Diponegoro Kota Semarang meyoroti soal PT. FI tersebut.

Koordinator aksi Zan Magay, mengatakan, “PT. FI milik negara imprealis Amerika melakukan kontrak karya secara sepihak antara pemerintah Indonesia dan Amerika Serikat pada tahun 1967, pada waktu Papua masih wilayah sengketa,” ujarnya.

AMP Semarang-Salatiga dalam aksinya menyatakan tidak menghendaki PT. FI diperpanjang kontraknya. “Mahasiswa Papua menuntut agar ditutup. Karena PT. Freeport pembawa malapetaka bagi rakyat Papua,” ujar Magay.

Enam santri ikut ‘kawal’ aksi di Malang

Di Malang, seperti dilansir Merdeka.com (3/3) puluhan massa Aliansi Mahasiswa Papua (AMP) dan FRI West Papua sempat saling berhadapan dengan beberapa santri pondok pesantren di Balai Kota Malang berbendera merah putih, dengan pengawalan ketat pihak keamanan.

Massa AMP dan Front Rakyat Indonesia untuk West Papua (FRI-West Papua) membentangkan spanduk bertuliskan Aksi Bersama Mendukung Masalah Papua ke Dewan HAM PBB, Usir dan Tutup Freeport.

Juru bicara AMP dan FRI-West Papua, Wilson mengatakan, aksinya mewakili masyarakat Papua atas keresahan selama ini menyangkut eksploitasi SDA dan pelanggaran hak politik.

“Sumber daya alam milik masyarakat Papua, tapi sampai saat ini tidak dapat dinikmati masyarakat Papua,” kata Wilson dikutip merdeka.com, Jumat.

Sementara sebanyak enam orang yang menamakan diri santri Pondok Pesantren Yayasan Darul Hikmah Kebonsari Kota Malang bermaksud menghadang aksi AMP dan Fri West Papua tersebut. Mereka mengaku mengadang aksi yang dinilai mengancam disintegrasi bangsa itu.

Mereka mengawasi jalannya aksi dari awal hingga akhir. “Silakan kalau lebih jauh menghubungi pimpinan Pondok kami,” tegas Hadi Widiyanto, salah seorang santri tersebut. Dilansir Merdeka.com, para santri tersebut tampak membawa megaphone. Namun hingga aksi selesai tidak digunakan untuk berorasi.(*)

March 5, 2017 0

Pacific nations want UN report on Papua

News.com.au – Seven Pacific island nations have called for a UN investigation into allegations of human rights abuses in Indonesia’s West Papua and Papua provinces, where a separatist movement has simmered for decades.

A statement to a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, read on behalf of the seven states by Vanuatu’s Justice Minister Ronald Warsal, accused Indonesia of serious human rights violations of indigenous Papuans including extrajudicial executions of activists and beatings and fatal shootings of peaceful protesters.

The statement called on the council to request a comprehensive report from the high commissioner for human rights and Indonesia’s co-operation in providing unfettered access to the two provinces, which independence supporters refer to collectively as West Papua.

Pacific island leaders angered Indonesia last year when they used their speeches to the UN General Assembly to criticise Indonesia’s rule in West Papua.

Jakarta accused them of interfering in Indonesia’s sovereignty and supporting groups that carry out armed attacks.

Warsal, who spoke on behalf of Vanuatu, Tonga, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and the Solomon Islands, said they also wanted to highlight the Indonesian policy of encouraging the migration of Javanese and other ethnic groups, which has led to the dramatic outnumbering of indigenous Papuans in their own land.

The Indonesian government “has not been able to curtail or halt these various and widespread violations,” he said.

“Neither has that government been able to deliver justice for the victims.”

The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II.

It became part of Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969 that involved only a tiny proportion of the population and was criticised as a sham. Independence supporters want a second referendum.

The indigenous people of the two Papua provinces, which make up the western half of the island of New Guinea, are ethnically Melanesian and culturally distinct from the rest of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

West Papua is home to the world’s largest gold mine by reserves, one of the world’s biggest copper mines and vast areas of virgin forest.

The government insists it is an indivisible part of the Indonesian state and is unlikely to make any concessions to separatists out of fear that could re-energise other dormant independence movements.

March 5, 2017 0

Kemenlu: PBB tak akan Selidiki HAM Papua

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — ‎Kementerian Luar Negeri memastikan Perserikatan Bangsa bangsa (PBB) tidak akan melakukan penyelidikan terkait persoalan hak asasi manusia (HAM) yang ada di Papua. Hal ini karena permintaan tujuh negara Pasifik saat sidang Dewan HAM di Jenewa dianggap tidak memiliki cukup bukti.

Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi mengatakan, ‎pada saat sidang Dewan HAM di Jenewa, Pemerintah Indonesia telah mengirimkan Right of Reply (Hak Jawab) terkait dengan pernyataan untuk penyelidikan HAM di Papua.

“Kita sebutkan posisi Indonesia. Ada di Right of Reply,” kata Retno ditemui di kantornya, Jumat (3/3).

‎Menurutnya pernyataan dari pernyataan dari Menteri Kehakiman Vanuatu Ronald Warsal ‎ yang mengatasnamakan tujuh negara bersama Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, Kepulauan Marshall dan Kepulauan Solomon‎, kurang tepat dengan kondisi saat ini di Indonesia. Untuk itu, hak jawab dianggap telah cukup memperjelas posisi Indonesia atas Papua.‎

Juru Bicara Kemenlu Arrmanatha Nasir menjelaskan, penjelasan Ronald Warsar dianggap oleh Pemerintah Indonesia tidak akurat sepenuhnya, tidak tepat, dan tak merefleksikan kenyataan di lapangan (Papua) saat ini.

Indonesia menekankan bahwa dalam dua tahun terakhir, pemerintah telah memberikan perhatian tinggi bagi masyarakat Papua. Pemerintah telah banyak melakukan pembangunan infrastruktur, perbaikan sumber daya manusia (SDM).

Kondisi perpolitikan dan demokrasi di Indonesia juga terbilang sangat dinamis. Pers memiliki kebebasan untuk memberitakan banyak hal. Termasuk dengan permasalah di daerah, seperti di Papua.

‎Dengan kondisi ini, Arrmanatha justru mempertanyakan kepada perwakilan dari negara yang ingin menyudutkan Indonesia, apakah keinginan mereka untuk melakukan penyelidikan terkait dengan persoalam HAM, atau hal lain yakni kemerdekaan Papua.

“Ini masalah HAM, atau justru (7 negara) ingin menunjukan dukungan terhadap upaya separatis yang ada di Papua?,” ujar Arrmanatha.

March 5, 2017 0