Friday, February 22, 2013

1) Indonesia`s military to take tactical action against armed groups in Papua



1) Indonesia`s military to take tactical action against armed groups in Papua
3) Indonesia faces rising of insurgency in easternmost province
4) President holds meeting to discuss situation in Papua
5) Security disturbance may not be ignored: President
6) Shooting in Papua must be investigated thoroughly: Lawmaker
7) TNI Not to Send More Troops to Papua following Shootout
8) Australia conveys condolences over soldiers shot dead in Papua
9) Economic gap seen as cause of security problem in Papua

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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/87464/indonesias-military-to-take-tactical-action-against-armed-groups-in-papua

1) Indonesia`s military to take tactical action against armed groups in Papua

Sat, February 23 2013 00:50 | 65 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s Deputy Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has said the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) will take a firm stand by conducting tactical action against armed groups that killed eight military officers and five civilians in Papua on Thursday (Feb 21).

"The tactical action includes to chase, apprehend and destroy," the deputy minister said here on Friday.

He said the latest shootings by the separatist rebels did not affect TNI`s strategic policies in Papua. TNI so far did not have a plan to send more troops to Papua, he added.

In the defense field, the government has been using a territorial strategy which among other things focuses on the improvement of the people`s welfare and on the promotion of diplomacy of dialog.

However, TNI will respond with tactical action against armed groups that have committed crimes for killing both civilians and soldiers, he stated.

On the occasion, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro expressed his condolences on the deaths of the eight military officers in Papua.

The minister also expressed his concern because a TNI`s Puma helicopter which was about to evacuate the soldiers` bodies were shot several times by separatists in the Indonesian eastern most province.

"The evacuation of the remains has been hampered by bad weather and security disturbance," Yugsiantoro stated.

Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul, a TNI spokesman, said the bodies of the soldiers were still in Sinak, Puncak District, Papua Province, because the helicopter which would evacuate them, was shot by armed group members on Friday morning.

The helicopter`s pilot and co-pilot were uninjured in the shootings but a crew member, who is also a military officer, was wounded.

On Thursday (Feb 21), shooting incidents occurred in two different locations in Papua, killing eight military officers.

The first shooting incident by armed separatists happened in a TNI security post in Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya District, on Thursday at 9.30 am local time. One military officer, Private Wahyu Bowo, was shot dead in the attack.

The second shooting incident occurred in Tanggulinik, Sinak, Puncak District, at 10.30 am local time. Ten military officers of Sinak military unit were shot and seven of them were killed in the attack, while the three others survive.

The fallen soldiers are First Sergeant M Udin, First Sergeant Frans, First Sergeant Edi, Chief Private Jojon, Chief Private Wemprik and Private Mustofa.(*)
Editor: Heru

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http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74220
Posted at 20:07 on 22 February, 2013 UTC
There are concerns that the killing of soldiers in Papua province will be used to gain international support for increased military aggression in Indonesia’s eastern region.
Eight Indonesian soldiers are reported to have died in two separate attacks in Puncak Jaya.
The US-based Octo Mote, who is part of a group of exiled West Papuans promoting dialogue with Jakarta, says Indonesian security forces have staged such attacks in the past in order to create instability.
However he cannot rule out that the separatist OPM’s military wing is to blame for the killings.
“Regardless of how many military personnel were killed in this kind of attack, the Indonesian government and especially the military will use this incident to gain their political and military agenda where you get the support from all these western countries, support for Indonesia’s war on terror.”
Octo Mote


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http://www.nzweek.com/world/indonesia-faces-rising-of-insurgency-in-easternmost-province-50682/ 
3) Indonesia faces rising of insurgency in easternmost province

Souce:Xinhua Publish By  Updated 23/02/2013 4:32 am in World / no comments

by Abu Hanifah
JAKARTA, Feb. 22 — Indonesia is facing again the uprising movement of insurgents in easternmost province of Papua with an aim to set up an independent state that would entirely separate from Indonesia.
The separatist organization launched deadly ambushes against troops and civilians who were transporting logistic cargo in two districts Tingginambut and Sinak located in Puncak Jaya regency on Thursday morning, killing 12 troops and civilians and injured 5 others.
Indonesian military was tested once again by the separatist group as the helicopter trying to evacuate bodies of the victims was shot at by the insurgents on Friday, injuring the pilots which made the evacuation halted.
Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chairman Marciano Norman identified the armed band involved in the latest attacks as Independence Papua Organization (OPM), a notorious separatist group that frequently conducts attacks against civilians, apparatus in the province.
According to Norman, arms used by the militiamen were confiscated from Indonesian apparatus when they patrolled deep into the jungle in the province.
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a meeting with his ministers to particularly discuss the latest attacks in Papua.
“We have adopted several economy, welfare and social approaches in Papua,” he said in the meeting held in the presidential palace as quoted by local media.
The ministers attending the meeting were told to continue development programs designed earlier in the mineral-rich province with correct and proper measures against the separatists being conducted immediately.
Indonesian police and the military are now hunting down those responsible in the attacks, hoping to find perpetrators involved in the attacks immediately.
Papua recorded frequent attacks against civilians, troops and foreigners serving there with the most attacks conducted in the operation area of U.S. gold and copper mining site Freeport Indonesia located in Timika regency.
Indonesian apparatus dismissed separatist-sponsored Papua people’s congress in Oct. 2011, arrested the organizer and brought them to court.
Sporadic attacks against police and troops were also seen in public places with latest attack against a German tourist taking place on Jayapura beach last year.
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/87461/president-holds-meeting-to-discuss-situation-in-papua

4) President holds meeting to discuss situation in Papua

Sat, February 23 2013 00:11 | 69 Views

Jakarta (ANTARANews) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a limited cabinet meeting here on Friday afternoon to discuss Thursday`s attacks by unknown gunmen in Papua that had left eight military members dead.

"I want to hear reports on the development (of the case), what we have done on central and regional levels and possible impact of the incidents," he said.

He said he had actually received initial reports about the incidents on Thursday evening from the coordinating minister of security, legal and political affairs, Djoko Suyanto as well as from the commander of the Defense Forces (TNI), Admiral Agus Suhartono, but he wished to know precisely what has really happened.

Djoko Suyanto said earlier seven TNI members had been killed following an ambush and attack by unknown gunmen in Sinak in the district of Puncak and another one in Tingginambut in the district of Puncak Jaya.

The bodies of the seven victims in Sinak could not as yet be evacuated because "the Super Puma helicopter of the Air Force that would take them was attacked at 8am on Friday leaving the glass window of the helicopter broken and the technical crew member`s left finger injured," forcing the helicopter to return, TNI spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said.

The body of the victim in Tingginambut, First Private Wahyu Bowo, had been evacuated from the location. 

Djoko said Wahyu died following an attack by unknown gunmen at a military post Tingginambut.

Seven others meanwhile were killed after unknown gunmen ambushed and attacked 10 members of the Sinak sub-district military command while they were on the way to Sinak airstrip to fetch logistics and radio packages from Nabire. (*)
Editor: Heru
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HTTP://WWW.ANTARANEWS.COM/EN/NEWS/87460/SECURITY-DISTURBANCE-MAY-NOT-BE-IGNORED-PRESIDENT

5) Security disturbance may not be ignored: President

Sat, February 23 2013 00:08 | 50 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said security disturbances may not be allowed to go on in Papua although the government has already changed its approach from security to welfare to tackle problems in the eastern region.

"The government has decided to prioritize economic development and welfare improvement for the people in Papua. However security disturbances that have often occurred in the region may not be allowed to continue," he said at his office here on Friday.

He made the statement following recent security incidents in Papua in which eight military personnel and four civilians had been killed.

He said the government has taken various policies and carried out action programs to replace the security approach it used to use to tackle problems in the region with a welfare approach, including allocating and distributing budgets and a number of measures to improve the living standards of the people there.

He said sovereignty and territorial integrity must be maintained. "Social security conditions must be maintained and laws must be enforced," he added.

Coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto said eight military personnel had been killed one after a military post in Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, and others after 10 personnel from Sinak sub-district military personnel in Puncak district were ambushed and killed while on the way to Sinak airstrip to fetch logistics and radio packages from Nabire.(*)
Editor: Heru
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/87459/shooting-in-papua-must-be-investigated-thoroughly-lawmaker

6) Shooting in Papua must be investigated thoroughly: Lawmaker

Sat, February 23 2013 00:03 | 60 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The shooting incident in Papua is purely a criminal act that should be investigated thoroughly, a lawmaker said.

"It is a pure crime committed by separatists. I do not see any political aspect in the incident. Police and the military should investigate it thoroughly," Tantowi of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I on defense affairs, said here on Friday.

On Thursday two shooting incidents occurred in Papua, one in Sinak, Puncak district and the other one in Tinggi Nambu (Puncak Jaya district).

Eight military members and four civilians were killed during the shooting incidents.

Tantowi said that the DPR will summon the military commander to explain the shooting incident. "Actually we have no hearing agenda with the military commander but because of the incidents we will summon the commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)," he added.

He said that so far the news about the incidents was not yet clear so that the TNI commander would be summoned to explain it.

"The TNI commander must explain it. After all, this concerns the loss of eight lives," the legislator said.

Cenderawasih Regional Military Commander Maj Gen Christian Zebua who oversees Papua province said earlier the shooting was done by the Goliat Tabuni and Murib Military separatist rebels.

"We will hunt them together with police because they had committed barbaric acts beyond humanity," the regional military commander said.

It was earlier reported that separatist rebels shot five civilians, killing four of them in Sinak, Puncak District, Papua Province, on Thursday.

The five civilians were construction workers who were waiting for an airplane at Sinak airport to take them out of Sinak, reliable sources said here on Friday.

Upon their arrival at the airport, they were shot by unidentified gunmen, seriously injuring one and killing four others.

Senior Commissioner Gede Sumerta of the Papua Provincial Police confirmed about the deaths of the civilians during the deadly shooting by the armed group.

The construction workers who were killed, are identified by their names as Yohanis Palimbong, Markus Cavin, Uly, and Rudy. The injured victim is Yohanis Jhoni.

In addition of the civilians, 12 Indonesian military officers were also shot by the separatist rebels. Seven soldiers were killed and five others survived.(*)
Editor: Heru
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http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2013/02/23/brk,20130223-463121,uk.html


7) TNI Not to Send More Troops to Papua following Shootout


Saturday, 23 February, 2013 | 02:05 WIB
TEMPO InteractiveJakarta:The Indonesian National Army (TNI) said that it would not send more troops to Papua following a shooting incident against eight of the army’s members. “We have no intention of stepping up our forces in Papua. This situation can be contained by existing command forces,” said Defense deputy minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in a press conference at his office on Friday, February 22.

The attack against army members was deemed a tactical move that has no influence on strategic defense. However, Sjafrie asserted, the TNI and the police will go after the shooters.

On Thursday, 8 TNI members were shot by armed civilians. The first shooting took place at Tinggi Nambut command post, in Puncak Jaya district, and killed First Soldier Wahyu Prabowo. The second incident occurred in Tangulinik village, Sinak district. Seven TNI members were killed during the attack.

NUR ALFIYAH
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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/87458/australia-conveys-condolences-over-soldiers-shot-dead-in-papua

8) Australia conveys condolences over soldiers shot dead in Papua

Fri, February 22 2013 23:59 | 58 Views

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ambassador of Australia to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, has expressed condolences following the deaths of eight soldiers in shooting incidents in Papua on Thursday.

In a press release from the Australian Embassy received here on Friday the Australian government said that the incident will only hurt Indonesia especially the people of Papua with regard to efforts to create a safe and prosperous Indonesia.

The attacks on eight soldiers occurred in two different locations namely in Tingginambut and Sinak. Meanwhile, four civilians had also been killed in the incidents.

An army helicopter was shot on Friday (2/22) morning leaving three crew members injured when it was to evacuate the bodies of the victims forcing it to return to the base.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a limited cabinet meeting on Friday (2/22) afternoon, to discuss the incidents suspected to be the acts of armed civilian groups of members of a separatist Free Papua Movement organization.(*)
Editor: Heru



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http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/87462/economic-gap-seen-as-cause-of-security-problem-in-papua

9) Economic gap seen as cause of security problem in Papua

Sat, February 23 2013 00:15 | 70 Views

Pemalang (ANTARA News) - Economic and social gap is the root cause of persistent security problem in Papua, Velix Wanggai, a special staff of the president on regional autonomy, said. 

The problem has to be sorted out through comprehensive approaches to create peace in the rebellious region, Velix said when accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a working visit in this Central Java district on Thursday. 

Velix made the statement when asked to comment on the incident earlier that day when eight soldiers were killed in Papua shot at by armed gangs of rebels. 

He said feeling of injustice by local people over economic and social gap between Papua and the rest of the country was exploited by the rebels to incite the fight for independence led by the outlawed Papua Merdeka Organization (OPM).

Papua has not enjoyed the fruit of development and felt being isolated from the rest of the country, he said. 

Papua is known to be rich in natural resources with large mineral reserves of copper, gold, silver and oil.

Papua hold the country`s largest reserves of copper, gold and natural gas but ironically the scarcely populated region remains lagging behind the rest of the country in economic development.

"The backwardness, disappointment and dissatisfaction serve as an ammunition to incite resistance against the government," Velix said.

The resistance movement is concentrated in isolated areas like Puncak Jaya regency, he added. 

He said the government is fully aware of the problem and what has caused the problem, therefore, steps have been taken to remove the gap and reduce the feelings of injustice. 

In the past 10 years, the government has tried to create more effective bureaucracy by splitting regencies such as Jaya Wijaya regency into 10 regencies, he pointed out. 

The purpose is to get the district administrations closer to the people in the vast region, he said. 

In addition, the government has built new infrastructure such as roads and airports to facilitate transport, he added. 

He said the policy of naming local leaders having good knowledge of the areas and familiar with the local culture should be maintained.(*)
Editor: Heru
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