Tuesday, May 30, 2017

1) NEW ZEALAND SUPPORT FOR WEST PAPUA GROWS AFTER ‘HISTORIC DECLARATION’ SIGNED


2) Locals Committed to Protecting Dugong in Raja Ampat

3) POLICE BACKED A LIQUORS SELLER IN SORONG
4) MAYOR OF JAYAPURA COMMITTED TO FIGHT ALCOHOL
5) Benny Wenda accuses Indonesian police of torturing Papuan official
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HTTP://ASIAPACIFICREPORT.NZ/2017/05/30/NEW-ZEALAND-SUPPORT-OF-WEST-PAPUA-GROWS-AFTER-HISTORIC-DECLARATION-SIGNED/

1) NEW ZEALAND SUPPORT FOR WEST PAPUA GROWS AFTER ‘HISTORIC DECLARATION’ SIGNED

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By Kendall Hutt in Auckland
Political support in New Zealand for an independent West Papua is growing after a “historic declaration” was signed during free West Papua advocate Benny Wenda’s visit to the country this month.
Several politicians from across four political parties signed the Westminster Declaration, which calls for West Papua’s right to self-determination to be legally recognised through a vote.
Green MP Catherine Delahunty – who has been a vocal supporter of West Papuan independence throughout her political career – told Asia Pacific Report the meeting at Parliament by the IPWP was “amazing”.
“We had a really amazing evening at Parliament with the Westminster Declaration. We had a number of MP’s – nine MP’s on the night – including others subsequently signing the declaration, which as you know calls for a referendum, supervised independently by the UN for West Papuans to talk about and identify their views on self-determination.
“That was a really powerful moment. Benny said it’s very important for him travelling the world that he can actually meet the politicians and that the politicians actually – from a number of parties in this case – and sign up to the declaration.”
West Papua was controversially incorporated into Indonesia through a so-called “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 – only 1,026 selected West Papuans out of a population of 800,000 voted to become a part of the country – under duress.
In 2016, politicians from across the globe signed the declaration, first launched in the United Kingdom by Labour leader and co-founder of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP), Jeremy Corbyn.
11 MPs signed upEleven members of Parliament from across four political parties – Greens, Labour, National and the Māori Party – have signed the declaration.
Green MPs Catherine Delahunty, Barry Coates, Mojo Mathers, Jan Logie and Steffan Browning have signed, along with Labour MPs Louisa Wall, Carmel Sepuloni, Adrian Rurawhe and National MP Chester Burrows.
Co-leader of the Māori Party Marama Fox and Labour MP Aupito S’ua William Sio have also signed.
Delahunty is certain this number will grow, as the declaration is now circulating through caucus, she said.
“Not everyone could make the event, but there are people who are keen to sign up.”
However, National MP Chester Burrows was the only member of National to sign the declaration, reaffirming Delahunty’s belief a change of government is needed for the issues in West Papua to truly gain traction politically.

“It’s frustrating because dreadful things are happening everyday and we’re not getting the political leaders of this country to take it seriously in the government.”
This is because support of West Papua would not come from National, Delahunty said, although she is hopeful.
‘Real core of support’
“We have got a real core of support for that declaration from across the House. Of course we haven’t got the government’s political support, but that’s what we’re working on.”
Delahunty said the rest of Benny Wenda’s visit to New Zealand was also “very lively”.
“In dire weather conditions, about 30 people marched to the Indonesian embassy. For the first time the embassy – the Indonesian officials – actually came out.
“They came out to tell us we were wrong about our views and to hand out propaganda to the university students about how everything is great in West Papua and that West Papuans are leading their own country.
“I challenged them back pretty hard … that was quite a lively experience.”
Speaking with Asia Pacific Report earlier this month, Benny Wenda said the purpose of his visit to New Zealand was to hopefully gain the country’s commitment to West Papua independence:
“West Papua’s hope is Australia and New Zealand. This is a regional issue, this will never go away from your eyes and this is something you need to look at today. Review your foreign policy and look at West Papua.”
During his visit, Wenda also met with Ngāti Whatua, unions, aid agencies, and students while in Wellington, echoing the solidarity found at his talk in Auckland, organised by the Pacific Media Centre.
“There was a very powerful dialogue with some young Pasifika and Māori students, and some young people expressing their support,” Delahunty said.
“I think it was useful and consolidated a lot of relationships, Benny being here. I think it helped us ride a wave of growing awareness which is slow, but steady, and we do see more and more people taking stock of this issue.”


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HTTPS://EN.TEMPO.CO/READ/NEWS/2017/05/30/199879911/LOCALS-COMMITTED-TO-PROTECTING-DUGONG-IN-RAJA-AMPAT
TUESDAY, 30 MAY, 2017 | 14:02 WIB
2) Locals Committed to Protecting Dugong in Raja Ampat

TEMPO.CO, Sorong - Indigenous people in Aduwei village in Raja Ampat, West Papua are committed to protecting dugongs.
Adewei village chief Karel Fatot said that dugongs are easily found in the waters off the village. “Indigenous people are protecting dugongs and other marine species with a tradition the locals call Sasi,” he said yesterday, May 29, in Sorong.
He explained that Sasi is a traditional prohibition on catching dugongs and fish in the waters off the village. “People may only catch fish in the waters off the village after the Sasi period ends or Sasi is revoked. Sasi typically applies for six months in a year,” he said.
According to him, people may catch fish after the end of Sasi period but may not hunt dugongs.
Locals protect dugongs because the animals attract tourists.
He said that Aduwei village in Raja Ampat boasts a beautiful marine attraction and tourists can easily interact with dugongs. He, however, bemoaned the lack of transport modes in the area and marketing campaign to draw visitors.
ANTARA
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3) POLICE BACKED A LIQUORS SELLER IN SORONG
May 30, 2017

Sorong, Jubi – Illegal liquors seller named Frengky aka Ongko Botak who operates in Rufey, West Sorong District, Sorong City, West Papua province claimed to be backed up by Reskrim Polres Sorong Kota in selling unlicensed liquors.
According to him, he has not yet extinguished the liquors sales permit because he is still waiting for the inauguration process of Sorong’s mayor.
He suggested that journalist may ask the sales permit to head of criminal resort division (Kasat Reskrim) of Sorong Kota Police. Because he only conducting his activities according to the instructions of the Kasat.

“If the reporters want to talk and confirm it, then wait for me to check and ask the Kasat, because that is the order,” said Ongko Sunday (May 28).
Head of Criminal Sorong Police, AKP Fernando Saragih when confirmed separately claimed he never ordered as alleged by illegal liquors seller. He argued that the statement was incorrect.
“That is not true. I never ordered things like that,” he said. (*)
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4) MAYOR OF JAYAPURA COMMITTED TO FIGHT ALCOHOL
May 30, 2017

Jayapura, Jubi – Member of Commission I Papua House of Representatives, in charge of government, politics, law and human rights, Laurenzus Kadepa supported the Regent of Jayapura, Mathius Awoitauw in demonstrating his commitment to combat liquors in his region.
He said the commitment of governemnt to eradicate circulation of liquors should be followed by other regional governments in Papua. In disciplining the circulation of alcohol, Jayapura Regency Government involves various related parties. Cooperation among stakeholders is important to succeed target policy in the region.
“This is one of the leaders’ attitudes, implementing the existing rules, Jayapura Regent does not say much but focuses on his actions. Since he took office he has never issued alcohol license. Last year despite the pro and cons, he dared to close Tanjung Elmo localization,” said Kadepa Sunday (May 28).

The regent of Jayapura, Mathius Awoitauw and related parties, destroyed thousands of bottles of alcoholic drinks, drugs and other illegal goods on Jayapura Regent Office yard last Friday (May 26).
Thousands of bottles of alcoholic drinks, drugs and number of other illegal goods were confiscated by the authority of Airport Terminal Klas 1A Sentani during the last six months.
The Regent of Jayapura, Mathius Awoitauw, said, in order to suppress the circulation of alcohol in his region since he took office five years ago, he did not issue any permission to alcoholic sellers.
“But in fact, some still sell illegally. To prevent this, we continue to intensify the raids to locations suspected of selling. We also continue to make an appeal to stop the sale of alcohol, “said Awoitauw. (*)

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5) Benny Wenda accuses Indonesian police of torturing Papuan official
By  - 
  
Police in Indonesia are facing allegations of torture from West Papuan independence leaders after a prominent human rights commissioner was beaten by police.
A statement by the Office of Benny Wenda, co-founder of the Free West Papua Campaign, detailed how Nareki Kogoya, of the National Human Rights Commission (KOMNAS HAM), was tortured until he was “covered in blood”.
It is alleged Indonesian police tortured Kogoya following a search of his home on May 18, 2017 in Jayapura.
Kogoya was then driven to the police station where he was interrogated, Wenda stated.
If Kogoya repeated his “ordeal” he would be charged, police allegedly threatened.
Tabloid Jubi also reported the alleged torture, stating it had been carried out after Kogoya attempted to defend several “kids” accused of murdering a local lecturer.
“I said, I’ll help them, I’m guarding them, and I don’t want them to get hit,” Kogoya said.

‘Intimidated and terrorised’
Tabloid Jubi reports Kogoya’s lip was wounded in a beating which took place in a police car.
“I feel intimidated and terrorised,” Kogoya has said of his ordeal.
“It brings more heartache, tears and sadness for the people of West Papua to learn that another innocent West Papuan person has been brutally tortured by the Indonesian police,” Wenda said.
“This horrible torture of a very well-known human rights figure in West Papua shows that the Indonesian police and military have no respect for West Papuan human rights whatsoever.”

Wenda claimed the Indonesian military and police treated West Papuans as “subhuman” and “animals” because of the colour of their skin.
Wenda has since questioned what Kogoya’s treatment – who represents West Papua in the Indonesian Human Rights Commission – means for his fellow Papuans.
“If this is how representatives of government agencies are treated in the capital city of West Papua, what about ordinary people? What about activists? What about the people in the villages whose stories never get told, who are killed by the Indonesian military and police like animals with no media attention?”
Tortured for days
Wenda said Kogoya’s alleged torture further demonstrates that Indonesia is not complying with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
“There is no freedom of expression, freedom of press or freedom of assembly; there is NO freedom in occupied West Papua.”
Ursula Florence of Rappler reports a pre-trial involving three Tangerang City residents, who admitted to being tortured by police investigators, failed to proceed on May 29, 2017.  The victims, referred only to as Herianto, Aris and Bihin, were allegedly “subjected to torture for days” after being accused of multiple thefts.
Rappler reported the victims were beaten and their genitals mutilated.
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