Year-ender - SECURITY CONDITION IN PAPUA NEEDS EXTRA ATTENTION by Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 24, 2012 (ANTARA) - Security officers and civilians in Papua and West Papua Provinces continue to be affected by violence despite the government's efforts to improve the security situation and the economic development.

        On December 20, 2012, seven fishermen were shot by unidentified armed members in the waters of Raja Ampat, West Papua. Four of them were killed and three were injured.

        Last week, a group of unidentified people torched an unguarded police post in the Jayawijaya district of Wamena, Papua.

        On December 15 (the same day), the Papua police shot dead Hubert Mabel. Hubert had been involved in the bombing of a legislative building and a traffic police post in the Jayawijaya district of Wamena, Papua.

        Hubert had been suspected of killing three police officers at the Pirime police precinct in the Lanny Jaya district.

        Following Hubert's death, a group of people torched a police station in Wamena on December 16. Five suspects were arrested.

        In April 2012, a reporter was shot dead and four passengers were injured. They were aboard a Twin Otter, which was about to land at the Mulia Airport, Puncak Jaya, Papua.

        Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, said the shooting was an act of terror by those seeking to stop development in Papua.

        A series of violent acts had also occurred in June 2012 in Jayapura. Several unidentified people shot some people. The shooting led to the death of Mako Tabuni, one of the coordinators of West Papua's National Committee. Some mourners went on a crime spree, burning shops, cars and other motor vehicles. They also tortured people in Wamena, Jayapura.

         Tabuni died after being shot by the police, who were trying to arrest him for his alleged involvement in several acts of terror in Jayapura and its surrounding areas.

         In response to a series of shooting incidents in Papua, the Indonesian government reiterated its commitment to improve the welfare of the community. The Indonesian government mentioned that it will not use weapons to deal with national problems.

        Indonesia's security chief minister mentioned that a non-violent approach will be undertaken during the meeting with community leaders, religious leaders, members of the Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) and the Papuan People Assembly (MRP) on June 18 in Jayapura.

          He said the government hopes to "bring Papua closer to other Indonesian states".

         Since December 2011, the government has been trying to conduct talks with Free Papua Organization (OPM), a separatist group. "It's not easy to persuade them to come down from the mountains and live with other people," said Djoko Suyanto earlier this year.

        The government, he said, had held dialogue sessions with other groups, such as the Papua Peace Network (PPN). "In 2011, I had attended an event organised by the PPN at the University of Cenderawasih," added the chief security minister.

         Papua has been given a special autonomy status. However, the development programmes have not met the public's expectations, although the government has set up the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit (UP4B) in 2012 to boost Papua's development.

          Velix Wanggai, a presidential special staff member who is in charge of regional development and autonomy, said (on June 17) the government is committed to developing Papua into a peaceful place, as declared by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004.

        According to Velix, the government has come up with a comprehensive design consisting of five points: affirming Indonesia's unitary state while respecting Papua's diversity and uniqueness; stressing Papua's status as a special autonomous region; pursuing affirmative policies to recognise the basic rights of the people of Papua (including access to education); designing strategies, policies, funding and programmes to promote the development of the people of Papua; and promoting human rights as well as preventing violence.

        He said budget will be allocated for educational, health, infrastructure and economic sectors.

        As per the 2013 state budget, special autonomy funds amounting to Rp4.3 trillion and Rp1.8 trillion have been set aside for Papua and West Papua respectively, he stated.

        "The government will also raise extra funds (a total of Rp2 trillion) for the development of infrastructure in Papua and West Papua. The President wants to set aside money for activities that local people are in dire need of," he added.

        In July 2012, President Yudhoyono said separatism should be stopped because it poses a serious threat to national integrity.

         "People who want to secede from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) are separatists. They must be stopped," said the President.

        The head of state said the nation's security personnel should take the strongest possible action against separatist forces without violating human rights.

        When the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, visited Indonesia in March 2012, he looked into the security issues in Papua, during a meeting with the President at the Bogor Palace.

        Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, President Yudhoyono said one of the tasks of the government of Indonesia is to maintain Indonesia's territorial sovereignty.

         However, the President also asserted that the government will take action against soldiers and police officers who have violated the law and human rights in Papua.

         "The government will take action against violators of the law and human rights in Papua," the President noted.

         Yudhoyono also reiterated that the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Police should not violate human rights while carrying out their duties in Papua.

         On February 15, the President spoke in front of 128 foreign ambassadors and representatives from international organisations in Jakarta, and he said there have not been offensive military operations in Papua since 2005.

        President Yudhoyono said the government and military (TNI) leaders will take harsh actions against those found committing illegal acts.

         "If (you) have any information, please inform us. Inform the TNI commander or the national police chief, and we will look into the incident. We will not let any incident go unnoticed. Furthermore, my government will continue to work seriously to overcome the problems and obstacles in Papua," he told the foreign envoys.

        Richard Green Lugar, a senior US Senator, said US senators are in support of the Indonesian government's efforts to improve the situation in Papua.

         "We support the Indonesian government in its efforts to cooperate with the people of Papua in restoring peace and order in the region," he said.

        Lugar expressed optimism that the Indonesian government will be able to resolve the issue. "We are confident that the Indonesian government will look into the development of the region," Lugar said. ***1***
(f001/INE/S012)