PON CONTINUES WITH STRICTER HEALTH PROTOCOLS AFTER COVID CASES EMERGE by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 12/10/2021 (ANTARA) - The Papuans have enthusiastically welcomed the 20th National Sports Week (PON), Indonesia's largest sports event, by following strict health protocol measures against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The PON, which is being held in the country's easternmost province till October 15, 2021, has drawn 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia.

It was officially opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at Lukas Enembe Stadium, East Sentani sub-district, Jayapura district, Papua, on October 2.

"Huwe foi, onomi rehmay, wa wa wa. Cheers to sports!" the President greeted spectators in the native language of Papua at the opening ceremony and garnered resounding applause from the audience, whose numbers were restricted to 25 percent of the stadium's total capacity of 40 thousand people.

Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke are co-hosting matches of the first-ever PON organized in Papua Province that is featuring 37 sports branches.

PON Papua has enforced strict health protocols for athletes and those involved in the games from the time of their landing in the province, with each participant required to undergo PCR tests for COVID-19.

On October 9, 2021, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zainudin Amali confirmed that the PON has been running smoothly despite the emergence of several COVID-19 cases.

"The situation is quite safe in the four clusters. The event will not be halted as there are no major problems," he said.

All participants, including athletes, coaches, and officers are present at every designated match, with no fear or excessive concern, he added.

COVID-19 cases during PON were first detected in Timika and announced on October 5 evening.

PAPUA'S NEW ICONIC TOURIST ATTRACTION YOUTEFA BRIDGE OPENS TO PUBLIC

Rabu, 30 Okt 2019 17:12

By Fardah

Jakarta, 30/10 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), during his 13th visit to Papua on Oct 28, 2019, inaugurated Youtefa Bridge connecting the provincial capital Jayapura with Muara Tami District and Skouw sharing border with neighboring Papua New Guinea.
The bridge is far from ordinary since it spans stunning Youtefa Bay that has scenic beauty and serene environment as well as is surrounded by the Pie and Saweri Capes.
From the bridge, visitors can also spot Tobati Strait measuring only some 300 meters wide and providing access to Yos Sudarso Bay and also to the seas.
The Youtefa Bay area is indeed a destination for those looking to unwind and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The scenic beauty also presents a plethora of options for photography.
Tourists will also come across a sago forest and a majestic green mangrove forest there, two striking rivers called Entrop and Acai, and beautiful isles located in the middle of the bay.
Another unique natural attraction found in the Youtefa Bay area is a natural field called Arising and Sinking field since the spot is only visible during low tide and vanishes from sight during high tide.
As most land areas in Youtefa are still forested, several species of flora and fauna are also found, such as various types of insects, reptiles, mammals, Lorius Lori exotic bird, and long-tailed monkeys.

NEWS FOCUS -- ACCELERATING RESCUE OPERATIONS IN FLOOD-HIT SENTANI

Jakarta, 23/3, 2019  (Antara) - Indonesia has been hit by at least two major floods during this current transitional period from the rainy to the dry season, as high precipitation still occurs in several regions.

Floods have been reported in the provinces of West Java, East Java, Lampung, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatra, and Papua, among others. But East Java and Papua have been the worst hit by major flooding over the last several weeks.

In East Java, on March 5, 2019, floods triggered by heavy rains and the overflowing of several rivers, had inundated 15 districts and displaced nearly 12.5 thousand people, mostly in Madiun. Despite the widespread inundation, there were no reports of casualties.

In Papua, however, deadly flooding devastated Sentani and several other sub-districts in Jayapura District, and killed at least 112 people and rendered 94 others missing on March 16, 2019.

The natural disasters caused serious injuries to 107 people and minor injuries to 808 others.

A total of 374 homes, four bridges, five places of worship, eight school buildings, 104 home-cum-shops, and a traditional market were damaged. Furthermore, the natural disasters led to the displacement of 11,556 people.

The Papua provincial government has declared an emergency response period from March 16 to 29, 2019.

The Government has deployed a joint team comprising military and police personnel, among others, to continue search and rescue operations for the victims of the floods in Jayapura. Tens of NGOs have also volunteered in helping the rescue operations.

"Since yesterday evening, our volunteers have helped carry out evacuation, assessment and mud clearance in Sentani," ACT coordinator Kusmayadi said in a statement, one day after the disaster occurred.

They also distributed some 1,000 packets of cooked food for the flood victims, and set up an ACT humanitarian command post and a public kitchen in Sentani.

As 94 people were still missing one week after the flooding, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) held a coordination meeting to discuss efforts to expedite the handling of the impact of the flooding in the countrys eastern most province.

Year Ender - DEVELOPMENT IN PAPUA REMAINS PRIORITY DESPITE SECURITY CHALLENGES by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 6, 2018 (Antara) - The fact that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has visited Papua nine times since December 2014 shows that his administration gives special attention to the development programs in the country's easternmost province.

        Jokowi's first visit was in December 2014, just over a month after he was sworn in as Indonesia's seventh president in October 2014. At that time, the president promised the Papuans that he would frequently visit the province. 
    His latest visit was on Nov 16, 2018, where he personally reviewed the construction works of Trans-Papua road development project. The section he checked was on Kilometer 23 between Merauke and Sota in the district of Merauke.  
  The Trans-Papua road, spanning 4.6 thousand kilometers, is expected to improve connectivity on Papua Island, which comprises Papua and West Papua Provinces.

       Trans-Papua will cut time in the transportation of goods, logistics, and people's movement in Papua, which has difficult terrain as a large part of its land area is still covered by thick forest and swamps.

        The implementation of the Trans-Papua development project has so far been smooth, until Dec 2, 2018, when the public was shocked by reports of murders of more than a dozen workers of the road development project.

        Indonesia's security officers have, so far, discovered 16 bodies of slain workers employed by PT Istaka Karya Construction Company.

        Jimy Aritonang, one of the survivors of the terror attack, recalled that some 50 armed men belonging to an outlawed group, led by Egunius Kogoya, had taken 25 workers from their camp to Mount Kabo.

       On arriving in the remote mountainous area, the criminals shot the workers, whose hands were bound. Some 14 men died on the spot, while 11 others pretended to be dead and later attempted to escape. However, five were later recaptured and killed by the criminals, while several others managed to reach a military post.

       The criminals chased them and later got engaged in a shootout with several military officers. One officer, identified as First Sergeant Handoko, was killed in the attack, while another one was injured.

         Jokowi on Dec 5, 2018, expressed condolences on behalf of the Indonesian people, who mourned the deaths of the workers.

JOKOWI LAUDS DEDICATION, HARD WORK OF INDONESIAN POLICE by Fardah

Jakarta, July 12, 2018 (Antara)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), while acting as the inspector at a ceremony to celebrate the Indonesian Police's Bhayangkara Day on July 11, 2018, conveyed his congratulations and gratitude to the members of the National Police (Polri) for their hard work and dedication to the nation so far.

         The Bhayangkara Day has been observed annually since July 1, 1946, based on a decree issued by Soekarno, Indonesia's first president, 72 years ago.

         "On behalf of the people, the nation, and the state, I convey my congratulations on the 72nd anniversary of Bhayangkara Day to every police officer and the big family of Polri in Indonesia, wherever you are assigned, from Sabang to Merauke, and from Mianggas to Rote Isle," the president stated before Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, Chief of Polri General Tito Karnavian, House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan, as well as thousands of police officers attending the ceremony.

        He also lauded the success of Polri in maintaining security during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan; Eid Fitri; guarding travelers joining the Eid Fitri exodus; and the third regional head elections held in 171 regions last June.

        The President was also proud that Indonesia has been included in the list of the top ten safest countries in the world.

INDONESIAN ARMY SAVES TEACHERS FROM BRUTALITY OF CRIMINAL GROUPS IN PAPUA by Fardah

  Jakarta, April 21, 2018 (Antara) - Another humanitarian tragedy occurred in a remote village in Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika District, Papua Province, when some 20 members of armed criminal groups (KKSB) recently terrorized teachers, following a hostage-taking incident in the same sub-district last year.

         "Indeed, the incident happened. Several male teachers' hands were tied up, and they were hit with guns, while female teachers were beaten, stripped naked, and one of them was raped. This is far too uncivilized, "Iltinus Omaleng, Mimika district head, told the press on April 17, 2018.

         Upon receiving reports on the brutality, the Indonesia Army deployed personnel to Aroanop village in Tembagapura to drive away the criminals and save the teachers who had become victims of the violence.

         Up to April 21, the Army has managed to evacuate a total of 16 teachers from Aoranop and put the remote village under control as the armed criminals have fled to the jungle.

         The evacuation process was carried out in two stages, namely on April 19 and 21, by using two helicopters belonging to the Indonesian Army.

         During the first evacuation process, led by Colonel Frits Pelamonia, commander of the Army's integrated task force to handle armed criminal groups (KKSB), the Indonesian Army personnel managed to evacuate 13 elementary school teachers, comprising seven female and six male teachers, from Aroanop.

         Pelamonia said there were a total of 18 contract-based teachers, comprising nine teachers in Aroanop elementary school and nine teachers in Jagamin elementary school. However, five teachers could not join the first evacuation process because of bad weather.

GOVT LAUNCHES COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE PROGRAM FOR ASMAT TRIBE MEMBERS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 6, 2018 (Antara)- Following all out efforts involving several ministries, police and military, among others, measles outbreak and malnutrition problem in remote Asmat District in Papua Province, have finally been overcome.

        Since the plague affected Asmat in September 2017, a total of 71 people, mostly children, had died due to malnutrition and measles outbreaks.   
   Based on data received from Asmat Humanitarian Task Force, until Jan 30, there were still 26 inpatients in Asmat in which 19 people of them were treated in Asmat Regional Hospital, and seven patients were treated in the Hall of Indonesia Protestant Church of Asmat due to malnutrition.

        Earlier, a total of 47 people had been treated in the church in which 40 people of them have returned home.

        Health Minister Nila Moeloek on Jan 31, 2018, said as many as 13,300 children in Asmat District, Papua Province have been vaccinated as an effort to control the epidemic of measles.

        Not all sub-districts in Asmat District, however, get the vaccination due to difficult terrain.  
   The ministry has alternately deployed medical personnel and delivering aid packages every 10 days to handle measles and malnutrition in Asmat.

        The medical personnel provided assistance in hospitals and church halls, Moeloek revealed.

        "Some people have returned to their homes. However, if they do not get any health supervision from medical institutions, there could be recurrence of the disease," she explained.

        The emergency situation has been considered overcome and now the Government is focusing on long-term community health care and improvement program in Asmat.

GOVERNMENT PLANS SHORT-, LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR PLAGUE-HIT ASMAT by Fardah

 Jakarta, Jan 25, 2018 (Antara) - The Indonesian Government has deployed various resources and done its utmost to tackle measles epidemic and malnutrition that have affected Asmat District in Papua Province since September 2017.

         The plague has claimed 67 lives, with 37 casualties reported in Tiga Isle sub-district. 
     The epidemic is believed to have been caused by food shortage, poor environment, and lack of medical personnel and facilities in Asmat, which also has very difficult terrain.

         Asmat tribal people inhabit the lowlands, consisting of mangroves, tidal swamps, and freshwater swamps, in the southwestern coast of the province.

         Based on information received on Jan 25, a total of 12,398 children in Asmat have been offered medical check-ups and treatment.   
    Of the total children, 646 are confirmed to be infected with measles, 144 are undernourished, four are suffering from both measles and poor nutrition, and 25 others are suspected to have measles.

         The children live in 117 kampongs in 23 sub-districts: Suator, Kolf Braza, Sirets, Fayit, Aswy, Tiga Isle, Akat, Agats, Jetsy, Kasuari Beach, Der Koumur, Auyu, Suru-suru, Unirsirauw, Sawaerma, Joerat, Ayip, Atsy, Betcbamu, Kopay, Safan, Joutu, and Koroway.

         According to Papua police chief Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar, the number of malnutrition victims in Asmat has reached 15 thousand people.

         "The victims of malnutrition have reached 10 thousand to 15 thousand," Amar noted on Jan 23.

         He mentioned various factors behind malnutrition cases in the district, which includes its remote location, lack of access to health facility, transportation, nutritious food, and low economic level.

GOVERNMENT ADOPTS MEASURES TO TACKLE MEASLES OUTBREAK, MALNUTRITION IN ASMAT by Fardah

  Jakarta, Jan 19, 2018 (Antara) - News on the measles epidemic and malnutrition plaguing Asmat District's remote areas in Papua has saddened the nation, as they have claimed the lives of 61 children, mostly under five years of age.

         According to the Provincial Health Office of Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province, 558 measles cases were reported in eight sub-districts in Asmat, which is not easy to access due to the difficult terrain, since September 2017.

        From January 1 to January 11, 2018, as many as 29 people were hospitalized, and 34 outpatients were reported due to measles. Two inpatients, five outpatients, and one patient died due to malnutrition.

        After receiving information on the tragedy, President Joko Widodo has instructed every stakeholder to deploy all available resources to tackle the measles outbreak and undernourishment.

        The government has launched integrated efforts by establishing coordination among the health ministry, police, military, social affairs ministry, and the private sector to tackle the extraordinary situation in Asmat, according to Health Minister Nila Moeloek.

         The ministries, Indonesian Police, and Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) have sent doctors, medicines, vaccines, paramedics, and food to Asmat, with the support of state-owned companies, such as state oil and gas company PT Pertamina, BRI, and Bank Papua.

        The health ministry has dispatched at least 39 health personnel, including specialists, general practitioners, three surgical nurses, and environmental health and surveillance specialists, Oscar Primadi, spokesman of the ministry, had remarked in Jakarta on Jan 16.

SINGLE-PRICE FUEL PROGRAM TO CONTINUE DESPITE DIFFICULTIES by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 30, 2017 (Antara) - The Joko Widodo (Jokowi) administration is determined to continue the implementation of the single-price fuel program for remote and outermost regions despite difficulties posed by rough terrains and long distance.

         The hardship is worth it for the sake of just and equitable economic development across Indonesia, including in the remote and outermost regions.

            The single-price fuel policy demonstrates strong political will of the government, which believes that development is not only for Java Island or to cities but also to every region in the country, such as in the hinterland areas located in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

         Jokowi recently described the difficulty in transporting and distributing oil fuel all across the vast archipelago, through the seas and mountainous areas. 
    "However difficult it is, we have to go on with the program," the president stated, while addressing a ceremony officially inaugurating 17 units of oil fuels (BBM) terminal in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on Dec 29, 2017.   
  As many as 17 terminals for oil fuel distribution, under the program of selling BBM at the same price all over the vast archipelago, were commissioned by the president.   
    The 17 BBM terminals include 16 units of public BBM filling station and a BBM filling station for fishermen, all under the same administered price.

          So far, BBM prices have been much higher in eastern Indonesia and other remote areas. In Java, the price of subsidized gasoline is around Rp6,550 per liter, but in interior mountainous areas of Papua and Kalimantan, the price could be as high as Rp100 thousand per liter.

VILLAGERS IN PAPUA, WEST PAPUA RECEIVE SPECIAL GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Dec 25, 2017 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo recently delivered a special Christmas gift by inaugurating an electricity distribution network for the inhabitants of 74 villages in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, whose majority population are Christians.

          In celebrating Christmas this year, for the first time, the residents of Papua and West Papua were able to adorn their Christmas trees with colorful lamps, as state electricity company (PLN) has supplied electricity to 74 additional villages in the two provinces.  
     The 74 villages are part of the 191 villages in Papua and West Papua to which PLN will supply electricity.

          "This is a special gift for the people in remote villages in Papua and West Papua from PLN," Ahmad Rofik, the business director for Maluku and Papua regions, noted in a press release on December 19, 2017.

          During the inauguration of the Nabire Power Plant in Papua Province on Dec 20, President Widodo stated that three thousand villages in Indonesia are yet to have access to power networks, and two thousands of them are in Papua.

          "I have ordered the ministry and PLN, so next year, all of them would have received power," the president remarked.

           Despite the high cost of construction in Papua, the government is committed to building infrastructure in Papua, including the power lines, to realize social welfare, Widodo remarked.  
    The government will fulfill the electricity needs of Papua's residents by utilizing solar cells and PLN's power lines.

RELEASED PAPUANS IN DIRE NEED OF EDUCATION AND MEDICAL FACILITIES by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 21, 2017 (Antara) - Sarce Rumaropen Beanal, 28, is hopeful that she and her son would have a better life while temporarily staying in Timika sub-district, Mimika District, Papua Province.

         She recalled the ordeals that her family and other fellow villagers had faced over the last several months, including during the hostage-taking incident that occurring for about three weeks in her kampong and several other neighboring villages.

         Beanal said her eight-year-old son Jeferson Beanal was unable to go to school for several months.

         "My son has stopped going to school since a landslide occurred in Utikini last August. Moreover, when the situation in our kampong becomes unsafe due to the shooting incidents, children never go to school again. Hence, we have decided to go to Timika," Beanal noted in Timika on Nov 20, 2017.

          The young mother and son are among 804 of residents of the villages of Banti and Kimbeli, Tembagapura Sub-district, Mimika District, who are currently taking refuge in Timika, because they were in dire need of education and medical facilities, as well as food.

         They joined the evacuation process, organized by the Indonesian security authorities on Nov 19, after they, along with hundreds of others, were released by the officers.

        Some 1,300 people, comprising of over 850 indigenous Papuans and 346 migrant workers, had been held hostages by an armed criminal group (KKB) in several villages in Tembagapura for about three weeks.

            The integrated military and police task force of Indonesia managed to release them and drive away the hostage takers on Nov 17.

DEVELOPING FISHERY INDUSTRY IN PAPUA by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 31, 2017 (Antara)  - Papua Island has abundant marine resources, particularly in the Arafura Sea, which is rich in economically important fish species that include Barramundi, grouper, Penaeid shrimp, and Nemipteridae fishes.

          In a world where marine ecosystems and fish stocks are generally collapsing, the Arafura Sea stands out as among the richest marine fisheries in the world, making it a target for poaching by foreign fishing boats.

           The Indonesian Government has intensified the fight against illegal fishing activities and has intended to accelerate the development of fishery industry in various regions, including Papua, particularly for the welfare of traditional fishermen.

        Several Papuan regions having huge potential in the fishery industry include Biak, Jayapura, Merauke, Timika, Nabire, and Yapen Islands, F.X. Motte, head of the Papua maritime and fishery office, stated recently.

        The Papuan provincial administration will invite local and national businessmen to invest in fishery field, in order to boost the province's fishery industry development.

        Motte invited investors to also develop fish processing and canning plants in Papua.

        "Right now, Jayapura is flooded with canned fish and meat from Papua New Guinea. It is our challenge to develop similar plants in our neighboring country too," he noted.

        In the past, Papua had successful fishery companies, such as PT Mina Jaya located in Biak. The fish canning industry, however, was closed down due to several reasons.

PAPUA STRIVES TO BECOME CHILD-FRIENDLY PROVINCE by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 25, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia's eastern most province of Papua is far from Jakarta, but the central government is paying special attention to it, particularly to public welfare, and protection of children and women in the province.

        It was with this purpose in mind that the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) administration had appointed Yohana Yembise, an indigenous Papuan, as Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister.

         Yembise has frequently visited Papua Island, comprising the Papua and West Papua Provinces, to participate in public awareness campaigns for the protection of children and women, and to help deal with various associated problems.

        Papua needs special attention, because the children and women on the island have been frequent victims of physical and sexual violence. In 2016, some 2,000 cases of violence against children were reported both in Papua and West Papua Province.

        "Most cases of violence against children include sexual abuse, physical violence and child neglect by parents," Harli Siregar, assistant to local public prosecutor office, said earlier this year.

        Speaking at a function to commemorate National Children's Day in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, on July 23, 2017, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah requested parents to provide the best education, healthcare, love and protection to their children.

         She urged the parents and teachers to not hurt children, but to keep them happy.

ONE-PRICE FUEL PROGRAM FOR JUST, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 16, 2017 (Antara) - The Joko Widodo (Jokowi) Administration has a strong political will to implement just and equitable economic development across Indonesia, including in remote and outermost regions.

        Development is not only for Java Island, or to cities, but to every region in the country, such as in the hinterland areas located in Indonesia's eastern most province of Papua.

        "I believe that only by implementing just and equitable economic development, we can increasingly become stronger to face global competition," the president said in his address to the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Aug 16, one day prior to the 72nd anniversary of Indonesia's Independence.

           He hoped that by doing so, nobody will feel they are second-and third-class citizens. "We are all Indonesian citizens," he stated.

          All Indonesian citizens should receive equal benefits from developmental gains and be responsible to implement national development, he noted.

          The Head of State particularly wanted the prices of fuel oil and other essential goods in the mountains and border areas of Papua to be the same as in other regions of the country.  
    "We want the people in Papua's border area to be proud of their country as the border areas have been developed as a front verandah of the country," Jokowi remarked.

         In Oct last year, the president launched the program to set the fuel oil price in Papua to be the same as in the rest of the country. Previously, prices in Papua were much higher than in other regions of the country.    

News Focus - PRESERVING EXOTIC NATIVE ORCHIDS OF PAPUA ISLAND by Fardah

 Jakarta, July 22, 2017 (Antara) - Visitors to Papua, Indonesia's easternmost island, would earlier hunt for the stuffed Bird of Paradise, or Passeriformes Paradisaeidae, locally called "Cenderawasih," and the very rare and exotic Black Orchid, or Ceologyne Pandurata, as souvenirs.
         Such practices no longer exist, as the government has placed a ban on them. Both the Bird of Paradise and Black Orchid are very rare and strictly protected.
         Black Orchid is one of the most wanted orchids in Indonesia and can also be found in the deep forests of Kalimantan, although the shape of the flower differs from that found in Papua.
         The form, color, and details of the Black Orchid are beautiful and unique. It has a honeyed tongue, and the petals emit a fresh fragrance.
         The Black Orchid derives its name from the brownish-black and purplish black color of its petals. The Black Orchid's petals are shaped in the form of a bright purple tongue.
         In fact, orchids are a part of Indonesia's natural wealth. More than six thousand species of orchids grow in Indonesia's rainforests, the second highest after Brazil.
         Of these species, some are endemic orchid varieties of Indonesia, which is home to various exotic and rare species of orchids.
         The number of the species continues to grow, as some new ones have been found in their natural habitat deep within the rainforests in Borneo, Sulawesi, and Papua.
         Apart from Black Orchids, Bulbophyllum Graveolens, or Papuan Orchid, is among the very rare and exotic species of orchids.
         Growing in the temperate forests of Papua, this orchid is also known as the Papuan Orchid. The plant is large, with the flower head measuring up to 10 inches.

SEEKING GOVERNMENT'S INTERVENTION IN FREEPORT'S LABOR PROBLEM by Fardah

Jakarta, June 14, 2017 (Antara) - Over the past several years, labor strikes have hit PT Freeport Indonesia (FI), but the subsidiary of the US mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold has managed to find win-win solutions to the problems.

        Having operated the Grasberg mine in Papua, Indonesia¿s ''easternmost province since 1967, PT Freeport Indonesia is into the business of exploration, mining, processing, and worldwide marketing of minerals such as copper, gold, and silver.

        PT FI, one of the three biggest gold and copper mines on the planet, has provided jobs to local people and supported developmental programs in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

       However, since May 1 this year, thousands of PT Freeport workers have been on strike following a dispute between the management and its labor union. 
   The workers of Freeport's contractors have also joined the strike. The labor union has even proposed to extend the strike until June 30, 2017.

        The dispute began when the government banned the company from exporting copper concentrate as it failed to build a smelter for its minerals. The company was forced to lay off many workers for efficiency as it had to stop production.

        As a consequence, PT Freeport and its sub-contract companies fired more than 2.5 thousand workers.

       The layoff caused major concern for the authorities and the affected workers as well as their families, in particular.

PRESIDENT JOKOWI DELIVERS PROMISED MAMA-MAMA MARKET TO PAPUANS by Fardah

Jakarta, May 11, 2017 (Antara) - Papua has received special attention from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Soon after he was sworn in as Indonesian president in October 2014, he visited the country's eastern-most province in December.

           During his first visit, he promised the Papuans that he would frequently visit the province, and he also promised to build the traditional Mama-Mama market into a modern market.

          The president has fulfilled his promises. Since his presidential inauguration, he has visited Papua six times, including in May and December 2015, and April and October 2016.

           The latest visit was on May 19, 2017, which was part of his nation-wide five-day tour that took him among other things to Aceh, South Kalimantan, and North Maluku.

             This time, he delivered another promise, namely the completion of the four-story Mama-Mama market.  
    The market is in downtown Jayapura and is built on a plot of land measuring 4,490 square meters and can accommodate up to 300 vendors.

          The market has modern facilities and is expected to attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit Papua Province.

           Jowoki was accompanied by First Lady Iriana, State Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Rini Soemarno, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Yohanna Yembise, and Health Minister Nila Moeloek during his hour-long visit to the market.

       The President and his entourage walked to the market from the hotel where he was staying during his stay in the city.

        The market, which is about 50 meters from the Aston Jayapura Hotel, was earlier an office and the Damri bus terminal.

         Following his arrival at the market, Jokowi immediately received an update from Minister Soemarno on the development of the market and then inspected the stalls on the first floor and observed the facilities on the second floor.    
   The construction of the market began on April 30, 2016, and has now been completed. 
   The market and its facilities are now ready to be used, President Jokowi said.

        "The most important thing is that it is now 100 percent ready, and training is being continuously carried out," he was quoted as saying by Bey Machmudin, head of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.

         The inauguration of the market, however, awaits the installation of Jayapura's mayor.

            The central government has handed over the operation of the market to the Papua provincial administration.

            "The inauguration of the market should be organized by the governor, and we are waiting for the new mayor to be installed," the head of state noted.

         The construction of the Mama-Mama Market supports the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry's program to eradicate economic injustice faced by women, the minister emphasized.

       Minister Yembise, who is an indigenous Papuan, expressed hope that the newly built Mama-Mama Market would help increase the income of mothers in Papua.

            "The President hopes that this market will soon be used for the benefit of mothers. We have also engaged in training women here, so that they can produce Papua's main commodities that could be then sold in this market or even outside Papua," Yembise stated, while accompanying the President during the visit to the Mama-Mama Market.

                During his Papua visit, the President also officiated several projects, including the construction of the 50-Megawatt (MW) feed gas-fired plant (PLTMG), and the Integrated State Boundary Post in Skouw, Jayapura.

        The president vowed to build a market center soon for the local people in Skouw, which shares its borders with Papua New Guinea (PNG).

        "The development of supporting facility will take place immediately around the Skouw checkpoint," Jokowi remarked, adding that the border market center will contribute to improving the welfare of the people.   
    Most of the buyers at the market are expected to be the inhabitants of Papua and PNG.     
    Meanwhile, the development of five thousand traditional markets and modernizing of the old ones are among the Jokowi administration's Nawacita (Nine Priorities) program during his five-year term (2014-2019). 
    The head of state called for transparent and professional management of the traditional markets to boost their competitiveness and make them at par with modern markets, such as malls and shopping centers.  
The President urged vendors in newly built traditional market to maintain cleanliness and tidiness.

             He hoped to put an end to the image that traditional markets are dirty and muddy places.

              The central government has planned to build at least 15 traditional markets in Papua and West Papua Provinces, with the main objective of improving the welfare of the local community. Markets are also expected to help stabilize commodity prices in Papua.

             Among the new markets will be Iriati Central Market in Wondama (West Papua), Kenyam in Nduga (Papua), Mulia in Puncak Jaya (Papua), and Tambaruni in Fak (West Papua), in addition to Elelim in Yalimo (Papua), Waisei in Raja Empat (West Papua), Rufei in Sorong (West Papua), and Kumurkek in Maybrat (West Papua). The other markets are Doyo Baru in Sentani-Jayapura (Papua), Entrop in Jayapura, Wosi in Manokwari (West Papua), Waropen in Papua, and Jibama in Jayawijaya (Papua), besides Eiknemba in Intan Jaya (Papua), and Kaimana in West Papua. ***3***
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 11-05-2017

PROMOTING TOURISM ATTRACTIONS OF BIAK by Fardah

Jakarta, March 18, 2017 (Antara) - Biak Numfor District was a popular tourist destination in Papua in 1990s, before Raja Ampat was "discovered."
    The district offers several types of tourist attractions from the beauty of nature, historical wreckage of World War (WW) II, and eco-tourism of biodiversity-rich forests of Papua, as well as the unique traditional art and culture of Papuan tribes.

         These attractions will be promoted in the annual Biak Munara Wampasi (BMW) to be organized in Biak from July 1 to 4, 2017.  
     Held for the first time in 2012, the BMW festival has been included in the national tourism calendar. Other festivals in Papua that have been included in the tourism calendar include Baliem Valley Festival and Asmat Festival.

        The festival will be officially launched in the Jakarta Convention Center here on March 30.

         The launch, to be organized by the Tourism Ministry and the Biak Numfor District Administration, would coincide with Deep & Extreme Indonesia event and is meant to promote the festival, particularly among divers, adventurers, underwater sports lovers, and e-tourism tourists, Biak District Head Thomas Ondy stated recently.

          Ondy hoped that the festival would be able to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. For that purpose, the Biak tourism office is promoting the festival on social media.

           "Social media platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Line, have been used to promote Biak's tourist attractions," Turbey Ony Dangeubun, head of the Biak tourism office, stated on March 18.

REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS IN PAPUA RELATIVELY SMOOTH, PEACEFUL by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 15, 2017 (Antara) - Although reports on the implementation of gubernatorial election in Jakarta overshadowed simultaneous regional head lections (pilkada) in 100 other regions across the country on Feb 15, Papua still received a special attention because the province is considered risky in terms of security.
          Eleven districts and cities in Papua held pilkada, with the number of eligible voters reaching 1,445,976, and the number of candidates reaching 38 pairs.  
     The 11 regions were Jayapura District, Mappi, Sarmi, Nduga, Tolikara, Intan Jaya, Lany Jaya, Dogiai, Puncak Jaya, Yapen Island, and Jayapura City.
         Voting was held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time across 3,864 polling stations throughout the province.
         However, voter turnout during the implementation of the mayoral election in Jayapura City, the capital of Papua, was less than 60 percent, which is considered quite low, according to Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe.
          It appears that several residents of Jayapura were not aware of the mechanism of the pilkada, with only one pair of mayoral and deputy mayoral candidates, the governor stated.
         "I think the General Election Commission (KPU) has not done its best in disseminating information on the pilkada, either due to the lack of time or since the city was facing too many problems," he added.
           He also cited the fact that only one pair had taken part in the pilkada in Jayapura City, which might have discouraged several residents from exercising their right to vote.