Papuans Urged Not To Stand For Mrp

JUBI, 10 February 2011

Papuans Urged Not To Stand For Mrp

The legal aid organisation, LP3BH, has called on Papuans not to agree to be nominated for a seat on the MRP (Papuan People's Assembly) in the forthcoming elections. They should also reject the entire nominations process which is now being organised by two agencies, the Kesbangpol and the LMA.

Speaking on behalf of the LP3BH, its executive director, Yan Christian Warinussy urged Papuans to reject any offers to be nominated for the MRP. He said that by accepting nominations, Papuans would be indicating that they support the election of a new MRP. If Papuans refuse to be nominated, this will thwart the efforts of the government to continue with the election process.

He said that by adopting such a position, Papuans will be showing that they do not support the efforts currently under way throughout West Papua to elect members of a new MRP in all parts of the territory.

On 26 January 2011, thousands of Papuans from a variety of communities and churches took part in a demonstration calling on the Papuan provincial council, the DPRP, to halt the election of members of the MRP. The demonstrators called on the DPRP, the central government and the provincial government to respond to the eleven recommendations adopted on 9 June 2010 by the grand assembly of Papuan communities and the MRP.

[These recommendations included the call for a referendum to be held in West Papua, for the Special Autonomy Law 21/2001 to be handed back to the government and for a dialogue between the Papuan people and the Indonesian government. The first MRP was set up in 2006 in accordance with the provisions of this law. Since late last year, there have been many demonstrations in West Papua calling for the 'return' of the special autonomy law to the government.]

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Indigenous Papuans In Intan Jaya Reject Mining Operations In Agisiga

JUBI, 10 February 2011

There are now reports that illegal mining is under way not only in the Degeuwo Estuary but also in the Dogabu Estuary, in the district of Intan Jaya, Papua.

The illegal mining is being carried out by groups that are unknown to the local community or the local government.

'The mining operations are being carried out without a licence from the local government,' said Agustinus Tapani, secretary of the Intan Jaya Traditional Council. He said that the local community is the rightful owner of the land and they firmly reject the presence of any companies or businesses in their area. 'In any case, they have never agreed to surrender their land, nor have they issued any licences to others to operate there.'

Agus Tapani said that a number of mining operators are excavating minerals and coal in West Papua, including in Degeuwo without licences either from the government or from the local communities. 'Law No 4/2009 makes the position clear. Yet, many companies have bypassed these authorised mechanisms which have been laid down by the government,' he said.

Speaking on behalf of the local DAP, Tapani said that all companies must abide by the provisions of the regulations. He called on the company now operating in Degeuwo to end their operations because the community in Intan Jaya is suffering as a result of these mining operations.

Agus Tapani who is also the secretary of the KNPI in Intan Jaya warned all companies which come to Papua and partiularly to Intan Jaya district to realise that they need to pass through three stages, the traditional community, the churches and the government.. The presence of mining companies in Agisiga can initiate a process that will damage the lifestyles of the entire community in Intan Jaya. He also called on the executive and legislative bodies to pay attention to this problem.

Although the identity of the company now operating in Intan Jaya is not known, JUBI understands that PT Freeport Indonesia is involved in explorations in a number of districts, including Sugapa, Ugimba, Mindau, Pogapa and the Dogabu Estuary, through its subsidiary company PT Mine Serve International.

ENDS

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