No new Regions in Papua for now

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Published on Thursday, 15 January 2015 13:47

On the 28th December in 2014 the government in Jakarta explained that there will be no new regions in Papua for now, as the existing regions had not yet succeeded in increasing the well-being of the society and would therefore only be a financial burden for the state-budget. At the moment, Papua is divided into two regions, Papua and West Papua, these consist of several cities and regencies. As these regions had not succeeded in increasing the well-being of the inhabitants, the question was raised to further divide the existing regions into smaller regions.

„Tanah Mama“ – The struggle of a mother in Papua

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Published on Thursday, 15 January 2015 13:49

„Tanah Mama“ is a movie made by Asrida Elisabeth and tells the story of Halosina, who lives in the Highlands of Papua and struggles to raiser her four children without the support of her husband. Through the movie, Elisabeth tries to urge the government to not forget about Papua and to try and understand the people of Papua. The movie was made in a local language of Papua and has Indonesian and English subtitles. It was released on the 8th of January.

Jokowi in Papua

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Published on Thursday, 15 January 2015 13:50

Indonesia’s President Joko „Jokowi“ Widodo celebrated Christmas in Papua, together with his wife and children, the Trade Minister and the Cabinet Secretary. He visited local markets and visited the groundbreaking ceremony of new markets in Jayapura and Sentani. He also promised to be back for the inauguration of the market in Sentani at the end of 2015. Jokowi also broke his silence over the case in Paniai, where several people were shot. He explained his late comment by saying that he did not want to make a comment as long as he did not have a comprehensive account on the incident and as long as a statement would not solve the problem Furthermore, he explained, he was going to form a fact-finding team to obtain valid information and find the root of the problem to stop the violence in Papua. He said that it is important to not let these incidents happen again. He also emphasized on the importance of having a dialogue and listening to the people of Papua in order to improve the situation in Papua.

Launching of Filep Karma’s book ‘As if We’re half Half Animals.’

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Published on Friday, 12 December 2014 09:49

President Joko Widodo must end all racism and discrimination in the Land of Papua, from impunity for human rights violators to restrictions on access for independent journalists to visit Papua, said publisher Deiyai.

Dr. Benny Giay, chair of the Deiyai publishing company, said that the racism and discrimination in question is highlighted by Filep Karma, a political prisoner in Abepura prison, in his book ‘As If we’re Half Animals: Indonesian Racism in the Land of Papua,’ launched today in Jayapura. It is 10 years to the day since Karma was jailed for a speech about the marginalisation of ethnic Melanesians in the Land of Papua on 1 December 2004.

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UN OHCHR: Papua killings press briefing

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Published on Thursday, 11 December 2014 11:34

We are alarmed at the reported killing of five Papuan teenagers in the highlands region of Paniai in Indonesia yesterday. While the exact circumstances are unclear as there are conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the killings. reportedly, a group of young people gathered outside a police station in the town of Enarotali yesterday to protest against the beating of a local boy by security forces on Sunday night. The police then reportedly opened fire and five teenage boys were killed. A number of other people were injured.

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Not a mere case of bad apples: Acts of state terrorism

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Published on Thursday, 11 December 2014 11:24

Thirteen years ago on Nov. 10 — Heroes’ Day — the Papuan leader Theys Eluay was found dead in the vicinity of Jayapura city after attending an event at the local headquarters of the Army’s Special Forces, Kopassus.

His body was left abandoned in a public place. His driver, Aristoteles Masoka, went missing, and remains unaccounted for.

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