“West Papua hit by 6.1-magnitude quake”

Earthquake in West Papua (http://www.natureinanger.com/wp-content/gallery/indonesia-earthquake-2009/indonesia-earthquake-03.gif)

West Papua was struck by a 6.1- magnitude earth quake on Sunday. The quake  occurred 123 kilometers north-west of West Papua’s capital of Manokwari and reached a depth of 56 kilometres. The head of the Indonesian geophysics agency said  the earthquake in Papua has nothing to do with that in Sumatra, the tectonic plates in both incidents are different” and that “there were no immediate reports of injuries in West Papua”. (Reported by ABC News) Read Original Article.

“600 Army Officers Deployed to Guard Papua Freeport Mine”

West Papua Freeport Mine (http://www.safecom.org.au/images/freeport1.jpg)

According to an article published on Jakarta Globe the Freeport Timuka mine (West Papua) has employed 600 army officers to secure the mine following a series of armed attacks from separist groups. The Papua Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Yani Nasution said that the situation was “totally secure” and that ” West Papua is secure and under control”.

The move comes after a number of armed roadside ambushes outside the mine, workers at the mine have started wearing flak jackets and helmets and other safety measures have been instigated. Read the full article

Day of the Broken Promise

Free Papua Independence leader Benny Wenda  along with a  a number of other Papuan’s protested outside the Dutch embassy in the UK on August 14 against the’ day of broken promises’ (15 August 1962).

Benny Wenda (http://insideindonesia.org/images/stories/edition_96/robinson4.jpg

The ‘Day of Broken promises’ marks the day that the Dutch signed the New York agreement handing over West Papua to Indonesian colony, despite having previously promised West Papua independence.

“The Indonesian army moved in on 1 May 1963 and began a programme of repression and human rights abuse against the people. In 1969 they rounded up and detained just over a thousand West Papuans as representatives of the people and ensured that they voted for rule by Indonesia by threats, including at least in some cases that they and their families would be killed unless they did so…Since then there have been many reports of repression by Indonesia in the country, including murder, political assassinations, torture, rapes, disappearances and bombing. The government also had a programme of resettling migrants from Indonesia in the country, apparently aimed at producing an Indonesian majority population.”

Peter Marshall of Indymedia Uk covered the protests of a number of Papuan’s outside the Dutch embassy in London. Read his Article

West Papua occupation condemned

Selena Black

16 August 2009

MELBOURNE — August 15 marked 47 years since the US, Australia, the Netherlands and the United Nations made the New York Agreement, allowing West Papua to be invaded by Indonesia.

Fifty West Papuans and supporters gathered on August 14 to commemorate the day. They took their protest to the US and Indonesian consulates to remind them of the human tragedy of West Papua’s occupation. Protesters promised to further the campaign internationally so that the genocide of indigenous West Papuans is no longer ignored. From

Indonesian lawsuit against global mining

  Christina Hill [Mining Advocacy Coordinator, Oxfam Australia]: “It has been reported that local communities in the Indonesian province of West Papua have filed a $30 billion lawsuit against the local subsidiary of US mining company Freeport-McRoRan Copper & Gold – operator of the giant Grasberg mine. The company is being sued for environmental and human rights violations. As reported by the JURIST, Freeport has been a frequent target of environmental and human rights groups who allege human rights abuse and environmental damage.

 

Back in 2006, Freeport was excluded from the $300 billion Norwegian Government Pension Fund’s investment portfolio on ethical grounds. Freeport’s mining activities at Grasberg were found [PDF file] to “involve an unacceptable risk of complicity in severe and irreversible damage to the natural environment” while the “company’s practice of riverine [tailings] disposal is in breach of international standards.” Freeport is not the only mining company to be blacklisted by the Pension Fund for causing severe environmental damage due to the practice of dumping mine waste into rivers. Barrick Gold and Rio Tinto – which has a stake in the Grasberg mine – have also been excluded from the Fund’s investment portfolio for this reason.Read More

 

 

 

Papua independence movement raises flag

Members of the National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Movement are reported to have raised an independence flag in the border region between Indonesia’s Papua Province and Papua New Guinea.

The Indonesian newspaper, Kompas Cyber Media website reports that the group raised a Morning Star Flag and demanded open dialogue regarding Papuan independence.

The Military Information Service says the flag was raised about one kilometre from an Indonesian Armed Forces Battalion Security Post.

It says the Armed Forces response was limited to being alert and increasing surveillance, as the police are responsible for handling such cases.

But Kompas reports the incident almost resulted in an armed clash between the separatist group and local security forces.

The Morning Star flag was eventually lowered but the Free Papua Movement refused to surrender it. Read More

Q+A attacks at Freeport mines

JAKARTA, July 24 (Reuters) – A series of shootings this month near Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc’s (FCX.N) massive Grasberg mine in Indonesia has raised concerns over the possible impact on the mine’s operations.

Grasberg has the world’s largest recoverable reserves of copper, accounting for nearly 40 percent of Freeport’s total copper reserves of 93 billion pounds, and the largest gold reserves.

Freeport said the shootings have not affected production.

Papuan police said on Friday that two people had been killed in shooting-related incidents this month: Australian technical expert Drew Grant and an unnamed security guard. At least 10 people were wounded, including seven police.

Here are some questions and answers about the situation:

WHAT’S BEHIND THESE ATTACKS?

Probably money.

With its vast natural resources — copper, gold, timber — Papua has long been regarded as a honeypot, and Freeport is Indonesia’s top tax contributor, paying $1.2 billion in royalties and other taxes in 2008. Read More

Free West papua

West Papua needs your help!

The forgotten land of West Papua is under brutal Indonesian military occupation. Its tribal people are being slaughtered, and their unique environment destroyed.

But the world is doing nothing to stop it.

The Free West Papua Campaign exists to alert the world to this ongoing tragedy – and to stop it happening.

We are the only national organisation in the UK working full time to stop the genocide in West Papua. We work with Papuan leaders in the UK and abroad to support the peaceful struggle of the Papuan people to regain their freedom.

But in order to do it, we need your help Read More