Mr Yauvoli told the Fiji Times human rights issues relating to West Papua should be dealt with by international organisations.

Speaking during a working group meeting in Nadi on Thursday, he said the MSG’s common enemy is crime and politics should be set aside.

Earlier this week Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the MSG was failing because of a lack of political engagement.

Source: www.radionz.co.nz

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The minister made the donation while leading a morning assembly at the two schools, which are located in the same compound. He also donated Rp 20 million (US$1,390) in cash for them to build a reading room and purchase sport equipment.

Speaking at the assembly, Muhadjir talked about the controversial school zoning system that the government had implemented in a bid to narrow the gap between the quality of education across Indonesia.

He said the system would create synergy between the three ecosystems of education, namely the school, the environment and the family.

“If these three ecosystems synergize well, then the students will be protected from negative impacts because there will be cooperation among the school, the community and the parents,” he said.

He said the system would eliminate the concept of “favorite” or exclusive schools as the quality of education in all schools would be the same.

source: The Jakarta Post

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The leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), a small band of Papuans living overseas who are pushing to annex the province of West Papua from Indonesia, Wenda receives millions of pounds collected from his network of loyal supporters. Supporters who in turn organize fund-raising events such as music concerts, corporate contributions, cultural nights, movie nights and etc.

Well-known brands & politicians behind funding

Among the corporate contributors to Benny Wenda or the ULMWP are household brands Court Lodge, Lush Cosmetics, Peter Thatchell Foundation, Bertha Foundation in the United Kingdom and the Optical Superstore in Australia.

Politicians from a number of countries also fell under the spell of Wenda. Among them are Charlot Salwai and Ralph Regenvanu the prime minister and foreign minister of Vanuatu. Others include Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party in the UK, Richard di Natale, the leader of the Greens in Australia and Bram van Ojik, of the Greens in the Netherlands.

Members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (WPNLA) met with PM Charlot Salwai and Cabinet, Port Vila, Vanuatu, December 2017

But the jet-set life facade of Benny Wenda hides a dark truth.

Benny Wenda’s trail of murders & terrors

The organisation he heads, the ULMWP, have a strong link and chain of command with a number of armed separatist group West Papua National Liberation Army (WPNLA) in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, Indonesia.

The group and its affiliates are known and have been proven to be behind many murders, killings, kidnappings and other crimes in West Papua.

In April, Vicky Rumpaisum, an army private was murdered by the group. This Papuan native was on patrol in Timika when he was shot in cold blood by a group linked to the ULMWP and Benny Wenda. Private Rumpaisum was a decorated army private who have served as a peace keeper for the United Nations in Lebanon.

Then there is the story of the shooting dead of a Sandi Novian, an army private first class who was doing his weekly shopping on 13 February 2018 at the local market in Sinak Papua.

As reported by Reuters and Radio New Zealand, five members of the separatist criminal group armed with guns and machetes attacked and murdered the private in the market in front of the public.

ABC Melanesia Sources can now reveal that some of those funds received by Benny Wenda and the ULMWP ultimately reaches the WPNLA and its affiliate groups. Money which in turn is used to finance and arm the separatist groups in West Papua to kill civilians and security forces indiscriminately.

The Vanuatu Daily Post reported on 10 February 2018 of a statement by Jacob (Yakob) Prai, the founder of the Free West Papua Movement or Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM), the armed wing of the separatist group:

“I as the founder of the Free West Papua Movement or Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) want to acknowledge and support the United Liberation Movement of West Papua that it is a political organisation that carries the spirit of OPM that will continue the struggle and fulfill its final mission, which is establishing the full independence and sovereign Republic of West Papua.”

It was further revealed that Benny Wenda met with Mr Prai in Sweden on 28 December 2017. Sources reveal that Mr Prai reported a number of “military operation” conducted by the OPM on the direct orders of Benny Wenda.

Jacob Prai, founder of the armed separatist group in West Papua revealed that he receives orders from Benny Wenda

A number of murders committed by the West Papua separatist group includes the following:

• 2 researchers killed during the Mapenduma hostage crisis, 1996;
• 26 people abducted at Mapenduma, including researchers from Britain, Netherlands and Indonesia;
• 6 civilians and police officers killed in Wasior, June 2001;
• 3 police officers killed in Lanny Jaya, November 2012;
• 1 health worker killed in Puncak Jaya, July 2013;
• 2 police officers killed in Lanny Jaya, July 2014;
• 1 priest killed in Namuniweja Village, November 2015;
• 4 road workers killed in Sinak & Mulia, March 2016;
• 2 teacher and road worker killed in Puncak Jaya, August-September 2016
• 1 police officer killed during the Banti and Kimbely Villages hostage crisis
• 1,300 villagers from Banti and Kimbely Villages taken hostages

Emboldened by the strong political and financial support from Vanuatu PM Salwai and FM Regenvanu, sources reveal that Benny Wenda ordered his armed-wing in West Papua to inflict damage through more murders and kidnappings.

On 21 February 2018, Radio New Zealand online reported that “West Papua Liberation Army in Fresh Campaign Against Indonesia“.

The allegation of complicity of PM Charlot Salwai and FM Ralph Regenvanu in past murders and kidnappings and active support for the separatist group future criminal acts is a serious one.

Failure for Salwai and Regenvanu to answer those serious charges amounts to them having blood on their hands.

Member of the armed separatist group pose with an automatic weapon (Photo: Facebook)

The Mapenduma hostages, Papua, 1996

The ULMWP is led by Benny Wenda, a fugitive wanted in connection to the murder of West Papuans Petrus Epaa and Markus Padama in Papua in December 2000. 

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Around 3,000 Papua residents received land certificates directly from Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, in Papua’s capital Jayapura yesterday.

Jokowi is on his eighth visit to Papua region, which is widely known as West Papua.

According to a government spokesperson, the disbursal of the certificates is a “symbolic” event which helps inform the public about their rights.

She said the president wanted to streamline the bureaucratic process around land ownership certification which had previously been lengthy and complicated.

In the certificate handover ceremony, Jokowi told the residents that the certificates were proof of their land ownership.

He also reminded people to maintain the condition of the certificates, saying they can be used as collateral for a bank in a bid to secure venture capital.

The Antara news agency reports that of the 3,331 certificates that were distributed, 767 certificates were for Kerom District, 768 certificates were for Jayapura District, and 463 certificates were distributed to the people of Jayapura City.

The government also distributed certificates to other districts of Papua and West Papua provinces, such as Biak Numfor, Merauke, Jayawijaya, Yapen Islands, Nabire, and Mimika.

In 2017, the government had distributed 70 thousand land certificates to the people of Papua.

The ministry targets to add another 20 thousand certificates in 2018.

Jokowi is on a two-day working visit to Papua which is due to finish tomorrow. He is today expected to visit a remote area in Asmat District to observe the recovery efforts of malnutrition and measles cases in the area.

During his speech at the certificate event, Jokowi asked people to maintain peace and calm ahead of the head regional election in 2018 and the general election year in 2019.

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It would be his 8th visit to that country`s most backward region . Jokowi is expected to inspect traditional markets and infrastructure projects in the regency of Asmat and Sorong in West Papua.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahyo Kumolo said here on Tuesday the president`s frequent visit to Papua indicates his great attention to the condition of the country`s easternmost regions.

Jokowi wanted Papua and West Papua to catch up with other regions through acceleration of infrastructure and social development, Tjahyo Kumolo, said after installing Papua`s acting governor Soedarmo here on Tuesday.

President Jokowi wants to bring to reality the Nawacita (nine-point development program) through development of infrastructure and social economy in Papua and West Papua.

Max Olua, a Papua youth leader, said Papua youths highly appreciate Jokowi`s frequent visit to Papua showing his serious attention to the welfare of the region.

“We highly appreciate this as of all presidents of the country President Jokowi had shown the greatest attention to Papua placing the region as important part of NKRI,” Max said.

source: Antaranews

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Challenging transportation in Papua also makes development in Papua becomes halted and the prices of goods become high. Therefore, to increase the development in Papua, the government also tries to improve the transportation access in Papua. Currently, they are now building Trans Papua Roads, train rail, sea tolls, and so on, in the hope that, by building better transportation in Papua, the inter connectivity can be improved.

Mountainous Terrains and Thick Forests
Some of the problems for the challenging transportation access in Papua are mountainous terrains and dense forest areas. The topography makes the areas isolated and hard to access. The only solution to access that area is by using air transportation. Therefore, the government is now trying to improve the air transportation for better transportation in Papua.

To improve the air transportation in Papua, the government has been making several changes in airports in Papua, by making more flight routes, and buying more airplanes. Currently, the Ministry of Transportation has already allocated around 198 billion IDR for the building of a new terminal on the Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika. The improvement of the Mozes Kilangin Airport is vital for the air transportation in remote places in Papua. Mozes Kilangin Airport improvement is going to be the center of cargo flights to deliver goods in Papua.

By centralizing it, the government want the access of the goods delivery into a remote places in Papua much easier. That is because, the flight routes into Wamena Ilaga, Sinak Wageta, Sugapa, and other areas are much closer to Timika. Than from Sentani Jayapura or from Nabire. Those solution will going to make the flight transportation cost of goods to those places more cheaper. That is mean that, it will going to reducing the goods price in those areas.

By that, it is hoped that the air transportation access in Papua to mountainous terrain and thick forest areas will going to be improve. It is also hope that by the improvement of transportation access in Papua, it will going to help solving the goods delivery problems in there.

source: Papuanews.org

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“I have asked the Minister of Energy, Mineral Resources and the National Electric Company to add power lines to all villages in Papua,” President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated here on Wednesday.

Jokowi inaugurated the 20 MW and 50 MW gasoline-powered generators of Jayapura in Nabire District.

He added that at least two thousand villages in Papua had not received electricity lines, as they were located in remote areas and difficult terrains.

Widodo noted that the hard terrains have caused difficulties for related parties to construct electricity lines to rural areas.

Despite the high price of construction in Papua, the government is eager to build the infrastructure in Papua, including the power lines, to achieve social welfare, Widodo remarked.

Besides power lines, the president revealed that the government would also conduct several efforts to boost the development of economy in Papua, such as implementing the single-fuel price, decreasing cement price, constructing Trans-Papua access road, as well as improving health and educational services.

He added that the government will fulfill the electricity needs of Papua residents by making use of solar cells and PLN power lines.

source: AntaraNews

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Papua is technically part of Indonesia although it is not to be confused with Papua New Guinea which is a separate country.

Located far away from central hubs in Indonesia like Java and Bali, Papua is covered is acres of gorgeous rainforest as well as tinkling rivers and gushing waterfalls.

Visitors here can also enjoy long white sandy beaches as well as splendid wavy coral reefs, and anyone who likes diving is in for a treat as the visibility is so clear that you will be able to spot a huge variety of underwater life.

Papua is also an important spot in terms of culture, and you can get a glimpse at the amazing tribal art here in the form of ancient cave paintings that still exist in some spots.

Getting to Papua and getting around the island takes time, as many parts are only accessible by boat, but it is more than worth it to explore one of the last great untouched spots left in Indonesia, if not the world.

Here are the best places to visit in Papua:

1. Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat has to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Located in West Papua it is known as a top spot for those on their honeymoon and it is also a premium location for anyone who likes diving.

Much of the island is covered in untouched rainforests and you will find wide stretches of clean sand that back on the turquoise seas teeming with marine life.

As you would expect, snorkelling, sailing, and swimming are also popular pastimes here but it is the diving that is the true star of Raja Ampat and you can expect 540 species of coral here as well as over 1,500 species of fish.

2. Goa Jepang

Goa Jepang means Japanese Cave in Indonesian and is located to the north of the town of Kota Biak, one of the larger and more significant towns in Papua.

It is a spot of historical interest that would have been used in the Second World War as a place for Japanese soldiers to hide, and there is even a tunnel from here which tacks three kilometres to Parai which is on the coast.

Some 3,000 Japanese servicemen are said to have died here when the US military bombed the cave, and now you can go down into the large cavern and take in the scene for yourself.

You will also find Japanese and American weaponry on show as well as old photographs of the cave.

3. Cenderawasih Bay Marine National Park

Cenderawasih Bay Marine National park is also referred to as Taman Teluk Cenderawasih and is actually a large marine park made up of 18 different islands which stretch along an expanse of pretty coastline.

The park sprawls for 14,000 square kilometres making it one of the largest in Indonesia and many people come here for the trekking, hiking, and scuba diving, and if you like bird watching then this is a great place to do it.

One of the most popular islands to visit in the national park include Pulau Auri, Pulai Rumberpon, and Pulau Wairondi.

4. Have a picnic on Base G Beach

Base G Beach in Jayapura is almost 3 kilometres in length and is covered in wonderful golden sand.

One of the best features of the beach is the wooden picnic platforms that you will find here, making it a great spot if you want to bring some food and spend a lazy day enjoying the vistas.

You can swim here although caution is advised as the water is lined with rocks meaning that the beach lends itself to relaxation rather than bathing.

Another big draw here is the fact that you will probably find yourself alone on the beach which is secluded and only packed with locals at the weekend.

5. Fak Fak

The strangely named Fak Fak is a Dutch settlement which sits at the base of some picturesque hills and you can also enjoy sweeping vistas across the neighbouring sea.

This is not a particularly big town but it is well worth a visit, and you can walk down the main artery called Jalan Izaak Telussa and take in many of the sights from here.

This is also a good place if you want to visit the neighbouring Banda Islands and Pulau Ambon which are part of the wider Maluku Islands.

You can also take day trips from Fak Fak to neighbouring Pulau Tubir Seram which is a pretty island that is covered in sandy beaches and hiking trails.

6. Manokwari

Manokwari lies around the bay of Teuk Doreri and is a place of historical significance as it would have been the first missionary base in Papua which is predominantly Christian in a Muslim majority country.

Many visitors choose to come here for the sightseeing as you can explore a range of wildlife trails, many of which are part of the idyllic Table Mountain Park (called Taman Gunung Meja). Other local points of interest include the Japanese Monument as well as the Japanese Cave.

Close to Manokwari you will find sunny Pulau Lemon (Lemon Island) where you can snorkelling and swimming.

7. Pulau Biak

Pulau Biak is one of the most popular islands in Papua and is covered in historical points of interest.

The main town on Pulau Biak is called Kota Biak and around the island you will find a wealth of diving options as well as bird watching tours.

Another spot not to miss in Biak is the Cenderawasih Museum and you can also travel to the other side of the island to take in the stunning rock formations in Urfu and Samber.

In short, this is one island that you absolutely can’t miss if you make the journey to this exciting province.

8. Lorentz National Park

Lorentz National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also the home of a famous mountain called Puncak Jaya.

The Castensz Pyramid (as the mountain is known in English) measures up to 4,900 meters and if you want to learn all about the flora and fauna in Indonesia then this is place you need to visit.

There are hundreds of species of birds in the park which will delight birdwatchers and you can also enjoy trekking and mountain climbing up Puncak Jaya if you are feeling adventurous.

Bear in mind however that this is a strenuous hike so make sure to plan accordingly and only attempt it if you are used to mountain trekking.

9. Aikima

If you want to get out and about in Papua then consider a trip to Aikima which is around eight kilometres from larger Waimena and is the home of the Werapak Elosak Mummy.

This preserved corpse dates from 300 years ago and is the body of an ancient chief which has been smoked in order to prevent his body from decomposing.

The story goes that the reason for this was that the chieftain had magical powers and that the village wanted to preserve these after his death to keep the local area safe and free from evil spirits or marauding armies.

10. Museum Loka Budaya

Museum Loka Budaya in Jayapura is part of Cenderawasih University and is one of the best museums in Papua.

Here you will find a huge array of different artefacts such as ancient Asmat carvings and traditional costumes.

There are also crafts items from different parts of Papua and you will even find diverse collections such as exhibitions of old photographs and even musical instruments.

Anyone who enjoys taxidermy can also peruse a gallery of Papuan stuffed animals including some of its signature birds of paradise.

11. The Bird and Orchid Garden

For a bit of serenity in Kota Biak head to Ibdi, the Bird and Orchid Garden which has a collection of birds indigenous to Papua including hornbills, cockatoos, and lories.

As well as the colourful avians you will also find several dozen species of orchids here so if you want to stroll around in a cool and unhurried part of the city then this is the place to do it.

This is also one of main attractions in Biak which is a pretty spot but doesn’t have a huge number of sightseeing spots in its own right.

12. Jiwika

Located close to the town of Jiwika, the Wimontok Mabel Mummy is said to be the remains of a famous chief who would have lived here in the 18th century.

His corpse has been preserved and you can now come and see this macabre spectacle for yourself if you want to know more about the history of the area.

This is also a typical off-the-beaten-track area in Papua so it’s a great place to meet some of the locals and see how people live in this amazing province.

13. The Asmat Region

The Asmat Region of Papua is not well visited by tourists which is a shame as it is a great place to come if you want to see some of the most majestic countryside in Papua.

The region sprawls for miles and is covered in mangrove swamps, rivers, and tropical jungle, and the main town is called Agats although don’t expect a large metropolis as it is actually more like a small town.

One of the highlights of Agats however is the Museum Kebudayaan dan Kemajuan (Museum of Culture and Progress) which is filled with galleries of Asmat tribal art.

14. Spend a few days in Jayapura

Jayapura is the capital city of Papua and is also its largest city.

That said, it has a population of 200,000 people which means that it is not exactly huge, but there is plenty to see here to keep you busy for a few days.

The city is encircled by hills and you will be close to beaches here such as Base G Beach and there are a number of temples to see in town which are visited by the local Buddhist population.

Also make sure not to miss the local market in Hamadi for a truly Papuan experience.

15. Kaimana Island

Kaimana Island in West Papua is a Marine Protected Area linked with Raja Ampat and is also part of the Bird’s Head Seascape.

It is known for some of the best diving in the world as it sits in the famous Coral Triangle, an area with more species of fish and coral than any other place on earth.

Kaimana is often called the Kingdom of Fishes and is also a favourite with those who like macro photography.

As the name suggests, you will find an abundance of coral gardens here as well as species like graceful dolphins, marlin, seahorses, and sharks.

source: www.thecrazytourist.com

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Domine Eduard Osok Airport serves as a one of the entry point to the Raja Ampat Islands, since Raja Ampat Islands is closer to the city of Sorong, compared to the provincial capital Manokwari. However, Marinda Airport which is located within the Raja Ampat Islands has started operating, therefore this airport no longer serves as the main entry point.

The movement of aircraft in one of the busiest and largest airports on the Bird’s Head Peninsula is experiencing an average growth of 3.3% annually. Noted, there are more than 9,000 aircraft movements per year. In terms of passengers, the average annual passenger growth reaches 13.2% where in 2014 there are about 500,000 more passengers. For cargo, the average cargo growth per year is quite rapid at around 17.2%.

As an airport feeder, Domine Eduard Osok Airport serves domestic scheduled services operated by several airlines including Garuda Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air and Xpress Air. In addition, the airport also serves pioneer destinations which are operated by Susi Air to some surrounding areas such as Ayawasi, Inawatan, Teminabuan, and Waisai. With a length of 2,500 meters and 45 meters wide, this airport runway can be landed by aircraft like Boeing 737 series and the Airbus A320.

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Spear

One of the traditional weapon in Papua is the spear. This weapon is usually used by the indigenous people in Papua to hunt animals for food. There are also different kinds of spears in Papua, spears with one edge and two edges. Every tribes in Papua also have a different kinds of spear, but the similarity is, all of them do not use iron as the edge of their spear. Instead they use stone and wood as the materials of their spear.

Bow and Arrow

Bows and Arrows are one of the traditional weapon in Papua. When we think about the weapon of the tribes in Papua, we usually think of a bow and arrow. It is indeed one of the typical weapon in Papua. The Papuan tribes usually use this weapon as their main weapon in hunting animal. However, they also use this weapon in war.

The Papuan tribes usually use materials from the nature to craft this weapon. They usually use a bamboo or wood as the main material for the arch. While for the rope of the bow, they use rattan. For the arrow, they usually use bamboo, wood, or the bones of kangaroo.

Stone Axe

Stone axe is an ancient weapon that human have been using since the dawn of the stone age. For the Papuan tribes, stone axe is one of their traditional weapon in Papua. Although it sounds pretty simple, but the stone axe of the Papuan tribes is quite complicated. The edge of the stone axe is usually oval and framed with weavings from wood fiber and orchid. They usually use the stone axe for cutting and gouging.

Dagger

Papua also have a dagger as one of their traditional weapon. However, the Papuan dagger is different and unique, because it is made of Cassowary bird or a Bamboo. The bones that are being used for this dagger is usually the leg bone of the cassowary. Not only that, the feather of the cassowary bird is also used for the handle of the dagger as one of the ornaments in the dagger.

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