Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Friday, 17 September 2010
Indonesia’s far east: security and politics
A tide of protest in Indonesia’s easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua is a challenge to Jakarta, says Charles Reading: find a new security paradigm, or face increasing radicalism in the country’s poorest region.
About the author
Charles Reading is the pseudonym of a Jakarta-based security analyst
Indonesia’s two easternmost provinces, Papua and West Papua, are facing a deepening political impasse whose heart is the denial of local people’s political aspirations. Indeed, while Indonesia’s continued economic growth, democratisation and achievement of peace in Aceh have earned it well-deserved praise, the continuing grievances in these two provinces are a tragic reminder of its violent past.
The western half of the island of New Guinea, where the two provinces are located, has remained in a state of simmering conflict since their inclusion into Indonesia in 1969; they remain the poorest in Indonesia.
Aside from genuine and well-grounded discontent, as a whole the Papua situation also suffers from a lack of constructive national and international debate (see "Papua: the elusive dialogue", 23 April 2010). The provinces are often analysed through a simplifying dichotomy - “pro-Indonesia” vs “pro-Papuan independence” - that is rooted in the controversial Act of Free Choice of 1969.
The reality in the two easternmost provinces is, however, much more complex than this. The most recent Papuan demonstrations demanding a referendum on independence show that a nuanced dynamic is at work, hinging on an interaction between grievances, local populist activism, and Jakarta’s own actions (and inactions).
The western half of the island of New Guinea, where the two provinces are located, has remained in a state of simmering conflict since their inclusion into Indonesia in 1969; they remain the poorest in Indonesia.
Aside from genuine and well-grounded discontent, as a whole the Papua situation also suffers from a lack of constructive national and international debate (see "Papua: the elusive dialogue", 23 April 2010). The provinces are often analysed through a simplifying dichotomy - “pro-Indonesia” vs “pro-Papuan independence” - that is rooted in the controversial Act of Free Choice of 1969.
The reality in the two easternmost provinces is, however, much more complex than this. The most recent Papuan demonstrations demanding a referendum on independence show that a nuanced dynamic is at work, hinging on an interaction between grievances, local populist activism, and Jakarta’s own actions (and inactions).
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 16:36 PM
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Papua proposes 500,000 hectares for food estate: Minister
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said his ministry received a proposal to make use of 500,000 hectare areas for the 1.6-million-hectare food and energy estate projects planned in Merauke, Papua.
He said half of the proposed area could be planted directly since it was not in forested areas that have been allocated for other business aims.
He said half of the proposed area could be planted directly since it was not in forested areas that have been allocated for other business aims.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Another Strange Statement on Land Issues in Papua!!!!!!!!??????@@@@@??????
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 16:36 PM
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NATIONAL
Papua proposes 500,000 hectares for food estate: Minister
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said his ministry received a proposal to make use of 500,000 hectare areas for the 1.6-million-hectare food and energy estate projects planned in Merauke, Papua.
He said half of the proposed area could be planted directly since it was not in forested areas that have been allocated for other business aims.
“We are still assessing the remaining 250,000 hectares to ensure whether they are located in peatland or natural forest areas,” Zulkifli said recently.
He said half of the proposed area could be planted directly since it was not in forested areas that have been allocated for other business aims.
“We are still assessing the remaining 250,000 hectares to ensure whether they are located in peatland or natural forest areas,” Zulkifli said recently.
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