Category: News alert

SKP HAM Papua to Regularly Conduct Discussion on Paniai Case

Jayapura, Jubi – The Solidarity for Human Right Violation (SKP HAM) Papua and student groups held a discussion and film screening on the Paniai shootings, which killed four high school students and a civilian on 8 December 2014 at Aula GMKI Padang Bulan, Jayapura City, Friday (30/10/2015).

The Chairman of Independent Student Forum (FIM) Papua, Teko Kogoya, said this case is severe human right violation and the students keep continuing the peace rally and monitoring the case until it’s been settled.
“But up to now, the human right commissioners in the Ad Hoc are unable to work properly. They said the State has no budget for this case,” Kogoya among hundreds of students attended in the forum told to reporter.

 

read more: SKP HAM Papua to Regularly Conduct Discussion on Paniai Case

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Villagers in Sarmi Need Clean Water and Latrine

Source: Villagers in Sarmi Need Clean Water and Latrine

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Journalism Triage Process for Civil Resistance and Human Rights Journalism

One part of why WPM has been so busy behind the scenes. For use in training our journalists.

westpapuamedia's avatareyeSafeMoJo - The Safe Witness (Mobile) Journalism Project

EyeSAFEMoJo’s JournoTriage Process for Civil Resistance and Human Rights Journalism is a simple concept that adopts traditional newsroom story prioritisation, combining it with the highly effective and universal First Responder’s Mass Casualty Assessment tool.

Journalism Triage was borne out of a demonstrated need for a fast, unambiguous classification system for the urgency of raw data and field reports from journalists and sources during civil resistance and human security crises.  Whilst similar to traditional colour coded news priority “slugs” in newsrooms, JournoTriage combines a material (Security, political, repressive, casualty, legality and impunity) conditions crisis assessment of standardised coding system that is understood immediately by journalists, human security, medics, counter-disaster and international agencies -instantly.

JournoTriage is designed to fit seamlessly and operate concomitantly with existing crisis classification systems, both from a human security and medical perspective, to enable the most effective prioritisation of both crisis and everyday coverage of crisis, human rights…

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West Papua Media needs your urgent help to continue into 2016

OPEN LETTER

November 7, 2015

Dear Supporters of building capacity for credible Free Media in Papua,

YOUR URGENT SUPPORT FOR WEST PAPUA MEDIA’S ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ADVOCACY COSTS HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE TO THE ABILITY FOR FRONTLINE CITIZEN AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS TO DELIVER FEARLESS, CREDIBLE AND ROBUST JOURNALISM FROM WEST PAPUA TO THE WORLD.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.WESTPAPUAMEDIA.INFO/DONATE TODAY AND GIVE GENEROUSLY. WE NEED YOUR HELP, URGENTLY, TODAY

West Papua Media is now entering its ninth year delivering credible independent and indigenous journalism from West Papuan journalists, and human rights, legal, social justice and environmental defenders, to the world. We have been a fully-fledged outlet since June 2010, and we hope to continue well into the future.  Of course we have always been volunteers, and often fund this work out of our own well worn pockets.  But we need your help to help us to continue to support and build a credible free independent media in West Papua, that can operate with safety..

Our impact has been huge and positive. Our initial model – which we stick to today – has a network of clandestine, trained stringers and undercover journalists in the field around Papua who could securely verify source reports independently, safely, and quickly. With the advent of instant social media capacity many activists have moved to sending UNVERIFIED reports to certain exile activist groups, who have little capacity or desire to spend the hard slog involved in ensuring that reports that they publish are accurate, verifiable or even true. In the race to get the most clicks, credibility of the West Papua story has suffered, as photos of old events, or events in other parts of the world, are relabelled as “evidence” of Indonesian brutality and distributed virally on social media by many who will not do even basic fact checking. This is very harmful in the long run, and it is something the WPM’s constituency in Papua literally cry about.

West Papua Media IS different. We believe in credibility. We believe in verifying and proving beyond all doubt that an abuses have occurred, by using a scientific process of verifying independently Who did what to whom, when where, how and why. We ask for proof, or we label assertions as quotes. We do metadata analysis of photographs (and of course reverse image searches to make sure the image isn’t recycled and relabelled).

We believe there are enough powerful stories of survival and resistance of Indonesia’s colonial brutality in West Papua, and its peoples’ desire for basic rights like the universal right to Self-determination to not need to make it up. But it is hard, it costs a lot of money to make it happen, and that money is hard to come by – which is why we urgently need your help.  The very act of producing credible media is a powerful act of Self-determination, as is so powerfully demonstrated by our indigenous media partners, Tabloid Jubi, Suara Papua, and Majalah Selangkah, to name but a few.

We have worked with literally hundreds of international media outlets to deliver groundbreaking independent coverage of West Papua to the world. We have worked with generations of frontline activists and journalists to bring to real and honest aspirations of West Papua to the world. Together with our partners and pioneering West Papuan journalists, West Papua Media has re-established links between international media safety organisations to really draw attention to the lack of media safety and freedom in Papua.

Two particular reports – the Pacific Media Freedom Report and Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index (both of which WPM was closely involved with) – cemented a change in the narrative on access by international journalists to Papua, and created a new situation where a limited amount of journalists (mainly from New Zealand) have been granted approval to travel

Make no mistake, the media ban remains firmly in place for those who wish to cover the aspirations of the people, the military and police repression, and issues related to colonial exploitation, like mining, agribusiness, Oil Palm and of course illegal logging – all of which are conducted by senior members of Indonesia’s security forces.

Our clandestine network has smuggled in scores of journalists to West Papua since 2007, and provided unmatched security and fixing services for well over 300 individual journalists, many of whom are regular writers on the issue now. We have helped many journalists make their careers with major scoops, although the few of those journalists who give back are in the minority, we maintain a close working relationship with these journalists. We have published over 1,200 articles on our site, and generated content for over thirty-thousand article since 2007.

Just google “West Papua Media” to see the impact we have had, and to read papers about our work.

We need your urgent support to flourish

Just as West Papua Media (WPM)is moving forward with a host of exciting new projects and technologies to support media freedom in Papua, our crew are again staring down the barrel of a day-to-day funding gun.

Yes, the main website of Westpapuamedia.info has been a little quiet.  However, published investigations and news articles are just the tip of the iceberg for what we do.

WPM has lately been focusing on a lot of costly behind the scenes work, developing exciting new secure technologies and methodologies for getting frontline journalists and human rights defenders in West Papua the ability to safely communicate between editors, content creators, field workers and sources. This is including:

  • a new Field Guide to Safe Witness Journalism (eyeSafeMOJO) which will be distributed for testing by the end of the year.
  • a groundbreaking Journalism Triage system for clear prioritisation of source information and stories,
  • developing a new and improved vertical assessment methodology for human security Incident Reporting, which we are incorporating and coding into the secure Martus Human Rights Bulletin System, now usable safely on Mobile phones and tablets.
  • New updated eyeSafeMojo tips and advice for secure communications
  • New curriculum for the eyeSafeMOJO frontline journalism training modules
  • Thorough testing of a suite of Secure apps for Safe Witness Journalism for deployment on Android phone, and the secure out the box Blackphone 2 (which we sell also to frontline journalists, Human rights defenders and others that need communications security)

What else we been doing whilst not publishing?

Of course our core work is journalism, and that has not ended. Our journalist-only newswire has been very busy, providing story ideas and leads to a number of journalists around the region and the world.  Please contact us if you would like to be placed on this newswire (for security you will have to provide proof of journalism status of course)

During 2015, WPM has also been directly assisting over 40 international and regional journalists intensively in getting stories out into the media, getting and also working to secure international journalists to continue and increase coverage across many story sectors for 2016 and beyond.

We have also been assisting journalists to travel into West Papua undercover.  Whilst the Indonesian President Jokowi loudly claimed that the Foreign Media ban is officially ended, the reality is foreign media still are subject to massive surveillance and restrictions, especially in coverage of genuine Papuan aspirations.

WPM is also engaged in a major digital archiving project for journalism content, and a new website with more social integration and will be launched in 2016.

However, because we have not been publishing so much original content, most of this work has gone unnoticed and unfunded, and donations have been slow (but well appreciated). West Papua Media urgently needs your generous assistance to pay for significant communications costs imposed on us over the last few months and to guarantee our uptime.

Currently, about eight major investigations into abuses in West Papua are on hold due to the lack of resources to get independent, credible, on-ground verification from our clandestine network of stringers and journalists inside West Papua.  These include:

  • a full investigation on who the real culprits are behind the ongoing forest burning crisis, and how to stop them.
  • a status report into the current reality of the so-called lifting of Indonesia’s Foreign Media Ban in West Papua
  • major investigations into the increased collusion between international mining companies and Indonesian security forces in conflict creation across many areas of West Papua;
  • Investigations into illegal mining exploration happening under the nose of the Indonesian government without their full knowledge;
  • Ongoing and intensifying conflict issues caused by transmigration labour for Papua wide Military road building projects.
  • Shifting and escalating Australian corporate, banking, military and government underwriting of major environmental, social and human security abuses in West Papua.
  • A significant assessment on the plans, opportunities and challenges for West Papua’s resistance movement, inside West Papua, regionally, and internationally.
  • Opinion and analysis by leading West Papuan thinkers.
  • coverage of major developments
  • And of course, ongoing translation and syndication from our indigenous media partners daily news from West Papua.

Please help us bring this to publication and reality.

We urgently need to raise around $A8000 to pay for Website costs, anti-ddos mirroring and cybersecurity, phone bills (over $1500 is owing on that alone), and the obvious costs of phone internet access for all of our team. Our phone and internet access is critical, with red letters turning into restrictions on our ability to report.

We are also attempting to provide secure Blackphones to frontline journalists, so sponsorship is being sought for the (heavily discounted) purchase of these units.  We can also provide them, with training, for sale to those concerned about Indonesian and Australian government surveillance on your communications.

Your support will go a long way to helping get truthful, credible investigative journalism from West Papua to the world. Please remember we are all entirely volunteer and do not get paid for our work, despite it being a full time job.

How to donate

PLEASE SUPPORT THE WORK OF WEST PAPUA MEDIA. WE ARE ENTIRELY NON-PROFIT AND RELY ON YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR SURVIVAL

Please donate directly to us below via Paypal, Bitcoin or via our bank below.


If you are in Australia you can contribute by depositing directly into the following Bank Account:

BankAustralia
BSB: 313140
Account Number: 12089588

Please contact us via My secure contact form for full banking details for international transfers

A formal crowdfunding appeal will be shortly forthcoming – any supporters who may be able to offer crowdfunding experience and support are greatly encouraged to contact us at http://www.westpapuamedia.info/contact

WPM is also looking for more volunteer translators, researchers, and folks experienced in graphic design who may be able to volunteer their time (or be paid in kind). Please contact us if you would like to help out

Please help if you can by donate generously as soon as you can, as our server subscription is literally about to expire tomorrow (November 8), and we are still hundreds of dollars shy of keeping it online.

Thank you for your support

West Papua Media team

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JUBI: Papuans Will Survive without Freeport, says Papua Governor

(Apologies for the delay in posting due to major investigation, Safe Journalism resource development and Media Freedom work behind the scenes.  As WestPapuaMedia transforms into a long form investigative journalism, Analysis, Op-Ed, and of course media safety/freedom support model into 2016, Daily news will continue to be delivered by our partners at Tabloid Jubi’s West Papua Daily.  Our Sidebar (scroll down at right) provides links to West Papua Daily’s content.  A selection  of our partner’s highlights will be reblogged here as usual).

by Victor Mambor at Tabloid Jubi

October 29, 2015

Freeport mining area in Timika - energytoday.com

Jayapura, Jubi/BenarNews – During his visit the United States this week to attract more investment, President Joko Widodo, his ministers and officials in the field of economy were scheduled to officially meet with executives of US companies.

However, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno L.P. Marsudi denied the president would meet representatives from Freeport, which has an interest in obtaining a contract extension after 2021.
“Rumours in media that the president had a schedule to have breakfast with Freeport are not true,” said Retno was quoted in Solopos.

The US Company that operates the world’s largest gold mine and third largest copper mine in Papua, is enforcing the Indonesian Government to extend their Contract of Work while refer to the Indonesian regulation the extension could be approved two years prior the last contract was terminated. However, before his departure to the US, Jokowi gave a signal to Freeport could obtain the extension after the end of contract, it means in 2019.

No Intention to Develop Papua
In between the crowded debates and controversy about the contract extension for PT. Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in Mimika, the voices from Papua are rarely heard.

But for Papuans, this issue of contract extension is not only a matter of time. The Papua Governor Lukas Enembe was doubt the intention of PTFI to develop Papua.
“We submitted 17 points of Government’s Proposal consist of 11 points of Papua Government and 6 points of the Central Government in order to renegotiate with Freeport, including the Freeport’s involvement to build infrastructure in Papua, the increment of royalty and tax payment to the Provincial Government, share divestment, environmental issue and prioritizing Papuans to be employees. That’s our priorities,” Enembe told BeritaBenar on 17 October 2015.

He accused Freeport to have no intention to Papua’s development. He took Timika City as an example, that until now the city is lacking of feasible infrastructures. “Freeport has been operating since 1967, but what about Timika and how’s Papuan condition right now? Infrastructures in Timika are still underdeveloped. The number of indigenous Papuan workers in Freeport is not equal with the number of non-Papuan workers. If it continues like this, Freeport is better leaving. Without it, Papuans will still survive,” said the Governor Enembe.

The local authority estimates there are only 30 percent of the company’s employees are Papuans, while the rest are recruited from outside of Papua.

Further Enembe refers to the attitude of PTFI that according to him hindering the water surface tax payment.  Each year, Freeport should pay 360 billion rupiahs for the water surface tax, but the fact is up to now PTFI only paid approximately 1.5 billion for each year.
“Freeport took many advantages of the government’s rotation every five years, and violated the commitment made between the government and Freeport. And the government just ignored this fact. But it is clear, Freeport has to pay 360 billion rupiahs each year,” he said.

The Governor Enembe said the Provincial Government also support the policy taken by the Mimika Regional Government charging PTFI to pay a penalty amounted USD 3.6 billion or Rp 481 trillion to the indigenous tribes living in the surrounded mining area.
“It’s the people’s demand because Freeport has exploited the mountain and its materials since being operated, but never given the in kind benefits to the local community,” said Enembe.

It’s a Political Treaty, Not Business Agreement
Musa Sombuk, Lecturer at Papua State University and doctoral candidate at Australia National Univrsity thought the tax issue, profit sharing, and other issues that endured for years as consequences of PTFI’s contract of work is a “political agreement” rather an economic agreement between the company and the Indonesian Government.
“At first time doing operation, it was clear that Indonesia need a cash. Now, the Freeport’s contract is not transparent, unequal and the profit sharing is not fair. Freeport also did any means in order to gain land ownership,” said Sombuk.

When confirmed by BeritaBenar, PTFI spokesperson Riza Pratama declined to give comments on the renegotiation process with the Central Government, but he denied PTFI did the cunning ways in obtaining the land. He said the customary community at the PTFI mining area has gave their permission and tenure rights since PTFI started their operation for the first time. According to Reza, the company also has paid the penalty and is continuing the development program for indigenous communities at the surrounded the mining area.

Sombuk, who admitted his involvement in the audit of PTFI in 1997, said the company is not only taking the copper and gold, but also the tailing –sand waste containing the iron ore, that could reach 30 billion tons. Several grams of tailings, according to him, could result 1 gram of 23 carat gold. “Now there’s 30 billion tons of tailing and it must be gold-contained. Where will the gold from tailing go?” said Sombuk.
“Just imagine, Freeport should use the dump truck to dispose the tailing, but they just drain it to the Ajikwa River that is bearing the risk and impact to the people’s health and environment,” said Sombuk.

According to Sombuk, PTFI could survive until now because it gained support and facilities from the government, both regional and provincial. The vague regulation and the attitude of both government and company for not being transparent making the law enforcement is risk with the corrupt practice.

“We never know whether the local permits have any cost consequences. If it has, such as the charge on waste draining in Ajikwa River, we don’t know to whom it should pay and how much?” asked Sombuk. (Victor Mambor/rom)

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