Indonesia

Indonesia accepts Pacific's right to raise West Papua concern

According to Antara news agency, Retno Marsudi said Indonesia also had the right to explain.

This comes after last month's fiery response by Indonesia to speeches by some Pacific governments at the United Nations General Assembly.

Prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands called for an investigation into killings and various alleged human rights abuses against West Papuans by Indonesian security forces.

In response, Indonesia's representative accused the countries of being manipulated by Papuans with separatist agendas to exploit the issue of human rights.

Forum leaders call for open, constructive dialogue on West Papua

The leaders have called for dialogue to continue in an open and constructive manner.

When asked whether the language in the communiqué around the issue of West Papua was weak, Samoa Prime Minister and Forum Chair, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said, no.

“It’s the most powerful wording we could find. You know these issues are very sensitive, he said at a post-Forum press conference in Apia, Samoa.

Last Wednesday, a small but vocal group of the Free West Papua movement staged a peaceful protest outside the venue of the Leaders meeting in Apia.

Human rights abuses no longer happening in West Papua says Indonesian delegate

Franzalbert Joku from the Ministry for Political, Judicial and Security in Indonesia is at the 48th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in Samoa.

“I’m saying it’s not happening to the scale like in the 60s, 70s, 80s and even as late as the 90s.”

“On the issue of Papua independence and human rights abuses allegations, we don’t think the forum is the appropriate place to address these issues."

Protesters gathered outside the Aggie Grey’s Sheraton Hotel in Samoa yesterday to address the leaders and delegates attending the forum.

Chain-smoking children: Indonesia's ongoing tobacco epidemic

But this boy has a tumultuous past and a reputation that precedes him, having undergone a recovery most children will never face.

Six years ago, Aldi Suganda, also known as Aldi Rizal, was a 2-year-old chain smoker addicted to cigarettes, smoking packs each day. "It was hard for me to stop," he said. "If I am not smoking, my mouth taste is sour and my head feel dizzy.

"I am happy now. I feel more enthusiastic, and my body is feeling fresh," he said.

Indonesia denies claims of Papuan rights restrictions

Through its embassy in New Zealand, Indonesia has raised issue with reported comments by Vanuatu's government in United Nations forums that basic human rights of West Papuans are being infringed.

Vanuatu has repeatedly called for UN action on human rights violations by Indonesian security forces in Papua.

It has drawn particular attention to arrests of Papuans for participating in public demonstrations.

Indonesia to export rice to Vanuatu

The three countries include Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu.

“The rice price [in the three countries] is Rp23,000 or about US$2 per kilogram. We offer them US$1 [per kilogram] and they are interested,” Amran said after attending a meeting with Agriculture Ministers from Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu at his office in Jakarta today, August 9.

Relatives of Papua shooting victims call on police to take responsibility

Amatus Douw's relatives were among victims shot in a confrontation with paramilitary police in the Deiyai district on Tuesday.

According to reports up to 16 people were also injured, some of them critically, among them teenagers.

Mr Douw is a pro-independence activist for West Papua and lives in Australia after obtaining political asylum in 2006.

He had been in contact with his family and he said the dead man's body was placed in front of the police office in Deiyai yesterday after the shooting.

Indonesia says mass Papuan arrest claim is wrong

Earlier this week the Australia West Papua Association called for Canberra to press Jakarta over the arrests in the city of Nabire of about 150 Papuans, mostly members of the pro-independence West Papua National Committee, or KNPB.

But a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington says these arrests did not happen.

It says only one KNPB sympathiser was arrested on July 1st and released the next day.

The statement says two other Papuans were detained on 2 July and held for questioning.

Bali statue of Hindu god Wisnu to be world's largest

Twenty-five years and around $100 million in the making, the enormous copper and brass sculpture is of the Hindu god Wisnu astride the mythical bird Garuda.

After years of planning, re-designs, cash shortages and stop-start construction, sculptor Nyoman Nuarta says the project should be finished next September.

And the final phase — the fitting of the sculpture's skin to the concrete and steel skeleton — is well underway.

The copper and brass claws of Garuda are finally gripping an enormous, purpose-built, concrete pedestal.

Indonesian men to face caning for gay sex

Gay sex is not illegal in most of Indonesia but is in Aceh, the only province which exercises Islamic law.

The men will each receive 85 strokes during the punishment, which will take place in public.

The pair, aged 20 and 23, were found in bed together by vigilantes who entered their private accommodation in March. They have not been identified.

 

'He was terrified' - Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Banda Aceh