VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Center for Demographic Research under the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has launched three books on the social demographic condition of native Papuans caught in the crosshairs of armed violence over the past years.

LIPI deputy of social sciences and humanities launched the books, which contain the results of social demographic studies conducted in the districts of Sorong and Tambrauw Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti, via video conference on Thursday.

At the launch, she highlighted the importance of comprehensively understanding the native Papuans' social and demographic conditions and how they have changed because that can be used as a foundation for drafting various development policies.

She argued that the native Papuans' social and demographic conditions have been affected by human resources-related issues.

Therefore, a human resource development strategy must serve as the cornerstone of short, middle, and long-term development programs in Papua, she said, adding that such a strategy would be complex and closely related to health and education.

The three books launched on Thursday are:

Orang Asli Papua: Kondisi Sosial Demografi dan Perubahannya (Native Papuans: Social Demographic Condition and Its Changes),

Pendidikan Sebagai Jalan Terang: Membangun Pendidikan yang Responsif terhadap Kondisi Geografis, Demografi, Sosial (Education as a Bright Way: Building Responsive Education Towards Native Papuans' Geographic, Demographic, Social, and Cultural Conditions),

and Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak Orang Asli Papua: Antara Ketersediaan Layanan dan Tantangan Sosial Budaya (The Health of Native Papuan Mothers and Children: Between Availability of Services and Socio-Cultural Challenges).

Over the last nine months, armed Papuan criminal groups operating in Intan Jaya, Papua, have reportedly engaged in 17 acts of violence against innocent civilians and security personnel. The violence has led to the death of six people, including Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, according to Papua police chief, Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw.

Armed criminals have not only attacked civilians and security personnel but also set ablaze several excavators and kiosks, he noted. (Antaranews)

India’s coronavirus case tally increased by 86,821 in the last 24 hours to 6.31 million by Thursday morning, data from the health ministry showed, as the country eased more restrictions to combat the economic hit from the pandemic.

Deaths from coronavirus infections rose by 1,181 to 98,678, the ministry said.

The South Asian nation on Wednesday permitted states to open schools and movie theaters. The country’s richest state Maharashtra, home to financial hub Mumbai, said it would also allow bars and restaurants to operate fully.

India reported its worst economic contraction in decades for the quarter to June as the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to close and the country to impose one of the strictest lockdowns to prevent the virus from spreading. (Reuters)

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD emphasized that the government would not conduct any negotiations regarding the wish to separate Papua from the Republic of Indonesia.

"For the Indonesian government, the unity of Papua, both Papua and West Papua Provinces, with the Republic of Indonesia is final. There is no further way, there is no negotiation for independence, to separate," Mahfud said in a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Thursday.

Mahfud said this was in response to the conflict between the security forces and the armed criminal group (KKB) in Intan Jaya, Papua, in recent days.

Violence always appears near 1 December or a special anniversary day for the Papuan independence movement. This issue usually arises ahead of the holding of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) some time ago.

"Now it is happening again because there is a group of people who want to separate themselves, separate Papua. [They] work together with provocateurs from other countries. We confront it all because it violates the law," Mahfud said.

Mahfud emphasized that the UN had conducted a referendum in Papua in 1963 and the UN has approved it.

"Since then there has been no more way for Papua, for certain people in Papua, to ask for independence," Mahfud emphasized.

In connection with the armed conflict in Intan Jaya which killed at least four people, namely two TNI members, one civilian, and one priest, he said his party would form a joint investigation team to find the cause of the death.

"The government will form a joint investigation team that can be more objective in exploring this so as not to cause controversy," Mahfud said. 

The investigation team includes government officials, religious leaders, community leaders, traditional leaders, and academics. Mahfud said the team aims to explore facts that have occurred in the recent conflict in Papua. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo provided working capital assistance, and encouraged micro and small businesses in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, to work harder and minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While wearing a face shield in Labuan Bajo, Thursday, President Jokowi asked micro and small entrepreneurs not to loosen up their enthusiasm.

"Every time I come to town, I gather with all small businesses, micro-businesses like today. The situation is the same, but we can't complain, we can't give up, we have to keep our spirits up, lest our morale gets slack," the President said.

The President distributed capital assistance of Rp 2.4 million to each of the micro and small business actors. The President understands that the COVID-19 pandemic is making things even more difficult not only for the micro and small business sector but also for the medium and large business sectors are also facing pressure. 

"All countries, 215 countries are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, everything is in a difficult position," he said.

President Jokowi hopes that business people can make the COVID-19 pandemic a momentum to work harder. He wants no businesses to close due to the pandemic. The capital assistance could increase their capital capacity and expand their business.

"Do not use it to buy a cell phone. Be careful, this is the working capital assistance, for working capital, not for consumptive things to buy cell phones or motorbike," the President said.

He said it was possible that in early 2021, the government would have vaccinated the target recipients of the vaccine.

"Congratulations on working hard, hopefully at the beginning of next year, we will start vaccinating until things return to normal," the Head of State said. (Antaranews)