http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/229175/west-papua-faces-losing-identity
1) West Papua faces 'losing identity'
Edy Rosariyanto
A West Papua human rights and environmental campaigner is calling on New Zealanders to help stop deforestation and protect indigenous culture in the Indonesian-controlled region.
Edy Rosariyanto visited Dunedin this week to highlight the plight of the indigenous people of West Papua - which has been part of Indonesia since 1969.
Br Rosariyanto, who is the programme co-ordinator of the Franciscan office for Justice, Peace and the Integrity in West Papua, has lived and worked in West Papua confronted with the challenges of large-scale palm oil plantations.
Speaking after giving a public seminar at the University of Otago, he said the indigenous people of West Papua faced "losing their identity" due to the policies of the Indonesian Government.
In the area called Keerom, where he was based, the Government had cut down about 40,000ha of forest and instead of following through on its promise of"riches" to the local population, it had robbed them of their land, which was the source of both their food and culture, he said.
This situation could be seen in other parts of West Papua and was part of a history of mistreatment from Indonesian authorities, which was brutal in its suppression of opposition in the region - with those struggling for independence often beaten and sometimes killed.
Br Rosariyanto, who is in New Zealand to learn English so he can spread his message to a wider audience, said New Zealanders could make a difference in the region and called on people to send letters to the Indonesian Government pressuring it to change its ways.
2) Pilot, Passenger of Downed Missionaries’ Plane Found Dead in Papua
October 05, 2012
October 05, 2012
Jayapura. The pilot and sole passenger of a missionary airplane that went missing in the Papuan hinterland on Wednesday were found dead on Friday.
An official with the Tariku Aviation Ministries Foundation, which operated the small PAC 750 XL aircraft, said a search and rescue team had finally managed to reach the plane two days after it crashed near the subdistrict of Dekai’s Dagi village in Yahukimo district, Papua.
The downed aircraft was spotted by a search plane on Thursday morning, but the team, with help from locals, was only able to reach the crash site on Friday due to bad weather.
“The plane was stuck fast in a tree when it was found, and the pilot and the passenger were already dead,” Tariku program manager Robinhood Ratuntiga said on Friday.
He added that the remains of the pilot, Christian Yus, and his passenger, Paulus Osu, were expected to be removed from the crash site on Saturday morning.
“If the weather isn’t bad, probably their remains will arrive at Sentani at 9 or 10 a.m.,” Robinhood said, referring to Sentani Airport in Jayapura.
He added that Christian’s remains would be laid for viewing at the Tariku office in Jayapura before his funeral.
The small aircraft, carrying basic supplies and logistics equipment, took off from Sentani Airport on Wednesday morning and was headed to Dekai when it went missing shortly after stopping over in the subdistrict of Korupun, also in Yahukimo.
An official with the Tariku Aviation Ministries Foundation, which operated the small PAC 750 XL aircraft, said a search and rescue team had finally managed to reach the plane two days after it crashed near the subdistrict of Dekai’s Dagi village in Yahukimo district, Papua.
The downed aircraft was spotted by a search plane on Thursday morning, but the team, with help from locals, was only able to reach the crash site on Friday due to bad weather.
“The plane was stuck fast in a tree when it was found, and the pilot and the passenger were already dead,” Tariku program manager Robinhood Ratuntiga said on Friday.
He added that the remains of the pilot, Christian Yus, and his passenger, Paulus Osu, were expected to be removed from the crash site on Saturday morning.
“If the weather isn’t bad, probably their remains will arrive at Sentani at 9 or 10 a.m.,” Robinhood said, referring to Sentani Airport in Jayapura.
He added that Christian’s remains would be laid for viewing at the Tariku office in Jayapura before his funeral.
The small aircraft, carrying basic supplies and logistics equipment, took off from Sentani Airport on Wednesday morning and was headed to Dekai when it went missing shortly after stopping over in the subdistrict of Korupun, also in Yahukimo.
Antara & JG
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