LL:DD: WEST PAPUA DOCU Land of the Morning Star on ABC
This event has been posted on the Leftlink Calendar at http://www.leftlink.net/ Narrated by Rachel Griffiths and featuring rare archival film and eyewitness accounts, Land of the Morning Star explores the causes and realities of the troubles in Papua. -- Land of the Morning Star, screens 8.30pm, February 2, on ABC TV Land of the Morning Star tells how for centuries the world has jostled for control of this rugged, isolated region with its abundant natural resources and strategic position. It is an epic story of colonial ambitions, cold war sellouts and fervent nationalism. Land of the Morning Star is a new Australian documentary premiering on ABC TV at 8.30pm, Monday February 2. Its director, Mark Worth, has spent much of his journalistic career reporting on the region. The western half of the island of New Guinea is a wildly beautiful place where snow-capped mountains drain into massive rivers and over 250 of the world's languages are spoken. It has been known by many names including Netherlands New Guinea, West Papua, Irian Jaya and Papua. The first outsiders to arrive were Macassans from the Malay Peninsula, looking for sandalwood, prized bird of paradise feathers and slaves. Next came the Dutch, with their explorers, anthropologists, traders, planters and missionaries. When war came to the Pacific in 1941, the Americans chose Dutch New Guinea's capital Hollandia as their base of operations against the Japanese. Half a million soldiers passed through Hollandia, going on to fight some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war. After the war, the Dutch reclaimed Papua, until U.S. President Kennedy persuaded them to hand over their colony to a newly independent Indonesia. Today, despite continuing Papuan resistance, the Indonesians remain firmly in control. Narrated by Rachel Griffiths and featuring rare archival film and eyewitness accounts, Land of the Morning Star explores the causes and realities of the troubles in a land only 100 kilometres to Australia's north. Film Australia is an Australian Government-owned company, which supports production and distribution of documentaries in the national interest. Further information @ http://www.filmaustralia.com.au/ = Free West Papua !Free Aceh ! Papua Merdeka !!!Aceh Merdeka !!! = -- Visit the proposed Leftlink web site at http://www.leftlink.net/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:QUERY: REQUEST FOR HELP/IDEAS - Kopassus chief coming to Oz
From: Pip Hinman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear all, According to a report by the ABC online on August 21, Indonesia's Kopassus chief will visit Australia next month to cement the deal on training and military ties. Indonesia's Army Chief General Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted as saying the restoration of links between the Kopassus and Australian troops was important. He and Kopassus chief Major-General Sriyanto will visit. Earlier this month, Chief of Australia Defence Forces, General Peter Cosgrove, said the resumption of ties with Kopassus was a necessary part of the regional war against terrorism because the unit was a major counterterrorism force in Indonesia and it could help save lives. Never mind the number of lives it is helping to extinguish now in Aceh, West Papua and elsewhere in Indonesia. We are trying to find out when and where these two visitors will be - probably Canberra at the very least. It seems to be an appropriate time for a protest - perhaps simultaneously in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne? Given the anti-Indonesian racism that is being pushed now in the mainstream press, we will make it clear that we are not anti-Indonesian, rather we are against the Howard government interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia. These military ties, which help rehabilitate the TNI and Kopassus, will set back the struggle for democracy in Indonesia. We could also get lot of signatories onto a protest petiton - and send it to the government. What do you think? Ideas and suggestions welcome. Below is an aticle from the Jakarta Post about more power going to the TNI. In solidarity, Pip Hinman -- TITLE: Government to give more power to TNI SOURCE: Jakarta Post - August 15, 2003 Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta -- In a response to the rampant terror attacks plaguing the country in the past year, the government has decided to give the Indonesian Military (TNI) some of its pre-reform era powers back. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the government would empower the military to detect and find possible terror threats that needed an immediate response. There has been a long-standing impression that the TNI should only handle external defense while internal security is in the hands of the police. This is not exactly consistent with the law, Susilo said without elaborating at a press conference after presiding over a ministerial meeting on political and security affairs. In the spirit of the reform movement, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decided in 2000 to restrict the military to a defense-of-the-borders only role and entrusted internal security to the police. The ensuing police law and defense law confirmed the clear-cut division of the forces, which marked at least a symbolic end to the military's leading role in the country's affairs. The National Police fell under the armed forces, or ABRI, before that. Susilo said the government intended to provide the TNI with a greater role in internal security due to the police's lack of personnel, and because the military had some of its personnel underutilized. The government will give a greater role, or appropriate space, for the TNI to carry our their duties as long as it is related to national interests, although the focal point remains the police, Susilo said. He did not elaborate on the extent of the military's role in the fight against terrorism, or how terror would be defined. The government, Susilo said, would still consult the House of Representatives or the MPR over the issue. It remains unclear whether the military's greater role in security affairs will be part of the amendment to the Antiterrorism Law No. 15/2003, which was discussed during a meeting hosted by Susilo. Also attending the meeting were TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, justice minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil, Attorney General M.A. Rachman and National Intelligence Body chief Hendropriyono. Endriartono, Matori and Hendropriyono had thrown their weight behind a proposal to adopt a Singapore-like internal security act in a bid to combat terrorism. Hendropriyono is also apparently seeking greater authority for intelligence officers to make arrests, similar to the way they did just that during the New Order regime of former president Soeharto. Susilo said that the antiterrorism law needed revising. It was passed in the wake of the Bali bombings, but, according to the retired army officer, needed to be made more effective in preventing terror attacks. We will do it as soon as possible. We cannot wait because terrorism is a real threat and we should not be in a weak position, he said, saying that the government had evaluated the application of the law following the Bali bombings. As many as nine articles in the law are expected to be revised in a bid to make it stronger, Susilo said. The articles deal with
LL:PR: AWPA (Sydney) press release - 30 June
AUSTRALIA WEST PAPUA ASSOCIATION (SYDNEY) Tele/fax: 61.2. 99601698 Email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] PRESS RELEASE - 30 June 2003 The Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) calls on the Pacific Island foreign ministers meeting in Sydney to condemn the ongoing military operation in the Wamena region of West Papua. Since the raid on the military armory in the town of Wamena in the central highlands (where two soldier and one of the attackers were killed and a number of weapons and ammunition stolen), the military have been conducting an operation to find those responsible. Although the military immediately blamed the OPM they now admit that their own soldiers were also involved. Since the operation was launched more than 5,000 villagers have taken refuge in the bush in fear for the lives. One media report said that Indonesian military using flame-throwers are burning houses, killing people and destroying livestock and gardens in the Kurawage district in West Papua. And the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has noted that as many as 16 civilians have been killed or have died of starvation in the ongoing military operation in the Papuan regency of Wamena. Local Papuan NGOs and leaders of religious groups have demanded that the Indonesian Government form an independent team to investigate the human rights abuses. Yet while Alexander Downer talks about the lawlessness in the Solomon Islands, he refuses to condemn the human rights abuses in the other Pacific country to our north, West Papua. While urging a local warlord in the Solomon Islands to surrender to authorities in the capital, Honiara, saying There's nothing to be gained from them hiding out ... and conducting raids, burning villages, killing people in a completely lawless and I think quite outrageous way, he fails to condemn the Indonesia military for the same crimes. Joe Collins of AWPA, Sydney said the foreign ministers of the Pacific countries should be vigorous in condemning the human rights abuses that are ongoing in West Papua and the Pacific Islands Forum countries should send a fact finding mission to West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the province. They should also encourage the Indonesia Government to dialogue with the various civil society organisations including Church groups in West Papua trying to create a Zone of Peace in the province. Further info: Joe Collins, Mob. 0408 860 342 John Wing, Mob. 0410 713 775 = Free West Papua !Free Aceh ! Papua Merdeka !!!Aceh Merdeka !!! = -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:DDA: Protest Australian military ties with Indonesia
because Engel was not fluent in English or wasn't feeling well enough, someone else wrote the letter which she then read, agreed to and signed. Maybe. But, I can help wondering why, if I was lying in a hospital bed with a hole in my leg, having just seeing my spouse gunned down in a hail of bullets, and in the absence of a lawyer or consular representative, my first act would be to agree to write or sign a letter who's sole purpose is to absolve the military of any wrong doing? From Green Left Weekly, June 11, 2003 Visit the current June 18 issue Green Left Weekly home page @ http://www.GreenLeft.org.au/ http://www.asia-pacific-action.org/ = Free West Papua !Free Aceh ! Papua Merdeka !!!Aceh Merdeka !!! = -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:DDV: Black Paradise with Telek and David Bridie!!
Please pass this around far and wide. This great gig has been generously organised by trades hall. As there has been little lead up time and we need all the promotion we can get to make sure we get a great turnout for what promises to be a fantasitic event! Hear the soulful music of rising West Papua sensation Black Paradise performing at Trades Hall bar on the Friday the 14th with PNG/Pacific music giant George Telek and singer songwriter David Bridie. Tickets at the door: $12/15. Music starts at 8p.m. This will be one of the final Black Paradise gigs before they leave Melbourne for the Brisbane Social Forum. Black Paradise's music is an uplifting blend of contemporary and traditional Melanesian music based around guitars, traditional drums and soaring four-part harmonies. Drawing on the spirit of Mambesak and legendary West Papuan anthropologist and musicologist Arnold Ap, Black Paradise perform ancient songs, stiring indigenous protest music and traditional dance from the Land of Morning Star. Kami menyani untuk hidup; dulu, kini dan nanti We sing for life; before, now and in the future. http://www.greenleft.org.au/ Black Paradise: `Kami menyanyi untuk hidup' (We sing for life) BY JASON McLEOD Nanen babe nanen babe, Kwin matreuban maska teufyar deiwa teimwa, Aram usker ma enap aram enap (The morning star appears in the east and will soon be followed by the sun. The beauty of the sky brings back memories of home) from Nanen Babe by Black Paradise. Black Paradise, a group of West Papuan women, are a rising cultural and musical troupe from Jayapura, the capital of West Papua. A place that would be a tropical paradise if it weren't for the greed of multinationals and the actions of the genocidal Indonesian military that has occupied West Papua for nearly 40 years. Black Paradise's performances feature contemporary string band and traditional music from different regions of West Papua, including from Biak, Merauke and Jayapura near the border with PNG. Their string-band music a feature of Melanesian culture is based around guitars, kundu drums, the ukulele and soaring four-part harmony vocals. The women's traditional material, accompanied by dance, draws on ancient songs from their land of jagged and rugged highlands and tropical coastlines, songs from the bush and earthy throat-based vocals and rhythms played on skin drums. The group features songs collected by West Papuan musicologist Arnold Ap. Ap ventured around West Papua recording the songs and dances of his people, before he was assassinated by the Indonesian military for promoting Papuan identity. Black Paradise's lyrics paint pictures of liberation. All the members of Black Paradise work for an Amnesty International-type organisation, Elsham (Institute for the Study and Advocacy of Human Rights), that investigates human rights in the troubled territory, accompanies local communities as they assert their rights and educates the rest of the world about the beauty of West Papuan culture. Black Paradise sing a song, Nanen Babe, in the local Sarmi language one of 300 spoken in West Papua that evokes the ancient legend of Kumeseri, the Morning Star. Kumeseri gives Manarmakeri, a humble village man, the gift of peace and renewal. Manarmakeri leaves West Papua on a journey to gather support to herald in a new age of freedom, peace and justice. Jakob Rumbiak, a West Papuan leader now living in Melbourne, who endured 10 years in Indonesia's dungeons and shared a cell with East Timor's president Xanana Gusmao, says: Maybe Manarmakeri came to Australia? Maybe he wants you to join him to help free West Papua? Black Paradise appeared at the successful Morning Star concert in Melbourne on February 28 and performed at the International Women's Day concert on March 10 at the University of Technology Sydney. [ Jason McLeod is an activist with the Free West Papua Collective. Visit http://www.freewestpapua.com/ ] From Green Left Weekly, March 12, 2003. Visit the Green Left Weekly home page @ http://www.GreenLeft.org.au/ = Free West Papua ! Papua Merdeka ! . -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:DD: Lesley McCulloch Nurdin Abdul Rahman to speak on ACEH
ACEH: THE OIL WAR NEXT DOOR Dr Lesley McCulloch, Recently freed after 5 months in prison for researching the human rights situation there. Nurdin Abdul Rahman, Veteran human rights campaigner and political prisoner for 12 years. SYDNEY: Friday, March 14, 6.30pm Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (opp. Newtown station) Ph. Iggy 0421 322 175, Pip 0412 139 968 MELBOURNE: Thursday, March 20, 6.30pm New Ballroom, Trades Hall, cnr. Lygon Victoria Sts, Carlton Co-sponsored by the Globalism Institute, RMIT; generously assisted by Trades Hall. Ph. Vanessa 0407 023 672, Margarita 0438 869 790 Organised by Action in Solidarity with Asia the Pacific (ASAP) http://www.asia-pacific-action.org/ For Sydney, also checkout the latest on http://active.org.au/sydney/calendar/?display=zoomevent=764 Free West Papua ! Papua Merdeka ! -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
LL:DDV: SKA TV, 24 Feb, 8.30pm on Ch31: RAISING WEST PAPUA
From: access news [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi To let everyone know, RAISING WEST PAPUA - a video outlining the history and current situation in West Papua will be screened on Access News, 8.30 pm, CH31 this monday 24th and hopefully - if we have enuff time, a piece compiling the global response to the WAR on Iraq. SOME INFO ABOUT THE WEST PAPUA FILM West Papua was handed over to Indonesian regime by the international community against the wishes of the Papuan peoples. For almost 40 years, West Papuans have struggled for independence from Jakarta. Environmental destruction and human rights abuses have been occuring daily. The campaign for a Free West Papua needs everyones support. ACCESS NEWS HOLDS FREE SCREENINGS AT TRADES HALL BAR EVERY MONDAY FROM 7PM. THIS MONDAY 24TH WE WILL SCREEN RAISING WEST PAPUA, THERE WILL ALSO BE A GUEST SPEAKER FROM THE FREE WEST PAPUA COLLECTIVE + A COMPILATION OF IMAGES FROM AROUND THE WORLD AS PEOPLE TOOK OVER ALL THE MAJOR CITIES IN THE WORLD TO PROTEST THE WAR IN IRAQ What: Access News SKA TV Screening (Raising West Papua) ON THA BIG SCREEN When: Mon 24th Feb 2003, 7pm... Where: Trades Hall Bar - cnr Victoria + Lygon streets, Carlton ALSO: Conference on West Papua (Feb 25, 26) and Concert for West Papua (Feb 28)... see www.morningstarconcert.com for more See you at Trades Hall Bar on Monday the 24th Feb. PS - PLEASE PASS THIS ON CHEERS --- SKA TV Suite 75, Trades Hall 54 Lygon St, Carlton Sth Victoria 3053, Australia ph +61 3 9663 6976 SKA TV: http://www.skatv.org.au access news: http://www.accessnews.skatv.org.au Channel 31: http://www.channel31.org.au --- = Free West Papua ! Papua Merdeka ! -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Australian University ditches West Papua forum
The Australian - February 14, 2003 RMIT ditches West Papua forum By Jim Buckell, Higher education writer PRESSURE from the Indonesian Government has forced RMIT University to withdraw official support for a conference on West Papuan independence scheduled for later this month. The co-sponsor of the conference, the New Internationalist magazine, has transferred the venue to the Victorian Trades Hall after RMIT refused to allow it to proceed on campus at Storey Hall. The university's Globalism Institute had been involved in convening the conference. RMIT's pro vice-chancellor for research and innovation, Neil Furlong, said last night it was not appropriate that universities formally endorse activities such as conferences and forums where criticism on matters pertaining to the sovereignty of other nations is intended. It is in this context, and in respect to our body of international students and their broad cultural backgrounds, that RMIT University has decided not to host the West Papua conference. A spokesman for Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said RMIT had behaved in a cowardly manner. Australians had a right to hear about the plight of West Papuans, the spokesman said. Senator Brown would approach the university to reverse the decision. It is understood the cash-strapped university is fearful that it could be threatened with cuts to its education programs in Indonesia or that fee-paying students from Indonesia might be discouraged from attending RMIT. RMIT expects to enrol 1465 Indonesian students this year. It does not keep figures on provincial origin, so cannot account for numbers from West Papua. Indonesia is a significant source of fee-paying students for Australian universities. Last year almost 10,000 Indonesian students were enrolled, making it the fifth-highest source country, behind Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China. The Australasian editor of New Internationalist, Chris Richards, said yesterday that Indonesia was in the process of reversing its earlier position granting a degree of autonomy to West Papua. = Free West Papua ! Papua Merdeka ! -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: West Papua concert 28th February in Melbourne
http://www.morningstarconcert.com/ -- http://www.morningstarconcert.com/index2.htm On 28 February at the Melbourne Concert Hall, some of Australia's most talented and best known musicians and comedians will join forces to support the people of West Papua. Acts include Alex Lloyd, Paul Mac, the Bangarra Dance Theatre, Lisa Gerrard (Academy Award winning composer), Andrew Denton, Sandman, Dave O'Neil, Not Drowning, Waving, Telek. The concert will also include a performance by Black Paradise from West Papua playing traditional Papuan music and string band music. For three decades, West Papuans have endured an illegal and often brutal occupation by Indonesia's military forces. The plight of the West Papuan people is similar to that of the East Timorese, who voted for independence in 1999. As West Papuan leader John Rumbiak said recently, unless the world takes a stand against Indonesia as happened in the case of East Timor the future of the West Papuan people is bleak. I appeal to all Australians. What you are dealing with here is the fate of all West Papuan people. Maybe we're going to be finished some day soon. This is what's going on now. Are you going to wait until it is too late?, Rumbiak said. The concert is part of a broader campaign to raise awareness about the plight of the West Papuan people. A book [-- LINK]and CD [--LINK] will also be published to coincide with the concert. A photo-essay featuring work by Ben Bohane, Liz Thompson and Jim Elmslie dealing with the cultural, political and historical aspects of the West Papuan story will also be published in the lead-up to the concert (you can view some of the stunning photographs that will feature in the book, thoughout the site). The CD will feature remix soundscapes by Australian artists. -- If you'd like to find out more about concert, please contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Supported by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and The Wilderness Society = Free West Papua ! Papua Merdeka ! -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
