Build a sovereign economy for the Papuan people

Joint Statement by Traditional Papuan Women's Traders - November 26, 2011

Long live the Papuan people... Long live Papuan women... Long live the urban poor

Papua is rich in natural resources, but it is not the indigenous people of Papua who own it. This can be seen from the character of economic development in Papua, particularly in and around the provincial capital of Jayapura, where the many shops, stalls and malls are not even owned by us, the people who own the land.

The reality at the moment is that the suffering experienced by traditional Papuan women traders -- referred to as mama-mama -- has been going on for some time. The mama-mama are steadily being pushed aside by residents who control large amounts of capital in Jayapura.

Demanding referendum, thousands of Papuans protest in Jayapura

TEMPO/Jerry Omona

Detik News - November 14, 2011

Tuntut Referendum, 1.000-an Warga Papua Unjuk Rasa  detikNews. Senin, 14/11/2011

Chazizah Gusnita, Jakarta -- Thousands of Papuans from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) demonstrated in front of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building in the Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura today. The protesters demanded an end to violence in Papua.

Jakarta wants Freeport mine open

Armed police officers patrol the streets of Jayapura, Papua, on Monday. National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo admitted on Friday that his officers in the restive region receive funds, which he dubs as 'lunch money,' from PT Freeport Indonesia. (Antara Photo)

The government is sending the deputy minister for mineral resources to Papua with orders to get the Freeport mine operating again before dealing with the demands of striking workers or calls to renegotiate the company’s terms of operations.

Widjajono Partowidagdo said his first priority would be to improve the security situation at the US-owned gold and copper mine and get it working again.

“Essentially [the company wants] security to return to normal. I will go to Papua this week,” Widjajono said.