Papua Presidium Council (PDP)
PDP euroPress Desk

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A Funding Proposal for
PDP euroPress Desk for Europe in Ireland

Submitted to Supporters of West Papua

October 2001.

By

Sem Karoba
International Spokesperson of the AMP
Mediator/ Facilitator of the PDP for Europe
Member of Papua Panel from Lani-Loma Tribes
Supervisor of the Koteka Tribal Assembly
Acting Officer of the PDP euroPress Desk

Temporary Address:
c/o 54 Evora Park, Howth, Co. Dublin, Rep. of Ireland
Mobile: +353 (0) 876 317 539

AMP Website: http://www.westpapua.org.uk 
Papua News: http://www.westpapua.net 
Email: pressdesk@westpapua.net 

Executive Summary

Tribal People in West Papua has democratically and peacefully (in a modern and civilised way) declared their wish to become politically independent from Indonesian neo-colonial power. This means the voice of the Papuans is to be channelled in diplomatic and political efforts both at national and international levels. All parties in West Papua have agreed to believe that `dialogue' is the key to resolving the political conflicts in West Papua.

The Papua Presidium Council (or generally referred to as the PDP) was given the mandate to carry out this task since June 4th of May 2000. The PDP is seen as the main player in resolving the conflicts. Whereas other parties such as the OPM (Free Papua Movement), TPN (OPM Army) MAMTA (Mamberamo-Tami Tribal Council and Demmak (Koteka Tribal Council) are patiently waiting and supporting the PDP to do its best carrying out the mandate.

Theoretically, the PDP is too young to go international, but practically it cannot wait until it is too late to act in preventing further acts of murder and or terrorism. Therefore, the PDP has decided to establish its liaisons or branch offices in five continents of the world. So far, the PDP has successfully established its base and launched its campaign in the Pacific and Australia. We are now looking forward to do the same in other parts of the world, namely Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Jakarta is likely to be the PDP office for Asia, and perhaps with some officers to be based in Japan or China. While for Europe, the branch office is based in the Netherlands. In addition, there appears to be an urgent need to appoint a special ambassador to the United Nations.

Due to the varieties of levels of knowledge of the European nations as well as the power that European Union has to bring about change in world politics, and also because West Papua was a previous European Colony, it is regarded important to establish a Press Desk in Europe. The main task of the Desk will be to disseminate information, to bridge the gap of information in channelling the voice of the Papuans to the world. We all may agree that information dissemination is the crucial tool to educate the international community of `why' and `how' Papuans are fighting for self-determination. It is a vital role if Papuans have chosen to use dialogue as the key to solve the problems and if diplomacy and politics are the ways for gaining support from the international community.

If we honestly and objectively assess what had happened so far, I assume we all agree that the lack of effective, reliable, direct and fast dissemination of news and information from and about West Papua has been so poor. As a mediator/ facilitator of the PDP, I believe the PDP euroDesk Office is crucial at this stage before the PDP further establish its offices in other parts of the world. Even though geographically it is far from West Papua, historically and politically, we have big and significant jobs to do in Europe.

1. Background

The demand for self-determination in West Papua is not separatism or something that is based on hatred of the Papuans against Indonesia. It is legally, democratically and morally justified and worth defending for. 

Legal wise, the Netherlands, of course has records of decrees recognising the existence of West Papua as a country, Papua as a nation, Morning Star as the National Flag, and other attributes of the State of West Papua. It was legally and officially approved by the Netherlands, and officially and publicly declared by both Papuans and the Dutch on 1 December 1961. There has never been any decree issued to cancel them. Therefore, this is not a separatist movement, it is legally justified movement. Furthermore, the UN approved occupation of West Papua State by Indonesia even though it was carried out under heavy violations of human rights and democratic principles. Thus, the party to call to be accountable is not West Papua but the UN. Moreover, there has been no single Indonesian law affirming West Papua occupation or what they call integration into Indonesia. Thus, legally, Indonesia has not legal basis to justify its actions and reactions against our movement for self-determination in West Papua. Its occupation itself is already illegal, therefore, how can it legally justify actions against the Papuans?

Referring to democratic principles, it is not difficult to argue that the Papua Congress I 1961 was a democratic process to lead West Papua to its independence by 1 July 1970. The Second Papua Congress 2000 is also a democratic and peaceful process. The principles of representation and peaceful manner have been fulfilled in both Congresses. All people who believe in the power of democracy and civilised way of struggle will stand for this democratic and peaceful movement for truth and justice in West Papua. All civilised nationsl will see these cases as unacceptable and worth defending for.

In respect to moral justification, it is clear that this struggle is the struggle against heavy and ongoing human rights violations, rapid and massive environmental destruction, ongoing racial discrimination practices, brutal military oppression and intimidation, and systematic ethnic cleansing. And yet, all these are rarely known by the world. The main reason is because they are not told as quickly, effectively and thoroughly as possible. Does the world understand that this struggle is worth considering and defending for? If not, why?

2. The Problem and Need

The answer to first question in the last paragraph above is that the world almost does not understand it well. As the answer to `why' will be that there has been no standard Press Desk of all Papuans known by the world that functions to disseminate news and information to the world as quickly, thoroughly and accurately as possible. The world has been misinformed or misguided in understanding the issue of self-determination for West Papua.

The world will understand only if they have access to reliable and comprehensive information as to why and how the struggle is carried out. And this is the very task and the heart of the PDP's jobs. The world will only put pressure on Indonesia if it understands well the contexts of the struggle, the background information to the problems, and they way forward that Papuans believe will solve the problems. The PDP euroPress Desk will be established to do its best as the brain and heart of struggle.

3. Why Ireland?

Perhaps this is the first question that arises when readers know the PDP euroPress Desk to be based in Ireland. There are some reasons for this.
3.1 Even though the first colonised peoples in the world are White Females of the West, Ireland is the first colonised nation in the world, and perhaps the last liberated state of all. Therefore, Ireland as a State and Irish People understand and give more support to such a struggle as ours. Supporting West Papua struggle in our globalised world is part of the efforts of all humans in the world to liberate peoples of Ireland and others from colonialism.
3.2 Of all European Governments (with exception to the Dutch), Ireland has officially responded and taken some actions that are helpful to our struggle. We need to increase our lobbies to improve the support.
3.3 In regard to legal and administrative obstructions exposed by European Governments, Ireland has been a friendlier and more humane government. Which means Irish Government has given green light for the PDP to set up its euroPress Desk in Ireland.
3.4 In contrast with the Netherlands, Ireland has taken positive steps on calling the Dutch and Indonesia to re-examine West Papua history.

4. Main Tasks of the PDP euroPress Desk

The main task of the Desk will be to educate the international community of why and how the struggle is carried out and what they should do to support. In other words, this will be the Press Office of the PDP. 

To do so, below are some operational tasks:
4.1 To a establish Direct, Reliable and Quick link with all PDP offices around the world and mainly with the main offices and offices of other constituent groups in West Papua.
4.2 To disseminate news and information received (after editing English language and if necessary contents) to the world.
4.3 To gather, provide and present information about the PDP, its people, the environment, the culture, and the politics of Papuans in West Papua to Governments, NGOs and other tribal groups around the world. Most often, security restrictions in Indonesia hinder Papuans to attend meetings or present cases to International media, international NGOs or meetings of the UN and other multilateral events. This office will represent those who cannot be present due to such reasons and speak on their behalf.
4.4 Thus, its main role will be to mediate or facilitate communications from West Papua to the International Community.

5. The Budgets

5.1 Human Resource

We will need one person for now to run the office, but the person will co-ordinate various tasks with different peoples in the world.

5.2 Finance for Equipment, Office and the Officer

We will need financial resources for the following needs:
5.2.1 One Desktop Computer (Pentium III) 
5.2.2 One Laptop Computer (Pentium III + CDRW)
5.2.3 One room to rent for the office**
5.2.4 One photo-copy machine***
5.2.5 One Fax machine***
5.2.6 One Phone line connection
5.2.7 One Mobile Phone*

5.3 Monthly contributions required

5.3.1 Honorary to the officer £800 X 12 mo. =£4,800
5.3.2 Phone and Internet Connection £100 X 12 mo =£1,200
5.3.3 Room for rent estimated around £500 X 12 mo=1,200
5.3.4 Administrative expenses (paper, blank CD etc) required for producing documents £150 X 12 =£1,800
5.3.4 Web site hosting and management £50 X 12 mo=£600
Total estimated annual expenses: £9,600

Note:
* = Already available
** = To be requested to West Papua Action, Ireland
No mark = currently unavailable or required for the office.

5.4 Expected Sources of Contributions

5.4.1 Koteka Tribes (Papuans) will contribute £8,400 per year
5.4.2 Funds requested to supporters in Europe £8,400 per year
5.4.3 Funds for purchasing computers and others are requested to our supporters in Europe.

6. Anticipated Problems and Proposed Solutions

6.1 Problems with NGOs in general

NGOs mostly have their own agendas and issues of campaigns that most often limit or even hinder the actions of indigenous organisations such as the PDP. Therefore, all relations or support to the office will be clearly outlined in a form of Memorandum of Understanding or Terms of Reference with each party to guide the co-operation.

6.2 Problems with financial support

As usual, financial matter is a bit worrying. To solve this problem, we need support from WP Action Ireland to use its office for two or three days a week such as Monday and Saturday. Other solution will be to provide Work Permit Visa for the person of the PDP Press Desk. Also providing a scholarship for the person so that s/he can work while studying in Ireland is another altenative. In West Papua, Koteka tribal people who are committed to support the office will be encouraged to contribute regularly or in other ways that suit the economic and social culture of the Koteka Peoples ourselves. We will appoint persons to collect the contribution and will set up a committee of finance for the PDP euroPress Desk.

6.3 Problems with government policies

We have learnt so far that governments have hindered people's movement around the world by issuing laws and regulations. The best example is the Terrorism Bill in England that gives no place for organisation like the PDP to openly operate. In anticipation to such things, we have done our best from early on to establish contacts personally and also officially about our presence in Ireland. We will always lobby the government to maintain the relationship. The last possibility will be that the PDP Press Desk officer will not be physical as a traditional office, but it will be a cyber-office and mobile one. This alternative will need some modifications in the tasks of the office.

6.4 So many groups of Papuans in Europe?

Frankly, perhaps this is the most hindering as well as discouraging factor in our struggle so far. Such factional groups, even though they have the same goal, the way they describe or view each other has caused confusion and misleading for our supporters. The solution to this is clearly that those who do not openly, both by words and actions, support the PDP are those who against democracy in particular and additionally on the mandate that the PDP carries. 

We would humbly request to our supporters in Europe to understand that your support to the differing factions has also contributed to the further divisions of the groups. Therefore, it is now crucial that all groups stand behind and support the PDP and its official representatives. The cause is clear, the call is obvious and the only problem is the division among Papuans. Waiting for all Papuans to united in one and single organisation is almost impossible, but the possible thing we can do is to refer every group to the PDP and to encourage each of us to respect the work of democracy and to support the mandate that the PDP carries.

Of course, there is a worry that the PDP might turn in favour of Indonesia's policies, but I can assure you all that such a worry has no basis. If there is any, then I can assure you as well that all Papuans are well aware and will take possible actions before or after such deviation of the PDP's role occurs. All constituent-organisations on the ground are aware and prepared to take necessary actions to prevent or counter-act to such a turn by the PDP.

However, if they believe that they have tasks different from the PDP's, and then they will need to explain those tasks as transparent as possible to all parties and guarantee that they do not intervene into or their tasks do not overlap with those of the PDP. This is a very important preventive action to take to save the Resolutions of the Papua People's Congress II 2000.

6.5 So many groups inside West Papua?

Practically, it appears that there are many names of persons and organisations in West Papua. It is important to understand that many of these are basically constituent-organisations, which in principle support the PDP. The differences of opinions and or complains against the PDP are mostly rooted into the varieties of tribal groups with the complexities of cultures and languages as well as phases of development in each region where they live.

Therefore, we will need to encourage the PDP Europe or PDP in general not to draw lines between who are members of the PDP and who are not. Of course, there are so many weaknesses of the PDP, but the major task now is not to discuss them, but to carry out the mandate. Perhaps in some years coming, we will find time to improve the weaknesses or even replace them. These all depend on the world politics and politics in Indonesia.

7. Proposal

To the PDP Moderator in Europe to appoint one Papuan to function as the Press Officer of the PDP. To West Papua Action Ireland to provide technical and operational assistance in establishing the Press Desk. To all supporters in Europe to provide financial contribution to run the office.

8. Closure

So far PDP Pacific has been active and effective, and before establishing other offices in other continents, Europe must first be effective in the campaigns. The establishment of the PDP euroPress Desk is partly to encourage the activities of the PDP Europe as well as to mediate or facilitate the efforts of the PDP offices so that the justifications of the struggle are clearly and thoroughly presented to the world.

West Papua independence will open a new door to a government that is environmentally friendly, democratically unique, socio-culturally special and politically new system of governance.

The success and or failure of this office depend on three parties: The PDP Europe Office in Holland, Supporters in Ireland, England, Holland and Europe in general and Koteka Tribal Assembly in West Papua.

We are on the right track, for a worth defending cause, and victory is certain. Thank you very much indeed.

© 2002 The Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece