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WatchPapua for the PDP euroPress Desk & Demmak

Educating the World for a free & independent confederated tribal-states of West Papua
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Progress Report and Plans of Actions



Acting PDP euroPress Desk
Supervisor of Koteka Tribal Assembly (Demmak)
PDP Mediator/ Facilitator for Europe
Co-Founder of WatchPapua
Email: pressdesk@westpapua.net

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I. INTRODUCTION

As a representative of the largest mass organisation (Demmak) from West Papua and moral force movement of student-activists (AMP), I have been working without any fixed agenda and plans since mid 1999. After a year or so, there have been significant improvements in the movement of the people, particularly the Koteka people who inhabit the highland territories.

This progress report is a second one. The first one was already submitted to my supporters around the world mid 2001. (Let me know if there are friends who did not receive it)

At the international arena, Demmak has shown its views and beliefs in civilised, respected or appropriate ways to settle political conflicts in West Papua, i.e., through dialogue as an outcome of local and international pressures.

At local level, Demmak has demonstrated its commitments to liberate and free West Papua from colonialism and imperialism of any kinds at any costs, i.e., with no compromise. And the AMP has publicly spoken about this mission to the world. AMP has been the mouthpiece of Demmak and other mass organisations in West Papua.

Demmak is now obliged to educate the world so as to make the world understands the complete concepts and contexts of the independence movement with the causes of the problems and solutions from Papuan perspectives.

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II. COMPLETED TASKS AND FAILURES


A. Successes

I visited Indonesia on 5 November 2001 and now I am writing this report on 6 October 2002. There are a few progress made during this period of time. Without your support, the progress would have never happened at all.

1. First and the most important one, the information system (not material equipment) is in place at the moment, completed after various meetings with Papuan leaders during March 2002-September 2002. Papuan leaders here are not the political elites, but tribal elders.

2. The information line and command line is now well sorted. It is not a top down but a bottom up one, with tribal elders as the key person to decide and to ask for actions.

3. The Books on Theys Eluay (495pp); on Special Autonomy (450pp); on Tribal Democracy (Indonesian version, 200pp); on Work to be Done to Mobilise the Independence Movement (The Bullets for Independence Movement in West Papua, 250pp); Translation of Human Rights Manuals for the Police (from English into Indonesian, pocket size, 300pp); Practical Guide to Face the Arbitrary Arrest and Detention in Indonesia (pocket size, 200pp). Only the book on Theys was published by an Indonesian publisher. Others are in photocopy forms and they need to be published.

4. Websites http://www.westpapua.net/ and http://www.westpapua.org.uk/ have been upgraded and some parts are now automated using .php programme.

5. Three regional groups (West Java, Central Java and East Java) were set up in Java Island among Papuan students in order to support our work.

6. There were good and productive communications and discussions with Papuan Youth Organisations as well as Indonesian journalists in order to help Papuans in the future, i.e., to expose human rights violations, to report events in West Papua from the jungles, etc.

7. WatchPapua or the Ndugu Ndugu Research and Publishing Institute was finally legally established after hard work in convincing Indonesian lawyers to helped us setting up the institute. WatchPapua is now the mother organisation that legally protects the activities of research and publications in and on West Papua. For example, publications of books, CDs, Cassettes, stickers, flyers, etc.

8. WatchPapua also legally protects the Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece (the two websites) so that they are officially legal under Indonesian laws because they are under the umbrella of WatchPapua.

9. Two very sucessful campaigns were the "No to war campaigns" against Papuans' reactions over the assassination of Theys Eluay (11 November 2001) and the Timika Ambush (31 August 2002). Face to face debates and discussions with the elders made the tribal elders did not react violently when these two incidents happened in West Papua. The world might be surprised that the cannibals and primitives of West Papua did not react as they should when their tribal elder was assassinated and also when foreigners were killed in their village in Timika.

10. There were also discussions with Peace Brigade International and right now the central office of PBI in Canada is considering to open its office in West Papua. Previously, we planned to open the office in cooperation with Demmak, but due to the arrest of Benny Wenda on 8 June 2002 and his disappearance on 26 October 2002, we are re-considering to establish the cooperation between PBI and WatchPapua.

11. Up to this point I am writing this report, particularly Koteka people have learned more about Demmak and what it does for the koteka people.

12. There have been introductions to some PDP members of the need and existence of support from Europe, particularly England and Ireland. They now have better knowledge of my activities in Europe. However, some members of the PDP are quite bureaucratic and exclusive. The micro politics within Papuan people blocks my efforts to communicate the needs for campaigns in West Papua. There are of course many interests and pressure-groups within Papuan people. Some are agents of the Western powers, some are representatives of the Papuan people, others are agents of the Indonesian government, and also there are agents of the multinational NGOs.

The outcome of these is that the PDP has promised to provide a formal status of the PDP euroPress Desk by December 2002, not with a letter of mandate nor a decree but through a Resolution of the PDP Meeting or as such.

 

B. Falirues and Ways to Solutions

1. Failure to attend the World Society Forum due to shortage of funding for air-fare and for accommodation. The funding was available just one day after the forum began its meeting.

2. Failure to attend the UNWG on Indigenous Populations due to the same reason as above.

3. Failure to attend the 3rd International Solidarity Conference for West Papua in London due to the ambush in Timika and my activities to settle down the people's reaction against the ambush.

4. Failure to get out from Indonesia as early as I could due to various things that come out.

5. Failure or deliberate postponement of Decree from the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) to set up the PDP euroPress Desk. If you read progress report of the PDP of 5 October 2002, it mentions the establishment of its Press Desk for Europe in Ireland, but in reality it does not provide official document (decree) for it. 

6. Failure to leave Indonesia as soon as possible due to various technical meetings or discussions with various parties in Indonesia. 

Based on my konwledge, the most of failures are due to the lack of financial resources.


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III. NEEDS/ PLANS OF ACTIONS (POA) AND CAMPAIGN TOPICS


A. Short Term POA (within 6 months from now)

There are two immediate actions need to be taken:

1. Inaugurate the opening of PDP euroPress Desk in Ireland on 05 2002 February 2003.

Invitations to Jacop Prai in Sweden, Otto Onawame in Australia, Viktor Kaisiepo in the Netherlands, and one from West Papua. I am expecting them all to pay their own airfares, but contributions for the airfares are most welcome.

There is a need to call some meetings among West Papua supporters in England and Ireland before the inauguration to re-focus our agenda and communicate our differences and similarities before moving forward in the campaigns.

Financial Calculations:

a. A return ticket for Jacob Prai about US$300
b. A return ticket for Viktor Kaisiepo, about US$300
c. A return ticket for myself from West Papua to Ireland (Mother Josepha), about US$2,000
d. For the ceremony, about US$2,000
sub-total 1= US$4,600

2. Attend the Conference by the Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights Office, Asia-Pacific Section in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 4-7 December 2002.

I will present a paper (12pp) outlining the Autonomy Package for West Papua, the shortages and advantages of the package, as well as the incidents leading to President Decree on the Autonomy and during its launch and implementation.

Financial need:

a. A return ticket from West Papua to Chiang Mai, Thailand US$300
b. For administration and accommodation USŁ200
sub-total 2= US$500

3. Call Select Committee Members of West Papua Support Groups to support the PDP euroPress Desk person with main task to give advice, guidance and supervise the work of the Desk Person in campaigning for West Papua independence.

3.1 I want friends of mine, particularly those in Europe, who would like to support my work, to be selected as members of the Select Committee. They are to provide criticisms, advice, guide and supervisions on my work, particularly in regard to strategic steps (planning) and official statements.

3.2 There is also a need to set up a select committee on finance in order to manage and monitor all expenses for the movement (under the euroPress Desk).

3.3 There is a need to organise a select committee on administration to help me in organising meetings, contacts, etc.

The select committees do not need so many people, but about 3-5 people who will have roles to play in each select committee.

I am expecting them to meet in Europe sometime next year to discuss various issues. However, it is also possible to organise via emails or chats via yahoo on the Internet.

4. Complete the English version of the book on Theys Eluay entitle: The Koteka Tribal Assembly with a Story of STATE TERRORISM IN INDONESIA'S WEST PAPUA; Case Study on the Kidnapping and Assassination of Theys Hiyo Eluay, the PDP Chair and Revolutionary Tribal Elder of West Papua.

I would like to complete this book before November 2003. I will need some friends of mine to be the editors of the manuscript and some to find out publisher as well as financial resources to publish the book. 

To complete the manuscript there is a need for financial support to print the drafts, read, edit, re-print by myself before it goes to the editors. At least US$1,000 is required for this task.

5. There is a need to go around the world to meet Papuan leaders such as Jacob Prai, Nicolas Jouwe, Viktor Kaisiepo, Rex Rumaikek, Fransalberth Joku with his PDP Pacific colleagues.


B. Campaign Topics


The topics of campaigns to focus are as follows:

1. Kidnapping and Assassination of the late Ondofolo Dortheys Hiyo Eluay and other current human rights violations with coordination with the Mamberamo-Tami Tribal Council and other Ondofolos and Odoafies around Port Numbay;

The goal is to request a Special Rapporteur to West Papua, either from the OHCHR or Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples. (Special budget to be prepared separately)

2. Campaigns against the operations of Freeport MacMoran Copper & Gold, Inc. in Timika region to be organised with tribal organisations in the highlands of West Papua under the umbrella of Lorentz Nggerek Foundation;

The goal is, if possible, to shut down Freeport MacMoRan, Inc. and stop its operations.

3. Campaigns against Terrorism in West Papua to be coordinated by Demmak and Mother Yosepha with the PDP, ELSHAM and other political organisations in West Papua;

The goal is to declare war against state-terrorism in West Papua, to educate the world that independence movement is movement for independence, nothing to do with terrorism at all, that West Papuan organisations are to establish West Papua as a separate state.

4. Campaigns against operations of the British Petroleum (BP) in Bintuni area of West Papua to be led by the Tribal Council of Sebyar who represents seven tribes around Bintuni Bay.

The goal of this campaign is to re-examine the status of agreement between tribal people and the company, and if possible, to suspend its operations and shut it down.

 

C. Long Term POA


1. Set up and organise Select Committee to support campaigns worldwide under the name of International Network for West Papua Independence (INWPI).

2. Establish first contacts with supporters in the USA, SE Asia and Africa (2003).

I would like to visit the states around April 2003. From there, I am planning to visit Ghana, Guinea, Mauritius and South Africa. I have contacts in the states right now, but need contacts for African countries. On my four-days visit to Thailand, I will investigate possibilities of visiting other Asian states, especially India, Japan, China, and South Korea.

3. Run the PDP Office for Europe in Ireland.

I have proposal for running cost of the office available at http://www.westpapua.org.uk/pdp/project/europress.htm. Total running cost is US$9,600/year, plus costs for equipment and desk space.

4. Write the TRIBAL DEMOCRACY as a Dissertation for an MA Degree at any university that can accept my title. I would like to apply for a Masters by Research at the Department of Politics or Public Administration or Department of Democratic Studies as such.

I need friends of mine to find out a university that can offer me a degree for completing my Dissertation entitled: TRIBAL DEMOCRACY: A System of Government for Confederated Tribal-States of West Papua. Before this, I will need to complete my dissertation for MA Degree in the UK that I have not yet completed so far. I will consult with my professor and tutor.

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IV. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS


A. Problems Encountered:


1. Papuan people, particularly in the villages think very slowly. Consequently, they react very slowly to the events and incidents that occur in West Papua.

2. Papuan poeple are too optimistic that the Western Government are supporting West Papua's independence movement.

3. Papuan people expect to much from foreign supporters than from themselves.

4. Lack of understanding that Papuans ourselves should support the independence movement

5. Lack of communication equipment and skills.

Problems Number 1 to 4 will be solved by having as many discussions as possible with various parties in West Papua. Also writing books to tackle the problems. There is a need for communications, open communications among the tribes. This is what PDP calls "Consolidation." Consolidation according to Demmak does not mean all should agree with each other but it means all should know, and understand what the others are doing.

6. There is a big gap between the views and perceptions of the Papuan elites and the people. For example, the elites are pro-development, i.e., they compromise with Freeport MacMoRan, Copper & Gold, Inc, and BP Operations in West Papua. They understand that multinationals are synergies that should be used as energy for the people's movement. On the contrary, ordinary Papuans view that the multinationals are the causes of all problems in West Papua. They look at their own experience that various problems in West Papua started when multinationals stepped into their 

Some Papuans, particularly the elites view "consolidation" as "all should agree with their decisions." They measure "nationalism" as all should unite in one 'language' or 'one song', i.e., Papuans should all agree with what PDP says or does. That is not what Demmak understands of "nationalism". Demmak's view is that nationalism of Papuans should be within the contexts and scope of tribes, and the nationalism within the tribes is the basis to build nationalism at the national level. Thus, all differences should grow, for example, the differences in strategies and methods of the struggle. As long as the target is the same, all should learn to get along with and respect differences. 

 

B. The Need and Proposed Solutions


1. There is a need for open information to the Papuan people regarding the plans of actions (only for non-confidential ones)

2. There is a need for the Papuan people to understand the problems at the national and international level in campaigns for independence. Many Papuans view the movement is an easy task due to the ignorance of the complexities of the world political system. What they know is that once a nation raise its flag for some hours or days, then the United Nations will interfere to approve the flag and declare the nation as a new state. They do not really understand about the interests of the world governments that play very vital role in neglecting or supporting West Papua's struggle for independence.


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V. CLOSURE


A. Closing Remark


It is in fact difficult to really point out what other Papuan organisations are doing in supporting the independence movement. No reports available to understand what is going on. We can only see the work Human Rights NGOs in West Papua from local papers. 

The PDP as the "legitimised" organisation for the independence movement is clearly stepping in place, not moving forward, or even stepping backwards. There has been practically no single activity of the PDP since the death of the late Theys Eluay. Even though there were statements that the movement does not only depended on Theys, the fact is "Yes, it was depending on Theys' charismatic leadership." No Papuan leaders today is charismatic but more totalitarian and bureaucratic. Independence movement has now turned to the path that was set up by the Western leaders, particularly Britain and the USA, i.e., they want PDP to become the "fire-fighter" for them, so that they can exploit as long as and as many as possible under their "independence movement organisation umbrella."

Papuans are now waiting for actions that can:
* Really show the real voice of the people, without any pressures from the third party (non-Papuans);
* Clear guidance and policies for independence movement. People want to see the colour as red or white, no ambiguous signals or behaviours.
* Papuans want a revolutionary leader who is brave to speak out for the people.


B. Appeal


West Papua cause is not a national problem nor a local one. It is an international problem. It is legally, morally, democratically and environmentally justified case for all civilised beings: plants, animals and humans.

Our goal is clear, not only for an independent state of West Papua, but more importantly for a free West Papua: free of colonialism and imperialism of any kinds and any forms.

And your contributions to this movement is warmly welcome, as you are contributing something to the humanitarian movement to create:
* A people free from colonialism and imperialism;
* A state free from any kinds of interferences and
* A world free from any kinds of exploitations

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