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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 US£200
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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© 2002 The Diary of Online Papua Mouthpiece
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