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Menu of contents for this page:
- Bintang Kejora Masih Berkibar Hanya Gus Dur Yang Bisa Larang, koridor.com
[21 Oct, 0:00]
- Radio Australia. Korban jiwa di Papua Barat meningkat menjadi 31, Saturday, October 21, 2000 (11:13:42
AEST)
- Situasi Manokwari 23 Oktober, oleh Yophi W. Weyasu
- Rebels Step Up Struggle in Indonesia, By Daniel Cooney, Associated Press Writer, Monday October 23 3:07 AM ET
- Migrants trapped in Irian Jaya hinterland, JAKARTA, Oct 23 (AFP),
Monday, October 23 2:04 PM SGT
- South China Morning Post. Indonesia. Cleric held over rebel flag violence,
Chris McCall in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Monday, October 23, 2000
- Indonesian Observer. Rebels funded by foreign groups Tuesday, Oktober 24 - 2000
- JAKARTA, Oct 23 (AFP). Indonesian security minister blasts Papua separatists, Monday, October 23 6:23 PM SGT.
- The Jakarta Post.com. Latest News. Papuan Task Force told to stop military training October 24, 2000
- Tempo Magazine. Barnabas Suebu: "They Only Want Independence"
Interview NO. 34/XXIX/October 23 - 29, 2000.
Indonesia -
Cleric held over rebel flag violence, South
China Morning Post,
Monday, October 23, 2000 - Bintang Kejora Masih Berkibar Hanya Gus Dur Yang Bisa Larang,
Koridor.com, 20 October 2000
- Tribesmen prevented them from leaving, a report said Monday.
-
Why were you appointed by President Abdurrahman Wahid to negotiate between the
government and the Papuan Presidium?
Bintang Kejora Masih Berkibar Hanya Gus Dur Yang Bisa Larang
koridor.com [21 Oct, 0:00] Ketua Presidium Dewan Papua Theys Hiyo Eluay berjanji
tak akan mempermalukan Presiden Gus Dur, dalam menyelesaikan soal pengibaran
bendera Bintang Kejora. Ia tak mau mengikuti pola elit politik, yang selalu
menghujat.
"Saya tidak mau Gus Dur dipermalukan," tandas Theys Hiyo Eluay, kepada
koridor.com, disela-sela pameran 'Seni Rupa Budaya Papua', di Jakarta, Jumat
(20/10) malam.
Theys dijadwalkan akan bertemu dengan Presiden Gus Dur, untuk membicarakan soal
pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora di Irian Jaya. Ini merupakan langkah kongkrit
penyelesaian masalah Papua, karena peristiwa Wamena membuat hubungan masyarakat
Papua dengan Jakarta menegang.
Menurut Theys, sebelum ke Jakarta, ia telah melakukan dialog dengan Musyawarah
Pimpinan Daerah (Muspida) Irian Jaya. Hasil pertemuan itu menyepakati, penurunan
bendera Bintang Kejora tetap dilaksanakan setelah Theys bertemu muka dengan
Presiden Gus Dur. Soalnya, Gus Dur lah yang pertama kali mengijinkan pengibaran
bendera tersebut.
"Kami tidak berurusan dengan Megawati, kami tidak berurusan dengan Kapolri
atau siapapun, karena kami tahu yang membolehkan kami mengibarkan Bintang Kejora
adalah beliau (Gus Dur-Red)," ujarnya.
Ditanya mengenai apa agenda pembicaraan dengan Presiden Gus Dur nanti, ia enggan
mengemukakan. "Itu rahasia," tukasnya. Tapi ia tidak setuju
menggunakan cara-cara seperti yang dilakukan elite politik Jakarta terhadap Gus
Dur yang selalu menghujat. "Kami tetap menghormati beliau. Saya tidak mau
Gus Dur dipermalukan," jelasnya.
Yang pasti, dalam pembicaraan itu, akan ditanyakan kembali janji Presiden Gus
Dur terhadap pengibaran bendera itu. Theys belum menjelaskan, apa sikap pihaknya
nanti, bila ternyata Gus Dur berubah pendirian dan tidak mengijinkan lagi
pengibaran Bintang Kejora di Irian Jaya.
Pertemuan dengan presiden sendiri, masih menunggu kepulangan Gus Dur ke tanah
air. (lia / ht)
-------------------------------------
23 Oktober 2000
oleh Yophi W. Weyasu
Menjelang batas akhir penurunan Bendera Bintang Gejora tanggal 19-10-2000 di
seluruh tanah Papua yang diberikan oleh Pemerintah RI, membuat semua orang
merasa khawatir akan adanya kerusuhan besar di seluruh daerah di tanah Papua
karena di lain pihak rakyat Papua berkeras untuk tetap mempertahankan
berkibarnya bendera Bintang gejora tersebut. Hal yang sama terjadi juga di
Manokwari, di mana menjelang deadline tersebut masyarakat kelihatan sangat resah
namun hal tersebut cepat diantisipasi oleh Panel Papua kabupaten Manokwari
dengan mengadakan dialog dengan Muspida Kabupaten Manokwari.
Dalam dialog tersebut disepakati untuk tidak diturunkan bendera Bintang gejora
hingga batas waktu tertentu. Hal ini disampaikan sendiri oleh Kapolres Manokwari
dan Dandim Manokwari. Mereka menyerahkan semua tanggungjawab keamanan sepenuhnya
kepada rakyat Manokwari dan Satgas Papua. Bendera Bintang Gejora di Manokwari
hingga saat ini hanya berkibar di empat tempat yaitu LMA Manokwari, Posko Satgas
Arowi, posko Sanggeng Tengah dan Fanindi Pantai. Kesepakatan ini kemudian
diumumkan lewat RRI kepada seluruh masyarakat di Kabupaten Manokwari. Situasi
Manokwari hingga tanggal 19 dan 20 terlihat aman dan segala aktivitas berjalan
seperti biasanya dimana segala aktivitas perkantoran maupun perbelanjaan
berjalan seperti biasa.
Hal seperti ini yang perlu dipelihara agar tidak terjadi hal-hal yang dapat
merugikan kita semua,demikian dikatakan oleh Bpk Barnabas Madacan Ketua LMA
Manokwari.
------------------------------------------------
Monday, October 23 2:04 PM SGT
JAKARTA, Oct 23 (AFP)
Some 65 migrants were trapped in a hinterland town in Indonesia's separatist
province of Irian Jaya after thousands of local
tribesmen prevented them from leaving, a report said Monday.
The migrants were not under detention but were not allowed to leave Tiom, a town
some 270 kilometres (167 miles) west of Wamena, the Kompas daily said, quoting
three teachers who had managed to slip away.
An officer on duty at the police station in Wamena declined comment, referring
queries to the police chief, but he could not be
reached.
The teachers had slipped through the siege on Tiom hidden in the back of a truck
driven by a local resident, Kompas said.
They said that thousands of tribesmen, armed with bows and arrows, spears and
stone axes, had surrounded Tiom and practically imposed town arrest on some 65
migrants there.
"We were banned from going anywhere," said Hendrik Maurius, one of the
three who escaped.
He said that the tribesmen had also threatened to kill all the migrants in Tiom
if Indonesian security personnel attempted to
forcefully lower the Morning Star separatist flag raised there.
Those still trapped in Tiom were mostly teachers, government employees and
members of the security forces and their families, they said.
Kompas said that the administrative and military chiefs of the Jayawijaya
district, which covers Tiom, had attempted to land there by helicopter on
Saturday but had to fly back to Wamena because of local hostility.
Members of the presidium of the pro-independence Papua Council had also
attempted to land in Tiom using a small aircraft but were prevented by a hostile
mob on the ground.
The men who escaped said a group of armed tribesmen was guarding the Tiom
airstrip following rumors that members of the Papua Council presidium were to
land there to bring the Morning Star down.
Members of the council's presidium and Indonesian security leaders last week
agreed to extend an October 19 deadline for the separatist flags to be lowered
while people were told that the flag should no longer be raised in public.
The government of President Abdurrahman Wahid, which earlier allowed the raising
of the separatist flag under certain
conditions, has since banned the flag from the public altogether saying that it
had now become of symbol of separatism there.
The forceful lowering of the flag in Wamena on October 6, led to bloody rioting
that left 30 people dead, mostly settlers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South China Morning Post
Monday, October 23, 2000
Chris McCall in Jayapura, Irian Jaya
The detention of a Papuan pro-independence leader by police has raised fears of
more violence in the hill town of Wamena.
Human rights monitors said protestant cleric Obeth Komba was taken in as a
"guarantee" that two colleagues would hand over Papuans involved in
bloody riots in Wamena earlier this month.
Mr Komba is a local representative on the Papuan Presidium Council, the supreme
pro-independence body. He and two other local activists had been arrested
previously. According to the leading rights lobby Els-Ham, all three were
allowed to go free on condition they brought in the Papuans involved in the
October 6 violence. Mr Komba was later detained again. "If they don't hand
over the perpetrators of the violence, they will be jailed. But the police who
shot people dead will not face the legal process," said Els-Ham director
Yohanis Bonay.
Independence supporters banned the two other men, Murjono Murib and Jafed
Yelemaken, from going back to the police. Mr Murib is head of the local branch
of the Papuan Panel, the wider pro-independence body which appointed the
presidium. Mr Yelemaken is its secretary.
"The police do not know who the perpetrators were. But these people are not
police. They do not have experience to find them," said Mr Bonay.
"This could cause a new conflict."
Police in Jayapura confirmed Mr Komba had been questioned on Friday and
Saturday, but gave few details. "We asked him for information," said
Assistant Superintendent Zulkifli Ar.
The October 6 bloodshed killed at least 32 people, many of them migrants from
other parts of Indonesia. Independence activists put the toll much higher.
It was triggered by a police attempt to lower the separatist Morning Star flag.
A day of fighting ensued, with police shooting
from shop kiosks and hordes of Papuans descending on the town with spears, bows
and arrows and other traditional weapons. A team from Indonesia's National Human
Rights Commission visited the town and confirmed human rights abuses.
Wamena is the gateway to the isolated Baliem Valley, whose inhabitants lived a
Stone Age existence until they were discovered by Europeans in 1938. Although
they are aware of the outside world through contact with missionaries, tourists
and the Indonesian Government, they do not wear clothes and are skilled in the
use of traditional weapons. The valley has long been a haven for the rebel Free
Papua Movement.
The Wamena violence triggered fears that any attempt to take down the Morning
Star flag would lead to a bloodbath. Long-banned, Indonesian President
Abdurrahman Wahid gave permission for it to fly alongside the Indonesian flag a
few months ago, but the Government reversed its position as the separatists
became better organised.
The flags fly in most parts of the province, particularly in the southern town
of Merauke and the island of Yapen. On Friday,
Yapen's police chief, Superintendent Idrus Gassing, gave a new deadline of
October 31 for all the flags to be lowered in his area.
Police in Jayapura, however, denied that a new general deadline to lower the
flag had been issued. The October 19 deadline passed without incident after a
last-minute agreement between the two sides to avoid bloodshed.
------------------------------------------------
Indonesian Observer
Tuesday, Oktober 24 - 2000
JAKARTA (IO) =97 A team of legislators that recently visited Irian Jaya (West
Papua) says foreign groups have been funding the separatist Papua Council
Presidium (PDP).
The team yesterday said President Abdurrahman Wahid should take stern measures
against any efforts to establish an independent West Papua.
The legislators said the government could counter calls for independence by
adopting a new approach for development of the
easternmost province.
They said the government must accommodate the aspirations of locals.
The team visited Irian Jaya=92s Wamena district from October 16-19 to
investigate the bloody violence on October 6 in which 30 people were killed.
=93We call on Papuan leaders to curb the number of Papua Task Force members. I
believe the Papua Task Force is funded by foreign groups. I think the task force
is linked to a foreign conspiracy and influence,=94 A.M. Fatwa, deputy speaker
of the House of Representatives, told reporters in Jakarta.
Fatwa, who led the delegation of five legislators to Wamena, said that during
the visit he observed a mass burial for the casualties of the Wamena massacre.
The legislators who joined Fatwa for the sojourn In Irian Jaya were Posma L.
Tobing, Yacobus K. Mayongpadang, Imam Adaruqutni and Rachman Sulaiman.
Imam of parliament=92s Reform Faction said a 1999 law that calls for Irian Jaya
to be split into three provinces should be implemented immediately in order to
accelerate development in the remote region.
=93It should also be equipped with the implementation of the regional autonomy
law, with regard to the characteristics of each area,=94 he added.
Imam said the government must anticipate a proposed declaration of Papuan
independence scheduled for December 1. =93Indeed, there is speculation the
declaration will be made on December 1, 2000.=94
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 23 6:23 PM SGT
Indonesian security minister blasts Papua separatists
JAKARTA, Oct 23 (AFP)
Indonesia's top security minister on Monday defended the actions of police who
shot dead separatist supporters during a protest in remote Irian Jaya province
17 days ago, sparking riots that killed 31 people.
"The police acted proportionately to the unrest," Coordinating
Minister for Political, Security and Social Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
told a luncheon with foreign journalists here.
"There was some sort of resentment against the police action, which caused
casualties among the police, and also the indigenous people organised within the
(pro-independence) Papua Taskforce," he added.
Police opened fire on pro-independence Papuans protesting against the removal of
Morning Star separatist flags in the hinterland town of Wamena on October 6,
killing four.
Another two died from bullet wounds during later clashes between the police and
the pro-independence supporters, hospital and human rights sources have said.
The shootings enraged members of the Papua Taskforce, a pro-independence
civilian paramilitary organisation, who with
residents from surrounding hills, then attacked police and migrant settlers,
killing 25 of the settlers.
Yudhoyono also lashed at the Papua Council and its Presidium, the bodies now
spearheading the independence push, for abusing the government's trust and for
seeking the support of Pacific nations.
He said the bodies had swayed from their original role of helping the government
to implement wide-ranging autonomy for the province.
"Unfortunately the trust given by the government has been misused and these
establishments have been used to proclaim the
independence of Papua," he said.
Yudhoyono said the Papua People's Congress last June had "made it known
that there is an intention to declare the independence of Papua on December 1,
2000."
"The members of the Papua People's Council have gone to several foreign
capitals to rally support and assistance for their
aspirations for independence," he said.
"Cooperation has been initiated with several Pacific countries such as
Vanuatu and Nauru who have in turn supported the independence of Papua at the
UN's millennium summit."
Yudhoyono called the Papua Taskforce, claimed by its leaders to have tens of
thousands of members, the "embryonic armed forces of independent
Papua."
The Indonesian cabinet has adopted a new intolerant approach to expressions of
separatism in Irian Jaya since the Wamena riots, declaring a ban on the Morning
Star flag within a week of the incident.
Yudhoyono repeated the cabinet's position on the flag, calling it a
"political symbol of an independent Papua."
He was speaking as separatist leaders tried to arrange a meeting with President
Abdurrahman Wahid to obtain his direct instruction concerning the flag.
The cabinet ban is a reverse of the tolerant approach initiated by Wahid in
December last year when he declared the Morning Star could be flown, provided it
was alongside and below the national Indonesian flag.
In August this year, Wahid told the 700-seat national assembly he would not
tolerate separatist moves in the province, pledging broad autonomy instead.
Yudhhoyono said special wide-ranging autonomy would be implemented in Irian Jaya
on May 1 next year.
The central government's perceived exploitation of the province's vast mineral
resources, years of neglect and the dominance of commercial life and the civil
service by migrant settlers have fed separatist sentiments there.
Independence leaders have made increasingly vociferous calls for secession in
recent years, peaking with the June congress in which they demanded Jakarta
recognise that Papua had been independent since 1961.
They say a UN-conducted "act of free choice" in 1969, which led to the
former Dutch territory becoming part of Indonesia, was unrepresentative.
About three-quarters of Irian Jaya's roughly 2.5 million population are
indigenous Melanesians, spread across 253 predominantly Christian tribes.
------------------------------------------------
The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
October 24, 2000
Papuan Task Force told to stop military training
JAKARTA (JP):Irian Jaya Police chief Sylvester Y. Wenas said on Monday that he
had asked the separatist Papuan Task Force to stop their military-like training
in the Jayapura town of Bonggo.
Wenas said on Monday that the request had been conveyed to Papuan Presidium
Council chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was expected to comply.
"If my request is ignored and the training continues, Irian Jaya Police
will not be hesitate to disband the group," Wenas remarked as quoted by
Antara.
He said the security situation in the province had gradually turned to normal so
there was no need for civilians to be trained as
militiamen.
The task force clashed with security personnel earlier this month following
unrest caused by the pulling down of the separatist
Morning Star flag in Wamena.
Armed civilians ran amok and attacked migrant settlers in the area. At least 30
people were killed in the incident.
The government has banned the separatist movement in Irian Jaya, including the
hoisting of the separatist flag and militias.
------------------------------------------------
Tempo Magazine
Interview NO. 34/XXIX/October 23 - 29, 2000
Barnabas Suebu:
"They Only Want Independence"
No one expected blood to flow so freely in the lush verdant land of Irian Jaya,
Indonesia=92s easternmost province. Yet it was in Wamena, a small town on the
Jayawijaya plateau, some 290 kilometers from the provincial capital of Jayapura,
that 40 people were killed and scores left injured at almost the same time. They
died or were wounded from gunshots, arrows or spear wounds earlier this month.
The riots in Wamena were the climax of a fury and the release of pent-up anger
of the people of Papua (local name for Irian Jaya) against Jakarta. They had
earlier welcomed and rejoiced over a decision by President Abdurrahman Wahid to
allow them to fly the Morning Star flag. A furious reaction was inevitable when
security forces stepped in to stop them from hoisting their symbolic standard.
More than just a mere inconsistency, Irian Jaya has ironically become the victim
of political policy pursued over the years by
Jakarta. The wealth of this rich province has been kept from its people. The
Papuans have virtually been reduced to mere spectators of the economic
activities in their area. Forest concessions are held by companies in Jakarta.
PT Freeport McMoRan, an American company, continues to exploit the mineral
wealth of gold and copper. An annual contribution of US$5 million from the
company to the province=92s coffers is only a very recent development.
The unfavorable development in the area is one of the reasons why the Papuan
People=92s Congress convened in Jayapura last May and issued a resolution
calling for independence from Indonesia. This decision was a major surprise for
Jakarta. It led President Abdurahman Wahid to assign former Irian Jaya governor
and current Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico Barnabas Suebu to negotiate between
Jakarta and Irian Jaya.
And so, Barnabas, 54, became a roving ambassador, shuttling between Jakarta and
Mexico. Born in Ifale, a tiny island in the middle of Lake Sentani, Barnabas is
seen as an acceptable figure, both to the Papuans and Jakarta.
Barnabas Suebu began his political career as a youth activist in the Indonesian
National Youth Committee. He was a member of an Indonesian youth delegation that
attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 1985. Since then,
Barnabas, fondly referred to as Bas, has moved on to assume various political
positions. At one time, he was the speaker of the Irian Jaya provincial
legislature. Bas, who is also a businessman, once chaired the Irian Jaya Chamber
of Commerce.
As the governor of Irian Jaya (1988-1993), the law graduate of Cendrawasih
University was able to lead the province without any significant political
upheavals. "I made frequent visits to various areas in the province,"
he said.
Yet Bas almost lost his life at the hands of his own people in Jakarta. A Wamena
resident, frustrated by a protracted and unsolved dispute over his land in Irian
Jaya, tried to stab him. Understanding the plight of the individual, Bas asked
the police to free the man and even gave him some money. "He is now a good
friend," Bas said laughing. Following are the views of Barnabas Suebu on
Irian Jaya, including provincial autonomy and the Papuans=92 disappointment in
Jakarta, as conveyed in an interview with TEMPO correspondent Edy Budiyarso via
telephone last Friday.
------------------------------------------------
Why were you appointed by President Abdurrahman Wahid to negotiate between the
government and the Papuan Presidium?
Following the Papuan People=92s Congress last May, President Abdurrahman Wahid
appointed a number of negotiators. They are Izaac Hindom (former governor of
Irian Jaya), Manuel Kaisiepo (junior minister for the acceleration of
development in Indonesia=92s eastern regions), Agus Kafiar (former rector of
Cendrawasih University), Simon Morin (a legislator), Fr. Dr. Chil Perari
(Indonesian Federation of Churches) and Prof. Dr. Nazarudin Syamsudin
(University of Indonesia). These names, however, were rejected by the Papua
Presidium. Later, the President summoned Izaac Hindom, Acub Zainal (both former
governors) and me. Acub Zainal, who had just had an operation, declined the
President=92s offer. Izaac backed out because he had been rejected before.
What was the President=92s reason for choosing you as the mediator?
I was the only one acceptable to both parties.
And you accepted the offer right away?
I gave it serious thought because the situation in Irian Jaya was worsening. I
wanted to be among the Papuans so I could do something to resolve the problem
and prevent something worse from happening. At that time, I was the presidential
advisor on the Council for the Development of Eastern Indonesia.
Are you close to the leaders of the presidium?
The chairman of the presidium, Theys Hiyo Eluai, and I are related. We come from
the same village in Sentani, Jayapura. This is a factor that could facilitate
dialogue. But I don=92t have any connection with leaders of the Papua
Independence Movement overseas. I really would like to meet them and discuss
what they want.
You were appointed ambassador by former president Habibie when the situation in
Irian was approaching turmoil? Did you ever feel sidelined?
I don=92t know. In February 1999, some 100 tribal elders from Irian Jaya met
with president Habibie. They told him nobody from Irian Jaya had ever become a
minister. Nobody from Irian Jaya had ever risen above the level of governor. Not
long after that, then state secretary Akbar Tanjung offered me the post of
ambassador. The tribal elders=92 meeting with president Habibie might have been
instrumental in my becoming an ambassador.
Irian Jaya was in a relatively stable condition when you were governor of the
province.
Well, conditions were relatively more peaceful then. That was because I always
collaborated with all provincial leaders as well
as with the security forces. I would often go out to visit villages to ask the
people whether they were feeling safe or not. If they
were afraid then who were they afraid of? If the security forces claimed the
situation was peaceful but the people felt uneasy, then this meant that fear was
still lingering on.
But at that time, the Organization for Papua=92s Independence had been carrying
out attacks?
They took place in the border area between Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea. What
occurred were sporadic armed conflicts between security forces and rebels living
in the jungles. They would launch sudden attacks and then withdraw. So, there
was no large-scale action directed against them.
In your view, what is the root of the problem in Irian Jaya?
It is a comprehensive problem. The bottom line is injustice. When I was
governor, I proposed to PT Freeport that the people of Irian Jaya, through the
provincial government, be included as shareholders in the company. I also
conveyed this to former
president Suharto and several ministers. They did not heed me.
PT Freeport McMoRan is now saying it was giving 1 percent annually to the
province?
That was realized only after a long and continuous effort was made. The people
have perceived an injustice. They are poor and die of hunger amid their own
wealth. They die on the same mountains that have produced billions of dollars.
Such an injustice has been perceived by the people who have been helpless to
demand for their rights because of threats directed at them.
In respect of Freeport, it was said that you had differences over the matter
with the central government?
I discussed it with mining minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita. It took a long time
for me to convince him. The 1 percent profit concession from PT Freeport was
only realized when Ginandjar became chief of the National Development Agency (Bappenas).
And that only occurred after the Papuans attacked Freeport, forcing the company
to cease operations for several days. Eventually, it was agreed that Freeport
would give 1 percent of its profits or about US$5million. That sum of money is
quite sufficient to improve the education and health of the population.
What was the reason behind Ginandjar=92s rejection?
Ginandjar said the 1 percent profit given to Irian Jaya would be a negative
precedent for other provinces. This, of course, is a weird way of thinking.
Wouldn=92t Freeport have to close down if the people started to rebel against
it?
What about Suharto=92s reaction?
I still remember what he said, which really confused me. Suharto said Irian Jaya
was the center of the regions and was a region of the central government. In
respect of Freeport, he only said that the share for the province had been
allocated.
When you were governor of Irian Jaya, it was said you had differences with
Suharto?
Well, that had to do with forest concessions. Holders of concessions exploited
the forests and also damaged the environment.
In Irian Jaya, they only took the big trees and left the small ones behind. The
same thing happened in Biak. And you know, Biak is a coral island where it is
extremely difficult for plants to grow. That made me really mad.
Have you ever scolded any of Suharto=92s cronies?
Yes, Bob Hasan=92s group and the Barito group. Suharto=92s children have shares
in these businesses. They retaliated. Suharto chided me. They won because
Suharto was in power. As a governor, I lost his favor. You know, nothing
happened without the consent and blessing of Suharto. His consent and blessing
was tantamount to the command of a king.
Apart from Freeport and the forest concessions, what other injustices did you
perceive when you were governor?
The fiscal policy was unfair to Irian Jaya. Most of the mining taxes went to the
central government. Revenues for the provincial
government came from road and vehicle taxes, television fees and levies on
markets. Such taxes in heavily populated parts of Java provided huge revenue to
the provincial governments on the island.
How many cars, motorcycles, radios and televisions are there in Irian Jaya?
What about other matters?
With regard to court proceedings over land disputes, the government often came
out the winner once the case reached Supreme Court level. This is evident is
such cases as the controversial Hanok Obe Ohe case. According to the Supreme
Court ruling, Hanok was the winner. However, the Supreme Court judge later
cancelled his decision, which triggered large-scale demonstrations. The Supreme
Court is the last resort for justice before a person finally seeks the justice
of God. As a governor, I perceived this as a form of state violence against the
people. This happened in Tanah Kampung Harapan in Jayapura. It also occurred in
Biak, when residents were involved in a conflict with the Navy.
Is the situation in Irian Jaya like a smoldering fire?
Yes. The reform movement has removed the lid and released a lot of smoke. The
problem now is that many people are still too preoccupied with the smoke. They
forget that the smoke is there because there is a fire.
Do you consider the recent hoisting of the Morning Star flag to be the smoke?
A flag and an anthem are just smoke as both are merely symbols. The fire is the
injustice. Prohibiting the hoisting of the flag is just chasing away the smoke.
This means the problem will drag on and not be resolved.
If justice is delivered, are you convinced the people of Papua will want to
remain a part of Indonesia?
What is important is that people of Papua feel they are treated justly, as
equals. Without the feeling of togetherness, they will
feel they are outsiders. History has shown that Dutch colonialism made us feel
that we shared a similar destiny and had a common desire to become one nation.
This process continued until 1969 when a plebiscite was held. However,
subsequent developments have shown a different outcome, prompting people to
question the need for us to remain united in one single nation. In the past,
everyone suffered under colonialism. Now, after independence, one leads a good
life while the other continues to suffer.
The people of Papua insist on independence but Jakarta rejects it.
How can negotiations be carried out?
The Papuan People=92s Congress prefers a peaceful struggle. The President has
opened himself up to dialogue. The dialogue has often been bogged down because
every party has stuck by its principles. The Papuan Presidium only wants
independence and the government only wants to give special autonomy. At present,
a formula is being worked out to produce a win-win solution. I feel the values
the Papuans are struggling for can be achieved through special autonomy, meaning
the province holds the power and basic rights.
To what extent are the Papuans receptive to this idea of autonomy?
They do not accept autonomy. They only want independence. I say that autonomy
and independence are interrelated. Autonomy is part of the independence they are
struggling for. There is a problem because there is a difference in perception,
ideas, experiences and level of education. What I am trying to clarify is not
easily understood, let alone approved and accepted.
How should the idea of autonomy be promoted then?
That is the task of Papuan Presidium. The difficult thing is that this idea of
autonomy has to be promoted at a time when the people are craving for
independence. The Papuan Presidium does not want to be seen as relaxing its
fighting spirit in clarifying the meaning of special autonomy to the people. The
people now detest the word autonomy.
Are the leaders of the presidium united in perceiving the offer of special
autonomy?
Not really. They have different views. One wants to go East, the other wants to
go West. However, what is important now is that conditions are no longer
emotive.
In your view, will the people of Irian Jaya vote for independence or autonomy if
a referendum is held?
Based on my observations in Jayapura, I predict there will be a greater
preference for independence. So, this is a serious matter. I hope no one will
say again that this is the wish of a trivial
few.
Were there offers of certain positions to the leaders of the Papuan Presidium in
negotiations you had with them?
There were no such deals. They also do not want to speak about it for fear they
will be seen as fighting for their own interests.
What about the attempt on your life?
He is a man from Wamena. Noak is his name. At the time, he was involved in a
legal process to restore his rights to land upon
which the Dutch had built the town of Wamena. According to customary law, after
the departure of the Dutch, the land should
have been returned to Noak=92s family. He took up the case and brought it before
the National Land Agency (BPN) in Jakarta. The case continues, without a
settlement in sight. He became extremely upset and wanted to kill me. It
happened when I was attending a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs. The
police detained him but I asked them to release him. I gave him some
money. I had no idea what he was going through. I later explained to him that
his land had become state land. Now he has become a good friend. Every time I am
in Jayapura, he comes to see me, even though he lives in Wamena. (MHU)
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