West Papua: Betrayed but Not Defeated

West Papua is the Western Half of New Guinea Island. East Papua is called Papua and New Guinea (PNG). New Guinea is the Door of the States into SEA States, geo-politically strategic for the USA and still it is strategic for the USA and other European nations. It lies between Asia and Australia. West Papua is with Indonesia now as a direct impact and mere victim of the cold war era.

Re-colonisation of the state is legally fraud, morally shameful, democratically embarrassing and questionable to all civilised people.[i]

Impacts of Re-colonisation

Long Term Impacts

First of all, West Papua was removed from Commission 24 of the UN without any legal basis whatsoever. When West Papua was listed under the Commission 24, there was a UN resolution and listed under the UN Decolonisation territory. But when the UN took note the outcome of the fraudulent and undemocratic Act of Free Choice in 1969[ii], no single word was mentioned regarding its status under the Commission 24. Thus, it is legally (de jure) still under the UN decolonisation list, but not politically (de facto). We’re campaigning to list it back.

The second impact was that Indonesia began its 25-year development programme (from 1 May 1963-1 May 1988). There has been no legal basis either to support Indonesia’s occupation since then because the 25-year development programme

The third one, the USA was given full rights to exploit West Papua’s rich natural resources. Since 1967, Freeport and other US corporations have been plundering the whole Island, destroying the harmonious lives of the people, plants, animals and other beings.

These events are violations of the rights of a State and a People’s Rights. Further violations of human rights as well as the rights of other beings in West Papua are the outcome of the UN Resolution 2504 of 19 November 1969 that ‘took note’ the outcome of the Act of Free Choice.

Further Impacts

Mountains are now called valleys. Forests are now called deserts and roads. The everlasting ice (glaciers) is disappearing (melting). Many waters are not drinkable anymore for humans, animals and plants. These are due to massive and rapid exploitation activities, destroying and ecology and ecosystem of West Papua.

The widely known incident of the kidnapping and assassination of Theys Eluay and disappearance of his driver or most likely assassination of Aris Masoka, suspected carried out by so-called the ‘mysterious gangs’ or Indonesian Special Forces, are not yet punished under the Indonesian laws. Impunity for the armed forces is the major hindrance in bringing those responsible to justice. Other mysterious assassinations are the poisoning and deaths of Yusuf Tanawani in 2000, Yafeth Yelemaken in 2002, William Onde in 2002, Simon Alom in 2001 and others. There have been also arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and extra judicial executions as happened to Benny Wenda (2002), Arnold Ap (1984), Dr. Thom Wainggai (1996) and many others.

Trrorist Ambush and Death of 2 Americans, 1 Indonesian & 1 Papuan as well as clashes between the Liberation Army of Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM) and the Indonesian armed forces which began in late December 2002 to early this year at the West Papua – PNG border brought more lights into understanding who the “mysterious gangs” really are.[iii] Furthermore, East Timor style-militia activities under the name of the red-and-white task force as well as training and deployment and arming of Jihad Troops, trained by Afghani fighters still continue.

Further scandal is the special autonomy package that provide funds for the militia groups, police and armed forces to carry out atrocities in the region. West Papua is clearly under colonialism with ongoiong state-terrorism and state-perpetrated violence and crimes. The Special Autonomy also advocates further violations of human rights, massive & rapid exploitation & murder of our earth.

Who Sponsors & Harbours the Terrorism?

Western Nations are the sponsors, and trainers, they supplies of Arms, Ships and Hawks for the military. For Indonesia, Western countries are not harbourers but FUNDERS of State-Terrorism

What Papuans are Doing Now

Some historic events happened since the fall of Suharto’s Sultanate in mid 1998. On 29 February 1999, the Team-100 (100 Papuans) led by a tribal elder met the President of Indonesia and demanded the independence of West Papua be recognised. A year later,29 February 2000, the elders held a Grand Assembly of Papuan Elders which set up the collective leadership of Papuan people and propose the establishment of Papua Presidium Council. Then the Papua National Congress II 2000 was held on 29 May – 4 June 2000. Resolutions were read, among others urged Indonesia to open political dialogue, refused the outcome of the AFC 1969, demanded the UN, USA, Indonesia and the Netherlands to revisit their roles during the AFC. PDP pursues International Support to resolve the conflicts democratically and peacefully, i.e., in a civilised manner.

What kind of West Papua do we want to see?

We want to establish a Confederated Tribal-States, using the systems of governance that I callTribal Democracy. The systems care for the environment (transport system, trade/ commerce system, economic system, etc.). We want to see West Papua as natural, rarely explored region of the world because so far the 22% world languages, about 11% species of flora and fauna, the only glaciers, bird of paradise, the culture, etc. are under serious threat of extinction.

Conclusion & What You Can Do

Betrayal of Papuan people is not a new story. The Netherlands, the USA, and the United Nations betrayed Papuan people by promising independence for West Papua in 1970, by setting up scenario for handing over West Papua to Indonesia under the so-called New York Agreement of 12 August 1962[iv], and by approving the fraudulent and undemocratic Act of Free Choice[v] in West Papua in 1969. The European Union does not want to stay away from its hand in killing more Papuans and destroying the environments. It has now launched a campaign under the name of British Gas (LNG Tangguh Project) to plunder more natural resources from West Papua, without consulting the Papuan tribes in the areas. Current worsening situation is obviously due to the BG active involvement.

Since 1962, Indonesia has killed at least 100,000 documented Papuans, and 200,000 more undocumented.[vi] While talking to the Free Acheh Movement, Indonesia has ignored our demand, a discrimination policy due to differences in our religion and race.

To bring the ongoing problems to an end, there are various necessary actions to be taken:

4. Take actions against mutlinations, particularly RTZ, Freeport and the British Gas / Petroleum companies.

Endnote

[ii] The Act of Free Choice was carried out based on another fraudulent and undemocratic Agreement called the New York Agreement, signed between the Netherlands and Indonesia, excluding Papuan representatives, in which rules and procedures were set to carry out the Act of Free Choice. The Key provisions of the agreement were heavily violated in the execution of the Act, but the UN and the world leaders, including Britain, USA, and Ireland took note the resolution despite protests from some African countries and Israel. To read the New York Agreement, visit http://www.westpapua.net/case/nya.htm and the Act at http://www.westpapua.net/books/