|
|
|
West Papua Refugees Camp in Wamena: Are they really refugees in their Papua Papua New Guinea Land?
(September 8th, The Collective Editorial Board of the OPM, reporting from Wamena)
Today, the CEB of the OPM visited the "refugees" as the Indonesian call them who are temporarily staying in a big hall in Wamena, Town fully guarded by about 10-20 Indonesian army and police. Two questions need answering after visiting the camp: 1) Are they really refugees in their own land? 2) What message do they bring to the people: by the government, by themselves and by the Free Papua Movement?
It is quite funny when we say that these people are "refugees" in their own land, the New Guinea Island. It is perhaps logic to call them refugees when they are coming back from Molucas, Borneo or Java, but "Come on, not when they are traveling back from a Papua village of Kiunga to another Papua village of Wamena. The borderline drawn by the Dutch, German and the British was artificial anyway. We are socially, culturally and geographically ONE, all are Melanesians and Austronesians referred today as Papuans. Papuans have been living in this New Guinea Island since about 10,000 years ago. Some of us in Wamena were from Vanimo, some from Lae, some from Port Moresby. Similarly, some people in PNG are from West Papua. We are ONE in everything. What makes us as if we are different is the history of the eastern and western part of this island. The only thing that distinguishes the two parts of the Island is perhaps the colonial powers and histories. The Island was divided into three, North East for Germany, South East was called British New Guinea, and the western half was the Netherlands New Guinea. Even though these names are not original to the Papuans, as usual, the West have been using these to divide and rule in this island. Even until today, Papua New Guinea unfortunately does not officially support the independence of West Papua New Guinea. Other than this historical tragedy, there is no reason to call these villagers coming back from Kiunga to Wamena as refugees. To do so is merely political in humanitarian and socio-antrhopological perspectives.
Even though these villagers are not refugees, either the government of Indonesia, the Free Papua Movement and the villagers themselves have so different and interesting stories to know.
The Message from Indonesian Government
Through local papers, radio and TV, Indonesia is saying, "These are our brothers in Indonesian nation. They are coming back because we have better government, democratic and persuasive government. We are more advanced in many aspects of life than PNG. These people love Indonesia and love their homelands, therefore, they are coming to us. We welcome such a move by our friends. We will treat them well and we will do our best to make sure that all they want to and plant to do can benefit their friends (foreigners and natives) in West Papua.
In other words, they are telling the world like this: "Look, the Papuans are coming back to Indonesia. They support the process of reformation and democratisation in Indonesia. They are coming here because we are better than the previous New Order government." This message implies that investors are more than welcome because the Papuans are coming back safely. Loans and donations are welcome because we can guarantee security and brotherhood between Indonesians and Papuans in this western half of the Island.
Is this a truth? Up to you readers. The fact has taught all of us that Indonesia is built up upon lies and lies. It almost does not have any single truth. It never acknowledges its brutalities and lies. It never stands as a gentle-nation by acknowledging weaknesses, sins, and promising reformations in all aspects of life. Indonesia is used to find out what we call in Indonesian language "kambing hitam", i.e., someone to blame for what happens. An obvious example can be seen in cases related to East Timor independence. Since the struggle of independence of East Timorese about 25 years ago, Indonesia has been claiming the country as its territory. Ministers and Presidents by turn claimed ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WANT INDEPENDENCE IN EAST TIMOR, MAJORITY OF THEM WANT TO BE WITH INDONESIA. What a lie! The democratic referendum on August 30, 1999 proved on the contrary. Now, Indonesia has been blaming Australia for being honest and more humane than before, for taking a clear stand against the brutalities of Indonesian military and militia groups. The murder in Atambua. West Timor this week shows another interesting story of lies. Indonesian government blamed Australian intelligence agency being involved in the murder, THIS IS WITHOUT ANY PROOF.
Ka
K