Free West Papua separatism is a problem, not a solution

This early December 2009, less then 5 papuans and several British citizens gathered in Westminster to demonstrate a small disturbance to the peaceful development of Papua and West Papua provinces. 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Papua

To access the full report including the extensive footnotes visit the International Crisis Group website (registration required).

NO PART OF INDONESIA generates as much distorted reporting the western half of New Guinea that has been home to an independence movement since the 1960s. Some sources, mostly outside Indonesia, paint a picture of a closed killing field where the Indonesian army, backed by militia forces, perpetrates genocide against a defenceless people struggling for freedom. A variant has the army and multinational companies joining forces to despoil Papua and rob it of its own resources.

Celebrating direct election of 2 Papuan Governors

Remember, three years ago democracy has been installed in Papua and West Papua.

From Editorial, The Jakarta Post July 2006

After four months of waiting, the people of Papua and West Irian Jaya provinces finally saw the leaders they elected back in March take office Monday. Abraham Octavianus Atururi and Rahimin Katjong entered the history books as the first governor and deputy governor of West Irian Jaya. Their inauguration Monday should close the protracted debate over the legality of the province, a debate which colored the gubernatorial election there.

Rectifying the past injustice

After several years blogging about Papua, I realise that most of the readers of my blog are human rights activists, academics, government researchers, separatist activists, Indonesian military and intelligence officials,  UK Police officials, Australian officials, well educated Papuans, mining business players, environmentalists, etc. I am only guessing by interpreting thousands comments that came to me. A very usual watchers of Papua.

I want to share my personal feeling while writing  articles in my blog. My first impression is there are so many hatred and threat to me, not only from Papuan separatist groups but also from Indonesia (possibly military). I have a thesis: perpetual conflict will only exist as long as there is no communication, and I can say that there is no real communication between Indonesian government and Papua separatist movement for more than 40 years.

Police blame group for election attacks

The Jakarta Post
April 25, 2009

by Dicky Christanto

Recent bomb attacks linked to the legislative elections in
troubled Papua province may have been orchestrated by a single
group, police said Friday.

They said a forensic laboratory report showed that explosive
materials used in both bombings were the same.

Provocative Media Release West Papua 16 April 2009

The Australia West Papua Association (Sydney) releases a provocative statement about increasing tensions in West Papua.

AWPA is calling on the Australian Foreign minister to raise the continuing deteriorating situation in West Papua with the Indonesian President and urge him in particular to control the security forces in West Papua as a way of avoiding further escalation of the situation and avoiding possible bloodshed.

Joe Collins (the agent of provocateur) of AWPA said that recent incidents in West Papua including the ambush on Wednesday the 15 April in which a policeman was killed and six others wounded by an unidentified group in Tingginambut in the Puncak Jaya district of West Papua “may have been instigated by third parties out to distrupt the Presidential election as the Indonesian President’s talk of reform is not welcome by all members of the security forces”.

Info Joe Collins
Mob. 04077 857 97

Joe Collins “the agent” is familiar with the situation in Indonesia. That is why he could easily understand about the potential conflict inside Indonesia. If Joe is a sincere person, he will not provoke the situation by adding more easily burn ammo about the possible bloodsheed. Who are the third parties? Is it Australian intelligence? Is it Wiranto’s loyal followers? Is it Prabowo’s para military groups?

Who is Joe Collins ?

Please inform the world if you know even a little piece of information about the game that Joe Collins plays.

Exiled Papuan rebel offers peaceful solution to Indonesia

Jakarta – An exiled separatist leader seeking independence for Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region called Friday for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Nicholas Jouwe, 85, the Dutch-based co-founder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), returned to Indonesia Wednesday for the first time after more than 40 years in exile.

UN Rights Meeting

What is the use of sending a big delegation to UN Rights Meeting in Geneva next March? For Papuan it is a real good gesture from Indonesian government to include representatives from Papua.

Here is the related news from Jakarta Globe:

Supersized Delegation Attending UN Rights Meet

It’s not a matter of who has been invited to attend the United Nations Human Rights Council Assembly in Geneva from March 2 to 27, but who hasn’t.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that as well as its own delegation, it had asked for representation from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs; the Coordinating Ministry for People’s Welfare; the Attorney General’s Office; the Ministry of Home Affairs; the National Police; the Indonesian Armed Forces; the Ministry of Social Affairs; the Ministry of Religious Affairs; the Constitutional Court; and the Judicial Commission.

Human rights lawyer cleared in Indonesia

Good News from West Papua delivered worldwide by Amnesty International:

29 January 2009

A prominent human rights lawyer in Indonesia has been cleared of charges relating to a text message he is alleged to have sent to his friends and family contacts. Iwanggin Sabar Olif, a member of the Papuan organization ELSHAM (Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Hak Asasi Manusia, Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy), had faced up to six years in prison.

The text message asked people to be careful because Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had ordered a deadly program together with the army aimed at “eradicating” (membasmikan) the Papuan population through food poisoning and other violent actions. However, Iwanggin Sabar Olif always denied having written or sent this message, or even having received it.

West Papua: Inside Indonesia?

Photo: Leslie Butt

When it comes to the debate about the development in West Papua, we must be very careful in reading so many sources in the internet. Wind of change is still blowing in Indonesia after the reform movement in 1998, including in West Papua provinces. Indonesian citizen who live  in West Papua are now enjoying more freedom and economic development. If we compare it with the New Order era, West Papua is independent legally under the special autonomy law.

There are small elements of Papuan who still trying to destroy the positive development in Papua. Those Papuan are honest and hurt during the New Order regime, they dream of revenge in the name of their father and familes who were killed during the conflict between the military wing of Free Papua Movement  (OPM) and Indonesian military. Now peace and prosperity is moving in a fast track and more Papuan leaders hold a  key position in Papua and West Papuan provinces.

I do understand the difference perspectives among us regarding independence, so I suggest we must be very careful in understanding the reality in West Papua. The more we read about West Papua the more we understand. Although I am not in a full confidence with the articles within Inside Indonesia magazine, I think we should read the issue of Papua within the Inside Indonesia magazine, which has the special report/analysis about West Papua for the last 7 years.

Here is the editorial of the current edition.

Jennifer Robinson

For many people, West Papua is unquestionably part of Indonesia and therefore a proper topic for discussion in this magazine. For many others, it rankles. This difference in opinion boils down to a significant point in Papuan – and Indonesian – history. Next year marks 40 years since a UN sponsored vote in 1969, the Act of Free Choice (AOFC), which determined that West Papua would be integrated into Indonesia rather than become an independent state. Of course, there was another big and much-discussed anniversary in Indonesia this year. May 2008 marked ten years since the downfall of President Suharto and the beginning of reformasi. This anniversary prompted much reflection about the state of Indonesia’s democracy. That the anniversary of the AOFC is looming is hardly less significant. The contested histories arising from the AOFC – in particular concerning Papua’s status as a part of Indonesia – are at the root of ongoing conflict in Papua.

I am saddened and sickened by West Papua separatist supporters

Pheew it’s true.

It’s sick how a bunch of liars can look away from truth and so nonchalantly pass off issues that matter just to maintain the glow of their pretending messiah to save West Papua.

It’s sad how Richard Samuelson and friends claim my blog is so negative and isn’t talking issues whence those ignorant people are just skating and avoiding offering any plan themselves, but creating further conflict among Papuan.

It’s sick that Richard Samuelson and friends can want a win by creating more conflict so bad that they don’t care about what the full outcome is going to be.

It’s sad that important people in the House of Parliament in this day and age can be so blind and gobble up the verbal cum of an ignorant liar like Richard Samuelson in the heart of United Kingdom.

It’s sad that in West Papua case, United Kingdom Democracy is so driven by false information from Richard Samuelson and friends about West Papua.

It’s sick and sad that the International Parliamentarians for West Papua will responsible for the perpetuate conflict between the Papuan separatist and Indonesian military, while ordinary Papuan will suffer even more.

It’s sick how arrogant Richard Samuelson is, pushing me to stop writing in my own blog.

It’s sad someone will undoubtedly comment that it is sad and sick I feel this way.

Military purpose, influence in Indonesia

Juwono Sudarsono, Jakarta

The Indonesian Defense Force was established from a myriad group of student brigades, guerrilla militias and irregulars representing ethnic, religious and provincial identities preceding proclamation of Indonesian independence in Aug. 1945.

These guerrilla forces and student brigades were imbued with the guiding ethos that defined latter-day Indonesian defense policy: “Total people’s warfare”, and later on, “total defense and security”.

All services of the Indonesian Military (TNI) are at once a fighting force (tentara kejuangan), a people’s force (tentara rakyat), a national force (tentara nasional) and a professional force (tentara profesional). Professionalism is deliberately subsumed under the preceding three guiding elements. Every single Indonesian soldier, sailor, airman and marine is honor-bound to think and act first and foremost as an Indonesian, to be “first in war, first in peace and first in emergency response”.

About Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage

Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage went to jail not only because of flag raising issue, but also because of their role as the leader of the mobs who continued to attack police and and create clashes.

The background story of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage in the international fora is incomplete, for example separatist activist in the US, Europe and Australia only stressing on the raising flag as the main reason why those two activist should be put in jail. In reality, what was happen during the riots lead by those two activist was very dangerous to the people.

here the backgroud story from Papua Story about the clash

Peaceful Life of Papuan

Indonesia’s foreign minister has defended the government of Indonesia’s policy of restricting access by foreign journalists and human rights monitors to the troubled province of Papua by saying ‘We simply want the people to have a peaceful life.’

Hassan Wirajuda told Australian journalists, ‘You should not think that if not much access is given that we are hiding something.’

The people of West Papua have been the victims of conflict between the brutal OPM and Indonesian Military . They experienced human rights atrocities at the hands of the OPM, political opportunist, and military for 45 years.

Now, Indonesia keep moving forward the democracy path including its military and police. The people of Papua are also walking towards a bright future of peaceful life. However, political opporturnist who advocate for independence now responsible for the maintaining of conflict in Papua and West Papua. Sometimes those opportunist groups are behind the visit of foreign journalist and human rights monitor. But there are also a sincere visit of foreign journalist and human rights monitor, so Indonesian government should be very careful with this issues.

reported by Free West Papua

West Papua: The Truth and Lies

Free West Papua (FWP) has received information detailing the truth and lies about West Papuan criminal detainees, who are held by the Indonesian police and prison service in Jayapura, Manokwari and Timika.

Even though unfair treatment of  criminal detainees are common in many places in the world, such unfairness can not take place in Papua. We should push the improvement of treatment of criminal detainees in Papua.

Indonesia govt blamed for stagnant special autonomy in Papua

News Update from RNZI

Posted at 22:29 on 31 March, 2008 UTC

A delegation of politicians from Indonesia’s Papua province has been to Jakarta to further pressure the central government to help improve Special Autonomy in their region.

The Jakarta post reports that Papua legislature members, led by chief councilor Jimmy Demianus, held separate meetings with the House of Representatives and Regional Representative Council leadership.

Many Papuans believe Special Autonomy, established in 2001, has failed to address problems such as human rights violations, natural resource management, health, poverty and security.

Mr Demianus has warned that Papua’s problems will become more complex if Jakarta did not improve the implementation of Special Autonomy.

He blamed Jakarta for the stagnation of special autonomy in Papua and neighbouring West Papua province, saying they can’t properly implement autonomy without technical and operational guidance from central government.

Recently, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu admitted that despite huge special autonomy funds being allocated over the last seven years, most Papuans remain poor and uneducated.

He said that most of the funds have been used to finance bureaucracy.

The British Human Rights Report 2007

A very important note was stated in British Human Rights Report 2007.  I think it would be great if a peaceful dialogue among Papuan, Papua local government, Indonesia central government, Indonesian civil society, Papuan local NGO, and national NGO can be held openly and sincerely. The implementation of special autonomy should be discussed carefully in an honest atmosphere as a vital step to resolve the complex problem of Papua. Hostile action and negative propaganda by some radicals should be stopped. Violation of human rights by some military unit should also be stopped. At the same time, during the process of dialogue among parties in Papua, restrictions on access to Papua by NGOs and journalists should be loosen, so the world will see the reality of positive development in Papua. Hopefully, some irresponsible Papuan who take economical and political opportunity in foreign countries will realise that their action is only worsening the situation in Papua.

Papua Issue in Indonesia-Australia relation

Papua issue in Indonesia-Australia relation is a kind of illumination project of political opportunist and separatist leaders who can not see the bright future of Papua under its tribal democracy. Our democratization process is slow but we have faith in the development of our community. We will modernize our society not by letting our traditional culture fade away, but by integrating all aspect of our culture into a peacefull process of development. Yes, we need help and assistance in doing the process. Indonesian federal government is still facing political struggle in Jakarta regarding the right concept for Papua. There are some ideas that invite a pro-con among elites and also grass roots, for example the proposal to split Papua. Indonesian federal government should settle all aspect of conflictual ideas and interests among political elites, so grass root in Papuan can feel that all those ideas are for the benefit of Papuan, not for political interest or parties. We count on our representatives in the People National Representatives Council to support the right development concept for Papua. Back to the issue of Indonesia-Australia relation,

Suharto in Inside Indonesia

Most of Western media coverage on Suharto is in a bad tatste. Just like in my previous article titled The Death of Suharto, I would like to add one more comment on a subjective Western perspective. This time I will write a brief comment to an article in one of the most important Foreign Journal on Indonesia, Inside Indonesia. 

Call for consultation over Jakarta’s plan to further split Papua

Posted at 07:26 on 28 January, 2008 UTC
Source:  RNZI

A religious leader in Indonesia’s Papua has called for Jakarta lawmakers to consult with Papuans before going ahead with their plan to split their region into four new provinces. Last week, Indonesia’s House of Representatives endorsed its own plan to create eight new provinces, including adding four provinces to the two in its Papua region.