124
The Papuan Population Census 2020 Proves 6 Million West Papuans are Missing within 58 Years of Indonesian Colonialism in West Papua
A number of people on social media discussed the Papuan Orang Asli census which was just announced by Governor Lukas Enembe on October 20, 2020. There were various responses, pros and cons. For me, the census is very important to ascertain the number of remaining Papuans, although I myself still doubt the validity of this census data.
Because this census was taken based on the available data base at the population office, which is usually done for the sake of regional election politics. The population office database is data from villages or towns, we know that this village data is 50% real data, and 50% fictional data. But whether the data is real or fictitious, both are products of the Indonesian government itself.
However, the indigenous population data is very important in the struggle for Papuan independence. In several studies, such as Yale University (Brundige et al 2004), ANU University (Wing, Robert and King 2005, Elslie 2015, 2018), AHRC Hong Kong and Germany’s ICP (2013), and the Australian Diocese reported that genocide was occurring in West Papua. To prove this Genocide, we need data on the indigenous people of Papua.
According to the records of the Dutch government, the population of West Papuans in 1960 was 700,000 people, this number is only an estimate, in fact the number of West Papuans at that time was more than that figure. Because at that time, many tribes in Papua were still isolated and not yet fully opened, for example the Yali, Nduga, Mek, Korowai, tribes in Mamberamo, tribes in inland Waropen, etc. These areas were only opened after West Papua was annexed, so the population of these areas has not been counted in the number.
Thus, the number of West Papuans was more than 700,000 people, the exact number is actually still lacking. In the same period, the number of indigenous Papuans in PNG was 1,000,000 people.
The total population of West Papuans in the 2000 census was 1,460,846 people, so within 39 years (1960-2000), the indigenous Papuan population increased by only 760,846 people.
If we compare, the population figure in 1960 with the development of the indigenous Papuan population in 2020, and between West Papua and PNG, the population in PNG in 1969 was 1,000,000 people, and the population of PNG now in 2020 has reached 8,947,024 million people. .
If we follow the population growth of PNG, each census period always increases: the 1980 census was 2,978,057 people, the 1990 census was 3,582,333 people, the 2000 census was 5,171,548 people, and the 2011 census increased 7,254,442 people (National Statistical Office PNG 2011). We see the growth in the last 10 year interval of PNG’s population: 2015 to 8,107,775 people, in 2016 to 8,271,762 people, 2017 to 8,438,036 people, in 2018 it grew 8,606,323 people, in 2019 it grew 8,776,109 people and in 2020 it has reached 8,947,024 people (Population of Papua New Guinea 2020), then in 2021 it is estimated that it will reach 9-10 million people.
While the Indigenous Papuans (West Papua) in 1960 were 700,000 (seven hundred thousand), and the 2000 census grew to only 1,460,846 people, but a detailed census from 1960 to 2019 was not available. The Indonesian government is hiding it for fear of its Genocidal project being abandoned. Meanwhile, the population of indigenous West Papuans in 2020 is 2.3 million (two million three hundred thousand), which has just been announced on 20 October 2020 by Governor Lukas Enembe, then added with the Province of West Papua, it is estimated that there are no more than 3 million Indigenous West Papuans residents at the end of 2020.
In comparison between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and West Papua (two provinces), PNG has experienced a population growth of 7.9 million people for 58 years, while West Papua has experienced a decline and growth of only 2.3 million people over a period of 58 years. So West Papua has experienced the loss or depopulation of 6 million Indigenous Papuans, when compared to the 2020 population of PNG.
Thus, 6 million Papuans were lost in the hands of the Indonesian government (NKRI), so the Genocide in West Papua is a fact that must be published worldwide. So far, Papuan fighters have used the genocide figure of 500 thousand people, but the 2020 Indigenous Papuan population census proves that we have lost 6 million indigenous Papuans, so this figure must be campaigned around the world.
Dr Ibrahim Peyon
