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The potntential implications of West Papua achieving independence on Melanesian Countries

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The potential implications of West Papua achieving independence on the Melanesian region are vast and complex, with impacts on human rights, economic development, and overall regional stability.

Human Rights:

One of the most significant implications of West Papua achieving independence is the potential improvement in human rights for the indigenous population. The region has long experienced human rights violations, including extrajud killings, torture, and detention by Indonesian security forces. Independence could lead to a greater respect for the rights of theuan people and the protection of their cultural identity and autonomy. Melanesian countries, particularly those within the MSG, have a vested interest in supporting human rights in the region and could play a crucial role in ensuring the rights of West Papuans are safeguarded post-independence.

Economic Development:

Independence for West Papua could also have implications for economic development in the region. The region is rich in natural resources, including copper, gold, and timber, which are currently exploited by outside companies, with little benefit to the local population. With independence, West Papua could potentially control and benefit from its own resources, leading to greater economic development and prosperity for the people. Melanesian countries could support this by providing technical expertise and financial resources to help build capacity in key industries and support sustainable development in the region.

Regional Stability:

The issue of West Papua‘s independence is a longstanding one and has the potential to impact regional stability within the Melanesian region. Any transition to independence must be carefully managed to avoid potential conflicts and instability. Melanesian countries, through the MSG, could play a key role in facilitating a peaceful transition by mediating discussions between West Papua and Indonesia, providing support for democratic processes, and assisting in the establishment of effective governance structures in an independent West Papua.

In order to achieve a peaceful transition and safeguard the rights of West Papuans, collaboration and support from Melanesian countries, specifically the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), will be crucial. The MSG could act as a platform for dialogue and negotiation between West Papua and Indonesia, as well as provide support for capacity building and development in an independent West Papua.

To rally Melanesian nations behind the cause of West Papua‘s independence, a compelling argument can be made based on principles of self-determination, human rights, and regional solidarity. By framing the issue within the context of historical injustices, cultural identity, and shared values among Melanesian nations, support for West Papua‘s independence can be garnered within the region.

Overall, the potential implications of West Papua achieving independence on the Melanesian region are significant, with opportunities for improved human rights, economic development, and regional stability. By fostering collaboration and support from Melanesian countries, particularly through the MSG, a peaceful transition to independence can be facilitated, safeguarding the rights and interests of the West Papuan people.

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Vanuatu

Vanuatu celebrates top ranking in Happy Planet Index

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Vanuatu is proud to announce its achievement of ranking #1 out of over 150 countries worldwide on the Happy Planet Index (HPI), for the second time since the index was first published in 2006.

Two Government ministers, government officials, representatives from the diplomatic corps, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and the general public celebrated Vanuatu’s achievement of claiming the top spot in the HPI at the Vanuatu Kaljoral Senta (VKS) in Port Vila yesterday afternoon.

The new HPI rankings were revealed yesterday to compare how well nations are creating human wellbeing using their limited environmental resources.

Vanuatu claimed the top spot, as revealed in the data analysis conducted and produced by the New Economics Foundation (NEF), an independent think tank based in the United Kingdom (UK).

This index rates countries based on their overall well-being and environmental sustainability, marking a significant departure from traditional economic metrics. Surprisingly, while Vanuatu shines at the forefront, European nations find themselves trailing far behind in the rankings.

The HPI turns the old world order on its head by highlighting how rich Western nations are often inefficient at creating wellbeing for their people. Vanuatu has again been ranked in first place for the second time due to its respect-driven cultural values and practices and its commitment to environmental protection and climate action.

In contrast, the United States of America was placed as the lowest scoring G7 nation at 122nd place, ranking low on both wellbeing and ecological footprint.

The HPI measures ‘efficiency’ using three indicators – wellbeing, life expectancy and ecological footprint. It was created by statistician Nic Marks, who said: “Promoting human happiness doesn’t have to be at odds with creating a sustainable future. The HPI’s mantra is that good lives don’t have to cost the earth, and after 18 years of rankings, this feels more relevant and timely than ever.”

Countries that rank highly on the HPI show that it is possible to live long, happy lives with a much smaller ecological footprint than found in the highest-consuming nations.

The top 10 countries by HPI score are as follows:

  1. Vanuatu
  2. Sweden
  3. El Salvador
  4. Costa Rica
  5. Nicaragua
  6. Denmark
  7. Spain
  8. Panama
  9. France
  10. Chile

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Finance, John Salong, yesterday, the Minister of Health, John Still Tari Qetu, stated that an index is a statistical tool that aggregates various indicators to understand something. There are many indices in the world today, such as the poverty index, corruption index, development index, and price index of items purchased from stores or markets.

“These indexes help a country understand its performance when compared to other countries in the world or region,” he said.

“We can see how we perform on these indices and how our position or score changes when indices are published regularly. For a country to be included in such an index, data must be available.

“The United Nations publishes the Human Development Index or HDI, which looks at three standard indicators of health, education, and income. Many countries view the HDI as a good tool to show progress, but almost everything reported for HDI largely depends on access to money, and HDI does not consider environmental quality at all.”

He mentioned that in 2021, Vanuatu was ranked number 140 out of over 150 countries in the world on the HDI. It is one of the worst countries in terms of human development in this index because of low income. In the same year, 2021, Vanuatu was ranked number 2 in the world out of over 150 countries on the Happy Planet Index, or HPI. The HPI ranks countries on their ability to provide happy and long lives for their people in a way that does not destroy the environment.

“The Happy Planet Index is a tool for measuring the sustainability of development in the world,” he said.

“Many countries follow a development model that tries to grow the economy endlessly, believing that if money or the economy grows, the well-being of the people will increase. But many developments that harm the environment can make the economy grow.

“Western indices like the Human Development Index, which compare the development of countries around the world, look at income, assets or things that need money to buy (like air conditioners, trucks, and mobile phones), and access to services that require money to use (like the main power grid and public water treatment).

“The Happy Planet Index is independent of money and measures countries on their ability to transform their natural resources into the well-being of their people. HPI looks at: Life expectancy, which is a standard indicator of health. The development of a country should not compromise the health of its population. The experience of well-being, which is a standard indicator of happiness. The development of a country should not compromise the happiness of its population.”

The Minister further stated that the consumption, which is a standard indicator of the quality of the natural environment, the development of a country should not spoil the natural environment that the population depends on for a long and happy life.

The HPI has been published every 3-4 years since 2006 when Vanuatu was #1 in the world. In 2006, every country in the world was included in the index, and if a country did not have an indicator, they estimated its value with another indicator.

Following the review of the 2006 HPI, many countries complained about the inclusion of other countries that did not collect data on life satisfaction. The HPI released in 2009 and 2012 did not include Vanuatu, and every other Pacific country that was in the 2006 HPI was removed, like Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

In 2010, Vanuatu ran a pilot of “Alternative Indicators of Wellbeing for Melanesia” through Malvatumauri with the partnership of the Vanuatu National Statistics Office (now Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics or VBoS), and a report came out in 2012.

Following the report of the 2012 pilot study, there were other collections of statistics that took life satisfaction, and HPI asked Vanuatu to submit new data. Vanuatu returned to the HPI in 2016 and took #4 in the world and #1 in the Asia/Pacific region.

“Following Vanuatu’s #2 ranking in 2021, we continue to collect well-being data and today, the Happy Planet Index has published again with new rankings for countries around the world. We see Vanuatu in the HPI again through the hard work of everyone at the VBoS on the Melanesian Wellbeing Indicator Project,” Acting Finance Minister Qetu said.

“As the Minister responsible for official statistics, I am very pleased to announce that this morning, Friday, May 3, 2024, international media reported that Vanuatu has once again ranked #1 in the world on the Happy Planet Index.

“For over 18 years now, Vanuatu has shown the world that we have something that has value beyond money. The eyes of the world are on Vanuatu again following today’s announcement that Vanuatu is the most efficient country in the world at delivering sustainable wellbeing outcomes for its people.”

The Minister said Vanuatu is the only Pacific Island Country on the HPI because the other island countries in the region do not collect data on the wellbeing of their people.

“I believe that if more countries in the Pacific were to collect and report wellbeing as part of their official statistics program, we would see many of them near the top of the HPI, just as Vanuatu has been since 2006.The exhibition we are attending today is to show the world and to remind us in Vanuatu of everything we have that makes us #1 in the world on the Happy Planet Index,” he said.

Vanuatu’s success on the HPI reflects its deep respect for the environment and its dedication to sustainable practices. With a rich cultural heritage that emphasises the spiritual connection to the land, Vanuatu sets itself apart as a world leader in environmental stewardship. This respect for the environment is evident in the country’s indigenous land and sea rights, traditional resource management techniques, and progressive laws and governance agenda.

“We are thrilled to once again be recognised as the top-ranking country on the Happy Planet Index,” said Richard Shing, Director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. “This achievement is a testament to the enduring legacy of environmental stewardship that is deeply ingrained in our culture and values.”

Topping the HPI a second time over the last 20 years is also a testament to the work done by the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics (VBoS) to collect and report life satisfaction data since 2010.

Andy Calo, the Chief Statistician at VBoS, said, “Vanuatu is currently the only Pacific Island Country to have the required data needed to calculate an HPI score as a result of our Melanesian Wellbeing Indicator initiative, which has helped to illustrate the valuable contributions our culture and environment make to our collective and individual wellbeing in Vanuatu”.

While celebrating this accomplishment, Vanuatu’s officials acknowledge that there are areas for improvement. The Government is committed to addressing challenges such as enhancing government stability, reducing violence against women, improving education outcomes, and building an economy that better meets the needs of our growing population.

“We recognise that there is still work to be done to further improve the well-being of our citizens,” stated Mr. Shing. “However, this achievement affirms the importance of our kastoms, culture, leaders, and laws in shaping a sustainable and fulfilling life in Vanuatu.”

Vanuatu remains dedicated to its mission of achieving balanced and sustainable development while preserving its unique cultural heritage and pristine environment. The country looks forward to continuing its journey towards a brighter and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

doddy@dailypost.vu

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West Papua

Genocide in West Papua. 6 million missing souls. Where have they gone?

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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
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West Papua

WPCC: Together Fighting for the ‘Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua

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WEST PAPUAN COUNCIL OF CHURCHES (WPCC)
(Together Fighting for the ‘Dream of a Generation of Church Change Pioneers for the Entire Land of Papua’)

OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police: “Papuan people are not enemies of the Republic of Indonesia, Stop the REMILITERIZATION of the Land of Papua and follow up on the President’s promise to meet with Papuan Pro-Referendum groups”

His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step (Job 34:21)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews:4:13)

OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police

OPEN LETTER To President Joko Widodo As the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police

Shalom!

This open letter is addressed to the President in response to:
(a) Papuan Mourning which has gone viral on YouTube since the end of September 2020
(b) The Papuan People’s Petition rejecting the Special Autonomy extension launched on 4 July 2020
(c) The violent and repressive response to peaceful protests against Special Autonomy. On Monday, September 28, 2020, students were shot at on the UNCEN Jayapura campus by the Army and Police. This sent a message that “Papua, by rejecting the extension of Special Autonomy is the enemy of the Republic of Indonesia”.
(d) Remilitarization of Papua Land as a strategy of the Indonesian government in order to: 1. continue Special Autonomy unilaterally; 2. Return the Land of Papua to the status of a Military Operations Area (DOM) through the construction of new Military District
Commands (KODIM) & Military Area Commands (KOREM) since 2019 and sending additional troops to West Papua which began in August 29, 2019 and still continues; 3. In order to take control the natural resources of the Land of Papua at a large scale.
In our opinion, this letter does not come out of empty space or does not fall from the sky, but it comes out from the centre of Papuan dynamics. Therefore, through this letter, we ask the President as the Supreme Commander of the Army and Police, and the President of the member countries of the UN Human Rights Council, that he:
(a) terminate the status of Military Operations Area or ‘Remilitarization’ of the Land of Papua. Because this will continue to demonstrate the strength of the State’s military without giving space for democracy and freedom of expression and assembly to Papuans.
(b) Through this letter, we also remind the President to follow up on your promise on September 30, 2019 to meet the “Papua Pro-Referendum group”.
This letter is conveyed by us from our position as Churches and Papuan Society that have been part of the modern Indonesian society since 1 May 1963.

1. Position and Identity of the Church & Papuan Society in modern Indonesian society since 1963

A Church document entitled: ‘Joint Statement’ which was signed by the leadership of the Protestant & Catholic Church of West Irian on March 9, 1964, states that the government established the position of the people of West Irian (Papua) and the Church as ‘the other party’, ‘the other’ to the government and the people of Indonesia. The government had the right and obligation to secure, manage and or control the people of West Irian according to their taste.

In the ‘Joint Statement’ document, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia (9 March, 1964) positioned the people of West Irian as the ‘target’ of the Indonesian development model in West Irian (West Papua) which was aimed to equalize the people of West Irian so that they can be equal to other tribes in Indonesia, while the Indonesian government appointed itself as the ‘representative of God’ by quoting the Holy Scriptures, Romans 13: 1-3. The parties who invited our Church to sign the “Joint Statement” were: DGI (current PGI), the Indonesian Church Trustees Council (KWI now), in collaboration with the Secretariat for West Irian Affairs at that time.

Did the leaders of the West Irian Church at that time compile the “Joint Statement” or was it prepared by the inviting party? This is not clear. But the Joint Statement established the position of Papua in ‘modern Indonesian society’ ever since.

In the framework of ‘equalizing’ the people of West Irian (Tanah Papua), on May 2nd and 3rd, 1963, after UNTEA handed over government administration to the Government of Indonesia, the government collected books and magazines, pamphlets about history, ethnography, law, and other printed materials about Papua. They then burned them, while giving speeches and singing Indonesian national songs. There was a concern that the thoughts in these prints would hinder the Indonesian elite from imposing the “new imagined identity” of the Indonesian regime into the minds of the people of West Irian at that time.

The action of burning the books was continued by visiting and taking furniture and other items belonging to the people of West Irian at that time, in front of their families, and then also robbing goods from homes and shops that were left by Dutch citizens and the Dutch Government Office which had been vacated. They then loaded it all on trucks and brought them to the port to be sent their home villages outside Irian/Papua.

The above shows how the Indonesian nation positions the Papuan people as a nation without identity, without history and culture, a stupid, primitive, monkey nation, separatist, GPK, GPL, KKB, KKSB, spectator nation, while the Indonesian elite transported all the proceeds of wealth to outside Papua in the name of development.

This also serves as a framework for labelling all the Churches, NGOs, and civil society organizations that disagree with the regime as supporters of Armed Groups and who should be suspected. In fact, our people have been dying in our rich land due to malnutrition, poor health, poverty and very low education through kindergarten, elementary and high school (see the root of the Papuan conflict according to LIPI, including: Racial Discrimination) therefore the government has failed to develop the welfare of the Papuan people.

After positioning us in this way, the Indonesian government turned a blind eye to the four sources of the Papuan conflict mentioned by LIPI (see LIPI research, 2003) which consisted of: 1). Racial discrimination and marginalization 2) which caused Indonesia to fail to develop Papua in terms of: economy, education and health for the Papuan people; 3) differences in views between Papuans and Indonesians regarding Indonesia’s steps to occupy Papua, and 4) Impunity of the Army and Police which allows human rights violations to continue to occur in Papua.

In conclusion, since May 1, 1963, we Papuans have experienced an ‘apartheid ideology’ by the majority of Indonesia, in contrast to the majority blacks of South Africa who were under apartheid from the white minority’. So therefore, this Open Letter and the previous statement from the Papuan Pastors, takes the same tone as Desmond Tutu’s voice in the apartheid era in South Africa which was described as Crying in the Wilderness1. With our position like this, it is only natural that Special Autonomy would fail; because with this apartheid system, the government and modern Indonesian society have turned a blind eye to the 4 sources of the Papuan conflict raised by LIPI.

2. The Land of Papua Remilitarization Program during the Special Autonomy Period

From the position described above, today we are following the developments leading to the program to return the Land of Papua to the status of a ‘Military Operation Area’ (DOM), including:
(a) All peaceful actions to protest racism in the Land of Papua (since 16 August 2019 at the Surabaya Dormitory) have been subject to treason charges.
(b) The peaceful actions against Special Autonomy have recently been faced with repression, for example, the action in Timika (23 September 2020), the Nabire action (24 September 2020), and the UNCEN student action (28 September 2020).
(c) The government has unilaterally provoked the people by announcing that Special Autonomy will be extended. Consider Mahfud MD’s statement as Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs: Papua’s Special Autonomy remains in effect – Extended Fund (CNN Indonesia 11 September 2020), Komarudin Watubun, ‘Not the ending of Otsus, the Special Autonomy Fund’ (Cenderawasih Pos, Saturday, 8 February 2020).
(d) The government is aggressively building KODAM, KOREM, KODIM, Battalions, Yonif Units and Combat Assistance throughout Papua. Specifically, regarding KODIM, before Special Autonomy there were 9 KODIMs and during Special Autonomy it had increased by 8 to become 17 current KODIMs (see Appendix I). In addition, there are also additional units of the Indonesian Navy and Air Force (see Appendix I). Additions also occurred in the Police Institutions by building local, regional and area Police Stations (POLDA, POLRES and POLSEK) as well as the addition of the Mobile Brigade Corps (BRIMOB) in West Papua.
(e) The dropping of Army and Police troops from outside West Papua has been carried out continuously from August 2019 until today.
(f) As a result of the intensification of military operations by the Army and Police in West Papua: hundreds of residents of Nduga, in the PT Freeport area have fled to the city of Timika since December 2019; Military forces that have been dropped since December 2018 have killed 243 civilian victims; In Intan Jaya since December 2019, it is not known how many tens or hundreds of residents have fled; the army shot dead Pastor Yeremias Zanambani on Saturday, September 19, 2020. Many residents have left their villages and places of worship to save their lives. A number of church buildings are now being used as security posts. Military operations in these villages also forced and pressured the community to accept the government program to extend Special Autonomy for the next 20 years until 2041.
(g) Recent security operations in various areas in West Papua have not been carried out independently, but we suspect that they are in order to support the hidden agenda of seizing land and customary forests (natural resources) belonging to the Papuan people by investors. This situation can be seen from the cries of the indigenous
Papuan people in Merauke (Malind, Muyu-Mandobo, Yakai), in Nduga, Timika, who have experienced repeated violence by the authorities after demanding their customary rights to land and forests that were confiscated for planting oil palm and other industrial plantations. Since 2018 the Papuan Indigenous Peoples in Tambrauw Regency have made demands against oil palm companies and the establishment of new military units in Tambrauw; Indigenous Papuans in Intan Jaya have just stated that they refuse enter to a subsidiary of PT ANTAM which intends to control a gold mining block in the region amidst the ongoing military operations which have resulted in the death and displacement of Intan Jaya residents (about 8 congregations have vacated their hometowns).
(h) Although the Indonesian government has become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it does not recognize the human rights and freedoms of the Papuan people. At the same time, the Government of Indonesia (1) Supported a referendum for Palestine (in a speech at the General Assembly yesterday), (2) supported the Freedom of the Rohingya from Myanmar. (3) Promoted peaceful dialogue between the Islamic hardliners of Afghanistan and the Afghan government.

The institutions that cover the ‘remilitarization agenda’ for the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia are the top officials of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian National Police), who were mentioned in a discussion in Jakarta at the end of 2019. It was said that during the Soeharto era, the President prioritised the role of the Army in government. During Jokowi’s time, he has prioritized the Indonesian National Police, so Jokowi entrusted important positions in the civilian government to the Police elite. The implications for Papua are: The Trio of the Republic of Indonesia who manage the remilitarisation process on behalf of the Republic of Indonesia, since racism protests 29 August 2019. Who are they?
(a) Budy Gunawan as the Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN)
(b) Tito Karnavian, Ex Head of National Police who is now the Minister of the Interior.
(c) Paulus Waterpauw as the Field Guard in Papua

What unites this Trio of Police: The spirit of maintaining the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Their work was very visible when in 2017, when the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe was about to run as a candidate for a second term as Governor, the three Police officials contacted Enembe at midnight, asking Enembe to accept Paulus Waterpauw (at that time Head of Police in North Sumatra), to serve as candidate for Deputy Governor. They said due to the fact that Enembe’s ‘Indonesian DNA’ was very low, he needed a companion with high Indonesian DNA. But Enembe refused. But the suspicion regarding the Indonesian DNA of Enembe was still visible when the racism protests broke out on 29 August 2019 in Jakarta: ULMWP was accused of being the actor behind the racism riots on 29 August. In Papua, there are Tabi elites who are members of the MRP (Papua Customary Council), Chairman of the City Council and the Regent of Jayapura Regency:
participated in accusing certain ethnic groups of being the provocateurs of the racism riots 29 August 2019; while promoting “the Tabi people as peace lovers” (Morning News RRI Nusantara 5 Jayapura, 30 August 2019).

The trio also arranged for 61 Papuan figures led by the chairman of the Jayapura City Council and a former church official to meet with President Jokowi to ask for the expansion of Tabi Province, which has a capital in Keerom Regency. After the racism riots, Paulus Waterpauw was re-appointed as Head of Police; the old Head of Police who had only been on duty for a few months was removed. Tito Karnavian, the Minister of Home Affairs, proposed to split Papua Province into 5 provinces on the recommendation of the Head of BIN Budi Gunawan. Waterpauw as Head of Police was assigned to secure this program for the sake of Indonesia. This trio is overseeing the program of injecting ‘ the love of the Republic of Indonesia’ into the minds of Papuans by returning Papua to the status of a Military Operation Area (DOM) or a remilitarization of Papua; There is one goal, the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, to the death.

3. Church Proposal: “The Politics of God” Facing the End of Special Autonomy

Faced with this reality, we ask for the attention of the President as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI), as well as the President of member countries of the UN Human Rights Council to resolve the issue of Papua peacefully through negotiations which in theology is called, ‘The Politics of God’ which states that God is very present in this world to bring peace. Negotiations are in the framework of safeguarding human rights and dignity. God asks the parties to protect and enforce the Right to Life. Therefore, facing the conditions of the West Papua in these days, we, the Church, propose the following:
(a) A Peaceful Approach to the Papuan Conflict which has been ongoing for more than 60 years. This was recently voiced by Pdt. Andrikus Mofu, Chair of the GKI Synod in Papua Land on September 19, 2020 (Suara Papua(dot)com, September 27, 2020).
(b) In the same spirit, the Papuan Church Council has recommended the way for the Peace Negotiations, through the Pastoral Letter of August 26 2019, which urges the Indonesian Government to show justice to the Papuan people with the solution: Negotiate with the ULMWP in the same way as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took and Jusuf Kalla negotiated when facing the Bloody Conflict with Aceh which ended with the Helsinki Agreement on 15 August 2005.
(c) These calls remind us of the promise of the President on 30 September 2019: That the President is willing to meet with the Papuan ‘pro-referendum group’.
(d) We also reject the Joint Fact-Finding Team for the shooting case of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, which was formed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, who has been promoting remilitarization in the
West Papua, because the team is not independent (consisting of security apparatus, government and intelligence units) so it will not be able to investigate incident properly, fairly and transparently. Based on the facts held by the Papuan Church Council, the shooting was carried out by an Army unit.
(e) The proposal is based on the results of LIPI Research which called for the Indonesian Government to use a peaceful dialogue approach against Papua (m.hukum online.com, 27 August, 2016; www.gatra com, 25 September 2019). Therefore, our proposal is not new.
(f) It is in this spirit that the Papuan Church Council reminds President Joko Widodo to keep his promise to the Chairperson of the High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council in February 2018 in Jakarta to visit Papua. This has also been stated:
1) In the Address of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Mr. Bob Loughman on 26 September 2020 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York;
2) Communique of the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in August 2019 in Tuvalu;
3) ACP leaders’ communique (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) in December 2019 in Kenya.
(g) With this proposal, we urge the President as Commander of the Armed Forces not to allow the REMILITERIZATION program imbued with racism against Papua to continue.

As we end this letter, the Papuan Church Council would like to thank the family and congregation of Pastor Yeremias Zanambani in Intan Jaya, who have stood firm, bravely taking responsibility to speak out about the shooting that killed Pastor Zanambani. We pray that God will give them strength.

The Papuan Church Council would also like to thank the current Prime Minister of Vanuatu and the previous Prime Ministers, the leaders of other Pacific countries along with the people and the church who have not forgotten the suffering of the Papuan people; by consistently standing in front of the UN and in various forums, voicing violence and human rights violations against the Papuan people committed by Indonesia.

The Papuan Church Council appreciates and is grateful for the people’s faith action through raising funds within one month amounting to IDR 773,000,000 to return Veronika Koman’s study fees.

The Papuan Church Council thanks and at the same time prays for the people of Papua and all citizens of Indonesia and the international community who are in solidarity with Papua in facing the challenges of humanity, racism and injustice faced by the Papuan people.

The Papuan Council of Churches would also like to thank: Students, Academics, Journalists and Activists, Humanitarian Workers in Indonesia, the Pacific, Asia, Europe, Africa, America and anywhere who have noble hearts and have stood with us for a long time.
And to Mr. President Jokowi, I hope that the Pancasila and Human Rights Instruments can provide you with a stepping-stone to realize your promise of September 30, 2019 to “meet with the Papua Pro-Referendum group”. We believe even this proposal is nothing new, it reminds us all of the footsteps of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in resolving the Bloody Conflict with Aceh.

May God give the President Strength. Amen.

1 Desmond Tutu, Crying in the Wilderness, gathered by oleh John Webster (1986), Mowbrays Popular Christian Perspectives: London & Oxford.

2 In America this discourse is encouraged by public theologians: John Howard Yoder through his reflections raised in the book Politics of Jesus and through reflection & Jim Wallis, Gods Politics.

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South Pacific

Trying times in Tuvalu

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by Stefan Armbruster, Tess Newton Cain, DevPolicy

“Save Tuvalu, save the world” sang school children as they greeted the Pacific’s leaders on arrival to what became a showdown pitting the region against Australia. This was no ambush, but had been building for years. At the capital Funafuti’s airport the school children sat in a moat of water surrounding a diorama of a climate change devastated island. If it wasn’t obvious, the significance was explained to them by Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister. The symbolism was potent, and the ritual well established by the time Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison was the last of the 18 Forum leaders to stride across the tarmac. Well briefed on what to do, he crouched to chat, showing up for the “step up”, but one major detail escaped advisers that marked the Australian delegation out. Pronunciations are important in all cultures, but when they spoke of Tuvalu, rather than speaking of “toovaalu”, it often rhymed with “toodaloo”. It was a warning sign that not everyone was speaking the same language.

The job at hand for the leaders of the island states was clear: they wanted to take a strong regional position to the UN Climate Summit next month. This framed what was to come when they sat down to butt heads over their communiqué. The process by which the communiqué was arrived at included what many delegates and some leaders, notably Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, described as insensitive, and at times disrespectful and insulting, behaviour on the part of Australia. In public it was all smiles between Tuvalu PM and Forum chair Enele Sopoaga and Mr Morrison. However, Mr Sopoaga could not have expressed things any more clearly when he said, in response to media questions, “You are concerned about saving your economies, your situation in Australia, I’m concerned about saving my people in Tuvalu and likewise other leaders of small island countries.”

Australia had, in the words of Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu, “red lines” that couldn’t be crossed; mentioning coal, limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius or a strategy for zero emissions by 2050 but said everyone made compromises. The communiqué is all about selective wording, and it and the appended “Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now”, was agreed to by all Forum members. In Section 19 it laid bare in ten subsections what the Pacific leaders had called for. The “Kainaki II Declaration” captures calls from the Pacific island leaders in relation to:

  • the need for greater ambition on the part of all parties to the Paris Agreement in pursuing, “global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this is critical to the security of our Blue Pacific”
  • the formulation and communication by 2020 of strategies to move to low-emission development by mid-century
  • implementation of commitments to phase out “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” by 2020 by members of the G7 and G20
  • continued effort on the part of the international community to meet the global finance commitment of US$100 billion per year by 2020, including replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Last October Mr Morrison announced he would not put any more money into the GCF after contributing $200m, but came to the Forum with $500m of repurposed aid forPacific nations to invest in renewable energy and ‘climate and disaster resilience’. Australia joined the United States in withdrawing from this key plank of the Paris Agreement.

What else have Leaders agreed to this year?

As before, the position of Leaders when it comes to West Papua was another focus of concern and one where there are lingering fault lines. Vanuatu had pushed very hard at lead up meetings for this issue to be given more prominence in the communiqué and for the position to be much more robust than has been the case in recent times. Other than the addition of reaffirmation of the recognition of Indonesia’s sovereignty over West Papua, the text that was decided by the Foreign Ministers has been accepted by Leaders. Vanuatu included the chair of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Benny Wenda, in their delegation. This signals clearly that this will be a key focus for the next Leaders’ meeting in Vanuatu. Indonesia’s irritation with Vanuatu’s achievements is evident and that has a flow on effect in terms of how Jakarta engages with the Forum more broadly.

Leaders have also tasked the Forum Secretariat to draft the ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’ for consideration at their next meeting. This is a significant piece of work for the Secretariat to undertake and build on other foundational documents including the Framework For Pacific Regionalism and the Boe Declaration Action Plan (endorsed by leaders at this meeting). It appears intended to be a concrete expression of the ‘Blue Pacific’ narrative that has permeated regional conversations recently.

Aligned with this is the Leaders’ endorsement of the ‘Blue Pacific Principles for collective PIF Dialogue and Engagement’. Increased interest in the region by new and established outside powers is not expected to wane any time soon. Leaders may hope that stating the rules of engagement clearly now will minimise the transaction costs associated with their current popularity.

By Friday and the Dialogue Partners’ Forum, where China easily skipped over Australia’s low climate change bar, Mr Morrison and Australian officials had grasped the pronunciation of Tuvalu but maybe not the full impact of what had just happened.

Leaders disagreeing over the final communiqué is not something new. What is new, although it began before last week, is the willingness of some to be openly critical of others, or more precisely, Australia. Some have pointed to the damage that this week’s events may do the “Pacific step-up”. Elsewhere we have seen calls for Australia to be sanctioned.

As leaders departed, they walked past that diorama and smiling children, with Mr Sopoaga waving them goodbye. The island had miraculously been rejuvenated, but the same could probably not be said for Pacific states’ relations with the big island starting with “A”.

For Devpolicy reviews of previous annual meetings of the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum see here, here, here, here and here.

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Featured

Indonesia: Investigate Deaths of Papuan Protesters

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REPORT from Human Rights WatchPublished on 07 Sep 2019 —View Original

Allow Access to UN, Foreign Journalists, Rights Monitors

(Sydney) – Indonesian authorities should impartially investigate the deaths of at least 10 Papuans during recent unrest in the easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, Human Rights Watch said today. Restrictions on access to Papua for foreign journalists and rights monitors and a partial internet shutdown have hindered reporting on the situation.

The Indonesian government should immediately allow unfettered access to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to travel to Papua to investigate the situation.

After video circulated of Indonesian militias racially abusing indigenous Papuan students outside their dormitory in Surabaya on August 17, 2019, Papuans demonstrated in at least 30 cities across Indonesia, including Jakarta. Rioting Papuans burned down the local parliament building in Manokwari and prisons in Sorong, West Papua province, and in Jayapura, Papua province.

“Indonesian police have a duty to avoid the use of force in response to Papuans who take their grievances to the streets,” said Elaine Pearson. “Any wrongful use of force needs to be investigated and those responsible held to account.”

The media have reported that Indonesian authorities have detained at least seven people in connection with raising the pro-Papuan independence Morning Star flag in Jakarta and Manokwari. Another 60 have been reportedly detained for allegedly damaging property during unrest in Papua. Those held for the peaceful expression of their political views should be released and any charges dropped, Human Rights Watch said. The rest of those detained should be promptly brought before a judge, charged with a recognizable offense, and have access to lawyers and family members.

Human Rights Watch urged prompt and impartial investigations into the following alleged incidents:

On August 22, the Indonesian government shut down the internet in Papua and West Papua. On September 4, internet services were partially restored. Several places including Deiyai are still partially blocked, meaning it is not possible to share videos or photographs.

Local media reported that Indonesian militias in Jayapura attacked Papuans who had occupied the Papuan governor’s office and replaced the Indonesian flag with the Morning Star. The militia Paguyuban Nusantara(“Archipelago Community”) is a new alliance formed from several Indonesian ethnic groups, mostly from Java Island, who had settled in Papua and West Papua since the late 1970s under the government-sponsored transmigration program.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has condemned racist statements against Papuans and authorities have suspended four army officers for their racist remarks in Surabaya pending investigations. Authorities have charged one militia leader in Surabaya for spreading hate speech.

Since the demonstrations began, the government has granted limited access to several foreign journalists to visit specific Papuan cities, but they have been monitored and unable to travel beyond the cities where they were given entry permits. The Indonesian government has restricted access to foreign journalists since the 1960s because of suspicion of the motives of foreign nationals in a region racked by corruption, environmental degradation, public dissatisfaction with Jakarta, and a small pro-independence insurgency.

On August 31, police arrested six activists, including five Papuan students in Jakarta and Surya Anta Ginting, the coordinator of the Front Rakyat Indonesia on West Papua, a solidarity group among Indonesian activists. They were charged with treason for flying the Morning Star flag outside the State Palace.

On September 3, police arrested an activist, Sayang Mandabayan, at the Manokwari airport for traveling with 1,500 small Morning Star flags. She has been detained at the Manokwari police station.

On September 4, Surabaya police issued an arrest warrant for Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights lawyer with “spreading fake news and provoking unrest.” Koman has shared videos on her Twitter account of the recent unrest.

On September 4, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed concern about the violence in Papua and urged the Indonesian government “to engage in dialogue with the people of Papua and West Papua on their aspirations and concerns.” Despite President Jokowi’s invitation to the UN human rights chief to visit Papua in February 2018, government officials have continued to delay the visit.

Concerned governments should call on the Indonesian government to:

  • Promptly and impartially investigate unrest-related deaths and injuries and appropriately prosecute those responsible for wrongdoing.
  • Immediately restore full access to the internet, which is vital for emergency communications and basic information in times of crisis.
  • Lift restrictions on access for foreign journalists and rights monitors in line with previous statements by the Indonesian president.
  • Allow the UN human rights office immediate unfettered access to Papua.
  • Drop charges and release all those detained for peaceful acts of free expression including Sayang Mandabayan. Drop the case against Veronica Koman.

Police should cease using unnecessary or excessive force against the protesters, Human Rights Watch said. While some protester action may warrant police use of force, the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provide that all security forces shall, as far as possible, apply nonviolent means before resorting to force. Whenever the lawful use of force is unavoidable, the authorities must use restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense. Law enforcement officials should not use firearms against people except in self-defense or defense of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury.

“Governments concerned about the unrest and violence in Papua should press the Indonesian government to take prompt action to end the bloodshed, protect the rights of all, and allow full and open reporting of the situation,” Pearson said.Human Rights Watch:© Copyright, Human Rights Watch – 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA

SOurce HERE

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Oceania Asia

Australians rally in support of Papua protesters as Human Rights Watch decries Indonesian violence

by admin
written by admin

A rally supporting the Papuan protesters has been held in Sydney’s Indonesian heartland.

Rallies are being held across Australia on Saturday in solidarity with the mass protests underway in Papua.

Indonesia’s eastern Papua provinces have been marred by weeks of protests, sparked by anger over racism and fresh calls for self-rule, countered by a military crackdown.

Under the tagline of “Papua merdeka“, or “independent Papua”, rallies are being held in most Australian capital cities throughout Saturday.

A rally was held in Sydney's Kingsford on Saturday morning.

A rally was held in Sydney’s Kingsford on Saturday morning.Supplied

Dozens of people gathered in Sydney’s Indonesian heartland of Kingsford to condemn a recent spike in “violence and discrimination” against Papuans in Indonesia and call for self-determination.

The group also slammed the media and internet blackouts imposed by the Indonesian government on the area.

The rally in Sydney on Saturday.

The rally in Sydney on Saturday.Supplied

Bridget Harilaou, an activist from the Anti-Colonial Asian Alliance, voiced concern about the “ongoing occupation” of the provinces by Indonesia.

“The Indonesian government refuses to allow a referendum for independence, [it] continues to have transmigration programs moving other Indonesians into the area and there’s a constant military and police presence,” they said.

A few dozen people gathered in Sydney's Kingsford on Saturday.

A few dozen people gathered in Sydney’s Kingsford on Saturday.Supplied

The activist is Indonesian-Australian and said, “most of the organisers for this action are Indonesian diaspora”.

“We thought it was really important to show there are Indonesians who support independence and freedom for West Papua and who condemn the violence from the Indonesian government.”

“We’re trying to make a statement to the Indonesian community here … as well as the Australian government.”

Australians have rallied in support of the Papuan protesters.

Australians have rallied in support of the Papuan protesters.Supplied

The protests come as advocacy groups around the world ratchet up pressure on Indonesia.

On Saturday, Human Rights Watch said Indonesia must “impartially investigate” the deaths of Papuans killed during the recent unrest.

Officially, five civilians and a soldier have been killed in the chaos, but activists say the death toll is higher.READ MORE

A recent protest in Jakarta and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

UN human rights chief ‘disturbed’ by escalating violence in Papua

Australia director at Human Rights Watch Elaine Pearson said, “Indonesian police have a duty to avoid the use of force in response to Papuans who take their grievances to the streets”.

“Any wrongful use of force needs to be investigated and those responsible held to account,” she said in a statement. 

“Governments concerned about the unrest and violence in Papua should press the Indonesian government to take prompt action to end the bloodshed, protect the rights of all, and allow full and open reporting of the situation.”

A protester march turns violent in Jayapura, Papua.

A protester march turns violent in Jayapura, Papua.AAP

On Friday, the exiled leader of Papua’s independence movement again called for “a free and democratic referendum” backed by the UN.

“We need the UN to intervene,” Benny Wenda, chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, told AFP from Britain.READ MORE

Papuan activists scuffle with police and soldiers during a rally near the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The history behind West Papua’s resurgent political dissent

“What’s happening right now is worrying. It’s the next East Timor,” Mr Wenda, a former rebel granted asylum in Britain after a 2002 escape from jail in Indonesia where he faced murder and arson charges linked to an attack on a police post, said.

“We don’t want to see a massacre and then the world reacts … We won’t win a war with the Indonesian military.”

“Our weapon is a peaceful one – a referendum.”

Papuan activists shout slogans during a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, 22 August 2019.

Papuan activists shout slogans during a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, 22 August 2019.EPA

A low-level separatist insurgency has simmered for decades in Papua, a former Dutch colony after Jakarta took over the mineral-rich region in the 1960s. A vote to stay within the archipelago was widely viewed as rigged.

This week, Indonesia repeated its position that a new independence vote was a non-starter, and pointed its finger at Mr Wenda for stoking unrest.

A firestorm of riots and protests broke across the Southeast Asian archipelago nation after the arrest last month of dozens of Papuan students – who were also pelted with racial abuse – in Indonesia’s second-biggest city Surabaya.

Additional reporting: AFP

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West Papua

Human Rights Watch calls for Indonesia to investigate Papua killings

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Human Rights Watch is demanding Indonesia urgently investigate the deaths of Papuans killed during protests across the country.

Police blockade the protest in Jayapura. Photo: Whens Tebay
Police blockade the protest in Jayapura. Photo: Whens Tebay

At least 10 people have been killed in the worst unrest to hit Papua in years, as thousands have taken part in anti-racism rallies.

Human Rights Watch’s Australia Director, Elaine Pearson, says the deaths need to be investigated, including a bloody clash in Deiyai regency.

Indonesian police said at least five people and a soldier were killed in Deiyai when security forces were attacked during a riot on August 28.

A former Deiyai resident, John Pakage, said he and hundreds of others have fled the regency.

“The situation in Deiyai until now [is] tense. And then many military Indonesians come to West Papua, also Deiyai and many violence.”

John Pakage said eight civilians were killed in Deiyai when soldiers opened fire on what he says was a peaceful demonstration. The claims are consistent with how the incident has been described by rights groups and activists.

A government-imposed internet blackout across Papua which has only been gradually lifted has made verifying information difficult.

A police spokesperson, Ahmad Mustofa Kamal, was quoted by local media as saying 14 people have been named suspects in connection with the Deiyai riot for crimes including unlawfully possessing firearms, opposing authorities and incitement.

News outlet Suara Papua reported on Thursday the West Papuan suspects are still undergoing treatment at a local hospital after they were injured in the clash.

Source: RNZ

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Featured

Renewed calls for UN to visit Papua following protests

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The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called once again for the United Nations to visit Papua and West Papua following the racial abuse that sparked widespread protests in the country’s easternmost regions. 

Previously, Pacific countries of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) had “strongly encouraged” Indonesia to finalize the timing of a visit by the United Nations high commissioner for human rights to investigate alleged human rights abuses and allow the commissioner to create an “evidence-based, informed report” on the situation in Papua.

ULMWP chairman Benny Wenda said that the “extreme racism” experienced by Papuan students studying in regions outside Papua showed the urgency of a UN visit.

“In February this year, the UN condemned the ‘deeply entrenched discrimination and racism’ Papuans suffer at the hands of Indonesia. The UN must now follow this up,” Benny said in a statement on Tuesday. 

“The UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet must be allowed to visit West Papua. I reiterate the call of the Pacific Islands for Indonesia to stop blocking the high commissioner from seeing the reality in our country.”

Since February last year, Indonesia had “in principle” agreed to grant access to Papua to the high commissioner’s office, but the two sides still needed further talks on the arrangements.

In June last year, Indonesia reprimanded staff members of the UN agency’s regional office in Bangkok for “unilaterally setting the dates and areas to visit in Papua and West Papua, while demanding immediate access.”

Benny ended the statement by saying that the people of West Papua should be “given the choice to determine their own destiny.” (kmt)

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South Pacific

Human Rights Watch calls for end to killings in Papua

by mnews
written by mnews

Human Rights Watch is calling on Papuan militants to stop unlawful killings, after a massacre of Indonesians took place in the Highlands region.

The West Papua Liberation Army has claimed resposibility for the murders of at least 16 construction workers and a soldier this month.

The West Papua Liberation Army has claimed resposibility for the murders of at least 16 construction workers and a soldier this month.

The Liberation Army said the workers were Indonesian military in disguise.

Military and police have deployed a joint operation in Nduga regency, calling for the fighters to surrender.

Human Rights Watch’s Australia director Elaine Pearson said the attack raised grave concerns and must be investigated.

But security forces should be transparent and not commit abuses in retaliation, Ms Pearson said.

Journalists should also be allowed to operate independently in the area, she said.

“The situation in Nduga is muddled in large part because no journalists can independently go into the area to interview witnesses and verify what happened,” Ms Pearson said.


“Having independent monitors on the ground will help deter abuses by both the militants and security forces, which would benefit all Papuans.”

Source: RadioNZ

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