Response to Jennifer Robinson SMH Leaks article

Jennifer Robinson’s comment in the Sidney Morning Herald of 12 September, ‘Leaks reveal it’s past time to speak for West Papua’, is the classical example of the activist’s outrage of being noticed and at the same time of not being noticed by the opponent he or she is campaigning against.

Merpati plane crash in West Papua

Bad weather likely caused plane crash: Minister

Dina indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 05/08/2011 9:30 AM | National

Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said on Saturday that the crash of a Merpati plane in West Papua on Saturday was more likely caused by bad weather rather than technical glitches.

“Even if the plane is new, it’s no guarantee [that the flight will be accident free],” he said in Jakarta.

West Papua Issue

West Papua issue was a bilateral matter between the Netherlands and Indonesia regarding an incomplete process of decolonization of the Netherlands East Indies. West Papua was neither a separate entity nor a non-self-governing territory detached from the Netherlands East Indies. The problem arose when the Netherlands insisted on maintaining its presence in the western half New Guinea . At the beginning, there was no international dimension to this problem until Indonesia brought the issue to the United Nations in 1954 after all bilateral means had been exhausted. Therefore, West Papua was an unresolved question of decolonization of Indonesian territory of what was once the Netherlands East Indies.

Source : Papua Story

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.

Three Fundamental Problems in West Papua

There are three fundamental problems that should be addressed peacefully in West Papua: crimes against humanity, the failure of New Order’s (Suharto regime) socio-economic and cultural development, and the reconciliation of Papua as land of peace. Democratisation in Indonesia has brought a very successful change in Papua. The majority of Papuan are now supporting the development program implemented under the special autonomy with the support of international community. Papuans are no longer facing marginalisation in their own land. Some would say it is time  for a real change.

Addressing these problems is an internal matter for Indonesia’s central government and local government of Papua and West Papua provinces. However, the international community through any international organization such as the UN , NGOs and civil society movements could take part in helping the development in Papua.

More lies on West Papua Story

It is normal for both democratic Indonesia and the United Kingdom to see exiles from West Papua demonstrated in Reading Festival to instigate a packed audience that included the mayor and mayoress about their fight for separating Papua province from Indonesia. South East MEP Dr Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, also spoke at the meeting on October 17, 2008.

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.

Inventing Papua

Papuan culture on sale at the Hamadi art market in Jayapura (Iskandar Nugroho collection)

Iskandar Nugroho wrote a very interesting research on the role of non Papuan of the manufacturing Papuan tradition. Nugroho said that the representations of Papuan culture produced by the traders from South Sulawesi don’t just satisfy the needs of tourists for objects that symbolise their experience of Papua. These objects may be inauthentic, but they have helped create a sense of identity amongst urban Papuans.

If only Papuan and non-Papuan in the peaceful land of Papua work together to develop our motherland then most of the problem will go. Papua is not solely a problem of separatism but also a cultural understanding that has been in silence for many years. Please read the article of Inventing Papua in Inside Indonesia for further understanding.

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

Papuans Need Democracy, Not Separatism

Yesterday I read this article in Papua Story, I can only make a short comment to Mr. Andri Hadi…what a brilliant choice of title! as for the content, I couldn’t agree with you more…

So please for all Papuans, Papua experts and Papua Observers, read this article carefully and try to understand Papua in a more objective perspective.

Papuans Need Democracy, Not Separatism

by Andri Hadi

The Jakarta Post
July 30, 2004

Efforts by certain quarters, within and outside Indonesia, to question the decolonization process in Papua gain a momentum by the declassification of restricted documents in the U.S. recently.

The documents portray the 1969 “Act of Free Choice” (AFC) as a sham, among others because it excluded most Papuans (Jakarta Post, July 16, 2004). Arguably, this development may provide ammunition to the hands of people pursuing the separatist aspiration in Papua, thus endangering Indonesia’s territorial integrity and its democracy.

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