Cry freedom<\/p>\n
The much anticipated clashes between security forces and the
\npro-independence movement in Irian Jaya on Friday failed to
\nmaterialize, thanks to cool heads prevailing among leaders on
\nboth sides. The commemoration of the anniversary of the 1961
\ndeclaration of independence proceeded in Jayapura and other major
\ntowns in Irian Jaya -- or West Papua as locals prefer to call
\ntheir homeland -- peacefully, albeit on a much scaled down level
\nat the insistence of the authorities.<\/p>\n
Both organizers and security forces exercised restraint. Pro-
\nindependence supporters and their leaders (minus those arrested
\nby the police earlier in the week) had their say and held their
\nprayers for peace and independence. They complied with the
\nauthorities' request not to read the declaration of independence
\nand to only briefly raise the Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag,
\nbehind which the pro-independence people have been rallying.<\/p>\n
Security forces, including fresh reinforcements sent in
\nanticipation of trouble, allowed the ceremony to go ahead.
\nClashes occurred instead in Jakarta on Friday, between police and
\npro-independence Papuans who marched to the Dutch and U.S.
\nEmbassies.<\/p>\n
While we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the day passed
\nwithout a major incident, it would be a gross mistake to assume
\nthat the problem has been resolved. Jakarta's tough talking
\nagainst the pro-independence supporters may have something to do
\nwith the muted celebration on Friday, but the government would be
\nwrong to think that it has won over the hearts and minds of the
\nPapuans, or that it has broken their fighting spirit. All the
\ngovernment has done is to defuse a potentially explosive
\nsituation. The government should not take all the credit either,
\nbecause leaders of the pro-independence Papuans played their part
\nin preventing violence from erupting.<\/p>\n
The government, however, has not addressed the problem of what
\nto do about the aspiration for independence in West Papua. The
\naspiration is real and is probably growing stronger now after the
\narrests of leaders of the Papuan Presidium Council, Jakarta's
\ntough talking, and the deployment of more troops in the province
\nthis week. In the absence of any referendum, it is difficult to
\ngauge how prevalent is the demand for independence among West
\nPapuans, but we know that it is strong enough not to be easily
\nignored or dismissed, as the government is trying to do now.<\/p>\n
Supporters of an independent West Papua state have become more
\nassertive over the last two years in voicing their aspirations,
\ntaking advantage of the greater political openness. They were
\neven allowed to hold their congress, and for a brief moment until
\nlast month, to hoist their Morning Star flag.<\/p>\n
The government now seems to have rolled back the carpet, and
\nbegun to suppress independence aspirations among the Papuans once
\nagain, resorting to old repressive practices such as deploying
\nthe military to intimidate the participants in any activity that
\nsmacks of separatism, from peaceful political gatherings to
\nraising their flags.<\/p>\n
Deprived of formal political outlets, these aspirations will
\nlikely manifest themselves in other forms. Going by the
\nexperience of three decades of president Soeharto's tyrannical
\nrule, some will resort to armed rebellion.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya, like Aceh, is the litmus test of the
\nadministration's true commitment to political reforms and
\ndemocratic values, which include freedom of expression. All that
\nthe Papuans wanted to do on Friday was to express their
\nindependence aspirations, by peaceful means. Yet, the government,
\nwhich was elected on a reformist platform, has now begun to
\nsuppress these aspirations, invoking the need to preserve the
\nterritorial integrity of this unitary state.<\/p>\n
National unity, and not democracy, has become such an
\ninfatuation of this administration that it is even willing to
\ndeny people their basic rights, including freedom of expression.
\nToday it is Irian Jaya. Next week, the government will again
\ninvoke national unity in trying to suppress a planned political
\nrally to call for a referendum on self-determination in Aceh.<\/p>\n
By the same logic, the government would suppress people's
\nbasic rights anywhere else in Indonesia, if and when it feels it
\nnecessary to preserve national unity and stability. That is a
\nscary, but now real prospect after what has happened in Irian
\nJaya. By suppressing the freedom aspirations of the Papuans, the
\ngovernment may have turned back the clock on the march to
\ndemocracy not only in Irian Jaya, but also the rest the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cry-freedom-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}