JP\/7\/IWAN<\/p>\n
Local elections and Papuan legitimacy<\/p>\n
Iwan S. Ardjali
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
In international studies, the right to self-determination is
\nrecognized by the United Nations Charter, the Covenant on Civil
\nand Political Rights, the Covenant on Economic, Social and
\nCultural Rights, etc.<\/p>\n
International norms classify self-determination into external
\nself-determination and internal self-determination. External
\nself-determination prevails in colonized countries in which the
\npeople have the rights to choose either to integrate with another
\ncountry, to associate with a country or to declare their
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
It in the case of East Timor (now Timor Leste), the United
\nNations recognized it as a decolonized region and Portugal as its
\nadministering power. Therefore, the United Nations Mission in
\nEast Timor (UNAMET) conducted the ballot as an act of external
\nself-determination, which brought about East Timor as an
\nindependent country. On the other hand, internal self-
\ndetermination prevails in independent countries in which the
\npeople have rights to determine developments in politics, as well
\nas social and cultural fields, without any external intervention,
\nsuch as for local and general elections as well as autonomy
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
Papua separatist groups and certain NGOs appraise Papua as a
\ncolonized country; therefore, they believe the Papuans a right to
\npractice external self-determination. They are highlighting the
\nissue through seminars and the Internet and using up a lot of
\nexpenses.<\/p>\n
They deny the status of Papua as a province of Indonesia and
\nclaim that Papua has been an independent country since Dec. 1,
\n1961 after the Dutch colonial administration promised to
\nestablish a local legislature to prepare the scattered tribal
\npeople for statehood.<\/p>\n
They also maintain that the Indonesian government failed to
\nconduct a fair referendum (Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat, also
\nreferred to as Pepera), with just 1,000 hand-picked Papuan
\nrepresentatives voting in 1969.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Indonesian Government has relied on the
\nresult of Pepera which was held under United Nations auspices
\nfrom July 14 to Aug. 2, 1969, and was endorsed by United Nations
\nResolution No. 2504\/1969 stating that West Papua was recognized
\nas a part of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Because a the majority of Papuans participated in the general
\nelections of 2004, this demonstrates that Papuans are becoming
\ninvolved in internal referendum as they did the external
\nreferendum of Pepera in 1969, which was recognized and praised by
\nthe United Nations as well as international fora.<\/p>\n
It means that Papuans and the international community
\nrecognize that Papua is politically a part of the unitary state
\nof Indonesia. Thus, the success of the local elections in Papua
\nplays very important role to reinforce their position as a part
\nof the unitary state of Indonesia. Papuans have the opportunity
\nto directly choose their own local leaders.<\/p>\n
Separatist groups and certain NGOs have also been highlighting
\nthat the government and private sectors drain and abuse Papua's
\nwealth and environment. In relation to this, Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono's administration has taken action to arrest the
\nperpetrators of environmental abuse in Papua. This is a
\ncourageous measure taken to win the hearts and minds of the
\nPapuans. Yet, the big question is, how will Jakarta and future
\nlocal Papuan leaders be able to maintain the people' trust by
\nbringing them justice?<\/p>\n
The writer is a member of Indonesian Council of World Affairs
\n(ICWA). He can be reached at satriawanmacho@yahoo.com<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp7iwan-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}