Eyeing Papua
Eyeing Papua
From Forum Keadilan
Learning that the participants of the National West Papua
Congress II unanimously demanded to be separated from the
Republic of Indonesia and establish a free Papua state, I
wondered whether the congress was proportionally represented.
There was an indication that the anti-independent groups were not
permitted to enter the congress arena and were prevented from
doing so with the application of various measures including
terror.
These indications were verified by the statement of
participants of the congress to the effect that the transfer of
West Papua to the Republic of Indonesia was the result of an act
of political conspiracy involving the Netherlands, United States,
Indonesia and the United Nations. Such a statement would not have
been voiced if the pro-Indonesia groups had been allowed to take
part in the congress.
In an increasingly transparent world, an engineered action
performed by certain sides to create a desired condition would be
easily detected, and explicit responses could be given.
The Papua congress was not fair which could lead to horizontal
frictions and conflicts within the Papuan community itself.
It is undeniable that the giant West Pupuan territory has been
eyed by various circles that have vested interests in the area,
including U.S. and Australia. It is easy to understand. The
sleeping giant is known to have huge natural resources. Through
NGOs in Port Moresby -- such as the Melanesian Solidarity Group
for Peace, Justice and Dignity; the Individual Community Rights
Advocacy Forum; the PNG Council of Churches; or the Catholic
Commission for Justice, Peace and Development -- Australia has
always urged and supported the Free Papua Movement. While the
U.S., with its Freeport, is strongly believed to have a special
"agenda" in supporting the Free Papua Movement in compliance with
its vested interests.
Within this scenario, it is the Papuan community that is
sacrificed for the sake of the elite who are representing them.
The question to be raised here is whether the Papuan community
is aware that its plight is being played up by a fraction of its
own elite group?
DONALD PANJAITAN
Tangerang, West Java