Irian Jaya in the eyes of a prointegration figure

JAKARTA (JP): Irianese who are proindependence have pointed out that alleged human rights violations and unfair revenue sharing from mining activities have resulted in the demand for independence.

In an interview in Jakarta with The Jakarta Post's reporter Neles Tebay, Elias Paprindey, 64, a leader of prointegration Irianese shares his views and offers a way out for the government.

Paprindey and his compatriots fought against the Dutch colonial government in West New Guinea (now Irian Jaya) in the 1950s. He led an underground movement, fighting to keep West New Guinea in the embrace of the fledgling Republic. He was jailed by the Dutch in 1960 in the notorious Digul prison in Merauke regency and was released in 1962, seven years before the 1969 plebiscite which formally included Irian Jaya as part of Indonesia.

Paprindey then worked at the ministry of communications and was also elected a member of the provincial legislative council from 1971 to 1973 before chairing the council from 1973 to 1977. In 1977, he became deputy governor of Irian Jaya, a post he held for five years.

In 1993, he retired from the ministry of communications.

Question: How do you view the demand for independence?

Answer: The demand is an undeniable fact. But do not blame the Irianese. On the contrary, the central government should reflect on why the Irianese raised the demand for independence.

You mean much of the blame should be placed on the government?

Yes. It is the central government, through its policies, that has encouraged the Irianese to call for independence. (The demand) did not start with the Irianese, because we decided to join Indonesia in 1969. But the government has been neglecting Irianese rights for more than 30 years. I was fighting for Irian Jaya's integration into Indonesia in the past for a better life for the people. But the reality for more than 30 years has been different: Irianese have suffered within the Republic.

Do you agree with the Irianese voice for freedom?

I always speak of the necessity of freedom for the Irianese, but within the frame of the unitary republic.

Give us the rights and full authority to govern and manage our land and its natural resources. We want to be the lords of our land. And do not keep exploiting at will our natural resources such as gold, oil and the forests without permission from the Irianese, the holder of ancestral rights.

The government should realize that our suffering has been caused by the economic and political exploitation by the powerful in Jakarta.

So what is the purpose of your visit to the capital?

As Indonesian citizens, we want to communicate the cause of the Irian case and its solution. As an Indonesian, I have rights to fight on what should have been our rights.

My entourage and I have met with President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, National Resilience Institute Governor Johny Lumintang, Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja, (a representative) of the Office of the State Ministry of Regional Autonomy and with Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono.

What would you suggest to overcome the demand of independence?

I have proposed that the central government facilitate a special meeting between the proindependence Papuans (local name for Irianese) and the prointegration Irianese.

The government should be the facilitator ... those representing the executives, the legislature and the judiciary should attend, so they could realize the main causes and problems, and along with the Papuans find ways to settle the problem.

The central government should not leave the Irianese struggle alone, or else a conflict would occur between the proindependence and prointegration groups, while the cause of those demands are the attitudes and policies of the central government. I personally do not expect conflicts in the future.

What policies of the central government should be revoked?

First of all, the work contract with PT Freeport Indonesia should be revoked and improved. Because the existing contract excludes locals' rights. And locals, who own the ancestral lands, should be involved in working out the new contracts.

Second, the rich and politically powerful people in Jakarta should return the forest areas and other natural resources to the indigenous people.

The central government should stop issuing new forest concessions in Irian Jaya. It is the local government and the local people who have to decide if a private business could be given a concession.

In the last few years, the presence and exploitation of the forest concessions have not made any positive impact on improving locals' welfare and the local government has no authority to control their activities because they gained permits from the central government.

Based on experience, I have demanded that the central government should allow us to manage and control our natural resources. The central government should, therefore, quickly work out the draft of law and operational regulations to implement special autonomy.

Some people say the lack of human resources in Irian Jaya would make it difficult to implement special autonomy.

It is again the central government which has led to the lack of human resources. The government has gained so much of our natural resources, but what it has done for Irianese in terms of human resource development? Nothing.

That's why I have demanded that the government give scholarships to Irianese youths to take masters and doctorate programs, either in Indonesia or abroad. I said that 100 Irianese youths should be sent each year to take those programs.

There are many Irianese who have become heroes in integrating Irian Jaya into Indonesia, including yourself. Do you think that the government has paid enough attention to people like you?

The government has never given serious attention to Irianese who fought for integration. They feel neglected and disrespected ... That's why I've also come to Jakarta, to discuss their fate with the government.

I told the President and Vice President that the central government should pay attention to the life of the 1945 Trikora fighters and those involved in the 1969 (UN sponsored) plebiscite.

There were 5,000 integration fighters. If their contributions are indeed respected, they should be recognized as heroes by the government in a law. Their proper rights should be given, beginning from 2000.

If not, this means our contribution is not respected. Then I would tell the government that we do not need to be invited to talks on how to preserve Irian Jaya within the Republic.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has changed the name of Irian Jaya to Papua. Do you agree with that?

The President made the change verbally. So I don't believe Irian Jaya has been really changed. Irianese are also confused now about the terms.

So I've demanded that the central government should immediately formalize the name change in a law. If not, it would mean the President was just playing tricks on us.

Even before the 1969 plebiscite, you strived to raise the Indonesian red and white flag. Now the government has permitted Papuans to hoist the West Papua Morning Star flag in Irian Jaya.

In Indonesia's history, we only know one national flag ... Two flags in one nation has never happened. I heard that this permission was also given verbally. We are a state of law so the permission should also be made into a law.

The law should clarify the reason for the permission to hoist the Morning Star along with the Red and White, and for how long. The government should also explain what the meaning of the permission is.

Does it mean the government wants to set up a federal state in Irian Jaya, or one nation with two systems as applied in Hong Kong? Or does it mean that the government is unable to develop Irian Jaya, thus letting it become independent?

Without written clarification, the Irianese would be confused because it is the government which banned the raising of the Morning Star in the past.

Would you like to comment on anything else?

Yes. There is one important thing. Tell the members of the People's Consultative Assembly and the House of Representatives not to amend the 1945 Constitution and Pancasila. Or else I'm ready to separate from Indonesia. What else would we have as the state's foundation if it is altered?