Irianese congress rejects 1969 plebiscite
Irianese congress rejects 1969 plebiscite
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The first Papuan Congress ended on
Saturday with a unanimous rejection of the 1969 plebiscite that
incorporated the former Dutch territory into Indonesia.
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday,
the 500 congress participants said the popular consultation
lacked legitimacy because the Indonesian government held it
without involving eligible voters.
The poll was conducted based on the 1962 New York Agreement
between the UN, Indonesia and the Netherlands.
"Only 0.8 percent of the 80,000 eligible voters took part in
the so-called popular consultation," the congress' declaration
signed by local leaders Theys H. Eluay and Tom Beanal said.
The poll, locally known as Pepera, the acronym for Penentuan
Pendapat Rakyat (People's Self-determination Vote) was sanctioned
after the transfer of power over the western part of the island
from the Netherlands to Indonesia through the UN in May 1963.
The congress participants called the transfer of power invalid
since it was decided without consulting local people.
Independence demands have been on the rise over the past two
years in the province, the home to one of the world's largest
gold and cooper mining industries, in response to past human
rights violations and the unfair divisions of revenues earned
from exploiting its natural resources.
"That is why we decide to separate from Indonesia and form a
Papua nation," the statement said.
Numerous demonstrations demanding independence have taken
across the province, including one on Dec. 1 where the Morning
Star rebel flag was hoisted. Several people, including Theys,
were questioned following the incident.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has rejected the independence
demands, offering wide-ranging autonomy instead.
The latest rally to reject the autonomy offer on Feb. 16 ended
in violence leaving a man shot dead and several people including
police officers injured.
Independence movements have also been seen in the country's
other resource-rich provinces of Aceh and Riau.
Irianese people are prepared to hold dialogs and other
peaceful and democratic ways in the search for a settlement, the
statement added.
Congress participants also expressed their gratitude to
President Abdurrahman Wahid for his decision to change the name
of Irian Jaya to Papua on New Year's Eve.
"By changing the name, the President has recognized the
cultural identity we have been struggling for," it said.
Tom Beanal said the statement would be sent to the UN and the
governments of Indonesia, the Netherlands and the United States
because of their alleged refusal to acknowledge the political
rights of Papuans.
The congress participants decided to set up a Papuan presidium
council, which was tasked with preparations for a bigger congress
slated for April.
The presidium comprises tribal, women, youth and student
leaders as well as local scholars and foreign delegations.
The four-day congress, which was held in Sentani Hotel, ran
peacefully under the watchful eyes of about 1,000 local security
personnel. (eba/jun)
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The first Papuan Congress ended on
Saturday with a unanimous rejection of the 1969 plebiscite that
incorporated the former Dutch territory into Indonesia.
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday,
the 500 congress participants said the popular consultation
lacked legitimacy because the Indonesian government held it
without involving eligible voters.
The poll was conducted based on the 1962 New York Agreement
between the UN, Indonesia and the Netherlands.
"Only 0.8 percent of the 80,000 eligible voters took part in
the so-called popular consultation," the congress' declaration
signed by local leaders Theys H. Eluay and Tom Beanal said.
The poll, locally known as Pepera, the acronym for Penentuan
Pendapat Rakyat (People's Self-determination Vote) was sanctioned
after the transfer of power over the western part of the island
from the Netherlands to Indonesia through the UN in May 1963.
The congress participants called the transfer of power invalid
since it was decided without consulting local people.
Independence demands have been on the rise over the past two
years in the province, the home to one of the world's largest
gold and cooper mining industries, in response to past human
rights violations and the unfair divisions of revenues earned
from exploiting its natural resources.
"That is why we decide to separate from Indonesia and form a
Papua nation," the statement said.
Numerous demonstrations demanding independence have taken
across the province, including one on Dec. 1 where the Morning
Star rebel flag was hoisted. Several people, including Theys,
were questioned following the incident.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has rejected the independence
demands, offering wide-ranging autonomy instead.
The latest rally to reject the autonomy offer on Feb. 16 ended
in violence leaving a man shot dead and several people including
police officers injured.
Independence movements have also been seen in the country's
other resource-rich provinces of Aceh and Riau.
Irianese people are prepared to hold dialogs and other
peaceful and democratic ways in the search for a settlement, the
statement added.
Congress participants also expressed their gratitude to
President Abdurrahman Wahid for his decision to change the name
of Irian Jaya to Papua on New Year's Eve.
"By changing the name, the President has recognized the
cultural identity we have been struggling for," it said.
Tom Beanal said the statement would be sent to the UN and the
governments of Indonesia, the Netherlands and the United States
because of their alleged refusal to acknowledge the political
rights of Papuans.
The congress participants decided to set up a Papuan presidium
council, which was tasked with preparations for a bigger congress
slated for April.
The presidium comprises tribal, women, youth and student
leaders as well as local scholars and foreign delegations.
The four-day congress, which was held in Sentani Hotel, ran
peacefully under the watchful eyes of about 1,000 local security
personnel. (eba/jun)