Looking into the root causes of Papua problems

Vidhyandika D Perkasa, Jakarta

The recent "intervention" by the U.S. Congress concerning the legitimacy of Indonesia's sovereignty over the province of Papua cannot be regarded as odd.

Whatever the real intention behind this American move, we must acknowledge that it indirectly has to do with our own inadequacy in handling the Papuan problem. Despite the effort by the Jakarta government in granting Papua special autonomy, in reality poverty, lack of education and a general state of backwardness still exist in that easternmost region of the country.

Therefore, it is not very surprising if the Papuans are trying to attract the attention of other countries for help. Through intense lobbying and network-building those "Papuan elites" who are far from satisfied with our management of Papua have been successful in bringing their homeland under the international spotlight.

The government has taken a defensive position in responding to U.S. pressure. Some even wonder whether the American intervention in fact poses a real threat. But this kind of threat really depends on the objective. If we regard as a threat those measures leading to the division of Papua from Indonesia -- like in the case of East Timor -- then it will take a long time.

In fact, the government of Indonesia feels quite confident about our situation in Papua. It also believes that the congressional initiative is not really a serious problem as it is driven by a very small minority. If the focus is the 'self determination at the end of the 1960s, then the United Nations has already supported and legitimized Papua as an integral part of Indonesia.

Moreover, the Bush administration has been quick to state its political support for a unified Indonesia.

However, extra attention and more serious measures are needed to avoid the accumulation of international support for Papua's independence.

The threat of division is actually more real if we view it from the local context. Foreign intervention could destabilize the situation in Papua because there are actually people in Papua who feel disillusioned with the development in their region. The latest American move gave them the message they had been waiting for in that their grievances received support from a big country.

It is, therefore, important for the government of Indonesia to invest more time in determining why other countries still have reason to question the situation in Papua. In other words, diplomacy alone is not enough as it only provides a "transitory solution".

Now, how should we picture a more realistic socio-economic condition of Papua? Direct observation shows us that Papua is in fact a region that has received only a minimal "development touch". It becomes more ironic as this province is very rich in natural resources. We can witness that the cities at the regency level -- let us say, in the Baliem valley area -- are supported with sparse infrastructure. There is a lack of clean water facility, nearly daily power blackouts, waste can be seen everywhere, while health care and education are only minimal.

The condition becomes more frustrating if we are to witness the "human" aspect. Economic disparity seems glaring between the local indigenous people and the migrant inhabitants -- "the newcomers". The indigenous Papuans believe that if they receive the same opportunities and equal treatment, they can also be as successful as the newcomers.

In reality the Papuans have to pay tax, but can only sell their goods on the side of the street, while the newcomers sell their products in permanent shops. The Papuans can only sell small amounts of commodities with a relatively low selling value, like vegetables and fruits. Inhabiting remote locations in the mountain range, which depends on air transportation, the price of staple foods has become a heavy burden for the Papuans.

The unemployment rate is very high. The dropout rate among elementary and high-school students is also very high. Those few who are lucky enough to maintain their working spirit would do whatever possible to earn a living.

There are some of us who think that the Papuans' miserable conditions -- poverty, backwardness, ignorance -- are caused by their own "mentality". The Papuans are seen as drunkards, lazy people, who love to gamble away their money. They are not capable of planning for the future and are mostly spendthrifts.

We should debate, however, whether that kind of "mentality" does exist. Is it a natural trait of the Papuans, or has it become "a design for living" or an adaptive strategy in society due to the scarcity of jobs?

The time is ripe for the government to be more serious in dealing with Papua's problems. Papua should not be managed only through economic tools but also using socio-cultural means. The character and mentality of indigenous Papuans should be nurtured after being "oppressed" for decades.

The special autonomy arrangement is the right formula upon which the Papuans have pinned their hopes for a real change. Problems arise when bad implementation causes them to feel that they are being tricked into this arrangement. For the Papuans, like all of us anywhere, a promise made is a promise kept.

Once promises are left unfulfilled, the trust has been broken. It seems that right now there is mistrust between the Papuans and the government -- in Jakarta and in the province itself.

Papua's problems are our own, not the problem of the U.S. Congress. It is time for the Papuans and the government to find a solution to deal with the situation in Papua. This is no time to blame or accuse each other of wrongdoings, but the time to build a solid partnership for the sake of this nation's integrity.

The writer holds a PhD in Anthropology from Monash University, Australia. He is a researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta and can be reached at vidhyandika@csis.or.id.