No letup in security approach spells trouble in Irian Jaya
No letup in security approach spells trouble in Irian Jaya
Treating forms of protests as a crime may be outdated, but it
is still the more popular, fatal practice in Irian Jaya, rights
activist John Rumbiak told The Jakarta Post. The following is an
excerpt of a recent interview in Jayapura with the supervisor of
the Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy in Irian
Jaya.
Question: Papuans (Irianese) sporadically raise the West Papua
Morning Star flag, often leading to violent situations. Is this
an indication of separatism?
Answer: Many in Jakarta regard the flag raising as a sign of
separatism. It has been considered a threat to the Republic's
territorial integrity, so the military and police, in the name of
maintaining Indonesia's unity, have been treating it as a threat
to security.
For over three decades of Soeharto rule, this approach led to
the deaths of many Papuans, and many others jailed without trial.
Instead of looking for a political solution as recommended by
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, the raising of the
Morning Star flag has been treated as a crime. And as long as
(this persists), many more will become victims.
Papuans know quite well that they will be arrested, jailed and
maybe even killed by security forces if they raise the flag --
but they keep doing so. Obviously, there must be something wrong.
Q: What do you see as the main problem?
A: The main problem is crimes against humanity in West Papua
(still officially Irian Jaya -- Ed.). The Papuans have been
victims of such crimes for years, resulting in frustration,
disappointment, anger and helplessness.
After the fall of Soeharto, Papuans began protesting against
these past crimes through peaceful demonstrations and by raising
the Morning Star flag in several cities in West Papua.
Q: What do you mean by "crimes against humanity"?
A: It is more than the killing. It is widespread and systematic
attacks against the civilian population, with prior knowledge of
the attack (by the perpetrators). The specific acts, according to
the International Court of Crime, include murder, extermination,
enslavement, and deportation; also imprisonment, torture, rape,
and persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds.
Q: Could you explain more about the crimes?
A: There are so many in West Papua. I'll just highlight three
general indications.
First, the ignorance of the international community on the
Papuan's right of self determination, due to their economic and
political interests. The process and implementation of the 1969
UN-supervised act of free choice was held without truly
respecting justice, democracy, and human rights of the Papuans.
Second, all kinds of human rights violations committed
systematically in West Papua since May 1, 1963. Many Papuans have
been victims of killings, rape, arbitrary detention, torture,
intimidation and other forms of injustices. Virtually all Papuans
have been suspected as being supporters or members of the Free
Papua Movement (OPM) and are therefore watched closely.
Once Papuans demand their rights, for instance to ancestral
land, they are labeled as separatists, justifying the use of
force by police and military. The security forces have never been
blamed for killings carried out to maintain territorial integrity
or to create national stability.
This has led to a feeling of helplessness among Papuans ...
they have to choose between accepting whatever is imposed by the
government, with the consequence of continued oppression and
victimization; or demanding justice with the possibility of being
killed or jailed.
In the name of development, forestry, mining, and other
private companies, safeguarded by security forces, have been
exploiting natural resources for years, while giving little or no
attention for the betterment of social welfare of the locals.
Many of those living around the company sites have been
victims of rights violations. Traumatized by past experiences,
many suppress their grievances.
Third, the threat of extinction of the Papuan identity. This
is caused by racist government policies that are ignorant of
local culture and leads to genocide. The policy of family
planning has supported the extinction of West Papuans.
Q: What should be done towards a peaceful settlement?
A: First, the government, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and
police should change their paradigm towards West Papua. They
should look at demands for independence from a humanitarian
perspective.
The government would then be able to settle problems in a
democratic and peaceful way without bloodshed. It would then
realize that the reasons for the demands for independence are
crimes against humanity.
Q: What has been the government's response to such
charges?
A: Instead of holding dialogs with locals, the government
continues its security approach. The central and local
government, police and military have never discussed with people
here why they have been insisting on independence, through
peaceful demonstrations or by raising the Morning Star flag.
The government under Soeharto or Abdurrahman Wahid has given
little attention to settling crimes against humanity in West
Papua. It seems the ignorance is deliberate.
Three main churches, the Catholic Church of Jayapura diocese,
the Evangelical Christian Church (GKI), and the Indonesian Bible
Camp Church (GKII) in West Papua and the Institute for the Human
Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD) have reported a number of
rights abuses.
The reports show that all abuses in West Papua were caused by
military and police presence aimed at protect mining firms,
forest concessions and timber estates exploiting natural
resources.
The National Commission on Human Rights has also visited the
province several times and has given some recommendations to the
government. However, the government has given little attention to
West Papua compared to Aceh and Maluku. The government seems to
be deliberately ignoring crimes against humanity in West Papua.
Instead of talking with Papuans, they have been labeled as
separatists, so many here have come to view Indonesians as
enemies.
Former president B.J. Habibie, announced the division of Irian
Jaya into three provinces without prior discussion with Papuans.
Following strong objections, the government then offered an
unclear status as a special autonomous region.
With all available means -- the main one being stalling -- the
government has ignored the human rights problems of West Papua,
hoping they will be forgotten.
If the government had any political will to resolve the
situation, the first thing that should be done is to hold dialogs
with the Papuans. Otherwise all parties will have their own
perceptions of the problems and solutions.
Q: Officially the security approach has been replaced with the
"loving approach" (pendekatan kasih) and welfare approach.
Military operations have officially ended. Has there been
progress?
A: The Irian Jaya Police Chief is indeed promoting what they call
the "loving approach" but it seems only lip service.
In reality the use of force continues; in Timika on Dec. 2 one
was killed after being tortured by police (55 were also injured
following protests against police lowering Morning Star flag --
Ed.). Another was killed by police in Merauke unrest on Feb. 16.
Zones of military operations have been changed to "securing of
vulnerable areas" (PDR) which is essentially the same. The
government continues to deploy members of the military in the
name of PDR. A lot of military personnel have been assigned to
the villages in the name of development; while it has been this
very presence that has led to human rights violations in West
Papua.
Q: Why do Papuans reject the offer of wide-ranging autonomy?
A: There were no prior discussions with locals. When Papuans
protested against crimes against humanity for so many years there
was no response from the government; instead it offered autonomy.
Locals have never been given a chance to express their
grievances. It seems that all communication channels are closed.
The Papuans do not know to whom they can talk to. Thus, they have
resorted to seeking their own way through protests, and one led
to the vandalizing of government offices in Merauke on Feb. 16.
In this case do not blame the Papuans, but ask if the
government gave them a chance for self-expression.
So the rejection against the offer of autonomy is because of
the ignorance of the crimes against humanity in West Papua and
the absence of a chance for self-expression.
Q: When do you think locals will be ready for talks about
autonomy?
A: I think Papuans will be ready to discuss any agenda, including
the offer of autonomy, if the government meets three
requirements.
First, the government should settle crimes against humanity in
West Papua prior to talks on autonomy. Conduct investigations on
alleged rights abuses, announce the results, and bring those
involved to court.
Second, hold dialogs with Papuans to hear their grievances,
disappointments, anger and feelings of helplessness caused by
crimes against humanity. Otherwise, such feelings could be
exploited by irresponsible people to create vertical (people
against authority) and horizontal (among people) conflicts.
Third, involve Papuans in decision making on policies that
would influence and effect their lives. Do not repeat the
attitude of the New Order regime that imposed everything from the
top and forced Papuans to accept decisions unequivocally.
This requires a change of the top down approach by the
government, military and police and a change in the tradition of
monologue to one based on principles of dialog and human rights
protection.
If the three requirements are fulfilled, the government and
Papuans will be able to discuss any topic in a peaceful and
democratic way. (Neles Tebay)