Papua -- A land of neglect and exploitation

Endy M. Bayuni, Deputy chief editor, The Jakarta Post

Anyone wondering why many Papuans are bent on seeking independence should read a newly published public opinion survey, which finds the province mired in poverty and inequality resulting from neglect and, to some extent, exploitation.

The survey by the International Foundation for Election System (IFES) Indonesia shows these elements to be present in varying degrees across the huge, but densely populated province.

Combined with the government's own low public standing relative to other institutions, and its failure to communicate its policies effectively, it is easy to see why many Papuans have never heard of the special autonomy law that Jakarta has been pushing so hard these last few years, and why, at the same time, awareness about aspirations for independence is running high.

The IFES public opinion survey, the most comprehensive ever conducted in the province, confirms the widely held perception that Jakarta has, for far too long, ignored the well-being of the Papuans, to the point that one of the country's richest provinces in terms of natural resources also has one of the highest incidences of poverty.

The survey, held between September and November, looked into such questions as the people's access to education, health and the media, and the state of transportation facilities, the economy and the environment.

In all these areas, the results were found wanting.

No less important, however, are the survey findings that Papuans are largely ignorant of the special autonomy deal that Jakarta had offered; that awareness of their own aspirations for independence is high; and that they have a low opinion about the role of their local governments.

There is also a strong awareness among Papuans about the deteriorating state of their forests. The survey, unfortunately, did not seek to explain what caused this deterioration in the eyes of the Papuans.

The extractive industries, particularly mining and forestry, by large national and international companies, have largely been blamed for the rapid degradation of Papua's environment.

IFES, an organization funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), conducted the survey in cooperation with a host of Papua-based, non-governmental organizations and educational institutes, as well as local government agencies.

It interviewed 3,450 respondents from all 12 regencies, selected to reflect urban and rural as well gender and generation mixes; included is a group of 1,604 respondents randomly selected from eight major tribes in the province: Moi and Baham in the west, Biak in the North, Sentani in the northeast, Lani/Dani and Yali in the central highlands and Asmat and Marind in the south.

With non-Papuans making up more than 40 percent of the province's 2.3 million population, the survey found disparities in opinion between them, and between the eight major tribes.

"The objective of the survey was to gather a broad selection of useful information that could assist various stakeholders with an interest in Papua and its future development," IFES said in the introduction to the report.

"It is anticipated that this survey will form the benchmark for future research and developmental projects in Papua. It is further hoped that the findings of this important study will create a constructive debate that will help to further the development of Papua in the best interests of its people."

The survey has found that while the few people who had heard of special autonomy had different interpretations of its significance, there seems to be little doubt about what their aspirations for independence mean: that Papua will become an independent nation.

The government granted Papua in 2002 special autonomy status, a scheme that supposedly gave the province widespread authority in managing its own affairs and, most important of all, a larger share of the revenue from its own natural resources.

A former colony of the Netherlands, Papua only formally became part of Indonesia in 1969 -- and then, under controversial circumstances.

Although the UN and most of the rest of the world have recognized Papua as an integral part of the republic, Jakarta has been fighting a low-intensity insurgency almost from the start.

Since the downfall of the Soeharto regime in 1998, the struggle for Papua's independence has been carried out more in the open. Going hand in hand with a sporadic, jungle guerrilla war carried on by tiny bands of armed rebels, a group of Papuan politicians, activists and scholars have formed the Papuan Presidium Council to further the independence cause through peaceful means.

While its presence has been largely tolerated by Jakarta, one of its leaders, Theys Hiyo Eluay was murdered by members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in 2001, reflecting Jakarta's unease about its activities and the growing public support it is enjoying.

Special autonomy status was also granted to Aceh, another natural resource-rich province at the other extremity of the archipelago, where Jakarta is fighting another armed insurgency.

This special status was the furthest that Jakarta has been willing to go in meeting halfway Papuan and Acehnese demands for independence.

But the IFES survey found that 83 percent of all Papuans have never heard of anything called "autonomy law". And even among the 17 percent who said they had heard of the law, they had a different understanding of its impact (Table 1).

Table 1. What would happen if special autonomy law were introduced in Papua? .tb 0.1" 5.5"

Papuans would be protected 49%

Opportunities for education would be improved 43%

People would be better off financially 40%

Native Papuans would have own political institution 15%

No change 10% Source: Public Opinion Survey Papua Indonesia, IFES

.tb 0.3"

In contrast, the survey finds awareness of aspirations for independence running at 62 percent among all respondents, and 75 percent among indigenous Papuan residents. Among those who are aware, the question put to them was what would be the outcome if independence were introduced to them (Table 2).

Table 2. What would happen if Papua were to achieve independence status? .tb 0.1" 5.5"

Papua would become an independent nation 66%

Papuans would be free to manage themselves 60%

Everyone would receive equal treatment 28%

Security would improve 16%

No change 7% Source: Public Opinion Survey Papua Indonesia, IFES

.tb 0.3"

IFES has also found that the Papuans respect religious institutions more than their provincial and regency administrations, or their adat (local customs) institutions.

While few institutions were found to be disrespected, the survey says that the military and police topped the list of institutions least respected, with 10 percent and 8 percent respectively. Tribes in Wamena, however, had a larger proportion of people that did not respect these institutions, with up to 28 percent saying they disrespected the police and up to 20 percent saying the same for the Military.

Table 3. Which institutions do you respect the most? .tb 0.1" 5.5"

Religious institutions 50%

Regency administration 15%

Provincial administration & % !& 0 & , 73