Papuana opt stay with Indonesia JP/7/let

Papuans opt to stay with Indonesia

I refer to Jusuf Wanandi's article entitled Papua problem and the international community (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 1,) about the so-called Act of Free Choice conducted by the Indonesian government in 1969, variously known in Papua as the Act of No Choice, Act Free of Choice, et cetera.

To say that the decision for integration under the Act was "confirmed by representatives in the representative assemblies across Papua" is to propose a purely mythical basis for the legitimacy of the Indonesian presence in Papua. It would be more accurate to say that the Act was confirmed by a thousand or so carefully (but sometimes casually) selected Papuans who were variously bribed and/or intimidated into voting for integration as the Indonesian Army and government directed them.

Gallons of scholarly ink have been spilt on this topic since 1969, most importantly by John Saltford in his book on the UN and the Act of Free Choice. One marvels at Jusuf Wanandi's chutzpah in advertising his ignorance (or ignoring) of it. As one of the architects of Papua's fate under the New Order but now a keen critic of Indonesian government policy toward Papua one might have expected better. It is late in the day to deplore government neglect of Papua and failure to implement special autonomy there without also mentioning Papua's 42-year history of military repression and government exploitation.

Yes, an Aceh-style peace agreement would be some sort of advance in Papua, but Papuans unlike Acehnese have never regarded themselves as Indonesians or (in truth) been regarded as such by Indonesians. Yes, the international community can "help" a solution in Papua, but Indonesian policy is slowly but steadily ensuring that such help may take the form of an East Timor style humanitarian intervention. There is little doubt (even among many Indonesian settlers in Papua) that the best way forward for the Papuans and Papua would indeed be self-determination and independence.

PETER KING Leiden The Netherlands