U.S. policy on Papua

U.S. policy on Papua

Regarding U.S. Ambassador Gelbard's letter U.S. does not
support Papua (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 22, 2000), it is no
surprise to learn that the U.S. government does not support the
Papuan struggle for independence. In fact, it would be a bizarre
change of policy for Washington to oppose Jakarta on this issue.
However, I find it hard to believe that the ambassador can
seriously deny Mr. Beanal's charge that the U.S. and the UN
robbed the Papuans of their opportunity for independence.

While Kennedy's intervention in 1962 may have helped to
prevent a war between the Netherlands and Indonesia over West
Papua, the fate of the Papuan people themselves was of no
consequence to Washington. In fact there is plenty of evidence to
show that America wanted the territory to go to Indonesia,
regardless of the Papuans' wishes. To give just one example, in
February 1962, U.S. National Security staff member Robert Komer
wrote to one of president Kennedy's national assistants,
commenting that: "I can't blame the Dutch for doubting that Indos
have any intention of allowing genuine plebiscite (in West Papua)
five years or so from now. But the important thing is that some
such Indo promise is the essential face-saving device the Dutch
have been seeking. We must get them to take it as best they can
expect."

The plain fact is that the U.S., and more importantly the UN,
abandoned the Papuans because they did not matter, while Jakarta
did. It was big power politics and to suggest otherwise is simply
inaccurate.

DR. JOHN SALTFORD

London, UK