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