Indonesia's Reign of Violence in West Papua

MODERN CONFLICTS Indonesia’s Reign of Violence in West Papua Violence, intimidation and unlawful detentions by Indonesian security forces are common in West Papua, writes DR CAMELLIA WEBB-GANNON, the coordinator of the West Papua Project at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. L Yaboisembut outside court, Jayapura 2012. PHOTO: West Papua Media 32 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS ast June I hung up the phone after a conversion with my West Papuan friend Victor Yeimo with a heavy heart. Victor is the spokesperson for a popular student organization called KNPB (West Papua National Committee) that organises peaceful protests for independence from Indonesia. Victor was very worried for his own safety and that of his friends. The deputy of KNPB, Mako Tabuni, had just been assassinated in broad daylight by the Indonesian police, for lobbying for an independent investigation into the spate of killings that had taken place in West Papua over May and June 2012. Several other KNPB members had been murdered, as had a German tourist in West Papua just one week after Germany had criticized Indonesia’s human-rights record in West Papua in the UN periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. The Indonesian security forces apparently scapegoated KNPB members as suspects for the killings. This was a somewhat illogical move – as Victor had asked, why would the KNPB be shooting their own members? Several KNPB members had been arrested. • ISSUE 27 Five members’ names circulated on a most-wanted list, and five were allegedly detained by forces from Densus (Detachment) 88, Indonesia’s counter-terrorism squad, trained and partly funded by Australia. In addition to these killings, which took place in West Papua’s largest city, Jayapura, soldiers from a battalion stationed in the highlands town of Wamena had run amok in early June, lighting fires, shooting into crowds, and vandalizing property, in retaliation for the killing of a soldier who hit a West Papuan child on his motorcycle. The Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, chided the soldiers for their “inappropriate actions” but called the violence “small-scale” compared to that afflicting the Middle East. Up to 500,000 West Papuans have died as a result of Indonesia’s occupation of the territory since 1962. This dire situation, paired with a characteristically inadequate response from Indonesia’s leader, explains why West Papuans have had to take politics into their own hands. So, what kind of political leadership have West Papuans set up for themselves, and how has Indonesia reacted? 33 Congress’ leaders having obtained a permit to hold the event. Hundreds, including Forkorus and four other Congress leaders, were arrested. Forkorus was allegI first met Forkorus Yaboisembut, the man recently edly kicked in the chest by police and suffered beatings declared by West Papuans to be their president, in 2008 to his head with a rifle butt, for exercising his right to in his home village near Sentani in West Papua. I had freedom of expression, association and peaceful protest. been driven out to meet the customary leader by some The five leaders (the Jayapura Five) were convicted Papuan friends, in a car with tinted windows (they were of treason in March 2012, despite Indonesia’s alleged afraid we would be followed), and was received warmly democratic credentials. The five men remained silent in by both Forkorus and his wife and treated to refreshresponse to questions from the prosecution, and mainments on what was a hot and humid day. tained that they did not need to answer to an IndoneHis humility and his youthful appearance at that sian court that had (in their view) no legal jurisdiction time were striking to me – he was a revered independover them as Papuans. The trial was heavily guarded by ence leader and a seventy-year-old man, tall, immacuthe military. lately dressed, softly spoken and kind. He earnestly The Papuans’ lawyer was threatened for defending explained the importance to Papuans of their many them, and there are serious doubts about the judge’s indigenous cultures, which were in the process of dying, independence. While the five were sentenced to three as the indigenous Melanesian population had slipped years’ prison for treason, the only into a minority in West Papua. action taken against the police My photos of that occasion officers and military personnel resare treasured, and mark a sharp ponsible for the violent crackdown “Up to 500,000 contrast to the Forkorus that I was a written warning for disciplisee photographed now, five years West Papuans nary infraction. later. A shock of white hair, a white have died as So why are events, such as the beard, and deep lines of anxiety one just described, happening? a result of are carved into his face. I find it Papuans are resisting Indonesian hard to recognize him in pictures Indonesia’s oppression for two main reasons. now except for his trademark air of occupation of the First, they are reacting to the viocourage and dignity and a palpable territory since lence they have been subjected to passion for his cause. So what has for 50 years as a result of the Indohappened to Forkorus that brought 1962.” nesian occupation. Second, the about these changes? resistance is also a proactive moveOn October 19, 2011 around ment pursuing West Papuans’ right 5,000 West Papuans gathered near to self-determination and hopes Jayapura, West Papua, for the third West Papuan Natfor freedom. In other words, the independence moveional Congress – a meeting of historic significance. ment is both a reactive and a proactive one. The previous two Congresses over the last 50 years had This is important, because it underscores the fact been held when hopes were high of impending indethat even if Indonesian violence had not been inflicted pendence for West Papua (it never eventuated). on Papuans to the current extent, Papuans would still This particular Congress had lasted for three days, be struggling for their right to self-determination. The and was wrapped up by Forkorus with the reading question is, why is it that Indonesia will not relinquish aloud of the 1961 Papua Declaration of Independence, Papua or at least grant Papuans a referendum on selfa re-declaration of independence, and the announcedetermination? How is the occupation maintained? ment of the people’s choice of a Papuan government And what constitute West Papuans’ aspirations? that included Forkorus Yaboisembut as West Papua’s president, and Papuan lawyer and academic Edison Waromi as its prime minister. A history of violence Two hours after formal proceedings had concluded, several hundred people remained mingling in the ConIndonesia invaded West Papua in 1963, using its gress field when Indonesian security forces commenced formidable special forces, Kopassus, as the Dutch firing into the crowd. Up to seven people were killed were preparing the Papuans for independence. The and hundreds were beaten and tortured, despite the appendage of West Papua was seen as a boon by The Jayapura Five 34 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 27 Dr Camellia Webb-Gannon and Forkorus Yaboisembut, Jayapura 2008. PHOTO: Courtesy of the author. 35 Indonesia, given Papua’s vast expanse of land and relaactivities. tively sparse population compared to the overcrowded Haluk and his friends had been sent numerous islands of Indonesia. SMS threats and phone calls and received nasty “souA government sponsored program of transmigravenirs” such as blood-soaked letters. They witnessed tion with associated cultural indoctrination programs, staged hostage takings in supermarkets intended to followed by continued spontaneous migration, has strike fear into activists, and were continually folnot only served to make West Papuans a minority lowed and spied upon. in their own land, but has suppressed West Papuan Ardiansyah Matra, a journalist in Merauke, indigenous cultures and languages. It forcibly removed West Papua, who was reporting on the controversial West Papuans from their land, destroyed sacred Merauke Food Estate Project near local election time, environmental landmarks, cornered West Papuans and who was found dead in a river in 2010, had also out of business and other career opportunities, and received a number of SMS threats regarding his work. persecuted them for cultural, religious and political One of his colleagues subsequently reported that he practices. too had received an SMS death threat for investigaApart from nationalist beliefs among many Indotive articles. nesians that West Papua and Indonesia are a single The threatening presence of Kopassus and other political entity due to a shared Dutch colonial heritsecurity forces is constantly made known to West age, West Papua is also the home to one of IndonePapuans through intimidating and intrusive surveilsia’s biggest revenue earners, the US-owned Freeport lance. From the TNI (Indonesian military forces) McMoRan gold and copper mine. houses that are wedged between Papuan houses That is why Indonesia refuses in Papuan villages and TNI checkto countenance West Papuans’ points at the entrance to villages, independence aspirations and to the strategic placement of ter“Merdeka continues to run the territory with rifying statues of troops in public an iron fist. This is despite apparplaces, West Papuans are made to encapsulates the ent concessions such as the 2001 feel the presence of Indonesian future for which Special Autonomy Law that prosecurity forces in their everyday Papuans hope.” vided better economic and politiactivities. cal conditions for Papuans on During my 2008 visit, I noticed paper, but had been pronounced a that Indonesian troops even monfailure by Papuans in less than a itored church services and churchdecade due to a marked lack of results and political provided clinics, and asserted their presence by taking commitment. early morning runs and singing nationalistic songs The Indonesian occupation of West Papua loudly as they jogged, reminding West Papuans who depends to a large degree on its redoubtable exercise controls the public space. of “PSYOPS”, or “PSYWAR” – psychological warfare When visiting the highlands town of Wamena, techniques that it has used for almost five decades in I was witness to the sudden shut down of a lavishly its largely covert war against the West Papuan people. planned church opening-ceremony by 20 police In response, West Papuans have launched a relenttrucks and army troops parading through town and less counter-struggle using methods such as guerilla blaring sirens before dispersing crowds. It is easy to warfare, international diplomacy, non-violent resistsee why, in the face of such ubiquitous violence that ance and mass political action, prompting further pervades all aspects of West Papuans’ lives, they have coercive measures from the Indonesian government hopes for a different kind of future. and security forces. Methods used by the occupying forces include torture, ever-expanding military What do Papuans hope for? deployments, including of Densus 88, and other terrifying psychological warfare – to contain the resistance Spending even a short amount of time with West through fear. Papuans produces the rapid realisation that the word An independence activist, Markus Haluk, whom I merdeka, directly translated as freedom, is the mantra came to know during a visit to West Papua in 2008, for the independence movement. Merdeka encapsuissued a report in 2009 on security forces attempts to lates the future for which Papuans hope. dissuade him and other activists from their resistance 36 REFUGEE TRANSITIONS • ISSUE 27 The word itself is controversial amongst non-Papand security, employment and health facilities, cultural uan scholars and some Papuan supporters of Indoand linguistic protection, freedom of religious expresnesia who have an interest in seeing Papua remain sion and freedom of association, environmental integpart of Indonesia. This group claims merdeka does rity and political freedom. All of which are limited not mean political freedom but instead refers to basic or even nonexistent within the current Indonesian everyday freedoms or spiritual freedom only. regime. Political independence cannot be separated According to the vast majority of West Papuans from the goal of merdeka; it is its bottom line. This is with whom I have come into contact, however, one of the strongest political views currently uniting merdeka represents the whole package – political West Papuans. independence; freedom from direct, structural and Papuans are working hard to obtain their goal of cultural violence; spiritual freedom; and the ability to political self-determination. They hope that a solution self-actualize and community-actualize. will be brokered by the UN or an international third One of the reasons merdeka does not just signify party mediator, via a dialogue process or a referendum simple daily freedoms (such as the freedom to hunt on independence. and garden on traditional lands, or the freedom to The use of social media is remarkable, including have a stall at the marketplace rather than a floor the leaking of YouTube videos depicting torture. The space) is because the West Papuan development of global networks struggle for peace with justice is is strengthening and there are not simply a negative or reactive now campaigns such as Internaone to Indonesian violence, but tional Parliamentarians for West “They hope that a positive one for fundamental Papua and International Lawyers a solution will political self-determination. for West Papua. Public protests West Papuans are ethnically within West Papua are gaining a be brokered by Melanesian and culturally have critical mass. the UN or an more in common with their MelaWhen non-violent student international third nesian neighbours in Papua New leaders are assassinated, and party mediator, via Guinea than they do with their political leaders are convicted of Asian Indonesian neighbours. This treason for exercising their demoa dialogue process includes similar understandings cratic rights, it is little wonder that or a referendum and an appreciation of land and West Papuans insist ever more on independence.” water, other resources, relationstrongly upon independence from ships, customs, family, food, song Indonesia. An indomitable spirit and dance. of resilience and hope amongst The vast majority of West West Papuans at home and abroad Papuans are Christian, and many resent what they will overcome Indonesian violence and realise their see as the Islamisation of West Papua by Indonesian human rights. migrants who outnumber them in their homeland. This spirit should be met by us as West Papua’s Nevertheless, many Muslim West Papuans are firm nearest neighbours with solidarity and courage. We supporters of West Papuan independence. need to lobby the Australian government to stop Even if Dutch colonisation of Indonesia had not training Indonesia’s counter-terrorism forces. Densus ravaged West Papua with its military and transmi88 is meting out at least some of the current violence gration programs, West Papua would not have been in West Papua. Let us match the Papuans’ courage – negatively predisposed to Indonesian nationalism, this should not be too hard considering we have far probably Papuans would have still crafted a “Melaneless to lose. sian” style nationalism, similar to its neighbours to the east, rather than an Indonesian nationalism as per the islands to its west. For breaking news on current events in West Elements of merdeka are thus infused with MelaPapua visit the West Papua media website at nesian nationalism. Some proponents of an independent West Papua call West Papua “West Melanesia” to http://westpapuamedia.info/ more closely tie Papua to its cultural heritage. West Papuans hope that merdeka will bring safety INDONESIA’S REIGN OF VIOLENCE IN WEST PAPUA 37