Ronald May
A local leader's return is an opportunity for talks with Indonesia.
RECENT reports from Indonesia's West Papua of a raid on a military post by separatist fighters, and the news that a former West Papuan leader, Nicolaas Jouwe, has returned to Indonesia calling for a new dialogue on West Papua's political status, again draw attention to the long-running grievances of the Melanesian population.
West Papua — previously Dutch New Guinea — was formally, but controversially, integrated into the Republic of Indonesia in 1969, after several years under an Indonesian-dominated UN temporary administration. Rather than the intended popular plebiscite on West Papua's future status, the Indonesian government hand-selected some 1000 Papuan delegates to vote on the outcome, under the gaze of an ineffective UN special observer, and made it clear that any decision other than incorporation into the Republic would not be countenanced. When the process was critically reported, few UN members raised objection.
Since then, West Papua (officially known as Irian Jaya by Indonesia), has been subjected to a heavy Indonesian military presence and severe political repression. Over the years many West Papuan nationalists have been killed in incidents involving the raising of the West Papuan Morning Star flag. There has also been substantial immigration to the province, both through the government-sponsored transmigration program and spontaneous migration from other parts of Indonesia. Non-Melanesians now dominate commerce in even the smaller towns, and Melanesians complain that they are inadequately represented in the provincial administration.
The fact that the majority of inmigrants are Muslim, and that the West Papuan population is primarily Christian, adds another element to social tension. A 2008 report by the International Crisis Group noted that conflict between Muslim and Christian communities could erupt unless rising tensions are effectively managed, and there is little evidence to suggest that they are.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/oppression-still-rife-in-west-papua-20090323-97ft.html?page=1
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