By Selpius Bobii.
There’s no means outside what’s acceptable in terms of methods the
Indonesian Government allows to be used to deal with the movement of the
Struggle for Independence of the nation (people) of Papua. One such means is the practice of
deceit. It’s not only through people’s
words but rather deception is also seen through a range of government
developmental policies.
The majority of officials at the various levels of government in Papua are
themselves deceived by the cunning of Jakarta. But then the officials of the
Papuan Provincial government in turn also imitate the style of intentional
deception as practised by the Guru (Teacher) – the Central Indonesian
Government – as the Papuan Provincial government deceives its own people, the
indigenous people of Papua. There is as
it were, a continual chain of deception with Jakarta tricking Papua, some
Papuans deceiving Jakarta and Papua tricking its own people.. A ‘trilogy of
deception’.
The tactics of this deception as
being practised by the Indonesian central government towards Papua are being
nicely wrapped of course, so it’s not blatantly obvious. Consider for instance the present rapid
expansion of new government administrative areas under the new package of
special autonomy for the region. An
expansion that happens to be not even in accordance with the conditions under
which special autonomy was formed in the first place! As at mid 2013 there were 2 provinces in Papua and 41 regencies
/ city administrative areas. However by the end of 2013 on the instruction of
the Indonesian President on 27 December 2013, there was approval for the
creation of 3 new provinces and 26 new regencies / city areas formed, bringing
the total of government administrative areas in Papua to 74 regencies and 5
provinces.
It’s interesting to compare that number to the formation of new regencies
in all other areas from Sabang at the tip of Aceh to Ambon in the west – from
one end of Indonesia to the other – throughout 2013. The combined total for all
other areas totalled a mere 32 new regencies, compared to 26 in Papua alone! In spite of the fact that the
population in Papua is a mere 4 million persons compared to eastern, western and central Java where there
are populations in each respective area of more than 50 million people. The
political prisoner Agus Kraar commented in this regard “ That means the people
of Papua are really and truly drowning in accordance with the words of Sendius
Wonda and Reverend Socrates Yoman (of the Baptist Church) in their book
entitled ‘The Drowning and Annihilation of Ethnic Melanesians’ (Tenggelamnya
Rumpun Melanesia dan Pemusnahan Etnis Melanesia.)
Until this time Jakarta has continued to manipulate and deceive Papuans
with so many promises and sweet offers, yet the reality when it turns out is bitter
and has the effect of quietly killing the people and ensuring there will be no
continuation of life for indigenous Papuans over time. The Special Autonomy deal for example has now
become like the logo for systemic humanitarian evil in Papua. Interestingly it’s known of in Jakarta (NGO
community) as ‘The Papuan Deceit’ (in Indonesian, ‘Jakarta Tipu Papua”).
There are sadly also some Papuans who chase after government positions
which bring respect and wealth. Some of
which use the issue of Papuan Independence like a bargaining position to
further their own, or perhaps their group’s, interests. In fact the Writer
considers that if it were not for such persons, the rest of those in the
Struggle for Papua would undoubtedly go on to in time achieve independence for
Papua. Those persons using the issue of Papuan Independence for their own gain
are not persons who have any determining influence on the Papuan Independence
Struggle but rather mere ‘Political Prostitutes’. Jakarta has been fooled into thinking that
are persons of influence / decision-making power and in this way some Papuans
are imitating the teacher and actually deceiving Jakarta. This is the second level of deceit in the
Trilogy.
Then there’s the third level in the picture, with Papuans deceiving
Papuans. Shameful as it is indeed there are certain Papuans deceiving their
fellow indigenous Papuans. Papuans themselves in some instances are campaigning
that the opening up of new regencies or provinces will increase welfare for
Papuans. Yet the reality always proves
different and quite the contrary, as the opening up of new administrative
regions in Papua has been proven to act as a bridge opening the way for
discrimination, the indigenous people being made a minority and human rights
violations. All of which have contributed to the consequence of the slow but
sure annihilation of the Papuan ethnic race.
There are also certain Papuans deceiving fellow indigenous Papuans during
election campaigns, whether for Head of regencies or Province, general
elections for the Regional Legislative Assembly, or the national presidential
election. They campaign that their
candidate will declare independence for Papua or will lift the level of welfare
to the Papuan community. Yet that never
eventuates and promises are never fulfilled. Such persons play a key role in becoming the hands
and feet of the Republic of Indonesia in the Indonesia’s colonial domination of
the indigenous people of Papua.
Deception has become the tradition of the State of Indonesia, like its
’hallmark’. A glance at the history of
Indonesia shows clearly that much of its history is a series of engineered
situations that have involved in each instance high level deceit. Indonesian deception was first applied
against Papua in the 1960’s with the annexation of Papua into Indonesia and has
continued unrelentlessly ever since.
In the 1960’s Indonesia succeeded to deceive a small number of Papuans into
thinking the State was well-meaning , though post occupation by Indonesia
brought the sudden realisation of the true character and demeanour of
Indonesia. Papuans have had over 50
years to learn about the character of Indonesia from its unlimited cruelty to
the people of Papua. They have allowed, and in fact encouraged, constant
violations of Papuans’ human rights, have robbed Papuans of their natural
resources, have murdered and displayed enormous cruelty to the indigenous
people of Papua. Yet still to this day
there are some Papuans who are fooled and who continue faithfully to echo the
interests of the Republic of Indonesia.
Such is the Trilogy with Jakarta deceiving Papua, some Papuans deceiving
Jakarta and Papuans deceiving Papuans. A ‘Trilogy of Deception!
A Trilogy that has its roots in Indonesian political practices. Roots which are extremely complicated to pull
out once they have taken hold, or even to lessen the impact thereof. (Unless of
course there is a miracle from God.) Hence why until this time Papua remains
under the colonial domination of Indonesia. There is simply no other way for
Papua to escape from the tactics of the
Indonesian Government’s deception other than for Papua to become independent.
The time has come when every indigenous person and every Papuan sympathiser
wherever they may be, be they workers within the Indonesian system or outside
those system, need to work to develop Papuan national unity’ Each needs to
bring themselves back on-track so we are all heading together towards the total
liberation and restoration of the nation of Papua.
Such deceptive practices are not the tradition of the ancestors of the
people of Papua. Rather that is the
style and tradition of the Indonesian Government! Sadly at this time such a
style is being inherited by some local government officials operating in Papua.
To those Papuan Officials who have allowed themselves to become involved in
this Trilogy of Deception, it is dearly hoped they will stop prostituting
themselves in Indonesia’s dirty games.
May all be aware not to imitate this style of deception! The tradition of Papuan ancestors is of
honesty and where there are major problems they are to be taken to the
traditional customary council for application of their wisdom so that goodness
and peace can reign.
When will Indonesia stop the deception?
So that rather we can move together forward with dialogue facilitated by
a neutral third party so as to bring an end to the problems of Papua
peacefully. In the interests of
upholding the dignity of humanity in Papua above all other interests.
Selpius Bobii is the General
Chairperson of Front PEPERA, and is a Political Prisoner who has written this article for West Papua Media
from Abepura Prison, Jayapura, Papua.
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