West papua media and the challenge of protecting sources in dangerous places west papua media wpm is an innovative media outlet established in 2007 in response to the ongoing human rights crisis in the indonesian provinces that selfidentify as west papua. The burden we bear to feed our children is too heavy. They are distributed free of charge in pdf format via the rsc website. This augurs poorly for indonesia and the region as the little known, but deeply entrenched, conflict in west papua seeps into global. West papua the west papuan independence movement a history indigenous papuans still fight for selfdetermination, more than 40 years after indonesia acquired the territory in a sham ballot. Educational investment in conflict areas of indonesia. Jakartas perceptions and policies by richard chauvel and ikrar nusa. Pdf west papua independence in the papua new guinea press. Freeports conflict in west papua highlights troubles for indonesian miners the grasberg mine in west papua, the worlds largest gold producer and indonesias single largest source of revenue, was forced to shut down last month in the face of local protestors, despite a 25year high in the price of gold and record profits being reported. Since west papua s integration into indonesia in 1969 through a united nationssponsored peoples referendum a. In the process, as jim lobe wrote for the asia times july, 2004. West papua stands on a knifeedge between freedom and disaster.
When indonesia gained independence from the dutch in 1945, west papua still. Indonesias deliberate coverup of events in west papua continued as the papua new guinea government tried to ignore the more than 10,000 refugees camped inside its border. Jakarta downplays the extent of discontent among west papuans and repeatedly argues that the conflict is an internal matter for the republic of indonesia to resolve. Introduction we women of papua have been bruised, cornered, besieged from all directions. This article explores the west papua issue through the papua new guinea news media. Pdf many new zealanders, even in politically aware circles, have a limited. When the netherlands indies gained its independence as indonesia in 1945 internationally recognized in 1949, disagreements ensued between the newly formed country and the netherlands on whether west papua should be part of indonesia. Support for indonesia, human rights abuses by indonesian military. Indonesias 1969 takeover of west papua not by free choice. West papua was taken over by indonesia in 1969, and a legacy of oppression and environmental devastation has followed. This report looks at the role and activities of thirteen different factions conducting armed violence in three areas of papua province. Tension escalated and open conflict broke out between the two states. Paul barber, coordinator of tapol, which works to promote human rights, peace and.
Published by the west papua project at the centre for peace and conflict. Papua is no more or less part of indonesia than yogyakarta or manado. In response to the attack, which american and australian sources later attributed to indonesian special forces, the indonesian military and west papuan police increased efforts to eliminate key members of the independence movement, and continued to target civilians. Subsequent to the withdrawal of the dutch administration from the netherlands new guinea in 1962 and implementation of indonesian administration in 1963, the free papua movement has conducted a lowintensity guerrilla war against. It seeks to identify the reasons behind the decline in coverage of west papua in the png press.
In the conflict between west papua and indonesia, history also has been used as a means to justify actions and demands. The struggle for selfdetermination in west papua 1969present download pdf version by. Under dutch colonial rule, the territory was known as netherlands new guinea, while indonesia renamed it west. We learn about the unifying power of melanesian music, expose the extractive companies that are profiting from papuan repression, and. Political and constitutional conflict in the west papua region of. The current status of the papuan proindependence movement 2015 ipac 3 or in the southern districts of papua.
Papua and west papua today stand at the threshold of enormous change. Explore west papua holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. It contained what are now indonesias two easternmost provinces, papua and west papua, which were administered as a single province prior to 2003 under. Indonesia, ethnic conflict, west papua, irian jaya. Freeports conflict in west papua highlights troubles for. As in other parts of the world richly endowed with nonrenewable resources, there is great pressure to convert these assets to cash. The contrast between historic and contemporary media coverage in.
This conflict analysis focuses on the conflict dynamics and issues arising in. Indonesia must confront its papua problem the diplomat. Ironically despite all the wealth in west papua, it is the countrys second poorest province after west nusa tenggara. Human rights watch says situation in region remains tense following deadly riots that forced thousands to evacuate. In this issue, we hear the voices of people living under indonesian occupation and fighting to be free. Research on the education sector in papua communities, children and teachers in papua hand in hand for a better future a research report by danarti wulandari and monique drenthem soesman may 2010 faithbased network on west papua the netherlands. The freedom yearned for aeons by readnlove on december 10, 2015 no comments 799 views voice of the neediest remains unheard in.
We west papua interest association and indigenous peoples have organized the peaceful gathering activities in west papua to express our idea and opinion from 14 to 26 january 20 to submit to world conference on. When you learn what fuels the conflict in west papua, it becomes clear why this issue receives hardly a blink from our peaceloving politicians and media establishment. The struggle for selfdetermination in west papua 1969. The history of the papuan people is covered in blood, and women are no exception as victims of the violence of blind.
These are the sources and citations used to research indonesia, ethnic conflict, west papua, irian jaya. The province of west papua chiefly comprises two large peninsulas the vogelkop also known as birds head, kepala burung and semdoberai and the more southerly bomberai peninsula and several hundred offshore islands. The province is bordered to the north by the pacific ocean, to the west by the halmahera sea and the ceram sea, to the south by the banda sea, and to the east by the province of papua and the. West papua for the country itself, is the name used by those who. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on tuesday, december 1, 2015. This paper documents a history of massacres of the west papuan people, from. Papua media and the challenge of protecting sources in. The west papuan independence movement a history world. Political and constitutional conflict in the west papua. The west papuan resentment at their poverty adds to the causes of conflict. Today, west papua is still relatively closed, with the indonesian government declaring war against anyone who speaks in support of west papua, through massive internet crackdowns in an effort to uncover those accused of spreading hoax about the recent situation in west papua. Jakarta s perceptions and policies papua has been an integral part of indonesia ever since the proclamation of independence. It is situated just 250 kms to the north of australia. West papua is the most heavily militarized region of indonesia, with an estimated 45,000 troops presently deployed, and an extra 650 soldiers to patrol near the png border from february.
Communities, children and teachers in papua hand in hand. Representations of violence, conflict, and displacement in west papua. It contributes to understandings of how extractive companies can influence human rights protection in their areas of operation. Indonesia pressed to conduct independent inquiry in west papua. In recent years the territory has been variously known as irian jaya the indonesian term for the territory, west papua or simply as papua. The papua conflict is about emancipation of men in society that has been delayed, prevented, disguised, or avoided, as part and parcel of the concept of war itself. Comprehending west papua john braithwaite war crime. Much has been written about violent conflict in indonesias eastern most provinces. West papua is home to one of the worlds largest gold mines and third largest copper mine, known as the grasberg mine. The papua conflict is an ongoing conflict in western new guinea papua between indonesia and the free papua movement indonesian. The province is an integral part of indonesia, so when we deal with west papua and its people, msg has no choice but to deal with indonesia, and in a positive and constructive manner, he said. Indonesian human rights abuses in west papua yale law school.
Indonesias 1969 takeover of west papua not by free choice document release marks 35th anniversary of controversial vote and annexation. In this internet age, however, this is no longer possible, as evidence of both genocidal acts and government intent is emerging. The second part deals with the current conflict in the territory. This policy, along with a more comprehensive history of the conflict, has been widely documented and is summarized most recently by gaultwilliams 1990. We are not safe at home, and even less so outside the home.
This article explores the intersections between large extractive companies, security governance and human rights. Under the dutch, the territory was the easternmost limit of the farflung dutch east indies. Even diplomats are regularly denied permission to visit west papua macleod 2011a. Netherlands new guinea refers to the papua region of indonesia while it was an overseas territory of the kingdom of the netherlands from 1949 to 1962. West papua 3 introduction west papua is the western half of the island of new guinea the eastern half is the independent state of papua new guinea.
Grasberg is majorityowned by the american mining firm. Conflict analysis and policy recommendation on papua. Located on the western rim of the pacific, bordering the independent state of papua new guinea, west papua is a melanesian nation in waiting. Inflated population statistics in papua are a source of corruption, conflict and power struggles, but unlike many of papua s troubles, this one has a possible fix. Pdf this article examines how the ongoing conflict in west papua between state security forces and papuan independence activists is made visible in.
Since west papua was incorporated into indonesia, papuans have been subject to. It covers the two western peninsulas of the island of new guinea, birds head peninsula and bomberai peninsula, along with nearby islands. Drawing on a case study of west papua, the article argues that extractive companies have important opportunities to promote human rights through their. Corporate security practices and human rights in west papua. Enough is enough home the international center for. Yet nearly a decade earlier, in 1960, the general assembly had. The religious landscape in wes t papua christian warta 04 march 2010 a recent otjr symposium 1 held in oxford on justice and selfdetermination in west papua, at which pieter drooglevers book an act of free choice was launched, dealt with issues. Under dutch colonial rule, the territory was known as netherlands new guinea, while indonesia renamed it west irian 19621973 and then irian jaya 19732001. Every tree, every ounce of gold and ton of coal, represents new houses, automobiles, and aircraft, when it is removed and sold. The politics of history in west papua indonesia conflict.
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