University of Hawaii Academics: Do Not Disturb, Indonesia is Not Melanesian

By Dr. Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka*

Dr. Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement rejecting the Prime Minister Solomon Islands' comments on the West Papua and Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) issues.

In a statement, Manasye Sogavare proposed that the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) be given full membership to MSG.

He reiterated that the Indonesian President's refusal to meet, as chair of MSG, pointed out that Jakarta joined the MSG only to "protect its own interests in addition to dialogue on human rights issues in West Papua."

In response, the newly appointed Director-General for Asia Pacific and Africa, Ambassador Desra Percaya, described Sogavare's statement as a violation of "the basic principles of sovereignty and non-interference as set out in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Agreement in 2007. "

He went on to say, "it is ... myopic Prime Minister Sogavare to speculate that the Indonesian agenda in the Pacific, especially in the MSG, is purely pushing Papua."

While I respect Indonesia's right to respond, it is vital that Melanesia and other Pacific Island countries not allow Jakarta to dictate what we believe, say and do, especially when it comes to defending human rights.

The violation Continues

Indonesia has been continuously violating human rights, including atrocities against Melanesia in West Papua for more than 50 years. That's not a myth. This is the fact. It has been verified and documented by international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and other independent bodies.

Indonesia says that "long committed to addressing human rights issues," it is misleading and an attempt to distract attention from the international community.

Indonesia, plus international organizations such as the United Nations, as well as governments of countries such as the United States, Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, etc. should correct errors from the 1960s; the fraudulent process leading to the transfer of West Papua's sovereignty from the Netherlands to Indonesia.

History is relevant to this discussion. As an Australian academic, Jason MacLeod, stated,

"CONTINUED RULE BY THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT IN WEST PAPUA IS FOUNDED ON THE MYTH THAT THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO THE UNITARY REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA WAS FREE AND FAIR. IT WAS NOT.

"EVENTS SURROUNDING THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY REMAIN A CORE GRIEVANCE PAPUAN. THIS GRIEVANCE IS NOT JUST HISTORICAL. IT HAS A CONTEMPORARY DIMENSION. THE LACK OF WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS HISTORY CONTRIBUTES TO THE PERCEPTION PACKAGE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A 'DEATH OF DEMOCRACY' IN WEST PAPUA. "

The international community needs to correct past mistakes and demand Indonesia to be responsible for continuing human rights violations. This is the basis of injustice which has been deprived of West Papuan right to self-determination.

this Melanesian Indonesia claim

In an effort to deny the growing support for West Papua's independence, Jakarta re-inventing and re-presenting itself as a Melanesian and Pacific Islander country. Through a subtle - and sometimes not so subtle - use of language, it writes itself as part of Oceania.

A statement released by Indonesia last week, for example, states that, "as part of Pacific, Indonesia is developing partnerships with several key countries in the region to ensure a strong and productive bilateral relationship."

Most Pacific Island countries, however, would not think of Indonesia as "part of the Pacific." This is not part of our "imaginary community," or borrowing from the end of Epeli Hau'ofa, "our sea of ​​islands."

This re-presentation is also evident in Indonesia's attempt to forge itself as a Melanesian country. It believes it should be a member of MSG based on having Melanesian ethics as a citizen. To increase "population.

Melanesia, "it includes the Moluccas and nearby islands as part of the" Melanesian Province. "

In diplomatic maneuvering, Jakarta is stretching the boundaries and definitions of Melanesia and the Pacific Islands on the political, economic and strategic agendas. It spreads the identity, though misunderstood, as an inclusive political tool.

What the Indonesian government is erasing from this story is that Melanesia West Papua redeemed only 0.67 percent of Indonesia's total population of more than 260 million people. Melanesians are also most discriminated against: they have been killed, oppressed, abused and marginalized in their own land.

In addition, estimated by 2020, Melanesia will redeem only 28.99 percent of the total population of West Papua. The rest will be Malay from densely populated islands such as Java. This is part of an integrated effort by Jakarta to assimilate West Papua to Indonesia.

Political Tools

As part of this strategy, Jakarta has used the population census as a political tool. While the 1971 and 2000 census populations made the distinction between Papuans (Melanesians) and non-Papuans, the 2010 census did not make that distinction, mentioning everyone as "West Papua". Melanesia will eventually be absorbed as "Indonesians," and Sukarno's policy of building a unitary republic.

Interestingly, Jakarta hawks the story that it is "the third largest democracy, [and because] respect for human rights is an important principle for Indonesia."

The sub-text here is the measure that - the third largest democracy country committed to principles of human rights. Of course, that is not necessarily true. Also, invoke the intended size (either intentionally or unintentionally) to intimidate.

But the Pacific island does not have to be intimidated. We may be small and imperfect democracy, but we are assured of a great principle that upholds human rights.

Furthermore, in his statement, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry exhibited sovereignty issues to counter what was seen as a violation of the Solomon Islands PM into national affairs; West Papua is a national issue.

But it should be noted that sovereignty is not absolute, especially when the state has committed human rights abuses for more than 50 years. The international community should not allow the Indonesian government to use sovereignty as an excuse to continue violations of human rights in West Papua.

Another for this story is that although West Papua contributes significantly to the Indonesian economy, yet Papua is the province with the lowest development index.

Economic Marginalization

Between 1992 and 2011, for example, Grasberg Mine, owned by a US company, Freeport-McMoran Inc., made direct payments to the Indonesian government of US $ 12.1 billion. It consists of $ 7.3 billion in corporate income taxes; $ 2.3 billion in employee income tax, local taxes and other user charges; $ 1.2 billion in royalties and $ 1.2 billion in dividends.

West Papua's rights are economically marginalized and have not enjoyed fairly from mines and other natural resource investments.

Given the above, I support the Solomon Islands government on this issue. We may be a small country, but we should not let Indonesia bully us.

Contrary to the statement of the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the statement of the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands is not "myopic." On the contrary, it reflects an understanding of issues far into the past and into the future. This is a blind Indonesian government in treating this problem and Melanesia in general.

Mannaseh Sogavare and the Solomon Islands Government, you and I have support. Do not let Indonesia bluff us. Selects Indonesia out of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Indonesia is not Melanesian.

Dr. Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka is an academic Solomon Islands at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is a professor and editor of the Pacific Islands Monographic series at the Pacific Islands Center Studies. This article was first published in Star Solomon and republished by Asia Pacific Report with permission from the author.