Perspectives
Papua, Land of Peace
Faith-Based Network on West Papua
Geneva Appeal on West Papua
April
2005
Contact info:
Secretariat, Faith-Based Network on West Papua
E-mail:
westpapuanetwork@gmail.com
Introduction
For over four decades communities of different faiths in
West Papua have been longing for peace and justice.
Since 1998 there has been a wind of change in Indonesia,
bringing about an expanded degree of democracy. More
specifically for the region of West Papua, a law on Special
Autonomy (UU 21/2001) was passed which contained within it
the promise of realizing social, economic and cultural
rights of the Papuan peoples, as well as widening the space
for more democratic governance of the region.
Yet this change in policy has not brought about real
improvements in the livelihoods, security and dignity of the
majority of Papuan people. The ongoing deprivation and
injustice experienced by many Papuans, together with the
often contradictory policies of the Indonesian state and
poor rule of law, is leading to a growing atmosphere of
conflict. In contradiction with international human rights
standards and the provisions of human rights treaties to
which Indonesia is a party, human rights violations have
continued to occur in West Papua for over four decades. The
Indonesian authorities could make more significant progress
in fulfillment of their obligation to investigate,
prosecute, try and sentence the perpetrators of these
crimes, and to compensate the victims.
In recent years, military operations have increased instead
of declined and pose a threat to the Papuan peoples’
existence and survival as a cultural and ethnic entity. The
security approach to confront so-called separatism and
critical voices does not produce security for the
population. Negligence of educational and medical facilities
by the state has meant that Papuans suffer some of the
poorest standards of education, health and life expectancy
in Indonesia. Today, three years after it was passed,
instead of effective, full and comprehensive implementation
of the Special Autonomy law, there is fear for further
escalation of the conflict and the violence.
Over the past few years, communal conflict has occurred in
various regions in Indonesia. Analysis of these conflicts
has shown that even if there is no hostility among people in
the same region, certain people with political or power
interests can easily orchestrate open conflict along
ethnic-religious lines. Often armed militias and gangs were
involved in creating conflict. Should a similar scenario
develop in West Papua, the result will be further
militarization, reinforcing the security approach, and
consequently worsening the situation of human rights and
peoples’ security. This concern motivated religious leaders
in Papua to set out an agenda to promote good relations,
communion and brotherhood among all people. They are
convinced that only if their people are united in fraternal
spirit and mutual respect will they easily work together for
common good. So they started a movement that they called
“Papua, Land of Peace”.
“Papua, Land of Peace” reflects the deepest desire of
Papuans. Peace encompasses trust, mutual respect, also
justice, the ending of the practice of impunity, and fair
chances for development. It is a dream about an adequate
space for political dialogue without fear of stigmatisation.
This dream has become a common vision for people of all
religions in West Papua, leading to a strong commitment to
non-violent ways of conflict resolution in all realms of
life. Joint prayers for peace and peace marches demonstrate
this commitment on the occasions of February 5th (Papuan Day
of Peace) and September 21st (International Day of Peace) by
communities of different faiths, celebrating together. As
proof of this commitment religious leaders also engage in
various activities to promote peace, dialogue and justice in
West Papua.
In response to the initiative of Papuan religious leaders,
several faith-based organisations around the world have
jointly organized a solidarity network that is committed to
support this campaign for “Papua, Land of Peace”. The
network aims to draw the attention of their religious
communities, their governments and the international
community to the suffering of the peoples of West Papua. The
network urges them proactively to assist the Indonesian
government and the Papuan community to confront the
challenges encountered by the Papuan peoples within the
framework of peaceful change.
Together with religious leaders in West Papua, the
Faith-Based Network on West Papua identifies three major
fields of challenge:
1. Dialogue
The Law on Special Autonomy in West Papua, as adopted by the
Indonesian Parliament, is a good start for change. But there
are conflicting signals from the government in Jakarta and
from military command about the status of the law and about
its interpretation and implementation. In West Papua there
were concerns about the decision to split Papua into two or
more provinces without democratic consultation (an act that
contradicts the spirit and letter of the Special Autonomy
law), and about the role and mandate of the Papuan People’s
Council (Majelis Rakyat Papua – MRP). People who expressed
these concerns were consequently labelled “separatists” by
some authorities in West Papua. So there is an ongoing
challenge to clarify the interpretation of the law to ensure
coherent policy and to move ahead to ensure full
implementation of this law in accordance with the
aspirations of the Papuan peoples. There is a pressing need
for an open and genuine dialogue between all parties
involved, including the national administration, national
political parties and the armed forces.
2. Militarization
The disproportionate military (Tentara Nasional Indonesia –
TNI) presence in West Papua is a major challenge for the
prospects for peaceful development, open dialogue and
justice. Such a military presence often generates conflict.
Based on its historical roots and TNI doctrine of “People’s
Army” (Tentara Rakyat) the role of the military is to defend
the nation and the people against external threats; the
presence of the military should not result in conflict
within and with the people. The police are responsible for
civic order, and should be equipped to maintain the rule of
law professionally. The Indonesian government has accepted
this principle as the basis of its efforts for security
sector reform. Full realization of this principle and a
shift of the military-civil paradigm is imperative to civil
supremacy, rule of law and a culture of peace. Then the
military presence can be brought back to a sensible and
appropriate size. Therefore, the on-going reform efforts
within the military to be more professional and better
equipped deserve to be strengthened.
3. Peace
The campaign for “Papua, Land of Peace” is not merely a
political effort for a specific group of people. It covers
social-economic development, cultural rights, justice and
peoples’ security. To overcome suspicion and divisions on
the basis of ethnicity, religion, political aspirations and
interests, the notion of “Papua, Land of Peace” should be
embedded in the hearts of people of all religious and ethnic
communities concerned, and not only in West Papua. The
challenge is to make the concept of “Papua, Land of Peace”
become the fundamental attitude in the approach to the
problems in West Papua, by the people, by the government, by
the international community. It should also imbue the
attitude of all religious communities and their leaders in
West Papua, in Indonesia as a whole, and elsewhere.
The network appeals To the Indonesian Government:
Protect and respect the rights of indigenous peoples in
West Papua.
Apply a rights-based approach to development in
implementing the Special
Autonomy Law (UU 21/2001).
Fully implement the economic, social and cultural
paragraphs of the law.
Create space for democratic dialogue, in accordance with
the spirit of the
law.
Recognise the opposition of the Papuan people to the
division of West Papua
into separate provinces by ceasing
further efforts to divide Papua, and
undertake an open and
democratic process to review the establishment of
West Irian
Jaya Province.
The DPRD Papua and the MRP should decide on the formation
of any new
provinces and regencies in accordance with the
Special Autonomy Law.
Ratify without reservations all key international human
rights treaties,
including the two covenants on Civil and
Political, and Economic, Social and
Cultural rights.
Withdraw its reservations to the International Convention
on the Elimination
of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of
Discrimination against Women; the Convention against Torture
and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment; and the
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Fully cooperate in the implementation of the Special
Procedures by inviting
and providing unrestricted access to
places, individuals and communities in
Papua and all other
parts of Indonesia to the thematic mechanisms,
particularly
to those who have repeatedly requested invitations but have
so
far not received permission to visit. This includes the
Special Rapporteur on
Torture, the Special Representative of
the Secretary General on Human
Rights Defenders and the
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its
causes and
consequences.
To the Secretary General of the UN and the High Commissioner
for Human Rights:
Grant the necessary support to the Indonesian government
to promote peace
and to solve conflict with recourse to the
mechanisms provided by the
Special Autonomy Law.
Grant the necessary support to the Indonesian government
to uphold the rule
of law so as to combat human rights
violations, impunity and rampant
corruption.
Urge the government of Indonesia to ratify all key
international human rights
treaties, especially the two
covenants on Civil and Political, and Economic,
Social and
Cultural rights.
To the governments of countries with relationships with
Indonesia, especially Asian countries:
In the face of human rights abuses and the potential
escalation of violent
conflict against the West Papuan
population, actively encourage the UN
Secretary General to
engage in the promotion of peace and human rights in
Papua.
Grant the necessary support to the Indonesian government
to uphold the rule
of law so as to combat human rights
violations, impunity and rampant
corruption.
Consider ways in which the campaign of the West Papuan
religious leaders for
a Land of Peace can be actively and
concretely supported through bilateral
and multilateral
mechanisms.
Appeal to the government of Indonesia to commit seriously
to the eradication
of all forms of discrimination against
the indigenous Papuan peoples.
Monitor the investment of transnational corporations in
West Papua, and
encourage corporate policies which respect
the rights of the West Papuan
Peoples.
Support the European Union Council and Commission to
monitor the human
rights conditions and the democratic space
in West Papua and, based on the
findings, formulate aid and
trade policy in such a way as to promote good
governance and
human rights; and to evaluate the implementation of human
rights clauses in all multilateral agreements.
To the European Union Council, Commission and Parliament:
In the face of human rights abuses and the potential
escalation of violent
conflict against the West Papuan
population, actively encourage the UN
Secretary General to
engage in the promotion of peace in West Papua.
Monitor the human rights conditions and the democratic
space in West Papua
and, based on the findings, formulate
aid and trade policy in such a way as to
promote good
governance and human rights; and evaluate the implementation
of human rights clauses in all multilateral agreements.
Evaluate and assess the program of the European Union to
support the
implementation of the Special Autonomy Law, and
report on it in public before
the end of 2005 (impact and
follow up).
To transnational corporations operating in West Papua:
Develop a code of conduct for their business and organise
their relations with
Indonesian state institutions in a way
that respects and enhances the rights,
dignity, health and
livelihood of the Papuan peoples in conformity with the UN
norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations
and other business
enterprises with regard to human rights.
Evaluate and assess the implementation of these policies
and their impact
and provide an annual report on it.
Provide transparent reports on all financial commitments
to Indonesian state
institutions.
To religious communities of all faiths:
Regularly remember the West Papuan peoples in your
prayers and
intercessions.
Support in any way possible the effort of the religious
leaders in West Papua
to realize the campaign for “Papua,
Land of Peace”.
Based on close monitoring of the situation in West Papua,
raise your
prophetic voice in solidarity with the suffering
peoples of West Papua.
Join the Faith-Based Network on West Papua for ‘Papua,
Land of Peace’.
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