West Papuan representative pleads for dialogue with Indonesia

Minority Rights Group International 

News release

18 MAY 2001

Tension in territory grows as trial of leaders begins - West Papuan representative pleads for dialogue with Indonesia

At the 7th session of the UN Working Group on Minorities in Geneva, Sem Karoba, a representative from West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), this week highlighted the plight of arrested West Papuan leaders.

Theys Eluway, the Chairman of the Papua Presidium Council (PDP), was arrested last November with eleven other senior PDP members. Sem Karoba stated that ‘Seven of them have been charged and tried for separatism in Wamena and have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 - 7 years. The PDP Chairman went on trial on Monday the 14th of May 2001. He and his fellow PDP members are facing a 20-year term of imprisonment if they are found guilty. 

The Indonesian Army and Police have killed many ordinary Papuans, chased hundreds into the jungle and others are now refugees in Papua New Guinea.’ Mr Karoba told the Working Group that ‘the right to association of the West Papua people was first of all denied by Indonesia from 1963 to 1969 during the decolonisation period. In these years, the official New Guinea Council (New Guinea Raad) was not acknowledged as an association of the people of the territory, against Article 2.4 of the UN Declaration on Minorities. West Papuan people were excluded from the processes of West Papuan decolonisation. The outcome of this was the U.N. Resolution 2504 of 19 November 1969, which “took note” of the outcome of the Act of Free Choice (July 14 – August 12, 1969). In Papuan history we refer to this as the Act of No Choice. Our people did not accept this then nor do we now accept it nor will future generations accept it. Most of the Council Members are now still in exile because they were threatened with death. They have never been able to return to their homeland.’ Sem Karoba explained that after 39 years the New Guinea Council had re-emerged as the (West) Papua Council under the leadership of the PDP. He said ‘The Indonesian Parliament has refused to approve the PDP as the legitimate forum for the West Papuans as a people and West Papua as a territory. 

‘Historically there have been many lessons from our best teacher, experience. There is only one way. The best and the most democratic way towards conflict resolution is dialogue, dialogue, and dialogue. As Sir Winston Churchill said “jaw jaw is better than war war”. What Papuans are seeking now is not just political; it is an issue of respect for the existence of Papuans as we are. It is about the good political will of Indonesia to peacefully settle the problems.’ Sem Karoba made the following recommendations as the best approach to the solution of political problems in West Papua:

1. ‘We, Papuans demand and urge Indonesia to open up to dialogue, dialogue and dialogue.
2. ‘We, Papuans need to be respected as human beings and treated as equals without discrimination.
3. ‘As a matter of great urgency, we, Papuans urge the Chair of the Working Group on Minorities to send a truth and reconciliation mission to Indonesia and West Papua to examine the causes and suggest possible solutions to the issues raised in this intervention. This mediation would facilitate dialogue 
and reduce tension and violence.’

He stated that ‘without a bold step such as this, all the hopes for peaceful settlement, the hope for an integrationist approach to autonomy in West Papua, or any other hope or political dream is highly unlikely to find expression. 

Dialogue is the best way forward. If not, let us forget about all this, and let us not talk about human rights or minority rights. I believe that we should face these issues and conquer our fears and sincerely talk to each other with a willingness to listen and make concrete progress in our relationships as human beings.’
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Notes for editors:
The UN Working Group on Minorities, which is a sub group of the UN Commission on Human Rights, is holding its Seventh Session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from the 14th to the 18th of May 2001. Minority Rights Group International works with over a hundred minority and indigenous partner 
organisations from around the world. The views expressed by partner organisations do not necessarily reflect the views and perspectives of MRG. However we strive to ensure that the voices and concerns of marginalized and often-invisible minority communities are heard at international, national, and local levels.

For further information please contact: -
Mark Lattimer, Director, Tel: no: +44 (0) 20 7978 9498 ext 210. 
Krishna Maharaj, International Advocacy Manager, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7978 9498 ext 207. 
For local information contact:
Sem Karoba
Email: tribal@westpapua.every1.net
Website: www.westpapua.org.uk
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