By : Soedibyo *)
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, On Friday October 28, 2016, an article concerning the appeal of Filep Karma, one of a former leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), suggesting the Government of Indonesia to hold a referendum to solve the long lasting dispute of Papua was published in a media. The title of the article is "Referendum is not Solution for Papua" was published in Republika.co.id, written by Wildan Nasution of Riau.
This article is to pick up the news on the appeal of Filep Karma in the article as mentioned above and to analyze it from the different angel and to conclude that the idea on 'Referendum of Papua' should be thrown away forever from our political life.
Papua is stable and totally under the firm control by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. However papuan pro-independence leader Filep Karma has called on the government to hold a referendum on independence for the country's easternmost region. Filep Karma, a former political prisoner of 11 years, claimed the long-demanded referendum was a win-win solution for both the government and the Papuan people, who still suffered from mistreatment and abuses despite the region being granted special autonomy status.
Should the referendum result wanting to remain Indonesian citizens, the rebels would stop demanding for separation, Filep Karma said, however, the government should also promise Papuans a peaceful transfer of independence if the referendum showed otherwise.
Wildan believes that the referendum is not the will of the majority of the people of Papua. Referendum is only the will of a small group of the people of Papua. Wildan concluded his argument that the idea to hold the referendum is not in line with the people need. Wildan said that now President Jokowi has started to develop Papua socially and economically, to reach the prosperous life in Papua, as the real goal of the people of Papua. Wildan is making perfect, complete, pertinent and accurate analysis. He concluded that there will be never any factor to push the government to consider the appeal for the referendum.
Additional comments to the analysis; First, referendum is never to be considered as the alternative of the solution of the dispute of Papua. The dispute of Papua was not necessary to happen because historically, legally, and internationally approved by the UN, Papua is a part of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia.
Second, the idea of referendum is definitely baseless. Papua is a part of the former Netherland Indie that should be handed over by the Dutch Government to the Republic of Indonesia based on Den Haag Agreement December 1949. With its integration to the Republic Indonesia, the people of Papua are the freedom or independent nation. The delay of the handover of Papua on 1962 leaving the dispute between the Republic of Indonesia with the followers of the puppet state of 'The State of West Papua' designed by the Dutch. The dispute of Papua was created by the Dutch imperialist as conspiracy against the Republic of Indonesia.
Third, according to New York Agreement (1962) there is only one Referendum, called as the Act of the Free Choice in 1968. It had been done and all the Papuan people wanted to be remain with the Republic of Indonesia. This is the only Referendum recognize and to be hold by the United Nations. There will never another referendum in Papua.
Fourth, until now it is not clear what Papuan Organization is representing the so called the independent group of the Papuan people. The only group of people that could be officially considered as the representatives of the Papuan is the Regional House of Representatives of Papua elected through the General Election held every five years. This council is the official organ of the Republic of Indonesia to represent the Papuan people. There is no any organization called the independent group of Papua. If any, then it should be dismissed.
Fifth, President Jokowi likely realized that the infrastructure for the social and economic development of Papua are very weak. So the development are prioritized on the development of the socio and economic infrastructure, such as school, health clinic, road, bridges and water resources. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia decided to develop the social, cultural, economic and political infra structure as the program to build Papua Province and West Papua Province to be equal to to other developed provinces.
Sixth, the Strength of OPM is decreasing. it is not easy thing to build the armed force, from the men power and the guerrilla weapon point of view. Most of young Papuan generation are now educated youth they do not like to live in the jungle as the insurgence. They wish to go for study to other big cities of Indonesia, instead of entering the jungle for guerrilla warfare. In term of weapon, most of the weapon producing countries will not commit to the activities of any rebels group of other part of the world. OPM is now posing more as the criminal groups rather than armed insurgence.
Seventh, since the failure of ULMWP in the Summit Meeting of MSG in Solomon to become the full member of MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group) in last September 2016, the agitation and propaganda of the ULMWP (United Liberation Movement for West Papua), the Free West Papua Organization and the Free Papua Organization (OPM) and KNPB have been powerless. However OPM is still active to disturb the security through the illegal shooting in the rural areas.
Eighth, it is predicted though the Free Papua Organization is still existing but its battle capability could no more expected. The Government is always ready to talk with the citizens but not to talk about referendum. President Jokowi visited Papua four times within two years and resulted various beneficial changing to the life of the people of Papua.
Ninth, there are support of seven Pacific Countries to ULMWP however the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia also said the support of seven Pacific countries demanded the UN to pay the attention to the Human Rights Abuses in Papua, is politically meaningless. There are 193 staters member of the UN. It was only Solomon who support the demand to the UN to give the Referendum of Papua, because Solomon is the Chairman of MSG. Solomon wants to be elected permanently as the leader of Melanesian Countries on the Pacific.
Tenth, domestically it is likely important for President Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to brief completely the situation of Papua and the mission of all the respective Cabinet Ministries to support the development of Papua. Papua is not political and security problem but the challenge of the regional development covering all aspect of development poses these two provinces as the national challenge of national development.
*) Politcal and Security Observer reside in Jakarta.
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