Today marks an important day in the history of West Papua. The Morning Star flag, symbolising unity for the people of West Papua, was first raised outside the New Guinea Legislative Council building on 1 December 1961.
West Papua is the western part of New Guinea Island and was once colonised by the Netherlands. The opportunity for self-determination was lost when the territory of West Papua was transferred from the Netherlands to Indonesia on 1 May 1963 under the manipulation of the imperialist United States, without the knowledge and consent of the indigenous people of West Papua.
In 1969, a referendum known as the “Act of Free Choice” was held by the Indonesian government under the dictatorship of Suharto, where about 1,000 “representatives” were appointed to vote in the referendum under coercion that favoured Indonesia.
On 19 November 1969, the United Nations General Assembly “took note” of the referendum results, despite widespread criticism that the process did not democratically represent the will of the people of West Papua. However, the UN still recognised Indonesian rule over West Papua.
Since then, the region has become the battleground for the self-determination struggle of the people of West Papua, from armed guerrilla groups fighting in the mountains and jungles to a civilian-based nonviolent movement in urban and town areas.
An estimated 500,000 Papuans have been killed by the Indonesian military, which has repressed the people’s efforts to demand self-rule since the 1960s. Racial sentiment, torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced displacement are among the methods of systematic oppression orchestrated by the Indonesian bureaucracy and security forces. The recent deployment of five additional infantry battalions to West Papua, allegedly to support the national agricultural project, has further heightened regional tensions.
In addition, the resource-rich region of West Papua has become a target for foreign capitalists from developed countries. The Grasberg mine, known for copper and gold, is owned by Freeport-McMoRan, a giant American mining company. A study published in Nature journal indicates that mining activities have not only destroyed rivers and forests but also devastated the agricultural, fishing, and hunting areas of the indigenous people, separating them from their resources and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the political and economic power dynamics between developed and developing countries cause the raw materials extracted from developing countries to be used in manufacturing sectors, with most of the products consumed in developed countries. Consequently, elites in developing countries often act as “representatives” of the elites in developed countries to ensure the uninterrupted supply of raw materials.
If necessary, these raw materials are extracted from developing countries and used to produce weapons that suppress those opposing this power structure, particularly opponents from developing countries. For example, copper extracted in developing countries is used to produce ammunition that is employed by the Indonesian security forces in their ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of West Papua.
Finally, on the occasion of the Morning Star flag raising, we wish to reaffirm our support for the struggle of the people of West Papua for self-determination.
We call on the Indonesian government to:
- Recognise and respect the right of the people of West Papua to self-determination, including holding a referendum to determine the future of West Papua;
- End the repression of the people of West Papua who voice their demands for self-determination, including those who raise the Morning Star flag;
- Free all political prisoners from West Papua and those who support the struggle of the Papuan people for self-determination;
- Protect the right to freedom of information, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of thought for the people of Papua;
- Improve the lives of the people of West Papua by increasing social protection;
- End racism against the people of West Papua.
Moreover, we also call on the people of the world to show solidarity with the struggle of the people of Papua for self-determination and to dismantle the power structure that favours the elite.
Author: Brian Khow
Co-author: Amanda Shweeta Louis