Only the perspectives of those fighting on the frontline are sought after in this book which creates an unbalanced view of society in west papua and how it. He was imprisoned by the indonesian government but escaped in 2002 and now lives in oxford, uk. Forty more casualties were added to this list as of october 2019. Papua new guinea marked its independence from australia achieved in 1975 on september 16. Six killed as independence protests spread across west papua. The struggle for independence in west papua fair observer. West papua is the western half of the island of new guinea, bordering the independent nation of papua new guinea. Free papua movement papua new guinea home facebook.
Organised by the national capital district governor, powes parkop, the march was to create awareness on the 57 year conflict as well as to draw international attention on west papuas struggle for independence and human rights abuses. A political activist from papua, filep karma, wrote in 2014 in his book, seakan kitorang setengah binatang. The politics of history in west papua indonesia conflict. The suharto government wanted control of the territorys vast natural resources. In the third quarterly essay for 2002 john martinkus details what is being done to west papua by its indonesian overlords. The west papuan independence movement a history west. A new book captures the drama and excitement of one of the worlds longest running independence struggles, while providing a strategic. That said, for anyone interested in the situation in papua, this book is an invaluable source. The election of joko widodo, commonly known as jokowi, to the indonesian presidency in 2014 raised hopes of a. In the third quarterly essay for 2002 john martinkus details what is bei.
West papua and east timor today business and community. Martinkus is an australian journalist who traveled to west papua in 2002 to discovere the truth behind the indonesian colonization of it and the act of choice. This paper explores the debate surrounding two historical aspects relevant to west papuas demand for independence. Why nearly 2 million people are demanding an independence. While today marks papua new guineas independence from australia, west papua, a province on the same island continues its struggle for for selfgovernance in one of the least publicized and longestrunning independence struggles in the world.
That was followed by several trips to west papua and papua new guinea in 2002 resulting in the publication of quarterly essay 7 paradise betrayed. West papua s halfcentury of struggle for independence from indonesia is one of the worlds longestrunning conflicts. The people of the different tribes are being slaughtered, raped and tortured, and their surroundings have been ruined hence its future is at risk and insecure. Why do they support separatism in papua that likes to terrorize citizens.
Key pro independence organisations, such as the pacifist united liberation movement for west papua ulmwp and the opm. West papuans won their independence from dutch colonialism in 1963, but the country was invaded by. The people of west papua have been struggling for freedom for over 50 years under a brutal indonesian military occupation. West papuas struggle for liberation the asean post. Trade between new guinea and neighboring indonesian islands was. Jul 18, 2015 indigenous west papuans fighting for independence from indonesia its our closest international border but most australians know very little about west papua and its indigenous peoples fight for. West papuas quest for independence one papua new guinea. The ongoing struggle for independence and selfdetermination continues in the indonesian province of west papua, as 44 west papuans were arrested by indonesian police, while thousands peacefully.
The united liberation movement for west papua, or ulmwp, has had some success in welding together the notoriously divided and fractious elements of the independence movement, notably through its. But it is more difficult than ever for the indonesian government to keep the problems of its most restive province out of sight. Indonesia unmoved by west papua independence struggle. Readers of frfi will be familiar with the image of the west papua morning star flag which serogo tabuni has carried throughout this summer on progressive demonstrations, gatherings and meetings in london and elsewhere. The indonesian authorities aggressively prosecute any actions deemed supportive of independence, including jailing activists for raising west papua s morning star flag.
Contrasting accounts of indonesian genocide and betrayal in. West papuas enduring struggle for independence west papua. It seeks to identify the reasons behind the decline in coverage of west papua in the png press. Indigenous west papuans fighting for independence from indonesia. Esther heidbuchel, the west papua conflict in indonesia. Where is west papuas struggle for independence from. West papua is the western half of the island of new guinea, formerly known as dutch new guinea. Jul 30, 20 west papuans have always resisted the indonesian occupation. An insightful report that gets to the heart of the west papuan struggle for independence.
Clare harding on global solidarity with indonesianoccupied west papua to mark its independence day. Mar 01, 2017 first, it would legally recognize the independence of west papua, and if indonesia refuses, the united nations would mandate a vote for selfdeterminationbut not resembling the 1967 free choice. Between 1949 and 1963 it was a standalone dutch colony. Learn more about west papua s struggle for selfdetermination and independence at. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. West papuas enduring struggle for independence west. Mar 18, 2018 west papuas enduring struggle for independence. West papuas enduring struggle for independence asia times. There have been some courageous flagraisings and protests which were all met with force.
May 01, 2017 clare harding on global solidarity with indonesianoccupied west papua to mark its independence day. Stay up to date with the campaign by following us on facebook, twitter, and instagram. This article explores the west papua issue through the papua new guinea news media. Should papua new guinea support west papuas struggle for. The dutch, as the former colonizers of west papua, betrayed west papuans when they walked back on their promises and allowed indonesia to take over west papua, as if it was a piece of colonial property to be transferred from one colonial power to another. West papuan protesters call for selfdetermination in mass rallies. Paul antonopoulos and drew cottle 9 forgotten genocide in. The monument struggle independence of west papua 1961, kota jayapura.
On this day 14,000 papuan militia led by brothers loedwik and. Struggle for independence in west papua introduction with the withdrawal of the dutch colonial administration from the netherlands new guinea in 1962, the implementation of indonesian governance in 1963 and the formal absorption of papua into indonesia in 1969, the free papua movement has engaged in a struggle to achieve independence from. The independence effort, or free papua movement, is now 60 years old. Long mismanaged by successive administrations in jakarta, west papua is pushing harder to have its case for independence heard. A number of recent high profile events are helping to change this. Since that time it has been the scene of an independence struggle against the indonesian government. This book takes a well written journalistic take on the struggle for independence in west papua. John martinkus john martinkus narrative is as engrossing as it is appalling. West papuas struggle for independence from indonesia has long been ignored by the international community. The west papuan independence movement has reignited, and indonesian troops are cracking down. In the 1950s the dutch promised the people of west papua the western half of new guinea selfdetermination and eventual independence. After taking office in 2014, president joko widodo of indonesia promised a new deal for the papua and west papua provinces, releasing some. West papua independence in the papua new guinea press. Sep 26, 2019 veronica koman, a lawyer for the west papua national committee, a pro independence group, has been accused of provoking the protests and spreading fake news, simply because she shared information.
The eastern half of the island is papua new guinea human habitation is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago. Organisasi papua merdeka opm is an umbrella term for the independence movement established during 1965 in the west papuan or west new guinea territory which is currently being administrated by indonesia as the provinces of papua and west papua, also formerly known as papua, irian jaya and west irian. Jan 15, 2014 the people of west papua have been calling for selfdetermination for half a century a struggle for liberation from an indonesian military occupation that has seen as many as 500,000 papuans. Independence activists refer to the region as west papua, while the indonesian officials has also used west papua to name the westernmost province of the region since 2007. As indonesia threatens west papuan freedom flotilla, benny. Truth is, it isnt a question of getting independence anymore, but more one of reconciling papuan society and making sa work like it should. Rasialisme indonesia di tanah papua as if we are half animal. The fact, there are many people who want to become indonesian citizens. Inside the violent struggle for west papuan independence.
The exiled leader of the united movement for the liberation of west papua benny wenda said the independence movement was peaceful and that a. In a tragic clash between two very different cultures over the next 40 years the papuans have refused just like the east timorese to bow to the inevitable. The fight for the territory saw over 250 indigenous melanesian groups, the traditional owners of the region, have their dreams for independence dashed. For herman, freedom means that west papuans enjoy the life in their own country without any intimidation, torture, and discrimination. West papuas struggle for independence kindle edition by john martinkus. He illustrates how those who seek independence are killed and tortured for their cause. In 2003, the province of west papua was split by the indonesian government into west papua and papua. Aug 30, 2019 indonesias acquisition of west papua has been the cause of controversy for more than 60 years. The struggle of west papua herman wainggai west papua. Benny wenda is a west papuan independence leader and international spokesperson for the united liberation movement for west papua ulmwp. Jan 11, 2011 undercover report on west papua independence movement, broadcast on bbc newsnight in march 2009. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. There is now no one like the papuan leader theys eluay, murdered in 2001 by the indonesian. Located on the western rim of the pacific, bordering the independent state of papua new guinea, west papua is a melanesian nation in waiting.
There is now no one like the papuan leader theys eluay, murdered in 2001 by the indonesian military. In 2002 he travelled to west papua as a correspondent for the bulletin and was commissioned to write quarterly essay 7 paradise betrayed west papua s struggle for independence. West papuas forgotten independence struggle interview. In 1969 indonesia seized control of west papua from the dutch. Located at the countrys easternmost point, west papua came under indonesian control in a disputed unbacked referendum in 1969, sparking an independence struggle which has taken place far from the gaze of the outside world. Organisasi papua merdeka opm is an umbrella term for the independence movement established during 1965 in the west papuan or west new guinea territory which is currently being administrated by indonesia as the provinces of papua and west papua, also formerly known as papua. Only the perspectives of those fighting on the frontline are sought after in this book which creates an unbalanced view of society in west papua and how it is effected by and itself effects the independence movement. The opm organisasi papua merdeka or free papua movement is the primary body of the independence struggle of the west papuan people and was born on 26 july 1965 with the first mass uprising at kebar. Indonesia clamps down on simmering independence effort in.
In a desperate attempt to secure west papua s right to selfdetermination, two junior politicians crossed the border into australianadministered papua. West papuans won their independence from dutch colonialism in 1963 and was annexed by indonesia in. Bbc newsnight report on west papua independence movement. The monument struggle independence of west papua 1961 home. However, obtaining accurate information is challenging due to the government restrictions on international journalists access in the region and their intentional slowing. The history of western new guinea refers to the history of the indonesian western half of the island of new guinea and other smaller islands to its west. West papuas forgotten struggle for independence yang. Yes, west papua be free, an independent country, because we already got independence in 1960. The people of west papua have been calling for selfdetermination for half a century a struggle for liberation from an indonesian military occupation that has seen as many as 500,000 papuans killed.
West papua s struggle for independence black inc 2002 five separate visits of up to two months at a time over a period of three years resulted in the book. The land comprises a large mountainous interior, forest lowlands, large areas of coastal mangrove swamps and is surrounded by numerous small islands and coral reefs. Aug 19, 2019 a political activist from papua, filep karma, wrote in 2014 in his book, seakan kitorang setengah binatang. In the road, john martinkus gives a gripping, upto date. As the incessant struggle for west papuan independence intensifies, there is a collective need to look at the issue objectively. Join the call for the pacific islands forum leaders to support west papua. Indonesia has successfully done election on april 17th despite election boycott from papua extremist. As a result of the repression by the tni and the difficulties of reaching many parts of west papua by road, open demonstrations for independence, and organising in general, are very difficult. The first chapters of the book, from the pleistocene period to suharto goes but thwarted hope for west papua, are a methodical and insightful documentation of recolonisation, and new zealands changing relationship are an excellent record and useful tool for the advocates of west papuan independence. West papuans are living in a prison mischa wilmers talks to the exiled leader of the free west papua movement about his lifelong struggle for justice. But west papua, a province on the same island, continues its struggle for selfdetermination in one of the worlds least publicised and longestrunning independence struggles.
Rex rumakiek is the secretary general of the west papua national coalition for liberation, and an executive member of the ulmwp. West papua the west papuan independence movement a history indigenous papuans still fight for selfdetermination, more than 40 years after indonesia acquired the territory in a sham ballot. It is imperative that representatives from both sides indonesias president joko widodo and leaders from the tumultuous province come to the negotiating table and stop the unnecessary bloodshed that has become the hallmark of the relationship between jakarta and west papua. Kirksey studied west papuas movement for freedom as a broadbased popular. Mariel verroya the west papuan struggle for independence has taken the lives of over 500,000 indigenous west papuans evans, 2019. Under the dutch, the territory was the easternmost limit of the farflung dutch east indies. In the indonesian province of west papua, a movement for independence has existed since the early 1960s. West papuan people in the country and abroad are commemorating first of july, a very historic day in the west papuan struggle for self determination and independence. Independence, autonomy or chaos by peter king excellent condition. On this day 14,000 papuan militia led by brothers loedwik and barren mandatjan, along with soldiers who deserted the. It was later called irian jaya after it came under indonesian control in the 1960s. Opinion indonesia has a papua problem the new york times. Historically, the region has had the official names of netherlands new guinea 18951962, west new guinea or west irian 196273, irian jaya 19732002, and.
Since 1969, papuans have sought to obtain independence through pacifist actions and, in the case of the free west papua movement opm, armed struggle against the indonesian army. He is a wonderful writer and, especially for those of us who really didnt even know west papua was a separate country from papua new guinea, and has written a real eye opener. Like east timor, aceh wants independence but it is paying a terrible price, and. United liberation movement for west papua ulmwp free.
May 01, 2017 west papua has become what naomi klein calls a sacrifice zone. Indonesia annexed west papua in 1969 under controversial circumstances. Ulmwp unites the three main organisations who have long struggled for independence in their own way, including the federal. However the extreme activist focus leaves out almost any exploration of the cultural context. These projects further bind the indonesian state to its occupation of west papua. He is currently researching a book on conflicts in indonesia to be published in 2004 and remains a regular visitor to west papua and aceh. West papuans have always resisted the indonesian occupation. The struggle for selfdetermination in west papua 1969present download pdf version by. West papuas struggle for independence opendemocracy. Kirksey studied west papuas movement for freedom while a broadbased. Some estimates say that as many as 500,000 papuans have been killed since. The monument struggle independence of west papua msiwp 1961 one heart one mind one voice.
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