PAPUANS FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE

Since the Indonesian invasion of West Papua at the end of December 1961, Papuans have never stopped resisting Indonesian colonial rule. 

Today, clashes between the TPNPB (West Papua National Liberation Army) and the TNI (Indonesian National Army) are frequent, particularly in the regions of Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak Papua, Puncak Jaya, Maybrat, Yahukimo and the Bintang Mountains. The Indonesian press often reports on these skirmishes, praising the Indonesian military as heroes, while scorning the Papuan guerrillas as bandits. As for the Papuans peacefully fighting for their independence, they are seen as traitors in the pay of foreigners. 

To counter these distorted narratives, I'd like to present a brief history of the Papuans' struggle for independence:

This struggle began in the 1950s, when several Papuan leaders demanded independence from the Dutch colonial government. During the same period, many Papuan political parties were formed.

On October 19, 1961, still under Dutch occupation, the parliament of Dutch New Guinea (Niew Guinea Rad) defined the foundations of the emerging Papuan nation:

- National anthem: O my land Papua

- State emblem: the Mambruk bird

- Currency: Florin 

- Flag: Morning star 

- Name of nation: Papua

- Territory name: West Papua 

On December 1, 1961, with the agreement of the Queen of the Netherlands, independence was proclaimed for the entire territory of West Papua. The Papuans' struggle against Dutch colonialism was won non-violently, without bloodshed!

But three weeks later, neighboring Indonesia invaded the territory. This brutally put an end to the decolonization initiated by the Netherlands, in favor of annexation by Indonesia. In August 1962, an agreement was signed in New York between the Netherlands, Indonesia and the United States. It provided for West Papua's trusteeship of the UN. This agreement was concluded with a view to a future referendum to determine whether the Papuans wanted independence or to remain part of Indonesia. On May 1, 1963, the UN handed over its mandate to Indonesia: the beginning of the Indonesian occupation. 

Worried by the Indonesian army's escalating abuses, Eliezer Y. Bonai, then Governor of West Papua, asked UNTEA (United Nations Temporary Executive Authority) to speed up the referendum in May 1964. The Indonesian military immediately arrested Bonai and placed him in a camp. This unfortunate incident did not, however, discourage Papuan independence fighters from asserting their rights.

In July 1965, in Manokwari: Terry Aronggear, Barent and Lodewik Mandacan, Feri and Permenas Awom organized a peaceful demonstration against the atrocities and looting committed by the Indonesian military. Unfortunately, the rally degenerated: 2 Indonesians were seriously injured. In retaliation, the Indonesian army fired indiscriminately at the demonstrators. That day, between 1,000 and 2,000 Papuans were killed. Exasperated, some took up arms to fight the Indonesian army. This was the birth of the armed wing of the Free Papua Organization (OPM). 

In the summer of 1969, Indonesia won the rigged referendum known as the People's Consultative Assembly (PEPERA): Papua was now annexed to Indonesia! In response to this political charade, Jacob Pray and several other Papuan notables declared the creation of the State of Papua at Victoria Waris Fort - now called Keerom Regency.

In the 1970s, the Papuans' non-violent struggle was expressed mainly through music, with the Black Brothers and the Mambesak. Following intimidation, the Black Brothers were forced into exile in the Netherlands. The same applies to the Mambesak. Singer Arnold Ap was murdered in 1984 by elite Indonesian troops, then known as Kopasanda, now Kopassus.

In the late 1980s, the struggle for Papuan independence was led mainly by Dr. Tom Wainggai. He proclaimed Western Melanesia in 1988. The Indonesian government, then led by General Suharto, reacted strongly by arresting several hundred Papuan activists, including Dr Wainggai. In 1996, he was found dead in Cipinang Jakarta prison.

During Indonesia's democratic reform, from 1999 to 2001, Tom Beanal and Theys Eluay led the Papuan independence movement. They focused on dialogue with the Indonesian government and lobbying international bodies. In November 2001, Theys Eluay, then president of the Papuan Council Presidium, was kidnapped and murdered by elite Indonesian Kopassus troops.

In October 2011, at the Third Papuan Congress, the Federal Republic of West Papua was proclaimed by Forkorus Yaboisembut and Edison Waromi. Accused of treason, Forkorus and Edison, along with 350 other Papuan activists, were arrested by the Indonesian army. Four of them were shot dead on the spot.

History shows that whenever a Papuan independence movement is born, the Indonesian government tries to silence it immediately. The attitude of the Indonesian colonial government is very surprising compared to that of the Dutch colonial government. Indeed, the latter did not kill Indonesian independence leaders such as Sukarno and Hatta.

In December 2014, Papuan activists tried once again to join forces. From Port Villa in Vanuatu, they created the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, the ULMWP. Octovianus Mote and Benny Wenda were elected to head this organization, recognized as a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). 

Despite the atrocities committed by the Indonesian colonial regime, the Papuan people remain determined to fight with dignity and peace for their independence. It's time for the international community, starting with Melanesia, the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean, to mobilize in support of the Papuans.