AMPTPI: when young Papuans speak out for justice

The efforts of Papuans in defending their dignity cannot be separated from the role of their youth. 

For almost twenty years, the Papuan Central High Mountains Student Association in Indonesia (AMPTPI) has struggled to voice the aspirations of Papuans throughout Indonesia and overseas. Around 30,000 young Papuans have joined this association since its founding on October 15 2004.

Approaching AMPTPI's 19th anniversary, I had the opportunity to chat with Ambrosius Mulait, who has served as chairman since 2021.

What is AMPTPI?

First of all, AMPTPI is a honai or traditional hut for Papuans. As a key organization, AMPTPI accommodates Papuan people's aspirations and prepares a cadre of the future Papuan leaders. They are not only from the mountains but also from coastal and urban areas. AMPTPI has been the spearhead of Papuan youth in criticizing Indonesian state policies. She never tires of defending Papuan rights, because for 60 years with Indonesia, they have been used as objects rather than subjects in their own country.

AMPTPI is vocal in its opposition to the extension of Papua's special autonomy program, commonly called OTSUS. Why is it?

It should be noted that AMPTPI was born out of deep concern over the negative impact of Indonesian policies in Papua since May 1 1963. Foreign and local companies have sucked up Papua's natural wealth and resulted in a serious ecological disaster. PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the American multinational Freeport McMoRan, reaps billions of dollars from gold and copper mining in the Grasberg area, while the local community does not enjoy the results.

For Papuans, the special autonomy granted by Jakarta called OTSUS is not a political solution, but an occupation strategy. Perhaps the correct term is: Indonesia's colonization of Papua. 21 years of implementing OTSUS has clearly failed.

Today, Papua remains the poorest region in Indonesia. The growth in poverty rates is higher than other regions. The profits generated from exploiting Papua's natural resources is greater than the funds allocated by the Indonesian central government. Papua also has the highest inflation rate and cost of living in Indonesia.

The economic and infrastructure development that the government is proud of has not helped improve the standard of living of ordinary people. Education participation in Papua is the lowest in Indonesia. Illiteracy rates in some remote areas of Papua reach more than 20%. Papua's happiness index is the lowest in Indonesia, at 60.97%, far below the national average of 68.28, with some other provinces averaging over 70%.

The life expectancy for Papuans is the lowest in Indonesia: 65.65 years in 2019. In some remote areas such as Nduga, it is only 55.12 years. Meanwhile, Indonesia's national life expectancy reaches 71.2 years. The maternal and child mortality rate in Papua is very worrying. According to UNICEF Jakarta 2019, the maternal mortality rate in Papua reached 305 per 1000 births. Child mortality in Papua is 3 times higher than in Jakarta! HIV/AIDS threatens the survival of the Papuan people. The prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in Papua has reached 2.4 percent, while the national average in Indonesia has only reached 0.5 percent.

Responding to the bad phenomenon that occurred in Papua, AMPTPI through the 4th congress resolution gave birth to a declaration that firmly stated: "The implementation of Law No. 21 of 2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua has failed miserably!"

The Indonesian government has committed at least 16 serious human rights violations through its military operations in Papua. During 2018-2023, sweeping operations took place in Nduga, Intan Jaya, Oksibil, Maybrat, Yahukimo. All of this is an extrajudicial action because it did not receive approval from the Indonesian Parliament DPR RI!

The actions of arresting, mistreating and killing Papuans fall into the category of crimes against humanity and genocide. The Indonesian government's racist practices are reflected in the statements of its officials. 

Their various statements imply a number of labels against Papuans as stupid, drunkards, rude, dumb monkeys, criminals, terrorists, separatists, gorillas, milky coffee, little rats and many others. This is not a trivial matter considering that history shows that genocide begins with the words of those in power. Learn from the story of Hitler's massacre of European Jews in the last century.

Weak law enforcement in Indonesia results in impunity for racist perpetrators while those who oppose them are criminalized. I myself am one of the many victims of legal injustice in Indonesia.

You often say that Papuans have become foreigners in their own country. Isn't this an exaggeration?

Absolutely not. 90% of Papua's natural resources are managed by non-Papuans. Meanwhile, native Papuans who manage the remaining 10% are actually just implementing government projects. Papuans are not involved in the management of large companies such as PT. Freeport, LNG Tangguh, PT. Korindo, etc. The shares in these companies are owned by outsiders.

In both urban and rural areas, most shops are owned by non-Papuans. The regional government does nothing to empower local communities, as defined in the special autonomy program. The Central Government continues to extend the implementation of special autonomy (OTSUS) without evaluating or hearing people's opinions. In responding to this situation, AMPTPI demands that the Government take concrete steps.

Do AMPTPI's actions have an impact?

Since the Second Congress in 2007, AMPTPI has held 78 press conferences. AMPTPI's voice has been published in various newspapers, online media, audio visions ranging from local, national to international levels. In 2012, my senior, Dominikus Surabut, received an international award from Human Rights Watch (HRW) for his hard work in exposing the torture case of Tuneliwor Kiwo and Telangga Gire in 2010. This has opened the public's eyes to the crimes against humanity that have commonly occurred in Papua, especially in the Puncak Jaya area.

Furthermore, AMPTPI actively participates in movements for reconciliation and unity between fellow Papuans both in Indonesia and abroad. Several of our figures contributed to the founding of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) in 2014, which is now the largest organ representing the Papuan people.

Since last August, the administration of Indonesian president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has implemented a series of law revisions commonly called the Omnibus law. What is AMPTPI's response?

The forced revision of OTSUS and the creation of new provinces in Papua aims to facilitate the extraction of Papuan natural resources. With this, companies no longer need to comply with the previous procedures set by the government. The absence of reforestation in concession areas will trigger environmental pollution and the extinction of customary forests. This will accelerate global warming!

The so called Omnibus law makes it easier for the government to grant investment permits and facilitate the interests of capitalist elites in Papua. Not only that, the Jokowi government will indirectly provide wider access for new settlers to enter Papua. Papuans will become increasingly marginalized.

Seeing this policy which is detrimental to the people, AMPTPI is making efforts to collaborate with NGOs, as well as a number of Indonesian student movements. We emphasize to the Jokowi government that the omnibus law will bring disasters. Apart from that, the expansion of new provinces in Papua which is carried out without the people's consent will allow economic predators to operate freely in Papua.

After the passing of the Omnibus Law, the Indonesian government carried out forced evictions of people. Not only in Papua, but also in Indonesia, for example in Wadas, Sangihe, Komodo, and Rempang. In the name of development, violence is legitimized by the authorities to relocalize the indigenous population. 

Considering that media access in Papua is very limited, we are worried that in implementing each of its policies, the Indonesian government through its army and police will not hesitate to commit a lot of violence against the local community. With limited means, AMPTPI continues to strive to carry out advocacy both nationally and internationally.