Marion Struck-Garbe

The West-Papua-Network was founded 25 years ago. It is a forum of organizations and individuals in Germany concerned with the political, social, ecological and cultural situation in West Papua.
The organizations are human rights, solidarity and environmental groups, partnership church districts, parishes and other organizations of the Protestant and Catholic Church. Journalists, scientists and other interested groups are active individuals in the network. They all work in different ways for peace and justice in West Papua. In addition to this the West-Papua-Network organizes seminars, meetings and conferences on West-Papua.
The policy that the network pursues can perhaps be summarized as follows: the people of West Papua inform us and tell us what they want and we support them in pursuing whatever that is – without harm. For example demanding a referendum without fear of arrest (freedom of expression is highly restricted by the Indonesian government). As a board member I support and control the coordination office and sometimes I publish articles in the West-Papua-Journal.

The West-Papua-Network is not present in West Papua – it doesn’t run any projects there. It is in contact with indigenous/local NGOs, human rights defenders, journalists and church representatives in Indonesia. The aim is to achieve partnerships on equal terms through encounter and dialogue. Together with the Papuans, we talk about future possibilities. We try to get to know and understand the economic, ecological and social conditions, developments and perspectives in Papua.
So the programs and projects are developed in unconditional agreement with the partners in Papua and find their expression in very different programs that are discussed and agreed upon between the partners. This seems to be successful, because the partnerships have been existing for many years.
It cannot be ruled out that occasionally paternalistic comments can still be heard, but essentially the working groups follow to meet at eye level with their partners. But after all we should never stop to reflect on how we can support the Papuans in their efforts to achieve peace.

The West-Papua-Network does not see itself as a white savior. It does not even have the means or the personnel to actively carry out projects on the ground. It is mainly engaged in advocacy and media work. To get information, it works together with local NOGs and human rights representatives. The network publishes a biannual human rights report in cooperation with the International Coalition for West Papua. The facts and figures of the numerous human rights violations by the Indonesian military and police were collected by local NGOs. The report is the basis for advocacy work at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and the EU Commission on Human Rights in Brussels – as well as at the World Council of Churches.

In addition, the West-Papua-Network carries out lobby work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially with the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid.

I think to pay attention to the observance and protection of human rights and to demand universal respect for them is a task for all people regardless of their skin color. It has little to do with the role of the white savior. To expose and denounce human rights violations is more necessary than ever.

And finally without diplomatic pressure from outside, the Indonesian government will probably not change its tough policy and the mass military presence with accompanying violence against the West Papuan population. In order to get ahead and make progress organizations like the West-Papua-Network are much needed.

Many people in Germany, even in politically aware circles, have a limited understanding of West Papua and frequently confuse the Indonesian-controlled territory with its neighbour Papua New Guinea. This reflects the limited mainstream media coverage of West Papua and the ongoing conflict that is taking place.

Despite the alarming number of Papuans killed throughout the five decades of conflict (between 100,000 and 500,000 people), the situation of West Papuans remains underreported by national and international media, especially since Indonesian authorities systematically deny journalists permits to cover the situation in the region.

So one reason why we learn so little about the conflict in West Papua here, is that foreign journalists and even NGOs often are being restricted to enter, let alone work freely in the country. Some NGOs like Amnesty International or Peace Brigades International were expelled from the country. But with the introduction of the internet and mobile phones in West Papua, more information about the atrocities committed by the military and the police is leaking out. Information about the situation and events are also published on the websites of the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network or the Free West Papua Campaign and can be read there.

Perhaps the individual deaths and minor combats are not interesting enough for international media, eventhough an entire nation is slowly going down in the process. West Papuans are now a minority in their own country due to the numerous Indonesian migrants.

Massive protests triggered by racist attack against West Papuan students in Surabaya during August and September 2019 were discussed in international mass-media. At least 53 people, both Papuans and migrants from other parts of Indonesia were killed in the clashes. Indonesian authorities even shut down the internet for some time. The events received a lot of international media coverage but there was no follow up and since then West-Papua has disappeared from the agenda once again.

One of the aims of the Network is to raise awareness in Germany and on an international level about the seriousness of the situation in West-Papua. Almost every second week the coordination office publishes a newsletter which covers current events. Twice a year the West Papua Journal enriches it with more background information. This information is open to everyone.

It is often said that in schools students learn almost nothing of the political life in the archipelago and the recent history of the country. Let alone the existence of different histories and cultural dynamics in outer regions. Papua only became firmly embedded in the national narrative during the struggle against the Dutch, who were still holding the territory after Indonesia had proclaimed independence in 1945. So people know only little to nothing about the history and what is going on in West Papua.

For instance: When I held a public event in Hamburg with films about the West Papuan conflict, Indonesians who live in Hamburg also attended. At the end of the film many of them thanked me for the information because they had never heard of the drama of this conflict before.

Things have changed to the better since the protest against racial discrimination in Surabaya last autum. Footage from the arrest of 43 West Papua students had shown Indonesian soldiers racially abusing the indigenous Papuan students. They are called monyet (monkey) and worse. Systemic discrimination is deeply rooted in Indonesia's military and police mentality. This time the demand to end racial discrimination was especially taken up by Indonesian students and human rights activists.

For the first time, Indonesians too are showing their support for the demands of indigenous Papuans, and the pressure is mounting on the Indonesian Government to respond. The call for an UN-sanctioned human rights investigation is getting louder.

A door has been opened and perhaps Indonesians are now actively looking for more information about the eastern part of their country.

Although Indonesia proclaims unity in diversity (Pancasila) it does not seem to fully include all islands of the archipelago. One needs to only think of ethnic unrest and religious violence on Kalimantan in 2001 or the Maluku Islands, where Muslims and Christians had been fighting bloody battles in 1999 that lasted for two years. Or we could talk about East Timor and their struggle for independence, which was answered with a bloody repression by Indonesia with more than 250,000 dead after 24 years of fights. Also in ACEH, the far west of Indonesia the rebel movement Free Aceh (GAM) fought against Indonesian domination and for an independent Islamic state since 1976. They have won in part and since 2005 the province enjoys certain autonomy rights as a special region and has introduced the Islamic law of the Shari'a.

The separation of East Timor from Indonesia gave not only a boost to demands for self-government in Aceh but also fired the forces in West Papua who strive for independence. Indonesia does not want to lose West Papua under any circumstances. This has to do with West Papua’s huge economic and land resources. The lucrative natural resources – like gold, copper, oil, gas and forests – and the availability of land, which can be inhabited by people from the densely populated parts of Indonesia.

I see the happenings in the West Papua linked with other conflicts in Indonesia.

The problem that it is common to all the conflicts is that the credo Unity in Diversity of Indonesian politics cannot be implemented without making concessions to others, being different. This recognition of otherness has not succeeded, especially in West Papua. People there were defamed in the worst ways for 57 years. In my opinion this degradation stands in the way of real unity. As long as this attitude is not changed, there can be no successful integration and peace in the country.

The right way forward is clear. Much would be achieved if the human rights violations were stopped first and the previous ones were legally prosecuted.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Indonesia needs to put an end to the media ban in West Papua, support an independent UN investigation and hold accountable those responsible within the government for violent acts.

Next the West Papuans should have more chances for a better and healthier life. They are treated as second-class people, cut from education, health service and economic possibilities. They don't have the same chances like the migrants from Indonesia. This has to change. And racist discrimination must finally be counteracted – at all levels of the Indonesian population, but especially in the military and police.

Only then can West Papua come to peace, calm down and develop a positive image of the future. What they need is a dialogue with Indonesia about their political future. They have never had this chance. In the meantime, it is important that activists demand a referendum and independence, because only then, can they put pressure on Indonesia to make concessions.

What the future could look like for the West Papuans if they achieve their goal and become an independent state, I cannot say – they have to find that out for themselves and formulate it themselves.

On the other hand, I think they could definitely take a place in the Indonesian state, but for that the Indonesian government would have to meet some of their demands and take appropriate measures to implement them. For instance by appreciating the Papuan cultures and incorporating certain aspects and values of these cultures into their policies. This could be a first step on the way to a positive outcome for both.