Indonesia must open up West Papua

Every September, members of the United Nations descended on the United Nations headquarter in New York City to speak to each other and discuss among themselves about issues facing their countries, regions and the world. They also break up into different forums where specific issues are debate and recommendations issued. Attending this important global meeting are international organizations such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which consists of independent countries in the Pacific region – led by Fiji and Papua New Guinea. PIF plays a role in the stability of the Pacific region, and plays a crucial role in connecting the Island nations to the world and Asia.

For a long time, the Pacific region was divided over West Papua. Some governments backed our struggle because it is the right thing to do; the moral obligation of all Pacific nations, especially our cousins in the Melanesian bloc. However, things are changing as Indonesia started a new approach by buying out governments in our region and silence them. Their moral support for their brothers and sisters in our home – the indigenous people of West Papua, is waning by the day while human rights violations continue unabated.

In 2019, following the uprising all over West Papua against racism and racist police officers, and the evidence of gross violation of ‘Human Rights’ in the hands of Indonesian police and soldiers, the PIF made some bold recommendations to the Indonesian government. One of the key recommendations was for Indonesia to open West Papua up to international access in order to allow investigators to enter West Papua and look into allegations of “gross human rights violations.” In this recommendation, the Indonesian government was also asked to allow the UN commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua, but this request was rejected. The government of President Joko Widodo continues to stifle efforts to investigate what his government is doing in West Papua.

During the PIF meetings in Tuvalu in 2019, I participated in a meeting facilitated by the UN Human Rights Committee online, entitled the Asia Pacific Dialogue forum. I took the opportunity to remind the United Nations about the ongoing genocide in West Papua, which needs to be investigated by the UNHRC. I stressed the need for these gross violations to be investigated immediately because our indigenous people have suffered enough in the hands of the Indonesian government. How long should these people continue to violate our rights as rightful owners of the lands of West Papua while the world is looking away?

Last year, the UN Secretary General – António Guterres, categorized Indonesia as one of the UN member countries where many human rights violations continue to occur. About 25 indigenous people were murdered in 2021, and last month (August 2022), four indigenous West Papuans were being murdered, and their bodies mutilated by members of the Indonesian elite force. Yet there is no action taken to hold Indonesia accountable for their crimes.

The ongoing UNGA meetings here in New York City will highlight the violations and human rights abuses in the world, including West Papua, and nothing will come out of it. The UNGA has become an avenue for ‘violators of ‘human rights’ to come and spin the truths and the facts of the matter instead of finding lasting solutions to their problems. The speeches will continue for the duration of the UNGA, while the killing, torture and abuse of indigenous people in the hands of these authoritarian regimes will continue.

Appeal to the UN

The UN must take a firm stand against violations of human rights, and it is time for them to match their words with actions. I also urge PIF country leaders to speak up against ‘Human Rights’ violation in West Papua.