Author : Mukhlis A Salam
Exposure
This argumentative
essay argues that the Indonesian government should retain Papua to Remain a
part of the territory of Indonesia. There are two reason why we have to
remain Papua : first, Papua is a legitimate part of indonesia and the second is
Papuan Independence is one of the foreign policy to devide Indonesia.
Papua and
Indonesia are a unity that can not be separated geographically, because they
are located in the same archipelago or Nusantara and politically,
because according to international law, Papua is part of Indonesia. Unfortunately the territory and political
equality between Papua and Indonesia, does not necessarily negate the conflict
on both of them. The economic circumstances is one of the causes conflict in
Papua, that make poverty become a part of their lives. So it is not strange if
lately we were shocked by the news about the Papuan independence movement that
we can find at the national and international news.
That movement is
actually one of the political struggle that is made by the Papua’s people for
a better life. The movement has been
around since the first year when Papua become part of Indonesian territory.
There are several reasons that they use as an argument to justify secession,
such as their dissatisfaction with the central government regarding economic
disparities, the historical reasons for their territory, as well as the human
rights abuses that they usualy expose in the international media .
Kricksey an American writer and anthropologist, boldly expose the
facts about this movement to the international world through one of his
articles, entitled "Dont Use The Data As A Pillow". In
the article, he expressed a lot of the aspirations of the Papuan people that
they want to convey to the government, such as the lack of freedom of their
life because of exploitation by multi-national company like Beyound Petroleum and
violations of human rights carried out by the Indonesian national army.
In fact, nowdays
many countries in the world, such as the United States, France, the Great
Britain, Canada , Germany , Japan , and some Latin American countries, such as
Chile and Mexico, support for the independence of West Papua and human rights
violations is predicted to be the cause they are supporting Papua. [1]
Papua is a Legitimate
Part of Indonesia According to the International Law
Lately, the role
of media is very influential, we often find in various blogs in the
internet which explains that Papua is not related to Indonesia. They always
write that Netherland indie territory or Indonesian territory in the dutch
colony does not include Papua, because Netherland Indie stretching from Aceh
until Ambon Moluccas. Meanwhile, Papua is a distinct region that is called the Netherland
New Guinea. That media attacks give bad effect for Indonesia, because they
think that what is done in Papua is one of Indonesia occupation. Those who
believe in that, ultimately supporting Papuan independence so rapidly. But
unfortunately it can be refuted by the historical facts about them. Sometimes history
is used as a tool to prove the truth, because it is literally history is
a description of the events that actually occur at the past. Therefore, it is wise if we use history
as a national asset to be used as a tool to maintain the integrity of our
nation.
According to the
fact, actually Papua has been part of the Indonesia’s territory since Srivijaya
Empire era. Kingdom of Srivijaya recorded othat they ever send the indigenous birds
from Papuan or Janggi (past names that given to the Papuans) to the Royal
Government of China. From that, it is clear that since that time, that area is part
of our state history, and prove that there is a very close relationship between
Papua with other regions in the archipelago at that time. Another name of Papua
in the past is " Samudranta", which indicates that the Papua region
also has been known by the Sanskrit language user communities that living in
the Indonesian archipelago, both in terms of geo - political and socio-
economic and culture in a broad sense. When it is connected with the Srivijaya
kingdom is probable that the naming was given by that maritime empire, which is
an indication that the island of New Guinea also has power under control Srivijaya
kingdom . [2]
In the 13th
century a Chinese traveler named Kua Chau Yu writes that there is a islands in Indonesian
named Tung - ki which is part of a country in Maluku. Tung - ki is the Chinese
name for Janggi or Irian. Upon the arrival of Europeans, namely in 1660, under
the supervision of the Dutch East Indies government stating that all areas are
in the territory of Papua is part of Sultanate of Tidore. This agreement shows
that initially the Dutch government actually recognizes Papua as part of the
population in the archipelago. [2]
When the Dutch colonized Indonesia, Papua aslo
is part of their colony. Dutch colonists denies the Indonesian independence on
August 17, 1945 deliberately by insisting not want to restore Papua into the
part of NKRI. In The Round Table Conference (RTC) on August 23, 1949 that was
conducted in Den Haag, Netherland, agreed that the whole of the former Dutch
colony is a territory of the Republic of Indonesia, except for the Dutch West
Papua will be returned to the our Homeland one year later. But infact the
Netherlands had violated the agreement of
RTC. Then Dutch make scenarios seriously, by freeing Papua hastily and
followed the declaration of the State's that made by the Netherlands on
December 1, 1961. The Dutch action eventually make the Indonesian people
getting angry. So on December 19, 1961 at the North Square of Jogjakarta,
Indonesia's President, Sukarno announced TRIKORA to restore Papua (West Irian
at that time) to the Our Homeland. [3]
After that to
restore the western Irian, on August 15, 1962, Indonesia and the Netherland
made the New York Agreement. This agreement was facilitated by the United
Nations (UN), with Soebandrio as representatives from Indonesia and Dutch
represented by Jan Herman van Royen and CWA Schurmann. The contents of this
agreement is to load the New York road map dispute over the territory of Papua
/ New Guinea. And the result of this agreement is approved and endorsed by the
UN under the name of the UN General Assembly Resolution No. 1752 which came
into force 21 September 1962.
[3] From the results of the New York Agreement that resulted a
design that provides the Papuan people to self-determination. Then the
Referendum held in 1969 which resulted that the Papuans agreed to unite with
Indonesia.
Historical
evidence also revealed in detail by the historical actors who became a key
witness about the return of Papua into Our Homeland Mr.Ramses Ohee in dialogue
with the theme "Keeping the Sovereignty of the Republic and the Nation in
order to prevent disintegration of Papua." This dialogue event held by the
television station of TVRI ( Televisi Republik Indonesia ) Papua on Tuesday
night of March 25, 2014. "I as agents of history, people are still alive,
assess existing parties distort the history of Papua deliberately to maintain
the conflict in Papua. History about entry of Papua into the Republic of
Indonesia is correct, but there are some of citizens, most of them is the
younger generation always try to deflected
the true story about that", Reveals Ramses Ohee. [3]
He also explained
that another historical fact that exist as problems in Papua is Papuan youth
representatives who attended the activities of the Youth Pledge on October 28,
1928. Unfortunately many people believe that the Papua Youth representatives
were not present in activities of the Youth Pledge. "This is wrong, in
fact, the Youth Papua present and pledged with other youth from many place in
Indonesia. My father, Poreu Ohee was one of the Youth Papua who present at the
time" he said. [3]
Papuan
Independence Is One Of The Foreign Policy To Devide Indonesia
Separatist movement in Papua is actually one of the things that made foreigners to provoke the people of Papua in
order to break away from Indonesia. Based on data from Wikipedia, the Free
Papua Movement or OPM received the full support of the Libyan president at the
time, by providing considerable financial support. Whereas for weaponry and
agility, the organization awarded the supply of the United States in the form
of martial arts training and weapons donations.
Australia also plays an important role in the development of the
organization. OPM's headquarters is currently located in Melbourne.That is
impossible that the organization is able to open his headquarters there if australia
not helped fund this organization. Australia certainly supports Papuan
independence with give some donation for this organitation, because the australia
open muti-national company in Papua which is named Rio Tinto. That company
with the company from United States, Freeport sharing place for panning
gold on the island. Therefore australia help Papua happily, and certainly there
are big plans for it.
Beside the three countries above the UK also was supporting Papua for
independence. Through articles that written by krikcsey, we know about
the evil plans of British Pretoleum or Beyound Pretoleum to Papua. Kricksey
indirectly explain about BP that have provoked the civilians and Indonesian
military to made confilct. Even now OPM also has headquarters in London, and it
is definitely that the headquarters is financed by BP which does have an
interest in Papua.
The separtisme is a natural thing found in many countries, both internally
and externally. For areas that have a high degree of plurality, it will be
easily to found the internal threats in that region, with the emergence of
separatism, terrorism, and insurgency. There are four factors behind the
emergence of ethnic conflicts such as separatism; (1) the existence of the
state with a mono-ethnic character; (2) assimilation and centralization of the
characters through the efforts of state penetration; (3) a shift in public consciousness;
(4) Elite seeking legitimacy (in Brown. 1988: 55-67).[6]
One example of separatist movements in Southeast Asia is the case of Moro
in the Philippines. In the Philippines there are several separatist movements,
such as the MNLF ( Moro Nation Liberation Front ), MILF ( Moro Islamic
Liberation Front ), and the ASG ( Abu Sayyaf Group ). In the era of imperialism,
Spain has managed to enter the Christian religion there and make it dominant,
while the Moro people who embrace Islam are become a minority and marginalized.
Then it was compounded by the assimilation policy by the Philippine government
through the construction of schools and public facilities, and make English as
the language of instruction, so that Christians can be integrated into the Moro
peoples easily. The Rules that made by the government also always based on the Christian religion. As a
result of the absence of the Muslim community portion to participate in
politics, in 1967 appeared the MILF, and followed by the MNLF in 1969. The separatist
movement got a lot of financial support from middle eastern countries are
predominantly Muslim, and even Indonesia was openly supportive of this
movement. [4]
Foreigners who struggle in Papua certainly do not want to lose their
income. The hatred of Papuan against them returned by their kindness, in order
for making them want to given them the opportunity to stay there. Other than
they also think that when Papua got Freedom surely they will be easier to
exploit Papua. If Papua get the independence, but their economic and politic
situation is not stable, it will allow them to
interfere in the state affairs, like now happen in Timor Leste, South
Sudan, and many country in pasific ocean.
In East Timor (Timor Leste), although the country has been independent, but
they could not escape the influence of the Portuguese and Australian interference
in their government. Their situation also even getting worse than when they are still integrate with Indonesia. It
also occurs in southern Sudan, a country that had previously been part of the
state, which is called the greatest land in Africa, namely Sudan. Although the
country is already 2 years old, but the UN troops and other western countries
are still struggling there. Security instability is considered as a reason to
keep them silent there. Whereas in fact what they do there is to intervene and
indirectly they did colonization to the new state. [5]
We can conclude that the role of multi-national company is very
large on the growth of OPM. If only Papua will be independent one day. It does
not mean that it will liberate Papua from occupation. However, it may actually
lead to another occupation. Countries that support Papua certainly not as easy
as it would support the independence of Papua. Papua richness is actually
something that they want. So, when the Papuan independence, as a reward they
will ask one of richness that Papua had to be theirs, as australia request to
Timor Leste. After that gradually they will take over everything. and the independence
that they have always dreamed will disappear.
Jakarta
Should Act Seriously Resolve Separatism
In Papua
Jakarta as the center of government should think of appropriate solutions
to confront these issues, because when the Papua independence it means that
they have failed to maintain the mandate of the founding fathers of the nation,
which has formed this country Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke. Therefore ,
Jakarta Act Seriously Should Resolve separatism in Papua .
The first solution is to resolve the conflict through dialogue between
Jakarta and Jayapura. The dialogue should also be more active in order to
prevent Papua feel cared for. Because less attention is also one of the biggest
mistakes of the central government. The dialogue should be carried out by the
separatist militant also for making the government knows about what actually they
want, and together find a solution to the problem. And the other solution is
the government should intents reinvest the nationalism through the teaching
practice of Pancasila values to society such as in Soeharto era. It was
considered important to improve the nation's nationalist sense. Many separatist
who are less familiar about what it Pancasila. Through this, many people hoped
that the separatist will turned into a nationalist.
Conclusion
The emergence of separatist movements is a form of failure of the state as
a legitimate instutution, which served to facilitate the community of people
who are in it. Unfair treatment and feeling marginalized as minority groups,
often underlies the emergence of separatist movements and ethnic conflict. Actually
diversity can expand the view of the nation, government, and also the country
in facing the problems that exist. The awareness of history as a national asset
and authentic evidence, the role of media which can influence the society and
the role of multinational company which became the mastermind of provocation
should be able to reduce the conflict in Papua. But unfortunately without firm
action from the government that will not happen. Therefore for solve that
problem the government should conducted a poll quickly with the Papua peoples
through the Jakarta-Jayapura dialogue like in President Habibi era, in order to make this problem does
not drag on and can be resolved without any injured party and the Integrity of
the Republic of Indonesia also can be maintained.
Reference
[1] Wawancara Jacob Rumbiak : 111 Negara dukung kemerdekaan Papua [http://www.merdeka.com/khas/111-negara-dukung-kemerdekaan-papua-wawancara-jacob-rumbiak.html]
diunduh senin 12 mei 2104 pada pukul
15:44
[2] Sejarah Papua Barat
Sebelum Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia [http://sejarah-papua.blogspot.com/2009/08/sejarah-papua-barat-sebelum-proklamasi.html]
diunduh minggu 11 mei
2014 pada pukul 14:28
[3] Kembalinya Papua Ke NKRI Sah Menurut Hukum Internasional [http://www.kodam17cenderawasih.mil.id/tulisan/fokus/kembalinya-papua-ke-nkri-sah-menurut-hukum-internasional/]
diunduh minggu 11 mei 2014 pada pukul 15:01
[4] Konflik Etnis dan Gerakan Separatisme di
Asia Tenggara [elokizra-y-fisip10.web.unair.ac.id/artikel_detail-44026-Asia
Tenggara-(week 5) Konflik Etnis dan Gerakan Separatisme di Asia Tenggara.html]
diunduh senin 12 mei 2104 pada pukul 15:37
[5] Baru Merdeka, Inilah Negara Terbaru Dalam Peta Dunia [http://www.memobee.com/baru-merdeka-inilah-negara-terbaru-dalam-peta-dunia-3822-news.html]
diunduh senin 12 mei 2104 pada pukul 15:40
[6] Brown,
David. 1988. From Peripheral to Ethnic Nations: Separatism in Southeast Asia.
Columbia: Pacific Affair, University of British Columbia
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