The Idea on "Referendum of Papua," Should be Thrown Away

On Friday October 28, 2016, an article concerning the appeal of Filep Karma, one of a former leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), suggesting  the Government of Indonesia to hold a Referendum to solve the long lasting dispute of Papua was published in a media. The title of the article is "Referendum is not Solution for Papua" was published in REPUBLIKA.CO.ID written by Wildan Nasution of  Riau.
 
This article is to pick up the news on the appeal of Filep Karma in the article as mentioned above and to analyze it from the different angel and to conclude that the idea on "Referendum of Papua" should be thrown away forever from our political life.
 
The Situation of Papua
 
Papua is stable and totally under the firm control by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. However REPUBLIKA.CO.ID of Friday October 28, 2016 wrote that a Papuan pro-independence leader Filep  Karma has called on the government to hold a referendum on independence for the country's easternmost region. Filep Karma, a former political prisoner of 11 years, claimed the long-demanded referendum was a win-win solution for both the government and the Papuan people, who still suffered from mistreatment and abuses despite the region being granted special autonomy status.
 
Should the referendum result in Papuans wanting to remain Indonesian citizens, the rebels would stop demanding for separation, Filep Karma said, however, the government should also promise Papuans a peaceful transfer of independence if the referendum showed otherwise.

Wildan Nasution analysis: Wildan Nasution an analyst believes that the Referendum is not the will of the majority of the people of Papua.
Referendum is only the will of a small group of the people of Papua. Wildan Nasution presented his argument he concluded that the idea to hold the Referendum to solve the dispute of Papua was not correct it is not in line with the people need.
 Wildan Nasution said that now President Jokowi has started to develop Papua socially and economically, to reach the prosperous life in Papua, as the real goal of the people of Papua. Wildan Nasution is making perfect, complete, pertinent and accurate analysis. He concluded that there will be  never  any factor to push the Government to consider the appeal for the Referendum.
 
Additional comments to the analysis of Wildan Nasution: Bellow are a number of the additional  rejections to the appeal for the Referendum of Papua as it was raised by Filep Kara, one of former leaders of the Free Papua Organization (OPM): first, referendum is never to be considered as the  alternative of the solution of the dispute of Papua.
 The dispute of Papua was not necessary to happen because historically and legally and  internationally aooroved by the UN, Papua is a part of the territory of the Redpublic of Indonesia.

Second, the idea of Filep  Karma is definitely based less. Papua is a part of the former Netherland Indie that should be handed over by the Dutch Government to the Republic of Indonesia based on Den Haag Agreement December 1949. With its integration to the Republic Indonesia, the people of Papua are the freedom or independent nation.
 
The delay of the handover of Papua on 1962 leaving  the dispute between the Republic of Indonesia with the followers of the puppet state of "The State of West Papua" designed by the Dutch. The dispute of Papua was created by the Dutch imperialist as her conspiracy against the Republic of Idonesia.

Third, according to New York Agreement (1962) there is only one Referendum, called as the Act of the  Free Choice in 1968. It had been done and all the Papuan people wanted to be remain with the Republic of Indonesia. This is the only Referendum recognize and to be hold by the United Nations. There will never another Referendum in Papua.

Four, until now it is not clear what Papuan Organization is representing the so called the independent group of the Papuan people. The only group of people that could be officially considered as the representatives of the Papuan is the Regional House of Representatives of Papua elected through the General Election held every five years. This council is the official organ of the Republic of Indonesia to represent  the Papuan people. There is no any organization called the independent group of Papua. If any, then it is liar organization that should be dismissed.

However the ULMWP, KNPB, the Free Papua Organization (OPM) and the Free West Papua Organization always declared as the independent group. This statement is false, there is never the independent group of  Papua. There is only one citizenship of The Republic of Indonesia in Papua. Those three organization are separately working there is no any leadership to coordinate their respective activities.

Fifth, President Jokowi likely realized that the infra structure for the social and economic development of Papua are very weak. The development of the social and economic development of Papua are prioritized on the development of the socio and economic infra structure, such as school, health clinic, road, bridges and water resources.

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia decided to develop the social, cultural, economic and political infra structure as the program to build Papua Province and West Papua Province to be equal to to other developed Provinces such as Maluku.

Sixth, the Strength of OPM is decreasing. It is not easy thing to build the armed force, from the men power and the guerrilla weapon point of view. Most of young Papuan generation are now educated youth they do not like to live in the jungle as the insurgence. They wish to go for study to Jawa or other big cities of Indonesia, instead of entering the jungle for guerrilla warfare.

In term of weapon most of the countries producing weapon in the world tend to control strongly the business of weapon. The weapon producing countries will not commit to the activities of any rebels group of other part of the world. OPM is now posing more as the criminal groups rather than armed insurgence.
 
Seven, since the failure of ULMWP in the Summit Meeting of MSG in Solomon to become the full member of MSG (Melanesian Spearhead Group) in last September 2016, and supported only by seven Pacific Countries in the 71 th of the UN General Assembly meeting the popularity of Beny Wenda tend to decrease.

The agitation and Propaganda of the ULMWP (United Liberation Movement for West Papua), the Free West Papua Organization and the Free Papua Organization (OPM) and KNPB have been powerless. However OPM is still active to disturb the security through the illegal shooting in the rural areas. Filep Karma  though he is known as the former leader of OPM but he is predicted not as popular as earlier. Most of his generation have been generally old and  are not as strong as some years ago.
 
Eight, it is predicted though the Free Papua Organization is still existing but its battle capability could no more expected. The Government is always ready to talk with the citizens but not to talk about Referendum. In principle the Government of the Republic of Indonesia is ready to communicate with her Citizens to discus the problem of their development program but not Referendum. President Jokowi visited Papua four times within two years and resulted various beneficial changing to the life of the people of Papua.
 
Nineth, there are support of seven Pacific Countries to ULMWP however the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia also said the support of seven Pacific countries demanded the UN to pay the attention to  the Human Rights Abuses in Papua, is politically meaningless. There are 193 staters member of the UN. It was only Solomon who support  the demand to the UN to give the Referendum of Papua, because Solomon is the Chairman of MSG. Solomon wants to be elected permanently as the leader of Melanesian Countries on the Pacific.

Ten, however domestically It is likely important  for President Jokowi and Vice President JK in the  Cabinet meeting to brief completely the situation of Papua and the mission of all the respective Cabinet Ministries to supporty the development of Papua.

Papua is not political and security problem but the challenge of the Regional development covering all aspect of development poses the this two Provinces as the national challenge of national development.

*) The writer is the Politcal and Security Observer reside in Jakarta.