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West Papua News

Click Here Survival Internantional Call for Action 18 December Click Here

Vigil at Netherlands Embassy, International Human Rights Day

[The vigil was covered by: NewsTalk 106 on both the 9th
and the 10th; by Raidio na Life; and by The Irish News (see text below)]

The Irish News

December 10, 2002

West Papua action call

A HUMAN rights group is due to hold a vigil at the Dutch embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, today from noon to highlight the alleged murder of people in West Papua by Indonesian soldiers. The West Papua Action group is calling on the Netherlands to publicly seek a proper act of self-determination in West Papua in accordance with international practice as they agreed to at the United Nations 40 years ago this year. "The Dutch government continue to sit on their hands as the Indonesian military kill and torture West Papuans," West Papua Action Coordinator Mark Doris said. "Silence kills. As former colonial power, the Netherlands can and should support West Papua as Portugal supported East Timor."

Media Release

Human Rights Day: Human Rights in West Papua

Vigil at Netherlands Embassy

There will be a vigil outside the Netherlands Embassy from 12.00pm to 1.00pm on Human Rights Day, Tuesday, 10 December 2002

The Netherlands Embassy is located at 160 Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

It is time for the Netherlands to call publicly as a matter of urgency for a proper act of self-determination in West Papua in accordance with international practice as they agreed to at the United Nations 40 years ago this year.

West Papua Action Coordinator Mark Doris said: "The Dutch government continue to sit on their hands as the Indonesian military kill and torture West Papuans. Silence kills. As former colonial power, the Netherlands can and should support West Papua as Portugal supported East Timor."

West Papua was taken over by the Indonesian military in 1963; at least 100, 000 or 10 per cent of the indigenous population have been killed since 1963.

The human rights of West Papuans continue to be denied, with ongoing killings, tortures, rapes and arbitrary detention.

ENDS

REMARKS BY DESMOND O'MALLEY AT THE LAUNCH OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INDONESIAN TAKEOVER OF WEST PAPUA, 1962-1969 - THE ANATOMY OF BETRAYAL

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19TH 2002

I am delighted to be here at the invitation of West Papua Action to launch the book on The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua, 1962-1969 - The Anatomy of Betrayal, by Dr John Saltford.

The shocking aspect of this evening's event is that the publication we are here to launch focuses on a period of history in the 1960s, the tragic consequences of which are still very much relevant to the people of West Papua today.

The history of the handover of West Papua (or Irian Jaya as it was renamed in 1973) to Indonesia is, to say the least, controversial, particularly when one considers how far along the path to independence West Papua was in the 1950s / early 1960s. In 1952 the Netherlands, as the colonial power in the territory, recognised Papuan self-determination and began preparing the nation for independence. It was given a governor and an administration of its own directly under the Hague. In 1961 various steps towards self-determination took place: - the first parliament was installed, on October 19th the Papuan National Committee introduced the national anthem and the Papuan flag and decided that in future the country should be called West Papua. As Indonesia was at this time strongly opposed to Dutch policy on West Papua and claimed that the area was part of the Indonesian Republic, the Dutch presented a plan to the UN General Assembly to resolve the dispute - the proposal was to hand over the territory to a UN administration until such time as the population was ready to exercise their right to self-determination. Indonesia rejected this idea and armed clashes broke out between Dutch and Indonesian troops.

Both sides eventually agreed to UN brokered talks, and in August 1962 the New York Agreement was reached and ratified by the UN General Assembly on 21st September 1962. It stipulated that the Netherlands was to leave the territory and transfer authority to a United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) on October 1st. UNTEA was to hand over the area to Indonesia on May 1st 1963 - a far cry from the original Dutch plan, where the UN administration was to have remained until the Papuans had considered the issue of self-determination.

However, the New York Agreement did give the Papuans certain rights, including that of self-determination and it stipulated that within six years, the people of the territory would determine, in a free and fair manner, whether they wished to remain under Indonesian control or whether they would seek independence.

Thus in 1969, under UN supervision, the Indonesian government conducted the so-called "Act of Free Choice" in West Papua. As we know this Act has been widely disputed, as evidence suggests that the process of voting for the Act was seriously defective. Concern still exists about the manner in which those local council representatives who participated in the Act of Free Choice were selected and there are allegations of Indonesian interference in the process.

The reasons for such poor administration of the Act of Free Choice under UN supervision are addressed in this new text, but clearly the UN failed in its obligations to assist in the act of self-determination in accordance with international best practices. Despite fundamental flaws in the process, international reaction was comparatively muted and a UN General Assembly resolution confirmed the transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia - which has condemned the West Papuans to more than 30 years of repression and remains a source of great unrest in the territory.

In the years since Jakarta's assumption of control, there has been widespread opposition to the Indonesian administration of West Papua and in the more open atmosphere since the fall of General Suharto in 1998, there have been ever more explicit expressions within West Papua for independence from Indonesia. However, the preservation of Indonesia's territorial integrity is a corner stone of President Megawati's governing policy and separatists' activities are being suppressed by Indonesian security forces, amid increasing allegations of human rights abuses.

The parallels with pre-referendum East Timor are already apparent in West Papua: the transfer to the territory of police and military commanders formerly assigned to East Timor, the barring of foreign journalists unless granted special clearance, constant harassment, arbitrary arrests and murder of West Papuans expressing their basic human rights which have been denied them for so long. As was the case in East Timor, many thousands of mostly Papuan civilians have been killed by the Indonesian security forces since the 1960s. One figure suggests that about 30% of the population of the territory has been wiped out by the Indonesian regime.

The international community cannot forget the painful lessons of East Timor and must not stand by while history repeats itself in West Papua.

There have been calls for a review of the events surrounding the 1969 Act of Free Choice and the role of the UN in that process. For this to happen would, I understand, require the support of the UN member states, support which currently does not appear to be significantly high.

I hope that this latest publication on the role of the UN in the handover of West Papua will highlight the need for such a review to take place and will inspire us to reaffirm our commitment to seek a fair and just outcome for the people of West Papua.

It is my privilege to now formally launch this book.

Thank you.

The Irish Times, Thursday, 21 November 2002

World News

Book reveals UN colluded in West Papua takeover

By Joe Humphreys

EVIDENCE of United Nations collusion in the violent takeover of West Papua by Indonesia 40 years ago is revealed in a new book on the subject, which was launched in Dublin this week.

The book*, which draws upon recently declassified UN, British and Australian documents, claims the UN Secretariat deliberately "washed its hands" of the Papua issue by minimising criticism of the 1969 Act of Free Choice, under which 1,022 natives, hand-picked by the Indonesian government voted against independence.

As part of this "campaign", senior UN officials "deliberately misrepresented the extent of Papuan hostility to Indonesian: rule," according to the book's author, Dr John Saltford.

He says the UN Secretariat also misled UN member-states by claiming the early withdrawal of peacekeeping troops from West Papua in May 1963 was in accordance with "the wishes of the people".

Speaking to The Irish Times, Dr Saltford, who works as a South-east Asian specialist in the UK Public Record Office, said he had never heard of West Papua until he began research for a PhD thesis. "The more I looked into it the more I was amazed," he said.

"The Papuans had a great deal of trust in the UN, and the UN betrayed them, and it continues to betray them because, so far, it has refused to review its position on the issue."

Up to 30,000 West Papuans were killed in the Indonesian take-over that followed the UN's withdrawal from the territory. A further 70,000 died violently under Indonesian occupation in a conflict which mirrors that of East Timor prior to its recent liberation.

Dr Saltford cites evidence to suggest the UN-sponsored New York Agreement, signed in August 1962 between Indonesia and West Papua's former colonisers, the Netherlands, was a fraud. The three parties pledged to protect the political rights and freedoms of the Papuans but they failed and deliberately so, he says, "because genuine Papuan self-determination was never considered as a serious option by any of them".

When the process became exposed following the shambolic 1969 vote, the UN Secretariat focused its attention "on collaborating with Jakarta in its mission to prevent any international criticism of the Act emerging", Dr Saltford states.

In this regard, he cites a report from the British Embassy in Jakarta, in September 1969, advising that avoiding raising "any awkward questions, would help to gain us Indonesian support over Ireland". Dr Saltford said Australia, as a close ally of Indonesia, remained a major stumbling block on the issue.

However, "there are movements towards a resolution, and I hope this book would make a contribution to that. I know some senior UN officials are aware of the book and are due to study it as it's the first time some of this information has been made public.

"It really was a betrayal," he added. "I think the UN needs to address that if it wants to keep its status, and I say that as a supporter of the UN."

* The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua, 1962-1969: The Anatomy of Betrayal, by Dr John Saltford and published by, Routledge Curzon was launched on Tuesday night at a function hosted by West Papua Action and the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin. [The book was launched by former Irish Minister for Justice, Mr. Desmond J O'Malley]

MEDIA RELEASE

18 November 2002

New book which reveals UN collusion
in take-over of West Papua to be launched in Dublin

The international launch of a ground-breaking book on the shameful role of the United Nations Secretariat and staff in the takeover of West Papua by the Indonesian military will be launched in Dublin on November 19 by Desmond O'Malley (1).

The launch will take place at 6.30pm, Tuesday, November 19th, 2002 in the James Joyce Room, Bewleys, Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

The book, by respected British academic Dr. John Saltford is entitled, “The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua, 1962-69”, and is published by RoutledgeCurzon (2). The book launch is co-hosted by West Papua Action and the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin.

Key findings

Misleading statements were made by senior UN Secretariat officials in the run-up to the now-discredited “Act of ‘Free’ Choice” (3)

The UN failed in its obligations under Articles 16,17, 18, and 22 of the New York Agreement, which was signed at UN headquarters in August 1962, and which conferred specific responsibilities on the UN Secretary-General’s office.

UN officials were advising the Indonesian administration how to "prevent a heated debate at the [UN] General Assembly" when a UN report on the Act came up for discussion.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative misled the General Assembly in his report on the Act.

More than 100,000 people, or ten per cent of the population, have been killed in West Papua, since 1963.

Notes for Editors:

(1) Desmond O'Malley is former Irish Minister for Justice. He was founding member of the Progressive Democrats, which currently is in coalition government with Fianna Fáil. From 1997 until his retirement from parliamentary politics in June of this year, he was chair of the Irish parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(2) The United Nations and the Indonesian Takeover of West Papua, 1962-69, by John Saltford - ISBN - 0-7007-1751-X (Hardback only at this point) can be ordered on Tel. *44 (0) 1264 34 3071; Customer Services, Routledge, FREEPOST, Andover, Hants SP10 5BR; Fax. *44 (0) 1264 34 3005; book.orders@routledge.co.uk. If ordering from the US: ROUTLEDGE, 10650 Toebben Drive, Independence, KY 41051; Tel. Toll Free 1-800-634-7064; Fax Toll Free 1-800-248-4724; www.routledge.com The special launch price is stg £48.00.

(3) The “Act of ‘Free’ Choice was an attempt, now discredited, by the Indonesian military regime, under Suharto, to seek legitimacy for the takeover of West Papua. Just 1,022 hand-picked elders unanimously declared in public their avowed wish to be part of Indonesia. In the run-up to the Act (1963-69) 30,000 West Papuans had been killed. The UN "took note" of a flawed report on the conduct of the Act on 19 November 1969, the last time West Papua was on the UN's agenda. Former UN Undersecretary General Chakravarthy Narasimhan, who handled the takeover, admitted the Act was a “whitewash” in November 2001. See also: http://westpapuaaction.buz.org/unreview

For further information, telephone Mark Doris, *353 1 8603431 or *353 87 2969742.

ENDS

Other news on this page

DUTCH PEOPLE IN SOLIDARITY WITH WEST PAPUANS, OCT 4 2002:

PICTURES AND TEXT 15 SEPTEMEBER VIGIL OUTSIDE DUTCH EMBASSY

15 September 2002

West Papua Vigil Held at Dutch Embassy

A vigil was held outside the Netherlands Embassy from 12.00pm to 1.00pm on Sunday, 15 September 2002.

This follows from sit-down protest and vigil on August 15th (See Latest News Archive - Jun 2002 to Aug 2002 - for pictures and reports).

"The Netherlands signed an agreement with Indonesia at the United Nations which said the West Papuan people would get a chance to vote for independence. It never happened, and the Netherlands did nothing. They continue to sit on their hands," said West Papua Action coordinator, Mark Doris.

“It is time for the Netherlands to call publicly as a matter of urgency for a proper act of self-determination in West Papua in accordance with international practice as they agreed to at the UN 40 years ago on August 15, 1962.”

Placards displayed included "West Papua Betrayed", "Dutch Courage?", "100,000 murdered", "Free West Papua" and "West Papua Sold Out".

The West Papuan people continue to suffer the consequences of silence with at least 100,000 deaths at the hands of the Indonesian military since 1963, after the Netherlands left. Non-violent leader Theys Eluay was strangled last November. Highlands leader Yefeth Yelemaken was poisoned in June.

*******************

PINA Nius Online
WEST PAPUA: Vanuatu promises new backing for West Papuans
Tuesday: September 17, 2002
Port Vila

Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei has announced his country's
renewed support for the West Papuan independence movement, the new
regional newspaper Pacific Weekly Review reported.

Pacific Weekly Review said Mr Natapei told a reconciliation ceremony in
Port Vila that:

- The West Papuans will be allowed to officially set up an office in the
Vanuatu capital, Port Vila;

- Two prominent West Papuan activists are expected to be included in a
Vanuatu delegation going to the United Nations in New York.

The news comes as a major boost for the pro-independence West Papuans
after their failure to get significant support from the Pacific Islands
Forum leaders' meeting in Suva last month.

West Papuans have been pushing an international campaign for a United
Nations review of a controversial 1969 'Act of Free Choice'. Under this
Indonesia officially took control of the resource-rich former Dutch
colony.

Pacific Weekly Review gives details of the reconciliation ceremony in a
special report headlined "The Battle for West Papua."

It said the ceremony was held at the Chiefs' Nakamal in Port Vila and
featured members of the "Black Brothers Band", whose members come from
West Papua.

The band was deported from Vanuatu 14 years ago by then Prime Minister
Father Walter Lini. The band recently returned to Vanuatu to perform in
the Fes Napuan Festival.

Mr Natapei said the deportation decision was made at the time by Father
Lini because of a tense political situation facing the then government.

At the time there were allegations the band got support from Libya and
was involved in local political manoeuvring against the Lini government,
Pacific Weekly Review said.

Pacific Weekly Review quoted Mr Natapei as saying: "Today Vanuatu is
governed by different leaders and we're living in different times."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Serge Vohor is
understood to be working on the establishment of a West Papuan
representative mission in Port Vila, the newspaper said.

West Papua, bordering Papua New Guinea, was a Dutch colony, like
Indonesia. In the 1960s the Indonesians, who had won their own
independence from Dutch colonial rule, began fighting to take control of
West Papua from the Dutch.

The current Indonesian Government has recently granted West Papua more
autonomy, allowed its name to be changed from Irian Jaya to Papua, and
given the province a greater share of revenue from its resources.

Indonesia has also established an embassy in Suva, Fiji, as part of its
efforts to strengthen links with Pacific Islands countries.

**********