Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Restless Papua

The Indonesian part of the Island of Papua has the world's largest Gold and Copper mining operated by PT. Freeport Indonesia as a subsidiary of the multinational company Freeport-McMoran, USA.

The mining operation that began in 1967 has made PT Freeport Indonesia, Freeport-McMoran and some high ranking Indonesian officials very rich.

Unfortunately not many people of Papua enjoyed the Gold and Copper money, many of them are still living in very poor condition, and the infrastructure on the territory are still in poor condition.

The company only thinks about getting as much money as possible, they do not care about the well being of their employees, and do not care about the great destruction that their mining operations have caused to nature.

Due to this facts, on 15 September 2011, the workers of PT. Freeport Indonesia has stop working, and until now they are still negotiating with the company's management for better salary and working conditions.  

Further,  on 19 October days, some groups of people held the third Papua People's Congress in the town of Abepura. Unlike the first two congresses which ended peacefully, this congress was disbanded by the Police because the participants have violated the conditions for holding such congress i.e. they have declared the independence of West Papua, raised the flag of Free Papua Organization, named its President and Prime Minister. Three men died in the clash between the Police and the participants, 600 hundreds others, including university and school students, were arrested, but many of them released soon afterwards.

On 21 October, three men working with the contractor of PT. Freeport Indonesia were shot to death by unknown gunmen.  One week earlier, three workers of PT Freeport Indonesia were shot to death by mysterious group of men.

Yesterday, a chief of Police in the sub-district of Mulia, namely Adjunct Comm. Domingus Awes, was shot to death at the local airport by two unknown men who grabbed his gun and used it to kill him, took the gun and runaway to nearby forest. This was the second killing a Police officer at the same airport this year. On 24 June First Brig. Yazin was shot to death and his firearm was taken away.

The ambush at PT. Freeport's mine is part of a recent string, the first in April left two workers dead and  two others wounded.

In reaction to the above mentioned violence, the central government in Jakarta has deployed extra Police and Military troops to join existing force of 14,000 troops in Papua to maintain security and order.

In my opinion, the never ending violence in Papua is caused by lack of social, economic and legal justice as I have mentioned above. Therefore such violence cannot be calmed merely by sending more Police and Military, but should also be followed by giving a lot much better attention to the people of Papua.

For example by persuading PT Freeport Indonesia to provide salary and working conditions as demanded by its workers, to develop free schools and health facilities, to expedite the developments of infrastructure.

Moreover, the central government, the House of Representatives and law enforcement agencies should do their utmost to show that Indonesia is lead by clean, uncorrupt, unselfish, wise and fair leaders who will properly take care of money collected from all provinces in Indonesia, especially Papua. That way the people of Papua would not felt cheated and therefore willing to be part of Indonesia.

Last but not least, if possible perhaps the central government could start to have talks with the separatist movement in Papua to find a peaceful solution like we have done in Aceh.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

ibarat berlayar, kapal yang kita tumpangi ini sudah pada berlubang, karena dibolongi oleh ABK. kita siap siap tenggelam.Dan di tvone tadi saya dengar 30% properti di singapura sudah diborong oleh orang kaya indonesia..

sore tadi. ketika melihat wawancara edo kondolangit di metro TV. saya sempat menitikkan air mata.. dia bercerita banyak tentang ketimpangan, yang diperparah dengan kebijakan otonomi yang dimanfaatkan oleh pejabat lokal (papua) untuk memperkaya diri.. disana dinegeriku indonesia ini masih banyak orang yang hidup seperti jaman batu, tanpa pakaian, tanpa pendidikan. menurut edo mereka semua menuntut kesejahteraan. walaupun edo menyadari SDM mereka memang jauh tertinggal dengan saudara yang lain. tapi itupun karena kurangnya tanggap penguasa untuk menuntut mereka jadi masyarakat yang siap tanding...

kita harus banyak berdoa. karena seperti lagu Indonesia tanah air beta.. kita tidak mengenal singapura. karena memang kita putra indonesia

terakhir pak sby kemarin juga teriak uang negara dirampok,, maaf terlalu panjang komennya.. salam

Munir ardi said...

Pemerintah sudah membuat undang-undang tentang OTSUS disana tetapi sepertinya pelaksanaannya jauh api dari panggang, masyarakat dengan karakter yang berbeda seperti papua semestinya dihadapi dengan pendekatan persuasif meski saya tahu bahwa untuk menghadapi masyarakat yang memang masih rendah kualitas pendidikannya agak sedikit susah

colson said...

We did choose the same topic and I think are views are quite similar. So I can copy what I wrote to you elsewhere:

"Usually I agree with you. And sometimes I would like to change the world together with you in a two-men-band :) . Like this time. For a program of no violence, but dialogue, no oppression, but elevation, no exploitation, but innovation."

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Unknown said...

@Wisata Murah,
Saya sependapat dengan anda bahwa harta dari bumi Papua banyak yang sudah dirampok orang luar seperti Freeport maupun pejabat2 didaerah dan pusat.
Yang sangat menyedihkan adalah masih banyak saudara2 kita di Papua yang masih hidup seperti di zaman batu tanpa pakaian hanya koteka, tanpa pendidikan, perawatan kesehatan.
Parahnya Bapak Presiden kita selama lebih dari sebulan ini hanya sibuk mengurusi reshuffle kabinetnya yang hasilnya tidak jelas. Begitu pula DPR menunda pemilihan pimpinan KPK, dll.

@Munir Ardi,
Oleh sebab itu sebaiknya penduduk Papua yang hanya 2.5 juta harus ditingkatkan kemampuannya dengan bebas biaya pendidikan dan kesehatan supaya bisa mengejar ketertinggalan dari saudara2 lainnya di Indonesia. Emas dan Tembaga yang ditambang Freeport sudah terlalu banyak tapi orang Papua tidak menikmati.

@Colson,
Yeah we came to similar conclusion so I'd like to rephrase your last words:

"Usually I agree with you. And sometimes I would like to change the world together with you in a two-men-band :) . Like this time. For a program of no violence, but dialogue, no oppression, but elevation, no exploitation, but innovation."

Meutia Halida Khairani said...

i agree with this statement "Last but not least, if possible perhaps the central government could start to have talks with the separatist movement in Papua to find a peaceful solution like we have done in Aceh. "

there's nothing we can do except talk n do some action about this.

Unknown said...

@Meutia,
Yes the best solution for the problems in Papua is by holding peace talks among the related parties.

Unknown said...

@Workshop Internet,
Thank you for your offer. Unfortunately I live in Jakarta, far away from Malang.
I wish you all the best.

NTRage03 said...

loh,, om nizar asli malang tah ? :D
sama klo giut.
skarang q lagi merantau dmalang..

Unknown said...

@Ciids,
Saya orang Betawi kok.

sawali tuhusetya said...

sedih setiap kali mendengar berita kekerasan seperti yang terjadi di papua, mas harry. kenapa negeri yang yang dulu dikenal rukun di tengah kebhinekaan malah selalu menampilkan wajah kekerasan?

Nice Veloso said...

Oh! my friend! It's okay with you? We have much to pray that humanism takes care of the unfeeling hearts! Big hug

attayaya-green said...

konflik bersenjata bergeser dari ujung barat ke ujung timur Indonesia.
hmmmm kapan damainya ya???

damai di bumi
damai di hati

R10 said...

papua bergejolak karena kekayaan alamnya dinikmati oleh pusat, warga lokal tetap miskin :(

Unknown said...

@Sawali,
Kita perlu memakai cara2 dulu yang positif: Penghayatan Pancasila dan Bhineka Tunggal Ika tapi disesuaikan dengan kondisi sekarang.

@Nice Veloso,
Yes let us hope so.

@Attayaya-Green,
Sekarang sedang diwacanakan bahwa pembangunan di Papua harus dengan hati.

@R10,
Perusahaan asing (Freeport) yang berkolaborasi dengan pemerintah pusat, dan segekintir pengusaha.

Unknown said...

I do agree with u Harry Nizam, the central government should start to have talks with the separatist movement in Papua to find a peaceful solution like we have done in Aceh.

Peace for Papua.. Thanks Harry!

Unknown said...

@Deeahzone,
Yes let us hope that the government would that.

experiential marketing said...

"Last but not least, if possible perhaps the central government could start to have talks with the separatist movement in Papua to find a peaceful solution like we have done in Aceh. "

I totally agree with this. The way to peace is through negotiation.

Obat Alami Untuk Asam Urat said...

miris kalo lihat tempat penambangan...
gunung yang tinggi menjulang jadi danau yang dalam...
parahnya itu bukan untuk Indonesia...

Nationwide Auto Loan said...

i recognize with this declaration "Last but not least, if possible perhaps the main govt could begin to have shares with the separatist activity in Papua to discover a relaxing remedy like we have done in Aceh. "

there's nothing we can do except discuss n do some measures about this.