“West Papua’s suppression is a fraudulent process facilitated by the UN”

Dr. Kabutaulaka said, the Indonesian Government has since used the Act of Free Choice and the indifference of the international community as a “weapon” against dissent and to solidify its control of West Papua, excuse its human rights atrocities, and suffocate international discussions.

This he referred to as the ‘weaponization of a fraudulent process’.

Mr. Kabutaulaka adds, Jakarta dismisses indigenous West Papuans’ demands for self-determination, referring to such demands as a “separatist movement”. This is a deployment of language to imply that West Papua has always been a part of Indonesia and the union is natural.

Mr. Kabutaulaka adds, also central to the West Papua story is the extraction of natural resources to finance the Indonesian economy where the biggest mining operation, the Grasberg mine is owned by Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold Inc., a U.S. company.

In July 2018, the other shareholder, Rio Tinto, sold its share to PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum, an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, for 3.5 US billion.

West Papua is therefore vital to the Indonesian state, which explains why Jakarta is nervous whenever the issue of human rights and self-determination are discussed in the international arena.

By: Leni Dalavera