The hopes and fears of displaced West Papuans as a Prabowo presidency looms

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The hopes and fears of displaced West Papuans as a Prabowo presidency looms

时间：2024-10-14 10:56 来源：未知作者：admin 阅读：次

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Three years ago, Lamberti Faan was sleeping in her village when armed men woke her.

It was September 2021, and the Indonesian military were hunting Papuan separatists.

Lamberti Faan's life has changed drastically since the military displaced her from her home.

Three days later, she fled with her family, fearful for her life.

"We know, we've learned from our brothers in the mountains, when conflict occurs, what kind of approach the military takes," she said.

"My house is now a military post."

Ms Faan now lives in a camp for displaced people in Sorong, the largest city in the Indonesian province of West Papua.

She is just one of an estimated 100,000 Papuan people who rights groups say have been driven from their homes in recent years.

"We have to start everything again from scratch," Ms Faan said.

Conflict in Indonesia's Papua provinces has displaced thousands of civilians.

The decades-old conflict in West Papua appears to be intensifying, as Indonesia tightens controls and deploys thousands of troops in a bid to quell the separatist movement.

But it's a war that has been happening largely in secret.

Indonesian authorities have restricted access to West Papua and enforced internet blackouts during periods of unrest.

"They're trying to cover up the situation," Ms Faan said.

"They're trying to build a narrative that [our region] is fine, there is no conflict, there are no refugees. That's nonsense."

The ABC's The Pacific program gained rare access to West Papua and was able speak with locals who said they felt neglected.

As Indonesia prepares to inaugurate new president Prabowo Subianto — a former military general accused of historic human rights abuses — some fear the situation could deteriorate even further while others still hold out hope for a better future.

The Indonesian military has generally denied allegations of human rights abuses in West Papua.

'Neglect is a form of human rights violation'

Frits Ramandey, from the National Commission on Human Rights, said the Indonesian government did not acknowledge the displacement of civilians in West Papua.

Indonesian human rights commissioner for Papua, Frits Ramandey.

"This means the government is neglecting them, and I want to reiterate, neglect is a form of human rights violation," he said.

Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights lawyer living in exile in Australia, said "the humanitarian crisis in West Papua has never, ever been this bad".

"In a normal world, this would be catastrophic," she said.

The number of displaced people and intensity of the conflict in Papua has never been this high before, Veronica Koman says.

"But we're not hearing anything because international organisations are under de facto ban from entering West Papua."

Earlier this year, the UN published a report expressing concern about "the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" against Papuans.

The Indonesian military, which generally denies allegations of human rights abuses in West Papua, was contacted by the ABC for comment.

The violence in Papua is a conflict happening mostly in secret.

Separatist militants have also committed atrocities, attacking Indonesian workers and civilians, and even burning schools they said were indoctrinating Papuan children against their movement.

In the streets of Jayapura, a major city near the Indonesian border with Papua New Guinea, many Papuans condemned the violence but said their situation was dire.

"If [the government] doesn't listen, but immediately takes unpleasant actions … people will be provoked by emotions to fight back, to retaliate," local man Aki Kobak said.

Papuan man Aki Robak in Jayapura.

The cycle of violence has inflamed hatred on both sides.

In a shocking video that emerged earlier this year, Indonesian soldiers can be seen beating a bloodied man in a barrel with his hands tied.

Thirteen soldiers were later arrested, and the Indonesian military issued a rare apology.

But that hasn't slowed a growing military presence in the region.

Some countries in the Pacific have been trying to call international attention to West Papua.

Environmental degradation poses 'existential threat'

In yet another sign West Papua has become increasingly militarised, there have been reports the Indonesian army has been deployed to ensure a major development project in Merauke district can go ahead without resistance.

Just last month, work began on what environmental groups have called the "world's largest deforestation project".

Two million hectares are being cleared in Merauke to make way for sugarcane plantations as part of a food security push by the Indonesian government.

Indigenous landowners have long resisted large scale development which they said harms their environment and way of life.

Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said environmental degradation was an "existential threat to the people of West Papua".

Papuan activists take part in a protest against deforestation by palm oil companies on their Indigenous land in Papua.

West Papua is rich in copper, oil and fertile soils. It's also home to one of the world's biggest gold mines.

But few Papuans feel they have seen the benefits.

Despite their mineral wealth, Papua and West Papua provinces have the highest rates of poverty in Indonesia.

"Papuans feel a bit like Indonesia's stepchild," Herman Jubelin Waga, a student, told the ABC.

"What is the reason why you want us to be part of Indonesia if we are not treated as we should be?" she asked.

Indonesia has restricted access to West Papua and enforced internet blackouts during periods of unrest to prevent the spread of information.

Another student, Alex, said: "In Papua, we don't need more military personnel; what we need is free education and healthcare."

It's a sentiment echoed by many others.

Despite a policy of special autonomy for the the Papuan provinces, people said even basic services were lacking.

"The life of Papuans is very different from those who live in the west of Indonesia on the island of Java," Ms Waga said.

Prabowo presidency could isolate Papua further

Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's new president on October 20.

Despite an infrastructure and investment drive, outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo's emphasis on economic development has not quelled the unrest nor raised living standards for Papuans to be on par with the rest of the country.

"President Jokowi's legacy in West Papua is a disappointment … the number of displaced people, the intensity of the conflict has never been this high before," Ms Koman said.

Mr Subianto, a man accused of committing human rights abuses in Timor Leste and West Papua, is about to become Indonesia's next president — evoking fears the conflict could escalate even further.

Still, many are hopeful a new president could bring change, despite the challenges.

Student Apyami Pahabol told the ABC: "We Papuans know he is a firm person.

"I myself hope that after being inaugurated, he comes to Papua and gives us freedom, especially in conflict zones," he said.

Yustina Nari says Mr Prabowo will need to fix many things in Papua.

At the market in Jayapura, vendor Yustina Nari said: "He has a lot of things to fix here."

"Because there's been a deprivation of rights … he must protect all Papuans," she said.

Mr Hamid from Amnesty said a Prabowo presidency was unlikely to change Indonesia's policy toward West Papua too drastically — even if concerns over his past linger.

Instead, Mr Hamid worries Mr Subianto's hostile relationship with the media could lead to access to the region being tightened even further.

"He's not someone who is happy with the role of journalists and the role of civil society," he said.

"Papua has been very isolated from the world and from the international community."

Educational outcomes for students in Papua are poor.

And Mr Subianto has much to do if he is to solidify support among everyday Papuans.

He's promised free lunches for students.

But at a school in the remote area around Lake Sentani near the Papua New Guinea border, that's been dismissed as a token gesture.

Principal Agnes Katarina Tukayo said: "Many children in Papua, sometimes even those in higher grades, still can't read."

She wants better facilities, access to technology like laptops, and more teachers.

Indonesia stifles international efforts

Active efforts by Indonesia's government to court Pacific neighbours like Papua New Guinea have muted efforts by some Melanesian countries to call attention to West Papua.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea are yet to secure a UN human rights mission to the region — and repeated efforts by Vanuatu to talk about the situation have failed to rouse global attention.

A spokesperson for the Indonesian foreign ministry told the ABC the Indonesian government was "always in a close cooperation with all relevant UN bodies with a view to provide them with a comprehensive picture on the recent development in West Papua".

The Indonesian embassy in Canberra was also contacted for comment.

Mr Subianto has promised his administration will provide free lunches for students.

Back in Sorong, Ms Faan just hoped she could be heard, so people like her were given the help they needed.

"My message to the state of Indonesia is that they must acknowledge there is a humanitarian crisis, that Papua is not doing well," she said.

"They must solve this [conflict] through dialogue."

By：https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-12/displaced-west-papuans-and-their-hopes-for-a-prabowo-presidency/104455634

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