Since the fall of Soeharto in 1998, Indonesia was in the process of political reformation. During this time, the people committed to prioritize democration and regional autonomy, and the basics of human rights as the main concern of national priority. There was a lot of work to be done.
Soeharto’s forced resignation by the people brought a fresh air to the people of West Papua—As the other parts of Indonesia. His repressive rule during his regime was the main fuel for the conflict between the military and the people of West Papua.
So how is West Papua‘s condition today? Firstly, let’s discuss the fall of the New Order Regime and the beginning of the Reformation Era in Indonesia.
The Fall of New Order Regime: The Beginning of the Reformation Era
The Reformation era started soon after the resignation of Soeharto as president, replaced by the third president of Indonesia, B.J Habibie (1998-1999). There were changes in policy in West Papua under the new presidency of Habibie. Military was no longer the only imposing ruler for security and pers have gained more freedom. Under the presidential decree 123/1999, political prisoners Hendrikus Kowip, Kasiwirus Iwop, and Benediktus Kuawamba were freed from the prison.
In August 1998, Military General Wiranto publically asked for clemency and dismissed the status of Military Area Operation (DOM) in Papua after years of fear mongering.
On January 27th 1999, President Habibie submitted a referendum for East Timor to Secretary General of United Nations, Kofi Annan, this marked the end of the New Order Regime. The result of that referendum was announced on August 30th 1999, with the result that parts of the people in East Timor voted for their independence from Indonesia and changed their name to Timor Leste. Meanwhile for West Papua, Habibie wanted to take a diplomacy route.
Gus Dur and West Papua People
Two months after the auguration for presidency, in 1999, Abdurrahman Wahid or as the people of Indonesia fondly called him Gus Dur, visited West Papua – which was called Irian Jaya at that time. He visited Papua to hold a dialogue with public figures of Papua to know more about this exotic island.
During his visit, the unrealised diplomacy planned by Habibie was accomplished. Two things that he wanted to address during the visit was to change the name Irian Jaya (previously inaugurated by President Soekarno) back to Papua, and planning the future of Papua.
During the New Order Regime, the name Papua was associated with separatist movement called Organisasi Papua Merdeka, and Gus Dur was cleaning off that name. “Because of Gus Dur, we are no longer afraid to call ourself people of Papua, and we are proud of it”, said a young Papuan named Yehezkiel Belaw, as written in a book called Gus Dur: Santri Par Excellence Teladan Sang Guru Bangsa (2010) by B. Josie Susilo, edited by Irwan Suhanda.
Gus Dur always gives his support to the people of Papua by funding the Congress of Papua II so that the people of Papua can discuss the future of Papua. Among other things, there are several main focus of the congress such as human rights, social and economics, and the culture of Papua itself (Perjalanan Politik Gus Dur: 2010)
The second thing Gus Dur did during that time was to allow the Bintang Kejora flag to be raised in Papua. This information was gathered from the notes of Aisah Putri Budiatri in Menimbang Demokrasi Dua Dekade Reformasi (2019). Furthermore, Gus Dur showed no objection to the Bintang Kejora flag raised under the national flag of Indonesia. According to him, Bintang Kejora flag was not a national or political flag, but rather a cultural flag of Papua (Tempo:2003)
According to Papuans, Gus Dur was the only Indonesian president to acknowledge Papua as a society. Such is told by Chief of the Papua Tribe at that time, Forkorus Yaboisembut.
West Papua Today
In 2014, Joko Widodo was appointed as President of Indonesia. Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, visited Papua and West Papua for at least 11 times during his presidency. He wants to address and gain information about the problems in the land of bird paradise.
Through Inpres no. 9 year 2020 and Kepres no. 9 Year 2020, President Jokowi prioritizes the development of infrastructures as the means to solve the conflicts in Papua. He also implemented a new policy called one price for gas (BBM Satu Harga) from January 1st 2017, to give the people of Papua equality. With this one price policy, the price for gas in Papua is equal to the price of gas in Java.
Another infrastructure built during Joko Widodo’s presidency is Palapa Ring optical fibre to accommodate faster and more reliable internet for Papua people. In the first stage of this implementation, crucial sectors such as education, health and medical service, are given the first priority to build a better future for Papua.
