The title above does not reflect the feelings of all Indonesians toward West Papuans and vice versa. The preceding term also does not seek to separate Papua from Indonesia.
This article is only a reflection of what has occurred, namely the desire of certain Papuans to secede from the Republic of Indonesia. Separation efforts from the Republic of Indonesia have made significant headway.
This may be seen in the founding of the National Committee for the Liberation of West Papua as well as the United Liberation Movement for West Papuans (ULMWP). Diplomacy that is still being conducted has prompted some Pacific countries to speak out against this desire for independence.
West Papuans’ Perspective towards Indonesians
This article will start with the part of Indonesia in the eyes of Papua. The core of the reasons that some Papuans have for leaving the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is dissatisfaction with what Indonesia is doing in Papua.
1. The Beginning
This began with the implementation of PEPERA in Papua, which was deemed to have been engineered by the Indonesian government, accusations of deliberate genocide, and the exploitation of natural resources that were not balanced with good development.
The basis of this is the opinion that Indonesia is a colonialist country that colonized Papua. The colonization caused suffering for almost all Papuan people. The allegations also state that Papuans suffer from poverty and injustice.
2. Conclusion in Responding to Perspective
For Papuans, Indonesians are not Papuans, and vice versa, Papuans are not Indonesians. You can see it from the physical characteristics. In other words, commonly called that the Papuans are Melanesian, which is different from Indonesia.
All of the things mentioned above ultimately lead to dissatisfaction for the Papuans. For some Papuans, all that Indonesia has done and will do to Papua will inevitably lead to other discontent.
3. Desire for Freedom
One of the efforts to launch an attempt to separate themselves from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is to demand settlement of human rights. The demand is based on the assumption that the PEPERA in Papua has been engineered.
Indonesians’ Perspective towards West Papuans
On the other hand, we will also see Papua in the eyes of Indonesia.
1. Papua is an Absolute Part of Indonesia
For Indonesia, Papua is one of the provinces of Indonesia that is unique. The uniqueness of the problem (poverty problems, the desire for secession, the problem of isolation, etc.), the uniqueness of culture, and the uniqueness of abundant natural resources.
The uniqueness above makes Indonesia strive to maintain Papua as part of Indonesia. It is in addition to admitting that Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, which cannot be contested.
2. Efforts to Win the Hearts of Papuans
The Indonesian government is trying to “grab the hearts” of Papuans by promoting development in Papua. To defend Papua as Indonesia territory, Indonesia has done so many things. The efforts are more than this country has ever done.
Among them are the granting of special autonomy and the construction of roads in the interior of Papua. Indonesia is also aware that the problem in Papua is dissatisfaction with Indonesia. Therefore, many things were done to develop Papua.
3. Conclusion
According to the brief explanation above, this article suggests that the problem of discontent exists in Papua. Therefore, resolving this issue will be difficult.
On the one hand, certain West Papuans advocate for discussion. They discussed the settlement of human rights concerns in Papua through the involvement of third parties. On the other hand, the Indonesian government is attempting to tackle Papua’s challenges through development. Two solutions that are neither difficult nor difficult to put together.
Regardless, the two sides (the Indonesian government and the Papuan people who want independence) should not simply debate whether or not Papua should be independent.
