Comments on: A dialogue-centered peace process will end the Papua/Indonesia conflict http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/07/24/a-dialogue-centered-peace-process-will-end-the-papuaindonesia-conflict/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:23:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: EMKhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/07/24/a-dialogue-centered-peace-process-will-end-the-papuaindonesia-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-165790 EMK Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:38:45 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=12985#comment-165790 Hi Andrew, when I say "western obsession with independence" I am not ignoring the long and persistent calls for independence that have been harboured and articulated by certain West Papuan groups. What I mean to highlight is that within the Western world we have a tendency to be blinded by Independence as the only solution to such conflicts. I don't think independence is likely for Papua or necessarily viable and I am interested in people opening up to new possible avenues to peace. I see the autonomy package which was implemented in Aceh as a good example of this. My reasons for stating independence is unrealistic is that we are now with a situation where the entire Papuan population are not supportive of independence there are certain groups which are pro and others who are not. I believe independence would be a messy and hard path to pursue. I believe peace can be obtained more easily. Hi Andrew,

when I say “western obsession with independence” I am not ignoring the long and persistent calls for independence that have been harboured and articulated by certain West Papuan groups. What I mean to highlight is that within the Western world we have a tendency to be blinded by Independence as the only solution to such conflicts. I don’t think independence is likely for Papua or necessarily viable and I am interested in people opening up to new possible avenues to peace. I see the autonomy package which was implemented in Aceh as a good example of this.

My reasons for stating independence is unrealistic is that we are now with a situation where the entire Papuan population are not supportive of independence there are certain groups which are pro and others who are not. I believe independence would be a messy and hard path to pursue. I believe peace can be obtained more easily.

]]> By: Andrew Johnsonhttp://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/07/24/a-dialogue-centered-peace-process-will-end-the-papuaindonesia-conflict/comment-page-1/#comment-158704 Andrew Johnson Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:36:48 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=12985#comment-158704 The above is misleading and invalid. Indonesia sold mining rights to Freeport in 1967, that was a commercial statement in 1967 that West Papua was an Indonesian possession. There have been Papuan protests since August 1962 to the US drafted deal trading them to Indonesian administration. West Papua had held national elections in January 1961 and it was the elected New Guinea Council which wrote the manifesto of West Papua and designed the Morning Star flag etc on 18 Oct 1961 hours after hearing of the US plan for the UN to trade them to Indonesian rule (the US also offered the UN $200m at the time). The above claim "Western obsession with independence" is not supported by the facts and ignores the Papuan insistence on independence since 1961. The assertion that independence is "unrealistic" is without supporting argument. The above is misleading and invalid. Indonesia sold mining rights to Freeport in 1967, that was a commercial statement in 1967 that West Papua was an Indonesian possession. There have been Papuan protests since August 1962 to the US drafted deal trading them to Indonesian administration. West Papua had held national elections in January 1961 and it was the elected New Guinea Council which wrote the manifesto of West Papua and designed the Morning Star flag etc on 18 Oct 1961 hours after hearing of the US plan for the UN to trade them to Indonesian rule (the US also offered the UN $200m at the time).

The above claim “Western obsession with independence” is not supported by the facts and ignores the Papuan insistence on independence since 1961. The assertion that independence is “unrealistic” is without supporting argument.

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