Picture Source : Reuters
Indonesia runs a general election every five years, to select both the legislative representatives and the next Indonesian President. Every citizen is provided with a vote. Indonesia introduced the direct local elections in 2005. Direct vote was also implemented for regional governors and mayors. Based on the Constitution, The Indonesian armed Forces and Police will remain neutral during the election process. In addition, their members will not vote on the election day. It is to ensure that the Indonesian Armed Forces and Police will not involved in practical politic and focus on maintaining security throughout the process. The success of Indonesia’s democratic process has received appreciation from many countries.
The next General Election in Indonesia will be held on 17 April 2019. However, members of “Free West Papua” activists lead by Benny Wenda and supported by ULMWP speaker Jacob Rumbiak have instructed all Papuans to boycott the election by encouraging them not to use their vote on the election day.
The instructions state that:
1. ULMWP components and members are to remind Papuans to not participate in any elections. It includes the upcoming election for national and local levels.
2. All Papuans are encouraged to stay at home during the election day.
3. This is a key strategic step in assiting the “Free West Papua” program, and the attempt ultimately seeks to raise Papua’s case to the United Nation in the year 2020.
4. If all Papuans boycott the general election it will show a strong indication to the UN to accept Papuan Independency as had happened in Kosovo before.
The Indonesian election boycott is also echoed by the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP). They accused the Indonesian government of illegal political practices in Papua, failed to uphold the rights of the Papuan people and claim both presidential candidates have had a bad track record on Papua. “Indonesia is a state which since the declaration of the Trikora operation on December 19, 1961, has conducted illegal political activities in the territory”, said FRI-WP spokesperson Surya Anta at the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) offices in Central Jakarta last week. “Because of this we are taking a position and declaring that we will not take part in the 2019 presidential or legislative elections,” he said. The groups also accussed that the contestants in the 2019 election on April 17 are the same as those in previous elections where candidates are only interested in gathering votes from the Papuan people.
Moreover the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation secretary-general Samsi Mahmud said that the Papuan people were not interested in the 2019 elections. Aside from Indonesia’s illegal political activities, according to Mahmud none of the political parties are articulating the wishes of the Papuan people and the elections are only aimed at maintaining the practice of colonialism. “[The elections] are a tool for the colonial government to put local power holders in place to safeguard their interests”, said Mahmud. AMP member Erepul Sama said there was no difference between the two presidential candidates, incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, particularly in their handling of human rights violations.
Aside from declaring that they will not take part in the 2019 elections, the FRP-WP and the AMP made three other demands: West Papuans be given the right to self-determination, all organic and non-organic troops be withdrawn from Papua and journalists be given free access to Papua. The boycott movement raised by Benny Wenda, Jacob Rumbiak and other Free West Papua activists demonstrate a violation to democratic spirit and Indonesia National Law because it will damage the functions of democratic process in Indonesia.
Tell the Truth has noted that the Free West Papua activists frequently spread hatred and false information in an effort to downgrade Indonesia’s credibility and legitimacy. The truth remains that Papua is now developing much more quickly. Papua’s development is significantly more advanced than other Pacific cities, and this progress is very receptive to media coverage. The boycott movement motivated by spite and hatred will not have any place in Papua. It also show that Benny Wenda and his group as untruthful mafia who are afraid of the democratic process in Papua.
