Let alone escalating international concerns over justice and prosperity in West Papua, Indonesia, the recent campaign by PNG’s National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop has given all existing efforts to better the region a serious letdown. The campaign was a provocative, arrogant move that felt as an insult to the fact that West Papua has been developing productively in diverse sectors from socially to politically.
It was reported by the governor’s office that thousands of people had joined the campaign on December 1st, at Ela Beach, Port Moresby, PNG. It was claimed that the event was to help renew any effort to escalate the independence campaign of West Papua. During the speech, the governor emphasized his claimed that West Papua is now under continuous killings, brutality, murder, rape, trauma, and suppression committed by Indonesians.
The internal report claims that, “Speaking to thousands who joined the West Papuan community in the city to commemorate their national day, National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop said they were not just there to celebrate it, but most importantly, is to renew their commitment, because despite the killings, brutality, murder, rape, trauma, and suppression, the Morning Star flag is still flying.”
When reading the report, for a moment our team at Tell the Truth New Zealand found that the story was compelling and it felt like what the governor did was noble.
But, after listening to our source from the location, we have to tell nothing but the truth that the campaign was truly a setback, careless mover that was hijacked by political interests. The report itself is based on fake and outdated information.
Let’s start with the fake info. Our credible source on the ground has confirmed that it was only around 60 people joining the event. That there were more people coming to the area is true, but they were there for family moments and vacation at the beach. It is a serious and somewhat provocative that it was claimed thousands, yes thousands, of people were there supporting the cause.
The governor’s claim over crimes against West Papuans sounded like a genuine sympathy. But in fact, it was a baseless claim that seemed to be deliberately made up based on outdated facts.
Tell the Truth NZ greatly supports any effort by organizations that seek justice for human abuses in West Papua from the past. But at the same time, we admit that betterment is massively happening in the region.
Some individuals and organizations have been tried and jailed for their misdemeanors in West Papua. Thus we encourage people to come up with real-world solutions to join the voyage to develop West and let the region prosper.
Whenever hearing such protests and accusations made by people like Gov. Parkop, what we see instead is people, both West Papuans and non West Papuans, are working hand in hand to develop West Papua in many sectors. They build schools, libraries, reading rooms there from and for nothing. People also come teach and establish a better education system in West Papua voluntarily. Many of our friends, for example, from Indonesia and other countries, stay there for months and years to teach elementary school kids asking nothing in return.
And now there goes Gov. Parkop standing in front of the crowd, so far in PNG, irresponsibly misleading them with fake, baseless accusations. What an insult to the progress of the development that people have done in West Papua!
He said that he paid homage to the thousands who have paid the ultimate sacrifice which will not die in vain. But, in fact, he is degrading and damaging all support that has been given to West Papua. When the governor is cheering those so-called independence fighters, just now dozens of workers that helped build Trans Papua road were murdered by the West Papuan armed group that was cheered by such provocative, intimidating speeches like the governor’s.
The governor said that, “To clean that bad history, West Papua should be allowed to be free. Indonesians will be better people when they are free. They will be true brothers and sisters. We will have a relation better than today when West Papua is free, and we will be prosperous. Our economy and culture people will be integrated when West Papua is free, so today I want to call on Indonesia to be brave and courageous and not let pride and fear dictate your decision and your action. Just let our people go and we can build a better future.”
When we listen to his points, for a glance we surprised by how this man who never comes to West Papua, has shown his whole-hearted support for the region. However, as we gave a second thought about it, there came a wait a minute moment.
This governor has shown many significant achievement during his serving both as NCD regional member and a governor. We saw that he has helped build schools and fund SMEs.
Gov. Parkop seems to know that developing sectors like education, health and youth are important for a progressing region.
But now, he came up with an issue that seems far from his agendas in the past. Out of nowhere, Gov. Parkop brought up the West Papua issue and covered that deliberately with misleading information to back up his claims. What is wrong with you Mr. Governor?
It is strongly sensed that his move is so political that he sought no sympathies of international people on West Papua development issues. This man, instead, has used the issue to gain sympathy from PNG people that do not know well about West Papua to help build his political public image.
We want yo emphasize that nobody claims that West Papua had a bright history. Even Indonesians do believe that many things went wrong in the past especially regarding abuses and other crimes in West Papua.
But some people have chosen to come with real-world actions and solutions. They work hard on campaigns, projects and programs to improve West Papuan education and health care services.
We have seen both civilians and military members both from home and abroad become volunteer teachers and health practicioners in the region for months and years. The recent administration of the government of Indonesia is now developing roads for better rural and urban connections. A lot of scholarships are given to West Papuans students for home and abroad studies.
Both Indonesians and foreigners even bravely established their private schools that provide free world-class education for West Papuan kids. Others also built private health centers to help West Papuans access more affordable health care.
All of these efforts, unfortunately, seem to be unprecedented by people like Gov. Parkop. Other people come with their best efforts to make development in West Papua an international concern where individuals and organizations from different backgrounds can relate and help. But Gov. Parkop and people like him keep making the issue only owned by Melanesian and Pacific people and countries.
They keep thinking that they are the ones that know the best about West Papua and know the best solution for the issue. And that is just because they share the same Pacific and Melanesian blood? What kind of outdated way of thinking is that for such a global cause like West Papua development?
Unfortunately, while they are busy making those claims, blames, and accusations, other people are busy working hard on bringing real-world development projects and programs in West Papua.
When Gov. Parkop and his Social Democratic Party think that they are leading in solving the problem in West Papua, actually they have been far left behind by the many real actions other people have taken. For some, they are actually solving nothing and sadly using the issue of West Papua only for political gains. (*)
A little note: when writing this piece, our team has received information that around 24 Trans Papua workers were murdered by an armed civilians in West Papua. Our deep condolences and prayers go out to them and the families they just left. We ask all readers to send prayers to them too.
