So, Special Automy Chapter 2 plus the anti - terrorism card will neutralise the independence struggle?
Here, a transition government or self - government or provisional government has already been announced prior to the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law going through Indonesian Parliament.
We trace the insanity of an occupation industry across the border.
Jakarta drafted the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law. And, it passed the law for its own purposes. The 1969 Act of Free Choice returned to haunt Indonesia.
No one is refusing the Special Autonomy arrangements, especially Indonesians as opposed to indigenous Melanesian Papuans, who were prepared for independence and self - rule by the Dutch colonial masters since 1961, 55 years ago.
The question is after Special Autonomy Chapter 1 that began post - Gus Dur era for 20 years this year, 2021.
Should independence be granted to West Papua? This law is traced to Jakarta's answer to the demands for independence by Aceh and West Papua. In other words, after special autonomy or autonomy, Independence follows.
For West Papua, unlike Aceh, or similar to Aceh, after 20 years the demand for independence is grounded in the arguments put to Jakarta.
So, the conclusion: after 20 years from 2000. West Papua is qualified to be free because the Special Autonomy arrangements did not put away the demand for freedom. Instead, it further consolidated, fuelled, the fire burning:(1) passionate aspirations; (2) articulate demands that have been already fine - tuned by internationalisation of the West Papua issue; and (3) popular mobilisation that grew more daring since 1961 until 2021, and as 20 years of Special Autonomy ended.
The colonial context of the West Papua issue makes the move by Indonesia to further extend its illegal claim to sovereignty over West Papua by 20 years definitely a silly move, insane.
Albert Einstein defined insanity as, ' doing the same thing over and over again, and expect different outcome or results'.
The implications:
(1) Special Autonomy Chapter 2 will attract equal and opposite reaction from indigenous Melanesian Papuans to demand independence from Indonesia.
At this stage, the West Papua Conflict or Masalah Papua has been amplified globally, internationalisation of the West Papua issue has been checked for its ability to be tested by scrutiny, and time.
And, on current trend or indication, the case for independence is validated, awaiting UN General Assembly resolution like East Timor in 1999.
(2) Indonesia will use more pre - New Order Suharto Era security measures or ' security approach' to address a ' frozen' post - colonial conflict by adopting the anti - terrorism card which will likely collapse.
The truth is on the table.
The US State Department declassified documents of the 1969 Act of Free Choice raised serious questions about democracy in Indonesia beginning in 1969.
And, Indonesia was to provide accurate answers to specific points raised about the implementation of the Special Autonomy Chapter 1 beginning 2001.
The package contained provision or arrangements for democracy to be a achieved including discussions with indigenous Melanesian Papuans for their freedom.
In 1961, self - government for West Papua was set in motion, freedom was promised, and the Dutch colonial masters ganered international best practice to grant independence by 1971, 10 years of self - government.
Furthermore, the UN Human Rights Commission is still awaiting a report from Indonesia on Special Autonomy Chapter 1.
It seems the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law passed by the Indonesian Parliament last week is the answer. Insane!
(3) So, Special Autonomy Chapter 2 plus the anti - terrorism card will neutralise the independence struggle?
The West Papua issue is already riding the waves, momentum generated by the successful internationalisation of the independence struggle through the process of self government or state formation pushed by United Liberation Movement for West Papua or ULMWP.
Here, a transition government or self - government or provisional government has already been announced prior to the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law going through Indonesian Parliament.
The international community, including MSG, PIF, ACP, EU, and ultimate the UN General Assembly resolution will put the case for self rule for West Papua to rest. This is due to a simple reason, logic, formal logic.
Firstly, the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 will trigger more human rights attrocities. It will then validate the UN General Assembly resolution to cause West Papua to be re enlisted on the UN List of Non Self Governing Trust Territories.
MSG and PIF have begun the process to bring the West Papua issue to the UN. And, the driver to this option is the human rights situation inside the former Dutch colony.
Secondly, the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law will trigger the opposite and equal reaction from the international community following the conversation on West Papua.
This is due to the ripples - effect of UN Protocol on Responsibility To Protect Doctrine Chapter 1 and 2 that MSG and PIF countries have acceded to.
Of course, Indonesia did not sign for many reasons including its status as the largest Muslim country in the world. It seems to be testing the ideals of Western democracy, big ideals, that trouble its world - view including whether or not to grant independence to West Papua.
During the 1960s, European and Western countries responded to demands for self - rule by colonized people. There was no choice because of the prophetic zeal of colonial powers or masters. To begin with, part of the civilising effect was to connect progress with the Christian Bible and Christianity.
Thus, Christianity promised liberty and freedom for all countries and humanity as an inalienable right for all.
Since 1960s, West Papua continued to be the ' pebble in Jakarta's shoes'. Now, the pebble is bigger, not smaller. A colonized West Papua or occupied West Papua that is rooted in the Christian Bible and Christianity doubles the trouble for neo - colonial, or colonial Indonesia.
(4) West Papua is the last bastion of the free world because of the colonial context. So, the struggle to be free will go on. Technology is discounted outright. Other factors come into play especially in 21st Century in the internet and cyberspace era.
America lost in Vietnam. Russia lost in Afghanistan. Indonesia cannot hope to win the hearts and minds of indigenous Melanesian Papuans.
It will lose West Papua, if not already. Its claim to sovereignty over West Papua is weakened further by the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law, not consolidating its 55 years of occupation industry, it makes out.
In the aftermath, since last week, more protests will happen, shouting of slogans during rallies calling for the right to self-determination in the Indonesian controlled part of New Guinea.
Last word.
May be the Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law passed for West Papua to become economically strong is a slap in the face for all of Melanesia. And, the democratic proposition that is fulfilling the aspirations of Melanesian countries to build a future for their people without colonial control.
Indonesia. Questions. Insanity.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.
"We hope that this law will accelerate development in Papua and see Papuans prosper," he told parliament after the Bill was ratified.
He hopes. The problem is still there 20 years on from 2000.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-parliament-passes-revised-autonomy-law-restive-papua-2021-07-15/
The awakening of Melanesian consciousness for West Papua has peaked. PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kanaky pose the question that matters in any historical epoch.
For all Christian countries, there is no question West Papua is qualified to be free. So, Indonesia fumbled with the thorny, yet matter of national interest issue for its lawmakers.
And, got the answer wrong again. The correct answer is still illusive. Indonesia should be asking the right question, or questions, 55 years on.
The question to be asked is this one:
https://fpif.org/would_an_independent_west_papua_be_a_failing_state/.
And, allow a referendum for the people of West Papua themselves to decide.
So, Special Autonomy Chapter 2 law was the wrong move. It was time to heed freedom's call for West Papua.
Read, here:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4133608256718495&id=100002080838086
