Congressmembers Urge U.S. Secretary of State and UN Secretary General to Support West Papua’s Right to Self-Determination

Contacts: Emily S. Goldman (202) 463-7575 goldman@rfkmemorial.org
|dmund McWilliams, (703) 899-5285 edmcw@msn.com

RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights Welcomes Congressional Black Caucus Initiatives Addressing Continuing Human Rights Abuses in West Papua

The West Papua Advocacy Team at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights welcomes twin initiatives by the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus to address continuing and historic abuses of human rights in West Papua and more generally in Indonesia. On 17 March, at the initiative of Congressman Eni Faleomavaga, members of the Black Caucus 36 members of the Black Caucus signed a joint letter to United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan, seeking a United Nations "review" of the "Act of Free Choice" under which Indonesia annexed West Papua in 1969. The joint letter notes that the "Act" is widely regarded as fraudulent, conducted under duress, and undemocratic. The letter to Secretary General Annan also notes the recent research undertaken by the Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic at Yale University which concluded that Indonesia had engaged in crimes against humanity in West Papua and that its conduct during four decades of control there may have constituted genocide. Members of the Black Caucus joined 170 parliamentarians from around the world who have called for such a review by the United Nations.

In a separate letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, the Black Caucus strongly criticized the recent decision of the Department of State, on behalf of the Bush Administration, to restore International Military Education and Training (IMET) to the Indonesian military. Given the Indonesian military's egregious record of human rights abuse in West Papua, East Timor, and throughout Indonesia, as well as its unaccountability for these abuses, provision of this assistance to the Indonesian military is unwarranted.

The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights (CHR), through its West Papua Advocacy Team, welcomes the growing Congressional concern over ongoing severe human rights abuse in West Papua. It also notes the growing understanding of the historical context for the current suffering of the people of West Papua. The CHR pledges to continue its efforts to inform the Congress, the Administration and the American people about the realities in West Papua.

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Joins with Faleomavaega in Urging U.S. Secretary of State and UN Secretary General to Support West Papua’s Right to Self-Determination

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) joined with him in urging U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to support West Papua’s right to self-determination. Faleomavaega is the Ranking Member of the International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific which has broad jurisdiction for Indonesia and West Papua.

In letters signed by over 37 members of the CBC, House Congressional leaders asked for a review of the United Nation’s conduct in West Papua stating that in 1962 the U.S. mediated an agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands in which the Dutch were to leave West Papua, transfer sovereignty to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) for a period of six years, after which time a national election was to be held to determine West Papua’s political status.

However, after this agreement was reached, Indonesia violated the terms of transfer and took over the administration of West Papua from the UNTEA. In 1969, Indonesia orchestrated an election that many regarded as a brutal military operation. Known as the “Act of Choice,” 1,022 elders under heavy military surveillance were selected to vote for 809,327 Papuans on the territory's political status.

United Nations (UN) Ambassador Ortiz-Sanz, who was sent to West Papua to observe the process, issued the following statement:

Despite Ambassador’s Ortiz-Sanz’s report, testimonials from the press, the opposition of fifteen countries and the cries for help from the Papuans themselves, the UN sanctioned Indonesia’s act and, on September 10, 1969, West Papua became a province of Indonesian rule. Since the Indonesian government seized control of West Papua, the Papuans have suffered blatant human rights abuses, including extrajudicial executions, imprisonment, torture and, according to Afrim Djonbalic's 1998 statement to the UN, “environmental degradation, natural resource exploitation, and commercial dominance of immigrant communities.”

The Lowenstein Human Rights Clinic at Yale University recently found, in the available evidence, “a strong indication that the Indonesian government has committed genocide against the Papuans.” West Papua New Guineans differ racially from the majority of Indonesians. West Papuans are Melanesian and believed to be of African descent. In 1990, Nelson Mandela reminded the UN that when “it first discussed the South African question in 1946, it was discussing the issue of racism.” U.S. Congressional Members stated that they believe as the UN discusses the West Papua question, it will also be discussing the issue of racism.

Furthermore, U.S. Congressional leaders believe the UN will be discussing the issue of commercial exploitation. West Papua New Guinea is renowned for its mineral wealth including vast reserves of gold, copper, nickel, oil and gas. In 1995, for example, the Grasberg ore-mountain in West Papua was estimated to be worth more than $54 billion. Yet little or no compensation has been made to local communities and new provisions in the law fall well short of West Papuan demands for independence.

In a statement dated February 24, 2004 (attached), Archbishop Bishop Desmond Tutu called on the UN to act on West Papua and 174 parliamentarians and 80 nongovernmental agencies from around the world also asked that a review be initiated. In the interim, Indonesian military operations in the highlands of West Papua have been ongoing since August 2004 forcing thousands of villagers into the forests where they lack adequate food, shelter and medicine. Indications are that this operation is spreading to other regions of West Papua and intensifying.

Given these circumstances, Congressional leaders stated that they are reminded of Nelson Mandela’s statement before the UN Special Committee against Apartheid in which he said:

On the question of West Papua, Congressional leaders are also saying enough is enough. “It is time to bring an end to violence, racism and commercial exploitation in West Papua,” Congressional leaders said. In his State of the Union address before the U.S. Congress this year, President Bush said, “America will stand with the allies of freedom to support democratic movements in the Middle East and beyond, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.”

“In our opinion,” Congressional leaders said, “the President’s mantra must and should include West Papua and we are hopeful that this means the Administration will support West Papua’s right to self-determination through a referendum or plebiscite sanctioned by the UN.” Congressional leaders also urged Secretary Rice to oppose plans to allow International Military Education and Training (IMET) with Indonesian officers to proceed. To the UN, Congressional leaders stated that “as an organization which promotes and protects basic human rights, including the right to self-determination, we are hopeful that the UN will review the question of West Papua and act immediately.”

Members signing the petition letters included Congressman Donald Payne, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Bobby Rush, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, Congressman John Conyers, Congressman Bennie Thompson, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congressman Major Owens, Congressman Alcee Hastings, Congressman Melvin Watt, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Congressman Edolphus Towns, Congressman James Clyburn, Congresswoman Eleanor Norton Holmes, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Julia Carson, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Congressman Danny Davis, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Congressman Albert Wynn, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Congressman Harold Ford, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Artur Davis, Congressman William Clay, Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and Congressman Kendrick Meek.