Let’s talk freedom for West Papua if we want to open up New Guinea

“There is more to it than what meets the eye”

By Busa Jeremiah Wenogo

A recent article by the director of PNG National Research Institute, Dr. Charles Yala where he posed the question “Why not open up the island of New Guinea” needs a serious consideration from the government. There is no secret as stated by Dr. Yala that the island of New Guinea is one of the “El Dorado” of the world. Abundance of untapped natural resources means that creating the enabling environment for investment to thrive could unleash a whirlwind of economic spinoffs that could significantly improve the livelihoods of its citizens. Yet there is no guarantee that such a grand noble idea could be transformative especially when PNG has a history of squandering billions of kina from its big impact projects and West Papua still suffers from the tyrannical rule of Indonesia. The PNG LNG Project is still yet to live up to its “grand expectation” that the government has always liked to boast about. West Papuans it seems are butchered everyday in their own land by a government that cares little about their wellbeing.

While Dr. Yala took a more economic centric focus on the idea; I strongly believe that discussions on opening up New Guinea cannot be done without addressing the future of West Papua, our own national security concerns and the region’s stability. I view these two as critical elements to realizing the proposal and achieving its objectives.

Such a proposition should only be considered once there is a “more positive” general agreement between PNG and Indonesia on the future of West Papua. The current agreement that recognizes West Papua as part of Indonesia is a problematic one and needs reconsideration. We should be careful not to promote an idea that may further marginalized the West Papuans. The West Papuans it is alleged are not a beneficiary to the current Grasberg Mine which is the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in the world. Illegal loggings are also ripe in this part of the world. Against this reality what is the guarantee that a comprehensive economic policy to open up New Guinea will improve their livelihoods? It is imperative that any proposal of this magnitude should recognize West Papua’s rights as landowners.

Such a proposal should first and foremost be addressed at the bilateral and multilateral level. Once again PNG should bring West Papua to the forefront in negotiating its bilateral treaty with Indonesia if it wants to develop such a concept. At the regional level, MSG and PIF should bring West Papua to the table now that it has rolled out the red carpet to Indonesia. Bringing Indonesia to our table is an important step but recognizing West Papua’s innate rights as Melanesians who deserve our recognition is a greater step to realizing this proposal.

The point is that while the idea of opening up New Guinea sounds like a great one, it cannot be feasible without the “active” participation or involvement of West Papuans. Yet such a proposal could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the West Papuans and concerned Melanesians if Australia and China comes on board. China as alluded to by Dr. Yala has a grand vision to establish what it is now calling it the modern day “silk road”. Already it has included Australia, PNG and most of the Pacific into its “sphere of influence”. No doubt it would be interested in discussing the details of such a plan if approached by PNG or Indonesia. Furthermore, given our below the par capability to detect and withstand threats; opening up New Guinea may well heighten security threats for Australia and New Zealand. This is where Australia and New Zealand should be on the look-out if this proposal is realized. Therefore, opening up New Guinea cannot be just an economic proposition but should entail securing West Papua’s freedom, PNG’s national security and the region’ stability. Indonesia is the Musilm capital of the world and potentially could serve as breeding ground for terrorists cells while PNG and its provinces along the highway highlighted by Dr. Yala could serve as launching pads for Islamic terrorists to conduct their raid to destablise democracies such as PNG, Australia and New Zealand.  

     

A comprehensive proposal including these big players may well forced the hand of the Indonesian government to atleast offer autonomy to the West Papuans as an important condition to this deal. Indonesia will be seriously interested in the concept given that PNG is now becoming an important market for most of its products through both formal and informal trade. Opening up its borders could only be at their advantage. It may also be against this idea due to the fact that it could expose its human rights atrocities against the West Papuans which it strenuously hides from the world.

By all accounts opening up New Guinea is a worthwhile concept that needs serious consideration. It stands to achieve so many leaps and bounds for Indonesia, West Papua and PNG but it also stands to rewrite history. In a time when countries all over the world are becoming more conscious of their own security due to the spread of Islamic extremism; it is also worth asking if the time is right for us to push for such an idea. Thriving cities all over the world are increasingly coming under attack from terrorists. Opening up New Guinea in such a time will be a huge gamble for the PNG Government.