The issue of Papuan independence remains being lifted up by various groups that have for long wanted Papua separated from Indonesia. The issues raised are classic such as human rights violations and the disputed about past histories whether Papua was annexed or retaken by Indonesia military in 1963. Since the situation in Papua was no longer deemed safe enough for incomers and regarding various foreign interests in Papua, Indonesia enacted a policy to restrict foreign journalists and NGOs to enter Papua.
Recently, West Papua National Committee (KNPB) conducted press conference on May 25, 2015 regarding its peaceful rallies plan which will be held today on 28 May in all over Papua and West Papua Province as well as some cities outside Papua. KNPB invited all people of Papua to come out on the streets participating in that demonstration.
KNPB which was represented at the press conference by its spokesman, Bazooka Logo, urged Indonesia to apply democratic space in West Papua by allowing foreign journalists come to Papua. In addition, he also demanded Papua regional police to release some KNPB activists, who were arrested in a demonstration earlier on 21st May, 2015.
In fact, various actions that KNPB activists have been carried out indeed often led to clashes and anarchy. These then make the Papua regional Police always give a special attention on the demonstrations conducted by KNPB. It is therefore, many KNPB activists have been arrested for being provocateurs and perpetrators vigilante actions against members of the police who are securing their rallies. Inspite of freedom of expression is guaranteed by Indonesia law, the Police who are in charge of security in the region have an authority to give or withhold consent to any plans of protests from social organizations or other parties including KNPB if it believed such actions would jeopardise the security of society.
Furthermore, KNPB also took an advantage of the press conference by showing its support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). MSG is a cross organization Melanesian countries clumps consisting of Fiji, PNG, Solomon Island, and Vanuatu, as well as the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia. KNPB and Papuan independence activists believe that the join of ULMWP to the MSG membership would make the clump Melanesian countries in the Pacific to fully support the efforts of West Papua freedom movements to secede Papua from the Indonesia unitary state (NKRI).
*Jaber Ahmed