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Referendum Can Not Be Done Twice

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By: Edward Krey )*

The Papuan riots which occurred a few weeks ago have been used by separatists to demand a Papua referendum. This request is considered to be a thing that does not enter because besides there is no referendum in the Indonesian constitution, Papua has already conducted a referendum, so it is impossible to repeat it a second time.

The referendum for Papua was held in 1969 under the name PEPERA, namely Determination of the people’s opinion. In this Act all Papuans are given 3 choices of freedom. The choices included Merdeka, joining the Republic of Indonesia, or remaining under Dutch rule.

Judging from the historical point of view in accordance with the KMB (Round Table Conference) in 1949, it was stated that the Netherlands surrendered all of its colonies to Indonesia and recognized Indonesia’s independence. Unless Papua will have its own referendum.

As a follow up to the KMB after 20 years later the holding of PEPERA by the United Nations. The organizer of the Act of Free Choice is the United Nations which is overseen by observers. Among other things, Egypt, Britain, America, Australia and the Netherlands as the colonial government in power over West Irian (Papua) at that time.

The task of these observers is to supervise the running of the Act directly. And apparently Papua chose to join as part of the Homeland. These results are then given to the General Assembly of the United Nations (United Nations SU). Through this UN UN data, 86 countries agreed and 30 countries declared abstentions.

Thus it can be ascertained if these results have been legally valid under International Law, that Papua is the territory of Indonesia. Which UN SU results are corroborated by UN resolution number 2504 of 1969,

For information, that in this International Covenant on civil and political rights which have been ratified using Law No. 12 of 2005, it is mentioned that the referendum is only known in a country with a status of being colonized. This is also reinforced in Article 5 of the Covenant, that the state is freed to use military force to crush separatism

From this we can conclude if the actions and attitudes of separatism are not “right to self-determination” (The right to self-determination). Separatism that occurs in any part of the world can be categorized into treason and must be eradicated! Including what happened in various developed countries.

For example, this separatist act in Northern Ireland was eradicated by the British state. While the basque separatists in Catalunya were exterminated by Spain, Khasmir was crushed by India and others. So that no country in the world gives room for these separatists. This also includes OPM in the Papua region.

Based on data and experience, states if there has not been a referendum that was carried out twice. The latest information is mentioned if the UK held a referendum to exit the European Union (EU) which is popularly known as BREXIT. Many people who want this referendum to be repeated, because Britain regretted having left the EU.

Moreover, the results of the referendum record if the difference between the pros and cons (between those who join or leave the EU) is very different. However, the discourse as well as the desire to repeat the referendum was rejected by the British PM. He firmly stated that there was no repeat referendum.

Talking about the referendum event in the East Timor region certainly cannot be used as a reference. This is because the current status of East Timor has not been recognized by the United Nations as part of the Republic of Indonesia. Which is still considered a province opposite the Portuguese sea. In other words the Portuguese were still colonized. So it cannot be analogized. While Papua has been recognized as a legitimate part of the Republic of Indonesia by the UN and internationally, and has already completed a referendum.

So how could this referendum be used as trial material, especially for one unit of the Republic of Indonesia? Isn’t this impossible? Considering the referendum can only be carried out by the nation with the status of colonized. While Papua was independent with Indonesia, and was not colonized by any party. So that the final results of the referendum that had been held by Indonesia at that time.

)* The writer is a Papuan student, living in Yogyakarta

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