West Papuan independence struggle builds

The struggle of the West Papuan people for independence is steadily 
building in the face of increasing repression by the Indonesian military 
and police forces.

The Indonesian military are reported to have stepped up a campaign of 
intimidation by flying attack aircraft over towns in West Papua in a show 
of strength designed to frighten the local people and intimidate supporters 
of independence.

As well, there has been a large increase of troops and police in the 
province.

Indonesian authorities are attempting to force the independence struggle 
underground by demanding that the Morning Star flag of the resistance 
movement be pulled down.

Indonesian police have given pro-independence groups in West Papua one week 
to pull down their separatist flags or face stern measures said a report 
from Radio Australia.

Recently bloody clashes sparked by a flag-lowering incident between 
Indonesian security personnel and members of the West Papua independence 
movement broke out in the town of Wamena near the capital Jayapura.

West Papuans vented their anger by attacking migrant civilians. At least 30 
people are reported killed.

Many of the struggles in this region, including the independence struggle 
of the East Timorese are the result of the division of territories by the 
former colonialist occupiers. Timor was divided between Portuguese and 
Dutch colonialists. West Papua was divided between the Dutch and the 
British.

Territories were divided without any regard to geographic or ethnic 
realities. The incorporation of West Papua in Indonesia, arises from the 
fact that the whole of Indonesia including West Papua was part of the Dutch 
East Indies empire.

The independence of West Papua is justified on geographic and ethnic lines. 

PNG and West Papua have a common geographical and ethnic reality and may, 
in the longer term find common cause as a single unified nation.

At the same time, it is essential that imperialist plans to fragment 
Indonesia be opposed and defeated.

The overthrow of the Suharto dictatorship, far from being welcomed by the 
US and Australian Governments, is seen as creating a danger that a much 
more progressive government will emerge.

This fear is already reflected in the attacks being made on President Wahid 
who said recently in an interview that he follows Sukarno's legacy.

"I myself follow him in many ways, adapting his thinking and techniques but 
seeking to be true to his principles", said Wahid.

President Sukarno led the struggle of the Indonesian people to overthrow 
Dutch colonialism following WW2.

President Sukarno was removed as President following the military coup of 
Suharto which was fully supported by the US and Australian Governments at 
the time.

At present, however, President Wahid has flatly ruled out independence for 
the 2.5 million people of West Papua, most of whom are ethnic Melanesians.