Regaining Humanness. The Papuan struggle for human dignity
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Transcript of Regaining Humanness. The Papuan struggle for human dignity
At Ipenburg
- The background-Increasing scope of humanness-Full humanness denied-Regaining humanness -Conclusion
• History: late access to the wider world• Role of Mission• Dutch rule• Indonesian control
- 1950: New Guinea separated from the Dutch
East Indies, which became independent in
December 1949
- From 1950 tot 1962 increased effort at
development and at emancipation of the
Papuans, especially those at the Coast.
-Preparation for Papuan Independence, just
like the Australian, British and French
territories in the Pacific.
Values: Equality of all human beings as children of
GodBrother- and sisterhood across tribal linesAn identity as Papuans over one’s ethnic
identity
Representation: GKI in 1956 independent of Mission
Cooperation between Papuans of various ethnic backgrounds at Presbytery and Synod level.
Opportunities at individual advancement and leadership
October 1962: Indonesia occupies West Papua.
Indonesianisation: Papuanness rejected.Security approach: army supremeHuman rights violations: impunity Discontinuity
Continuous repression: West Papua Area of Military Operation (DOM).
Many Papuan cultural expressions forbidden:
music, dance, way of dress.Word ‘Papua‘ was discouraged:
the territory renamed Irian Jaya; the inhabitants Irianese or (only) Biak, Me, Asmat, Dani and so on)
1971 – 1973 Effort at enforced indonesianisation: forcing pants on resistant Highlanders.
Ascension Day: Suharto steps down. Habibie becomes President. The New Order (1965-98) becomes the Orde Reformasi, The Reformation Order.
Promise of a “Dialogue” with the PapuansDecline of repression – no more fear for the
Intel.
Dialogue: We want IndependencePapua Congress: “socialization” and
mobilizationNew Papua:
claiming back Papua historymemoria passionishuman rights advocaysupremacy of Papuan interestsIndependence (or at least real autonomy)
Transmigration: Papuans become a minorityEconomic development focus on the modern
(non-Papuan) sector
Zone Damai : peace zonesPapua Tanah Damai: Land of PeaceNew role for the Papua Traditonal Law
Council
But also increased immigrationBankruptcy of Special Autonomy of 2001Lack of outside support for the Papuan case.
Papuans have a new sense of identityThe right to be a Papuan: black skin, frizzy
hair, a Christian, New initiatives: New Papua, Peace Zones, non-
violence, human rights lobbyInterchurch and interreligious cooperation to
avoid interreligious clashes (as in Ambon in 1999)
Humanness regained, but the repression continues