[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H8020-H8021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL DIALOGUE IN INDONESIA REGARDING IRIAN JAYA/
                         WEST PAPUA, NEW GUINEA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform our colleagues 
and the Nation of important developments in Indonesia concerning the 
people of West Papua, New Guinea, or commonly known as Irian Jaya, as 
it is known by the Indonesia Government.
  If you recall, Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on the floor before about 
Jakarta's brutal subjugation of the West Papuan people and their 
decades-long struggle for independence from Indonesia.
  Today I welcome the announcement of a significant development in the 
Indonesian Government's position on West Papua, as described in an 
article that appeared in the Indonesian language daily newspaper, Suara 
Pembaruan, on Sunday, September 13, 1999, and I include this newspaper 
article in the Record.
  The article referred to is as follows:

[Translation--occasionally impossible to read newspaper clipping print]

  President Habibie Agrees To Conduct National Dialogue on Irian Jaya

       President B.J. Habibie listened carefully and with full 
     attention to reports of human rights violations which have 
     occurred in Irian Jaya during a meeting with the Reverend 
     Karel Phil Eran on the evening of Friday 11 September at the 
     Palace.
       Karel Phil Eran is the Secretary of the National 
     Development for Irian Jaya and a member of the Pastoral Team 
     of the Council of Churches in Indonesia who was on a pastoral 
     mission to Irian Jaya (IrJa) after several demonstrations and 
     actions which have resulted in fatal incidents and wounded 
     victims during 11-18 August 1998.
       In his discussion with Pembaruan on Saturday morning, Eran 
     stated President Habibie as declaring that in the current 
     reformation era killings cannot happen unless forced by the 
     direst circumstances. Because of that a new approach must be 
     held with regard to development plans in IrJa.
       During the meeting which lasted more than an hour, Eran 
     presented to the Head of the Nation that the people of Irian 
     Jaya in the particular region have been extremely wounded by 
     incidents of human rights violations which have been 
     perpetrated by security forces there. This has resulted in 
     the people's desire to separate themselves from Indonesia.
       President Habibie stated his agreement to conduct a 
     national dialogue with regard to Irian Jaya in the shortest 
     time. At the Dialogue the people's voices may be heard and an 
     honest examination regarding what actually happened can be 
     understood together.
       President Habibie also affirmed that the church is given 
     equal rights in all development programs in the region. The 
     role of the church in the building of the community must be 
     given attention, said Eran in quoting the President. The 
     President also stated that there cannot be any discrimination 
     in all sectors especially since the Church in Irian Jaya is a 
     pioneer in development efforts as evidenced throughout 
     history. Meaning, that even long time before Irian Jaya 
     became part of Indonesia, the Church especially was the 
     pioneering force for regional development here.
       The President was very open; he received me not as an Irian 
     expert but as a friend from the intellectual community which 
     is much needed by the people, said Eran. Habibie also offered 
     to Eran to become a member of the National Reconciliation 
     Team which can facilitate problems of Irian. He asked of > > 
     > > S. Panjaitan to organize an informal meeting to follow up 
     on the discussions. At the end of the meeting Pastor Eran 
     prayed for President Habibie asking for grace and wisdom in 
     facing the problems of this nation.


 THE NEED FOR DIALOGUE TO DISCOVER THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEMS OF IRIAN 
                                  JAYA

       To present the various intense problems which are happening 
     in Irian Jaya a forum for dialogue must be organized to 
     discuss and discover the best solutions for the future of 
     Irian.
       At the minimum there are three important agendas which must 
     be addressed between experts in culture, non profit 
     foundations, academia and government.
       The first agenda are the problems of human rights, second 
     the problems of autonomy or the granting of full rights to 
     the people of Irian to determine their own destiny. The third 
     agenda is the problem of independence for Irian.
       This was the discussion with Abdul Gafur after the meeting 
     conducted among the National Development for Irian Jaya and 
     the Council of Churches in Jakarta on Thursday. As is known, 
     on the 10th of August the PGI went on a pastoral mission 
     concurrently with the initiative to bring the team of 
     National Development for Irian Jaya to see first hand the 
     problems facing the people of the province.
       The Team consists of the Chairman, Prof. Sudarso Sepater, 
     Pastor Karel Phil Eran and a member the Rev. Dr. Jodo Wibowo 
     (un-readable......)
       Minister Gafur, Joint team in the Parliament agreed with > 
     > > > > that a forum must be created including several 
     experts in the community in cultural affairs, academia and 
     government to examine the roots of these problems and to find 
     ways and means to solve.
       However, there are slight differences in the perception of 
     dialogue which we have offered with the dialogue as proposed 
     by the PGI. We, from the Parliament propose that the forum is 
     conducted in the locality to involve all the leadership of 
     Irian and upon obtaining its results, bring the resolutions 
     to the central government. It does not matter what you name 
     it, what is important is that we conduct the dialog, says 
     Gafur, who is the Chairman in the Parliament for Irian Jaya 
     Affairs.
       In the meantime, the proposal for dialogue as offered by 
     the PGI is a National Forum to include many other sectors and 
     components of the general population. Thus the results could 
     be clearer and maximized.
       They also stated that the form and presentation of the 
     dialogue is of lesser concern, whether conducted on local or 
     national level.
       If the dialogue begins at the local community level there 
     may be many aspirations and appreciation by the local people 
     to address the various problems they face.


                             Just Treatment

       In the meantime the Secretary > > > > > > > >, Rev. Dr. 
     Karel Phil Eran affirmed the national dialogue proposal as 
     presented by his group as having received positive response 
     from the chairman of the Parliament, Abdul Gafur. As such the 
     PGI shall follow up with a clearer agenda.
       The National Dialogue on Irian Jaya shall be organized in 
     coordination with and facilitated between the Parliament and 
     PGI. The Dialogue shall be conducted free from any 
     intimidation, threats and strategies.
       The people of Irian must feel confident that they shall be 
     treated justly in this national dialogue therefore they shall 
     be represented by the Church, the cultural experts, students, 
     the intellectuals, organizations, women's organizations, 
     bureaucrats and historical experts such as > > > > > > 
       In addition, by conducting a national dialogue this shall 
     increase awareness and concern and create a psychological 
     effect for the local people encouraging them to be brave 
     enough to conduct dialogue amidst themselves, at the minimum 
     to open up discussions regarding incidents and suffering as 
     experienced by them.
       It has been clarified that the PGI team has uncovered human 
     rights violations of extremely serious nature for 35 years 
     where innocent people have been killed, cruelly beaten, 
     vanished, oppressed, intimidated and many women have been 
     raped. Such practices have returned to Biak on the 6th of 
     July.
       The pastoral mission of the PGI to Irian Jaya was conducted 
     as a show of solidarity and responsibility. PGI received 
     reports from the GKI church (Dutch Reformed--Protestant) in 
     IrJa with regard to these human rights violations which are 
     extremely serious in the form of suffering and terror among 
     the parishioners of the GKI and the Christian community 
     particularly in Biak,

[[Page H8021]]

     Sorong, Waimena, Nabire and the city which was overwhelmed by 
     rioting and peaceful demonstration for a Free Papua on 7th 
     July 1998.

  The newspaper report states that Indonesia's President, B.J. Habibie, 
has agreed to a national dialogue of West Papua as soon as possible. 
The proposed dialogue, supported by Indonesian parliamentary leader 
Abdul Gafur and the Indonesian Council of Protestant Churches, would 
cover a three-part agenda including human rights problems, autonomy 
issues, and the issue of independence.
  Mr. Speaker, this pronouncement by President Habibie is extremely 
encouraging news, and President Habibie should be commended for his 
leadership envisioned in addressing this long-festering wound in 
Indonesia.
  As the United States Congress has spoken out forcibly on East Timor, 
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that our colleagues fully support President 
Habibie's call for establishment of this vital dialogue between West 
Papua and the Government of Indonesia.
  To ensure that the dialogue proceeds in a credible and legitimate 
manner, however, we recognize that certain fundamental steps are 
absolutely necessary.
  First, a dialogue must be structured to facilitate full and 
democratic participation, including representatives from all sectors of 
society in West Papua. This should include recognized and respected 
community leaders, church leaders, students, women's organizations, 
academics, West Papuans who participated in the United Nations 
sponsored act of free choice, which was actually an act of no choice, 
and historical and cultural experts.
  Second, the Indonesian Government should terminate West Papuan status 
as a military operations area which allows martial law to be imposed in 
West Papua as well as in East Timor and Aceh. The military's 
involvement in West Papua's political and economic development should 
also be terminated, Mr. Speaker. Additionally, immediate steps should 
be taken to investigate and prosecute military personnel responsible 
for human rights violations throughout West Papua, New Guinea.
  Last, Mr. Speaker, there must be increased transparency and openness 
in West Papua which can only be accomplished by allowing churches, 
nongovernmental organizations, and independent international human 
rights organizations to monitor full access to all areas of the 
province.
  In concluding, Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to join me in 
commending President Habibie for this courageous decision on West 
Papua, New Guinea and that he be urged to take the foregoing steps to 
ensure that a successful and productive dialogue take place as soon as 
possible.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege recently of meeting with the 
gentleman, Mr. John Kubiac, who is the leader of the human rights 
organization in West Papua, New Guinea, who was recently here in 
Washington. And I am very, very hopeful that my colleagues here in the 
Congress and the American people will support this effort to allow, 
especially allow the people of West Papua, New Guinea to determine for 
themselves what should their future be and not be subjected as a colony 
of Indonesia as in our stance.

                          ____________________