[Comment: An attempt by an Indonesian writer to grapple with the injustices
being perpetrated by Indonesia and others against the Papuan people.]

Sinar Harapan, 21 November 2007
Translated by TAPOL

PAPUA AND THE CURSE OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES
by Arief Oka, an economist

Are natural resources like oil and copper a blessing or a curse?
Experiences around the world over the past 500 years show that natural
resources are more frequently a curse.

The Spanish conquistadors destroyed the Aztec and Maya civilisations in
Latin America in their determination to grab control of its gold. Europeans
who emigrated to North America in search of animal hides and fertile soil
to till destroyed the Indian tribes who inhabited the land.

Various Muslim groups are killing each other to exploit oil in the Middle
East. Vicious conflicts are underway in the continent of Africa to gain
control of the valuable natural resources there.

If it is true that countries with abundant natural resources are cursed,
then Papua is the place in Indonesia which has suffered by far the most
because of this curse. By rights, per capita income of the roughly two
million Papuan natives and the 700,000 migrants should be the highest in
Indonesia from their rich natural resources. Are the inhabitants enjoying
the benefits from these natural resources which are being exploited in the
land where they live? Clearly they are not.

The primary beneficiaries of Papua's riches are the Indonesian government
in Jakarta, the foreign multinationals who have been granted concessions to
exploit copper (Freeport) and oil (BP), and non Papuan inhabitants who are
illegally exporting timber and various other natural resources.

Unless there is a radical change in policy, it is not difficult to predict
what future awaits the Papuans. The rape of Papuan resources will proceed
at an intensified rate, as a result of which, one of the richest
biological and cultural territories in the world will be totally destroyed
in less than a century.

The native Papuans will become nothing more than a footnote in history.
Javanese, Buginese, Chinese and other 'foreigners' who have colonised
Papua will start killing each other to gain control of the 100,000 hectares
of remaining forest to transform them into palm oil plantations.

Four measures needed

Experiences from other parts of the world show that there is only one way
to transform Papuans riches from the curse which they now are into a
blessing. Four measures would need to be taken:

First, to declare a 50-year moratorium which could be renewed with regard
to new explorations to exploit natural resources on a major scale.

The Freeport and BP projects are producing far more profits than what the
Papuans would need to live for the next 50 years.

Second, to halt the influx of new migrants. There are already enough people
in Papua to protect the natural resources and sell other natural resources
on a continuing basis . In this way, Papua would become by far the richest
and best National Park in Indonesia.

In fact, Papua can become the largest nature reserve and cultural centre.
This is a dream of which to be proud, a dream never equaled by other
countries. The mission of the Indonesian people and nation could be to
protect this territory from unrestrained exploration. This would also
include halting missionaries from whatever sect and allowing the Papuans
and non Papuans to adhere to whatever beliefs they like without external
interference.

Third, to set up a Trust Fund which would receive 100 percent of the taxes,
royalties and other revenues from the existing concessionaires. Such a move
has been taken successfully taken by Norway and other countries. The Trust
Fund should be managed by Indonesians of the finest character and
commitment who are capable of protecting Papua for humanity and not just
for the interests of the Indonesian nation. The trustees should be
tasked with raising funds and investing the funds wisely with various
international asset boards which have been globally successful. The
trustees would also be charged with supporting social and cultural
developments of the Papuan people, starting with a voluntary scheme of free
education for all up to tertiary level. The Trust Fund would also be
charged with funding security forces to protect Papua from intrusions for
unlicensed natural resource exploitation.

Fourth, to get rid of the two provincial structures which are at present
competing with each other to exploit the natural resources in their
regions, and replace this with a single government structure for Papua and
West Papua. As is the case in other regions of Indonesia, that government
would be responsible for regulating those economic activities not based on
the exploitation of natural resources in accordance with the laws in force
throughout Indonesia.

With such a regional government, the Papuan people would be as free as are
Indonesians in other parts of the country to pursue various
activities that are not reliant on the exploitation of the natural
resources or that involve the removal of the native Papuans.

Business ventures that are able to provide jobs for Papuan people wishing
to live in a modern economic environment, without being surrounded by mega
projects that are run by outsiders.

Tourism and eco-friendly sectors would be able to support a lifestyle that
is on a par with other Indonesian citizens. Exploitation of natural
resources on a small scale and at a low intensity would still be possible
but Papuan people should not be under any obligation to become part of the
modern economy. They are the human and cultural resource of inestimable
value along with pre-modern tribal people in all parts of the globe so
many of whom have become extinct. They should be left to become part of
the modern world in accordance with their own wishes.

Is such a vision feasible? Would Indonesia have the political will to do
something that so many other countries have been unable to do?

Perhaps not. There is greed and nationalism and unrestrained religious
conflict. Even so, there is still an opportunity in Papua. Protecting this
region should be easier than protecting some parts of Kalimantan and part
of Brazilian Amazon and equatorial Africa. Shedding tears for mankind
because of the theft by other people of Papua's natural resources would
continue along with other ferocious acts of colonisation occurring
throughout the world.

This is not just about the fate of the Papuan people, who are cursed with
living among abundant natural resources. This is a crime being perpetrated
by man against man that is happening before our very eyes.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 (0)20 8771 2904 fax +44 (0)20 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign