Tensions tracing back to the controversial 1969 referendum that incorporated West Papua into the Republic of Indonesia continue to be at the root of the political repression, impoverishment, and marginalization that are now part of the daily lives of native Papuans. Ongoing clashes between the Indonesian government and pro-independence separatists have caused thousands of people to flee their homes. Many have sought refuge in remote shelters in the forest, where access to food, medication, and sanitation is minimal. Those who go back to their villages face constant surveillance and intimidation, and are met with ransacked houses, schools and hospitals, previously used as military posts.
At the same time, West Papua’s vast natural wealth is also being unsustainably exploited for its palm oil, copper, gold, forest trees, and natural gas. While Indigenous peoples benefit little from these projects, they almost exclusively bear their negative impacts, including the destruction of lands, contamination of water sources, and subsequent health issues. Decades of the government’s transmigrasi program have changed the demographic makeup of West Papua, thereby weakening the social-economic status of Indigenous Papuans by limiting their employment opportunities. The influx of transmigrants with different cultural traditions and practices from the rest of Indonesia has fostered a sense among West Papuans that they have become strangers in their own land.
We asked Father Alexandro Rangga OFM, a Franciscan priest who has lived in West Papua for the past 19 years, to share his insights on the current situation. Father Rangga works at the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), where he helps to monitor and document human rights violations on the ground and bring them to the United Nations through Franciscans International.
Can you explain how the situation in West Papua has evolved in the past few years?
In the past years, things have mostly deteriorated. Although the Indonesian government has shifted from a security approach towards a ’welfare’ approach, they still use soldiers to lead that program on the ground. This is disturbing because people already have a long and traumatic experience with the military. The situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) is also worrying. We currently have between 60.000 and 100.000 IDPs, mainly from Maybrat, Kiwirok, and Intan Jaya.
Furthermore, since 2020, the Indonesian government has been developing ‘food estates’ throughout West Papua. The issue is that, when the government wants to use land for these projects, they often don’t get people’s consent. In Papua, Indigenous people rely on customary land, so when the government wants to use it for a palm oil plantation, they need to get their permission. However, they usually directly strike a deal with the tribal leaders without consulting other members, or they use local authorities or the military to take over the land by force. In both cases, the government ignores people’s right to free, prior, and informed consent.
What are the main areas of concern of Franciscans on the ground?
Because of their history with Indonesia, Papuans often focus on the lack of civil and political rights. But, when we talk about the human rights situation in West Papua, it is important not to forget about economic, social, and cultural rights. This year, we addressed some of these issues through the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). In our submission we focused on customary land issues, the disparities between Indigenous Papuans and migrants, and access to health facilities and education – especially for internally displaced persons.
In March, I came to Geneva for the reviews of Indonesia by both the CESCR and the Committee on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR). Based on the talks we had there, I have to say that I was disappointed when the Indonesian delegation just referred to their laws while ignoring the data presented by civil society organizations. They did not counter our information or answer our questions.
More generally, I find it hard to retain international attention, especially when the world is busy with other crises such as Ukraine and Gaza. Still, based on my experience of over five years, it seems that the situation in West Papua is now better known. This is a testimony to Franciscans International’s advocacy work with UN experts and diplomats.
Former general Prabowo Subianto won Indonesia’s 2024 presidential elections and will take office in October. What do you think this means for West Papua?
At first, I was perplexed by this result because Prabowo has been accused of grave human rights violations. These allegations include the abduction and disappearance of pro-democracy activists in 1997-98 and war crimes during the occupation of East Timor. Still, almost 70 percent of people living in West Papua voted for him. Now, if you look at the demographics of West Papua, you can see that a large part of the population at this time are transmigrants, which might have affected election numbers.
I think these results might make things more difficult for us. It is unlikely that there will be a better approach to West Papua because, according to what Prabowo said during his electoral campaign, he will continue the program of his predecessor. For West Papuans, knowing that the elected president is a perpetrator of human rights violations, the future remains uncertain.
In this context, how are you and Franciscans on the ground going to approach the human rights work?
Based on this situation, we will try to support and strengthen the capacity of people at the grassroots but also focus on local documentation and monitoring reports. Next year, we are planning to go around eight main parishes in remote areas of West Papua. The goal is, together with the parish priests and the local government, to empower people at the grassroots to fight for their rights to health, education, and customary land. I think these types of local projects are vital so that we don’t only rely on the international community.
Still, I want to call all the people, all the civil society at local and national levels but also internationally for whom human rights issues are important, to raise the situation in West Papua. It is important to bring awareness to international actors, but also to the people in Indonesia so they can have comprehensive information about what is happening in West Papua. By understanding the situation, they can help us bring up the human rights issues we are facing.
On October 1, we co-organized a side event at the United Nations to address the ongoing human rights violations in West Papua. Learn more about it here.