Indonesia's Human Rights Abuses in West Papua and the Ongoing Struggle for Independence

The recent abduction of New Zealander pilot Phillip Mehrtens by West Papuan separatists has thrust the long-standing conflict in the region into the spotlight. Despite its significance, this conflict is often overlooked in the Western world, making Mehrtens' kidnapping a wake-up call for many. 

The status of West Papua as part of Indonesia is a result of complex historical and political processes. In the 19th century, the region was colonised by the Netherlands, who maintained control over it until the mid-20th century. In 1961, West Papua declared independence, but this was not recognised by Indonesia or the wider international community. To resolve this, the Dutch government agreed to transfer control of West Papua to the UN, which would then oversee a process of self-determination for the people of the region. This was followed by a controversial referendum in 1969, in which a small number of West Papuan leaders were selected by the Indonesian government to vote on behalf of the entire population. The result was a vote in favour of union with Indonesia, which was recognised by the UN. However, many West Papuans argue that this process was illegitimate, and that most of the population were not given an opportunity to express their views on independence. The issue of West Papuan independence remains a contentious one, with many groups fighting an ongoing guerrilla war against Indonesia, one that has lasted for over 50 years.

In addition to differences in culture, religion, and language, many West Papuans call for independence due to decades of discrimination by the Indonesian government, as well as economic marginalisation that has left the province amongst the poorest in Indonesia, despite the massive economic progress made by the rest of the country. Accompanying these issues have also been long-running human rights abuses perpetrated by the Indonesian government and its proxies in response to the separatist movement, which has often made use of collective punishment. These include abuses such as extrajudicial killings, as hundreds of West Papuan activists and journalists have been killed by Indonesian security forces, often without trial, as well as the torture and mistreatment of West Papuan activists and others in detention. For decades West Papuans have also had to live with restrictions on their freedom of speech, as those who speak out against the Indonesian government or advocate for independence have been subject to arrest and imprisonment, and peaceful protests have been met with violence, such as those in 2019.

West Papuans have been subject to attacks on their environment, as the vast natural resources of the region have long been exploited by the Indonesian government and foreign companies, resulting in large-scale environmental destruction and the displacement of indigenous communities and wildlife.

The response of the international community to the situation in West Papua has been mixed. One reason for this is geopolitical, as Indonesia is the world's fourth-most populous country and a key player in Southeast Asia, and so many countries have sought to maintain good relations with the Indonesian government for strategic and economic reasons, which has led some governments to overlook human rights concerns in West Papua.

This has been true of the United States, who for decades have provided military support to Indonesia, despite its actions in West Papua. The U.S. was also instrumental in bringing about the "Act of Free Choice”, the aforementioned referendum which resulted in West Papuan union with Indonesia. The US continues to maintain good relations with Indonesia, which is seen as an important partner in the region and a potential bulwark against Chinese influence in South- East Asia. This has led some to criticise the U.S. for not doing enough to support West Papuan independence or to hold Indonesia accountable for its human rights abuses in the region. The same is true of nearby countries such as Australia and New Zealand, who have also sought to maintain good relations with Indonesia over the years, ignoring the issue of West Papua.

However, in recent years, there have been some signs of a shift, as in 2022, a group of eight countries, including the U.S, Australia, and New Zealand, criticised Indonesia's handling of the situation and urged them to carry out a thorough investigation into reported human rights violations. But despite these calls to action, action has yet to be taken by the Indonesian government.