AP: New head of Asia panel in U.S. Congress champions
self-determination for Papua
New head of Asia panel in U.S. Congress champions self-determination for
Papua
The Associated Press
Published: January 23, 2007
WASHINGTON: The new chairman of a congressional panel on Asia promises to
turn a spotlight on a little known, long-simmering independence movement in
the Indonesian province of Papua.
Eni Faleomavaega, American Samoa's nonvoting delegate and an 18-year
veteran of Congress, means to examine the North Korean nuclear standoff, the
rise of China and U.S. policy on resource-rich central Asian nations and
small Pacific islands.
But the fate of Papua is of particular interest to Faleomavaega, whose
relatives served as Christian missionaries in the province.
Faleomavaega assumed leadership Tuesday of the House of Representatives'
subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. And while the Democratic delegate from
the Pacific island territory will have little say in shaping the policies of
Republican President George W. Bush, he plans to hold public hearings on
Indonesia's actions in Papua.
That could be awkward for the Bush administration, which opposes Papuan
independence and is deeply sensitive to Indonesia's concerns about
sovereignty. The world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesia is a
crucial U.S. ally in fighting terrorism. U.S. officials are wary of
undermining the vast archipelago's stability or damaging recently improved
relations between the countries' militaries and governments.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Faleomavaega bluntly stated
his intention to champion the right of Papua, also called West Papua, to
stage a vote of "self-determination" about its future.
"The bottom line, as I've said to Indonesian leaders in recent times, is
that you've done such a lousy job in your relationship with the West Papuan
people, you might as well give them their independence," he said. "If you
want to talk about fairness, give the people of West Papua the right of
self-determination."
Doug Bereuter, a congressman for more than two decades until 2004 and
former chairman of the House's Asia panel, said Faleomavaega's leadership of
the subcommittee will bring fresh attention to the issue.
When it comes to "the question about increased autonomy" in Papua, the
government of Indonesia is "always quite mindful of what the opinion of
members of Congress might be, and especially Mr. Faleomavaega, who has
spoken out more on that subject than anyone else," said Bereuter, currently
the president of The Asia Foundation.
Faleomavaega has used his position on the Asia panel often to press for
the United States to review its policy toward the province, where rights
groups maintain that about 100,000 people have died as a result of military
action or abuses by Indonesian troops.
Some critics contend that an abundance of natural resources, including
large gold deposits, and Indonesia's strategic importance have prompted the
United States to ignore atrocities against natives of the western half of
New Guinea island.
Riaz Saehu, a spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy, pointed out that his
country is emerging as a democracy after more than 30 years of dictatorship.
It was not until 2004 that Indonesia held its first direct presidential
election.
Saehu said Faleomavaega's meetings with Indonesian officials have led to
an understanding that the country is "taking care of the welfare of the
people and upholding the human rights" in Papua.
For his part, Faleomavaega said he recognized the sensitivity of the
issue for Indonesia, which would see Papuan independence as a potential
spark for the country's breakup.
Still, he signaled a strong willingness to continue bringing
congressional attention to Papua. He wants to lead a delegation of U.S.
lawmakers to Indonesia this year to discuss the matter with President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I would like to see more action on the part of the Indonesian government
that they really do care and appreciate looking after the people of West
Papua as they would any other region of the country," Faleomavaega said.
International Herald Tribune
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