West Papua:
An End to Colonisation?
Done By: SEA Desk (Ryan & Denzil)
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
“There is no justice in this country … It is
an island without law.”
—West Papua villager,
The Guardian
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
Table of contents
01
02
Background
Approach 1
History of conflict &
Reasons
Is separation feasible?
03
04
Approach 2
Conclusion
Should Indonesia invest
more instead?
A way forward
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
01
Introduction
Brief History & Background
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
Timeline of West Papua colonisation
Independence
Separation?
West Papua
granted formal
independence by
Dutch in 1949
Continued freedom
fighting between
Indonesia and West
Papua
1898
1949
1969
Netherlands
Indonesia
Part of Dutch East
Indies, alongside
Indonesia
Annexed by Indonesia through
the 1962 New York Agreement
& legitimised by 1969 “Act of
Free Choice” vote
Background
Independence?
Development?
Present
Conclusion
West Papua: A resources haven for Indonesia
Copper
Gold
Oil
Grasberg mine has
10.47 Million tonnes of
copper reserves (top
10 worldwide)
Grasberg mine has
estimated $40 billion
in gold reserves
18.3 trillion cubic feet
of natural gas in
offshore Tangguh oil
fields
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
Issues facing West Papuan natives
Pollution
Military Violence
Waste from the Grasberg
mine running off into the
river delta has killed
aquatic life
Indonesia’s military
frequently targets
pro-independence
groups
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
200,000
Tonnes
Mining sediment disposed into Aikwa river delta EVERY DAY
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
02
Independence?
Envisioning an independent West Papua
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
No West
Papua, no
troubles
Morally correct and simplest
solution is to grant West Papua
freedom
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
3 Likely outcomes of West Papuan independence
Indonesian
Concessions
Unable to
Rebuild
US
Concessions
Indonesia granted
special access to
resources, in
exchange for help to
develop the region
West Papua lacks the
economic ties of
Indonesia so they
would be unable to
rebuild their
economy and the
environment
US companies
offered special access
to resources, in
exchange for help to
develop region or
military protection
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
03
Investment?
Developing West Papua as an alternative
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
Ways to develop West Papua
Improve Infrastructure
Education
This will show Indonesia
is committed to
improving quality of life
in West Papua
Educate Indonesians to
curb racism against West
Papuans
Ease Tensions
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
However…
West Papuans may not trust the
Indonesian government to help
develop their region
●
●
●
Feel that development is
used as an excuse for
Indonesia to increase military
presence
Well paying jobs go to
Indonesian migrants
National Liberation Army
attacked Indonesian workers
during construction of
Trans-Papua highway
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
04
Conclusion
Neighbours’ Views & Conclusion
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
What do the neighbours think?
Press Indonesia on
human rights issues
Papua New Guinea is
likely to pressure
Indonesia to halt
exploitation
Background
Independence?
Place West Papua on
UN decolonization list
Vanuatu to call for UN to
step in to help West
Papua
Development?
Conclusion
Final thoughts
Indonesia must first prioritize the
needs of the locals in West Papua to
build trust
Equal job opportunities
Resolve growing racism
against West Papuans
This will give them a better platform to
ease tensions
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion
Thanks!
Background
Independence?
Development?
Conclusion