The shocking murder of three employees of the giant US-owned Freeport mine in West Papua on the weekend underscores the instability of our neighbourhood.
The portents are ominous. Indonesian security forces have begun a 60-day campaign to shut down the political wing of the Papuan independence movement.
Troops arrested 15 separatist rebels yesterday. The killing has given the military impetus to go after the fledging guerilla movement known as the Free Papua Organisation. Independence leaders, meanwhile, are pointing the finger at the army.
West Papuans are still angry about the assassination of independence leader Theys Eluay last year. Although 12 members of the army's notorious Special Forces have been charged with his murder, many believe the top brass who gave the orders will never be brought to trial. With no group taking responsibility for the Freeport ambush, no motive and no precedent for such an attack on foreigners in four decades of intermitent guerilla war, investigators must not rule out any suspects – including the military.
Unless the probe is conducted in a transparent manner and justice is seen to be done, West Papua will become an even bloodier thorn in the side of President Megawati Sukarnoputri's administration.
Since East Timor's independence vote in 1999, Indonesia has redoubled its efforts to deal with separatism. One of the few enduring legacies of the Abdurrahman Wahid's presidency was granting greater autonomy for Aceh and West Papua. But weaning the provinces away from Jakarta's centralised control hasn't been easy. The autonomy packages introduced in January were poorly conceived and conferred power on provincial administrations lacking the personnel and capacity to implement them. One consequence of the reforms has been a weakening of the military's grip on security and its business interests. In West Papua tribal leaders have begun seizing control of traditional lands from logging companies part-owned by the military. But little else has changed. With provincial assemblies yet to pass the hundreds of pieces of enabling legislation, the promise of autonomy remains more of a concept than a reality.
Jakarta's call on West Papuans to remain patient are likely to fall on deaf ears. Ever since it annexed the province by means of the now discredited Act of Free Choice in 1969, Indonesia has dealt with the Papuan problem by brute force and a scant regard for human rights. Last year several pro-independence leaders including Eluay were charged with subversion. Last week The Australian revealed details of a sophisticated 60-day police operation aimed at shutting down organisations conducting separatist activities. Aimed at groups that "endanger the unity of the nation" it comes at a time when the Papuan Presidium, the leading civilian proponent of independence, is calling for peace talks with Jakarta.
Such a crackdown could backfire by increasing popular anger and putting Jakarta under international pressure to agree to an East Timor-style referendum. It also runs counter to recent moves to deepen democracy by introducing direct presidential elections and abolishing special representation for the military in parliament. To maintain investor confidence, Indonesia will be under pressure to find the killers of the Freeport mine workers. But there is more at stake than bringing the perpetrators to justice. It is in the interests of Indonesia – and Australia – to see progress towards a peaceful resolution of the Papuan problem.
Respect for the rule of law and the full implementation of autonomy measures, not another ruthless crackdown, is the preferable course for Indonesia to take.