The Right Hon Jack Straw MP
Foreign Secretary
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1

Dear Mr Straw,

I wish to draw your attention to the grave situation in West Papua and the many reports we have been receiving recently of growing tension there.

According to this information, a number of problems are combining to create a sense of foreboding in the coming days and weeks. These are firstly, the deep dissatisfaction with implementation of Special Autonomy which has led to one of the foremost organisations, the Dewan Adat Papua, deciding to 'return' the Special Autonomy Law to the authorities on 15 August, secondly, reports of atrocities in the district of Pyramid, and thirdly, reports of a significant build-up of Indonesian troops.

The Special Autonomy Law

The Special Autonomy Law which was enacted in 2001 and came into force in January 2002 has, according to many sources, not led to any improvements in the living conditions of the Papuan people. On the contrary, there are reports of school fees being far too high for Papuans to send their children to school, of many schools standing empty because teachers are not being paid, and of an alarming spread of HIV/Aids. There are also disturbing reports that large amounts of special autonomy funds have been siphoned off to finance military operations or have disappeared without explanation. Moreover, economic activities by local people are being obstructed by the overwhelming presence of migrants from various parts of Indonesia who are arriving in West Papua on a daily basis and have virtually taken control of the commercial sector.

The Special Autonomy Law has also been contradicted by plans by the central government to split West Papua into three provinces, creating a sense of confusion over the real intentions of the central government. Ever since the idea of partition was first mooted three years ago, it has been vigorously criticised in West Papua. Nevertheless, one of these provinces, the West Irian Jaya Province, has already been set up and the election of a governor was to have taken place on 28 July, although the election was postponed at the last minute 'for administrative reasons'. This casts doubt on the intentions of the government with regard to the administration of West Papua. Moreover, there have been no consultations with representatives of the Papuan people, although the Special Autonomy Law provides for such developments to take place following consultations with a Papuan People's Assembly (MRP). The MRP has now been set up but is not due to commence work until 2 September. Moreover its powers are more restricted than was originally intended under the Special Autonomy Law.

15 August deadline

In February this year, the Dewan Adat Papua decided at its conference that if there was no progress in the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law three years after its enactment, it would 'return' the law to the authorities within six months, as a sign of its dissatisfaction. This action is due to take place on 15 August in Jayapura when the Law will be returned to the Regional Assembly (DPRD), while local DAP branches have been asked to undertake similar actions in their respective districts and sub-districts. The Dewan Adat Papua has stressed that these actions should be conducted peacefully and every effort should be made to avoid provocation that could result in violence. To this end, the Dewan Adat stressed that there should be no raising of the Papuan flag since that might be used as an excuse for inciting a response from the security forces.

The action planned by the DAP is a perfectly legitimate expression of the feelings of dissatisfaction of the Papuan people and is intended to draw attention to the lack of social and economic improvements in a province from which Indonesia reaps huge financial benefits as the result of the exploitation of its copper and gold by Freeport and the forthcoming exploitation of its natural gas by BP.

We urge the British Government to call upon the Indonesian authorities to allow the events planned for 15 August to take place in a situation of peace and to issue strict instructions to the security forces not to disrupt these activities in any way.

We also urge the Government to call upon the Indonesian Government to respond to a long-standing demand first raised by the churches in West Papua as part of their campaign for West Papua to become a Land of Peace for dialogue to take place between representatives of the Papuan people and the Indonesian government on a variety of problems that remain unresolved in the province.The fact that talks have been held between the Indonesian Government and GAM in Aceh which are expected to result in an agreement being signed on 15 August sets a precedent for such a dialogue in West Papua.

Military operations and human rights violations

Following a series of military operations earlier this year in Puncak Jaya, there are now reports of military operations being conducted in the district of Pyramid, near Wamena. Information has reached us of the intimidation and mal-treatment of villagers in Assologoima and Bogolame sub-districts on 8 July, causing the villagers to flee for their lives.

When they returned to their homes on 17 July, troops opened fire on the unarmed villagers. Two villagers, Yimau Wenda and Abai Wenda were wounded.

Three days earlier, on 14 July, Petto Wenda was attacked with knives and slashed all over his body. The troops responsible for this unprovoked attack then doused his body with petrol and set him on fire.

These grave atrocities were clearly intended as the prelude to a move by Indonesian troops to occupy the district of Pyramid on 28 July.

Military build-up

In March this year, the Indonesian armed forces announced plans to increase the level of troop deployment in West Papua and also announced the forthcoming creation of a new division of the army's Strategic Command, KOSTRAD, to be based in Sorong. We have received reports that large numbers of these additional troops have been deployed in recent weeks. There are also reports of the training of militias by Indonesian troops at the Prafi transmigration site near Manokwari.

These plans are apparently aimed at building a troop presence in West Papua to intimidate the population at a time when West Papuans have many legitimate grievances. There are genuine fears that the military along with their militia proxies and intelligence agents are spreading rumours and attempting to provoke unrest ahead of 15 August in order to justify a crackdown on indigenous Papuan people.

All this is happening at a time when foreign journalists are being denied the right to travel freely in West Papua. Only recently, a Washington Post journalist made representations to the Indonesian authorities regarding this problem. In addition, unwarranted restrictions have been placed on visits by international human rights and humanitarian agencies.

We urge the British Government to call upon the Indonesian authorities to cancel plans for additional troop deployment in West Papua so as to restore a sense of peace and tranquillity so that the many problems there can be properly attended to.

We also urge the British Government to stress to the Indonesian authorities the importance of allowing free and unfettered entry to West Papua for foreign journalists and for international human rights and humanitarian agencies.

Yours sincerely,

Carmel Budiardjo